Delaware County · Chester
Sell Your Commercial Property In Chester, PA
We are an active buyer of Chester commercial rental properties with five or more units, whether the building is fully leased, half vacant, or overdue for renovation.
- Clear feedback on your deal, typically within 48 hours
- 5 to 100+ units, stabilized or distressed, listed or off-market
- Owners, agents, and brokers welcome — every conversation is confidential
We buy:Tired landlordsEstate & trust sales1031 exchangesDeferred maintenanceHigh vacancyPartnership splits
Neighborhoods & Nearby Towns: Downtown Chester · Highland Gardens · Eyre Park · Upland — Delaware County, PA
The Chester Market
What Drives Rentals In Chester
Chester is a Delaware County city of 33,619 residents, per ACS 2020-2024 estimates. Renters head 7,527 households, or 60.0% of occupied homes. Owners who plan to sell commercial property in Chester, PA face a 2026 combined tax rate of 28.9048 mills. Median gross rent is $1,091 a month, and 84.8% of Chester homes were built before 1980. Widener University, Subaru Park on the Delaware River and nearby Philadelphia International Airport shape local demand. Rental vacancy in Chester is 3.4%.
Widener University
Widener University, based in Chester, reported 5,801 students in 2025, including 3,109 undergraduates.Subaru Park waterfront
Subaru Park, the Philadelphia Union's 18,500-seat stadium, opened on Chester's Delaware River waterfront in 2010.Philadelphia International Airport
Philadelphia International Airport, about five miles north of Chester's Subaru Park, handled 30,136,790 passengers in 2025.Our Buy Box
What We Buy In Chester
Asset Type
Multifamily, 5+ Units
Apartment buildings and income-producing residential.
Size
5 – 100+ Units
Sweet spot: 15–25 units.
Condition
Stabilized To Distressed
Value-add, mismanaged, and high-vacancy properties welcome.
Deal Types
Listed Or Off-Market
Direct-to-owner, pocket listings, portfolios.
Local Market Data
Chester Apartment Market
Figures gathered October 2026 from public market data.
Who rents in Chester
Renters occupy 60.0% of Chester's 12,537 occupied homes, per ACS 2020-2024 tenure data. That is about double the Pennsylvania renter share of 30.7%. Buildings with five or more units hold 17.1% of Chester's 14,929 housing units. Homes built before 1980 make up 84.8% of the housing stock, and the median year built is 1949.
Rents and affordability in Chester
Chester's median gross rent is $1,091 a month (ACS 2020-2024). That is $118 below the Pennsylvania median of $1,209. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 62.9% of Chester renter households. Rental vacancy in Chester is 3.4%.
| Unit size | HUD FY2027 FMR |
|---|---|
| Efficiency | $1,438 |
| One-bedroom | $1,558 |
| Two-bedroom | $1,860 |
| Three-bedroom | $2,216 |
| Four-bedroom | $2,445 |
These Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA fair market rents took effect October 1, 2026. HUD's two-bedroom figure runs $769 above Chester's median rent, a gap buyers weigh when owners sell commercial real estate in Chester, PA.
Property taxes in Delaware County
Chester's 2026 combined rate is 28.9048 mills, per Delaware County's 2026 tax rate table. That is 4.6090 county, 9.8058 city and 14.49 Chester Upland School District mills. Delaware County's common level ratio factor is 1.83 for July 2026 to June 2027, per Pennsylvania's Revenue Department. Applying it, a $2,000,000 sale price implies about $1,092,896 assessed and $31,590 in yearly tax.
A deed to sell commercial property in Chester, PA carries 2.5% in realty transfer tax. That is 1% state plus a 1.5% Chester City share, effective September 1, 2023, per the Delaware County Recorder of Deeds. On a $2,000,000 sale, that totals $50,000.
Landlord rules in Chester
Chester requires owners to register and license every rental unit under Chapter 442 of the city code, adopted in 2023. Code officers inspect each unit no more than once every three years unless a complaint is filed. Licenses run three years.
Pennsylvania caps deposits at two months' rent in year one and one month after, with refunds due within 30 days, under 68 P.S. 250.511a (FindLaw). A notice to quit for unpaid rent gives ten days, under 68 P.S. 250.501 (FindLaw).
What it means for a Chester owner
Owners who sell commercial property in Chester, PA should budget for 28.9048 mills of annual tax and a 2.5% transfer tax. Skyline Capital Investments buys 5+ unit apartment buildings, so you can sell your apartment building in Chester without listing it. Widener University's 3,109 undergraduates and 7,527 renter households keep demand steady. Test your numbers with our cap rate calculator.
Good To Know
Pricing Your Building In Chester
More about selling in Pennsylvania →Investing in Chester? See apartment syndications in Chester →
- For owners selling commercial property in Chester, Chester Upland School District millage is 14.49 for 2025-2026.
- Deeds from owners who sell commercial real estate in Chester, PA carry a 2.5% realty transfer tax.
- Chester rental units need a city license, valid three years, under Chapter 442 of the city code.
Seller Guides
Your Situation, Handled — Chester
Learn More
Taxes & Rules For Chester Property
The Pennsylvania rules that shape any deal in Chester: what a sale costs in tax, how buildings are taxed, what landlords must follow, and how to defer gains.
Chester Seller FAQ
What taxes apply when I sell commercial property in Chester, PA?
A Chester deed carries 2.5% in realty transfer tax: 1% to the state and 1.5% to Chester City, per the Delaware County Recorder of Deeds. On a $2,000,000 sale that totals $50,000. Annual property tax for 2026 is 28.9048 mills of assessed value.
Is there buyer demand if I sell commercial real estate in Chester, PA?
Chester has 7,527 renter households, 60.0% of occupied homes, per ACS 2020-2024. Rental vacancy is 3.4%. Widener University's 3,109 undergraduates support owners who sell multifamily property in Chester. Buildings with five or more units hold 17.1% of housing units.
How do Chester rents compare with HUD fair market rents?
Median gross rent in Chester is $1,091 a month, per ACS 2020-2024 estimates. HUD's FY2027 fair market rent for a two-bedroom in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington area is $1,860. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 62.9% of Chester renter households.
Do I need a rental license for a Chester apartment building?
Yes. Chester requires owners to register and license each rental unit under Chapter 442 of the city code, adopted in 2023. Licenses last three years. Code officers inspect each unit no more than once every three years unless a complaint is filed.
How does the Delaware County common level ratio change my tax estimate?
Pennsylvania's Revenue Department sets Delaware County's common level ratio factor at 1.83 from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. Dividing a $2,000,000 price by 1.83 gives about $1,092,896 assessed. At 28.9048 mills, Chester's yearly tax would be about $31,590.
Do I need to fix up my Chester building before selling?
No. We price in deferred maintenance, vacancy, and below-market rents ourselves, so you can sell the property as it stands.
Can I sell my Chester apartment building off-market?
Yes. We work directly with owners and through listing agents. Off-market conversations are confidential, and we coordinate tours so tenants and staff are not disrupted.
Is it possible to sell rental property in Chester without evicting tenants?
It is. We buy apartment buildings occupied, and tenants stay on their current leases. Skyline Capital Investments is a commercial real estate buyer of 5+ unit buildings, so occupied properties are the norm for us.
How fast can I sell my apartment building in Chester?
Most owners get clear feedback within 48 hours of sending the address, unit count, and a rent roll. Closing is typically set around your timeline, including extra time for a 1031 exchange.
Submit A Deal
Selling A Building In Chester?
A few details are enough to start. We respond to every Chester submission, including off-market and pocket listings.
