Delaware County Multifamily Buyer
Sell Your Commercial Property In Delaware County, PA
Delaware County borders Philadelphia to the southwest and includes Chester, Upper Darby, Media, and Havertown, along with Philadelphia International Airport. Its apartment market spans older walk-ups and garden complexes in inner-ring suburbs and rowhouse-heavy blocks in Chester.
- 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
Cities We Cover: Chester · Upper Darby — County seat: Media
Delaware County
Where We Buy In Delaware County
We evaluate apartment buildings of 5+ units across Delaware County — in each city below, plus smaller towns and unincorporated areas countywide.
Local Market Data
Delaware County Apartment Market
Figures gathered October 2026 from public market data.
If you plan to sell commercial property in Delaware County, PA, start with the renter base. Delaware County counts 65,930 renter households, 30.4% of occupied homes, per the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey. Chester and Upper Darby push that concentration higher still, with Chester's renter share reaching 60.0% of households.
Apartment demand backs that up. Some 35,359 Delaware County housing units, 15.4% of the stock, sit in buildings with five or more units. Median gross rent reached $1,372, up 27.3% from the 2015-2019 survey, while rental vacancy holds at a tight 4.8% across Delaware County.
A $89,546 median household income
Delaware County household income rose 20.2% to $89,546 between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 ACS surveys.Chester's 60.0% renter share
Chester city's renter households make up 60.0% of its occupied homes, the highest share among Delaware County's covered cities.A 7.0% gain in apartment stock
Delaware County units in buildings of five or more units grew 7.0%, adding roughly 2,300 units since 2015-2019.Who rents in Delaware County
Renters head 65,930 of the 216,946 occupied households in Delaware County, a 30.4% share in the 2020-2024 ACS. Owners hold the larger 151,016-household majority. Chester and Upper Darby anchor the county's renter pool.
Chester's renter share reaches 60.0% of its households, the highest in the comparison table below. Upper Darby follows at 42.5%, well above the Delaware County average. Both townships sit inside the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro.
Rents, growth and affordability
Delaware County's median gross rent rose 27.3%, from $1,078 to $1,372, between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 surveys. Household income grew faster, up 20.2% to $89,546, while population rose a modest 2.6% to 579,222 residents.
Renter households grew only 1.9% in Delaware County, adding about 1,235 households. Units in 5+ unit buildings grew faster, up 7.0%, adding roughly 2,300 units. Rent burden remains high: 54.9% of Delaware County renters paid 30% or more of income on gross rent in 2020-2024.
HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington area is $1,860, effective October 1, 2026, a full $488 above Delaware County's median gross rent.
City-by-city comparison
Chester and Upper Darby show how renter concentration varies within Delaware County. Chester posts the lower rent and higher renter share; Upper Darby runs a larger population with a mid-range renter share.
| City | Median gross rent | Renter share | Share of units in 5+ buildings | Rental vacancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester | $1,091 | 60.0% | 17.1% | 3.4% |
| Upper Darby | $1,328 | 42.5% | 18.1% | 5.2% |
Chester's 3.4% rental vacancy sits below the 4.8% Delaware County rate, pointing to tight supply against a large renter base. Upper Darby's 5.2% vacancy runs slightly looser, with rent $237 above Chester's figure.
Property taxes and assessment in Delaware County
Delaware County assesses apartment buildings and other real property under its own base-year system, like each of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. Assessed value is typically adjusted by a common-level ratio rather than reset to current market value every year.
Pennsylvania also levies a state realty transfer tax on real estate sales, administered by the PA Department of Revenue, on top of a separate local transfer tax set by the county or municipality. Confirm Delaware County's current assessment and transfer-tax figures with the county assessor before you price a sale.
What this means if you sell in Delaware County
When you sell commercial property in Delaware County, PA, you sell into a renter-heavy market in Chester and Upper Darby but a more owner-leaning county overall, at 30.4% renters countywide. Rental vacancy near 4.8% means buyers will scrutinize your rent roll for upside room.
Pennsylvania sets no statewide rent control, and security deposits are capped at two months' rent in the first lease year under state law, so buyers underwrite turnover costs against that ceiling. As a multifamily buyer in Delaware County, we review 5+ unit buildings from Chester to Upper Darby as they stand today, pricing off your current rent roll and T-12.
Local Knowledge
Selling Multifamily In Pennsylvania
What we factor into every Delaware County offer:
More about Pennsylvania →- Delaware County rental vacancy sits at 4.8%; show trailing occupancy to support your asking price.
- PA security deposits cap at two months' rent in year one, one month after, due back within 30 days.
- Confirm Delaware County's base-year assessment ratio with the county assessor before pricing a sale.
- Pennsylvania adds a state realty transfer tax plus a separate local transfer tax at closing.
Property Tax
Property Tax In Delaware County For Apartment Owners
Homeowners in Delaware County pay a median of $6,124 a year in property tax on a median home value of $332,200, an effective rate of about 1.84%, according to the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey. That is above the Pennsylvania statewide average of 1.26%.
How property tax works in Pennsylvania: classes, assessment and appeals →Estimate a building’s tax bill with the property tax calculator →
- Those figures describe owner-occupied homes. An apartment building can be assessed on a different basis or in a different class, so its bill as a share of value may differ.
- A sale can reset the assessed value. Before you price a Delaware County building, check how Pennsylvania reassesses property after a transfer and model the buyer’s new tax bill.
- Pull the actual tax bill from the Delaware County assessor or tax collector. City, school and special-district levies stack on top of the county rate.
Seller Guides
Selling A Building In Delaware County
Learn More
Taxes & Rules For Delaware County Property
The Pennsylvania rules that shape any deal in Delaware County: what a sale costs in tax, how buildings are taxed, what landlords must follow, and how to defer gains.
Our Buy Box
What We Buy In Delaware County
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.
How Selling To Us Works
- 01
Submit The Deal
Send the address, unit count, asking price, and a rent roll or T-12 if you have them.
- 02
Initial Review
We review it against our buy box and give clear feedback — typically within 48 hours.
- 03
Underwriting & LOI
If it fits, we underwrite in detail and submit a written letter of intent.
- 04
Diligence & Close
Inspections and financing on the agreed timeline, then a professional, predictable closing.
Delaware County Seller FAQ
How much have rents risen in Delaware County, PA?
Median gross rent in Delaware County rose from $1,078 in the 2015-2019 survey to $1,372 in 2020-2024, a 27.3% gain. Household income grew 20.2% over the same span. HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the area is $1,860.
What is the renter vacancy rate in Delaware County?
Rental vacancy in Delaware County was 4.8% in the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey. Chester posted a tighter 3.4% rate, while Upper Darby ran slightly higher at 5.2%. Both sit within the broader Philadelphia metro market.
Does Delaware County have rent control?
No. Pennsylvania has no statewide rent control statute, and no municipality in Delaware County currently imposes rent control on apartment buildings. Owners and buyers set rents through lease terms and local market conditions instead.
How are apartment buildings taxed in Delaware County, PA?
Delaware County assesses apartment buildings under its own base-year system, like all 67 Pennsylvania counties, often applying a common-level ratio rather than current market value. Pennsylvania also adds a state realty transfer tax plus a local transfer tax at sale.
How do I sell commercial property in Delaware County, PA?
Send the address, unit count, and any financials. We review Delaware County apartment buildings of 5+ units, give feedback typically within 48 hours, and follow with a written letter of intent if it fits.
Do you buy apartment buildings throughout Delaware County?
Yes. We evaluate multifamily properties across Delaware County, including Chester and Upper Darby, as well as smaller towns and unincorporated areas. Every property is reviewed on its own fundamentals.
What size Delaware County properties do you buy?
Apartment buildings and income-producing residential properties with 5 or more units. Our sweet spot is 15–25 units, and we review larger communities with capital partners.
Will you buy a property that needs work or has high vacancy?
Yes. We underwrite value-add, mismanaged, and distressed properties as they are today — no repairs or lease-up required before selling.
Who buys occupied rental property in Delaware County?
We do. Skyline Capital Investments is a commercial real estate buyer of 5+ unit multifamily, and we buy apartment buildings with tenants in place, including properties with below-market rents.
What do I need to sell my apartment building in Delaware County?
An address and unit count are enough to start. A current rent roll and trailing twelve-month statement let us move to a written offer faster.
How do property taxes factor into a Delaware County offer?
Property is assessed at the county level (the county seat is Media), within Pennsylvania rules. Pennsylvania assessment practices vary by county, and realty transfer taxes include both state and local portions. We account for both when structuring an offer.
Submit A Deal
Have A Property In Delaware County?
Tell us about it. Owners, agents, brokers, and deal finders are all welcome — conversations are confidential.
