On the market: Philly townhouse with green roof deck for $419,000

Meagan Brackeen and her husband knew they wanted to move to South Philadelphia's Newbold neighborhood after years of renting in Center City and East Passyunk.

"We moved further south with each new rental and were drawn to South Philly," Brackeen said. "We loved the community and knew we wanted to live in Newbold."

In 2014, the couple was drawn to a new two-bedroom home there. Beyond the attraction of the neighborhood's newly rebuilt library, new park and burgeoning restaurant and coffee scene, Brackeen said, they also had transportation in mind.

"After years of paying for parking garages and dealing with street parking, the ease of having our own parking spot was definitely attractive," she said. "It's also very convenient being near SEPTA."

Because the home was newly built, she said, they were able to choose custom finishes for the property.

"We had a lot of fun picking out appliances and décor and customizing our new home," she said.

The customization included a finished basement in the 1,099-square-foot home, which the couple uses as a workout room and home office.

"We have been able to keep the renovations to a minimum," she said.

New construction also meant the property was LEED Platinum certified, recognizing sustainable elements including Energy Star appliances and utilities.

In addition to the custom spaces inside the home, Brackeen said, they enjoy spending time on the sustainable green roof deck.

"We have loved spending time up there, relaxing and enjoying lots of sunsets and views of Center City," she said. "It's also been fun to watch the succulents grow in throughout the space. They are gorgeous, but also low-maintenance."

The couple recently decided to relocate to ease their commutes, Brackeen said.

"We both currently have long commutes to work, so we decided to move to a more centralized location to cut down on time in the car," she said.

They expect new buyers will appreciate the growing neighborhood as well as the variety of attractions for young families, which they now appreciate as a family of three.

"Newbold has something for everyone. We've loved it as a young couple, and it's been so much fun exploring it as a family," she said. "It's a tough decision, because we love this home and this area, but we know someone else will treasure it as much as we do."

The property is listed with Kevin Barmann at Keller Williams for $419,000.