2026 taxable assessment $86,800 × 1.3998%. Estimate—not a bill or account balance.
OPA also publishes a 2027 assessment of $193,600; it is not the 2026 billed-year value.
House report
1539 E Cheltenham Ave
3 bd · 1 ba · 1 story · 1,186 sqft · RSA5 · built 1945
Owner-occupied · assessed $187K (2026) · 2027 OPA assessment $194K · sold 1×. On the 1500 block of E Cheltenham Ave.
Property summary
Assessment$186,8002026 OPA assessment · 2027: $193,600
Last sale$75KRecorded 2004
Est. tax bill$1,215/year2026 OPA · Homestead-adjusted
Tax delinquencyNo 2022 matchNot proof account is current
Permits0Every fetched City permit
Violations0 open2 historical across 1 case
“Open” reflects records available then historical records keep their source dates estimates are labeled
BlockReport AI · cited public records
Ask the questions this record raises.
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Property tax
The estimate, live balance, and back-tax record are different.
BlockReport can calculate the annual tax from the City’s taxable assessment. Payments, credits, interest, and a current amount due live separately in Philadelphia Tax Center.
A Tax Center balance is net of bills, payments, credits, interest, and adjustments. A credit—or an amount due—is not automatically “back taxes.”
OPA 6210849002026 OPA removes $100,000 from the taxable assessment through the owner-occupant exemption.
Historical delinquency sources No current conclusion
This parcel did not match the June 2022 delinquency snapshot. That absence does not confirm the account is current today.
For a purchase, refinance, or closing, request the City’s official Property Payoff statement in Tax Center under “More options.”
What stands out
From the public recordHistory
Why it matterssold $75K (2004); 2 L&I violations incl UNSAFE STRUCTURE (2022); Inspection failed (2022); Appeal complete (2025); Inspection passed (2025).
View supporting records →What to do with this
The record, translated into moves — what a buyer, the owner, and a landlord would each want to check next under Philadelphia's actual rules.
If you’re buying
Built 1945: lead rules apply
Federal law requires a lead-paint disclosure at sale for any pre-1978 home. If it will be rented, Philadelphia also requires a lead-safe or lead-free certificate before a rental license can issue.
Zoned RSA5: one household by right
Single-family rowhouse (the classic Philly row). Converting to a duplex or apartments needs a use variance the zoning board rarely grants — Pennsylvania courts require a physical hardship of the lot itself, and economics alone do not qualify.
Derived from the fetched property records and linked City guidance as of 2026. Assessment treatment is not a substitute for an exemption approval, live balance, title report, license, occupancy certificate, or inspection. Informational only — not legal, tax, or investment advice.
The investment read
How this house has moved and where it's pointed: the city's assessed value (not a listing price) over 12 years, charted against its block; appreciation is that history's pace, and the 5-year figure simply extends it. Yield estimates rent-vs-price from area rents. Ask the record to dig into any number.
Assessed value
$186,800
2026 billed-year assessment · 2027: $193,600 · built 1945
Price / sq ft
$163
block $156 · in line w/ block
Appreciation
+89%
+7%/yr, city 6.5%
In 5 years (~2031)
~$194K
+7%/yr own pace held 5 yrs — extrapolation, not a forecast
Est. tax bill / yr
$1,215
0.63% effective
Jun 2022 tax snapshot
No match
not proof the account is current
Gross yield
-4132231.4%
≈$-667M/mo rent
Times sold
1
Assessment vs. the block · every dated City record marked on the line
- OPA assessment · 2016$99K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2017$99K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2018$99K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2019$100K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2020$104K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2021$104K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2022$104K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2023$148K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2024$148K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2025$187K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- OPA assessment · 2026$187K assessed valueOPA’s value on the City tax roll for that year. It is not an appraisal, listing price, sale price, or live tax balance.How Philadelphia property assessments work ↗
- Deed / sale · 2004Deed / sale $75KA recorded real-estate document or transfer event. The amount and date can be useful history, but the underlying deed and transfer-tax filing control the parties, consideration, and legal effect.How to read the recorded document ↗
- L&I violation · 2022-01-12UNSAFE STRUCTUREA dated L&I enforcement row. Read the cited code, required correction, status, and later inspections together; the title alone does not establish the property’s current condition.How L&I violations and orders work ↗
- L&I violation · 2022-01-12EXTERIOR WALLSA dated L&I enforcement row. Read the cited code, required correction, status, and later inspections together; the title alone does not establish the property’s current condition.How L&I violations and orders work ↗
- Inspection · 2022-01-12L&I investigationA dated L&I visit or review. Its type describes the inspection program; the separate result and later rows show whether that visit passed, failed, or led to follow-up.What Philadelphia inspections check ↗
- Inspection · 2025-07-11L&I investigationA dated L&I visit or review. Its type describes the inspection program; the separate result and later rows show whether that visit passed, failed, or led to follow-up.What Philadelphia inspections check ↗
- Appeal · 2025-02-18LIRB Retaining WallA challenge or request reviewed through a City appeals process. Filing an appeal does not show who prevailed; read the decision, conditions, and related permit or violation.How Philadelphia L&I appeals work ↗
Assessment lineBlock median & rangeAssessmentDeed / saleL&I violationAppealInspection
Each icon sits on its recorded date; records without a day are labeled and centered within their year. Select one to explain the filing.
Highlight
Every dated record6 events · exact dates, newest first
- InspectionL&I investigation
- AppealLIRB Retaining Wall
- L&I violationUNSAFE STRUCTURE
- L&I violationEXTERIOR WALLS
- InspectionL&I investigation
- Deed / saleDeed / sale $75K
The paper trail
Historysold $75K (2004); 2 L&I violations incl UNSAFE STRUCTURE (2022); Inspection failed (2022); Appeal complete (2025); Inspection passed (2025).
- 2004 $75KSold
- 2022 2 L&I violations incl UNSAFE STRUCTUREL&IInspection failedL&I visit
- 2025 Appeal completeZoningInspection passedL&I visit
Records behind the chart
Browse the source ledger
The chart above is the primary timeline. This drawer preserves every underlying dated row and its filed status for source-level review.
Browse 6 dated records deeds, permits, inspections, licenses, violations, certifications & appeals
- InvestigationL&I investigation
Case CF-2022-002683 · PASSED
The cited inspection visit was marked passed.
- AppealLIRB Retaining Wall
Appeal HA-2022-000357 · Closed · Complete
See Attached
- ViolationUNSAFE STRUCTURE
Case CF-2022-002683 · Violation VI-2022-001761 · CLOSED
City marked the record closed; open the case for the closing reason.
- ViolationEXTERIOR WALLS
Case CF-2022-002683 · Violation VI-2022-001762 · CLOSED
City marked the record closed; open the case for the closing reason.
- InvestigationL&I investigation
Case CF-2022-002683 · FAILED
The cited inspection visit was marked failed; later rows may show follow-up or resolution.
- Recorded transfer$75K transfer
2004
What this record suggests
The dated deed and City-record sequence is assembled below. Read timing as a research lead, not proof of renovation, condition, or motive.
Flags: 1 zoning/board appeal on record. Informational only — not investment advice or a consumer report (FCRA).
The property, on paper
The city assessor's field record — the physical spec sheet behind the assessed number.
Bedrooms
3
Bathrooms
1
Stories
1
Interior
1,186 sqft
livable area
Lot
1,663 sqft
Basement
Partial, semi-finished
city code F
Heat
Hot water / radiators
city code B
Garage
1 space
Exterior condition
Average
city code 4
Above averageBelow average
Interior condition
Average
city code 4
Above averageBelow average
Quality grade
C
assessor's grade
ABCDE
Zoning
RSA5
city zoning code
Zoning appeals
1
Closed · Complete · 2025
OPA field-assessment attributes. Condition and grade are the assessor's codes, not an inspection.
Run the numbers
What owning 1539 E Cheltenham Ave takes, at your price and your rate. Taxes start with an annual estimate from the City’s taxable assessment, not a current bill or balance; rent starts at the area median. Assessed value is not an asking price — set the price slider to the real one.
When this house last sold (2004) a 30-year mortgage ran about 5.84% — Freddie Mac's average that year.
Mortgage
—
P&I · 30-yr fixed
All-in monthly
—
+ taxes & insurance
Cash to close
—
down + ~4% costs
Cash flow
—
rent − all costs · /mo
Cap rate
—
NOI ÷ price
Cash-on-cash
—
year-1 return on cash in
Estimates for orientation, not advice. Assumes a 30-year fixed loan, $1,400/yr insurance, 1% of price/yr maintenance; taxes use this parcel's taxable assessment, not a live Tax Center balance.
Block context
1539 E Cheltenham Ave sits on the 1500 block of E Cheltenham Ave. Open the block report to compare its parcels, ownership and public-record history.
See the whole block →Next door: 1537 E Cheltenham Ave · 1541 E Cheltenham Ave
Where this comes from
- Assessment, spec sheet & owner — OPA Property Assessments, Office of Property Assessment
- Sales & deed history — Realty Transfer Tax records, Recorder of Deeds
- Permits, violations & inspections — L&I Property History · Atlas
- Tax delinquency snapshot · June 2022 — Real Estate Tax Delinquencies, Dept. of Revenue
- Historical tax ledger & liens · through 2016 — Real Estate Tax Balances, Dept. of Revenue
- Current property-tax balance — Verify with Philadelphia Revenue
- Zoning appeals — L&I & Zoning Board appeals
- Neighborhood income & rents — US Census ACS 5-year estimates
- Historical mortgage rates — Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, annual averages
- Imagery — Street photo © Google · Aerial © Esri, Maxar
Methodology & freshness
This report was assembled Jul 10, 2026, 1:48 AM ET. Available City datasets are queried from OpenDataPhilly (phl.carto.com) and the cited City ArcGIS feeds; record queries paginate rather than silently taking a first page. For this property: Permits: queried · Violations: queried · Investigations: queried · Appeals: queried · Licenses: queried · Building certifications: queried. “Unavailable” means the source query failed or was not supplied, not “no record.” Reports re-pull on view after seven days and on an overnight rolling schedule; citywide benchmarks recompute weekly. Source dates still govern: the parcel-level tax-delinquency snapshot is June 2022 and the separate detailed tax ledger ends in 2016, so neither establishes today’s balance. The live balance and date-effective payoff must be verified in Tax Center. AI-written passages are grounded in the assembled record and rejected if they state a number the record does not hold.
Official city record ↗ · L&I history ↗ · See the whole block · Download this record (JSON)