House report

4255 Castor Ave

3 bd · 1 ba · 2 stories · 1,380 sqft · RM1 · built 1925

Owner-occupied · assessed $166K (2026) · 2027 OPA assessment $176K · sold 2×. On the 4200 block of Castor Ave.

Property summary

“Open” reflects records available then historical records keep their source dates estimates are labeled

BlockReport AI · cited public records

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Street view of 4255 Castor Ave
From the street — imagery © Google
From above — imagery © Esri, Maxar

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.

Estimated annual Real Estate Tax$924/year

2026 taxable assessment $66,000 × 1.3998%. Estimate—not a bill or account balance.

OPA also publishes a 2027 assessment of $176,000; it is not the 2026 billed-year value.

Official current account balanceCheck live

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 332519000
Open Philadelphia Tax Center →Choose “View period balance” to see the tax year and any credit, interest, or delinquency.
Exemption classificationHomestead exemption

2026 OPA removes $100,000 from the taxable assessment through the owner-occupant exemption.

Historical delinquency sources Record found

This parcel did not match the June 2022 delinquency snapshot. That absence does not confirm the account is current today.

A separate historical parcel ledger ending in 2016 records $19.68 and a lien entry. It is shown as historical context only.

2009$19.68 total · $0.00 principal · $0.00 interest · $0.00 penalty

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 record

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 1925: 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.

If you own it

$20 in the historical tax ledger through 2016

Historical context only, not a current payoff figure; that ledger also contains a lien entry. Verify today's balance and lien status directly with Philadelphia Revenue before relying on it.

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: every fetched annual City assessment, charted against its block and ZIP; appreciation includes the full-period compound rate and the latest year-over-year change. The 5-year figure simply extends that historical pace. Yield estimates rent-vs-price from area rents. Ask the record to dig into any number.

Assessed value
$166,000
2026 billed-year assessment · 2027: $176,000 · built 1925
Price / sq ft
$128
block $128 · in line w/ block
Appreciation
+99%
+6%/yr since 2016 · 2027 +6% vs 2026
In 5 years (~2032)
~$241K
+6%/yr own pace held 5 yrs — extrapolation, not a forecast
Est. tax bill / yr
$924
0.53% effective
Jun 2022 tax snapshot
No match
not proof the account is current
Gross yield
4.7%
≈$690/mo rent
Times sold
2

Assessment vs. the block and ZIP · every dated City record marked on the line

$0$125K$250KZIP 19124 median$176K200220072012201720222027
Property assessmentBlock median & rangeZIP 19124 medianAssessmentDeed / saleL&I violationInspection

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 record22 events · exact dates, newest first
  1. InspectionCSUINITIAL
  2. InspectionHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)
  3. L&I violationLICENSE-VAC RES BLDG (vacant residential building license required)
  4. Deed / saleDeed / sale $9K
  5. Deed / saleDeed / sale $12K
  6. InspectionHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)
  7. InspectionCSUINITIAL
  8. L&I violationFLOOR/CEILING PARTIALLY COLL
  9. L&I violationWALL LOOSE/MISS BRICKS
  10. L&I violationVACANT BLDG UNSEC/UNSAFE CSU
  11. L&I violationWALL PARTIALLY COLLAPSED
  12. InspectionCSUINITIAL
  13. InspectionHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)
  14. L&I violationLICENSE-VAC RES BLDG (vacant residential building license required)
  15. L&I violationVACANT PROP UNSAFE
  16. L&I violationPROSECUTION INFO
  17. L&I violationVACANT PROP STANDARD (likely: vacant-property enforcement standard)
  18. L&I violationVACANT BLDG UNSECURED COUNT
  19. L&I violationPROSEC- EMERG IMMED RI
  20. InspectionL_ENCAPS_I
  21. InspectionL_INITIAL
  22. InspectionL_INITIAL

The paper trail

Traded 2×: $9K in 2011 → $12K in 2011 (+41%).

  1. 2009 11 L&I violations incl VACANT PROP UNSAFEL&IInspection failed ×5L&I visit
  2. 2010 L&I: 1 failed, 1 passedL&I visit
  3. 2011 $9KSold$12KSold
  4. 2013 L&I violationL&IInspection failed ×2L&I visit
  5. 2015 Inspection passedL&I visit

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.

Open the City record ↗
Browse 25 dated records deeds, permits, inspections, licenses, violations, certifications & appeals
  1. InvestigationCSUINITIAL

    Case 217089 · PASSED

    The cited inspection visit was marked passed.

  2. InvestigationHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)

    Case 380485 · CLOSED

    A legacy L&I inspection label. The unit inspected housing for property-maintenance, fire-prevention, and related code compliance; the separate status says how that visit ended. City marked the record closed; open the case for the closing reason.

  3. InvestigationHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)

    Case 380485 · FAILED

    A legacy L&I inspection label. The unit inspected housing for property-maintenance, fire-prevention, and related code compliance; the separate status says how that visit ended. The cited inspection visit was marked failed; later rows may show follow-up or resolution.

  4. ViolationLICENSE-VAC RES BLDG (vacant residential building license required)

    Case 380485 · Violation 2907087 · Code PM-102.4/2 · CLOSEDCASE

    This usually records a requirement to obtain a Vacant Structure License for an unoccupied residential building. Check later license and compliance rows because it does not establish present vacancy or an unresolved violation. City marked the case closed; that does not mean the original condition never existed.

  5. Recorded transfer$9K transfer

    2011

  6. Recorded transfer$12K transfer

    2011

  7. InvestigationHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)

    Case 210882 · PASSED

    A legacy L&I inspection label. The unit inspected housing for property-maintenance, fire-prevention, and related code compliance; the separate status says how that visit ended. The cited inspection visit was marked passed.

  8. InvestigationCSUINITIAL

    Case 217089 · FAILED

    The cited inspection visit was marked failed; later rows may show follow-up or resolution.

  9. ViolationFLOOR/CEILING PARTIALLY COLL

    Case 217089 · Violation 1585786 · Code PM-307.1/6 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  10. ViolationWALL LOOSE/MISS BRICKS

    Case 217089 · Violation 1585785 · Code PM-307.1/10 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  11. ViolationVACANT BLDG UNSEC/UNSAFE CSU

    Case 217089 · Violation 1585784 · Code PM-307.1/19 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  12. ViolationWALL PARTIALLY COLLAPSED

    Case 217089 · Violation 1585783 · Code PM-307.1/12 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  13. InvestigationHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)

    Case 210882 · FAILED

    A legacy L&I inspection label. The unit inspected housing for property-maintenance, fire-prevention, and related code compliance; the separate status says how that visit ended. The cited inspection visit was marked failed; later rows may show follow-up or resolution.

  14. ViolationLICENSE-VAC RES BLDG (vacant residential building license required)

    Case 210882 · Violation 1474487 · Code PM-102.4/2 · COMPEXCP

    This usually records a requirement to obtain a Vacant Structure License for an unoccupied residential building. Check later license and compliance rows because it does not establish present vacancy or an unresolved violation.

  15. ViolationVACANT PROP UNSAFE

    Case 210882 · Violation 1474486 · Code PM-307.1/1 · COMPEXCP

  16. ViolationPROSECUTION INFO

    Case 210882 · Violation 1474485 · Code A-503.1/1 · COMPEXCP

  17. InvestigationHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)

    Case 193396 · FAILED

    A legacy L&I inspection label. The unit inspected housing for property-maintenance, fire-prevention, and related code compliance; the separate status says how that visit ended. The cited inspection visit was marked failed; later rows may show follow-up or resolution.

  18. InvestigationHCEU INSP (Housing Code Enforcement Unit inspection)

    Case 193396 · CLOSED

    A legacy L&I inspection label. The unit inspected housing for property-maintenance, fire-prevention, and related code compliance; the separate status says how that visit ended. City marked the record closed; open the case for the closing reason.

  19. ViolationLICENSE-VAC RES BLDG (vacant residential building license required)

    Case 193396 · Violation 1305854 · Code PM-102.4/2 · COMPLIED

    This usually records a requirement to obtain a Vacant Structure License for an unoccupied residential building. Check later license and compliance rows because it does not establish present vacancy or an unresolved violation. City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  20. ViolationVACANT PROP STANDARD (likely: vacant-property enforcement standard)

    Case 193396 · Violation 1305852 · Code PM-306.0/1 · COMPLIED

    A legacy L&I label associated with vacant-property requirements. It may concern licensing, securing, or maintaining a vacant structure; the notice and cited code control, and this row alone does not prove the property is vacant now. City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  21. ViolationVACANT BLDG UNSECURED COUNT

    Case 193396 · Violation 1305853 · Code PM-306.2/1 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  22. ViolationPROSEC- EMERG IMMED RI

    Case 193396 · Violation 1305851 · Code A-503.1/2 · COMPLIED

    City marked this violation complied with; check the resolution date and live case for what was accepted.

  23. InvestigationL_ENCAPS_I

    Case 18405 · PASSED

    The cited inspection visit was marked passed.

  24. InvestigationL_INITIAL

    Case 3195 · CLOSED

    City marked the record closed; open the case for the closing reason.

  25. InvestigationL_INITIAL

    Case 3195 · FAILED

    The cited inspection visit was marked failed; later rows may show follow-up or resolution.

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: historical tax ledger through 2016 recorded $20 with a lien entry. 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
2
Interior
1,380 sqft
livable area
Lot
930 sqft
Basement
Partial, semi-finished
city code F
Central air
No
Garage
1 space
Exterior condition
Average
city code 4
Interior condition
Average
city code 4
Quality grade
C
assessor's grade
Zoning
RM1
city zoning code

OPA field-assessment attributes. Condition and grade are the assessor's codes, not an inspection.

Run the numbers

What owning 4255 Castor 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.

$176K
20%
6.875%
$700/mo

When this house last sold (2011) a 30-year mortgage ran about 4.45% — 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

4255 Castor Ave sits on the 4200 block of Castor Ave. Open the block report to compare its parcels, ownership and public-record history.

See the whole block →

Next door: 4253 Castor Ave  ·  4257 Castor Ave

Where this comes from

Methodology & freshness

This report was assembled Jul 10, 2026, 1:38 PM 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)