{"asOf":"2026-07-25T16:59:42.135Z","block":"500-599 WATKINS ST","blockUrl":"https://philadelphia.blockreport.homes/block/500-599-watkins-st","address":"540 WATKINS ST","parcelNumber":"011376600","source":"https://property.phila.gov/?p=011376600","ownerType":"owner-occupied","kind":"house","isHouse":true,"home":true,"commercial":false,"residential":true,"taxExempt":false,"institutional":false,"buildingCode":"O30","buildingCodeNew":"22","buildingClass":"ROW 2 STY MASONRY","buildingClassNew":"ROW TYPICAL","useLabel":"House","owner":"CURRAN CASSIDEE","coOwner":null,"marketValue":239400,"landAssessment":47880,"improvementAssessment":191520,"livableArea":966,"yearBuilt":1920,"lastSale":{"price":239400,"date":"2022-02-22T05:00:00Z"},"openViolations":0,"violations":[{"number":"3109567","date":"2013-08-05","code":"PM-302.2/1","title":"EXT A-CLEAN/EXTERMINATE","status":"CLOSEDCASE","resolutionDate":null,"resolution":null},{"number":"3109568","date":"2013-08-05","code":"PM-302.2/2","title":"EXT A-CLEAN RUBBISH/GARBAGE","status":"CLOSEDCASE","resolutionDate":null,"resolution":null}],"violationCases":[{"number":"396010","type":"STANDARD","priority":"STANDARD","responsibility":"HCEU","status":"CLOSED","createdDate":"2013-08-07","completedDate":null,"violations":[{"number":"3109567","date":"2013-08-05","code":"PM-302.2/1","title":"EXT A-CLEAN/EXTERMINATE","status":"CLOSEDCASE","resolutionDate":null,"resolution":null},{"number":"3109568","date":"2013-08-05","code":"PM-302.2/2","title":"EXT A-CLEAN RUBBISH/GARBAGE","status":"CLOSEDCASE","resolutionDate":null,"resolution":null}]}],"violYears":[{"y":2013,"n":2,"worst":null}],"investigations":[{"caseNumber":"396010","date":"2013-08-05","type":"HCEU INSP","status":"FAILED"},{"caseNumber":"396010","date":"2013-11-05","type":"HCEU INSP","status":"FAILED"},{"caseNumber":"396010","date":"2013-12-16","type":"HCEU INSP","status":"CLOSED"},{"caseNumber":"396010","date":"2014-03-12","type":"PRECOURT","status":"FAILED"}],"inspYears":[{"y":2013,"fails":2,"passes":0},{"y":2014,"fails":1,"passes":0}],"taxOwed":0,"taxSnapshot":{"available":true,"asOf":"2022-06","matched":false},"taxDelinquencySnapshotAsOf":"2022-06","taxDelinquencySnapshotAvailable":true,"lat":39.9269594432411,"lng":-75.15533416475277,"geom":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[-75.155293656,39.927022707],[-75.155324309,39.926888831],[-75.155374141,39.926895424],[-75.155344772,39.927029635],[-75.155293656,39.927022707]]]},"liDistrict":"SOUTH","certifications":[],"cityRecordAvailability":{"violations":true,"investigations":true,"appeals":true,"certifications":true,"permits":true,"licenses":true},"zip":"19148","beds":2,"baths":1,"stories":2,"lotArea":700,"zoning":"RSA5","grade":"C","basement":"D","heater":"A","centralAir":false,"extCond":"4","intCond":"4","garage":null,"homestead":false,"mail":"540 WATKINS ST, PHILADELPHIA PA, 19148","mailOut":false,"appeals":[{"type":"Zoning board appeal","grounds":"PERMIT FOR AN ADDITION TO AN EXISTING ATTACHED SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING","status":"CLOSED","outcome":"Withdrawn","date":"2013-07-17","number":"20463","relatedPermit":"456656"}],"taxYears":[],"taxNet":0,"taxLien":false,"taxLedgerThrough":2016,"taxLedgerAvailable":true,"timesSold":2,"abated":false,"assessmentExemption":false,"exemptionBasisVerified":false,"valueSeries":[{"y":2016,"v":116500,"taxable":86500,"land":11270,"improvement":105230,"taxableLand":11270,"taxableImprovement":75230,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":30000},{"y":2017,"v":116500,"taxable":86500,"land":25980,"improvement":90520,"taxableLand":25980,"taxableImprovement":60520,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":30000},{"y":2018,"v":116500,"taxable":86500,"land":25980,"improvement":90520,"taxableLand":25980,"taxableImprovement":60520,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":30000},{"y":2019,"v":163600,"taxable":123600,"land":36484,"improvement":127116,"taxableLand":36484,"taxableImprovement":87116,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":40000},{"y":2020,"v":177300,"taxable":132300,"land":39539,"improvement":137761,"taxableLand":39539,"taxableImprovement":92761,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":45000},{"y":2021,"v":177300,"taxable":132300,"land":39539,"improvement":137761,"taxableLand":39539,"taxableImprovement":92761,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":45000},{"y":2022,"v":177300,"taxable":132300,"land":39539,"improvement":137761,"taxableLand":39539,"taxableImprovement":92761,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":45000},{"y":2023,"v":207700,"taxable":127700,"land":41540,"improvement":166160,"taxableLand":41540,"taxableImprovement":86160,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":80000},{"y":2024,"v":207700,"taxable":127700,"land":41540,"improvement":166160,"taxableLand":41540,"taxableImprovement":86160,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":80000},{"y":2025,"v":241800,"taxable":241800,"land":48360,"improvement":193440,"taxableLand":48360,"taxableImprovement":193440,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":0},{"y":2026,"v":241800,"taxable":241800,"land":48360,"improvement":193440,"taxableLand":48360,"taxableImprovement":193440,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":0},{"y":2027,"v":239400,"taxable":239400,"land":47880,"improvement":191520,"taxableLand":47880,"taxableImprovement":191520,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":0}],"taxNow":3385,"familyHeld":false,"lastTransferNominal":false,"permits":[{"number":"456662","date":"2013-03-04","work":"Demolition","type":"BP_DEMO","description":"DEMOLITION PERMIT","status":"COMPLETED","completedDate":"2014-05-08","scope":"REMOVAL OF KITCHEN, REMOVAL OF BATHROOM, REMOVAL OF VESTBULE, REMOVAL OF CARPET, REMOVAL OF BEDROOM CLOSET. 250 SQUARE FEET, INTERIOR DEMOLITION OF NON LOAD BEARING WALLS AND CEILINGS ONLY. NO OTHER WORK ALLOWED UNDER THIS PERMIT. SEPARATE PERMITS REQUIRED FOR RENOVATION."},{"number":"456661","date":"2013-05-09","work":"Major alteration","type":"BP_ALTER","description":"ALTERATION PERMIT","status":"EXPIRED","completedDate":"2015-07-28","scope":"RENOVATION OF THE SECOND FLOOR BATHROOM, THE UNDERPINNING OF THE REAR FOUNDATION WALL, THE ADDITION OF NEW CLOSET IN THE EXISTING SECOND FLOOR BEDROOM. NEW HARDWOOD FLOORS ON THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOORS, NEW STAIRTREADS, THE REMOVAL OF THE ENTRY VESTIBLE AND THE RENOVATION OF THE KITCHEN. SEPARATE PERMITS REQUIRED FOR ELECTRIC; PLUMBING AND MECHANICAL."},{"number":"473572","date":"2013-05-24","work":"Electrical","type":"EP_ELECTRL","description":"ELECTRICAL PERMIT","status":"COMPLETED","completedDate":null,"scope":"WIRE KITCHEN AND BATH INCLUDING NEW RECEPTACLES ON COUNTER, HOOK UP APPLIANCES, RUN DEDICATED 20AMP LINE AND INSTALL GFCI RECEPTACLES IN BATH PER 2008 NEC (SFD)"},{"number":"485691","date":"2013-07-26","work":"Plumbing","type":"PP_PLUMBNG","description":"PLUMBING PERMIT","status":"EXPIRED","completedDate":null,"scope":"RUFF IN 2ND FLOOR BATHROOM"},{"number":"PP-2024-003382","date":"2024-03-11","work":"Alterations","type":"Plumbing","description":"Plumbing Permit","status":"Completed","completedDate":"2024-04-05","scope":"curb trap and fresh air inlet"}],"storyTag":"Renovated & sold on","storyDelta":2.21,"timeline":[{"y":2013,"k":"sale","p":74500},{"y":2013,"k":"permit","w":"Demolition"},{"y":2013,"k":"permit","w":"Major alteration"},{"y":2013,"k":"permit","w":"Electrical"},{"y":2013,"k":"viol","w":"2 L&I violations"},{"y":2013,"k":"appeal","w":"Appeal withdrawn"},{"y":2013,"k":"permit","w":"Plumbing"},{"y":2013,"k":"insp","w":"Inspection failed ×2"},{"y":2014,"k":"insp","w":"Inspection failed"},{"y":2022,"k":"sale","p":239400},{"y":2024,"k":"permit","w":"Alterations"}],"rented":false,"licenses":[],"licenseActivity":[],"businessLicenseSourceDate":"2026-07-24","signals":[{"kind":"post-purchase-work","level":"watch","title":"Post-purchase work pattern","summary":"A recorded purchase followed by 1 permit event matches the early part of a renovate-and-resell sequence.","evidence":["purchase recorded in 2022","permit activity in 2024"],"caveat":"This does not show that the property is listed or that a sale is planned."}],"legalChecks":[{"id":"use-occupancy","level":"attention","title":"Zoning approval is not the occupancy file","finding":"Appeal #20463: CLOSED · Withdrawn; related permit 456656.","why":"Philadelphia says a zoning approval or Property Sales Certification can identify a use without proving that it was established under the Building Code. A change of use, unit count, exits, or fire rating can require a Building Permit and Certificate of Occupancy.","action":"Verify the lawful use, unit count, associated construction permits, and Certificate of Occupancy with L&I.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/get-a-certificate/get-a-certificate-of-occupancy/"},{"id":"permit-status","level":"attention","title":"A permit row needs file-level verification","finding":"2 permits not marked completed: 456661 (EXPIRED), 485691 (EXPIRED). At least one row also carries a completion date, so the City fields conflict.","why":"Issued work is not the same as approved final work. L&I uses final inspections and required certifications to close construction permits; expired, withdrawn, and completed are different City statuses.","action":"Open the permit file and confirm final inspections, holds, and any resulting occupancy certificate.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/inspections-by-permit-type/"},{"id":"investigations","level":"verify","title":"Failed inspections are dated events—not the current condition","finding":"3 failed, 0 passed, and 1 CLOSED investigation outcome are in the fetched history; the latest dated visit was FAILED on Mar 12, 2014.","why":"A PASSED or FAILED value applies to that inspection visit. CLOSED is a separate source status; none of the three alone proves the parent permit or violation case closed—or describes today’s condition.","action":"Open the parent case/permit for each material failure and confirm its later disposition.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/inspections-by-permit-type/"},{"id":"violations","level":"clear","title":"No open violation; closed history remains relevant","finding":"The fetched record shows 0 open and 2 historical violations across 1 case.","why":"A closed case is materially better than an open one, but it does not by itself prove that every altered use, unit, or concealed condition matches today’s approvals.","action":"Use the closed cases to target the inspection and occupancy-file review.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/inspections/violation-and-order-types/"}],"closingChecks":[{"title":"Property Sales Certification","body":"The seller must obtain Philadelphia’s certificate showing the base zoning, last use in the zoning record, and open violations. The City warns that it does not prove Building Code occupancy or show zoning overlays.","action":"Obtain the fresh certificate and compare it with the CO, permits, and Atlas overlays.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/get-a-certificate/get-a-property-sales-certification/"},{"title":"Date-effective City Property Payoff","body":"The Tax Center Property Payoff covers Real Estate Tax, Commercial Trash, and L&I abatement-work invoices. Philadelphia says it does not include business-tax debts or liens, water and sewer charges, or fines for code violations.","action":"Request the City statement effective through settlement; read every period and invoice.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/guides/philadelphia-tax-center/what-to-do/"},{"title":"Professional title and water-lien searches","body":"OPA ownership, deed summaries, and a zero tax balance are not clear title. Mortgages, judgments, municipal claims, water liens, easements, heirs, and other encumbrances require separate searches.","action":"Use a Pennsylvania lawyer/title company and obtain owner’s title insurance; order the separate water search/payoff.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/2026-04-07-why-title-insurance-is-your-best-friend-when-buying-a-home-in-philadelphia/","secondaryUrl":"https://www.phila.gov/services/water-gas-utilities/pay-or-dispute-a-water-bill/resolve-water-liens-judgments/"},{"title":"Seller-specific tax relief is not the buyer’s bill","body":"LOOP and low-income or senior Real Estate Tax freezes depend on the qualifying owner and continued program eligibility; a buyer cannot assume the seller’s capped or frozen bill continues. A separately verified property abatement often remains with the property for its remaining term, but program-specific new-owner filing, use, and tax-compliance conditions still must be confirmed—not inferred from the reduced assessment alone.","action":"Have Revenue or OPA identify every current benefit, model the buyer’s bill without seller-specific relief, and confirm any verified abatement in writing.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/services/payments-assistance-taxes/payment-plans-and-assistance-programs/income-based-programs-for-residents/apply-for-the-longtime-owner-occupants-program-loop/","secondaryUrl":"https://www.phila.gov/services/payments-assistance-taxes/taxes/property-and-real-estate-taxes/get-real-estate-tax-relief/tax-freeze/"},{"title":"Seller disclosure and independent inspections","body":"For a covered Pennsylvania residential transfer, obtain the statutory seller disclosure. It reports the seller’s knowledge; it is not a warranty, title search, code review, or substitute for inspections. Because OPA dates this building before 1978, separately obtain the required federal/City lead disclosures and any test results.","action":"Have the agreement and disclosure reviewed for this transaction’s coverage and exceptions.","url":"https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/real-estate-commission"}]}