2026 assessment
$413K
OPA value, not a listing price
House report
1638 S 21st St
3 bd2 ba2 stories1,816 sqftRSA5built 1925
Property at a glanceHouse
Owner-occupancy signal
ZIP 19145 area
Girard Estate · South Philadelphia
1600 block of S 21st St
Assessment and City record timeline
Published City assessments for this house against its block and ZIP. Dated City filings are marked on the same line. Select one to read it. Assessments are tax-roll values, not sale prices or appraisals.
- OPA assessment · 2016$87K 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$87K 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$250K 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$310K 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$334K 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$334K 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$334K 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$429K 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$429K 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$413K 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$413K 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 · 2027$341K 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 · 2003Deed / sale $25KA 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 ↗
- Deed / sale · 2004Deed / sale $36KA 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 ↗
- Deed / sale · 2007Deed / sale $110KA 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 ↗
- Deed / sale · 2015Deed / sale $87KA 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 ↗
- Deed / sale · 2017Deed / sale $288KA 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 ↗
- Deed / sale · 2021Deed / sale $400KA 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 ↗
- Permit · 2016-01-21AlterationThis permit category usually covers construction, repair, alteration, addition, or occupancy work. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2016-04-08ElectricalThis permit category usually covers electrical installation, alteration, replacement, or repair. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2016-05-12PlumbingThis permit category usually covers water, drainage, fixtures, or other plumbing work. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2016-06-06UseThis permit category usually covers the property’s allowed use, dimensions, occupancy, or site configuration. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2016-06-08MechanicalThis permit category usually covers construction, repair, alteration, addition, or occupancy work. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- Permit · 2016-11-15AdministrativeThis permit category usually covers construction, repair, alteration, addition, or occupancy work. The approved scope—not the short category—defines what was authorized, and issuance alone does not prove completion.Philadelphia construction and repair permits ↗
- License · 2016-03-28MOUNT AIRY HOMES: Vacant Residential Property / Lot landlord or residential registration initially issuedA City license record tied to an activity or property use. Its issue, expiration, inactive, and status fields—not the category alone—show what was recorded for this date.Philadelphia L&I licenses and property records ↗
- License · 2017-05-26MOUNT AIRY HOMES: Vacant Residential Property / Lot landlord or residential registration marked inactiveA City license record tied to an activity or property use. Its issue, expiration, inactive, and status fields—not the category alone—show what was recorded for this date.Philadelphia L&I licenses and property records ↗
- License · 2006-10-31KELLAM KIM: Rental landlord or residential registration initially issuedA City license record tied to an activity or property use. Its issue, expiration, inactive, and status fields—not the category alone—show what was recorded for this date.Philadelphia L&I licenses and property records ↗
- License · 2012-12-22KELLAM KIM: Rental landlord or residential registration marked inactiveA City license record tied to an activity or property use. Its issue, expiration, inactive, and status fields—not the category alone—show what was recorded for this date.Philadelphia L&I licenses and property records ↗
Property assessmentBlock median & rangeZIP 19145 (Girard Estate · South Philadelphia) medianAssessmentDeed / salePermitLicense
Scroll horizontally to move through the years. 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 record16 events · exact dates, newest first
- Deed / saleDeed / sale $400K
- LicenseMOUNT AIRY HOMES: Vacant Residential Property / Lot landlord or residential registration marked inactive
- Deed / saleDeed / sale $288K
- PermitAdministrative
- PermitMechanical
- PermitUse
- PermitPlumbing
- PermitElectrical
- LicenseMOUNT AIRY HOMES: Vacant Residential Property / Lot landlord or residential registration initially issued
- PermitAlteration
- Deed / saleDeed / sale $87K
- LicenseKELLAM KIM: Rental landlord or residential registration marked inactive
- Deed / saleDeed / sale $110K
- LicenseKELLAM KIM: Rental landlord or residential registration initially issued
- Deed / saleDeed / sale $36K
- Deed / saleDeed / sale $25K
Flags: material assessment exemption; legal basis and term unverified · historical tax ledger through 2016 recorded $301 with a lien entry. Informational only. Not investment advice or a consumer report (FCRA).
Verify the public record
Property tax
$1,991/year estimated property tax
2026 taxable assessment $142,210 × 1.3998%. This is an estimate, not a bill or account balance. The City maintains payments, credits, interest, and the current amount due.
OPA has published a 2027 assessment of $340,500. It is not the 2026 billed-year value.
Payments, credits, interest, and the current amount due are maintained by the City.
OPA 3632753002026 OPA taxes $142,210 of $413,400 assessed. The assessment fields alone do not identify a program, approval date, expiration, or buyer eligibility.
See the assessment math →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 $300.70 and a lien entry. It is shown as historical context only.
2016$300.70 total · $164.03 principal · $2.46 interest · $1.64 penalty
For a purchase, refinance, or closing, request the City’s official Property Payoff statement in Tax Center under “More options.”
The assessment exemption gap
OPA's 2026 roll shows a partial assessment exemption. The annual difference is measurable; the reason for it and what happens after a sale are not established here.
$142,210 taxable basis
Difference to verify+$3,796/year
$413,400 scenario basis
The assessment roll does not identify
- Legal basis or program
- Approval or expiration date
- Treatment after a sale
- Current Tax Center balance
Show the assessment math
2026: ($413,400 assessed − $271,190 exempt) × 1.3998% ≈ $1,991/year
Full-assessment scenario: $413,400 × 1.3998% ≈ $5,787/year
Do not treat the full-assessment scenario as inevitable or assume the current relief transfers. Obtain the approval history and verify the live Tax Center account before relying on either number.
The property, on paper
OPA physical field record.
Bedrooms
3
Bathrooms
2
Stories
2
Interior
1,816 sqft
livable area
Lot
1,088 sqft
Basement
Full, finished
city code A
Heat
Forced hot air
city code A
Central air
Yes
Exterior condition
Above average
city code 3
Above averageBelow average
Interior condition
Above average
city code 3
Above averageBelow average
Quality grade
C
assessor's grade
ABCDE
Zoning
RSA5
city zoning code
OPA field-assessment attributes. Condition and grade are the assessor's codes, not an inspection.
Block context
1600 block of S 21st St. Compare parcels, ownership, and public-record history.
See the whole block →Next door: 1636 S 21st St · 1640 S 21st St
L&I license dates · data through Jul 28, 2026
Business licenses at this address Latest pull
What L&I has registered at this OPA parcel, newest initial license date first.
No L&I business license is on record at this address in data through Jul 28, 2026.
Landlord and residential filings
These are property registrations or landlord filings, not businesses operating at this address.
MOUNT AIRY HOMESInactive
Vacant Residential Property / Lot · Initial issue date Mar 28, 2016 · Terminal license date May 26, 2017
KELLAM KIMInactive
Rental · Initial issue date Oct 31, 2006 · Terminal license date Dec 22, 2012
A license is an L&I registration, not proof that a business is open, operating today, or located at this storefront. Dates are license dates. Events are deduped by parcel, business identity, and license type, so a renewal is not shown as another opening. Other permit and filing types remain in the full source ledger.
Open every source row 16 dated rows
- Recorded transfer$400K transfer
2021
- License terminal eventMOUNT AIRY HOMES: Vacant Residential Property / Lot landlord or residential registration marked inactive
License 697733 · Inactive
License event. Registration does not prove present operation or storefront occupancy.
- Recorded transfer$288K transfer
2017
- PermitAdministrative
Permit 736975 · COMPLETED
AN ADMENDMENT TO AP#664885, TO REFLECT ACTUAL COST OF IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING; NEW ROOF, NEW WALL FINISHES, WINDOWS AND DOORS REPLACED THROUGHOUT, NEW FLOOR FINISHES, TO AN AMOUNT OF $55,000.00. NO WORK PERFORMED THROUGH THIS PERMIT.
- PermitMechanical
Permit 694419 · COMPLETED
INSTALL 1 HVAC UNIT WITH DUCTWORK (SFD)
- PermitUse
Permit 697623 · COMPLETED
CONVERT A 2 FAMILY HOUSE TO A 1 FAMILY HOUSE.
- PermitPlumbing
Permit 691528 · COMPLETED
ROUGH IN 2 - 1/2 BATHS, & KITCHEN SINK - THE INSTALLATION WILL COMPY WITH THE PHILADELPHIA PLUMBING CODE 2004
- PermitElectrical
Permit 682746 · COMPLETED
INSTALLATION OF A NEW 200AMP SERVICE AND REWIRE THROUGHOUT (SFD)SOUTH DISTRICT
- License issue eventMOUNT AIRY HOMES: Vacant Residential Property / Lot landlord or residential registration initially issued
License 697733 · Inactive
License event. Registration does not prove present operation or storefront occupancy.
- PermitAlteration
Permit 664885 · COMPLETED
EZ PERMIT STADARD ALTERATIONS- FOR ALTERATIONS TO AN EXISTING ONE FAMILY DWELLING AS PER ATTACHED STANDARD. DEVIATIONS FROM THIS STANDARD WILL RESULT IN PERMIT REVOCATION AND REQUIRE SUBMISSION OF CONSTRUCTION PLANS.
- Recorded transfer$87K transfer
2015
- License terminal eventKELLAM KIM: Rental landlord or residential registration marked inactive
License 389642 · Inactive
License event. Registration does not prove present operation or storefront occupancy.
- Recorded transfer$110K transfer
2007
- License issue eventKELLAM KIM: Rental landlord or residential registration initially issued
License 389642 · Inactive
License event. Registration does not prove present operation or storefront occupancy.
- Recorded transfer$36K transfer
2004
- Recorded transfer$25K transfer
2003
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 29, 2026, 9:05 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)