By Josh McKnight | The McKnight Team
Narberth Borough Council is set to consider zoning changes in May that could meaningfully affect who can afford to live there and what kinds of housing get built. For anyone watching the Montgomery County real estate market, this is a story about supply, affordability, and what happens when a highly desirable small town tries to grow without losing what makes it desirable in the first place.
What Is Being Proposed
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Narberth Borough Council is set to consider zoning changes drafted by the planning commission, which would ease restrictions in two zoning districts near downtown and along Montgomery Avenue. The proposals would allow more housing types by right, permit buildings up to four or five stories if developers set aside 10% of units as affordable, and reduce parking minimums from one space per unit to 0.7 spaces for transit-connected buildings. Median home prices in Narberth climbed 32% between 2014 and 2023, and average rents nearly doubled since 2000.
These numbers are consistent with what the data shows right now. According to Bright MLS data from March 2026, the median closed sale price in Narberth over the past six months was $627,500, with homes spending a median of just 11 days on market. Homes are selling at an average of 102.36% of list price — meaning buyers are routinely going over asking. This is a competitive market with very little room for hesitation.
The proposed zoning changes are designed to add housing supply in a community where there is almost none. Supporters argue this grows the tax base, expands access to a well-served transit corridor, and creates some entry-level inventory in a market that has very little of it. Critics are concerned about density and parking. The outcome of the May vote will shape what Narberth looks like for the next generation of buyers.
What This Means for You
If you are a buyer who has been priced out of Narberth or watching from the sidelines, the proposed changes could eventually create more options. But that timeline is years away, not months. The market right now rewards buyers who move decisively. Homes in the Narberth real estate market do not wait.
If you are a current homeowner, the zoning conversation is worth following. More housing supply in any market eventually moderates price growth. That is not necessarily bad — a stable, sustainable market is better for long-term equity than a volatile one — but it is something to factor into your planning.
If you own an investment property or are considering one along the Montgomery Avenue corridor, zoning changes that allow greater density are typically positive for land values, even before a shovel goes in the ground.
The McKnight Team knows the Montgomery County real estate market well. You can explore the communities we serve at TheMcKnightTeam.com.
Thinking about buying or selling in Narberth or Montgomery County? Let’s talk.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/13/2026
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