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n 2022, Diane Lilli's life took a dramatic turn when she fell and suffered a near-fatal injury, forcing her into surgery and months of recovery. The experience left her with a newfound sense of urgency to make a change in her life. Ms. Lilli, 67, had been living in Nutley, New Jersey, since 2019 to be closer to her daughter's high school, but she knew it wouldn't be her forever home.

    Before her health scare, she'd been searching for a new apartment in New York City with her $350,000 budget, but couldn't find anything she liked. After recovering, she refocused her search and "broke up with New York," considering alternative options. Paris was initially on the table, but she soon realized it was too far from her children, who were now living in NYC.

    Ms. Lilli's son described her as a "creative, independent force" who didn't need much help navigating the move. She eventually discovered Philadelphia, where her budget could stretch further and it was just a short Amtrak ride from her kids. Upon visiting Old City, she fell in love with its historic charm and decided to make it her new home.

    Ms. Lilli's specifications were simple: a one-bedroom or two-bedroom home with character, close to the city's historical sites. Her interests aligned with Philadelphia's rich history, particularly Benjamin Franklin and Constitutional history.