Archive for the ‘Buyer Resources’ Category

1351-1355 Frankford Ave Philadelphia, PA 19125

Fishtown

• PRIME DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY!!! Location, location, location!
• Available lot plus warehouses in Fishtown on the explosive block of Frankford Ave
• Backs up to Crease St. warehouses 1332 Crease St. & 1338-1340 Crease St. to be sold with lot as a whole package
• Crease St. addresses are next to newer built green homes as well as a recent project development
• Warehouses could be easily removed to transform entire area into similar green homes
• Close access to entertainment and Frankford/Girard L
• Owner currently utilizes the property for food distribution business
• Can only sell all addresses together

See more information of 1351-1355 Frankford Ave Philadelphia, PA 19125

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Here are some amazing homes around the country listed just under $400K.  Check out similar priced homes in Philly!  Here is every active Philadelphia Real Estate Listings just below $400,000.

Or search by ANY Neighborhood:

• Rittenhouse Square Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Society Hill Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Washington Square Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Art Museum Area Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Avenue of the Arts Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Bella Vista Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Chinatown Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Fishtown Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Northern Liberties Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Graduate Hospital Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Fitler Square Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Old City Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Queen Village Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Powelton Village Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• University City Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• South Philadelphia Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• East Passyunk Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Girard Estate Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Marconi Park Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Newbold Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Passyunk Square Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Pennsport Real Estate Listings under $400,000
• Whitman Real Estate Listings under $400,000

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Average rates on the 30 year fixed mortgage dropped to the lowest records since they have been kept.

30 year rates are 3.87% and 15 year rates are 3.14%

Check out more on this at MSNBC.com: Mortgage Rates Tumble to Record Lows

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visitwww.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

• Benefits of renting: Easy in, easy out, low responsibility.  Can find rental with low credit
• 3 most important things on lease – security deposit, who’s responsible for repairs/maintenance, subletting.
• Ways to negotiate lower rent – take immediate home occupancy/pay 6 months upfront.
• Vet your landlord  Apartmentratings.com & streetadvisor.com

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

• 95% of metro areas expecting to see increase in home prices this year
• Not going back to bubble prices
• Buyers- act quickly before rates go up.  Avg under 4%, historic lows! Rates will only stay at this level and higher.  Have good credit score 760+. Focus on smaller homes – think about resale value.
• Sellers- Price it right! 75% of homeowners think their home is worth 10% more than it actually is! Higher an appraiser if you can.

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Here are some great deals around the country.  Check out similar deals going on in Philly.  Here is every active Philadelphia Real Estate Listings under $250,000.

Or search by ANY Neighborhood:

Read the rest of this entry »

Come check out some Philadelphia Real Estate Open Houses this Sunday, January 29th.

• 774 S. 3rd St. F Philadelphia, PA 19147 - $219,900 – Queen Village: 1-30pm
• 326 Queen St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 – $159,000 – Queen Village: 12-3pm
• 433 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA 19106 – $895,000 – Society Hill: 12-2pm
• 309 Earp St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 - $198,000 – Pennsport - 1-3pm

Check out every active listing in these neighborhoods:

• Queen Village Real Estate Listings
• Society Hill Real Estate Listings
• Pennsport Real Estate Listings
  

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

January 2012 Philadelphia Real Estate Market Conditions for Philadelphia real estate market, trends in pricing, current level of supply & demand and home price value metrics.

The median list price in PHILADELPHIA, PA this week is $199,000. The 1466 properties have been on the market for an average of 179 days.

Check out the entire January 2012 Philadelphia Real Estate Market Conditions!

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

If you work at one of the participating providers below, your company will provide up to $2000 ($4000 in University City Area) and the City of Philadelphia will MATCH that amount up to $4000. So you get back $4000-$8000 in closing costs!!!

To go along with this, KW Center City has offered to provide 10% credit from our commission.  So if the home is $300,000 with a 3% Commission we would provide $900 in closing costs to the client!

Finally, if you work (not attend) PENN OR DREXEL in addition to everything above, you are eligible to receive another $7500 to $15,000 respectively for buying in the University City catchment area!

If you know someone that might be eligible for this grant, please tell them to contact us today!  It probably will not be available next year…  Here are links to more information:

Philadelphia Home Buy Now Employee Kit

Urban Affairs Coalition – Philadelphia Home Buy Now Program

PENN Home Ownership Services

PENN Current – Penn Partners With City To Help Employees Buy a Home

Drexel Human Resources – Home Buy Now Program

Participating parties:

• Cancer Treatment Centers of America
• Chick’s Café and Wine Bar
• Diamond and Associates
• Drexel University
• Energy Coordinating Agency
• Episcopal Community Services
• Gypsy Lane Technologies
• Horizon House
• Keller Williams Center City
• Martin Banks
• Mid-Atlantic
• NewCourtland
• Nochumson PC
• Re:Vision Architecture
• Special People In Northeast, Inc.
• University of Pennsylvania
• Urban Industry Initiative
• Weavers Way

Be sure to check out our University City Real Estate Listings page to see every active property in University City! Or search by YOUR PRICE RANGE below:

• University City Real Estate Listings: -$100,000
• University City Real Estate Listings: $100,000-$200,000
• University City Real Estate Listings: $200,000-$300,000
• University City Real Estate Listings: $300,000-$400,000
• University City Real Estate Listings: $400,000-$500,000
• University City Real Estate Listings: $500,000-$600,000
• University City Real Estate Listings: $600,000-$700,000
• University City Real Estate Listings: $700,000+

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

326 Queen St. A Philadelphia, PA 19147

Queen Village

• Heart of Queen Village.
• Great value with low condo fees & property tax.
• Building is pet friendly (dog park 1 block away).
• The unit includes hardwood floors throughout, nice size living room and bedroom.
• Bedroom closet includes California closet.
• New tankless on demand hot water heater and side by side washer/dryer.
• Ample storage in the basement.

See all listing details right here: 326 Queen St. A Philadelphia, PA 19147

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Come check out some Philadelphia Real Estate Open Houses this Sunday, January 22nd.

• 774 S. 3rd St. F Philadelphia, PA 19147 - $219,900 – Queen Village – 11:30-1:30pm
• 422 Green St. Philadelphia, PA 19130 - $519,000 – Art Museum Area – 1-3pm
• 309 Earp St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 - $198,000 – Pennsport - 12-2pm

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

According to a recent  survey by the National Association of Realtors, 15 percent of buyers are rejected for mortgages after they’ve already submitted a purchase contract on a particular home.  Here are a few important tips to keep in mind in order to reduce the risk of rejection when buying a home.

Pre-approval- Pre-approvals from a loan officer carry more weight than a pre-qualification.  Make sure you get the pre-approval and don’t go taking out other loans and charging large amounts to your credit card during this time period.

Be Honest- Be precise with your numbers, don’t try to polish facts and haze the truth.  The approval will be stronger the more the lender is able to get from you.

Spot trouble in the home- If the buyer is applying for FHA loans and even some conventional loans, needed repairs might hinder the approval.

Check out more on this topic at Philly.com’s Reduce the risk of rejection

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

JUST LISTED

1215 N. Randolph St. #1 Philadelphia PA 19122

Northern Liberties

• Fantastic, large and modern condo.
• Stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors & crown molding in main living area.
• Large carpeted rec room in the finished basement with a full bathroom.
• Convenient location close to everything Northern Liberties has to  offer.
• Close to new Super Fresh grocery store and the shops and bars on the Piazza at Schmidts.
• Low condo fees/taxes make this a very affordable home!

See all the details for 1215 N. Randolph St. #1 Philadelphia PA 19122

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Come check out some Philadelphia Real Estate Open Houses this Sunday, January 15th and get FREE  TICKETS TO THE 2012 PHILADELPHIA HOME SHOW! :

• 626 S. 16th St. Philadelphia, PA 19146 – $324,900 – Graduate Hospital - 3:30-4:30pm
• 774 S. 3rd St. F Philadelphia, PA 19147 - $219,900 – Queen Village – 1-3pm
• 1731 Brandywine St. Philadelphia, PA 19130 - $328,400 – Art Museum Area – 1-3pm
• 422 Green St. Philadelphia, PA 19130 - $519,000 – Art Museum Area – 1-3pm

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Come check out some Philadelphia Real Estate Open Houses this Sunday, January 8th:

• 433 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA 19106 - $895,000 - Society Hill - 12-2pm
• 626 S. 16th St. Philadelphia, PA 19146 – $324,900 – Graduate Hospital - 3:30-4:30pm
• 774 S. 3rd St. F Philadelphia, PA 19147 - $219,900 (JUST REDUCED $10.1K) – Queen Village – 1-3pm
• 422 Green St. Philadelphia, PA 19130 - $519,000 – Art Museum Area – 1-3pm
• 309 Earp St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 – $198,000 – Pennsport - 12-2pm

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Where is America moving?

As it does every January, Atlas Van Lines reviews data on the origins and destinations of interstate moves during the last 12 months. The 2011 Migration Patterns study results provide a snapshot of relocation patterns, showing an overall increase in the number of moves over last year.

Southwestern and Mid-Atlantic coastal states were popular destinations in 2011. The Midwest continues to lose residents, but Michigan became a balanced state after six consecutive years of steady outbound moves. For the sixth year in a row, Washington, D.C. had the highest percentage of inbound moves, while Ohio came out the clear leader in the highest percentage of outbound moves.

Other migration trends:

Northern States

With the exception of New Hampshire, which went from an inbound to a balanced state, and Massachusetts, Connecticut and West Virginia, which transformed from balanced to outbound states, the Northern States saw relatively few changes in moving patterns from 2010 to 2011.

Southern States

The Southeast remains balanced with the exception of Louisiana, which switched from a balanced state to an outbound one in 2011. Southwest states Texas and New Mexico continue to be inbound states, as well as Mid-Atlantic states Virginia and North Carolina. After becoming a newly inbound state in 2010, Kentucky is now balanced.

Midwestern States

Again seeing the majority of its states with more outbound than inbound moves, the Midwest region only has three balanced states – Iowa, South Dakota and Michigan. Despite uncertain economic conditions, Michigan became a balanced state following a six-year streak as an outbound state. Wisconsin, Nebraska and Kansas finished 2011 as outbound states – all of which were previously classified as balanced states for seven, nine and 10 years in a row, respectively.

Western States

The annual study shows that the majority of the Western states remain balanced with only two states changing status. Utah is now an outbound state and Wyoming is now balanced.

See more about this topic at Atlas Van Lines

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visitwww.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Queen’s Walk

5th & Montrose St. Philadelphia, PA 19147

Queen Village

Queen’s Walk is a new luxury townhouse development located in the Queen Village neighborhood of Philadelphia. These stylish brand new split-level townhomes offer a 3-bedroom / 3-bath design and they are nestled in a gated community with a dedicated indoor garage for each townhome for added comfort and privacy to its residents.

Each spacious and well-appointed home features functional living space with soaring 13 Ft. vaulted ceiling; ecologically sound bamboo floors; European Travertine limestone tiles; Kohler and Grohe fixtures; custom contemporary cabinetry w/ granite countertops and much more.

Call today for more details or to schedule a showing! 215-592-9522

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visitwww.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Foreclosures:

• 1.5 million homes in the foreclosure process
• 3.5 million homes with delinquent mortgages
• 10 million properties underwater

Median Home Prices:

• Northeast – down 5.5% –  $224,400
• Midwest – down 4.7% – $132,800
• South – down 1.6% – $145,700
• West – down 1.6% – $207,500

720 Credit rating required for home loans today.  Mortgage rates are still at an all time low and could go even lower

Rise in home sales at the end of 2011 – prices will likely go up translating in more deals.  Overall in the coming year real estate should be better:

• Foreclosed homes will take longer to hit the market
• Vacation properties will sell for less
• Underwater homeowners will get more help from Uncle Sam

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visitwww.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Don’t miss this historically designated carriage house in the Art Museum Area! Here are some of the feauters:

• Completely remodeled in 2009 with new heating/cooling systems
• New custom built-ins in the bedroom
• Beautiful hardwood floors throughout with exposed brick in the living room
• Stainless steel appliances and counters in the kitchen
• Ceramic tile with whirlpool tub in the bathroom
• Skyline Views!

Check out all the listing details for 1731 Brandywine St. Philadelphia, PA 19130

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visitwww.CenterCityRealEstate.com

FOR RENT: 868 N. Bambrey St. Philadelphia, PA 19130

Art Museum Area

Highlights:

• Kitchen fully remodelled in autumn 2010, with top-of-the-line Frigidaire Gallery appliances including a five burner range with convection oven and additional warming oven.
• Living room is wired for 5.1 surround sound and ready for your flat-screen television.
• Central air conditioning upgraded/replaced in 2006 (coil) and 2009 (condenser).
• New (2005) Frigidaire washer and dryer.
• Hot water heater replaced in 2007.
• Three-quarter-inch hardwood oak flooring installed 2006.
• Easy-to-clean custom double-hung windows throughout.
• Home is wired for high-speed, fiber-optic (FiOS) phone, internet and digital cable as well as Direct TV satellite.
• Hard-wired home network (RJ-45) connections running through basement and first floor.
• Back patio, great for grilling, dining and container gardening.
• A friendly neighbourhood block walking distance from Fairmount park attractions, the Philadelphia Zoo, museums and local nightlife.

Get all the details for 868 N. Bambrey St. Philadelphia, PA 19130

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Record low interest rates makes it a great time to buy a home even though its the holiday season.  You really can get good deals this time of year because sellers are MORE likely to entertain low offers.

If you’re trying to sell, there is LESS competition!  Buyers are also more serious, have more time, and have greater incentives.  Some holiday buyers will want to wait until the spring to close.

Staging your home around the holidays:

• Do: Pay extra attention to lighting
• Do: Keep your home smelling good
• Do: Set your dining room table
• Do: Hang photos of your home looking great in spring and summer.

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Come check out some Philadelphia Real Estate Open Houses this Sunday, December 18th:

• 433 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA 19106 - $895,000 - Society Hill - 11am-3pm
• 626 S. 16th St. Philadelphia, PA 19146 – $324,900 – Graduate Hospital - 12-2pm
• 774 S. 3rd St. F Philadelphia, PA 19147 - $219,900 (JUST REDUCED $10.1K) – Queen Village – 12-2pm

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

422 Green St. Philadelphia, PA 19123
Northern Liberties

Don’t miss this amazing Philadelphia Real Estate listing in Northern Liberties.  Check out these awesome features:

• Federal-style 3 story home with gated 2 car parking and large backyard
• Hardwood flooring, tall custom doors from Eastern Europe, unique windows, high ceilings
• Huge living room with original Heart Pine wood floors, radiant heat, exposed ceiling beams, wood burning fireplace and large window overlooking garden.
• Traditional Federal Style entry from garden in 1st floor hallway

See all the listing details for 422 Green St. Philadelphia, PA 19123

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Come check out some Philadelphia Real Estate Open Houses this Sunday, December 11th:

• 433 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA 19106 - $895,000 - Society Hill - 12-1:30pm
• 626 S. 16th St. Philadelphia, PA 19146 – $324,900 – Graduate Hospital - 12-3pm
• 774 S. 3rd St. F Philadelphia, PA 19147 - $230,000 – Queen Village – 1-3pm

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Check out this beautiful condo in the Regatta building at Waterfront Square!  Here are some features:

• Great views of the Ben Franklin Bridge and river as well as a view of the landscaped common area
• Custom kitchen with granite counters, tile backsplash, and stainless steel appliances & open floor plan
• Hardwood floors and walk0in closet in bedroom
• Bathroom has a jacuzzi tub and maple & granite vanity

See all the details for 901 N. Penn St. #R1104 Philadelphia, PA 19123

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Come check out some Philadelphia Real Estate Open Houses this Saturday & Sunday, December 3rd & 4th:

• 626 S. 16th St. Philadelphia, PA 19146 – $324,900 – Graduate Hospital - Sunday 1-3:30pm
• 433 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA 19106 - $895,000 - Society Hill - Saturday 11am-1pm and Sunday 11am-1pm
  

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Current Market:

• Largest change in 1 month in a long time.
• Appreciating prices
• 30% of homes are sold to investors
• 2 million homes in foreclosure in last year

Things to ask before buying a home:

• Do you see new cars in the neighborhood?
• Can the neighbors afford the average house?
• What’s the average price per foot
• The the cheap houses selling?
• Are there a lot of for sale signs?

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Don’t miss this gem on a quiet block in the heart of Pennsport! Check out the features:

• Hardwood floors in living & dining rooms
• Nice size patio off the kitchen
• Storage shed
• New Systems throughout
• Balcony off the 3rd floor
• 2 blocks from the famous Federal Donuts
• Easy access to Columbus Blvd and Interstate 95

See all the listing details for 309 Earp St. Philadelphia, PA 19147

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Come check out some Philadelphia Real Estate Open Houses this  Sunday, November 20th:

• 626 S. 16th St. Philadelphia, PA 19146 – $324,900 – Graduate Hospital – 2-4pm
• 2219 Delancey Pl. 3 Philadelphia, PA 19103 - $349,000 – Rittenhouse Square – 11am-1pm
  
• 433 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA 19106 - $895,000 - Society Hill - Saturday 11am-1pm and Sunday 12-2:30pm
  

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Banks vary on what they charge, make sure you ask questions!

• Mortgage brokers are the best route, they specialize in it, bank loans are complicated, specialist to explain details.
• Ask the mortgage broker if they have dealt with people with bad credit.
• Good Faith Estimate should be asked for.
• Shouldn’t be paying more than 1 to 2 points.

sec.gov

mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Picture courtesy crowandrose.com

Most leases allow for “normal” wear and tear. This definition however tends to differ between landlord and tenant and even between states. Here are some basic tips to make sure you get your security deposit back:

• Make sure you are provided with some kind of ‘Apartment Condition Statement’ at the time of the lease signing.
• Take photos of everything as soon as you move in. Document all existing damage so that you don’t get stuck with a previous tenant’s mistakes.
• Get as much as you can in writing and save the documents. If you can document repair requests then the landlord can’t turn around and bill you for it later.
• Don’t leave the place a mess. Give it a thorough cleaning before you turn in the keys. Take photos before you leave.
• Make sure you get a detailed receipt for all repairs that the landlord is taking out of your security deposit.
• Keep copies of all lease documents so if a problem occurs down the road you are equipped.

See the full article from philly.com How to Get Your Security Deposit Back

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Open House This Sunday, November 13th from 12-2pm!

This bi-level condo was built in 2007 and is priced to sell! Check out these features:

• PRIVATE roof deck with panoramic views of the city skyline!
• Beautiful hardwood floors throughout, recessed lighting, exposed brick and plenty of light.
• Kitchen enhanced with granite counter-tops, stainless steel appliances and breakfast bar.
• Below average condo fees cover water, sewer, common area & exterior building maintenance, and insurance.

Check out every listing detail for 626 S. 16th St. #3 Philadelphia, PA 19146

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Come check out some Philadelphia Real Estate Open Houses this  Sunday, November 13th:

• 626 S. 16th St. Philadelphia, PA 19146 – $324,900 – Graduate Hospital – 12-2pm JUST LISTED
• 720 Addison St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 – $469,000 – Society Hill – 12-2pm
  
• 2219 Delancey Pl. 3 Philadelphia, PA 19103 - $369,000 – Rittenhouse Square – 11:30am-1:30pm
  
• 433 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA 19106 - $895,000 - Society Hill - 1-3pm
  
• 122 Chestnut St. #401 Philadelphia, PA 19106 – $289,000 – Old City – 1-3pm

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

More and more adult children are living at home with their parents longer than ever because of the struggling economy.  19% of males between the age of 25 to 34 live with their parents.  This is a 5% increase from 2005.  10% of women in that age group live at home, up 8%.  59% of males and 50% of females between the age 18 to 24 lived with their parents, this has increased by 6% and 4%.

The fact that so many young people are unable or unwilling to flee the nest “cuts into the formation of new households quite a lot,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist for Moody’s Analytics.

A decline in household formation means depressed demand for homes and as a result, lower home prices, explained Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors.

There are about 150,000 fewer households being formed per year than the 1.2 million that would be normal in a functioning economy.    If only more young adults can leave the nest, rent rates would increase and it could start

Read more on this at CNNMoney.com:  ‘I’m home!’ Adult children move back in

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Come check out some Philadelphia Open Houses this Saturday & Sunday, November 5th & 6th:

• 774 S. 3rd St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 - $230,000 – Queen Village – 1-3pm
  
• 720 Addison St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 – $469,000 – Society Hill – Sat 1-3pm & Sun 11am-1pm
  
• 2219 Delancey Pl. 3 Philadelphia, PA 19103 - $369,000 – Rittenhouse Square – 12-2pm
  
• 617 S. 20th St. Philadelphia, PA 19146 – $685,000 – Graduate Hospital – 12-3pm
• 433 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA 19106 - $895,000 - Society Hill - Saturday & Sunday 10am-12pm AND Sunday from 1-3pm!
  

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

If you’re contemplating a move to Philadelphia, there is a great article over at Flying Kite about the benefits of living in Philly and how you get plenty of bang for your buck!

The northeast is generally one of the pricier parts of the country because of the quality of life, opportunity, energy, and culture.  Philly offers all of that — was recently named the Number 1 U.S. city for culture, is the 5th largest city in the country, and one of the major coastal cities in the Northeast.

Sometimes Philadelphia feels like a closely kept secret — urban character, excellent food, cultural capital and low, low rents. Time to spill the beans. Tell your friends. Buy them a cheap local brew at happy hour. Give them a tour of your surprisingly-spacious pad, perfect for potlucks and bike storage. Take them to a BYOB. Get them a great coffee and a Wednesday-night ticket to the Ritz.

“Our reasons were number one the cost thing,” explains Kunal. “(Rittenhouse Square) is basically Union Square. Hypothetically speaking, our rent in New York would be like 15, 20 grand. Here, it’s a lot less than that. From a practical standpoint, to get the business off the ground, it made sense.”

-Flying Kite

All you New Yorkers that are looking for a cheaper alternative to city living should check out this incredibly unique rental in one of the most prestigious neighborhood in Philly: 433 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA 19106 – Society Hill

Also make sure you check out our article about the 20 Things to Know Before Moving to Philadelphia.

And take a look at the Flying Kite article – cost of living: how expensive is Philadelphia?

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

October 2011 Philadelphia Real Estate Market Conditions for Philadelphia real estate market, trends in pricing, current level of supply & demand and home price value metrics.

The median list price in PHILADELPHIA, PA this week is $104,900. The 8300 properties have been on the market for an average of 111 days.

See the entire Philadelphia Real Estate Market Update for October.

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Well, this is pretty cool.  A company called Mark Group, a home-weatherization firm, is driving around our area with a mobile thermal-imaging vehicle called the HeatSeeker to target buildings that leak the most heat.  It gives you a clear cut picture of exactly what parts of your home are leaking energy so you know exactly where you need to install more insulation and get the most bang for your buck.

Jeff Bartos, president and chief executive of Mark Group Inc., the company’s U.S. affiliate, said the colorful thermal images bring the abstract concept of heat loss into focus.

“When I talk to customers about the technology and about their homes, it demystifies or simplifies home energy efficiency,” Bartos said.

Mark Group has operated similar vehicles in Britain for three years and identified one million leaky houses out of 2.2 million scanned. About 42,000 homeowners signed up for upgrades, said Bill Rumble, the company’s group commercial director. -Philly.com

picture courtesy- Mark Group

This is definitely an article worth checking out: Home-insulation firm touring neighborhoods for thermal imaging

It looks like they are targeting areas like Havertown, Narberth, West Chester, Wilmington, and Haddonfield becasue of those neighborhood’s “demonstrated interest in energy consumption reduction.”

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To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

2007 Memphis St. Philadelphia PA, 19125

Fishtown

Don’t miss this professionally rehabbed home in Fishtown.  Here are some features:

• Marble steps leading into open living room area
• Bright eat-in kitchen leads into a side & rear patio.
• Finished & Tiled basement with utilities, new electric panel, new laundry hook-up, and new PVC sewage line.
• All new replacement windows, walls, closets, lighting, steps & banisters, ceiling fans, floors, carpeting and tile throughout.

If you are a buyer in Fishtown, do not miss this property!  See all the details for 2007 Memphis St. Philadelphia PA, 19125

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To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Come check out some Philadelphia Open Houses this Sunday, October 30th:

• 774 S. 3rd St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 - $230,000 – Queen Village – 12-2pm
  
• 720 Addison St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 – $469,000 – Society Hill – 12-2:30pm
• 2219 Delancey Pl. 3 Philadelphia, PA 19103 - $369,000 – Rittenhouse Square – 12-2pm – (JUST REDUCED 10K!)
• 617 S. 20th St. Philadelphia, PA 19146 – $685,000 – Graduate Hospital – 1-3pm
• 433 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA 19106 - $895,000 - Society Hill - Saturday & Sunday 10am-12pm

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

cartoon courtesy of crazytownmayor.com

Have you ever thought about the benefits a tree can have on your energy bills?  Well treebenefits.com has! It’s a website designed like a calculator that tells you exactly how much money a specific type of tree can save you based on the species, size, and type of residence you live in.

Philly.com did an example with a 30-inch diameter oak tree.  According to the calculator that size tree in our climate would provide $371 worth of annual benefits.

Trees in urban areas provide a number of important benefits.  They help to clean the air, curb stormwater runoff, raise property values, sequester carbon, and reduce energy costs. -http://treebenefits.com/

Strategically placed trees can increase home energy efficiency. In summer, trees shading east and west walls keep buildings cooler. In winter, allowing the sun to strike the southern side of a building can warm interior spaces. If southern walls are shaded by dense evergreen trees, there may be a resultant increase in winter heating costs. -philly.com

So check out the article on philly.com, Tree calculators show how much energy the leafy wonders can save you,  for more and go plant some trees!

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Photo courtesy mtvjerseyshorehouse.com

For $2,500 a night, you and your friends can stay in the same Seaside Heights shore house that the cast members of “Jersey Shore” made famous.  There are 6 bedrooms and 3 baths.

The Jersey Shore house has been visited by many celebrities, politicians, news crews, writers and many named people that are listed in the top of Google searches conducted every day. -www.mtvjerseyshorehouse.com

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Come check out some Philadelphia Open Houses this Sunday, October 23rd:

• 774 S. 3rd St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 - $230,000 – Queen Village – 10am-12pm (JUST REDUCED $4.9K)
  
• 720 Addison St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 – $469,000 – Society Hill – 1-3pm
• 2219 Delancey Pl. 3 Philadelphia, PA 19103 - $379,000 – Rittenhouse Square – 11am-1pm
• 617 S. 20th St. Philadelphia, PA 19147 - $685,000 - Graduate Hospital – 12-2pm
• 433 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA 19106 - $895,000 - Society Hill - 10am-12pm

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

With interests rates as low as they are, lenders have to be extremely strict with loans.  24% of mortgage applications today are denied.  Banks are looking for homeowners with steady income!

So even if you have a great credit score and put down a large down payment, you may not get the loan if your income stream isn’t flowing.  Don’t give up, have thick skin, and hopefully you can find a lender that will give you a loan!

According to LendingTree, the average rate offered to borrowers right now is about 4.32%.  Only about 9% of LendingTree borrowers are getting loans below 4%.

See more on this at CNN.com’s- The 4% mortgage – good luck getting one

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

844 N 29th St. #119 Philadelphia, PA 19130

Art Museum Area

This boutique building is the perfect alternative to hi-rise living.  Parks Edge Condominiums is blocks away from Fairmount Park and East & West River Drives.  Here are some of the many features of the unit:

• Abundant light
• Gorgeous kitchen with granite counters
• Brazilian cherry hardwood floors throughout.
• Renovated in 2006.

Check out all the details for 844 N. 29th St. #119 Philadelphia, PA 19130

It is also available for rent.

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

Pictures courtesy Lofts640.com

Philly.com has another good article about the developments happening on North Broad Street, starting with the loft conversion by Eric Blumenfeld at 640 N. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA 19123.

“They thought I was hallucinating,” Blumenfeld recalled. Their view of North Broad: “An empty, godforsaken corridor.”

Seven years later, Blumenfeld has leased all 265 apartments at Lofts 640, and his company – EB Realty – is finishing work on a major conversion of two buildings just across the street.

Most of the action on Broad St. in Center City has been happening south of City Hall ever since the 3.5 mile stretch of S. Broad St. was named the Avenue of the Arts in 1993.  But recently there have been major projects like this one (developments totally around $500 million) opening up in that area.  Here are some of the major projects to look out for:

• The Pennsylvania Ballet – 17.5 million headquarters at Broad and Wood Streets
• Temple University -  $147 million residence hall at Broad and Cecil B. Moore Avenue and a $48 million expansion of the Pearson and McGonigle Halls sports complex.
• Bart Blatstein’s Tower Investments – 2 projects in 400 block of N. Broad St: conversion of a state office building into apartments and a ‘mixed-use’ development for the current headquarters of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“I used to be here all by myself,” Blumenfeld said. “All of a sudden, the big boys are showing up… I went from moron to genius”"

“North Broad Street is a sleeper,” Blatstein said.

At the groundbreaking for the Pennsylvania Ballet project, Mayor Nutter celebrated the change on North Broad.  Standing in a gutted brick garage that will become a dance studio, Nutter said, “Watch the transformation of North Broad. It’s taking place right before your eyes.”

- Philly.com North Broad Street gets a new look

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To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

There is a very thorough section in philly.com about the 2011 Home Price Survey for Philadelphia Real Estate that is worth checking out.  They have analyzed more than 376,000 sales in the Philadelphia region from April 2005 – June 2011.

Here are the top Median Home Prices by Area in Philadelphia:

Median single-family home prices in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, especially Center City, have fallen 15.8 percent – much less during this downturn in housing than the last one in the late 1980s to mid-1990s – said Kevin Gillen, vice president of Econsult Corp., who collected and analyzed data from 376,257 sales regionwide from April 1, 2005, through June 30, 2011.

But lower-income neighborhoods have suffered more than their upscale counterparts, Gillen said, as the struggling economy has edged out less-well-off buyers.

“The tightening of credit has skewed home sales toward the upper end of the market,” Gillen said. “So when you compute the average price decline for the entire city, versus computing the average price decline across all zips [zip codes] in the city, you get two different numbers.” – Philly.com’s In Center City, home prices holding their own

They also have a very insightful interactive map that is worth playing around with:

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To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

The weather is about to start changing for good this week.  Make sure you take into account the following tips from CNN’s Dodge the draft and cut home heating costs.  They could help lower your heating bills from 3%-18% this winter!

Go for durable weather stripping:

• Avoid cheap self-adhesive foam
• Go for bronze strips ($20 for a kit for one door)

Insulate the attic hatch:

• Pull-down attic ladders are big time energy losers
• Solutioin: an attic tent (about $200)

Cover your AC:

• In-wall air conditioners create drafts
• Solution: insulated wraps (about $60)

Finding remaining cracks and drafts:

• Close all doors and windows, then turn on bath, attic, and range exhausts.  This will suck air out of the house and the drafts will rush in.
• Using a stick of burning incense, find areas where smoke dances (likely near pipes).  That means there are hidden cracks.
• Solution: spray insulating foam ($3 can) for hidden cracks and caulk the visible ones.

Check out the article, Dodge the draft and cut home heating costs, for more details on these tips.

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com

This is brought to you by Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

To view every Philadelphia Real Estate Listing, including Philadelphia Condos visit www.CenterCityRealEstate.com