3 Signs That You’re Ready to Own a Home As real estate agents, we understand that owning a home is about more than just affordability! It’s one thing to be financially ready to own a home (although that’s a big part of it) and another thing to take on the responsibilities and risks of a homeowner. Here are a few…
Wellness Communities are the Future Can you name five of your neighbors? If not, you’re not alone! In fact, the majority of Americans can’t name more than three people in their neighborhood. Some communities around the nation are working to change this through the creation of Wellness Communities. These planned developments emphasize connection among residents,…
Indego officially launched its bike share program in The City of Brotherly Love! The Indego fleet which consists of 600 bicycles will be widely available at dozens of stations throughout the city. To signup and get a bike, simply sign up on your smartphone or register at the station’s kiosk. We’re excited to see Philadelphia’s bike-friendly landscape become…
Home Builder Confidence is Rising! The National Association of Home Builder Confidence Index rose to its 2015 high of 56 points last week, reflecting strong spring sales after a modest winter. Any number above 50 is considered to be good conditions. The index takes considers builder perceptions of single family home sales, sales expectations for the upcoming six months, and…
How Much Have Home Prices Really Risen? The National Association of Realtors recently reported that home prices increased 9% from one year ago. The median existing home prices this past month was $212,100. However, it’s difficult to predict how much an individual home’s value increased, as this figure obscures current real estate trends. For example,…
Mortgage Applications Jump 16 Percent As the spring real estate market heats up, mortgage applications are on the rise! The total volume of applications to purchase a home increased 16 percent from one year ago and applications to refinance a home have risen 41% in the same time period. It’s no surprise that homeowners are scrambling to refinance, as the…
Students Helping Philadelphia! The City of Brotherly Love made national headlines lately for its improving housing market, and recent grads are one of the top reasons that real estate in Philadelphia has been on the mend! 554 Fairthorne Ave in Philadelphia (Roxborough)… Just $223,000! CNBC is reporting that an impressive 51% of out-of-town students are choosing…
1st Time Buyer Program From Fannie Mae! Good news! Government mortgage giant Fannie Mae is beginning to offer to pay the closing costs for first time buyers (and anyone who hasn’t owned a home in three years). Move-in ready 3 bedroom home for just $172,900! Wondering what the catch is? We have more good news!…
Vacation Home Sales Rise The weather is heating up and so is the market for second-homes! With an improving economy (and real estate market), more and more buyer are in the market for a second home. Vacation home sales rose a staggering 57% last year over 2013! The momentum is expected to continue this year….
Myths for A First Time Buyer As you might have guessed, there are a lot of myths surrounding the home buying process! Because laws, regulations, and standard practices change somewhat frequently, we find that information that first time buyers have received (usually from their parents) may be a bit outdated. The biggest myth involves the amount…
Foreclosures are back to normal…. almost! Nearly seven years after the housing market collapsed, industry analysts are reporting a significant drop in foreclosures that is suggestive of a recovered housing market. Incredibly, the foreclosure rate has dropped 67% since its peak in September 2010. Rising home values, buyer demand (especially compared to the low inventory of homes…
Philadelphia Independent Film Festival Philadelphia Independent Film Festival (PIFF) will be back for its 8th year from April 17th through April 25th! Both local and international independent artists will be featured, and 12 diverse genres (including drama, horror, documentary, and sci-fi) will be represented. While the PIFF’s official home is Philly Nexus, screenings will take place all over…
Suburb For Young Buyers Drexel Hill has recently been ranked the top suburb for young buyers in the Philadelphia area! Movoto cited the Delaware county town as being affordable, convenient, and having a high percentage of married couples and residents under age five. A 3 bedroom home for sale in Drexel Hill – just $155,000! As…
Remember being a kid and begging your parents for a swimming pool? And remember how your parents said no? Mom and Dad may have been onto something — after all, pool ownership shouldn’t be taken lightly. The heating costs, maintenance, safety and insurance can all be significant burdens! On the flipside, it’s hard to beat having a…
Dont Like My Agent At All! It happens. Sometimes we hear from new clients that they didn’t enjoy working with their prior real estate agent and that they would like to meet somebody new. While this situation can occur for a variety of reasons, the important part is that you’re served by an agent who…