Credit Reporting to Benefit Buyers At last! The nation’s credit reporting giants have agreed to make drastic changes to the way that credit disputes and inaccuracies are handled. After coming under fire from consumer advocacy groups and the New York state Attorney General, credit reporting companies have agreed to work towards a significantly easier and more…
Starbucks Effect Your Home’s Value? The “Starbucks Effect” is being widely reported as an incredible predictor of home values….and yes, we’re serious! Stay with us on this one: Between 1997 and 2013, homes within a quarter mile of a Starbucks increased in value by 96%, compared to 65% for all U.S. homes. Wow! How does…
Adjustable Rate Mortgage Starting to Rise in Popularity Thinking about securing an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) on your new home purchase? You’re not alone! Five-year ARM rates remain extremely low at approximately 2.97%, and they’re even lower than a 30-year fixed rate mortgage because the bank is taking more risk to lend you money for a…
Located on the Main Line within Lower Merion and Haverford Townships, Ardmore embodies a lush, small-town feel just minutes from Philadelphia. Originally named Athensville, the town changed its name in 1853 when the railroad station in the center of town was renamed by the Pennsylvania Railroad. Picturesque Ardmore was developed as a result, and became…
Consider Hiring A Home Stager Home Staging is the art and science of making your home the most appealing it can be to the largest numbers of buyers in your market. Yes, it’s fun to make a room or a whole house pretty, but when staging, HeartWork Organizing focuses on universal truths about how we all…
Home Sales Start to Soar Amidst all the chatter of a low-inventory housing market, pending home sales have reached their highest point since August 2013. Pending home sales (aka homes that are currently under contract and scheduled to make settlement soon) have climbed 8.4% from this time last year, leading industry experts to speculate that the spring selling…
Restaurant Weeks in the Philly Burbs Foodies, unite! Three local towns will be hosting restaurant weeks in the month of March. Like Philadelphia’s ever-popular Restaurant Week, reservations fill up quickly — so be sure to make yours soon! Paris Bistro in Chestnut Hill – one of our favorites! Photo: Steve Legato Media’s finest eateries will be…
Submitting An Offer Generally speaking, homes sell for less than their asking price. Unless there is a bidding war between buyers occurring (which actually isn’t all too uncommon in the spring), most buyers will offer a dollar amount that is a bit less than the seller’s current asking price. And this is a great thing…
Are Open Houses Worth It? While open houses are great tools for agents seeking new clients, many real estate professionals believe that they aren’t typically worth it for sellers. Most real estate agents report that only 1-3% of their listings actually sell from an open house, which means that it is much more likely that…
Bidding Wars Coming Bidding wars are coming this spring as low mortgage rates and a strengthening job market indicate that we’ll see a high demand for homes this spring according to industry experts. In fact, most professionals expect that we’ll see the highest percentage of first time buyers since before the recession. The only problem? Homeowners aren’t…
Buyers Agent & Listing Agent Clients sometimes ask us how a Buyers Agent works, if they really need one, or how much a professional Buyers Agent costs. We know it can all get a little confusing, so here’s an easy way to break it down: Let’s start with some great news: A professional Buyers Agent…
Most Romantic Homes in the Country ‘Tis the season for love, and Top Ten Real Estate Deals compiled a list of the most romantic homes in the country: NYC is home to this poetic dining area Aloha! This sprawling mansion offers romantic views of Maui Cozy! This log cabin is tucked away in the Smoky Mountains Contemporary…
Can You Qualify For HomeBuyer Assistance Programs? There are over 2,290 programs across the country designed to assist homebuyers with meeting their down payment requirements, according to RealtyTrac. The real estate research giant teamed up with Down Payment Resource, a purveyor of down payment assistance programs, to evaluate the many options. The average amount of…
Recent Surge in Home Improvement Spending Americans are remodeling and upgrading their homes more than ever before, according to a report published by CNBC. Industry experts believe that home improvement spending will hit record levels in 2015, despite that the new residential construction pace remains well below pre-recession levels. Why now? With rising home prices, more…
Must Have Valentines Reservations in Greater Philadelphia Looking to take your sweetie on a romantic date this Valentines Day? Or planning a “single girls only” dinner soiree? Be sure to make your valentines reservations as soon as possible for these top restaurants in and around Philadelphia! 1. XIX Nineteen at the Hyatt in Philadelphia has some…