Delaware County, Pennsylvania Real Estate Blog: January 2010

Stone Work in Cold Weather (Brookhaven, Pennsylvania)

It was the first day after a long stretch of cold days earlier this month, when the weather was finally above freezing and the sun was offering warmth for those who had to be outdoors.  Larry Shoemaker and Adam Keys were workers who had to be outdoors in order to do a job for their company RockSolid Installations.  They were taking advantage of the warmer weather to do their puzzle work of placing a stone veneer over brick on a marquee for the Borough of Brookhaven. 


In the photos you can see that Larry and Adam had already completed a bit of the puzzle.  Larry told me that if he gets to a spot and he does not have a stone that fits, then it is necessary to shave a stone to make it fit.  To me this work takes an eye for detail and a sense of balance.  Wonderful work guys!  

Rocksolid Installations, LLC    

2030 Robert Fulton Highway
Peach Bottom, PA 17563
717-548-8700

       (Written by Gloria)



Doug Durren and Gloria Todor, Realtors^®, CENTURY 21 Absolute Realty
Serving Delaware County Pennsylvania and Surrounding Areas
Take advantage of the Tax Credit before April 30, 2010
- First Time Home Buyers and Current Homeowners -
610-909-0687 Doug       610-328-4300 x131 Office
484-431-3686 Gloria      www.RealEstateDelawareCountyPA.com
Email GloriaTodor@Century21.com

It's a building located in Delaware County that has always caught my eye
because of the unusual brick work.
Would love to know the story behind such work!

Doug Durren and Gloria Todor, Realtors^®, CENTURY 21 Absolute Realty
Serving Delaware County Pennsylvania and Surrounding Areas
Take advantage of the Tax Credit before April 30, 2010
- First Time Home Buyers and Current Homeowners -
610-909-0687 Doug       610-328-4300 x131 Office
484-431-3686 Gloria      www.RealEstateDelawareCountyPA.com
Email GloriaTodor@Century21.com

Arch Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) - ABC'S OF REAL ESTATE (A-Z/A)

Circuit breakers...they cut an electrical current when there is an over load on the line potentially saving property and lives.  And then there are Arch Fault Circuit Interrupters (Arch Fault Breakers), that will cut an electrical current when is senses an arch of electricity in a line with greater potential to save property and lives.

What's the difference?

Circuit breakers are the workhorses in most homes today.  They protect the wire that they are connected to which is behind a wall and unseen.  They will trip if they sense a short that causes masses amounts of electricity to race through the circuit and when they sense a heat build up inside the breaker; in both instances a fire is prevented.

Arch Fault Breakers are used in new construction and are making their way into older homes because of their ability to prevent fires above and beyond the ability of regular circuit breakers.  They will trip when an arch of electricity occurs in a line where the protective insulation on a line to the box or a line plugged into an AFCI outlet has broken due to age or from damage from a cord being caught under a piece of furniture, exposure to heat, a wire being punctured from picture hanging, etc., thus preventing a fire.

AFCI's cost more money than regular circuit breakers but are well worth the cost if a fire is prevented.  Regular circuit breakers costs around $10, AFCI's may cost $30 or more.

AFCI's have a test button, which needs to be tested monthly to ensure their effectiveness.

For more information on this life saving devise, read the FACT SHEET provide by the U.S. Government.


(Information obtained from U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Fact Sheet, "Ask The Builder"/Tim Carter, and Doug Durren)

                                                                                              (Written by Gloria)

Upper Providence Township, Pennsylvania Real Estate - Houses Sold in 2008 and 2009 - A Comparison

Here is information about residential houses that sold in Upper Providence Township, Pennsylvania for the years 2008 and 2009: a comparison.

The maximum sold price for a house was $1,950,000 in 2008.
The maximum sold price for a house was $1,462,000 in 2009.

The minimum sold price for a house was $83,000 in 2008.
The minimum sold price for a house was $148,600 in 2009.

The average sold price was $440,610 in 2008.
The average sold price was $397,880 in 2009.

The average amount of days on the market was 74 in 2008.
The average amount of days on the market was 104 in 2009.

92 residential houses sold in Upper Providence in 2008.
93 residential houses sold in Upper Providence in 2009.

(Information from Trend MLS)

Media Boro, Pennsylvania Real Estate - Houses Sold in 2008 and 2009 - A Comparison

Here is information about residential houses that sold in Media Boro, Pennsylvania for the years 2008 and 2009: a comparison.

The maximum sold price for a house was $236,000 in 2008.
The maximum sold price for a house was $280,000 in 2009.

The minimum sold price for a house was $130,000 in 2008.
The minimum sold price for a house was $172,500 in 2009.

The average sold price was $183,000 in 2008.
The average sold price was $226,250 in 2009.

The average amount of days on the market was 60 in 2008.
The average amount of days on the market was 55 in 2009.

2 residential houses sold in Media Boro in 2008.
2 residential houses sold in Media Boro in 2009.

(Information from Trend MLS)

Thanks to Jane Peters I just had to re-blog this.  A very interesting idea and if you read the comments you will hear all sides in favor and against these tours.

I just happened to catch a report about the inaugural tour check out this link to hear how it went.  INAUGURAL L.A. GANG TOUR THANKS TO NPR RADIO  
There is an audio link to the report aired.    ---Gloria

Swarthmore, Pennsylvania has been an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Green Power Community since October 2007.  According to the map on the EPA's website, Swarthmore is the only community on the entire eastern seaboard to make this claim.

What Swarthmore and 25 other communities in Unites States have done, is partner up with the EPA and purchase "green power in amounts that meet or exceed EPA's Green Power Community purchase requirements". This voluntary partnership with the EPA is a way for communities and organizations to help reduce the impact of electrical consumption on the environment. 

Even though Swarthmore is the only community east of the Mississippi, as of October 2009, to be in this partnership with the EPA, there are many organizations and businesses in Pennyslvania and other eastern states that are partners. 

Congratulations Swarthmore for leading the way in this Eco-friendly trend!

                                                                                                  (Written by Gloria)
(Information obtained from EPA website)

Doug Durren and Gloria Todor, Realtors^®, CENTURY 21 Absolute Realty
Serving Delaware County Pennsylvania and Surrounding Areas
Take advantage of the Tax Credit before April 30, 2010
- First Time Home Buyers and Current Homeowners -
610-909-0687 Doug       610-328-4300 x131 Office
484-431-3686 Gloria      www.RealEstateDelawareCountyPA.com
Email GloriaTodor@Century21.com

If you or someone you know are 65 or older and live in Nether Providence Township or Rose Valley Borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania you are eligible for a free smoke detector.  South Media Fire Company protects these areas and wants to help residents with this gift that saves lives.  To receive your free smoke detector, simply stop by the firehouse during the day on Fridays or on Mondays 7-9 PM, during training hours. 

To find out more please call 610-566-6151 or visit the following websites:    South Media Fire Company    Nether Providence Township

                                              (Written by Gloria) 

Oh My Darling, Oh My Darling, Oh.....My.....Darling......__________ .                                                  

Doug Durren and Gloria Todor, Realtors^®, CENTURY 21 Absolute Realty
Serving Delaware County Pennsylvania and Surrounding Areas
Take advantage of the Tax Credit before April 30, 2010
- First Time Home Buyers and Current Homeowners - Give us a call!
610-909-0687 Doug       610-328-4300 x131 Office
484-431-3686 Gloria      www.RealEstateDelawareCountyPA.com
Email GloriaTodor@Century21.com

Aston Township, Pennsylvania Real Estate 19014 - Houses Sold in 2008 and 2009 - A Comparison

Here is information about residential houses that sold in Aston Township, Pennsylvania 19014 for the years 2008 and 2009: a comparison.

The maximum sold price for a house was $530,000 in 2008.
The maximum sold price for a house was $545,000 in 2009.

The minimum sold price for a house was $81,000 in 2008.
The minimum sold price for a house was $47,500 in 2009.

The average sold price was $232,753 in 2008.
The average sold price was $227,432 in 2009.

The average amount of days on the market was 57 in 2008.
The average amount of days on the market was 78 in 2009.

180 residential houses sold in Aston Township in 2008.
182 residential houses sold in Aston Township in 2009.

 (Information from Trend MLS)

Provided by Doug Durren and Gloria Todor, Realtors^®, CENTURY 21 Absolute Realty
Contact us to help with all of your real estate needs in Delaware County, PA
610-909-0687 Doug       610-328-4300 x131 Office
484-431-3686 Gloria      www.RealEstateDelawareCountyPA.com
Email GloriaTodor@Century21.com