Delaware County, Pennsylvania Real Estate Blog: Pennsylvania

Van Gogh Up Close Exhibit February 1 to May 6, 2012 At The Philadelphia Art Museum  (Day Trip from Delaware County, PA)

The Philadelphia Art Museum has the honor of being the only U.S. museum to host the current traveling exhibit of art by the impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh.  The exhibit “Van Gogh Up Close” will be at the Philadelphia Art Museum February 1 to May 6, 2012.  Then it moves to Ottawa Canada.

Seeing Van Gogh’s work up close is truly amazing, for you can see the thickness of the paint and strokes on the surface of the canvas that you cannot see in a photograph.  The richness of his choice of colors are also striking because photographs cannot capture the true deep colors that he often used in his paintings.

Van Gogh was a passionate and troubled soul, and he produced some of the most amazing pieces of art that still have the power to ignite viewers.  To be in the room with Van Gogh’s art is closest way to be in his presence.

If you have never seen an exhibit of Van Gogh’s work I highly recommend you plan a trip to see this exhibit and enjoy your favorite pieces up close and from across the gallery room.

For more details about this exhibit, call the museum at 215-763-8100 or Open This Link.

(written by Gloria) 

Van Gogh Up Close Exhibit February 1 to May 6, 2012 At The Philadelphia Art Museum  (Day Trip from Delaware County, PA)

Weather Capitol Of The World – Punxsutawney, PA

This is the logo on a sign to the park Gobbler's Knob where Punxsutawney Phil is taken to predict the weather for us humans every February 2^nd.  This park is up the mountainside and on the outskirts of town, Punxsutawney, PA.

We visited this town and park last year and were surprised to find out the ceremony was not held in town as depicted in the movie “Groundhog Day”, but in this park on the outskirts of town.  A few locals we spoke to said the filmmakers wanted the okay to film the movie in town but then never filmed it on location.

Phil does live in a downtown park next to the library and you can see him in his burrow through the windows.  Unfortunately our photos did not turn out of Phil sleeping that day. 

Because of Phil's notoriety, there are many things in town that carry his name, such as names of stores and the many groundhog statues decorated and place around the town. 

   

Weather Capitol Of The World – Punxsutawney, PA

Putting The Cart Before The Horse When Buying Real Estate 

You probably know this expression “putting the cart before the horse”, well this is one way to describe a buyer who wants to start seeing houses before they have been pre-approved by a lender.  Sure as a buyer you might have some idea of what you can afford, but until you talk with a professional, go over the closing costs and find out what you can afford for a mortgage, you are putting the cart before the horse.

Yes looking at houses can be fun.  Open Houses are a great way to see houses on a whim.  But don’t be surprised when an agent does not want to show you properties if you are not pre-approved by a lender. 

WHY? You might ask.  Well agents need to make a living just like everyone else and if they give a lot of time to a buyer who does not know their true buying power, then that buyer is taking work hours away from that agent who could be helping other buyers with pre-approval letters and are ready to place an offer the moment they visit the house of their dreams.

“Yes, but I have to start somewhere, and I want to look at a few houses first” You might say.  Well you may get lucky and find an agent who will show you a few houses initially, but you run the risk of finding the house of your dreams and by the time you find out you can afford the house, another buyer with their ducks in a row might sneak in and buy the house before you.  Or you might find out, that house is way beyond your means.  Unfortunately, either way, a buyer tends to compare all other houses they see from that point on to that house that got away.

So be good to yourself and get that first step done by getting a pre-approval letter, by having a FREE CONSULTATION with an agent and a lender.  Once you have this letter in place it can easily be updated.

(Written by Gloria)

Putting The Cart Before The Horse When Buying Real Estate 

Photo taken in Media, PA

Snow Tubing In The Pocono Mountains January 2012 (Day Trips From Delaware County, PA)

If you live in Delaware County PA and enjoy snow, it is very possible for you to escape to the Pocono Mountains for the day to go snow tubing.  The snow-covered slopes in the Pocono's are approximately 100 miles from Delaware County and offer the opportunity for groups of school children, families and friends to escape from it all while enjoying the outdoors on an inner tube in winter. 

We recently were in the Pocono’s and had the opportunity to go snow tubing, something I have never done before.  We were at the Jack Frost/Big Boulder Resort area and enjoyed a few hours taking in the scenery as we kept returning to the top of the slope for more rides down the mountainside in the comfort of an inner tube.

If you decide to make this trip, call 570-443-8425 to check on weather conditions.  Click Here to find out more. Have a great time!  Happy Tubing!

Snow Tubing In The Pocono Mountains January 2012 (Day Trips From Delaware County, PA)

Market Report for Units Sold in 2011 for Holly House Condominiums located at 501 North Providence Road in Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. 
 

4 Units Sold in 2011 with Sold Prices ranging from $124,900 to $255,000.

2 Units offered 2 bedrooms and 1 full bathroom

1 Unit offered 2 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms

1 Unit offered 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms

Days on Market ranged from 4 days to 86 days.

At the time of this writing there are 3 Active Listings in Holly House ranging in List Price from $214,900 to $284,500.

Holly House is a seven-story condominium complex built in 1973.  There are approximately 140 units ranging in size from one to 3 bedrooms with some units having an additional powder room or an additional full bathroom.  All units are conveniently located within steps to the elevator, storage, the laundry room and a trash shoot.

Holly House is a short walk to a trolley line and shopping center. 

If Holly House is in your future, please give us a call today.
 

(Market Report info from Trendmls)

Holly House Condominiums 2011 Market Report – Units Sold - Media, Delaware County, PA

Did you Know Martin Luther King Jr Lived In Chester, Delaware County, PA For Three Years?

Finding out a bit of history about a local area can be rather exciting, as happened with me while trying to find out about this bronze bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. located in a park in Chester, PA. 

What I found out was that Dr. King was a student at Crozier Theological Seminary located just across from Crozier Chester Hospital from September 14, 1948 to May 8, 1951 when he graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Divinity.  From there he went to Boston University where he earned his doctorate degree.

Now back to the this bronze sculpture. 
 

The sculpture is located on Engle Street very close to W 7^th Street and just off of the parking lot of the J. Lewis Crozier Library.  The library’s address is 620 Engle Street, Chester 19013. 

This sculpture is a larger than life bust of Dr. King and well worth seeing first hand. 

For me, knowing this bit of information now puts a different light on Chester and the location near the hospital and gives a special connection to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the person we are honoring today with a national holiday and day of service.

(Written by Gloria)

Did you Know Martin Luther King Jr Lived In Chester, Delaware County, PA For Three Years?

The maximum sold price for a house was $400,000.

The minimum sold price for a house was $135,000.

The average sold price was $241,937.

The average amount of days on the market was 109.

12 residential houses sold in Conshohocken in November 2011.

(Information from Trend MLS)

Previous Reports for Conshohocken Pennsylvania 
September 2010 Conshohocken PA
Fourth Quarter 2010 Conshocken PA
First Quarter 2011 Conshohocken PA
2nd Quarter 2011 Conshohocken PA

Conshohocken, Montgomery County Pennsylvania Real Estate - Houses Sold - November 2011

Here is information about residential houses that sold in Media, Delaware County Pennsylvania November of 2011.
 
Only one house sold in Media in November.

(Information from Trend MLS)

Previous Reports for Media, Pennsylvania 
September 2010 Media, PA
Fourth Quarter 2010 Media PA
First Quarter 2011 Media PA
Second Quarter 2011 Media PA

Media, Delaware County Pennsylvania Real Estate - Houses Sold November 2011 

Here is information about residential houses that sold in Parkside, Delaware County, Pennsylvania for the Fourth Quarter of 2011 and December 2011.

Fourth Quarter 2011 (October, November, December)

The maximum sold price for a house was $145,000.

The minimum sold price for a house was $137,000.

The average sold price was $141,000.

The average amount of days on the market was 187.

1 residential houses sold in Parkside in the Fourth Quarter 2011.

Totals for December 2011

Only one house sold in Parkside in December.  

It was on the market for 17 days and sold for $145,000.


(Information from Trend MLS)

Previous Reports for Parkside, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Second Quarter Parkside Delaware County PA 2010
Third Quarter 2010 Parkside Delaware County PA
Fourth Quarter 2010 Parkside PA
First Quarter 2011 Parkside PA

Parkside, Delaware County, Pennsylvania Real Estate - Houses Sold In December And Fourth Quarter 2011