Delaware County, Pennsylvania Real Estate Blog

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

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:35:08 -0500

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)

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Doug Durren and Gloria Todor, Realtors®, SRES®CENTURY 21 Absolute Realty
Serving Delaware County, Pennsylvania and Surrounding Areas
Doug 610-909-0687 Gloria 484-431-3686
610-328-4300 x131 Office
Visit our Blog
GloriaTodor@Century21.com

Monthly Area Stats for Sold Houses Posted By the 15th of Each Month

Putting The Cart Before The Horse When Buying Real Estate

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:30:55 -0500

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

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Monthly Area Stats for Sold Houses Posted By the 15th of Each Month

Weather Capitol Of The World – Punxsutawney, PA

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:14:32 -0500

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

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Monthly Area Stats for Sold Houses Posted By the 15th of Each Month

Dreamer, Nothing But A Dreamer

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:53:05 -0500

Photo taken in Media, PA

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Monthly Area Stats for Sold Houses Posted By the 15th of Each Month

Be Safe ~ Not Sorry...

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:54:53 -0500

If you looking to buy a home be sure you get a home inspection before the purchase is final. Please take a moment to read this post by Michael a Home Inspector, he points out important things.

Thanks Michael.

Via Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector - 615.661.0297 (Complete Home Inspections, Inc.):

Be Safe ~ Not Sorry...
     When potential buyers look at a property, they are looking at the aesthetics not the functionality or safety features. When the untrained eye looks at the photo below, one sees a sees a cool looking stairwell, loft and a nice clean open space.

However, the trained eye of the home inspector sees something different.

     1. Even though this is an older property, the balusters (spindles) on the guardrail and handrail exceed the current 4” spacing required for child safety.
     2. The placement of the smoke alarms on both levels of the property are incorrect. Typically, they should be place within 12" of the ceiling.
     Properly placed smoke alarms are vital for the safety of you and your family. In most states, properties that have been rehabbed need to be brought up to current standards of safety. These are some of the issues found with this property:
     1. The alarms were not wired together – when one-alarm signals, all should signal.
     2. The alarms were not installed in the bedrooms. Current safety standards require all smoke alarms to be placed in each bedroom and hallway of in each level of the property.
     3. There was no function smoke alarm in the basement or the garage.

Did you know...
     · Smoke alarms monitor the air 24 hours a day, every day. After 10 years, it's been on the job for over 87,000 hours. At this point in its life, it stands a 50/50 chance of failure. Do you want to trust your life to an aged device?. If you don’t know how old your alarm is, or if it is more than 10 years old, replace it.
     · The battery back up in all alarms needs to be replaced annually.
     · Smoke alarms need to be tested monthly.
     · Vacuum the outside covers periodically to remove dust, dirt particles and insects.

For all your inspection needs in the Brentwood, Franklin & Nashville TN real estate markets

Call us today:

Complete Home Inspections, inc.

The guys with the hats...

615.661.0297

Brentwood, TN

Scan the QR code below for business card info

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Mindless And Counting

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:36:44 -0500

Mindless And Counting
by Gloria

Playing FreeCell Solitaire on the computer is one of my chosen mindless means of escape and recharging. It is something I do here and there, not a true addiction like watching the evening news or drinking my daily cup of tea with milk and honey, but an addiction of sorts.

Way back in late 2007 I started at game one of one million games of FreeCell, because it was the only solitaire game that allowed me to choose the number game I wanted play. This option gave me purpose to my mindless card playing, so I set out to win every game!

Today I am up to game 4244 and out of those games I am stumped by 3 games. No matter how many times I go back to those 3 games I cannot win them.

So you might be asking, why is she writing this post?

Well, playing these games reminds me a lot of situations in life.

Some situations just fall into place, no matter what you do; you manage to move ahead easily and without much effort.

Then there are times when situations require starting over and over until one minor change opens up a new way of dealing with things. Persistence does pay off most of the time if you want a desired result.

And then some things never work out the way you want them to. No matter what you do, no matter how much time you work at something, it just isn’t meant to be…. like those 3 games.

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Monthly Area Stats for Sold Houses Posted By the 15th of Each Month

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

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:07:11 -0500

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)

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Monthly Area Stats for Sold Houses Posted By the 15th of Each Month

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

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:23:52 -0500

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

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Monthly Area Stats for Sold Houses Posted By the 15th of Each Month

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

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:36:38 -0500

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?

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Monthly Area Stats for Sold Houses Posted By the 15th of Each Month

Redding Homes For Sale - Electric RYNO Unicycle $3,500 - Emerging Technology-Redding, Anderson Cottonwood Homes For Sale

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:22:00 -0500

Keep your eyes open for a new type of motorcycle that will be on the roads, trails and byways in the very near future, like this year!

Thank you Steve for raising my awareness about this evolution in the world of the unicycle.

What fun!

(Gloria)

Via Chain Real Estate Investments & Mortgage, Steve & Joel Chain:

The Electric RYNO Unicycle is the brainchild of inventor Chris Hoffman. The RYNO Motors unicycle demonstrates it's self balancing tendencies and is reported to travel at speeds up to 25 mile per hour. It size and agility is see blending well with urban traffic, walking trails, even entering buildings and elevators. The Portland company's website reports first deliveries will be rolling out in early 2012.

Unique Property Specialists: Contact us for transaction assistance in buying or selling Northern California's, golf course, waterfront, equestrian and airpark properties.

Search: www.reddingcahomesforsale.INFO

Sellers: Contact Chain Real Estate for a free market evaluation for your home because:

"Unique Properties Deserve Unique Marketing℠!"

www.CottonwoodCAHomesForSale.INFO

Buyers: To schedule a viewing of one of these unique homes contact Chain Real Estate

source:Shasta/Flex MLS

Information deemed reliable, on the date of publication, but not guaranteed

chain real estate investment & mortgage

Chain Real Estate Investments & Mortgage

Office 530-347-6122 Email: contact@chainrealestate.NET

Steve 530-370-1818

Joel 530-592-6587

Steve A. 530-355-2804

www.chainrealestate.NET DRE: 01787156

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Monthly Area Stats for Sold Houses Posted By the 15th of Each Month

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

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:48:26 -0500

Here is information about residential houses that sold in Conshohocken, Montgomery County Pennsylvania November of 2011.

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

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Monthly Area Stats for Sold Houses Posted By the 15th of Each Month

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

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:44:03 -0500

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

Only one house sold in Media in November.

It was on the market for 7 days and sold for $320,000.

(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

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Monthly Area Stats for Sold Houses Posted By the 15th of Each Month

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

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:39:31 -0500

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

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Monthly Area Stats for Sold Houses Posted By the 15th of Each Month

Bucks County, Pennsylvania Real Estate - Houses Sold In September And Third Quarter 2011

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:25:52 -0400

Here is information about residential houses that sold in Bucks County, Pennsylvania for the Third Quarter and September of 2011.

Third Quarter 2011 (July, August, September)

The maximum sold price for a house was $2,250,000.

The minimum sold price for a house was $42,000.

The average sold price was $325,101.

The average amount of days on the market was 92.

1420 residential houses sold in Bucks County in the Third Quarter 2011.

Totals for September 2011

The maximum sold price for a house was $1,625,000.

The minimum sold price for a house was $49,000.

The average sold price was $322,109.

The average amount of days on the market was 97.

435 residential houses sold in Bucks County in September 2011.

(Information from Trend MLS)

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

Bucks County, Pennsylvania Real Estate - Houses Sold In September And Third Quarter 2011

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Monthly Area Stats for Sold Houses Posted By the 15th of Each Month

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

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:33:23 -0500

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

Fourth Quarter 2011 (October, November, December)

The maximum sold price for a house was $4,000,000.

The minimum sold price for a house was $48,000.

The average sold price was $304,073.

The average amount of days on the market was 106.

1163 residential houses sold in Bucks County in the Fourth Quarter 2011.

Totals for December 2011

The maximum sold price for a house was $1,399,000.

The minimum sold price for a house was $56,000.

The average sold price was $300,080.

The average amount of days on the market was 109.

386 residential houses sold in Bucks County in December 2011.

(Information from Trend MLS)

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

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Monthly Area Stats for Sold Houses Posted By the 15th of Each Month