Downingtown Real Estate

Turnbury - New construction in Uwchlan township

2012-02-21T16:33:00.001-05:00

Last year I had written about this new construction community of 25 single family homes in Downingtown East schools called Turnbury. If you are looking for specific floor plans to accommodate a growing family or parents moving back in with you, and want to stay in Uwchlan township, not quite finding the resales that suit your needs, new construction may be the way to go.

The construction on site at Turnbury has begun in full swing, with 8 homes sold already. They are certainly taking advantage of the mild winter. The base price on the homes currently is 510k and they have great floor plan options, a 4 bedroom option with a Princess suite and a 5 bedroom option with 2 Jack and Jill bathrooms.....and more.

The builder is in the process of building their model home which should be up in April. However, I would not wait until April to check it out. With sites selling fast, most of the desirable sites will be gone soon. For more information on lot premiums and phases of construction for the remaining lots, and how best to negotiate a new construction home, please contact me.

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
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5 tips to negotiating a real estate transaction.

2012-02-18T16:03:00.005-05:00

Tara Nicholle Nelson's post on Trulia inspired me to write this one -

Below are my 5 negotiation tips for home buyers and sellers. Be a savvy home owner/buyer and use these to your advantage.

1. Knowledge - An educated customer is the best customer! That is my mantra in real estate negotiation. What are the prices of recent homes sold in the neighborhood (properties actively for sale do not count).... What was the difference between the final asking price and sale price... What were the days on market... How much is your home loan pre-approval... What can you realistically afford... What are the sellers constraints... What are the historic property values in that neighborhood... Is your Realtor giving you all this information, to give you an edge in the negotiation?

2. Motivation - Be clear on your motivation to buy or sell the home. All the knowledge that you have about the other party helps, but also consider your own reasons for the move. What is a fair price for the house? What are the alternatives if you do not buy or sell and how cost effective are they? Are you negotiating further for pennies at the risk of losing the deal? Are you holding out for more money in a declining market...or holding on to an empty house and continuing to pay monthly expenses in the hope of a deal in the future? Is your commute affecting family life? Are there any other homes you like just as much? Is an additional $50 or so in monthly payment, keeping you from buying your dream home? Are you putting your life on hold, waiting for the market to go back to the pre-recession home prices? These will help you negotiate wisely, putting things into perspective.

3. Time Pressures - Negotiating can be tough when working with a looming deadline. Lease running out, corporate relocation in the works, school year starting, your home already sold and short term storage and rental not ideal....are all situations that may force you to make hasty decisions. Plan ahead and give yourself some more time. You cannot negotiate strong when you are under time pressure.

4. Other than Price - Have you considered negotiating factors other than the price of the home? The settlement date, appliances, inspection repairs, escrow deposits, contingencies are some of the ways you can get a better overall deal and an upper hand in the real estate transaction.

5. Realtor - Do you have a good real estate professional representing you in the transaction? Real estate websites like Trulia have many questions in their Q&A section where home buyers and sellers express their frustration at deals that went south, due to negligence or poor representation. Many things can go wrong in a real estate transaction even after you have an executed agreement. A knowledgeable agent knows the contracts and knows your rights, so they can negotiate strong on your behalf and protect your best interest.

Feel free to reach out if I can be of assistance in your negotiation. Please share your negotiation story with us in the comment section below.

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
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Real Estate Values - Chester county, PA

2012-02-15T17:14:00.002-05:00

Inventory of homes on the market is dropping and Settled units are increasing in Chester county - that is a great sign of the real estate market recovery!

Single-Family	Jan. '11	Jan. '12
Inventory	3,278	3,124
Settled Units	242	274
Median Price	$300,000	$280,000
Stl Price/Orig Price	91.2%	90.7%

Information courtesy of TrendMLS.

Real Estate Activity in Foxcroft, Downingtown, PA

2012-02-08T12:42:00.000-05:00

Foxcroft is a great neighborhood in the Downingtown East schools which on average, has 28 year old homes with .5 acre yards. Not much turnover in this neighborhood. This is the real estate activity in Foxcroft 2/8/2011-2/8/2012

status	address	list_price	sold_price
Settled	509 Cheshire Dr, Downingtown, PA	$339,900	$336,000
Settled	471 Cheshire Dr, Downingtown, PA	$324,900	$310,000
Active	461 E Radnor Ct, Downingtown, PA	$369,900
Active	502 Cheshire Dr, Downingtown, PA	$359,000

These values reflect current market values and upgrades made by the home owners. For more information please contact Bela Vora.

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127

bela@belavora.com
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Great deal! Real estate in Downingtown!

2012-02-07T11:04:00.004-05:00

Spectacular move in ready home - 4 Bedrooms 3.1 baths, 3,370sq ft with additional 800 sq ft of finished basement, 14 year old colonial in Downingtown East schools! Just on the market at 424k! Has hardwood floors, granite counters, stainless steel appliances and mill work - access to association pool and play areas and the fantastic Struble trail.

Real estate in Downingtown

This is great value - this one won't last long! Schedule your appointment soon!

Please contact Bela Vora for real estate questions or for more information on this property!

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
bela@belavora.com
Website | Facebook | Blog

USDA loan to buy real estate

2012-02-06T22:55:00.001-05:00

The United States Department of Agriculture gives special home loans for rural development. You may have heard of it as a USDA loan, which requires no down payment. Yes - you can buy real estate without any equity contribution even today! However, home buyers looking to avail themselves of this loan must qualify on two counts. The home should be in the eligible rural area and the borrower must qualify based on their annual family income as well.

Check whether the home would qualify by clicking on this USDA eligibility map for PA. The ineligible areas are shaded, so if your home falls in the unshaded area - you may qualify for a 0% down USDA loan. The maximum family income for eligibility ranges from $78k - $93k approximately, depending on the county. The neat thing about this loan is that apart form a great interest rate, the PMI for a USDA loan is much smaller than FHA's PMI. There are some upfront fees though, which can be added to the total amount borrowed - allowing the buyer to borrow up to 103% of the home's value. Your mortgage advisor can help you further, with your specific real estate transaction.

The Applecross development in Downingtown qualifies for USDA rural loans. While it is great to take advantage, financial prudence says it is better to have some cash reserves before considering home purchase. Food for thought...

For more information on financing your real estate transaction, call Bela Vora

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
bela@belavora.com
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6 steps to saving for a down payment on your home.

2012-01-29T20:50:00.010-05:00

First time home buyers realize the benefits of home ownership - but may need the discipline to save for the closing costs and down payment. Here are 6 ways to save for a down payment -

1. Procrastinate - yes - we have heard time and again never to procrastinate, but waiting a week to buy something you 'really want', may help eliminate the impulse buys that you do not 'really need'.

2. Eliminate excess spending - Make your coffee instead of rushing to Starbucks, drink water instead of the expensive sweetened drinks, buy in bulk instead of running to the local convenience store often, skip a restaurant meal and cook at home...all simple ideas but need discipline if you are serious about saving for your home.

3,. Track your expenses - It is important to have a budget and track it continually. Be honest to yourself. Have your Realtor laminate or frame a picture of your dream home - put it in your bedroom, kitchen or near the desk where you pay your bills... it will help you stay focused.

4. Payroll deduction - For those truly determined, set up an automatic withdrawal to a separate savings or money market account, so a part of your paycheck is gone automatically every month.

5. Little extras - A tax refund, an unexpected bonus or if you get paid biweekly, the 2 extra paychecks in the year can all add to the savings for the down payment on your dream home.

6. Second job - This may be difficult but if you can squeeze in a few extra hours every other week - or if you can take up a second job temporarily, until the down payment is saved, every bit helps.

I really like Suze Orman's priceless money saving tips - she believes owning a home is the best investment you can make and there is no better tax write off than a home. However, it is wise to do it only after you have demonstrated the ability to save. Best to have savings that can tide you over for 8 months and best to have 10-20% of the home's value for the down payment. Good safe advice!

More real estate tips and advice in the Downingtown, Chester Springs, Exton area please contact Bela Vora

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
bela@belavora.com
Website | Facebook | Blog

Outrunning the competition!

2012-01-28T12:10:00.002-05:00

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed.

Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle: when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.

Not clear who originally said it - but I read about it in Tom Friedman's book "The World is Flat"

Highlights for Coldwell Banker Preferred - Year 2011

2012-01-26T17:44:00.005-05:00

In the state of Pennsylvania, Realtors must choose a brokerage to work with. When I started in the business, I chose the Exton office of Coldwell Banker Preferred for many reasons. Here is one of them...

Highlights from Coldwell Banker Preferred President's letter of accomplishments for 2011.

- 13% increase in sales while the competition is down 7%
- Climbing up in market share rank from 7th place in 2008 to 2nd in 2011
- Every office of C B Pref ranked in the top 51 out of 1000+ offices in the 4 county area
- Elite status with Cartus Relocation making C B Pref eligible for twice the relocation business.

For more details - see the entire letter below. More articles on Coldwell Banker Preferred.
For all your real estate needs - contact BelaVora

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
bela@belavora.com
Website | Facebook | Blog

Coldwell Banker Preferred Real Estate 2012

What's a Homeowner to do?

2012-01-21T13:33:00.004-05:00

These days, most blogs are about about lists - 5 top reasons why...10 things to do....7 Ways to ....
We all want information in bite sized pieces, easy to understand as well as implement. So when I see a book that says "442 things you should know...", I stopped and wondered, are these guys serious?

Well, the "guys" happen to be Stephen Fanuka and Edward Lewine who have written a book titled :
"What's a Homeowner to do? 442 things you should know." Stephen Fanuka is the star of the famous DIY series Million Dollar Contractor (Sundays at 10pm) and Edward Lewine writes home improvement columns for the New York Times Magazine. Now, we are paying attention! The 442 ways are diagrams, and easy-to-use, bite-sized tutorials for do-it-yourself home improvement, maintenance and safety projects.

The book offers tips and suggestions on understanding how your home is built, what items need regular maintenance, insider secrets on handling common issues and the most useful tip of all - knowing when to tackle a job yourself or call in a professional. If you own a home and feel at loose ends when it comes to knowing what you should be doing to keep it in top shape, "What’s a Homeowner to Do" is the reference guide for you. What a great housewarming gift, especially for a first time home buyer!
Have you read the book? What do you think?

More articles on Real Estate Tips or my Book Reviews.

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
bela@belavora.com
Website | Facebook | Blog

Chester County home values Jan 2012

2012-01-18T09:19:00.002-05:00

As reported by TrendMLS - Single family homes, year to date.

Single-Family YTD	Dec. '10	Dec. '11
Settled Units	4,163	4,084
Average Price	$366,000	$356,000
Median Price	$314,000	$302,000
Stl Price/Orig Price	92.6%	91.3%

Market still trending down - though Dec 2011. Fewer sales than the previous year. Average price is lower possibly because the luxury market is not doing so well - and the shift is towards first time buyers who tend to go for the lower price point. Pricing remains key - for sellers, better to come in at a realistic price rather than chase the market down.

More home values in the Downingtown, Chester Springs, Exton and other areas of Chester County. For all your real estate needs, please contact Bela Vora.

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
bela@belavora.com
Website | Facebook | Blog

Real Estate Activity in Williamsburg, Downingtown, PA

2012-01-16T17:22:00.002-05:00

Recent activity in Williamsburg, Uwchlan Woods and Madison estate - Oct 12, 2011 - Jan 12, 2012

status

address

list_price

sold_price

Active

925 Burdette Dr,

$335,000

Active

927 N York Dr,

$349,900

Active

837 Williamsburg Blvd,

$455,000

Active

908 Livingston Dr,

$419,999

Active

1022 Chiswell Dr,

$307,400

Under contract

707 Dover Court Pl,

$439,900

Settled

909 Kings Arms Dr,

$349,900

$360,000

Settled

879 S York Dr,

$349,900

$325,000

Settled

914 Burdette Dr,

$375,000

$365,000

Get more information on Williamsburg, Uwchlan Woods and Madison Estate communities in the Downingtown area.
For all your real estate needs, contact Bela Vora

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
bela@belavora.com
Website | Facebook | Blog

Victory Brewing, Downingtown PA.

2012-01-13T18:40:00.002-05:00

One of Downingtown's claim to fame is a local brewery - which not only makes great beer but supplies it all over the country! Armed with knowledge, experience and a love of quality beer, Ron and Bill decided to pursue their passion and started the company in the old Pepperidge Farm facility close to downtown Downingtown. Victory Brewing Company opened its doors to the public on Feb. 15, 1996.

With popular brands like Golden Monkey and Prima Pils - their beer won the hearts of beer lovers all over the country. Personally, I am quite tickled when I see their brand at supermarkets in random states I visit. Once, when I mentioned to someone that I was from Downingtown, I was asked - "Isn't that where they make Victory beer?"

The owners and their team are very strong on social media and have made some marketing case histories with the buzz they generate using their blog, facebook, twitter etc. When Dark Wednesday, a new brand was introduced - they created a lot of intrigue and attracted beer lovers from states as far away as Colorado, New York..even Oklahoma. Beer lovers drove overnight, lined up outside at outrageous hours (like on a black Friday) and paid premium prices to get this limited edition beer, which was sold out in 2 hours! Read more on their blog.

A part of the Victory facility is a restaurant that serves great pizza! They have a full menu, with recommendations for various beers that pair well with their entrees, and delicious desserts to follow. I am not a big beer connoisseur, but I truly enjoyed my recent dinner at with the Victory Lager and white pizza enveloped in an energetic buzz, that makes the place warm and welcoming.

I highly recommend a visit - or a field trip if you are not local. If not, look for Victory beer in your local stores. Truly a local gem in my opinion!

What do you think?

Other local gems in the Downingtown, Exton, Chester Springs area.

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
bela@belavora.com
Website | Facebook | Blog

Windsor Ridge, Chester Springs, PA

2012-01-09T20:22:00.003-05:00

Real estate activity in Windsor Ridge 10/9/2011 - 1/9/2012

status	address	list_price	sold_price
ACT	2009 Garrison Dr, Chester Springs, PA	$289,000
ACT	1107 Harding Cir, Chester Springs, PA	$315,000
ACT	503 Emerson Cir, Chester Springs, PA	$410,000
ACT	106 Cawley Ct, Chester Springs, PA	$469,900
ACT	1306 Stuart Dr, Chester Springs, PA	$412,500
ACT	504 Emerson Cir, Chester Springs, PA	$409,900
ACT	1404 Hampshire Ln, Chester Springs, PA	$405,000
ACT	326 Elmhurst Dr, Chester Springs, PA	$422,000
ACT-O	229 Oliver Dr, Chester Springs, PA	$429,000
PND	1913 Cavalier Ln, Chester Springs, PA	$259,900
PND	337 Elmhurst Dr, Chester Springs, PA	$450,000
STL	39 Prospect Hill Blvd, Chester Springs, PA	$379,900	$348,000
STL	802 Mount Rose Rd, Chester Springs, PA	$315,000	$305,000
STL	412 Pierce Dr, Chester Springs, PA	$425,000	$412,500
STL	317 Elmhurst Dr, Chester Springs, PA	$435,000	$427,500

For more real estate information in Chester Springs, contact Bela Vora.

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
bela@belavora.com
Website | Facebook | Blog

STEM Academy named an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School!

2012-01-06T17:24:00.005-05:00

The International Baccalaureate Organization has named the Downingtown STEM Academy an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. The STEM Academy is the first IB World School in Chester County and will be the first high school in the nation to offer an IB program with STEM pathways.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a global model for schools that aim to engage students in a rigorous academic program with an emphasis on 21st Century learning: critical thinking skills and communication skills. The IB Diploma Programme challenges students to make the connections between academic subjects and everyday life. The IB requires students to demonstrate knowledge through a variety of assessments that rely less on standard tests and more on interactive projects and extended writings. .

"Those of us who live and work within the Downingtown Area School District should be very excited that our students now have the opportunity to attend an IB World School," said Superintendent Lawrence Mussoline "This exciting accomplishment acknowledges our district's efforts to help students develop the intellectual, social and problem solving skills that will be necessary to live and work in a globalized world."

"I'm so proud of our staff and can't stress enough the role they played in receiving this acceptance," said STEM Academy Headmaster George Fiore. "Their efforts since our opening have been positively impacting the students on a daily basis."

Get more information on Downingtown Area School District or visit school websites that allow you to compare schools for your real estate decisions.

Real Estate Activity in Byers Station, Chester Springs, PA

2012-01-06T12:31:00.000-05:00

October 6, 2011-January 6, 2012

status	address	list_price	sold_price
ACT	230 Flagstone Rd 2	$209,900
ACT	2823 Tansey Ln	$330,000
ACT	2118 Ferncroft Ln	$895,000
ACT	262 Flagstone Rd 2	$219,000
ACT	1309 Garman Dr	$467,000
ACT	720 Barnsdale Rd	$445,000
ACT	2431 Copper Creek Rd	$375,000
ACT	618 Sunderland Ave	$425,000
ACT	212 Flagstone Rd 3	$254,000
PND	141 Granite Ln 5	$245,000
STL	1330 Garman Dr	$450,000	$430,000
STL	2741 Linaria Dr	$349,900	$349,900
STL	2127 Ferncroft Ln	$749,900	$730,000
STL	640 Sunderland Ave	$449,900	$449,900
STL	1323 Garman Dr	$489,900	$460,500
STL	2509 Rainer Rd	$404,900	$388,000
STL	330 Dartmouth Rd	$365,000	$370,000
STL	638 Sunderland Ave	$485,000	$455,000

Wellington Book Store - Eagleview, Chester Springs PA

2012-01-03T20:13:00.003-05:00

Wellington Square bookshop

Wellingtown Square bookshop - fountain at entrance

A charming place in the heart of the Hankin Group's Eagleview community in Chester Springs - The Wellington Square Bookshop! It appears to be the brainchild and personal passion of Sam Hankin - and may have been established just so he could move his personal collection of books out of his home. It is a very warm and welcoming space with dark woods and antique furniture - rocking chairs and comfy sofas with antique rugs and rows upon rows of books.

Wellingtown Square bookshop - kids corner

The shop features rare collectible and used books - stop by and browse or bring your rare books in for an appraisal from their knowledgeable staff.   Cafes have become a standard part of bookstores everywhere... and the Wellington Square bookshop has one too - selling delectable cookies and treats along with a good selection of teas and coffees.

The bookstore has a kid's corner with a nice assortment of classic and contemporary books. Tucked away is a cosy reading area where you can easily spend hours reading with your child.   Explore cool toys that entertain and are ok for little fingers to touch, drop in a few coins in the fountain at the entrance - make a wish....

A big thank you to my friend Janine who hosted our bookclub at the Wellington Square bookshop - or else I would never have discovered this local gem! Did I mention that the store gives 20% discounts for book clubs and allows you to host your meeting after hours?   A refreshing change from downloading ebooks and shopping on Amazon.com. Stop by to soak in the atmosphere and enjoy the smell and feel of a neighborhood book store.

The address is 549 Wellington Square, Exton, PA 19341 - call 610 458 1144 for more information. Truly a local gem.

Top 5 reasons to market your home during the holidays!

2011-12-07T09:31:00.001-05:00

Home sales do tend to drop during the holidays, so if you are not motivated to sell - take your home off the market and give yourself a break from showings and open houses. Get back into action in early Spring peak season. It will also give you an opportunity to reevaluate the current agent if you were not too happy with their services or simply freshen your marketing plan.

However, if you are motivated to sell, there are several reasons why the holiday season is perfect -

1. Really serious buyers. They are house hunting instead of shopping at the malls or baking and decorating their homes or making holiday plans with family.

2. Less competition, fewer homes for sale. Many less motivated sellers take their homes off the market. The holiday season is stressful enough and they don't want to deal with staging and open houses.

3. Staging the home for sale. your home shows best when it is all decked out in holiday cheer. The outdoor lights add to the curb appeal and the warm and cozy feeling certainly sets the stage.

4. Services more available. Peripheral service providers like appraisers, mortgage advisers, handymen to fix minor problems, title companies and even real estate agents are all seeing some slow down. They all have more time to devote to their clients.

5. Targeted buyers. Investors looking to close before the end of the year for tax purposes, students and professors in University towns in between academic sessions, job relocations due to annual promotions, parents looking for minimal disruption in the school year who cannot wait until summer, military men and women near a service base .... all groups that are shopping during the holidays.

Take care!

2011-12-07T08:40:00.000-05:00

Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got.
- Janis Joplin

Rumor on the street ... only 1 builder in Byers Station?

2011-12-05T13:06:00.000-05:00

Rumor on the street is - Orleans Home Builders, that has just completed a phase of their townhome sales in Byers Station, will be buying out Toll Bro.s' interest in that neighborhood. Which means - in another year or so, Toll Brothers will phase out their construction and Orleans will take over the rest of new construction at this community.

What does that mean for buyers and sellers looking to buy or sell a home in this popular Chester Springs community?

Buyers ....
Currently you can buy an Orleans single family home and Toll Bro.s townhome as well as estate home - but maybe in another year or so - Orleans may be the only option. If you like the Toll Brothers models or prefer that builder - now is the time to get in. If you are indifferent to the builder but do not like the current Orleans lots and prefer a different price point - wait a bit. Their next phase may have flatter lots and different price points that may suit your budget better. However, no guarantees for the interest rates staying at their current lows.

For Sellers -
If you live in that community and would like to sell - if you have a Toll Brothers home, you will have less competition. There will not be any new construction for your model, so maintain your home well, and keep it 'move in ready' to appeal to the new home buyer, and you have a slight edge. This ofcourse means the situation will be reversed for an Orleans home seller. You can hope that the builder will sell different models in price ranges that do not directly compete with your model.

See some pictures of the community at Byers Station.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I will be happy to connect you with buyers and sellers in Byers Station who will share their experience about living in this wonderful Chester Springs neighborhood.

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
bela@belavora.com
Website | Facebook | Blog

Byers Station, Chester Springs - a visual

2011-12-02T18:44:00.003-05:00

Byers Station - Entrance.

Byers Station - Playground

Byers Station - Club House

Byers Station Swimming Pool

More information on this neighborhood

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
Website | Facebook | Blog

Market showing signs of recovery?

2011-12-02T18:05:00.001-05:00

Unemployment rate

Great news on all fronts.....

The Washington Post reports that unemployment rate is at 8.6% - the lowest since the drop in two years. A strong sign of a recovering economy.

CNN Money reports that retail sales for the Thanksgiving weekend were 16% higher than last year - as reported by the National Retail Federation.

Realtor Magazine reports that pending homes sales in October 2011 surged 10.4% over September 2011 and 9.2% over October 2010. That continued with inventory decline shows that the real estate market may be on its way up again.

These are all great signs for home buyers and sellers. If you intend to have a real estate transaction but sitting on the fence undecided, now may be the time to call your Realtor.

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
Website | Facebook | Blog

Shades of Ray

2011-12-01T20:57:00.000-05:00

A truly delightful romantic comedy. I loved the quirky characters and thoroughly identified with the cross cultural references. It is often available on Netflix instant streaming - a good movie to watch when you are looking for a feel good movie. I have not seen the main character, Zachary Levi, in any other movie or in his famous TV series Chuck - but would love to see more! I thought his character and the female lead, Sarah Shahi, had good chemistry and had very endearing roles. Comic relief, provided by dad and roommate friend, was well woven into the simple storyline.

I highly recommend it - see it without too many expectations and you will enjoy it thoroughly.

See more Netflix recommendations.

5 ways to help real estate market recover.

2011-11-18T18:14:00.001-05:00

We are now full swing into the Fall housing market and the same questions continue to linger. Have we reached bottom? When will the housing market improve? Will government intervention get the housing market back on track? A think tank of industry leaders, lawmakers and policy strategists came up with the following suggestions to help the recovery -

1. Appraisal-free refinancing for underwater borrowers so home owners can take advantage of the current low interest rates. Talk to your lender - I have heard of several clients who were successfully able to renegotiate their rate without an appraisal.

2. Shared equity refinancing - where the lender may impose certain restrictions on resale within the initial terms of the new mortgage where both the bank and the homeowner have skin in the game.

3, Assumable government backed loans - The new buyer can assume the loan from the seller, which makes buying today more appealing because interest rates are sure to rise - so locking in today's rates for the next buyer down the road.

4. Investor foreclosure purchases - Currently the foreclosures encourage buyers who will be using the property as their primary residence. While maintaining that - opening up investor participation may help offload the foreclosure inventory faster.

5 National servicing standards - Simplify and unify servicing standards across states, so lenders can streamline their operations instead of having to deal with different servicing rules in every state. They can focus instead on the homeowners.

Read the full article at Realtor Magazine.

What are your thoughts? Do you have any suggestions for the think tank? How can industry leaders and lawmakers help you?

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
Website | Facebook | Blog

Market values in Chester county, PA - October 2011

2011-11-17T09:40:00.001-05:00

Latest real estate trends in Chester county, PA - source TrendMLS.

Single-Family	Oct. '10	Oct. '11
Inventory	4,001	3,824
Settled Units	280	318
Median Price	$310,000	$285,000
Stl Price/Orig Price	91.3%	90.8%

For a free analysis of your neighborhood - please email. For more statistics click here.

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
Website | Facebook | Blog

Sellers Assist towards closing costs in a real estate transaction.

2011-11-14T16:13:00.003-05:00

Mortgage companies permit the seller of a home, to pay a percentage of the buyer’s closing & prepaid costs. That amount is considered "sellers assist". Sellers who have equity in the home use this as a tool to market their property to cash strapped buyers. Buyers who qualify for a mortgage and have savings to cover down payment, may use sellers assist to cover their closing costs.

There are however, limits to how much sellers assist lenders will allow. If is often a function of kind of loan, amount of down payment, value of the home, maximum amount of sellers assist allowed....

Conventional Loans:

Anything less than 10% down Max of 3% assist

Anything 10%-24.99% down Max of 6% assist

Anything 25% or more down Max of 9% assist

**Investment Properties are always limited to 2% max assist

FHA Loans

Max of 6% assist.

VA Loans

Unlimited, but no more than 4% can go to recurring costs (pre-paids, escrows)

* Sellers assist has to be written into the initial offer or agreement of sale or lenders some may not allow it.

* Buyers must find out what their actual closing costs are going to be BEFORE the offer is made. It is important because once you have negotiated the price based on a certain $$ amount of sellers assist - if it turns out that the actual closing costs are less than that amount, you may not be able to renegotiate with the seller.

* Sellers must find out if their property will appraise at that amount. If it does not - you are back to the drawing board with that buyer because most agreement of sales are contingent upon mortgage approvals.

Feel free to reach out if you have further questions on sellers assist. A special thank you to Michael Lamborn, Mortgage Advisor Coldwell Banker Home Loans at C B Preferred - Exton, for the information. Please consult your mortgage advisor for specifics in your situation.

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
bela@belavora.com
Website | Facebook | Blog

127 Wagon Trail Way, Downingtown, PA 19335

2011-11-13T18:05:00.002-05:00

An incredibly priced new listing in the Ridings at Uwchlan! It is 4 bedrooms, 2.1 baths, 3,628 sq. ft. priced at 424k! For more details on the listing visit belavora.com

As with many of the homes in this community, the backyard is not that great - but a great price for the sq footage nevertheless! Another listing in the same neighborhood on Canter Drive, that has a finished basement, is listed for 509k.

Great location, Downingtown East schools and wonderful neighborhood - this one is a steal!
Call me to schedule a showing today!

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
bela@belavora.com
Website | Facebook | Blog

Byers Station, Chester Springs, PA

2011-11-09T22:27:00.001-05:00

Byers Station, based in Chester Springs PA, is a big neighborhood of small town homes, large town homes, carriage homes, single family homes as well as large estate homes - all within the same community. It is estimated that when the entire community is completely built - it will have 1100 homes! As of Oct 2011, the public records show the community as having about 470 homes.

The neighborhood straddles two townships - West Vincent and Upper Uwchlan - not sure if West Pikeland will have some of the homes that are yet to be constructed. As a result, some homes will be in Owen J. Roberts school district, while most of the homes already built, are in Downingtown Area School District.

The community has good amenities like swimming pool, children's playgrounds, walking trails, club house, fitness center and other facilities. Currently under construction is also a second swimming pool. The community has a Home Owners Association that is managed by the Mid Atlantic Management company.

Byers Station currently has new construction by 2 builders - Orleans group and Toll Brothers.
"Estates" by Orleans Homes, and "Summit " by Toll Bros. are the communities of single family homes in West Vincent township, Owen J Roberts schools.
"Mews" at Byers Station by Orleans Homes and "Creekside" by Toll Brothers are the townhome communities in Upper Uwchlan township, Downingtown (DASD) schools. As of Nov 9, 2011, The Orleans townhomes community - Mews - is completely sold out.

It remains to be seen what new construction will continue in that neighborhood. Will the economy and real estate market encourage construction of single family homes or will the price point drop to more affordable town homes? In this large community, where new construction is likely to continue for years, how will market values of resales be impacted? Please share your comments below.

For more specific information on home values in Byers Station - click on the Statistics tab.

As always, call me for further details...

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
bela@belavora.com
Website | Facebook | Blog

15 Willow Ct., Downingtown, PA 19335

2011-11-07T08:39:00.002-05:00

A property on the market that appears to be a great rental potential.

15 Willow Ct in Oak Ridge. Currently listed at 175k, had originally started at 195k in Sept.

Good location - possibility of instant equity - call Bela for details is interested in an investment opportunity!

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
Website | Facebook | Blog

2741 Linaria Drive, Chester Springs, PA 19425 - Success Story

2011-11-04T17:54:00.004-04:00

This property in Byers Station was listed with another agent for 172 days. Did not sell....In a market where average days on market is 102, I listed and sold the property at list price (sellers assist involved) within 47 days!

I presented a very good market analysis to estimate current value of the property - was not afraid to speak the truth! I used new online tools as well as traditional methods to market the property - the buyer walked in at my Open House and became the new owner a few weeks later.

Enough said - here is what the seller has to say.....

If you think the market is bad or the time is not right - call me! I offer a free analysis of market values - lets see if the numbers say the same.

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
Website | Facebook | Blog

Chester County home values Sept 2011

2011-10-30T19:06:00.002-04:00

Below are sale numbers for Chester County from TrendMLS. Sept of 2010 was after the tax credit had expired when the market had dropped significantly.

Single-Family	Sept. '10	Sept. '11
Inventory	4,131	3,888
Settled Units	323	300
Median Price	$320,000	$295,000
Stl Price/Orig Price	91.6%	91.7%

Applecross Country Club's Golf Course makes news!

2011-10-24T23:06:00.005-04:00

Applecross country club is the new neighborhood of town homes, single family and estate homes built by Pulte in East Brandywine Township, Chester County. These new construction homes are in the Downingtown school district and have been priced quite aggressively for the current market. Expected to be fully done by 2017, the community will have over 1000 homes. Pulte is currently marketing townhomes with 2-3 bedrooms starting at $240k and single family homes starting from $385k.

The amenities at Applecross will blow you a way. A professional-styled practice facility, complete with putting and chipping areas, indoor and outdoor pool areas, state-of-the-art fitness center, tennis and even access to its sister-course, Talamore Country Club in nearby Ambler, Pa. The main attraction, the golf course, was recently reviewed as one of the best designs of course architect Jack Niklaus - designed by his son Mike.

The amenities make the Home Owners Association fees higher, which is a deterrent for some buyers. but the golf course has been the deal sealer for many empty nesters who love to golf! For a list of all golf courses in the Downingtown area - click here.

If you would like to learn more about this community, please write here.

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
Website | Facebook | Blog

Downingtown Schools - Open House - Sunday Oct 23, 2-4pm

2011-10-23T08:27:00.002-04:00

Come visit me today to see this gorgeous picture perfect home in mint condition, with a gourmet kitchen and covered patio that is simply superb!

2051 Bally Moor Dr. Downingtown PA 19335
6 Year young colonial, 4 beds 3.1 baths, 4000 sq ft., 0.8 acre lot.
$569,900
See more details about this property here!

Lionville YMCA Diwali event - Oct, 2011

2011-10-22T13:17:00.003-04:00

Friday night, the Lionville YMCA saw hundreds of members and non members. The corridors were full of locals dressed in ethnic Indian costumes coming together to celebrate the Indian festival of Diwali. The event, which has become a popular annual affair, is organised by the Y staff and a fantastic team of volunteers.

It was a fun evening - a delight for all senses - colorful Indian outfits and decor, music and sounds of people mingling, smell and taste of delicious food....

A very popular activity, that I was a proud sponsor of, is the the Arts and Crafts event. Making flowers, decorating candles, learning to wrap a saree, applying henna, making beaded bracelets ...these activities kept adults and children entertained throughout the evening.

There was a rangoli contest and the adjoining picture shows some of the winners in the adult category. You may click on the picture to enlarge it. Children and adults are encouraged to come up with their own designs and patterns - the most traditional ones being the symmetrical geometric ones.

Two popular local Indian restaurants Devi and Himalayan, are regular and very welcome participants at the event. They serve a variety of north and south Indian food to approximately 700+ visitors typically expected at the event.

The highlight of the evening is usually the cultural show, performed by local children under the guidance of their parents and dance teachers. To a backdrop of a temporary stage decorated with sarees, children performed traditional Indian dances like Bharatnatyam as well as more contemporary Bollywood numbers.

Some families have just moved to the area and saw this as an opportunity to meet other Indian families, a couple said they were grateful for the event - they loved celebrating Diwali with the local community, some parents have made this event an annual affair, a couple of nursing students were using this as an opportunity to get in their volunteer hours, a variety of vendors were advertising and promoting their small businesses, a few non Indian ladies loved soaking in the culture and plan on returning next year, a young artist looks forward to learning more about the traditional rangoli designs, The YMCA I am sure, looks forward to more memberships and publicity from the event....it was certainly a huge success!

I love promoting ethnic art forms and exposing my children to the Indian cultural events and saw this as a great opportunity to promote my business as a local Realtor. What was you favorite part of the evening? Will you be there next year?

Foreclosures continue to plague housing market!

2011-10-19T09:02:00.006-04:00

Realty Trac, an online marketplace for foreclosed properties, reported a slight increase(1%) in foreclosure filings in the 3rd qtr, compared to the previous qtr. Even though the increase was small, it is significant since it broke the trend of three consecutive quarterly decreases.

The 3 quarters of decreases were due to banks holding up the filings, to assess the processes in the face of the robo signing scandal. It appears that the banks are now back on track, which signals the likelihood of the number of filings increasing at a very high rate in the upcoming months.

Meanwhile the time taken to process the foreclosure has increased. Nationally, average processing times have increased to 336 days - in the 2nd qtr they were 318 days according to this article on CNN Money.

Click here for more real estate news and tips.

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
Website | Facebook | Blog

The Hunger Games series

2011-10-12T21:03:00.003-04:00

I started reading this series of books by Suzanne Collins because my children totally loved them and kept nagging me to read them as well. I felt the books were very dark and unnecessarily violent - unsuitable for young children who are very sensitive. Just the thought of everything that the protagonist(Katniss) goes through is unbelievable and quite extreme. The whole premise brought to mind George Orwell's 1984 and more recently The Giver by Lois Lowry, combined with the TV series Survivor. It is literature that appeals to young adults - a whole new world, an alternate reality that is so fascinating, a post apocalyptic science fiction that seems to be the new wave after the Harry Potter series.

I have to say the books kept me riveted. I read the trilogy in succession because I could not wait to read what happens next. The characters are drawn well, the plot complex and the Hunger games that are vivid enough to make you live the experience with the contestants. However, I felt cheated because though Katniss was projected as the heroine who could potentially save their world, she seemed to be suffering defeat after defeat at the hands of the villains. Will she win? Is her victory aligned with that of the people she represents? Two central characters vie for her affection - the race to read the end is as much about which one she chooses as her partner as much as figuring out the outcome of the war. I guess you will have to find out for yourself.

It was definitely a great experience to discuss the books with my children and share their passion. I would highly recommend them for that reason alone - but also for the simple prose and gripping storyline. All the books have been on the best seller lists and needless to say - we will be joining the millions at the midnight show of the soon to be released movie.

Have you read them? Did you think the book would have the same impact if the violence was tempered?

For more book reviews click here.

Online information for 10% of homes for sale, is incorrect!

2011-10-07T12:12:00.000-04:00

A Trulia study reviewed 1.2 million homes for sale on 250 real estate sites and compared them to the MLS data. They found incorrect information on 120k of these online homes for sale. ie. 1 out of every 10 homes for sale or 10% of the all listings reviewed were incorrect!

Here are some examples of inaccurate information. The price was the biggest factor and the status of the listing being a close second. More than 2/3rd of the errors (69%) were a result of third party syndication. The report claims that the errors were significantly reduced when the local MLSs syndicated the data directly. Now Trulia only studied specific data on homes for sale - so they did not dive into the realm of inaccurate home descriptions or worse still, the inaccuracies in the market value calculations done by some real estate websites.

It is frustrating to find and fall in love with a home online, only to find that it is no longer for sale - or is listed at a price that is incorrect - or to know that the square footage includes the basement in one case and not in another. Which sites get syndicated data directly from the MLS (therefore having smaller chances of error) and which ones do not? Even as full time Realtors we cannot track this and keep up with the changes on these websites. How can consumers cope? Another question I have raised before - how unbiased can the information on these websites be?

The study further strengthens my stand on these online sources of real estate information. Use them to get a feel for the market and what's out there - check out what your neighbors are doing and get educated. When you are ready to buy or sell - engage the services of a trusted local Realtor!

More articles on real estate websites.

What inaccuracies have you discovered in your searches? Is your experience consistent with the findings of the study?

Brokers Open - 471 Cheshire Drive, Downingtown, PA 19335

2011-10-04T08:36:00.001-04:00

All Realtors, agents and buyers welcome!

Please come visit me at my Brokers Open
Tue Oct 4, 2011; 12-2.30pm

I have delicious pasta for lunch AND some beautiful gift for visitors!

MLS 5936031
471 Cheshire Drive, Downingtown, PA 19335
Price - $334,900
Foxcroft in Uwchlan township.

Great location! Well maintained home in quiet, established neighborhood in Downingtown East schools. Beautiful 1/2 acre lot, level backyard with perennials adjoining open wooded space. All worries about owning an older home taken care of! New roof 2008 with warranty on parts and workmanship transferable to the new owner, new water heater 2008, new energy efficient windows 2006, replaced heating system 2005, new garage door opener and springs 2008, new stove 2011, new kitchen cabinets, new floor tiles in kitchen, masterbath. Two natural tubular lights in family room, picture window in living room and french doors leading to the oversized deck keep the house bright and well lit. Plenty of storage in the room above garage as well as the basement, including a cedar closet. Set up home theatre in the finished basement. Close to schools, shopping, and major highways Rt. 113, Rt. 30, Rt. 100, Rt. 202. Convenient access to Struble trail, SEPTA train stations PA Turnpike. Come see for yourself-must visit!

Seducing Dr. Lewis

2011-10-01T21:59:00.002-04:00

A delightful and charming film about a small village in Quebec. Has very subtle humor - more screenplay than dialogue....endearing characters that you end up rooting for! Very interesting to see cricket in a Canadian film. Reminded me of "Waking Ned Devine" and just saw some reviews on Netflix - apparently some other folks think so as well. Of course this isn't seduction in the obvious sense. It was a total feel-good movie, a pleasure to pick a random movie on instant streaming, having no expectations and loving it to the very end.

Have you seen this movie? Please recommend others movies like this in the comments section below.

For more of Bela's Netflix recommendations click here.

Very Valentine - Adriana Trigiani

2011-09-27T22:44:00.001-04:00

I remember reading the Big stone Gap trilogy by Adrianna Trigiani many years ago and thoroughly enjoying it. So when I saw this in the bargain section at Barns and Noble I had to pick it up. For someone who mostly borrows books from the library - this was a treat!

The book is all about passion - for italian food, for family and home grown values, for romance and the challenges it comes with, for a simple village in Italy, for creative career choices which are intertwined throughout the book. With her elegant and witty prose, she makes the reader feel the same passion. I love the characters she creates, with all their idiosyncrasies, though the book is through the eyes of the main protagonist. It sort of reminds me of Maeve Binchy who also creates characters with so much integrity and honesty that you know them or would love to meet them for sure.

It is a real feel good book - great for taking on a flight or to the beach. Makes you want to read the next in the trilogy - Brava Valentine.

Downingtown Fall Festival

2011-09-23T10:57:00.001-04:00

Celebrate the season at Downingtown FallFest for free!

Sunday October 2, 2011 - noon - 4pm.

This outdoor street festival features live music, a BMX aerial show, and the ever popular Victory Beer Garden.
Enjoy local food from area restaurants and browse crafts and other goodies from local businesses.
The festival is free to attend and you can pay as you go for the restaurants, vendors and beer - so bring cash.

The event is sponsored by local businesses like Victory Brewing, Roberts Automall, Kimberton Whole Foods, Southdown Homes...and others. All the action will be on E Lancaster Ave between Wallace and Green streets.

Bring the family, see you there!

Advantages and Disadvantages of using Realtor.com

2011-09-22T09:30:00.000-04:00

There has been a buzz about the online sites that now give consumers property sale and value information, that has historically been the domain of real estate agents. I hope to give my reading of the site's strengths and weaknesses, based on my knowledge of these continually evolving sites. Without any preference or order - here's my take on Realtor.com

As of March 2011 Realtor.com claims to have 12 million unique visitors per month and 57 million total visitors. Ofcourse like all statistics, these numbers cannot be taken at face value - but in relation to other websites it is considered No.1 with respect to traffic. The most important feature of this site is that is is run by the National Association of Realtors - which makes it THE official site for real estate listings.

Advantages
1. It has the most accurate information compared to any other free website. The information in the MLS listings is updated quickly and regularly to give the consumers the most accurate information pertaining to homes for sale or rent.

2. The Realtor.com App is the most popular among real estate apps. The interface is good - and it has good supportive features - for example, it gives Open House information within a certain radius around you - which makes it possible for buyers to make impromptu and unscheduled visits. No poring over websites on Sunday mornings or relying on newspapers.

3. Realtor.com has started giving an estimate of home values - previously only available on Zillow. which is a very popular feature with comsumers.

Disadvantages
1. The "Ask a Realtor" feature is not the most efficient. There is no location element to it - so your question can be answered by a Realtor living in a different state with different real estate laws. Trulia does a much better job of getting consumer questions answered by connecting them with local Realtors.

2. All real estate websites sites rely on Realtors for revenue generation so they can provide the content for free to consumers....at some point one has to question how unbiased the information will be. Agents spending money on the site will get better page rankings - are able to showcase their listings better so if you are yearning for an 'organic' search there is some lack of clarity. The agents that buys the most advertising on the site will have the opportunity to have their listings rank higher in the searches.

Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks -

2011-09-21T23:00:00.000-04:00

I have been a student of business and did not quite take to science. This book however made me wonder. It raised a lot of questions about cells, pharmaceutical research, segregation in the 50s and the moral dilemma that is portrayed.

It is a story about how Henrietta's cells multiplied and basically became immortal. It is said that if all the HeLa cells that grew were put on a scale, it would weigh 50 million metric tonnes! Her cells have been instrumental in treating diseases such as cancer, herpes, haemophilia and Parkinson’s. They have been used to study everything from human longevity to mosquito mating. They were shot into space. They were used in atomic bomb testing.

I have to admit the subject fascinated me more than the author's presentation of it - though I commend her for all her efforts in bringing it to the attention of the masses. I would have never learnt Henrietta's story, had it not been for the novel. It is still a mystery - who do those cells belong to and who should benefit from the commercialization?

What do you think?

How to avoid mold in your home.

2011-09-17T10:01:00.008-04:00

Guest Blog by Greg Mason
With tropical Storm Lee stalling over the Northeast after Hurricane Irene a week earlier, many homes up & down the east coast have been exposed to excessive moisture and water, which could lead to mold growth if not handled properly.
In their effort to raise awareness, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency dedicates the month of September as National Indoor Mold Awareness Month. To help insure a healthy home, you may want to follow these tips from Certainteed, a building products manufacturer whose headquarters are right here in Pennsylvania.

Fix leaks. Homeowners should check for leaky roofs, foundations, faucets and pipes on a regular basis, making sure they aren’t allowing extra moisture to accumulate in these areas. Leaks should be fixed as soon as they are found.

Keep humidity under control. The ideal humidity for a home is between 30 and 50 percent. Relative humidity can be measured with an inexpensive moisture or humidity meter, available at most hardware stores. Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot humid climates to help reduce moisture in the air.

Keep it dry. Homeowners should clean and dry any damp furnishings within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.

Check for odors. If you have had a leak, then the first sign of mold may be musty or moldy odors in the vicinity of the leak. Keep in mind you do not want to sniff for mold or touch for mold –– if you suspect a mold problem contact a certified mold inspector.

Watch for ground water. Checking the exterior of homes regularly will help avoid the accumulation of ground water, which can cause mold. If found, homeowners should route water away using downspouts and re-grade to slope water away from the home.

In Basements. Pay close attention to carpet on concrete floors. Carpet can absorb moisture and serve as a place for mold to grow.

In Bathrooms and Kitchens. Keep a window or door open to help minimize on moisture build-up. Exhaust or vent fans do a great job of removing moisture to the outside.

Guest Blog by

Greg Mason

First Choice Loan Services Inc.

A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of First Choice Bank

Mobile: (484) 343-4304

Fax: 215-953-2033

gmason@yourlendingteam.com

NMLS# 324435

Something to chew on.....

2011-09-16T08:02:00.001-04:00

Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a little like expecting the bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian.

~Dennis Whole

Cutting for Stone

2011-09-11T09:23:00.001-04:00

I have not read a book like this in a long long time - it is simply brilliant! I found it impossible to put the book down - just wanted to keep reading it to know what happens next. Along the way, I learnt a lot about human relationships, family ties, trust... political events in Ethiopia's history... medicine, life of doctors in general. It is the only book so far that my book club buddies wanted to discuss over two book club sessions - one simply wasn't enough. The characters that Abraham Verghese creates, sort of linger in your mind long after the you have finished reading the book. I feel I identified with it more because of the references to Indian culture throughout, but everyone I know just loved the book regardless. I feel very inadequate writing my review because my skills seem so limited when trying to praise the writer whose prose is so eloquent.

Change of Plans

2011-09-10T09:02:00.001-04:00

A delightful and engaging french movie! I loved the development of the characters - the back and forth in the story timeline and a peek into the lives of the upper bourgeois class in France. Thoroughly enjoyed the Flamenco music & dance and the subtle witty repartee throughout. Nothing profound, some scenes I feel were not appropriate for children, but the movie entertains from beginning to end. Just when I was thinking there was nothing interesting on Netflix instant streaming - this movie has erased all doubts about continuing my subscription - atleast for now.

Let me know how you like the movie...

More of my Netflix recommendations.

Should I sell my home or rent?

2011-09-08T12:49:00.006-04:00

So it is time for you to move. You see articles in CNN Money and Time Magazine, that talk about how, thanks to the millions of forecloures, we are fast becoming a nation of renters. You have a friend who is building equity on his rental - seems he is minting money (not sure what he is not telling you). Perfectly understandable that you ask your Realtor (as opposed to real estate agent) to put your house up for rent.

As home values continue to plunge, a growing number of homeowners are choosing to rent their homes instead of selling. With interest rates at historical lows, it is also a fantastic time to buy investment property and rent it out. Congratulations, you are on your way to become a landlord!

However, before you jump in - here is a quick checklist.

1. Has your Realtor given you an assessment of current rents and home values in your neighborhood?
2. Will the rent cover your mortgage + renters insurance + real estate taxes + cost of finding a tenant?
3. Are you allowing for a small buffer for the times when you property may be vacant between tenants? Also general updating - painting, maid service, carpet cleaning, minor repairs between tenants.
4. Will you be hiring a management company? Management companies typically charge 8-10% based on services provided.
5. If not - will you be living locally or do you have friends and family who can pitch in times of need? Connecting with handymen, checking basement for water during storms, even running a spare key to the tenant in need...?
6. Will you accept tenants with pets?
7. Do you understand the tax implications of becoming a landlord?
8. Do you have the down payment for your new home?
9. Will you qualify for the mortgage on your new home? Total debt to income ratio is key in mortgage approvals.
10. Above all - are you ok letting strangers into your space? No tenant will maintain your home the way you would.

If this checklist does not faze you - you are the perfect candidate for becoming an "Landlord". Ofcourse - the real estate market does not swing back and forth easily - so all decisions you make must be relatively long term ones.

Remember it starts with understanding the current market value of your home, and the going rent in your neighborhood. Call or write to Bela Vora today and get a free consultation and analysis for your home.

Other articles with real estate tips

Real Estate Activity in The Reserve at Eagle, Chester Springs, PA

2011-08-31T10:21:00.000-04:00

Here is the real estate activity in The Reserve at Eagle for the last 6 months.

status	address	list_price	sold_price
Active	423 Prescott Dr,	$629,900
Active	904 Bennett Ct,	$634,900
Active	95 Milford Rd.,	$499,500
Active	433 Prescott Dr,	$499,900
Active	1009 Griffith Ln,	$585,375
Pended	430 Prescott Dr,	$600,000
Settled	501 Benson Ln,	$534,900	$500,000
Settled	421 Prescott Dr,	$495,000	$480,000
Settled	310 Prescott Dr,	$585,000	$534,300
Settled	631 Benson Ln,	$549,999	$530,000
Settled	140 Palsgrove Way,	$499,500	$487,500

For more statistics on other neighborhoods click here.
To learn about real estate activity in your neighborhood - contact belavora

Real Estate Activity in The Seasons, Exton, PA

2011-08-31T10:05:00.001-04:00

Here is the real estate activity in The Seasons for the last 6 months.

status	address	list_price	sold_price
Active	414 Windsong Ln,	$280,000
Active	303 Misty Autumn Dr,	$335,000
Active	215 Candalwood Ln,	$369,900
Settled	440 Deep Willow Dr,	$369,900	$350,000
Settled	300 Dawns Edge Ln,	$380,000	$370,000
Settled	102 Shallow Springs Ct,	$389,900	$372,500
Settled	423 Deep Willow Dr,	$399,900	$387,500

For more statistics on other neighborhoods click here.
To learn about real estate activity in your neighborhood - contact belavora

Real Estate Activity in Foxcroft, Downingtown, PA

2011-08-31T09:57:00.000-04:00

Here is the real estate activity in Foxcroft for the last 6 months. Not much turnover in this neighborhood!

status	address	list_price	sold_price
Settled	509 Cheshire Dr,	$339,900	$336,000
Active	471 Cheshire Dr,	$334,900

For more statistics on other neighborhoods click here.
To learn about real estate activity in your neighborhood - contact belavora

Real Estate Activity in Byers Station, Chester Springs, PA

2011-08-28T23:15:00.001-04:00

Here is the real estate activity in Byers Station for the last 3 months. Please bear in mind that the Active properties are resales. There is still new construction going on in Byers Station - Orleans and Toll Brothers both have new construction for sale, in addition to the resales listed below.

status	address	list_price	sold_price
Active	1309 Garman Dr,	$467,000
Active	230 Flagstone Rd 2,	$209,900
Active	2838 Tansey Ln,	$359,900
Active	4413 Lobella Ct,	$539,900
Active	2823 Tansey Ln,	$330,000
Active	1330 Garman Dr,	$464,900
Active	2741 Linaria Dr,	$349,900
Active	2118 Ferncroft Ln,	$895,000
Active	286 Flagstone Rd,	$220,900
Active	1310 Garman Dr,	$563,465
Active	640 Sunderland Ave,	$449,900
Under Contract	2127 Ferncroft Ln,	$749,900
Pended	245 Flagstone Rd,	$244,900
Settled	216 Flagstone Rd 1,	$245,000	$238,000
Settled	263 Flagstone Rd 1,	$239,000	$224,000
Settled	2163 Ferncroft Ln,	$620,000	$615,000
Settled	80 Granite Ln 1,	$254,300	$245,000
Settled	661 Sunderland Ave,	$389,900	$375,000
Settled	2120 Ferncroft Ln,	$689,999	$625,000
Settled	2520 Rainer Rd,	$419,900	$405,000

For more statistics on other neighborhoods click here.
To learn more about real estate activity in your neighborhood contact Bela Vora

Real Estate Activity in Williamsburg, Downingtown, PA

2011-08-28T22:20:00.001-04:00

Here is the real estate activity in Williamsburg, Uwchlan Woods and Madison Estates for the last 6 months.

status	address	list_price	sold_price
Active	925 Burdette Dr,	$349,000
Active	906 N York Dr,	$375,000
Active	905 Covington Dr,	$379,000
Active	909 Kings Arms Dr,	$359,900
Active	927 N York Dr,	$379,900
Active	879 S York Dr,	$349,900
Active	1022 Chiswell Dr,	$329,900
Pended	925 Kings Arms Dr,	$369,900
Pended	849 Williamsburg Blvd,	$425,000
Pended	904 Burdette Dr,	$315,000
Settled	907 N York Dr,	$379,900	$368,500
Settled	826 Dover Court Pl,	$450,000	$428,000
Settled	919 N York Dr,	$379,500	$370,000
Settled	911 N York Dr,	$379,900	$369,435
Settled	912 Francis Dr,	$369,900	$362,500
Settled	802 Geddy Ln,	$465,000	$455,000
Settled	825 Tremont Dr,	$469,900	$430,000
Settled	914 N York Dr,	$364,900	$364,000
Settled	818 Williamsburg Blvd,	$449,900	$442,000
Settled	827 Tremont Dr,	$500,000	$455,000

For more statistics on other neighborhoods click here.
To learn more about real estate activity in your neighborhood contact Bela Vora

Ridings at Uwchlan, Downingtown, PA 19335

2011-08-27T11:05:00.001-04:00

Here is the real estate activity in the Ridings at Uwchlan for the last 6 months.

status	address	list_price	sold_price
Active	104 Blue Ribbon Way,	$499,900
Active	104 Canter Dr,	$509,950
Active	133 Wagon Trail Way,	$429,900
Active	111 Deep Willow Dr,	$550,000
Settled	108 Canter Dr,	$498,000	$482,500
Settled	129 Wagon Trail Way,	$539,000	$522,000

For more statistics on other neighborhoods click here.
To learn more about real estate activity in your neighborhood contact Bela Vora

471 Cheshire Drive, Downingtown, PA 19335

2011-08-19T18:29:00.001-04:00

New listing in Foxcroft! Great location, well maintained home with a large peaceful backyard!
MLS: 5936031

4 Beds 2.1 baths
Downingtown East Schools
$334,900

Mortgage rates at record lows!

2011-08-12T14:52:00.000-04:00

An article on CNN Money, August 11,2011.

Paint colors for home staging

2011-08-07T10:11:00.003-04:00

Yes, you have heard it on HGTV - neutral colors help sell home faster. Of all the home staging tips to make buyers fall in love with the house, paint is one of best places to invest your money.

Here are some reasons why repainting in neutral colors will help sell your home faster -
- It is one of the cheapest and easiest way to freshen the home
- Buyers can imagine themselves in the space
- The house shows better in pictures online - where most buyers begin their search
- Very personal, strong non-neutral can turn buyers off (yes - even though they know they can easily fix it, they cannot get over that bright purple in your daughter's room)
- Buyers want a move in ready house - they do not want a To Do list before they move into their new home.

I tried a few paint company websites and staging articles to come up with a list of warm neutral colors that I recommend to my clients who list their home.
Benjamin Moore -
Thousand Islands - CC 308
Muslin - CC 110
Monroe Bisque - HC 26
Shaker Beige - HC 45
Lenox Tan - HC 44
Barley 199
Natural linen - CC 90

Trim - Cloud white - CC 40

I have used Benjamin Moore because I found their website to most interactive. Feel free to go to your neighborhood stores, Sherwin Williams, Behr, or any other supplier to pick up similar paint chips or ask your contractor to match the sample from the supplier of his choice.

What colors would you recommend?

For recommendations on good reliable paint contractors in the Downingtown, Chester Springs, Exton area - call me for references.
More articles on Staging.

2741 Linaria Drive, Chester Springs, PA 19425

2011-08-03T17:36:00.001-04:00

New Listing in Byers Station! Awesome townhome with all the upgrades - ready to move in!
MLS 5928620

3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
2866 sq. ft.

Better than new construction! Move into this upgraded Toll Brothers Victoria model, in Byers Station, right away. Soaring 2 story foyer and living room with a wall of windows, wide plank hardwood floors on the main level and 9 ft ceilings. Totally upgraded kitchen cabinetry with stainless steel appliances, granite counters and ceramic tile backsplash. Upgraded moldings and professional neutral finishes throughout the house. Upgraded master bedroom includes the second fireplace with marble surround and 2 walk in closets. Master bathroom is a spa like retreat, with a frameless glass shower and totally upgraded tile and fixtures package, huge skylight and large windows with an incredible view! Basement has 9ft ceilings, roughs ins for a bathroom, egress window, reverse osmosis filtration system and central humidifier. Enjoy the awesome views and privacy of the wooded common space. HOA includes pool, community clubhouse, fitness center, landscaping, walking trails and more. Schedule your visit today.

The Space Between Us - Thrity Umrigar

2011-07-26T08:49:00.007-04:00

The book moved me to tears! To borrow some phrases from other reviews which sort of sum it all "sensuous background of everyday life in Bombay.....evokes empathy and compassion....skilled storyteller..memorable characters". A glimpse of Rohinton Mistry - the Parsi lifestyle and strength of characters and Greg Roberts (Shantaram) - the city of Bombay at its best and worst. I find it amazing that inspite of the incredible relationships and well sketched complex characters, the book is an incredibly simple and quick read. Full credit to the author - Thrity Umrigar - will have to get some of her other books....

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has lived in Bombay, has Parsi friends and loves books with strong empathetic characters.

Worrying

2011-07-20T08:22:00.000-04:00

Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere.

Unknown.

New neighborhood in Lionville - Turnbury - coming soon!

2011-07-14T09:04:00.004-04:00

Next to the Wawa on Rt 113 in Lionville, is a sign for new construction of a single family home development called Turnbury

* It is a community called Turnbury, builder Woodstone Homes. They are a local builder with several other communities in Chester County.

* Turnbury in Lionville will be a small neighborhood with 25 homes, all pretty much along one street as per the site plan. The layout allows for private lots.

* The community does not have any common facilities like pool, club house or playground - but the Lionville YMCA is less than 5 minutes away.

* The builder proposes to give 4 different model options, 3000-4000 square feet with prices ranging from $499k-$569k. Learn more about their pricing and model options here.

* The entrance will be from Wyndham - the Dowlin Forge Road side, not 113.

* The lots are an average of 1/2 acre some small and a few slightly larger - that allow for a side 3 car garage.

According to the sales manager - the development is getting a lot of interest from local homeowners, living within a 2 mile radius, who prefer newer homes that are private with reasonable lot sizes. The location across from the Downingtown High School is certainly good - right behind the Rossi Golf Center.
What do you think? Would you consider moving into this community?

Contact me if you need more information about Turnbury or other neighborhoods in the Downingtown, Chester Springs, Lionville area.

Fireworks in the Downingtown, Chester Springs neighborhoods - 2011

2011-07-01T15:44:00.006-04:00

You probably have a favorite place where you go for fireworks every year - but in case you were wondering - here are some options...

July 1, 2011 - Friday
United Sports - 5th annual firework display, a free event includes food, vendors, live music and tons of activities for the little ones. The event starts at 5 pm and the fireworks around 9.15 pm. Rain date Sunday July, 3rd.

July 2, 2011- Saturday
Penn's Landing: Concert and Fireworks on the Delaware River: Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia, 6 to 9:30 p.m. Free.

July 3, 2011 - Sunday

Miller Park, Exton -The Bryn Mawr Mainliners & The Chester County Concert Band. concerts at 7PM, fireworks at 9:30PM. Rain date, July 10

Longwood Gardens: 9:15 p.m. fireworks and fountain display. Entrance fee ($38 for 16 and older, $22 for 15 and younger, discounted rate for members). Note: Blankets are not permitted.

July 4, 2011 - Monday

Kerr Park - Downingtown Good Neighbor Day: 9:30 p.m. fireworks Pennsylvania Avenue. Free family activities beginning at 8 a.m. with the Run for Life and Freedom Walk 5k, followed by food, crafts and more.

July 9, 2011 - Saturday

Uwchlan Township Community Day: David J. Good Memorial Run at 8 a.m. Free games, food, live music and fireworks 4 to 8 p.m. at Lionville Park on Devon Drive.

Real Estate Designations

2011-06-30T08:28:00.004-04:00

If you have wondered what all those acronyms behind a REALTOR®'s name mean, well here goes....a few of the popular ones -

CRS - Certified Residential Specialist
GRI - Graduate Realtor Institute
ABR - Associated Buyers Representative
SRES - Seniors Real Estate Specialist
RSPS - Resorts and Second Home Specialists
Green - Environmentally Conscious Homes Specialist
E Pro - Electronic Proficiency Certified

Some of the above are Certificates and some are Designations. Both represent extra education in the specific field within the real estate industry. A REALTOR® (who is different from a Real Estate Agent) gets the certification upon completion of specific coursework and designations require more detailed and longer coursework, in addition to other requirements like annual dues and continuing education credits. These courses are offered by the local Realtors Association - Suburban West Realtors Association (for all agents in the Chester and some surrounding counties) or by other independent providers like Polley Associates.

In an industry where the only requirement to get a residential real estate license is 60 hrs of education and passing 2 exams, I am a big proponent of education and welcome this opportunity to stay current. These courses are a great opportunity to learn from one's peers. At the same time it is understood that real world experience, knowing your neighborhoods, understanding market trends, providing exceptional customer service, having a strong work ethic... can trump education any day.

I suppose a balance is called for....as a buyer or seller looking to hire an agent - I would not be swayed by the acronyms on the business card alone. I would interview 3 agents and put the acronyms in perspective with other personal qualities as well as professional proficiencies. What are your views?

Technorati tags - Downingtown Real Estate

Real Estate Agent VS REALTOR®

2011-06-30T08:26:00.001-04:00

Not sure if everyone understands that all REALTOR® are real estate agents but all real estate agents are not REALTOR®s.

Only real estate agents who belong to the National Association of Realtors as well as their State - in our case the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors and the local association - in our area is called Suburban West Realtors Association (SWRA) can call themselves REALTOR®s. Apart from the license, Realtors subscribes to a strict Code of Ethics.

I remember as a new agent, attending a Code of Ethics class at SWRA and holding up my right hand - pledging loyalty to my client and promising to hold myself to the highest standards in the business and more. Also being a part of the Associations requires you to take continuing education credits which I believe is essential in any profession.

Hope that helps - feel free to reach out if you have further questions.

For more real estate tips click here

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Newsweek study lists Downingtown schools as one of the Best!

2011-06-25T17:41:00.000-04:00

Downingtown Schools make the list! Newsweek's annual study of the Best High Schools in America - 2011 lists 4 schools in Chester County. The rankings are as follows: DHS East, 279; DHS West, 339; Great Valley, 346; Rustin, 481. The magazine’s analysis of schools for this year was based upon six criteria, which carried different weight in the final calculation:
graduation rate (25 percent),
college matriculation rate (25 percent),
AP/IB/AICE tests taken per graduate (25 percent),
average SAT/ACT scores (10 percent),
average AP/IB/AICE scores (10 percent), and
AP/IB/AICE courses offered per graduate (5 percent).

“We are very proud of this achievement,” said Lawrence Mussoline, Downingtown Area School District’s superintendent. “Our administration and teachers are working hard to increase academic rigor throughout the district and this recognition validates our schools’ efforts to prepare our students for success in college and beyond.”

For the entire Daily Local News article please click here. To see the complete list of schools in the Newsweek study click here
For more articles on Downingtown Schools please click on the "Schools" link in the cloud on the right hand side.

Real Estate home values - Liongate, Chester Springs, PA.

2011-06-14T22:07:00.000-04:00

Liongate - Real Estate Activity - 3/14/2011-6/14/2011

Status	Address	List_price	Sold_price	Days on Mkt
Active	5402 Lister Ct,	$205,000		25
Active	701 Somerset Ct,	$209,900		2
Active	1203 Saint Andrews Ct,	$217,000		142
Active	4601 Adams Ct,	$222,000		19
Active	202 Saint Albans Ct,	$227,900		23
Active	4009 Franklin Ct,	$228,000		92
Active	4004 Franklin Ct,	$229,500		427
Active	3005 Trinity Ct,	$235,000		20
Active	5201 Shannon Ct,	$237,000		43
Under Contract	101 Saint Albans Ct,	$243,900		36
Active	2503 Trinity Ct,	$245,000		51
STL	3102 Trinity Ct,	$245,000	$225,500	22

For more information about this neighborhood please click here

For customized analysis of your neighborhood - please contact Bela Vora.
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Real Estate Home Values - Williamsburg, Downingtown, PA

2011-06-14T22:02:00.001-04:00

Williamsburg, Uwchlan Woods, Madison Estates 3/14/2011 - 6/14/2011

status	address	list_price	sold_price	days on mkt
Active	904 Burdette Dr,	$315,000		56
Active	879 S York Dr,	$362,500		112
Active	925 Kings Arms Dr,	$379,900		86
Active	884 Williamsburg Blvd,	$434,999		125
Active	901 George Pitt Dr,	$439,900		114
Active	849 Williamsburg Blvd,	$440,900		79
Pended	914 N York Dr,	$364,900		36
Pended	818 Williamsburg Blvd,	$449,900		42
Pended	802 Geddy Ln,	$465,000		207
Pended	825 Tremont Dr,	$469,900		41
Settled	912 Francis Dr,	$369,900	$362,500	11
Settled	907 N York Dr,	$379,900	$368,500	131
Settled	911 N York Dr,	$379,900	$369,435	24
Settled	919 N York Dr,	$379,500	$370,000	61
Settled	826 Dover Court Pl,	$450,000	$428,000	83

For more information about this neighborhood click here

For specific and further details or if you have any questions, please call or email Bela Vora.

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Top 5 Deal Breakers - and how to avoid them

2011-06-10T18:50:00.002-04:00

An article on Trulia inspired me to create my own list of things that can go wrong in a real estate transactions, even if both parties have an Agreement of Sale and are very serious about completing the deal. So here goes -

The top 5 Deal Breakers - and how to avoid them -

1. Personal Property
I am one of those agents who urges the clients to keep personal property out of the negotiation - and out of the Agreement of Sale. If sellers are emotionally tied to certain items, replace them before putting the house on the market. Everything attached to the house sells with the house. If it has not been removed, put it in as an exclusion in the MLS. Points of contention are always TVs mounted to the wall, kitchen appliances, wall mounted speakers, chandeliers or window treatments. Putting things in perspective, the appliances are almost always a tiny fraction of the value of the property - are we being penny wise and pound foolish? On the buyers side, how can one determine the value of a used appliance? especially since it is sold as-is? When emotions are tied into the personal property - strong negotiation may result in - No Deal! Focus on bidding for the property and closer to settlement - you may request and separately negotiate a fair price for the personal items.

2. Failure to Disclose
Announcing to the world that you have had a multitude of roof leakages or pest control problems or a radon correction unit in the basement may seem like baring your soul, but the Sellers Disclosure is a very important part of the home sale process. I urge my sellers to take their time and be absolutely honest and truthful in filling out the form. What the buyers are looking for, is that all the issues were fixed by a certified professional who acquired the necessary permits. This applies for newly finished basements and decks or patios as well. You may have a contractor who tells you - if you get the permit, your taxes will go higher! However, you need that permit before your township will issue the 'Use and Occupancy' certificate at the time of sale. Better to state it all upfront rather than risk the buyer finding out later. Because later, even if the buyer finds something minor, they may start thinking about "what else" is wrong... that has not been disclosed, leading to - No Deal.

3. Appraisal
When mortgage lenders send in an appraiser, they know the Agreement of Sale price for that property. However, gone are the days when the appraisal magically came back at the sale price. It is all a function of the most recent sales in the neighborhood - so good luck if you have one of those highly upgraded property for sale in a market like the current one. Your sun room, exclusive Waterloo Gardens designed patio or fancy kitchen upgrades are not going to sway the appraisal even if the buyer is willing to pay the price. If the appraisal comes back lower than the sale price, the buyers cannot get a mortgage and would naturally negotiate - and if the seller is unwilling, the property is back on the market - No Deal. One option could be to get the property appraised before putting it on the market - however an appraisal is one individual's opinion of value, which may differ from one appraiser to the next. Also with Days on Market being so high these days - new comps may change the entire picture.

4. Inspections
Negotiations on inspection repairs and correction can get contentious. The buyers must understand that the point of the inspection is not to ask the seller to fix everything on that report - it is just a guideline for them to judge and know what they are purchasing. Request the repairs on items that seem like deal breakers and know that the rest will have to be fixed in the near future after moving in. Even new construction is not perfect - and often focuses on the disagreement while 99% of the property has been given the thumbs up. The negotiation on the house was already done - this is just a contingency for protection against any major problems. Sellers know that they risk the offer on the table if they refuse to fix any structural, safety and mechanical issues. If the buyer and seller cannot agree - No deal. Sellers with older homes may want to pre-inspect the properties, and show the report as a part of their marketing, to entice buyers. They may also offer home warranties that offer peace of mind. Sellers may also accept a low offer "as-is" - implying that the prospective buyer is welcome to do the inspections - but the seller has already hit rock bottom on their price and will not negotiate any further. No agreement on Inspection repairs - No Deal.

5. Mortgages
A preapproval is not a guarantee that the buyers will get a mortgage. When it comes time to commit, the mortgage may be denied for a plethora of reasons. Maybe the buyer failed to lock in a good interest rate, maybe some recent appliance purchases pushed their credit limit over the top, maybe the car they recently bought pushed their debt/income ratio beyond the acceptable range, sudden deposits of large sums to a bank account may be questioned....No mortgage - No Deal. To avoid this situation stay in close contact with your mortgage advisor, ask them a lot of questions, consult before making major purchases, make sure what documentation will be needed and whether you will be able to provide them - are your tax records clear?

Well - this is my list - what are your thoughts? Agents, would you please share your experiences? Buyers or Sellers missed a great deal and have comments on any of the above? Please share.

More articles like these in Real Estate Tips

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Eagleview summer concert series - 2011

2011-05-30T15:02:00.002-04:00

The 11th annual Summer Concerts on the Square series in the Eagleview Town Center. The concerts are free and will be held every Tuesday from June through August except July 5th from 7-9 PM. Bring along a good bottle of wine and munchies and relax on the picnic blanket.

Here is the band schedule

June 7 – Mason Porter with special guest Phil Minissale
June 14 – Fooling April Honors The Beatles with special guest Scott Pryor
June 21 – Slo-Mo with special guest Emily Greene
June 28 – Ronstadt Generations with special guest Craig Bickhardt

July 5 – No Concert Held – 4th of July Holiday
July 12 – Family Night – Ernie & Neil with special guest The Great Holtzie
July 19 – The Giving Tree Band with special guest Anne McCue
July 26 – Incendio with special guest Nicole Zell

August 2 – Los Straitjackets with special guest The Darby Trials
August 9 – Band of Heathens with special guest Brian Flanagan
August 16 – Bobby Long with special guest Cheyenne Marie Mize
August 23 – US Rails with special guest Joel Plaskett
August 30 – Entrain

For more information about the concerts (including day-of weather info) and other events at the Eagleview Town Center, you may call 1.800.851.2779 after 4 PM on the day of the event.

Which days are you going to try and make it?

Foreclosure survey reveals - No housing market recovery until 2014

2011-05-24T22:58:00.000-04:00

Trulia, an online resource for real estate consumers and RealtyTrac, a leading online marketplace for foreclosed properties have recently revealed the results of an ongoing survey conducted by Harris Interactive, an international custom market research firm.

It was an online survey conducted in April 2011, among 2018 adults in the US. Surveys like these usually reveal the public confidence levels in the marketplace. 54% believe the housing recovery will not happen until 2014 or later. What is even more interesting, since this is an ongoing survey, is that the same number for November 2010 was 34%. The last six months have further reduced the expectations for a earlier recovery - to see more details of the survey read Trulia's press release.

The foreclosure certainly affect the market prices in a significant way - but results are not the same across the country. A heat map on RealtyTrac website shows the US foreclosure numbers by state. Good news is that Pennsylvania is somewhere in the middle of the continuum. Foreclosed properties as a % of the total housing on sale is relatively low, compared to a lot of west coast states, and troubled states like Michigan and Florida. While the April 2011 national average is 1 in every 593 housing units, the numbers for Chester county are 1 in 1809 units and those for Downingtown are 1 in 2810 and those for Chester Springs are 1 in every 1308. The areas affected by higher foreclosure are Pottstown, Coatesville, Phoenixville and a few others.

I still believe it is a great time to buy if you intend to hold on to the property for atleast 4 years! The interest rates may not remain below 5% for long and the inventory that buyers have to choose from is still very high a great time to get in if you have not taken advantage already. For those of you waiting for the prices to bottom out - the bottom is always a historical figure given in hindsight.

More market insight articles on my blog.
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When do YOU think the market will recover?

Choices

2011-05-17T08:05:00.002-04:00

More than anything else, I believe it's our decisions, not the conditions of our lives that determine our destiny.
~Anthony Robbins

Zillow IPO

2011-05-14T20:14:00.005-04:00

Recently, Zillow filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, forms related to a proposed public offering. With the real estate market still struggling to get out from the recession that hit in 2007/8, a Zillow IPO seems quite strange and certainly badly timed. Ofcourse the company may just be using this strategically, rather than have actual intentions of floating the IPO sometime soon.

The proposed $51.8 million IPO has raised hardly any interest in the real estate circles. The amount seems small for a venture backed company that has raised $87 million since 2004 and and racked up $78 million in losses, according the Erin Griffith of Adweek, . The article goes on to show how Zillow's revenue model has changed from display advertising to fees and subscription based advertising. Their focus on Mortgage Marketplace, a subscription based product that connects lenders with borrowers, has added significantly to their revenue.

An interesting perspective from a consumer's point of was was given by Duff Mcdonald of Fortune According to Duff, Zillow - which was supposed to be a transparent site to help protect consumers is now getting its revenues from real estate agents and mortgage advisers. How can it remain unbiased and transparent?

I am very eager to see how this IPO will do. Consumers have been asking for a transparency, which reduces their dependence on real estate agents. I am all for more power to the consumer! Will the same Realtors, whose commissions are dreaded, support the ad revenue on the site to make it profitable eventually? Based on the info available on the site, will buyers and sellers be able to bypass the agent when it comes time to sign the dotted line? Does Zillow have a strong revenue model? Will it stand up to competition from Realtor.com, Trulia.com, Cyberhomes.com, Homes.com and other such sites? Only time will tell.
More articles on Zillow

Will you be investing in this IPO?
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Williamsburg, Downingtown PA

2011-05-09T17:00:00.005-04:00

Wiliamsburg, Downingtown, PA 19335

# About 462 single family and Carriage/Twin Homes in 14 year old community called Williamsburg - also includes Uwchlan Woods and Madison Estates. It was developed by 4 different builders - Ryan Homes, Brandolini, Toll Brothers and Dewey Homes.

# The coveted Downingtown East Schools - straddles 2 townships E Caln and Uwchlan.

# This community has a Homeowners Association which includes amenities like a nice sized pool, club house with a mini kitchen and bathrooms, children's playground, basket ball court and a baseball field that is owned by the township.

# Like all the relatively new construction in the area, the lots are small and uneven - a house with a flat backyard is considered a premium.

# The land is covered under the Brandywine conservatory and there are restrictions on cutting trees. Many homes therefore have private yards backing up to trees and are privileged to enjoy nature - deer, foxes, squirrels, birds...

# A great Williamsburg attraction is the access to the Struble trail from within the development. It is a steep paved access and once you join the trail you can walk, jog, bicycle, fish with kids and pets along this very scenic trail next to the Brandywine creek.

# The HOA is quite active and organizes an annual events like garage sale, luminaries for Christmas, Easter egg hunt, Summer party and other social events.

# Homeowners love the neighborhood and upgrade within the community. Many families have sold their smaller single family home and moved up to larger homes within Williamsburg.

# The community is in very good location, with easy access to regional rail (SEPTA) for commute into Philadelphia city, and access to major arteries like PA turnpike, Rt. 202, Rt. 76, Rt. 30 bypass, Rt 113....

# Williamsburg also has easy to shopping - Exton and King of Prussia Malls, Wegman's and other grocery store, Kimberton Whole Foods, restaurants and corporate parks with offering professional services,

For info on other local neighborhoods click here
To see home prices in the Williamsburg community please type Williamsburg in the search box. To learn more about properties for sale or rent in this community - please call Bela Vora at 484 947 3127.

Advantages and Disadvantages of using Zillow

2011-05-03T09:06:00.008-04:00

There has been a buzz about the online sites that now give consumers property sale and value information, that has historically been the domain of real estate agents. I hope to give my reading of the site's strengths and weaknesses, based on my knowledge of these continually evolving sites. Without any preference or order - here's my take on Zillow.

Zillow was launched in 2006 and claims to have 19 million unique visitors a month, as of March 2011. That is quite commendable especially considering the real estate market had been in recession since it was introduced. Anecdotal evidence seems to suggest a wide range of audience - from loyal active buyers and sellers who love the site and the information it gives... to the curious browsers who just keep abreast of the neighborhood activity... to the homeowners (sellers) who openly express their anger and frustration with the inaccuracy of data.

Advantages of using Zillow
Map interface
The site's biggest advantage is its map interface. Location is key in real estate and there is something to be said for being able to pull up all properties for sale or rent in a particular neighborhood, and get details about each one. Other sites have also started to include maps - but I believe Zillow's map has the best interface.

Public records
The site's public record data - so you can see the physical details about the property - beds, baths, sq footage, acreage etc. and most importantly also see the last sale price of the property. You can tell when the owner bought the property and for how much, which is public record information that was not as readily available to consumers before . Ofcourse your Realtor can answer that question in a jiffy. Also - the public records data is not always as current and accurate as the MLS data.

Disadvantages of using Zillow

Data accuracy - has come up over an over again - wrong square footage, or no. of rooms and bathrooms or acreage... just basic property details. There is also a concern for lack of updated info, homes that appear to be actively listed for sale that have already sold or rentals coming up as sales or simply computer errors like mixed up addresses. Zillow shares their constraints in Data Accuracy. The MLS system that Realtors use have more real time and accurate data.

Zestimate - I believe this number does more harm than good. It seems to be the magic number that all buyers and sellers want to rely on - but as we know - there is no magic algorithm that will spit out an accurate value of your home. Learn how the site explains the Zestimate. In my opinion the value is determined based on the motivation of the buyer and seller. Read more about market value here.

Overall - my take on these sites is - they are good for nosy neighbors who want to know more about the Jones's property down the street - they are good for initial research on property values and locations - but when you get actively ready to buy or sell, engage the services of a trustworthy local Realtor. They will help you sift through all the data available on a plethora of websites, and not only narrow it down but use their experience to help you interpret the information.

Article on Zillow IPO

Why do you like Zillow? Share your experience ...
To see more articles like this about other real estate website click here.

technorati tags Downingtown real estate

Garage Sales in our neighborhood - 2011

2011-04-27T23:41:00.002-04:00

April/May is the season for garage sales- here are the dates for some neighborhoods in Downingtown.

April 16
Foxcroft

April 30
The Ridings at Uwchlan
Marsh Harbor Community
Brookwood multi family

May 14
The Seasons

May 21
Williamsburg/ Uwchlan Woods / Madison Estates

Does this info help you plan to stop by the next sale in your area?

Ridings at Uwchlan

2011-04-25T21:59:00.000-04:00

Home values in The Ridings at Uwchlan, Downingtown.

Real Estate Activity - 10/25/2011-4/25/2011
status	address	list_price	sold_price
Settled	106 Buggy Way,	$450,000	$420,000
Settled	113 Blue Ribbon Way,	$549,000	$525,000
Settled	103 Wagon Trail Way,	$475,000	$450,000
Under Contract	108 Canter Dr,	$498,000
Active	104 Blue Ribbon Way,	$539,500
Active	129 Wagon Trail Way,	$539,000
Active	104 Canter Dr,	$535,000

When does your contract with the listing agent expire?

2011-04-25T15:47:00.082-04:00

A listing contract is between the seller and their agent who lists house for sale. The expiration of the contract is determined by both parties and is clearly stated in the contract. Ideal situation is - the house is sold within the time frame mentioned in the contract, the agent gets paid and everyone is happy.

However, if the house does not sell within the time frame mentioned and the contract "Expires" or the listing is "Withdrawn" from the MLS - there are further scenarios to consider.

The Listing "Expires" - Which means that the contract end date has passed and the agent is no longer marketing the property. The MLS system shows it as EXP.
-The contract can always be extended if both parties agree.
-The seller may decide to go with another agent, which is usually the case - assumption being that the new agent brings a freshness to the listing and new marketing strategy.
-The seller may decide they do not want to sell anymore or
-Sometimes a buyer may want to buy the property even though it is not actively marketed which would be a FSBO (For Sale by Owner) situation. Under these circumstances, if the buyer had visited the property when it was marketed by the previous agent and is buying it within a certain time frame after the expiration of the contract, the previous agent may still be entitled to a commission. The premise being that it was the agent's marketing effort that resulted in attracting the buyer and hence the sale. The time frame within which this is applicable is mentioned in the contract and may be different for every brokerage.

The Listing is "Withdrawn" - The seller decides they do not want to sell anymore and the agent stops marketing the property. However, the listing contract term may not have expired, so the MLS system shows it as WTH (withdrawn) This means that the seller is technically still under contract with the agent - only the agent is not actively marketing the property any more. Subsequently, if the seller wants to hire another agent or sell the property themselves (For Sale by Owner) it is best to check the expiration date on the contract. If the contract with the first agent has expired - seller is free to continue. If the contract has not expired, ask the first agent to "Release the seller from the contract" before moving forward. Best to get this in writing - a simple email from the agent stating that the seller is not under contract anymore is sufficient. Then seller can now move forward knowing there is no conflict regarding real estate commissions. If seller is not released from the contract by the previous agent - and the property is sold while still within the contractual obligation, the previous agent may be entitled to a commission.

Most agents have no problem and will immediately release the seller from the contract when requested. However, some agents feel that they have invested their services in marketing the property and are entitled to some compensation. I have known situations where agents have asked for a certain $ amount to release the client from the contract. Under these circumstances, the seller may choose to wait until the contract has expired or pay the agent as requested.

I personally feel that if client has indicated that they do not want to work with an agent anymore - it is unethical for the agent to insist on any payment or hold the client hostage until the expiration date. It is best to honor the client's wishes and release them from the contract.

What do you think? Should the previous agent get paid under these circumstances? With all the effort that is put into listing and marketing the property - would it be justified to ask for some compensation, especially considering the client's objective of a sale are being met?
For more articles like these click here.

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
Website | Facebook | Blog

Groupon

2011-04-18T08:55:00.000-04:00

Groupon is another incredibly fast growing social media marketing tool. Very popular with small local services or mom and pop stores, restaurants and also used successfully by large retailers like Gap, Barnes & Noble and online favorites like fandango. The idea is word of mouth selling through a 'coupon', only effective if a significant 'group' buys it - Groupon.

This is how it works -
Get it - sign up to get the daily email of special discounts or facebook or Twitter...
Share it - if you are interested in any particular vendor, buy the coupon online, typically for $25, and share it with your friends through social media for word of mouth buzz. If you market it well enough, your deal can be free - it is activated only if enough people buy it within the time frame allotted.
Enjoy it - enjoy your discount by using it before the expiration date.

A win win for everyone. The vendor commits to the discount only if there is a sufficient predetermined volume - which helps their ROI.
The customer gets discounts to their favorite businesses, and has an opportunity to learn about and try new vendors through a channel way more convenient compared to traditional coupons in magazines and newspapers. Groupon makes money on every transaction ofcourse. Great for the environment - retailers may finally do away with the plethora of discount and coupon mailings.

I had used the Groupons for stores I frequent regularly, but the ones I really enjoyed were trying something new - like a new local restaurant. We recently tried a Mexican restaurant in West Chester called Mas Mexicale Cantina . We had not heard about it before and went on a Sunday evening - had a delightful experience. Saw the reviews on West Chester dish and thought - Uh Oh - we should have checked this before we bought the Groupon - but thoroughly enjoyed our experience. Have you tried it? Please share your experience. Will you do it again?

More articles related to social media

Windsor Ridge Home values

2011-04-17T19:40:00.000-04:00

These are the real estate values in WIndsor Ridge, Chester Springs PA 19425.

address	beds	baths	list_price	sold_price	Difference
520 Emerson Cir,	5	3.1	$459,000	$420,000	8.50%
651 Churchill Rd,	3	2.1	$318,000	$303,000	4.72%
509 Emerson Cir*	4	2.1	$380,000	$384,525	-1.19%
677 Churchill Rd*	3	2.1	$319,000	$324,900	-1.85%
1312 Stuart Dr,	4	3.1	$473,900	$452,500	4.52%
1932 Cavalier Ln	3	2.1	$279,900	$264,000	5.68%
659 Churchill Rd	3	2.1	$350,000	$334,000	4.57%
1206 Porter St	3	2.1	$299,900	$299,000	0.30%
691 Churchill Rd	3	2.1	$350,000	$339,075	3.12%
					* Short Sale/foreclosure

Great deal!

2011-04-11T16:23:00.000-04:00

311 Village Walk.
Listed at 150k - also includes $5000 sellers assist and 1 year home warranty, plus appliances and old furniture pieces.
2 beds 1/1 baths.
1100 sq ft.

It is a great location. Not much available in Downingtown schools at this price point.

4 things Home Buyers need to know about Market Value

2011-04-10T23:06:00.002-04:00

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"Comps" is a word often used in real estate to compare a subject property to other similar properties (the comps) to determine its market value. Market value is based on recent sale price of comparable properties in a certain neighborhood. Let us define each of these terms separately.

Neighborhood - A certain radius around the subject property... within a planned unit development, having a common builder or Home Owners Association (HOA) rules...within the township...or a borough where certain property rules apply to every homeowner ....in a certain school district ..... lake or river front properties .. away from or close to highway noises. Real estate as they say is all about Location, Location, Location. This is the most important consideration in determining value. Engage the services of a local Realtor, someone who knows the area and understands the neighborhoods.

Sale Price - Buyers are often overheard discussing the List price. List price is the asking price for the property and not as important as the Sale price. If it is an educated and motivated seller - the list price is pretty close to the Sale price. The relevant number is - What did other buyers pay for the recently sold properties? These numbers are available through the public records from your local township. A Realtor has the fastest access to these numbers through the MLS. Online, Zillow has made it real easy to find Sale price - just plug in the address and scroll down to see the last sale price of that property. However there is a time lag before this data appears on Zillow.

Recent - In the current market recent means last 3 months. If there have been no sales in the immediate neighborhood for the last 3 months - one can go back further to 6 months or even a year. However, in that case, the geographic area under consideration is widened, to township or school district, to find 3 recent sales for comparison, in addition to those comps. So if your friend bought in that neighborhood last year, chances are, with the current downward market trends, you can buy a similar property cheaper. Similarly, expect to pay more in a rising market. It is the price at this point in time that is relevant.

Comparable - the key is finding properties that are similar to the subject property. Unique or custom homes built decades apart are difficult to compare. The appraiser compares properties with similar acreage, building square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms. The general condition of the property is important and will be compared to the comps. If the house has been over-improved by the seller, it may not necessarily bring a higher Sale price in a down market though it may appeal to buyers and get offers quicker than other comparable properties.

For more articles like this, visit the Real Estate Tips section of the blog.

Home prices in Eagle Hunt

2011-04-08T12:25:00.001-04:00

Not much turnover in this community. This is the Real estate activity over the last year 4/8/2010-4/8/2011 in Eagle Hunt, Chester Springs PA, 19425

status	address	list_price	sold_price	Difference	days on mkt
Settled	210 Bayberry Dr.	$467,000	$460,700	1.35%	92
Settled	419 Hemlock Ln.	$489,900	$484,000	1.20%	50
Settled	182 Magnolia Dr.	$529,222	$495,000	6.47%	92
Active	320 Willow Way	$479,900			25
Active	183 Magnolia Dr.	$489,900			237
Active	215 Bayberry Dr.	$499,900			273
Active	315 Willow Way	$499,900			31

.
To view statistics for other neighborhoods in Downingtown area school district CLICK HERE
If you do not see the neighborhood you are interested in - CONTACT ME

Byers Station home values

2011-04-07T18:15:00.001-04:00

Recent sale prices of homes in Byers Station, Chester Springs.

Please click on the table to enlarge.

To view statistics for other neighborhoods in Downingtown, CLICK HERE
If you have any questions CONTACT ME

How to promote your blog through Technorati.

2011-04-05T22:46:00.004-04:00

85A6UFR8WNCV

One of the ways to increase traffic to one's blog is through technorati.

- First you a have to sign up and create a profile on technorati.

- Then you give them the URL of your blog and "Claim it" as your own.

- Technorati will give you code that looks somewhat like this 85A6UFR8WNCV

- You are requested to write a blog entry with that code in the body of the blog and publish it.

- Then you go back to Technorati and click on the verify code to tell Technorati that your blog is ready for verification.

More articles on SOCIAL MEDIA

Please share some ways in which you have promoted your blog.

Real Estate Activity in Liongate

2011-04-04T08:23:00.004-04:00

Real estate values for townhomes in Liongate, Chester Springs, PA 19425.

Liongate realestate activity- 10/3/2010-4/3/2011
address	list_price	sold_price	seller concessions amt
5302 Lister Ct.	$209,750
1203 Saint Andrews Ct.	$217,000
4009 Franklin Ct.*	$228,000
4004 Franklin Ct.	$229,500
5406 Lister Ct.	$203,900	$201,900	$7,066
1801 St. Johnsbury Ct *	$217,900	$205,000	$5,000
5408 Lister Ct.*	$214,900	$205,000
2803 Trinity Ct. *	$217,500	$217,500	$9,000
2903 Trinity Ct.	$225,000	$225,000	$5,000
3102 Trinity Ct.	$245,000	$240,000	$12,000
			* end units

For more information on Liongate CLICK HERE
To see similar reports on other neighborhoods in the Downingtown School District - CLICK HERE
If you have further questions, contact Bela Vora

Liongate - Chester Springs, PA 19425

2011-04-03T22:35:00.012-04:00

Liongate is a 25 yr old townhome neighborhood in the desirable Chester Springs 19425 zip code.
Great location with easy access to all major arteries - PA Turnpike, Rt. 113, Rt. 100, Rt. 401, Rt. 202 and Rt. 30.
The Home Owners Association (HOA) for this community is know to be very vigilant about homeowners maintaining the outside of the properties - the roof, siding, doors, , railings etc.
The community has a pool and club house and a little pond in the back with a fountain that attracts ducks and drowns out the turnpike noise.
The property's location is key to buying in this neighborhood - whether it is an end unit or an inside unit ... its proximity to the busy street traffic...varying square footage ... multiple levels including loft or basement.
A key factor in the condition of the property is whether it has been occupied by the homeowner or a tenant - because updates vary greatly in this neighborhood. Some are redone to meet most modern decor standards and move in ready, while others may have had no upgrade in 25 years.
All homes in this neighborhood are a part of the award winning Downingtown School District.
The community has a great mix of homeowners - singles, homeowners with children and senior citizens.

If you have any further questions regarding this community, please contact Bela Vora.
If you know this community, please share your experience in the comments section below. You may do it anonymously if you wish.

Long term view - real estate market over the decades!

2011-03-30T14:00:00.003-04:00

My strategy is to focus on every detail but never lose track of the big picture. When we talk real estate, it makes sense to think long term. I have written some, and read several articles that talk about NOW being the 'Right' time to buy real estate - but none of them in my opinion, are as simple and powerful as this one.

I am a numbers person - called spreadsheet lady by some - and to me this video with four graphs representing the real estate market over the last 8 decades, says it best. It was created by Own America - a company that is a web based resource for real estate professionals, advisors and investors founded by a real estate veteran Greg Rand.

Update 4/4/2011
Sorry folks this video has been changed to a promotional message. Unfortunately I am unable to find the original video that had several graphs of home sales since 1930.
Bela Vora

Williamsburg Comps Mar 2010 - Mar 2011

2011-03-28T07:40:00.002-04:00

The spreadsheet below answers questions like - How much is my home worth? What are homes in Williamsburg selling for these days? What is the average days on market? Is there a significant difference between the prices of Single family vs Twin homes? How much is the negotiating buffer - compared to the list price.

Please click on the table to enlarge

Feel free to connect with me if you have any questions
-Bela Vora

Real Estate activity in Wiliamsburg

2011-03-25T12:01:00.001-04:00

Williamsburg includes Madison Estates and Uwchlan Woods.

status	address	list_price	sold_price
Active	884 Williamsburg Blvd,	$469,900
Active	901 George Pitt Dr,	$469,000
Active	879 S York Dr,	$379,900
Under contract	911 N York Dr,	$379,900
Under contract	912 Francis Dr,	$369,900
Pended	802 Geddy Ln,	$465,000
Settled	960 Burdette Dr,	$495,000	$470,000
Settled	112 Nicolson Dr	$469,900	$460,000
Settled	907 N York Dr,	$379,900	$368,500
Settled	908 Burdette Dr,	$299,000	$285,000
Settled	826 Dover Court Pl,	$450,000	$428,000
Settled	108 Nicolson Dr,	$485,000	$458,000
Settled	919 N York Dr,	$379,500	$370,000

Downingtown Schools - budget cuts

2011-03-24T19:31:00.008-04:00

We know that if the PA Governor’s budget is approved, the Downingtown Area School District will receive $3,700,000 less in state aid compared to last year. This loss, coupled with the $4,600,000 deficit the district was already facing due to the poor economy, will require an $8.2 million dollar reduction in expenses. Check out the 2011/12 budget

At the Finance Committee meeting held yesterday, the administration also presented a three tiered list of program reduction measures, operating efficiencies, the consolidation of services, and revenue generating options to the School Board. Check here for the possible Budget Cost Savings Measures presented by the CFO. The 2011-12 Budget must be approved by June 30, 2011.

I am sure all our children will be impacted with these budget cuts - in some form or another whether it is sports, arts, music, school bus routes, cafeteria services or simply building maintenance. Whatever budget cuts are made, it might help us deal with them better if we remind ourselves of all the privileges we have enjoyed at DASD and possibly taken them for granted. I am guilty of not staying involved in these matters and have decided to be more aware and possibly a little involved in future.

What are your thoughts?

QR Codes

2011-03-24T11:08:00.001-04:00

I am really excited about the buzz regarding QR codes in the real estate industry. A lot of savvy agents are embracing this new technology. For those who are not familiar...QR codes are like bar codes - only square and are used in hospitals, education, advertising, real estate and more. They are a visual representation of a URL that can be scanned using a free App on your smart phone. In real estate - I have seen them in ads, on business cards, as sign riders, in the brochure box......

I like them because
- they are a great way to give more details without taking up too much space at point of contact.
- they are easy to create - just visit any URL shortening site and it is a 2 click process.
- they are green - no need to print lots of brochures and throw them away with each small change.
- they push the envelope on technology a bit
- convenient - one can scan the code on their smart phone and view the details later when you have more time.

The biggest thing ofcourse is that not many people know about them. Or if they do - they have not used them or downloaded the App yet - but they are certainly becoming more and more popular each day. I was excited because I put a QR code on the brochure box for one of my listings and out of the 18 agents that came by for my brokers open - 5 recognized them and pointed out to this great tool I am using to help market my client's home.

Please share some of your experiences!
For other articles on social media click here

The Seasons - Exton, PA

2011-03-23T09:28:00.001-04:00

The Seasons is one of the most popular sidewalk communities in Exton. In case you were thinking of relocating or moving to this neighborhood which is in the Downingtown School District, here is the recent real estate activity.

status	address	list_price	sold_price
Settled	323 Misty Autumn Dr	$374,900	$352,000
Settled	219 Candalwood Ln	$419,900	$419,900
Settled	555 Summercroft Dr	$364,900	$365,000
Settled	407 Deep Willow Dr	$339,900	$335,000
Settled	411 Windsong Ln	$379,900	$365,000
Active	300 Dawns Edge Ln	$380,000
Active	414 Windsong Ln	$300,000

Local Gem - People's Light and Theatre Company

2011-03-20T23:15:00.009-04:00

I took my kids to the Peoples Light and Theatre in Malvern to see The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
What an incredible experience!

I think the size of this theatre is perfect for a wonderfully engaging experience. They have a very efficient website, with seating maps, to purchase tickets online in advance. One can also book over the phone and pick up tickets at the desk right before the show. There was an arts and crafts table with markers, and since it was Tom Sawyer - sheets of card stock in the shape of a fence boards. Children were encouraged to create an artwork about their favorite book and submit them for display in the corridors. After the play there was a Q and A session where all the actors sat upfront and answered audience questions - about props, costumes, practicing for the play, working with each other....

My favorite part of this play was the really creative set - fence cum benches, put to multiple use, for various scenes in the play. I cannot describe it - you just had to see it to believe it! When I mentioned this to a few friends, they told me that sets at this theatre are always wonderfully creative. I discovered that quite a few friends buy season passes and love supporting this local gem.

The People's Light and Theatre Company not only hosts plays - but engages the local community for a very solid fan and membership base. They conduct workshops with local schools, participate in big read, have classes for all ages, 7yr olds - adults, professional development workshops and so much more... It is truly a part of Chester County's history.

Visit their website to see what's playing next - buy your season pass or tickets and enjoy! To all my friends who buy season passes - please share your favorite part about this company.

Blogging workshop at C B Pref- Exton

2011-03-20T21:56:00.002-04:00

Patty Cunninghan and I pulled a few interested agents and engaged in a great conversation about blogging at the office. We put our brand new gigantic screen TVs to good use - showing first hand how we blog, why we do it and with a little time and determination how anyone can blog.

I Blog
- because I need a web presence when prospects are looking for me
- to get google juice, to pull up my rankings in google searches
- because websites are too stagnant
- because I want some control over what others are reading about me online
- because I have many things to say and real estate knowledge to share
- because I don't have to be tech savvy to do it - just point click and publish
- because I believe social media is the best marketing tool out there
- it is mostly free

I use Blogspot because
- I am a google fan
- I use the android phone, gmail, google docs, Picassa, contact management....all google products perfectly compatible with each other
- It is simple - just point click and publish - add pics, add links, add tags, widgets easily
- It is free (as opposed to options like Activerain which have monthly subscription fees)
- I love their Stats tab which shows which blogs are popular, how many views, what keywords led to the particular clicks...

Next Steps
- learning how to promote the blog
- mobile applications
- increase followers
- encourage comments

Patty uses Wordpress - visit her blog at http://pcunning.wordpress.com/

4009 Franklin Ct., Chester Springs, PA 19425

2011-03-17T22:00:00.001-04:00

Updated Liongate End Unit offered at $228,000.

MLS 5853700

Beautiful updated end unit townhome in coveted Liongate! Downingtown East schools and 19425 Chester Springs zip code. Convenient to main arteries - Rt. 100, PA turnpike, Rt. 401, Rt. 30 and Rt. 202. House is move in ready! Upgrades like new roof, furnace, hardwood floors and storm door. Kitchen completely redone in 2009 with granite counters, new stove, garbage disposal, dishwasher, refrigerator and breakfast bar. Full bath on main level completely redone. Formal dining room on main level can be used as 3rd bedroom or study. Second floor has large master bedroom with skylights, full bath and an enormous walk in closet. Professionally painted interior, extra large deck overlooking wide open side yard. Basement available for additional storage. Community pool, barn for hosting events, friendly neighborhood block parties, garage sales... a great lifestyle. Come see it today!

Whiteland township - Freddie Mac property

2011-03-16T09:36:00.002-04:00

206 Hendricks Ave, Exton, PA 19341

Listed at 148,900k
1430 sq ft - 0.14 acres, 4 bds 1.1 baths

This is a Freddie Mac property - so investors cannot submit any bids for the first 15 days. A great opportunity for first time home buyers or buyers who can fix up an as-is property while they live there. Currently on the market for 6 days.

E Caln Township - Downingtown schools

2011-03-15T00:14:00.005-04:00

Real Estate Activity March 14.2011 - last 6 months
Single family homes.

To view statistics for other neighborhoods in Downingtown, CLICK HERE
If you have any questions CONTACT ME

East Caln Township - Oct 14, 2010 - Mar 14, 2011

status	address	list_price	sold_price	subdivision
Active	6 Wetherburn Dr,	$249,900		Wytheburn
Active	901 George Pitt Dr,	$480,000		Madison Estates
Active	6 Roosevelt Cir,	$612,000		Ests At Bell Tavrn
Active	25 Webb Rd,	$699,900		Ests At Bell Tavrn
Pended	240 Truman Way,	$460,000		Ridings At Bell T
Pended	3 Southwind Ln,	$418,000		Springhill
Pended	212 Wren Ct,	$249,900		Wytheburn
Settled	353 Sterling Ln,	$529,000	$520,000	Glenn Ridge
Settled	9 Edgewood Dr,	$294,900	$287,500	Woodmont
Settled	194 Plaza Dr,	$269,900	$265,000	Wytheburn
Settled	960 Burdette Dr,	$495,000	$470,000	Williamsburg
Settled	6 Long Dr,	$367,500	$355,000	Whitford

Go ahead - be excessive!

2011-03-13T18:42:00.000-04:00

“ Excess on occasion is exhilarating.
It prevents moderation from acquiring
the deadening effect of habit. ”

W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965)
English writer
highest paid author in the world during the 1930s

Electric Vehicles - Myth vs Reality

2011-03-10T10:36:00.003-05:00

A recent article on the Sierra club website talked about Myths vs Realities of electric vehicles (EVs). So much to learn.....hoping to spread the word by re-writing their article here.

Disclaimer - I drive a Prius - though have been thinking about EVs for a while.

1. Myth - Switching from pollution through tailpipe to pollution through electricity generation

Reality - Emissions for electric cars are significantly lower than a conventional car. However when compared against a hybrid car - check the source of your electric supply - the more renewables used as opposed to coal - the greater the benefit.

2. Myth - Electric cars will only lead to more coal and nuclear power plants.

Reality - Existing grids have enough nighttime capacity to power the electric vehicles. The idea is to just distribute the load - which smart grids can facilitate or may simply require owners to plug in at night, which most people might do anyway.

3. Myth - Electric car batteries pose a recycling problem.

Reality - Conventional car battery recycle rate in the US is 98%. The lithium iron batteries used in electric vehicles have even more valuable recyclable metals and will have a life way beyond the vehicle.

4. Myth - My electricity bill will go way up.

Reality - Yes of course your electric bill will go up - but it will be more than compensated by the disappearance of your gas bill.

5. Myth - Electric Vehicles will just fail again like they did before.

Reality - Car manufacturers and the public sector have invested heavily in electric car infrastructure and research which leads us to believe they are here to stay. Rest I believe is up to us.

6. Myth - My battery will run out of juice.

Reality - Well - this is going to require some discipline and some infrastructure for long distance travel. However for most commutes and local travel the numbers support the EV.

7. Myth - EV are much more expensive than traditional vehicles.

Reality - Yes they will be - however take into account the Federal Tax incentives for the EV as well as charging stations and the incentives offered by most States. Add to that the fuel savings, which will tip you over to make your decision.

8. Myth - Electric vehicles are only available in California.

Reality - While CA usually leads such initiatives, more and more states are signing on. Read the article for details on which EV is available in which state.

Visit the Sierra Club article for more information and research references.

Rt 202 and PA turnpike - Spring time construction

2011-03-05T08:42:00.001-05:00

You may want to rethink your commute this Spring - couple of projects in Chester county...

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission advises motorists that the Mill Road bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County will close to traffic the morning of March 21.
The passenger car and truck detour will stay in effect until November. The contractor anticipates the new bridge will be open to traffic before the end of the year. The bridge is located 3.5 miles west of the Valley Forge Interchange (Exit #326) and 10.5 miles east of the Downingtown Interchange (Exit #312). The detours will redirect traffic to Duport trail, Swedesford, Rte 252 and other local roads. Please visit PaTurnpike for more and updated information on the project.

Rte 202 reconstruction is expected to restart on March 13. Construction crews will rehabilitate and resurface Route 202 between the Route 100 Interchange and High Street in West Goshen and Westtown townships. Please visit the Daily Local News for more information on the timings and detours.

Yes, it is terribly inconvenient but will help in the long run. Something else to look forward to - The new Route 29 All-Electronic Interchange expected to relieve congestion on the Rte. 202 corridor between the Valley Forge and Downingtown exits on the turnpike.

Happy commuting folks! Please share your stories to help fellow travelers.