COVID-19 Chester County- Virtual Real Estate

We have pivoted to the virtual world - Buyers are buying homes sight unseen. Home Inspections managed remotely... Good time to refinance the mortgage! Is now the right time to sell or buy a home?

For more information on the COVID-19 impact on Chester County real estate you can reach me directly at 484 947 3127.

Click here to see what your Home Worth? 

Search for Homes at BelaVoraHomes.com  

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,

Coldwell Banker Preferred 

390 Waterloo Blvd, Exton, PA 19341.

Cell: (484) 947 3127

Office: 610 363 6006

What happens to Chester county Home Values under COVID19? Bela Vora Homes

For more information on the COVID-19 impact on Chester County real estate you can reach me directly at 484 947 3127.

Click here to see what your Home Worth? 

Search for Homes at BelaVoraHomes.com  

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,

Coldwell Banker Preferred 

390 Waterloo Blvd, Exton, PA 19341.

Cell: (484) 947 3127

Office: 610 363 6006

Financial Tips & Buying a House Tips that Fit on an Index Card

There are countless personal finance books and blog articles that offer advice on investing, savings, retirement and taxes. 

You could read all those books, or you can listen to University of Chicago professor Harold Pollack.Professor Pollack advice, he believe that you can fit all the investment advice you'll ever need on a single index card.

In 2013, professor Harold Pollack did an online video chat with personal finance writer Helaine Olen about her book, Pound Foolish. The topic was how regular people get steered into bad investments  by financial advisers. 

During the interview Pollack said "The best personal finance advice can fit on a 3-by-5 index card, and is available for free in the library," "So, if you are paying someone for advice, almost by definition, your're probably getting the wrong advice because the correct advice is so straight forward.

After Pollack posted the video, he started receiving emails asking where to find this index card and what was the advice. The index card didn't exist.

So, Pollack grabbed an index card from his daughter wrote several personal finance principles, snapped a photo with his phone and posted it online. The result, the photo went viral ( image above is of the index card).

Here are Pollack's 9 personal finance tips from his original index card:

1. Max your 401(k) or equivalent employee contribution.

2. Buy inexpensive, well-diversified mutual funds such as Vanguard Target 20xx funds.

3. Never buy or sell an individual security. The person on the other side of the table knows more than you do about this stuff.

4. Save 20% of your money.

5. Pay your credit card balance in full every month.

6. Maximize tax-advantaged savings vehicles like Roth, SEP and 529 accounts.

7. Pay attention to fees. Avoid actively managed funds.

8. Make financial advisers commit to the fiduciary standard.

9. Promote social insurance programs to help people when things go wrong.

The index card was widely criticized for not including "buy a home" so he wrote an entire article later called Buying a Home? Here are 10 things you should know.

See the photo below of the housing index card - a handy resource to use as you look at houses or think about buying one, plus some additional advice as you contemplate making the big decision.

Click here to see what your Home Worth? 

Search for Homes at BelaVoraHomes.com  

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,

Coldwell Banker Preferred 

390 Waterloo Blvd, Exton, PA 19341.

Cell: (484) 947 3127

Office: 610 363 6006

These smiles after settlement pretty much say it all - what a success story!

These are the smiling faces of my wonderful clients who just bought their first home!  Buying a home can be daunting - but this couple did it just right in my opinion.  Did their research, engaged a knowledgeable local Realtor, asked a lot of questions, weighed all options, waited for the right home....and when they saw one they fell in love with, never hesitated a bit! 

We had to fight other buyers over multiple bids and deal with the appraisal that came in short, yet they never lost their unwavering faith in me through it all.  Always tried to understand pros and cons and trusted my advice as to the next steps.  It was a textbook case, of how a seasoned agent who is strong at negotiation, understands paperwork/contracts and is fiercely protective of the client's interests, can not only hold the deal together, but save the home buyers big $$$$! 

Yes, in a multiple bid we managed to bid just the right amount to be the winning bid, and ofcourse managed to negotiate a failed appraisal to the buyers' advantage.  The trust that these buyers had in me was truly very humbling.  You can tell I had to be on top of my game,  I just couldn't let them down.  Yet another perfect example of how you can save a lot more with the right Realtor! 

This was extra special to me because as I with with young couples like them, I see in them, my own kids a few years down the line, possibly with their significant others, going thru the same house hunting process.  So Abhi mentioned her dad is a Realtor in India... likewise, my kids may be looking for a home in another state or even another country.  I hope their experience is awesome as well, and they have such happy faces at settlement! 

I cannot tell you exactly how I will make a difference to your real estate transaction, because each transaction is unique, with different set of players and circumstances.  But I will confidently tell you, I am customer service oriented and fiercely loyal to my client's interests, so there will be a noticeable difference.  Read about my other Success stories here.

To learn more about me visit Zillow and Linkedin and read my reviews.

Bela Vora, R3ALTOR

Top 1% of all Realtors in Chester County 2016, 2017.

#1 Agent, Coldwell Banker Preferred Exton 2016, 2017.

Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton

Office: 610 363 6006
Cell: (484) 947 3127

6 Reasons why the kickback isn't worth it - Expensive or cheap, choose wisely!

Let me begin by defining a "Discount Agent" - A buyer's agent who will 'kickback' to their buyers, a portion of their Realtor fees, as offered to them by the seller's Listing agent. 

Here are 6 Reasons why the kickback isn't worth it -

1. Buyer agent fees
Firstly, hiring a good buyers agent costs you, the buyer, nothing.  The agent fees are paid by the seller - so why not take advantage of a knowledgeable, professional Realtor to assist you with the purchase of your home.  It is a decision that you are involved with financially, personally and emotionally...potentially for decades.  A home where you raise a family and make memories.

2. Knowledge and Education
Barriers to entry in the real estate business are quite low. All you have to do is pass 2 exams and you can get licensed.  The monetary investment in the business can be pretty minimal, so anyone can become a real estate agent easily.  The question then is, what separates one Realtor from another.  In this profession more than any other, experience and learning matters. Does your Realtor understand contracts? Do they educate you on the market? Are they knowledgeable about local neighborhoods? Are they available to answer your questions, or follow up with related parties to the transaction?

3. Wal Mart home shopping
Realtor fees are predetermined, so why do these agents decide to share them with the buyers?  When asked, the reason the agents discount give is  "We would not get any business otherwise"  Literally, discounting is the only way they get business.  These agents are essentially the "Wal-Mart" analogy in real estate, competing on price alone.  Would you really buy a business suit, for your most desired job interview, or a wedding dress at WalMart?   Would you trust a discount agent with the most expensive thing you will ever buy or sell? Some things deserve the attention of an expert - and buying a home is certainly one of them.

4. Real Savings
The question is - are you really "saving" money?  The kickback from the agent helps reduce a specified amount in your settlement costs - but that is completely wiped out, if they unable to protect your best interests.  You may not be aware of issues in the home you are buying, and only find out when its too late - or worse, at resale.  You may need the contractual skills to protect your interests, in case an issue arises during the transaction, but they are not qualified or skilled enough.  You miss the house you really really wanted because they were simply not answering your phone call, or didn't have time to show it to you.  How effective would those savings be under these circumstances?

5. Negotiation Skills
Would a discount agent negotiate strong for you.  An agent who does not have the negotiation skills to protect their own fees, how well will they negotiate on your behalf?  Negotiation not only happens at time of putting in an offer - it may happen during Inspections, it may happen during the walk thru or when an appraisal come in short.  I have several instances where I easily saved way more money for my buyers, that the possible credit they could have got from a discount agent. 

6. Multiple bids 
In a hot market it is essential to "win" the house from competing buyers.  Agent reputation and professionalism matters a lot in such situations.  The discount agents are not respected, and in fact perceived as highly unprofessional, and seen as diluting the professionalism standards, so most listing agents prefer to not work with them.  

In my experience over the years, I have encountered many incidents where all of the above was true - the clients involved knew it - and really appreciated they went with a full time, knowledgeable, reputed and professional Realtor like myself.  As the graphic suggests - Expensive or Cheap - choose wisely. 

Every transaction is different and has different set of players and circumstances,  Every house is different, even in cookie cutter neighborhoods.  Hire a Realtor who makes a difference, every single time, someone who looks out for your best interests and is willing to put in the time and effort.  Read some of my success stories here 

To learn more about me visit Zillow and read my reviews - https://www.zillow.com/profile/Bela-Vora/

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

7 Benefits of Buying or Selling your Home in the Fall Season.

Many many advantages to selling or buying your home in the Fall Season - here goes...

1. Home for the Holidays - We all want to enjoy the holiday season with our loved ones in this cosy place we call home!  When you buy or sell in Fall - you are all settled in your new house before the holiday season.  Make lots of memories!

2. Less Competition - Home Sales peak in June/July.   As a result, there are fewer homes on the market in the Fall - which means less competition for the sellers!  Also, the buyers who are looking at this time are more motivated,  you won't get too many 'just looking' buyers.  Buyers tend to be less picky - because there aren't that many confusing choices.  We currently have a good inventory of homes in Chester county to choose from.

3. Tax break  - Property taxes and mortgage interest are deductions home buyers can claim on their taxes.  If you manage to close before Dec 31, you get a neat little tax write off.  As a seller - capital gains and home improvements are an important calculation and your closing costs will help determine those.  Consult your tax advisor regarding how you may take advantage of this.

4. Right Price - As a seller, your Realtor has a much easier job of finding comparable sales for appraisals.  There have been many recent sales to choose from - which is not true for a home listed in Early Spring.  So if you have a well maintained upgraded home, it can fetch the premium price you were hoping for.   Even for buyers - with less competition, you can avoid multiple bid scenarios and negotiate a good price on a home, because sellers don't want it sitting on the market thru the winter months.

5. Shopping season - The upcoming holiday season is the perfect time to get good deals and "Holiday Sales" to furnish and decorate your home.  You could get good bargains this tie of the year.  Watch out for those Black Friday sales ad have the goods delivered to your new home instead of paying to move them.

6. Condition of property - Most homeowners have done maintenance on the house during the Spring and Summer months.  Bug ticket additions like decks and patios, window, roof replacements possibly or regular maintenance like power washing, window screens, landscaping, painting etc have just been made to the home.  If you are a seller - home is ready to list with minimal work.  If you are a buyer, move in without a long to-do list!

7. Colors - Seasonal colors and smells make the home look really inviting!  Who doesn't like the rusts oranges and olives - warm crisp colors of this season!  The pumpkin spice smells of candles burning and pies in the oven - that's what home is all about!

Picture credit - Coldwell Banker Preferred.

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

Homestead Tax Relief - Chester County, PA

Homeowners may not realize that they can avail themselves of annual tax savings, through the Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion Program.  The Homeowner Tax Relief Act, Act 72 of 2004, was signed into law by Governor Rendell on July 5, 2004, to allow school districts to reduce property taxes by lowering your property tax bill; the legal term for this is a “homestead or farmstead exclusion.”

What many homeowners don't know is, that when you buy a property in Chester County, PA, even if the current seller was getting that tax savings, it is not automatically transferred to the buyer.  The buyer has to fill out a form and send it in, to get those tax savings. 

This link has all the FAQs regarding this program.  

Get more info on Chester County Tax Assessment and appeals here.   Call me for more info if needed.  

Always making a difference...

Bela Vora, REALTOR®,
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton Real Estate.
Office: 610 363 6006; 
Cell: (484) 947 3127
Website - Search Homes
Read my Reviews on Zillow  |  Facebook  |  Linkedin

What challenge did you have at your settlement?

It appears that I have had some challenge or the other with all my settlements recently.  I had to keep telling myself, patience is a virtue.  Clients are stressed and emotional, disappointed or perhaps even angry at circumstances beyond their control.  It is their Realtor's job to help resolve the situation and pull it together.

Some of my recent challenges
1.  Water leak and non working refrigerator at walk thru before settlement.  Seller paid to fix the leak, but refrigerator part ordered did not fix the refrigerator.  Fortunately for my client, the title company as able to escrow funds and I was able to negotiate funds in addition to the escrow amount, so my buyer could simply replace the appliance.  Can your real estate agent negotiate escrows at settlement?

2. New construction sale and client not happy with a long punch list at pre-settlement walk thru.  Constant follow up with the site agent and manager to ensure that the punch list is taken care of before final walk thru.  Did you use a Realtor for your new construction purchase?  Did they disappear after the contract was signed or did they stay in touch through the entire time that your home was being built?

3. Opening a new line of credit before settlement.  It was very tempting for the client to get a store card to save some money on new purchases.  However small the amount, an additional line of credit has to be recorded and mortgage paperwork updated and ratios worked out again.  Fortunately it was a mere formality because it did not affect client's ratios - but settlement was extended for hours until the new paperwork was processed.  Does your Realtor leave for their next appointment or do they stay by your side just in case there are any further complications?

4. Previous year's tax transcripts were needed by underwriters but international client did not have them because they held expatriate position for the company in another country that year. Last minute switch to a new lender - settlement extended by 10 days , new lender paperwork pulled together last minute - great team effort with help of the title agent - made settlement at 5 pm on the day the extended AOS contract was to expire.

Oh I could go on.. maybe I will write a book shortly....

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

5 steps to rebuilding your credit after a foreclosure

A foreclosure can have a significant negative impact on your credit scores, limit your ability to obtain new credit and remain on your credit report for seven years. However, with patience and a plan, you can successfully rebuild your credit so that you are in a position to take advantage of all that a healthy credit rating has to offer. Here are some key steps to take on the road to credit repair.

1. Find out the true impact to your credit. First, be sure you know exactly how your credit was affected. The terms and conditions of foreclosure and short sale agreements can vary in how they impact your credit scores (how they are reported to the credit bureaus and how long they stay on your credit report)
2. Get smart about your credit ratings. Educating yourself is your best line of defense when it comes to your credit, and a great place to start is with your credit report. You can obtain a free report from each of the three top reporting agencies (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) by visiting annualcreditreport.com, a site authorized by the federal government. Your credit report can give you insight into why your foreclosure happened so that you can take steps to prevent a re-occurrence (look in the "Public Information" section of your report). It's also a good idea to review your report to ensure it has no errors and that there are not any old debts still on record after being paid off.
3. Pay your debts on time. Your goal is to create a positive payment history to show lenders you are being financially responsible. Additionally, paying down high balances can positively impact your credit score since your "credit utilization," or your debt-to-credit ratio, comprises 30% of your credit score.¹
4. Know what not to do. It may seem smart to close open credit accounts. That's not necessarily the case and could even hurt your score. Closing credit accounts, even those you have not used for some time, can suggest to lenders that you are closer to being "maxed out" on your credit than you truly are.
5. Use credit cards to rebuild your credit. That may sound counter intuitive, but consistently paying off a balance each month has a positive impact on your score. If you're unable to obtain a regular credit card, you may want to consider a secured card, offered by many banks and credit unions. In simple terms, you'll be required to deposit a certain amount of funds with the creditor – and in return you'll receive a card for a line of credit in that amount. Using these secured credit cards responsibly over time can also accrue to your benefit and help rebuild your credit worthiness.

While repairing your credit can take time, it is an achievable goal. Be patient, develop a concrete plan and stick to it. The more disciplined you are, the more progress you can make.

More real estate tips and advice articles on my blog.

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

Federal Trade Commission needs more info on the Zillow Trulia Merger

The much talked about Zillow Trulia merger awaits FTC's decision.  Many feel, it will depend on how the real estate advertising market is defined.  If online advertising is considered a separate category, then it appears to be a monopoly, inspite of Spencer Raskoff 's claims about the long tail (the fragmented market).  However if all real estate advertising is the entire pie, where online is only a piece of the pie, according the Wall Street Journal article,  then there are no antitrust concerns.


I believe Internet will change the way real estate will be done in future, however HOW is the key question.

Will it do away with the brokerages?  
While the traditional brokerage model may be in jeapordy, the brokerages will have to reinvent themselves using technology.  Redfin is an online company that focuses on technology and also has agents on the ground that bases their model on commission kickbacks to buyers and sellers.  There are other startups that tweak this model and compete on the technology platform or flat fee structure or a la carte services.....   Realogy, the parent company for Coldwell Banker Preferred, is launching its own combined website  (it owns multiple brokerages) consolidating web traffic.  There are talks about Zillow becoming a brokerage as well.  I am anxious to see how this evolves over the years.

Will it do away with the Multiple Listing Services (MLS)?
Data accuracy remains key to success, and it boggles me why there is so much data inaccuracy on Zillow, Trulia and other real state websites, when they feed directly from the MLS?  Theoretically, if consumers start uploading their own data and pictures on these sites, then MLSs can potentially get redundant.  Until then, Zillow will need the information from the local MLSs.

Will it do away with Realtors? 
Yes there will be a shake out and restructuring,  There will be category of tech savvy Realtors who have created a local  network thru value adding services, those will always be successful.  There will be another group of volume based Realtors, who will have a client base thru online advertising or commission kickbacks, who will do well, if they control the business end of things. The third category of "part timers", those relying on friends and family for business and working with traditional brokerages, may be the ones in jeopardy.

There are legal implications for how real estate transaction are done in every state and ofcourse major local considerations to every real state sale.  There is huge competition for the online web traffic and a wide variety of new models being tried by various startups. The chane in this industry is bound to happen slowly.

Moe thoughts on this Zillow Trulia merger.

Next article about what is Zillow's value proposition? Stay tuned.

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

Website  |  Facebook  |  Blog 

Some thoughts on the Zillow Trulia merger

As the leading real estate sites Zillow and Trulia combine forces, the industry is abuzz with the ramifications of the merger. The official word is, that there are no plans to merge the websites and they will continue to operate as separate sites.

Consumers have total access to real estate data online. As with everything else online, how will the real estate industry progress along the continuum of ...Noise - Data - Information - Knowledge - Wisdom... remains to be seen.  Having said that, here is my take on how this merger will affect the industry.

Combined resources may mean better data for the consumer. 
The biggest criticism of these real estate websites has been incomplete and inaccurate data. In the long run, this acquisition is good for the industry, because it will consolidate some of the offerings and lead to better all-around data, which will lead to a better consumer experience. If accuracy can be significantly increased, the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) that was so far the domain of Real estate agents, may be in danger of becoming redundant.

Realtors will continue to be integral to the process of buying and selling a home. 
I feel, Realtors who add value and are tech savvy, will always be sought after. In an industry where barriers to entry are low, this will create a shake out and the agents who do not provide good service, or are part time and fail to update their skills, will have to drop out.

Combined sites will lead to Advertising Price Increases 
Zillow's CEO has maintained that the sites sell ads, not houses. It is not a brokerage but an advertising tool. With the two largest websites merging, their advertisers (Realtors, Brokers and Mortgage lenders) fear that a law of supply and demand will certainly have an impact on prices. A Monopoly may be created because arguably the combined sites have over 75% consumer traffic. Ofcourse there is a viewpoint that the long tail adds up to a lot more consumer eyeballs - so 75% is a highly exaggerated number.

Big real estate corporations will partner with Zillow-Trulia
It will be easier and more cost-effective for the big franchisors to work with these websites, than to fight them. Their “strategic partnerships” will solidify the legitimacy of Zillow-Trulia in the consumer’s mind. Realogy - the parent company that owns the Coldwell Banker franchise (my broker) already has a Fab Plus package in place which gives their agents heavily discounted packages.

More remains to be seen.  I am completely fascinated and feel this will turn into a series of articles for this blog.  Stay tuned.

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

Website  |  Facebook  |  Blog 

Mortgage calculator does the math....

The mortgage forecast from most reliable sources is that mortgage rates will be increasing over the next year.  By next Spring, 5.5% is a very likely projection.  

What does this mean to home buyers who are waiting to buy their dream home?  Let’s look at some math…

For a mortgage amount of $350,000…which is about an average home value in Chester county 

-At the current average rate of 4.5% the note payment is $1773.40

-At the projected rate of 5.5% the note payment is $1987.26

So…what does a $213.86 difference in payment mean to mortgage amount/buying power?

$42,208.

By simply waiting to buy for a year - the house value you will be able to afford is reduced by 42k!  

Sellers Assist in a real estate transaction

What is a Sellers Assist?

When a buyer is short on cash to purchase a home, the seller may step in to assist them in the purchase by paying some of their closing costs.  For buyers, it essentially means they are rolling some of their closing costs into their mortgage.  

For example, if the purchase price is 350k with a 7k sellers assist, the effective purchase price is 343k. The buyer appreciates that flexibility and will need to bring 7k less to settlement.  The seller is happy to get the house sold.  

There are some caveats as to how much sellers assist is allowed by the lender though. Below is a guideline, courtesy of Michael Lamborn with CBHL - Coldwell Banker Home Loans.

How to maintain or improve your credit score - Do's and DOn'ts

Renters who would like to become home buyers often find improving their credit scores a big challenge.  No need to pay credit agencies big money ...here are some common Do's and Don'ts in Credit

DO:
1. Pay your bills on time. Delinquent payments and collections can have a major negative
impact on your score.
2. If you have missed payments, get current and stay current. The longer you pay your bills on
time, the better your score.
3. If you are having trouble making ends meet, contact your creditors or see a legitimate credit
counselor. This will not improve your score immediately, but if you can begin to manage your
credit and pay on time, your score will get better over time.
4. Keep balances low (1-9%) on credit cards and other revolving credit. High outstanding
debt can affect a score.
5. Pay off debt rather than move it around.
6. Re-establish your credit history if you have had problems.
7. Opening new accounts responsibly and paying them off on time will raise your score in the
long term.
8. Note that it is OK to request and check your own credit file. This will not affect your score, as long as you order your credit file directly from the credit reporting agency or through an organization authorized to provide credit files to consumers (such as myFICO). 

Understanding residential real estate appraisals

Any home purchase that requires a mortgage, needs an appraisal.  The lender orders it and buyer pays for the appraisal, an opinion of value from an independent third party - the appraiser.  The idea is for the lenders to reassure themselves, that the property is worth the purchase price.

A while back I had written a blog about how to determine the market value of your home - based on recent, local, comparable sales.  The appraiser does exactly that, and puts forth his opinion of value.  It is only an opinion of value - because 2 appraisers could value the same property at the same time, and come up with two widely differing values/opinions.  While the criteria is pretty objective, there is  huge subjective component, in that the sale comps picked, and adjustments done for important home features like finished basement, backyard patio, pool etc.  Final values could vary widely within a neighborhood based on how appraisers value upgrades.

Short Sale questions answered - Real Estate 101

What is a Short Sale?

A Short Sale is a transaction in which the seller’s proceeds are less than the amount necessary to pay off liens secured by the

property. Examples of such liens include, but are not limited to, mortgages, home equity lines of credit, tax claims, home-

owners' association/condominium fees, and legal judgments.

What parties are involved in a short sale transaction?

A Short Sale may require the approval of one or more third parties, unlike a traditional transaction which only requires the

approval of the buyer and seller. In a Short Sale, after the buyer and seller have agreed on the terms of the Agreement of Sale,

the seller may need to request the approval of the lender(s) or other lien holder(s) (“creditor(s)”).

What time frames does one consider in a short sale transaction?

In a potential Short Sale, creditors can take an extended period to respond to a Short Sale request. In some cases, creditors

do not respond at all. Delays in creditor approval can make it difficult to set a specific settlement date.

Do you have negotiating power when making an offer to buy a short sale?

Creditors do not have an obligation to approve the terms of Buyer’s offer to the seller. Creditors may add conditions or

restrictions in accepting the offer. Common examples may include refusing to pay Buyer’s closing costs or refusing to allow the seller to pay for repairs requested by Buyer. A buyer and seller are under no obligation to accept these conditions or restrictions from creditors, although failure to accept them may result in termination of the Agreement.

Buyer should consider making their offer contingent upon approval by creditors and should retain the right to terminate at

a specified time in the Short Sale process. Buyer is advised that a seller may elect to consider additional offers from other buyers until Creditor approval is obtained.

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

The deer sold the house - Byers Station, Chester Springs!

Byers Station, Chester Springs, PA 19425

This is  the view from the deck of a house for sale in Byers Station.  The view ofcourse from beyond the  well maintained deck and lawn.  (Yes, Byers Station in Chester Springs does have some lots with backyards like this!)

We were visiting this well maintained and updated twin home for sale.   At the very moment my clients stepped out on the deck to admire the backyard view, the deer family came out from the woods to take a peek at them, the possible new owners of the home.  Look closely and you will see a family of deer in the center.

Needless to say, that moment did more for selling that house than all the marketing combined... or anything I could ever say in its favor.   These were first time buyers, who were hoping for a house less than 6 years old, with a nice private backyard in the Downingtown East school district.  They loved the property and were very excited to see the deer and took pictures.  I big thank you to their teenage son for taking this picture in the few seconds we had - and for sharing it with me for my blog.

Back to real estate 101 - We made sure to check that the property met all their criteria, we negotiated a great price (yes, even though it was only 2 days on the market and had multiple offers), did our due diligence with inspections ....and the property settles next week.  I am sure the proud new owners cannot wait to sit out on the deck to enjoy this view everyday.  Look out for their testimonial on my blog shortly.

Sigh!  I love such success stories!  Can I engineer this again - you think?  One of my buyers is looking to upgrade from a town home that has a very restrictive HOA rules.   They do not allow bird feeders and the one thing she is really looking forward to, is putting one up in her new home.   Strategies for attracting birds anyone?  How do I get them to show up at the right time?

For more information on Downingtown neighborhoods click here.


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