Crime Map Harmony Woods Newark Delaware 19713 Update- From March - June 2010 the following stats were obtained from the New Castle Country Police website. 3 Burglaries - Grey 7 Thefts - Yellow 7 Criminal Mischief - Red Protect your home today with a FREE Home Security System with 24 hour monitoring for about a dollar a day from National Security a Authorized Dealer for Guardian Protection Services with over 200,000 satisfied clients.   07/04/2010

During the height of the Great Depression, playwrights George Kaufman and Moss Hart had a message for everyone: relax and have fun. They wove that theme throughout "You Can't Take It with You," one of their most famous comedic plays, which opened in 1936. Seventy-four years later, the country mired in another economic downer, everyone would do well to take Kaufman and Hart's advice - and the Chapel Street Players are making it easy by putting on "You Can't Take it with You" as their annual fundraiser show. "We tend to forget that we need to relax," said director Marsha Amato-Greenspan. "We get so overworked and so worried about everything that we forget." The show, Chapel Street's 47th annual fundraiser, is a two-hour reminder, she said. It tells the story of a the Sycamore family, a re... 06/20/2010

Bad credit and what the Delaware home buyer can do about it - Credit repair the easy way Real estate runs on cycles like most other things in this world.  Over the last 13 years I have been a Delaware Realtor I have seen a Buyers Market - Sellers Market then Neutral and now we are in a Buyers Market. This is not just a normal Buyers Market this is a HUGE BUYERS MARKET! What I see happening everyday is there are months of inventory for sale and very few qualified buyers. I am finding only about 10% of buyers I talk with are qualified! So if you are part of 90% who are not qualified where do you go?  What do you do? Do you miss out on what I think is the best time to buy a home in the last 20 years? NO! I have teamed up with one of the most experienced Mortgage Consultants in the area Jas... 06/03/2010

In Newark, working together is about to take on a whole new meaning. The dozen or so folks who will soon inhabit CoWo Newark, Tom Fruehstorfer’s new co-working venture on Elkton Road, will each be independent entrepreneurs taking advantage of a shared space. The coworking concept, a group of entrepreneurs or freelancers working independently in a communal location, was born several years ago in San Francisco and arrived in Delaware when the coIN Loft was established in downtown Wilmington a few months ago. “I’ve been working out of my basement for a dozen years,” said Fruehstorfer, who works as a safety and environmental engineer. “I’m bored with sitting in my basement alone, and I’m hoping there are other people out there like me.” Part of what Fruehstorfer, 44, of Newark, wants to do... 06/01/2010

New York Assembly May Raise Taxes on Millionaire's Again!     Sheldon Silver, New York Assembly Speaker is reported by MyFOXNY.com to be considering a tax hike of 11% on millionaire's (well those that make over $200,000 a year would be affected)   http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/ny-assembly-looks-at-millionaires-tax-20100526   Is it time to consider a move to Delaware? YES!!!! What does Delaware have to offer? 6.95% TOP RATE Income Tax NO SALES TAX! One of the most Corporate Friendly Tax States in the country! LOW PROPERTY TAXES! A 4 Bedroom 3,800 sq. ft. home will run you about $4,100 a year in property taxes, not a month, a YEAR!  You can purchase a home like that in a great area with fine schools in the $400,000 - $500,000 range. Search Homes HERE or click the search button below. 05/26/2010

Newark Delaware breaks ground for new Army Reserve Center The ground breaking at the site of the new 81,000 sq. ft. Armed Forces Training center and a 8,000 sq. ft. maintenance shop.  Gov. Jack Markell attended along with members of the Military.  The center replaces the Kirkwood Army Reserve Center West of Wilmington.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4orvnIqCXM&feature=player_embedded You may remember the site as the former Gaylord Container plant which was torn down a few weeks back. Wohlsen Construction and Pike Co. are the joint venture construction managers. 05/20/2010

 University of Delaware updated plans for Chrysler plant location Scott Douglas the University of Delawares executive vice president and treasurer said at a April 27th meeting of the Greater Newark Network "Successful universities are really engines of economic development" The Universiy of Delaware plans to have commercial, educational buildings and residential areas on the 272 acre site that used to house the Chrysler plant in Southern Newark. The plans include up to 10 million square feet of academic buildings that includes a 5 story building to make better use of the space. The commercial properties are being designed not to compete with Main Street business and the plans are to have residents have some say in the residential areas.  Newark Delaware is in for a big change and it wil... 05/03/2010

The University of Delaware Botanic Gardens and Greenhouses in Newark, Delaware played a big part in the annual Ag Day celebration on Saturday, April 24, 2010. I try to make it a point to be there every year for two reasons. 1.  The Annual Benefit Plant Sale for the U of D Botanic Gardens. Students and staff work all year to raise cuttings, seedlings, and large plants for this sale. I got a bit of an insiders story when I sold some properties for the former greenhouse manager a few years ago. And my garden always gains a few plants, although they don't always survive. Life in a garden is one big experiment for me!  This year it's an ice plant and a ginger that caught my eye. To be continued if I choose the right spot for them! 2. Ag Day events. Student groups, master gardeners, puppy ra... 04/26/2010

US Army Display Vehicle Visits Newark Delaware I was driving through the City of Newark today and saw the best looking 18 wheeler ever, not that im a big fan of big trucks just all things military but my youngest son loves trucks so I snapped a few photos and told him about it.  He chose the first one as his screen saver.    Here is a link to the Army Recruiter in Newark Delaware      04/25/2010

Who Wants A Winning Delaware Lottery Ticket? Well its not a real winning Delaware Lottery Ticket but it is as good as one! As you may have heard the Federal Government has been handing out $8,000 Tax Credits to those who buy a home of $150,000 or more (credit amount is pro-rated for homes under $150,000) Well, time is running out fast.  You must be under contract by Friday April 30, 2010 and settle by the end of June 2010. There is little time left so call me right away to claim you "ticket"! Hundreds of homes to choose from in the Newark, Wilmington Delaware area. 04/25/2010

Rentals in New Castle County Delaware-Wilmington-Newark-Bear-Claymont-Pike Creek-Newport Market Update Rental prices in New Castle County Delaware are still a great value, below are a few cities in the area and some examples of what the rental prices are.  There are 118 rental homes on the market today. Call me today for a complete list of rental homes in the area. Newark Delaware Rental Homes 3 Bedroom 2.5 Bath, like new home under $1,225 a month Upper end of market 5 Bedroom home over 4,000 sq. ft. under $2,300 a month Wilmington Delaware Rental Homes 3 Bedroom home for only $775 a month Upper end of market 4 Bedroom home under $1,400 a month   04/16/2010

Delaware oil Refinery Has New Owner by Newark Delaware Realtor Larry Hultberg The Wall Street Journal is reporting Mr.Thomas O'Malley, CEO of Petroplus and PBF Energy Partners L.P has just purchased the Delaware City Refinery for 200 million dollars.  Mr. O'Malley sold the plant back in 2005 to Valero for 1.9 Billion and regains the refinery with all its assets such as prime location, ocean transport access, finished refinery product storage and up-to-date gasoline and diesel blending racks and, of course, pipe line connections along the East Coast and down to Lake Charles. What a deal!  Hundreds of Delaware workers are one step closer to going back to work! 04/11/2010

Newark Delaware Real Estate Bank Owned Properties a good deal? In most cases YES!!! This is a home in the Newark Delaware area that I helped a buyer purchase last week for UNDER $260,000! 4 Bedroom 2.5 bath, 1st floor office, 2 car garage, huge kitchen 3,100 sq, ft on half a acre! It is hard to believe that this great home sold for under $260,000 when the last sale of a smaller home in this development sold for $350,000 a year ago.  How does something like this happen? Well its not a everyday occurrence where you can buy a home and get $75,000 equity in your pocket the first day you own it but there are homes out there right now selling $25,000 or more below market value. How is the Bank Owned home for sale different from other homes for sale? Well Bank Owned homes are homes that either... 04/04/2010

The Cheesecake Factory opens in Newark Delaware That's right the Cheesecake Factory has just opened its doors on its new 8,600 sq. ft. restaurant in the Christiana Mall in Newark Delaware.  The restaurant seats 250 people and offers full service and casual dining. Its not all about cheesecake although many say that's the reason to go.  The menu includes steaks, fish pasta and much more. I would suggest the salad so you have more room for the cheesecake!   03/23/2010

Cracks in the house.   If you notice big cracks in a newer home, it may indicate a big problem especially if the home is less than 10 years old.  When touring homes with your real estate agent, pay close attention to any large cracks.  If a large cracks are discovered, it will require the attention of professional home inspector to ask if we have a cause for a concern.  Horizontal cracking in the basement wall is something the inspector will notice and explain.  In any bad cases, a problem like this could require substantial rebuilding of the whole foundation so it is important to get the expert advice from the home inspector.   03/21/2010

Newark Delaware Residents Help Raise Money during Polar Bear Plunge For The Special Olympics Newark residents Paul Mitchell and Wesley Steele were among the 2323 people who participated in the yearly Delaware Polar Bear Plunge in Rehoboth Beach over the weekend.  When asked what advise he would give to new participants one man said "Run in, Run out"  The Special Olympics in Delaware raised over $500,000 for the event and is held every year.   03/15/2010

Selling your home quickly! Selling your home quickly involves many different things and one of those are making sure you have a better looking house then the rest!  One way to do this is staging but usually before your home is staged, it is a good idea to have your agent walked through the home and give you great suggestions.  You'll be surprised that some of the responses your real estate agent will give you, for example: neutral colors all throughout the house....  I often get a surprised look on the Sellers face when I discussed this with them.   Remember that you now are transforming yourself into a home seller and that job is much different than being a home owner.  When you're selling your home, you are no longer going to be a homeowner, your role will be a home seller instead.  T... 03/14/2010

Do not hide defects in your property or it could come back at you.   When you meet with your real estate agent at the time you list your home for sale, it is extremely important to be very truthful and honest with your agent.  The home inspection that will be done on your home is an important step of the home buying process.  I always recommend to Sellers to get a home inspection done before listing their home for sale, this way, you may discover everything that is wrong with your home in advance, so you may fix it before the buyer makes you spend more money than what it normally would cost.  Home inspections are usually what make or break a real estate deal and for this reason, it is wise to get a home inspection before listing your home to sell.  Knowing everything that is wrong with ... 03/14/2010

Here is a simple checklist that I found that could be very helpful for those that might be considering selling their home on their own.   Are you willing to give up your weekends and any evenings for the next three months, just to show buyers around your home?   Will you be willing to let strangers into your home as you try to sell your home on your own?   Can you be ready to show your home day and night, on a moment's notice?   Are you a risk taker?   Are you willing to learn how to do new and different things, spending the amount of time you need to research and prepare your home for sale?   Do you need a quick sale?   Are you willing to handle all the paperwork yourself?   Are you willing to negotiate face to face with a buyer?   Are you a very patient person?   Are you willing to re... 03/14/2010

Many people lead busy, hectic lives and simply do not have the time or the energy to bother with selling a home themselves.  The vast majority of people simply bypass selling a home on their own because of various reasons just like the one I just mentioned.  There is certainly a lot of twists and turns when trying to sell a home.  Just getting a buyer to sign a bunch of paperwork can be a process all in itself and that's why there are professionals who specialize in this and they are buyer's agents.  Listing agents are another type of agent who help Sellers sell their home in the least amount of time and for the maximum amount of money.  A listing agent does more than just stick a sign in the yard and call it a day, it is much more than that!  Agents may make the job look easy but they ... 03/14/2010