Frequently asked real estate questions - How long does it take from offer to settlement?In Tredyffrin Easttown we often get asked by buyers how long the real estate process is for buying a home. Obviously, it depends, a buyer needs to find the right home. But Nick Vandekar, a Tredyffrin Township resident and Main Line Realtor can answer how long it takes once an agreement is accepted to settlement.Generally, if the buyer is using a mortgage, the time is 45-60 days. Most mortgage firms since TRID implementation in the Tredyffrin Easttown area require a minimum of 45 days. This allows for appraisals, the home inspections etc. If buying with cash it can be much quicker and I have recently had two deals which closed in about 14 days each.Some local mortgage bankers,those who use their own f... 01/27/2017

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions - What is the consumer notice?This video by nick Vandekar, Main Line Realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. answers the question What is the consumer notice?The Consumer Notice should be explained to a consumer by any real estate agent they meet for the first time and discuss their real estate needs. The purpose is so the consumer understands who the person they are talking with represents.At the most basic level, the agent will represent the seller, the buyer or be independant of either. If a buyer and you are talking with the listing agent who represents the seller you need to be conscious of the fact that this agent is gathering information on behalf of the seller.There are situations where an agent and/or the broker may be a dual agent, o... 01/25/2017

Old Forge Crossing in Devon PA 19333I have a lot of different buyers who purchase homes in Old Forge Crossing. First time buyers who like the size of the apartments and the on site community pool, widows and widowers who are downsizing to something smaller, but want some space and amenities. small families looking for somewhere in the Tredyffrin Easttown School District; investors looking for a solid well looked after community where they can obtain a decent rent and tenants as well who want somewhere that is well located for where they work and want to go after work. Old Forge Crossing satisfies all of these.Located on 40+ acres, the community has walking trails, a swimming pool, and three tennis courts. The Chester Valley Trail runs alongside the community and they have created their ... 01/21/2017

Jenkins ArboretumThere are those places you drive past often without realizing what you are missing until you stop and visit. Jenkins Arboretum and Gardens is one of those places in Tredyffrin Township. A small gem hidden away off Berwyn Baptist Road and trickling down the hillside to Devon State Road. Sometimes when the day is busy and I need a moment I will stop off here.Entrance is free. Yes, no charge for this wonderful attraction, which if you have young children will easily tire them out and give you some rest when they fall asleep, after making their way back up the hill to the car. As you wander down the paths making your way down the hill to the pond, you will in the Spring notice the Azaleas and Rhododendrons. Jenkins is famous for breeding them and using native plants, they e... 01/17/2017

Do you buy a new home or sell your current home first?In today's real estate market with low inventories at almost all price points other than the $1 million to $2 million range the question asked by many potential home buyers is "Do we buy first or do we sell first?"It is highly competitive out there buying a house today and for sellers when they list a home there is a big chance they will get multiple offers to select who the next owner of their home might be if it is correctly prepared for sale.I decided to take this question to Mike Graff of Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC to see what he suggested and if he had any answers.So two suggestions from Mike, 1) Make an offer conditional upon the sale of your home, as Mike admitted this is often rejected by sellers who have just listed and a... 01/10/2017

Old Forge Crossing, Devon, PA 19333 2016 Sales DataThe table below gives sales data for 2016 sales gathered from Trend MLS for Old Forge Crossing.Net price shown is Sold price- any seller concessions  Address Net price Bedrooms Den BathsFull BathsHalf 527 Old Forge Crossing $102,000 1   1 0 331 Old Forge Crossing $130,950 1   1 0 219 Old Forge Crossing $132,000 1 Yes 1 0 228 Old Forge Crossing $134,000 1   1 0 196 Old Forge Crossing $134,000 1   1 0 245 Old Forge Crossing $135,000 1   1 0 514 Old Forge Crossing $135,000 1   1 0 377 Old Forge Crossing $135,000 1 Yes 1 0 479 Old Forge Crossing $137,500 1   1 0 28 Old Forge Crossing $141,000 1   1 0 513 Old Forge Crossing $145,000 1 Yes 1 0 203 Old Forge Crossing $148,000 1 Yes 1 0 135 Old Forge Crossing $149,900 1 Yes 1 0 486 Old Forge Cr... 01/06/2017

Never split the differenceNegotiating as if your life depended on it by Chris Voss with Tahl Raz I saw Chris Voss interviewed on The School of Greatness, worth watching if you have the time and got his book above from the library.I realized right away this was a book I needed to own, and have been recommending it to everyone. Many people avoid negotiation. In our job as Realtors it is a big part of what we do.We negotiate with our clients, with other Realtors and on behalf of our clients with buyers and sellers. We negotiate with our brokers as well in fact if you are honest with yourself we negotiate for everything, with our kids, spouses, friends etc.This book is excellent. Chris Voss was an FBI hostage negotiator, in that situation you cannot split the difference, you have to win. Th... 12/19/2016

I'm thankful for Old Forge Crossing!Within a five to ten minute drive of my home sits Old Forge Crossing. This is a most delightful condo community of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments and a number of 2 bedroom townhomes as well with 1 cottage. Located on the site of an old farm, this development was built as apartments by Prudential in the late 60's early 70's and then was turned condo.It is a delightful setting on 40+ acres, with walking trails, a reflecting pond, community pool, tennis courts and also keyed access to the Chester Valley Trail. When our son moved back here from Florida we suggested he rent here which he did and he was so grateful because it is close to everything and everywhere you want to be on The Main Line. Located in Devon, PA it is about 2 miles to the Devon SEPTA statio... 11/23/2016

I'm thankful for Jenkins Arboretum!Do you notice a trend here in what I like and am thankful for...nature, I find it immensely relaxing. The Jenkins Arboretum is located in Devon, PA and sits on a wooded hillside plot filled with Azaleas and Rhodedendrons. I may get this wrong, but I believe all Azaleas are Rhodedendrons, but not all Rhodedendrons are Azaleas, or the other way round. Anyway, come Mothers Day this garden open to the public is a riot of color, with some rare hybrid types of great color. Enjoy a short walk with me.Happy Thanksgiving, Spring will be here soon and this wonderful hillside garden located in Devon PA filled with native plants and hybrid azaleas will once again amaze us with a beautiful display of color. Looking for a Main Line home close to Jenkins Arboretum, l... 11/22/2016

Do you decorate or collect?When you buy a house, you begin to turn it into a home. Whilst I am a big believer in a home is made by people rather than things we all inevitably gather things around us as well. Some people are decorators, they artfully mix and merge things from all over the place and blend them together. They take Aunt Mary's old table and mix it with a new piece from Restoration Hardware for example and it is as if they were made to stand next to each other. Others become collectors, some in an extreme way, having a period home and everything in it must be of the period so it becomes a reproduction of the time. Others begin by buying something, like the spill vases above, a pair of English Derby porcelain spill vases from the early to mid 19th century because they liked t... 11/15/2016

 Happy Veterans Day   David HenkeLong & Foster Real Estate Inc – Devon, PA/Wilmington, DEOffice: 610-225-7400/Direct: 610-618-0808www.DelawarePAHomes.com  11/11/2016

What are you drinking?About 18 months ago, I gave up drinking alcohol. I used to love my wine, but for many years have considered if giving up drinking would allow me to reach goals in my life which had been elusive. That is a work in progress, but it does not mean I stop following wine, because you never know when someone will ask you to order the wine because you understand it. I found this short video from Christie's interesting about wines that collectors are buying today. Wine has been something that people have always collected as well as drunk. I used to have a client in New Orleans who had converted a whole house into a wine cellar, it was reachable through a tunnel from his home and he would invite friends over to savor one vineyard, one wine, over the decades, so all could tas... 11/02/2016

Today I am attending my quickest settlement, a closing on an Old Forge Crossing condo with an investor client I have. He bought several one bedroom condos a few years ago in a development where I have helped clients both buy and sell. He came to me because he wanted to see some properties and realized I had posted several blogs on the development and also my name comes up as the first Realtor on Google for this development. Prices are not high for our area, but Old Forge Crossing is a wonderful place to live, it is well managed, having a CAI accreditation award, has a swimming pool, tennis courts and gated access to the Chester Valley Trail which is a big draw in our area for those who are active.Anyway this client called he is back in the market after a few years of not adding to his p... 10/28/2016

Why did I do it?This may be a question you ask yourself often or not and context is crucial to how that question makes you feel. Did the question make you cringe? Or maybe it started your brain off on an analytical process of organizing your thoughts about your beliefs.To be honest I have asked myself this question in both contexts. I am very outspoken, and if you want an opinion I can give you one, what is the subject? Looking back that makes me cringe, even reading those words is embarrasing. There have been actions I have taken, things I have attempted, which were not the wisest, and the results, well let's just say I've seen my share of hospital emergency rooms.But  for the past eleven years I have helped, and for the past six actually run and organized an antiques show for a local ... 10/18/2016

Happy July 4, 2016! I hope everyone is having a great year. Be sure to take some time off to relax and enjoy your friends and family this July 4th. Thanks to everyone and have a great holiday! David Henke Long & Foster Real Estate Inc – Devon, PA/Wilmington, DE Office: 610-225-7400/Direct: 610-618-0808 http://www.DelawarePAHomes.com 07/03/2016

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Devon is the #1 place to live outside of Philadelphia Don't take our word for it, read the latest report, Devon is the # 1 place in the suburbs to live and Berwyn is # 6. We know why so many people want to live in Tredyffrin Easttown School district but now it is official. Whether you are looking for a one bed condo, a town home or new construction we have homes for first time buyers to those relocating to the area that meet all needs. This new home in Devon is priced at $559000 for the base  model with 3 beds 2 1/2 baths but can be a 4 bed 3 1/2 bath home as well with multiple choices of upgrades available, but check out this listing, the quality of finishes so far is exceptional in a home of this price in the Devon area, Carrara Marble in the master bath as an example. Bryn Mawr at # ... 03/11/2015

Are you connected? I was clearing snow yesterday and stopped to listen to the silence from the snow and looked at the oak trees beside our drive. They look pretty stark right now, cold and windblown with snow clinging to their sides. In the summer though they provide us with shade, and all year long there are birds hoping through them looking for insects or building nests. In the Spring they offer a hope of what is to come as their leaves begin to show and unfold, I know if the bulbs and flowers are not yet pushing through the earth they will be soon. And in the fall as they drop their leaves I know those leaves will provide a rich moist compost as it breaks down providing shelter for insects and bugs and food for the flowers and trees throughout our yard. As I carried on clearing the d... 01/27/2015

Main Line condominium buyers need help with your credit? Condominiums are very popular with first time buyers on the Main Line because they generally have lower prices, maintenance is mainly covered under the condominium fee as often are many of the utility costs depending on the development. Whilst credit is slowly easing, and buyers can get loans with 3% down, one of the biggest challenges for Main Line first time condo buyers is a low credit score for one of many reasons. Credit scores used by the mortgage companies and banks are based on a FICO score, FICO refers to the Fair Isaac system for reporting credit scores. No one knows the actual algorithm used by FICO but it can be affected by what you do and don't do. The scores you get from many of the online sites are called Vantage sc... 01/21/2015

Frequently Asked Question: Why do I need a pre-approval before seeing homes? We get many phone calls from customers who want to see a home. Many of these people have no relationship with any agent and do not understand the main line real estate process for buying a home. They just want to see a house they saw that they liked and so they often call the first number they can find. Our job is not to just show houses. Our time is limited, and therefore we ask those we are going to work with to obtain a mortgage pre-approval for several reasons. Yes, it is so we can make the best use of our time for our clients and customers. If we ran out to show every person who called whatever home they wanted to see we would not have enought time to do our job efficiently and correctly. As I explained in... 01/15/2015