2018 is the year you are going to buy a home. You are looking on line finding homes, visiting open houses, you have your mortgage lined up, everything is looking good.Except you haven't chosen your buyer agent yet?Here are six things you need to consider when you interview different agents or consider when meeting an agent who might be your buyer agent.1) Do we get on or is this person going to annoy me?2) Do I trust this person?3) Does this person have experience?4) Is this person interested in helping me?5) Who is this agent working for?6) Most states have a consumer disclosure, did this agent even mention it when you met. If they are not abiding by the law now what will happen later on in the transaction?We represent many buyers and sellers in Tredyffrin Easttown and along and around... 01/12/2018

Tredyffrin Easttown 4 bed homes for sale, pending and sold data for 2017.There are all sorts of 4 bed homes in Tredyffrin Easttown. Twins, town homes, and single family detached homes. Generally prices in Easttown area little higher than Tredyffrin Township. Obviously location, lot and home size and condition of the home affect the asking and sale price. This is why you need a local Tredyffrin Easttown Realtor to advise on pricing.FOR SALECurrently there are 51 four bedroom homes for sale in the Tredyffrin Easttown School District, these range in price for town homes from $328,500 to $619,000. Single homes go from $ 359,000 to $1,635,000.There are 2 homes under contract.PENDINGThere are 17 homes pending. Two are town homes, both new construction, list priced from $549,900 to $599,000. T... 01/11/2018

Where can you get a 2 course lunch for $4.00 in Tredyffrin Easttown?Yesterday, I went with a friend to Surrey Services for Seniors for lunch. My friend lost his wife over a year ago and I have been telling him for a while to stop by and have lunch at Surrey.Yesterday he had an appointment that got cancelled and called to see if I was available and if I wanted to join him for lunch. With the bad weather we have been having I thought a warm lunch would be a great choice, so I picked him up and we stopped off at the Surrey Services for Seniors main location at 60 Surrey Way in Devon.Lunch is served for $4.00, you can also add a cup of soup for an additional $1.00, so you can have a 3 course meal for $5.00. Yesterday's option was Fried chicken, with vegetables and mashed potatoes, an altern... 01/10/2018

What does 2018 hold for Main Line real estate? What can we achieve with your help in 2018? Today and throughout the year we are asking for your help. We have supported several local charities over the years, Surrey Services for Seniors, TE Cares, Flite, Berwyn Business & Professional Association and the American Heart Association specifically. Through these we have helped support students with scholarships, local families in need and the Berwyn Fire Company  I have helped Surrey Services for Seniors by chairing and managing an antiques show for them for the past 12 years, in that time we have raised well over $1 million. Surrey Services for Seniors holds a special place in my heart as all of our parents died whilst we were relatively young. So Surrey members are part of my surrogate fam... 01/04/2018

Old Forge Crossing 2017 Sales dataWhat happened to these Tredyffrin Easttown Devon PA 19333 Condos in 2017?Old Forge Crossing as of this date has no homes for sale. We do have a 1 bed with den on the second floor coming soon in a great location. Old Forge Crossing condo Old forge Crossing Recap 201733 sales, 21 of 1 bed condos and 11 of 2 bed condos, and 1 town house model over 2 floors with 2 ½ baths.Pending Sale1 Pending sale of a 1 bed 1 bath unit.Square Foot PriceAverage overall square foot price $175.24. Square foot price ranged from $127 to $208. This is a wide range dependent on many different factors such as location in the development; how updated the unit was; and how much competition at the time of selling. Average square foot price for a 1 bed and a 2 bed unit is listed brok... 01/03/2018

There are many opinions on holding a public open house and discussion about whose interest it is to hold one.Going on past experience 75% of the homes we have sold in the last few years have sold to people coming through the open house.Everyone knows that the majority of home buyers today look on line.Many are not using an agent but are actively searching for a home. The photos and videos on line give them a great first impression if they are well done, and maybe in some areas would provide enough for a site unseen offer, but so far our market is not experienceing that. These potential buyers want to see the home.Now they could call the listing agent and ask for a showing. But as yet they may not want to put their hand up and be identified as a potential buyer. So, for them it is import... 09/27/2017

I like to think I am creative and artistic and used to take all my own listing photos. Now I use a professional photographer. A professional photographer has more experience and tools at his disposal than I do. The cost of hiring a professional is minimal to the return I am getting.Rather like what I advise clients, the cost of hiring me brings so many benefits it is worth it. Likewise, hiring a professional photographer removes lots of headaches for me. I get better photographs, better lighting, and most importantly the listing receives better marketing as a result.Today most buyers see a listing on line first, those photographs provide the first impression. You have seconds to make that first impression, from what photo you use first to what order you place them, it is all important. ... 09/26/2017

So you want to talk price? When I first came to real estate I realized very quickly that people have all different ways of pricing a home and I am not even talking about the differences between agents, brokers and appraisers. There are multiple ways to price a home. Let me share a story about how I flew one Monday to a town in Germany.  Why was I flying to Germany? I had seen a small advert for an antiques auction and one of the photos showed a large Chinese Export Porcelain Service with a coat of arms on it. I realized there was a chance, if no one else had seen this small advert that I might buy it cheap. Well I saw no one on the plane so my hope rose. But when I walked into the auction room for the public viewing of the items for sale it was crowded with several dealers I knew.  It i... 09/22/2017

The Main Line Antiques Show, other events and Surrey Services for Seniors As you know I manage an antique show for a local charity I support, Surrey Services for Seniors. Yesterday, I was asked to appear on Surrey Solutions a program they film for the local community television network in our township which gets shared with other neighboring community channels as well.I borrowed some items from some of our local exhibitors and for about half an hour we chatted and discussed the show. If you are local, you can obtain complimentary general admission tickets at the show website  www.MainLineAntiquesShow.com. You can order tickets for the opening night party or order  a collector package which gives you 4 tickets for the opening night preview party which is lots of fun, supports Surrey Serv... 09/08/2017

Old Forge Crossing has been popular during August. This Tredyffrin Easttown condo development located in Devon PA is perfectly situated for anywhere you need to be on the Main Line and everywhere else. Easy access to Route 202 allows for travel to Wilmington, West Chester Exton as well as King of Prussia with access to the Pennsylvania turnpike for destinations west and East as well as downtown Philadelphia. Devon SEPTA station is less than 2 miles away if you want to sue the train.Restaurants are everywhere around you as are supermarkets such as Wegman's, Trader Joes and Whole Foods, coffee shops and craft breweries as well. Love an active lifestyle, Chester Valley Trail and Valley Forge National Park with access to the Schuylkill River Trail provide plenty of opportunities.In August w... 09/05/2017

One of the great things about living in Tredyffrin Easttown is that there are so many events one can attend and enjoy. We are only about 20 miles outside of Philadelphia with all that the city has to offer with museums, the orchestra, theater and award winning restaurants. But locally too we have many great events. One such resource is the local Penn State Campus. Penn State Great Valley, located at 30 East Swedesford Road, Malvern PA 19355 has lectures and events throughout the year, they just released their fall calendar and there are several events worth noting. Motown meets Jazz sounds like something to set your feet tapping at the end of the summer.Nutrition, the forgotten medical science in October.Hue 1968: A Turning Point of the American War in Vietnam in October.And Cojot a pre... 08/16/2017

July 2017 Market Report for Tredyffrin Easttown Real EstateI always find it interesting to hear national statistics bandied about in relation to local real estate. I noticed this year whilst everyone was talking about how the lack of  inventory was causing a drop in sales and a slow down in settlements that this was not the case for Tredyffrin Easttown Real Estate. So why don't national real estate stats apply to Tredyffrin Easttown Real Estate?In May when everyone was crying how there were few if any pending sales Tredyffrin Easttown Real Estate had them stacked up for June and July settlements. Maybe because Tredyffrin Easttown School District is so highly rated on Niche National School Rankings having been #1 in the country last year they slipped slightly to #2. But local school dist... 08/11/2017

Part 1 Open HousesIn my first year of business I did lots of open houses, I never liked making phone calls, but put me in front of people and I can chat for a long time. My very first open house a couple came in who were moving to the area from New York state. No, they did not have a Realtor, could I help them? They liked this house, but it was not really what they were looking for. It took a while to zero in but we found them a great home, and they are still living there today. I am also still doing Open Houses and am a big believer in them, often seeing sales as a result of open houses. I just listed and sold a home in 5 days having 26 groups through the Open House before it was even in the MLS, we received 11 offers and it settles at the end of this week.Part 2 MentorI was not a grea... 08/07/2017

This week a local lender was suspended by HUD from issuing any FHA program loans due to fraudulently submitting false accounting statements to the government authority. The company, Seckel Capital submitted accounts over a period of years which were supposedly audited by independent certified public accountants. But, they weren't. As such HUD has suspended the lender from issuing loans backed by FHA. "In addition, HUD's Departmental Enforcement Center suspended owner John Seckel from doing business with the Federal government"Suddenly, borrowers in the process of obtaining mortgages with this company are finding they can no longer obtain them. So what do you do in a situation like this?First - don't panic. Turn to your real estate agent and let them know what has happened, if they are n... 07/14/2017

Nick, where have you been, what have you been doing?Being a Tredyffrin Easttown Realtor can be erratic. We all try to create a rythm to our lives, having set times for specific work, but the nature of the job is to satisfy your clients and wow them with superior service. So, that rythm does not always work out. As an agent I am putting my clients needs ahead of my own within reason. But a hot market means you need to be available to show properties.The past couple of weeks have been busy. July the 4th weekend I had family come to town and they kept us busy. I stopped over to read some posts on Active Rain but could not find the time to write any posts.Then when they left my phone started ringing. Our market has been very hot this year and working with buyers is hard as you have to act q... 07/13/2017

Old Forge Crossing Condominiums There are certain developments that are loved by the residents, be they owners or tenants. Old Forge Crossing is one of those. Located in Tredyffrin Easttown School District the two bedroom apartments and townhomes are desirable for those with smaller families who want to get into a home in this award winning and #1 rated school district by Niche.Elementary School is New EagleMiddle School is Valley ForgeHigh School is ConestogaThis development is located on a historical patch of land, close to Valley Forge Park, the British camped close by here and returned to this camp after the Paoli Massacre. (follow the link and watch the video for information on that).Old Forge Crossing offers residents walking trails within the 40+ acres, gated access to the Cheste... 06/30/2017

Tredyffrin Easttown Real Estate - Buying New ConstructionNew construction is desirable to many buyers, but it comes at a cost in a built up area like ours where land is limited. The Main Line, Tredyffrin Easttown area is not like Charlotte NC which seems to discover new land every time you turn around for development. Here we have established neighborhoods, towns and villages.If a large estate or part of one comes up for sale then we have an opportunity for new construction as we have seen with the Dupont Estate in Newtown Square, Liseter marketed by Toll Bros. who are very active in the Chester County and surrounding areas. The video below discusses just the Tredyffrin Easttown School District.Since making this video there have been several lots where builders have torn down an existin... 06/29/2017

Tredyffrin Easttown Real EstateThis week we are tackling a question we get asked frequently, Why do I need title insurance, what does it do?Secondly as our clients talk with the title company they then get asked do you want the standard or enhanced policy?Well we sat down with Colleen P Heath of Sage Premier Settlements, (disclaimer they are a subsidiary of Long & Foster Real Estate and if you use them, Long & Foster makes money from that transaction).Watch our video and let us know if you have any other questions? Title Insurance has two parts, an owner policy which covers you the owner, and a second part that insures the banks interest in the property. Whilst you may waive your coverage a bank will insist that you have coverage protecting their interests in the property.  If you refin... 06/27/2017

This week in Tredyffrin Easttown Real EstateAs we noted in the last few reports, settlements in May were very low, however there were plenty of pending sales and we are now seeing these pending sales going to settlement. Market Minute15 new homes were put on the market this past week ranging in price from $399,900 to $1,825,000, of these one is under contract, there are 242 homes for sale in the Tredyffrin Easttown School District of which 27 are under contract.4 homes went pending in the last week, with prices ranging from $265,000 to $574,500, there is a total of 128 homes pending right now in Tredyffrin Easttown School District.17 homes went to settlement with prices ranging from $285,000 to $1,775,000, average price realized  to original list price is 98.6% and average days on marke... 06/26/2017

Tredyffrin Easttown Real Estate - Do you know when you need a survey?Buying a home in Pennsylvania and in Tredyffrin Easttown School District does not require the buyer to obtain a survey. it is a choice unlike some other states around us.However, there are circumstances whenyou should definitely have a survey carried out. Check out our video for advice:When you should have a survey: If there are any disputes over property lines Building a pool Erecting a shed Planning to extend the house after purchase Erecting a fence If the amount of property you own is important to you Knowing your property lines can be important, it does take time to set up a property survey and depending on the size of the property and how complicated the lot is it can be expensive. But we have had several instanc... 06/23/2017