Chester County Pennsylvania~A Walk In The Park Spring and the official  Vernal Equinox, arrives March 20th 2009, and not a minute too soon, in my opinion, and yours too I imagine. These charming Johnny Jump Ups can be found along a path as one of our earliest signs of Spring together with Crocuses and Forsythia. Even in December if it’s warm, but not this year.  If planted in a protected area, they’ll often reseed themselves. A visit to the  Philadelphia Museum of Art is a great way to begin your Spring walking.   Cezanne and Beyond - A Century of Great Artists Philadelphia Museum of Art – You will see more Cezanne and the artists Cezanne influenced, at the Philadelphia Museum of Art than if you went to Paris up to May 17th. This is an outstanding opportunity. Adults $14, Seniors $12, C... 03/09/2009

Chester County Pa, Tredyffrin Real Estate Market Report* Tredyffrin Township Median Sold Price Update Our Comparison between February 2008 and February 2009 shows a real estate market where the Median Sold Price is up 31% (from $344,000 to $450,000) and the Median For Sale Price is down 8% in a comparison of February of this year to last year (from $490,000 to $449,450) as shown in this graph with green representing the median sold price in Tredyffrin, red being median homes for sale price and blue being median homes under contract price. See Main Line Pa Today for more Market Report information about Months Supply of Inventory, Days On Market etc.: Tredyffrin Real Estate Report February 2009 03/05/2009

I love the snow. Especially sitting by the fireplace with a good book. Some snows in Chester County and the Main Line Pa area are not what you would call “pretty” snows, but this one was beautiful. No one can love an ice storm for example. Especially the ones that bring down wires and cause slippery road conditions but they can be beautiful to look at. Daisy, who knows nothing of the practicalities, also loves the snow. Who’s Daisy? The most adorable Bichon Puppy ever! See MainLinePaToday.com for more photographs of the Main Line area and Chester County Pa: Main Line Pa Chester County Snow Day-Photo Friday 02/13/2009

Myths and Dragons of Home Selling Once, Twice, Thrice On our Chester County Main Line Pa Today Real Estate Blog we talk about tips for selling your home and home buying tips  in the Philadelphia Main Line and Chester County Pennsylvania area.  One of those myths and dragons of real estate is the idea that you only have to sell your home once, to the buyer. Two Spring Festivals, Chinese New Year and Mardi Gras coincide with the arrival of our Spring real estate market. And like fire breathing Dragons, real estate myths can burn up a sale really fast if you’re not careful. Some real estate myths   See MainLinePaToday.com for more about the Myth of Selling a home just once here: The Myth of Selling A Home Once   02/12/2009

Many Chesterbrook Townhomes  and Condos  Sold in 2008 Tredyffrin, Chester County Pa in the past year. Have you heard anyone say about Real Estate that, “nothing’s selling”? Well that’s a common myth these days. Throughout Chester County, and Tredyffrin Township, the perception has been that selling a home in this market is all but impossible. But the truth is that there were actually 98 Townhomes and Condos that sold in Chesterbrook between January 2008 and January 2009.* See MainLinePaToday.com for more about which 8 townhomes sold in December and which 6 townhomes sold in January 2009: Chesterbrook Townhomes Sold-2008 Market Report 02/04/2009

The US Green Building Council Here in Chester County and the Main Line area I’m reminded of the “trend” towards “going green” in home design and new construction. Right after the financial crises, it’s one of the hottest real estate topics of our time. The US Green Building Council has developed the Leeds Guidelines for homes and construction planning on “going green”. Public Buildings and Municipal Buildings are trending to going Green. Several local Builders are picking up the trend as well. Kermit The Frog sang the song, “It’s Not Easy Being Green” in another context. But as we look around our local landscape, we’re curious about how easy it is to find environmentally friendly Green Home Design here in Chester County and the Philadelphia Main Line Area. Visiti MainLinePaToday.com for... 01/25/2009

Cape Style Home For Sale In Sought After Tredyffrin Pa One of the features that makes 766 Hedges Lane in Wayne,19087 Tredyffrin Township so appealing is the location and the Cape Style. A Cape Style Home offers all of the benefits of one level living with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths on the main level, plus 2 additional bedrooms and 1 bath on the second level. It’s the best of both worlds. Teens and college age family members love the privacy of the second level. And the private location at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac makes this home appealing to young families. Offering a total of 5 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, a family room and a Country Eat-in Kitchen, 2 car garage Stone Patio and .82 acre private lot in sought after Tredyffrin Easttown School District   See MainLinePaToday.com for more pic... 01/21/2009

Thirty homes are available in Chesterbrook for sale right now, all are apartments or townhomes. Last year, 2008, just over one hundred homes sold in Chesterbrook from 1 bed room apartments to single family homes. Only two of the sales were single family homes both four bedroom homes in the Green Hills section of Chesterbrook; all the other homes were townhouses or apartments.  Trying to see a pattern of sales one notices they split up into several price points for specific types of homes, although location, updating to bathrooms, kitchens and having a garage does make a difference obviously.  One and two bedroom apartment style homes and smaller town homes are priced up to about $250,000; some are priced a little higher than this but not much. These homes tend to be in Washington Place... 01/19/2009

Chesterbrook Real Estate Condo,Town Homes,Sold In Tredyffrin A First Time Home Buyer called me about a recent Chesterbrook Sale. She asked me about the Chesterbrook Condo and Town Homes real estate market in Tredyffrin Township. We sat down together to take a close look at the Chesterbrook Real Estate Market and the Tredyffrin Township real estate market for condos and town homes.   See MainLinePaToday.com for information about Town Homes and Condos in Tredyffrin for First Time Home Buyers: Chester County Real Estate Chesterbrook Homes 01/18/2009

Home Improvement Chester County Philadelphia Main Line Area The phrase that “All Real Estate Is Local” contains a lot of truth in Real Estate and especially for our Pennsylvania, Chester County, Philadelphia Main Line area. We have a varied mix of home styles and home price ranges sometimes within neighborhoods. Each year Realtor Magazine together with Remodeling Magazine* publishes their Cost vs Value edition with statistics on resale value investment return. These are Regional differences but It’s also true that Chester County may differ from Delaware or Montgomery County or style differences between Single Family Homes or Town Homes.   See MainLinePaToday.com for more Home Improvement and cost vs value for the Philadelphia Region. Plus the importance of Lighting. Home Improvement Inv... 01/14/2009

Home Sellers Ask “Paint The Town Red or Broker Beige?” The Spring Real Estate Market for Chester County and the Philadelphia Main Line Pennsylvania area is just around the corner. Maybe we did paint the town red for New Years Eve. But that’s yesterday’s news. Time to move on and put 2008 behind us. I love color for the home I live in, but for the property you’re selling-not so much! Aren’t These Yummy Colors? Don’t even think about it! Think neutral. Think Broker Beige. Try some of the fun interactive tools   Visit MainLinePatoday.com for more home Seller Tips and Lowe's 10% Discount Gift from Main Line Pa Today: 10 Reasons Why Home Buyers Love Broker Beige 01/11/2009

Tredyffrin Township Real Estate 4th Quarter Market Report 440 Homes Sold In Tredyffrin Township, Chester County Pa In 2008. Our one year comparison between December 2008 and December 2007 shows that the Median For Sale Price is up 9%, while the Median Sold Price for a home in Tredyffrin Township is down only 3%.* See MainLinePaToday.com for more about Tredyffrin Township 4th Quarter Real Estate Market Report here:   Tredyffrin Chester County Real Estate Report Dec 2008   01/08/2009

Southeastern Pennsylvania Emergency Notification System September 11th I was home watching the Today Show, in horror. I rushed to call family members across the Country to tell them not to get on any airplanes. Phone lines were already jammed.  Back then I didn’t “text” so I sent an email and finally got a call through. Locally, Chester County Ready Notify Pa can not only help you be better prepared in an emergency, but it can save lives and it’s totally free for emails. There may be a small cost for text messages. Check with your provider. Chester County Ready Notify Pa - I meant to sign up for it when I first heard about it.  Sign up now. And tell your family and friends about Chester County Ready Notify Pa. I’ll have to tweak mine a little since I’m getting traffic notices I don’t ne... 12/16/2008

The Gathering Tredyffrin Real Estate Taxes Storm The Tredyffrin Township Board of Supervisors meets Monday December 15th, 7:30pm at the Tredyffrin Township Building to Vote on the 2009 Tredyffrin Township Budget and a proposed 5% Tax Increase. An increase that would mean: proposed $24 per millage rate increase from 2.18 mills to 2.4 mills Summer Concerts funding TBD Community Day Funding TBD postponing a Police Officer hiring, etc a still looming 2010/2012 projected reserves short fall What’s a mill? One mill of tax is equal to $1 for See MainLinePaToday.com for more about Tredyffrin Township 2009 Budget and the proposed 5% tax increase here Tredyfrin Township Tackles Taxes 12/15/2008

Share The Joy Visit some of these holiday places to see spectacular Holiday Light Displays around Chester County and the Main Line Pa Area. Neighborhood Christmas lighting displays are just a little thin this year. I love the exuberance of all those front lawn Frosty’s, roof top Santa’s and twinkling lights. So transcend the modern day Grinches and keep the Joy! Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square–The Outdoor Light Festivel is always very popular at Longwood Gardens. This year they will display more than a half-million lights for the outdoor spectacular. Take note of the new “timed tickets” for light show events. Plan in advance. Ice Skating Shows 11/27/08 – 1/11/09 $5.00 – get your tickets online. The Open Air Theatre Holiday Fountain Shows run from 10am to 4pm. Begininning at 5pm there... 12/12/2008

Tredyffrin, Chester County Pennsylvania Real Estate Market Report We’re puzzled in Tredyffrin Township Chester County. From what I hear at my Open Houses, you’re puzzled about our real estate market and how it compares to other real estate markets in the news and around the country. Tredyffrin Township, like much of the Philadelphia Suburban Real Estate Market, just doesn’t quite fit the popular real estate market mold that’s frequently commented on in the news these days. Fortunately for us, we haven’t experienced the carnage of other real estate markets. See MainLinePaToday.com for more about the Tredyffrin Township Market Report for November 2008: Tredyffrin PA - Puzzled By The Real Estate Market 12/03/2008

Christmas Holiday Things To Do Chester County Main Line Area November 19th – January 4th “Cinderella” Ages 5 – 105 Plays at The Peoples Light and Theater Company in Malvern, Pa December 4th – December 7th – Celebrate  “An Old Fashioned Christmas” in Downtown West Chester with family fun including the 29th Annual Christmas Parade December 5th at 6:45pm December 6th – December 7th Adorable nature made ornaments “CrittersSale’ at the Brandywine River Museum. Tour the N. C. Wyeth Museum and see the O Gauge Railroad Christmas Display December 5th – Malvern’s Annual Victorian Christmas Celebration on King Street in the Borough of Malvern 6:15pm to 9pm and Continues to Saturday December 6th from 11am-2pm. See MainLinePaToday.com for more Christmas Holiday fun things to do: Christmas Fun Cheste... 12/01/2008

Save, Save, Save The very first thing you want to be doing, when your goal is to be a first time home owner, is to be saving in as many ways as you can find. Check out 100 Tips For Saving from The Simple Dollar or some of the 75 Money Saving Tips From Dough Roller. You could adjust your lifestyle from eating out three times a week to cooking at home, buy less prepared food, cut out the junk food, take your own coffee in a thermos cup, brown bag your lunch.  For a working couple just taking your own lunch could easily save thousands a year.  Saving more is increasingly practical advice for each of us. Souper Savings From The Pot To The Bank In honor of Thanksgiving, here’s my Mom’s See MainLinePaToday.com for my Mom's Turkey Soup Recipe and more 7 Super Money Saver Tips For First Time Bu... 11/30/2008

First Time Home Buyers Succeed With Planning and Preparation Our First Time Home Buyers Series will begin at the beginning with advice to help you get your real estate ducks in a row. A Real Estate “Buyers” Market Anytime that you have more than 6 months of inventory backing up, you have a Buyers Market. And some would say, “it’s about time!” Happily for Buyers, gone are the “escalation” clauses for the Agreement of Sale price and the anxiety producing multiple offers-”pick me, pick me” (although I’ve heard of a few on some “hot” properties). Sellers Love, Love, Love First Time Buyers! Why? Because First Time Home Buyers don’t have a house to sell, which eliminates a major contingency. See MainLinePaToday.com to read more about our First Time Home Buyers Series. Click here: First Time H... 11/19/2008

  For first time home buyers now is the perfect time to purchase a home on the Main Line. Currently the Main Line real estate market has a large supply of homes and few buyers; therefore the likelihood that you will be competing with another buyer for the same house is slim. In addition, you can get a lot more house for your money than you could a couple of years ago due to low interest rates.  Combine these all together and you have the perfect first time home buyers' market. Besides the purchase price of the house, few things affect your payment more than the interest rate and interest rates are at historical lows. When interest rates are low you are able to purchase more home for the money. If you are concerned about getting a loan, don't worry. If you have good credit, there are ple... 11/05/2008