Welcome to Philadelphia Real Estate & News

Preparing Your Home To Sell!

2009-09-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

Here are some helpful tips for Home-Sellers in preparing your home to sell!

Keep the front porch, patio, deck & garage all swept and clean; have snow removed when applicable
Clean & polish/repaint the front door
Mulch all landscape beds and plant fresh colorful flower
Keep the lawn mowed, watered, and weeds pulled
Re-stain deck; repaint the trim &/or home if the paint is chipping
Clean & dust all surfaces including the TV, ceiling fan blades, plant ledges, the mechanicals, corners, return air ducts, etc.
Wipe down baseboards & thoroughly vacuum all rooms
Use “Old English” to cover up scratches on natural wood trim & doors
Re-paint painted trim if there are lots of scratches
Neutralize!!! Remove wallpaper , repaint walls, & replace carpet; your choice of colors may not be the preference of the buyer
Replace all low wattage light bulbs with the highest allowable wattage
Clean sinks, mirrors, & faucets in the kitchen & baths so they shine; put out fresh towels and empty trash baskets
Caulk around tubs and sinks; re-grout if necessary
Wash all glass and crystal light fixtures
Straighten, de-clutter, & organize all closets
De-clutter the kitchen counter space; remove all items from the refrigerator
Sweep out the fireplace
Pre-pack – rent a storage unit to remove all unneeded furniture & “stuff”
Replace any torn screens & all windows with broken window seals

Are you a home buyer or home seller? Check out these helpful sites;

Click Here to see what homes are selling for in your neighborhood!

Click Here to View EVERY HOME on the Market

Downingtown Real Estate: Spacious, Like-New Home

2009-08-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

Like-New home located in Chesnut Ridge Estates in Downingtown

4 Bedrooms,
2.5 Bathrooms,
3,164 Interior Square Feet
3 Years Young,
Formal Living,
Dining Room,
A Study with Custom Bookshelves,
The Family Room with Vaulted Ceilings and Stone Fireplace, and
An Amazing Kitchen that features Granite Countertops, Plenty of Cabinets, A Desk Area, and a Sunlit Breakfast Area.

Are you a home buyer or home seller? Check out these helpful sites;

Click Here to see what homes are selling for in your neighborhood!

Click Here to View EVERY HOME on the Market

Philadelphia Real Estate: Great Starter Home!

2009-08-26T05:14:00.000-07:00

Hello First-Time Home Buyers! This home is a greater starter home for anyone who is looking to move into Philadelphia or someone looking to downsize. This home is conveniently located just a short drive to Center City Philadelphia and the neighboring suburbs. . If your a 1st Time Home Buyer and buy this home before December 1st, you will get an $8,000 Tax Credit from the government!

2 Bedrooms,
1 bathroom,
1,120 Interior sq. ft,
New Carpets,
New Paint,
1 Year AHS Home Warranty Included with home,
Newer Windows,
Hard wood Floors and,
Recently updated bathroom!

Are you a home buyer or home seller? Check out these helpful sites;

Click Here to see what homes are selling for in your neighborhood!

Click Here to View EVERY HOME on the Market

Upper Darby Real Estate; Great Value Great Size

2009-08-24T10:19:00.000-07:00

This beautiful Upper Darby home has recently had a large price adjustment. Priced currently at $180,000 this home is located just a short drive to the great city of Philadelphia.

This property features;

6 bedrooms,
2 Full Bathrooms,
Approx. 2,308 interior square feet,
Plenty of storage,
Large Windows and,
Includes a 1-Year Home Warranty (and much much more!)

http://www.trishfranklin.com/

Click Here to see what homes are selling for in your neighborhood!
Click Here to View EVERY HOME on the Market

Philadelphia Real Estate: Market Update

2009-08-20T13:28:00.000-07:00

Single Family Home Stats;

For the Month of July;

The Total number of homes on the market in Philadelphia was 8,325. A drop off in inventory of 7.4 from July 2008 (8,986)
The inventory accumulation was 10.1 months which is an increase of 14.8% from July 2008. Inventory accumulation=# of homes on market divided by # of homes selling each month. I.E 1000 Homes on market, 100 sell per month= 1000/100= 10 months of inventory on the market.
A little bit of good news, the number of pending home sales in July were 999 up 4.4% from July 08 (957)
Although settled homes in July 09 are slightly less than July 08, 991 homes settled in July!
Here is an important thing for home sellers to ask the Realtors they are interviewing for the job of selling their home. "What is your list to sales price ratio?"- I.E List the home for $100,000 and it sells for $90,000 is a 90% list to sales price ratio (90,000/100,000=.9 *100=90%) The average for Philadelphia home sales is 91.3% in July 09 where in 07 t was 94%

So the overall Philadelphia market is slower than it has been in years past but is still doing very well. So stay positive, price your home correctly and you will get your home sold.

Best of Luck!

Trish

http://www.trishfranklin.com/

Click Here to see what homes are selling for in your neighborhood!

Click Here to View EVERY HOME on the Market

Philadelphia Real Estate: Large Fox Chase Home!

2009-08-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

Check out this large single home in the Fox Chase section of Philadelphia. What a great deal! This house is currently listed at $285,000.

This home features;

3 bedrooms,
3 full bathrooms,
2,700 Square feet,
Above ground pool,
Quiet Neighborhood,
Great patio,
Large Deck,
and included a 1-year home warranty!

Want to see the home? E-mail us at Trish@TrishFranklin.com

Trish

http://www.trishfranklin.com/

Click Here to View EVERY HOME on the Market

Price Your Home Realistically

2009-08-15T10:17:00.000-07:00

There are several very important reasons for you to price your home "in" the market instead of chasing the market on the "outside".

Time

More likely than not your home is going to sell for market value. Over-pricing your home can lead to more time spent on the market as well as more and more inconveniences. Pricing your home "in" the market increases the likelihood of selling in a timely fashion and increases the chances of a greater monetary return.

Competition

In today's real estate market buyers are becoming increasingly educated about what is going on in the market. These buyer's are also looking at many more homes and know what fair pricing is. In general buyers are looking at homes within a 10% price range. So if your home is not priced in the correct price range you could be missing out on a lot of buyers!

Reputation

Overpricing causes most homes to sit on the market too long. When this happens buyers notice these homes and become more hesitant to make an offer on the home for the fear "something must be wrong" with this house. Bad reputation may lead to more time on the market and in the end less the market value for the home.

Inconvenience

If your home sits on the market too long due to overpricing you will be faced with the inconvenience of keeping your home "showing ready". Another inconvenience that may result of overpricing and sitting on the market too long is you can end up owning two homes (the one you bought and the one you are trying to sell. This can truly prove to be costly.

In today's market there are two things (that you can control) that will decide if your home will sell or not and they are PRICE and CONDITION.

Today especially, if you aren't willing to list your home at or just below the current market value, you are better off not putting your home on the market at all.

Hope this helps!

Trish Franklin
http://www.trishfranklin.com/

Click Here to View EVERY HOME on the Market

Great Buy in Wonderful Chesnut Hill

2009-08-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

This beautiful home is located just a minutes walk to everything in Chestnut Hill. Chestnut Hill has been voted one of the top 7 urban neighborhoods nationwide by Forbes. The location is fabulous! Perfectly situated one block from Germantown Ave with its’ shops, bookstores, restaurants, transportation and schools. Enjoy the concerts in Pastorius Park or sit and relax on your front porch. This 3 bedroom, brick twin has a bright, open feel with a classic interior. Hardwood floors, formal dining room, eat-in kitchen, lots of windows, all combine to welcome you home each day. Mud room off the kitchen offers direct access to the great back yard that is waiting for your green thumb.

3 Bedrooms,
1 Bathroom,
1,110 Interior sq. ft.,
Full Basement.

Trish

http://www.trishfranklin.com/
Click Here to View EVERY HOME on the Market

Nearly New Havertown home priced aggressively!

2009-08-14T08:07:00.000-07:00

Come see this Absolutely Stunning Custom Built 7 Bedroom 6 Full Bathroom Home in Havertown is conviently located by -I476 and Haverford College!

This home sits on a Beautiful 2.75 Acres of land, that is Perfect for Entertaining. Enter in through the 8' Custom Pella Wood & Glass Double Doors. This home boasts Bamboo Wood Floors throughout, 10' Ceilings, NEW Paint, Custom Marble Fireplaces, and a Fantastic Open Floor Plan.

The Eat-In Kitchen has NEW Stainless Steel Appliances and Plenty of Cabinet and Counter Space, a Chef's Dream! Upstairs is the Master Bedroom Suite with a jaw dropping Bathroom, a great spot to relax after a long day! All the Bedrooms have their own Full Bathroom, Oversized Closets, and Bamboo Wood Flooring. The Finished Basement features a 2nd Kitchen, a 2nd Family Room, and the Laundry Room. Enjoy the privacy and security of this home with a Security Camera System, Locked Gated Entry, Private Driveway, and a 1 Year Home Warranty! Home is close to the Merion Golf Club, all major highways, and all other amenities! You have to see this to believe it!!

6,000 Interior Square Feet,
7 bedrooms and 6 Full Bathrooms,
Full Finished Basement,
Two Fireplaces,
Short drive to Philadelphia,
2nd Kitchen,
Deck and Patio and,
Much more!

Trish
http://www.trishfranklin.com/

Click Here to View EVERY HOME on the Market

An Excellent Value Home in South Philadelphia

2009-08-13T09:12:00.000-07:00

WOW!!! Amazing 3 Bedroom 1.5 Bathroom Brick Rowhome is just minutes from Center City Philadelphia.

Features include;

1,400 sq. Ft.
NEW Wood Floors,
NEW Paint,
NEW Lighting,
NEW Windows,
NEW finished basement,
NEW Tile Flooring,
a NEW Half Bathroom, and
a NEW Laundry Area

Main Level Room Sizes;
LR/GR:23 x 15
Dining:12 x 11
Kitchen:11 x 11
Upper Level;
Main BR:11 x 13
2nd BR:11 x 9
3rd BR:15 x 11

Trish
http://www.trishfranklin.com/

Click Here to View EVERY HOME on the Market

$8000 Tax Credit - Time to Buy a Home?

2009-08-13T07:01:00.001-07:00

I HAVE A QUESTION

A first time buyer was asking, "Should I buy now or wait till next year?" Knowing that she is qualified, ready, willing and able, I responded as a counselor not as a sales person. So I asked her, " Elizabeth, why would you wait verses taking action now?"

Her answer was one I've heard several times this year, "I heard the government is going to come out with a better program for next year. Shouldn't I wait?"

THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES

With only 110 days left to close on a property under the 2009 stimulus program there is no guarantee that Congress will pass legislation that would extend the current $8000 tax credit past the current November 30, 2009 expiration date.

Nor is there progress on the legislation introduced by Sen. Johnny Isakson, (R GA) to enhance the current program to $15,000 and open it to all buyers. So is an $8,000 tax credit today better than the the possibility of something more tomorrow? An old Proverb states, "A bird in hand is worth two in the bush."

TAKE ACTION TODAY

If you currently qualify for the current program and you find the home you want to purchase, then buy it. Now! If the reports released yesterday by the Federal Reserve are on track and economic recovery is coming, home prices will rise and quickly wipe out any difference in a new program.

CONTACT A REALTOR TODAY

Contact the Trish Franklin Team TODAY at PREBlog@TrishFranklin.com or visit her website at http://www.trishfranklin.com/

Courtney

Recently rehabbed condo in Blue Bell, PA

2009-08-12T12:02:00.000-07:00

A lovely 1 bedroom condo in Blue Bell, PA priced at $195,000. This home offer 936 sq. ft. of living space.

Check out the complete list of condos in Blue Bell, PA. This property is by far the best valued home in Blue Bell, PA.

If you are interested in buying a home and are not represented by an agent contact me directly at 215-654-6077 or send me an e-mail at Trish@TrishFranklin.com. If you are represented have your agent give me a call for more details 215-646-2900.

Trish Franklin
http://www.trishfranklin.com/

Click Here to View EVERY HOME on the Market

Philadelphia Real Estate: Priced to Sell!

2009-08-12T08:39:00.000-07:00

Located just minutes from neighboring towns Montgomery County as well as Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill, this is a must-see 3 bedroom 2.5 bathroom home in the Cedarbrook area of Philadelphia. This home has a finished basement and a 1 car garage. A 1 Year AHS Home Warranty is Included witht the sale of this property!!!

Trish

www.TrishFranklin.com

Click Here to View EVERY HOME on the Market

Philadelphia Real Estate: Just minutes from Montgomery County!

2009-08-11T13:59:00.000-07:00

Home sweet home! Located just a short drive from beautiful center city Philadelphia. This 3 Bedroom "Just Like NEW" Stone/Brick Row-home is well worth taking a look at. As soon as you step inside you will be amazed! The Living Room and Dining Room boast beautiful NEWLY refinished Wood Floors. The Living Room has a Large Bay Window letting in tons of light! Both rooms are Large and Open, Perfect for Entertaining! The Eat-In Kitchen has been recently updated with NEW Cabinets, NEW Tile Flooring, and a NEW Tile Back splash. All 3 Bedrooms have plenty of space for your furniture as well as NEWLY refinished Wood Floors. The 4-Piece Full Bathroom sits right off the Master Bedroom. This Wonderful Home also has a Finished Basement which could be used as a Family or Game Room. Don't worry about parking, you have a 1-Car Attached Garage. 1 Year Home Warranty included with home!

Trish
http://www.trishfranklin.com/

Click Here to View EVERY HOME on the Market