Halloween Parade in South Graylyn Crest/Chatham Park A Great Success - 10/31/11 11:49 AM
Yesterday's Annual Halloween Parade in Chatham Park was co-sponsored by the Civic Associations of the adjoining communities of  Chatham and South Graylyn Crest. (Although these communities have a postmark of Wilmington, Delaware, they are located in New Castle County.)  I counted about 50 contestants, and ended up being one of the 3 judges, which gave me  a good look at all the great costumes.
   
As you can see from the 2 pictures above, the event was well organized by Melissa Panek of Chatham (with megaphone).
 
The youngest contestant was a 6 WEEK old snowman, joined by a cute … (0 comments)

Gerber Daisies Smile Even Through They Have Ice On Their Dresses - 10/30/11 06:44 PM
    
A surprise snowstorm brought less than an inch to Delaware last night, but it didn't scare this Gerber Daisy!  She washed her face with melted snow and held still until the sun melted the ice off her dress.  Since the temperature did not dip below freezing, or at least did not do so for an extended period, these gals are still holding court over the garden, albeit a bit icily.
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The Trees Are Rustling in a Spooky Breeze--Halloween is in the Air!! - 10/27/11 12:21 PM
  
I went for a walk yesterday on the grounds of Winterthur Museum, and, through a certain light, the trees looked as though they were daring the Great Pumpkin to rise up. A lone oak tree stood apart from the crowd, perhaps not wanting to witness the mayhem that was about to happen.
Stay tuned for Halloween mayhem! (Of course, they all look innocent now.)

… (5 comments)

Market Reports--October 2011 - 10/25/11 11:53 AM
There are 3 market reports which I have posted in October 2011. They cover the areas of Northern Delaware, Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, and Cecil County, Maryland.  I am licensed in 3 states and am ready to serve your real estate needs.  Call Carolyn Roland, a voice with 24 years of experience in selling real estate.
http://activerain.com/blogsview/2571430/cecil-county-maryland-september-2011-market-report
http://activerain.com/blogsview/2561256/southern-chester-county-market-report-for-september-2011
http://activerain.com/blogsview/2549875/a-delaware-market-report-takes-me-back-to-my-chicago-childhood-and-15-bread
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Cecil County Maryland September 2011 Market Report - 10/25/11 09:47 AM

Cecil County Maryland market reports show a trend that was echoed in Delaware, right across the State line. Bucking the trend for 2011, September 2011 showed that median sale prices were down 2.4%, while the number of pending sales was up 9.1%. Inventories are down, which is good, but for the year, average days on the market were up almost 20%.  Since median sales prices for the year have been down 7%, this means that  homes are lingering while sellers are lowering their prices, but not enough to satisfy buyers.
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The Whys of Historic Fireplaces and Prohibition Booze in Delaware - 10/23/11 07:29 PM
Although few houses now NEED fireplaces as their only source of heat, from the early days of our republic until the late 19th century, fireplaces were the main cooking and heat source in most homes.
        
The photos above show 2 houses, the first of which, Tomahawk, was built in 1772 near Hartly, Delaware, and which has been incorporated into the life of a modern family. The second picture is from The George Read II House in New Castle, Delaware, from 1801, which is a house museum with volunteers demonstrating open hearth cooking.
                   Now, you might ask, … (1 comments)

Southern Chester County Market Report for September 2011 - 10/18/11 11:30 AM

September was a volatile month in Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania real estate. The number of new listings dropped dramatically, as did closed and pending sales. Although days on the market were up nearly 13% for the year, they dropped just over 2% for September, which is a slight bit of good news. Another bit of good news for the month was that although the median sales price fell almost 5% for the year, in September, the median sales price was up almost 7%.
What this says to me is that this could just be some of the higher priced homes … (0 comments)

Longwood Gardens Lets Nature's Colors Take Center Stage - 10/17/11 12:26 PM
     
A visit this weekend to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania had us in amazement as we visited the Conservatory (above, Lollipop Flower and Scarlet Scullcap).
  
This is the time of year when the waterlily display is in its full glory, and visitors got to see one of the volunteers who was standing in the pond with water lily platters, picking the spent blossoms. He passed around a flower and when you looked in the center, it was like a little cup holding liquid nectar. Cool!  And the variety of lilies was a sight to behold!
I highly recommend … (0 comments)

Important News For Delaware Residents With Hurricane Irene Damage - 10/12/11 03:20 PM

Residents and businesses affected by significant rainfall and flooding from Hurricane Irene on Aug. 27 - 28, can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. 
.  The declaration covers New Castle County, Delaware.  The following neighboring counties are also included:  Kent in Delaware, Cecil and Kent in Maryland, Gloucester and Salem in New Jersey; and Chester and Delaware in Pennsylvania.
Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate.   Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal … (0 comments)

A Delaware Market Report Takes Me Back To My Chicago Childhood and $.15 Bread - 10/10/11 04:37 PM
I remember when I was a child in Chicago and we paid $35 a month rent. That sounds like a real bargain now, but the incomes in the U.S. in the 1950's averaged $2992. I used to take a walk down the alley and across the "prairie" (empty lot in Chicago-speak) with $.15 clutched in my hand to buy a loaf of Silvercup white bread. The average home price in Illinois was $8646 at the time.
Those with more mathematical ability than I have figured out how current New Castle County median home prices stand in relation to  median incomes in the following table.
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Market Report for New Castle County, Delaware For September 2011 - 10/05/11 06:39 PM
September home sales figures show that although the number of listings is down from the same time last year, the number of closed and pending sales are up over the same period by over 30%.
               Although average days on the market are up by almost 30%, the number for the percentage of asking price to selling price is up almost 2%.  This reflects the fact that sellers are pricing properties closer to the market value, and buyers have stepped in and actually started writing checks and signing offers. So if you are waiting for prices to "get  real," this looks like a great time to … (0 comments)

Historic Stone West Chester Home is Carolyn's Historic Home Pick Of The Week - 10/05/11 02:20 PM
    
      This week's Historic Home Pick is located outside of the college town of West Chester, Pennsylvania and within walking distance of a park (which also contains an historic building).Built in the mid 18th Century, this stone home still retains its original floors, millwork, and fireplaces.
Set back from the road, this 1742 historic stone home has the traditional Chester County double front doors (for family and farm help), a parlor with two fireplaces, dining room with walk-in fireplace and "pay drawer" under the window. There are 4 bedrooms and two and a half baths.
   
The charm continues outside, with … (0 comments)

Chester County Day Featured Nice Old Houses and the Strange House of the Buyer of Andrew Wyeth's Helga Paintings - 10/02/11 07:15 PM
    
        Chester County Day, held the first Saturday of October to benefit the Chester County Hospital in West Chester, Pennsylvania, had quite a range of mostly historic homes and gardens on display. They ranged from "Eyre View," which was the 1888 home in town of State Senator T. Larry Eyre, which had craftsman details of stone, stucco with strapwork in the gable designs over the spacious porch and porte cochere (in case you were arriving in your coach in the rain) to the colonial simplicity of "Stonewalled," just outside of town. On the grounds of a Westtown Township park which houses historic … (2 comments)

 
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Carolyn Roland-Your Delaware and Chester County Historic Homes Specialist

Wilmington, DE

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Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate

Address: Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate, 7234 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE, 19707

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