nick vandekar: Valley Forge Park on Inaugaration Day
- 01/20/09 02:46 AM
After the first real Winter snow last evening I decided to take a walk up at Valley Forge Park on this historic day of the inaugaration of our new president.
Our flag through the arch at Valley Forge Park
Another view of the arch.
Can you imagine sleeping in these in this weather.
A view towards the gun park at Valley Forge
I believe this is a view of Misery Hill
A view of the church (way off in the back ground on the right) across the park
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nick vandekar: Old Forge Crossing Sales Stats for 2008
- 01/08/09 08:55 AM
Old Forge Crossing is one of my favourite developments in the Devon, PA area. Whilst it is now beginning to age and homes need to be updated many unbits that you show still have original bathrooms and kitchens. Painting kitchen cabinets is not updating. Some owners have updated and this year whislt showing homes I have been pleasantly surpirsed to find some lovely kitchens and bathrooms in several units. These have all sold quickly and for better prices than normal.
This having been said number of homes sold dropped to eighteen in 2008, which is down from the twenty-four last year … (0 comments)
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nick vandekar: Berwyn Devon Business & Professional Association launches First Fridays in Berwyn
- 11/05/08 03:54 AM
Steve Lake of TD Bank Devon, with Gina Galli owner of beadeologie in Berwyn and Linda Sticklin of Staging and Organizing based in Berwyn all members of the Berwyn Devon Business and Professional Association who helped me, Nick Vandekar with the distribution of flyers to members of the business community in Berwyn today announcing the launch of First Friday's in Berwyn beginning this Friday November 7th. Each month more shops, and restaurants will become involved as they see the growth and desire of customers to shop locally.
Already Surrey Services for Seniors will have their consignment shops open later, Beadeologie will … (1 comments)
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nick vandekar: What to do with antiques when selling a home?
- 10/03/08 05:15 AM
Photo courtesy of Earle D. Vandekar Antiques
When you have antiques in your home and want to sell your home what do you do with your antiques? Well it depends on the situation. Are you going to keep your antiques and move them? If so do they stay in the house or do you pack them up? Is this an estate, how many antiques are there, do you want to keep the antiques?
If you are keeping your antiques and this is simply a move to another house your next steps depend on the fragility of the pieces. If you have porcelains … (1 comments)
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nick vandekar: Getting ready to buy a home.
- 10/02/08 04:42 AM
Buying a home is one of the largest financial purchases many of us will make in our lives. Even during this present situation there are things you can be doing to prepare yourself to buy a home.
Lenders at the moment, have tightened credit, and even if there is a rescue plan it is likely that some if not all of these lenders are going to working with much stricter guidelines. So you need to start doing several things to get ready.
America is a society that loves to spend money, but you need to use some restraint and start saving … (1 comments)
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nick vandekar: Are you ready to move?
- 09/29/08 03:01 AM
Moving home always seems to be a stressful decision whatever time in our lives we make the decision for several reasons. But as we age, or if we have remained in a home for a long time much of the worry seems to be what to do with all the stuff.
It is not easy but the there are some simple methods to reduce if not remove the stress this "stuff" brings with it so you can be ready when it is time to move.
First you need to break the whole move down into manageable parts so it is not … (0 comments)
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nick vandekar: Have we reached bottom?
- 09/28/08 04:30 AM
I attended the quarterly meeting of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors in Harrisburg this week. One of the sessions was given by Lawrence Yun the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors and it was very interesting. Admittedly the situation right now is VERY fluid as each week seems to bring some news of another challenge to the economy and with the election ahead none of us truly know what lies ahead.
But Alan greenspan has said he believes that the bottom of the market will happen in early 2009, eight hundred economists have said they believe that the housing market … (8 comments)
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nick vandekar: New listing Open Sunday September 28, 2008 , Indian Creek, 1010 Andrew Way, Royersford, PA
- 09/27/08 09:27 AM
We have just listed a very attractive townhome in the Indian Creek development close to Royersford, PA which is very well priced at $237,500. It is a Windsong model, and has a great open floor plan allowing you to stay connected with family or guests as this is a great home to entertain in with a large kitchen, with plenty of counter space for preparing maels and also lots of storage in the kitchen including a large pantry. Gas cooking is also a feature allowing greater control for those wonderful meals. a half wall between the kitchen and family room means … (0 comments)
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nick vandekar: New listing in West Chester, PA Birmingham Hunt single family home.
- 09/27/08 09:12 AM
We recently listed a very attractive home in Birmingham Hunt, a great development of town houses and single family homes just south of West Chester in Birmingham Township. A great location if you work in Wilmington as this is in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School district and the local elementary school Chadds Ford Elementary was just awarded the prestigious honor of a Blue Ribbon in the No Child left behind program.
This single family home sits well into the development and is a four bedroom 3 1/2 bath colonial, with a fabulous finished walk out basement. It has been very well … (0 comments)
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nick vandekar: A wonderful Saturday
- 09/22/08 12:06 AM
We spent a wonderful Saturday driving out to Leola in Lancaster County to attend an auction held at the Leola Produce Auction to benefit the Clinic for Special Children a hospital set up to help the Amish with the specific illnesses found in their communities.
We have gone several times before and enjoy the day, first for the drive out to the country from Philadelphia suburbs through the countryside of Chester and Lancaster counties. Great views of farms and rolling farmland as far as the eye can see. However, we also notice that suburban sprawl is starting to infringe upon the … (4 comments)
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nick vandekar: Using antiques within your home
- 09/10/08 01:16 AM
Whatever you buy new loses value as soon as you buy it and leave the store. Very few things actually increase in value, some rare production cars, some collectible items such as baseball cards etc. Antiques and some art, however, do not lose their value when you buy them. Whilst they do not necessarily have an immediate increased value, although some do if you have bought well, they do maintain their value.
Therefore they are an excellent way to furnish your home, if you can incorporate them into your style of design and living. Thhere are many items that can easily … (1 comments)
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nick vandekar: Builders views on green construction
- 09/09/08 05:58 AM
So my last post arising out of the roundtable at our local Realtor Association coffee morning with some builders arises out of a question regarding "green" construction. Everyone nowadays seems to be jumping on the bandwagon to label their products green or energy efficient.
Since the national building code was altered in 2003 most homes could probably qualify as being green because of the added sealing that goes in to them to make them tighter. This has brought some of its own problems as house breathe less greater allergies have been reported and problems with higher radon readings where it might have … (1 comments)
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nick vandekar: Issues currently facing builders and resellers later
- 09/08/08 06:52 AM
It was very interesting to hear last week at our builder and realtor roundtable that one of the biggest issues facing builders currently with new developments is waste water and storm water management. Both issues are similar and details are below.
Many townships are insisting on language in the deeds that allows them to demand that there are easements relating to septic systems, septic systems be inspected every two to three years, that township inspectors be present when the septic system is inspected, escrow funds, and even repair where necessary when systems are defective with the home owner responsible for the repair costs. … (0 comments)
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nick vandekar: Some builders views on the market in PA!
- 09/07/08 04:29 AM
I attended a great meeting this week at our local realtor association, Suburban West Realtors Association. It is titled Starbucks Mornings and there are always different angles from blogging, to marketing etc. This month it was a roundtable discussion with some local builders, Wayne Megill, Joe Mingioni and Mike Murphy.
We talked about a lot of topics which I will post over the next few days but we started out with a question about how these builders see the current market. I apologise now for not making notes about who said what, but the thoughts and comments really flowed and it … (0 comments)
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nick vandekar: 2008 Main Line Antiques Show
- 09/05/08 06:39 AM
We are once again sponsoring the Main Line Antique Show to benefit Surrey Services for Seniors, this year 2008 it is being held November 22nd and 23rd at the Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Wayne. Admission is $8.00. The theme this year is Invest in the Past, Save the Future.
As many of you know previous to real estate I bought and sold antiques for my living, being the third generation of my family along with my brother Paul whi is still involved in the antiques business. I have appeared on Chubb's Antiques Roadshow as an appraiser in different seasons and … (2 comments)
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nick vandekar: Buying a home; protect your credit score!
- 09/03/08 09:13 AM
We are seeing more and more buyers and sellers frustrated as mortgage companies refuse loans based on bad or even low credit. This devastates buyers who see their dream of buying a home and participating in the American Dream smashed. Sellers who have not asked if the buyer is qualified either through ignorance as a for sale by owner, or using an agent who is not experienced enough to ask for mortgage approval and financials are also affected as their home has been off the market and may have missed a qualified buyer in that time.
This bad credit can be for … (0 comments)
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nick vandekar: Berwyn Devon Business & Professional Association launches new web site.
- 07/11/08 10:50 PM
If you own a business or work for a non-profit or are a professional in the Berwyn Devon area you should know that the Berwyn Devon Business & Professional Association just laucned a new web site. Designed to keep members informed and to give the public information about the association, its members and its meetings it is still being developed. But this is a great step forward for the business community providing them another way to be in front of consumers.
Any ideas for the site can be directed to Info@BerwynDevonBusiness.com.
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nick vandekar: The Iraq movies
- 07/10/08 11:24 AM
Here are the movies that Jeremy our son made for each month he was in Iraq, as posted on you tube in chronological order. Each portrays a month of their deployment, some are longer than others, there is some humor through out but also some typical Marine Corps attitude, a couple of bathroom shots so apologies to the easily offended. All came home safe and sound this deployment.
October, Jeremy got blown up in this movie, the humvee you see damaged was the one he was riding in, however we never found this out till he came home.
November
December
Christmas … (0 comments)
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nick vandekar: Old Forge Crossing new listing
- 07/02/08 12:38 PM
Well I was just getting worried as I had no active listings and I have customers looking for homes. This last week has been busy, several listing appointments, let me tell you our market is busy. If your home is not selling then you need to find out why? There can be several reasons but you need to know.
Anyway, this morning I got this call following a meeting with a customer last week to come and get their home listed. This is a wonderfullly maintained one bedroom one bathroom first floor condo. The location of the development Old Forge Crossing and the … (0 comments)
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nick vandekar: Can a Reverse Mortgage Help your grand child buy their first home?
- 06/26/08 01:50 AM
I asked Eric May and Donald Geragi of Prosperity Mortgage who recently spoke to us at Long & Foster in Devon to share some information about reverse mortgages, how they work and who can use them. This is a great way for seniors to provide income for themselves or to help a grandchild purchase their first home using the equity they have built up in their own homes.
Reverse Mortgage loans are managed, controlled and backed by the federal government, offering total safety and security to senior homeowners.
The home must be designated as the primary residence as the benefits of … (2 comments)
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After the first real Winter snow last evening I decided to take a walk up at Valley Forge Park on this historic day of the inaugaration of our new president.
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