Snowstorm Survival Guide: Here are some best local shops With a major snowstorm coming our way, I hit the shops to see who had the best deals and stock, and what the prices were. Here is HelpfulHannah's boots to the ground list in Bensalem and NE Philly    Lous farmers market  Star Buy: Pot Pie, loaded with chicken and veggies! homemade and delicious. Price is $14.99   Eggs: $2.99/dozen (or 2 dozen for $5.00) Bread & Dairy: 2 ft. Seeded Italian Rolls ($3.99) and Quarts of Milk ($2.39). Bonus: They have fresh tomato pie from a local bakery! The store was packed, and the staff were stocking up for their customers' needs 📍 Produce Junction (Bensalem)   Winner for Best Prices! Even with the crowds, the atmosphere was charming and polite. Egg Deal: This is the place for eggs—$1.50 a dozen or... 01/22/2026

Praful taught the Zoom session today on how to use Gemini to enhance our photographs and make them look professional by asking using Nano. Banao. Again, I skipped a step by asking Gemini directly.I said hello, and he asked me how he could help me. I told him I needed help with an illustration/picture, and immediately, I was told yes, and I was taken to Nano Banao, where I downloaded the image. I hit the plus sign to download the photo.  After downloading, I asked Gemini for a Christmas Scene and lights in the windows at twilight. I then asked Gemini to take the rocking chair off the porch and the tree.Gemini, please remove the bush. My last request was to make the sky a twilight color. I should have asked to take out the stubble of the bush, but I had reached my limit. I do think it loo... 12/05/2025

I am grateful that I love to shop and find good deals, especially this time of year, as the Holidays will be here before we know it. In my opinion, now is the time to buy, unless you love the mad rush and standing in long lines.  Let's start with Nordstrom Rack. I found the most lovely shoes online by Karl Lagerfeld. They were $158 retail, and I saw them there for $66 with my discount. Amazon had them for $108, and I had been looking for them for quite a while, so it was a no-brainer. Even at the Nordstrom.com site, they were full price $158. I ordered them for pick-up at the closest store near me. They were even nicer in person, with the bows adorned with little rhinestones and the heels at the perfect height making them ultra comfortable . They look adorable with wide-leg or straight-... 11/14/2025

                          Dream Listings Old Contacts Old stories  My phone rang. An old friend said, "I am moving to a sunny climate and was wondering if you would meet me for lunch as I have something to talk to you about."  My client was also a Real Estate Broker, but he was not very active in other areas except for investing. He owned forty-five rented townhomes in our area, which he wanted to sell as the leases were due within the next few years. He needed someone to collect the rents, and he had people to fix whatever was wrong if something broke or needed repair. He wanted to know if I would be interested, as I was one of the only people he trusted to do the job. I would have to make arrangements to have the houses painted and recarpeted if I saw it was needed. He had a list of v... 10/09/2025

Believe it or not, the holidays will be here before we know it, so I decided it might be time to start Philadelphia Steals and Deals once more. I asked my good friend Kathy Streib  and she agreed, so let's get started. I also thought it could be a good topic to start a podcast about, if I were to start one.   While shopping for a new comforter, the best buy I found this year was again in September and October, as that is when stores typically have the best selections, which I discovered by visiting several stores (I move quickly) when I am on a mission. Ross Dress for Less is $49.99, and if you're over 55 years old, you get 10% off that low price. Shop on a Tuesday for the discount. Name brands, I found an Andrew Marc Faux Fur with Matching pillow Shams. They also carried other name bra... 10/01/2025

I am going to use a million points to open a small second-hand store. I am looking for a partner; if anyone is interested in collaborating with me to find merchandise, please don't hesitate to contact me. You may know the song They Call Me Second Hand Rose because I wear Second-hand Clothes. I have found some very stylish clothes and unique outfits in second-hand stores, including accessories, blouses, pins, scarves, and even a blazer and a skirt with a flowered pin, along with a vest and a jacket.  You might know people who are shopaholics, constantly shopping from one store to another. I have a neighbor who does the same thing. She still has items with tags on them. Many shopaholics buy clothes without trying them on in the store, or purchase Items online and never return them. These ... 06/09/2025

Let's take a drive through Echo Beach in Bensalem. This community has a unique charm. People waved and said hello as we drove through the area, which is rare in many places. It's no wonder that families have made this place their home for generations. Even when sons and daughters move away, they often return to the enchanting atmosphere of Echo Beach. Perhaps it is so close to the water that it is what makes it so magical.   Despite being a hidden gem, many homes in the area have been handed down to family members, and many small and large properties, both old and new, are available. Echo Beach's proximity to I-95, SEPTA trains, and Amtrak makes it an accessible and sought-after location.Let's examine what is available for sale and what has been sold in Echo Beach in the last few months... 05/14/2025

Sunday is Mother's Day, and many wonder what to purchase for Mom. Many of my friends are going to brunch or dinner, and some just plan a visit. Many will receive some perfume or a blouse. Perhaps a gift card will be accepted. Flowers are also very popular and beloved gifts. Today, I quickly stopped at Lou Farm Market for Cherry tomatoes for my pasta salad. Their selections of produce and freshly made food have been awe-inspiring in the last several months, as well as their prices.Their flower baskets, priced at $24.99, were the nicest I have seen this season. The section of lawn statues was exquisite and unique, and it would make a gift that would last many years. So if you want a special gift, check out Lou's Farm Market.    Lou's Farm Mart, located on Bristol Pike (Route 13) in Bensal... 05/08/2025

Back in 2008, when the market tanked, I began using social media. It was free, and money was tight for most agents, as many had not expected what happened. I met a young Real estate mogul and started attending Real Estate Bar Camps, where I learned about a place called Active Rain.  There, I learned about finding a Niche and writing blogs on the Internet. They gave classes on how to write a market report and what people would be interested in. There was a guy Jeff Dowler, CRS who wrote market reports all the time, and I would read his in awe. Another person I learned from was the one who wrote incredible market reportsMichael Jacobs.  Some people say that market reports are boring, well, not to the public. You will receive many calls from buyers and sellers based on market reports.Soon,... 05/01/2025

Tricks or treats long tails and short tails - no puppy dog tailsBack in 2009 when I first joined AR I would see Blogs about market reports and wonder why people were writing them. One person Jeff Dowler, CRS was always writing about Carlsbad California.  I started to learn about Jeff as he relocated from my area and branded himself the relocation dude. Here is a link to his post   Way back when I also attended several Rain Camps and heard  Bob Steward and Ben Kinney speak. They taught me about the long and short tails. In blogging, it simply meant taking a specific area and choosing a small section/subdivision .. Try to choose a section that is not being worked on by other agents. Blog about this area and do market reports. Blog about events and restaurants in the area. You can even int... 10/09/2023

Echo Beach is a delightful riverfront community situated in Bensalem, near Station Avenue and State Road. It comprises a variety of custom single-family homes of different sizes, some of which are located right on the river. Despite being a hidden gem, many homes in the area have been handed down to family members, and there are a range of small and large properties available, both old and new. Echo Beach's proximity to I-95, Septa Trains, and Amtrak makes it an accessible and sought-after location.  Echo Beach has a unique charm, perhaps due to its proximity to the Delaware River. As I drove through the area, people waved and said hello, which is rare in many places. It's no wonder that families have made this place their home for generations. Even when sons and daughters move away, th... 09/29/2023

As I was driving to the Bensalem Real Estate office today I saw lights flashing and heard sirens. There was a car behind me. It was not a police car. I pulled over some to see if he needed to get by me thinking it might be a volunteer fireman. Nothing he stayed behind me. The light was green so I proceeded to turn. He followed again I moved to the right so he could pass me and he did not. Lights still flashing I became nervous and my heart started pounding as I had seen on the news about women being stopped by cars, not police vehicles, and being cautioned to be aware of the dangers. I knew I was not speeding and had not gone through stop signs or red lights so I continued to the main road where he passed me and signaled me to pull over and I saw he had a uniform.  I explained I thought... 05/25/2023

 The Right House is Screaming "Wait For ME"  Buying a home can be very frustrating. Not only the qualifying first step. You know where you sit down with the mortgage banker with all your information. Your pay stubs, bank statements, and tax forms. You know all the things you had to search for. Hopefully, you did not try to skip this step. Then you figure out the price of the house you can really afford the payment you can live with. Now we are ready to hit the road and find the house of your dreams. The one when we walk into you get that feeling. Oh yes, it is a feeling. It is the feeling that deep inside you know that this is home. You can live here. It may not have everything you thought you wanted but it does feel like home.  It has that this is my house feeling. You decide you are g... 05/21/2023

You are getting ready to sell your house. You called your agent and received a list of things to do to get the house ready for sale. If you are like many people you probably looked and said where do I start?    The closets are a great place to begin. You are going to be moving so let's pack up the closets and clean them up. If it is warm weather and you live in a four-season climate, take your cold-weather clothes and shoes. Pack them away. Let's make room in these closets and make them look big and spacious.  Clean them out. All the closets in the house even the linen closets. If you have not worn clothes in the last year you most likely will not wear them. Bag them up and donate them. There are many books and even videos online to show you how.  Keep only what items are necessary.  No... 05/19/2023

In Pennsylvania, we do not use attorneys in Real Estate transactions. We use forms that attorneys prepare and fill in the blanks. There are times when there are situations when we find it is time for our clients to seek legal advice. We as agents should never give legal advice we are not attorneys.Here is a situation I ran into -  entry March Challenge Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP  and Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist I had a beautiful listing under contract. The owner was looking for a small condo to purchase she was a divorced woman and I was very fond of her. We had been looking and there were a few she liked we had not pinpointed the exact location yet.  One morning I received a call from her. She was going to be a grandmother. I congratulated her and she thanked m... 03/10/2023

Let's take a look at what is going on in the Neshaminy Valley Townhouse Market in Bensalem Township. These townhomes are always in high demand as they are so spacious and there are no HOA or Condo fees. Neshaminy Valley townhomes are owned by Fee Simple and were built in the mid-1970s-1980s by Korman. There are many different sizes and styles to choose from. I lived in one for many years and it always amazes me the additions and customizations that have been made. Many of the two-story model's main bedrooms have a sitting room. The second bedroom is large and if you walk into this room first you may think it was the main bedroom.   There is one active townhouse for sale and I will be surprised if it will last long as it is an end with a custom addition put on with many upgrades and a la... 02/07/2023

Let's Talk about the Coves Townhouses in Bensalem. These townhouses were built in the mid-1970s  and offer a variety of styles that are spacious and some are larger than many single homes you may walk into. The split-level models are very popular also the large straight-through models both feature 3BR and 2.5 bathrooms and lower-level rec rooms. There is also a yard most of them through the years have been fenced.Most of the end units have 4 BR 2.5 baths no lower level and are around 2200 Sq' and have a main bedroom that is larger than many single homes in this price range. I have however found one 4 bedroom end with a lower level. One of the best features of these townhomes is that they are fee simple owned with no association fee. Yes, you heard me right no HOA or Condo fees      Behi... 02/03/2023

Let's talk about the Clusters townhouses in Bensalem. Townhomes are very spacious and come in many styles. The floor plans vary but are always spacious. Some are three levels with finished rec rooms others are two levels. When they were built they built in the 1970's you could pick your model and add on. There were also some with premium lots that backed up to wooded areas. Best of all there are no Hoa or Condo fees here. They are owned fee simple.    The location of the Clusters is very desirable as there is a wonderful school within walking distance. Many people call requesting to live near the school called Russle C Stuble. The Clusters also has a great location, located near Septa Trains, I95, US #1, and the Pa Turnpike are just minutes away. Easy access to  Burlington Bristol Bridg... 02/01/2023

Challenges help to motivate and inspire us. There is a wonderful challenge going on right now regarding blogging success stories. I hope you are going to enter. If not I hope you are reading the entries and learning from them. This challenge reminded me and inspired me that I have many years of blogs that I have to check and refresh. You probably wonder what I mean by this well let me explain Almost two years ago I switched my Real Estate company. I started blogging back in 2009 so almost all of my Videos and somewhere in my post, have my old Real Estate office name and phone number in them. I have a terrible habit of repeating myself. I also do this when speaking it drives my family crazy. I do not know if I mentioned I have been licensed since 1984.  I need to go back and check all my... 10/19/2022

Ravioli and pasta soup recipe  I know I am late again, but better late than never, hope it was  worth waiting for  It was actually inspired by Endre Barath, Jr.  and his lasagna soup recipe 2 containers of vegetable cooking stock I use organic, but any kind will do you can also substitute beef or chicken broth or mix and use bone broth  ! can of diced tomatoes 2 chicken breasts, split (any chicken) pot luck first time I used wings can delete if you use bone broth or can use meat balls One large green and yellow zucchini, cut   thick slices and quartered, plus carrots sliced soup size cook on the stove, I added water filled  into the containers to boil and simmer chop 3 gloves garlic to taste or add one  TBS powdered / black pepper one tsp dash red pepper  powder or flakes   One TBS Grou... 01/16/2022