This Sunday June 4th take time out of your day to stop by and see this wonderful Southern Chester County Home, located in Big Elk a 55+ community with swimming pool, clubhouse, and gymnasium and so much more.The home a Calvert Grande model with 3 beds and 3 1/2 baths has had a screened deck added to the rear, wonderful window treatments, includes the washer and dryer and refrigerator, all you have to do is make an offer and then bring your things and move in.This home has main floor living, plus two additional bedrooms and a bath upstairs plus a fully finished basement with another full bath. Two car garage, painted and floor sealed, plus security features for safety.Check out the virtual tour.Even better in person, as it has great views over the Casa Carmen Winery, which has been compl... 05/31/2023

When you move a distance from where you used to live you need to find lots of new providers, contractors, doctors etc.Well, I have always been a believer in Chiropractic Care, but when I am in pain, I know I really do not want to be driving an hour to get to my most wonderful chiropractor Andy Fetterman in Berwyn. I have been going to Andy for many years and he is excellent. But, my back had been uncomfortable for several weeks and a couple of weeks ago it reached the stage where I knew I could not put up with it without an adjustment any longer.If you have ever tried to find a new doctor or chiropractor you know how hard it is. This is a very personal relationship, this person is actually going to be putting their hands and weight upon you. I have been to a couple of chiropractors who ... 05/22/2023

Avon Grove School district covers a variety of different townships, but generally buyers will focus on the school district rather than one particular township when looking for a home.We can see that days on market have dropped as buyers adjusted to the interest rate rises and more inventory came on the market. Current inventory is a little higher than last year, with a median price point of $572,988 compared to $507,450 last year. Inventory accumulation is almost twice what it was last year, but still low overall, anything less than 6 is considered a sellers market.Listings have been steady with about thirty a month, and just less than that pending, with about 13 on average closing. Since the beginning of the year the median price is a little lower than the current month at $435,902. To... 05/15/2023

Many people do not realize when you buy a new construction home there are many additional costs required after you take possession. For example, the new homeowner now has to buy window treatments, lights and fans additional to the few that a builder may include. Often a buyer needs to purchase a washer and dryer and sometimes a refrigerator too. Depending on the house, they may need to have a deck and or a patio installed. A builder may include a basic plantings package, but most homeowners are going to want to plant some additional plantings too. Then of course there is also paint, as builder paint is usually watered down and is very flat and generally a boring color too.Now, a resale may be an older home, but sometimes for one reason or another a new home owner needs to resell their n... 05/10/2023

Saturday May 6 1-3 PM - Sunday May 7 12-2 PMWelcome to 691 Thomas Penn Drive, the best lot in all of the Big Elk 55+ community in West Grove, where you have open views from your backyard overlooking the Casa Carmen Vineyard, along with a grove of trees that further ensures your privacy.This is the first opportunity to purchase a resale home in this fully-sold-out Villa section of Big Elk, a new community that features stress-free living – never mow or clear snow again – and where you can enjoy a Community Center with full-kitchen for events, screen room, a fully-equipped gym and a gorgeous pool to relax in the warm, summer days.Better than new construction, whilst the builder finishes building the Villas that have sold you can move right in to this 3 bed, 3 1/2 bath home that has true m... 05/04/2023

Our next stop in the Community Highlight series brings us to West Chester, Pennsylvania. West Chester is a charming town located in the heart of Chester County. It is known for its rich history, diverse culture, and welcoming community. If you are considering relocating to West Chester, there are several reasons why it's a great place to call home.First and foremost, West Chester has a thriving downtown area. The streets are lined with unique shops, restaurants, and cafes. From small boutiques to big-name brands, there is something for everyone. The town also hosts a weekly farmers' market, where you can find locally grown produce, fresh flowers, and handmade goods.West Chester is also home to several parks and outdoor spaces. Everhart Park is a popular spot for picnics, playgrounds, an... 04/30/2023

691 Thomas Penn Drive, West Grove, PA 19390, now for sale.Welcome to 691 Thomas Penn Drive, the best lot in all of the Big Elk 55+ community in West Grove, where you have open views from your backyard overlooking the Casa Carmen Vineyard, along with a grove of trees that further ensures your privacy. This is the first opportunity to purchase a resale home in this fully-sold-out Villa section of Big Elk, a new community that features stress-free living – never mow or clear snow again – and where you can enjoy a Community Center with full-kitchen for events, screen room, a fully-equipped gym and a gorgeous pool to relax in the warm, summer days. Better than new construction, you can move right in to this 3 bed, 3 1/2 bath home that has true main floor living: master bedroom ensuite with o... 04/28/2023

Spring 2023 Real Estate Market UpdateGiving you the confidence to make the right decision Now that we’ve moved forward into Spring, what kind of housing market can we expect? Generally, the Spring Housing Market has been looked on with great anticipation by buyers, sellers and agents, alike. As the season changes from cold to warm, and the early Spring brings fragrant, colorful blooms of magnolias, tulips and daffodils to Eastern Pennsylvania, so have housing inventories bloomed as well, with many of us also looking for a change. This is when we venture out and look forward to a plentiful list of houses to choose from for our next dream home. But, of course, these last couple of years have been anything but ordinary times. Just as we saw in 2022, we can once again expect to see a lower ... 04/21/2023

The Best Listing InfoNestfully listings come straight from the MLS, the ultimate source for fresh and accurate listing data. (It’s where agents get their information!)Search Your WayCustomize a search using tons of available filters to make it simple to find your dream home.Explore the MarketView listing and sales stats to help you make the most informed choices!Find Out How Much Your Home Is WorthSellers, don’t sell yourself short! Get a data-driven estimate of your home’s value on Nestfully.Welcome to the Open MarketplaceThe MLS champions fair and equal access to housing for everyone. Nestfully opens the door to that marketplace and invites you to embark on your best real estate journey ever.Check out Nestfully today!Have questions? I’m always here to help! Nestfully is just one of th... 04/06/2023

As the builder is still building here in Big Elk it may be too soon to expect resales. But people have different reasons for moving and sometimes they realize they might have made a mistake. Whilst this is a 55+ community, and all the homes offer one floor living for the owner, they do include stairs and basements too. All "The Villas", twins have been sold by the builder, so there is now opportunity for owners to resell if they want and hopefully find a buyer who missed out when the builder was selling. You also are not in competition with the builder who can offer incentives to wrap up a deal.I know of two potential villas that might come on the market, so if you are interested in the Villa model which many people have preferred over the single family ranch style homes, then please fe... 04/05/2023

"First-Time Home Buyers Guide: Tips and Advice for Making Your Dream Home a Reality"Buying your first home is an exciting and important milestone in your life. However, it can also be a daunting process if you don't know what to expect. Here is a step-by-step guide for first-time homebuyers to help you navigate the homebuying process.Determine Your BudgetThe first step in the homebuying process is to determine how much you can afford to spend on a home. This involves looking at your income, expenses, and credit score. You'll also want to factor in closing costs, property taxes, and other expenses associated with homeownership.Get Pre-Approved for a MortgageOnce you have a budget in mind, you'll want to get pre-approved for a mortgage. This involves providing your lender with information... 03/29/2023

Ahhh, Spring is in the air. Yes, the winter doldrums are leaving, warm weather is here. Well it was yesterday, not so much today!We get so encouraged to rush out and buy plants to fill our beds around our homes and brighten up our curb appeal. But, it can be a costly mistake if you plant to early.Whilst we get some warm days, we spent yesterday afternoon at Longwood Gardens enjoying seeing the cherry trees and magnolias in bloom. Everywhere you looked there was evidence of life, flowers beginning to bloom and brighten the landscape. We even sat at a table and enjoyed some minutes soaking up the sun. it was amazing how busy it was.Of course, you go home and think, let's get planting, but most plants cannot take a frost. And really until much later the threat of a frost is real and those ... 03/27/2023

There are all sorts of reasons why a transaction can go awry. Sometimes people simply change their minds, sometimes it is because of things outside of the transaction happening. And sometimes is is because of the actions of one of the parties involved directly. But, our challenge this month is to relate such an incident to and explain how we addressed the issue.This story actually is for a referral I gave to another agent just outside my area. I had the partner of a client's daughter needing to sell her mother's home. Everything went very smoothly, the agent I referred and the client got along very well. Advice was given, the home was prepared for sale, and the home went on to the market.There was lots of activity, offers were made, and one was accepted, inspections were done, everythin... 03/08/2023

In Chester County in 2022 we saw a massive drop in proposed building permits to 789 from 3425 in 2021 and 2681 in 2020. These were mainly for single family detached homes, but with townhomes and apartments not far behind.At the same time commercial development also saw a big drop from 2021 into 2022 but level with previous years development. This was mostly industrial square footage, followed closely by institutional, commercial, retail/other, hotels/resorts, office and then agricultural.At the same time Chester County was praised for increasing the availability of affordable housing in the county. Median house price has risen from $350,000 to $450,000 in the past three years.Affordable housing options that opened in 2022 include 111 new units in West Chester and Kennett Square. The Wil... 03/03/2023

In Pennsylvania like many other states a seller completes a seller disclosure form which is intended to help a buyer identify areas where there may be issues they need to inspect further or be aware of if they purchase this home.If the buyer is likely to be doing a home inspection why would a seller also incur the cost of doing their own home inspection before listing their home for sale?In the last couple of years the market has been so hot that many buyers have been waiving home inspections along with many other contingencies just to have an opportunity to have their offer considered. This has made it important for seller disclosures to be accurate as buyers can sue over things that have not been disclosed. Attorneys will always advise sellers to disclose, disclose, disclose! If in do... 02/24/2023

In this blog post, we’d like to highlight Malvern, a small town located in Chester County, Pennsylvania. While it may not be as well-known as some of its neighboring towns like West Chester or Philadelphia, Malvern has a lot to offer its residents. Here are just a few reasons why it's great to live in Malvern, PA. Small-Town CharmMalvern is a small town with a population of just over 3,000 people. Despite its small size, it has a lot of character and charm. The town is filled with historic buildings, beautiful parks, and tree-lined streets. One great example is Historic Sugartown, a restored 19th Century village offering tours and community events. Malvern is the perfect place for people who want to live in a peaceful, quiet environment. Excellent LocationMalvern is located just 25 mile... 02/24/2023

In the "old days" all we had were phones connected to the wall by a cord. It is laughable to think about it today as we are so used to so called smart phones. I still remember my very first phone number from when I was a child growing up in the suburbs of London, Stonegrove 9171, and we used the first three letters to dial the number.In those days you used to answer your phone as we didn't have answering machines. If the person you were calling did not answer, you called back. If they were on the phone you got an "engaged" signal and you called back. Today, we are always available to every Tom, Dick and Harry, sometimes your smart phone tells you who is calling, but it is not always true as numbers can be spoofed and show as one number when in fact the number calling is different.I have... 02/23/2023

2022 Real Estate ResultsWillowdale CrossingLocated in East Marlborough Twp and the Unionville-Chaddsford School District Three town homes were listed and sold in 2022, compared to two in 2021.One detached home was listed in 2022 and is still active compared to eight detached homes listed in 2021 and soldThe average days on market for detached homes in 2021 was 25, with an average sales price of $684,437For town homes that have closed the average days on market are 18, an increase of 5 days over 2021 but that is still low.The average town home price was $480,000 compared to $389,500 in 2021 a 23% increase over 2021 pricesThe 2022 median price was $495,000 The lowest price home sold for $435,000 and the highest price home sold for $510,000. Thinking of selling your home contact me for a c... 02/16/2023

Many people it seems are confused who actually makes the decisions during a real estate transaction, this includes clients and other agents. It definitely is not the tomb warrior in the picture above as wise as he looks.Many, many times I have clients ask me what I would do, or what they should do? This includes how much to offer, when to make an offer, what to do as a result of a home inspection etc.There are many decisions the client makes during a real estate transaction. I educate my clients throughout the process, asking questions to make sure they understand and have confidence in the decisions they are going to be making.Sometimes, when I negotiate with another agent, I realize they are trying to make the decision. for some reason, they have become personally involved or their eg... 02/14/2023

People often ask how much money they need to buy a house, and what they mean is how much money do I need to put down beside the mortgage?However, there are plenty of other costs as well when buying a home. These are referred to as closing costs and you need enough money to cover these as well.In Pennsylvania, we have transfer tax when real estate is sold, this is generally split equally between the buyer and the seller and depending on the township it can range from 1% each to 2% or more each.Then you have title insurance, there are two levels of title insurance, one covers the mortgage amount and protects your lender from any claims. Then there is owner title insurance and this has two levels, general and enhanced. The difference is not much between the two in cost, but the enhanced po... 02/07/2023