Spring Home Buying Tips

Spring has sprung (sort of!) and people are getting out of their winter dens to start house hunting. Housing inventory is low in many areas of the Philadelphia region, requiring buyers to act quickly and even experience bidding wars! Over the last few weeks, I've personally encountered multiple offer situations in Philadelphia, Havertown and Phoenixville. In order to be successful in this competitive market, buyers need to be strategic and prepared.

Here are five tips buyers can incorporate into their home buying process that will prepare them:

Step Away from the Computer

Despite the fact that 90 percent of home buyers start their search online, buyers should also consider getting outside and canvassing their desired neighborhoods. In a low inventory market, it's important to to be proactive and not waste time weighing options, because by that time, the property might be off the market. 

Get to Know the Current Housing Market

Every housing market is different, so it's important to do research on the market and neighborhood trends. Finding a good real estate agent and keeping up with local real estate news is crucial for buyers to understand the nuances of their local housing market. The more quickly buyers can educate themselves, the more successful the home search will be.

**Here is a helpful tool to learn about a local market : Market Insider**

Grab Those Low Mortgage Rates—Before it's too Late!

While mortgage rates continue to hover below 4%, buyers might not be able to enjoy these low rates forever. "With all indications pointing to a rate increase from the Federal Reserve this year – perhaps as early as this summer – affordability concerns could heighten as home prices and rents both continue to exceed wages," says NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun.

Create a Dynamic Team

The fast pace of the most competitive housing markets means buyers have to be in a position to make an offer at a moment's notice. Before making an offer, buyers need to ensure they've lined up a real estate professional, a lender, a lawyer, and a home inspector. They will also want to be pre-approved for a loan and ready to complete a mortgage application as soon as they find a property.

Be Prepared for Bidding Wars

Buyers should be strategic when maneuvering a bidding war. Some agents suggest that buyer clients include an escalation clause, while others suggest they examine the deal and identify areas where they could be more flexible, in terms of contingency clauses. 

Source: "Spring 2015 Home-Buying Guide: 5 Insider Tips From Real Estate Pros Across the Country," Learnvest (March 9, 2015)

Are you or someone you know needing a Realtor to help navigate this market? Contact me today!

Want to live Near the city but not IN the city? Here's a solution

The development going on in Manayunk and Roxborough is a positive sign of the economy and the growth of the town. People have a desire to be close to the city and all it's activities, but not necessarily in the heart of it. These two adjacent towns are the ideal compromise!

The dividing line between 19127 & 19128 is vague in some parts. Most people refer to the area as "Manayunk" however, most people actually live in "Roxborough." Both convenient, yet slightly different. Having lived in both towns, personally I prefer the less congestion found in Roxborough, above Manayunk Ave. Totally a personal preference though :)

Here is my newest listing in Roxborough
383-LEVERINGTON-AVE-PHILADELPHIA-PA-19128

Top 10 Things About Living @ 383 Leverington

1. Easily get in and out of Manayunk
2. Parking is less competitive due to no homes on the other side of the street
3. Walk to Roxborough High School track for an outdoor work out!
4. Still has the charm of an older home, yet very updated- inside and out
5. Backyard is perfect for entertaining on warm nights
6. Walking distance to Ridge Ave or Main Street. Or don't go that far and walk to Adobe Cafe. YUM (vegan friendly too!)
7. Plenty of space to grow or have a roommate in the 4 bedrooms
8. Walk your dog to Gorgas park or participate in their movie nights!
9. Right in the middle of Wissahickon Park or head down to the Tow Path and connect to Schuylkill Trail.
10. A 15 minute drive into the city or 20 minute train with a lower priced home and more space.

If you'd like additional information about this home or area, please contact me. I'm here to help!

Vegan in and around Philly

Last week was my birthday and this month marks the year anniversary that I began the journey of vegan living. What do these two things have in common? Birthday dinner at Thai L'Elphant' in Phoenixville, PA!

I don't know if you recall, but last year the Philly region had some major winter storms. This resulted in slow business for my husband and I so we started to catch up on some Netflix documentaries. Long story short, I became vegan. It wasn't cold turkey, it was a transition.  And even my husband started the transition with me! (note the word- started). It's been an amazing journey and I plan to stick with it for the rest of my life.

One of the "down sides" about being animal free is eating out. I LOVE eating out. I LOVE food and trying new places. Going out has not been as enjoyable over the last year since I'm limited to salads, fries and sometimes vegetable sandwiches- which I'm sure in reality aren't even vegan. So imagine my joy when my husband and a couple friend of ours (vegetarian too which is helpful) took me out to Thai L'Eplant' which has a 2 page vegan menu!  I was happily overwhelmed with options to choose from!

Here's just a little snippet of their menu:

On top of the number of options, my food was actually good! Looking forward to going back soon :)

One of the fun things about changing your diet is you get to explore new places and new menu items. So needless to say, we still actually do go out a fair amount, but our choices are limited.

Phoenixville has grown so much over the years. They have such a diverse dining and bar scene which is probably why it just keeps getting built up and more in demand!


If you're looking to move to Phoenixville or maybe buy an investment (because that is certainly in demand right now too!)- here is a great house that is currently for sale. Check out the virtual tour: http://1902irisct.eproptours.com/tour/play.htm