Main Line Homes Blog

Wawa seems to be inspecting the old Eckerd property on Lancaster Ave in Berwyn to see if they might be able to open a Wawa Gas station and store on the site. The site on the corner with Bridge and Lancaster Avenue in the heart of Berwyn would be a high visibility site and location that has been empty for a long time.

Tests seem to be underway, however they have not as yet according to sources made any approach to Easttown township for permission.

What do you think? Is this good for Berwyn or not? How do you think Easttown will react? Is this a chance for the township to make improvements to the intersection there?

How are you processing your short sales? When is it under contract?

When you receive an offer and forward to your sellers' banks are you marking these properties under contract in your MLS? As brokers are you processing checks or waiting for bank approval?

When do you consider the home is under contract? Whilst banks are supposed to be speeding the processing of short sales through their systems I am finding that it still takes a long time to get any answers. As such sellers are requesting homes stay active on the market to find alternative buyers if the original buyer looses patience with the process.

How are your MLS's choosing to react to these challenges?

I recently had to fly to the UK when my mother died unexpectedly and needed as one of her executors to get her home listed for sale. The British system is so totally different to the American system it got me considering the differences.

Firstly there is no MLS, all listings are sole agency, with the agent representing the seller. Brokers/Agents will not show the listing of another company as there is no buyer agency in the UK. Whilst there is no MLS all listings go on the internet, but whislt buyers are looking on the interent, most register with one or more agents so they hear about listings before the even get on the internet.

Secondly commissions are much lower, ranging from 1-1.5%. Now what is important when selecting an agent is really their database of possible buyers who have registered with them and their knowledge of the local market. Any English high street will have three or more real estate agencies and none of their listings overlap. Because of this consideration I actually thought they had a good reason for charging more, if they can prove the size of the database of potential clients.

Also pricing homes is different as "stamp duty" the tax paid by the buyer when purchasing jumps up at different levels, it does not slide proportional to the house. for example at five hundred thousand pounds it jumps by an extra five thousand pounds and obviously if you buy at the top of the range your tax is proportionally lower than at the bottom of  the slice. So pricing a home over five hundred thousand or wherever the breaks happen needs careful consideration.

I found it interesting to be on the other side, especially in such a different market. After interviewing three agents and hearing their analysis of the local market and their price suggestions I made a gut decision based on the agents not the price. All were excellent, all said the market was strong locally and for the same reasons, their pricing was varied, but ultimately I felt the one I chose had the best placement of offices in the area to pick up buyers who were looking and hopefully had a larger database of buyers. There was little competition as houses have been selling quickly.

Because of the way financing works in the UK, you also develop chains where one buyer is dependant on another to move on, and it is important for an agent to ascertain how strong or weak a buyers chain is when they make an offer. So you also need an agent who works well with others and can find this information out for you when you need to decide on a buyer if there are multiple offers.

All sellers are required to have an energy audit done, and the same provider of this does a 2-d and 3-d floorplan. Agents use less photos than us, using them more as a teaser than to totally show the house.

Here is the listing on Rightmove.com one of the leading UK property sites.

To date in one week there has been a lot of interest, with lots of showings and we hope to receive several offers soon.

My mother died this week unexpectedly. Life changes so quickly sometimes. One moment you are busy with work and all your little routines, next you are frantically trying to clear your desk and handing off work, luckily to my wife who is licensed, while you get ready to leave on a plane to fly to England. Last weekend I was talking with my two youngest sons who both get married in the next two months making preparations with them for one of the weddings. Now...

You don't sleep, you sit in your mothers house and it is so odd she is not there; fussing around offering food, drinks etc. You could never be on a diet at my moms house.

She always had an opinion and was never afraid to let you know. I realize I always viewed her in a certain way, talking with her best friend in the last few days I realize there was another mischievous side to her I never saw.

It is hard to just accept things and people and not judge but it is really helpful, it allows you to listen, to observe and to accept that we are not all alike. Take a moment today and realize you have no idea what is happening in other peoples lives around you, the bagger at the supermarket, the bus or taxi driver etc. and treat them gently.

Enjoy your family, always kiss your spouse goodbye and give them a hug even when you are angry with them. I don't think you can be angry and hug, so you will have to let go of the anger. It will make your life easier and you will live with no regrets should anything happen unexpectedly. Take a deep breath, let it out and smile because you don't know what tomorrow holds so enjoy today.

We just released a new listing in Old Forge Crossing in Devon, PA. 300 Old Forge Crossing is a very nice ground floor unit overlooking one of the interior courtyards so you have no traffic in front of your home, instead you have great views of a nice grassy area.  The home has been totally reahbbed with a complete overhaul of the kitchen and bathroom. Decorated with bright and sunny colors this home gives a truly spacious feel, with plenty of storage, always a big plus and your own laundry area inside your home. Full property details are on our website.

Old Forge Crossing has 40+ acres with walking trails, a community pool, tennis courts, club house and a great active social life among the residents with cook outs and parties. The condo fees covers many of the items that are an additional payment else where.

Location is fabulous with access to major roads, plenty of shopping opportunities, Trader Joe's close by, along with many choices of dining and entertainment, including movies, hikes in Valley Forge National Park, Jenkins Arboretum is another wonderful attraction close by.

So give us a call to arrange your appointment or stop by when we are holding an Open House we would be happy to see you and hear your opinion.

Every year our local Veteran's Association organizes a 5K run and a kid's race entitled the Berwyn Victory Run. May 15th is this year's run. Starting in Johnston Park, Berwyn's Secret park, which I wrote about recently and ending there as well it is a great opportunity to enjoy Berwyn, meet some of our neighbors, see some of our historic homes and get a little exercise as well.

As the Berwyn Devon Business and Professional Association sponsors the kid's run I will be present handing out medals and letting people know about the Associations' recent introduction of merchant discount cards that allow people to receive a discount when they present the merchant discount card when shopping or using services of members of the Berwyn Devon Business and Professional Association. Discounts can be seen on line at www.BerwynDevonBusiness.com.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the association you can also download membership forms on the site as well.

If you ever want somewhere in Berwyn that feels like a secret park and that is quiet, the Frank Johnson Memorial Park is the place.

Located at the end of Bridge Street, opposite the playing fields behind the old school buildings and library this place is a little gem. Maybe in the afternoon after school it gets busy, or early evenings when teams are out playing volleyball, but in the mid-morning you can sit quietly, maybe a mother or two will be there with a toddler playing on the swings and climbing set, but it is a wonderful place that few know exists.

There are places to secure your bike, sit on a bench, public restrooms, and some shade if the sun is just too hot like today even this early in the year. And when you are finished there are plenty of places In Berwyn Village to grab a bite to eat or a cup of coffee or tea that are just a short walk.

As I mentioned there is also the Easttown library, on First Ave, another great place to visit. But that is for another time.

We just listed a great rental in West Wayne. Walk to everywhere, a walk score of 92 that means this home is a walkers paradise. You can walk to the Farmer's market for flowers, fresh bread, cold cuts, vegetables and maybe even a small gift for your self, plenty of restaurants, bars and coffee shops just steps away. Maybe a walk to the library, followed by a nice latte whilst reading your book, followed by a movie in Wayne, followed by dinner and a brisk stroll home to finish off.

Full details of this home are at 405 Windsor Ave, Wayne, PA but just a few of the highlights are brand new kitchen in 2009, large living room, den, and dining room, sauna, four nice sized bedrooms, 2 full baths and powder room, nice patio and garden area as well, two car garage and best of all it is istuated on a quiet cul-de-sac. Award winning Radnor schools finish off what is a great place to live.

Today is the Surrey Services for Seniors annual gala, themed as a Block Party it will be held at a local country club Waynesborough Country Club to raise funds for this worthwhile charity which helps seniors to age in place and remain in their own homes as long as possible.

This annual event is well supported by the local community and is one of the major fund raising efforts through out the year for Surrey Services. The other is The Main Line Antiques Show held at the Valley Forge Military Academy and College in November with a great group of dealers from the East Coast who exhibit with an Opening Night Party for sponsors and guests.

Todays event wil feature a silent auction and usually has a few items that are auctioned live as well. Having been the auctioneer in previous years, I know it is a fun event with lots of opportunity to obtain some great items.

Having coffee this morning and saw these two colorful Pileated Woodpeckers pecking at our stumps. They were big about 17 inches long. Garden is full of birds, bird song and the flowers and shrubs are bursting with life.