Main Line Homes Blog

There is a lot of comments by real estate agents that this is the time to buy but is that right for you? Really it all depends on your situation and whilst prices have dropped, and interest rates are at historic lows if you don't have some funds saved and a good credit score it is not the right time.

Even FHA loans require some money 3.5% as your share of the purchase and whilst you can ask for a sellers assist for closing costs not all sellers in this market can give it to you. So you do need some funds for closing costs, such as transfer tax, title insurance, recording of the deed and various other costs such as home insurance etc.

So don't make a mistake and move ahead to buy when it is not the right time for you, maybe living with parents for a while and saving up for a deposit on a home is a wise choice for you right now. If that is not an option maybe you need to find a cheap rental and start saving as much as you can so you can take advantage of this window of opportunity before it closes.

Prices probably will not rise dramatically for some time, and whilst the government keeps working to keep mortgages low the opportunity remains. So start taking action now to improve your situation, work at improving your credit score, get a copy of your credit report and check that it is accurate, if not write to the companies involved and get the mistakes corrected.

Make sure you feel comfortable with your job being secure.

What is good right now is the opportunity to have the government help you if you are a first time buyer with an $8,000 tax credit. This credit is available to all first time buyers which is defined as not owning a home in the last three years. If you are buying with someone neither of you can have owned a home. There is also a cut-off depending on how much you earn as well. But the time is right to buy if your credit is good, you are secure in your work and you are a first time buyer with access to the funds from government.

You know what they say in real estate: Location, Location, Location. Surely after location it is curb appeal though, so may be the saying should be Location, Location, Curb appeal.

How many of you have not even wanted to get out the car, because the house looked so UN-appealing just from the curb?

So now that Spring is finally coming.... get out there and do something about your yard and the exterior of the house. My first love is gardening, so to me it is less of a chore than for some, but there are some easy guidelines to go by.

I always have to laugh to myself when people say: This is a low maintenance garden... there really isn't such a thing. The more yard you have the more work you have, the only thing that is relatively low maintenance is grass, but even that needs fertilizing and mowing and edging.

So here are some guidelines.

1. Start early in the year, when it is nice and cool

2. Work just an hour or so, but frequently like 3 or 4 times a week rather then 4 hours in one go. It is easier to find the time and less tiring.

  Have all your gardening "finished" by the end of May. Then all summer you just have maintenance, which shouldn't take more than 1-2 hours a week.

3. Don't just put new mulch on top of the old; weeds will go through the mulch. So weed first and then add new mulch.

4. Long term perennials are cheaper and less maintenance than annuals. Annuals give color all summer, whereas perennials only flower for a period of time, you don't have the work of planting them year after year. The trick is to add some annuals amongst your perennials for added color.

5. Realize that pots and baskets are ALOT of work. I usually have 10-12 pots, but decided this year to reduce my work and just have to 3. That's it!

6. Ground covers like Pachysandra and Vinca are actually more work than grass. It is much harder to keep the weeds out. Grass you just mow, weeds and all.

 A nice yard can add lots of value to your house for a relatively small investment.

Here is a short video of Chesterbrook in Wayne, PA. Chesterbrook falls into Tredyffrin Township in Chester County and Tredyffrin Easttown School District although Wayne is Delaware County. It is a great place to live, work and play being close to Valley Forge Park, with lots of restaurants close by and access to major roads and other transport options such as the R5 Septa line for access to center city Philadelphia from Paoli, Devon or Wayne.

 For more information please contact me as we have relocation packages available for companies wanting to move to Chesterbrook and know the area well. There is great variety from single family homes, condos, apartments and town houses.

A short video of Berwyn Pennsylvania, located in Tredyffrin and Easttown Townships it is a great place to live with First Friday Events and lots of places to eat and enjoy life from the library to our very own theatre.