Main Line Homes Blog

   Time is flying fast to obtain the First Time Buyer Credit. Whilst there is plenty of inventory many buyers are being demanding making low offers and asking for seller assists or not making any choice, overwhelmed at the selection of homes on the market.

But, if you think it through you have to act soon. Most settlements take 45 days to settle from offers being made. Yes they canbe done more quickly but with the recent problems with appraisers, and mortgage underwriters taking their time to give mortgage commitments you need to act soon.

The credit disappears unless renewed by congress November 30th. So don't lose that $8,000 that the government is willing to give you, don't let the door close on this opportunity.

We have a couple of good properties in Old forge Crossing that will qualify for First Time Buyer Credit and Old Forge Crossing is an FHA approved development.

So to continue with this series, last week on a glorious summer day we visited Chanticleer in Wayne, PA on the Main Line outside of Philadelphia, one of our favourite places. This is a wonderful garden that in our opinion rivals Longwood Gardens and feels more real. What I mean by that is Chanticleer in Wayne, PA does not groom the plants for just a one week show, what you see is how it really is. There may be some weeds in the borders, the plants show there age sometimes and whilst there is this reality it is still impressive.

Only open during the summer it is located on Church Road in Wayne. It was the hope of Christine and Adolphe Rosengarten and has been open since 1993 to the public. We love wandering the paths as you can get inspiration for your own yard or garden. The layout of the beds and the water features are magnificent and well worth the visit. You can sit and enjoy the gardens as there are seats scattered around to enjoy the vistas laid out before you. Friday evvenings the gardens stay open till eight and you are welcome to bring a picnic and abottle of wine to enjoy. It does get rather busy on Friday evenings and the limited parking does fill up but it is well worth it to wind down a long week enjoying these magnificent gardens at Chanticleer, Wayne, PA.

Enjoy this short video of our visit.

When searching for a home, remember to smell the flowers along the way - or is it the golf courses.   Philadelphia has many private and public golf courses.  Four links are very useful for locating a course near your new neighborhood: 
www.golfphilly.com, www.golfphilly.org,
www.golflink.com/golf-courses/city.aspx?dest+philadelphia,
www.philadelphia.com/golf/,
www.golfholes.com/pa/philadelphia-golf.htm.   

Each site lists many of the same locations, but with a little different twist.  Aside from the courses, there is information about the facilities where you can take the family for a meal.  No matter what the weather, it is always a calming rest from the rigors of house hunting to enjoy a relaxing meal and get to know the golf possibilities in your new surroundings.

 One of American's top ten courses (as designated by Golf Digest Magazine), Merion Golf Club, will be hosting the Walker Cup Matches this coming September  12^th and 13^th.  The Matches face America's best amateurs against those of Great Britain and Ireland.  Tickets are available at www.2009Walkercup.org.   George Herbert Walker was the grandfather to Bush 41 and great grandfather of Bush 43.  As the 1920 United States Golf Association President he was interested in starting a competition between teams from around the world.  His inspiration came from two matches William C. Fownes, of Oakmont fame, had staged against a Canadian team. In 1921 Walker  lead a team to Hoylake and defeated the British.  The following year a call went out from the USGA for teams from around the world to meet at National Golf Links of America in Southampton, NY.  Only a team from Great Britain and Ireland could afford to come.  The press called the Matches the Walker Cup, and it stuck.

 The Merion Golf Club's layout was designed by Philadelphian, and Club member, Hugh Wilson.  He also designed the public course in the Philadelphia Park District, Cobbs Creek Golf Club, The Olde Course.   The course is well worth the investment in time, probably under five hours, and money, a lot less than you expect.

 First, find the house with our TEAM.  Then take the family for a meal at a course of your choice.  Maybe golf will follow!

Ever since I moved here 20 years ago I have loved Valley Forge. 3700 acres of National Park right on your door step to enjoy, trails to jog, bike or hike hills or along creeks or the Schuykill River. This 10 minute video gives a short tour of the park with some interesting clips from around the park. Hope you enjoy and make a trip, it is well worth it. For more information you can read some of the history on our website.

This is the beginning of a new series I decided on today as I was driving around that there are masses of places I like, that you may not have tried.  Some are restaurants and cafes, some are stores, some are just cool places like the Philadelphia Museum of Art, always worth a visit.

Today I discovered a really cool little place to eat. Gateway Shops just off the 202 and 252 supposedly Wayne but more like Devon and really close to Chesterbrook is a place I like to hang out. it has cool shops and cafes aplenty. It is one of those places that is a raging success, always busy with some anchor stores like Staples, TJMaxx and of course Trader Joe's. I was walking along and discovered this nice little place for a bite to eat.

It does not look much, how many of the best places to eat look like that but it is clean and interesting. There are times when I want a burger, but I often fancy something a little different and I love Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food. The food here is Persian with lots of different kababs of chicken, beef, lamb and vegetarian, so there is something for everyone. You can have a simple kabab with bread, a flat style Persian bread, or there are platters with rice etc. Lunch specials run till 2 PM and include a free lemonade or iced tea with your meal.

I had a chicken kabab and it was succulent and tasty, it hit the spot and although I was tempted I resisted the delicious looking pastries that were available for a dessert. Give it a try and suprise yourself. Decor is pretty basic with bright colors.

Just finished reading a commentary on a survey  on the new HVCC from NAR. As I blogged recently in Why are Appraisal firms using appraisers from way out of the Area we have had two appraisal issues in the last week. I also heard from agents whilst out this week that they are having problems, so the issue is current right here in Pennsylvania with appraisers from out of the area being used and not understanding the development, the homes or the pricing in the area.

So rather than improving the appraisal situation from the commentary the survey implies the situation is worse, with longer delays, and lower quality and higher prices for consumers.

As I said in my last piece when appraisers cannot even get the square feet of a property right and compare same models and attribute different sizes there is a problem with the quality of people being used.

So what have you been finding with your deals recently?

New video of our listing in Daylesford Lake of a great end unit on a quiet street, beautiful upgraded kitchen, and lots of room. Priced aggresively at $459,000 with 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths and 3 car garage. Want to live in award winning T/E schools close to Paoli station and minutes from King of Prussia Mall and Valley Forge Park.

I have had a web site for a long time and one of the main features I looked for was the ability to post multiple photos. It seems odd to say that now but our own MLS has only recently allowed us to post more than six photos, now we can post twelve and still agents only post six or even less.

My buyers want to see photos, they skip properties with no photos, they ask why aren't there any photos, sometimes it is because the property has a tenant and it is hard to get in to photograph or it is messy, but some photos are better than none.

My personal bug bear is short sales with one or no photo and no description. These people are already in problems and the agent has not the courtesy to at least post multiple photos and give the home its best chance to sell. Often it is not a matter of the home being in bad repair but something else, obviously not professionalism or doing a good job for their client.

The next bug bear is snow in the middle of summer, how long does it take to go and update your photos now the sun is out. Again help your client by making their home show in its best light.

This leads me to a third point descriptions of homes that have been on the market for three months or more that state, "Won't last" or worse "Seller will review all offers by such and such a date" and is is four months past that date. Why do these sellers still have their homes listed with these clowns who do not update the descriptions.

Last week we needed to go up to Lowes at Oaks and as it was a great weekend weather wise and it was our wedding anniversary we decided to find somewhere for breakfast on the way. We wanted somewhere different and a little funky. As Phoenixville could be on our way if we took backroads we thought we might find somewhere good to eat.

We drove up over the hills and coming along Whitehorse Road to the junction with Route 23 I spy the Bookend Cafe out of the corner of my eye and through the buildings from the junction. I point it out to Trudy and she says looks great lets give it a try. So we pulled into the parking lot and liked what we saw.

The food was great, and good enough that I went back this week with two of my sons for lunch and found out a little more. It has been open since November last year and the chef is the owner. He has cooked in Exton at the Brickside Grill I think and left to open a restaurant with a friend when that fell through he relaized that he wanted his own place and settled on Phoenixville where he lives and I believe grew up.

Well he is doing a great job. The tables don't match, there are books to read if you have the time, newspapers for shorter visits, serve yourself coffee and other drinks in the fridge. The food is filling and well cooked and generous. My daughter in law to be, had pancakes and could not finish them and we all were impressed with their size and how moist and fluffy they were. Can recommend the breakfast sandwich, the Reuben, the Italian, Quiche of the day, and the cookies and brownies look great but have not tried them. Coffee tastes good as well.

They also have wireless internet, if you want to get out of the office, but still need to work. What we liked is people talk to each other and there is a really nice atmosphere. The blackboard has the specials of the day. great place to try if you need breakfast or lunch, only open till 3 PM. Did I say it has also been on NBC 10 for lunch place of the day.