The Philly Pretzel

1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Redux on Nov 7, 2009 in First Time Home Buyers For Home Buyers Everybody, homebuyers that is,  gets a tax credit now (well almost everybody).   The new legislation includes extending the First-time Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 and raising the qualifying income limits to $125,000 for single taxpayers and $2...

Philadelphia Open Houses: It’s OK to Look on Nov 5, 2009 in For Home Buyers For Home Sellers YO Philly Every REALTOR’s open house is a little bit of drama. We have the sellers clean up the homes, we put out signs, we put out balloons or flags, we put out info and a sign-in sheet, and then we wait. That’s when the games begin. Usually the neighbors...

Philly Mortgage Rate Update: November 3rd 2009 on Nov 4, 2009 in For Home Buyers Mortgage Todays Mortgage Rates:   30 Yr Fixed – 4.875% (1 point) / 5.125% (0 points) 15 Yr Fixed – 4.25% (1 point) / 4.5% (0 points) 5 yr ARM – 3.5% (1 point) / 3.75% (0 points) 7 yr ARM – 3.875% (1 point) / 4.25% (0 points) FHA – 4.875% (1 point)...

Philly Home Sellers: Where and How is Your Real Estate Agent Promoting Your Home? on Nov 1, 2009 in For Home Sellers Forget advertising in the local newspapers and don’t depend on open houses. To successfully promote your property to the market it is important to know how buyers find homes. Just how important is your homes presence on the internet? The Pennsy...

Philly’s Top Ten Neighborhood Places for Brunch on Oct 29, 2009 in Neighborhoods Sunday Fun So here’s the problem:  He wants to watch the game, she wants to go out and socialize with friends, and there’s only so much weekend time. There is a way everyone can be happy – and that’s eating brunch. Eating always bring people together.

Incredible Bank Owned Condo Deal Foreclosure in Bella Vista on Oct 27, 2009 in Condos First Time Home Buyers For Home Buyers Relocating Buyers ORIGINAL OFFERING PRICE: $389,000 612 CHRISTIAN ST, UNIT 1 & 3  BELLA VISTA 2 BEDROOMS / 1.5 BATHS 1,089 Square Feet Condo Fees: $175/mo 10 Year Tax Abatement Not your typical bank owned REO property…luxe, beautifully maintained new constr...

Philadelphia’s Real Estate Agreement of Sale – It’s Not Very Green on Oct 23, 2009 in For Home Buyers For Home Sellers When I bought my first home I had to sign what seemed like two or three forests worth of trees.  Why?  It seemed like such a waste of paper.  I want the house, you want to sell the house, can’t we just write something up and I’ll sign it?  I...