Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

 I can neither confirm nor deny, but here is what I have heard over the past 21 years of selling Center City condos for sale:

1) The developer of the Philadelphian was so distraught over the perceived success of his building, that he jumped off the roof. 2401 PA. Ave is of course a hugely successful building today in terms of occupancy, resale prices, etc.

2) One of the developers of 101 Arch St. was killed at the opening ceremonies when a large chunk of the facade came crashing down. The Smythe Stores in Old City has a gorgeous historic facade.

3) Society Hill Towers was such a miserable failure when built (as apartments) that they couldn’t pay their electric bill.

4) The townhouses at 10th and Lombard (Society Square) were built upon an old graveyard.

5) Cianfrani park in Bella Vista was known as “Dead Body Park” because the mob would repeatedly dump bodies there after being successfully whacked.

Now I am sure some of these are pure bullshit, but they do make for interesting reading.  Want to unravel the mysteries of your condo? Call me at 215.521.1523 and lets chat! 🙂

Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106

In order to NOT bite off more than you can chew, here are a few beginning steps for the first time buyer.

To begin, you should start by contacting a local mortgage professional, like Jason Griesser from Trident Mortgage. No need to see a variety of, say, Wanamaker House Condos if those condos are not within your budget. I think the next step is for you to do your homework, and get an idea of what $ 400,000 is going to get you in Society Hill, or maybe Old City.

Working with a good website like www.CenterCityCondos.com is a good start. Duh. Then call me, and lets chat about your REAL wants and needs. Lets see if we can keep your hopes and dreams within realistic terms.

No pressure-

Mark Wade
215.521.1523
www.CenterCityCondos.com 
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106

…in terms of buying Philly Condos?

OMG…I just did a deal in which the buyer of a Center City Condo was her own worst enemy in the deal. It was rather shocking….I thought 21 years experience would insure that I had seen it all- but this deal was a ball-buster. And I thought I was the crazy one in the bunch! 🙂 The buyer just kept creating problems….for issues that were remote, and minuscule. After a week of haggling, the deal finally got signed- but not without significant arm twisting (reasoning).

Case in point-  Who gives a crap if the seller refuses to leave the curtain rods….are you kidding me? Am I on one of those hidden camera shows?  You mean to tell me that you are going to walk away from a $500,000 condo it took you six months to find because of a $100 detail?   Think about it…..are you nutty, or are you certifiable? 🙂

Keep your eye on the big picture….that’s my advice. Let go of the little details, and keep your focus. Too many times, I find that buyers and sellers are just in it to cause the other side pain, without regard to their own time and efforts….and long term happiness. So when negotiating, it is sometimes helpful to take a step back, and look at the big picture. Like a marriage, real estate transactions are all about giving and compromising…even when you think you are doing the lions share of the work!

Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106

I get this question regularly from folks looking at condos for sale. The answer is yes and no. Philadelphia city code does not allow gas or open flame bbq grills on any outside balcony of any condo building. And most condo associations will mention that fact in their condo docs.

However….some associations will allow an Electric Grill….just not briquettes or gas grills.  I have seen some really cool electric outside grills…the assortment offered at many suppliers is growing in terms of quality and size. So do some looking around…and remember, just because you now live in a Philadelphia high rise condo, you may not have to give up your rights to BBQ!

Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106

Even the inside of your closets say something about the way you live your life. And if you think buyers don’t take notice, then perhaps you have been living on the moon for quite some time. They do. You did when you first went Philly condo shopping. You opened the seller’s refrigerator, you peeked inside all closets, looked at the pictures on the wall, and even questioned why they did this or that.

The point is – If you want to sell your Philly condo, then clean your Philly condo. Inside and out. Even the small details make a strong impression.

Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106