Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

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Residential Sales in 19146, 19147, 19107, 19106, 19102, 19103, & 19130 – Jan 1-July 15, 2012

Thanks to all for sending me their friends and family looking to buy and sell in town. Much Appreciated!

The Biggest Cheerleader for Condo Living in Center City,
Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox Roach Realtors
530 Walnut St. #260 Phila., PA 19106

From Philly.com:  “An upscale W Hotel is scheduled to break ground next year on a half-acre site that was originally planned for a $420 million Waldorf-Astoria Hotel with luxury condominiums before the lending markets collapsed four years ago.

The new hotel would sit on what is now a surface parking lot at 1441 Chestnut St, just behind the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and its condo tower, according to a representative of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc., which owns the W brand.” [Read More…]

Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach Realtors
530 Walnut St. #260 Phila., PA 19106

If you found a Philadelphia condo, and made an offer and the seller signed the offer on say, January 1st, here is a rough time line of what to expect:

By January 5th – Have mortgage application taken.
By January 15th – Set up and have Home Inspection.
By January 16th – 2nd deposit due.
Sometime mid to late January- You get condo docs and have 5 days to review.
Throughout January and February- Be tortured by your mortgage company.
Through January and February- I order title insurance, city certificates, etc etc.
One week prior to settlement- You order a homeowners’ insurance policy  for your unit.
One day prior to settlement- We do our final Walk-Through
Day of Settlement- Take This day off work. Please. Settlement will take an hour or two.
Post Settlement- Sing and dance in the middle of the street, and drink to celebrate your accomplishment!

Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach
530 Walnut St. #260 Phila., PA 19106

When you’re trying to make your space more alluring to potential buyers, it’s all about presentation.

Most people know that. Before a showing, they make sure the place is picked up, cart out extraneous furniture and, take out the trash. But what about the lighting?

Lighting is the one thing that can give your condo a warm, inviting atmosphere. Follow the tips below, and you’ll have buyers making offers:

-Use the sun to your advantage. Natural light is an incredibly attractive feature, so use what you’ve got. Trim any outdoor plants that are blocking that sun from streaming in, take down bulky window treatments, and move furniture away from the windows.

-Layers are key. The basics of lighting design involve incorporating at least three “layers” of light in each room. One layer is general lighting – you get that with ceiling fixtures. One is task lighting – that includes your floor/desk lamps and any focused lights such as under cabinet fixtures or desk lamps. One is accent lighting – that’s what will really highlight your decor and bring in the majestic feel. One of the most popular forms of accent lighting is indirect cove lighting via LED light strips installed in a recessed portion of the ceiling.

-Be critical. When you’re selling a condo (this especially applies if you’ve lived in it for years), you have to put yourself in a stranger’s shoes. If you were seeing the place for the first time, what would you think of the light fixtures? It’s easy to accumulate outdated light fixtures and forget to judge them with a discerning eye. Replace any tacky light fixtures with a more contemporary style.

-Go green. Sustainability is such a selling point for potential buyers. They want to hear they won’t get slapped with a huge power bill after move-in. They don’t want to go to the trouble of replacing inefficient light bulbs you installed. If possible, replace light bulbs with low-energy models. You can add it on to the list of benefits you tout to the buyer.

Emily Widle
E-Commerce Marketing Specialist
Pegasus Lighting
P 724.846.5137 x 102
F 724.846.8833
www.PegasusLighting.com
“Unique Lighting Products for Your Special Needs”

     I have been selling real estate in exclusively in downtown Philadelphia for twenty-three years. I have done some stupid things in my career, and I have witnessed many buyers and sellers making equally stupid moves.  I often see buyers and sellers either pinching a dime for a dollar, or just doing some absurd moves that are much more trouble than the expected payoff. And I am sure this is not limited to just Center City buyers…I have no doubt the scenarios play out in every real estate community:
Scenario 1:  Having the Last Word
Seller asks $499k for a condo
Buyer and Seller go back and forth, and after a few days, buyer say $480,000 is my
“Highest and Best” offer for this parcel. And then seller comes back and says $480,001.
Really? You really want to be a douche bag and say that? You are pissing the buyer off,
and it will probably  cost you much much more in terms of anxiety, anguish, and animosity within
the transaction as you are locked into a legally binding contract with this buyer for say the next 60-90 days. Perhaps you should just zip your lip and take the freakin’ $480k instead of having to have the last word. Don’t forget, buyers still have to perform a home inspection.
Scenario 2: Can’t See the Forest For the Trees
Seller asks $499k for a condo
This property is a bank-owned sty that should be selling for $800k if it weren’t so dirty, missing
all the appliances, and listed with Susy Bag O’ Donuts out of Erie, Pa. (it happens…bank foreclosures are often listed by those with no connection to the area). And as a buyer, you get the Big-Brain idea to come in at $400k…because after all, the market is slow, weak, and uncertain.  OK….you are an idiot. If you can’t recognize such an overtly strong bargain, and
see that the huge upside is the fact that the condo is grossly underpriced at $499k….then maybe
you need to do a little more homework on prices and values here in Center City.
Scenario 3: Why Aren’t you Using a Magic Wand?
Sellers asks $499k for a condo
As a buyer, you top out at $480,000 and the seller will still not accept your offer. And recent “comps” suggest the seller is correct as no other unit in the building has sold for under $500k.
You then turn to your Realtor and complain that you can’t get the property for $480k. And you are relentless. Even in the face of the facts. But you persist. You dump your Realtor because he or she refuses to wave their magic wand and make this deal happen. You then drive down the road, and see your Realtor Singing and Dancing in the middle of the intersection of Broad and Walnut.
No one likes a whiner. Not even in this “slow, weak, and uncertain” market place.
     There are bargains to be had and deals to be made. Opportunity exists in all market conditions, and the current state of affairs in Center City- which has weathered the overall real estate storm fairly well- should indeed be taken into account when negotiating the purchase or sale of any parcel in Philadelphia. But knowing when you have crossed the line and driven right into
Crazy Town Pa. might be helpful when finding the right piece of Center City real estate. And help
you negotiate the best possible, realistic terms.  Mark Wade CenterCityCondos.com

I welcome feedback!

Philly Condos- Not All Allow Pets

No Dogs or Cats:    2401 Pennsylvania Ave (The Philadelphian)

No Dogs, but yes to cats:
The Dorchester                    The Wanamaker House
Society Hill Towers                    Rivers Edge (2301 Cherry)
Hopkinson House                    Academy House

In today’s competitive condo sales market, there is one rule that stands above all others that may determine whether or not your condo is going to be looked at by potential buyers- Your Condominiums rule with regards to pets. Rules vary from building to building and some are very open, and some buildings are very restrictive.
Most buildings in town will have some kind of restrictions as to pet ownership- specifically dogs.
Restrictions in terms of dog size, breed, or the number of dogs per owner. All makes sense to me. But NOT to allow dogs is one sure way of restricting resales in the building.
Susie the buyer is NOT going to give up her cherished Poodle in order to live in your building, should you be on the above list.  In my opinion, those rules are SO OUTDATED….
Why not put limits on size and breed? Or allow ONLY owners and not renters to have pets?
Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com

Some of the most sought after condo buildings here in Center City are on or very close to lively blocks that are full of activity, or they are on or near bus routes, and can have a close proximity to highways. This is very convenient but can be noisy!

Having constant noise outside your dining room or bedroom could be a big problem. So, I devised a kinda’ cool solution that works like a gem. And in the scheme of things, really doesn’t have to cost a lot.

Here’s the solution: Replace your windows (genius, eh?)!

Depending on where you live in downtown Philadelphia, you may have a fairly strong historic association who mandates the type of window replacement you must use.  However, this does not preclude you from installing another set of windows INSIDE the historical set.

You can add a double paned, inexpensive vinyl clad INSIDE the outer set of historically approved windows, giving you a total of 3 or 4 panes of glass between you and the noise.  This ingenious little set-up demonstrates how you can effectively keep all city noise out of your Philadelphia loft or condo.

You don’t need to live 30 feet from the highway or live in a super luxury condo building to benefit from this idea.  Such insulation also provides extra protection from cold, heat loss, and dirt that gets inside of other single paned windows!  To Keep the Value in, You Must keep the noise out!

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a Center City condominium and want some more tips, I can help.  Give me a call today at 215-521-1523 or drop me an email at Mark@CenterCity.com.

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

If you plan to put your Philadelphia Condo or Home on the market, you have to check out Drew Callaghan Photography. He does great work that will go a long way at showing off your Condo’s Showing Ability! Here are a few of his amazing photos:

You can contact Drew at Drew@DrewCallaghanPhotography.com or 215.431.3384.

See more at: http://www.DrewCallaghanPhotography.com/

Mark Wade
Prudential Fox and Roach Realtors
www.CenterCityCondos.com
530 Walnut St. #260 Philadelphia, PA 19106

Here are some tips for making your offer on your potential new Philly  Condo as attractive to the seller it can be:

1) Get a pre-approval from the mortgage company that the LISTING agent uses most.
This will allow the listing agent, who will be presenting your offer to the seller, to be comfortable with your financing arrangements.

2) Narrow your contingency periods to ten (10) days. Not business days either. Make sure you can clear your schedule to do all your inspections on a timely basis. Nothing sours a seller like “15 business days” to do a home inspection.

3) If you are flexible in the dates you can settle, give the seller the option to pick the settlement date. You can write a contract that gives the seller the right to choose your settlement date within a specific period of time, like “ from 30 to 45 days from execution of the contract”..seller to decide.

4) If the seller is buying another home, and doing so locally, consider allowing his or her title company to do your title work. Title rates are standard, and you (generally speaking) will not incur more costs by having your title work done by a company you or your Realtor chooses.

5) Write a nice note to the seller, to be presented with your offer telling him or her why you love their Center City home, and why you want to buy it. If it evokes a special emotion out of you, let the seller know. Every seller wants their home to be “loved”….let them know you love their home!

These tips may give you an edge in a competitive offer situation, or may just save you a couple of dollars when it comes time to negotiate with the seller! Good Luck, and know that the dollar amount you are offering is NOT the only factor your seller may consider when looking at your offer!

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

Technically, in the State of Pennsylvania, if you do not obtain mortgage financing, no one is going to force you to buy title insurance on your new Old City or Rittenhouse Square condominium.  But as your Realtor, with your best interest in mind, I am going to rant and rave until you agree to buy it.

A mere title search doesn’t always reveal all the flaws that could potentially be a part of the chain of title. And title searches are not free. Not to mention you will need to pay an attorney or title company closing fees and notary fees to complete your transaction if you do not purchase title insurance from them.  Closing fees and search fees are usually waived if you purchase the title policy. Since you will need to put out several hundred dollars for these services if you waive title insurance anyway, you might as well pay the difference and protect yourself against the unthinkable.

Here are a just a few scenarios you could encounter without the protection of title insurance:

– Forgery or Fraud in connection with the execution of previously recorded documents
– Incorrect representation of marital status of grantors
– Undisclosed or missing heirs
– Wills that have not been properly probated
– Mistaken interpretation of wills and trusts
– Incorrect legal descriptions
– Unsatisfied mortgages, liens, or judgments not shown on the record
– Deeds executed under expired or false power of attorneys
– Confusion due to similar or identical names

– Unknown rights of ex-spouses or former owners
– Clerical errors in recording legal documents
– Incorrect filing of condominium declarations

Some of these things sound crazy I know. But in my 21 years of selling Philadelphia Real Estate I have come across more than a few of the above situations.  So think of it this way:

Paying for a title search and other closing fees to buy your condo without the protection of title insurance – Around $800

Paying for the same search and closing fees including title insurance protection on your $300,000 condo – Around $1600

The peace of mind of having your title company to call and not having to deal with an old lien or back taxes that suddenly show up on your title – priceless!

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