Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

Let’s say a home is asking $500,000 and a buyer makes an opening offer of $475,000. Here are a few things that are typical under this scenario:

1. The eventual price is probably going to be $487,500- split between asking and initial offer
2. That price will often be renegotiated as a result of a home inspection
3. The buyer is going to submit his offer via docu-sign and the seller will respond initially to the offer verbally. The buyer will counter verbally as well. Until a price is agreed upon- everything is done verbally.
4. Once a “meeting of the minds” occur- the offer is sent back to the buyer with all changes initialed that the offer can be presented to seller in a fully executed format. Seller will then sign via docu-sign as well. Seller may continue to show the house, but may not enter into another contract unless the first contract is dissolved.
5. Seller signs. Once this happens- the contract is fully executed and THAT is the day in which the “clock” starts in terms of when the 2nd deposit is due, and when the home inspection needs to be done, etc
6. Although a seller may negotiate an “AS-IS” clause into the contract- that does NOT prohibit buyer from having a home inspection and cancelling the deal if they so choose (of course IF done within the time frame allotted to complete inspections)
7. NO terms of the contract are valid or enforceable unless in writing. Period.

I have been interviewing buyers for nearly 27 years concerning their wants and needs. When I do an initial interview with condo buyers, I hear a laundry list of things that are important to them. Here are the most common requested items:

1. Specific Bed/Bath count
2. Parking
3. One level living
4. Move-In condition
5. Pet-Friendly
6. Natural light / Views
7. Walkability to area restaurants and events
8. Den
9. Outside space
10. Pool/Gym

What surprises me the most about a buyer’s initial wish list when compared to what they actually end up buying?  Almost anything on this list can and does fall by the wayside when a buyer sees something they VISUALLY love. Except # 5. If that is on the list, that wish/need does not go away….ever.

There is an old adage that Realtors love to throw around and that is:

“Buyers Are Liars”. No they aren’t- they generally are just not aware of the options that exist in the Center City condo market. And that is where I come in….

I have been lugging buyers around in my car here in town for nearly 27 years now and like snowflakes- no two buyers are the same. However, if I had to generalize and put buyers into categories, here would be the most common types of Center City Condo buying groups:

1) The Returnees – Grew up in Philly, moved elsewhere, and are now returning to their roots. Being close to friends and family is often the draw- or perhaps being close to where they grew up or went to college is often the motivation behind their return to town.

2) The Empty Nesters- Aka- those looking to shed lots of unused house…. They can often be very happy buyers who are starting a new chapter in their lives. I enjoy working with and watching these buyers get excited for a move into town. These buyers are looking to simplify their lives and lessen their responsibility in terms of home ownership. Generally “turn key” buyers who want to do zero work. One level living tends to be a priority as do high rise condos with doormen.

3) The Weekend Warriors- They have done the shore and now spend their weekends in town. Much more common than you think. These buyers generally do not buy townhouses nor do they buy the large 3 and 4 bedroom luxury condos. Usually buy just enough space to have friends over for dinner or overnight.

4) The Kids Who Have Parents Who Have $$ – Very common. Very. Usually here to attend school or start their careers. I find proximity to work or friends plays a heavy hand in where they end up buying. These buyers are also generally turn key buyers who are not interested in doing work to their new condo..move in condition  important.

5) The Transferee- Maybe came to town via a promotion or transfer and wants to be close to work. Moving to town wasn’t on the radar. Doesn’t matter- he or she is here now and the suburbs generally are not on their radar.

6) The Growing Families- Aka the move-up buyers. It used to be that young adults would get married , get a dog, two kids, a station wagon, and BOOM- off to suburbia they went. No longer the case. They now often represent our move up buyers in Center City and gravitate towards single family living in areas like Queen Village or say Art Museum area (in my opinion).

7) The Investors- Those who know that the city is the place to be and that their investment will provide a handsome return year after year after year. A condo may is usually preferred by such buyers as the lack of maintenance is often a goal.

8) The First Timers- The good ole reliable first time buyer. The backbone of the Center City condo buyer. Always has been and always will be.

Let’s say you have a condo to sell at say The Philadelphian 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. and you strike a deal with a buyer.  You then have to pack up, hire a moving company, etc etc.  That is a lot of work for any seller….and the stress can be equally heavy.  And the one question on your mind is whether or not the deal is going to implode along the way.

It happens- more often than you may think as there are many potential bumps in the road from the home inspection to the mortgage process to the condo doc review period.

How do you know if this is going to happen to your deal or not?

Truth be told…it all comes down to one thing: DOES THIS BUYER REALLY REALLY WANT YOUR CONDO?  Because if he or she does…they will make it happen. They will suffer the perceived injustices of the home inspection. They will roll with the bumps in the road in terms of the mortgage. They will put up the curveballs that inevitably come down the pike. IF they want your condo- they will make it happen.

I see it all the time. Your buyer’s motivation level is the barometer for a successful close to the transaction- If the buyer wants your condo bad enough- he or she WILL make it happen and will put up with everything thrown in their path to ownership of your condo. They will tolerate the fact that your heater is older than expected, your electrical service is a bit out of date, the mortgage company tells them they have to put MORE money down, etc etc.  IF they want it bad enough, they will roll with the punches.

You can choose your Realtor

You can choose which condo you want to buy (duh)

You can choose your mortgage company

You can choose your title company

You can choose which inspections you want

You can choose what day you want to settle

You can choose certain terms and conditions within the contract

But what if you are unsure about your options? That is where I come in to help.

I usually tell my buyers: “Plan the fly, then fly the plan”.

So when we meet and chat, we are going to put together a plan of attack to best suit

your needs based upon your wants and needs. And know that I will throw in my two

cents to help you navigate the buying process based upon my 26+ years experience- regardless of whether you are buying a brownstone condo, or a high-rise unit..

You may listen to my advice or go out on your own for your options. Probably a mix of the

two works best for most of my clients.    Now let’s get started with the condo hunting….

Listen- I get it. Sometimes you don’t mesh with the Realtor you found at an open house, on-line, or via your neighbor’s recommendation. And sometimes that Realtor is ME. No surprise there.

And most Realtors will try to get you to sign an exclusive contract so if and when you do buy- you have to use them as your Realtor. Personally, I do not do that. I want to earn a buyer’s trust and keep them as a client based upon merit. However, if you do sign an exclusive contract with another agent- I usually can not help you- unless you have put a date on that other contract which has since expired.

But sometimes I do put people in my car who don’t like me. Or vice versa. In that case- it is best to be upfront with that Realtor and tell them you have decided to go in another direction. No biggie.

I usually find that most Realtors are not A-Holes, rather they do silly things that buyers don’t like. For instance, not listening to a buyer’s wants and needs can be harmful to the relationship…. I have heard many buyers come my way saying their old Realtor was showing them condos WAY outside their price range. Like when a buyer wants a two bedroom with a $500,000 budget and the Realtor takes them to say 1820 Rittenhouse Sq. condos.

So if you coming to me from another Realtor- I welcome you. If you are leaving me for another Realtor- then I wish you good fortune and tidings. No hurt feelings. Honest.

This isn’t rocket science here folks. You need to do 3 very easy things. 3 very easy things that numbskull sellers refuse to do:

1. Clean your condo
2. De-clutter your condo
3. Spend $1000 to do minimal work to your condo (see below)

That $1000 should be used for simple projects like re-caulking your bathtub, re-hang the closet doors that are off the tracks, shampoo the carpets and touch up paint throughout. You would be simply amazed at how many sellers refuse this simple advice…it is astounding. This minimal effort is going to have a MULTIPLIER effect on the value of your condo. Almost every condo I see needs these three steps done to increase value. And the value increase is sometimes TEN FOLD

(if you do the above and spend $1,000 – I can usually get you an additional $10k for your condo).
Selling your condo requires effort. From me and from you. And yes, I have folks whom you can hire to do some of that minimal work. So get on it 🙂

Ok…so you bought a condo and you have had a home inspection and you now have an 18 page report in front of you telling you that the condo you bought is a real hell-hole. You start to freak out- that simply means you are human. Don’t sweat it. I usually tell my buyers (when making an offer) to look at the interior condition of the condo and make your offer accordingly. It is usually difficult to ask a seller to make repairs on items that were visually OBVIOUS when you first bought the condo (like in a brownstone condo- if you can see the windows are very old and need some repair- it is going to be difficult for me to get you a credit for things you reasonable knew were not up to snuff. However- It can be more difficult for a buyer to estimate the age of a heater or the age of specific wiring and that can usually be a lot easier to get a credit to upgrade. But know that usually the seller will not give you a full credit…the number is generally negotiated.

And IF you have the option for a credit or a repair from the seller- Get a credit. Because if the seller makes the repair and you don’t like HOW they made the repair- then we are all up sh*t creek without a paddle. And finally, know that many Philly Highrise buildings supply your heat, your electric and AC so you have no recourse to ask the seller to affect those as the seller does not own those elements.

1.) Do I need a lawyer?  Legally, no you do not. However, I suggest you hire a REAL ESTATE attorney as they can be helpful. What I do NOT suggest is that you hire your brothers neighbors cousin who lives in Bum-f*ck Iowa and is a personal injury lawyer. That could really do more harm than good, in my opinion. Get a REAL ESTATE lawyer.

2.) Can I move in prior to settlement ? Uh…no. Never. Sorry.

3.) Can I change settlement time or date at the last minute?  Usually not. The title company, the seller, the mortgage company, the listing agent, along with my team of helpers all would need to clear with their schedule. Best to decide early upon a settlement time and date and STICK WITH THAT PLAN. Honest.

4.) Why do I have to pay a Capital Contribution and what is it?  Yes you do, IF your condo association require you to do so. It is usually two months of condo fees that you pay the condo association upfront at time of closing. This does not go to the seller. This helps add to the “kitty” of your condo association. You are more or less paying yourself, in my opinion. So buildings like 1830 Rittenhouse Square condos do  not require one…but that is rare. In order to raise money for special projects at 1830- they simply assess as needed.

5.) Can I move into my building at any time, or do I need to plan ahead? You indeed need to plan ahead, especially in larger buildings like say The Hopkinson House condominiums where you would need to reserve the elevator and such. Those details will be available in your condo docs and or resale package. Best to read them!

6.) May I BBQ on my patio or deck?  99% of the time, the answer is NO. Per condo rules.

7.)Does the seller have to repair nail holes in walls where his/her artwork once hung? Great question…I believe the answer is no. You bought the condo with the holes already in the walls. Unless you believed the artwork magically floated and hung via a magic spell- you can assume there are nail holes and they transfer with title 🙂

8.) Which utility companies do I need to call?  Depends upon your condo association. Usually just PECO and maybe gas company. IF water is included in your condo fees…do NOT call the water company. Ditto for Comcast.

9.) What is transfer tax and why do I have to pay it? Because the city says so. You pay 2% of the sale price and the seller pays 2%. Transfer tax is split between buyer and seller and both pay 2%.
10.) Do I have to have a home inspection? The legal answer is no. The smart answer is yes…do it IF for no other reason than to learn how your condo functions and operates. A good way to become more familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of your condo.

You pretty much just sit and wait. Wait for the mortgage company to ask you for things you have already supplied to them 🙂  And know that there are many things going on in the background of which you may be unaware- We (my team) will be procuring the title report and clearing the title for the closing, ordering the “City Cert” (which is required for all closing in the City of Philadelphia for all condos ranging from the Rittenhouse Hotel at 210 W. Rittenhouse to Waterfront Square Condos), ordering the payoff statements for the seller, ordering the condo docs from the association/mgmt. company, and preparing your final settlement sheet (The HUD-1) in order to have a smooth closing. At this time, you will want to call the electric company and possibly gas company. If you need to have a street blocked off for a moving van- then you will want to call the streets department and get that set up as well. We will be doing a pre-settlement walk-through usually an hour before settlement to make sure the home is in the same condition it was when you put the condo under agreement.  So sit tight, enjoy the ride and start planning on your move into the city!