Everyone thought Bob and Suzie were nuts to abandon their beautiful suburban oasis, replete with ducks flying to and from the pond, for a 17 foot wide row home in Philadelphia in 1992. A row house with no parking and no more than a small square slab of cement to call a back yard and four stories from basement to top floor. Their move signaled a shift in the residential paradigm. Their parents left the city after World War II, and come hell or high water, they weren’t coming back. But Bob and Suzie think of themselves as far to cool and hip to spend their days in a five bedroom ranch house with a half acre of land, and a basement full of tools and half used accouterments. Remember, they are the generation that said words like “groovy”, and “right on”. The idea of never owning a lawnmower, or a garage full of half used brooms and shovels, appeals to many empty nesters. No more yard work, no more owning more than one car, and no more having to repair the roof. The thought of new surroundings, in a new luxury condominium, with much less responsibility (and therefore more freedom) is again very appealling.
Baby boomers, becoming empty nesters provided the fuel needed for many new projects that have recently been added to Center City’s skyline. Buyers of many luxury Philadelphia condominiums have made wonderful gains in the last twenty years, with respect to their real estate investments. Without the burden of private schools for the kids, the kids, and often during prime earning years it is the Empty Nesters’ turn to treat themselves, and the developers of many condominiums have positioned themselves to take advantage of that market.
The perception that downtown Philadelphia has really come a long way over the past twenty years. Our City is cleaner, safer, and culturally more adept -are all reasons that contribute to the lure of the empty nesters. From friends who have also made the move, to museums, restaurants, shopping, and the bike trails up the Schuylkill river, Philadelphia is shaping up to be a fine residential attraction, and empty nesters have taken notice. And to think that Northern Liberties is now the place to see and be seen. Who would have thought?
Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106
Get this….23 S. 23rd St- A two bed, two and a half bath condo asking $439,900 Listed by a good friend who sells a lot of Fannie Mae Foreclosures…I just have to tell all my blog readers about this unit….
High end cherry kitchen, with Sub Zero and Viking appliances, Hardwood flooring, high ceiling, close to Penn, and very very cheap rental parking in the building. Doorman building!
97% Financing Available for Owner Occupants!
Curious…Call me! 267.237.3404
Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106
Whether you live or work here in Center City Philadelphia, you know all about The Parking Authority! Here is a short video about how to easily avoid them.
So from avoiding “No Parking” zones in front of the driveway of any given Center City Home, to making sure you do not exceed twenty minutes in the “loading zone” in front of that Philly Condo Building, you can greatly cut your chances of getting a ticket, or even worse, getting towed.
Watch your time in meter spots. The meter folks are only doing their jobs, so be nice to them. Always look out for temporary regulations and read the signs to make sure parking on any given street isn’t cut off after a certain time of day. For example, you can only park on the 600 block of Walnut Street until 3:30PM so they can clear the road for rush hour traffic, which does everyone a lot of good. They will tow you if you are blocking the traffic!
Some streets offer free 2 hour parking, but if you don’t live in a Philly Loft or Home in that neighborhood (with a sticker on your window to prove it), you will be ticketed if you exceed the 2 hour limit OR if you try to sneak back to the same block later in the day. Your license plate number is in the system, so they have no idea if you left and came back. You get 2 hours free on each block each day if you are an out-of-towner! There are tons of lots in Center City if you need to stay longer.
Lastly, don’t park in a Handicap Spot if you don’t have a Handicap plate. It WILL cost you! Follow this simple advice, so you don’t end up featured on the next episode of Parking Wars!
Mark Wade
www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106
I have been selling real estate in Philly for 22 years. I like to say I have “Seen It All”.
In this market, it is sometimes hard to believe it when a condo you LOVE comes on the market, and quickly sells out from under you. You know, you prepare for a 2nd visit, you get your ducks in a row, and the day prior to your 2nd visit – the property sells.
Yes, even in Mid-November 2010, properties do sell – if they show well, and are priced fairly. It happened to me twice this month…I lost two deals by either being out-bid, or by not getting my buyers to act fast enough to make an offer on a Philly Condo they loved. If you love a property, believe me – I am going to tell the listing agent, and signal that IF he or she gets an offer, please call and let me know. Most Philly Realtors, who work in the best interest of their sellers, will call.
SOME (PERHAPS) SHADY REALTORS JUST IGNORE THE REQUEST AND CLOSE THE FIRST DEAL…POSSIBLY THEIR OWN.
The point is….if you love, love, love it….then buy, buy, buy it. Quickly. The market waits for no one….
Mark Wade www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106
….Yeah, that Link would be in the middle of this article. I think having a building FHA approved is a huge help to buyers who are eyeing your building/thinking about a purchase. It makes a Philly condo building open to more options in terms of buyers financing a purchase within the building. All Good.
In the old days, FHA could approve the buildings on the spot with a quick check of some facts about the composition of the building and the condo association. No longer. A full FHA approval process must be put in place in order for an FHA loan to be used to purchase inside a particular condo building. Here is the Link- Just add the zip code of the building in question and a list of FHA approved buildings in that Zip Code will magically appear:
WE ARE OFFERING FREE BUYER REPRESENTATION….EMAIL US FOR DETAILS Mark@CenterCity.com
1) WATERFRONT SQUARE:
Located at 901 N. Penn St. is the complex known as WaterFront Square.Thirty-five condos will be auctioned, including four one-bedroom/1.5 bath units; 16 one-bedroom-plus-den, two-bath units; five “junior” two-bedroom, two-bath units; and 10 two-bedroom-plus-den, two-bath units. The minimum bid prices will range from $195,000 to $415,000.
The auction will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, at the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing, 201 S. Columbus Blvd.
Waterfront Square is a gated community on 10 acres. It boasts the largest green roof in Philadelphia – grass covering the parking garage – and has round-the-clock security, a clubhouse, fitness center and spa, swimming pool, and 24-hour concierge in each tower building. A tax abatement is in place for all units, and ALL units include One Parking Spot!
This minimum bid auction has prices starting at 60% off previous List Prices! I really like this development…some lucky buyers are going to get a lot for their money here. We have sold a number of units, and believe that although not all units are created equal, the deals are going to be strong!
2) THE WINNE BUILDING
Located in the Old City section of Center City Philadelphia at 38-44 N. FRONT ST. the Winne is a lovely old warehouse condo development with some really strong interior features. Set for the Fall of 2010- Date to be determined -12 units at the Winne Building will be auctioned -studio, one and two bedroom units. This building is a low-rise elevator building that was fully rehabbed in 2008. Existing tax abatement to units being auctioned. Beautiful Original Random Width Pine floors in most units, exposed brick, high end bathrooms and new stainless and granite kitchen. Lovely common areas with really neat lobby. All new mechanical systems including electric, Heat, Central Air, and appliances. LAST listed prices on these units from $259,000 – $449,000 – Expect Lower Prices!
Judging from our earlier success at the Murano auction and Phoenix auction, we expect some fairly good deals to come about when the auction is held. Please know that we have sold a dozen units in this building in the past. All auctioned units have yet to sell, and most have been rented out for the past year, to year and a half.
Interested? Send us an email at Mark@CenterCity.com or call us at 215.521.1523 and we will set an appointment with you to walk through the building when permissible.
I recently sold an Old City condo to a physician. Great guy who knew what he wanted, and finding him the right condo was not an issue. We had fun, and he found something he really loved. And let me tell you- this condo rocked. All Good!
However, he wanted to do some Cock-a-mamie type of loan that I was sure would fall flat and go nowhere. Oh yes, my big-brain was sure this deal was going to suck.
However, I was proven wrong, and the deal actually was quite smooth. He applied for what is known as a Physician Loan, and was able to get a JUMBO mortgage (one over $500,000) with just 5% down- you heard me 🙂
Here are the basics that were offered by John P. Wagner, Sr. Loan Consultant from Tower Mortgage Corporation – 1.800.918.5400 – and he was great by the way.
He can offer zero down to Physicians with no PMI –
FYI, zero down to $500K, 5% down $500-650K, 10% down $650-850K, 15% down to $1M
The theory is that since they went to school for sooo long, and have a very LOW default rate, there are lenders that will bank on them with little down.
So if you are a doctor, give me a call, and lets find you the perfect Philadelphia Condo with little down!
Mark Wade www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106
In the current real estate climate, getting a buyer and seller to agree on a price is tough enough. But that isn’t the toughest part of real estate today. I find that the most difficult aspect of my job as a Center City Real Estate agent is getting the deal done in terms of jumping through the hoops set forth by the mortgage company.
First the appraisal, which is becoming difficult, as I see very few lenders willing to be anything close to generous with the numbers they conclude to be the value of any given condo. I am not going to argue who is right and who is wrong here- suffice to say that hitting the needed number to make the appraisal work is more difficult than in the “Good Ole’ days”…..
Next, the condo has to fit the mold that the mortgage companies seem to favor- and just to list a few of those attributes:
1) Does the condo have enough owner-occupants as opposed to tenants?
2) Does the original developer hold more than, say 10% of the unsold unit?
3) Is there a reserve fund set up to put some money aside within the budget of the condo assn?
4) Has the association been turned over to the owners, and for a minimum of two years?
These are just a few of the hoops that not only YOU, but the condo you are buying MUST jump through in order to be approved for a mortgage. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Looking for help in determining your best strategy for obtaining financing for a Philadelphia condo you may find in the Center City condo market? Lets chat about some of the pitfalls and hoops!
Mark Wade www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106
As a veteran Philly real estate agent, I find sooooooo many buyers here in town are visually motivated. Yet visualizing color, texture, furniture placement, and implementing solutions to visual challenges, are often the most difficult hurdles to jump when trying to emotionally put themselves inside a new condo here in Philadelphia.
I see so many buyers react to staging, wall color, furniture design, and layout, that the power of a well done model home cannot be overstated. Just look at Toll Brothers Naval Square Condos which do a fabulous job pulling in your emotions by allowing you to leave nothing to the imagination. I see my buyers react, and they are like “WOW”.
If you are considering buying, I suggest we sit down and chat about your visualizing skills. And lets see which units in town may be a good fit for you.
Mark Wade www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106
I have seen a number of Center City Penthouse condos, and the one thing many have in common beyond a fantastic view is the visual presence of fairly large crack in the walls and the ceilings. From The Condos at Society Hill Towers, to new construction pieces like WaterFront Square, the issue is more prevalent than one might think.
To an inexperienced observer, some of these cracks, if left unattended can look downright scary. Measuring up to an inch wide and running from ceiling onto an adjoining wall, it does beg the question “Why shouldn’t I be worried about such an issue”? Although these cracks in the drywall and perhaps plaster may look frightening, they do make sense as many tall high rise condominium buildings here in Center City are subject to high winds, and of course higher winds prevail at higher heights. And buildings do shift and bend a bit- plaster and drywall are rigid and fixed- and they only thing plaster and drywall can do when exposed to movement is to crack.
If you have concerns, you should certainly ask your home inspector for his two cents. Just know that the issue is widespread amongst high rise condos in Philadelphia and throughout the planet.
Mark Wade www.CenterCityCondos.com
Prudential Fox and Roach REALTORS®
530 Walnut St., Suite 260 Philadelphia, PA 19106
