Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

It is easy to add a kinda’ lofty rough hewn look to a loft styled condo. You can add this look to a main, or an accent wall. Perhaps one side of a long hallway you have, or one side of a guest bedroom wall?  I have done it myself, and the results were quite good! First, find a solid wall- preferably one that is cement, plaster, or cinderblock. Apply wire mesh. Coat with a morter mix. While the morter mix is setting up, take a $5 pointing tool, and scar lines in the drying morter/cement mix to resemble bricks- approx. 6″ by 2.5″. You needn’t be perfect here- remember, you are going for an imperfect, old exposed brick kinda’ look. Now paint your new creation your favorite color. Since this is a faux process, you have to paint the look (it will look like dried, scarred cement if you don’t).

Viola’…..a lofty look for your new Old City condo!

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

A lot of smart elements helped make this building a success!

It can be no secret that a few buildings in town are struggling to sell their units. Some buildings have had a much greater degree of success. The shining example would have to be Locust Point Condominiums at 2425 Locust St. here in downtown Philadelphia. With a total of 110 units, the building offered a great residential location, coupled with on-site parking, nice common areas, and a great mix of one and two bedroom units. Add other relevant factors- like being right next to the entrance of the Schuylkill River jogging trail, and close proximity to Univ. Of Penn- and Viola!….

The building is now all sold out!

Of course, having a smart and friendly sales staff headed up by Marianne Harris didn’t hurt sales a bit! The sales staff made it very easy to show- and they flung the doors wide open when it came to cooperating with the real estate agents in Philadelphia.

The developer also was very smart in rehabbing the common areas of the building, making sure hallways, lobby, elevator, and exterior were presentable. He also replaced all the windows in the building, and made sure Locust Point get FHA approval.

Other developers should take note. This was a brilliant business model. The right building, done the right way, with a good sales staff equaled an unprecedented sell out.

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

I am often asked what the 6″ metal star shaped thingies are that are often seen on the facade of many of Center City Condominium buildings.

Simply put, they are called star bolts. Though they come in many shapes, the star seems to be most prevelant here in downtown Philly. The purpose of the star shaped bolts are to prevent the facade from bowing out, or to perhaps to stop the process of the facade of many old rowhomes from bowing. They have a long rod that runs through the joists of the home, and is held in place by the endcap- the star bolt.
They are not for decorative purposes, rather as a structural element to prevent the facade from moving out of place from over exposure to water seepage (and freezing of that water). etc. These bolts were also added as protection from earth quakes. For example, all the old houses in Charlston, SC had these bolts installed after a large earthquake destroyed parts of the city.

So there you have it. Those bolts are doing more than just looking cute on the facade of many Society Hill homes.

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

You gotta’ problem with that?

Though as fancy as we urbanites profess to be, allow me to brake rank and confess my love for two things- formica and linoleum. I don’t admit this freely (usually) and I may deny it, should you bring it up to me in casual conversation at a party of some black tie affair here in Center City Philadelphia.

I have found that  the selection, price point, and durability of these two (once scroned) elements of new construction make these two items almost desirable. Certainly neither have the cache of real tile floors and granite countertops, but in certain areas, I really don’t object to their usage even in a Rittenhouse Square Condo.

For instance, in a laundry room- perfect. Kids bathroom- touche. Basement work areas- perfection.
No, I wouldn’t go as far as to splash a lovely acre of linoleum in my new kitchen, but in certain places, spaces, and quantities, linoleum and formica may be your best alternative. Especially in a mud room (linolum) or say a crafts area (formica).

It wasn’t easy for me to admit the above. But honesty is the best policy-even if I have to lie about it.

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

No, it is personal property:  

Yes, It is included in the sale:

 
 
This question, often asked, is really simple to answer. In the state of PA., IF a window air conditioner is simply sitting in a window, it is defined as chattel (personal property), and is not included in the sale of a home unless specifically listed as included in the sale.

However, if a special cut-out or pass-thru has been made in a wall for that unit, then it is included in the agreement of sale without mention. This question does arise in some lowrise/Brownstone condos in Philly.
 
Question? Call me…lets chat!

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

…can best be described as thorough.

 
It is no secret I love showing and selling Philadelphia real estate. The hallmark of the 2009 Philadelphia buyer is one of complete and utter thoroughness.

Though they are buying, and doing in fairly good numbers, there is no sense of urgency, and they want to see everything. Everything. If I had a dollar for every property I showed in the spring of 2009, I would go buy a new Lexus. Or perhaps take a cruise and drink a lot.

Such behavior is actually a good thing for an old timer like myself. I get to see sooo many places, that it really does add to my already stuffed brain. I know the size of the kitchen in unit 1902 at the xxx building. I am familiar with the condition of the 2nd Floor Front condo at 19xx Spruce St., and I see for myself why the condos at XXX and Bainbridge aren’t selling so well.

The equation here is a simple one:

Buyer Market- no sense of urgency- they can look at 18 other places, and come back to this particular unit they liked

Sellers Market- Hurry and buy. If you don’t, the unit you loved may be gone. Perhaps it already is gone.
 
The Philadelphia housing market is in a bit of a buyers market in 2009. I will let you know when that equation changes.

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

 
 
Simply put, a water table is a very old architectural element found on many historic homes throughout the east coast, and in Center City Philadelphia, is most prevalent in many of the Society Hill area townhomes. A water table can best be viewed as an old fashion method of keeping water away from the foundation. Water, and lots of it- pouring down around a foundation is not a good thing. You don’t want your soil being loosened, and allowing your foundation to slip or move. Yeah, that would be bad.

The idea of a water table is to essential push or direct water away from the foundation. As water would pour down the (say) facade of a home, the angled brick would guide water out and away from a foundation. So if you ever even noticed such a thing, now you know why “it is what it is”.

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

…then explain the value difference between these two Philly condo buildings:

These are two actual side by side buildings on Spruce St. in Washington Square West.

So you have a big brain, and you think you are going to take a look at Trulia, Zillow, or one of the many fine real estate websites out there in CyberSpace, and you are going to come up with the true value of any given condo. Really?

You can’t tell me that condition does not play into value. How about showing ability? You go into the public records and find a two bed, two bath in such n such zip code should sell for say $500,000. Really??? What was the condition of the Washington Square West Condo?  Was the building well maintained?

My point is, sometimes you need a realtor who knows his or her market to help you make valid decisions. There are many issues that affect value, that reading a webpage about any given Philadelphia condo may NOT tell you…

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

…when you get your home inspection report? 

This is a valid question. When you hire a home inspector, he will do his visual inspection, then email an 18 page report telling you that you have basically just purchased a big piece of crap. And that’s fine. That is his job. I believe it is now my job to put some of the issues into perspective.

Lets say we are in a Fitler Square Condo that clearly hasn’t been cleaned, repaired, or updated since 1912.    IF I DO NOT tell you that you should expect some needed repair work, am I really doing my job? Now there are limits to what you can and should reasonably expect me to point out.

I am not a home inspector, nor a structural engineer. But if I lead you to believe that this piece of crap Philly loft you just bought is in “fabulous mechanical shape”…then you should fire me as your Philadelphia Realtor, throw me out the back door, and basically curse my name aloud in public.

Conversely, you too should do your share of due diligence, and educate yourself about the reasonable expectations regarding home ownership. Most anything you own requires ongoing maintenance, updating, cleaning, and certainly costs money to do so. So please, don’t be shocked to learn that perhaps a $5 extension pipe from you new hot water tank is missing. Or perhaps your Air Conditioner needs to be filled. Or that outlet with black soot around it is inoperable. Shocking, eh? Be prepared, and I suggest you not become hysterical over the fact that the bathroom sink drains slowly.

A level head will help you manage the ins and outs, ups and downs over home maintenance.

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

 …when the truth is more than enough:

 

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