The Third Quarter Tredyffrin Real Estate Absorption Rate is looking more like a normal real estate market instead of one drowning in inventory.

Some months I have felt like I needed a huge mop to soak up the excess inventory. And in some markets that’s still the image that resonates.

But here in Tredyffrin Township for the Third Quarter Real Estate Market, we’re showing signs of recovery. The months supply of inventory is down to 5.6 months.  Keep in mind that the MSI and the Absorption Rate is based on the assumption that no new inventory is coming on the market, which is never the case.

The Months Supply of Inventory and Absorption Rates are averages, so there are definitely properties selling within days and even some with more than one offer and others, especially in luxury home price ranges, that are languishing.

MSI and it’s second cousins, Days On Market and Interest Rates, are the only numbers we like to see coming down in real estate market statistics.

The MSI for September 2009 is down to 5.6 months in Tredyffrin compared to an MSI of 7.7 months in September of 2007. The Days On Market in September of 2009 is 81 DOM which is up from 34 DOM in September of 2007.

The DOM indicator is up 139% and the Months Supply of Inventory is down 27%.

Contact or call Judy Peterson Realtor 610-889-5509 Prudential Fox and Roach Devon Home Marketing when you need a professional Market Analysis for your home in areas like Tredyffrin Township, Chester County Philadelphia Main Line Pa.

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2009 l Climate Change

Today is Blog Action Day 2009 l Global Climate Change is the topic that Bloggers around the world have agreed to write about with the goal of raising awareness on one critical issue that impacts each of us.  Climate Change and Climate Control are big issues! Big enough to be overwhelming. But we need to resist the temptation to do nothing. We each need to accept responsibility for the future our planet in big and small ways.

I’m a proud Mom who’s often inspired by my two children and 3 precious grand children. As a real estate agent I spend my professional life helping families. And so it’s no surprise to me that our children and young people are the hope of our future. We need to educate ourselves as well as support and follow the efforts of our Children For Climate Change.

When my children were young they loved the children’s literature  from a series called, “The Borrowers” by Mary Norton. The Borrowers were a secret society of subterranean little people who were responsible for  all of those “things” that seemed to mysteriously disappear. You know, like the disappearance of just ONE of all the matching socks from the dryer.

Children delight in the antics of The Borrowers,  in part because the little people became the heroes because “the big ones” had messed up. First they are charming stories. And second,  they satisfy our human desire to avoid or shift responsibility, to point a finger and say, “it’s not my fault”.  As a Mom, I loved the message of personal responsibility in these well written stories.

The National and International Climate Change Debate in Copenhagen 12/7/2009:

• The Pew Center For Global Climate Change has lots of information to help us get up to speed on the issues and to be informed about the National and International debate on Climate change that’s taking place in Copenhagen December 7th 2009.
• Learn about individual States Climate Change Initiatives and see what your State has done or is doing to reduce Green House Gas Emissions and this recent update by The Pew Center.
• Follow the meetings in December at Copenhagen to ensure that we reach a Global Climate Pact.

Global Climate Control In Small Pieces:

• Support State and local environmental initiatives.
• Find ways to be Green in our personal family living.
• Use environmentally safe products.
• Support “Green” practices in our own community.
• Support Sustainable Farming in our community.
• Recycle, redesign, reinvent.
• Help those who can’t help themselves.

“Lead, follow, or get out of the way” is another way of saying that nature abhors a vacuum. We can no longer wait for the emerging nations or “someone else” to take a stance on GHG Emissions. Our own National leadership needs to lead the way and support the work that many States have begun. It’s time to do the right thing.

The enduring popularity of The Borrowers illustrates to children, and each of us Adults, that the road to personal responsibility is, at times a difficult road to travel. Today we face a bigger challenge of losing life itself.

What to do with a big problem like Global Climate Change?

Make it smaller…many pieces smaller.

Join together with others in a world wide community of  awareness and action.

Pick up your personal piece of the Global Climate Change challenge.

Think small but start walking!

Vote Earth!

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” Confucius

Let’s be good “human beans” and not “witless” borrowers of the future of our children and grandchildren.

#BAD09

#VoteEarth

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So here I am now 4 months into in-tech love with my iPhone. I keep rewriting this post about how wonderful the iPhone is for Real Estate Agents. And the reason for the constant editing is that it seems that every day I find another great App that comes onto the market that’s helpful to Realtors® in the daily practice of real estate.

It’s an awesome Christmas morning feeling when I see that little update light go on telling me that there’s a new exciting feature for one of my Apps. One of life’s simple pleasures!

Now, I have some good friends that I respect. They have brand x phones or hand helds. Are you a Realtor with a brand x phone/hand held?

Give it away.  Or sell it to your friend, sister, brother or neighbor who is not in real estate and get an iPhone. Do I really mean that? I do.

Ok, now on to the fun part. It took me forever to find out how to make these cool screen shots. So now I’m going to share it with you so you can write a post and share your favorite iPhone Apps.

Here’s how to copy your iPhone screen: Display the screen you want to capture, hold down the depressed button on the bottom and then click the top on/off switch once quickly, voila a copy of the screen is saved to your photo App. See, you prolly already knew that, but I didn’t. Then email the screen capture to yourself or send it to Posterous. Easy peasy!

Judy’s 15 Must Have iPhone Real Estate Apps:

Near Buy - one of the most ingenious and useful Apps for Realtors. Showing a house? Buyer asks, “how much is that house down the street”. Walking your adorable Bichon pup named “Daisy” (oops that’s me) and a neighbor asks about a house she saw? Look it up on the spot in Near Buy. You look really smart.

Around Me – tell your Buyers about all the lifestyle, interesting places around a neighborhood like hospitals, theaters, hotels, supermarkets, taxis, parking, etc. It takes much more than 4 br 2.5 baths to make a happy client.

Smarter Agent – Accurate, clean, well designed real estate app.  It really works like a Swiss Watch for looking up property, listing contact information, etc.

Trulia – Excellent Real Estate Property App. When I’m at an Open House, my iPhone is set to open in Trulia.  Guaranteed, that someone will ask me if there are any other open houses in the area or they will ask the price of the other two listings in the neighborhood.

Zillow – Check out the Zestimates as Zillow names them. They’re often not accurate in my area, but it’s good to know what clients are finding online.

Walk Score – Walk Score is becoming huge to City planners as more and more people seem to want a “town center” or walk to shopping. It just depends on your market. In some high end market areas it might not be a plus having a high “walk to” score. No question though, that the concept of a town center is a definite trend in housing.

My New Place – This one’s new on my iPhone. For many reasons, Rental properties may be trending stronger. Anyway, there’s always a need to share Rental costs with clients if only to illustrate the investment benefits of owning a home compared to financing the landlords real estate dreams.

Calcs Pro and Fast Figures – are two nice financial Apps that walk you through some of the important numbers that buyers and sellers need to consider. There’s no substitute for talking to a trustworthy Trident Mortgage Representative (call for the name and number of my fav), but these can help.

Evernote – is a powerful Organizer/Note taking App I learn more about every day.  You can send photo, voice notes, and to do’s to, even pdf files to Evernote. The Home Inspector hands you a business card – take a photo of the card together with the info and you won’t be searching through your pockets looking for the information when you need it.

Gas Buddy – Road Warriors can save money and find the lowest gas price no matter where you are.

Yelp – Long day of showing homes? Just open Yelp to find your clients favorite spot when you want to take a coffee or lunch break.

365 Holidays – Need to know if a contract day falls on a holiday? Of course you do.

Twitteralator Pro and Tweetie – I like both of these for keeping up with the latest and greatest on Twitter. If I had pick just one, it would be Twitteralator Pro. But I also like Tweetie because it’s simple and easy to flip through the tweets for a quick read.

Facebook – The iPhone Facebook App makes it easy to stay socially connected with friends and family and clients.

The iTunes Store has over 75,000 Apps for the iPhone and I have just 72 of them. My favorite Photo Apps will be the subject of my next iPhone post. I use my Nikon DSLR together with a fabulous wide angle lens for taking my listing photos and for my  jp Real Estate Photography service for area agents.  But a few great iPhone Photo Apps are a must have for every Realtor. You know, “a picture being worth more than a thousand words” or dollars in the case of real estate.

Stay tuned. Tell me about YOUR favorite Apps.

Buyers and Sellers, want to work with a tech savvy Realtor who will use every available real estate marketing and social media tool to get your Chester County Main Line Pa property sold or help you find you the perfect new home? Give me a call now, Judy Peterson, Realtor 610-889-5509, Prudential Fox and Roach Realtors Devon Home Marketing Center. I can help.

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Bring Canned Goods For REACT

The Deb Callahan Band Plus 15 other Bands will be performing in Paoli with a FREE Concert at the location of the Paoli Village Shoppes across from the Paoli Train Station and in other Paoli area locations such as Malvern Federal, Ace Paoli Hardware (my fav for kids toys and fix it help!), CVS in Paoli Plaza and the Paoli Design Center all sponsors of the event.

Bring some non-perishable food donations to support the REACT Food Closet. Valley Forge REACT, needs your help. REACT, together with assistance from the community and members of the Tredyffrin-Easttown Fire and Police force  assists area families in need every day and through the holidays.

Have fun and do good! A winning combination.

Saturday 10/3/09 12 Noon to 6pm RAIN OR SHINE!

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Saturday September 19th between 12 noon and 5pm (rain or shine). Mark your calendars for the annual tour of historic homes in Tredyffrin Township. The 5th Annual Historic House Tour Ticket  Order Form can be used if you like to mail your check or you can order your Tour Tickets online at the Tredyffrin  History website.

Highlights for The Tredyffrin 5th Annual Historic House Tour will

Antoinette's Day Spa Paoli Pa 19301

showcase 7  Private Historic Homes in Tredyffrin Township PLUS a bonus tour of the Wharton Esherick Museum AND a special Welcoming Tour by this year’s sponsor, Antoinette’s Day Spa of Paoli.

Come learn about some of the hidden historic gems in Tredyffrin Township. And don’t forget to thank the home owners who so graciously open their homes for us to enjoy on this special day. As in the past, a map of Historic Home  locations, a tour badge and a history will be provided at the pick up location.

Of course you can make a donation to the Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust anytime. Today would be good!

But Saturday, September 19th you also get a fabulous tour of historic homes by knowledgeable tour guides and the opportunity to enjoy our community with neighbors and friends. Contact Pattye Benson, Historic Preservation Trust President 610-644-6759, with any questions about the house tour.

*Photo Credits: Pattye Benson

Contact or call Judy Peterson, 610-889-5509 for Tredyffrin Historic Homes for sale, Tredyffrin new homes for sale and for help getting your Tredyffrin Township home sold for the highest and best price in the least amount of time. My promise – “Superb Service and Superb Results”. You deserve the best internet savvy real estate marketing in the Chester County, Main Line Pa area provided by me and my team at Prudential Fox and Roach Realtors Devon Home Marketing Center.

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I took Daisy for a walk early this morning and felt that invigorating zip in the morning air that I just love. Heat and humidity are not my fav. Now the A/C is off and PECO is on their own for awhile.

Getting ready to celebrate Labor Day, September 7th 2009? Here’s a few fun ideas for you and your family to do to help savor the last weekend of Summer:

The Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show and Country Fair Labor Day Weekend September 5, 6 and 7 is an annual Family Tradition. $7 for Adults and $3 for Children makes this event a winner for families.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art will be open this Labor Day.

Chaddsford Labor Day Weekend Jazz Festival September 5, 6 and 7 from 12 – 6pm featuring “cool wines and hot jazz”. $25.00 per person.

The 102nd Arden Fair Saturday September 5, 2009 in Wilmington DE – featuring folk music, dancing and children’s games, craft vendors and antiques market.

Longwood Garden’s Fireworks and Fountains Display September 6th. Folk rock concert September 5th and a Artistic Harvest Design Vegetable Display September 5th – 7th.

The Boro of West Chester Pa is usually humming with fun things to do so check out Downtown West Chester. They’ve got you covered for fun events.

“I Scream You Scream We All Scream For Ice Cream”

Each  Summer and Labor Day fun thing to do is a little better with some ice cream. Visit Some of our favorite outdoor ice cream haunts as a tribute to the last days of Summer:

Chester Springs Creamery at Milky Way Farm – 521 Uwchlan Avenue Chester Springs. Best ice cream and fun place to visit! Don’t miss the pumpkins and hayrides in the Fall.

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream 576 Lancaster Avenue Berwyn offers creative and unusual flavors plus your usual favs. You will be lured into a return visit.

Rita’s Water Ice in the Chesterbrook Shopping Center on 500 Chesterbrook Blvd Wayne Pa.

Maggie Moos – Gateway Shopping Center 231 E Swedesford Road, Wayne Pa

Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt – 209 W Lancaster Avenue Wayne Pa

And don’t forget that our Parks in Chester County, Main Line Pa, Delaware County Area are some of the finest anywhere. You can picnic, canoe or just take a relaxing, leisurely walk in the park.

Do you have a favorite Labor Day Fun Thing To Do or place to visit?

Labor Day weekend is a good time to buy a house or even just ask a few real estate questions. Contact or call me, Judy Peterson 610-889-5509 with ALL your real estate questions and concerns.

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My Apple iPhone 3GS adventure actually began more than a few years ago with a couple of Palm Pilots. I thought they were great until now!

Even though I’m an Apple newbie, I already love my  iPhone3Gs. The new iPhone was a Birthday present.

The launch date fell exactly 30 days after my real birthday, so I was counting the days along with the rest of the world and just barely resisted the temptation to stand in line in the predawn hours at the Apple Store in the King of Prussia Mall on June 19th.

6 Tips + iPhone 3Gs Fav Real Estate Apps

• Tip #1 – Be sure to download the latest version of iTunes before you try to sync your new iPhone for the first time. It’s a “must have” and a big file.
• Tip #2 – Be prepared to manually save codes and passwords not in Outlook!
• Tip #3 – Get a non-reflective plastic cover to protect the screen from scratches.
• Tip #4 -  If you like to wear your phone as I do, consider the Incase Clip Case. The clip folds out functioning like a convenient desk stand.
• Tip #5 – Consider a car charger to recharge on the go. These goodies suck up those little juice bars faster than you can say, “AT&T”
• Tip #6 – Get thee to an Apple Store and find the Geniuses in the Orange Shirts. They didn’t give up until they synced my favorite blue tooth ear piece. You’ll come away wishing all service was this good!

8 Favorite iPhone3Gs Apps…So Far!

The Apps alone are enough to send any minor league techie into nirvana. Most of the 50,000+ Apps are less than $1 or $2. These are my favs so far:

• PhotoGene – Fun for house pics to buyers
• Calc Pro – an excellent PITI+ Mortgage Calculator
• NearBuy – shows current geotag location of real estate listings
• Sharper Agent – MLS Listings Search
• Google – with Google Apps and Voice Search
• Weather Bug – great for road warriors!
• 365 Holidays -  scheduling around holidays.
• Yelp – foodie favs and events reviews

Contact or call Judy Peterson, Realtor, Prudential Fox and Roach Realtors with ALL of your Chester County Main Line Pa real estate questions and concerns and share your favorite iPhone Apps, 610-889-5509 direct or 484-431-7195 mobile.

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Memorial Day Fun For May 2009

As a youngster, I recall going to  Woolworth’s Five and Dime Store to buy some flags (2 for a nickel) to line the path to our front door.  Flags were intertwined with some beloved rose bushes that made our Philadelphia Twin Style home look very grand!

*Monday 5/25/2009 Radnor Memorial Day Parade begins at 9:45am “Rain or Shine” at 150 N Radnor Chester Road and proceeds West on Lancaster Avenue with a Memorial Day Ceremony at the corner of Aberdeen and South Wayne following the Parade.

*Sunday 5/31/2009 Malvern Pa Memorial Day Parade from 1:30pm to 4:30pm in the Borough of Malvern.

Whether you’re having a back yard picnic, headed “downtheshore” or plan to take a Chester County walk in the park for a picnic, there’s plenty to do.

Have a real estate question or see a house online or driving by that you want to know more about or would like to visit? I can help! This is a great time to be a Chester County Main Line Pa home buyer! Just send me an email or give me a call.

Enjoy a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend!

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There are so many fun things to do at the Devon Horse Show in Devon, Pa, that you won’t be sorry that you took my advice. Bring or borrow your favorite child to make the day all the merrier! Here are some of my photos from last year when I visited with my precious Granddaughter and her Mom and Dad.

Ride the Ferris wheel, an old fashioned merry go round, and of course you just must get a lemon stick, with a touch of sweet and a little pucker up all in one with a candy stick inserted into a fresh lemon, a Devon Horse Show tradition since 1896. Visit the regal stalls and see some magnificent horses, visit the traditional Tea Cart, play some carnival games and shop the unique  specialty shops of the Main Line. Maybe you’ll see the rich and famous such as William Shatner of Star Wars and Boston Legal fame who rides and shows at Devon as do many talented entrants from around the globe.

You have to admire the incredible skill and grace of all of the riders who so enthusiastically participate in the historic Devon Horse Show. Charming, and you know, totally Main Line!  All for a good cause – to benefit Bryn Mawr Hospital. Having fun while doing good, another Main Line tradition!

Buy your tickets at the gate. Show times run from May 21 to May 30th.

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The Real Estate “Blame Game” has become our current national sport.  So far, we’ve raked the Buyers, the Realtors and the Brokers and the Mortgage Companies over the coals.  This week we’re moving on to the Appraisers and legislating the free flow of information.

As of May 1, 2009 there will be new property Appraisal guidelines but not everyone agrees that we need new Appraisal guidelines as reported in the Wall Street Journal yesterday.

If it’s not the Realtors and the Broker’s fault for pricing and marketing real estate for what it would sell for, then maybe it’s the Appraisers “fault” for appraising the property according to the then existing market activity of what buyers were willing clamoring to pay for property.

Of course there is a need for some Mortgage and Lending reform and the National Association of Realtors supports the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2009,  H.R. 1728. You can read  NAR President Charles McMillan’s testimony in support of Lending reforms with modification.

Under the new guidelines, Appraisers will no longer call me about one of my sold and settled listings to help them compare the features and benefits to one of their current “subject” properties. I will no longer be able to meet an Appraiser at my Sellers property to share the comparable sold’s that I used to price the property. The Mortgage Company will not be able to call the Appraiser for any reason, much less, to ask for a “rush” for a special relocating family trying to get their children into school before the start of the school year.

Awhile ago a Philadelphia Center City Real Estate Agent  sold one of my  suburban Main Line homes to a Buyer living in Center City who used a Philadelphia Center City Appraiser. I only knew this because the Realtor and the Appraiser asked me for comparable sold information. I met the Realtor and the Appraiser at my Listing. As a representative of  the best interests of my Seller, I shared the comparable solds that I had used to price the property.

Just to be clear, I’ve never wrestled an Appraiser to the ground nor tried to tell him how to do his job nor do I know of any Mortgage people who’ve done that. The only time I talk to Appraiser’s is when they call me.

On occasion, I’ve shared my knowledge and the benefit of my experience about the neighborhood and other homes that had sold in the area to everyone’s benefit.

Why Legislating Appraisal and Lending Free Speech Is A Bad Idea

1. *Appraiser can’t know the circumstances of every sale
2. *Realtors see more properties every day than Appraisers
3. *Drawing from a pool of Appraisers? Are they equally capable in all markets? Who controls the selection pool?
4. *Appraising and pricing property is as much art as science. Four bedrooms and two and a half baths doesn’t begin to tell the story of market value differences.
5. *Real estate transactions depend on the free flow of information between Professionals guided by professional confidentiality safeguards already in place.
6. The best Appraisers may leave the business when their competitive skills are no longer rewarded
   

But no more talking. That’s over! With potential fines of $10,000 every Realtor, Broker and Appraiser will become a target for some consumers who already believe they “paid too much” for the property.

• Too bad for you, the Consumer!
• Too bad for the Sellers!
• Too bad for you, the Buyers!
• Too bad for the Appraisers!

Give this real estate market a year or two of working under these guidelines and in my opinion we’ll soon be talking about the “Law of Unintended Consequences” and “throwing the baby out with the bath water”.

What do you think?

Contact or Call Judy Peterson Realtor, with ALL of your Real Estate Questions, 610.889.5509 Prudential Fox and Roach Realtors Devon Home Marketing Center.

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