Funny Friday – Funeral Remarks
March 12th, 2010 | 
Author:
Here it is, Friday once again! Time for a laugh to start out your weekend.
Funeral Remarks
Three friends die in a car accident and they go to an orientation in heaven.
They are all asked, “When you are in your casket and friends and family are talking about you, what would you like them to say?”
The first guy says, “I would like to hear them say that I was a great doctor of my time, and a great family man.”
The second guy says, “I would like to hear that I was a wonderful husband and school teacher, who made a big difference in our children of tomorrow.”
The last guy replies, “I would like to hear them say, “Look! He’s moving!!”
Brigita McKelvie, REALTOR, e-PRO, GRI
Pennsylvania License #RS297130
Residential, Rural and Horse Properties and Farms
Keller Williams Real Estate, Bethlehem, PA
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Wordless Wednesday – Can’t Wait for Spring!!!
Brigita McKelvie, REALTOR, e-PRO, GRI
Pennsylvania License #RS297130
Residential, Rural and Horse Propterties and Farms
Keller Williams Real Estate, Bethlehem, PA
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Here’s What’s Happening in the Nazareth and Northampton Area School Districts in Pennsylvania for February 2010
Here is what’s happening in the Nazareth Area School District and Northampton Area School District in Pennsylvania for February 2010 in Real Estate:
|
February, 2010 |
Nazareth Area School District, Pennsylvania |
Northampton Area School District, Pennsylvania |
|
Number of Sales |
12 |
11 |
|
Average Price |
$301,000 |
$171,000 |
|
Median Sales Price |
$268,000 |
$184,000 |
|
Active Listings (homes that are for sale) |
36 |
54 |
|
New Listings |
36 |
56 |
|
Pending Sales |
9 |
26 |
Recommendation:
If you’re buying a home, it is important that you work closely with a highly-motivated agent who understands what’s going on with the real estate market and local economy. He/She will be able to advise you on how to get the most for your money and what homes you may want to avoid, as there are homes on the market that are not priced at their fair market value.
If you’re selling your home, it’s also important that you work closely with a highly-motivated agent who understands what’s going on with the market and local economy. Your goal is to net top dollar – which you may not achieve if you overprice or underprice your home.
Brigita McKelvie, REALTOR, e-PRO, GRI
Pennsylvania License #RS297130
Keller Williams Real Estate, Bethlehem, PA
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Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania Market Update – The Year in Review – February 2009 and February 2010
Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Market Update – The Year in Review – Comparison Activity from February 2009 to February 2010.
The number of sales during February 2010 were up approximately 10.4% with 254 sales from 230 sales in February 2009.
The average sales price for February 2010 was recorded at $189,000, as compared to February 2009 with the average sales price of $196,000. That was a decrease of about 3.6% for the average sales price. The average sales price is obtained by dividing th number of sales into the total sales dollars.
The median sales price for February 2010 was recorded at $165,000, which is a decrease compared to February 2009 with a median of $166,000. The median indicates the mid-point of the range of prices. Half the homes sell for less, while half the homes sell for more.
The average market time for properties sold in February 2010 was 87 days, which remained the same compared to February 2009 at 87.
The average sale price compared to list price for residential properties sold during the month of February 2010 is 95%, which is an increase compared to February 2009 at 94%.
Brigita McKelvie, REALTOR, e-PRO, GRI
Pennsylvania License #RS297130
Residential, Rural and Horse Properties and Farms
Keller Williams Real Estate, Bethlehem, PA
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Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Market Update for February 2010
The Market Update for the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania for February 2010 has arrived. Let’s take a look at the figures as compared to January 2010:
The number of sales during February 2010 were up by approximately 2.4%, at 254 sales reported as compared to 248 sales in January 2010.
The average sales price for February 2010 was recorded at $189,000, down approximately 6.4% from January 2010 when the average price of the month was recorded at $202,000. The Average Sales Price is obtained by dividing the number of sales into the total sales dollars.
The median sales price for February 2010 was recorded at $165,000 which is a decrease compared to January 2010 with a median price of $175,000. The Median price indicates the mid-point range of prices. Half of the homes sell for less, while half the homes sell for more.
The average time on the market for properties sold during February 2010 was 87 days, which is an increase compared to Janaury 2010 at 82 days.
For newly constructed homes with 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths the average sales price for February 2010 is $406,000 as compared to $363,000 in January 2010. The median sales price was recorded at $389,000 for February 2010 as compared to $327,000 in January 2010. This information is based on 10 new construction sales sold in February 2010.
February Sales Distribution
Sale Price Number of Sales
under $70,000 35
70,001 – $100,000 20
$100,001 – $150,000 51
$150,001 – $200,000 56
$200,001 – $250,000 34
$250,001 – $300,000 26
$300,001 – $350,000 13
$350,001 – $400,000 8
$400,001 – $450,000 4
$450,001 – $500,000 1
$500,001 – $600,000 1
$600,001 – $700,000 4
$700,001 – $800,000 0
$800,001 and above 1
Brigita McKelvie, REALTOR, e-PRO, GRI
Pennsylvania License #RS297130
Residential, Rural and Horse Properties and Farms
Keller Williams Real Estate, Bethlehem, PA
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Apples and Bananas: Shopping for the right horse farm
Here is a great informative post by Chandra Mast. Everyone can learn from this one.
Read on:
In today’s real estate market, agents frequently compare the merits of one house to another, often in terms of their similar qualities. This is a popular game known as ‘apples to apples’. In this fashion, a buyer is able to focus on the differences during the decision making process. Number of bedrooms, baths, fireplaces, or garage parking, all become factors that can potentially be widdled down to a single ‘deal-breaker’ – and the buyer can let the entire decision rest on “Do I want to pay $X more for this house because it has a Y?”
What about a horse farm? In 2009, I toured 134 farms in Lancaster County with buyers and sellers. Apples to apples, just like their residential counterparts, horse farm shoppers ask “What’s this farm worth?” and “Is this the right farm for me?” . The differences split sharply when you consider what is at the top of their ‘deal breaker’ features list.
Topping everyone’s list is no surprise – Acreage! Give me the land for my horses to run and gallop. Buyers want the most bang for their buck. While townships and boroughs may vary on the horses per acre rules, the state of Pennsylvania clearly recommends at least 2 acres per horse. That’s useable acres folks; if the house and drive take up 2 acres on a 6 acre farmette, then those 2 acres don’t count.
In second place is existing condition of horse pastures. An easy deal breaker is poor fencing or no fencing. Two farms that say “bring your horses” may have similar acreage; however the one with the 4 plank runs, level gates, and maximum pasture coverage gets the gold star. Repairs to older wire fencing can be an even larger deterrent if time to mend includes a tear down. Even a single paddock can allow a horse shopper to say “I’ll put my horse here, while I install the fencing I need.”
The third largest concern when shopping for a horse farm is the condition of the barn. I too ask myself, “What would it take for me to walk my horse in here, today?” In many cases, a good broom will go a long ways towards clearing cobwebs and clearing aisles. At the edge of “bring your horses” are farms where the stalls all need stripped, de-cluttered, floors re-leveled, mats brought in, and fresh bedding. Farm shoppers will walk through and mentally count how many stalls x widgets needed to be removed/installed. Those farm hours add up quick!
After touring your farm, all horse amenities will be surmised – some tours end here. It will simply not suit for the horses, and we need not go further. If it does seem passable for our equine companions, then there is consideration of a house. ‘Is there one?’ Apples to bananas, the homes that follow are the most extreme motley of unlike homes. The needs of the horse come first. Be it a mobile, rancher, or a grand maison, they will not be weighed on the number of baths and beds, so much as, ‘Is there one?’
Food for thought.
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Knock On the Door – Funny Friday
A pastor was visiting the homes of his parishioners.
At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door. Therefore, he took out a card and wrote, “Revelation 3:20″ on the back of it, and stuck it in the door.
When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, “Genesis 3:10″.
Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in laughter.
Revelation 3:10 begins, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.”
Genesis 3:10 reads, “I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid, for I was naked.”
Brigita McKelvie, REALTOR, e-PRO, GRI
Pennsylvania license #RS297130
Residential, Rural and Horse Properties and Farms
Keller Williams Real Estate, Bethlehem, PA
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Open House Sunday, March 7th, 2010, in the Nazareth Area School District in Pennsylvania
Attention! All buyers interested in purchasing a town home in the Nazareth Area School District!
Mark this date. Sunday, March 7th, 2010 I will be holding an open house in the Redcliffe Townhome development in the Nazareth Area School District in Pennsylvania.
This townhouse is a brand new end unit at an amazingly low price. It includes numerous upgrades, fireplace in the Family Room. The kitchen has a center island with crown molding. It also features a second floor laundry.
The address is 3575 Penfield Way. The directions to this home are as follows:
Take Route 22 to Route 512 North towards Bath for about 10 minutes. In Bath, make a right onto Route 248 East. Go about 1/2 mile and Redcliffe Townhomes are on our left.
Come out and see this new home at an affordable price. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity.
Brigita McKelvie, REALTOR, e-PRO, GRI
Pennsylvania License #RS297130
Residential, Rural and Horse Properties and Farms
Keller Williams Real Estate, Bethlehem, PA
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The 10 Commandments When Applying for a Real Estate Loan
If you are in the market for buying for a home, there are some rules to follow when you are applying for a real estate loan.
The 10 Commandments to follow when applying for a Real Estate Loan are:
1. Thous shalt NOTchange jobs, become self-employed or quit your job.
2. Thou shalt NOT buy a car,truck or van (or you may be living in it)!
3. Thou shalt NOT use charge cards excessively or let your accounts fall behind.
4. Thou shalt NOT spend money you have set aside for closing.
5. Thou shalt NOT omit debts or liabilities from your loan application.
6. Thous shalt NOT buy furniture.
7. Thous shalt NOT originate any inquiries into your credit.
8. Thou shalt NOT make large deposits withour first checking with your loan officer.
9. Thous shalt NOT change bank accounts.
10. Thou shalt NOT co-sign a loan for ANYONE.
Brigita McKelvie, REALTOR, e-PRO, GRI
Pennsylvania License #RS297130
Residential, Rural and Horse Properties and Farms
Keller Williams Real Estate, Bethlehem, PA
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Wordless Wednesday – Nazareth, Pennsylvania After the Last Snowstorm
Brigita McKelvie, REALTOR, e-PRO, GRI
Pennsylvania License #RS297130
Residential, Rural and Horse Properties and Farms
Keller Williams Real Estate, Bethlehem, PA
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Brigita McKelvie