Faulkland Heights DE Homes Market Update

Faulkland Heights has continued to be a popular local home choice with stable home prices and strong sales activity.

Faulkland Heights is a nice single family residential community located in north central New Castle County with easy access to both Wilmington and Newark. Positioned at the intersection of Faulkland and Centerville Roads, it is just to the north and west of Kirkwood Highway and Route 141. This provides quick access throughout northern New Castle County.

With the first properties completed in 1959, construction in Faulkland Heights continued from 1959 through 1965 with the greatest number of homes completed in 1960 and 1961. With over 400 properties, there is a nice variety of sizes and styles ranging from 1150 sqft ranches to 2000+ sqft colonials and splits. The most popular styles were the 1500 to 2000 sqft ranches found through much of the community.

Faulkland Heights pricing and sales activity seem to be strengthening. The average sales price in the community reached a peak in 2007 with 11 sales at an average price of $250,000. Activity peaked a year later with 18 sales at an average price of $224,000. Sales activity and prices both eased until we appeared to reach some stability in 2011 and 2012 where in both years there were 11 sales at an average price of $184,000.

In 2013 year-to-date, Faulkland Heights has seen 14 sales with an average sales price of $180,000. There are also 2 sales pending averaging $192,000, and two properties are currently on the market listed for an average of $177,000. Individually the sales prices have ranged from $111,000 to $216,000 while the active properties range from $150,000 to $204,000. The pricing reflects the wide variation in condition currently seen in the various properties.

With increased activity and an overall strengthening market, Faulkland Heights home pricing and sales activity should continue to be stable or rising. For those needing quick access to Kirkwwod Highway, Route 141, and north central New Castle County, it should remain a great alternative.

David Henke
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc – Bear, DE/Devon, PA
Office: 302-834-3431/Direct: 610-618-0808
www.DelawarePAHomes.com

(All statistics per the TrendMLS System and believed accurate but not guaranteed)

2013 Hockessin Library Used Book Sale This Week!

This week the Friends of the Hockessin Library will be holding their annual Hockessin Library Used Book Sale beginning on Thursday evening and running through Sunday.

Beginning with the Members Preview Night on Thursday January 17, the Friends of the Hockessin Library will open their four-day annual book event this week. With over 70,000 used books (including over 50,000 hardbacks) and numerous CDs. DVDs, VHS Tapes, and paperbacks, there is something to please every age and taste. The used books will be divided into over 40 categories including the classics, biographies, fiction, nonfiction, children’s, and cookbooks. The stock will be continually replenished through Saturday.

On Thursday, the Hockessin Library Used Book Sale will open for members from 5-9PM. (Memberships will be available at the door for $10.) Then admission will be free with the doors open to the public on Friday from 9AM-9PM, Saturday 9AM-5PM, and Sunday from 9AM-3PM. Book prices begin at 50 cents, and on Sunday you will be able to fill a grocery bag for only $7.

As usual, the Used Book Sale will be held in the Hockessin Memorial Fire Hall located at the intersection of Lancaster Pike (Route 41) and Yorklyn Rd at the bottom of the hill in Hockessin DE.

Be sure to take some time this weekend to visit the sale. If you are looking for a gift, trying to find that classic for someone in your family, or just simply browsing for yourself, you are sure to find something interesting while supporting a great cause at the same time. Enjoy!

David Henke
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc – Wilmington, DE/Devon, PA
Office: 302-834-3431/Direct: 610-618-0808
www.DelawarePAHomes.com

Two Chances to Meet the New Castle County DE 2012 Candidates

Two candidate debates are being held locally in New Castle County this week.

Thinking about the election this year? Don’t yet know the local candidates? This week you have two opportunities to learn more about this years candidates.

On Monday, October 15, the Greater Hockessin Area Development Association (GHADA) is holding its General Election debate starting at 7PM. The debate will be held at the Hockessin Memorial Hall located at 1225 Old Lancaster Pike in Hockessin 19707. The debate will include a variety of local, county, and state candidates including the Lieutenant Governor candidates and President of County Council President candidates.

On Wednesday, October 17, the Civic League for New Castle County is hosting the County Candidate Night at the Cranston Heights Fire Hall on Kirkwood Highway. Allan Loudell from WDEL radio will be the moderator. From 7:00-7:45, the first panel will include the New Castle County Council Candidates for Council President and Council District 9. From 7:45-8:15, we will hear from the Senate level candidates. From 8:15-9:00, there will be a second panel including the two New Castle County Executive candidates.

These elections are important, particularly this year. Be sure to take the opportunity to learn about the candidates and the local issues.

David Henke
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc – Wilmington, DE/Devon, PA
Office: 302-834-3431/Direct: 610-618-0808
www.DelawarePAHomes.com

New Castle County Homes Sales Activity Report

Inventories drop and activity rises as home prices fall to a more sustainable level in New Castle County DE.

After seeing a rise in listing activity in 2010 with stable pricing leading to reduced sales, we saw the area’s home sales activity begin to rise in 2011 as prices and inventories began to fall – particularly at the end of the year. The data below illustrate the last few years of activity both for all of New Castle County and the Brandywine/North Wilmington area in particular.

New Castle County:
For 2012 Year To Date:
Year:  Homes Listed | Homes under Contract | Homes Sold
2012:         :2301                     1484                          1122
                       Average Home Sold for $195,000 in 95 Days
For the entire Previous Years:
2011:        :8568                 4708(54%)                 4404(51%)
                        Average Home Sold for $218,000 in 94 Days
2010:        :9795                 4322(44%)                 4247(43%)
.                       Average home Sold for $242,000 in 80 days
2009:        :9351                 4939(52%)                 4794(51%)
.                       Average home Sold for $240,000 in 79 days

For Brandywine/North Wilmington:
For 2012 Year To Date:
Year:  Homes Listed | Homes under Contract | Homes Sold
2012:         :280                     228                            170
                       Average Home Sold for $222,000 in 96 Days
For the entire Previous Years:
2011:        :1234                  755(61%)                  754(61%)
                        Average Home Sold for $252,000 in 91 Days
2010:        :1442                 721(50%)                 694(48%)
.                       Average home Sold for $269,000 in 74 days
2009:        :1231                 774(62%)                  762(61%)
.                       Average home Sold for $272,000 in 72 days

Unlike previous years, sales activity has been strong enough to avoid the normal build up in inventory that one often sees during the beginning of the year. Buyers are taking advantage of the recent decline in prices and continuing low interest rates to buy at the current lower prices. This has also allowed sellers to sell fairly quickly, if priced aggressively, providing some flexibility to move up or down in the market.

We have not seen this activity uniformly across the area. Some areas and neighborhoods continue to have an abundance of available properties so pricing should continue to be fairly stable throughout the area.

As always, if you are thinking of a move and would like more details on the market values in your area, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime for a market update or a complete complimentary market analysis for your home.

David Henke
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc – Bear, DE/Devon, PA
Office: 302-834-3431/Direct: 610-618-0808
www.DelawarePAHomes.com  

(All statistics per the TrendMLS System and believed accurate but not guaranteed)

Hockessin DE Library Used Book Sale This Weekend!

The Friends of the Hockessin Library will be holding their Annual Used Book Sale this Thursday through Sunday.

Just a quick reminder that this weekend the Friends of the Hockessin Library will be holding their annual Hockessin Library Used Book Sale. There will be over 60,000 thousand books available covering every imaginable area including mysteries, biographies, science fiction, cookbooks, children’s books, and much more.  They will even have videos, CDs and DVDs available.

The Sale opens with a preview Thursday night from 5-9 PM for Members of the Friends of the  Hockessin Library. Then on Friday the Used Book Sale will be open from 9-9, Saturday 9-5, and Sunday 9-3. Admission is free for those three days. Sunday is bargain day when you can fill a grocery bag for $6.00. See their website for additional details. The sale will be centrally located at the Hockessin Memorial Fir Hall at the Junction of Lancaster Pike and Yorklyn Rd in Hockessin. The money raised supports the operations of the library as well as scholarship money for college.

If you are looking for books for yourself, gifts, or have birthdays/events coming up, this is a great chance to find some interesting reading material and support a good cause at the same time. It is always a great time to read a book!

David Henke
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc – Bear, DE/Newtown Square, PA
Office: 302-290-2999/Cell: 610-618-0808
www.DelawarePAHomes.com