Classic Drexel Hill Twin – Open House Sunday – 4109 Vernon

This Sunday, October 16, from 12:00 – 2:00, we will be having an OPEN HOUSE at 4109 Vernon Rd in Drexel Hill PA 19026.

Vernon Rd is located in Drexel Hill PA just south of Garrett Rd and west of Burmont Rd. This location provides easy access to Baltimore Pike, State Rd, and Township Line/Route 1 providing easy connections to most of Delaware County. It is also just minutes from I-476 to the west or I-95 and the Philadelphia Airport to the south for commutes into Philadelphia, Wilmington, or Norristown. Vernon is also just moments from great entertainment and dining options throughout the area. The home is less than three blocks from the SEPTA 102 Trolley Line Drexel Manor stop providing immediate access to 69th Street and Philadelphia.

Listed by Arleen Kelly, 4109 Vernon is a classic Drexel Hill Twin home. The property has three bedrooms and 1 bath. The living room includes a wood burning fireplace and opens to an enclosed front porch and light bright dining room. Upstairs you will find three bedrooms with a full ceramic bath. There is an unfinished direct walkout basement and a one car garage. It has been freshly painted outside and has newer tilt-in windows and hardwood floors throughout.

Vernon is competitively priced at $122,500. Drexel Hill twin homes in the immediate area have an average asking price of $136,000. There are currently 6 homes under contract with an average list price of $135,000, and there have been 16 sales at an average $126,000 final price.

With it’s great location, multiple commuting options, and easy access to all the area has to offer, 4109 Vernon is a great home that should be included in any visit to the area.

***Be sure to stop by this Sunday from 12-2***

Directions: From Township Line Rd/Route 1 or State Rd go south on Burmont to Garrett. Proceed west on Garrett two blocks to south on Drexel to right on Vernon. From Baltimore Pike, go north on Garrett until you reach Drexel and turn right to Vernon.

David Henke
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc – Devon,PA/Bear, DE
Office: 610-225-7400/Direct: 610-618-0808
www.DelawarePAHomes.com  

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

Farm Life at Collen Brook Farm Sunday May 22 from 1-4 in Drexel Hill Upper Darby PA

As it gears up for its active summer season, Collen Brook Farm is holding its annual Spring Festival: Farm Life at Collen Brook  this Sunday from 1:00 – 4:00.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the current home including many additions was started in 1710. The farm was founded on 150 acres in 1692 and subsequently grew to over 1000 acres in Delaware County before much of the land was sold off for development in the 1930’s – 1950’s. Inhabited by direct descendants for almost 300 years, Upper Darby Township acquired the home in 1989. It is now opened as a museum by the Upper Darby Historical Society from May through October. The property is a great example of an 18th century farmhouse and retains many of its original features.

On Sunday, Collen Brook Farm will be hosting its annual Spring Festival: Farm Life at Collen Brook Farm. This event will include sheep shearing, wool spinning, and other demonstrations, as well as musical entertainment, refreshments, and, of course, tours of the Historic Mansion and Grounds. This is an ideal day for children to learn of 18th and 19th century life with games, live animals, and even the opportunity for pictures in period costumes.

The property is situated off Mansion Road at Marvine Avenue in Drexel Hill just south of Township Line Road and west of the Aronimink School on Burmont Rd. This is a great opportunity for the entire family to learn more about our Upper Darby History and enjoy a great afternoon outdoors.

David Henke
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc  Devon PA/Wilmington DE
Direct:610-618-0808 – Office:610-225-7400
www.DelawarePAHomes.com 

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day!
Enjoy the last great weekend of summer and one last chance to relax before school and the fall events kick into high gear.

Just a quick reminder that this remains a great time to be in the market with incredibly low interest rates, higher than average inventories, and more time to make the right decision.  Feel free to call anytime with questions.

David Henke
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc – Newtown Square,PA/Bear, DE
Office: 610-359-3853/Cell: 610-618-0808
www.DelawareCountyPennsylvaniaHomes.com

907 Morgan Av Drexel Hill PA – Open House – Sunday Oct 25 from 1:00-3:00

This Sunday- October 25, we will be holding an Open House at 907 Morgan Avenue from 1:00-3:00 in the Aronimink Section of Drexel Hill.

Located just one block east of Drexel Avenue, two blocks north of State Rd, and three blocks south of Township Line Rd, 907 Morgan Av is centrally located in the prime Aronimink Estates Section of Drexel Hill PA.  On a quiet tree lined street with plenty of area parking, the home is situated within easy access of many commuting options.  It is just blocks from the SEPTA 101 Trolley heading toward Media or the 69th Street Terminal and Philadelphia beyond.  It is also just off Township Line Road/ Route 1 providing easy access to both I-476/ The Blue Route to the west or I-76/ the Schuykill Expressway to the northeast.

The home itself is a hard to find Spanish Colonial.  This design maintains the amenities of the traditional two story Colonial layout but adds a more spacious floor plan as often seen in Craftsmen Style properties.  This results in a much more open floor plan with the front door opening directly into the living room with wide generous arched doorways leading to the adjacent family room and formal dining room. Completing the first floor, there is an eat-in kitchen opening to the yard in the rear, a separate office or fourth bedroom, and powder room.

On the second floor there is a large deck situated above the living room affording peaceful tree lined views of the neighborhood.  There are an additional three bedrooms and one full bath on the second floor.  The large master and a second bedroom both have direct access to the front deck.  The spacious master also has two closets with the one walk through closet allowing private entry to the second floor bath.  There is also a floored walk-up attic accessed through the second bedroom.

Classic details are found throughout the home.  Both floors have high ceilings and hardwood floors.  There are also large French windows in the living room providing a sun filled environment and the option to open up the living room to the front patio area as seen in many Spanish style properties.  The style is also reinforced through tile and arch highlights found on both the exterior and interior of the home including the tile roof.  The living room contains a nice brick wood burning fireplace in its own alcove and there is a separate reading nook just off to the side.

The open floor plan provides tremendous flexibility in the use of the space and the details create a great platform to build your perfect home.  If you are considering a move and Drexel Hill is within your search area, please take the opportunity this Sunday from 1:00-3:00 to stop by and visit this very special property.

As always, if you have any questions, need any additional information. or would like a private tour, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

Oakview Station SEPTA Route 102 Trolley Upper Darby PA

Welcome to the Oakview Station on the SEPTA Route 102 Trolley Line located in Upper Darby PA.

The station itself is located at the Creek Rd bridge in Upper Darby.  It is the southernmost stop in Upper Darby just above Darby Creek.  It offers quick access to the Swedish Cabin, Darby Creek, and several residential areas in lower Upper Darby Township.

There is no assigned parking at the stop for commuters but it does have some limited space for dropping off and picking up passengers.  The platforms are also within walking distance of several residential areas.  On a relative basis this is one of the more remote stations on the system and does not have a large commercial, industrial, or residential base from which to draw passenger volume.  The video will provide a better feel for the area:

This station has easy access to several different communities so the local real estate is better covered by stations directly serving those areas.

If you live in the area and need a convenient connection to downtown Philadelphia, Sharon Hill, or any of the spots between, this is a convenient station to connect into the system.  If you are looking for a commuting station with ample parking, there are better options available.

As always, should you have any comments or need any additional information, please let me know anytime.

Briarcliffe PA and Westbrook Park PA Home Market Update

Both Briarcliffe PA and Westbrook Park PA continue to be popular and stable housing choices.

Briarcliffe Darby Pa was last visited here back in March.  Since that time, the local home pricing has actually strengthened although the activity has remained leisurely.  The average prices for 2009 have climbed 4% from the early 2009 sales to an average settled price of $144,000.  Activity has remained slow with only 26 settlements year to date with an additional 12 under contract, but this activity could surpass the overall 2008 numbers.

Compared to activity at the same time in 2008, prices have risen 1.6% while activity has fallen 33%.  These numbers are comparable to what we have been seeing throughout the county.  The prices are also a bit higher due to several single family homes entering the mix.  If the market remains under pressure, we could see some additional pullback in prices as the year progresses.  Inventory remains reasonable with 33 homes currently on the market (twice the level seen in March) with an average list price of $152,000 and an average of 133 days on the market.

Westbrook Park Upper Darby/ Clifton Heights PA has also continued to hold its own.  There have been 24 sales this year to date 2009 at an average price of $152,000 exactly matching the average for 2008.  As seen above sales activity declined 31% from the rate seen at this same time last year.  Pricing however has also remained basically stable falling from $153,000 in 2008 at this point to $152,000 this year.

The average days on the market have also climbed from 94 days in 2008 to 119 average days today.  Like Briarcliffe, this rise is not unreasonable, but the trend, should it continue, will lead to solid pressure to reduce prices.  There are now 21 homes on the market versus the 14 homes in January.  This seems reasonable on a seasonal basis.

Both communities continue to have solid sales and remain within the price range of many first time buyers. The activity could remain steady through the first part of October as potential buyers align themselves to take advantage of the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit.  After that point pricing will depend on the actions emanating from Washington DC and the overall economic situation.

As always, should you have any questions or need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

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

Upper Darby PA – Perfect For Today’s Market – Zip Code 19082

As a buyer or seller, if you are trying to take advantage of the $8000 First Time Home Buyer Tax credit, eastern Upper Darby Township is one of the key areas in the county that you may want to keep your eyes on.  Sales activity has fallen but remains stronger than in most areas of the county.  Prices have also fallen, making this an excellent time to buy for buyers and a great opportunity to take advantage of the market if a seller.

In general, Upper Darby Township can be split into two areas by zip code: 19026/ Drexel Hill to the west and 19082/ Upper Darby to the east.  Zip Code 19082 generally extends from the Philadelphia City border to the east out to Lansdowne Avenue on the west.  This area contains the commercial hub and SEPTA rail lines centered around the 69th Street Terminal.  The terminal itself is a major regional rail hub and acts as the main transfer point for the SEPTA 101 and 102 Trolleys, the Rt 100 High Speed Line to Norristown,  and the SEPTA Market-Frankford line coming from Downtown Philadelphia.  This is both a popular commuting station as well as a destination station for the local commercial activities.  This terminal also links to many area bus lines.

Zip 19082 / Upper Darby is also home to many well known residential communities such as Stonehurst, Bywood, Highland Park, and Beverly Hills.  This provides a great mix of housing options from smaller row homes, to twins, and larger single family homes.  There are also a few condominiums in the area.  All can take advantage of the great rail connections and the easy road links along State Rd, Lansdowne Avenue, West Chester Pike, and Township Line Road.  It is also a short trip directly down to the Philadelphia International Airport.

Real Estate pricing and actvity in zip code 19082 has mirrored what we have seen in the rest of the county but has seen a bit greater volatility.  Sales activity peaked in 2005 when there were 683 residential sales in the zip code with an average overall sales price of $103,000 – the first year the average sales price had exceeded $100,000.

Pricing continued to rise to an average home sales price of $116,000 in 2006, $120,000 in 2007, and $118,000 in 2008.  Sales were declining during the same time period to 605 homes sold in 2006, 463 in 2007, and 285 in 2008.  So far in 2009, we have seen 121 sales at an average price of $94,000 – falling to a price range that we last saw in 2004.  Today, there are an additional 182 homes on the market listed for an average price of $125,000 and 58 homes are under contract with an average list price of $108,000.

With it’s great location, easy rail and road access, and immediate proximity to Philadelphia, the Main Line, and the Airport, this area of eastern Upper Darby should remain popular.  With an average price now less than $100,000, many first time home buyers will be able to take advantage of the historically low interest rates, good prices, and the $8000 credit to make purchases in the area.  As the year progresses, Upper Darby could be a prime beneficiary of any first time home buyer activity as buyers try to take advantage of the $8000 First Time Home Buyer Credit before the scheduled expiration on November 30.

If you need any additional information, need contacts for financing, or are thinking of a move in the area, please feel free to call me anytime.

Pilgrim Gardens Drexel Hill PA Home Market Update

Conveniently located just off Township Line Rd and covering sections in the westernmost section of Upper Darby Township and southernmost Haverford Township, Pilgrim Gardens is one of the most popular housing choices in the area.

Developed largely in the fifties, the community contains over 800 homes per the public tax records but the core of the area is just west of Route 1 between the intersections with State Rd to the south and Burmont Rd to the north.  The entire community is located in the Drexel Hill zip code 19026.  This location provides great access to the Main Line, the Blue Route/ I476, the Trolley, and the major commuter routes of Route 1/ Township Line Rd, West Chester Pike, and Rt 320/ Sproul Rd.

In addition, the commercial development around Loehmans Plaza provides great shopping, restaurant, and workout facilities within walking distance of much of the community, while Drexeline Shopping Center is just down Township Line Rd.  The community is also home to the Aronimink Swim Club, and at the base of Warrior Rd is Glendale Field, the old home of Haverford Youth Football.

On a relative basis, the real estate activity in Pilgrim Gardens has remained much more stable here than seen in many areas of the county.  Pricing has fluctuated within a 10% range since 2004.  Pilgrim Gardens reached its highest average home price in 2006 at $281,000 but this was almost matched in 2008 when the pricing reached $280,000.  Pricing had risen from an average of $257,000 in 2004 to $270,000 in 2005, to $281,000, then back to $274,000 in 2007, up to $280,000 again, and finally to $259,000 in 2009 year to date.

Activity has also remained relatively stable.  In 2004, there were 14 listed home sales in the development.  This rose to 19 in 2005, back to 13 in 2006, 22 in 2007, 18 in 2008, and 6 in 2009 year to date.  There also an additional 3 homes under contract at an average price of $296,000.  At this list price level, we would expect to see the average price for 2009 to jump back up above the current $259,000 level to put it more in line with previous years – the sales rate should also end up within the range seen over the last five years.

With its great location, community amenities, and solid housing, Pilgrim Gardens should remain a top choice for people moving in the area.

As always, should you have any questions or need any information, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

Drexel Park SEPTA 101 & 102 Trolley Station in Drexel Hill Upper Darby PA

Today we’re in Drexel Hill visiting the Drexel Park Station for the SEPTA 101 and 102 trolleys in Upper Darby PA.

From the 69th Street Terminal out to the Drexel Junction, the 101 and 102 trolleys use the same tracks before splitting.  The 101 Trolley continues west to Media, while the 102 Trolley turns generally south to end in Sharon Hill.  The 102 Trolley line intersects with the  SEPTA R3 Regional Rail Line at the Clifton Aldan Station while the 101 generally parallels the R3 as it continues into Media.

The Drexel Park Station itself is a very well tended station designed to serve the local commuters as a walk up or drop off station.  There is no designated commuter parking for this stop or the next stop west at Irvington (also in Drexel Park).  It does have very frequent service to the 69th Street Terminal with continuing service on the high speed line toward Center City Philadelphia.  It remains a popular commuting option for the local residents.  The video will provide a better feel for the area:

Locally, the real estate market has experienced what we have been seeing throughout the county.  Drexel Park sales activity peaked in 2005 with 29 sales with an average price of $285,000.  Prices peaked in 2006 with an average price of $339,000 with 23 sales.  Since 2006, we have seen 21 sales at an average price of $331,000 in 2007, 13 sales at an average price of $297,000 in 2008, and 5 sales year to date 2009 with an average settled price of $285,000.  In addition, there are currently 12 homes actively on the market with an average list price of $347,000 and an additional 6 homes that are pending – averaging $286,000.  Based on these figures, I would expect the sales volume to rise a bit this year even while pricing may remain fairly weak.

Overall, this is a great area and one of the nicest original neighborhoods found that still affords easy commuting into Philadelphia.  As originally intended, this station continues to be an ideal stopping point for the local commuters but is not designed with additional parking for people living outside the area.

As always, should you have any questions or need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

Union Ave Foreclosure in Upper Darby Lansdowne

Almost every discussion we have today in real estate eventually turns to short sales and bank owned properties.  We’ve all heard the radio ads and the cocktail chatter of finding your dream home for $29.99 per month with no money down.  The reality can be quite different.  Yes – there are some great values out there but the low prices often simply reflect the condition.

As in every market, the suburban market just west of Philadelphia PA does have its share of foreclosure listings.  The condition of these bank owned properties run the gamut from move-in condition to gutted shells.  To demonstrate the wide range of properties currently available (and the conditions found in these properties), I will be taking video of the interiors of some of the local foreclosures to provide you with a better feel for the market.  These homes have all been listed in our office with Danielle Mateu who has worked with several institutions for years in the foreclosure market throughout the Philadelphia region.

The first is Union Avenue in Lansdowne Pennsylvania (Upper Darby Township).  This property is a great twin listed for $84,900 with 4 bedrooms and 1 bath.  As with most bank owned property, this twin is being sold in as in condition and there are no utilities currently in the property.  Any potential buyer must be preapproved and/or have proof of funds before any offers will be presented.  Although not shown in the video, it does have a finished basement with a separate laundry area (since the utilities were off, it was too dark to shoot in the video).  The home has a nice open floor plan with hardwood floors throughout.  On the second floor, there are three bedrooms and a bath with a potential fourth bedroom in the finished third floor.  I think the rest can best be shown by the video (don’t worry, I’ll be more stable and efficient in the future):

As for the local real estate activity: looking at the immeditate surrounding areas in Lansdowne, Upper Darby, and East Lansdowne, there are 36 twins and row homes currently on the market with an average list price of $118,000.  There are an additional 5 properties currently pending (avg price $99,000), and 19 homes have settled since October 1 at an average list price of $96,000.  In all of 2008, using the same criteria, there were 62 sales in the area with an average settled price of $97,000 so the market in the immediate region has remained fairly stable and Union appears competitively priced.  These properties have run the spectrum from small row homes to large gracious Victorian twins.

So thank you for taking a look.  Next week, I’ll add a foreclosure in Tredyffrin Township currently listed for $649,900 to provide you with an upper end property for comparison.

As always, if you have any questions, need any additional information, or would like to view any of the homes, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.