About Delaware County, PA

The first picture has the backyard picnic table and shed. The second picture includes my front porch birdbath.

The Luxury Home Market continues its slow pace as we head into the traditional 2010 sales season.

There have been many changes in the market since our last update in June but most of those have impacted the market at lower price points. The primary sales activity continues to be first time buyers or lower move up buyers as people continue to take advantage of the 2009 and now 2010 Homebuyer Tax Credits. At the higher price points, activity is still constrained by the availability of loans with prices remaining fairly flat or trending lower.

In the luxury market, sales have continued to drift. In 2009 for the year, there were 67 completed home sales in the $1,000,000+ market down from 93 in 2008 and the peak of 132 in 2007. The average sales price dropped again to $1,481,000 in 2009 from $1,585,000 in 2008. The average days on the market rose from 93 days in 2008 to 117 days in 2009. The most expensive home did rise a bit to $2,500,000. New Homes continued to take a large share with 33 of the 67 completed sales.

Today there are an additional 129 homes currently on the market with an average asking price of $1,984,000. This includes 57 new construction homes and properties ranging up to a list price of $13,500,000. There are also 18 properties under contract at an average price of $1,647,000 including 9 new homes.

Bottom Line: So, as we last found in June, the luxury home market continues to be working against the economy and financing issues as it waits for confidence to return to the market. As before, new homes enjoy a large share of the market as home buyers still appreciate the flexibility that new construction affords.

As always, should you have any questions or are considering a move in the area, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

David Henke
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc - Newtown Square,PA/Bear, DE
Office: 610-353-1199/Direct: 610-359-3853/Cell: 610-618-0808
www.DelawareCountyPennsylvaniaHomes.com

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

Snow Storm Wallops Delaware County - Go Easy With the Snow Removal!

It has been a truly amazing snowstorm! The weather forecasters have been right on about this one and we have been walloped with gobs of snow in Delaware County, just outside of Philadelphia. Reports on the radio recommend that if you do not have to go out, don't. Let the roads be clear for the snow removal crews. Must be close to 20 inches at this point and still coming down (a little slower). Most of our neighbors have just stayed in doors and have not even begun to dig out their cars and shovel driveways and sidewalks.

For those of you who may be doing your own snow removal, please remember to take it easy and take many breaks for there is really a lot of snow to move around!

Here is an article posted in the Delaware County Times about snow removal.

Stay warm! Stay healthy! (Written by Gloria)

Doug Durren and Gloria Todor, Realtors^®, CENTURY 21 Absolute Realty
Serving Delaware County Pennsylvania and Surrounding Areas
Take advantage of the Tax Credit before April 30, 2010
- First Time Home Buyers and Current Homeowners -
610-909-0687 Doug 610-328-4300 x131 Office
484-431-3686 Gloria www.RealEstateDelawareCountyPA.com
Email GloriaTodor@Century21.com

Yes - We have snow here...

View of Downtown Swarthmore

The view from the warmth of Hobbs Coffee.

The Swarthmore PA SEPTA R3 Regional Rail Station

We don't usually see drifts blowing through the station.

Just a few additional snow facts compliments of CBS 3:

- Every snow flake has 6 points
- There are 6 basic shapes
- Dry snow piles up faster
- Every State has had snow

Finally just one more thought: The most snow produced in a single snowstorm was 15.75 ft/ 189" at the Mt Shasta Skibowl in California between February 13-19, 1959. No problems here.

Enjoy and be safe! And it continues to snow.......

David Henke
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc - Newtown Square,PA/Bear, DE
Office: 610-353-1199/Direct: 610-359-3853/Cell: 610-618-0808
www.DelawareCountyPennsylvaniaHomes.com

Welcome to the Fernwood - Yeadon Station on the SEPTA R3 Regional Rail Line.

The Fernwood - Yeadon Station of the SEPTA R3 Regional Rail Line serves the adjacent communties of Yeadon, Upper Darby, and East Lansdowne PA. The station itself is located on the border between Yeadon and Upper Darby and is just one block south of East Lansdowne. This location provides easy access to Church Lane heading north and south and to Baltimore Pike heading east or west. This is the first rail stop in Delaware County as you head west from Philadelphia.

The platforms are located just below the Church Lane bridge as it passes over the R3 Tracks. There is no dedicated SEPTA parking per-se but there are limited long-term parking meters on the east bound(south side) of the tracks. (and they come with friendly but attentive Yeadon Police supervision - feed the meters). There are stairs going up to Church Lane from both sides of the stop and a direct cross walk between platforms at track level. The video will provide a better overview:

This station does serve the three separate communities of Yeadon, a small part of southern Upper Darby, and East Lansdowne. In general, the real estate activity throughout the immediate area has been similar to that seen throughout Delaware County with activity peaking in 2004/2005 and prices topping out in 2007. Complete details will be covered in separate posts for each area.

If you are currently considering moving in the area, be sure to take the time to visit 59 Penn Blvd in East Lansdowne. This is a great 4 BR/1.2BA Straight-Through Twin including many updates.

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

David Henke
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc - Newtown Square,PA/Bear, DE
Office: 610-353-1199/Direct: 610-359-3853/Cell: 610-618-0808
www.DelawareCountyPennsylvaniaHomes.com