Linda Tremblay, Associate Broker Bucks County, PA Real Estate Services

I have long been saying that now is a good time to buy a home in direct counter-diction of what the press has been saying. I feel that reckless reporting has in some part put the real estate market where it is in some parts of the country. After all, when prices were up three years ago, they kept reporting that there was a bubble. Now that there is extra inventory for buyers to select from , prices are a bit lower & interest rates are low, they still say don't buy. I actually wonder when they think it is a good time to buy. Maybe when there are 10 or more competing offers on homes.

Now I do not want to put down every member of the press, but I really wish that they would realize that Real Estate is local, not national. I also wish they could start reporting some positive news. By this I mean, in all the news. I know that negative things sell newspapers and get people watching t.v., but could we please put some good things out there. Believe it or not Mr or Ms Reporter, there really are good things happening in our country.

I received this email from someone who definitely knows the market and has been writing to the newspapers, etc to try to stop the negative reporting that has been going on locally. There are also at least 2 other individuals from competing brokerages also trying to set the recored straight about the condition of the real estate market in Buck County, PA.

Remember, the press tries to sell newspapers or magazines. Here are the reports that they made in the past. I agree with the comment by my associate "don't you wish you would of bought homes then so you could possibly sell them now. Don't let history repeat itself.

Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it. -George Santayana

· "The prices of houses seem to have reached a plateau, and there is reasonable expectancy that prices will decline." (Time, December 1, 1947)

· "Houses cost too much for the mass market. Today's average price is around $8,000-out of reach for two-thirds of all buyers." (Science Digest, April, 1948)

· "The goal of owning a home seems to be getting beyond the reach of more and more Americans. The typical new house today costs $28,000." (Business Week, September 4, 1969)

· "The era of easy profits in real estate may be drawing to a close." (Money, January, 1981)

· "The golden-age of risk-free run-ups in home prices is gone." (Money, March 1985)

· "Most economists agree... [a home] will become little more than a roof and a tax deduction, certainly not the lucrative investment it was through much of the 1980s." (Money, 1986)

· "Financial planners agree that houses will continue to be a poor investment." (Kiplinger's Personal Financial Magazine, November 1993)

There is definitely some good news for the canal mules in New Hope. Apparently as reported by the Bucks County Herald, in one day local businesses raised $20,000 to save the mules and barges. For those of you who are not from Bucks County, PA, the mule and barges on the canal are a part of the history as written about below

In the early 1800's, America was growing rapidly. Its population was increasing, westward migration had begun, and business was booming. Poor roads and unnavigable rivers could no longer meet the young nation's needs. Legislators and entrepreneurs looked to canals which had been used in Asia and Europe for centuries as a way to provide better, faster, and cheaper transportation.

The local businesses in the New Hope area have had a rough time due to the fact that portions of River Rd have been closed for construction due to flooding in previous years. This has hurt the area businesses which make much of their money through tourism.

Anyone who would like to make a donation, please send it to Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce, 252 W Swamp Rd, Doylestown, PA 18901. Check should be made to "Business Cares" and in the memo line "Save the mules"

For more information about living in beautiful Bucks County, please contact me via emal or or phone. Or just visit my website about Bucks County Real Estate

Here are the market statistics for the Central Bucks School District for January 2008 vs January 2007. These statistics are comprised of residential properties (not farms, lots, commercial or multifamily homes) that were priced between $100,000 and $1,000,000.

The Central Buks School District is comprised of Doylestown Borough, Doylestown Township, New Britain Boro, New Britain Township, Chalfont Borough, Warrington Township, Warwick Township, Buckingham Township and Plumstead Township.

As you will see, the average sold price dropped a bit from $391,467 in 2007 to $372,056 in 2008. There were 260 homes listed and 79 sold in 2007 vs 246 listings and 45 sales in January 2008. However it seems to have taken a bit less time to sell your home in 2008 (45 days on market) compared to 2007 (79 days on market)

Market Statistics

Monthly Statistics for the Date Range Selected

Pricing Details of Sold Units for the Date Range Selected

Monthly Statistics for the Date Range Selected

Pricing Details of Sold Units for the Date Range Selected

Inventory Accumulation figures are only calculated when Report End Month is the current month

Here are the market statistics for the Pennridge School District for January 2008 vs January 2007. The report is comprised of residential properties (no farms, commercial, lots or multifamily homes) between $100,000 and $1,000,000.

Again, this shows that there are more listings available in 2008 (126 vs 116), there were less homes sold in 2008 (28 vs 42), and it takes a bit longer to sell your home (103 days in 2008 vs 85 days in 2007) but the good news is that the average price has not fallen. Actually it has gone up a bit from $329,791 in 2007 to $339,215 in 2008.

Remember if you price your home right, it will sell! For more information on the Bucks County real estate market, call or email me.

Below are the market statistics for the Quakertown School District comparing January 2008 to January 2007. These statistics are for residential homes from $100,000 to $1,000,000 and do not include farms, lots, commercial or multifamily homes. These statistics are through Trend Multiple Listing Service.

As you can see the main difference between the two years are the number of listings and days on market. The average sale price (23 total sales) in Jan. 2007 was $239,252. The average sale price(23 total sales) for Jan 2008 was $238,945. The two years are almost idential. However the difference lies in how long it will take to sell your home. In 2007, there were 60 listings and took an average of 68 days to sell a home. In 2008, there have been 80 listings on the market and it is taking and average of 100 days to sell a home.

Overall, we are still in a good place. If you price your home correctly it will still sell for approximately the same as it would of last year; however it will take a bit longer to do it. For more information on Bucks County Real Estate, call me or visit my website.

Pricing Details of Sold Units for the Date Range Selected