One of the great things about Bucks County is it's proximity to major cities. This works both ways. I currently have clients from New York City who grew up in Bucks County and are looking for a home in a bucolic setting to get away on the weekends. I've also had clients who actually commute to NYC everyday for work. This past weekend my wife & I were looking for some excitement so we dropped the kids off at Nanny & PopPops in Newtown & hopped on the train from Trenton & were in NYC before lunch!
It was awesome! We jumped on the subway, but at our first transfer we realized all of the trains weren't running smoothly and we had to backtrack and get on another train to go forward again so we decided to get off at W. 4th St. and decided to walk to my brothers place in the Lower East Side. When we got out of the subway we were right across the street from Galanga a Thai Restaurant we actually had reservations for that night. We walked through Washington Square Park where this guy was playing his piano which was a cool sight to see.
We were starving at this point, but just two doors down from my brothers place is this great Sushi Restaraunt Jin. During happy hour they offer $3 plates and brews which was phenomenal. I ordered the pork dumplings, alaska roll, spicy crunchy crab roll, sashimi, edamame & a couple Stella Artois. We shared the sashimi & edamame, but Juli still couldn't finish her meal. Great place, great price, fun place to start our day!
Then we wandered around the Lower East Side with some coffee and popping in and out of different bars. One great bar The Red Lion was great. I was born and spent a few early years in England and my grandparents hang out was The Red Lion. We step into this place and the bartender and a couple of guys at the bar are all watching soccer (football as they say) and rugby and they all hail from England & Ireland. We caught a couple of more Stellas while listening to two guys cover some classic rock ballads which made for an even better atmosphere.
We wandered around some more looking in galleries and then headed back to my brothers so we could stop by the new Top Hops Beer Shop. I know I'm sounding a bit like an alcoholic here with all the bars, but with 3 boys at home we don't get out to often and NYC had too much to offer. I picked up a bottle of Allagash IPA. One of the smoothest IPA's I've ever had.
Juli who is practically allergic to everything including wheat and lactose was excited because just around the corner from Top Hops Beer Shop is Baby Cakes a vegan, gluten & dairy free cupcake shop which she said was delicious.
Then we headed out for dinner at Galanga! I had the Crying Tiger which once I realized I needed to toss it to get the sauce at the bottom to coat everything was really good. Juli had shrimp wrapped in rice wraps that were fried. Enjoyed the atmosphere and the food.
Then we headed back out for the night. We met up with my brother and basically followed him as he showed us some local bars that at this point I can't remember the names of. What I do remember is stopping for a late night snack at Crif Dogs. Wow! I could have tried every type of hot dog they offered. It was delicious and many things I never would have thought topping a hot dog with.
The next morning we met up with some of Juli's friends for brunch at Bondi Road. Another great place! For either $20 or $25 depending on the meal you chose you got a great breakfast and 5 drinks. I ordered The Heart Stopper which was steak, poached eggs, hollandaise sauce & fries which really helped after a long night. They made some great bloody maries too!
All in all it was a great weekend for us! It's a nice perk living in Bucks County. You can get to Philadelphia in 45 minutes and New York City in 90. Bucks County is also great for New Yorkers who want to escape to a country setting for a weekend. My clients just found a great house in Washington Crossing and are looking forward to enjoying some time away from NYC in our great area.
If you are thinking about looking for homes in our area learn all about our Newtopias and what each town has to offer. If you are interested in less maintenance and want to learn more about condos or townhomes checkout the Bucks Condo King site for all you will ever need to know about condos or townhomes. You can search for Homes For Sale from both sites. Of course, if you have any questions about a home, neighborhood, or real estate in general please don't hesitate to ask. That's what we are here for!
All puictures were taken by my wife Juli Cosack. Checkout all of her artwork at http://www.julitoons.com/Site/Julitoons.com.html
In 2011, 11 Homes Sold in Tapestry in Holland, PA & currently there are 5 Homes For Sale in Tapestry.
Tapestry is a fantastic neighborhood (I may be a bit biasedWhy I Chose To Live In Tapestry in Holland PA, A Bucks County Realtor Tells His Story) located off of Middle Holland Rd. across from the Rolling Hills Elementary School in Hollandin Northampton, PA. Calton Homes began building the first phase in the early to mid 1980's which was called Penn's Court.
The second phase was built in the mid to late 1980's and was called Tapestry which is now the name used for the entire development and the master association uses the name Penns Court. The neighborhood is a mix of single family homes, townhomes, and condos.
There are a few different styles of townhomes in Tapestry. There are the colonial style townhomes located in cul de sacs around a parking lot. These homes offer 3 bedrooms, either 1 1/2 or 2 1/2 baths, and some include basements, and possibly a balcony off of the master bedroom. They range in square feet from approximately 1,530 sq. ft. to 1,731 sq. ft.
There are also townhomes that have more of a Spanish flair to them located more in the center of the development. These townhomes offer 3 - 4 bedrooms, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 baths, 2 balconies (one off of the master and the other off of the 2nd bedroom) and some include a basement as well. They range in size from approximately 1,469 sq. ft. - 1,842 sq. ft.
Another section of Tapestry offers colonial style townhomes with garages and off street parking. These homes range from 2 - 3 bedrooms all with 2 1/2 baths and a few with basements. They range from approximately 1,664 sq. ft. to 1,856 sq. ft.
There are also a few different style of condos in Tapestry. The smallest are the 1 bedroom 1 bath condos that are approximately 900 sq. ft. Next, are the 2 bedroom 2 bath condos that are approximately 1,064 sq. ft. Some of the second floor condos also offer a large loft. Both the 1 and 2 bedroom condos have parking lots.
There are also some condos on Independence Dr. that offer garages and/or off street parking and they are approximately 1,156 sq. ft. with have 2 bedroom and 2 baths.
There are a few associations in Tapestry. Everyone pays into the master association, Penns Court, which costs approximately $190 per quarter and pays for Snow Removal, Trash Removal, Swim Fee, Tennis Court, Club House & Play Ground. The colonial and Spanish style townhomes only pay this association fee.
The colonial style townhomes that offer garages and off street parking pay a bit more approximately $215 per month as their association fee includes all lawn care, snow removal, tennis courts, swimming pool, playground and club house.
The condos that do NOT offer off street parking, or garages pay approximately $101 per month to the condo association and $190 per quarter to Penns Court for an average of approximately $165 per month.
The condos that do have garages and/or off street parking pay approximately $166 per month which covers all lawn care, snow removal, tennis courts, swimming pool, playground and clubhouse.
The associations do charge a one time capitol contribution due from the buyer at settlement. The Penns Courts fee is approximately $250 and the condo association fee is approximately $400.
Rolling Hills Elementary, Holland Middle School, & Council Rock High School Southserve the Tapestry Community. Map of Tapestry
All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed
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Homes Sold in Makefield Glen in 2011
Homes For Sale in Makefield Glen Real Estate
In 2011, 25 Homes sold in Makefield Glen ranging from $180,300 for a Manchester Model in Spruce Mill to $360,000 for an Afton Elite in Aspen Woods. The link above shows all of the homes and what they sold for in 2011.
Currently thee are 7 Homes For Sale in Makefield Glen.
Makefield Glen is a neighborhood built in the early 1990’s by Toll Brothers. It is located off of Heacock Rd. inYardley not far from Mcaffrey’s. The largest models are in the Aspen Woods section and these are 3 bedroom 2 ½ bath townhomes with a garage, a basement, and possibly a loft as well.
The Spruce Mill section of Makefield Glen offers townhomes & condos. There are two styles of townhomes the Brockton or Lexington. The main difference between the two is the Brockton is an end unit and the Lexington is an interior unit, but their layouts also differ a bit. Both of these models offer 2 bedrooms 1 1/2 baths and a basement. When Toll Brothers built these homes there were a few options such as adding a 2nd full bath which is why some homes are called an Brockton or Lexington Elite, and the new owners could also opt for a 3rd floor loft. The Spruce Mill condos include the Manchester (2 bedroom 2 bath first floor condos) and the Portsmouth models (2 bedroom 2 bath 2nd floor condos with a loft). The Cedar Hollow section offers 2 bedroom & 2 bath condos plus a garage.
The Makefield Glen Condo Association fees are and include the following listed below. To contact the Makefield Glen Condo Assoc # (215) 321-3640.
Aspen Woods: Approximately $200 per month and pays for Common Area Maintenance, Exterior Building Maintenance, Lawn Maintenance, Snow Removal, Tennis Courts. There is an additional annual fee of approximately $170 for the swim fee. There is also a capitol contribution of approximately $800 due from the buyer at settlement.
Spruce Mill: Approximately $165 per month and pays for Common Area Maintenance, Exterior Building Maintenance, Lawn Maintenance, Snow Removal, Tennis Courts. There is also an additional annual fee of approximately $170 for the swim fee. There is also a capitol contribution of approximately $500 due from the buyer at settlement.
Cedar Hollow: Approximately $195 per month and pays for Common Area Maintenance, Exterior Building Maintenance, Lawn Maintenance, Snow Removal, Tennis Courts. There is also an additional annual fee of approximately $170 for the swim fee. There is also a capitol contribution of approximately $500 due from the buyer at settlement.
Afton Elementary, William Penn Middle School, and Pennsbury High Schoolserve the Makefield Glen community. Map of Makefield Glen.
In 2011, Newtown Borough saw 22 homes sell. Homes Sold In Newtown Borough in 2011, Real Estate Market Update. The prices ran from $153,000 for a condo in Newtown Park Plaza to a high of $780,000 for a home in Newtown Station. The average days on market were 158 and the average sales price to original list price was 90.82%.
So 2011 was fairly similar to 2010 in Newtown Borough when 20 homes sold with an average days on market of 125 & an average sales price to original list price was 92.74%. The lowest price then was $158,000 for a condo in Newtown Park Plaza & the highest price was $1,400,000 for a brand new single family home on Washington Ave. The 2nd highest price was $765,000 for a home in Newtown Station so if we remove the brand new single family construction the years look very similar.
Currently, there are 11 Homes For Sale in Newtown Borough.
For the first time in ages we are seeing some positive reports on the economy, jobless rate, stock market and yes, even the Real Estate Market. We are not heading back to the crazy days of 2006/2007 but there is a pent up demand. Lots of people rented or put off moving due to fear and uncertainty. During the latter part of 2011 we started to see the fear dissipate and now with some positive headlines people are jumping into the market in the hopes of catching some of the lowest rates in history!!!
If you have questions about any of these homes give us a call or send an email. For up to the minute info on homes for sale in Newtown Borough, go to www.newtownborough.com
DON'T MAKE THE MOVE WITHOUT US!
The Cosack Team... Kim, Susan & Dale
Last month I helped a mother & her daughter find a great home in Hillcrestshire in Holland, PA. Here's what they thought about working with me:
"Dale Cosack was always there when we needed him, but never badgered or pressured us. He exceeded our expectations when it came to explaining the home buying process, his knowledge of the real estate market, and his ability to negotiate and manage our purchase through settlement. He was always dedicated to serving our best interest, offered timely & effective communication & assisted us in finding a mortgage lender & title co. with that same dedication. His sincerity & trustworthiness are two great qualities of his and we will definitely recommend him to our friends & family."
Helping buyers find their new home is always a joy as it is such an exciting time in their lives. I know it can also be scary, but by finding a great Realtor you can minimize the stress and focus on the new journey you are taking. If you are thinking about buying a new home in the Holland, PA area & have questions about a home, neighborhood or real estate in general please don't hesitate to contact me. That's what I'm here for. Below are some guides I've put together to help buyers understand everything that is involved with the home buying process. Whil my website focuses on townhomes & condos the info is good for single family homes as well.
The A - Z Guide On Buying Your Home in Bucks County
10 Questions You Must Ask When Buying Your Bucks County Home
Also check out my team's website Newtopias which discusses the local towns and why they are great places to live.
I work in the Bucks County area as well as Philadelphia, but the focus of my business is on Bucks County Condos & Townhomes. I also specialize in Real Estate Investments.
My family and I moved to Newtown Borough, Bucks County when I was 8 years old. It was great growing up in a small town. You could ride your bike everywhere, everyone knew everyone else, and there were always plenty of baseball games, biking through Tyler Park, and eating ice cream at Goodnoes to keep a kid a happy. Now, I am raising my 3 boys in Holland only a few miles away from where I grew up. We still get to take our kids to Goodnoes, for walks in Tyler and I can't wait for them to start playing sports in the next few years.
Growing up and now raising my family in the Lower Bucks County area I have extensive knowledge of our local area & market. From what schools serve which neighborhood, to where the best places for pizza, or chinese are. To learn more about our local townhome and condo communities checkout my Neighborhoods Tab at http://www.buckscondoking.com. Here you will find out where each neighborhood is located, when it was built, what the association fee is as well as what it covers, which schools your kids will attend, and what homes are currently for sale as well as those that have sold so you can get a general idea of homes values in our Bucks County area.
I have helped many buyers, sellers, and investors over the years reach their goals. Please take a look at what these clients have had to say about me.
http://www.buckscondoking.com/prufoxroach/modules/agent/agent.asp?p=testimonials.asp
Buying, or selling a home is ranked as one of the most stressful things a person goes through in their life as it is usually the biggest investment any of us make. That's where I come in.
Finding the right real estate agent can make a world of difference in your home buying, or selling experience. Most importantly, you will want an agent you trust and who makes a full-time commitment to you. I offer nothing less, and lots lots more. Growing up in Lower Bucks County in a real estate family has given me the advantage of not only knowing the local neighborhoods, and schools, but also the real estate market. I know the home buying or selling process can be stressful for someone not used to the ins and outs of the business, but with the right guide who is a strong negotiator the experience can be smooth and successful. After all, the ultimate goal is to sell your home for the best price, in a timely manner with the least amount of angst, or to negotiate the best price and terms when purchasing your new home. To accomplish this you will need an agent with a comprehensive knowledge of the market who embraces the convenience of technology without losing the personal touch. My goal is to make you a life long client by earning the right to become your trusted, passionate, real estate professional. I look forward to working with you.
Check me out on Facebook
I specialize in first time homebuyers to seasoned investors I love working with first time homebuyers as many people in my age group fall into this category. If I didn't get into Real Estate I always thought I would have been a teacher so I like taking the time to explain and answer any questions one might have. I don't want to leave any nuts uncracked. I also love the seasoned investor as crunching numbers and finding the rate of return on an investment to help plan for short term, or long term goals is one of my favorite activities. From the fixer upper to flip to the rental that brings in enough to pay down the mortgage quickly real estate investments are a great way to make money, or create passive income for retirement. There's also the art of helping a family find the right home. You need a Realtor who understands that buying a home isn't only the largest financial investment you've ever made, but also an emotional one. I love helping buyers find the right place to call home.
My main focus is on Bucks County Condos and Townhomes to find out how I can help you buy, or sell your Bucks County Condo or Townhome checkout my website: http://www.buckscondoking.com
We've seldom felt so valued
The Cosack team epitomizes the notion of exemplary service. Dale deftly negotiated an impossible array of eleventh-hour seller stipulations. What is more, he proved an invaluable advocate after our closing, helping us approach and procure due compensation from the seller.
Dale's willingness to protect our interests was only paralelled by his thoughtful practicality. In consideration of market fluctuation during lean financial times, we remain grateful for the Cosack Team's depth and breadth of experience. We've seldom felt so valued. Moreover, we feel supremely confident in our investment.
We wholeheartedly endorse Dale Cosack and hope that you'll experience the privilege of his support.- Kristen and Chadd Johnson, Philadelphia, PA
Another Satisfied First Time Home Buyer
I had a fantastic experience working with the Cosack Team to purchase my home. Dale and I looked at about 25 - 30 houses in the fall of 2008. As a first time home buyer, I had A LOT to learn during my search. From questions about neighborhoods, housing and plot values, mortgages, current laws and tax credits, he had almost all the answers - the few that had stumped him up-front, he promptly dug up the answers for me. I was seriously impressed with his knowledge, ambition, and integrity. Not that I was presuming realtors to be like car salesmen, but was none-the-less pleasantly surprised to have full faith in the honesty and professionalism of my realtor. Over the time I spent searching with them, they really got a good idea of what I was looking for. In fact, the house I ended up buying, I purchased sight-unseen on Dales recommendation and photographs (I was working in TX for a month at the time). I imagine that the house was a realtor's nightmare. It was a winterized foreclosure, with lots of remodeling (HVAC, electrical, and structural) that had never been officially permitted by the township. While I was still away at work, they had lined up all of the normal inspections, pounded on the door of my local township and gotten the other inspections, de-winterization and required permits for the modifications. When I returned, we set up the final use-and-occupancy inspection and I was good to move in. Here are some of the highlights of my experience working with the Cosack team
1. They answered ALL of my questions without any bias (I had a lot of them).
2. They enlightened me with tons of info I never even thought to ask about.
3. They worked very hard to find exactly what I was looking for.
4. They provided mortgage estimates that were far superior to any I received from mortgage brokers.
5. They took care of all the work necessary to get me the home I had finally decided on (this was no trivial task).
Number 4 deserves particular attention. I have found that it is very easy to mislead a home buyer on the actual monthly cost of a home. All of the upfront costs, monthly costs, insurance and taxes need to be FULLY enumerated for a cost estimate that is worth the paper it is printed on; and online calculators are garbage too. Mortgage companies will sell you whatever your credit will allow. If you are unlucky enough to have a realtor that isn't looking out for your best interest, the realtor can sell you in WAY over your head (it's a bigger paycheck for them). You must trust your realtor.
I like to do things my own way and I always take business recommendations with suspicious caution, however, after my independent search for a decent lender didn't turn out so well, Dale suggested an acquaintance of his. This is where I actually got the best rate and honest service! He also provided contact information for title insurance and home owners insurance. Again, these rates were better than I found independently (even using my car insurance company!). So my innate lack of trust was completely overcome. Now I own a 4 bed/ 2 bath home that I can comfortably afford which will provide a great place for my daughter to grow and play, and a good home for my girlfriend and her son.
Obviously, I would (and do) recommend Dale and the Cosack team to anyone looking for a home in the area. Most people say that they already have a realtor or that they know someone. But, I would guarantee that their realtor is not as good as mine!!!
- Scott Synnestvedt, Levittown, PA
We Could Not Have Asked For A Better Agent
Dale did an amazing job. He always went the extra step to help us. We could not have asked for a better agent. Buying a house for the first time, Dale did an excellent job making sure we understood everything and were 100% satisfied! We are going to miss him!Office: 677-693 South State Street- Jen & Scott Zattoni, Yardley, PA
Growing Family Moving on Up!
We presented Dale Cosack and the rest of the Cosack team with the challenge of finding us the perfect home. Being so picky and having numerous limitations, such as the type of property, the size of the back yard, and the school district, they came through for us. Throughout the process, Dale and his team demonstrated their knowledge of the market and the patience to deal with our demands. In the end, it was their guidance and persistence that paid off for us. In addition, they successfully sold our old home in an efficient and timely manner, enabling us to have a virtually seamless transition. Thanks again Cosack Team!
- Glenn and Kelly Wattenmaker, Newtown, PA
First Time Investor Manayunk
IF YOU ARE A FIRST TIME INVESTOR, CALL DALE
Dale Cosack did an amazing job helping me purchase my first investment property in Manayunk in Philadelphia. Being new to this type on endeavor I really had to lean on his expertise. I am very glad I did. His tireless energy, passion, and knowledge of his craft made a potentially stressful process go very smoothly. He always had my best interests in mind and was very easy to work with. I will definitely be using his services again!
- Keith Derby, Holland PA
He Walked Me Through Every Step
"After several unsuccessful months of working with other realtors to buy a Manayunk home, I was referred to Prudential Fox & Roach by a friend. The Cosack Team set me up with Dale Cosack. Dale is a consummate real estate professional. He was very familiar with the Manayunk/Roxborough area, and found me my dream home in no time. As a first time buyer, he walked me through every step of the process and made sure that I fully understood everything. Most importantly, he made himself available for me whenever I had questions. In rare event that he was not available, his team stepped up and helped me out. He did a fantastic job of putting the every single detail of the deal together for me. I would recommend Dale Cosack to anyone looking for a Manayunk Realtor!
Thanks again for everything!"- Kate Peters, Manayunk, PA
Thanks For Finding Us The Perfect Home In New Hope
"Dale,
We appreciate all your hard work during the home buying process, your honest and straightforward approach as we looked at homes was instrumental in finding the home that was perfect for us. We never felt like you were pushing us toward any particular home and you provided good insight telling us the good and bad features of each home. From the home search stage on through the offer stage and finally through closing and settlement you helped us all along the way, always patient and willing to track down answers to our many questions. Thanks to you we found our dream home in New Hope, PA.
Thanks Dale for all your hard work and I will recommend you to all my friends and family who are looking for a quality realtor.
Cheers
"- Dave & Giuly Spair, New Hope PA
Move Up Buyers in Yardley
Dale has been there every step of the way in selling our condo as well as helping us find a new home. Everything was seamless we had gotten what we wanted from our condo and had a smooth transition into our townhouse, which we couldn't be happier with. It's not over there, we get visits from Dale to see how we're doing as well as little mementos to show his appreciation of our business. The bottom line is that Dale is as loyal as they come and will do anything in his power to accommodate your every need.
Anthony and Adrienne LaBell, Yardley PA
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