Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ

Usually I leave evaluations of the health of our local real estate market to the experts...the Realtors, agents, and government offices that regularly monitor that kind of data...But at the request of the distinguished CEO of our beloved Active Rain, Jon Washburn...I offer this anecdotal analysis...from the perspective of a title person...

I start in October of 2005...that's when we noticed a marked change in the number of title insurance applications in our area...let me digress and define our area briefly...Our office is in Limerick, Pennsylvania, a suburb about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia...from this geographic center we cover the larger populated towns of West Chester, Reading, Allentown, each of their respective suburban townships, and Philadelphia itself...in simple terms...Southeastern Pennsylvania...!!!

The initial change in the market was brought about by eroding consumer confidence, rising fuel prices, and market saturation...just about everyone who had a desire to buy or refinance took advantage of the opportunity...just about the same time that discretionary spending came to an abrupt stall...!!!

Once an economy has entered 'the slippery slope' it is hard to turn it around...it seems, that, like water it must find its own level, and in its own good time...and so, in our area, new construction began to slow, property values appreciating seemed to be threatened, and indeed started to flatten...While in some areas they continued to rise, in some other areas they began their decline...but never in the viral way that other parts of the Country were experiencing...i.e., Florida, California, Nevada, Michigan, Georgia, etc...

Within the past year and a half, we have witnessed real estate agents, lenders, title companies, and associated industries begin to adjust to the anemic market...all 'Johnny come latelies' because of their failure to let go of the memories of the boom years when huge profits were made by most in the real estate industry...that denial, put off the inevitable of down sizing, adjusting economies and budgets accordingly, and adapting to new and inventive business models...

With the election, and a year and a half of electioneering behind us, we are now beginning to see signs of a recovery...bottoms may not have been reached, but common sense will tell you they can't be far off from where we currently stand...

Resumption of new construction will signal the official end of our market woes, but that will take time...in the interim...reduction of current inventories, restoration of consumer confidence, and prices at around pre 2003 levels should all combine to get this thing turned around...

We will continue to see layoffs in various industries, as these industries catch up with our real estate market...As in prior cycles, we are the first ones into the recession, and the first ones to come out...

When there is no new construction, carpenters, roofers, electricians, tilers, contractors, materialmen, plumbers, etc., are either unemployed or underemployed, and prohibited from buying houses, cars, appliances, TVs, etc...Make no mistake about it, The real estate industry and the American Dream fuel this economy of ours!!!

Again, the state of our local housing market isn't great, but it is far from being as devastated as other pockets in our country...it has slowed tremendously, but it still hasn't lost its resiliency...

Pennsylvania, and particularly the Southeastern region is still a great place to call home...our residents are our greatest asset...and it is those hard working individuals that have prevented the dike from collapsing...we are the 'Keystone State' not merely for geographic reasons, but as Pennsylvania goes, so goes the rest of our nation...!!!

Pennsylvanians are ready to get back to work, roll up our sleeves, and participate in the new recovery...we still believe in the American Dream...!!!

This post probably is not what you expected from reading the title!!!

The town of Boyertown, Pennsylvania, some years ago adopted a voluntary program to enhance community spirit and solidarity among community groups...!!! Most of the Boyertown, Pennsylvania sports teams are depicted as 'BEARS'...including the High School and local independent sports teams!!!

Many businesses and enterprises began placing 'BEARS' in front of their establishments...each bear depicting in some way the nature of the entity at whose guard it stood by virtue of its decorations...!!! I have placed some in this post as examples and tagged them accordingly...!

My parish of Saint Columbkill, located in Boyertown, recently decided to join in this community endeavor...

Obtaining a few sponsors to underwrite the expense of the project, a BEAR was commissioned to be placed at the Church location...

The BEAR is completed, decorated appropriately, but awaits its winter coat (actually it must be overlaid with a protective urethane type coating to guard against the elements to which it will be exposed)...

Our good pastor, Father Robert Quinn, a jovial and engaging leader, BEARS a striking resemblance to the new mascot...Come to our church someday and see for yourself...!!!

So I go into our local WaWa convenience store to get my favorite breakfast sandwich...a bacon and egg on a toasted bagel...and I hand the person at the register $2.53 and patiently await my dime change...

You see, the sandwich costs $2.43, but not having exact change, and not desiring to receive a bunch of pennies back and wishing to relieve my pocket of some of that poker change I seem to carry around and amass in great quantities...yada, yada, yada...

I'm a title agent and numbers and figures are ingrained in my blood...

Get the point...?

Actually, the real point I'm trying to make is this...

All of us involved in a real estate transaction have something valuable that we bring to the settlement table with us...or the table of life if you wish to be transcendental about the point...

Professionals in any field act in a subordinate way to place their client in the most favorable conditions possible...even to the extent of suffering and imperiling themselves for the benefit of their client...

We owe it to the consumers we are pledged by our careers to help, to deal honestly, ethically, transparently, judiciously, tactfully, and excellently in these business matters...

That precludes using our relationships with these consumers as opportunists lining our pockets greedily or viewing them as cash cows waiting to be milked at a cost of whatever the freight will bear...

Our industry has been dealt a career threatening blow for many participants in it...but some will rise like the phoenix to a second chance...another opportunity to make a positive and significant impact in the purchase transaction of many buyers of real estate...

Whether we're realty agents, lenders, loan officers, title agents, lawyers, underwriters, let us vow to bring our best to the table...consumers shouldn't settle for less, and we shouldn't either...!!!

Philadelphia fans have a reputation for booing, pelting Santa with snowballs, and other fan intensive activities, but we revel in our sports heroes and our stands are full of sports enthusiasts who relish the SPORT, are extremely faithful, and have devoted their entire lives to supporting the Philadelphia athlete...!!!

Yes, we have some fans who go over the top, are too fanatical, and sometimes celebrate a bit early in the game, but by and large we are a community of exceptional loyalty...represent us well, and we will go to the wall to defend and support you!!!

Congratulations Eagles on making it to the NFC Championship game...by a convincing victory over the New York Giants...Good luck in Arizona!!!

Now, a word about Title Insurance!

I invite any member, player, coach, or team personnel to give us a call to handle your Title Insurance needs...!!! We are an independent Title Agent licensed in PA & NJ to facilitate you and your family in your real estate transactions...to enable a pleasant and efficient final settlement...!

We offer no discounts...only good, old fashioned hands on title service to complete your home or investment purchase in a pleasant and efficient manner and in total confidentiality...

Title Insurance rates are regulated by State Insurance Commissions and are pretty much the same from insurer to insurer...only SERVICE to the customer differs...and we've been around for over 38 years serving the title insurance needs of the Philadelphia area real estate community...

You must request us specifically, however, as many real estate agents refer to in house providers...

We remain independent of all brokers, banks, lenders, etc. precisely so we can represent only you, the consumers, who pay our fees...!!! So, exert your legal rights to select the real estate service provider of YOUR CHOICE...

And we look forward to meeting you at settlement...which we refer to as CLOSING CELEBRATION...until then, we'll be working hard in the background to do what you guys do best in the field and on the courts...to assure a pleasant closing experience!!!

Born and raised in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and spending my first 60 years there, it was a bit difficult to make the move about 6 years ago to Douglassville, Berks County...!

Now, it's not like Douglassville and Berks County are on opposite sides of the state from Montgomery County...in fact, Berks County is contiguous to Montgomery County (contiguous: a title company term meaning sharing a boundary line)...just slightly west and a bit north of Montgomery County...and in fact, Douglassville is only a 20 minutes drive to my office in Limerick, Pennsylvania...near the center of Montgomery County...

So much for the geography lesson...!

Surrounded by graceful hills in almost every direction, Douglassville provides a picturesque setting each time you look out the window, sit on the back deck, or stroll through the many small neighborhoods which unite to create Amity Township...aptly named for its peaceful and serene countryside!!!

The fresh country air, the clear visibilities, and the lack of heavy traffic combine to make the area a pleasant place to call home...!!!

And speaking of home...the kids have really taken to the Daniel Boone schools, which themselves offer a rather laid back approach to learning without sacrificing the essentials of acquiring a quality education...and plenty of cultural, sports, and extra curricular events to get involved in...

All in all, it was a good move to relocate to Berks County...

Berks County!!! We're SOLD on it...!!!