zeta cross

It's a listing call in a pricey zip code. You get to the house full of anticipation. The front door has seen better days. Inside, there is a lot more than real estate: There is a story...a sad one. And a problem to solve. Philadelphia realtor Rich McIlhenny proves that the best of us are not just about dollars. A lot of times we do much more than sell houses. Inside the once lovely Chestnut Hill, PA house, Rich found an 87 year old lady facing foreclosure. He spent months negotiating with the banks on her behalf, befriending the woman as the months went on. She came to his home for the holidays and for Mother's Day. The house is finally sold but Rich is still on the job: he's looking for an affordable assisted living home for the woman. Good work, Rich.

Hey Erdenheim....it is a tiny nook outside Chestnut Hill, PA. One of our neighbors has offered his house as a drop off point for Red Earth Farm...You buy a share or half a share in the farm produce in the spring and you get a box of produce every week through the summer and fall. Red Earth also has eggs and yogurt...and you have the option of going online to choose which food you like. I love love love kale...but a lot of people don't, so with this option, you won't get anything that you don't want. www.redearthfarm.org.

Only 12 places in America were designated to the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of Distinctive Destinations! Chestnut Hill was chosed because of it's historic architection...elegant Victorians and the famous Louis Kahn house that people come from all over the world to see. Chestnut Hill has almost perfect "walkability", with a variety of markets, shops, restaurants, boutiques, doctors, dentists, banks and bakeries. You absolutely do not need a car. Trains and busses to Center City are within walking distance. Picturesque Pastorius Park is a gathering spot for dog lovers. In the summer, there are free outdoor concerts. And the true treasure of Chestnut Hill is its location by the glorious Wissahickon park. You can hike or bike for miles. Or ride your horse! The bird watching is nationally known. www.preservationnation.org for a list of all the designees!

ReGreen and the US Green Building Council are releasing guidelines to help realtors "green" their MLS. It is up to us to get those guidelines and use them! This is a great way to add real value to our list of services by helping clients figure out which homes will cost more to live in and which ones are better buys because the sellers have made good investments in energy efficiency. Here in Pennsylvania, our electric rates...which have been held down in anticipation of a free marketplace...are set to rise next year by at least 10%. Realtors should be ahead of the curve in helping our clients find value and our sellers sell faster and for more money. If I were putting my house on the market, I would make sure my home sealing and insulation were first rate. That upgrade could be had for $3000 to $5000. With so many similar homes on the market, an energy efficient home would stand out. Right now buyers are dazzled by granite countertops and spa baths. The savings from 20% lower utility bills will pay them back every month that they own their homes. We need a searchable MLS that will our buyers identify energy efficient homes!

I have a client whose job takes him to various cities up and down the east coast. He is deciding where to buy his first house. Philadelphia appeals to him because of our green innovation and our mayor's committment to Green! I went to http://green-changemakers.blogspot.com Here is the list of the 10 things they say make a Green City:

1. Plentiful Parks
2. Efficient Public Transportation
3. Quality Public Space
4. Bike Lanes
5. High-profile Green Office Buildings
6. Comprehensive recycling and composting programs
7. Mixed-use and Infill Development
8. Green Leadership
9. Smart Energy Policies
10. Good Green Fun