Collegeville, PA

I have met and worked with many good, honest, knowledgeable and professional mortgage brokers. I appreciate the service they provide to the public as well as other professionals in the real estate industry. Of course every profession has it's share of bad apples. Most mortgage brokers, Realtors, appraisers, loan officers, doctors, lawyers, plumbers, electricians, painters, carpenters, pharmacists, writers, etc. are good ethical people, but there are always a few in each group that are not so good.

This post is about a mortgage company that I consider to be one of the bad ones.

I am a Real Estate appraiser in St. Petersburg, Florida and was contacted by Precision Plus Financial Services, which is located at 3801 Germantown Pike in Collegeville PA, to do an appraisal of a home in St. Petersburg, Florida. I performed the appraisal and delivered the completed report in July 2008. It is now October 2008 and I have not received payment. I have called many times and left many messages requesting payment. I have also e-mailed them requesting payment. They have not responded. The owner of the home that I appraised even paid them to have an appraisal performed. Lee Austin of Precision Plus guaranteed me payment verbally and in writing. I have left many messages for Lee and also for Jim Bissel the founder and president of the company. Of course they never answer the phone - all calls go straight to voice mail. This company is part of the problem in this country. The home owner paid them hard earned money. What they have done is stealing. I consider Precision Plus Financial Services thieves!! If you live or work in the Collegeville, PA area I urge you to be wary of this company.

David Miller, Realtor/Appraiser serving St. Petersburg, FL and the Tampa Bay Area.

Perkiomen Woods is a townhouse development of close to 500 homes that features a newly redesigned pool and clubhouse as well as tennis courts and fitness center. One the best benefits besides the fact that it is an outstanding community is the fact that the Perkiomen Trail passes directly through the development making a bike ride to Philadelphia or a walk to Lower Providence Park a convenient possibility. There are numerous styles of homes in the development with some being built in the late 70's to late 90's. The development has plenty to offer including close proximity to major roads and tons of new shopping like the soon to open Providence Town Center at the intersection of Rts 422 & 29 as well as a new shopping center with a "Super" Wawa & Malvern School right around the corner from development.

I have listed and sold more homes in this development than any other Real Estate agent since 2006 so if you have questions about the development be sure to contact me. Not only have i helped more homeowners in the development buy and sell but my wife and I reside here as well. It would be my pleasure to show you why we love to call this wonderful development home.

Make today better than the previous!

Andrew Himes, Realtor, e-PRO, ABR
Weichert, Realtors Collegeville
www.AndrewHimes.com
610-409-6677

There are 4 COMMON strategies that most sellers use to price their homes. It it not wise to assume that a higher asking price will net you a higher selling price. In fact, the opposite usually winds up happening. Especially if you are not listening to what the market is telling you to do. Keep these 4 choices in mind when discussing and setting your asking price.

1. Clearly Overpriced

Every seller wants to make the most money possible for their home, and believe me when I say that agents know this. If there is more than one agent competing for your listing, the easiest way for him or her to win that battle is by telling you they believe they can sell your home for more than they actually can. This happens way too often with homes that are priced 10 to 20 percent over their true market value.

This is NOT in your best interest. The market cannot be fooled. This will leave your home sitting on the market for longer than anyone had expected, leaving you, the seller, with a couple drawbacks.

• Your home will most likley get labeled "difficult" or "troubled" by other agents, leading to a lower than fair offer, when one is finally made.
• You have been repeatedly inconvenienced with having to constantly keep your home in "showing mode" for nothing.

Far too often homes like this will just eventually expire off the market, forcing you to go through the entire process all over again!

2. Somewhat Overpriced

More than half of the homes on the market are 5-10% overpriced. These homes also tend to sit on the market longer. There is usually one of two facors here:

1. You believe in your heart that your home is really worth this much despite what the market has indicated. (There always tends to be emotions caught up in this issue afterall)
2. You've left some room for negotiating

Either way, this strategy will cost you not only time on the market, but also price received.

3. Priced Correctly at Market Value

Some sellers understand that real estate is part of the system of supply and demand, and will carefully and realistically price their homes based on the market and analysis of other homes. These competitively priced homes tend to sell within a reasonable time frame and very close to the asking price.

4. Priced Below The Fair Market Value

There are always certain sellers that are motivated by a quick sale. These homes bring multiple offers and sell extremely fast. Usually in only a few days, at or above the asking price. HOWEVER, sellers need to be sure that the agent suggesting this method is doing so with your best interest in mind.

Make It An Awesome Day!

Glen Russell

610.792.3000

WWW.GlenRussell.Com

Perkiomen Woods is a townhome subdivision built ca. 1977-1996; median age is ca. 1990. Interior living space ranges from approximately 1,300-2,500 sq. ft. with a median of approximately 1,600 sq. ft. The community has an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, and walking trails.

Entry into the neighborhood is from South Collegeville Road (Route 29) onto Perkiomen Boulevard.

School District: Spring-Ford Area

Street Names: Buttonwood Drive, Cherrywood Court, Fir Drive, Hawthorne Court, Hemlock Drive, Honeylocust Court, Iron Bark Court, Juniper Court, Larchwood Court, Magnolia Court, Mulberry Court, Pepper Court, Perkiomen Boulevard, Pin Oak Court, Poplar Court, Redwood Drive, Spruce Lane, Sycamore Court, Yellowwood Court

Model Names: Aspen, Montgomery, Poplar, Providence, Sycamore

To find out more about this community, please contact Jan Gaweda at 610-653-0386 or by email at Jan@JanGaweda.com

State Representative Mike Vereb is holding his "Annual Family Fun Day", June 20th 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Collegeville Pitstop, 3960 Germantown Pike, Collegeville, PA, 19426.

Food, rides and entry are all free to the public,

Rep. Vereb has a YouTube Video on the event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRCZLEkv02c