About Delaware County, PA

Well its that time of year ... where the days are long and hot and everyone is looking for a nice relaxing break.  Sounds like it's time to go to the movies!

In Lansdowne, a new "Little Big Screen" theatre, Cinema 16:9, recently opened in a portion of the Historic Lansdowne Theater, currently undergoing restoration.  This is both a full service small theater venue playing second run films as well as a full line rental movie business offering a deep selection of foreign and classic films.  The 41 seat theater has a full 11.5 ft cinema screen with theater surround sound and is a great addition to the Lansdowne area.

David Titus is the owner of Cinema 16:9 and recently moved back to the area with his wife, a native of Lansdowne.  They have carefully redone the space to echo the classic movie feel (check out his blog for the construction story).  In the lobby, they serve a full complement of movie snacks with a very local green bent.  Hot beverages come from the Regency Cafe next door, while the hot dogs (Danda Farms Certified Organic All Beef Hot Dogs), beverages (including Hanks root bear,Steaz, Boylans, and Honest Tea brands), and popcorn (Kettle Popped Reist Popcorn) are all from regional businesses.  The Fresh Movie Nachos are from Lansdowne's own Mission Burito while the chocolates come from Ashers and the sweets arrive from Surf Sweets.

The theater itself is open daily 11-11, and is located in the front left of the same building as the original Lansdowne Theater while the Regency Cafe is off to the right.  The building is located in downtown Lansdowne at 35 N Lansdowne Avenue just north of the intersection with Baltimore Avenue and just minutes from Drexel Hill, Upper Darby, and much of Delaware County.  Plenty of parking is available on the street or in the lot across from the theater.

There are multiple membership options allowing from 1-3 movie rentals at a time and all the memberships come with discounted theater tickets - or just come see a movie anytime with no membership.  Watch a movie here a then take some to go!

Enjoy the Summer!  Take in a Movie!  Support your Local Businesses!  Eat Healthy! and Meet David Titus!  It's a prefect complement to your other summer activities and a great break from your daily schedule.  Be sure to check out Cinema 16:9 today.

As you move west in southern Delaware County along Route 1 / Baltimore Pike toward the country away from Philadelphia, you pass some prime condominium and town-home developments.

One of the larger complexes is located in Chester Heights. Built between 1989 and 1993, Darlington Woods is located just off Route 1 north of its intersection with Valley Brook Road. The 400+ town-homes come in a wide variety of spacious 2 and 3 bedroom units in both 1 and 2 story designs.

Pricing for the units generally range in the low to high $200,000 range. Currently there are 6 units on the market with an average list price of $262,000 and 10 homes have been sold year to date with an average sales price of $240,000. Although the sales activity has declined slightly, this is one of the few places where pricing has remained steady with the average sales prices staying between $232,000 and $242,000 since 2005.

Just to the south of Route 1 off Route 202, Springhill Farm is located behind the Glen Eagle Square Shopping Center. With over 250 units built between 1985 and 1989, there is a great variety of 2 and 3 bedroom units. This location affords immediate access to West Chester, Wilmington, and all New Castle County if your primary routes are north/south rather than east/west along Route 1/ Baltimore Pike corridor.

These units are on average a bit less expensive. The current average list price is $236,000 with an additional 5 units now under contract at an average $206,000 list price. The average price and sales activity both reached a peak in 2006 with 27 sales at an average $224,000 final sales price. Since then sales dropped to 13 units in 2007 at an average price of $219,000, the to 17 units at $222,000 in 2008, and finally 6 units year-to-date 2009 with an average sales price of $205,000.

Finally, on Route 1/ Baltimore Pike just west of the intersection with Route 202, Painters Crossing Condominiums are another popular option. This complex, built in 1972, has a variety of 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units in nice low rise buildings set on rolling hillsides. They also have their own swimming pool and tennis courts.

Due to their smaller sizes, pricing is also on average less expensive here. Over the last few years, prices have fairly consistently ranged from the low to high $100,000 levels. Today there are 8 units on the market with an average asking price of $168,000 and 4 units have settled this year for an average of $171,000. This is actually up a bit. Prices rose quickly until there were 22 sales at an average price of $161,000 in 2005. Since then, 16 homes sold in 2006 for $170,000, 17 homes in 2007 for $165,000, and 16 homes sold in 2008 for an average of $166,000. These prices can vary quite a bit due to the mix of 1, 2, and 3, bedroom units each year.

All three developments offer great town-home/condominium convenience in more of a country setting than normally found. There are also many other options throughout the area, but these provide a good taste for the variety available in the region.

As always, should you have any questions or need any additional information, please feel free to contact me anytime.

Happy 4th of July!

To All:

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May you have a healthy and prosperous Summer!

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Now is the time to send a message to Obama and Washington to stop throwing away our money,
stop federalizing energy, industry, and health care, and get out of our way so the country can once again thrive.

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us ...... that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom .. and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. (Abraham Lincoln)

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Welcome to Wayne.  This station is on the R5 Regional Rail Line just west of the Blue Route (I476).

With a prime location on the Main Line, the Wayne SEPTA stop is one of only four R5 rail stops in Delaware County.  The R5 Regional Rail Line parallels the Amtrak tracks from downtown Philadelphia to Downingtown/ Thorndale.  This line is still served by Amtrak through trains, but the nearest Amtrak stops are a few stations to the west in Paoli or just a bit further east in Ardmore.

This is an ideal commuter station with some commuter parking on both sides of the track and with plenty of space for picking up and dropping off passengers.  It is also within easy walking distance of many single family homes to the north and the multitude of condominiums and apartments in the area.  Wayne is also a great shopping, commercial, and restaurant destination.  The video will provide a better feel for the area:

Wayne (zip code 19087) continues to be a prime real estate market.  As in many areas, the area hit its peak sales activity several years ago in 2004 with 168 sales as the average price first moved above the $600,000 mark.  Prices continued to rise as sales tended down through 2007.  In 2005 there were 165 sales averaging $695,000, in 2006 144 sales with an average price of $689,000, and finally prices peaked at an average of $778,000 in 2007 with 157 sales.

In 2008, sales fell to 113 homes with an average price of $757,000 and have continued the slide this year with 55 sales year-to-date at an average price of $607,000.  Today, there are an additional 76 homes on the market with an average list price of $1,097,000 and 19 homes are under contract with an average list price of $924,000 (the average sales price should be rising as these settle).

With its prime location, diverse array of housing options, great eating and shopping options, and good rail links, Wayne should continue to be one of the preferred commuting and housing destinations on the Main Line for years to come.

As always, should you need any additional information, please feel free to contact me anytime.

(Al statistics are from the TrendMLS System and believed accurate but not guaranteed.)

Havertown homes are selling! With 67 units sold at an average sales price of $292,716, June 2009 marks the highest number of units sold in one month since June 2008 (according to Trend Multiple Listing Service Statistics run on July 1, 2009)

We've not only seen the the most sales in one month (27 more units sold then May 2009) but also the highest average sales price and the least number of Days on Market (68) for 2009. While June is typically one of the strongest months for residential sales in our area, this information is encouraging in that the trends still exist in our changed economy.

What's Driving the Havertown Market?

1. First time Home Buyers - 70% of my sales this year have come from first time home buyers taking advantage of great prices, great rates, and the $8,000 tax credit.
2. Location and Price - Havertown fits the right price range at the right location. With great neighborhoods, great schools, and great location, their are very few alternative locations that offer all Haverford Township with home selling on average just under $300,000.00.
3. Trading Up - With the draw of first time home buyers, homeowners looking for more space are finding great deals for less while being able to sell their own homes. With rates in the low and affordability being the highest its been in years, homeowners are realizing the advantages in this market.

More to come and lots to look forward to.

I'll Keep You Posted!