About Philadelphia's Overbrook

It's crazy how everything happens for a reason and how the hearts of people work are even crazier and a blessing too. I was happy to be a part of the blessing I am about to share.

A couple of Sunday's ago, I had to head to go to the store. The normal corner store I go to didn't have what I needed so I went to another one that I had never been to. While at the counter waiting to pay for my things, I couldn't help but overhear a young man speaking with another man about his troubles with finding a job. He sounded a little down because his first born daughter was on the way due to be delivered in February. As I am typing this, the sound of his voice saying, "Something has to give. I have to find something because she's coming" comes to my mind. I normally mind my business and I tried hard to this time as well. I looked at him, smiled, and walked to my car. As I was turning the key to start my engine, the man that he was speaking to walks out of the store. I had to say something to him. This young man's trouble was weighing heavy on my heart. I asked how well he knew the young man and he said he knew him very well and that he was nice and played with his children often. I gave him my card and told him to tell the young man to call me. I had to cut the conversation short because my phone rang. I answered and just as I was done having my conversation, the young man knocked on my car window wanting to thank me. I decided to speak with him right then and there. I told him that I wanted to help him because I didn't want him to turn to drastic measures to take care of his child. He was so nervous, it took me a minute to get out of him what he was actually good at. Finally I was able to find that he had experience with clean outs and home improvement. Well wasn't that an 'Ah Ha' moment. It was perfect. I am a Realtor and of course I know contractors. I told him that I knew some contractors and for him to call me. We exchanged numbers and before leaving, I let him know that I would help if I could and not to worry because we were gonna find him a way to take care of his baby.

Now, a while back I wrote a blog about my wonderful contractor and I felt to give him a call to see if he needed any extra help. I called his wife to see if this was a good idea and she must've agreed because my contractor gave me a call the next day and asked to have the young man contact him. To make a long story short, the young man called back with a happiness I can't put into words thanking me for helping him out. My contractor gave him a job just on a word of this man needing help without knowing anything else besides that. When I thanked him for helping this man out which in turns helps our community, he replied "Truth is if we don't give support for our youth, who will? That's one of my goals, to get large enough that I can start programs to teach them trades like this." Well aside from doing my best to make AVM Solutions grow because I am a huge fan of their work, I will do my best to make them grow because their growth means a better community. So I say to Monica and Antonio Adams, the owners of AVM Solutions, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You made not minding my business prove to be a good choice....

Overbrook is located in West Philadelphia. There are many green spaces here, from Cobbs Creek Park to Morris Park. The community was initially established as a convenient retreat for working class families, with a suburban feel that still remains connected to the city. Preserved rowhomes and twin homes line the roads. Regional rail serves the population.

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Another Settled Philadelphia Short Sale - thank you Google and Active Rain !

A few months ago, an out of state seller googled "top producing RE/MAX agent in Philadelphia" and found us - The Somers Team ! He had a property in Overbrook that he needed to do a short sale on. We got the ball rolling with the client with his hardship letter and obtaining the necessary information from him and determined that he was a great short sale candidate.

The property was not an easy sale even with it priced aggressively. A tenant was on her way out at the property and it was a mess. The seller did not want to pay for a clean-out as he was jammed up. There was trash everywhere and an abandoned, broken down-car in the garage. All in all, we had over 70 showings at the property !

In any event, I used the opportunity to have someone on my team handle the short sale as it would be a great learning experience for her. The client was fine with this as he was just thrilled that so many people were helping him. Long story short, another agent from our office brought the buyer, the deal was accepted and submitted to the bank. And then the waiting... and the waiting... At the last moment, we demanded from the bank an answer and received the short sale approval. The buyer's agent went above and beyond by helping clean out the mess at the property as well as arranging for the removal of the old junked-up car. Now that is what I call client service ! He will have a client for life.

The good news for us is that our record of Philadelphia short sale listings going to settlement remains at 100 percent ! Every deal has settled ! Now that is what I call a high closing ratio ! So for all the folks that are nervous or hate short sales, not for nothing, these deals do close !

Also, this is another example of the power of Google and blogging on Active Rain ! After all that is how the seller found us! And on an even more positive note, all the Agents involved in this deal helped save one seller from a foreclosure, helped another buyer receive a great deal and helped the City of Philadelphia by avoiding having a boarded-up property in the Overbrook neighborhood !

We often hear the negativity in regards to short sales but there are also many positives that are happening daily. For this blog post, please comment or share your experiences in terms of what is working or what has worked with the short sales that you have been involved with.

For related Philadelphia Short Sales blog posts see below:

Short Sale Challenges and Success in Somerton

Short Sale Success in Philadelphia - Third Time was a Charm !

Philadelphia Short Sale Success in Fishtown !

Short Sale Specialists in Philadelphia - what is a short sale ?

Short Sale Specialists in Philadelphia - Plan and Prepare for Success

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If interested in buying or selling properties in Philadelphia, contact Chris and Stephanie Somers at thesomersteam@yahoo.com or 215-400-2612 . You can connect with us on Facebook and Twitter . For investment properties, check out our new investor site at Philly Investor Hub !

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Areas of specialty include Northern Liberties, Old City, Center City, Fishtown, Graduate Hospital, Art Museum, Queen Village, Pennsport, Old Kensington, Port Richmond, Bridesburg, Society Hill, Loft District, Spring Garden and more !

An agent, and friend, in my office came in and placed a postcard on my desk today that was received by her newest listing. Her newest listing happens to also be my very own neighbor that lives behind me. It was a postcard from another real estate company with a list of "recent" home sales (how can 9 months be recent?). The postcard was your typical farming postcard with the agent's info and a call to action. What got under my skin was the fact that he calls himself "the neighborhood expert". This postcard was sent to the street one over from me where I have been inconsistently farming for close to 2 years now. I've never seen this guy before and really resent him for giving himself this title. I looked up each listing in public records and saw just how old they were. BUT looking more inward I think I really hate myself for not being consistent with my farming and NOT door knocking on my block and those in front and behind me so that my very own neighbors can see ME as the TRUE neighborhood expert! Why have I been so lax about becoming involved in my immediate area?

Is this my fault? How can I really be upset with this guy and his self-imposed title when all I do is a postcard monthly? Sure I speak to everyone and most people know who I am but I have never really gone door to door with a giveaway or a business card. A house went up for sale across the street from me a few months ago and I was pissed that I didn't get the listing. My teammate and I were so perplexed by this that we did a mad dash to get all of our buyers to that house. We currently have a signed agreement. We're so excited that I finally get to say that I participated in a sale in my neighborhood. Now I'll get to send the Just Sold postcards to the area; but why stop there. I'd like to capitalize on the new feather in my cap. The postcard giving agent and friend in my office has her new listing in that same block behind me. We are sitting the open house this weekend for her because she is not really familiar with my neighborhood. This Saturday I want to door knock with an invitation to the open house and to give my neighbors a real sense of what is active and sold in our neighborhood. I've also volunteered for the school Pancake Breakfast this Sunday. I'll place info about that in my door hanger of goodies too. Perhaps during the knocking I can find out some other community/block events and start a neighborhood blog. My #1 lesson learned is consistency and frequency is important and becoming number one in my neighbor's minds. Either way I don't want any more outsiders calling themselves my "Neighborhood Expert".