Kelly Gidzinski

I think I read once upon a time in our PA Assoc of Realtors newsletter that that is not legal. I'm curious to know what you find out about it. Please keep us updated if you go forward with it or what you learn about it.

Kelly Gidzinski
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Servicing Delaware County Area - Tue Oct 21 2008, 06:24

I agree with the last post. Find an agent with a strong web presence. That agent will put you on Craig's list and other sites to get your home in front of buyers. I get the most visitors to my open houses from my craig's list ads and directional signs. Not the newspaper ads.

I suggest interviewing agents with a point2 website. The point2 website allows agents to share listings in the network, so your listing not only goes up on your agent's website but also every agent in the area they have a handshake agreement within the point2 network. You get more exposure on the web this way. Go here http://homes.point2.com/US/Pennsylvania-Real-Estate.aspx and select your county in PA. Then browse agents that service your area. Look at the agent's listings and take note of how they present the home, how many pictures they put in, etc. Ask how many handshake agreements they have set up in their point2 network. The more handshake agreements they have, the more agents that will be displaying your llisting. Ultimately make sure the agent prices your home correctly. Don't follow the market. Get ahead of it.

Good luck with your home. Feel free to email me directly if you want more info. on how the point2 website network works.

Create a Great Day!

Kelly Gidzinski
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Servicing Delaware County Area - Mon Oct 20 2008, 08:21

It sounds like either your lender fees are really high or you are purchasing a home with high annual real estate taxes. Either one of those things can drive up your closing costs at settlement. If you haven't already asked to see the good faith estimate from your lender, get one and review it with your agent. Typical fees you will see from the lender are:
Appraisal fee $300-400
Credit report $20-50
Application, Admin or Underwriting fee $325 - 600.
If you are paying points or there are numerous fees under the above names, then I would consider another lender. All in all I wouldn't want to pay more than $1,300 for the above fees.

Regarding real estate taxes.... you will have to pay money towards the set up of your escrow account. Your escrow account is an account the lender sets up for you and uses to pay your real estate tax bills every year. You will have to start the account out with some funds in it and then a portion of your mortgage goes into it every month. Secondly you will pay the seller back for the real estate taxes they have already paid for this year. That is often called your tax prorations. It is calculated from the day of settlement to the end of the bill period. Typically that is the end of the calander year, but sometimes school taxes are run on a fiscal year cycle.

Other fees in your closing costs will be title insurance fees, homeowner's insurance, a broker conveyance fee (if your real estate agent's company charges one), transfer tax and some smaller ancillary fees.

Look closely at the lenders fees and the real estate taxes (both the escrow account set up amounts and the pro-rations back to the seller.) I bet you will find your answer to why it is so high in one of those areas. Good luck and I hope this was a help to you.

Create a great day!

Kelly Gidzinski
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Servicing Delaware County Area - Thu Oct 16 2008, 07:59

You don't really need a sample letter to give them notice to vacate. However, you need to follow what is written in the terms the lease. If the lease gives you the right to give 30 days notice to vacate, just be clear and to the point, politely of course, and be sure to state the date they must turn over possesion. Also send the letter regular mail and certified mail return receipt requested to be sure you have a written record of when you sent the notice. I recomend sending it regular mail as well because people will not always make the effort ot go pick it up from the post office if they weren't there to sign for it. In your letter you might also want to add in what they need to do and in what condition the property must be in order to get their security deposit back. As a landlord myself, I always ask my tenants to meet me at the property when they turn over the keys so we can do a walk through inspection together. This way there is no question as to why you deducted x amount for this or that and gives them an opportunity to correct anything to get all of their money back. Best of luck.

Create a Great Day!

Kelly Gidzinski
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Sat Aug 16 2008, 10:59

Thanks for sending the link and for your response. What you said is really well put and I completely agree. - Wed Aug 6 2008, 13:23

I guess the guy lied to me when I asked him. I also looked for it online and didn't find any mention of it in any newspaper articles. Do you remember which paper so it can be looked up?

I'm curious considering what you wrote, do you feel safe living in Clifton Heights? Are you considering moving to a different area because of the incidents you wrote about? What areas do you feel are safer than this one for your price range?

I personally am happy about the drug raid on the bar. I think it shows our police force is doing something about an issue that is widespread from the city to the suburbs. I love the fact that I see our police sitting on Baltimore Pike waiting for a vehicle with expired stickers, waiting on a side street for someone to blow the stop sign.

It's a shame about the pit bull incidient you wrote about. However it won't stop me from going to the park with my pup. I'm personally not a fan of that breed of dog. I believe the township has banned that particular dog from the park. I think that considering there is no ban on that breed in our area, the township is doing the best they can to make it as safe as possible for dogs and their owners. - Mon Aug 4 2008, 09:57

Bob Orr,

I'm curious to know your source for the armed robbery at 7-11. I live a few blocks from there in Clifton Heights and never heard anything about it. I even went as far as to ask the 7-11 store owner if he was in fact robbed last spring and he said they had not. Also, none of my neighbors own pit bulls and leave their yards full of excrement. In fact when I first moved here 8 years ago, I was walking my dog and was asked by a passing pedestrian if I had a bag to pick up after my dog. I did have a bag, but the person didn't see it since it was in my pocket. I think that shows you how much the people in this area care about their surroundings.

About the robberies you quoted 10 years ago....that is an awfully long time to have passed to use as a judgement for safety in an area.

In that area of Drexel Hill you are talking about, Upper Darby Twp. just opened a brand new dog park, playground and nature walk in Kent Park. Dog parks are pretty common in the city, but not really monitored. This park (a rare thing in the suburbs) will require a key fob to gain access and to get the key fob you must register your dog with the township and show proof of rabies vaccination and dog license. Upper Darby also just went single stream with their recycling program and added more items to recycle. Single stream means you do not have to sort it for them. Just put it out in one bucket and they take it all.

I think Drexel Hill & Clifton Heights offer a great value in neighborhood amenities, school district, proximity to the city, airport and highways, as well as a community I am proud to be a member of. As a Philly transplant who does not own any pit bulls & cleans up after my dog, I am very happy with my choice to buy my first home in Clifton Heights. I think it was the best choice for my new family and it fit into the budget I had to work with when we purchased. It will be 8 years this August and we just had our 3rd child & my oldest will be starting 2nd Grade at Westbrook Park in the fall. - Wed Jul 30 2008, 09:15

Hi Tina,

You can get crime and other statistical data by entering in the 19026 zip here: http://www.yourlifemoves.com.z57preview.com/community_report…

Learn about local first time buyer programs here: http://www.yourlifemoves.com.z57preview.com/buyers_page.shtml

I live right next door in Clifton Heights and would be happy to help you with your move. If you would like I can send you some listings in that area. Just send me an email with your desire price range and I'll send them right over.

Best wishes,

Kelly Gidzinski
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Wed Jul 9 2008, 14:48