Call or Text Paul @ 215-778-9687     Issue #: 327 | 2-18-25

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Real Estate Update

If you’ve been considering selling your home, this could be the year to do it—and here’s why. According to a recent NerdWallet survey, 15% of people plan to buy a home this year, marking a record high for this survey (see graph below). 

That’s a significant jump from the 9-11% range we’ve seen since 2020, signaling that buyer demand is growing and more people are ready to make their move.

What This Means for Sellers

While we’re not expecting the frenzied buying activity we saw a few years ago, this increase suggests that pent-up demand is building. Many buyers who put their plans on hold due to higher mortgage rates, economic uncertainty, or affordability concerns are now ready to re-enter the market.

Some buyers have finally saved enough for a down payment, others are feeling more confident about their financial stability, and some are simply tired of waiting. Whether they’re relocating for work, growing their family, or just ready for a change, this year is their year to buy—and that could be great news for you as a seller.

The Market Is Already Heating Up

Another key takeaway from the NerdWallet survey is that more than half of these potential buyers (54%) have already started searching for homes online. That means many of them are actively preparing to buy, checking listings, setting alerts, and doing their research before making a move.

If history is any indication, most of these buyers will be looking during the peak homebuying season—spring. That’s when activity traditionally surges, making now the perfect time to start prepping your home for sale.

How to Take Advantage of This Market Shift

If you’re thinking about selling, you need a solid strategy to attract these buyers. The key is making sure your home stands out in a competitive market. That means:

• Pricing it correctly from day one to attract serious buyers and avoid price reductions.
• Staging and preparing your home so it looks its best in listing photos and during showings.
• Marketing it effectively across multiple platforms, including MLS listings, social media, and professional real estate websites.

This is where working with an experienced real estate agent can make all the difference. A great agent knows how to position your home to appeal to today’s buyers, maximize exposure, and negotiate the best deal possible.

So, with more buyers entering the market this year, you have a unique opportunity to sell your home with the right strategy in place.

Hi!

The celebrations are fading but the memories will last a lifetime. The video reels of the parade and the mic'd up Eagles plays....especially the one where the coaches say "If we score, it's over...just call it" which I catch myself watching every time I come across it...are incredible to watch. 

And now it's on to the Phillies! And who knows...maybe the Sixers and Flyers will surprise us with a good run. 

I hope you had an exciting week! Did you go to the Eagles parade or do anything special for Valentine's Day?

We had a really good week. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law were came in town from none other than KC...of course we had some fun Super Bowl banter...and a reminder that KC beat us two year ago...because their son and daughter-in-law's first child was due any day. 

So during the "baby wait" last Tuesday night, the four of us met up at a P.F. Chang's near the hospital. There were only going to be in town for five days so that was the best night to catch up. My nephew and his wife's baby girl arrived early Wednesday morning and all is well with the baby and mom.

I had too much going on at work on Friday to go down to the Eagles parade but our Young Lady and her boyfriend did go down without me. A friend of ours has his law office in one of the buildings on JFK Boulevard so they invited us to join them at their office to watch the parade. After several maneuvers our Young Lady and her boyfriend arrived at the office building.

They got off the train at 8th and Market but were blocked from crossing Broad St. So they had to go back to 8th Street and take the train to 30th Street station and walk back to JFK Blvd. As they got closer, they had to push through the thick crowds to get to the entry door to the building so it was a crazy adventure for them. But on the plus side, they were able to be indoors with bathrooms instead of standing out in the cold. They were able to get some great photos and videos of the parade from their vantage point.

They thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The parade memories will last them a lifetime. I was at the two Flyers parades in the 70's and the Phillies parade in 1980 and still remember the experiences to this day.

On Valentine's night, My beautiful bride and I went to the Newtown Theatre for a Beatles review with the band, Strawberry Fields. It was a great performance and a wonderful trip down memory lane listening and bopping to some of the Beatles greatest hits. 

Right before the show went on I noticed my cousin Mark and his wife going into the aisle two rows in front of us so they moved back and sat with us as we had two empty seats next to us. We all had a blast!

I had two offers come in Saturday morning on one of the properties I am marketing so working on that took up most of the afternoon and part of the evening. After negotiating with the buyer side on one of the offers, we were able to come to terms and were able to get everything electronically signed on the buyer and seller side.

Sunday started out with a great weight lifting session before getting some errands done. I had just finished up and was getting ready to relax for the evening when the winds decided to kick in high gear. It wasn't long before our trampoline went airborne. The trampoline survived a couple of hurricanes over the years but this time around it was "Lift Off". 

The trampoline lifted up from about 25 feet behind our house, banged into our siding... we have a few holes in the siding now... then continued down the drive way were it damaged both cars, a dented and scratched up hood on my car and a smashed windshield and several gashes on my beautiful brides car, before lifting over the cars and landing upside down out in our street. It surely wasn't something we were planning on dealing with during our Sunday late afternoon and evening...lol.

The trampoline is too big to put in the garage until the winds died down, so I had to take the whole thing apart right then and there. I didn't want it to cause any more damage to our house or cars and certainly didn't want it to damage any of our neighbors properties. Naturally, the trampoline was already damaged from the flight and banging into the house and cars so it had to come apart to throw away anyway.

So it was a rather expensive ending to a great week and weekend. Of course, there is a deductible for the house and each car so the cost of that trampoline just increased drastically...lol. Oh well, the kids had fun on it over the years.

With the Eagles season now over, please let me know if there is anything in the world I can help you or a friend with in the coming months.

If you know of anyone who is looking to buy or sell a home this year, I appreciate your letting me know. Thank you!

I hope you enjoy this week's update and find it informative. If you are seeing this update through social media, you can sign yourself up to receive this update each week by clicking here.

If you know of anyone who could benefit from the information in my weekly updates, please spread the word by forwarding them this update or by clicking here so they also get my updates every Tuesday.

Have a Tremendous rest of your day...make it a meaningful and enjoyable week...and Live on Purpose with Passion!   

Paul

"Paul always returned my phone calls promptly. I felt comfortable working with Paul and was always kept informed. He is a hard worker who puts in long hours and is dedicated." - Steve Flanagan

Local Market Update

This past week was a bit of a mixed bag for our local real estate market, and I think we all know why—Eagles fever. With the team winning the Super Bowl, a lot of buyers and agents were more focused on celebrating than house hunting. But while sales activity was a bit slower, sellers were ready to move—new listings jumped by about 18%.

That’s a great sign, and with inventory increasing and mortgage rates gradually improving, I expect the market to bounce back quickly as more buyers refocus on homeownership.

2025 Housing Market Outlook – What’s Ahead?

Recently, Bright MLS released its 2025 Housing Market Forecast, offering insight into what we can expect this year. The biggest takeaway? More optimism. According to the Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Survey, buyers and sellers felt more confident about the market at the end of 2024 compared to the previous year.

That said, there are still challenges. While nearly two-thirds of consumers think it’s a good time to sell, only one in five believe it’s a good time to buy. But that hesitation may not last—Bright MLS surveys show that 37% of agents expect buyer activity to be high or very high this quarter, meaning we could see momentum building.

What’s Driving Buyer Demand?

There’s a lot of pent-up demand in the market. In 2024, many buyers hit pause on their home search due to affordability concerns, low inventory, and high mortgage rates. Now, they’re waiting for the right moment—whether that’s lower mortgage rates, better prices, or simply more homes to choose from.

Mortgage rates are expected to gradually decline in 2025, but not in a straight line. Rates will fluctuate week to week, and savvy buyers will be watching closely, ready to act when they see an opportunity.

Another key trend? First-time homebuyers are getting older and earning more. With affordability challenges pushing younger buyers to wait longer, the median age of a first-time homebuyer has hit 38—the highest on record. Many will need larger down payments to compete in this market, and family financial support is playing a bigger role. Parents tapping into their home equity to help their children buy is becoming more common, particularly among Boomer homeowners.

What Buyers Want in 2025

Today’s buyers are picky, and for good reason. According to a nationwide survey, the top priority for most buyers is finding a move-in-ready home. While some are open to minor updates, the majority don’t want a fixer-upper.

Interestingly, home offices—which were in high demand during the remote work boom—are becoming less of a priority, as more companies are calling employees back to the office. However, proximity to work is becoming a bigger factor in homebuying decisions, with 54% of buyers saying their commute is a major consideration.

What This Means for Sellers

If you’ve been considering selling, 2025 is shaping up to be a better year to do so than 2024. According to Fannie Mae’s latest survey, 63% of consumers believe now is a good time to sell, up from 57% at the end of 2023. And nearly one in five homeowners is actively considering selling in the next 12 months.

One group we expect to see selling this year? Pandemic-era buyers. Many who bought during the record-low interest rate years have already built substantial equity and are now looking to move up. Interestingly, a third of homeowners considering selling in 2025 have lived in their home for less than five years. While mortgage rates are higher than what they locked in, their increased home equity is giving them the ability to make a move.

Younger homeowners, particularly those in their 30s and 40s, will likely make up the most active group of sellers this year, often moving for family or job-related reasons. Additionally, we’ll see an increase in estate sales and downsizing homeowners, particularly in areas with older populations.

A More Balanced Market Means More Negotiation

For the past few years, sellers had the upper hand, with homes selling above asking price in many cases. But the market is shifting—by the end of 2024, the average sold-to-list-price ratio had dropped to 98%, meaning buyers now have more room to negotiate.

While we’re still in a seller’s market due to low inventory, pricing a home correctly will be more important than ever in 2025. More than three-quarters of sellers had to offer buyers some type of concession at the end of last year, such as closing cost assistance or repair credits. That trend will likely continue.

The Bottom Line

The Philadelphia region’s real estate market is in transition. While buyer confidence is returning, affordability concerns and mortgage rate fluctuations are keeping some hesitant. However, with pent-up demand, rising inventory, and a growing number of motivated sellers, we should see a more active market in 2025.

Mortgage rates continue to gradually decline, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hitting its lowest point so far in 2025. 

This recent stability in rates is a welcome change for buyers who have been waiting for more predictable conditions. 

In fact, buyer demand is already stronger than it was at this time last year, which suggests that we could be seeing the early signs of a market shift. 

If this trend continues, more buyers may feel confident enough to jump back into the market.

The rates on the chart below are subject to change without notice.

Thinking of waiting until spring to buy a home? Mark and Lisa were too—until they realized winter buyers have the advantage.

With less competition and more negotiating power, they landed a great deal, including seller-covered closing costs and repairs—something they likely wouldn’t have gotten in a competitive spring market. 

Want to know why buying now might be your smartest move? Watch the full video to learn more!

The real estate market has gone digital, making buying and selling homes more convenient than ever. But with that convenience comes a growing threat—cybercrime.

As a real estate professional in the Philadelphia region, I’ve seen firsthand how fraudsters...

Click here to read the rest of my latest blog post!

When it comes to selling your home, marketing makes all the difference. 

A recent survey found that sellers want their agent’s top priority to be marketing their home effectively.

It’s not just about listing on the MLS—a great agent uses video tours, social media, open houses, and more to attract the right buyers. 

That’s exactly how Brian and Megan sold their home for top dollar quickly after months with no offers. 

Want to know how? Watch the full video to learn more!

​Click here to see 15 homes in our area that are trending right now. I think you will love them!!

To preview these homes or any other homes, call or text me at 215-778-9687.​

​SOLD in 5 Days!  $20,000 over Asking Price!!

Great Opportunity to own in Society Place! This charming First Floor 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom unit in the highly sought-after Society Place community within Newtown Grant offers endless... (Continue reading and check out all of the photos by clicking here.)

If you are thinking of selling your house or know someone who is thinking of selling their house, feel free to reach out to me by text or call me at 215-778-9687 so I can put my exclusive Home Selling Program, designed to sell homes for top dollar quickly, to work for you or someone you know.​

SOLD in 14 Days! Full Price!!

A very rare find in Olde Somerton! The perfect blend of charm, character & modern comforts! 5 bed/2.5 bath 2875 SQFT circa 1924 three story Victorian on a sprawling double lot w/ 2 story entertainment barn & 5 car off street parking! Stamped concrete front porch! Sunny... (Continue reading and check out all of the photos by clicking here.)

If you are thinking of selling your house or know someone who is thinking of selling their house, feel free to reach out to me by text or call me at 215-778-9687 so I can put my exclusive Home Selling Program, designed to sell homes for top dollar quickly, to work for you or someone you know.

If  you're on social media, come say hello! Here's where you can find me:

Nestled in the heart of the highly desirable Newtown Grant Community, this beautifully updated 4-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom Colonial seamlessly blends classic charm with modern elegance. As you step inside, you’re... (Continue reading and check out all of the photos by clicking here.)

If you or someone you know might be interested in previewing this home, please reach out to me for a private showing by text or call me at 215-778-9687.

Click here to begin searching for your dream home right now!! If you want to discuss your plans with me, feel free to text or call me at 215-778-9687. 

I offer a free, no obligation consultation for buyers and sellers so we can freely discuss your real estate dreams and goals and then set up a plan to achieve your goals.

Infographic Summary:

Are you wondering whether to buy now or wait? Here’s something to consider—home prices are projected to keep rising for at least the next five years. That means the longer you wait, the more expensive homes will become.

Let’s say you buy a $400,000 home today—as prices appreciate, you could build around $83,000 in equity over time. That’s money in your pocket just for owning your home. If you’re in a position to buy now, this long-term gain could make a big difference.

Let’s talk about your options—call or text me at 215-778-9687, and let’s make a plan!

Local News Briefs

A weekly roundup of local real estate related news, compiled by Suburban Realtors® Alliance:

General

PA Property Tax, Rent Rebate program applications open:
Pennsylvanians can begin applying for Property Tax and Rent Rebates for the 2024 tax year. The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are 65 and older, widows and widowers who are 50 and older, and people with disabilities who are 18 and older. In 2023, the Pennsylvania General Assembly approved a historic expansion of the Property Tax and Rent Rebate program. Under the expansion, the maximum standard rebate increased from $650 to $1,000. Meanwhile, the income limits for renters and homeowners both increased to $45,000 — the first time since 2006 that the income limits have been raised. Applications are due by June 30. Applications can be submitted online via the myPATH website or by contacting a state representative or senator’s office. Read more in the Pottstown Mercury. Source: Pottstown Mercury; 2/5/2025

Bucks County

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Jet fuel leak taints wells in Upper Makefield:
About 75 residents crowded into the Upper Makefield Township supervisors meeting in early February after a jet fuel leak was discovered from a pipeline under Washington Crossing. The meeting was attended by residents and representatives of the township, state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, and Sunoco. Residents first began reporting an odor on Jan. 9., and Sunoco discovered the leak Jan. 31, however many residents say the leak has been ongoing since September 2023. The company said it did not know how much petroleum product had leaked from the 14-inch line that was carrying jet fuel. A late January test at another nearby well showed levels far above the legal limit for benzene, xylenes and other chemicals, according to the Bucks County Courier Times. DEP representative Lisa Strobridge reported the results of a late January water test revealed 15 inches of kerosene in one well's water. Yvette Taylor, chair of the Upper Makefield Township supervisors, sent a letter to Energy Transfer calling for the pipeline to be shut down. Additionally, state Sen. Steven J. Santarsiero (D-10) and State Rep. Perry S. Warren (D-31) have asked federal authorities to suspend operations of “the Sunoco Twin Oak-Newark Pipeline operated by Energy Transfer crossing through Bucks County until a full investigation is completed and a clear cause for all leaks are identified and repaired.” The legislators note that some residents have been complaining about petroleum odors in their water for about 14 months, even though Sunoco “continued to claim there were no discharges.” Sunoco said the company would pay for well testing for people living within a section of the Mount Eyre neighborhood. JoMarie Jenkins, a senior right of way specialist at Sunoco Logistics, said the company would also pay for port of entry treatment (POET) filtration systems, which cost about $5,000, as well as monitoring, but did not say how many homes would qualify for POET systems. Sunoco has set up an email, uppermakefieldresponse@energytransfer.com, and a hotline number at 877-397-3383 for residents to report issues and sign up for testing. Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 2/5/2025; Bucks County Herald; 2/10/2025; & Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/11/2025

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Waste Management works to correct customer ID error in Middletown:
Waste Management began its new once-per-week waste collection contract with Middletown Township last month. Residents received letters recently with customer IDs to set up online profiles for their trash and recycling service. However, Waste Management said a printing error led to some residents receiving incorrect numbers. The company is now providing residents with new, corrected IDs and asked residents not to contact the township or Waste Management’s customer service line about the incorrect IDs. Source: LevittownNow; 2/10/2025

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Grant awarded for crucial Chalfont section of Neshaminy Greenway Trail:
Chalfont Borough has received a $225,000 state grant to help complete a crucial segment of the Northern Neshaminy Greenway Trail, a 33-mile recreational route that spans Bucks County. The money will help complete a section of the trail in the Lindenfield Townhomes development, located off Route 152/Main Street. The completion of the trail was not without controversy, with residents in the area balking at the trail based on concerns over privacy, flooding, environmental implications and maintenance costs. With construction slated to begin soon, the trail will finally connect the section of Chalfont to the wider regional network. The Neshaminy Creek Greenway Trail, when completed, will stretch from Peace Valley Park near Chalfont to Neshaminy State Park and the East Coast Greenway in Bensalem. Source: Bucks County Herald; 2/11/2025

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Solebury announces e-waste recycling event:
Solebury Township supervisors scheduled the annual electronics recycling event for Saturday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to noon at the New Hope-Solebury High School auditorium parking lot. The event will again be run by eForce Recycling and township volunteers. The township will cover eForce’s $3,500 fee and will seek full reimbursement from the Bucks County E-Waste Collection Recycling Grant Program, as it did last year, according to Supervisors Chair Mark Baum Baicker.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 2/9/2025

Philadelphia

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Philly metro area named among the country’s ‘least affordable’ for renters:
New research shows Philadelphia, the most impoverished big city in the country, is becoming less affordable. The median monthly rent for a typical apartment in the Philly metro area — which includes the suburbs and places like Camden and Wilmington — was $1,865 during the final quarter of 2024, according to a January report from real estate brokerage Redfin. To afford that, researchers found someone would need to earn $74,600 a year — $15,630 more than the median income for the area. The gap at the national level is closer to $10,000. Read more at PlanPhilly. Source: PlanPhilly; 2/11/2025

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Market East corridor remains a top priority and a sizable challenge:
There’s little consensus on the best path forward for the Market East Corridor, as the city prepares to create a master plan it hopes will deliver a thriving destination — a challenge experts say needs to be met in the right way for the struggling corridor to turn the page. The corridor continues to experience high vacancy rates. It will also need mixed-use developments with housing to be successful, according to Job Itzkowitz, executive director of the Old City District. “At the end of the day, what makes any commercial corridor tick is people,” Itzkowitz said. “If there’s not an opportunity for office workers, which there isn’t, and there’s not going to be a ‘deus ex-machina’ event like the creation of an arena, then there needs to be housing. We have to make it as easy as possible to build as much housing as possible.” He also argued that the city should eliminate mandatory on-site parking requirements for new buildings in the area to reduce construction costs and spur development. An independent plan released last year by the Center City District identified development opportunities on East Market Street, between City Hall and 6th Street. Read more at PlanPhilly.
Source: PlanPhilly; 2/4/2025

Montgomery County

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After a 15-year closure, work will begin on Pottstown’s Keim Street Bridge:
Pottstown Borough Manager Justin Keller recently announced that work will soon begin on replacing the Keim Street Bridge. The bridge closed in 2010 due to structural deficiencies. Spanning the Schuylkill River, the bridge was built in 1935, connecting Industrial Highway in Pottstown with Route 724 in North Coventry Township, Chester County. Detours for the Montgomery County side of the bridge suggest motorists use either the Route 422 bridge at the Armand Hammer Boulevard interchange, or the Hanover Street Bridge to get around the road closure of Industrial Highway. The closure of Industrial Highway will last at least a year. No detours have yet been set for the Chester County side of the bridge. Keller said the construction is scheduled to be completed in 2026. At the time of closure, approximately 9,400 vehicles used the bridge on a daily basis. Source: Pottstown Mercury; 2/12/2025

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Ambler Borough seeks community input on comprehensive plan update:
Ambler Borough is updating its comprehensive plan, which provides a vision for the borough’s development. The Ambler Borough Planning Commission hosted an open house on Jan. 28 to gather resident feedback. View the presentation here. The borough is asking for residents and stakeholders to take an online community survey by Feb. 28. Source: Borough of Ambler; 2/5/2025

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Whitpain supervisors discuss limited conversion of office space to residential use:
Whitpain Township supervisors recently viewed a presentation by township staff on the consideration of limited conversion of existing — but vacant — office space to residential uses. The concept was initially reviewed and addressed in the township’s comprehensive plan update in 2024. The presentation discusses the creation of a zoning overlay district in the southeast corner of the township, where office parks are located. A cap of no more than 1,000 new dwelling units would be permitted in the overlay district. All residential projects in the overlay district would have to meet requirements for parking, green space, buffering, outdoor recreation and other features. Supervisors Chair Scott Badami said that the coming months will allow for careful consideration of the presentation and consideration of public input to achieve “the best path forward for our community.” Source: Whitpain Township; 2/7/2025

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King of Prussia District launches interactive Data Dashboard:
The King of Prussia District recently launched a new tool designed to track transformation and performance of the area across 14 categories. The district’s new Data Dashboard is an interactive tool designed to provide timely and accurate information for business leaders, developers, investors and other stakeholders. According to a news release, the tool will track data relating to the following topics: demographics, labor market, housing market, office, retail, industrial/flex, medical, life science, entertainment, hospitality, parks and trails, transportation, school district and business tax. King of Prussia District is a nonprofit that represents 431 commercial property owners with a combined $2.3 billion in assessed property value.
Source: Daily Local; 2/10/2025