Stop by an Open House to see this lovely & well maintained 3 BR 2 1/2 Bath townhome in Newtown Square and Great Valley School District! It is PRICED TO SELL and ready for you to move right in! Main level features beautiful hardwood flooring, double–sided wood burning fireplace, powder room. Eat-in kitchen features newer dishwasher and microwave, tile floor, plenty of cabinets and counter space, custom table w/ high chairs and a slider leading to a deck overlooking a peaceful wooded area. Upper level offers Master Bedroom with double closets and master Bath, second Bedroom, hall Bath and hall Laundry closet. Spacious loft is a Bedroom/Office with skylights and storage. Lower level features a large entertainment room with a custom dry bar making it a fun gathering place. New roof (2009), new windows (2011), new HVAC (2010), new carpeting on stairs & second Bedroom (2009), washer/dryer (2007). Enjoy the great private location within the development with plenty of guest parking. NO THRU TRAFFIC! Convenient to Rt.3, 926, 202, 1 & 352.

By: Donna Fuscaldo

Published: January 23, 2012

These tips will get you started on turning your house into a “show home”.  Even if you’re not moving, you will find these tips also make your home more relaxing and enjoyable to live in.

1. Walls:

Neutral colors are going to be best, although it does not have to be light beige. For the fall season, try painting your walls a rich shade of caramel or cream that’s neutral yet warm and inviting. Add pops of color with accessories in deep reds and oranges.

2. Art:

If you are unsure how high the art should be hung use this rule as a guild: 60 inches from the floor to the center of the art. In an occupied home if there is no decent art at all, take it out! It is better having empty walls than unappealing art. more…

Stop by my OPEN HOUSE this Sunday, October 23 between 1pm-4pm to see this beautiful 3 bedroom 2.5 bath townhouse in Willistown Knoll, Newtown Sqaure.

The price was just reduced to $269,500!

Awesome price, Great Valley School District, desirable location! Close to Rt.202, Rt.1 and Rt.476.

See ya!!!

By Nadia Huliai

Prudential Fox and Roach, West Chester Office

If William Shakespeare financed a home today he’d probably ask on the subject of mortgage points: “To pay or not to pay? That is the question.”

Homebuyers direct the same question to their real estate agents. Here are some perspectives:

In its simplest definition, a point is an additional loan fee that is paid to the lender in exchange for a lower interest rate. It’s called “buying down,” and it allows you to reduce your rate for the life of the loan.

Let’s say you secured a mortgage loan for $500,000 without points, at 4.6% on a 30-year mortgage, your payment would be approximately $2,560 a month. If you paid two points ($10,000), the interest rate in this example would go down to 4.1% and the monthly payment would decrease to around $2,415, a savings of $145 a month.

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If you’re planning to sell your house any time soon, home improvements that build property value should be on your to-do list. It’s a buyer’s market, and between tighter purse strings and plenty of properties to choose from, shoppers want homes that are move-in ready and free of the need for home improvement projects that will add to their own bottom lines.

Planning home improvements that pay you back at the time of sale requires a strategic vision as well as design, finish and product selections that welcome the widest possible range of buyer tastes. Drawing on tips from real estate pros, along with Remodeling magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report, here are 10 home improvements that pay you back when you sell.

Front entry doors: Curb appeal is the first step in a successful home sale, and installing a beautiful, high-quality entry door is a simple home improvement that delivers impact both in buyer drive-bys and online listings. A new entry door will also help lower home energy costs and stand up to weather extremes.

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Choosing patio paving materials begins with a decision about what kind of base to install. The base—the material that supports the pavers—must be firm, strong, and designed to stand up to years of foot traffic and weather.

The options include, sand, gravel, and concrete. Sand and gravel perform equally well, and cost about the same to install. Both sand and gravel bases are relatively easy do-it-yourself projects.

Both sand and gravel bases feature “dry set” paver installations—the paving materials are set in place, and then fine sand is swept into the joints between the materials to secure them. Every two or three years, fresh sand must be swept into the joints to replace sand that’s settled out, and pavers that have become loose must be reset. Expect to pay $2 to $3 per sq. ft. for a DIY job, and $3 to $5 per sq. ft. for a professional installation of the base alone.

A concrete base offers greater longevity and stability, with less potential for settling. On a concrete base, the paving materials are set permanently with mortar, and ongoing maintenance is minimal. Expect to pay $5 to $8 per sq. ft. for a professionally installed concrete base.

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Evaluate your yard for a patio by understanding costs, the shape of your property, and variables such as sun and shade.

In addition to helping expand usable square footage, patios add to the salability and curb appeal of your property, according to the American Society of Landscape Professionals. An attractive and functional landscape that complements the home and adds function increases value, too.

Mack Strickland of Strickland Appraisal Services, Inc., in Chester, Va., pegs patio recovery costs at anywhere from 30% to 60%, depending on the region of the country and material choices. “In general, the less elaborate and costly the improvement, the better your return on investment,” he says.

A $2,000 investment in a 12-by-12 foot brick patio, therefore, might roughly return an average of $900 at resale.

Here’s how to assess whether a patio makes economic and functional sense for your yard.

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If you are trying to decide which projects have the best return on investment, Remodeling Magazine

Cost vs Value report shows the top home renovations in 2010-2011 that might add  value to your home. They are:

BASEMENT REMODEL

MAJOR KITCHEN REMODEL

GARAGE ADDITION

ATTIC BEDROOM

WINDOW REPLACEMENT (VINYL)

WINDOW REPLACEMENT (WOOD)

SIDING REPLACEMENT (VINYL)

MINOR KITCHEN REMODEL

DECK ADDITION (WOOD)

GARAGE DOOR REPLACEMENT

ENTRY DOOR REPLACEMENT (STEEL)…

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