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January 31, 2018

Answering Philly Condo Reserve Questions

Filed under: For Buyers,Of Interest to Buyers,Real Estate: Condominiums — Center City Philadelphia Real Estate Agent @ 2:53 pm

Here are a few condo reserve questions I often get asked:

1) How much money does a certain condo association have in its kitty?
You really are not going to know the answer to that question until you purchase the condo and review the condo docs. The state of Pennsylvania allows for a five-day review of condo docs for you to make an informed decision. Some buildings stockpile a boatload of $$ – and others simply just assess when needed. I usually find that the very small buildings and the very expensive/exclusive buildings in town don’t keep that much $$ on hand- their way of making improvements is to simply assess owners when needed.

2) How much in reserves is required by Fannie Mae for the building to be “warrantable?”
Although there is no set amount (for the ability of buyers who want to buy in a particular building), it is probably a good idea to be setting 10-15% aside every month for capital improvements.

3) What are capital expenditures?
Reserves for deferred maintenance (performed less frequently than yearly in order to maintain the asset’s useful life) and capital expenditures (purchasing or replacing assets that have a useful life over one year) are required for certain building components unless the board votes annually to waive and/or reduce reserve funding.

4) WTF is a capital contribution???
Buyer pays two months worth of condo fees into the ASSOCIATION- this does not go to the seller and this helps to build the kitty for future improvements. You do not get this payment back when you sell the condo and it is not a pre-payment of condo fees.  This contribution is now applicable for almost ALL condo sales in town.

5) How much should my Philly condo association have in reserves?
This really is a function of the board’s goals and the current condition of the entire parcel including the roof, windows, elevators, etc. Most folks I speak with suggest 10% -15% of the TOTAL annual intake of condo fees to help build the kitty. A professional reserve study may be in order to best guide an association.

Email me for details and I may be able to help with this. 🙂

Mark Wade 
www.CenterCityCondos.com | BHHS Fox & Roach Realtors
530 Walnut St. #480 | Philadelphia, PA 19106
Mark@CenterCity.com | 215.521.1523

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January 29, 2018

The Lyndon at The Curtis – Post By Jaime Hyman

Filed under: Center City Real Estate,General Real Estate,State of Marketplace — Center City Philadelphia Real Estate Agent @ 5:54 pm

I am a sucker for new construction, but hey let’s face it, aren’t we all? There’s nothing quite like brand new hardwood floors and a beautiful fresh kitchen. However, what really gets me going is new construction WITH some of that sought-after Philadelphia historic charm. The two combined together create an unbeatable combo and uniqueness that defines this city.

Having an office in Society Hill I am exposed to this beauty constantly. Recently, I discovered some construction across the street from my office building which perked my ears right up. I quickly came to learn that Scully Company was taking on a project to create 63 luxury rental units in the historic Curtis Building at 6th and Walnut. I toured the building in the middle of construction and was immediately hooked.

*The Terrace for The Penthouse Collection

As their extremely knowledgeable and passionate leasing agent, Molly Shapcott, always says “they didn’t cut any corners here.” The finishes compare to a brand new condominium building, along with high ceilings, original window detail and state of the art amenities.

I left the tour thrilled and had to share the news. Within days, I had a client moving from New Zealand to sign a 9-month lease (yes, they accommodated that no problem!).  Shortly after, I had another client applying for the 3 bed + den, 3.5 bath duplex penthouse unit. Since then I have had another 2 bedroom client and another 2 bed + den duplex client.

Long story short, if you are looking for a new building with the best amount of historic charm, look no further than the Lyndon At The Curtis. Please let me know if you have interest in checking this amazing building out. I pretty much go on a weekly basis to check on the progress along with visit the friendly leasing staff! Feel free to come along with me next time I go. 🙂

Click here to learn more about the rental market in Center City Philadelphia.

Jaime Hyman
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services | Fox and Roach Realtors®
530 Walnut Street, Suite 480  |  Philadelphia, PA 19106
Email: Jaime@CenterCity.com  |  Cell: 610.613.1297
www.CenterCityHomes.com | www.CenterCityCondos.com

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January 26, 2018

Northern Liberties

Filed under: Center City Real Estate,For Buyers,Of Interest to Buyers — Center City Philadelphia Real Estate Agent @ 3:45 pm

Northern Liberties has become a great residential neighborhood with a mix of professionals, families, and empty-nesters, all while maintaining its original artistic vibe.  With a great neighborhood association (NLNA) there is always something exciting going on in the area.

From family events at the Community & Rec Centers, to the seasonal farmer’s market and music festival at Liberty Lands Park, to the great variety of restaurants and bars in the neighborhood, Northern Liberties has it all. Here are just a few groovy spots:

Cantina Dos Segundos – 931 N. 2nd St. – Great for everything from brunch to happy hour to midnight margaritas…and all the delicious Mexican cuisine with a twist you can eat in between!

Yards Brewery – New location at 500 Spring Garden St. – 20 brews on tap plus a full menu…the brewery is still under construction but tours will begin soon. Bonus: They’ve got a Super Bowl bet going with Harpoon Brewery in Boston…Go Eagles!

North Bowl – 909 N. 2nd St. – Bowling, pool tables, arcade, bars, food – something for everyone. The NLNA is hosting a Winter Fest here on Feb. 11…

Edgar Allen Poe House – 532 N. 7th St. – Open Friday through Sunday – Free, self-guided tours – Great for history/literature buffs.

One Shot Coffee – 217 W. George St. – Great coffee and ambiance! House-made pastries, Good breakfast sandwiches –  Make sure you try the french toast!

There are plenty more restaurants, bars, and shopping options – too many to name here.  With a plethora of new construction, we can only expect this thriving neighborhood to continue to grow.  Click here to learn about condos available for sale in Northern Liberties.

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January 16, 2018

The Philadelphia Loft District’s Rail Park – Phase One

Filed under: Center City Real Estate,General Real Estate,Real Estate: Condominiums,State of Marketplace — Center City Philadelphia Real Estate Agent @ 4:51 pm

Construction of Phase One of Philadelphia’s exciting new Rail Park is quickly progressing! This 1/4 mile section of the Park is a wonderful addition to the Loft District. Much like the addition of the Schuylkill River Trail, Philadelphians will no doubt make great use of this new outdoor space. It will be a great place for engaging programs featuring arts, education, culture, health, and wellness.  This is a wonderful way to get city dwellers out into green spaces!

Photo Courtesy of TheRailPark.org

Phase One will run from 11th and Callowhill to Broad and Noble Streets and will have gathering places, seating, swings, and amazing skyline views!  Learn more about The Loft District Neighborhood here.

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January 9, 2018

Philly Home Show This Weekend!

Filed under: Center City Real Estate,General Real Estate,Real Estate: Condominiums — Center City Philadelphia Real Estate Agent @ 5:21 pm

The Philly Home Show will be at The Convention Center this weekend. This year there will be a City Studios feature showcasing three looks from area designers that will focus on making the most of small spaces in creative ways – could be useful for anyone living in, say, a Rittenhouse Square condo with a lovely view.

Closets by Design will have an interactive social media challenge where you can try to organize a closet in under 2 minutes. And for all the animal lovers out there, Providence Animal Center will be there to share some design ideas for your pets.

You can get tickets here: Philly Home Show Tickets.

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January 5, 2018

Stay Out Of The Cold & In Your Condo!

Filed under: Center City Real Estate,For Buyers,Of Interest to Buyers,Real Estate: Condominiums — Center City Philadelphia Real Estate Agent @ 4:33 pm

Unless you are moving to Philadelphia from say, Alaska, the idea of living in a building where you don’t have to go outside to get out of the house can be rather appealing this time of year. Here are 6 Philadelphia Condos where you can do exactly that (and this is not an exhaustive list):

1) Waterfront Square – There is a 25-meter, indoor lap pool on site here with beautiful views of the river and bridge. There is also a spa, sauna, and steam rooms, not to mention a fitness center and on-site yoga classes.  There is even a convenience store on-site.

2) The Rittenhouse Hotel – Offering a true “hotel-living” experience, this condo building has restaurants and bars on-site, including Scarpetta, Lacroix, and The Library Bar. There is also a spa in the building with unlimited services, a salon, barber, and indoor pool.  The fitness center offers small group training and yoga classes daily.

3) The Ritz Carlton – Amenities at The Ritz include a large pool, huge gym, hot tub, and one of the most comfortable and actually usable community rooms in the City.  The Richel D’Ambra Spa & Salon and modern Latin American restaurant Aqimero are also on-site.

4) Liberty Two – If you get tired of your panoramic views of the skyline, you can visit the Sky Club on the 37th floor of this building to access amenities including a lounge, billiards room, yoga room, massage rooms, fitness center, sauna, steam showers, and swimming pool. R2L Restaurant is also on the 37th floor and dinner is served from 5-10PM, with the lounge staying open until midnight on the weekends.

5) The Phoenix – Tir Na Nog Irish Bar and Grill, Philadelphia Credit Union, and Starbucks are all located here at 1600 Arch St.  There is also a newly remodeled club room, a state-of-the-art fitness center and weight room, dry cleaning and shoe shine services, pool table, and a private conference room and dining facilities on site. You can also access The Suburban Station Concourse from inside The Phoenix, which allows you to access nearby offices, or connect with rail service to 30th Street Station, New York City, or the airport without stepping outside.

6) The Philadelphian – This building houses a pharmacy, a restaurant/bar, a grocery store, a bank, and a variety of businesses including healthcare professionals, attorneys, and more.  The Philadelphian also offers on-site activities including aerobics, yoga, Tai Chi, club games, meditation group, and book club. There is also a fitness center, sauna, and pool.

Also, if you are out touring condos for sale in these buildings or other high-rises this weekend, you won’t have to worry that the lockbox will be frozen shut as all of these condos have front desk concierge services. On-site maintenance and on-site parking are a few additional conveniences of center city condo living you may want to take into consideration.

Bundle up out there!

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January 3, 2018

Please Be Aware of Wire Fraud Schemes in Real Estate

Filed under: For Buyers,For Sellers,General Real Estate — Center City Philadelphia Real Estate Agent @ 3:29 pm

Wire fraud has hit a number of buyers!

Realtors are getting new alerts every day warning us about the wire fraud that seems to be hitting the real estate industry pretty hard.

Here’s a tip – don’t wire me any *&#%$*# money!

Watch this video on how NOT to be a victim:

Wire Fraud Alert For Buyers From The National Association of Realtors.

If I still haven’t convinced you, check out these examples here: Couple Scammed Out of $91,000 in Real Estate Hoax, here: Scammers Stealing Down Payments and here: Cyber Swindle.

Lastly, please read this: BHHS Fox & Roach Realtors Anti-Fraud Disclosure.

Buying a new condo or home should be an exciting time.  Don’t let some @$$hole hacker ruin it for you!

Mark Wade
Mark@CenterCity.com
BHHS Fox & Roach Realtors
www.CenterCityCondos.com

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January 2, 2018

Do I Need Title Insurance for My Philly Condo?

Filed under: General Real Estate,Of Interest to Buyers,Real Estate: Condominiums — Center City Philadelphia Real Estate Agent @ 3:56 pm

Absolutely! Check out this video from Trident Land Transfer for more info.

What is Title Insurance?

Here are a just a few scenarios you could encounter without the protection of title insurance:

– Forgery or fraud in connection with the execution of previously recorded documents
– Incorrect representation of marital status of grantors
– Undisclosed or missing heirs
– Wills that have not been properly probated
– Mistaken interpretation of wills and trusts
– Incorrect legal descriptions
– Unsatisfied mortgages, liens, or judgments not shown on the record
– Deeds executed under expired or false powers of attorney
– Confusion due to similar or identical names
– Unknown rights of ex-spouses or former owners
– Clerical errors in recording legal documents
– Incorrect filing of condominium declarations.

Some of these things may sound crazy. However, in my 29 years of selling Philadelphia Real Estate, I have come across more than a few of the above situations.

Email us if you have any questions about purchasing title insurance or any of the other steps involved in the home-buying process.

Happy New Year!

Mark Wade
Mark@CenterCity.com
BHHS | Fox & Roach Realtors
www.CenterCityCondos.com

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530 Walnut Street, Suite 480
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Direct: 215.521.1523 ~ Office: 215.627.6005
Fax: 215.627.3142
Email: Mark@CenterCity.com
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