Archives for March 2017

Nether Providence Township 2017 Summer Recreation Program Registration Starts April 3

March 17, 2017 by admin

Nether Providence Township has announced the return of it’s always popular Summer Recreation program for 2017. The camp for pre school through 5th grade children will run from June 26, 2017 to July 27, 2017 and will be held at Nether Providence Elementary School (NPE). Day camp hours are 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM – Monday Thru Thursday and Pre-School camp hours are 8:45 Am to 11:45 AM – Monday thru Thursday.

Fees are $375 for Pre-School children and $230 for Day Camp attendees. Registration begins on April 3rd at the Nether Providence Township Building located at 214 Sykes Lane, Wallingford, PA. Hours for registration are from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM – Monday thru Friday.

Nether Providence Twp residents will be enrolled first and non resident applicants will be processed in the order in which they were received beginning Monday May 1, 2017, based upon availability.

Questions regarding the Summer Program can be diredted to Maureen Feyas, at 610-566-4516, or by email at mfeyas@netherprovidence.org

Wallingford PA Real Estate – Wallingford, PA 19086

Hey Neighbor! – Where Is The Property Line?

March 15, 2017 by admin

Fences Can Define Property Lines – But Are Often Incorrectly Placed

Where is the property line? It is a question that every prospective buyer asks. The seller may answer definitively that they know exactly where the line is, and when questioned further they will cite an answer from the previous owner or on information that the neighbors have relayed. They probably have a rough idea but cannot say with absolute authority where the property lines fall, nor should you. If you are really lucky it might be possible to uncover the metal pins or small concrete markers that mark the property boundaries, but for many older homes this evidence of demarcation has long since disappeared.

The only way of knowing with certainty where your property lines are is to have a survey performed by a licensed surveyor. The cost of which usually runs about $800. A surveyed plan will mark all boundaries and lot lines along with all structures, easements and also show any potential problems.

A survey is accurate with in a fraction of an inch and will usually mark all corners for the person ordering the survey. A typical marker today is an orange stake driven into the ground. In the past a marker could have been a rock or stone marker.

The Agreement of Sale allows gives the buyer the option of electing to perform a survey as part of their due diligence, but a survey is not required when a house is sold in Pennsylvania. It seems a bit counterintuitive but when you purchase a home in Pennsylvania you do not definitively know the boundaries of the real property you are buying lie.

When is a survey necessary?

– The construction of any new features or structures on your property – a new fence, shed, garage, driveways, pools, etc. A survey is required to ensure the proposed construction does not violate any regulations regarding setbacks, etc.

– When the footprint of a home is being expanded via an addition

– The subdivision of an plot of land

– When a boundary dispute between neighbors arise

Wallingford PA Real Estate – Wallingford, PA 19086

Wallingford PA Real Estate – March 6, 2017 To March 12, 2017

March 14, 2017 by admin

A weekly review of recently sold homes in Wallingford PA and current market statistics.

There are 64 homes listed for sale in Wallingford PA and Nether Providence Township on March 14, 2017 with an average asking price of $382,220.

Mortgage rates are expected to continue a slow rise throughout the year with predictions that mortgage rates will reach as high as 4.5% by years end. The planned rate hikes by the Federal Reserve Bank are a major contributor but not the sole reason why rates will climb. Strong job growth numbers and an improving economy are also factors.

Buyers need to keep the rise in rates in perspective. While no longer at historic lows rates significantly lower than the not too distant past.

Freddie Mac’s Northeast Weekly Mortgage Survey reported the average 30 year fixed rate mortgage standing at 4.19% last week.

Wallingford Market Snapshot – 64 Listings
AVERAGE	MEDIAN	LOW	HIGH	DOM*
$382,220	$359,950	$91,900	$1,075,000	97

Single/Twin Market Snapshot – 50 Listings
AVERAGE	MEDIAN	LOW	HIGH	DOM*
$434,460	$412,400	$99,900	$1,075,000	90

Townhouse/Condo Market Snapshot – 14 Listings
AVERAGE	MEDIAN	LOW	HIGH	DOM*
$195,650	$179,950	$91,900	$435,000	124

*DOM = Days On Market

3 Wallingford PA homes went under contract

8 new listings came onto the market

No listings expired

1 listing was withdrawn from the market

27 homes are Under Contract at this time

3 Wallingford PA homes sold last week

Wallingford Homes Sold March 6, 2017 To March 12, 2017
ADDRESS	BED	BATH	PRICE	SETTLED	DOM*
212 Moylan Avenue	4	2.1	$460,000	03/06/17	318
4 Church Road	5	3.2	$620,000	03/06/17	99
854B Putnam Blvd	2	1.0	$90,900	03/10/17	48
Average			$390,300		155

212 Moylan Avenue sold with a $2,550 Seller Assist

Wallingford PA Real Estate – Wallingford, PA 19086

Is There Danger Lurking In Your Electrical Panel?

March 14, 2017 by admin

Federal Pacific Electrical Panels Have Long Been Considered Hazardous

I was walking through a prospective listing last week and asked to see the electrical panel. It turned out to be an older model manufactured by Federal Pacific, which was one of the most popular manufacturers of electrical panels between 1950 and 1980 and installed in millions of homes. A discussion ensued regarding the real potential dangers of this equipment and the almost certainty that a home inspector will call for it’s removal and replacement.

What makes these electrical panels so unsafe?

Federal Pacific panels and their associated circuit breakers under the brand name Stab-Loc run the significant risk of breaker malfunction which has lead to numerous documented fires. Circuit breakers in an electrical panel are designed to protect your home by preventing circuit overloading. When an overload occurs the circuit breaker trips and shuts down power to that electrical circuit.

In tests the Federal Pacific and Stab-Loc combination have been proven to be defective and do not adequately protect a home from circuit overloading. There have also been reports of these breakers failing to shut off properly when placed in the off position which can lead to some nasty consequences if you are working on a circuit that you believe is powered off. One estimate has this combination of panel and breakers to be the cause of 2,800 fires a year nationwide. The company has been out of business for years but the dangers of their product is still out there.

These electrical panels are pretty easy to identify. The name Federal Pacific is written on the cover of the breaker box, as pictured above. Inside the box look for the name Stab-Loc printed near the center or side of the panel.

This story has a happy ending. After contacting their electrician and upon his recommendation the prospective sellers are having the electrical panel replaced which eliminates one future hurdle.

Wallingford PA Real Estate – Wallingford, PA 19086

What Makes A Bedroom A Bedroom?

March 10, 2017 by admin

Bedrooms are one of the most important selling features of a home, and there are a number of factors that determine whether a room qualifies as a bedroom. Sellers and agents are known to be creative in calling rooms bedrooms, and will push the envelope and tag rooms that do not meet the criteria as a bedroom. So what makes a bedroom a bedroom?

Required Features Of A Bedroom:

Ways to tell if a room qualifies as a bedroom – criteria can vary by state and local laws

– Egress: A bedroom needs at least two methods of egress. Traditionally this means a door and a window. According to the International Residential Code (IRC), a bedroom window must be between 24 and 44 inches from the floor, it needs at least 5.7 square feet for the opening, and it must measure no less than 24 inches high and 20 inches wide

– Ceiling Height: A bedroom ceiling needs to be at least 7 feet in height. It’s okay if some portions of the ceiling are below this level, but at least 50% of the ceiling needs to be a minimum of 7 feet in height.

– Minimum Square Footage: The room should be at least 70 square feet.

– Minimum Horizontal Footage: A bedroom must also measure at least 7 feet in any horizontal direction. That is why you can’t call a hallway a bedroom!

– Heating and Cooling: A permanent heat source is required – a space heater won’t qualify – as well as a way to cool it down, whether that’s by opening a window or air conditioning.

– Electricity: a bedroom needs to have a source of electricity.

Does a bedroom need a closet?

Technically a bedroom does not have to have a closet to be considered official. The IRC does not mandate a bedroom to have a closet. So the lack of a closet does not necessarily mean a room cannot be a bedroom. However most housing guidelines, lenders, and buyers expect a bedroom to have a closet. If it does not it should be labeled as something else like a “bonus room” or office.

Wallingford PA Real Estate – Wallingford, PA 19086

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Archives for March 2017

S. Clark Kendus