Open houses are great. What a wonderful collection of folks who may at any time walk right in your front door. And each one is different from the next.... 1) The Tourist: "Oh, we're from Ohio and just visiting. We…
centercitycondosphilly
The $40,000 Washer/Dryer
Not giving an inch may cost you a mint in a real estate transaction. Back in the 1960's, Tarryton Cigarettes had the saying "I'd Rather Fight Than Switch". Personally, I think I would give up my specific brand of cigarettes…
Hard vs. Soft Loft
Center City offers a buffet of living arrangements. Almost any Center City condominium, with a smattering of exposed brick, attempts to pass itself off as a loft. Often sought after as an expression of one's own style, loft living has…
Forget Location, Location, Location
Today's Condo Manta should be: "Association, Association, Association" Condominium Associations Policies Are Playing a Heavier Role In Value Determination. Many condo buyers are dismissing the old adage of "Location, Location, Location" as being the primary determining factor in the value…
Buyers Should Scrutinize the Dealings of a Condo Association Too
A blind man knows when the sun is shining, and even a casual observer can spot a poorly operated condominium association. A lax set of rules and regulations, perceptually poor upkeep, higher than usual percentage of rentals, restrictive pet policies,…
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Defining Low Rise Condominiums in Center City Philadelphia
Here in Center City Philadelphia, low rise condominiums (LRCs) are numerous and are often favored by many buyers. LRCs are generally characterized by buildings that are less than four stories tall and generally have less than twenty condominium units in…
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Condominium Pet Policies and Resale Value
How might the former affect the latter in a Philadelphia condominium? Pet policies throughout the Philadelphia condominium landscape are as varied as the associations who put forth their rules regarding pets. From exceedingly liberal, to exceedingly exclusionary, pet policies have a way…
Condominium Pet Policies vary Building by Building
Every Philadelphia condo association has its own rule governing cats, dogs, giraffes, and other miscellaneous pets. Here in downtown Philadelphia, I find that almost all of these small associations allow dogs and cats. I dunno about giraffes. Rarely are size or breed…
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Emotion Equals Value in Some Segments of the Philadelphia Condominium Market
In many urban condominium markets like Philadelphia, the adage of Location, Location, Location may not be as important as Condition, Condition, Condition. And many segments of any Philadelphia condo market will often attract buyers that have no special home renovation…
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Spruce Street and Pine Street condos in downtown Philadelphia
Along (what I have dubbed) the Spruce/Pine corridor here in Center City Philadelphia, there are a variety of low rise/Brownstone styled condominiums that have seemed to perform reliably well over the past decade. From studios to three bedroom units, these…
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