Cool way to live in a 200 sqf home!

Hello, I thought this article about a 200 sqf home completed with a nice aesthetic was worth a read.

NPR Article

Have a Happy New Year!

-Stephen

My Offer: 8% of my Commission split to Charity

I hope this blog finds you well. Candidly, this post merges a lot of thoughts and objectives that I have been visualizing for about two years. Practicing Real Estate is fascinating to me because it is an industry that is a real social network.

"Facilitating Community" is the motto I have internalized while practicing. I want to join my business with charity because I think it is the best way  to honor this ethos. It is my e-mail tag, and I cannot think of a better way to live the motto than to build a comprehensive relationship with charities in the Lehigh Valley and around the world. This offer can be capitalized upon world wide. Like I said, it is a pretty cool social network.

As the title of the post indicates, I'd like to offer 8% of my commission split to a charity of my client's choice. As of now, the offer has no limit in regard to timing, I would like to reserve the right to change this at my discretion because I do not know what the future holds.

There are some legal elements that I have to put in writing at the time of signing a buyer or seller contract. I also realize that not everybody wants this particular service, so it is not a must. Contact me for the details, I want to tailor a plan of my action to my client.

You have my sincerest and best regards,

Stephen Weinstein

Postcards by

Recipe for Gingerbread Pancakes

When its 23 degrees in the middle of December, sometimes a good Recipe can make things better. I attempt recipes from time to time and I like to share them. I am not good at cooking these recipes, but, hey, I try.

This one turned out alright for me!

Grandma's Gingerbread Pancakes

Zillow Digs --- How to Create Equity Pre-Market with

Monetizing Social Media is a significant trend going into the future. Many Wall Street titans are worrying how Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook will make money. I believe Zillow Digs is a new kind of Social Media that will bring equity to Main Street.

Zillow Digs is feature of a great Real Estate website called Zillow. Zillow Digs is where folks are putting their homes on a search list to show them off before they enter the market! Check it out  yourself by clicking or tapping here, remember you can search Spaces, Style, Cost and Color.

Homes on the site tend to make people say: "wow, if I had the capital, I'd buy that home". There is an intangible value to that thought process, people generally have bias to things that they know. This becomes more important when people attribute positive thoughts and expressions to your home's speaking architecture. Simply put, it is a type of branding.

It can be done with interior spaces to, the background in my blog is from Zillow Digs. Below is another one I like.

There can also be backyard shots.

If you feel your home has a feature that you would like to show off and you want to create equity in your home, let me know! Shoot me an e-mail at Stephen.weinstein@foxroach.com and I will set up something with one of the many photographers I know.

Schools

I often get asked about School Districts in the Allentown Easton Bethlehem area.

This is often where I refer people to check for reference.

Here are several websites pertaining to schools listed in no specific order. Some have reviews, I recommend reading the reviews on all of the sites and remembering they are internet reviews; which means their integrity can be challenged. Talking to Guidance counselors at the respective Lehigh Valley Districts is also encouraged. Lastly, searching the Morning Call & Lehigh Valley Live for District related material might be informative, you will find information about budgets and other district related news.

1. Publicschoolreview.com

2. Schooldigger.com

3.Neighborhoodscout.com

4. Greatschool.org

Sincerest Regards,

Stephen

We are switching to Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach

Good afternoon, Today my company is officially Switching from Prudential Patt, White Real Estate to Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox and Roach.

I like the new colors, what do you think?

Management and procedures are staying the same. I'll say this, Warren Buffet knows how to acquire a company and make the employees feel comfortable with the transition.

I'm a happy camper. 

I would like to extend my deepest respects for the company that the Patt Family has been able to establish in the Lehigh Valley, their mark has been indelible on the area.

-Stephen

-

Futurama. Buildings compose most of the energy usage in America...thus this article is cool!

The Habitat for Humanity build net-zero home, check out the story in the link below.

Futurama.

HFH also is building and restoring homes in Allentown

From my mortgage company, how a Government Shutdown influences mortgages

I wrote an article a few weeks how the federal government is heavily involved in the mortgage market.

So the following e-mail is relevant for people attempting to buy a home:

"Hi all,

Just wanted to touch base in regards to the possible Government shutdown and how it could affect the different loan products that are in process.

FHA

Origination and closing of mortgage loans will not be effected. 

VA

·         There appears to be no impact on VA loans. 

GNMA, FNMA, FHLMC

·         No significant impact on these transactions.

USDA

·         USDA will cease all operations regarding insuring new loans.  No new Conditional Commitments will be issued.

"

Selling a Subdivision -- Locust Valley Estates

I hope this post finds you well,

I would like to share a story. I'll be as brief as I can.

Today was a wildly successful day as I Sold the majority of a subdivision down in Upper Saucon Township. A special thanks goes to my buyer Rotelle Development. I believe Rotelle's astute professional approach is reflected well in this webpage about land development. Heck, the owner puts his phone number right on this page. Most developers are not this transparent. 

You can check out the individual Sold listings and lots here. I'd like to note that on one part of the transaction I represented the buyer only; notice the pictures without the lush greenery to see where I only worked with the buyer. I'd like to thank Manda Schall for taking some splendid pictures and helping me to market my lots within the subdivision, if you need some pictures, hire her like I did!

 The original developer of the subdivision went bankrupt and equity from the neighborhood plummeted for the the handful of homes that were built right before the housing market burst. I am under the impression that none of the home owner's in Locust Valley Estates purchased their lots for less than $190,000. 

I have great sympathy for these home owners and I passionately believe they will see equity restored to their homes as Rotelle builds some stunning homes in Locust Valley. If somebody has some interest in this area of Upper Saucon, let me know, it helps when negotiating to know the builder well.

 I'd like to thank Elysium Acquisitions LLC, my seller, in this Subdivision for managing and beginning the restoration process of a distressed property. Undoubtedly, it is Elysium's efforts that will restore equity to the neighborhood. Land development is an incredibly difficult art and it is necessary for municipalities and locales to grow into the future. 

Sincerest and the best,

Stephen

September Market Update :)

Hello!

I Sold this home back in July (I can't believe it is September). It sells new for about 375,000. My client did much better than that.

Homes Sold Since

 Generally, it has seemed that the Lehigh Valley Market has gotten better and below this picture are three homes that have sold since I put the home to the left Under Agreement.




This development is called The Manors at Highgate in Breinigsville Pa.


Below are Video Updates for Lehigh and Northampton!

Northampton County.

Lehigh County




-Stephen

Great Speech by the President Last Week on Housing.

Politics. Yay! (this is the introduction I chose after writing many different introduction paragraphs of various messages and prefaces. This is much better.)

I liked much of what was in the President's housing speech last week.

You can find it Here

He discussed Fannie and Freddie

Musings: To my knowledge, it is the first time the President has indicated their role within the  Financial Crisis. These two organizations provide the liquidity for much of the lending that goes on in the U.S., while also setting loan origination standards for the private sector

This past Quarter was the first time Fannie has been profitable in a while. Preceding the financial Crisis of 2008, Fannie Mae had been a great source of funds for the federal government since the New Deal. I suggest reading James Hagerty's book "The Fateful History of Fannie Mae" if you would like more background.

In the Bloomberg article I have linked above, it mentions that the President was sparse on details. Without a doubt that is true, but before President Obama brought it into discussion, it is a topic that had been completely ignored by mainstream media. It is true that some Republican Congressman have discussed Fannie and Freddie before; and maybe the President sees this as an area of politics appease these congressman in hopes of a compromise on other issues. I will let somebody else dissect that Game of Thrones.

Finally though, the spotlight has been thrust onto Freddie and Fannie, they will not be ignored going forward! They were the mechanisms that worked with the derivative trading of bankers, mortgage brokers, home builders, Realtors and everybody else to hurt the economy.

There was no occupy Fannie Mae.

My opinion: I believe Megan McArdle (link above) asks some great questions as to how to fix the mortgage market, while keeping a 30 year fixed loan product. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac provide means of financing that are unique to America and have brought the ability to buy homes to people who otherwise would have never been able to do it.

Before Fannie, mortgages were typically done in 10 year interest only payments with a Balloon payment at the end. I think Fannie Mae was an incredible evolution to that model and has been apart of the American success story to an impressive extent (I do not know enough to quantify that extent).

As I think is the case of many government programs, what is too much? When is too much? What are the safeguards?

I find it to be an interesting topic, I hope you do as well,

Stephen

Video Updates for Northampton and Lehigh County.

Market Update

A Market Update of Lehigh County.

Lehigh Zillow Home Value Index

Lehigh real estate info

Its a good job!

No job is perfect. There are many trials and tribulations throughout a real estate transaction. That being said, I get to meet a lot of wonderful people and get to guide and mediate people to often times their biggest financial purchase of their life.

Here is an article reminding me of the perks of the job.

http://www.careerbliss.com/facts-and-figures/careerbliss-happiest-and-unhappiest-jobs-in-america-2013/

2602 Chardonnay

Good Evening!

This post is for those who visited me at 2606 Chardonnay last Sunday.

The property is currently under agreement and I wanted to assist you in your home search by diagramming what kind of Market it is currently in the East Penn School District.

http://matrix.lvar-mls.com/DE.asp?ID=524913389

The charts below are for your informational purposes and I would be happy to oblige any questions that you might have. The sales rate is low at 3.7 months of inventory.

Sincerest regards!

Chart 1: Median Price

Chart 2: Supply & Demand

Chart 3: Sales Rate/Supply

Northampton and Lehigh County:

Overview: The market is unequivocally improving at a traditionally reasonable pace. Over the past year the Lehigh Valley market has increased by 4.5% as affordability of homes remains reasonable as do prices.

The supply and demand charts:

-Month to month view: Perfect chart. 

         

-The full year chart reveals that the pace at which homes are going under contract has slowed. However, with less homes being available, that is to be expected to a degree.

Median Price chart:

            -Prices are up for the full year 4.5%

           -Prices are up 1.3% in the month to month view

Supply:

            -For the full year supply is down 6.7%

            -In the month to month view there are 500 less homes for sale than there were last year

            -This represents a decrease of 37.1