Monday, April 3, 2017
Will NJ Retirees Continue to Move to PA?
Realtors who sell homes near the Delaware River in Bucks County are accustomed to New Jersey residents seeking to retire and buy homes in Pennsylvania. Historically, their tax burden would be less on this side of the river. This flight to PA may not continue.
In the fall of 2016, Governor Christy signed into law a bill that would significantly reduce the tax burden for New Jersey's retired residents. The state income tax exclusion on sources of retirement income such as pensions, annuities, 401(k) and IRA withdrawals will gradually be increased from $20,000 to $100,000 in 2020 for joint filers. The income tax reduction and the repeal of the NJ estate tax in 2018 make NJ a far more retiree friendly state than it has been in the past.
Property taxes are still higher in NJ than in PA, but that will become a less significant factor now that income and estate taxes have been reduced. While NJ has the highest property taxes in the country, PA has the twelfth highest. Financially, it may no longer make sense for many NJ retirees to move to PA.
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Great Time To List Your Home
Spring is typically a good time to list a home for sale, but this year is particularly favorable for Bucks County home sellers. There are currently fewer homes on the market than were listed at this time in previous years.
Take a look at this chart that shows the months of inventory over the past two years in Lower Makefield Township.
Buyers have fewer homes to choose from than in the recent past. This offers sellers an opportunity to sell their homes at a favorable price within a reasonable amount of time.
Take a look at this chart that shows the months of inventory over the past two years in Lower Makefield Township.
Buyers have fewer homes to choose from than in the recent past. This offers sellers an opportunity to sell their homes at a favorable price within a reasonable amount of time.
Radon--A Common Hazard Found in Bucks County
Take Action Against Radon
By John Voket
Homeowners should make sure they and their families are safe from the dangerous effects of radon. The EPA encourages everyone to have their homes tested - here's why.
The EPA defines radon as a gaseous, toxic radioactive element that comes from the natural decay of uranium in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.
Your home can trap radon inside, where it can build up. New and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements can be affected.
You can’t see, smell or taste radon, but it could be present at a dangerous level in your home. Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates, and overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
The EPA recommends that you have your home tested, which is easy and inexpensive. Find a professional in your area or purchase your own test kit.You can find a radon test kit order form online along with a coupon. Some home improvement stores also sell radon test kits. Follow the directions on the package for where to place the device in your home and where to send it to receive your reading.
If you'd prefer to have a professional inspect your home, find out who your state radon contact is and the particular requirements for your state. Your state may also be able to provide you with a list of certified contractors.
If you're considering a new home, look for builders who use radon-resistant new construction. Fuad Reveiz of the National Association of Home Builders says building techniques to prevent radon from entering a home are practical, straightforward and an inexpensive way to offer families a benefit that could reduce their risk of lung cancer.
Visit www.epa.gov/radon for more details on radon and how to prevent it from risking your family's health.
Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2017. All rights reserved.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Increase The Resale Value of Your Home
High-Resale Value Weekend Projects You Can Take On
By Megan Wild
"There's no place like home," as the old saying goes. That's especially true when it comes to an investment.
You live in and love your home, but there might come a time when you have to leave it. And when that time comes, you'll want to get as much money as you can for your property so you can move onward—and upward.
In order to increase your abode's value, you might think you have to put in a ton of time, effort and money, but that's not entirely true. Instead, you can take on weekend projects over time to spruce the place up so when it's time to sell, you have a completely updated property that'll end up selling itself.
Ready to get to work? Roll up your sleeves and start on one of the following five weekend projects.
1. Repaint Your Kitchen Cabinets
When it comes to smart investment in your home, the kitchen is one of the best places to start. Buyers expect kitchens to be updated. Stone countertops, stainless appliances and sleek flooring all make a space feel modern. Obviously, these changes require a lot of money and, sometimes, a lot of time. That's why you can tackle it in bits and start first with your cabinets.
Old wooden cabinets with equally dated hardware—think oak doors with shiny brass handles—don't require a complete gut job. Instead, spend a weekend repainting them a more neutral hue. Finish the project off with new metallic knobs and pulls to complete the modernized look.
2. Make the Eye Go up With Crown Molding
Most homes have roughly the same ceiling heights, but there's a little trick to make yours look bigger: crown molding. Yes, that white line at the top of your painted walls will draw eyes upward, making the room appear airier than it may very well be.
The project is easy enough to complete, too. You might not be able to install molding throughout your entire home over a single weekend, but you can certainly tackle the project on a room-by-room basis. Again, start with the spaces likely to draw in the most moolah:
Kitchens
Bathrooms
Living spaces
Master bedrooms
These tend to be the make-or-break rooms when it comes to a big purchase. Crown molding adds a bit of detail—a feeling of luxury that'll certainly add to the bottom line.
3. Boost Curb Appeal—and Backyard Bonuses
No one will come in your home unless the first impression is stunning. Another DIY project should be a landscape overhaul of your front yard. It can be something as simple as adding a path of pavers to your front yard or sprucing up your flowerbeds with colorful blooms. All of this will catch the eye of potential buyers—and fatten up the bottom line of the offers they make.
Another easy fix: your garage door. If it's street-facing, it's another area for prospective buyers to look at, and it has a great return on investment.
You don't have to stop with the front of your home. If you live in a climate that permits lots of outdoor activity, you'll want a backyard to match. Some projects may require you rent or buy tools for landscaping and other applications, but imagine the payoff from, for example, the beauty of a functioning fire pit in your backyard. Not only will you be able to enjoy it while you're still living in your home, but potential buyers will easily be able to envision themselves sitting around a fire.
4. Beautify the Bathrooms
Bathrooms have a big effect on buyers. They expect clean, modern updates, just like in the kitchen. Overhauling your powder room is an easy weekend task that might require small swaps, such as a new modern light fixture over the vanity or a new vanity altogether.
Your full bathrooms will require a bit more attention if you want them to be up to snuff. Again, look in the familiar places:
Lighting fixtures
Cabinets
Hardware
Countertops
Tile
You don't have to shell out a ton of money to have someone else re-tile a wall or backsplash in your bathroom, either, if you have the patience to demo and tile the space yourself.
5. Out with the Really Old
Some accents once considered fresh and fashionable now give your home a dated appearance. You probably already know what in your home screams '70s, '80s or '90s. Whatever it is should go in due course.
The list of outdated design elements is truly endless, but some of the biggest offenders are old school wallpaper, the floor-to-ceiling wood paneling that may or may not be actual wood, and, of course, popcorn ceilings. By removing these three offenders alone—a popcorn ceiling doesn't take much effort—your home will snap right into 2017.
Once people start envisioning themselves living in your home, you won't have to envision offers pouring in—they'll start coming thanks to your hard work. You go, weekend warrior.
Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2017. All rights reserved.
By Megan Wild
"There's no place like home," as the old saying goes. That's especially true when it comes to an investment.
You live in and love your home, but there might come a time when you have to leave it. And when that time comes, you'll want to get as much money as you can for your property so you can move onward—and upward.
In order to increase your abode's value, you might think you have to put in a ton of time, effort and money, but that's not entirely true. Instead, you can take on weekend projects over time to spruce the place up so when it's time to sell, you have a completely updated property that'll end up selling itself.
Ready to get to work? Roll up your sleeves and start on one of the following five weekend projects.
1. Repaint Your Kitchen Cabinets
When it comes to smart investment in your home, the kitchen is one of the best places to start. Buyers expect kitchens to be updated. Stone countertops, stainless appliances and sleek flooring all make a space feel modern. Obviously, these changes require a lot of money and, sometimes, a lot of time. That's why you can tackle it in bits and start first with your cabinets.
Old wooden cabinets with equally dated hardware—think oak doors with shiny brass handles—don't require a complete gut job. Instead, spend a weekend repainting them a more neutral hue. Finish the project off with new metallic knobs and pulls to complete the modernized look.
2. Make the Eye Go up With Crown Molding
Most homes have roughly the same ceiling heights, but there's a little trick to make yours look bigger: crown molding. Yes, that white line at the top of your painted walls will draw eyes upward, making the room appear airier than it may very well be.
The project is easy enough to complete, too. You might not be able to install molding throughout your entire home over a single weekend, but you can certainly tackle the project on a room-by-room basis. Again, start with the spaces likely to draw in the most moolah:
Kitchens
Bathrooms
Living spaces
Master bedrooms
These tend to be the make-or-break rooms when it comes to a big purchase. Crown molding adds a bit of detail—a feeling of luxury that'll certainly add to the bottom line.
3. Boost Curb Appeal—and Backyard Bonuses
No one will come in your home unless the first impression is stunning. Another DIY project should be a landscape overhaul of your front yard. It can be something as simple as adding a path of pavers to your front yard or sprucing up your flowerbeds with colorful blooms. All of this will catch the eye of potential buyers—and fatten up the bottom line of the offers they make.
Another easy fix: your garage door. If it's street-facing, it's another area for prospective buyers to look at, and it has a great return on investment.
You don't have to stop with the front of your home. If you live in a climate that permits lots of outdoor activity, you'll want a backyard to match. Some projects may require you rent or buy tools for landscaping and other applications, but imagine the payoff from, for example, the beauty of a functioning fire pit in your backyard. Not only will you be able to enjoy it while you're still living in your home, but potential buyers will easily be able to envision themselves sitting around a fire.
4. Beautify the Bathrooms
Bathrooms have a big effect on buyers. They expect clean, modern updates, just like in the kitchen. Overhauling your powder room is an easy weekend task that might require small swaps, such as a new modern light fixture over the vanity or a new vanity altogether.
Your full bathrooms will require a bit more attention if you want them to be up to snuff. Again, look in the familiar places:
Lighting fixtures
Cabinets
Hardware
Countertops
Tile
You don't have to shell out a ton of money to have someone else re-tile a wall or backsplash in your bathroom, either, if you have the patience to demo and tile the space yourself.
5. Out with the Really Old
Some accents once considered fresh and fashionable now give your home a dated appearance. You probably already know what in your home screams '70s, '80s or '90s. Whatever it is should go in due course.
The list of outdated design elements is truly endless, but some of the biggest offenders are old school wallpaper, the floor-to-ceiling wood paneling that may or may not be actual wood, and, of course, popcorn ceilings. By removing these three offenders alone—a popcorn ceiling doesn't take much effort—your home will snap right into 2017.
Once people start envisioning themselves living in your home, you won't have to envision offers pouring in—they'll start coming thanks to your hard work. You go, weekend warrior.
Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2017. All rights reserved.
Friday, November 18, 2016
How Does Staging Differ From Interior Decorating?
Realtors hesitate to suggest to sellers who have beautifully decorated homes that their homes might sell faster and for higher prices if they did a little staging.
So, what is the difference between interior design and staging?
Interior design involves customizing the décor of a house to fit the individual lifestyle and taste of the homeowners. Objects that evoke positive feelings for the owners make a house a home. It is highly personal.
Staging is Marketing, and just the opposite of interior design. The purpose is to create an impersonal space that focuses on the flow and architectural features of a home. It involves making a home look spacious and bright. Décor should appeal to as many buyers as possible and deter few. It often involves minimizing the amount of furniture and accessories.
When buyers view your home, you want them to remember your beautiful floors, your welcoming fireplace or your sunlit windows, not your Hummel or sword collection. Those items that are not for sale should not distract from the property itself.
It’s upsetting to have relative strangers suggest that you should pack away furniture and beloved objects, but remember, don’t take it personally, it’s just Marketing. Buyers need to imagine their furnishings and treasures in your home and are best able to do so when a home is depersonalized. When you list your home for sale, it is competing with others on the market. Staging is all about making buyers feel like your home will fit their personalities and lifestyles. It works!
So, what is the difference between interior design and staging?
Interior design involves customizing the décor of a house to fit the individual lifestyle and taste of the homeowners. Objects that evoke positive feelings for the owners make a house a home. It is highly personal.
Staging is Marketing, and just the opposite of interior design. The purpose is to create an impersonal space that focuses on the flow and architectural features of a home. It involves making a home look spacious and bright. Décor should appeal to as many buyers as possible and deter few. It often involves minimizing the amount of furniture and accessories.
When buyers view your home, you want them to remember your beautiful floors, your welcoming fireplace or your sunlit windows, not your Hummel or sword collection. Those items that are not for sale should not distract from the property itself.
It’s upsetting to have relative strangers suggest that you should pack away furniture and beloved objects, but remember, don’t take it personally, it’s just Marketing. Buyers need to imagine their furnishings and treasures in your home and are best able to do so when a home is depersonalized. When you list your home for sale, it is competing with others on the market. Staging is all about making buyers feel like your home will fit their personalities and lifestyles. It works!
Saturday, November 29, 2014
The Home Inspection
After a purchase price is agreed on and the agreement of sale is signed, a buyer will generally have a home inspected. Depending on the results of the inspections, the buyer may accept the property as is, cancel the sales agreement, ask the seller to make repairs, or ask the seller for a monetary concession.
The buyer is responsible for scheduling and paying for the home inspections. The seller must allow access to the property. Inspections in Bucks County usually include a general home inspection, termite inspection, and radon test. When the home is not serviced by public water and sewer, water and septic inspections are usually performed. If the home has a stucco exterior, it is likely that a buyer will have the stucco inspected as well. Mold testing and chimney inspections are sometimes performed.
The buyer must act quickly in scheduling inspections. In Pennsylvania, the sales agreement sets deadlines for their completion, and most inspections are completed within ten to fourteen days after the agreement of sale is signed.
Once the inspection results are received, the buyer has the right to ask the seller to address issues raised in the inspection reports. The buyer can ask the seller to make repairs or provide a monetary credit. The seller must then respond to the buyer’s. request. A second round of negotiations may result if the seller does not agree to comply with all of the buyer’s requests. If both sides cannot come to an agreement, the sale will be cancelled.
If a sale is cancelled due to inspection issues, the buyer and seller will sign a release and the buyer’s deposit money will be returned to him. If the seller puts the home back on the market, the seller is required by law in Pennsylvania to update the Seller’s Disclosure to document material defects of which he was previously unaware.
The buyer is responsible for scheduling and paying for the home inspections. The seller must allow access to the property. Inspections in Bucks County usually include a general home inspection, termite inspection, and radon test. When the home is not serviced by public water and sewer, water and septic inspections are usually performed. If the home has a stucco exterior, it is likely that a buyer will have the stucco inspected as well. Mold testing and chimney inspections are sometimes performed.
The buyer must act quickly in scheduling inspections. In Pennsylvania, the sales agreement sets deadlines for their completion, and most inspections are completed within ten to fourteen days after the agreement of sale is signed.
Once the inspection results are received, the buyer has the right to ask the seller to address issues raised in the inspection reports. The buyer can ask the seller to make repairs or provide a monetary credit. The seller must then respond to the buyer’s. request. A second round of negotiations may result if the seller does not agree to comply with all of the buyer’s requests. If both sides cannot come to an agreement, the sale will be cancelled.
If a sale is cancelled due to inspection issues, the buyer and seller will sign a release and the buyer’s deposit money will be returned to him. If the seller puts the home back on the market, the seller is required by law in Pennsylvania to update the Seller’s Disclosure to document material defects of which he was previously unaware.
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Upcoming Activities at Washington Crossing Park
There's a lot going on at the park this fall. Here are some of the activities scheduled:
18th Century Opera Concert on November 16 at 2:00 p.m.
Historic Lecture, "Spies in the Continental Capital" on November 23 at 1:00 p.m.
A Night of REBELry Fundraiser on December 7, 7:00-11:00 p.m.
Crossing Reenactment Dress Rehearsal on December 7, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 (Crossing at 1:00 p.m.)
For more information and to request tickets go to http://www.washingtoncrossingpark.org/events/
18th Century Opera Concert on November 16 at 2:00 p.m.
Historic Lecture, "Spies in the Continental Capital" on November 23 at 1:00 p.m.
A Night of REBELry Fundraiser on December 7, 7:00-11:00 p.m.
Crossing Reenactment Dress Rehearsal on December 7, 11:00 a.m.-3:00 (Crossing at 1:00 p.m.)
For more information and to request tickets go to http://www.washingtoncrossingpark.org/events/
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