• Summer Music Festivals: Philadelphia has got a long tradition of great music, and it’s home to several music festivals. Some of the festivals this Summer include Jay-Z’s Made in American Festival , the Smooth Jazz Summer Nights Concert Series on Penn’s Landing And the 6th Annual Roots Picnic.
• Al Fresco Dining: Philadelphia easily has one of the best restaurant scenes in the country. And a ton of restaurants throughout the city feature outdoor seating. Some of my favorites include Jack’s Firehouse in Fairmount (across the street from Eastern State Penitentiary), Frankford Hall in Fishtown (a German style beer hall) and Silk City in Northern Liberties (featuring a patio you have to see to believe!).  If none of those restaurants sound like your thing, Philly is such a walkable city, you’ll easily be able to find something you’ll like.
• Penn’s Landing & The Schuylkill River Walk: Speaking of walkability, be sure to take a walk down by the River Walk or Penn’s Landing. Running along the Delaware River and Schuylkill River, respectively, these two beautifully manicured  paths run perpendicular to Center City and offer beautiful views of the city.
• Affordability: With a ton of culture, easy access to public transportation, great schools and so many things going for it, Philadelphia is an excellent investment. And unlike other cities like Boston or Chicago, Philly real estate is still affordable! If you want to learn more about homes for sale in Philly, feel free to give me a call: 267.238.5713

About Society Hill

Located below 7th street between Walnut & Lombard, the historic Society Hill neighborhood is easily one of the most charming cobblestone streets and historic homes, some dating back to the 18th century!desirable in Philadelphia! The neighborhood is especially popular because of it’s walkability, easy access to Center City, public transportation and historical sites, as well as it’s many great restaurants and bars.

• Home to Penn’s Landing, Headhouse Square & South Street
• Within walking distance to Independence Mall & Center City
• Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971

Imagine walking out on to your roofing and having an unobstructed view of the Philadelphia Skyline! At this Society Hill home for sale at 728 S 11th you can! You are also only a couple blocks away from fantastic pet walking and relaxation at 2 different parks. As well as within walking distance of Whole Foods Market and the Avenue of the Arts on South Broad Street.

This heavily desired condo has unmatched features & amenities! You are welcomed with astounding hardwood floors and beautiful oak stairs leading to a wide open great room with a gourmet kitchen and large living and dining room combo sure to help make any gathering of yours a memorable one.

The entire third floor is allocated to a master suite with a fab bath, dressing room and a room L shaped sleeping area. Go upstairs again and you’ll find 2 more bedrooms with a shared bath, laundry room and the roof top deck with granite topped wet bar!!!! This home IS going to go quickly! Contact Luke Kedziora, 267-567-9854, at the Mickey Group now for more information along with the price!

About Society Hill

Located below 7th street between Walnut & Lombard, the historic Society Hill neighborhood is easily one of the most charming cobblestone streets and historic homes, some dating back to the 18th century!desirable in Philadelphia! The neighborhood is especially popular because of it’s walkability, easy access to Center City, public transportation and historical sites, as well as it’s many great restaurants and bars.

• Home to Penn’s Landing, Headhouse Square & South Street
• Within walking distance to Independence Mall & Center City
• Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971

With the real estate market the way it is, now is an absolutely great time to buy an investment property. Whether you’re looking to flip the home for a big profit or you want to rent at the property, Philadelphia has got so many great investment areas where you can turn a big profit. If you haven’t bought an investment property before, these 5 tips will help you get started:

• Understand Your Investment Area: Before you look to buy a home, be sure to research as much as possible. Make sure you understand your area before you invest. Understand the value of homes in the area, see how many homes are available in the area and learn as much as you can before you buy.
  
• It’s All About Location: “Location, Location, Location” is a cliche for a reason. Find homes that are close to public transportation, restaurants, good schools etc. And take the other homes in the area in to account when looking to buy (are the other homes well kept?).
• Understand the Numbers: There’s several different costs you need to keep in mind before investing. Be sure to consider insurance, interest, taxes and other necessary costs before making an investment.
• Have the Money Lined Up: Speaking of understanding the numbers, once you’ve got a handle on what you need, be sure to have your money all ready to go when it’s time to buy.

• NewBold: Located West of Broad Street and South of Center City, Newbold has been considered one of Philadelphia’s up and coming neighborhoods for a few years now. The neighborhood has easy access to the Broad Street Subway line, Center City, plus home to great restaurants like South Philadelphia Tap Room, plus the median sales price for homes is $70,977.
  
• Brewerytown: Located Between Fairmount and West Philadelphia, Brewerytown Has seen a ton of new commercial real estate move in along Girard avenue, as well as a number of condos. Median sales price is #110,000.
• Fishtown: There’s no denying it- Home prices in Fishtown are skyrocketing. When a major restaurateur like Stephen Starr is opening restaurants in your neighborhood, you know you’re a hot area! But Fishtown is still affordable, with the median sales price at $135,000.

It’s unfortunate, but not every real estate agent is created equal. The fact is, sometimes a real estate agent just isn’t doing every thing they can or should do to sell your home. But how do you know you’re real estate agent isn’t everything they could be? Check out these 5 signs you’re working with a bad real estate agent:

1. They’re Not Listening: You’re agent should be asking you what you want to find in a home, then offer their take on how to find it. If your agent continually shows you homes out of your price range, not in the neighborhoods you want or simply not meeting your needs, they are not listening. Now, with that being said, the agent should be offering suggestions and his advice, but ultimately he needs to incorporate your ideas.
   
2. You’re Agent Works Part Time: There’s many people out there who have decided to get their real estate license and try to sell homes on the weekend. The fact is, this is a full time job. Especially in this difficult housing  market. If you’re working with an inexperienced, part time agent, it’s time to find a new agent!
3. They Don’t Know the Area: Think about it- Could you imagine working with an agent who doesn’t know his or her own market. That would be like seeing a doctor who doesn’t understand how to check your heartbeat! One of the main reasons you hire a real estate agent is that you need someone who is an expert in the neighborhoods you’re interested in.
4. They’ve got No Time for You: You want to be working with a busy real estate agent. Busy means a number of people want to work with them, and that’s a good sign they’re good at what they do. But even still, the agent should be responsive, and get back to you in a timely manner. If you find your agent isn’t responding to your emails or messages, it’s time to move on.
5. They’re Pressuring You: If your agent is pushing you towards making an offer on a house you’re just not so sure about, they are not the right agent for you. A good agent will tell you what are your options, not force you to make a choice if you’re not ready.

Want to learn more about finding a Philadelphia real estate agent? Give me a call today: 267-238-5713.

Now that Spring has arrived, it’s time for some Spring cleaning! And if you’re getting ready to sell your home this season, these Spring Cleaning tips will double as ways to get your home ready to sell:

• Start with Your Front Lawn: There’s a good chance that your lawn took a beating this Winter, so now is the time for some front yard TLC. Besides taking the precautions to make sure your grass is green, other steps like a fresh coat of paint on your front door or some tasteful decorations can really boost your curb appeal.
• If Necessary, Power Wash: Power washing your front sidewalk and walkway can help remove grime and dirt from stone, plus you can easily rent a power washer from your local hardware stores.
• Wash Your Windows: Cleaning your windows can help bring more light in to your home. Be sure to wash all your windows, insides and out.
• Consider a Sidewalk Sale: A sidewalk sale can be a great way to cut back on your clutter, plus even make a little bit of cash! Sidewalk sale’s are especially popular in Philly during the warmer months, as you’ll see a great deal of foot traffic.
• What’s that Smell? We all love our pets, but let’s be honest- Sometimes Fido can make our home’s smell. Spring Cleaning is a great time to deodorize your house. Plus when you decide to sell, you should make sure the house smells as pleasant as possible. Try cleaning the carpet, or even replacing it.
• Put away the Knick Knacks: Similar to de-cluttering your home, putting away all your little knick knacks can make your house seem more open, plus it will be more appealing to a potential buyer.

Want to learn more about selling a home in Philadelphia? Give me a call today: 267-238-5713.

With home prices still low, now is one of the best times to buy an investment property, and see a huge return on your investment. Philadelphia especially has so many great investment opportunities. Whether you’re looking to buy a rental property in University City, or buy and fix up a home in an up and coming neighborhood like Fishtown or Graduate Hospital, we’ve got five great tips for buying an investment property:

• It’s All About Location: I know, it’s a cliche, but when it comes to buying an investment property the most important thing is location. Location will dictate how much you can charge in rent or how much you can sell the property for after fixing it up.
  
• Use Your Imagination: When it comes to investing, you’ve got to picture what the home could be, not what it currently is. Try to see the past the ugly paint job and the patchy front lawn, and pay attention to the good bones that lie beneath.
• Get an Inspection: This is the one piece of advice you can not ignore. Whether it’s your first investment or your thousandth, and even if the owner says they had an inspection done, the extra money for an inspection is worth it.
• Consider a Duplex and Live in one of the Units: Everyone’s situation is different but one way investors are able to increase their ROI is purchasing a duplex, living in one unit and renting out the other.
• Be Ready with Cash: Want to get serious about investing? You need to be ready with cash on hand. The way you’ll be able to get a leg up on the competition is to be prepared with a sizable down payment.

Want to learn more about investing in Philadelphia real estate? Email me: mickey@themickeygroup.com

Getting ready to sell your home this Spring? Usually the most popular season for selling a home, Spring means that they’ll be a ton of properties competing for a small number of buyers. So how do you make your home stand out from the crowd? Sure, you can stick a sign in the front lawn, but what else can you do? Here’s my 5 expert tips for making your home stand out- And if you’d like to learn more about selling your home, email me: mickey@themickeygroup.com

• Get Online ASAP: Did you know that 80% of home buyers first start their search online? Nowadays, you need to be on websites like Zillow and Trulia if you want to sell your home. Just to give you an idea, the Mickey Group utilizes Market Leader proprietary technology that automatically sends it’s listing to nearly 50 real estate websites.

• Old Fashioned Direct Mail: Emails are cold and impersonal (and are usually ignored). If you want to get your home out there, try a classic direct mail approach. My team has frequently used unique direct mail campaigns with custom printed envelopes, and sent them to targeted lists that may be interested in buying a home.

• Throw in Extras: Once you get a buyer in the door, try tossing in a few extras to seal the deal. For instance, leave behind the washer and dryer- It can be a pain to haul them away, plus it may just be the clincher to get that buyer off the fence!

• Curb Appeal: You need a “For Sale” sign but that’s not enough. After they see the sign, they have to want to see the rest of the home. And if your front yard is shabby, there’s no way they’ll want to check out the interior. With Spring coming up, get lots of greenery, clean the windows and consider repainting the front door.

• Social Media: Facebook isn’t just for Farmville! If you’re selling a home, you need to talk about it on social media. Think about it- The average person has over 100 connections on Facebook. Now if you consider that your 100 friends all have 100 friends, isn’t possible that out of those 10,000 people one of them may be looking to buy a home? Post pictures, information and details about your home on social to really get the word out.

Philly’s Best Bets for Buying a New Home