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• Is your home underwater? There are options out there for you.

  Here is a great article from http://realestate.msn.com about options for a homeowner who is under water (by Susan Johnston from U.S. News and World Report ): Nearly 11 million homeowners are underwater — meaning they owe more on their mortgage than Read More... Posted Friday, November 04, 2011 9:22 AM by Tom Toole, III | (Comments Off) Filed under: Market Conditions, For Sale, Finances, Buyer Information, distressed properties, foreclosures, short sales, mortgage, HUD, buying a home, loans, financing, bankruptcy, loan modification, underwater mortgagtes

• Great tips to cut heating costs in cold weather.

  Did you know that by sealing drafts in your home can save 3% to 18% on your heating bill? It can according to Danny Parker, a research scientist who works with the Department of Energy. In the Northeast region of the US, this can save a homeowner anywhere Read More... Posted Tuesday, October 18, 2011 11:25 AM by Tom Toole, III | (Comments Off) Filed under: buying a home, saving money, utility costs, home maintenance tips

• Wall Street Journal calls for a hard look at housing market.

  Earlier in the week, The Wall Street Journal called for many U.S. decision makers to take a hard look at the housing market and find a way to to positively effect it. Ben Bernanke talked about the housing market about a week ago and urged Congress and Read More... Posted Friday, October 14, 2011 4:10 PM by Tom Toole, III | (Comments Off) Filed under: Technology, Industry, Finances, Buyer Information, FHA, mortgage, buying a home, loans, financing, Federal Reserve, Warren Buffett, FED

• Holding rental properties now more profitable (and predictable) than flipping.

  Thinking about buying and a home on the cheap and flipping it for big profits? That dream is all but dead as sales of homes to investors have dropped by more than half over the past five years, according to CNNMoney.com . Plus, the number of those investors Read More... Posted Tuesday, September 20, 2011 2:18 PM by Tom Toole, III | (Comments Off) Filed under: Real Estate, Market Conditions, For Rent/Lease, Open Houses, Announcements, Technology, Industry, Finances, Seller Information, Chester Springs, Malvern, Income producing property, Newtown Square, Philadelphia, Exton, Media, West Chester, Paoli, Broomall, real estate investing, rental properties, distressed properties, foreclosures, short sales, mortgages, West Goshen, Thornbury, Westtown, mortgage, West Whiteland, buying a home, East Goshen, East Whiteland, Phoenixville, Willistown, loans, financing, making money with real estate, positive cash flow

• Changes to FHA Mortgage Limits

  The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has changes the maximum mortgage limits for FHA loans based on the median home sale price in our local market. The new limits for the Philadelphia Metro Area, effective October 2011, are as follows: Single Read More... Posted Friday, September 16, 2011 12:10 PM by Tom Toole, III | (Comments Off) Filed under: Market Conditions, Industry, Finances, Buyer Information, Seller Information, Chester Springs, Malvern, Newtown Square, Philadelphia, Exton, Media, West Chester, Paoli, Broomall, real estate investing, foreclosures, mortgages, West Goshen, Thornbury, FHA, Westtown, mortgage, HUD, West Whiteland, buying a home, East Goshen, East Whiteland, Phoenixville, Willistown, loans, financing

• So what are the possible short sale outcomes...?

  Many people do not know that short sales stand a much better chance of approval as oppossed to a loan modification. However, there are a variation of outcomes that can occur. Mainly, the inconsistency involves how the lender deals with the deficiency. Read More... Posted Monday, September 12, 2011 11:01 AM by Tom Toole, III | (Comments Off) Filed under: Real Estate, Market Conditions, Announcements, Industry, Finances, Buyer Information, Seller Information, Community Information, Chester Springs, Malvern, Philadelphia, Exton, Media, West Chester, Broomall, distressed properties, foreclosures, short sales

• Right now, investors are cashing in on rental properties.

  Most of the news about the housing market lately has been dismal. However, the one bright spot is being overlooked by many - the rental market. Rental demand is up and and rental rates are rising. Many foreclosures victims (estimated north of 4 million) Read More... Posted Saturday, September 10, 2011 8:23 AM by Tom Toole, III | (Comments Off) Filed under: Real Estate, Market Conditions, Announcements, Finances, Buyer Information, Seller Information, Community Information, Chester Springs, Malvern, Income producing property, Newtown Square, Philadelphia, Exton, Media, West Chester, Paoli, Broomall, real estate investing, rental properties

• Strong Job Growth In July Trumped By Credit Downgrade

  Here is a great blog post from my Coach, Carl Rizzuto: More Americans are getting back to work. The latest Non-Farm Payrolls survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 117,000 net new jobs were created in July, thumping analyst estimates and Read More... Posted Friday, August 12, 2011 3:44 PM by Tom Toole, III | (Comments Off) Filed under: Real Estate, Market Conditions, Announcements, Industry, Finances, Buyer Information, Seller Information

• Economy, not debt rating and market turmoil, is chief driver in current housing market.

  Everyone is very concerned about the debt rating downgrade right now. However, the economy is the main driver for current housing market conditions. Greg McBridge, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com , says that "as long as the economy continues Read More... Posted Wednesday, August 10, 2011 8:45 AM by Tom Toole, III | (Comments Off) Filed under: Real Estate, Market Conditions, Events, Finances, Buyer Information, Seller Information

• Tired of 90+ degree weather? Here are some tips for keeping your home cool in the heat.

  Here are some great tips for keeping your home cool during the hot, humid days during the summer: 1. Reduce the cooling load by employing cost-effective conservation measures. Provide effective shade for east and west windows. When possible, delay heat-generating Read More... Posted Wednesday, July 20, 2011 2:46 PM by Tom Toole, III | (Comments Off) Filed under: Real Estate, Announcements

• Awesome new listing in Exton's sought after Cambridge Chase community!

  Now available - 226 Cambridge Chase in Exton, PA. This is a spectacular 3 bed, 2.1 bath townhome with a finished basement and 1-car garage! Community is surrounded by 17 acres and consists of only 35 homes. Offered at $367,900. Click here for more details: Read More... Posted Friday, June 24, 2011 12:08 PM by Tom Toole, III | (Comments Off) Filed under: Real Estate, For Sale, Announcements, Buyer Information, Seller Information

• Foreclosures are crushing home prices, but mortgage rates remain low.

  Home prices have continued to drop during the first quarter of 2011, dropping 4.6% from a year earlier according to CNNMoney.com and the National Association of Realtors. Condo prices fell ever harder by a rate of 10.4%. The main cause for this decline Read More... Posted Thursday, May 12, 2011 11:40 AM by Tom Toole, III | (Comments Off) Filed under: Real Estate, Market Conditions, For Sale, Announcements, Events, Industry, Finances, Buyer Information, Seller Information

• Americans are shunning cheapest homes in 40 years.

  According to Kathleen Howley at Bloomberg Businessweek , the most affordable real estate in a generation is failing to lure buyers as some Americans are souring on the idea of home ownership. At the end of 2010, the share of people who said a home was Read More... Posted Tuesday, April 19, 2011 11:32 AM by Tom Toole, III | (Comments Off) Filed under: Real Estate, Market Conditions, Industry, Finances, Buyer Information, Seller Information

• 211 Autumn Drive in Exton, PA now available. Asking $444K. 4 bed, 2.1 bath single with finished bsmt.

  Spacious single family home now available, minutes from major roads and the Exton Mall. Hardwood floors throughout. Private wooded, lot. Go to http://www.tomtoole.com/Exton/Pennsylvania/Homes/Century_Oaks/Agent/Listing_35390422.html for more information. Read More... Posted Monday, April 11, 2011 12:02 PM by Tom Toole, III | (Comments Off) Filed under: Real Estate, For Sale, Announcements, Buyer Information, Seller Information

• 115 Peter DeHaven Drive now available! 3,200 SF brick front Colonial on a cul-de-sac in Phoenixville, PA. Asking $414,900.

  Immaculate 4 bed, 2.1 bath brick front Colonial. 3,200 SF of living space. Huge room sizes. Granite counters in the huge eat-in kitchen. Three fireplaces! Awesome master suite with fully tiled bath. Offered at $414,900. Check out more information here: Read More... Posted Wednesday, March 16, 2011 11:11 AM by Tom Toole, III | (Comments Off)