When you visit longislandforsale.com, you will have access to homes for sale in Long Island, broken down for you by area. You also will be able to find foreclosures, and a Home Buying Guide. You can sell your home with them, find rental properties, and find someone to help mortgage your property. Check us out in their directory under Pennsylvania real estate!

Philadelphia’s Dilworth House

Originally built in the 1950′s for a “mayor who championed the revival of Society Hill,” plans for Philadelphia’s Dilworth house have been a cause for much debate (Jaffe, PlanPhilly). This specific house, located at 223-225 South 8th Street, is part of the Society Hill Historic Preservation District, and sits directly on Washington Square, an extremely attractive area for renters and buyers alike. The current owners of Philadelphia’s Dilworth house, John and Mary Turchi, want to remove a section in the rear of the house to build a 17-floor condominium building.

Debate Over Philadelphia’s Dilworth House

Since 2006, the current owners of Philadelphia’s Dilworth house have been trying to get approved to start new construction and the Historical Commission and community members have been petitioning to have it remain in tact. According to Alan Jaffe of Plan Philly, the current review board disagreed with former approvals, indicating that “there was evidence that just over half of the building’s footprint would be removed, including part of the front facade.” What does this mean for the Turchi’s? Most likely, the couple will have to go back and reevaluate their plans, or try some again with the city’s Zoning Board.

The advantages of investing in single family homes

1. Easy to manage: Managing a single family home should be familiar to you, as it’s not much different from the day to day management of your own home. Change the HVAC filter, coat your roof every few years, etc.
2. Simple Construction: Unless there are structural modifications (replacement of joists, building of an addition, etc) you can usually fly through the licenses and inspections permit process with an EZ permit. All that’s required is a description of the work and a small fee. When you are making structural changes, or if your property is commercial, you will certainly need plans stamped by a design professional to accompany your permit application.
3. Inventory: There are tons of single family homes on the market for sale, and the cash on cash returns can be fantastic depending the areas you are looking in.
4. Due Diligence: Not much time needs to be spent here…run the comps, have a home inspection if desired, run title….and close.

The Disadvantages of investing in Single Family homes

1. Scattered Site management: This is perhaps the single largest deterrent, from my experience, to investing in single family homes. Simply put, if you have 30 homes scattered throughout Philadelphia, even if they are all no more than a 20 minute drive from each other, they will be much more difficult to manage than a 30 unit apartment building. Typically an investor will be willing to take a lower return on his investment for a centralized investment vs scattered site.
2. Separate systems: Piggybacking off of the previous point, each of those 30 homes will have completely separate systems. Each it’s own furnace,  roof, AC condenser, electric, plumbing, etc. That means there’s going to be a whole lot more upkeep and maintenance calls.
3. Administrative work: In addition to each property having it’s own mechanical systems – think about the administrative side of things. Each will have it’s own real estate taxes, utility bills, and mortgage payments. That’s a whole lot of checking writing on a monthly and yearly basis.

My Experience with Single family investment and multi family / commercial investing:

Until this point, I have mostly been a single family investor ; owning a bunch of places throughout Fishtown, Kensington, South Philadelphia, and a couple of condos in center city. Generally speaking the returns having been very good, with cap rates in the 20% range on some properties, while other’s have been more towards 10%. That being said, I’m learning that time truly is money, and that these properties are very demanding on my time. My personal investment strategy and focus has recently shifted to 10+ unit buildings, either existing or development opportunities.

What’s your investment strategy, and where’s it heading?

Easter Weekend in Philadelphia: Things to do Around Town

If you’re spending this Easter Weekend in Philadelphia, you may need some fun things to do to keep you occupied. I researched a little and found some holiday inspired events that are taking place in this wonderful city.

Egg Hunts for Easter

• Saturday, April 7, there will be a fun egg hunt at the Piazza in Northern Liberties. Taking place from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, there will be egg coloring tables, give-a-ways, and a furry Easter bunny for kids and the whole family to enjoy. You are invited to bring your own camera to document your fun on this Easter weekend in Philadelphia, or there will be a photographer stationed.
• Sunday, April 8, the Annual Easter Promenade will take place. The parade will begin at 1:00 PM and starts at Passyunk Avenue and South Street. Afterwards, there will be festivities taking place at Headhouse Square, including contests, music, and even some animal adoption opportunities.

An Adult Version of Easter Weekend in Philadelphia

• As an adult spending Easter Weekend in Philadelphia, you need something a little less PG to do. The Philly Zombie Crawl is taking place this Easter Sunday, April 8. It starts at the TLA at 7:30, where there will be official Zombie artists to assist with getting your Zombie face on! From there, venture on to some of the local bars, and end up back at the TLA for the Zombie Crawl Closing Party.

Easter Weekend in Philadelphia, Passover Style

A few of Philadelphia’s restaurants are offering special dinner for those observing the Passover holiday.

• Head on over to Zahav and enjoy their Passover prefixed menu between April 6th and 13th for $45 a person.
• In the Art Museum area this weekend, try the London Grill’s great prefixed Passover menu. They ever have made Haggadahs available for their patrons!
• Fork, located in Old City, will have a prefixed dinner menu April 6th & 7th for those patrons who are observing Passover.

Another special thing going on in Philadelphia during Passover, is the offering of the first-ever evening hours at the Jewish Museum! On April 11th, in honor of Passover, the National Museum of American Jewish History will stay open until 8 PM. They will offer 20% discount on Passover items and serve kosher food for in their cafe for the rest of the holiday.

This Easter weekend in Philadelphia, we wish for you the best egg hunts, zombie make up, and matzah!

The Next Era of Low-Cost Housing

I was reading the Metro and stumbled across this article, “Shipping containers: Next frontier for affordable Philly housing?” Naturally, I was inclined to read on as I could not imagine large shipping containers becoming the solution to low-cost housing.

Councilman Jim Kenney’s Solution to Low-Cost Housing in Philly

Jim Kenney’s proposal is both interesting and inspiring; to take recycled shipping containers and use them to create new low-cost housing and create jobs. There are other projects around the world that have employed the same concept. Take, for example, the dormitory built in the Philippines that is made from these shipping containers for lower-income students and workers. As described in an article on springwise.com, “Four shipping containers make up the dorm, which includes separate air-conditioned housing and bathrooms for men and women.” The pricing is very low per month and includes basic utilities.

Click for Source

Taking It to a Whole New Low-Cost Housing Level

Matt Hickman from the Mother Nature Network tells us that “there are more than 300 million shipping containers sitting empty at ports around the world.” People have taken the simple containers and manipulated them to make amazing buildings, including their beach side paradises and multi-bedroom houses.

Click for Source

Are We Ready?

Though “environmentally conscious architecture firms have been using shipping containers in building construction for years,” Metro writer Alex Wigglesworth says, Kenney now wonders if there is enough demand for a large low-cost housing project to work.

What do you think?

Compliments on our rental and property management services

As Philadelphia’s premier rental and property management company, JG Real Estate often receives compliments from happy clients! Recently we helped the owner of a great home in Manayunk lease her home, and she had this to say about us:

“I used Jared and his team to rent out my house in Manayunk recently. I have worked with other property management companies before and they really exceeded my expectations. They were very professional and got thing’s done fast! I would highly recommend them. From getting my house listed quickly, to promptly answering any questions I had.”

Check out all of our google property management, rental, & Leasing reviews here.

Spotlight: Philadelphia Historical Site

Walking along the streets, you are bound to run into a Philadelphia Historical Site. This city has such a rich history and it is incredibly rewarding to live here. I wanted to do a spotlight on one of these great sites!

Click for Source

Looking For a Great Philadelphia Historical Site? Check Out the Eastern State Penitentiary

Located just blocks from the Art Museum, the Eastern State Penitentiary is one of Philadelphia’s most haunting and exciting historical buildings. It was built in the early 1800′s and opened its doors in 1829 as a new kind of prison, one that got rid of corporal punishment & poor treatment and embraced solitary confinement. The Penitentiary did not focus so much on punishment, but provided a space for spiritual enlightenment and change. The word “penitentiary” came from the criminals, in their disgust for the crimes they had committed, becoming sorrowful, or penitent.

The prison sits on 11-acres of land and had tons of amenities that former prisons did not; running water, flushing toilets, and central heat! Today, this Philadelphia Historical site is best known for its “Terror Behind the Walls” tours, which run from September until November, and are sold out during Halloween weekends!

Upcoming Events at This Philadelphia Historical Site

• Friday, March 30, 2012: 2012 Sneak Peek, free all day to view 2012 exhibits and tours
• Saturday, March 31, 2012: Life and Death Weekend, a time to celebrate three new tours that the penitentiary is featuring; “The Ruins of Death Row,” “The Operating Room,” and “Families Behind Walls.”
• Monday, May 7, 2012: Searchlight Series No. 1, A former prison inmate describes years living in prison as a wrongly convicted criminal set free by the work of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project.

Have any horror stories from Halloween at the Penitentiary or any interesting facts that you’d like to share? Please feel free to comment!

Moving? Find Out More About Your Philadelphia Neighborhood!

It is very important, no matter where you move, to find out about the area you’re moving in to. For our residents, we think it is extremely helpful for them to have all of the information needed about their new Philadelphia neighborhood.

Click for Source

How to Find Out About Your Philadelphia Neighborhood

There are some great websites that you can use. By typing in any given address, you can find out the crime that has taken place in any specific Philadelphia neighborhood:

• Spotcrime
• Crime Reports 
• Neighborhood Scout

If you have a smartphone you can even download an app from one of these sites, which enables you to gain knowledge about any Philadelphia neighborhood while you’re on the go. Philadelphia is a great place for you to live, but it always good for you to be aware of what is going on around you!

Philadelphia Residents: A New Casino to Hit Atlantic City’s Strip This Summer

Ever since Philadelphia opened its grand casinos, we haven’t been hearing too much about new things going on with the Atlantic City strip. Well, get ready for that all to change as Philadelphia residents learn about Revel Resort, having its grand opening Memorial Day Weekend 2012. In size, it “Trumps” all of the other casinos, and looks like it will be a major competitor for the now largely successful, Borgata.

Click for Source

Here Are Some Things Philadelphia Residents Can Expect

• If you are a Philadelphia resident who is looking for the perfect vacation spot, this new resort is the place to be. The rooms here look absolutely magnificent!
• Are you looking for a place to party? For the Philadelphia resident who is searching for a daytime & nightlife experience, Revel has gone above and beyond by creating an oceanfront day club and 4-level nightclub. Revel also will have a new nightclub experience, created by Ivan Kane, which mixes burlesque dancing with DJs and more.
• For the gambling folk, Revel will feature a poker room, slot machines set in a variety of zones, and tables to keep the game-player completely satisfied.
• The Philadelphia resident knows a lot about food; we do boast some of the best restaurants in the country. Revel, however, will offer some spectacular dining experiences you will not want to miss!
• In terms of entertainment line-ups, Revel has one of the best for the Philadelphia resident. Check out their list of upcoming entertainers, including Maroon 5, The Black Keys, and Beyonce.

Check out their website and be sure to make a reservation for one of the hottest-places-to-be this upcoming summer!

How to Move in Philadelphia

Whether you’re a renter or homeowner, the most daunting aspect of changing housing locations is the move. You have two options when you move in Philadelphia: you can do it yourself or hire someone to do it for you. Here are some tips and resources to help your move happen quickly and easily.

Move in Philadelphia: The D.I.Y. Route

If you choose to move in Philadelphia and do it yourself there are a few things you should do to make it easier. First, you need to make sure you have the right packing tools. Usually, if you go to any liquor store in the area, they will have unused cartons that they are going to throw away; ask if you can have some. These are great things to pack in and are totally free. Also, when you move in Philadelphia, pack in any suitcases or bags that you already have; they will take up space in the move, so you should use them to your benefit. If you are buying any new furniture that has not been assembled yet, please don’t assemble it until you move into your new place. It is more compact and easier to handle in the box that it came in. Do not purchase big boxes and fill them with books! I know this may seem like a common sense tip, but the bigger the box the heavier it’s going to be, the harder it is going to be to carry, and the worse off you are going to be in an already stressful move.

Ask For Help When You Move in Philadelphia

If you aren’t looking to lug and carry, you can hire a moving company to do it for you. When you move in Philadelphia, the easiest way to find help is to type the phrase “moving company in Philadelphia,” and you will be given a ton of labor services. I weeded through them and found a few that I personally liked.

• Broad Street Movers was awarded the “Super Service Award” by Angie’s List in 2010. They offer local and long distance moving services, packing, loading & unloading, deliveries, just to name a few. They also have competitive rates, with truck and without truck, and flat rates for long distance moves.
• Old City Movers has been given multiple awards and has fabulous reviews by customers. Like others, they offer competitive rates, and they also sell boxes for you to pack in!

Click for Source

**MAJOR TIP: When you move in Philadelphia, you may want some help putting together all that new Ikea furniture you just bought. There is a service that provides adorable furniture assembly. From personal experience, I highly suggest you use it!

I hope this helps your move in Philadelphia happen more quickly and efficiently. Just remember, we’re rooting for you at JG Real Estate!

Click for Source

Should I Use a Real Estate Agent to Rent in Philadelphia?

Click for Source

If you are looking to rent in Philadelphia, a lot of people will automatically go to Craigslist or another real estate listing portal to find all of the places available. This may seem like your best option, to scroll through the thousands of postings to find two options that fit what you’re looking for, but what if I told you that there was an easier way? Now that I have become accustomed with the real estate field, I’ve found that the best way to rent in Philadelphia, to find a place that you want to call home, is work with a real estate agent.

Why Should I Work With a Real Estate Agent When I Rent in Philadelphia?

If you’re wondering why working with a real estate may be beneficial to you, the renter, when you rent in Philadelphia, the answer is simple and easy: searching for places is time consuming, and a real estate agent can help you to cut that time in half. You can decide for yourself, your options being: weeding through all of the places you don’t want in order to find a few you do, or giving someone a list of requirements that you have and receiving a list of multiple options that are exactly what you’re looking for, at no, or little cost to you. I would hope the answer would seem obvious.

The Benefits of An Agent When You Rent in Philadelphia

• All you need to do is show up and look at the places the agent finds for you. You don’t have to search at all if you choose not to.
• No, or little cost to you.
• An agent has access to more postings that any J. Doe will have, so they can see everything that is on the market and find you the best place.
• An agent has knowledge of the area that they service, so they will be able to answer most questions you have.

Again, I’ll Ask, Should You Use An Agent When You Rent in Philadelphia?

I would hope that the answer would be clear to this question. In my opinion, using a real estate agent to locate a place for you to rent in Philadelphia is a very smart idea!

How to Handle Rodent and Pest Control in Philadelphia

For some reason I was under the impression that I didn’t have mice in my apartment. That idea was squashed when my roommate trapped a mouse under a cup in our sink. It was then and there that I decided I needed to find out what renters need to know about rodent and pest control in Philadelphia.

Some Factors That Contribute to Rodent and Pest Problems

Contributing factors to Philadelphia’s rodent and pest control problems are large population, density, family poverty, and city age. In our case, it most likely had to do with the garbage not being taken out quickly enough. Fox has reported on restaurants experiencing mice control issues. Mark Coopersmith comments in the Fox article that “Philadelphia is loaded with steam pipes underground.” He goes on to mention that there are tons of access points that have not been sealed. It is no wonder that it is so hard to keep the pests out!

Renters: What Should You Do to Deal With Rodent and Pest Control?

1. Usually, unless there is a preexisting problem with rodents and pests, it is the tenant’s responsibility to take care of rodent and pest control. At JG Real Estate, we use Rat Zappers to control the furry animals that come into select properties. The easiest thing a renter can do is pick up a mouse trap or repellent to get rid of the problem. This is an inexpensive way to decrease your problem.
2. Personally, I am unable (and unwilling) to dispose of a rodent in this way. I don’t want to see the end-product of my efforts to deal with my rodent and pest problem. An exterminator is the best way to go for me. There are tons of them in and around the city. Servicemagic, Orkin, and Western Pet Services are just a few of the places I found that have good reputations in regards to rodent and pest control.
3. Some people do not believe in dealing with rodent and pest problems by extermination. For this, I found a humane and easy way to trap a mouse. Get a toilet tube and make one side of it flat so it is able to sit steadily on a table. Put some peanut butter (mice love peanut butter) at the end of the tube and place it at the edge of a table or counter top, hanging off just a little bit. Below that, place a a tall bucket or trash can. When the mouse goes to get the treat off of the edge of your tube, he will fall into the trash can and, voila, he has been caught. You can set the critter free outside and have one less rodent and pest problem on your hand!

Hope this helps!