Fishtown’s Finest

Fishtown’s Finest

Fishtown’s Finest Finds

Fishtown, a Philadelphia neighborhood running directly alongside the Delaware river, has shown recent signs of gentrification including real estate values skyrocketing and parking becoming more and more elusive. Just north of Northern Liberties and Old City, there are tons of attractive aspects to owning Fishtown real estate. Being an up and coming area of the city, considered by the NYTimes as a “Rebirth Along the River”, many Fishtown businesses attract potential buyers and entice the residents to stay here for generations.

 

NIGHT LIFE:

• Johnny Brenda’s, located at 1201 N. Frankford Ave., is a bar, restaurant, and music venue that is thought of as a Fishtown landmark.
• Frankford Hall is Stephen Starr’s latest project. Right across the street from Johnny Brenda’s at the intersection of Frankford and Girard, this Beer Garden features a nice array of craft beers as well as an impressive liquor and wine list, with a large outside area with picnic tables, ping pong, fire pits in the winter and lots of great food.
• Located at 1114 Frankford Ave., Barcade is exactly as its name claims– a bar and arcade in one place. It boasts local craft brews, a well-developed food menu, and 34 classic games for patrons to enjoy. Almost every night since its opening, Barcade has been packed full, showing just how well received new concepts in Fishtown are right now.
• Kraftwork Bar, managed by Adam Ritter, is located at 541 E Girard Ave (our neighbors!), has a well constructed Brunch and Dinner Menu that features diverse foods from pretzel bites to crispy chickpea sandwiches. Events, such as the Craft Beer Express, are fun ways for Philadelphia residents to enjoy quality beers. Ritter also owns Sidecar Bar in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood in South Philadelphia.
• The M Room features nights like Made Decent Mondays and offers a great lunch and dinner menu to compliment the fun.

 

BUZZWORTHY DAY TIME SPOTS:

• Ida Mae’s Bruncherie is on the corner of Norris and Tulip Streets and features locally grown foods made into delicious meals for its patrons.
• Working in conjunction with Ida Mae’s is Greensgrow Farms which has run business in Fishtown since 1997. Their motto: Eat well. Eat local. Greensgrow is one of many pick-up spots for those who elect to participate in the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, where once a week you can pick up a basketful of locally grown produce.
• Formerly Canvas Cafe, Milkcrate Cafe has reopened as a coffee  joint with a record store twist.

 

GREENERY IN THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE:

• Penn Treaty Park, established in 1893, has increased in size since the early 1980’s and now boasts several acres of land. It is the only true waterfront park in the Philadelphia region.
• For man’s best friend, Pop’s Playground features a members-only dog space located at the Western end of the Park.

 

FOR PHILADELPHIA’S ARTISTS:

• New to the Fishtown community is 2424 Studios, a work studio community that features over 80 work studios and offices. Within that space is the “Skybox,” which is a unique space that allows for art exhibitions, parties, or whatever the mind can envision!
• The Slingluff Gallery, located on Girard Ave., is a gallery that brings international and national contemporary works to the community. They offer a Philadelphia favorite, First Friday openings every month!

 

THINGS TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR:

• The former Hot Potato Café, located on Girard Ave, has an orange liquor application posted in its window! Word on the street is that there could be a New York inspired whiskey bar there. Stay tuned for more details!

 

These are just some of the Fishtown attractions. It seems every month there is something else brand new popping up in the neighborhood. It’s no wonder that property values are soaring and that more and more individuals are looking for a piece of Fishtown real estate. For  listings in the Fishtown area and all over the Philadelphia region, please visit jg-realestate.com

Philadelphia Property Management Software

Philadelphia Property Management Software: How Appfolio Works

JG Real Estate uses Appfolio for our property management software. It is a web-based property management service that benefits both our agency and, more importantly, our clients.

 

What Works For Us:

• This online manager allows for instant access to manage your properties from any computer. With this completely web-based software, we can now make any destination our office. Snow storm? roads closed? Holidays? No problem. JG Real Estate can log-in from any computer daily and take a look at what’s going on with your properties. In this way, we never stop working for you.
• Online advertising is enhanced. We already have a vast array of marketing services, but now we can additionally log in through Appfolio and instantly link to Craigslist or any other rental site with a few easy steps.
• Finances are easily accounted for. There is no need for the confusion of multiple financial banking sites because through Appfolio we can add late fees, view the entire payment history of that particular tenant, track utility bills due, and mortgage and loan payments due. We can tell you when the tenants paid, when you were paid, and when all future payments are due.

 

But what sets Appfolio apart from the rest, at least for us, are the benefits that it offers to our clients.

 

What Works For You:

• Appfolio gives us an outlet to have constant communication with you. If there is information that applies to all of our clients, we are able to send mass messages, which is more efficient than emailing or calling individually would do. We can solve problems quickly and more efficiently.
• Tenants have the ability to pay their rent online. In return, we have the ability to directly transfer these funds to YOU. Instant income.
• Because of the efficiency and accountability that this management software offers, tenants have a better experience and are more likely to re-new their leases. No vacancies for you is exactly what your investment property requires.
• Instant access to view your online statements. Through our owner log-in portals, you can see exactly how your rental properties are doing. We do all the work, but you maintain control and nothing is kept from you.
• Appfolio becomes one more way that your Philly rental property can be found by potential tenants when it’s vacant. This increase in viewing means an increase in applicants.

 

Our Favorite Aspects:

• What proves most helpful for you is the online payment option.
• Residents can pay their rent online in a matter of seconds.
• This option alone saves an incredible amount of time and eliminates the hassle of waiting for the bank to process checks, etc. and you will reduce the cost of processing those checks.
• To make it even easier, it integrates directly into your records. Owners can be paid with the ACH functionality, where funds are deposited directly into your bank account. This decreases the waiting time and increases the security of the payment.

 

Appfolio is not the only site that provides the details listed above but it is the best in our opinion. It works for you and it works for us and it does so efficiently. Now that you know that we work with, feel free to read more about our Philadelphia property management services. Give us a call to discuss your individual rental property and the various options that we can offer you.

Philadelphia renters guide to garbage & recycling

Attention Philadelphia Renters

WHEN IS MY TRASH COLLECTION DAY?

As a renter, it is difficult to keep track of when to put out the trash, especially if
you’re one to move around a lot. Be sure to ask the landlord or Philadelphia property manager what the day is for trash pickup and recycling. If you forget to do this, there is a very easy way to figure it out.

•  If you forgot to ask, go to http://citymaps.phila.gov. Click on “City Facility &
  Service Area Maps.”
• Click on the pull down tab labeled “Service Areas” and select “Rubbish Days.”
• You will see the map that defines how the area is split up for trash collection. Zoom in to your specific location, which will have a day of the week over it. The further you zoom in, the clearer the zones become.
• You can follow the same directions for recycling by pulling down the tab labeled “Service Areas” and selecting “Recycling Days.”
• Trash and recycling should be set out between 7:00 PM the night before your authorized day and 7:00 AM the day of pickup.
• There is an area from Vine Street to Bainbridge Street, from the Schuylkill River to the Delaware River, where waste should be set out no later than 6:00 AM the day of pick up.

 

PUTTING OUT TRASH THE RIGHT WAY

Trash must be placed in personal trashcans or plastic bags. These may only bePhiladelphia has specific rules on the right containers to dispose trash in and limits to
the amount of trash disposed.

• filled to the 40 lb. limit.
• Wood scraps and other loose items must be securely tied into bundles. They may not exceed four feet long and two feet thick.
• You must use your own containers for your trash. City litter baskets are for pedestrian usage only.
• Know your weekly limits on the amount of trash you can dispose of. Each house is allowed, at the most, 4 – 32-gallon receptacles or 8 – 30″x37″ bags of trash, every week. The weight limit for each disposal is 40 lbs. and should not exceed, in total, 240 lbs.

 

CAR PARTS, CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS, ELECTRONICS & MORE

If it’s time to get rid of the old television, or you need to dispose of a flat tire, make sure you follow the city’s guidelines.

• The Streets Department no longer accepts metal-bulk items, tires, or like-items during curbside pickup. These need to be disposed of by a private hauler or residents may bring items (limit of 2) to a Sanitation Convenience Center.
• Construction debris needs to be removed by a private hauler. These waste materials will NOT be collected.
• Televisions and electronics are not accepted curbside and need to be discarded at Household Hazardous Waste events.

 

WHAT PHILADELPHIA BUSINESSES NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRASH

Everything above is the same if you’re a business with private trash collection. However, you do need to know one following item.

• Make sure you are complying with dumpster laws. Consult your SWEEP officer for you specific rules and guidelines.

Here’s to hoping for a clean and green world!

Online Reviews about Philadelphia Property Management Companies

Online Reviews about Philadelphia Property Management Companies

This day and age, the first thing anyone does when they are looking to learn more about a business, service, or product is to conduct a quick Google search. Those seeking Property Management in Philadelphia and Philadelphia Rental Agents are no different; their first stop is Google, Bing, or another search engine.

For this exact reason, JG Real Estate has taken efforts to bolster our online reputation on Google Reviews, Zillow, Active rain, and Yelp. Some sites allow, and even encourage solicitation of prior clients for feedback, while others such as Yelp vehemently disallow review solicitation.

In our experience, both renters and property owners have formed their initial opinions of us as aPhiladelphia Property Management firm based on their review of various social media sites, our website, and blog.

When looking at sites which offer reviews from past clients, be wary of:

1)   Fake Reviews: Unfortunately, many businesses attempt to circumvent the system by creating fake profiles to post fake reviews. Some sites such as Yelp have developed advanced filtering algorithms, which help to weed these out.

2)   Overly negative reviews: Typically, a provider which has ALL negative reviews is one which you should steer clear of. All businesses are aware of their online image to some extent, and if they can’t get a single client of theirs to post something positive, then I would be skeptical.

3)   One negative review: No business is perfect, and lets be honest, sometimes clients and customers are unreasonable. So, don’t write a business off simply because it has one or two bad reviews. If at least 80% of the reviews are positive, chances are that you’ll have a good experience.

4)   Responses by the business: A response to a negative review from a customer or client shows that the business cares. Again, not all businesses are perfect, but it’s important that they care about their reputation enough to issue a response. Often businesses will attempt to rectify the issue through their response.

We’d like to hear YOUR point of view. How do you use social media and review sites to aid your research of businesses?

Philadelphia Apartments: Average Cost of Utilities

Cost of Utilities for Philadelphia Apartments

You know how much you make per pay check, so you have a pretty good idea of how much you’re willing to pay in rent  (By the way, here is a handy calculator that will suggest how much you can afford in rent based on your annual salary). Before you start browsing current listings and scheduling showings, however, take a moment to think about utilities. That can make a BIG difference in the amount that you’re actually paying for your philly apartment.

 

Generally, unless the advertisement states otherwise, utilities are not included. Here’s what you need to find out initially:

• Are utilities included? If yes, what exactly is included and what isn’t? Sometimes you’re also responsible for reimbursing the landlord for cold water, and that can be another $40 – $50 per month.
• Does the property only have electric, or is there gas as well?
• What type of heating/cooling system does it have? Central air or window units? Central heat or radiator heat?(the age of it matters as well. newer HVAC systems = more efficiency = lower bills for you)

 

It’s difficult for a philadelphia property management company or landlord to tell you exactly how much these extra utilities will cost you each month. There are a lot of factors that go into the amount of usage, and they depend on your personal habits and preferences.

 

PERSONAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO PHILLY APARTMENT UTILITY COST

• How hot/cold do you want it to be?
• How often do you have the unit running?
• Do you turn it off when you’re not home? D
• Do you have a washer and dryer included in the apartment that you use very often and have to pay for water?

 

The previous tenants might have had similar routines but you can’t count on it. If you are able to ask them or your landlord what the bills usually came to, by all means do… but just be wary that your bills might not be similar.

 

PHILADELPHIA PROPERTY FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO UTILITY COST

The cost will also greatly depend on the individual property. That sounds simple, but there really is a lot to consider:

• How old is the HVAC system? Has it been recently serviced or cleaned?
• How many floors are there? (the larger the property, the harder the system has to work to control the temperature)
• Is it properly insulated?
• What type of windows are there and when were they installed? For example, are they single paned or double paned? Do they have insulated glazing?

 

Here’s a helpful hint that a Philadelphia property inspector from US Inspect once shared with us: If it has just snowed a bit, and you’re able to have a view of the top of houses, look at how much snow is on the roof of all of them. The houses with the most snow on top have great insulation, and those with little to no snow remaining have poor insulation. The heat leaks right up out of the roof to melt the snow. Amazing info!

 

I’m sure there is more involved that I’m not even touching on, but you get it, right? No one can really tell you for sure what your bill will be, so you must budget accordingly. Take my own apartment that I’m renting in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood for example – I feel like it’s freezing all the time! I’m constantly turning up or readjusting the heat and it never feels right. It’s also a bi-level apartment where the living room ceiling is actually as high up as the second floor ceiling… so all of that heat is just sitting up in the empty space while I freeze on the ground. The gas bill was over $100 last month.

 

AVERAGE UTILITY COST FOR PHILADELPHIA APARTMENTS

So clearly, no one can give you a definitive answer as to how much it will cost you per month, but you can get an estimate. To find the average utility cost for your Philadelphia rental property, you can call the utility companies directly, give them the address of the property you’re considering and they will tell you the average usage for that particular unit over time.

 

Electric Company: PECO  Call 1-800-494-4000

Gas Company: PGW Call 215-235-1000

To Buy or to Rent? That is the Question.

Buying Vs. Renting in Philadelphia

Buying a Philadelphia property has always been explained to me as the smart move. It is a better return on your money  than traditional investments such as money markets, savings accounts, bonds and certificates of deposit. At the same time, it seems less risky than investing in securities. However, these are not normal times and it is necessary for us to reassess whether, in this economic climate, if it is smarter to buy or rent. Taking a look at both sides may help us to better choose what would work best.

 

THE BENEFITS OF RENTING PROPERTY IN PHILADELPHIA

It is a scary place out there and the real estate market has taken a huge hit with the fall of our economy. According to Les Christie of CNNMoney, “One in every 69 homes had at least one foreclosure filing during the year, while 804,000 homes were repossessed.”  If you aren’t one to put all of your eggs in one basket and don’t want the commitment of a home, the current benefits of renting are worth considering. Flexibility, no large initial outlay of funds, lack of responsibility for upkeep of property maintenance, etc. are just some of the qualities of renting in Philadelphia that have remained the same as they always have been. Renting is beneficial for those who enjoy moving around. Experience city living in any Philadelphia neighborhood you want! Also, an area where one cannot necessarily afford to buy a house in may have more affordable properties available for rent.  You don’t have to worry about all of the associated costs that come with buying a home, such as down payments, closing fees, interest, and insurance. Despite all of these benefits, though, you have to remember that while renting, your money is going directly into the pocket of somebody else. The benefits of buying a property in Philadelphia may be greater.

 

THE BENEFITS OF BUYING PROPERTY IN PHILADELPHIA

This is a time where real estate prices and mortgage rates are extremely low; there are foreclosures and sheriffs sales going on all the time. According to a CNN.com movie entitled, “Should you buy a home in 2012?,”  prices in the housing market dropped 5% in 2011. However, according to this same video, they are expected to slightly increase by .25% in 2012 so that they stabilize.  It is worth it for you to figure out if buying is a better financial decision than renting would be with the expected minor turn around in the market. DailyFinance.com cites five questions to ask yourself in order to decide: Can you really afford to buy? Are you prepared for all the other costs of home ownership? Do you enjoy mowing the lawn, will baby make three, and do you have financial willpower? After you answer those questions, you should be better able to assess whether buying really is best for you.

 

This is an investment and, as with every investment, you have to hope that the market improves and your investment rises in value in the end. There is no need to rush into purchasing a house, especially when it does not coincide with your future plans, and when the economy is in such a state of disarray. However, if you are ready to take the leap and buy, good online tools such as Zillow.com and Trulia.com can help you figure out what works best for you.  At these sites you are able to find homes in your area, view the mortgage rates, and get answers to your questions. You can also use as a site like ginniemae.gov for a rent calculator which is extremely easy to use and gives you useful information.

 

Easy to see are paybacks and setbacks to both buying and renting. It is not an easy decision to make like it once was. It is a time to consider both sides, weigh the pros and cons, and make the decision with the most sustainable and lucrative outcome for you.