Rivera@TheCondoShops.com

Hacienda Jaicoa - Moca, Puerto Rico

2010-09-14T17:17:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Residence near San Carlos Borromeo Hospital in "Hacienda Jaicoa". This is a two level residence build in concrete. First Level have two garage with electric door, laundry, foyer, living room. Large Family room, extra closet, dining room, kitchen, terrace and a bathroom. Second Level has a Master bedroom with walk-in closet, two aditional bedrooms and ample terrace with panoramic view of Moca Town.

Contact

BENGIE RODRIGUEZ & ASOCIADOS, Lic #8268

Bengie Rodríguez

(787) 422-2222

bengie@bengie.com

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Information posted as a free service to owner who provided the information/pictures. Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed.

FOR SALE - Distinctive Living - New Hope, PA

2010-09-13T21:42:00.000-07:00

New Hope, P.A. - A collaboration by the Designer and Homeowner has captured every detail of sophistication and elegance.This is truly an invitation to distinctive living , from the choice of hardwood floors to the polished concrete countertops,wolf stove, and subzero. The second floor features a library with fireplace and custom built-in bookcases.

2 bedrooms w/ private baths, 3rd floor master suite totally redesigned to incorporate walk-in closet w/built-ins, Luxurious 13x21 Master Bath w/soaking tub, glass double sinkand vanity, Brazilian slate shower with rainfall shower head and a 3rd floor laundry. End your long days by relaxing in the lower level wine room and sitting area.

For more information -->> Click Here!!

ID # 5725149

List Price: $1,175,000

Town: New Hope

School District: New Hope Solebury

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 3 Full, 1 Half

Zoning: Residential

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Information posted as a free service to owner who provided the information/pictures. Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed.

River West Condominium - Easy to Live - Easy to Love

2010-05-24T20:06:00.000-07:00

Living at RiverWest affords a lifestyle that is easy to enjoy. The 400-unit condominium is located just a short walk from all the attractions of Center City Philadelphia. From the high-rise office complexes of Market Street West, to the upscale shops and restaurants of Rittenhouse Row. From the cultural attractions and recreational amenities of the Ben Franklin Parkway and Fairmount Park to the burgeoning campuses of Penn and Drexel in University City. Living at The River West places you in the center of it all. Easy access is one of the most attractive features of living at River West, but the affordability and easy lifestyle of the building are even more enjoyable attributes.

Some amenities include:

• Contemporary Lobby
• 24 Hour Lobby Attendant
• State-of-the-Art Fitness Center
• Near Public Transportation & Major Highways
• Direct TV Equipped
• Individually controlled cooling systems
• Telephone intercom with pushbutton admittance
• Business Center with High Speed internet Access
• On-Site Laundry Facilities
• Convenient Dining, Shopping & Entertainment Locale
• Pet Friendly

Contact Us for a list of units available for sale or rent.

The Aria Condominiums

2010-04-22T17:20:00.000-07:00

Exclusively brought to you by The Condo Shop If interested in seeing units please contact us to schedule an appointment.

Unparalleled. Unprecedented. Unrivalled. One of Philadelphia's most prominent 1920's Beaux-Arts buildings, Aria is superior residential living in Center City. Located in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, Aria residents will appreciate living in the heart of the city's cultural epicenter, with world class shopping & gourmet dining.

Each residence features the finest fixtures and finishes at every turn, including gourmet kitchens with wood flooring and cabinetry, high end stainless steel appliances, full-sized five-fixture master baths, ensuite washer & dryers, and individually controlled central air and heating systems. Residents enjoy a state-of-the-art fitness center, a spacious entertaining suite with thoughtfully appointed kitchen, a meeting & conference center, lounge, 24-hr concierge, parking, storage and a luxurious pet spa with special services.
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It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Seasons 1-4

First Time Buyer : Things you should know

2010-04-06T20:06:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the things you need to know when buying a home for the first time.

Pre-Qualifications/Pre-Approval:

You should meet with a mortgage broker in order to find out how much you can afford to pay. Knowing how much you can afford is the first step, however, sellers will be more receptive to buyers who have been pre-approved. During pre-approval, the buyer actually applies for the mortgage and should receive a commitment in writing.

Needs Vs Wants

Make a list of the things you needs. For example, amount of bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. You also should make a list of things you'll want like having a pool, big yard and others things that are not necessary or as important as the items you needs. Usually, as a first time buyer, you would not get everything on your list, but this will help you to have and idea during your search.

Representation by a Professional

Consider hiring a Real Estate Professional. One who's working for you, the buyer, not the seller.

Organize and focus

Maintain a record of items that can maximize your search as maps of the areas of interest, list of properties you have seen. YOU need to focus on your search as if you were the seller: would a prospective buyer find it attractive based on school district, crime rate, nearest shopping stores and highways?

Think with your head instead your heart. Do not forget to have a home inspection and mortgage contingencies in your offer. Request a second walk-through prior closing to note any changes that have been made that were not agreed on. All the above may seem rather overwhelming. That is why having a professional represent you and keep track of all the details for you is highly recommended
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10 Steps to Home Ownership: A Workbook for First-Time Buyers

Cashing in on the Housing Bailout

2010-03-29T22:28:00.000-07:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

William Penn House/1919 Chestnut St. STUDIO FOR SALE

2010-03-29T20:57:00.000-07:00

THE UNIT: Large, sun-drenched studio, southern exposure, with panoramic view of the city and Rittenhouse Sq, on the 25th floor (out of 29). There are only few studios for sale in entire building. Of those, this is the only one on this high a floor facing the city and the Square. In mint condition, ready to move in. Easily accommodates two-person living situation. Overly ample for single person. Individually controlled heating/air unit. Full kitchen, oven, range, separate breakfast countertop, refrigerator, full bathroom with bathtub/shower, and two ample closets. A hallway leads from the main entrance into the large studio/main room, where the panoramic view takes center stage. Wall-to-wall cream carpeting in all areas except kitchen and tiled bathroom. Cross-breeze when door and windows open. Extremely quiet. Trash and recycling receptacles on each floor. Halls are wall-to-wall carpeted and lavishly appointed. Very low monthly fees. Free cable.

LOCATION: Centrally located in the 1900 block of Chestnut St., one block from Rittenhouse Square, and convenient to shopping, dining, cafes, night clubs, grocers, pizza, deli's, every imaginable type of restaurant, the financial district, banks, the Post Office, ice creameries, cultural events, concert halls, play houses, art galleries, museums, the river front, and even a 24 hour CVS on the corner. Trader Joe's is a block and a half away. You are surrounded by public transportation to include bus stops on every corner, to the 30th St. Train Station, Amtrak, Suburban Station, Septa local and regional lines, and even the Lindeman hi-speed line to NJ just a few blocks away. But with everything in walking distance, you won't be using much public transportation too much. It is the ultimate in Center City Living at your fingertips. Perfect for professionals, couples, Penn/Drexel students, visiting faculty, empty nesters, downsizers, or any other true urban dweller.

THE BUILDING/AMENITIES: The best constructed and maintained hi-rise in Philadelphia. It’s 5 star and immaculate. Bright new marble floors, contemporary hand-painted art adorns the walls, while exotic plants and flowers like a botanical garden make it even more magical . Ground floor indoor and outdoor patio tables for relaxing. Front desk service for 'concierge' level help including receiving packages such as FedEx or UPS if you’re not home during the day. Never miss a delivery again! The maintenance is impeccable, with crews working tirelessly to maintain that 5 star experience. Security staff monitors the building 24 hrs/day, including use of a closed circuit camera system in and outside the building. Your personal building photo ID is required for entrance, no exceptions. Loading dock and spare parking in the back for added convenience. Workout room with state-of-the-art equipment. World-class and terraced 25 meter rooftop pool with view to match open during the summer. Laundry room with state-of-the-art washers and dryers. Bicycle storage room. Mail room. Indoor and outdoor patio as part of lobby. Community room for private events (including full kitchen), including library and public-use computers with internet access. Hospitality Suite for friends and relatives to stay over (book ahead!). Covered and attached valet parking for residents ($80/mo) for the ultimate in convenience. Did I mention the world-class pool on the roof?!

THE ATMOSPHERE: The neighbors are warm, friendly, and very active in the buildings affairs to maintain its 5 star status. There is a true sense of being part of a family, yet with total privacy. It's the best of both worlds.
SUMMARY: This is as good as it gets for the money to live in the center of one of the largest, most sophisticated, and thriving cities in the country. Every time you walk in your apartment and look out at that panoramic view of the city and see that skyline, watching, the endless activities, the sunrise and sunsets, the clouds in the distance, you will be mesmerized every waking moment. It's a living mural, always changing. Stop by and take a peek (while you can). Oh, don’t forget the tax credit for buyers under certain conditions. Asking price is $137,500, almost free!. Co-op charge $8k admin fee to "join" as well as 20% down.

Contact me to schedule a visit!
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Information posted as a free service to owner who provide the information/pictures. Information deemed Reliable but not Guaranteed.

2010 New Year Resolution

2009-12-28T15:28:00.000-08:00

The beginning of a new year always have people meditating and doing self reflection. As the New Year 2010 is approaching I take this opportunity to wish everyone a prosperous year full of health and peace.

Have you make your list yet?

Some of the most common resolution for the new year are?

Weigth Loss/Get in Shape
Get Out of Debt
Quit Smoking

Quit Drinking

Get Organized

Others who are less fortunate wish for food, clothing and shelter which are the most basic needs for the human being.

We should reflect about how we can improve our self and the life of those we love. Take a moment to be grateful for what you have and for having the strenght to deal with everyday difficulties.

Happy Holidays Season and a Prosperous New Year...

Welcome 2010!

Should I buy or rent?

2009-12-08T09:39:00.000-08:00

This is a question that I have been asked a lot recently. My answer is: If you can afford to buy you should buy, if not, renting is your best option. This is because everybody have different financial responsibilities and everyone should consult their tax advisor or accountant prior making a decision.

Today's market is a great opportunity to buy because there is thousands of houses available and sellers are willing to negotiate in order to settle a sale. Before making a decision do the math.

It is an investment, make sure your treat it like one.
There are many expenses other than the mortgage payment that goes with owning a house. Get them all down on your calculator when starting to think about buying.

Can you make the deposit?
We all need a cushion during times of trouble (negative equity these days is unacceptable!). As a rule of thumb, if you can’t put a down payment of at least 10% to 20% of the purchase price of the property, you shouldn't be thinking about buying.

The Search is on: Ways to Make the Most of Your House Hunting Trip

2009-12-02T20:27:00.000-08:00

It has been said that moving and divorce are the two of the most stressful events a person or family can experience. Divorce is a subject for another time. Let’s consider the event of moving and look at some ways to make your house hunting trip less stressful and more effective.

Location is the first factor to consider when planning a move. If you have children, or are planning a family, you will want to know about the schools in the area. How about shopping centers, medical facilities, recreational opportunities and of course how far will you be from your place of employment.

If you require public transportation, is there any within walking distance of your prospective new home. What about the crime rate? A check with the local law enforcement agency can either put your mind at ease or give you reason to look elsewhere.

And finally, try to assess the quality and character of the people who live in the area. This is obviously difficult to do without interviewing them, but you can get a rough impression from the condition of their homes and properties and from the activities you might observe.

As an example, if your prospective neighbor has discarded appliances all over the front yard and their son is roaring around the neighborhood on a mini-bike with no muffler, you might want to take all that into consideration. And remember, a poor location will definitely be a negative factor when and if you attempt to resell the home at some later date.

Once you’ve zeroed in on your preferred location, you can start to think seriously about searching for your dream home. Rather than spin your wheels by looking at houses randomly, you should determine what you really want in a house and let those things help you focus your search.

Make a list and start with the obvious: how many bedrooms do you need; do you want a garage; must you have a single story home due to your inability to climb stairs; is a fenced yard an absolute necessity? After listing the absolute “must haves”, think about the things you like and dislike about your current residence and factor those things into your wish list. Making a list will not only save you time, it will be a big help to your realtor in planning your viewings.

Most people don’t really know how much house they can afford. Affordability is based upon income, credit status, interest rates, down payment, closing costs and the type of loan selected. By getting pre-qualified by a lending institution, you will know what you can afford to spend. Often, that figure is quite a surprise to prospective home buyers. In any case, pre-qualification will save you time and trouble by establishing your price range.

Typically, house hunting involves seeing as many homes as possible in a short period of time. Both the house hunter and the assisting agent have busy schedules and want to tour fast and furious. However, after the first two or three houses, they all start to run together.

You need to make notes after each viewing. One effective means of qualifying each home is to make multiple copies of your list of priorities and use it as a checklist to grade each home visited. This little tip will eliminate confusion when trying to make mental comparisons at the end of the day.

Regard your hunt as an excursion. If you were going to the zoo for the day and contemplated a lot of walking, you would dress comfortably and wear comfortable shoes. House hunting is no different; you’ll be walking, climbing stairs, quite possibly going into basements and attics and constantly getting in and out of cars. Dressing to impress homeowners or your realtor should not be your top priority. Dress clean and neat of course, but comfortable is the name of the hunting game.

And last but not least, use your own agent. When you call the agent on a “house for sale” sign you’re speaking to the seller’s agent. Keep in mind that he or she represents the seller and will be looking after the seller’s interests. You need your own agent; someone who is working for you and is looking out for your interests.

House hunting can actually be an enjoyable experience if you take your time and do your homework.

RE: The Tax Credit has NOT been extended YET.

2009-11-22T18:37:00.000-08:00

RE:THE TAX CREDIT HAS NOT BEEN EXTENDED! Pardon the shout..

I found several articles about tax credit extension. Some says it has not been extended, others that is has been extended. I believe that some were published before and other after the fact. For your clarification, there is no better place to look than the IRS SITE.

I also wanted to share this video about the legislative process...

Do You Own Unwanted Real Estate?

2009-11-19T16:54:00.000-08:00

Our clients and their needs are our main consideration.If you own unwanted Real Estate, or are planning on selling or buying a house contact us.

We will be honored to provide our services and appreciate you support. Please bookmark this blog to take advantage of the latest news update, community information and more. We provide a wide range of services to our customers including : Residential (Buyers/ Sellers), Commercial( Tenants/ Landlords) , Management (Tenants / Landlords) and Investment.

We appreciate the opportunity to serve you and have created this blogs to provide you valuable resources.

Please visit with us at our River West office:

The Condo Shop

2101 Chestnut Street

Philadelphia, P.A. 19103

You can always reach me via email or phone:

Email me !

Direct(215) 410-8556

Fax :(267) 322-5623

http://www.thecondoshops.com/

215 MY CONDO

FHA-insured Loans an alternative for First Time Homebuyers

2009-11-14T19:18:00.001-08:00

As Economic conditions change, the monetary policies are provided to reshape the supply and demand in order to stimulate the economy as needed. The Federal Reserve System is the one who regulates the flow of money, however, the primary mortage market is where the borrowers interact with lenders. Credit Unions, Mortgage Banking companies and Mortgage Brokers are some lenders withing the primary mortage market.

People who do not have the customry twenty percent down payment can benefit of liberalized mortgage loans that are sponsored by The Federal Housing Administration , the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and others local communities reinvesment programs.

FHA Loans have been available since 1934 and are avilable for first time homebuyers that do not have a lot of money to put down on a house, want to keep low monthly payments and may have some credit problems. FHA-insured loans have a low downpayment ( 3.5%) and money can come from a family member.

Lenders are more willing to provide you with a loan because FHA insures your mortgage. An FHA approved lender can help you start with the process of your loan, FHA does not give money to people and does not set the interest rates on the mortgages insured by them.

For more information about The Federal Housing Administration visite their site by clicking HERE!

Running Out of Time for the Tax Credit

2009-10-19T17:56:00.000-07:00

These days with the Tax Credit, better interest rates and largeamount of houses available it makes it a great time to buy a home.

You still need to do your homework and here some tips/steps to help you with your search.

Prior Searching for Houses

*Get Your Finances in Order ( You must be qualify by a lender if interested on a Mortgage
*Get Pre Approval/Approval ( This will help you to understand how much you can aford)*Decide what type of property and neightborhoods you and your family wants to live.

Some important factors to help you decide is knowing if the area is near the places you frequent and if the house have enought space for you and your family. Do you expect your family to growth?

Once an offer is accepted you would need to :

*Search for a reliable home inspector.

*Get approve for a mortage

*Find a Home Insurance Agent

*Search for moving resources.

Once you do your homework contact a buyer's agent of your preference to help you get your home at a fair price.

Rivera @ The Condo Shop

2009-10-13T11:31:00.000-07:00

I have joined The Condo Shop - River West Office. The Condo Shop is a boutique real estate experience that provide real estate owners, buyers and tenants with Philadelphia Condominium Expertise along with extraordinary personal services rendered by licensed real estate professionals.

The Condo Shop strikes to change the way real estate is sold and leased in the markets it serves. We know Philadelphia and specifically the condominium buildings and markets that abound in our city. We can provide important and current market data to a Seller as well as to Buyers or tenants.

Please visit with us at our River West office:
The Condo Shop
2101 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, P.A. 19103

You can always reach me via email or phone:

Email me !
Direct(215) 410-8556
Fax :(267) 322-5623
http://www.thecondoshops.com/
215 MY CONDO