The Aria Condominiums

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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

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

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

  

William Penn House/1919 Chestnut St. STUDIO FOR SALE

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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2010 New Year Resolution

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?

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

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.