Right now inventory is drastically low.  It is still a sellers market.  Homes are coming on the market and selling FAST with multiple offers. So if you are thinking about selling, ACT NOW to net the most.  We do not  know how much longer this type of market will last.

Let’s face it,  we do not yet know the long term affects the virus will have on the economy.  We are seeing unemployment rise as business close or scale back.  Eventually, that will affect the number of buyers out there looking. 

With that being said, let’s compare numbers from April, May, and June 2019 to April, May and June 2020 so you can see just how huge the difference is...
In Bucks County, we saw a drastic drop in Pendings in April and May.  In June as things opened up we saw the number of Pendings jump up compared to 2019.

In Montgomery County, we see the same  drastic drop in Pendings in April and May.  In June as things opened up we saw the number of Pendings jump up compared to 2019.

In Philadelphia Co -  we see the same  drastic drop in Pendings in April and May.  In June as things opened up we saw the number of Pendings jump up compared to 2019.

Over in NJ in Mercer County we saw a slight drop in Pendings in Aprail and May.  In June, we saw the number of Pendings rise up slightly compared to 2019

In Burlington County – Again we saw a slight drop in Pendings in April and May.  In June we saw the number of Pendings rise up slightly compared to 2019.

 In Camden County - we saw a slight drop in Pendings in April and May.  In June we saw the number of Pendings rise up slightly compared to 2019.

NJ’s numbers did not fluctuate like PA’s numbers did because PA was the only state where real estate was considered non essential.  NJ was still allowed to sell homes. 

Since, demand is so high and inventory is so low.  We have amped up the level of publicity for our "Coming Soon" Homes.  We have 2 hitting the market the week of the 6th with both taking full advantage of our "Coming Soon Campaign."  We are going to kick off showings with a sneak peak the morning of the homes going active on Facebook live.   So Join Us! 

The first one is going to be a unique opportunity to purchase in Pennsbury School District for $250,000 with low taxes on July 6th at 9:30 am.  Click here for the Event Link for 637 Main St in Tullytown.

Our second one is a gorgeous well maintained Colonial in Neshaminy Schools on July 8th at 10:30am.
Click here for the Event Link for 882 Henry Ave in Langhorne.
 
 My job as an expert Realtor,is to do everything in my power to publicize the home to drive up demand.  High Demand = Highest Selling Price & Sellers in Control of Negotiations. 
 
If you are thinking about selling, contact me.  I offer a Free 30 min - No Obligation Consultation where I walk through the home and give you tips and tricks on what do to get it ready for the market.  
Many of my proven tips and tricks I suggest for sellers are outlined in my upcoming book:
"How to Net the Most When You Sell."
Which will be released in the next few months and available on amazon! 
 
I am also excited to share with you that I will be on the cover and featured story in:
Bucks County Real Producers
which is a local Realtor magazine for the top 300 Realtors in the area in September. 


- Christina Swain, "Your Realtor in Red"
The Swain Team
TheSwainTeam@gmail.com / 215.757.7257

Welcome to our Tip’s for Home Buyers.  In the next few weeks we are going to review 7 tips.  
 
Tip #1: Decide on a Location
Know the area you want to be in.  Ask yourself, does this area fit my lifestyle? Is it conveniently located near your work, family and places you frequent?  Take the extra step to do a dry run from the area to places you frequent.  Proximity to your needs is an important factor that is often overlooked by home buyers. 
The Swain Team wants you to be 100% sure that you are making the right home buying choice.   We offer a love it or we will sell it for FREE guarantee.  If you don't like the home you bought, we will sell it for FREE within the first 6 months.  
 
Tip #2: Don’t Commit Before You’re Ready 
Owning a home is a huge commitment and a more expensive one than some home buyers realize. Before buying a home, make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into so you can decide if you’re financially and personally ready for such a large commitment. A great way to decide this is to sit down initially before house hunting and do a needs analysis with us.  We review expenses, your needs and closing costs with you as well as the home buying process.

Many online mortgage payment calculators only take into account your monthly mortgage payment.  They do not figure in your property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA fees and other monthly costs of owning a home.  So be prepared and sit down with me and educate yourself.

If you are thinking about buying, reach out to us.  We are happy to educate you and guide you through the process.  Even if you are in the beginning stages, we can help you prepare.  
​
TheSwainTeam@gmail.com or 215.757.7257

Never sell without doing this first
You never want to sell without pre-marketing your home first.  There are many reasons for this.  One of them being the ability to test market the home. 
Which makes me think about one of our past clients:

The children were selling their parents’ house, as the parents had passed away. 
Of course, they wanted to net the most and made repairs to the home to get it ready for the market.  They set the price a little higher than I recommended.  For 2 weeks we analyzed the statistics and numbers of calls and emails we got. Unfortunately, we had NO inquires and the stats were not impressive. 

So, I consulted with them and we lowered the price $10,000 and let it hit the market in 1 week.  That was the magic number!   I had a number of agents calling me about the home, and the stats shot through the roof.  It went on the market on a Monday and we had 6 offers right away! 

We drove the demand up so high that they were able to get 10,000 over asking price.  They were thrilled.

The moral of the story is: it pays to pre-market the home.  There are MANY benefits to pre-marketing, test marketing is just one.  You can see our success stories here.

I want you to think of it this way, if Nabisco is going to put out a new cookie, they are going to test market, right?  They are going to pick certain cities and play with the pricing, packaging, shelf placement, marketing and so on.  Why?  Just so they can find the right selling combination to net them the most.
Why should your home be any different?

If you are thinking about selling, I offer a FREE 30min, no obligation consultation where I walk through the home and give you tips and tricks on what do to get it ready for the market. 
 
Christina Swain with The Swain Team
215.757.7257 / TheSwainTeam@gmail.com

Coming in July 8th, More pics to come!- - - - - - - - - - - - ​
​Well maintained 4 bedroom/2.5 bath Colonial in Neshaminy School District. Step inside to the bright and airy foyer featuring hardwood floors.  The neutral living room and dining room have new carpet and fresh paint.  The remodeled eat-in kitchen opens to the family room making it ideal for entertaining.  The kitchen features wood cabinets, granite, stainless steel appliances and ceramic tile floor.  Light floods the sunken family room through the sliding glass door that leads to the Trex deck.  Upstairs hosts 3 bedrooms with fresh paint and new carpet, updated full bathroom as well as a gorgeous master suite.  The spacious master bedroom suite is sure to please with a HUGE private bathroom and HUGE walk in closet.  The master bathroom features a ceramic tile shower with glass doors, soaking tub and a double vanity with granite countertops.  The basement has been partially finished and is perfect for a game room or home office. The basement also offers storage area as well as the 2 sheds in the fenced rear yard and 2 car garage.  
Listed at: $435,000
For more information or to schedule a showing contact us at TheSwainTeam@gmail.com or 215.757.7257

Just last week I was working with a buyer and he had both a Zillow and an MLS search setup.  In one of our conversations, he asked me: “Why does Zillow show more homes for sale?”  So, I thought I would take a minute and explain how the different home search engines work.
The MLS system is the Multiple List Service this is the same database of homes for sale that realtors use.  Therefore, it is much more accurate and up to date.  Just because it is listed on Zillow doesn't mean it is actually for sale still.  Zillow will leave homes that are under contract and sold as for sale so that they can sell your information to realtors when you inquire on a home. 

Coming Soon.... July 6th!
​Looking for a charming home with low taxes and an open floor plan?  Step inside to the enclosed sun porch ideal for relaxing with your morning coffee.  The living room opens to the remodeled eat-in kitchen with ample recessed lighting.  The remodeled eat-in kitchen features granite countertops, white cabinetry, an island with seating and much more!  Wood flooring extends through the living room, kitchen and 3 bedrooms.  The main bathroom has been updated and is neutral.  The second bathroom was completed in 2019 and is sure to please.  Complete with ceramic tile shower and glass doors.  The lower level offers storage, a laundry area, and utility room.  The 2-car garage features a 9ft door with R16 insulation.   The home also offers a newer roof, most windows have been replaced, central air and more!  The home DOES NOT require flood insurance, the seller obtained an elevation certificate to take them out of the flood zone.
To learn more about this home or if you would like to schedule a tour, please call 215-757-7257 or email TheSwainTeam@gmail.com

​June is here and the weather is warming up!  The Real Estate was declared essential at the end of last month. I have had the opportunity to put 2 homes on the market since then and both of them were complete rehabs.  I put the homes on the market on a Friday and presented offers that following Monday.  The first one had 15 showings and received an offer above asking price that met all the sellers’ terms.  He was thrilled!  The second home had 20 appointments with multiple offers, again all the sellers’ terms were met.  So, there is still a high demand out there for homes.  The reason we are still receiving multiple offers is because inventory is still drastically low. 
 
In prior months, I had mentioned that when I spoke with other expert realtors - they are all holding listings.  We still have not seen that influx of houses come on the market.  I think that is because those people are still holding off until we are in the green phase.  
 
When it comes to marketing, we continue to  utilize floor plans, 3D tours, and as many pictures as possible in an attempt to try to limit the number of people through the home.   Limiting the number of people through a home was just one of the many guidelines we must follow since real estate was declared essential.  
 
As I have been talking to a lot of clients, one of the main questions  I am asked is:
“What is going to happen to the value of your home?”
I think we are going to see home prices go up then stabilize.  Because you have that spring market demand mixed with that pent-up demand or in other words, people who have been trying to buy a home and haven't been able to.  
 
If you are thinking about selling, remember we offer a free 30 min Home Salability Assessment where we give you tips and tricks on what to do to get your home ready for the market.  Sellers often say they feel more organized with a plan of action after our visit.  It is always our pleasure to help.  We offer many different seller services, feel free to visit our website SwainSells.com and click on the sellers tab.  
 
Another service that many of our clients take advantage of is our recommended vendors.  If you need the name of an electrician or contractor...reach out.  We are happy to share with you the names of trusted vendors.  
 
Until Next month,
 Christina Swain with The Swain Team of Keller Williams
 

Coming Soon! **********
​Looking for a home with character and charm?  Tucked away on a quiet street sits a beautiful 3-bedroom, 2-bath colonial in an idyllic setting.  Just imagine sitting on the front porch enjoying your morning coffee or sitting in the tree swing on a warm spring evening.  Step inside to the neutral living room accented by hardwood floors that extend throughout the first floor.  Walk thru to the dining room and gorgeous remodeled kitchen which opens to the family room.  The kitchen comes complete with newer cabinets, ceramic tile floor, gas cooking and a quaint window seat offering storage.  The bright and airy family room is the focal point of the home with a stone hearth gas fireplace and french doors leading to the deck.  Ideally located just off the family room is a full bathroom.  Upstairs hosts 3 bedrooms and a full bathroom.  You will have ample storage space between the walk-up attic and basement.  Let the picturesque rear yard be your oasis ideal for a cookout, entertaining friends or just relaxing in your hot tub.  The home also features central air, updated 200 amp electric, 1-car garage, fenced yard and 2 HVAC systems (one that controls upstairs and one for the lower level).  
This home has it all and is in Neshaminy School District!
Please note*** Before going active more photos, 3D tour and a floor plan will be available.
 

​Bucks County Real Estate News - May 2020
Learn what is currently going on in the real estate market in Bucks County Pa, Montgomery County Pa, Mercer County NJ, Burlington County NJ, and Philadelphia PA.  
May is here!  I am sure we are all hoping for warmth and sunshine.  Amid the pandemic, buying and selling a home has definitely changed.   Yet, I am still listing and selling homes with multiple offers.   Expert Realtors have learned to adapt and create new marketing strategies to sell homes.  In this market change, you need a realtor who thinks outside the box; a problem solver.  It makes a huge difference!  Just like before, pictures are your #1 marketing tool, they draw the buyers in.  Since we can't show homes in person, we have begun to do 3D tours.  3D tours are much different than virtual tours.  Using a 3D tour, you can walk yourself around the home.  It is like using google maps street view.   The 3D tour combined with a lot of photos and a floor plan has kept buyers engaged. In fact, I put 3 homes on the market last week.  We utilized our exclusive coming soon pre-marketing plan and all 3 homes had multiple offers! 

One of the seller's stories is quite amazing.  She put all her trust in me and said you are the expert.  Game on! She had previous attended one of my Home Selling Seminars.  I put into action one of my favorite marketing strategies: pricing a little below market value.  Well it worked, and she ended up getting 13 offers and $25,000 more!  You heard me right....25K! But wait it gets better, it was a cash deal with no inspections.  What more could you ask for? While this pricing strategy might sound counter-intuitive, if you’re priced at the high end of value your home is going to be sitting and accruing market time especially in a market that’s still moving and you’re going to automatically lose value in your house.   On the other hand, going a bit low can draw attention to your home as soon as it hits the market and encourage buyers to make competitive offers so they don’t miss out on a hot deal. Strategy is key here as pricing your home low only has the potential to start a bidding war if it is executed correctly by an expert realtor.   Despite the corona virus, it is still a good time to sell.  The virus has stopped some sellers from putting their home on the market so there is extremely low inventory and low rates.  But, buyers are still out looking.  Let's face it, people still need to buy and sell.  It will be interesting to see what happens when homes are allowed to be shown again.  I meet virtually with other top agents and I know we are all holding listings until the stay at home order lifts.  How many homes will come on the market at once?  Is the demand to sell and net the now?  We will see.  

Let’s take a quick look at 2008 vs. now. Our current corona virus situation is built on a different set of circumstances than 2008.  In 2008, not only did we have a weak economy but it was real estate that pushed us into that trouble zone.   This time, I see the opposite happening.  In 2008, prices were artificially boosted up people were into mortgages that they could not afford.  This is the opposite. According to a Harvard study done in 2019, the equity in the home in the US in 2011 was 7 trillion dollars.  By 2018 the number had nearly doubled to 15.5 trillion.  What does that mean?  When you have a lot of equity in the market banks are less afraid of foreclosures.  You may see an uptick in foreclosures but not at the level it was before.  I believe we are going to see many positive things when we come out of this.  
​
If you are thinking selling and interested to know just how we can net the most for your home in our current market.  Call me.   Until, next time… I am Christina Swain with The Swain Team of Keller Williams

Want to reduce your stress when selling or moving? 
Want to net the most while doing so?
I had been working with the seller for a while preparing home as well as exploring her 55+ options. Her husband had passed away and she wanted an active community.   We decided on the Villages at Flower Mill.   We explored various housing styles in the community to find a size and layout that worked for her.   We settled on a twin with an amazing location backing to a lake.  It was simply picturesque, with views of the lake from most rooms in the home.  Just imagine waking up in the morning and gazing out your bedroom window at the lake - it was like being at the shore.  
As we had been looking for next home, she was preparing her home for the market, just as we teach at our home selling seminars. We began with pre-marketing 3 weeks in advance. We put the home on the market and started showings on a Monday. By that Monday evening, we had multiple offers and received above asking!  
This enabled us to net the most while being in control of the transaction therefore reducing the stress involved.  ​

​Let me help you get the same results!
*Sold in 1 Day
*Received Multiple Offers
*Above Asking Price
215.757.7257 / TheSwainTeam@gmail.com / SwainSells.com