Category: Blog Posts

Please join us at one of these open houses on Sunday, June 7th from 1:00-3:00!  As always, we will be hosting lemonade stands and donating the proceeds to the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation!

Available for lease or for sale! Located just minutes from downtown West Chester!

K09A0642

 

New Listing with 4 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms!

Exterior Sunnyview

 

 

 

 

 

The Lundmark Group Open House for this Sunday 5/17!

As always, we will be selling lemonade and donating the proceeds to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation!

 

 

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Coming soon! Located in West Caln Township, this home boasts 4 bedrooms, a spacious kitchen with breakfast area, separate dining room, family room and formal living room.  Other features include 2 full baths, one powder room, a full finished basement, 2 car garage, plus a sun-room…..all on 2 acres of land!  Sign up below the photos to receive an alert as soon as this home hits the market or email: info@TheLundmarkGroup.com to find out more!

Exterior Sunnyview KitchenSunnyViewmastersunnyview   sunroomsunnyviewSunnyviewBack

 

 

The Lundmark Group’s Chester County Open House Extravaganza!

Join us at one of our open houses this weekend! Don’t forget that we take donations for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation at each open house that we do! Pick a house or two, or all of them…. come take a tour, and donate to a good cause at any of these listings below this Sunday May 3rd from 1:00-3:00!

 

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West Chester (School District)

March 2015

New Listings % Change
New Listings
Homes Sold Avg. Price % Change
Avg. Price
Median Price Days on Market
March 2015 163 18.98% 67 $369,241 4.65% $328,500 95
March 2014 137 76 $352,829 $319,500 74
Year-To-Date 2015 341 2.29% 170 $347,482 3.10% $320,000 77
Year-To-Date 2014 349 194 $337,046 $307,250 65

Homes for Sale

Number of homes listed for sale at the end of the month

Homes Sold

Number of homes sold that month

Average Sale Price

Total $ value of all sales divided by number of homes sold

Average List Price vs Sold Price

Average price of homes for sale compared to average sold price

Average Days on Market

Average number of days it takes to sell a home

Average Days on Market by Price

Average number of days it takes to sell a home in a certain price range

Alexlemonadebannerl

From now until the end of August, The Lundmark Group will be hosting a lemonade stand at each of our open houses. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to charity. The Lundmark Group will match the total donated at each open house as well!

Last weekend my daughter and I were driving around Chester County putting up for sale signs and open house signs for a few of The Lundmark Group’s listings. When we went to one neighborhood in West Chester, the neighborhood children were outside coloring photos for donations. My 4-year-old daughter and I talked with the children and they drew a photo for her. We donated $5.00 to them for the photo and they gave my little girl $1.00 in return. I asked why they were giving us money back and they said, “Because you should always give back to the community.” That statement hit me hard. I was inspired to see what these kids were doing on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. They were spending their time doing something constructive and giving back to their community at the same time.

When my daughter and I got in the car to leave, we had a nice discussion about giving back and what it means to do that. My family and I donate to many charities but our children do not see us giving back in a sense that they can understand. I feel it is very important for our children to learn the value of giving but I have not always known when or where to start including them. If you’ve read any of my previous blog posts, you might have noticed that as a working mother, I am also constantly trying to find a good work/life balance with my children. I believe I’ve now found an answer.

Our first fund raiser will be held this Sunday April 26, 2015 at 601 Perry Drive in West Chester during our open house from 1:00-3:00. The Lundmark Group children will be outside serving lemonade and accepting donations for Alex’s Lemonade Stand! We are very excited about this and so are our children! Please come by and have some lemonade with us and give back at the same time. Today, kids all over the world keep Alex’s stand going by holding their own lemonade stands and sending their money to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. The great news is that because of all of this lemonade stand money, more kids are getting better from cancer every day.

If you cannot make it out on Sunday, please consider making a donation:

Click here to make a donation to Alex’s Lemonade Stand

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

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FullSizeRender
Chester County homeowners want to know the value of their home. Since home ownership is most likely the largest investment a person makes, this is an important issue.  With today’s modern technology there are an abundance of websites that are willing to give you a value for your home. While these websites may give you a ballpark range, to find the most accurate value it is best to reach out to a local real estate professional.  We have put together some tips to consider when finding a value for your Chester County home.
1. An appraisal isn’t an exact science:
Appraisers give their opinion based on how the home’s features and condition stack up against those of similar nearby homes recently sold. One appraiser may include a recent sale while another may consider that sale not recent enough, the home too different or not near enough to be a fair comparison.  If you are a seller, be sure that your real estate agent is meeting the buyer’s appraiser at your home for the appraisal once you are under contract with a buyer.  While home values are increasing in Chester County, it is important that your real estate agent is there while the appraisal is being completed to point out all of your home’s best features and give some insight as to why your home is worth more than the recent sales in the neighborhood.
2. Appraisals have different purposes:

Appraisals are also different from CMAs, or competitive market analyses. In a CMA, a real estate agent relies on market expertise to estimate how much your home might sell for in a specific time period.  There can be variations between CMAs and appraisals on the same home. In Chester County, many homes are selling quickly and for top dollar but it is the appraisers job to keep the values in check so we do not have another mortgage crisis like in the past. Keep in mind an appraiser will factor in recent distressed sales in your neighborhood and those sales can bring down the appraised value of your home.  Again, it is helpful to have your listing agent meet with the appraiser to make sure they take note of your home’s special features.

3. An appraisal is a snapshot:
Home prices shift and appraised values will shift with those market changes. Your home may be appraised at $250,000 today; but in six months, when you list it for sale, the appraised value could be lower or higher depending on how your market has performed. You can check out the most recent Chester County Market Statistics here.
4. Appraisals don’t factor in your personal issues:
You may have a reason why you must sell immediately, such as a job loss or transfer, which can affect the amount of money you’ll accept to complete the transaction in your time frame. An appraisal doesn’t consider those personal factors. They also will not factor in things that are being sold with the home, like furniture for example.
5. You may be able to ask for a second opinion:
Do you think the appraisal came back too low or too high? You can request that a second appraisal be performed by a different appraiser (if bank allows). You, or a buyer who has requested the appraisal, will have to pay for the second appraisal; but it may be worth it to keep the sale from collapsing. On the other hand, the appraisal may be accurate and it may be a sign that you need to adjust your pricing.
Contact info@TheLundmarkGroup.com with help finding out the value of your home today!
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Information courtesy of Suburban West REALTORS® Association
and the National Association of REALTORS®

home

Buying a home today is not as daunting as you may think. Today’s low interest rates and numerous affordable homes for sale in Chester County make buying an enticing option over renting. Renting brings you no equity, no tax benefits, no control over rent increases and no pride of ownership. BUYING a home does! Here are 7 reasons to own your own home…

1.Tax breaks. The U.S. Tax Code lets you deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage, your property taxes, as well as some of the costs involved in buying your home.

2.Appreciation. Real estate has long-term, stable growth in value. While year-to-year fluctuations are normal, median existing-home sale prices have increased on average 5 percent each year.

3.Equity. Money paid for rent is money that you’ll never see again, however mortgage payments let you build equity ownership interest in your home.

4.Savings. Building equity in your home is a ready-made savings plan. And when you sell, you can generally take up to $250,000 ($500,000 for a married couple) as a gain without owing any federal income tax.

5.Predictability. Unlike rent, your fixed-mortgage payments don’t rise over the years so your housing costs may actually decline as you own the home longer. However, keep in mind that property taxes and insurance costs will increase.

6.Freedom. The home is yours. Regardless of condition, you can have fun updating and decorating how you want and benefit from the investment for as long as you own the home.

7.Stability. Remaining in one neighborhood for several years gives you a chance to participate in community activities, lets you and your family establish lasting friendships, and offers your children the benefit of educational continuity.

Contact The Lundmark Group if You Are Ready to Make the Move to Home Ownership! info@TheLundmarkGroup.com

Here is an affordable home to consider as a first time buyer in Chester County….

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*news article courtesy of Suburban West Realtors

Apr
04

Coming Soon!

The Lundmark Group is excited to share a sneak peek of a listing we have coming soon in West Chester!  This former model home, boasts over 5,000 square feet of living space, 5 bedrooms, a finished basement, and all the upgrades you could ever want! You won’t want to miss this stunning home! Email: info@TheLundmarkGroup for more information about this home or our services.

K09A0642

 

K09A0311

 

 

K09A0404

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Click here to view more homes for sale in West Chester:

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Lundmark Kids at the Zoo with mom.

Lundmark Kids at the Zoo with mom.

 

This is meant to be a funny blog post…so please take it with a grain of salt. Finding the work life and family balance is something that we all struggle with and I am sure that any parent will get a good laugh out of this post! My three children have been home from school this week for spring break.  The Lundmark children are ages 8, 6, and 4.  Most people know that my husband, Jamie, plays hockey over seas in Austria.  Mr. Lundmark is often home with us in Chester County by the time the busy spring real estate market hits, but this year, his team is doing quite well. With each game they win, they are getting a little bit closer to winning Austria’s version of the Stanley Cup. Which means he has to stay in Austria until they either win the cup or lose it.  I thought it was difficult managing a business with three kids in school full time.  It’s a lot to keep up with homework, projects, after school activities along with the business. However, this week they had spring break and so all of my hours of daytime quiet while they are normally in school…that all disappeared this week.  I have a new appreciation for each and every teacher on this earth. I will give each of my kids’ teachers a big hug the next time I see them.

The top 5 things I learned working from home with three kids off of school for spring break!

 

  1. Your home will look like an actual bomb went off at all times throughout the day: No matter how much you clean up, something new will appear in it’s place or in a different corner of the home……all day long. Do not allow any clients, or anyone at all, to come anywhere near your personal home during this week off of school and probably even for a week or two AFTER the children’s spring break is over.

 

  1. When you are on a conference call for work: you WILL have to hit the mute button when an argument breaks out amongst the kids. Well, you will also have to hit the mute button when they realize that you are on the phone…..period.  As soon as they see you on the phone….there will be an urgent conversation that they MUST have with you at that exact moment. Special hint: hitting the mute button will not solve your problem!! You will need to make a run for it. Some key points here…if you run to another room, be sure to lock the door BEFORE turning off the mute button. Some even better advice; if the kids are old enough, run outside to your car and lock the door….be sure to catch your breath before un-muting the conference call and somehow make sure you are paying attention to the conference call all at the same time.  *Obviously this only pertains to normal situations that break out amongst siblings while a parent is on the phone.…if someone is actually hurt, work will have to wait*

 

 

  1. When the kids go outside to play: Jackpot! This will probably net you about 15 full minutes of quiet to get some serious work done. Those 15 minutes will actually turn into 5 minutes so be sure to plan on completing the absolute most important task at hand first…. and quickly. When it starts raining outside and one of them decides to come rollerblading through the kitchen…. in soaking wet clothes….. with two soaking wet muddy dogs following him……take a deep breath and try your best to remain calm.

 

  1. Grandparents/aunts/uncles/friends/neighbors need to be on speed dial for this week: grandparents are always on speed dial anyway if you have kids (let’s be serious here) but for this week….they are your absolute life line. Everyone you know is your life line this week. When you talk the grandparents into watching the kids for 2 hours so you can show a house or go on a listing appointment, make sure you turn that 2 hours into three hours! Even if it means you leave your appointment and drive in circles for an hour making calls to other clients ….do anything you can to take three full hours to yourself and let the grandparents handle it! They always know how to do a better job than the parents anyway! Special note: don’t ever let the grandparents know your little extra hour secret! 🙂

 

 

  1. Laugh with the kids and enjoy every second of it: this is easier said than done but they truly will only be little for a very short time. Enjoy them and enjoy the madness. Houses still got listed while they were home with me, houses still got sold while they were home with me, but selling a home while having a tea party with my daughter…..that only happens once in a life time.

Thank you for reading! Click here to check out homes for sale!