Chester County Real Estate

Fireworks Displays in Chester County, PA

Click on the links below for more detailed information about location and times to see the sky lit up by some fantastic pyrotechnic displays around the area.

3 JULY 2009
Parkesburg
Phoenixville
Downingtown at United Sports

4 JULY 2009
Downingtown in Kerr Park
Tredyffrin in Chesterbrook
Kennett Square at Longwood Gardens
Radnor at Radnor HS
Pottstown at Memorial Park
Nottingham Park
Exton at Miller Park

I had to come back and write some more Have a Happy 4th of July - and while you’re at it… be sure and stay safe! That means with all those tempting home firework tricks to drinking and parties - BE SAFE! Don’t forget your furry creatures too - fireworks can be scary and they can also be tempting to chase and harm. Ok. I’m better now

Elfreth’s Alley in Philadelphia is within reach and short trip away from Chester County. It offers some fun history lessons and brags the right to hold the “nation’s oldest residential street” tag line. As you can see, I am a big fan photographing different doorways; each providing it’s own character. You can take an up close and personal look at each house if you visit the Elfreth’s Alley Association Website.

Even today, most of the houses are being lived in and have provided homes to more than 3,000 people since 1702. Talk about a Home Owner’s Association, I have a feeling there are some pretty stringent rules you have to agree to in order to call yourself a resident here. Thanks to one of those residents, Dorothy Ottey, who organized a group to save some homes getting ready for destruction… Elfreth’s Alley Association was formed.

How and Where

You can take a variety of tours including self guided, cell phone, and group. There is also a museum located in houses 124 & 126 - and of course - what National Historic Landmark District would be complete without a gift shop.

Elfreth’s Alley, which for some reason I keep wanting to pronounce Elfrath’s Alley, is located on 2nd Street, between Race and Arch. You can visit the public street year round, but the most excitement with live characters and music happens between May and August.

Recent Real Estate Sales for Elfreth’s Alley

Just in case it isn’t just a Real Estate Agent that is interested in the recent sale history…
111 Elfreths Alley sold for $386,500 in June 2009.
115 Elfreths Alley sold for $542,500 in December 2008.
Big difference! One was an end unit, a little larger, with more upgrades. Data reported by TReND for informational purposes only.

The Chesterbrook Community in Tredyffrin Township within Chester County is a hot spot to call home! It’s close to many different arteries for transportation making it easy for commutes to Philadelphia, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pottstown, Great Valley, and more !

The frequent question people have is, “How is the market?” or “What is going on in the real estate market?” …. Here is a snapshot of the Chesterbrook Community.

Current Active “for sale” listings:
37 Homes with an average price of $294,000. The average days the property has been marketed for sale is 99.

Listings sold from June 01, 2008- June 01, 2009:
77 Homes with an average sold price of $292,000. The average days the property was marketed was 81.

And to compare from last year - during the time June 01, 2007- June 01, 2008:
There were 98 homes sold for an average price of $312,0000.

If you’d like to get more up-close and personal for an idea of what your home might be worth if you were to sell it - or what you should do to get your home ready to sell in the future - let’s have a discussion! It’s easy. It’s free.

The Chester County Parks & Recreation Department is kicking off the 15th Annual Town Tours & Village Walks on Thursday, June 11th in West Chester Borough.

The walks are FREE and last year brought 2,000 people out to experience the towns up close. Most walks begin at 6:00 PM and end around 8:30 PM. Some will even have entertainment and refreshments. Check out the calendar of events for the 2009 Walking Tours scheduled all around Chester County.

What a fun thing to do with the family, a group of friends, or even by yourself! Put on your comfortable walking shoes - and if you know me - I’d make sure my camera was close at hand.

West Chester Borough is featured this week. Call the West Chester Historical Society & Architectural Review Board for more information and your reservation spot at 610-692-4800.

East Brandywine Township Park

It’s not just a Local Expert that knows and experiences the outdoors in the area parks….

You can experience them with me!

All the townships in Chester County have their own flavor of community parks with walking trails, preservation areas, soccer fields (especially full on Saturdays!), tennis courts, playgrounds, basketball courts, etc. There are also beautiful state parks in Pennsylvania; and I can’t forget the one National Park in Chester County.

I enjoy experiencing the different flavor of the parks in the surrounding areas of the Delaware Valley and try to change the place for my walks.

My favorite parks in CHESTER COUNTY:

Downingtown Borough: Kerr Park occupies a lot of space in my childhood memory bank. The tennis courts are still there that I used to keep myself occupied while “Mom” played. Kerr Park is where many of the festivities for Good Neighbor Day take place. The All-Abilities Playground is also a big hit! For 2009, Kerr Park and the area has been the place to celebrate Downingtown’s 150th Birthday Celebration, too!

East Brandywine Township: Community Park. They just added more fields and the walking trails go on and on… This is where I walk most often, due to convenience to my house You can catch entire families exercising and playing ball together many evenings. The energy is phenomenal. We often chase the ball around play tennis here.

East Caln Township: Bell Tavern Park is the place to be on hot weather days! The playground is one of the best in the area (even with sprinklers during the heat) and picnic tables come in handy. There is a sand volleyball court, roller hockey rink, tennis courts, and walking trail as well.

Marsh Creek State Park

East Goshen Township: The East Goshen Township Park is located off of Paoli Pike and spans for 55 acres. They have tennis, volleyball, baseball, softball, soccer, putting green, totlot/playground, fitness trail.

I found myself during my walk removing my i-pod headphones to listen to the birds singing to me! They have a bird watching guide and preservation area around the fitness trail.

FrenchCreek State Park: French Creek is our local get-away spot. Camping is offered and you can feel like you are miles away! Home to two lakes and 40 miles of hiking trails. There is a Frisbee golf course, pavilions, and geocaching available.

Hibernia Park (County) Park: Over 900 acres of trails, woodlands, fishing, picnics, camping – PLUS a 90 acre lake for small fishing and boating. There is a historic mansion, Hibernia Mansion (Built around 1744) which is also located in the park and available for limited tours.

French Creek State Park

Marsh Creek Lake State Park: This park includes 1,705 acres which includes a 535-acre Lake. Windsurfing, Boating, Kayaking, Fishing, Swimming are all some of the highlights of the park.

(An interesting tidbit about Marsh Creek Lake State Park. My grandmother’s family home is somewhere in the bottom of the lake – taken over by eminent domain.)

Tredyffrin Township: Their parkland has over 345 acres dedicated for parks. Wilson Park (90 acres) is located in Chesterbrook and has an All Abilities Playground, putting green, volleyball, and all sorts of sports fields.

Wait! You can’t leave the Local Yokel Tour of Chester County Parks yet……

Chester County also boasts to be the home of The Valley Forge National Park, one of the most famous parks in the world.

Valley Forge Park not only memorializes the sacrifices and perseverance of the Revolutionary War generation during the encampment of 1777, but there are stories told, tours given, re-enactments lived, and collections displayed.

Valley Forge National Park

Valley Forge Park includes cell-phone guided tours, and also story telling benches (a storyteller begins telling a 5 minute story when one approaches the bench), trolley tours, after hour tours, Guided Walks, Gallery Talks, Vault Tours, and special events taking place year round. During your visit you most likely will spot at the least deer, and quite possibly other wildlife including fox.

Trail System – Hiking, Horseback Riding, Biking, you can do it all within the Valley Forge Park at different designated areas. 28 miles of authorized trails are located within the park boundaries. There are 19 miles of marked hiking trails designated just for hiking.

The beauty of Chester County abounds when you take a look at the parks. The rolling hills are home to parks that make you feel like you are in the deep forest (French Creek); relax by the water and sunbathe like you are on the beach (Marsh Creek); and get your fill of history lessons while going back in time (Valley Forge).

Chester County, Pennsylvania, a great place to call home, abounding in parks and outdoor recreation.

Written by Kim in 2008

After my 5K on my 40th 5/9/2009

This Real Estate Agent likes to run. Geesh, I never thought I’d say that ! The only time I planned on running was if I needed to get away, but I caught the bug mid-March 2009 when I plateaued a bit in my weight loss and a friend said to me, “Why don’t you try running?” I started adding a little bit of running during each of my walks - and soon was able to run without having to take a walk breather.

I haven’t stopped since… and I got that “running bug” my Mom has had for years - that I never quite understood. I understand now. I want more, more, more. I want to be faster, stronger, better.

Happy National Running Day, today, June 3rd ! Put on those shoes and take a walk around the block, go for a run, just get moving somehow - you might like it There are some wonderful places to enjoy the outdoors for a walk/run around Chester County in the Parks or on trails like Struble.

Shopping for a new home? What is your Price Range? Many people are approved for a higher dollar amount in a mortgage than what they are comfortable paying in a monthly house payment - and often stretch out of the comfort zone, because they’ve heard from a mortgage adviser that they can afford it.

Don’t try to keep up with The Joneses. Live within your means … it’s more fun!

I’m not afraid to have a heart-to-heart with home buyers. I’ve advised a few people who have come in to discuss buying a home that they should wait - save more money/pay off more debt - and come back and see me when you’re ready to take the next step in a home purchase.

A friend of mine sent me this Seth Green Crib Video… enjoy.

Devon, Chester County is home to The Devon Horse Show and it is the place to be from today, May 21st - May 30th. It all began in 1896, by the Devon Horse Show Association and is the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed horse competition in the United States.

Riders travel from all over the world come to show and compete at the internationally recognized, USEF-A rated event.

The Show is located at Lancaster Pike & Dorset Rd in Devon, PA. Tickets are available at the gate. It would be a good idea to check the schedule of events before arrival - it’s loaded full of fun!

Chester County, PA Fun for the Weekend ! The Borough of Downingtown is celebrating 150 years on Saturday with lots of fun events beginning with a Parade Through the Years !

Lots of fun entertainment, carriage rides, music, craft show, time capsule opening, buggy/carriage competition, and so much more! The celebration will take place centered around the heart of Downingtown, at Kerr Park and is a hop skip and a jump if you live in the Chester County area.

Visit Downingtown150 for more information and an agenda of the activities for the day.

Are you looking for a great tasting breakfast in a warm and inviting atmosphere? The Blue Cafe in Milltown Market is the place to be! I would even say it’s worth a drive into Downingtown even if you don’t live close -  just to experience the delicious menu items created by Paul and Patti Frank.  They are open for both Breakfast & Lunch - and will also do catered events in their location or yours.

I like good coffee. In nice mugs. Yeah, some call me a Princess-whatever- but I get happy when I have a comfortable mug full of strong, tasty coffee. Blue Cafe knows how to make some of the best coffee in Chester County!

The special items of the day rotate and combine amazing flavors to experience down right good food.  LittleOne5.5 thinks the Blueberry Pancakes are the best tasting in the area. I like the Breakfast Burrito or Egg’s Benedict w/Crabcakes when we visit for breakfast. At lunch I used to love the Crabcake Sandwich on a Croissant, but lately I opt for a nice green salad. The soups are wonderful as well!

When you have a chance, if you haven’t yet - be sure and drop by the Blue Cafe! Patti and Paul will probably be there - they like to be involved up close and personal with their customers and make sure satisfaction is reached or exceeded! They are open Tues-Sat 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Phone 610-873-1700 and you can find them at 150 E Pennsylvania Ave., Bldg 100, Downingtown, PA 19335.