Tom Lowy - View from the Main Line

Urban ? Maybe Suburban Light Trees

2012-02-15T13:31:00.000-05:00

Reading my Ecofriend e-mail I noticed where it spoke about Solar trees. The concept sounded like something which could work in some of the parlots of the local colleges and in the lots of local businesses to feed the street lights and illunination along the train lines too. The article did not go into the cost per tree.
Here is the link to the article

Feng Shui your House?

2012-01-18T11:36:00.000-05:00

For some the ancient art of Feng Shui is a living breathing practice affecting their daily lives; for others just superstition. This article by Carla Hill gives a good oversight of the idea. Here is the link to the article

Christmas Tree Collection in Radnor up till the 13th Jan 2012

2012-01-09T15:16:00.000-05:00

This is from the Radnor Web page

Christmas Tree Collection back

Date of Record: December 28, 2011

The Public Works Highway Department will be collecting Christmas Trees until January 13, 2012. Trees must be placed at your curb for pickup.

Trees must be free of ornaments and trimmings as well as tree stands prior to pickup by the Township.

Delaware Municipality moves away from the use of Fossil Fuels

2012-01-04T09:31:00.000-05:00

Another Municipality moves away from the use of fossil fuels in their Waste Water Treatment facility Here is the link to the Article

New Lithium Air batteries could extend the range, and lighten Electric vehicles

2011-12-28T12:11:00.001-05:00

I just read this article on a new type of battery being developed to lighten the electric vehicle and also extend the range of electric vehicles by using a different type of lithium battery - to read more click here

1617 Earlington Road offers $8000 to a buyer for closing costs

2011-12-20T21:21:00.001-05:00

The Estate of Doris Fischbein is offering $8000 to the successful buyer of 1617 Earlington Road. There needs to be a fully executed agreement before January 31, 2012. All the floors have been refinished or have new carpet. The house has been painted, the HVAC is newer and almost all the windows have been replaced. This will help the qualified buyer negotiate the mortgage for what a loan is costing for this home.

New Jersey Corporate HQ goes Solar

2011-12-20T20:58:00.000-05:00

Wine Company Goes Green with Solar Energy Click this link to read the story

Increase in Solar Power PV forcasted

2011-12-15T09:58:00.000-05:00

Is the Use of Solar Power Growing? This is excerpted from Solar Thermal Magazine

New IDC Energy Insights Forecast Shows Worldwide Solar Photovoltaic Module Shipments Rising from 22.7 GW in 2011 to 43.8 GW in 2015 Global solar photovoltaic (PV) module shipments are forecast to grow from an estimated 22.7 GW in 2011 to 43.8 GW in 2015 according to IDC Energy Insights’ Worldwide Quarterly Photovoltaic Module Tracker. At [...]

READ MORE

Housing an Issue for the 2012 Election

2011-12-14T10:03:00.000-05:00

HouseLogic, the consumer website for the National Association of Realtors has released the results from their latest survey. They found that when it comes to the upcoming 2012 election, jobs and housing are at the forefront of voters' minds.

Full Story: http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20111213_election.htm

Energy Saving and Green not always do you need to act right away

2011-11-28T13:28:00.000-05:00

Good article - Many of the ideas make good sense - eating further down the food chain, reusing when you can, allowing for less frequent upgrades to wardrobes(fight the fashion industry), upgrading durable goods when they need to be with more energy efficient models.

Excerpt from the article is here
Simple Energy Saving = Money Saving. Don’t think you have to invest expensive home improvements that promise to pay for themselves in energy savings. Always do the math yourself. You will find that many costly energy-saving measures — IE: replacing windows in your home with more-energy-efficient models — often don’t make economic sense unless you’re going to stay in your home for many, many years. In general, it’s smart to upgrade to energy-efficient appliances and other energy saving items only when the time comes to replace a worn-out older model. Most homeowners will save more money and more energy by undertaking simple, inexpensive, do-it-yourself projects first, such as installing low flow toilets conversion, filling gaps around the house that let heat/cooling escape, adding extra insulation in the attic, installing programmable thermostats, and turning down your hot water heater, weather striping and sealing doors and windows, etc… According to the Energy Department, the typical older home has enough easily repairable energy-sucking gaps around windows, doors, etc., to be the equivalent of leaving the front door open all year long! Think about that, and then head out to the garage and get your tool belt and your caulking gun!.

Reaonable fees for yoth sports could be indanger in Radnor

2011-11-25T23:41:00.000-05:00

The following is a letter from the president of the sports association to the public and the leaders of both the Radnor Township and the Radnor School Board

The Radnor Youth Sports Groups have been following the developments with respect to the renegotiation of a new grounds maintenance agreement between Radnor Township and Radnor Township School District. We believe that such an agreement is good for our community. However, we understand that the Request for Proposals solicited by the School District has produced some low cost bids which might be a significant cost advantage for the School District’s direct costs associated with grounds maintenance.

We also understand that the current Radnor Township budget reviews are in process and that all costs and revenues associated with a new grounds maintenance agreement have been removed. Also, the Township preliminary budget includes new permit fees for community groups of township residents which are substantial costs to those organizations, and presumably such permit fees do not include any potential School District fees. Consequently, as significant community users of public facilities, Township and School, the leaders of our group have been discussing alternatives to the current grounds maintenance agreement that is scheduled to terminate at the end of next month. There is great concern that the Township and School District are considering adding substantial costs to the community youth organizations despite the input from the leaders of the affected organizations. The use of public facilities should be open to the public without a fee, including non-profit community youth sports programs which are open to all residents and are heavily supported by community volunteers. Fees have never been levied against community youth programs, except for 2010 when the severe economic times led to adding such fees. We have stated that a modest permit fee would be reasonable, something like other townships in the area charge to community youth sports organizations in the range of $100 to $150 per field per season.

The Radnor Athletic Association would like to propose a REPLACEMENT of the current GROUNDS MAINTENANCE agreement with a new PUBLIC USE agreement that does not involve any grounds maintenance services from the Township. Our objective is to establish an agreement with the Township and the School District that preserves and protects public access and public uses of school property, as well as providing for usage of Township property for school events.

This new agreement is intended to benefit the community sports groups, the School District students, the neighbors of the various fields, parks and open space, the Township Recreation programs and all Radnor residents who enjoy recreational facilities and open space.

We recommend the following components in this proposal:

1. Township would provide facilities for school events, if appropriate Township facilities are available, when such facilities are needed for school events and are not otherwise booked for community events. This is nothing new and already exists.

2. Examples under #1 would include use of Township athletic fields when school needs cannot be met on school property, use of Township Building meeting rooms for School Board Meetings or similar public meetings or events, Township police for major events (e.g., July 4th fireworks traffic control).

3. School District would provide public access and public use of recreational facilities located on school property when not in use for school functions. This would be simply a continuation of existing access.

4. Examples under #3 would include tennis courts at Ithan ES, Radnor MS, Radnor HS; running track at Radnor HS; walking paths at Radnor MS, Radnor ES, Ithan ES; outdoor basketball courts at Radnor MS, Radnor HS, Wayne ES; non-scheduled use of athletic fields etc.

5. School District would provide use of school athletic facilities and indoor facilities, including gymnasiums, when such facilities are not needed for school events, for qualified non-profit community groups/programs and township sponsored recreation programs. This is essentially the same as what has been in place for many years.

6. There would be no costs or charges for usage between the Township and the School District, except for certain agreed upon costs that are recovered from user groups. This would be a new arrangement and the details would need to be worked out.

7. Examples under #6 would include the electricity costs for the usage of lights on athletic fields or similar actual added costs that are not normally incurred by the school district for regular school operations, maintenance and repairs.

8. Hours of public use, process for reserving facilities, insurance where needed, etc. would be similar to the current process.

9. Public use and non-profit community users that serve all Radnor residents would have priority over any private or for profit organizations that want to use or rent Township or School District recreational facilities.

9. Scheduling, notices to user groups, costs, fees and other details would be an operational process performed annually or by season. This would be coordinated by one or more administrative people at the School District, Township and representatives of the Radnor Athletic Association, and its member Community Sports Groups, in a similar manner as is coordinated currently. We expect that improvements to coordination could be included as needed to meet the needs and requirements of the user groups, the School District, the Township and the public. We envision a set of written procedures that can be used as guidelines and can be revised as needed, based on experience.

We anticipate that this agreement would not have a significant cost impact on the School district or the Township. It should be structured as a working agreement and allow for input from user groups, particularly the community sports groups. This idea is offered as a beneficial agreement for the community and the public served by Radnor Township and Radnor School District.

We understand that there could be some issues that might need to be aired and addressed for this proposal to be accepted. We would have representatives from the Radnor Athletic Association, and its member Community Sports Groups, meet with officials or administrators to discuss this proposal.

We look forward to the Township’s and School District’s response to this proposal and any suggestions about how to move forward expeditiously.

Bob Miccolis, President

Radnor Athletic Association

FHA Loan limits restored!!!

2011-11-18T13:13:00.000-05:00

This news comes from a press release by the National Association of Realtors
Last night Congress restored the loan limits for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) for two years.

As you know, in late September the FHA, Fannie Mae; and Freddie Mac loan limits were reduced in 42 states pricing potential home buyers out of the American Dream of home ownership and holding back the housing recovery.

NAR immediately went to work with the goal to get the loan limits restored in Congress. For weeks that goal seemed unlikely.

The reinstated FHA loan limit formula and cap change will help make mortgages more affordable and accessible for hard-working, middle-class families in 669 counties in 42 states and territories, where the average loan limit reduction after the reset last month was more than $68,000. The provision reinstates the FHA loan limits through 2013 at 125 percent of local area median home prices, up to a maximum of $729,750 in the highest cost markets, the floor will remain at $271,050. However, Congress chose not to apply the loan limits restoration to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie-and-Freddie-backed mortgages will remain at 115 percent of local area median home prices up to $625,500

New Market watch Feature Sales in your town by Month October now Available

2011-11-02T21:40:00.002-04:00

Main line home sales now available to see. Let me know if you are interested in receiving one for your town call 610-909-3432 of send me an e-mail using tom@tomlowy.com

Here is what they look like ran this one for Wayne Pa 19087 This is available for multiple states as well I am told.

Positive news on the Housing Front

2011-10-05T22:17:00.000-04:00

Even though real estate is local and the local real estate market here in South East PA has not had the difficulties experienced by other parts of the country this article from the CRS update news passes along some positive news about housing statistics.......Home Prices Continue to Rebound

U.S. home prices edged higher for the fourth consecutive month, according to the latest S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index. Both the 10-City and 20-City Composites rose 0.9 percent in July over June, and 17 of the 20 markets surveyed also posted monthly increases. Only Phoenix and Las Vegas posted home price declines for the month, while Denver remained unchanged.

On an annual basis, the 10-City and 20-Cty Composites recorded home price declines of 3.7 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively in July 2011 over the same month a year earlier. Eighteen of the markets surveyed also posted declines, with Minneapolis experiencing the biggest annual decline of 9.1 percent. Only Detroit and Washington, D.C., posted home price increases of 1.2 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively. Tue, Sep 27, 2011

Leaf collection in Radnor begins in November

2011-09-30T16:24:00.001-04:00

One of the really nice things about living in Radnor township is fall leaf collection. Unlike our neighbors in Tredyffrin, Easttown, LM or Newtown, we in Radnor township are lucky enough not to have to bag our leaves and/or pay private trash contractors to come and pick them up. Curbside leaf collection is another wonderful benefit of being a Radnor resident. Here is a link to the page on the Radnor Township website for you to look up A-what district your street is in and B When is your district's scheduled pick-up

More Environmental Jobs coming to PA

2011-08-23T08:03:00.000-04:00

According to Solar Thermal Magazine today there was an award of a 5 million dollar Pennsylvania grant for Becon Power corporation to build an energy storagfe facility in Hazle Township PA

Another Loyal Client

2011-08-19T18:15:00.001-04:00

Testimonial for Tom Lowy 8-19-2011

Tom Lowy is the type of realtor who handles his clients with a high degree of professionalism and at the same time incorporates a personal touch to give you that “peace of mind”. Thank you Tom, for taking care of my real estate needs when I needed a true professional who understands the market. Please know that you will be recommended as the “PREFERRED” realtor to all of my family and friends looking to purchase or rent a home.

Edith Walters.

Housing foreclosure rates decline

2011-08-18T16:15:00.000-04:00

This article is excerpted from the CRS Weekely on-line news letter:
Foreclosure Activity Continues to Decline

Foreclosure filings, including default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions, were reported on 212,764 U.S. properties in July, a 4 percent decline from June and 35 percent from a year ago, according to the latest data from RealtyTrac, an online marketer of foreclosures. One in every 611 U.S. homes had a foreclosure filing during July, marking the 10th straight month of annual decreases in foreclosure activity and the lowest monthly total since November 2007.

“This string of decreases was initially triggered by the robo-signing controversy back in October 2010, which forced lenders to substantially slow the pace of foreclosing, but the downward trend in foreclosure activity has now taken on a life of its own,” says James J. Saccacio, RealtyTrac’s CEO. “It appears that the foreclosure processing delays, combined with the smorgasbord of national and state-level foreclosure preventions efforts — including loan modifications, lender-borrower mediations and mortgage payment assistance for the unemployed — may be allowing more distressed homeowners to stave off foreclosure,” he says.

Default notices fell 7 percent during the month from June and decreased 39 percent from July 2010. Foreclosure auctions fell 5 percent from June and declined 37 percent from a year ago. While bank-owned properties slipped 1 percent from the previous month, they were 27 percent below July 2010.
For the 55th straight month, Nevada posted the nation’s highest foreclosure rate, with one in every 115 homes receiving a foreclosure filing during the month. California had the nation’s second highest foreclosure rate, with one in every 239 homes receiving a foreclosure filing, followed by Arizona, with one in every 273 housing units receiving a foreclosure filing. Thu, Aug 11, 2011

5 Indoor plants which help air Quality in your Office

2011-08-16T13:06:00.000-04:00

This is excerpted from the Ecofriend Web site:

Indoor plants are generally grown for decorative purposes and for refining the air too. According to a research carried out by NASA, some plants serve as better air purifiers than others. Here is a list of some commonly grown indoor plants which serve as natural air purifiers:

1. English Ivy

Botanical Name- Hedera helix

English Ivy is an evergreen plant and has a long life span. It is a trailer and can be grown on the sides of wall and fences. The plant needs indirect sunlight and average to cold temperature for its growth. It prefers cool soil, sufficient moisture and good drainage. Use balanced fertilizers for the soil and guard the plant against mites. The plant proves to be dangerous and can cause skin irritation. So, it is advisable to wear gloves while handling the plant. Also, make sure that the plant is kept away from pets. The plant can be propagated by stem cutting.

English Ivy removes some common pollutants, like benzene, toluene and formaldehyde.

2. Spider Plant

Botanical Name- Chlorophytum chlorosum

It is a preferred and suitable house plant. The plant produces long stems as it grows. The leaves along with the flowers give the impression of spiders hanging from the strings. The plant is easy to grow and can tolerate extreme conditions of temperature and moisture. But, sufficient bright light is the prime requirement for the plant. The plantlets can be easily propagated and look beautiful when grown in hanging baskets along with other plants. Do not expose the plant to cold draft.

Pollutants removed by Spider plant - Formaldehyde

3. Peace Lily

Botanical Name- Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’

This is a popular house plant and can grow in little sunlight. Watering can be done just once in a week. Over-watering can cause browning of leaf tips. Peace Lily can be easily propagated and it blooms in early summer. The plant should be fed monthly with liquid fertilizers in summers and spring season. One plant should be grown in an area of 10 meters square and fertilization should be done only in summer and spring season.

Pollutants removed by the plant - Benzene, formaldehyde and others.

4. Chinese Evergreen

Botanical Name- Aglaonema sp.

This is an ornamental and a long-lasting plant. The plant is easy to grow and requires indirect sunlight and high humidity. Keep the plant in warm condition and in heavy and moist soil. The plant should be guarded against low temperatures as it cannot tolerate cold. If the leaves start turning yellow, it might mean that too much sunlight is falling on it. Immediately remove the yellow leaves and transfer the plant to low light area. Aglaonema can be easily propagated. Make sure that you clean off the leaves regularly.

It is a useful plant and removes benzene, toluene and ammonia from the air.

5. Reed Palm

Botanical Name- Chamaedorea sefritzii

Another name of this plant is Bamboo Palm. It is a long-lasting, small or medium sized plant and can grow to a height of six meters. The plant can flourish best in medium light and high humidity. The palm should be planted in a pot which has a hole so that the soil is uniformly moist and continuous drainage takes place. Rain water is best for watering this plant. Palms are easily infected by mites and bugs indoor. The plant should be fertilized regularly during its growing season.
Reed plant purifies the indoor air against trichloroethane, benzene and toluene.

Latest newsletter from Ecofriend is out.

2011-08-16T12:48:00.000-04:00

Here is a link to the current Ecofriend website where you can sign up to receive their weekly newsletter.

10 eco friendly gadgets that produce water from air

2011-08-11T16:21:00.000-04:00

This was reposed fro the Blog Ecofriend

10 eco friendly gadgets that produce water from air

Posted: 09 Aug 2011 10:52 PM PDT

Balakrishnan Ramachandran:

atmospheric condensationwater vapor in air condenses when it cools below dew point

Water availability has already become a major concern area for humankind. Some UN studies already estimate that some 1 billion people worldwide do not have access to adequate drinking water. Water borne diseases already account for over 50% of preventable human ailments in the poorer regions of the world.Even in the more advanced regions of the world, municipal water supply is no longer considered safe enough to drink. This has spawned a $ 50 billion packaged drinking water industry.

The atmospheric air always has water vapor present in it. This is part of the Hydrologic cycle, where water evaporates from the seas and other water bodies, the vapor is carried by air into the upper atmosphere where it forms clouds which then condense into water as rain or snow. The total water vapor in the atmosphere is so large that it can meet all of human water needs.

Scientists and engineers are attempting to find means to extract water from the air without waiting for the natural rain cycle. The two basic processes to extract water from air are cooling condensation and wet desiccation. Cooling condensation is the familiar sight we see of water droplets forming on the outside of a bottle or glass of any cold liquid. The air in the atmosphere is cooled below its dew point by contact with the bottle or glass,causing the water vapor in the air to condense. Desiccant cooling is illustrated by the fact of common salt in a salt shaker becoming damp by absorbing water vapor from the air.Many commercial air-to-water devices have now become available. Some alternative approaches are also being attempted. An air-to-water industry appears to be developing

Condensation cooling

1. Using natural stone structures for condensation

Examples of condensation cooling exist even from early human civilization. In some parts of Europe and the Middle East, there are 10 meter tall beehive-like stone structures dating from the 19th century, called air walls. The stones cool rapidly in the night. When moist air comes in contact with these stones, the condensation yields water that is collected in troughs inside the structure and used for drinking and washing.In France, these structures were also used in some vineyards.

2. Using water nets for condensation

This is the modern adaptation of the ancient stone walls for water harvesting. At a village named Cabajane in sub-Saharan Africa, a team from the South African Agricultural University helped the villagers string up plastic nets across a mountain pass. The clouds and fog through the pass, condensed water on the nets, which ran down through plastic pipes to be collected in a tank. Several hundred liters of potable water became available to the village from this simple device , where they earlier had to walk over 2 km to the nearest stream. This experiment is now being replicated in other villages in sub-Saharan Africa and also in Chile and in some places in Nepal.

3. Foldable structure for water harvesting

Two Israeli architects, Joseph Cory and Eyak Malka have designed this foldable triangular structure, named WatAir, that is said to imitate the leaves of a tree to condense atmospheric water vapor and collect it into a tank. The structure folds into a a package of 1 meter maximum dimension and 3.5 kg weight, that the designers claim can be erected anywhere, to harvest atmospheric water.

4. Max Whisson’s Gust Water Trap

Dr Max Whisson of Perth, Australia has come up with a wind turbine design that produces water by condensation, instead of electricity. The wind turbine has vertical blades and is mounted on a swivel with a wind vane tail, so that it can turn to face the direction of the wind. When the turbine turns, the wind gets forced into the hollow tower. The air passes over a refrigerant compressor driven by the wind turbine and condenses into water, that flows into tanks at the base of the tower. A company named Water UN Limited has been formed to commercially apply this technology.

5. Windmill to make water from air

The company Dutch Rainmakers of Netherlands has installed a windmill Surinam to produce water instead of electricity. In their design, the air is forced through a heat pump, where the water vapor condenses. This heat pump replaces the refrigerant compressor. The wind mill is said to produce 5000-7000 liters a day, a real boon in a place where the groundwater is brackish.

6. Refrigerant based condensation

The modern condensation cooling devices, generally use a refrigeration coil to provide the cooling. Many manufacturers worldwide have come up with condensation cooling machines that work on the following principle.Inlet air is filtered to remove dust and suspended particles using fabric filters. This air is passed over coils containing cold refrigerant gases. The condensate water is collected in a stainless steel tank and exposed to ultraviolet light for about 30 minutes to remove bacteria and then filtered through an active carbon filter. The typical cost for a model that produces 20-25 liters a day is about $ 1500 and these machines consume about 500 watts of electricity. These condensation machines are styled like the conventional water coolers installed in offices and public places, and are intended to be used in such locations.

One of the largest companies in this field appears to be Air Water Corporation of Miami Beach, Florida which makes a range of machines from the 25 liter per day single office type capacity to larger 2500 liter per day trailer mounted machines complete with their own diesel power generator that can be installed at a construction site or even in a village as they have done in Jalmudi in India. Air Water Corporation says that its products are sold in 21 countries through local affiliates.

Another company that has targeted the home user with this technology is Element Four Technologies Inc.,of British Columbia, Canada which has launched an attractively packaged product they have named the WaterMill. The home model is dsigned to produce 11 liters of water per day enough to meet the drinking needs of a small family. The air intake and condensation is planned to be mounted outside the home and the potable water tank inside the home ( like a split air-conditioning unit). An upgraded model for 20 liters per day in planned. However, there are many companies with product variants for this market.

7. DRIPS for growing crops with water from air

Two high school students from San Francisco, with mentoring by professors from the University of California, Berkeley, have proposed this system for water harvesting from air. DRIPS stands for Deep Root Irrigation Precipitation System and is made of a 1 foot diameter, or larger, plastic or aluminum conical surface mounted on a hollow tube that is buried 1.5 feet into the ground. The plastic or aluminum surface cools in the night and in contact with air, causes water droplets to condense. This water, by capillary action aided by small ribs on the cone, drains into the ground. The depth of 1.5 feet prevents this water from evaporating back into the atmosphere and helps nourish the roots of plants. This method of water harvesting has been demonstrated to grow potatoes.

8. Fraunhofer Institute’s brine tower

The Fraunhofer Institute of Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (ICB) in collaboration with the company Logos Innovationen is working on this concept of a tall tower like structure down which hygroscopic brine solution runs down. This brine in contact with air absorbs moisture and runs into a tank at the base of the tower which has a slight vacuum. The tank is heated with solar collectors that causes the brine solution to boil. The vacuum in the tank lowers the boiling point of the brine solution.The water absorbed from the air evaporates and is led out through a tube filled with water. This water column maintains the vacuum in the tank without the need for a vacuum pump. The brine is recovered and pumped up again to flow down the tower.

9.Liquid desiccant for water harvesting from process air

Sciperio Inc., an Orlando, Florida based technology is working on using liquid Lithium Chloride as the desiccant to remove water from air. Their finding is that this is more energy efficient than using refrigerant based water harvesting technology and have proposed using this for water extraction from air in process plants for industrial use, rather than for drinking.

10. Use of solar energy for regenerating the desiccant

One variant of the use of wet desiccation by the company A2WH of Atlanta, Georgia which uses a proprietary desiccant for water vapor absorption. This desiccant is heated by solar energy to expel the absorbed water. The unit, installed outdoors, also has photo voltaic panels to generate the electricity needed for operating the units pumps and valves. A2WH says it has models both for the individual home and for irrigation of farms.

Energy production from the sun

2011-08-02T15:15:00.000-04:00

IT feels so good to know our family is harvesting power from the sun each day it is sunny. In a few short days our power generation will have been more than 1000 kWh generated just from our system For July our production was :

Green Bicycles and not just using them

2011-07-28T10:28:00.001-04:00

10 Green bikes that have non-metallic frames

Greener transportation is at the forefront for many eco-enthusiasts. Walk, bike, take public transport, carpool, anything you can do to help reduce carbon emissions and decrease our reliance on fossil fuels is a positive step toward a more sustainable future. Biking is great because promotes both physical health and the health of the environment. If you’re a cycling fan, check out this article for 10 unique eco-friendly bikes. Just follow the link from the green page it is the second

This link was obtained from the Go Green Expo LinkedIn newsletter

Local Post office may be closing

2011-07-27T11:57:00.000-04:00

Here in Radnor the St Davids Post office is on the list of "endangered offices" To read the full article from the Radnor Patch click here. To see the full list of offices on the "endangered list" click here

Newer Owners Tend to Price Their Homes Higher When Selling

2011-07-26T00:00:00.000-04:00

In a study reported by Zillow as relayed by the CRS magazine "Member Connect" a weekly CRS update page,Current home sellers who purchased their homes after the housing boom overprice their homes at a higher rate than those who purchased before or during the boom, according to a recent Zillow survey. Home sellers who purchased their home in 2007 or later overprice their homes by an average of 14.1 percent while those who purchased a home before 2002 price their homes approximately 11.6 percent over market value. Those who bought between 2002 and 2006 price their homes 9.3 percent above market value.

Here is a link to the rest of the short article.

Staging your home is it important?

2011-07-21T00:09:00.002-04:00

Staging your home is it important? Barb Schwarz says ...“The investment of Staging your home is less than your first price reduction”

Ran across this article on Coaching your daughter through the friendship swamp

2011-07-18T15:07:00.000-04:00

I was reading article on a real estate web site. Once in a while there is an article on life and family. Since I have a daughter I found this one interesting. Article like this apply when you are moving and ghange schools too.

Moving during these Summer Months?

2011-07-14T10:04:00.000-04:00

This is excerpted from a coulmn by Amy Velte -Summer Series...

Moving Topic #2: Preparing for Delays Should They Occur

By Amy Velte

It’s a fact: delays happen. During the busy summer months when the moving companies are experiencing very high volumes, and occasionally during non-peak moving times, moves can be delayed for weather related reasons, shortage of trucks, mechanical failure or other unforeseen circumstances. Being prepared for this outside possibility will help you in this event. Here are a few pointers:

• Take things that you cannot afford to be without.

• Bring essentials to make you feel comfortable while you wait for your belongings

• If you are starting a new job, take business clothes with you

• If you are shipping your computer, bring your important files with you

• If you are self employed, take any important work related documents that you may need

• Be sure to have all important personal documents such as passport with you at all times

• If you have children who will be attending school shortly after your arrival, take the things they will need to start school.

• If you have pets, bring dog beds, toys, leashes, litter box etc.

• Bring extra medication with you if needed

• If you have a baby, be sure to pack extra formula, diapers etc.

• Items to keep you occupied: a good book, magazines, radio

Think of it like camping while you are waiting for your delivery. This could be a fun and exciting way to introduce the kids to their new home. Set up a blowup mattress in the living room and have a slumber party. Pack a cooler full of easy to make food and if you are a coffee drinker, bring or purchase a french press.

Through CRS if there is a delay and your shipment is over 3,500lbs., the movers are required to reimburse you for a percentage of hotel and meal expenses. Be sure to save hotel and meal receipts during this time. You should receive a delay claim form from the mover upon your request. This is handled separately from a damage claim and must be handled promptly: the claim must be filed within 30 days of delivery. A delay claim does not pertain to shipments that are delivering to a public/self storage unit or into mover storage or from a mover or public storage facility.

It is not likely that a delayed shipment will occur, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. Being prepared for the unlikely will provide piece of mind during your move and make it less stressful than it needs to be.

10 Measuring Tips for Decorating from Lisa Fury

2011-07-13T22:20:00.000-04:00

Answers to Some of Your Most Often Asked Questions

• A 36 inch wide rectangular table is perfect for conversation. A round table with a diameter of 48 inches seats six; a 60 inch round will handle eight standard dining chairs or 10 ballroom chairs.

• To determine the correct size of an overhead light, add the length and width of the room in feet. Whatever the total is, in inches, is your guide for a fixture's diameter. For instance, a 15 by 15 foot room would need a 30 inch chandelier.

• One gallon of paint will cover about 400 square feet of wall.

• Mount curtains as high as possible to give a room more height, and let them break 1 1/2 inches on the floor.

• Kitchen islands should be about 36 inches high - a little taller than countertops - to be comfortable for prep.

• Curtains should be 2 1/2 to 3 times the width of a window. If you are doing two panels, each should be 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 times the window width. Buy a rod that is 20 inches wider than the window to make your window seem larger than it actually is.

• The bottom of a dining room chandelier should hang 36 inches above the table.

• Install light switches 36 inches above the floor and 1 1/2 to 2 inches to the side of the door trim.

• A standard 84 inch sofa with exposed legs and a tight back will require 14 yards of plain 54 inch wide fabric. Add two additional yards if you want to skirt it.

• The distance from the bed to the wall should be at least 24 inches.

• To allow any door to open easily, there should be 36 inches between the bed and the door.

Lisa Furey -
barefoot interior design
610-389-5231

PA Bans Private Transfer Fees

2011-07-08T15:33:00.000-04:00

Private Transfer Fees

Pennsylvania became the 36th state to ban private transfer fees. On June 24, Governor Tom Corbett signed HB 442 into law, becoming Act 8 of 2011. Private transfer fees are part of a covenant attached to a property deed that forces the seller to pay 1 percent of the purchase price to a private third-party entity every time the property sells over the next 99 years. These fees would have cost unsuspecting homeowners thousands of dollars in additional closing costs.

Something to do with Blueberries this weekend

2011-07-06T16:16:00.000-04:00

As a subscriber to the Radnor Patch I came across this information for the Linvilla Orchards Blueberry Festival. Reads like it could be a lot of fun especially if you like blueberries.

Where: Linvilla Orchards, 137 W Knowlton Rd, Media, PA 19063 Date: July 9, 2011 Time: 9:00am Come hungry and join the pie-eating contest featuring Linvilla pies or just watch the contestants.

Events will include appearances by costumed characters, pony rides and face painting.

Don’t forget to leave plenty of time for picking blueberries from the orchard. With 10 varieties to choose from, you should have plenty to make cobblers, pies and jellies.

Rain date July 10.

Features: Families, Free, Kids, Open to All, Outdoor, Seniors, Teens Website: http://www.linvilla.com/events/blueberry_festival.php
Phone: 610-876-7116
Email: info@linvilla.com Price: Free

TYwo local establishments make the top pics locally

2011-06-30T14:09:00.000-04:00

Two Restaurants as reported by the Radnor Patch have made a local top 50 list Check out the slide show Georges for Gruyere and marinated tomatoes
Vic and Dean's fopr Prosciutto,Roasted Peppers and eggplant

New Green Jobs Training available

2011-06-30T00:39:00.000-04:00

Just read an article whic is about Green Jobs training coming to the Philadelphia area.

Home Ownership still has a KEY place in the American DREAM

2011-06-15T08:58:00.000-04:00

Home ownership according to a recent survey still plays an important part in the American Dream. Here is the link to the articel found in RIS Media.

658 Mailin Road just on the Market for the first time in 10 years- Newtown Square post office Radnor Township School District

Radnor Girls Crew Coach sums up the season

2011-06-04T15:22:00.000-04:00

Another year for the record books! Every one of our boats had a phenomenal season, leaving a mark on history for RGCC. To have both our freshmen boats in the final at Cities is unheard of and a huge accomplishment. Then, to have two boats win Cities (2V8 and F8) and the other place second was an indication that this small team is truly comprised of a very special and talented group of kids. The win for the V8 at Stotesbury was icing on the cake, but, as a team, having the 2V8 in the final (I believe for the first time) and the F8 placing 2nd solidified the strength of our team.

This team of 40 girls has managed to produce results that are usually only seen of a team with much more depth, and for that I am in awe of these young women. They are a very special group, and losing 10 of them to college will be upsetting, but, nonetheless, I think it’s safe to say these 40 girls have left a mark on Radnor Girls Crew Club unlike any other team before.

Seniors, I want to thank you for the last four years. Personally, you have helped me grow as a coach exponentially. You never let any of my slips turn into falls. Through the good and the bad you trusted me, and for that I am eternally thankful. You have done for this club maybe more than you will ever know, setting the standard for all the future classes at the top of the spectrum, and for that you should be very proud. I am so excited to see what the future holds for all of you. I send all the best wishes in the world with you as you move on in life.

Megan

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” — Dr. Seuss

Pennsylvania "bvalanced" as far as moves in and out by consumers

2011-06-04T07:22:00.000-04:00

The Commonwealth saw 2,192 inbound moves and 2,494 outbound moves in 2010 according to an Atlas Van Lines Migration Patterns study.

Repeal of the Sprinkler Mandate awaiting the Governor's signature

2011-04-14T16:49:00.004-04:00

House Bill 377 is awaiting Governor's signature

Governor Tom Corbett is expected to sign House Bill 377 (Everett, Lycoming) into law. This bill repeals the sprinkler mandate in one- and two-family homes. Consumers will now have a choice of whether to install sprinkler systems in new residential constructed homes.

Realtors® sent more than 5,000 emails to the legislature this month. The message was clear: sprinklers should be a consumer choice, not a government mandate. PAR's position on the mandate was supported by extensive polling among registered voters in Pennsylvania. More than 67 percent of respondents said that they prefer a smoke detector system over a mandatory $5,000 sprinkler system if they were to build a new home.

Please take the time to thank your legislators that voted in favor of removing the sprinkler mandate in Pennsylvania.

President's Energy Budget Invests in Innovation

2011-04-06T14:52:00.000-04:00

With all of the commotion about the budget, the government stoppage, and the nuclear mess in Japan, I was catching up on some back reading and came across this article on energy and the budget.

Staged Homes sell faster

2011-02-18T15:23:00.002-05:00

As excerpted from the StagedHomes.com BLOG this is to other stagers......

A Letter to You from 2011-2012 IAHSP President Jeanne Westmoreland, ASP®, ASPM®, IAHSP®Staging a Home to Sell Faster and for More Money

Home sellers and REALTORS® have two priorities: sell the property fast and for as much money as possible. Market-sensitive pricing and a well-executed marketing plan to get the most attention in the marketplace are of course crucial. Equally important is to make sure a property makes a first great impression. These days, with more than 80% going online to begin their home search, it’s imperative that the first impression not only is made when visiting a home but as important through pictures in web listing.

Statistics gathered by Stagedhomes.com shows that 94.6% of homes Staged by an Accredited Staging Professional® sell within 33 days, compared to an average of 196 days for homes that are not Staged. Homes Staged by Accredited Staging Professionals® stay on the market 83% less time than a home that has not been staged.

Mixed signals for the Main Line Real Estate Market

2011-02-17T11:01:00.000-05:00

This is quoted from an article distributed by the Suburban West Relator Association---

Looking back at 2010, the local real estate market showed both good and bad. The following is a snap shot of this past year's local sales and home values (available from TREND) compared both to 2009 local figures and to national statistics reported by the National Association of REALTORS.

• In 2010, sales lagged in each of the three counties from 2009 figures. Chester County sales were off 5.7%, Delaware County was off 11.6% and Montgomery County was off 7.6%. Nationally, home sales in 2010 were down 9.5% from 2009.

• In 2010, home values grew or held relatively steady in the three counties compared to 2009. Chester County values rose 7.3%, Montgomery County values also increased by 4%. Only Delaware County saw a dip in values, 2%. Nationally, the median price remained the same.

Additionally, TREND has released its 4th Quarter Economic and Market Watch Report which goes into more detail about how the county markets are faring. Also in this current report, NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun assesses the factors that will bear watching in 2011 for the market to continue to recover. From employment to consumer confidence to demand, Yun addresses the major factors that will have the biggest impact on 2011 sales. Currently, Yun is projecting an 8% increase in sales nationally. But, he cautions that these numbers will be updated monthly depending on how the economy plays out.

Indoor stair climb to benefit Lung Cancer research

2011-02-15T16:41:00.000-05:00

So you think you can scamper up the stairs quickly. Here is the indoor challange for you

You get to see how fast you can climb the 50 flights of stairs up the Logan Square building. See you at the top.

Just Sold - 2422 Poplar Road

2011-02-08T15:39:00.000-05:00

This house was a gem. The owner of the last 48 years had just upgraded and cleaned the entire home. All my client had to do was move in his possessions. As a thank you for him I created some just moved cards using Shutterfly. It was very straightforward.

Kudos and snaps to the Wayne Public Works Department!!!!!

2011-02-03T11:01:00.000-05:00

It was observed by local residents

I talked to 2 friends today, one with kids in T/E schools and one with kids in Lower Merion. Both school districts were closed today, yet Radnor's schools were open. Both friends remarked how Radnor streets are always cleared quickest and best. I just ran by Bravo to grab dinner for the family and downtown Wayne was bustling with folks waiting to dine at our local eateries - all parking spaces were cleared and available. It made me think that while there is certainly lots that can be done better in our township, I'm really grateful for our diligent Public Works Department and I hope we are able to maintain this level of service and keep our township moving.

New NAR field guide stresses the bemnefits of Home Ownership

2011-01-21T10:22:00.000-05:00

There is a new field guide available on-line through NAR wich details the benefits to communities and families of Home Ownership. Here is the link.

Tom Lowy joins Prudential Fox & Roach REALTORS®

2011-01-19T11:32:00.000-05:00

It is a pleasure to announce my association with the Prudential Fox & Roach REALTORS®

Wayne Home Marketing Center

New contact information

216 E. Lancaster Pike

Wayne Pa 19087

Bus- 610-688-4310

Fax -610-688-1907

Cel - 610-909-3432

e:mail tom@tomlowy.com

http://www.tomlowy.com/

Marty Klein Endorses Tom Lowy as a quality Real Estate Agent.

2011-01-19T11:17:00.003-05:00

I was visiting my previous clients the other week and just happen to my video camera with me. I was speaking with Marty Klein, a past client, and he agreed to speak about his real estate experience using me as his agent. I thought I would share it with you here. This is the link. What do you think?

Money Saving Tips in these times

2011-01-15T13:19:00.000-05:00

I was reading through my e-mail and found this article which I thought would be good advice for those readers thinking of saving up for a home or as the article says "stop living pay check to pay check". Here is the Link What creative ways are you using to save money?

Snow is on the Way

2011-01-11T10:22:00.000-05:00

An Alert from the Radnor Authorities was just sent out over the Events network.

Here is the link to the announcement

Money flowing to Rail to Trail Project in our area

2011-01-07T07:05:00.000-05:00

PennDOT Announces $24.7 Million for Smart Transportation Projects in 41 Communities

1/6/2011-

City of Philadelphia will receive $1,300,000 to facilitate the reuse the Manayunk Railroad Bridge to connect the Schuylkill River and Cynwyd Trails.

Also:

Montgomery County

City Avenue Special Services District will receive $301,145 to improve walkability and safety on Bala Avenue between the Bala and Cynwyd rail-served transit stations in Lower Merion Township.

Wayne Acme to Close after 40 years

2011-01-06T16:08:00.000-05:00

As heard today on KYW and other places, the Wayne Acme on Lancaster Ave is scheduled to now be closing. Some people are sad, some people are happy about it. Either way it is coming. Here is a link to the Radnor Historical Society Web site where you can read about the history of the ACME Company in Wayne Here is the Link

The two versions of the replacement establishments I have heard are:
Panera Bread and 5 Guys or
5 Below and 5 Guys

A-Pop

2010-12-24T14:48:00.000-05:00

Just watched this video sent to me by another Real Estate Agent. Her daughter (17) created this and it took her 6 months of work. It is worth the 3 minutes it takes to watch it. Happy Holidays.

Do you need a witness?

2010-12-22T17:04:00.000-05:00

Good synopsis of the issues whcih could affect your next real estate transaction and why having a witness is not needed, but highly recommended. For those times when somnething does happen.

Do you need a witness?

Get someone on your side you trust and can work with to find a home

2010-12-16T20:09:00.000-05:00

I just received a great Holiday present from one of my past clients. Marty Klein was so pleased with the work I did for him helping to find, negotiate and settle his first house, he hired me again to find him another when circumstances made that necessary. Here is the video he provided for me expressing his opinion about the quality of my work as a real estate buyers agent. Click this link

Inexpensive financing available from PHFA

2010-12-03T15:48:00.000-05:00

It has come to my attention that for some home buyers the PHFA might be a good source for funding the purchase of your home. To see the guidelines and look into it Click here to link to the PHFA website

Study finds - Houses in Radnor worth more because of the Radnor Trail

2010-11-18T09:34:00.000-05:00

Today a friend attended ( I had to work) a press conference on the unveiling of an intriguing new study which quantifies the economic value of open space in our region. The study was commissioned by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and Green Space Alliance, paid for by the Lenfest Foundation and DCNR, and conducted by the Pennsylvania Economy League. This report can be an incredibly useful tool for us in Radnor as we continue to consider our open space program.

There will be press about the study in tomorrow’s Inquirer and in this week’s Suburban. One of the five case studies in the study is Radnor (see page 18 of the report), and the PEL concludes that the trail has added an average of $69,000 in value to Radnor homes within a quarter mile of the trail.
The study is available for download (72 pages) by clicking here:
For a brief summary report about the study, click here: I encourage you all to take a moment and check it out – I, myself, have been looking for a report like this for years.

Saving Energy one light bulb at a time

2010-11-12T12:25:00.000-05:00

Lowes collects the CFL Bulbs when they burn out.

CFL bulbs are an energy efficient way to save on some of your energy costs while we have more darkness these days. However, they cannot be thrown out in the regular garbage. Instead they must be recycled properly through municipal hazardous-waste collection programs or brought to participating stores, like Lowe's. The EPA offers recycling locations on its website.

(c) 2010, Chicago Tribune.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

Housing Market for Previously owned homes seeing a slight rise!!!!

2010-11-01T09:47:00.003-04:00

Here is a link to a short article from the Realty Times ON-Line news organization and the National Association of Realtors describing the slight rise in volume for home sales. Click here

First time home owners now is a good time

2010-10-30T23:56:00.004-04:00

Now is a good time to buy a home - the cost of money is low interest rate are at historic lows----- There is a lot of inventory on the market and many of the owners of the properties which are for sale do not want to keep them. In my humble opinion if you now travel past a property which two, three or more years ago, and you think to yourself "I should have bought that then”... and someone else did……. NOW is the time for you to buy. Whether the property is for investment, a second home, or for your primary residence, you might want to seriously consider contacting a real estate professional to explore the potential, so this feeling of “I should have acted then” does not happen again. Here is a link where you can hear what two people thought about their recent buying experience in this current (2010) crazy real estate market.

Just rediscovered a great way to stay in touch

2010-10-27T13:10:00.000-04:00

Just rediscovered a great way to saty in touch with my clients again. I had been waiting for a reply from them and they were waiting for me to start using the product. The company is SendOutCards The SendOutCards.com

Market is primed for buying

2010-09-24T09:14:00.000-04:00

A friend of mine is a real estate agent in a resort town. His name and town have been changed to protect the innocent. The basic concept is the same though---Now is a great time to buy and values are there!! Money is very inexpensive to borrow and your ability to leverage is great!! Here is what he wrote"

The market still has not stabilized. There are ## ish foreclosures and many troubled properties. We have generally 2-3 foreclosure sales a month. The current backlog is untenable. Many people abandon their homes, still the Banks don't move forward for months? The Banks won't deal on short-sale opportunities, then turn around and dump the houses/properties for 1/2 to 1/3 value; which guts the remainder of the market for lending 'comps' and exacerbates the declines in the market. There are many clear opportunities and a host of others that have become disillusioned with the market and are withdrawn, expired, or simply remain stagnant and on the MLS for months, even years! Still many are holding on to their precious townx area properties, not looking to discount further. A patient and studious buyer can save considerable monies and or get owner financing where before there was none. If you're looking to make your dollars go far in xtown, now is definitely the time to begin shopping! Call me.

I echo his sentiments and politely suggest you call me and we can look for a great property which will be a good fit for you!

Radnor Township Releases 2011 Budget

2010-08-27T10:41:00.000-04:00

Radnor Township has released it's 2011 budget. Link to see the budget

Delinquent Taxpayer list available on Line for PA

2010-08-20T17:54:00.000-04:00

Pennsylvania releases delinquent taxpayer list

As a follow-up to Pennsylvania’s recent Tax Amnesty program, the Department of Revenue has released a newly expanded online list detailing more than 39,000 state tax liens against individuals and businesses that owe $233 million in state taxes. Click here to see the list.

Source: Daily Local; 8/17/2010

Septa changes the names of the rail lines

2010-08-13T17:24:00.001-04:00

SEPTA has changed the names of the Reginal Rail lines. The R# has been eliminated and the end points of the out bound service are now the names. Here is a link to the SEPTA site so you can see the new names.

Good luck riding the rails. This link also has the scheduled the schedules.

"New Listing" 5 Brookside Circle

2010-06-02T13:43:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I had a Real Estate Broker Open house for the listing I am helping to market at 5 Brookside Circle. "The pictures of the place do not do it justice" , was a quote from one of the agents who visited the property. A general consensus of the agents was: "the house is under priced and in great condition." "Seems like this home is the best value in Radnor Township" -- another said, " I wish my clients wanted Wayne Elementary School". "This is definitely one of the best valued homes for the money on the market today" was another quote.

Please call 610-254-9292 to schedule your appointment for 5 Brookside Circle, it would be my pleasure to show you this home.

Dog Walking

2010-05-13T12:41:00.005-04:00

Nice things happen when I walk my dog Maya. She and I get out of the house when my 13 year old daughter has almost lost the door to her room and I need time to think and regain my patience. She and I get out of the house when I need to regain my patience over many things.

As I walk, (my knees are no longer able to handle the pounding of running), I have time to reflect on all that has happened in the day past and what is coming up. The time is peaceful, usually dry and Maya is able to listen and not try to solve any of the questions I pose to her.
In the morning neighbors are driving by on their way to work or errands or fun. The birds are out and making their presence known. When I walk a bit later, lone high school students are waiting for their bus, ear buds in and music playing. They sometimes smile at Maya as she does make people smile. It cheers me up too. This is planning for the day time and what is ahead.
In the late evening during the quiet time Maya sniffs what happened on our route that day. Based on her markings I can tell who passed this way, which squirrels were out of the trees and if there was baseball that night.

The streets are quiet enough to make it feel like the neighborhood has drifted back in time to when the sidewalks were new and the trees were just planted. Then the roar of the engine and tires of an approaching car from the village of Wayne pushes us to the side of the road and I hope the driver see the light from my flashlight.

At first these walks were a chore, something imposed on me by a new member of our household. Now they are enjoyable walks with a friend who see the world differently, listens when I need to talk, and is always happy to join me for a late night stroll. Wayne - what a great place

Yard sale time again

2010-04-29T16:42:00.000-04:00

It is Yard sale time on the suburbs. Driving along Upper Gulph road this morning taking, Maya, our dog to the dog park I noticed the blooming of yard sale signs. It must be spring and time to clean out.
I myself have a place in the basement we call the yard sale area. If one of us, no longer wants something or we rearrange a room – it goes to dad to place in the area. So many childhood things with memories attached are stored away like treasure in the basement.
Last time my daughters cleaned all the plush animals from their shelves- the ones they had to have form the gift shop or had cherished as a victory at the local fair off into the 50 cent pile.
And the books - books with so much lap time built into them just thrown into a pile. It is fun to watch during the sale when they are picked up and purchased by a little person catching the yard sale virus.
My daughters have been infected with this virus through me. I like to hunt for things and like to engage in the yard sale banter. Others in my family would rather go to the dentist. Maybe I will see you at one and we will both want the same old golf club.

Study on High Blood Pressure and Disease Management

2010-04-27T16:29:00.003-04:00

I have to say I am extreamly proud of my wife Elizabeth. She worked long and hard on a project she did while at Aetna some time ago, maybe two plus years. The study is getting published now and is an accomplishment for positive health care which does not get enough recognition.

In this study (my view of it anyway) the health care company uses it client base to study the positive health effects of actively managing a population of individuals recognized by he company as having a serious but manageable health condition. The Health care company takes positive steps and actions to keep the clients aware of their situation and amazingly they get better health outcomes from the population at lower costs to the company. IMHO this should be front page news. Here is a link to the study. I am very proud of my wife Elizabeth!!

Weekend Blues

2010-04-16T15:50:00.000-04:00

Getting ready for a weekend in the spring has more overhead than I ever imagined. There are so many tasks to be completed around the house it is hard to get a grip on where to start. Outside the beds and the lawn scream for attention like 5 yr olds “ fix me -cut me- clean me- weed me”. The garden is waiting for the same thing. It is like an angry twin “Weed me - feed me-turn me over fill me with plants”.

Inside ---- We need to get rooms ready for the transition from little kids living in the house to middle and high school aged children. The piano – bought with such high hopes that someone would take a liking to it – nada – It sits there like a large immovable table holding up memories of the times we had away from home.
The carpets filled with the memory stains of crayons and Jell-O and pudding and pets Chutes and Ladders is giving way to a rower and a stair master (which needs repair too)

Internet access all anyone wants – all the plaster and lath block the wireless signal and a work is waiting there for upgrading the network, making the printers available wirelessly

The basement – the attic- the clothes closets – the kids rooms – the kitchen the oven has stopped working - and I would like to relax a bit too. Happy Friday!

Back to the dog Park and ritual

2010-04-13T06:16:00.004-04:00

We were on vacation and the dog needed to stay somewhere. We had used this kennel before with no issue. This time Maya came back with kennel cough and we know more about it now. Our routine was changed and we were walking Maya for a good 30 to 50 minutes around town to give her time. Not the same for her as going to the dog parlk with her pack or for us with our pack. I am looking forward to getting to the park this morning.

Out of the habbit

2010-04-09T09:39:00.003-04:00

I must say that this blogging thing is something you must keep up with, like taking your vitamins in the morning. When you have your health and you forget to take the vitamins it is difficult to rejuvenate the habit of taking them. Same happened here with the Blog. At first I was on it and having a great time including events and happenings. Then I thought no one was reading any of what I was putting out here and there are so many other sources for what is happening. What I failed to realize was it is my view which is different. I was reading a book about happiness recommended by a friend - Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert. My take away was in situations where you are unsure ask for an opinion of someone who has been in the situation you are about to enter before you make your choice and then follow the advice. I thought okay well this Blog afford me the ability to give an opinion from time to time on situation in the neighborhood and around the area. I will be getting back on the horse and will try to make this blog a bit more exciting at the same time.

OPEN HOUSE 255 N Aberdeen Ave Sunday 1-3pm

2010-03-11T15:30:00.002-05:00

Hi All - Just wanted to give you a heads up about the open house taking place at 255 N. Aberdeen Avenue this Sunday 3-14-2010. (I have to keep writing 2010 just to get used to it still.) Come out and see this beautiful home and the amazing work that has gone intop it. New utilities, new appliances, new windows, carpets and floors. Just move right in. IT even has a new high efficiency furnace. Also I just check it again and the walkability score on the property is 83 out of 100.

Spring is finally coming to the Main Line

2010-03-11T15:24:00.002-05:00

This weekend on of the harbingers of Spring, the 8th grade musical at Radnor Middle School is taking place. Come out and see a great production put on by the 8th grade. I have a daughter in the cast so I may be a bit biased. See you at the show

Happy Thanksgiving and washable paint?

2009-11-26T10:37:00.005-05:00

Thanksgiving is a great day to meet friends and renew the family bonds. While awaiting our trip to friends I was scanning the web and came across this article on a new type of Low VOC scrubbable paint it is Ceramic Wall Paint. There is lots of information out there on this and I was hard pressed to not follow the trails leading to other green topics all done through the links in each article. Have a fun investigative journey.

Theater on the Main Line

2009-11-20T11:40:00.006-05:00

Friends of ours have talented children who perform with many theater groups in the area. The Wolf PAC has a performance of Charlotte's Web occurring December 11,12 &13 in which some of them are performing. I think it will be a great show if it is anything like the other Wolf PAC shows we have seen. Maybe we will see you there.

Another area amateur production is by the
Marple Newtown Players present Disney's Cinderella Kids
Location: Gauntlett Community Center West Chester Pike and Radnor Rd
Date: Nov 21, 22, 27, 28, & 29, 2009
Time: Fridays & Saturdays 7pm / Sundays 2pm
Tickets: $7 - reserved / $5 - general
For more information, call (610) 353-9181, email mnplayers1@yahoo.com

or visit our web site

New Tax credit passed the Congress

2009-11-09T10:40:00.002-05:00

President signs homebuyer tax credit into law
President Obama has signed into law an extension and expansion of the current home buyer tax credit. The measure extends the present $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers through April 30, 2010. Current homeowners are eligible for a $6,500 tax credit through April 30, provided they have lived in the home they are selling, or have sold, as principal residence for five consecutive years in the past eight years. If potential home buyers have a binding contract on or before that date, they will have until July 1 to close the transaction. Income limits for eligible home buyers are expanded to $125,000 for single buyers and $225,000 for couples. The purchase price of the home cannot exceed $800,000. To help guard against fraud, buyers are required to attach documentation of purchase to their tax return. Click here for a side-by-side comparison of the expanded tax credit and the current version. Get all the basics about the extended and expanded tax get credit.

Radnor Township Leaf Pickup Schedule

2009-11-05T09:45:00.004-05:00

Here is the link to the township website where the Leaf collection schedule is posted by street and date and

The rules are explained. Here are two rules to remember when looking at the list by Street

Residents who live on street names listed in CAPITALS must place their leaves in the gutter line of their street. The Township's crew will only pick up the leaves that are placed on the street on these roads.
Residents who live on streets listed in regular type are required to place their leaves on their property and off the street (that is, behind the curb). The Township will remove the leaves from that location.

Real Estate boost extended for First time home buyer Maybe?

2009-11-05T09:44:00.001-05:00

Senate Approves Extended U.S. Homebuyer Tax Credit (Update1)
By Brian Faler
Nov. 4 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Senate approved a $45 billion plan to expand a tax credit for first-time homebuyers, extend jobless benefits and provide tax refunds to money-losing companies.
Lawmakers voted 98-0 for the measure, sending it to the House, where Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland said in a statement it will receive a vote as early as tomorrow. The bill then would be forwarded to President Barack Obama for his signature.
The plan would be the first major extension of provisions in February’s economic stimulus plan. The $8,000 homebuyers’ tax credit, slated to expire this month, would continue until April 30 and be expanded to include people with higher incomes and some who already own homes. That would cost about $10 billion in the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, according to Congress’s Joint Committee on Taxation.
The measure includes $2.4 billion to extend unemployment benefits for as many as 20 weeks, enough to aid the jobless through the holiday season. It would loosen tax rules for homebuilders and other money-losing companies to let them claim an estimated $33 billion in tax refunds this year, according to Joint Committee on Taxation estimates.
The legislation had been delayed for weeks by Republican demands for votes on amendments to the plan.
“Republicans used every trick in the book to slow and stall and ensure we can’t do important work,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said today.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, has said the legislation could have been approved last week if Democrats had agreed to his colleagues’ demands. Republicans sought a vote on an amendment to end the Treasury Department’s Troubled Asset Relief Program.
Other Stimulus Measures
Lawmakers are still considering whether to extend several other elements of the stimulus package, including subsidies to help the jobless buy health insurance and increased funds for food stamps. Obama has called for sending seniors $250 checks because they won’t get a cost-of-living increase next year in their Social Security checks.
Michael Mundaca, nominated to be assistant secretary for tax policy at the U.S. Treasury Department, said the administration may seek to extend the interest-subsidized Build America Bonds created as part of the stimulus package. Mundaca told the Finance Committee today the initiative is “too successful to allow to go away.”
The Treasury Department estimates that more than 1.4 million Americans have taken advantage of the homebuyer credit at a cost so far of about $10 billion.
Increased Credit
The Senate plan would allow homebuyers who have lived in their residence at least five years to receive a $6,500 credit. Couples earning as much as $225,000 a year and individuals earning up to $125,000 would qualify. That is up from the current $75,000 limit for individuals and $150,000 for couples.
Those buying homes worth more than $800,000 wouldn’t be eligible for the credit. Those who sell their new home or stop using it as their main residence within three years would have to repay the credit.
The credit “really does provide some economic lift in the country at a time when we desperately need economic lift,” said Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat.
He said expanding the credit to those who already own homes would help create jobs because “the move-up buyer is more inclined and capable of buying that furniture, maybe building a porch, putting a garage on, a new roof” and making the “kinds of investments I think is going to be a job-creator across the country.”
Waste of Money
Senator Christopher Bond, a Missouri Republican, called the tax credit a waste of money, saying studies show that most of those claiming the break would have bought homes anyway.
“For the vast majority of cases, the homebuyer credit amounted to a free gift since it did not affect their decision to purchase,” he said on the floor this week. “The homebuyer tax credit is a terribly inefficient, irresponsible and poor use of scarce taxpayer resources.”
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said in a research note yesterday that the credit probably spurred 200,000 home sales that otherwise wouldn’t have occurred.
Extending the credit to people who own homes wouldn’t reduce the excess housing blamed for the slump because “every buyer taking advantage of the move-up credit would necessarily be a seller,” Goldman Sachs said. It said the plan may increase housing prices by 1 percent because “sellers are likely to incorporate a fraction of the credit amount in their sale prices.”
Unemployment Extension
The bill would provide 14 additional weeks of unemployment benefits in all states, plus another six weeks in states with the highest jobless rates. The extension would be the fourth since the recession began. The share of unemployed people who have been out of work at least six months has reached the highest level in at least a half-century, according to the Labor Department.
The legislation also would expand provisions in the stimulus package allowing companies to apply their losses to previous years’ income, thereby reducing their tax bills and allowing them to claim refunds. Banks and other institutions receiving assistance from the Treasury Department’s TARP program wouldn’t be eligible.

Open House for 255 N. Aberdeen this week 11/1/09 1 - 3pm

2009-10-28T10:45:00.005-04:00

Hi Friends,

This week I will be having an Open House on Sunday November 11th for a wonderful home at 255 N. Aberdeen Ave in Wayne. The hours for the open will be from 1pm till 3pm. It is a wonderful little place with 3 bedrooms and 1 bath. Everything is new basically, from heater to light fixtures from door knobs to gutters.

Here is a link to a four minute youTube video of the place.

H1N1 (Swine advice)

2009-10-28T10:15:00.003-04:00

This information came from a friend in the City --

Simple steps to take -

Prevent Swine Flu - Good Advice

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist)
having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in
institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital ,
Tata Memorial etc. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine
Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical
Centre, Malad (W)..
The following message given by him:

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global
epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into
contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not
so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1
infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms
and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not
fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced
(instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official
communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any
part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. * Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't
trust salt)... *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the
throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms.
Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt
water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an
infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful
preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with
warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti
(very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose
hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in
warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
Neti pots and sinus rinse kits are available at the drug store and
relatively inexpensive....under $15

*Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C
(Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin
C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
*Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can.
Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the
reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat
into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

I suggest you pass this on to your entire e-list. You never know 20 who
might pay attention to it - and STAY ALIVE because of it...

Harvest Fest at the Willows Cottage

2009-10-21T11:42:00.004-04:00

This Sunday from 1 to 5 is the 1st annual Harvest Fest at the Willows Cottage and Park. This will be a fun time for the family and will help in the fund raising for the sustainable farm and education center. The CSA is the ancor tenant for the sustainable life style education center. Please come out to havbe fun and support the center.

Activities include :

Hot Air Baloon Rides -
Needle in a haystack (for kids)
Sack races -
Work shops on Canning, Bees, Word working,
Pumpkin decorating (kids and adults)
A Pie making contest
Hay rides
Apple bobbing
Prizes
Live music
Culinary delights provided by a select group of restaurants

Tom headed to Utah

2009-10-07T14:35:00.005-04:00

I feel extreamly that I have the support of my family as I head to Utah to participate in the Huntsman Games in Volleyball. Great group of guys going. We call ourselves NO DIVAS but they may have us listed as Spike Force Black. Wish us luck

2009-09-29T23:25:00.003-04:00

The Willows Cottage is the site for the Radnor Conservancy's Harvest Festival taking place this year on October 25, 2009. The day should be a blast. Special events - food and beverages for all ages, activities for the young and the young at heart! Follow the links above for more information.

Best Soccer Game I have seen in a long time

2009-09-29T23:07:00.003-04:00

The game between Radnor high and Ridley high tonight was one of the most exciting soccer games I have ever seen. The girls out there left it all out on the field. The game ended in a 1 to 1 tie after two full halves and a 10 minute overtime.

View from the Telluride Film Festival

2009-09-17T10:32:00.010-04:00

Well the Lowy's just returned from a great Labor Day in Telluride Colorado at the 36th annual Telluride Film Festival. There were stars, premiers old films silent films and great discussions both scheduled, in the streets, in restaurants and bars and on line. Definitely worth the trip.

Here are my pics from what I saw of the more than 40 choices.

Movies to see from Telluride -
1 The Road --Cormac McCarthy novel from people in the same screening who had read the book “ very very true to the book”
2 A Prophet - Coming of age story of a young ½ Muslim street kid
3 Farewell --French / Russian / American true story of ending the cold war
4 Red Riding – English 3 part crime/police corruption drama best watched in sequence in one sitting about 4.5 hours – good theme for a movie party.
5. Bright Star – If you like a slow English period piece about Keats and his love
5. Sampson and Delilah - Very tough to watch (slow paced) but gives you a great feeling of the life of aboriginal people in Australia.

6. The Last Station – More Hollywood like- Great performance by Helen Mirren worth watching for that – the rest is about the last year of Tolstoy with no Russian accents at all.

7. Bad Lieutenant: Port of call New Orleans – Hollywood meets Herzog -Great performance by Nicholas Cage as a rogue Officer in NO after Katrina. (directed by Werner Herzog – see if you can pick out his touches)

8. An Education – English school girl coming of age

9. Up in the Air - Lite entertainment – Comic story of life on the road and pursuit of trying not to be so lonely.

10 Vincere – Italian film about Mussolini’s mistress

11 Coco Before Chanel - Her Story from the beginning to success nice not to exciting either way

Not as great – in My humble opinion
The Jazz Barroness – Self-indulgent story by her niece Hannah Rothschild of the relationship between Monk and the Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter)

My Son, My Son What Have Ye Done – Werner Herzog trying to film a Greek tragedy set in LA – played well to European audiences

Some Housing Statistics for the Main Line

2009-08-27T14:54:00.013-04:00

I thought since the media is national and we live here locally on the Main Line. It would make sense to get some statistics out for you on Housing Activity in this area. I researched statistics for two local school districts,

Radnor Schools

and Tredyffrin/Eastown.

If you would like me to run the same statistics for a school district which is in our MLS area (most of the 5 county Philadelphia MSMA) which I have not covered here please call me using 610-254-9292 x12 and let me know which one or e-mail me using tom@tomlowy.com Either way I am happy to research and provide them to you.

If there are other statistics you would like to see or if you have real estate questions again, please call or write. I am happy to help.

Radnor Conservancy

2009-08-24T17:00:00.003-04:00

The Radnor Conservancy Gala will be held September 26th Please save the date.

As part of the Big Tree Project which is a collaboration between Radnor Township, Chanticleer and the Conservancy trees were planted along Route 30. I had the privledge of checking to see if they were in need of water. The "gators" around the trees are filled with water. They function to slowly drip water into the soil to nourish the trees.

2009-08-24T11:45:00.002-04:00

Cut Your Energy Costs - Simple tips for saving resources, money and the planet.

Cool your home naturally: Open windows on cool summer nights. Use energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs (they emit less heat). Hang washing out to dry, and grill food outside. Install window awnings.

Plant deciduous trees on the east and west to shade your house and cool it by as much as 20 degrees.

Install an Energy Star–certified ceiling fan (50 percent more efficient than others) and comfortably keep your home four degrees cooler in the summer.

Consider switching to a natural-gas water heater (which uses less than half the energy of an electric one) and turn the setting down to 120 degrees.

Seal your house: Close the fireplace damper; install a timer (available at hardware stores) on the bathroom exhaust fan; seal ductwork.

Potential savings: About $500 a year.

Green point: If one household in 10 bought Energy Star–rated heating and cooling equipment, the change in greenhouse-gas emissions would be equivalent to taking 1.5 million cars off the road.

Source: Real Simple

These are the signs you want to see at your home...if!!

2009-08-16T13:04:00.009-04:00

These are the signs you want to see in front of your home if it is for sale. Pictured below is Anne Dalk who sold her house this past July. It was on the market for less than a month.

Pictured here is 110 Croton Road. This home sold in less than 3 weeks!!!

Pictured here is the sign from 407 Eagle Road. This home was bought by first time buyers and allowed the sellers to move to their dream home.

This is a great time to be in the market either buying or selling. The homes shown above all sold this past July!! Eagle Road was within 5% of asking, Croton Road sold at asking, and Oak Lane sold above asking! If you would like an estimate of the value of your home, please call me. My office number at Duffy Real Estate is 610-254-9292. I look forward to speaking to you.

South Wayne Ave opens!!!

2009-08-16T12:41:00.001-04:00

Great Moving Company

2009-08-10T12:40:00.004-04:00

Hello all,

Just thought I would tell you about Logan Moving and Storage. I used them when I moved from Manayunk to Wayne and have been recommending them to people I know if I hear about their need to move. They can do small or large homes and local or cross country moves.

What is best is they show up on time and take good care of your possessions.

Best meal at the beach Bedrock Cafe in Avon By The Sea

2009-07-23T18:09:00.002-04:00

It was an amazing night. Saturday 6:00 eating early because many in our parety were over 60 including my mother, father, and Great Aunt Hazel. We were seated right away, the red wine (BYOB) we brought was poured and the fresh hot bread was delivered. Great Aunt Hazel (90) wanted white wine. The owner cam back to us with a glass of wine he procured from his own cellar- or who knows where. This was service beyond excellent.

The food was good too - specials to long to remember from when they began repeating them and a special by the day as well. This is a full dinner with salad vegetable and desert. Range of the food was pork chops to soft shell crab, lasagna to crab cakes. They even have a choice of 6 things on the kids menu. Highly recommend this place if you are anywhere near Avon By the Sea
Their phone number is 732-502-4455

Green outdoor activities.

2009-07-13T05:50:00.003-04:00

I know it sounds redunbdant to have a spot for Green outdoor activities, but this site was a link from the Active.com Site where I found out about the scavanger hunt race Susanna and I did last year.

Green Ideas for the Hotel Industry

2009-07-10T14:54:00.002-04:00

Found a site for greening the hotel and hospitality industry, Was lost in their website for a while and enjoyed it. Thought you might want to check it out

Pond Blog site for questions about Concrete Ponds

2009-07-10T13:44:00.002-04:00

Well I have been working on the pond for almost a year and am about to get fish in it. There seems to be a slow leak in the main pool so I went looking for answers. One product I came up with was Pond Armor. I also discovered a blog which speaks about pond problems. Now I have a place to go.

GREEN representative to Realtor® Panel

2009-06-25T14:16:00.000-04:00

On Thursday, June 18th the Association of REALTORS School held the first Achieving Real Estate Success Education Exchange. The Exchange was developed to help REALTORS make informed decisions about where to spend their education budget. At this session, Tish Maloney, Chip Plumley, Tom Lowy and Joe Sheehan provided a behind the scenes look at CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), ePRO, green and SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist) respectively. In addition to making real life sense out of the programs, the four panelists provided money saving tips about discounts and grants available to REALTORS seeking education.
Prior to this informative program, Chairman-Elect Bill McFalls presented certificates of achievement to 13 REALTORS who recently completed a designation or certificate program. The honorees were: Deana Clymer, Linda McDermond, Linda Rosander, Carole Felton, Wally Heppenstall, Patricia Moyer, Shelby Charles, Lee Greenwood, Linda Luker, Charles Stauffer, Debbie Clamer, Morgot Mohr Teetor and David Hinkel. Click here to see pictures from this event.

Just found a new Site For the National Trust for Historic Preservation

2009-06-08T12:28:00.004-04:00

Just found this site for the National Trust for Historic Preservation It looks very interesting. They are having a seminar on the 18th of June 1 to 2 pm Virtual that is --

Rescheduled: Webinar "Green Main Streets: Practical Steps You Can Take Now"

You can call the local Philadelphia area Office using 215-848-8033 or scan the web site.

Good Luck

House is under agreement 407 Eagle Road

2009-06-02T06:20:00.003-04:00

The real estate market in these parts still has three important parts to it Location Price and Condition. Times have changed a little and a great home in a great location which is over priced is not going to sell. I have found the market to be very punishing to those who think their home is an exception to this rule. When you make the decision to sell your home - my view - price it to sell it for if you do not you will not. If you are thinking of selling please send me a note or comment on this blog.

Martins Dam Swim Club Open for the Season

2009-05-25T12:07:00.002-04:00

Hi All - It was a great day this past Saturday for the members of the Martins Dam club. 10:00 on the dot is when the pool first opend and the brave few jump in first.
More to come from Martins.

110 Croton Rd -New Listing in T/E Deepdale neighborhood

2009-05-21T17:03:00.004-04:00

110 Croton is now for Sale! Price is $535,000. Settlement can be as soon as you want to settle. This property will be in the MLS by Monday 5-25-09.

27 Pine Street Newtown Square is SOLD

2009-05-21T17:02:00.001-04:00

Settlement took place today for 27 Pine Street. Both the buyer and the seller were very happy.