Cindy Ridgway's Lower Merion and Narberth New Listing Tour: Week of May 14, 2018

It may just look like "the rainy season" when you look out the window, but it's more than just that in the world of real estate.  This is the beginning of "closing season", when the all that busy spring market activity starts turning into a busy schedule of settlements.  Spring buyers often want to get the transaction, the move, and any new house projects finished in the summer months so they are all comfortable situated before the start of the new school year in the fall.

There was less inventory on the market this Spring than there was last year.  That means there are still a number buyers out there trying to get under contract now and settle in July or August. This group of active buyers is good news for sellers who still have homes listed, and is a golden opportunity for any potential sellers who missed the beginning of the Spring market, and were wondering it it was "too late" to put their house up for sale.  It's not! 

With fewer homes for sale, many buyers have found themselves competing for houses, and sometimes losing out.  As a buyer, your best bet is to find an agent who knows your target neighborhoods like the back of their hand, and is "plugged in" to the community well enough to know what just sold, what is out there now, and what homes are about to hit the market. You don't want to be one of those desperate people begging for leads on social media - instead, get an agent who's always one of the first to know!    When things are this competitive, having a strong and experienced agent on your side can make all the difference.

Cindy Ridgway has gained the trust of so many local buyers and sellers because she has made it her mission to know everything about the real estate market in Lower Merion and Narberth. One way she does this is by touring new listings in the Lower Merion School District every week. Here are some of the homes Cindy toured this week:

The pictures above are the front and the back of the first home on Cindy's new listing tour, a renovated 6 bed/4.1 bath in Merion Station.  Listed for 1.595M, it has 6191 sq ft of living space, on 2/3 of an acre in the neighborhood next to the Merion Tribute House. Upgrades in the home include a newer kitchen with high-end appliances, a nice master suite a bedroom and balcony,  a master bath with a big walk-in shower, and a finished lower level with a full bath, laundry room, and gym.  See more at:   697 Hazelhurst Ave, Merion Station, PA 19066. 

Next up was this 4 bed/2.1 bath stone colonial in a neighborhood near Belmont Hills. It has a Narberth street address, and is about a mile outside of Narberth Borough.  The home has 2294 sq ft of living space inside, and a nearly 3/4 acre lot, for a list price of $599K. There are hardwoods throughout and an eat-in kitchen. It has an unfinished basement, driveway and two-car attached garage.  See for yourself at:  1137 N. Woodbine Ave, Narberth, PA 19072. 

This 4 bed/3.1 bath, in a Penn Valley neighborhood over by Penn Valley Elementary, was listed for $599K. It's gone under contract since Cindy saw it Monday!

Next up was this 3620 sq ft, 4 bed/2.2 bath stone center hall colonial in Wynnewood.   It's a pretty home with a slate roof on a half-acre, corner lot, a short drive from the Whole Foods shopping area. Listed for $825K, the outside features nice landscaping, a slate patio, backyard pool, and an attached garage.  Inside, the home has a big, updated kitchen, handsome library, finished basement with laundry room,  entertainment area, and wet bar, plus a windowed solarium facing the patio.  See all the details and photos at: 478 Ballytore Rd, Wynnewood, PA 19096.

The above picture actually shows the back of this next home, a 3194 sq ft, 4 bed/2.1 bath contemporary built on the side of a hill in Bryn Mawr. Walls of windows face the unique back yard on this one-acre wooded lot with a deck, patio, and steps down to a pretty creek. Listed for $645K, this home features plenty of wood and high ceilings on the inside, with tons of windows to bring the outside in.  See the photo gallery and all the property info here: 665 Heatherwood Rd, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010. 

Last up was this 3 bed/2 bath Cape on a 1/2 acre+ lot in Villanova. It has 2426 of living space,  with a big kitchen, and three bedrooms on the main floor, with a list price of $649K.  But the star of this show, for the right buyer, is the massive untapped potential in the whole unfinished second floor. Think about what you'd do with it, when you see the pictures and details at:  714 Panorama Rd, Villanova, PA 19085. 

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If you need more info about any of these homes, or have any questions about real estate in the Lower Merion School District, contact cindy@lowermerionhomes.com.  And see more of these new listing tours here.