Smart Girls Own Real Estate Blog

I shared this news this morning and realized I haven't shared this news enough:

I have a real estate team!!!

My husband finally got his real estate licence! I sent him to real estate school last year and last month he joined me at Keller Williams. We are now the husband and wife team of Joe and Stacey McCarthy.

Most people might not like to work with their husbands, but I have worked with him in the past, so it's not a big deal to me. I actually like being with him (most of the time), so that helps. We do get on each others nerves sometimes if that what you are thinking. We always get along at lunch and dinner though.

And you know what else? Joe is a born lead generator! One of those people that likes to talk to everyone and will chat up the checkout lady at the supermarket. I'd like to be more like that, but I am somewhat reserved, so we balance each other out well. He is my secret weapon!

He is a real go-getter too. I have gotten more leads in the past month from him then I have in the past 6 months. Plus he knows alot of people so that helps. Husbands can actually be good for something, wow!

My business is really taking off now! We have a big future in real estate!

2007 was an interesting year for real estate, a "shifting market" brought on speculation of a "bad" market. Not in my neighborhood! 

I keep close track of the real estate market in the Parkwood section of Philadelphia. I live here and I need to always know what my market is doing.

2007 Parkwood Market Report

# of Homes Sold in 2007... 95

Avg. Sold Price...      $196,319

Avg. Days on the Market... 53

The price of homes are UP $5000 from last year, but so are the days on the market (10 more). The number of homes sold are down (last year was 106). I am thrilled to report that overall, a pretty normal market report. No punging prices and not a major dwindling of homes sold. Sure, it took a couple of extra days to get them sold, but not months. That's a great market report. So glad this is my marketplace!

"Hey, this is my turf!"

Philly and Bucks Real Estate: http://www.staceymccarthy.com/ http://www.bigjoemccarthy.com/ http://www.smartgirlsown.com/

Maybe Realtors are finally getting the point across that it really IS a good time to buy real estate.

As the media and investment "experts" seem to be spooking the average homebuyer into waiting for "the bottom" of the maket, investors are NOT afraid to purchase real estate in this market. I am currently working with several investors - it is very inspiring.  It is very uplifting to work with an investor because they absolutely LOVE this market and are enthused and excited to be doing business right now.

Perhaps it is because investors are more educated on the ups and downs of the real estate market. Maybe because the interest rates are so good. I'd like to think it is because I am doing a great job. In any case, real estate investors seem to be all over this Philadelphia area market.

 I am reading the Millionaire Real Estate Investor right now. It is such a great read. Very inspiring! Here are some words of wisdom from the book...

"Believe that true financial wealth is possible no matter where you are in life."

"Opportunities cannot be observed from the sidelines - you must be in the game. Timing isn't about being in the right place at the right time - it's about being in the right place ALL the time."

"No, all the good investments are not taken. Opportunities are always there, in every market and in every time. Yes they will be taken by someone, but realize that someone could be you"

Now it seems like business is picking up in the area. Is is because of the "spring market" when homebuyers generally seem the most eager to spend their money on a home? Or have they finally "got it" like the investors? Whatever the answer, I know my business is picking up!

I am definately going to start investing.  

Philly and Bucks Real Estate http://www.staceymccarthy.com/ http://www.bigjoemccarthy.com/ http://www.smartgirlsown.com/

FREE CREDIT REPAIR SERVICE

Many people would buy a home from me if they had better credit. To help potential homebuyers, there's a FREE service available to me called CreditXpert. I can help people repair bad credit so you can qualify for a loan and buy a home!

It will identify good as well as bad factors that are impacting your credit and show you:

 Stacey McCarthy

Keller Williams Real Estate Langhorne

215-757-6100 ext 148

215-531-1305

sellwithstacey@comcast.net

I am looking for a few smart women!

I finally figured out my niche! It is like picking your major in college. You take a few classes, then weigh out your options and you just pick something you think you will like doing. Hopefully you won't change majors because then you'd be taking a bunch of classes that really don't work for a different major.

Anyway, my niche is single women buyers! And for purely selfish reasons. Out of all the buyers I've driven around and helped find homes, I have the most fun with the single girls. Don't get me wrong, I'll help just about any qualified buyer, and I really like marketing houses for sale because I am good at it, but sometimes girls just wanna have fun!

And not coincidentally, 50% of the homes I have sold were to single women. The statics tell the whole story:

• The single female segment of the homebuyer population accounted for 18% of all homebuyers in 2004.
• Single women purchased approximately 1 in 5 homes in 2003, while more than one in ten were purchased by single men.
• More women (15.5 million) than men (11.8 million) lived alone. Among these, women were more likely than men to own their homes (56% vs. 47%).
• About one-quarter of the nation's nearly 8 million single mothers spend more than half of their incomes on housing, compared with 1/10 of households headed by single fathers.
• Over the time period of 1994-2002, the number of unmarried females owning homes climbed from 13.9 million to 17.5 million 

Sources: 2006 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.

Women just can't help being so smart!

It was tough getting started in real estate. Even after going to real estate school I had no real idea what I was getting into. I thought you could just start working for a company and they would provide you with clients... Not So! You have to find your own clients. It's not easy, any Realtor will tell you - you are starting your own business. The beginning is a real struggle, but if you are persistant, it can eventually pay off.

Last September I made the switch from another broker to Keller Williams and that move was the smartest thing I've done yet, for me and for my clients. The education and support provided for me was something I was missing, and needed to build a successful real estate business. In fact, I learned more in one training session at KW than I did ever before, even from real estate school.

Not to mention I get more commission now and can even participate in profit share! You won't find that at most real estate companies. KW is unique -We have a shared philosophy: First God, then family, then business. If that's your value system, then we should talk.

P.S. I have time for any friends or family members that you would like to refer to me. Don't keep me a secret : )

Lookout People's Court and Divorce Court, there's a new court in town! Philadelphia will be pounding it's gavel on rental housing in the Northeast, and Northeast Philadelphia absentee landlords and nuisance properties will be on trial come October. Northeast rental housing court will soon be held at the 8th Police district at Academy and Red Lion Roads.

There currently exisits a rental unit task force to handle complaints about rentals but this takes the crack-down a step further as local community groups and civic associations will have a venue to address problem rental properties in their neighborhood.

Complaints about nuisants properties are handled by L&I (Department of Licenses and Inspections). Now, city council aides will be checking complaints about rental units and Landlords who have been cited by L & I  will be finding themselves in rental housing court if they do not address the complaint.

This is good news for Northeast neighborhoods! Now some lazy landlords will be forced to get their respective unsightly rental properties cleaned up that are affecting the value of some of the neighboring homes.

For more information on getting rental properties to code visit: https://secure.phila.gov/li-rent/

MANGIA Calabrisella! 

Since I'm half Italian, and my husband hails from South Philadelphia, we're hard to please when it comes to Italian restaurants. Let's face it, Olive Garden is a nice place for salad and bread-sticks, but when it comes to authentic Italian, it just doesn't cut it.

Calabrisella, located on Rt 13 in Andalusia, is a gem of an Italian restaurant. We came across Calabrisella looking for a decent pizza and ended up discovering an awesome, but modest, authentic Italian joint. We were so relieved we could finally get good Italian food without going downtown. Everyone we tell about it gets hooked, and so will you!

Usually, I order the straight-up spaghetti marinara and Joe, my husband, orders the bolognaise. The balsamic vinegar is really good on on salad, but we like to dip the bread in it too. Last time I was there I got adventurous and ordered Chicken Calabrisella. Now I can't stop thinking about it. If you like tiramisu, it's homemade and it's awesome!

Calabrisella just opened a small banquet room and I am trying to conjur up an occasion to throw a party. Also, it's a BYOB and fairly easy on the wallet.  

715 Bristol Pike
Bensalem, PA 19020
Phone: (215) 639-3051

Before pursuing this career as a Realtor I spent several years negotiating union contracts and defending grievances as an officer for a local union. Before that I was a bartender. I was always interested in real estate, but I didn't really know how to get into it. A friend of mine was going to real estate school, so I decided it was time.  I figured with my customer service and negotiating background I would make a good Realtor.

It was tough getting started in real estate. Even after going to real estate school I had no real idea what I was getting into. I thought you could just start working for a company and they would provide you with clients... Not So! You have to find your own clients. It's not easy, you know it - you are starting your own business.

Last September I made the switch to Keller Williams from a well-known 100-year-old real estate company that only focused on their earnings, and that move was the smartest thing I've done yet, for me and for my clients. The education and support provided for me was something I was missing, and needed to build a successful real estate business. In fact, I learned more in one training session at KW than I did ever before, even from real estate school.

Not to mention I get more commission now and can even participate in profit share! It's even possible to make more than 100%.  KW is unique: First God, then family, then business. If that's your value system, then we should talk.

If you are a Realtor that wants to make a winning move, email me at sellwithstacey@comcast.net

                                                            WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

P.S. I have time for any friends or family members that you would like to refer to me. Don't keep me a secret : )