Makefield Glen Yardley Pennsylvania

Lexington Elite Model in Desirable Makefield Glen, Yardley Pa. Pennsbury Schools. 3 Story townhouse with new oak flooring throughout living room/grate room and eat in kitchen. Built in nook with 3 chairs; new granite countertops; new tiled backsplash; new brushed nickel ss double sink and new brush nickel faucet. Finished 3 floor loft could be used as third bedroom or office. Full finished basement with extra storage. Close to all major highways, malls and shopping centers. Easy commute to Center City; Princeton, and New York. Call today for a showing. John and Sheri Curci Remax Properties, 215-757-2889 direct. Asking $279,900

157 POPLAR ST. Northern Liberties Open House

Open House Sunday May 2nd from 1 to 3 p.m. Three Story End Unit Townhouse at 4th and Poplar Streets in desirable Northern Liberties. 2 Car Attached Garage with additional 2 car driveway parking. Over 4000 square feet of living space spread out over three stories. Hardwood floors throughout home. Roof top sun porch. Finished basement. Gorgeous cook's kitchen with granite countertops; island; pantry; upgraded appliances such as stainless steel; and bosch stove/oven. Three huge bedrooms, and upgraded bathrooms. Main bedroom with walk in closet. Asking $699,999. Call John or Sheri Curci Remax Properties direct 215-757-2889

Now that April is Here! ... Watch out with the Condo Scene?

New FHA regulations change condo financing....

FHA recently implemented some new requirements for condominium financing and some Pennsylvania REALTORS® have noticed the difference. Darlene Shannon, a representative with the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), said spot loans were previously given in projects that did not have FHA project approval. “The spot loan approval process as defined in 1996 is gone as of February 1. The DELRAP (lender approvals) and HRAP (HUD approvals) have been streamlined to allow for uncomplicated condominium project approvals eliminating the need to approve units on a ‘spot loan’ basis,” she said. Condos have to meet eligibility requirements outlined in the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Mortgagee Letter issued in November. Some of the new requirements include:

•Minimum of two or more units

•No more than 25 percent of the property’s total floor space can be used for commercial purposes

•No more than 15 percent of the total units can be more than 30 days past due in the association fees

•At least 50 percent of the total units must be sold prior to an endorsement of a mortgage

•Homeowners’ association budget must have adequate cash reserves.

Source: PARJustListed; 3/30/10


John and Sheri Curci RE/MAX Properties215-968-7400-x 8774 or DIRECT- 1-866-473-6290
Visit our website for more info & pictures on this home or to search all Philadelphia & Bucks County Real Estate

Middle Class Tax Refunds from the Fed Recovery Act

Take advantage of your Privileges from the Federal Tax Recovery Act that was passed last year,
http://www.whitehouse.gov/recovery/tax-saving-tool





John and Sheri Curci RE/MAX Properties 215-968-7400-x 8774
or DIRECT- 1-866-473-6290

Visit our website for more info & pictures on this home or to search all homes Philadelphia & Bucks County
Real Estate.

City of Phila Use and Occupancy ReSale Certs Changed

Effective January 2010;

The City of Phila now requires CO2 detectors installed before a U&O cert can be issued for a resale of a Home by the City L & I Dept.

It use to be only smoke alarms were needed.....but not no moe!

John and Sheri Curci RE/MAX Properties 215-968-7400-x 8774
or DIRECT- 1-866-473-6290

Visit our website for more info & pictures on our home or to search all homesPhiladelphia & Bucks County
Real Estate.

FHA vs VA

FHA vs. VA

Advantages w/VA:
1. no down payment if qualify
2. no monthly mi insurance . vs. .55 on FHA
3. funding fee is waived if 10% or more disabled from military
4. up to: 4% of true closing costs paid by seller + discount points

Advantages w/FHA:
1. Easier to qualify: up to: 56.9% diti for fha vs. 41-43% max VA
2. FHA usually has .125% lower rate than VA
3. FHA allows non-married co-borrowers income to qualify, vs. VA does not
4. FHA appraisal ordered from list of lenders approval list, VA uses their own appraisers
5. FHA usually can close faster – as little as 2 weeks, VA takes usually 4 weeks
6. FHA does not use any residual income to qualify, VA does – may make harder to qualify ( residual income is income left over each month)

Changes to FHA coming soon:
• 4/1 up front mi premium, now: 1.75% going to: 2.25% - affects payment on a $250,000 sales price: $7.24 p/m
• At some point during summer, FHA will max out seller assist to: 3%, now 6%


Which loan is best?
It comes down to a case by case basis. FHA is usually more widely accepted by listing agents in our area, some agents have spent 15 years selling homes and never sold a home using a VA loan. So..... at times, a seller / listing agent maybe more likely to accept an offer from an FHA buyer, than a VA buyer.

Carousel Station 1st Floor end unit

Two bedroom 2 bath 1st floor end unit condo. Eat in kitchen with separate laundry area with heavy duty washer/dryer. Formal dining room with newer pewter chandelier. Balcony with extra storage closet. Backing to tennis courts and one close to pool. Gas heat central air. Newer pergo flooring in foyer and kitchen. Two nice size bedrooms.


Sheri & John Curci Remax Properties 215-757-2889 direct or 215-968-7400 extention 8774

Three story end unit Townhouse in Northern Liberties on Poplar Street. Hardwood floors, Gourmet Kitchen with granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances. Finished basement with wine cellar, three large bedrooms, two full baths with upgraded vanities, tiled, third floor roof top deck with City views. There is a two car attached garage with two car additional driveway parking for this unit. A tax abatement is still in effect until 2014. Please join us for a Broker's Open house on Tuesday March 9, 2010 from 12 to 2 p.m. Lunch will be served and broker's bring your business cards for a chance to win a $50 Visa Gift Card. Qualified buyers are welcome as well. Hope to see you there.
Check it out on our website www.homecatch.com or call Sheri Curci direct at 215-757-2889

Interest Rates

Mortgage rates seem to be in a very tight range FHA and Conventional loans seem to adjust only .125 up or down each day. All "final" rates are determined by lock window, loan amount. For conventional loans, scores and LTV also may affect rate-FHA loans are NOT affected by score or ltv.

Conventioanl 30 year fixed 5.00 with 0 points

FHA 30 year fixed 4.875 - 0 points

VA 30 year fixed 5.00 no PMI with VA

.John and Sheri Curci RE/MAX Properties215-968-7400-x 8774 or DIRECT- 1-866-473-6290

Visit our website for more info & pictures on this home or to search all Philadelphia & Bucks County Real Estate

Come see this huge townhouse in Meadow Ridge in Chalfont, PA. Finished basement, family room; eat in kitchen, Brazillian Cherry Hardwoods. I look forward to seeing you there. Asking $314,900. Call and set up your appointment today

Sheri Curci 215-757-2889 from Remax Properties

New listing its a SHORT SALE in Waterfront Square Northern Liberties. 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath over 1500 square feet condo. Granite countertops, island, electric cooking, private settings for each bedroom on opposite side of unit. Balcony with great views. Home is being sold in As-Is condition. Property listed at $429,900. Third Party Approval is needed.


John and Sheri Curci RE/MAX Properties 215-968-7400-x 8774 or DIRECT- 1-866-473-6290

Visit our website for more info & pictures on this home or to search all Philadelphia & Bucks County Real Estate

The Fed Bond Buying is slowing down

The Fed Reserve tells us repeatedly that their massive purchasing program of Mortgage Backed Securities is just about over which translates to home loan rates rising in the near future.

Last week, the Fed purchased $11 Billion in Mortgage Backed Securities, which leaves them with $66 Billion to spend out of
their original $1.25 Trillion allotment. So about 95% of the total has already been spent and has purchased about 3 out of every 4 home loans during the past year. When such a large buyer leaves the market, it is very likely that prices will worsen.

This is very important because as the Fed has less money to last through the remaining months of the program, their ability to keep home loan rates low via their purchasing power will wane. And those who can take advantage of currently low home loan rates do not wait, as the clock on these historically low rates is ticking.

Also the 8K Tax Credit is nearing it's deadline too.... Any Questions...? feel free to contact John.

John Curci RE/MAX Properties 215-968-7400-x 8774 or DIRECT- 1-866-473-6290

Visit our website for more info & pictures on local homes or to search all Philadelphia & Bucks County Real Estate.

Three story end unit townhome with over 4000 square feet. Two car attached garage and two additional parking spaces with this home. Finished basement includes wine seller. Gorgeous cooks kitchen with granite island, upgrades stainless steel appliances. Four year tax abatement remaining. Roof top deck and so much more. Sellers proudly offer this spectacular home at $729,000. You can come and see us at our broker's open on March 2nd, 2010 from 12 to 2 p.m. Realtors bring your cards for a free drawing to Pizzeria Stella's gift certificate. Qualified buyers may stop by too. This home is located in the very Trendy area of Northern Liberties. Call for a showing or shoot us an email.

John and Sheri Curci RE/MAX Properties 215-968-7400-x 8774 or DIRECT- 1-866-473-6290

Visit our website for more info & pictures on this home or to search all Philadelphia & Bucks County Real Estate.

Washington Crossing Single in Mount Eyre Manor

4 Level home with remodeled eat in kitchen, formal living room and dining room. Heated sunroom looks out into meticulously maintained yard with EP Henry walkways; master shower has sit and sauna. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and seller is asking $539,000. John, Sheri and Donna will be hosting a broker's open house on February 17th, 2010 from 12 to 2 p.m. There will be a catered lunch and a drawing for a $50.00 gift certificate to JB Dawson's in Langhorne. Qualified buyers are welcome to come too.



John and Sheri Curci RE/MAX Properties215-968-7400-x 8774 or DIRECT- 1-866-473-6290
Visit our website for more info & pictures on this home or to search all Philadelphia & Bucks County Real Estate.

The Greens of Doylestown Central Bucks Schools

The Merion Model with 3 bedrooms; eat in kitchen, family room with fireplace. Formal Dining Room, Nice large end unit without having to take care of all that extra space. Full finished basement. Sellers are asking $319,900.

John and Sheri Curci RE/MAX Properties215-968-7400-x 8774or DIRECT- 1-866-473-6290

Visit our website for more info & pictures on this home or to search all Philadelphia & Bucks County Real Estate.

Coverdale Glen in Langhorne

Beautiful semi custom stone Colonial 5 years young. Features include finished walk out basement. Eat in Kitchen with Upgraded Maple Cabinetry, granite counter tops and granite island. Formal living and dining room, huge master suite with master bath. Fenced in inground pool. $779,000.

John Curci RE/MAX Properties215-968-7400-x 8774 or DIRECT- 1-866-473-6290

Visit our website for more info & pictures on this home or to search all Philadelphia & Bucks County Real Estate.

Open house Central Bucks Townhouse

Hello Coming soon is my open house for 414 Hampton Ct. located in Chalfont, PA. The open house will be February 21st from 1 to 3 p.m. We are also having a luncheon for brokers on Tuesday February 23rd from 12 to 2 pm. The home offers over 2500 square feet of living space which includes a finished basement and extra room for lots of storage. The living room dining room combination is perfect for large family/friend gatherings. There is cherry Brazillian flooring throughout the kitchen and family room. Spacious bedrooms upstairs featuring a master bath attached to the master bedroom. Round this out with the upstairs laundry and it is a great place to call home. We currently have it listed for $314,900. The seller is very flexible on a settlement date. John and I would love any questions you may have or to perhaps see you at one of the opens.

John Curci RE/MAX Properties215-968-7400-x 8774 or DIRECT- 1-866-473-6290

Visit our website for more info & pictures on this home or to search all Philadelphia & Bucks County Real Estate.

FHA Guidlines are getting tighter for April 2010

http://www.homecatchnews.blogspot.com/
The Federal Housing Administration is raising mortgage insurance (MIP) rates, reducing seller concessions and tightening credit-score rules to combat a rise in delinquencies, making a government-guaranteed mortgage slightly more expensive for U.S. homebuyers.
Effective with new FHA case numbers issued on or after April 5, 2010, The up front premium (UFMIP) FHA charges to insure mortgages will rise to 2.25 percent from 1.75 percent .
Example of the UPMIP change – As most of you know, Upfront MIP is typically financed into the loan amount and made part of the P & I payment. The extra 1/2% on the total does not change the payment as much as it appears. . On a $300,000 loan, the increased MIP would total an additional $1,500. This equates to an additional $8 per month over the life of the loan.- Not the end of the world, but more costly? …….Yes
REASON FOR THE CHANGE? The agency, which guarantees almost one-third of loans used in home purchases, is grappling with a 14 percent delinquency rate after taking on more risk to resuscitate the housing market when private industry sources evaporated. Defaults pushed mortgage insurance reserves to the lowest level in history last fiscal year, prompting the Obama administration to take bolder steps in shoring up the FHA’s finances.
Other changes pending on the FHA Horizon (likely late spring/early summer)
Borrowers who have credit scores below 580 will also have to make down payments of at least 10 percent,
Seller concessions will be capped at 3% (currently at 6%)
Monthly MIP may also be raised (currently .55% annually)