Around the Block: 3/21/20

March 23, 2020 BY JEFF CITY BLOCK

At this critical time and because we love this city, this country, our clients, our entire CBT team, and Compass colleagues, we are not hosting Open Houses. Safety comes first. Below is a newsletter that Jeff shared on Saturday, 3/21/20. If you would like to receive Jeff’s newsletter when it originally deploys, please visit cityblockteam.com and click on Sign up for the weekly newsletter. Thank you.

Volume 19: Issue 67
3/21/20

Your Weekly Dose of Real Estate News, Listings
and More — by Jeff “City” Block

Photo credit: Katie Robinson/Philadephia Magazine
“Rittenhouse Square Is Covered In Flowers From Canceled Events” March 19, 2020

Ahead of the Curve. Community Oriented. Open for Virtual Business.

These are unprecedented times. Moments we will remember forever.

Things are changing so fast and so dramatically that it is hard to keep track. The only way to strategize is to plan ahead.

Realtors all over this area are trying to figure out what to do. It is indisputable that all Real Estate offices must close and that we must all work from home. Where Realtors are not on the same page is whether showings can occur if all safety precautions are met, like staying six feet apart and not touching anything. Or even just virtually, where a Realtor goes into a home and walks through with his or her phone.

It is hard for me to say this because there is nothing I like more than marketing and selling homes. But the only responsible answer is no more showings of any kind. No entering homes with or without a client. For myself, all City Block Team agents, our families at home, and for the community at large, it is the responsible thing to do. Here is why:

1. When the Governor states no real estate business at our physical location, of course that includes our office. And the spirit of that rule would include homes we are selling as well. Such homes are a physical location where Real Estate business is transacted.

2. As an advocate providing Expert Real Estate Representation for my clients, I am always looking for a strategic and ethical angle in order to give my clients an advantage. And I will outwork anyone. So why wouldn’t I show a house by making the argument that a home is not technically covered by the Governor’s mandate (some Realtors and at least one major Philly brokerage is trying this angle)?

Several reasons for this—

First, this is not some BS red-tape rule put in place by the government bureaucracy. This is the correct decision on a deadly serious issue.

Second, more important than any one home showing is my health and the health of my clients, and our families, everyone they come in contact with, and their families (and so on).

Third, the step that Governor Wolf took Thursday evening is a first step. All indications are that it is highly likely that stricter and more comprehensive measures are on the way and that this will not be for just two weeks. That is what the infectious disease experts are indicating. So, is it worth risking the health of individuals and the community for one or two more showings? They should stop now.

Fourth, the more we all adhere to physical distancing, the faster we will be through this and with the least harm to humans, our community, and our economy. Because I am always a glass-half-full type guy. I think we will come out of this stronger as a society. I think we will learn so much. I think our economy and the stock market will rebound. And I think that when we are on the other side—the market will blossom with buyers and sellers looking to transact some Real Estate.

3. In a time like this, be community-minded. It will work out better for you and everyone in the end.

Ok, so all that being said, let’s talk some Real Estate. Here is how I can help:

1. If you need to buy or sell now, please contact me and together, we can devise the best strategy to help meet your specific goals within the confines of the current reality. It could involve a video conference where you “walk” me around your home. It could include a detailed discussion of property photos/videos on the internet, where we can evaluate what those photos tell us about the home. It could involve us discussing exactly what you need to do to get the home ready to sell once we are free to socially interact. And of course, we can talk about pricing, timing, logistics, and strategy for approaching your home sale or home search, so we are ready to jump as soon as we are able.

2. If you are considering buying or selling in the future, well, I am at home and ready to discuss your future plans. Set up a search, provide market data, discuss pricing, timing, logistics, etc.

3. If you are not in the market for real estate, but just like checking it out online, or perhaps you want to know the value of your home, let me know and I can set up a private collection for you to review online. So, between homeschooling, disinfecting, and binge-watching, why not check out some online real estate!?! Please contact me to discuss.

Finally, here are my takeaways as this surreal week comes to an end.

This is obviously a negative situation. Lives disrupted, people getting sick, kids out of school, stock market way down, businesses closed (very sadly many will be for good), high unemployment, people having issues making ends meet. We cannot control any of that. What we can control is what we do during this time. Take any challenge and make the best of it:

1. Stay safe and take the responsibility very seriously to keep others safe. Stay at home.

2. Spend extra time with loved ones if possible. This includes pets, of course. BTW, cats may not be happy about this new arrangement, but every dog sure is. This is how life should be for a dog. Entire pack together,

24-7, indefinitely. No one leaves unless taking them for a walk.

3. Work on things you don’t otherwise have time for. This could be a hobby, exercise, work, education, or just plain relaxing or chilling. For me, in addition to my family, I have some awesome work-related opportunities. I am always so busy with deals, I have like a dozen longer-term projects to improve my efficiency, systems, and workflow, and to further refine my marketing. I’m also reading about how to be a better leader. I love to learn and often do not have the time.

The more we stay home now, the sooner we will be free to leave our homes and the fewer people will get sick and die. Yes, I am optimistic, but I am also realistic. This will be tough for all. Much tougher for some than others. And I look forward to when we are ready to move on and thrive.

Wishing you well,

Jeff

Spotlight Property of the Week

817 S 48th Street
NEW LISTING IN UNIVERSITY CITY
7 Bed | 2.5 Bath | 3,402 SF
$649,000

This gracious Victorian is celebrating her 125th birthday in 2020! Her well-preserved Queen Anne details include original woodwork, pocket doors, French doors, decorative fireplaces, bay windows and oak floors with decorative borders. There is a period china cabinet in the dining room, and two butler pantry cabinets in the classic, comfy, eat-in kitchen – a great gathering space which also features a gas-fired reproduction pot-bellied stove. More modern amenities include A/C and a 1st floor half bath. A charming open back porch overlooks a brick patio bordered by garden beds. Upstairs, there are 7 good-sized rooms for bedrooms, a family room and/or home offices, plus two full baths.

This generous-sized twin home is on an elegant, tree-lined block in the Cedar Park neighborhood of University City, West Philadelphia. The #34 trolley is at the corner (a 15-minute ride to center city, stopping at the campuses of the University of Pennsylvania & Drexel University, and the 30th St. transportation hub along the way). For UPenn affiliates, there is a Penn bus which stops at the corner. Local restaurants and shops are just around the corner on Baltimore Avenue, the local main street, and Cedar Park itself is just one block to the west. The tenants’ lease ends on June 30, 2020, and the property is ready for your move-in at that time.

View full listing here

This Week’s Featured Listings

Please contact me to discuss these or any other properties or with any questions

7111 Germantown Avenue ON-SITE COVERED PARKING FULL 10-YEAR TAX ABATEMENT Mount Airy 19 distinctive & dramatic condominium residences with high-end finishes & significant character. $405,000 – $1,200,000	5 Willings Alley NEW LISTING! DEEDED PARKING & ROOF DECK TAKE THE VIRTUAL TOUR HERE! Society Hill 3 Bed \| 2.5 Bath $925,000
817 S 48th Street SPOTLIGHT PROPERTY University City 7 Bed \| 2.5 Bath $649,000	4720 Larchwood Avenue University City 4 Bed \| 2.5 Bath $579,900
4025 Powelton Avenue NEW LISTING! Powelton Village Quadplex $550,000	2429 Locust Street #510 ON-SITE GARAGE PARKING INCLUDED! JUST REDUCED! Fitler Square 1 Bed \| 1 Bath $375,000
531 Greenwich Street JUST REDUCED! SOON TO BE FEATURED ON HGTV’s HOUSE HUNTERS Dickinson Square West 2 Bed \| 2.5 Bath $359,000	173 W Price Street BRAND NEW CONSTRUCTION FULL 10-YEAR TAX ABATEMENT Germantown 3 Bed \| 2 Bath $350,000
240 W Penn Street BRAND NEW CONSTRUCTION FULL 10-YEAR TAX ABATEMENT Germantown 3 Bed \| 1.5 Bath $269,500	2053 Christian Street #B JUST REDUCED! Graduate Hospital 1 Bed \| 1 Bath $265,000
610 Annin Street JUST REDUCED! Passyunk Square 2 Bed \| 1 Bath $240,000	Timely information and updates regarding Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Philadelphia can be found at phila.gov/COVID-19. COVID-19 Text Alerts: Text COVIDPHL to 888-777 to receive updates to your phone. Greater Philadelphia Coronavirus Helpline: Call the 24/7 helpline to speak with a health care professional. 1-800-722-7112.

CBT Under Contract

264 S 9th Street
210 W Rittenhouse Square #2503

4043 Sansom Street

5010 Hazel Avenue

3405 Baring Street

501 S 45th Street

503 S 45th Street
407 S 43rd Street

750 S 52nd Street
800 S St Bernard Street

742 Lombard Street
1324 Locust Street #505
2103 Catharine Street
1018 S 24th Street
525 Fitzwater Street #2
317 S 2nd Street #5C
2003 Brandywine Street

2446 Tulip Street

2350 N Park Avenue

706 S Mt Pleasant Avenue

2200 Arch Street #804
4826 Aspen Street

5230 Walton Avenue

2001 Hamilton Street #1224

811 Bowman Avenue

3 Michele Drive

615 Elkins Avenue

1501 Green Street #4
1704 Wallace Street #101

528 Montgomery Avenue

416 N Saunders Avenue

1218 N 30th Street #1

315 New Street #510

2341 E Harold Street

2215 Cantrell Street
6639 N Fairhill Street

As always, please know that I’m humbled by and appreciative of your introductions and referrals. If you have a friend, colleague, or family member that is in need of Expert Real Estate Representation, please have them contact me.

Be assured, I will do my best to exceed their expectations! Thanks for taking the time to read this issue of Around the Block.

Compass RE is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage.

Some imagery in this e-newsletter was sourced via Visit Philadelphia®.
Pixabay, Canva.com, and pexels.com

Spotlight Property of the Week

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