Relevant Commentary, all information Philly (real estate and otherwise), Open Houses, Listings, Happenings, and More — by Jeff “City” Block
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Providing Expert Real Estate Representation Since July 2001.
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Part 1—Leaving the Law to Become a Real Estate Professional
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A question I am asked a lot is: Why did you leave the law to go into real estate?
I liked being an attorney. I enjoyed my colleagues at Drinker Biddle & Reath. I was in the corporate department and focused on insurance regulatory work, securities law, and M&A. Intellectually challenging and interesting work (yes, really, it was!). I liked it but was not passionate about it. What I was passionate about was working directly with clients and the City of Philadelphia. So much so, that a few of my fellow Drinker associates started calling me City. This was in 2000.
Prior to law school, I graduated from Temple University with a BA in Urban Studies and a concentration in the City of Philadelphia. So, I actually studied the City in college, grew up here, and lived here my whole life. Philly was what I was passionate about. So, how could I marry my knowledge of Philly and working with business clients with my legal background? Hmmm.
What about real estate? Well, my mom was a successful Realtor, and to be frank, this was a career I never considered. I had zero sales background, and I was always more of a detail guy than a sales guy (spoiler alert: I still am). Even though my dad was an attorney and my mom a Realtor (the two careers in which I ended up), I never saw myself working in the “family business,” so to speak. I wanted to strike out on my own. At the time, my parents, grandparents, and everyone in my family said to me: “You are an attorney; why would you want to be a Realtor? You have no sales experience; you will make no salary; giving up the law, really?”
Well, I just had a feeling that this was what I wanted to do. My mom, Joanne Davidow, has been a top Philly Realtor since 1978 and she offered me a position to work with her and form a team. I declined and set to work at building my own career. That being said, I wanted to work at the best real estate office in Philly. And in 2001, that was, without question, the Rittenhouse Hotel office of Prudential Fox & Roach. And who was the manager of that office? My mom. She had founded and owned Midtown Realty, which became one of Center City Philly’s top brokerages in the 80’s and 90’s. Around the turn of the century, Pru Fox & Roach offered to buy Midtown. And who did Joanne retain to represent Midtown in the M&A deal with PFR? Her son, the big firm corporate attorney. So unlike other Drinker deals I handled, where I was typically a small cog in a major corporate transaction, I ran the entire deal. I loved it. I realized then that handling a vital deal for an individual client was what I really enjoyed. That realization was one more piece in my eventual career change decision. Because in very few other careers do you help individuals in a more important life transaction (both personal and financial) than in residential real estate.
So, in late spring of 2001, I gave Drinker my notice and prepared to start my real estate career. I passed the real estate licensing exam and decided I would start my own business under the umbrella of Prudential Fox & Roach. In the summer of 2001, Philly had just completed eight years with our most successful mayor ever (by far), Ed Rendell. Coming out of the early 90’s recession, the city was on a huge upswing. And do you know what advice most people gave me? “Jeff, the real estate market has been hot for several years now, and it is probably due for a downturn. Why get into real estate now?” I disagreed and believed the city was on a huge upswing. So, on July 23, 2001, I walked into the office on my first day as a Realtor.
In 2001, a few Drinker buddies called me City, but I thought it would be a little presumptuous for a 33-year-old attorney to start a new career and start calling himself City before he ever showed a house, let alone sold one. I thought that an actual nickname like that had to be earned. So, my business card said Jeffrey B Block, just like my legal business card. And I was just Jeff Block.
On August 22, 2001, I put my first home under contract. 640 Addison was a spacious 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath with lovely patio, finished lower level, and parking! It was literally one block from where I grew up (506 Addison). By the way, how much did a lovely townhome with parking on a quiet tree-lined block in Society Hill go for in 2001? $485,000. And the closing date was set for my 34th birthday in late September. My new career was under way. The real estate market remained strong. I had met several buyers I was working with. I loved residential real estate. I knew right away I had a knack for it and a passion that I never had for the law. I was thrilled.
Back then, we had office meetings every Tuesday morning at 9 am. I had been an agent for about seven weeks when I approached our office meeting on the morning of September 11th. The late and amazing Patty Hogan was outside the meeting, really upset and on the phone. She told me that a plane just crashed in the World Trade Center. I walked in and the meeting was abuzz with speculation. Most assumed that some private plane must have had a terrible accident. Within minutes, we learned that that was not the case as the news immediately spread of the second plane. The meeting stopped and we all crowded around the TV in our 4th floor offices, and then went off to be with our family and friends and loved ones as that horrible day unfolded. As we approach the 20th anniversary of 9/11, I will always remember walking up to Patty Hogan and first hearing about the plane crashing into the World Trade Center.
Like most Americans, I had no idea what would happen next? Would the attacks continue? Were we safe? Would things ever be the same? And what about our jobs and the economy? Would people still buy houses? I had been warned going into my career that the real estate market was due for a fall. What would happen now? Well for the most part, Americans came together, and the economy quickly rebounded. I closed my first deal on my 34th birthday. And so began my real estate career. 20 years ago, this month.
More to the story next week.
Stay cool and have a great weekend.
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748 S Harshaw Street
NEW PRICE
3 BD | 2.5 BA | 1,500 SF | Finished Lower Level | Rear Patio | $500,000
Stunning 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath 2-story townhome with a superior finished lower level and cute rear patio.
On one of the Graduate neighborhood’s most desirable, quiet tree-lined blocks. Beautiful finishes, beautiful condition, including original random width pine floors throughout.
Open 1st floor plan with an addition on the rear for powder room and laundry.
The 2nd floor has two nice-sized bedrooms and a tiled full bath. Excellent light.
The sellers spent 6-figures on the finished lower level (and some other improvements), and it looks it. This lower level is really, really nice.
An overall very high-quality home, with great character, shows great, awesome block. A+ Location with a 96 WalkScore and 95 BikeScore. Walk to so many restaurants, coffee shops, and shopping within a couple blocks and just a few blocks further to Rittenhouse Square.
NOTE: The listed square footage includes the finished lower level.
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Night Tours at Eastern State Penitentiary
Head to Eastern State Penitentiary during the evening for new Night Tours, where visitors can explore the historic cellblocks at dusk. Admission includes an audio tour featuring the voices of real former prisoners and staff. Also guests will have access to the award-winning exhibit Prisons Today and can see special features like Al Capone’s cell.
While there, enjoy brews from the new pop-up beer garden on the penitentiary’s baseball diamond, offering craft beer and presentations by staff.
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Center City’s Uptown Beer Garden returns in a new location, Penn Center, where guests can enjoy awesome views of the City Hall tower. The space has room for 350 guests, who can sip cocktails on park benches, resort-style couches, and bar stools while surrounded by greenery and strings of lights.
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Last Monday Charlie was a sinner extended its hours till 2 am and introduced five new summer fruit and herbal cocktails.
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Franklin Square debuted a scenic new beer garden last Wednesday. The garden has chandeliers, a garden theme, and sits under a translucent tent Along with this opening is new weekly summer programming at the square including free yoga and dance lessons (Wednesdays), live DJs (Thursdays), and live music (Fridays).
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Devil’s Den in South Philly is bringing back its popular Bingo Beer Nights, hosted by SweetWater Brewing Company. Come by every other Tuesday through August 24 to play.
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Mount Airy
New Construction
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317 N 33rd Street
NEW PRICE
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2 Bed | 1.5 Bath
$595,000
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250 S 17th Street, Unit 100
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733 S 12th Street, Unit 200
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437 W Abbottsford Avenue
NEW PRICE
3 Bed | 2.5 Bath
$510,000
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748 S Harshaw Street
NEW PRICE
3 Bed | 2.5 Bath
$500,000
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701 Mercy Street
BRAND NEW LISTING
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1510 S Camac Street
BRAND NEW LISTING
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4 Bed | 2.5 Bath
$275,000
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1810 Rittenhouse Square #503
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Monroe – Gloucester County
3 Bed | 2.5 Bath
$199,900
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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.
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Some imagery in this e-newsletter was sourced via Visit Philly, UWISHUNU Philadelphia, thephiladelphiacitizen.org, and Canva.
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