Chester County, PA is compromised of 12 Public School Districts. They are spread out around Chester County and include many schools in each district.

You can find the school calendars, school football schedules, school basketball schedules, school sports schedules, and other important information by visiting the district websites as listed below.

• Avon Grove School District
• Coatesville Area School District
• Downingtown Area School District Previously Featured on WestofPhillyBurbs.com is Downingtown Area School District
  
• Great Valley School District
• Kennett Consolidated School District
• Octorara Area School District
• Owen J. Roberts School District
• Oxford Area School District
• Phoenixville Area School District
• Tredyffrin/Easttown School District Previously Featured on WestofPhillyBurbs.com is T/E School District
  
• Unionville-Chadds Ford School District
• West Chester Area School District Previously Featured on WestofPhillyBurbs.com is West Chester Area School District

The number of Listings decreased by 282 units when you compare January 2008 to January 2009. This could be for a number of reasons – including that many sellers who are selling now want to sell their home. They are not testing the real estate market.  The amount of homes that sold relative to the number listed did not vary too much from 2008-2009. Neither did the Days on Market (DOM).

Real Estate Report of Monthly Statistics

Criteria searched was $100,000 – $1,000,000.  All Residential Real Estate in Chester County Statistics.

Chester County PA includes the following areas: Atglen, Avondale, Birmingham, Caln, Charlestown, Coatesville, Downingtown, E Bradford, E Brandywine, E Caln, E Coventry, E Fallowfield, E Goshen, E Marlborough, E Nantmeal, E Nottingham, E Pikeland, E Vincent, E Whiteland, Easttown, Elk, Elverson, Franklin, Highland, Honeybrook, Kennett Square, L Oxford, London Britain, London Grove, Londonderry, Malvern, Modena, N Coventry, New Garden, New London, Newlin, Oxford, Parkesburg, Penn, Pennsbury, Phoenixville, Pocopson, S Coatesville, S Coventry, Sadsbury, Schuylkill, Spring City, Thornbury, Tredyffrin, U Oxford, U Uwchlan, Uwchlan, Valley, W Bradford, W Brandywine, W Caln, W Chester, W Fallowfield, W Goshen, W Grove, W Marlborough, W Nantmeal, W Nottingham, W Pikeland, W Sadsbury, W Vincent, W Whiteland, Wallace, Warwick, Westtown, and Willistown.

Click Here for a Delaware County Real Estate Market Report.

For a personalized report of the Real Estate Activity for your area, email Kim for a copy via email.

The number of Listings decreased quite a bit from January 2008 to January 2009, this could be that only the serious sellers are selling right now. Rates are down, it’s a great time to take advantage of some excellent pricing out there!  For sellers, the days a home is on the market (DOM) increased quite a bit.  To discuss your options in Selling or Buying Delaware County Real Estate – contact Kim Wood.

Monthly Statistics for Delaware County Residential Real Estate

Criteria searched was $100,000 – $1,000,000.

All Residential Real Estate in Delaware County Statistics.

Delaware County PA includes the following areas: Aldan, Aston, Bethel, Chadds Ford, Brookhaven, Chester Heights, Chester, L Chichester, U Chichester, Clifton Heights, Collingdale, Colwyn, Concord, Darby, U Darby, E Lansdowne, Eddystone, Edgmont, Folcroft, Glenolden, Haverford, Lansdowne, Marcus hook, Marple, Media, Middletown, Millbourne, Morton, Newtown, Norwood, Parkside, Prospect Park, Nether Providence, U Providence, Radnor, Ridley Park, Ridley, Rose Valley, Rutledge, Sharon Hill, Springfield, Swarthmore, Thornbury, Tinicum, Trainer, Upland, and Yeadon..

Click Here for a Chester County Real Estate Market Report.

Asbestos Removal and Greener Alternatives

There are many things to consider when remodeling or purchasing an older home. Homes built before 1980 have the strong likelihood of containing asbestos. Due to a steady progression of technology and green sustainable methods, there are many ways to ensure your home or property is asbestos free. If you are interested in saving money, remodeling and improving your carbon footprint, here is some information to get you on the right track.

Used in millions of homes throughout the last quarter of the 20^th century, asbestos insulation can become a real dilemma for homeowners due to causing a variety of health problems, including Peritoneal Mesothelioma and Malignant Mesothelioma. These types of cancer take the lives of thousands each year.

Non-regulated asbestos material can be legally performed by homeowners, regular contractors, or licensed asbestos abatement contractors as long as the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) are not violated. Asbestos removal in public facilities, homes and workplaces must be undertaken by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor. Once the removal is complete, green insulation options should be given serious consideration, such as: Cellulose, Cotton Fiber and Lcynene.

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC), in a study conducted in 2003, estimated a savings of $50-$65 per square foot for well-constructed green buildings in the U.S. (see table below) during that year. The numbers continue to improve as more eco-friendly options become available, and those kinds of figures have finally begun to attract those who thought eco-friendly construction was just a bunch of hogwash.

I listened to a friend make a phone call today. It was returning someone’s call who was interested in a house he had listed for sale in Fresno, CA. He explained that although that home was under contract, he could be of assistance to find another home. It was amazing how similar we handle those calls. We want to help!

It can be a jungle out there trying to find a home of your dreams among all of the inventory available with the current Real Estate Market. With an agent who really listens to your desires in what you would like in a home; and one who is not afraid to bring you into reality… you will save time and money!

Most agents, including myself, do not charge home buyers to be of service. The most common question I hear when informing buyers of this is, “Well then how do you make money?”  I receive a fee for my service from the seller of the house if and when you have a settlement for purchase.

What types of services can you obtain from a Buyer’s Agent like Kim Wood?

• Quick notification of new homes that come on the market that meet your criteria
• Top notch negotiation skills to save you money
• Priority in communication and schedule availability
• Preview of property to save you time
• Attention to details and accuracy of paperwork
• Assistance in taking a vast number of homes for sale and narrowing them to your dream

I hope I get the opportunity to help you in the purchase of your new home West of the Philadelphia Suburbs. If you are looking into purchasing a home elsewhere, I have a large network of friends and associates that are a phone call away!

I know I’m late to let you know, but if you happen to be in Downingtown, PA in Chester County before January 4th, you’ll want to take the time to swing by KeatsGlen neighborhood to see this light show! Visit LemmonLights for information on directions, hours, and pictures of what it takes to get this show together! You’ll be wow’d !

To my Papap, (in World War II in the photo), who is no longer with us…

To my Mom, who joined the Air Force as a Single Mother as a nurse…

To my Dad, who earned Top Pilot awards in the F-111…

To Michael and many, many other friends …

Thank you for your service to our country,

This day is for you !

Highland Orchards, Inc.

1000 Marshallton-Thorndale Road
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: 610-269-3494

You can pick your own with over 200 acres of crops ! LittleOne5 has had two field trips here, and they are really good to the kids in the school groups. They have a learning station where they get to see inside a large refrigerator, have a treat of Apple Cider and the famous Apple Cider Donut, and get to press apples into cider themselves!

They also went on a hayride into the rows of Apple Trees and got to chose their very own three apples from the tree! “Find the right one. Hold it tight and twist three times until it comes off with a small pull.”

I remember going here as a child with my grandmother, DeeDee who lived down the road. It was always a treat to come and pick out some penny candy.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month – which I have renamed Cancer Awareness month.  Many people have gone “pink” with their avatars to raise awareness and remind followers of the importance of the fight.

My daughter, AChrome, got some of the gals in the family to join in and walk for the American Cancer Society 5-mile walk in Philadelphia this past weekend. She and her friend even made us all t-shirts to wear for the team, “Save the Ta-Tas”.

The walk was filled with different emotions – my thoughts heavy for two friends who lost their fathers last year, a friend who is a survivor, a friend fighting the fight – and also for so many that I don’t personally know with stories.

You can make a difference.
One by One.

I’m back. It’s a two post (at least so far) day today. Why? It’s Blog Action Day today – where approximately 10,000 people have agreed to talk about Poverty in their blogs today.

There are just so many things to talk about! I started the last post quite a few times. Thankfully a friend rescued me in from my total scatterbrained mode to get a direction talking about some people that stretch so far buying a new house they get caught in a poverty state racking up debt.

I’m back because the topic is still on my mind, and I wanted to talk about so many different things. Doing something about Poverty on a local or global level isn’t always about giving money, like some people think. It can be helping to raise awareness, devoting your time (labor, web design, phone calls, etc), donating items, feeding someone a meal, and so on.

How can you help beat Poverty?

• Write a blog post on Poverty today
• Go shopping. Underwear shopping! There is a very special lady in California, Rocky, who has a huge heart for the children living in poverty. She founded Mothers Fighting for Others whose mission explains it best, “Mothers Fighting For Others is dedicated to providing these children with the basic necessities that we provide for our own children. We will give them a roof over their heads, safe food and clean water, and a chance to learn, to grow and to thrive.”
• Make a commitment to help serve at your local soup kitchen, shelter, or holiday dinner.
• Send your thoughts, prayers, vibes, energy whatever you believe in to the people living in Poverty.
• Go through the closets especially as winter is among us. There are many without coats or blankets to keep warm. Find them or donate.
• The food banks in Chester County are low on food. Pick up some extra non-perishable foods every time you visit the store. (There are collection boxes in our three offices of RE/MAX Main Line).
• Be aware. If you can fill a need, suck it up and get to it. Do you know what a blessing you could be if you jumped in and paid part/all of the grocery bill of the person in front of you in line? You’ll know when it’s right. Just listen.

It has saddened my heart as I’ve just opened my eyes to what is around me … whether it’s the homeless person sleeping on a bench, a structure of cardboard for living in Jamaica, children physically noted to be malnourished in Turkey, or a single mother in need of some groceries or gas money. Just open your eyes – then do something about it. You can make difference.

Image Credit