Let's discuss Delaire Landing Condo, a gated waterfront community. On a nice day, you will see many smiling faces walking around. Some residents will be sitting on the deck watching the boats go by, while others will get their exercise by walking the property. Delaire Landing is very picturesque, especially by the river.  So much to do in this beautiful gated waterfront condo community. How lucky are the residents to have 24/7 security with a guard on duty at the gatehouse? Delaire Landing Condo, a gated waterfront community, also has a clubhouse with a gym, library, many social activities, trips, and clubs. There are also two outdoor pools open during the summer months, offering views of the river.  Right now, Tickets are being sold for our New Year's Party with a Live Band. Let's talk... 10/30/2025

Here are some surprises this week: more Steals than Deals I was made aware of the money I was spending and throwing away. In fact, it was most likely slowly making me sick as well as wasting my money. I have a feeling many of you will be as shocked as I was. Let's talk about bottled water and how safe they are Let's start with these Brands Poland Springs (there is no such Spring; it dried up years ago, and they are in a legal battle). Starky Mineral Spring Water -  Whole Foods: arsenic found Dasani - Coca-Cola - adds magnesium, potassium, and high levels of nano Plastics Deer Park -Use of Forever chemicals, PHFA found (no lawsuit as of yet)FUGI - arsenic and microplastics Sam's Choice - Eight chemicals were found in this water; THM is considered a high Health risk. Topo Chica Mineral Wa... 10/24/2025

The Glen Foerd Mansion is within walking distance of my community. It is located on Grant and State Rd 5001, Grant Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19114. It is located along the Delaware River in Northeast Philadelphia, on 18 acres, and is open to the public.A visit to the public gardens of the Philadelphia region is an opportunity to stroll through the history of American horticulture when William Penn first arrived on its eastern shores to lay claim to the hardwood forests of what he named Pennsylvania, or Penn’s Woods.Although a handful of Europeans had already established a presence in this lush land that had long been home to the Lenni Lenape Indians, many of the new settlers were Quakers, like Penn, who established a home and large garden at Pennsury Manor on the Delaware River. The Quakers... 10/22/2025

Ms Anna Banana asked us to share a recipe on the weekends. While surfing the web, I came across some fantastic recipes that I am going to try. This one, however, looked very decadent, and I am now following the lady who presented it. She shares the recipes and makes it look like so much fun. I do enjoy cooking, and now that the weather is getting cooler in my area, I will be cooking more often. I like the fact that all the ingredients are natural. Even if you are consuming sugar and eating right, it is okay to indulge in something sweet and delicious as long as you do so in moderation. My problem was that when I baked, I would take a small piece and keep coming back for more until I ate the entire cake or pie. We must learn to eat in moderation, regardless of the foods we consume, to st... 10/18/2025

Philadelphia Steals and Deals Competent Driver Off 5th Eye Brightener Did you know that you can take a Smart Driving Course with AARP and get a discount on your driving insurance for older drivers? That is right, AAPP offers the first Driver's Safety National refresher course. To see if you qualify and for more information, go to aarp.org/drive I took two classes, and now I have to send my certificate to State Farm Insurance to get my discount. I just talked to my  State Farm Insurance agent, and I am going to email them a copy, and they will handle it from there.  Suddenly, I had this impulse to stop what I was doing and go shopping. I found myself in the car going to OFF Fifth Saks Outlet at Philadelphia Mills, to be honest, I thought I was a little crazy. I walked over to the sneaker... 10/17/2025

It is time for Steals and Deals this week. I hope you find it helpful and interesting.  Great Buy at TJ Maxx: Kurt Geiger Stud Earrings. They were all marked $24.99, but one pair was marked $19.99, and the saleslady gave them to me for that price. These earrings sell for $68.99, and I have a belt with a matching eagle head, making them a Steal of a Deal and a very unexpected find. Needless to say, I was thrilled.  Amazon Prime Day - I found better deals a week before, and I was disappointed. I have purchased Amazon Presto pods for those who use dishwasher pods. In my opinion, Amazon Presto pods check out better than the name brands, and I got a fantastic deal on them. $8.99 for 70 pods - name brands are twice the price, if not more. For those who have not paid attention to me in my doct... 10/10/2025

Connections we make in Real Estate. I am a member of a nationwide blogging community called Active Rain. Have you heard of it? We discuss Real Estate all across the Country.This month, we were asked to write about people we have connected with. Last year, one of our members from Arizona Brian England  was visiting the Philadelphia area and wanted to know if I was available for a meet-up on November 1 for lunch. He was calling a few others in the area. I was excited to meet him, and I knew the others in the region would also love to meet him. I replied, 'Yes, unless it snowed,' of course, and they all laughed at me. He picked the time and place. Nick the Brit and I talked about meet-ups before, but in our area, no one usually shows up, so we were both thrilled that Brian managed to get p... 09/24/2025

Who do you know and connect with? When I first started Active Rain back in 2008, I would see this guy always writing about where he lived. He would write and post these beautiful pictures and talk about the Real Estate in his area. I was just a reader, but he intrigued me. I always read what he posted. He was also a member of the gray wolves, another blogging group. He called himself the Relocation Dude. Have you guessed who he is yet? He lived in the suburbs of Philly and moved to Boston, or was it Massachusetts? Then he settled in sunny Southern California.  I started blogging and was grandfathered into Active Rain. Of course, I followed this dude, and he followed me! I also remember when his mom relocated from the East Coast to the West Coast. We were starting to become friends.We ac... 09/19/2025

This story is going to sound like a commercial for State Farm Insurance. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. The other night, I was relaxing in bed, watching TV, and Cleo, my Siamese cat, started alarmingly jumping on me. I sensed there was something wrong, so I got up and water was pouring out of my light fixtures in my hallway, Bathroom, and DR I immediately realized it was coming from my upstairs neighbors.  I ran up the stairs and banged on his door. There was no answer. I rang his doorbell. There was no answer. I called him on his phone. There was no answer. His car was there, so I knew he was home. I live in a gated community, so I called the gatehouse to request that maintenance shut off the water. Now a bubble was forming in my DR ceiling, and I knew it would soon burst a... 09/12/2025

 This post takes me back. I worked with a fellow when I first started in Real Estate. When I left the small appraisal office where we received excellent training, I was ready to work in a high-powered office. He said he was too. I stayed at this company for many years, but he pursued his passion for music a few years later.Later, he came to see me and expressed interest in buying a home. He was divorced, but his daughter had a child and was unmarried. He wanted a large row home where he could live in the lower level and she and the Grandson could live upstairs, allowing them to share the kitchen. Perhaps they could even find a duplex with separate living quarters. His mom had passed away, and she left him some money; his daughter had a good job, and he had a steady job playing music. It... 08/20/2025

There have been many clients who have touched my heart, but the most memorable was when I received a phone call from a lady saying she was from the Home Team and was coming into town to find a house for a TV show, and would I be available to help her. I said, of course, she told me what she was looking for and would be in on Friday. She called me when she landed in Philadelphia from Washington state, and we started looking on Saturday.We hit it off right away, and by Sunday evening, we had found two places: one was an older twin home, and the other was a second-floor contemporary condo. She notified her crew and sent pictures, and the choice was made. The condo was chosen for its location, which was ideal for filming. You may remember my posts on Rivers Bend.Over dinner, we discussed th... 08/13/2025

Let's discuss what happened in July at Delaire Landing Community.  It started as a rainy summer, especially on the weekends. The weather did change, and it turned into a beautiful summer. The 4th of July Potluck would not be deterred; it would take place rain or shine. That it did, and it was a success.There was also the evening pool party hosted by our resident DJ, MIKE. Dancing and bringing your food was a splashing event enjoyed by all who attended   Joyce hosted a new event, a Food truck event, and although it rained, it was not a washout; it was fantastic!   We are hoping she will organize another one soon.   On Sundays, our resident Ice Cream Truck, Scoop-affles, has fantastic flavors ofice cream and water ice. If you are sitting by the pool on a hot day, you're thankful to see th... 07/31/2025

 Philadelphia’s transfer tax is going up on July 1As of July 1, the city’s portion of real estate transfer tax will increase from 3.278% to 3.578%. The state will remain at 1%, resulting in a total of 4.578% for transactions in Philadelphia. Even if your transaction happens before July 1, if you don’t register the deed before July 1, the new transfer tax rate will apply.Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 6/13/2025The City of Philadelphia has some of the highest transfer taxes in the country. The transfer tax is typically split equally between the buyer and the seller at the time of final settlement.  What renters and landlords need to know about changes to security depositsPhiladelphia City Council passed two key housing bills on June 12, setting the stage for them to become law in the comi... 07/01/2025

Let's talk about Delaire Landing Community. It is located in the Torresdale section of NE Philadelphia along the Delaware River. At one time, it was the best-kept secret in Philly, but it is becoming more popular. It is a gated waterfront community with many social activities. It also features two beautiful pools right on the river, one  lap pool and the other a heated pool. In the summer, it becomes a tropical oasis for many of the residents. During the summer months, we host evening swim parties featuring our local DJ, Mike. The club plans wonderful trips to fantastic places. There are card games if you like to play, and even the famous mahjong games. Water aerobics is also available twice a week.  Our own Joyce Fineberg hosts numerous fairs several times a year and teaches amazing cr... 04/28/2025

There is another person I cannot exclude who greatly influenced my life: my Father. Dad was a jack of all trades; he could do anything he put his mind to. He went deep sea fishing every Saturday like clockwork in the warm weather. He was up before dawn and home by dinner with fresh fish, usually blue Fish or Flounder. Sometimes, he would take me fishing, but not the deep sea as if I got seasick, and they would not turn back. I remember one time no one was catching fish except me. I was catching blowfish.  Dad was the youngest of six. There were three boys and three girls. My Uncle Joe owned a car dealership, and my Dad would bring home old antique model cars with running boards and spotlights like you see in movies. They smelled so good inside because everything was made of genuine leat... 03/27/2025

Spring is here today! MR squirrel was looking around as usual, and Cleo was amazed at all the birds singing at our door today. Suddenly, I heard this bird screeching, one I had not heard before. With my camera in hand, I walked over, and the most beautiful Blue Jay was perched on the walkway fence. He seemed to be talking to Mr. Squirrell, who controlled the warm water bowl I had placed outside. Before I could snap his picture, he was gone.   Cleo wanted to go out and play. She was upset and tried to go outside later once they were all gone. She came right back in; she knew home. The Blue Jay has a nest in the big tree next to our condo, so that we will see him again. They have a very distinct voice. I will try to get a picture of him in the next several days. The weather is warmer, but... 03/20/2025

My older sister Sarae greatly influenced me. She was always there for me, my Friend, and also like a second mother. I remember her helping me with my homework assignments. We often visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Franklin Institute. Back then, we did not have computers; we had encyclopedias, and she would help me choose what subject to write about. When I was a young kid, she would take me out with her friends. I pledged with a sorority, and I was the mascot. She took me everywhere. I was even lucky enough to watch her dance on Bandstand; it was so exciting. Mom, I watched her on black-and-white TV. She would wake me up some days and say, "Mom said we don't have to go to school today. Get dressed; we are meeting Aunt Lily and Cousin Ivan downtown.  We would either go shop... 03/19/2025

 My Mother had a significant influence on my life. My Mother loved life and was grateful to be alive and for all she had. She was an orphan in her teenage years and lived with her sister in a home. She had a voice like an angel and sang all the time. Music was always playing in our house, and we were always singing. My older sister Sarae influenced me also, as she was like a second mom, and we were 10 years apart. My Father also loved music and was always reading and doing puzzles. I was always encouraged to play instruments and sports. I loved swimming and I played violin in the orchestra in school. People always say I look just like my Mother; she was vivacious. Although we loved to sing, no one had my Mother's voice, so my Mom sent me to dance school. Although my Mother was only 4'10... 03/10/2025

By commenting on each other's posts, we create friendships and relationships with the writers of the posts. How else can you cultivate relationships with Active Rain members? Commenting forms a line of communication. We acknowledge each other and our thoughts.Do comments lead to discussion posts? Yes, of course, they do. Perhaps they may even result in a phone call or text message for further discussions. Friendship and comments are a two-way street; we all have something valuable to say. The conversation may even inspire someone to write something. It is vital to engage in conversation. After a while, you wonder if anyone is reading what you say. So, inspire someone today. Tell the writer they wrote a good story. Tell them you like their photo, enjoyed the book review, or will try thei... 02/20/2025

I was asked a straightforward question: Why do I love what I do? Helping people find the home of their dreams gives me joy. I have been in the business for over forty years and have helped many people and made many friends.   This business is forever changing, as are the market conditions. I have seen Seller's Markets and Buyers' Markets. I remember when, one day, the market just crashed along with the banks. I met a young social media guy at our office, and we were all going to a Real Estate Bar Camp (no, it wasn't a Bar ) to meet socially. We met bloggers. I met and Margaret Woda also Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400   who are members of Active Rain. Some are no longer active, so I decided to join  ActiveRain. Smartest thing I ever did as I learned so much. You see, many of us wer... 02/17/2025