CELEBRATE FAMILY FUN MONTH IN BUCKS COUNTY

August is Family Fun Month and Bucks County has tons of activities that guarantee a great time for the whole family, year-round! Check out any of these attractions for hours of nonstop fun and make some new memories with your loved ones.

Sesame Place®, the nation's only theme park based entirely on the beloved children's show Sesame

Street®, is right here in Bucks County! Join the party and celebrate the amusement park's 35th birthday all-season-long with exhilarating rides, cool water slides and all-new toe-tapping shows starring everyone's favorite furry friends. The fun never stops at Sesame where everyone can be a kid again! 

Mini golf is the perfect family-friendly activity and the course at Golf Adventure is one of the area's best! With 18 holes, four ponds and two streams as well as a 15-foot waterfall, the scenic course is the

ideal setting for a family outing. After you make your way through the 18 holes, snack on soft-serve ice cream, milkshakes, soft drinks, pizza, hot dogs and more at the course-side food court.

Peddler's Village is home to Giggleberry Fair, a spectacular indoor play center that's fun for kids and adults alike! Its centerpiece is Giggleberry Mountain, the area's largest indoor obstacle course at three-stories tall. Make sure to check out the game room, equipped with more than 40 of the newest games on the market and then take a ride on the vintage 1922 Grand Carousel. If you've worked up an appetite, The Painted Pony awaits with delicious fresh pizza, burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders and many more kid-friendly foods and snacks.

When it's hot, there's no better way to spend time outdoors with your family than at Bucks County River Country. Located in the beautiful village of Point Pleasant, they offer kayaks, canoes, river rafts and the popular river tube available to take for two- to four-hour trips along the scenic Delaware River. Come see the "World's River Tubing Capital" for an adventure the whole family will love!

Grab your family and a hammer and head to Ringing Rocks Park, an eight-acre boulder field and

geologic wonder. When struck with a hammer, the rocks give off a loud, high-pitched ringing noise so you can make your own music all day long. After you and your family take turns taking your swings, hit the trail to explore the rest of the park, home to Bucks County's tallest waterfall. 

All aboard the historic New Hope & Ivyland Railroad! Travel into a scene from the past as this 1925 steam locomotive pulls passengers from New Hope to Lahaska on a 45-minute ride through the beautiful Bucks County countryside. Journey back in time, learning what rail travel was like for your ancestors as you make new memories of your own! 

Family fun is always in season at Shady Brook Farm! One of the last working farms in historic Bucks County, Shady Brook offers tons of exciting festivals year-round as well as "Pick-Your-Own" Days where guests can head out into the fields to pick fresh fruits and vegetables. While you're there, make sure to get a scoop from Uncle Dave's Homemade Ice Cream. Since setting up shop at the farm in 2007, Uncle Dave's has been serving up super premium, hand-dipped ice cream to hungry customers of all ages!

My Appraisal Came in Low, Now What?

Whether you are buying or selling a home, the appraisal matters. Even when the buyer and seller have agreed on a price, the deal could fall apart if the appraisal comes in low.

In a sellers’ market when there are plenty of qualified buyers, multiple offer situations can drive up the purchase price higher than the sale price of the comparable properties.
In a buyers’ market, there are more properties on the market and there are fewer buyers purchasing, so values will be soft or falling.

Either way, the appraisal can be cause for concern.

There are several other reasons that an appraisal can come in low.  There could be an abundance of foreclosure or short sales that would drive values down. The appraiser could be from outside the area and not have local market knowledge, or they could be inexperienced.  Or the seller could have overpriced the property in the first place.

So your appraisal came in low, well here is what you can do. First, don’t panic because there are options so that the deal will not fall through. The buyer can make up the difference in cash by adding to the down payment to reach the agreed upon purchase price. If you are the seller, you could have a pre-sale appraisal completed when you list the property for sale.

The seller could lower the sales price to meet the appraised value. The buyer or the seller could order and pay for a second appraisal. You could ask the listing agent or buyers agent to provide a list of comparable properties that do support the value, and ask the underwriter to re-evaluate the appraisal. There is always the chance that they will consider new or overlooked information.

The deal doesn’t have to fall apart, but some do. If you remember that most problems are correctable
and address the problems one at a time, you should be able to work through them and get the deal to closing. If you have any questions on appraisals, feel free to call me directly at 215-519-1399.

Defend your Title – 4 Common Title Problems

You have just closed on your new home. You have signed your name for what seems like hours.  With deed and keys in hand, you’re off to move in and get settled knowing that you are protected and safe in your new home. You may think that everything is just fine, but what if the sellers long lost Uncle John comes knocking on the door. He says he has a deed to the property or an unrecorded will granting him ownership rights.

This is why you purchased title insurance. There are many common title issues that could arise after the closing. These are 4 of the most common issues and how your title insurance will protect you.

·      Undiscovered encumbrances occur when a third party holds a claim to part of all of your property.  This could be an unrecorded lien because the seller has not paid a contractor for work done, a deed restriction or covenant that limits the type of shed you can build, or a license granted to a neighbor to store his fishing boat.

·      There could be an error in the public records. While we think we are perfect, we are human and we make mistakes. There could be a clerical or filing error that affects the deed. There could be a mistake made in the survey, or an easement that is missed or forgotten. 

·      You may own your home and the land around it, but there could be an unknown easement that would restrict or prohibit you from using the property any way you would like to. The utility company or another property owner might have the ability to enter or use the property, right where you would like to build that shed.

·      The property may be new to you, and if it is not brand new, then it could have had several owners. No everyone is a diligent accountant or bill payer. A lien for the debts of a previous seller could be placed on the property after you own it.  The debt may not be yours, but it will be your problem. This is a common problem with distressed properties.

Title issues can cause great financial hardship, and limit the way you can use your new property. Title claims can be very expensive and can even affect the value of your new home. With title insurance you can rest assured that you would not have to deal with these concerns on your own.

The good news is that in the large stack of papers you received at closing, there is an Owner’s title policy, which will cover any title issues that arise after closing. The title company will help defend and pay claims on your title, so you wont have to go it alone.  If you have any questions about title insurance, feel free to contact me directly at 215-519-1399.

Repair Your Credit

Technology in Real Estate has come a long way in the last twenty years. From listing logs to Zillow, from deed registry to online records searches, from coffee shops and business cards to CRM’s mortgages, taxes, and insurance. The list goes on for all the different effects technology has had.

What about your credit? Has technology had an effect? People are more visible with social media and more likely to share things like fitness, career changes, and relationship issues. But what about credit, would you share your credit score on social media?  A survey from the National Association of Credit Counseling indicates that you would be more embarrassed to admit your credit score (30%) than your weight (12%).

If you suspect your credit score is not very good, then what can you do? That is one of the most common questions that I get asked. Before you can begin, you must obtain a copy of your credit report. Then you should consider the following:

1.     Minimize negative effects – You have to understand that your credit score is affected by the different actions you take in your daily life. The least impact is maxing out your credit card and the most would be declaring bankruptcy followed by a foreclosure. Consider your options, when making important financial decisions and make sure you choose actions that will not affect your credit score first.

2.     Check your collection accounts – these accounts are frequently bought and sold and the most updated information may not be reported regularly to the credit bureau. Check these accounts for accuracy, dispute any and all errors, and be aware when a balance is showing up more than once. Fixing these errors can have a major impact, and it will require patience and diligence on your part.

3.     Check and update your public records – these records can have a very negative effect on your credit score. Verify the accuracy and challenge or protest any inaccuracies. These records are not maintained as frequently and there may be outdate information that needs to be removed.

4.     Negotiate – If there are outstanding balances in collections, then call the account representative and try and negotiate a settlement. Remember that in order for this to work you must pay, and they must remove the blemish from the reporting agencies. Keep in mind that the agreement must work for you and you must have assurances that the information is corrected on your credit report.

Finally, you will want to make sure that you check the limits on your credit accounts and make sure they are accurate. The longer you wait, the harder it will be. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to tell all your friends that you have excellent credit? What are you waiting for? Get started now!

Martin Millner

This Weekend in Yardley

SUNSHINE FOUNDATION'S RUN-WALK-BARK-4-DREAMS

Location: Tyler State Park - #1 Lane Trail, Route 332     NEWTOWN, PA 

Time: On-site registration opens at 9:00am. Race starts at 10:00am.
Sponsored by: Sunshine Foundation
Contact: Caitlyn Diviny (215) 396-4770  

5K Run, 2Mile Walk. Proceeds from Sunshine Foundation's RunWalkBark4Dreams answer the dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically/mentally challenged and abused children ages 3-18 whose families cannot fulfill their request due to the financial strain that the child's illness may cause. Teams of 4 and More ($20 per member): $20.00 Child Ages 3 to 12: $15.00 Adult Individual: $25.00

All donations are welcome.

FROM 'TRADITIONAL TO AVANT GARDE' PHILLIPS MILL PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION 5/24/15-6/21/15

Location: Phillips Mill, 2619 River Road, NEW HOPE, PA
Time: Wednesdays through Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

           Fridays and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Sponsored by: Phillips Mill Photographic Exhibition
Contact: Theresa Katalinas 215-519-8833   

For a month-long stint, the 128 photos chosen to be showcased as part of the 23rd annual Phillips Mill Photographic Exhibition represent every theme, idea and concept imaginable. Held May 24-June 21, the exhibition features a vast array of images that jurors selected from a pool of 467 photos submitted. In all, approximately 300 photographers entered their work for consideration. This year's event is being juried by Paul Grecian, of Quakertown, Wendy Paton, of Lambertville, N.J. and Rick Smith, of Philadelphia. Photographer Barbara Warren, of Yardley, has been submitting her work to the show for the last 15 years and said she continues to do so because "it's kind of a unique show." "It doesn't have a theme," she said. "It just focuses on the photographers as artists and photos as art." The exhibition provides "a lot of freedom" for its entrants, she said. The show has plenty to offer - even for non-photographers, Warren said.

BUCKS COUNTY PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS “COMPANY” THRU 6/21/15

Location: Bucks County Playhouse, 70 South Main Street

                NEW HOPE, PA
Time: Tues & Thur Evenings: 7:30pm         

           Fri & Sat Evenings: 8pm

           Wed, Thur, Sat& Sun Matinees: 2pm
Contact: (215) 862-2121  

It's Bobby's 35th birthday, and his friends want him to settle down. During a hilarious array of interactions over dinners, drinks, and even a wedding, Bobby finally understands that being alone isn't really being alive. Justin Guarini - the breakout star of American Idol and several Broadway musicals and plays - will return to Bucks County Playhouse as Bobby! Company / Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book by George Furth Originally Produced and Directed on Broadway by Harold Prince Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick Choreographed by Lorin Latarro Directed by Hunter Foster.

YOUNG REMBRANDTS 2ND ANNUAL ART SHOW 6/1/15-6/30/15

Location: Go Bananas Richboro, 1057 Second Street Pike.

                RICHBORO, PA
Time: 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Sponsored by: Young Rembrandts of Southeastern PA
Contact: 2156758878   

Looking for something fun to do with your family this weekend? Stop by one of the three Go Bananas locations in Southampton, Richboro or New Britain to view our 2nd Annual Art Show! Each location showcases art work from local schools and townships that were drawn during the 2014 - 2015 school year! Visit our Facebook page for a coupon for 10% off your bill. Also, ballots are available near the registers - so please vote for your top three drawings!  In addition to the art show, we are offering various drawing workshops and camps this summer. Check out our website to find one near you - the first 50 kids to sign up will receive a free YR t-shirt, so don't miss out!!

School Is Almost Out – Now What

School is almost out for the summer. Within the next couple of weeks, the ice cream trucks will be ringing their bells in neighborhoods across Bucks County, kids will be playing in each other’s yards, and the quietness you’ve experienced in your development will be temporary filled with laughter and the sounds of children playing.

Summer is wonderful. It’s filled with not only the sounds of children playing and laughing, but the scents of bbq’s each night, splashing in pools, the smell of freshly cut lawns, and the gorgeous colors of flowers in bloom.

It also means relaxation – summer is a time many of us get to enjoy time as a family, either for a vacation or just a quick getaway on the weekends. We are located so close to the Jersey shore, it’s very easy for all of us to enjoy some time on our local beaches. Bucks County is near the Pocono mountains, which are perfect for camping and hiking, not to mention many of the great amusement parks in our area such as Great Adventure and Hershey Park!

I hope you take the time this summer to enjoy some relaxation, take a well-deserved dip in the pool (especially after the winter we all experienced), and spend some time with your families and loved ones.

If you are thinking of moving to Yardley, Washington Crossing or Doylestown, or considering selling your home, call me today at 215-519-1399 or visit my website for more information.