We have been waiting a long time to get an invite to such a big award and we are finally here! Born in 2005 we have worked our fanny’s off to grow our innovative web-based brokerage concept across the country to more than 20 cities! From Boston to San Francisco, Dallas to Atlanta and with a HUGE opening this year in New York City as the first ever discount brokerage to tap into the Manhattan MLS make-shift VOW, we plan to thrive even more this year. We truly would appreciate your vote as teh 2010 most innovative real estate brokerage. Cast your vote today (we are the second button on the top left!)

Hello from New York City. I just wanted to send out a short message this morning and give you a quick update on our website and blogs.  First off our blogs have been fully restored and we are up and running at 100%.  So blog followers, readers and admirers – comment away!

Secondly the framework of our core website (CondoDomain.com) has been restored and successful moved to a brand new server environment.  In hopes to eliminate all of the bugs, errors and downtime we were experiencing, the new site is lightning fast giving you all a much better consumer experience.  Search 10X faster today!

Left to be done over the next week.

1.  Reinstall our core MLS search functionality on Boston, Chicago, DC, Baltimore & NYC

2.  Prepare MLS installations on the remaining 15 new markets.

3. Install our new “Condo Forum” and more features we have to surprise you!

On behalf of CondoDomain I would like to apologize for anyone who has experienced technical issues or website performance over the past few weeks.  I can assure you the problems are behind us now and we look forward to providing an even better experience, starting today!

Any questions – as always – contact your City Vice President and of course feel free to drop me a line as well!

Sincerely,

Tony Longo
CondoDomain/CEO
ajl [at] CondoDomain.com

But don’t just take my word for it.  Check this video.

A Balanced, On-Air Review Of Mortgage Rates

When mortgages make the news, it tends to be stories of human interest or exorbitant interest rates.

It’s rare to hear a newscaster come right out and say “now is the time to refinance your home”.  It’s even more rare when they get the message right.

NBC knocked it out of the park with this on-air interview.  The advice for homeowners is timely, accurate, and relevant for anyone with a mortgage. It doesn’t matter if you live in Cincinnati or somewhere else — this rapid-paced, 3-minute video is a must watch.

It’s Your Second Chance To Ride The Refi Boom

If you missed the Refi Boom of November 2009, here’s your second chance.  Watch the video for solid advice on finding low mortgages rates, plus knowing when you should shop for a rate versus when you should just lock one.

Other topics covered include:

• Why were the experts so wrong about rates moving higher this summer?
• How much money can you save if your mortgage rate falls by 1 percent?
• Should you think about buying a bigger home now that rates are down.

The advice offered is matter-of-fact and centered.  There is no cheerleading and the message is honest.

I like that.

Get Low Mortgage Rates Before Mortgage Rates Go Up

First things first — you can’t get a mortgage until you apply for one.  Thankfully, there’s a lot of ways to apply.

(1) You can find an online form on a bank website; (2) You can walk into your local bank branch and sit down with somebody; or (3) You can send me an email and set up to do it by phone in 4 minutes.

All things considered, it’s usually fastest and easiest to apply by phone.

Then, once we’ve taken the application, I’ll get you an underwriting decision and loan terms within a few hours.  You can take it, or pass on it — whichever suits you best. You can’t know your choices until you check it out, however.

Mortgage rates are low and they likely won’t stay that way. Already, they’re up about 1/4 percent from last week. Better to act sooner rather than later.

Click here to send me an email to get started on your refinance today.

How we love Philadelphia. And now, Philadelphia loves us back.

“With Love, Philadelphia XOXO” is a new advertising campaign aimed at stimulating tourism. The target really is leisure travel. Discounting campaigns in the past few years have made Saturday nights the busiest of the week in hotels, and further discounts are not felt to be necessary. The advertising will feature various “love letters” from Philadelphia. They’ll be aimed at Phillies fans, history lovers, and weekend getaway seekers.

“With Love, Philadelphia XOXO” is a new advertising campaign aimed at stimulating tourism. The target really is leisure travel. Discounting campaigns in the past few years have made Saturday nights the busiest of the week in hotels, and further discounts are not felt to be necessary. The advertising will feature various “love letters” from Philadelphia. They’ll be aimed at Phillies fans, history lovers, and weekend getaway seekers.

“With Love, Philadelphia XOXO” is a new advertising campaign aimed at stimulating tourism. The target really is leisure travel. Discounting campaigns in the past few years have made Saturday nights the busiest of the week in hotels, and further discounts are not felt to be necessary. The advertising will feature various “love letters” from Philadelphia. They’ll be aimed at Phillies fans, history lovers, and weekend getaway seekers.

A great place to visit is also a great place to live. Take a look at these Philadelphia condos we love:
The Ellington
American Loft
1904 Spring Garden

Find out why CondoDomain is different from other real estate brokers.

Philadelphia’s City Hall area is time honored and traditional. Located in the northern end of Center City, there are some spectacular high rises and town homes in the immediate area.

At Liberty Place, take a look at Two Liberty Place.

Closer to Penn Square, compare The Packard Grande and The Ayer.

Enjoy this beautiful neighborhood in the heart of historic Philadelphia. Call me to tour these Philadelphia condos.

The Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia is popular among artists and musicians. Close to Center City, Northern Liberties enjoys the benefits of revitalization and tax abatements. Row houses and renovated lofts are among the choices for housing here.

Northern Liberties is a Historic District, known for buildings in the Italianate, Greek revival, and Federal style.

Take a look at these Philadelphia condos in the Northern Liberties area.

American Loft
Fairmount Quarters
Waterfront Square

Find out why CondoDomain is different from other real estate brokers

Incentives for new condo buyers are increasing in many real estate markets. Everything from price cuts, free merchanidise such as cars and appliances to a year’s free tuition are offered by anxious developers looking to get condo residences under contract and sold. In some markets, tax abatements are offered to new buyers. And then, of course, there is the $8000 tax credit incentive from the Federal government.

In Philadelphia, tax abatements are a popular incentive. The abatements offer lower taxes on new or renovated buildings. While there are proposals to change the tax abatement structure, it looks like properties that now have the abatement would not be affected.

10 years of tax abatement is a powerful reason to consider a Philadelphia condo, especially one that is newly constructed or renovated. Here are some Philadelphia condos that are particularly good values right now:

2200 Arch Street
511 Condominium Residences
North 28
National at Old City
Lofts at Logan View
Memphis Flats
The Pearl
Victory Condominiums

Find out why Condodomain is different from other real estate brokers

Rittenhouse Square has long been a Philadelphia neighborhood of distinction. Home to the world class Curtis School of Music, Rittenhouse Square has seen a surge of development and renovation in the past few years. Just this past week, Barneys NY opened its first Philadelphia store at 10 Rittenhouse, the ARC Wheeler development which has preserved the facade of the historic Rittenhouse Club while building a high rise residential tower with three high end mega condominiums.

Buyers have plenty to choose from in Rittenhouse Square, one of Center City’s most prominent neighborhoods. Take a look at these Rittenhouse Square condo residences:

10 Rittenhouse Square

1706 Rittenhouse Square

Parc Rittenhouse

1830 Rittenhouse

1900 Rittenhouse Square

Find out why CondoDomain is different from other real estate brokers.

Philadelphia is known for being the cradle of American government history – and no other place are you able to live in the midst of all the notable places that are so important to American history than in the Old City district.

Yes, in Old City Philadelphia, the living is very good – and surprisingly affordable for the urban professional. Prices of Old City condos range from the 200s to over 1 million. Old City is a wonderful place to live – in the heart of Philadelphia, close to the Ben Franklin Bridge, convenient to NJ and to I-95.

Take a look at these different buildings and lifestyles in Old City:

Lofts@209
Hoopskirt Lofts
National at Old City
Old City 108
Webster Mills

Find out what makes CondoDomain different from other real estate brokers.

The real estate news for Philadelphia is pretty gloomy these days. Sales have continued to fall, and condo inventory is up. This means that for buyers looking to score that Center City condo, the opportunities are there right now.

Waterfront Square

Aria

The Packard Grande

The Ellington

Center City is the prime neighborhood in Philadelphia – close to everything, great restaurants, theater, and all that Center City Philadelphia history. Finding a great deal on a Center City condo is possible now like no other time.

At Condodomain, we give you money back at closing. Find out how we do this, and what makes us different from other real estate brokers.

Going green & saving green seem to be all the rage these days, which is why the real estate development firm Postgreen has the right idea.

Browsing aimlessly through an airline magazine trying to pass the time on a boring flight, I came across an article that literally had me rip the page out to keep! (Sorry Airtran) It was titled, “Reduce, Reuse, Real Estate” and it gave me great idea on an interesting concept taking place right in Philadelphia!

Postgreen is the source behind the 100K House, a case study in which they are attempting to build a LEED-platinmum certified Philadelphia home for only $100,000 in construction costs. For those of you unfamiliar with the high cost of green building…this is an incredible goal! Postgreen is aiming to prove that green homes can be built affordably if designed properly. Being “eco-friendly” will now hopefully be “eco-nomicially friendly” too!

After reading this article I was thoroughly impressed with Postgreen and their use of their blog as a source for ideas and information…because after all, here at CondoDomain we value our blogs in the same way.

Postgreen plans to build ten houses in Philadelphia in 2009 and a projected 40-50 in 2010. To learn more about Postgreen visit their website or their blog.

Stay tuned to our Philadelphia Condo Loft blog for more information on Green Building and Modern Condos in Philadelphia!

Source: Pam George, GO Magazine

Foreclosures are on many people’s minds lately.  Since the Federal Government has offered incentives to lenders to restructure people’s loans, local and state governments are encouraging home owners to seek help sooner rather than later and work with their lender to avoid foreclosure.  Help includes restructuring loans, and the purchase of homes by municipalities and non profits.

Foreclosure is the last stop on the money crisis train for home owners.  Once a home is foreclosed, the lender really does not want to own it.  This is why for the savvy buyer, these homes can be a great deal.

Philadelphia foreclosures are no longer just in risky neighborhoods.  The foreclosure crisis has hit all sorts of homes in all types of areas.  Pre-foreclosure, many homeowners and developers are willing to negotiate with a buyer/investor.  If they can walk away with a little cash and satisfied liens, and you have a property for less than the market value, it can be a win – win proposition.

How do you find pre-foreclosure opportunities?  By searching for them on our site!  Our partnership with RealtyTrac enables you to search all Philadelphia foreclosure listings.  Pre-foreclosures, foreclosure auctions, and bank owned properties are all at your fingertips on our site, and we can help you make sense of the entire process.  We can also assist you with obtaining financing.  Contact us today to learn more about Philadelphia foreclosure opportunities.