A visit this weekend to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania had us in amazement as we visited the Conservatory (above, Lollipop Flower and Scarlet Scullcap).    This is the time of year when the waterlily display is in its full glory, and visitors got to see one of the volunteers who was standing in the pond with water lily platters, picking the spent blossoms. He passed around a flower and when you looked in the center, it was like a little cup holding liquid nectar. Cool!  And the variety of lilies was a sight to behold! I highly recommend a trip to this former DuPont estate when you are going to be in the Philadelphia or Wilmington, Delaware area.     10/17/2011

Residents and businesses affected by significant rainfall and flooding from Hurricane Irene on Aug. 27 - 28, can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.  .  The declaration covers New Castle County, Delaware.  The following neighboring counties are also included:  Kent in Delaware, Cecil and Kent in Maryland, Gloucester and Salem in New Jersey; and Chester and Delaware in Pennsylvania. Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate.   Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. The Small Business Administration is making assistance available online at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or by phone at  800-659-2955  ... 10/12/2011

I remember when I was a child in Chicago and we paid $35 a month rent. That sounds like a real bargain now, but the incomes in the U.S. in the 1950's averaged $2992. I used to take a walk down the alley and across the "prairie" (empty lot in Chicago-speak) with $.15 clutched in my hand to buy a loaf of Silvercup white bread. The average home price in Illinois was $8646 at the time. Those with more mathematical ability than I have figured out how current New Castle County median home prices stand in relation to  median incomes in the following table.   The U.S. Census Bureau says Median home values adjusted for inflation nearly quadrupled over the 60-year period since the first housing census in 1940. The median value of single-family homes in the United States rose from $30,600 in 1940 ... 10/10/2011

Delaware FSBO Listings Help is on the way As a full time Realtor in Delaware for the last 14 years I have had the pleasure of working with dozens of for sale by owners and after a few months if the home doesn't sell they really get beat down.  One gentleman going the fsbo route was sleeping on a mattress on the floor of a $300,000 home while his family and job were waiting for him in Indiana.  He said being away from his family for the last 3 months was not a big deal as long as he saved the commission on his home.  It never sold and his family moved back 4 months later.  Im sure the kids loved that! Perhaps the biggest obstacle for a fsbo is setting appointments and returning phone calls.  I say the biggest because most fsbos do not get past this step in the selling process.  Every wee... 10/05/2011

             The Colchicum is a fall-blooming bulb more commonly known as the "naked lady" because of its unique way of flowering. In the spring, the leaves come us, looking something like a regular crocus. They die back and nothing more is seen in that spot until, like today, the flowers appear. Another unusual flower is the Tricyrtis, more commonly known as the "toad lily". With petals resembling toad toes, they decided to begin blooming at the same time as the ladies. (Photo below courtesy of Winterthur Museum Garden and Library, where children can play with --or is it like? --the fairies)     09/25/2011

The following are 2011 Market Reports for: South Graylyn Crest, Wilmington, Delaware http://activerain.com/blogsview/2503077/buyers-expect-more-bang-for-the-buck-in-south-graylyn-crest Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania http://activerain.com/blogsview/2507678/if-you-price-it-they-will-come-advice-to-sellers Brandywine Hundred, Wilmington, Delaware http://activerain.com/blogsview/2519190/so-where-is-brandywine-hundred-anyway-and-by-the-way-what-is-a-hundred-   And whatever you do, don't believe Wikipedia--Brandywine Hundred is not a subdivision, but it consists of many many subdivisions.  This can be confusing to newcomers, as each new group of homes that was built in this mostly post-WWII area has a new name. Of course, some of the old farmhouses still exist. And the subdivisions see... 09/22/2011

      Brandywine Hundred is an area of New Castle County, Delaware, which is defined as the area West of the Delaware River, South of the State line with Pennsylvania, East of the Brandywine River, and North of I-95 and the City of Wilmington. The area contains the Zip codes of 19803 and 19809.  The only incorporated area within Brandywine Hundred is the town of Bellefonte, which is in the 19809 Zip code.  To confuse you further, Claymont has another Zip code 19703, but is not an incorporated area.  So the folks in 19803 and most of 19809 (except for Bellefonte), list their address as "Wilmington." So much of New Castle County is not incorporated that when newcomers are transferred here and they buy a house in "Wilmington," they think they live in the City of Wilmington. But no! Unless... 09/21/2011

Why Right NOW Is The Best Time In Years To Buy A Home In Delaware (The Real Story) I know what you are thinking, yet another article from a Delaware Realtor telling me to buy a home.  bla bla bla   Let me tell you about Gina, 3 years ago Gina was looking to sell her home.  At that time she owed about $120,000 and her home was worth @ $160,000.  The home she wanted to move up to was just over $400,000 so at the time she was looking at walking away with about $30,000 after taxes and fees and looking at financing $370,000 at 5.5% with a mortgage payment of $2,600.00 a month!   Now look at where Gina is today, her home sold for $130,000 so she broke even on the sale.  A similar home to the one she wanted to buy 3 years ago was purchased for just under $330,000 at $4.2% for a payment of $2,1... 09/19/2011

                     The Delaware Center for Horticulture has announced the winners of the 2011 City Gardens Contest.   Since I was one of the many judges for the Flower Garden Category, I am sharing with you pictures I took of the top 2 winners. On the left are some of the flowers in Becky McLaughlin's garden, which wraps around 4 sides of her corner apartment building. It is amazing that this tenant has totally transformed such a large space.  The next picture is just a small corner of  Martha Ann Szczerba's garden, which wraps around 3 sides of her duplex.                       Next, you see two gardens which tied for first place in the Landscape Garden category. Herman Boyd's townhouse garden displays several areas of interest including this cafe' table and chairs, as well as room f... 09/15/2011

                                 The Chatham Park between South Graylyn Crest and Chatham is looking good, although a little wet after all the rains lately. And I just thought you might like to see the map of the neighborhood. It's time for a Market Report on activity in South Graylyn Crest, and it's interesting to compare 2011 so far with what happened in 2010. In 2010, there were 15 homes sold, with an average price of $280,500. 2011 activity has  reflected local market trends by seeing a lot more requests for settlement assistance or concessions. So far, there have been 6 sales this year, with an average price of $250,266. Of these 6 sales, 5 included concessions which averaged $5300. There are currently 2 active listings, with an average asking price of $279,450, and 1 pending sale,... 09/12/2011

View ALL Ballymeade Wilmington Delaware homes for sale Google maps photos virtual tours short sales bank owned resales http://www.teamluca.com/BALLYMEADE-Wilmington-Delaware-19810-Homes-Real-Estate-for-Sale  09/10/2011

Brandywine Hundred - North Wilmington Homes Real Estate for Sale North_Wilmington Townhomes    North_Wilmington_Single_Family_Homes    North_Wilmington_Condos     North_Wilmington_Bank_Owned_Homes     North_Wilmington_Short_Sale_Homes    North_Wilmington_Active_Adult_55_Plus North Wilmington (also known as Brandywine Hundred) offers a wide variety of homes for sale, from townhomes to luxury estates, from bank-owned to short-sales, from historical to new construction.  We have helped buyers save thousands on their purchase, and sellers meet their real estate goals as well. View ALL homes for sale in North Wilmington including photos, virtual tours, room sizes and maps.  Contact us to tour ANY home listed for sale now. Below are a few neighborhoods in the Brandywine / North Wilmington ar... 09/10/2011

               On June 5, 2001, I took a bus trip to New York City, visiting Elis Island and the Statue of Liberty. While there, I took a picture of the NYC skyline, including the World Trade Center towers. Just as we do when looking at Hollywood films shot before September 11, 2001--scanning the NYC skyline to see if the towers are there, dating the pre- Sept. 11, 2001, I keep this photograph as MY memory of the towers and the almost 3000 people who died there ten years ago, as a result of a terrorist attack. May God rest their souls.  09/09/2011

Need A Job?  Turn To Facebook! - Delaware Realtor Larry Hultberg If you search on the big job sites you will see hundreds of employeers in your area looking for workers but with so many people unemployed right now the competition is fierce.  I have found the best way to get a job is to find out about it before it is advertised and the best way to secure that job is by a recommendation from a friend, former co-worker or family member. Who are your facebook friends? Look over what kind of jobs your friends do and you may be shocked, I have friends from just about every industry you can think of.  Business owners, office workers, banking, refinery workers, Realtors, home inspectors, limo company owners, business executives of every level! How can facebook help you? If you post something on... 09/08/2011

   A time traveler from 1910 might have quite a surprise to find that the brownstone Courthouse that once stood between Tenth and Eleventh, Market and King Streets was gone, as well as some of the prominent residences that once stood in this area north of the bustling marketplace on Second Street were all gone. Thanks to John J. Raskob, an assistant to P. S. duPont and proponent of the City Beautiful movement which had taken hold across the nation, the 30 year old Courthouse was considered an unfit companion to the  DuPont Company's 1913 office building on Market Street. Raskob, who was a force behind the building of the Empire State Building, convinced the city to build a new government building (The Public Building, now known as the Herrmann Courthouse) facing the former Courthouse, w... 09/08/2011

The Brandywine Festival of the Arts is this weekend in the Brandywine Park near downtown Wilmington DE. Continuing a tradition spanning 51 years, the Brandywine Festival of the Arts will be holding its event this weekend, the weekend after Labor Day, in Brandywine Park. Located next to the river in the Josephine Gardens across from the Zoo just below the Washington Street bridge, the site is within easy walking distance to downtown Wilmington, Trolley Square, and the north side Brandywine neighborhoods. This year the Festival will be held from 9-6 on Saturday September 10 and 9-4 on Sunday September 11. Free parking with shuttle service will be available at the Old Wanamaker building on Augustine Cutoff just above the park. Shuttles will be running every 15 minutes. The Festival will ha... 09/08/2011

It is said that a gardener learns more from failures than successes, and this is so true. I have had a spring blooming Clematis for many years, but was always unhappy with how it looked in summer and fall. Last year, I found a Sweet  Autumn Clematis which promised to brighten my garden and my life in the fall. And lo and behold, when I went outside today, these tiny, starry, blooms greeted me. There are many buds, so I expect to see my arbor covered with them in the next week, hiding the spring Clematis with their bright blooms. I had been cogitating on what was said during a lecture about Clematis at the Delaware Center for Horticulture many years ago. So I put rocks at the base of my "Polish Spirit" spring Clematis to keep water from splashing up on the plant, but kept the area watere... 09/07/2011

  Date Sep 10, 2011 to Sep 11, 2011 Description The Brandywine Festival of the Arts is an annual arts festival in Wilmington, Delaware. Featuring hundreds of juried artists exhibiting one-of-a-kind art, the festival is a Delaware tradition spanning 51 years. Now regionally popular and nationally recognized, the Brandywine Festival of the Arts boasts participants from across the United States and perennially ranks in the top 100 shows in the country. Each year, 20,000 visitors flock to Brandywine Park’s Josephine Gardens for an end-of-summer celebration. The BFA has something for everyone: over 250 artists exhibiting in a wide range of styles and mediums, live music performances, children’s activities, and a selection of local food vendors. Location Brandywine Park Josephine Gardens Wilm... 09/07/2011

Wilmington Delaware Online Yard Sale For Facebook These facebook online yard sales are starting up all over the place!  Its not really a yard sale but a great place to buy or sell items from local members.  I just started up this page and anyone can join. So follow the link below to get started!  No sign up is required just like the page to get started http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Wilmington-Delaware-Area-Online-Yard-Sale/146996872055164?sk=wall 09/06/2011

Delaware Foreclosures, Short Sales, Sheriff Sales and Bank Owned Properties  The one question I have been asked the most in my 14 years as a Realtor in Delaware is  "Larry, How about foreclosures?"  Most of the time its in email for or over the phone so in order to have this info available to everyone here are the different types of homes that are for sale in a nutshell.   1.  Realtor listed home- The most common type of sale is the home listed with a Realtor.             Usually the seller has some equity in the home and gets a check at settlement to purchase another home so his mortgage lender gets paid and full.  This is usually the easiest home for a buyer to purchase because the transaction is only between two parties (buyer and seller). 2.  Short Sales-  A short sale is a home lis... 09/05/2011