Carolyn's Blog

Even though the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Amtrak train station in Wilmington Delaware was designed by Frank Furness in 1908 and is in a National Register Historic District, it is very much an active place. As a matter of fact, it is the 11th busiest station in the country. Christmas day 2011 was no exception, as you can see from these pictures. Before and after 1:00 p.m., two trains were in the station, one going to Boston, and the other to Florida. Just another day of boarding trains for the conductors and engineers, but always an eventful day of riding the trains for passengers eager to get back home or travel to yet another train station!

Carolyn Roland is your resource for buying and selling older homes in New Castle and Kent Counties in Delaware and Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2646594/new-castle-county-november-market-report- is the Market Report for New Castle County, Delaware for November, 2011.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2657019/kent-county-delaware-market-report covers the central Delaware area for November, 2011.

And last but not least, http://activerain.com/blogsview/2660379/southern-chester-county-market-report-and-children-s-christmas-trees-at-longwood-gardens is the market report for Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania for the year up to November, 2011.

And here is the Peppermint Twist poinsettia from Longwood Gardens in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Merry Christmas to All!

Since our market includes the adjoining state of Pennsylvania, it is interesting to look at the market report for Southern Chester County and compare it to New Castle County, Delaware.

While new listings in NCCo were down for the year 13%, Chester County new listings were down only 3%. For 2011, Closed sales  in Delaware were up almost 3%, while the total up to November in Southern Chester County were down almost 5%. Days on the market were up 23% in Delaware, while the number was only half that in Pennsylvania. Median sales prices are similar, with prices down 7.3% in Southern Chester County, while the New Castle figure is down 9%.

So it looks like we need a little Christmas to get things moving in our adjacent markets in Pennsylvania and Delaware!

Since we share the benefits of having Longwood Gardens in our area, I will close with some Christmas trees seen at this great botanic garden and conservatory.  The first is from the children at Mary D. Lang School in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, and the second is from Carrcroft School in Wilmington, Delaware.

I visited Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania late afternoon the other day and got to see the conservatory and to join the crowd in the ballroom to sing Christmas Carols along with the famous organ. The organ is comprised of 10,010 pipes divided into 146 ranks, making it one of the largest Aeolian organs ever constructed.  We also visited the "organ museum" to see 5 of the 9 chambers, which are behind glass. In the growing area at the end of the East Conservatory, we saw this lovely poinsettia called "Luv U Pink."

On another side of the E. Conservatory, the rose area was spangled by Moravian Stars hanging above.  Amongst the roses, this beautiful hibiscus was a striking sight.

We ended our visit as the lights came on outiside while Christmas music played in the outdoor auditorium.

In Delaware, there are distinct differences between the 3 counties. Here, we see Central Delaware's Kent County's report for November, 2011, and the year to date changes.  Where New Castle County (the northernmost county in Delaware) showed a median sales price drop of 9%, Kent showed a 10.5% drop.

However, in contrast, while NCCo showed an average days on market for the year to be up 23%, Kent only showed less than 4% more days on the market.  In November, the single family detached inventory was down 14.5% in Kent, NCCo showed a 17.5% drop.  So we know all real estate is local, and in Delaware, the county where you live is a factor to consider.

U. S. Botanic Garden’s “Season’s Greenings” Features Trains, D.C. Landmarks Made of Natural Materials, and Christmas Trees

A visit last week to the United States Botanic Garden conservatory right below the Capitol Building was a delightful holiday experience. I wondered why we were going in the entrance marked “Trains.” But then it became obvious--there were 800 feet of Garden Railway tracks running through the exhibit created by Paul Busse and his firm, Applied Imagination of Alexandria, Kentucky.
 

 The Capitol dome is made out of dried plant materials which took more than 600 hours to turn into the finished product. And below are the homes of Presidents Adams, Jefferson, and Clinton.

The conservatory was studded with fantastical creations (all of natural materials) like spiders, lobsters, Cinderella's castle and national monuments like the Lincoln Memorial and the Treasury Building.
 

And of course, don't forget all the great plants like the orchids and a plant called the Beefsteak plant. Lastly, the bear topiary steps through the Poinsettias with an offering of red ornaments!

If you have hesitated about getting your EZ Pass because of the $25 initial fee plus the escrow of $25 for a Delaware EZ Pass transponder, the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has a great Christmas present idea for people who want to zip through the toll lanes anywhere on this map. 

Until December 31, 2011, you can get one for free!  What a great idea for a Christmas present for a family member whose car does not have one of these devices.  There is a special plan for anyone who uses Route 1 more than 30 times a month,--- a discounted price is available.  You can sign up online at http://www.dmv.de.gov/services/toll_services/tolls.shtml.

And if you get hung up with all the info needed to do this online, there are some lovely people at  888-EZPassDE
(888-397-2773). I just spoke to one, and she was very very helpful! When was the last time a State agency gave you a break?   Merry Christmas Delaware!

The market report for New Castle County, Delaware for November 2011 is in, and as you can see, there is good news and bad news.  Not as many people are trying to sell their homes, but of the ones who do, they have brought their asking prices down, therefore driving buyers to make successful offers. So there are about 25% more closed and pending sales than last year, but prices are down 13%.  This dive in prices is being driven by foreclosures and bank sales, which influence appraisers who are trying to determine values. Sellers are holding on to their houses either because they are under water in their mortgage, or hoping to wait out the economy. I don't have a crystal ball, so this could be the new "normal".

If you are thinking of buying or selling an older home in the Wilmington, Delaware area---see what Carolyn Roland can do for you!

Every year, Winterthur Museum near Wilmington, Delaware, gives us a picture of Christmas in the past. Above is an early tree decorated with candles seen in an inn setting off of the court which is surrounded by historic building fronts including the Red Lion Inn which was located near present Bear, Delaware. Next we see a four poster bed complete with stockings laying on a snowy white bedcover. And since there are fabulous floral arrangements all year in the museum, flowers are saved and dried to create this dream of a tree made of these colorful flowers.

Next we see a dining room setting with ribbons connected to a chandelier (aside: I learned that the museum has breakaway connections at the top of the chandelier so that a pull on the ribbons won’t bring down a valuable chandelier). The partygoers would pick a ribbon and follow it to the far end, where they would find a present. Then we see a designer’s creation of a peony tree (the gardens have a wonderful peony collection). Finally, the popular Montmorenci staircase, which was originally in a South Carolina home and altered to fit into Winterthur. For reservations, see http://www.winterthur.org/?p=529 .  The good news for me and my friends was that Yuletide at Winterthur was free for Winterthur members!

December 3, the Hale-Byrnes House in Stanton, Delaware, held an open house. This mid-18th Century home is actually lived in by it’s curator, Kim Burdick, and her family. Situated on the banks of the Christina Creek, I can’t say I am envious, especially when storms push the creek up to the house.
For a quick history lesson, you can check http://www.halebyrnes.org/history.html. For a visual history lesson, you can check out the pictures I took Saturday of the weavers, spinners, and re-enactors from Hazlett’s Delaware Regiment. An authentic cook-out was taking place down on the creek as the Regiment members cooked a goat leg that Kim’s son had brought home (don’t ask, I didn’t!). Some mighty fine looking costumes, aren’t they?