Everyday I receive an email from somebody about how their account was hacked, how a friend tagged them in the photo and they want a way to avoid it, as well as a number of other complications related to their privacy on Facebook. Over the weekend one individual contacted me to let me know that he would be removing me as a friend from Facebook because he was "going to make a shift with my Facebook use - going to just mostly family stuff." Perhaps he was tired of receiving my status updates or perhaps he didn't want me to view photos from his personal life. Whatever the reason for ending our Facebook friendship, I figured that many people would benefit from a thorough overview on how to protect your privacy on Facebook. Below is a step by step process for protecting your privacy.  (MORE) 02/19/2010

If you're thinking of buying or selling in the area of Hockessin, Delaware, call the Hockessin Real Estate Experts, Diane and Dave Iliff with Patterson Schwartz Real Estate. With the experience of 25 years in the local real estate market and thousands of sales and sold listings under their belts, they are seasoned veterans and can handle most any situation that might come up in a real estate transaction. They know what to do, when to do it and what experts to call in. Licensed in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland Diane and Dave Iliff have experience all over the tri-state area, but are centered in the heart of Hockessin. Most importantly, they take serious interest in the needs of their clients before anything else and really take the time to listen and understand what their clients n... 02/17/2010

                                 Here is an updated Hockessin Real Estate Market Watch. Now that we are almost a month and a half into 2010, we are seeing some positive signs of growth in the general market. Inventory is lower and buyers are getting off the fence and making decisions. The Hockessin real estate market is experiencing some positive changes and properties are beginning to move faster, especially under the $500,000 mark. We see that now that the new year is underway and the tax benefits are available til the end of April, buyers are getting smart and getting off the fence. Currently in Hockessin 19707 there are 64 properties on the market and 21 Pending (under contract) listings. That seems pretty healthy and it feels like we're headed to a more balanced market before too m... 02/13/2010

If you are shopping for Hockessin real estatethere is plenty to choose from and the time is ripe! With prices AND interest rates down things are looking good for buyers! With higher inventory there's plenty to choose from and it is still a buyer's market. Tax benefits are here for first time buyers AND repeat buyers. If you're a first time buyer in most cases you'll qualify for an $8,000 tax credit. If you're a repeat buyer you could qualify for a $6,500 tax credit. You have to have occupied your home for the last five consecutive years to qualify and there are also income qualifiers. By the way, you CAN keep your current house as an investment! Hockessin real estate is a great investment in any market.                  Hockessin is a great place to live and there are lots of great attr... 02/06/2010

As we are now a month into 2010, here's some Hockessin real estate news to start off the year. There are currently 67 properties actively for sale in the Hockessin 19707 marketplace ranging from Coffee Run Condominiums at $207,900 to new construction at Southwood Reserve at $989,900.          A breakdown of the type of properties and neighborhoods: 4 were townhouses (Wellington West, Stenning Woods and Mendenhall Village) 6 condominium, (all Coffee Run)  57 single family detached homes (from Mendenhall Village to Southwood Reserve) There are currently 18 Pending (under agreement) properties ranging from the low $300,000 range up into the $670,000 range. That's the kind of Hockessin real estate news we like to see. We are seeing more buyers hopping off the fence now. It seems that many b... 01/30/2010

If you're making a move and selling your home in Hockessin whether you are a first time seller or not, here are some selling guidelines and local market updates. It's important to get good professional guidance from the very beginning and right on through the closing as many aspects of the real estate industry have changed drastically. Some of the recent changes in financing guidelines and understanding government issued closing forms are a few of the latest examples. Get Good Professional Help - Find a good Realtor®. If you are referred by a friend or family, make sure that they've had a direct experience with that Realtor®. I've seen many cases where a friend referred a friend or family member just for that reason. There's nothing wrong with that, provided the referring party knows th... 01/20/2010

We've been tracking the real estate in Hockessin, Delaware and we're still a little tentative still about the start of the new year, but we see real estate in Hockessin, Delaware moving fairly well and that's a good sign in itself.  Active listings for sale range from $207,900 to $989,900. Days on the market seem to be better than many areas in New Castle County. Since the beginning of 2010 the shortest time on the market of the pending (under contract) listings was 35 days. That is a very short time to track, but we are seeing things gradually move towards more of a balanced market. It may take some time though. The average days on the market for Hockessin in 2009 was 79 days. The current listing vs pended listings as of the end of Dec. 09 were 60 Active listings and 19 Pending listing... 01/18/2010

Here are some Hockessin real estate updates and a look back at 2009. As you can see from the chart below, prices fell substantially from 2008. There are indications in the marketplace now that tell us things are settling and prices are stabilizing. One of those "crystal ball" questions we kept hearing over the past year was, "When is the market going to stabilize?" Prices kept on climbing and climbing through 2007 until they were priced outside of buyers affordability range. As prices came down, many homeowners ended up owing more on their home that it was worth and if they had to sell, in many cases a short salewas imminent. We have seen sellers that had enough money to bring to the closing table in the event they were "upside down" in their mortgage, but many people that weren't that ... 01/15/2010

Thinking about buying a home in Hockessin Delaware or nearby in 2010? Hockessin is a nice quaint village that is convenient to many area attractions. It's a beautiful array of rolling hills that take you into nearby Southern Chester County. You're about a 15 minute drive from Kennett Square, PA, the mushroom capital of the world and also historical Chadds Ford, PA. Longwood Gardens, The Brandywine River Museum, Willowdale Steeplechase are a few great attractions around these neighboring towns in Southern Chester County. Hockessin has many great amenities including some great restaurants, produce centers, Hockessin PAL Center (Police Athletic League) and Hockessin Athletic League(HAC). The Hockessin Soccer League is very popular as well and also the Piedmont Baseball and Softball League.... 01/13/2010

If you are thinking of making a move or even just a visit to the Hockessin area, here are some Hockessin area attractions that might be of some interest to you. Hockessin is a pretty landscape of rolling hills and a mix of subdivisions and single properties in rural settings. Hockessin is very convenient to Wilmington Delaware, Kennett Square and Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. Hockessin is an affluent area and the Village itself is small and quaint. There are a number of excellent restaurants and boutique shops as well as the Lantanna Square Shopping Center which has food shopping, drug stores and the like. Here is a list of the areas attractions. One of the most recent community centers is the fabulous Hockessin Athletic Center(HAC) pictured below right.                        Among other ... 01/11/2010

Delaware - Short sale vs foreclosure - how does it affect your credit? First of all I am asked all the time - What's a short sale and how is it different from a foreclosure? A short sale happens when a homeowner has to sell their house and they owe more in it than what it's worth in a given market. To qualify as a short sale, the homeowner must prove that they don't have the means to pay off the mortgage and there won't be enough in proceeds to pay it off due to the mortgage balance, taxes owed, selling costs or what ever the case may be. In most cases short sales are listed by a Realtor® and the property is put in the MLS. When an offer is made, the homeowner will either accept it, deny it or negotiate it. Once an offer is accepted it is then subject to lender approval which can take s... 01/06/2010

So what's happening with real estate in Hockessin and Greenville? Historically, by about the second week in January buyers and sellers start coming into the marketplace again. The holidays are past and it's time to start thinking of making a move. With the huge pent up demand of buyers and sellers, we expect to see real estate in Hockessin and Greenville begin to break loose soon. With interest rates still low and the great tax advantages that are available through early 2010, many of the smart buyers AND sellers will be taking action. Most people are aware of the $8,000 tax credit for first time buyers, but we are surprised that we still find many people aren't aware of the $6500 tax credit available for current home owners that are in the market to buy. Many sellers that have lived in... 01/05/2010

The current Hockessin road improvements on Old Lancaster Pike between Valley Rd. and Erickson Dr. are being done to add crosswalks, decorative sidewalks and street lights to the "downtown" area of the Village of Hockessin, Delaware. Of course this comes with added drainage and curbing as well. This is one of the Recovery Projects Governor Jack Markell has endorsed to help give our economy a boost and create new jobs which it seems to be doing. The problem is, that although the project has created jobs, the local businesses along that corridor are suffering terribly. In talking to Kristin Short, owner of Grass Roots, there hasn't really been anything done to address the issues of lack of access to the stores and with the construction going on, the local business has severely declined. Un... 01/04/2010

Why use a Delaware Buyer's Agent anyway? Why use ANY buyer's agent? What could it possibly do for you as a buyer?Here are just a few things to consider when you're getting ready to shop for a new home and finding a Realtor®. A Buyer's Agent can promote and protect the interest of the Buyer at all times A Buyer's Agent can arrange for showings on all properties in the MLS and For Sale By Owners & New Construction A Buyer's Agent can point out defects in the home, especially ones that aren't obvious and show you reasons why you should NOT by the home A Buyer's Agent will structure the offer with YOUR best interests in mind, not the sellers You are free to share any of your financial information and thoughts about any property because the Buyer's Agent will not share this with the seller  ... 01/01/2010

How much is my home really worth? People want good, solid answers, especially when contemplating a move. With the many internet companies out there such as Trulia and Zillo, there is lots of information at your fingertips. Be careful though, as these companies can often come close, real estate is still a local market. There are often many local factors that may affect value one way or another so to get a true value, contact a reputable Realtor®. Most will give you a formal opinion of value at no charge with facts to back up their opinions. Home values in Hockessin, DE have declined like they have everywhere else. They HAD TO as home prices were becoming out of buyers comfort zones and out of line with their incomes. A lot of home owners everywhere are still in denial about their homes v... 12/20/2009

The Hockessin PAL Center opened in 2001 and is now more than 5,000 members strong. They have a variety of great activities to offer for the whole family. It's a safe haven and positive atmosphere for kids. They have a drug and alcohol awareness programs too! The Hockessin PAL Center offers lots of great activities for kids such as Ping Pong, Pool, Basketball, Karate, Flag Football and lots more! PAL is open til 7:00 PM Monday thru Friday during the school year and a very popular    (and wholesome) after school stop. During the summer they open at noon and close at 6:00.                           The Hockessin PAL Center is located at 7259 Lancaster Pike (Rt. 41), right in the center of Hockessin. Our granddaughter Alexandra said her favorite activity is the dances which are once a month... 12/07/2009

The federal government has just released new short sale regulations which is great news for many homeowners that are trying to sell in a short sale situation. It's great news for Realtors® as well as the short sale process can be slow and grueling, eating up hours and hours of extra time. Buyers will also look on this favorably as they can go into a short sale situation with much more confidence than before. Qualifying homeowners in a short sale situation will also get up to $1500 to help with moving expenses. These new short sale regulations were created to help homeowners that do not qualify for home loan modifications under President Obama's plan. Short sales are a large percentage of the market supply nowadays and I believe the new regulations will help us get through them much fast... 12/05/2009

There are plenty of things to do in Hockessin, DE and really close by. There are lots of family attractions, some really great restaurants and lots of shopping. For the athletes and fitness minded families and individuals, there's the Hockessin Athletic Center (HAC), the Hockessin Soccer Club and the Piedmont Baseball and Softball League. There is also a tennis club that is right in Hockessin as well. If you like to ride a bike there are many scenic country roads in the Hockessin and Southern Chester County area and you're not too far from some good mountain biking trails too. The PAL Center has lots of great events and programs for the whole family and it's a great after school spot.       There are fun family excursions all around too like the Wilmington & Western Railroad which is a ... 11/30/2009

If you're going out for breakfast, lunch or dinner here are some really great restaurants in Hockessin, DE. For breakfast and lunch there's the popular Perfect Cup Cafe that has great coffee and tasty breakfast and lunch dishes for dining in or take out. I make a point to get my coffee beans there! The Perfect Cup is in the small shopping center next to the WSFS Bank at Rt. 41 just past Yorklyn Rd. It's a very cozy atmosphere there. They have wireless internet and they open early at 5:45AM! Another good breakfast and lunch stop with a friendly atmophere is Kim's Cafe in the Shoppes of Hockessin, they open at 7:00 and serve good food in a diner type atmosphere.     For lunch and dinner try out Six Paupers Tavern and Restaurant across the street. It's a bar and restaurant and they have a ... 11/27/2009

  5 Wyeth Lane Hockessin Delaware 19707 $625,000 4 Bedrooms 4 Baths Updates galore! Stunning Great Room!   So many upgrades there isn~t enough space to mention them all! The best lot in the development adjacent to wooded, open space with a basement walkout that~s ready to finish including full-sized windows and a rough in for an extra bathroom. The 4200 square foot open floor plan makes a good party home; is great for entertaining with 9 FT ceilings, grand stairway in foyer and hardwood flooring throughout main level. The all-stainless gourmet kitchen has been fully upgraded and the enormous master suite includes Jacuzzi and steam room/shower in master bath. The built-ins include stereo speakers throughout; Rooms include pre-wired data/phone/cable and internal monitoring ports; A centra... 11/26/2009