Social Media and Selling Real Estate

Are you looking to sell a property in Pennsylvania? In recent years, social media has gone mainstream, but it isn’t only being used to keep in touch with friends and family anymore. Many companies use Facebook and Twitter to market themselves online, and Chester County real estate is following close behind. When selling a home in PA, it can be beneficial to utilize social media outlets to get a home sold fast and for the highest price possible.

Many real estate companies have an entire Facebook or Twitter page solely for creating posts about new homes on the market. The key to keeping readers updated and obtaining more friends and followers is to update information regularly. Administrators of the page can post basic information about the house, and can also link to pictures and YouTube videos that might give potential buyers a look on the Internet before they see the house in person. 

Social media updates may also include important information, such as when open houses are going to be available.

When selling a home in PA, the most beneficial part about marketing Chester County real estate using social media (rather than a basic website) is that buyers are able to interact with the sellers online. A seller that wants to sell PA property can easily put an advertisement in a magazine or publish content to a website about a house for sale, and have no idea how people are reacting to the ad or how many people are even seeing it at all. When a home is post on Facebook, however, immediate results are seen.

Based on the comments and “likes” for each post, a seller will be able to tell right away what people think of the houses being posted. Likewise, buyers can post on the seller’s wall to provide their opinions or request information for home listings based on their individual needs. It’s a win-win situation.

Posting information on open houses and showings can be helpful, but another important factor that Chester County real estate experts take into consideration when making their posts is that buyers often do not have enough knowledge in the world of real estate when going into the process. Most home listings will not pertain to every single person reading the seller’s Twitter posts, so real estate companies have taken to posting general information about the industry to keep potential buyers informed and interested until they finally find their dream home.

Sharing these trade secrets will make buyers feel more comfortable, and will also invite other professionals in the business to lend their own opinions.

Whether it involves updating information on business trends or posting videos to promote specific homes for sale, social media has proven to be a great aide when it comes to selling PA property. Buyers can ask questions and find the perfect home without having to settle, and sellers can get top dollar on their homes quickly by frequently updating social media pages.

To learn more about buying and selling your home in Chester County, PA, call Liz Saunders at 1-888-914-4833 or send her an email.

The Possibilities for a 1031 Tax Exchange for Real Estate

If you’re looking to sell property in Chester County, one thing you might want to look into is a 1031 tax exchange for a property. Known as a powerful wealth-bringing tool available to sellers, the 1031 exchange allows taxpayers to sell investments, income or business property, and replaced it with a like-kind property. Within a specific time frame, you can sell one qualified property and proceed with an acquisition for another.

What makes a 1031 tax exchange unique is that it is really treated as a literal real estate exchange rather than a standard sale. This method may be right for you, but be sure to know all of the ins and outs of the process before jumping in. That’s where a licensed real estate professional comes in.

If you’re looking for a replacement “like-kind” property to your existing one, you should consider the possibilities of a 1031 tax exchange to sell your PA property. Any other action would require the payment of a capital gains tax, which will likely continue to rise as the years go on. 


The basis of the appeal of the 1031 is that the IRS depreciates real estate investments at a three percent yearly rate until it is completely depreciated. In short, it would be possible for an investor to defer capital gains for his or her entire life. Real estate property used for investment and business qualifies for a 1031 exchange, but personal residences do not.

These days, to qualify for a 1031 exchange, the transaction must really be an “exchange.” This means that you cannot just sell one property in Chester County and then buy another as one normally would. The property being sold and the property being exchanged for it must both be used for business or investment purposes, and they must be like-kind properties.

Whether you want to sell PA property by exchanging a lot of land for an apartment building or a shopping center for an office building, the 1031 tax exchange for Chester County real estate is an exciting option that should certainly be considered when looking to sell a property.

While the benefits of the exchange are great, it should certainly be noted that the rules and regulations are meticulous and time constraints are strict. Special care and planning must be taken into consideration if you are planning on taking part in this exchange.

To learn more the possibilities of a 1031 tax exchange when selling property in Chester County, PA, contact realtor Liz Saunders at 1-888-914-4833 or send her an email.

Top Real Estate Trends for Spring 2012

The fast-paced world of real estate shifts with the economy, and while not all predictions come true, professionals in the industry are able to predict trends for the busy season of 2012. It can be tough to sell PA property as the Chester County real estate market has seen its fair share of challenges in recent years, but sellers can look forward to some upticks this year.

This year, it’s important for anyone buying or selling a home in Chester County, PA to be well informed of upcoming real estate trends before jumping into any selling or purchasing commitments.

1. Economic Recovery

When it comes to selling a home in Chester County, PA, many real estate professionals are noticing that there is large demand for homes—and especially for new homes. Interest rates are lower than ever and many markets that did poorly in recent years may do quite well in spring 2012 as a result. Provided that business leaders and consumers will become more confident in the economy, this high level of demand can mean big things for the housing world.

That is, unfortunately, the problem. Buying a house is a big investment, and with the way Chester County real estate has been recently, many won’t be overly eager to spend their hard-earned money on a market that is still somewhat fragile. Buyers and business professionals must take charge and be confident in their decisions in order for the market to improve.

2. Foreclosures

Realtors do not predict the complete end of the foreclosure crisis in the upcoming season, but there still exists the possibility for a solution that would solve the problem permanently. For example, interest has been shown in taking areas with many foreclosed homes and making them into rentable apartment-like communities. This concept may continue and develop further in the future as renting becomes increasingly popular.

3. Renting

Rents will continue to rise in spring of 2012 as they have in the last year. As foreclosures become increasingly popular people, are forced to turn to renting as the only option for living, making it more challenging to sell PA property. However, there are also many people out there who have recovered from the recession, and are tired of having to rent. These individuals are a great target market for selling a home in Chester County.

Although renting is on the rise and home owning is still recovering, the real estate market is not lost. To sell PA property, it is a common consensus among many real estate professionals that the market will improve if business leaders and buyers take risks and put confidence back into their homes. Ultimately, it will be the availability of low interest rates and loans that will determine whether or not this confidence in the market is realized.

Be sure to follow your local Chester County real estate trends as the season goes on for up-to-date data and market results. If you’d like to speak with a professional realtor to learn more, call Liz Saunders at 1-888-914-4833 or send her an email.