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Local authors offer easy guide for first-time home buyers

One’s from Germantown, the other from West Oak Lane, and now they’re living their dreams in big houses, and helping others do the same.

That's Diamond (Neil) celebrating the Emerald Isle at Philly's St. Patrick's Day Parade with the appropriately dressed and named Katie McNeil, also known as Mrs. Diamond, both in town for his concert here Sunday night.
That's Diamond (Neil) celebrating the Emerald Isle at Philly's St. Patrick's Day Parade with the appropriately dressed and named Katie McNeil, also known as Mrs. Diamond, both in town for his concert here Sunday night.Read more
    by Jenny DeHuff | Columnist
    Published 

EGYPT SHERROD, host of HGTV's "Property Virgins" and a native of Philadelphia, was in Cherry Hill last week to sign copies of her new book, Keep Calm . . . It's Just Real Estate: Your No-Stress Guide to Buying a Home. Sherrod, originally from West Oak Lane, is famous for being known as "America's most beloved real-estate agent," appearing on TV and radio. She's hosted "Property Virgins" since 2012.

Co-authored by real-estate expert Amber Noble Garland, who also was born and raised in Philly, the book offers a guide to navigating the sometimes complicated process of buying a home - from saving for a down payment to signing on the dotted line at the closing table. (The two met in their sophomore year together at Temple University.)

"I wanted to write a book that answered those questions - provides a blueprint for how the process should look," Sherrod told me.

"Don't worry. Buy happy," she said. "When you understand the process, you feel empowered. Now is a great time to buy a house with these historic [interest-rate] lows. Mortgage rates will go up next year, [when] it will cost you more to buy the same house. I just want to arm you with the tools to do so."

The book, selling for $16, hit stores last week.

OUT & ABOUT

Happy St. Pat's indeed! ICYMI: The one-and-only Neil Diamond tweeted a picture of himself in town with his wife, Katie McNeil, on Sunday at the 245th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.

The tweet read: "At the St. Patty's Parade in Philadelphia with Katie. Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day! Love, Neil McDiamond."

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is pictured in front of the Four Seasons Hotel (1 Logan Square), on the Ben Franklin Parkway, with his smiling blond beauty. He was in town to perform a Sunday-night concert at the Wells Fargo Center. I tried to reach out to the "Hot August Night" chart-topper, but he was probably busy not being a "Solitary Man."

Love, hip-hop and red lingerie

Nikki Mudarris, a/k/a "Miss Nikki," star of VH1's "Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood," will be flying from Los Angeles to appear at Club Onyx (2908 S. Columbus Blvd.) to judge a lingerie contest Saturday night.

Onyx's waitresses will be donning very little and flaunting a lot for the girlfriend of American rapper and record producer Jamal "Mally Mal" Rashid.

"Miss Nikki" will appear from about 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. to host the "Red Bottoms and Lingerie" competition and showcase, sponsored by Red Berry Ciroc vodka.

The Hollywood-based spin-off of the VH1 reality-TV series premiered in September and chronicles the lives of several men and women involved in the Hollywood hip-hop music industry.

On Twitter: @PhillyGossipDN

Online: ph.ly/DNGossip