A pro’s spring cleaning tips | Real Estate Newsletter
And fraud charges for real estate influencers
I have a lot of reusable shopping bags in my coat closet. I don’t know how many. (They’re stuffed in two of their brethren.) But I know it’s too many.
If this sounds familiar, we’re not alone. Marlena Masitto, owner of the professional organizing company Philly Neat Freaks, told me these bags are the No. 1 thing she sees cluttering clients’ homes.
But there’s hope. In a Q&A, Masitto has some tips for those of us hoping to better organize our homes this spring.
Keep scrolling for that story and more in this week’s edition:
‘Ponzi scheme’: Philly-based real estate influencers who showed off their glamorous homes and flashy vacations on social media have been indicted on federal fraud charges.
Worth a second look: Peek inside this Mount Airy “mansion” that a family passed over and then bought after a $50,000 price cut.
Students vs. families: Chester County neighbors who are already dealing with quality-of-life issues from student renters worry that Villanova’s new campus could make things worse.
Bright by cozy: Peek inside this light-filled walk-up apartment in Bella Vista.
Market update: Scroll for the latest housing market stats for April.
— Michaelle Bond
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When I was a kid, my mom called me a pack rat, because I saved unnecessary stuff. That’s not even counting all the pretty rocks I’d collect at recess that she’d later find in my pockets.
I’ve long since outgrown that. (Nothing makes parting with stuff easier than having to move every year or two.) But the accumulation of things can creep up on you when you stay in one place, and I’m at a point where I need to create more space in my home.
This week, I had a helpful conversation with Marlena Masitto, owner of Philly Neat Freaks and the person who helped get James Beard-winning Kalaya chef Nok Suntaranon’s home kitchen in order.
We talked about how to get started with decluttering if you’re feeling overwhelmed, her goals for the clients she helps, and why she thinks we have the urge to get our homes together when spring rolls around.
One piece of advice is to create a dedicated “donation station.”
Keep reading for more tips and to find out what kinds of accumulated stuff Masitto sees in all her clients’ homes.
📮Do you have a home organization hack that’s worked for you? Teach us your ways.
In 2023, investigative reporters Samantha Melamed and Ryan W. Briggs introduced Inquirer readers to Philly real estate influencers Gregory “Big Bizzneesss” Parker and Danielle “Nikki” Parker. On social media, the Parkers showed off private planes and luxury cars, and they offered to help other Philadelphians get rich through real estate.
Problem was, the Parkers didn’t have the real estate holdings they said they had, and people who invested with the couple said they got scammed out of their money.
Last week, the Parkers were arrested. They now face federal fraud charges.
Prosecutors called their enterprise a “Ponzi scheme,” saying the Parkers used other people’s money “to fund their own lavish lifestyles.”
Keep reading for more details of the Parkers’ alleged scam.
The latest news to pay attention to
These homebuyers weren’t seriously searching until a Mount Airy “mansion” came back on the market with a $50,000 price cut.
This Chester County neighborhood worries that Villanova’s new campus could make their student renter issue worse.
Could this be the last new office built in Philadelphia? Learn about Chubb’s new Center City building.
Mayor Parker signed into law expanded renter protections that sparked a lawsuit by Philly landlords.
A Northwest Philly developer is buying four buildings from La Salle University.
Take a sneak peek into the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art’s newly announced plans for a $100 million campus expansion, which will add a second building and nature preserve.
The former Iron Hill Brewery in the center of downtown West Chester officially has a new tenant.
House of the week: For $350,000 in Lansdowne, a four-bedroom Colonial with a covered front porch that’s close to local attractions.
Roommates Allie Osipov and Claire Borgerding love the natural light that streams into their fourth-floor walk-up in Bella Vista.
“At sunset, the whole apartment will turn orange,” Borgerding said.
The bathroom has a skylight ceiling. Plants thrive throughout the home. The window-filled living room/home office/yoga room is “bright and airy but also cozy,” Osipov said.
Outside, there’s a small patio where Osipov’s cat likes to sunbathe.
Peek inside this 700-square-foot apartment and learn why one of the bedroom doors has a mail slot.
📊 The market
After a slow start, the spring housing market picked up last month.
“Warmer weather, more inventory, and [a] temporary drop in rates fueled a strong April across most of the Mid-Atlantic,” Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at the multiple listing service Bright MLS, said in a statement.
Both home sellers and buyers were more active. And having more homes on the market reigned in price growth.
According to Bright, in the Philadelphia metro area last month:
🔺 There were more than 6,800 new contracts on homes — a four-year high.
🔺 Homeowners newly listed more than 8,400 properties for sale — 6.5% more than at the same time last year and the highest number for April since 2022.
🔺 The median home sale price rose 2.6% to $395,000.
Economic uncertainty and housing affordability are still big concerns as we move deeper into spring. The buyers who are most active are those with higher incomes.
📷 Photo quiz
Do you know the location this photo shows?
📮 If you think you do, email me back.
Last week’s quiz stumped most readers. But not Lars W., who correctly identified the photo of the Andrew Carnegie-funded Free Library branch in McPherson Square.
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The PGA Championship officially begins today at Aronimink Golf Club in Delaware County. Why am I mentioning this in a real estate newsletter? Because parking is limited and nearby homeowners are looking to cash in by renting out their properties as makeshift lots.
They stand to make thousands of dollars.
Enjoy the rest of your week.
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