Delaware Valley Overlook

Southeastern Pennsylvania Agent Is Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:57:26 -0400

LARRY YERKES EARNS PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION TO HELP HOMEOWNERS IN DANGER OF FORECLOSURE

Larry Yerkes, of Harper Real Estate in Southeast Pennsylvania, has earned the prestigious Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, having completed extensive training in foreclosure avoidance and short sales. This is invaluable expertise to offer at a time when the area is ravaged by "distressed" homes in the foreclosure process.

Short sales allow the cash-strapped seller to repay the mortgage at the price that the home sells for, even though it is lower than what is owed on the property. With plummeting property values, this can save many people from foreclosure and even bankruptcy. More and more lenders are willing to consider short sales because they are much less costly than foreclosures.

In the Delaware Valley area, many more homes are in danger of foreclosing. It is happening in all price ranges. Local experts say that even high-priced homes are not immune.

"This CDPE designation has been invaluable as I work with sellers and lenders on complicated short sales," said Yerkes. "It is so rewarding to be able to help sellers save their homes from foreclosure."

Alex Charfen, founder of the Distressed Property Institute in Boca Raton, Fla., said that Realtors® such as Lawrence Yerkes with the CDPE designation have valuable training in short sales that can offer the homeowner much better alternatives to foreclosure, which virtually destroys the credit rating. These experts also may better understand market conditions and can help sellers through the emotional experience, he said.

The Distressed Property Institute opened in January 2008 and provides training on-site and online. The CDPE is the premier designation for Realtors helping homeowners in distress and handling short sales.

"Our goal is to educate as many people as possible so we can help as many homeowners as possible," Charfen said.

For more details about Larry Yerkes and his distressed property services, visit: Certified Distressed Property Expert.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Agent Is Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:34:13 -0400

LARRY YERKES EARNS PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION TO HELP HOMEOWNERS IN DANGER OF FORECLOSURE

In the Delaware Valley area, many more homes are in danger of foreclosing. It is happening in all price ranges. Local experts say that even high-priced homes are not immune.

"Our goal is to educate as many people as possible so we can help as many homeowners as possible," Charfen said.

For more details about Larry Yerkes and his distressed property services, visit: Certified Distressed Property Expert

Pennsylvania Prothonotary -- What Is A Prothonotary?

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:14:10 -0400

If you are new to Pennsylvania, one of the office titles you will surely encounter eventually at the county level is that of the Prothonotary. Most people have the same reaction to the term the Harry S Truman is suppose have said upon being introduced to a Prothonotary, "What the hell is a Prothonotary?" and who was said to have later added that it was the most impressive-sounding political title he ever heard.

The Prothonotary is an elected Constitutional office in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The word "Prothonotary" is a Greek and Latin term meaning "First Scribe." The Prothonotary is the Clerk of the Civil Division of the Court of Common Pleas who is elected to a four year term.

Background

In Pennsylvania, it dates all the way back to 1683 when William Penn appointed the first Prothonotary.

The word prothonotary dates back to Ecclesiastical Law as being the highest administrator of the Court of Rome and the First Notary, known as the Prelate of a body of 12 Notaries. When a case was ready for trial, the Prothonotary would notify the Judges when to appear in Court to try the case.

The word prothonotary is recorded in English since 1447, as "principal clerk of a court," from L.L. prothonotarius (c.400), from Greek protonotarios "first scribe," originally the recorder of the court of the Byzantine empire, from Greek πρῶτος protos "first" + Latin notarius (see notary); the -h- appeared in Medieval Latin.

The title was awarded to certain high-ranking notaries.

A Protonotarios in mid-Byzantine (7th-10th c.) administration was also recorded as a rough equivalent of a commissar for the Emperor in Constantinople in various themataor provinces. A Protonotarios was also responsible for overseeing the gathering of resources -monetary and material- by the Thematarch or province governor in preparation of a military campaign.

When the English Court system was established, the Prothonotary acted as the chief administrator in the English Courts of the King's Bench and Common Pleas. When our American Court system was set up, we also adopted the same procedure as those being used by the English Courts. Every state in our United States has its Clerk of the Common Pleas Court but very few are titled as Prothonotaries. The older New England States and Pennsylvania still have their Prothonotaries.

(Source: Wikipedia and Berks County)

Pennsylvania Prothonotary Today

It is one of three major offices in almost every Pennsylvania Courthouse: the Recorder of Deeds, the Register of Wills, and the Prothonotary,

The Prothonotary in most other states is known as the Court Clerk. In Pennsylvania, the "Court Clerk" (Clerk of the Courts) is usually dealing specifically with the Criminal Court, while the Prothonotary is involved with non-criminal court records and filings, exclusive of property deed recording and wills (and marriage licenses) -- the keeper/clerk of the civil records/division for the court. Work is generated from the court and through filings from both attorneys and the general public. For example, name changes, civil and family court records, passports, judgments and liens will be handled or have corresponding records administered by the Prothonotary.

The Prothonotary also provides the avenue for external oversight of the Judiciary without the legislative or executive branch of government's interference with its actions or independence. This elected official perseveres for the public unfettered access to a fair and accurate record of opinions, decisions and judgments of the court. (Source: Lancaster County)

NOTE: There is a County Clerk position that is in support of the County Commissioners and handles all county government documents, meeting notes, agendas, etc as well as the official business of the county, including county grants and contracts. It is not related to the Clerk of Court or Prothonotary.

Not all Pennsylvania counties have an elected position of Prothonotary. For example, in Delaware County the functions that would be have been previously handled by the Prothonotary are now performed by it's Judicial Support Department's Civil Division.

Below are examples of various greater Southeastern Pennsylvania counties and what they say about the responsibilities of their county Prothonotary office:

Chester County Prothonotary

Chester County's Prothonotary essentially handles the civil side of the county courts administration, as well as passports. (By way, it used to handle things like business and fictitious name registrations until taken over by the Pennsylvania Department of State in 1984.)

Mission Statement: To function as the legal custodian of all civil instruments filed with the Court of Common Pleas, in accordance with the laws of civil procedure of the Commonwealth and the Chester County Rules of Court, by maintaining accurate indices and dockets, providing security for the documents, and making them available to the public.

Organizational Chart for Chester County Prothonotary Office

Delaware County -- an Exception

Prior to adoption of the Home Rule Charter, Delaware County had separate Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary offices. They are now part of one Judicial Support Department with a Criminal Division and a Civil Division (previous Prothonotary).

The Civil Division handles all civil cases which involve suits by individuals, unincorporated and incorporated businesses, liens against properties and judgments on individuals are also filed and maintained in this office. The office also provides a Court Clerk for each sitting judge and others handling matters pertaining directly to the courts. Notaries must register their signatures in this office. Application for passports are certified here and divorce filings are handled by this office also.

The Office generates in various fees enough revenue to make it nearly self sufficient.

Philadelphia Prothonotary

Philadelphia's Office of the Prothonotary (of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia) began in the time of William Penn. It is one of the oldest, continuously held legal offices in the Western Hemisphere. The Prothonotary is defined as the officer who officiates as principal Clerk of the Courts [Civil]; and the Clerk is defined as an officer of the Court who keeps its records, keeps the great seal, issues processes, enters judgment and orders and certifies records. The office is responsible for processing the millions of documents that directly and materially affect the legal relationships and legal commerce of the citizens of Philadelphia.

Bucks County Prothonotary

Bucks County's Prothonotary has administrative control over and responsibility for all official documents and records of the civil and family divisions. It is the duty of the office to record such legal documents as Appeals, Assignments, Commencement of Actions, Equity, Divorce, Complaints, Executions, Final Orders, Judgments, Liens, Name Change Petitions, Signatures of Notaries Public, Satisfactions, Subpoena's, Exceptions to Judicial or Tax Sales, Revivals and Minor's Compromise. Additionally, the Office of the Prothonotary initiates judgments entered by magisterial district justices to the Court of Common Pleas. The prothonotary also processes appeals from the magisterial district justices to the Court of Common Pleas as well as appeals from the Court of Common Pleas to the Superior, Supreme and Commonwealth Courts.

The mission of the Office is to see that these documents are docketed, microfilmed and processed timely and in accordance with State requirements.

The Prothonotary also serves as an Agent for the Federal Government for the purpose of processing Passport applications.

In Bucks County, the office predates the founding of the Commonwealth. The first Prothonotary, Phineas Pemberton, was appointed by William Penn in 1683.

Over the years the office recorded documents including a list of stallions, doctors and dentists, slaves and their respective markings and brands, and also Lunacy Dockets. The records date back to 1684 and are preserved in northern Pennsylvania.

Montgomery County Prothonotary

The Montgomery County Prothonotary's office assists with passports, protection from abuse (PFA's), and the filing, storage, and distribution of civil documents. Click here for their FAQ's page.

Berks County Prothonotary

The Berks County Prothonotary is the Chief Clerk and Recordkeeper for all filings related to Civil Cases. The Office is located in the County Courthouse and responsible for the filing, recording and processing of all Civil actions, Equity actions, Judgments, Federal and Local Tax Liens, City Liens, Family Court matters, Arbitrations, License Suspension Appeals, Appeals to Higher Court, Uniform Commercial Code filings, and Applications for Passports.

"Also, we file and record all Judgments, Orders, Decrees of Court and mail notice of such entries to parties and/or counsel in each case. We issue Writs and process many other legal documents. We review pleadings filed for compliance with the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure and Berks County Rules of Court. Filing fees are collected for services rendered and turned over to the County and State."

Lehigh County -- another exception

On January 1, 1978, in accordance with the newly established Home Rule Charter in Lehigh County, the Office of the Clerk of Quarter Sessions and the Office of the Prothonotary were merged as one and is now known as the Clerk of Courts. The Clerk of Courts Office consists of a Civil and Criminal Division.

The Lehigh County Clerk of Courts - Civil Division

Lancaster County Prothonotary

The Lancaster County Office of Prothonotary is responsible for the recording and filing of legal papers of a widely diversified character such as: protection from abuse; custody; secured transactions; quiet titles; change of names; administers oaths; power of attorney registrations; passports; school audit reports; treasurer sale deed records; petitions for opening ballot boxes on recounts; judgment notes; suspension of operators license; mechanical liens; municipal liens; county liens; State sales tax liens; State unemployment compensation liens; financial statement registrations; Federal income tax liens; issues divorce certificates; issues naturalization certificates; and certification of District Justice .

Some of the powers and duties of the Prothonotary are as follows: Signs and seals all writs, processes numerous other documents of the Common Pleas Court such as ejectments, appeal on land damages, collisions, court exhibits, naturalization records, and is the collector of State taxes and other State fees on legal documents. The Prothonotary also certifies and delivers all appeal cases to the State Superior and Supreme courts. It is custodian of Common Pleas Court Funds and impounded divorce testimony.

Northampton County Prothonotary

Northampton County Office of the Clerk of Court-Civil is more commonly known as the Prothonotary's Office.

The primary function of this office is to docket and file all legal documents pertaining to civil cases, such as divorce and custody complaints, civil lawsuits, equity actions, mortgage foreclosure actions and indexing of judgments as well as federal and commonwealth tax liens. The office issues writs of execution for sheriff sales on real estate and personal property. The office also processes passport applications for the Philadelphia Passport Agency. Twice a year we assist in the process of naturalization of new citizens.

The office also dockets all protection from abuse matters. The protection from abuse clerks assist the victim with the paper work to be filled out and with the help of court administration to get the victim before a judge for a temporary abuse order and at a later date a final order.

The office consists of the clerk of court-civil/ prothonotary, 3 deputy prothonotaries who have the authority to sign documents on behalf of the prothonotary and assist in supervising the office, 6 clerks who process civil matters 2 clerks who process protection from abuse cases and a file clerk.

Related Prothonotary and Court Links

Common Pleas Court Contact Information (Prothonotary)

Russell Index System (source: Beaver County Historical Society)

Wikipedia: Prothonotary

FYI: This article is about the legal offices of prothonotary. For information about the species of bird, please see Prothonotary Warbler.

Wishing You A Better 2009

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:36:34 -0500

Wishing all of you a ...

... and a Prosperous and Healthy 2009!

We are thankful and feel blessed that, despite it's many challenges, we have survived 2008.

We now look forward in 2009 as we have made many significant adjustments for the changing market are in the process of implementing many enhancements and upgrades to continue expanding our effective market coverage and our ability to provide the best service to you!

We're we are excited about the benefits these changes will provide in 2009!

Come along with us!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 2008!

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 00:18:45 -0500

Hoping you and your family have a warm, wonderful, Southeastern Pennsylvania Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

The Christmas season holds special meaning unique to each one of us.

Here are links to resources we have provided in previous articles celebrating from different persepctives the meanings, traditions, literature, music, food, fun, faith and family gatherings associated with this time of the year. Enjoy!

Christmas Holiday Music On The Internet
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Celebrate: The Christmas Holiday Season
The Holiday Season - Christmas Carols and Songs
Filling Your Home With Winter Cheer - Part 1 of 3
Filling Your Home With Winter Cheer - Part 2 of 3
Filling Your Home With Winter Cheer - Part 3 of 3
Christmas Holiday Fun

Southeastern Pennsylvania Climate

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:05:23 -0500

Southeastern Pennsylvania's climate differs from the rest of the state. This it due in large part to the Appalachian Mountains that outline the region which most of us from that area are familiar.

Southeastern Pennsylvania is part of the Piedmont region, lying at the foothills of the mountains, which is also a sub-region in the greater Mid-Atlantic region. The area is identified as a separate climate division called Pennsylvania Southeastern Piedmont by the NOAA.

This area, because of it's climate, has some of the best farmable land in the state, although it has been overtaken in some areas by development, especially as you get closer to Philadelphia.

The Southeastern area weather is less severe than other parts of the state, with more sunshine and milder winters. January average highs range in the 36 to 39 degrees, with lows in the 18 to 22 degrees. However, you can have spikes going into the 50's and 60's, depending on whether the air flow from the North is pushing down or being pushed back by air coming from the South up the East Coast (following the Appalachian Mountains).

Summers are warm and humid, with average highs in the 84 to 87 degrees and lows in the 62 to 67 degrees, however, on the hottest summer days, it can reach into the high 90's, even breaking 100 with high humidity.

Weather usually will either move up along the East Coast (following the Appalachian Mountains), veering off at the Southeastern Corner of Pennsylvania (warmer), or come down out of the North and cutting across the state from the west (colder).

The region enjoys 4 distinct seasons, about equal in length, each with it's own unique beauty, average weather and enjoyment.

Scrapple - Philadelphia Does Not A Scrapple Make?

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:32:16 -0500

I grew up in Chester County and so I had the regular experience of eating scrapple with eggs for breakfast and sometimes for lunch (in a sandwich) and I vaguely remember even a few times for dinner.

It was usually served thinly sliced, about a quarter inch or slightly more in thickness and grilled to a thin dark golden brown crust on the surface, but still a little soft on the inside. I would eat it usually plain or with ketchup.

During that time of my life, I was not aware of, nor concerned about, what scrapple was made of -- just that it tasted good, especially with eggs "over easy" or as a sandwich (thinner, more crunchy, not very soft on inside).

Later in life I started asking more thoughtful, philosophical questions, such as why do we have scrapple, where did it come from and more importantly, "what's it made of"?

Most people I've run across, who know what it is and have eaten it, either love it or hate it, with very few in between or indifferent.

I've since come to learn that scrapple has been part of our Pennsylvania / Delaware Valley heritage for over 200 years. Even Benjamin Franklin wrote about it. And George Washington liked it, having been introduced to it by his Pennsylvania Dutch cook. It was brought over by German settlers who established communities in areas that are now part of Chester County and it's use spread throughout the area.

Today it is often called Philadelphia scrapple, although it did not originate from within the City of Philadelphia nor is scrapple produced inside the city but in areas around the city. It is usually on the menu of most local diners and breakfast-serving restaurants in the Southeastern Pennsylvania / Delaware Valley area and especially in what we now call the Pennsylvania Dutch area because of it's strong German cultural heritage. (Remember: "Dutch" in this case has nothing directly to do with the Dutch or Holland, it's a corruption of "Deutsch", which is the German language word for "German". They don't call their country the same as we call it in English, "Germany", they call it "Deutschland", which we again corrupted to "Dutchland". That being said, some of the Low Germain areas from where they immigrated from to Pennsylvania are near or overlap the Neatherlands and included Dutch speaking groups.)

There is not absolute agreement of how scrapple as we know it was started in this area, but most agree it was German and Dutch settlers in and around the Chester County area that created our American version of scrapple in order to not waste the usable remnant "scraps" that were left over from preparing pork products, such as liverwurst. They added cornmeal, spices and cooked it into a jell-like consistency. The jelled scrapple, which stored very well in tin cans prior to refrigeration, was then thinly sliced and fried when ready to be eaten. It was very popular.

Scrapple is called panhas in German. The Pennsylvania Dutch call it pawn haas or pon haus. These include the Amish (pronounced aahh'-mish) and Mennonites, among others.

Today scapple is commonly eaten plain, with ketchup, or as is more common in Pennsylvania Dutch county, it is eaten with syrup (or sometimes apple butter).

References:
Wikipedia: Scrapple
NYTimes Article: Sampling Scrapple At The Source
Habbersett Scrapple Corporation: History
Additional Links
Stoltzfus Meats

It This A Good Time For Me to Buy or Sell Real Estate?

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:49:49 -0400

Many of us, who are contemplating buying or selling real estate in Southeastwen Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley, are trying to predict the real estate market and reduce our risk of making a bad financial decision.

A question is usually asked, "Is now a good time to buy or sell real estate, especially a residence?"

Those wanting to buy may be concerned about purchasing a residence that may continue to lose value. Those wanting or needing to sell are worried about trying to get out at least what they have invested plus some appreciation. If they don't have to sell now, they be considering holding off until the market improves and stay in the house or rent it. So, what's the best answer?

The simple answer is, "It depends."

Please let me explain...

Is Now A Good Time to Buy or Sell Real Estate?

Listen Online to Your Favorite Delaware Valley Radio Stations

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:16:40 -0400

Virtenna - Now you can listen to your favorite AM/FM Philadelphia area radio stations online from anywhere you have an Internet connection. You can also browse and discover stations from around the world. You can search by location and type of programming.

So far you can play US stations from Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Jose, and Washington, DC. Each city features dozens of the major broadcasting stations (and some you didn't even know existed). Many international locations are also featured including Beijing, Hong Kong, Israel, London, Shanghai, Taipei and Tokyo. Just pick your favorite news, music or talk show and these folks whisk you off to a new land with one simple click! (Note: You may have to scoll down the visualization window to see the volume control.)

Radio-Locator - lists all known sites on the Internet that publish information about broadcast radio stations. Look for your favorite home radio station or discover a new station. You can select by call-sign, city, format, state, country and advance search. If your radio station broadcasts on the Internet, you can find them here. Don't miss out on your favorite radio programs and news just because you are not in range of the station's radio signal. Listen to them live on the Internet.

For some additional Internet Radio broadcasts sources check out:

RadioTime - combines a web-based guide of radio programs and stations with software to listen live and record AM/FM and Internet radio.

Live365.com - Internet broadcast network -- for Internet-only programming.

Updated School Reports for Southeastern Pennsylvania

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:35:07 -0400

The Philadelphia Inquirer recently came out with their latest edition of it's Report Card on Schools for the Delaware Valley.

For school contact information, statistics and to see how your district, or the district to which you are considering moving, compares with other schools in the state over a range of areas including spending, salaries, special programs and diversity,

Click here for Southeastern Pennsylvania

For additional schools reporting, search and comparisons by address, zip or by mapping, as well as local community information, click here to access our Local Information page on our web site.

For a list of school districts provided by our local Realtors Association, click here.

Philadelphia County Year-to-Month Residential Sales Statistics - Through May 2008

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:28:23 -0400

When looking at the year-to-month actual statistics (using the most recently completed month of May vs. March and January) for Philadelphia County, the results for residential homes on the market, sold, average price and days for sale before close is charted as follows:

Yr Ending

Units Listed

Units Sold

% Sold

Sold Avg.

Avg.
Dom

05/2008 32744 14426 44 $187,670 67 03/2008 33668 14902 44 $187,302 65

01/2008

34270

15498

$186,359

See previous article for prior year 01/200X year-to-date comparison.

This shows that the overall trend is still slightly mixed and and appears to be bottoming -- in some categories showing some improvement so that eventually it will be tending back upward.

The current Philadelphia County inventory is 9493, with an average monthly Sold of 1094, yielding a backlog of 8 months to sell off the inventory at current rates of sale.

Chester County Year-to-Month Residential Sales Statistics - Through May 2008

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:39:06 -0400

When looking at the year-to-month actual statistics (using the most recently completed month of May vs. March and January) for Chester County, the results for residential homes on the market, sold, average price and days for sale before close is charted as follows:

Yr Ending

Units Listed

Units Sold

% Sold

Sold Avg.

Avg.
Dom

05/2008 11222 5390 48 $378,395 71 03/2008 11540 5556 48 $380,116 70

01/2008

11581

5776

$379,938

See previous article for prior year 01/200X year-to-date comparison.

This shows that while the trend is still downward, it is slowing and hopefully will soon start to level and even reverse direction.

The current inventory is 4073, with an average monthly Sold of 414, yielding a backlog of 9 months to sell off the inventory at current rates of sale.

Delaware County Year-to-Month Residential Sales Statistics - Through May 2008

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:45:13 -0400

When looking at the year-to-month actual statistics (using the most recently completed month of May vs. March and January) for Delaware County, the results for residential homes on the market, sold, average price and days for sale before close is charted as follows:

Yr Ending

Units Listed

Units Sold

% Sold

Sold Avg.

Avg.
Dom

05/2008 11242 6184 55 $264,187 61 03/2008 11672 6450 55 $268,050 59

01/2008

11735

6666

$268,304

The current inventory is 3345, with an average monthly Sold of 515, yielding a backlog of 6 months to sell off the inventory at current rates of sale.

How To Avoid Foreclosure

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:14:56 -0400

Foreclosure means more than just the loss of your family home. It means that you will lose any equity that you have may have in the house. It also means that your credit with be severely effected for a long time and may even keep you from purchasing a home again.

However, there are alternative steps you can take with the help of an experienced real estate agent who is also a foreclosure prevention specialist (FPS). These options range from modifying your mortgage to selling your home even if you have no equity and moving into a new home. In short, you don't have to lose your home to foreclosure.

You can stop foreclosure on your home and save your credit, but you have to act quickly and learn what options are available for your situation.

Contact Me for a brief special report: "How To Avoid Foreclosure On Your Home" or to discuss in more detail the next steps you may be able to take and avoid foreclosure.

Bucks County Year-to-Month Residential Sales Statistics - Through May 2008

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:10:10 -0400

When looking at the year-to-month actual statistics (using the most recently completed month of May vs. March and January) for Bucks County, the results for residential homes on the market, sold, average price and days for sale before close is charted as follows:

Yr Ending

Units Listed

Units Sold

% Sold

Sold Avg.

Avg.
Dom

05/2008 12982 6316 49 $361,270 66 03/2008 13369 6545 49 $365,424 64

01/2008

13451

6789

$363,412

This shows that while the trend is still downward, it is slowing and hopefully will soon start to level and even reverse direction.

The current inventory is 4256, with an average monthly Sold of 485, yielding a backlog of 8 months to sell off the inventory at current rates of sale.