Revolutionary War Museum Officially Coming to Philly

AP news story reports a deal has been reached to bring a Revolutionary War Museum to Philly.  The Museum will initially be housed in a former bicentennial visitor's center.  Eventually, that building will be torn down and the permanent museum building will replace it. 

Non-profit Spotlight: Northeast Tree Tenders

After a long drive on the highway, I turned onto one of Philly's beatiful tree lined streets and I felt noticably better.  I had the thought that there should be more organizations planting trees on Philadelphia streets.  It turns out there are groups doing just that and Northeast Tree Tenders is one of the successful organizations.  Residents of the Northeast can request a tree for their property and for free or a suggested $15 donation, one will be planted.  The group has planted close to three hundred trees since its inception.  The Fall planting day is November 20th, so get those applications in.

Fall Window Box Ideas

Fall is coming soon.  After the intense heat of this particular Summer, I am very much anticipating Fall.  GardenGuides.Com has a great guide to Fall friendly window boxes.  Below are the key ideas.

Flowers
Purple asters, golden, bronze and maroon chrysanthemums and purple, blue and yellow pansies add bright color to window boxes. These flowers thrive in cooler temperatures and will survive the first frosts. An early snow my wilt the blossoms, but if temperatures warm again, blossoms will return. Feed with a mild fertilizer to keep them blooming.

Foliage
Hardy green plants such as English ivy will provide good contrast for the fall flowers in your box. Or skip the flowers altogether and choose plants that provide the color and texture of flowers. Flowering Cabbage and Kale in shades of green, white and purple add a surprising punch of color. These ornamental vegetables intensify in color after the first frosts and will last well into winter.

Evergreen Boughs
If you live in a part of the country where snow arrives in October, consider "planting" evergreen boughs in your window boxes. Cut the tips of branches from pine, balsam fir or cedar and anchor the boughs in the window box with garden staples. Add ribbons and other decorations for an attractive window box arrangement you can leave out until spring.
Instead of flowers, fill your window box with pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn and other signs of the season. Prop a stuffed scarecrow in your box, or a Halloween witch.



buzzle.com,  deborahsilver.com   http://www.shelterpop.com/2009/08/19/fall-window-boxes/,

Could we see Interest Rates Below 4%?

The following was posted on Realtor Magazine's Daily News:

Average interest on long-term mortgages slid to a record low for the eighth time in nine weeks and could dip more. Freddie Mac reports that 30-year fixed loans averaged 4.36 percent this week, down from 4.42 percent a week ago; the 15-year fixed rate fell to a new low of 3.86 percent from 3.90 percent; and adjustable-rate mortgages were also below 4 percent.


The Mortgage Bankers Association's Michael Fratantoni said the group expects that rates "will begin to rise as the economic situation improves along with jobs."

With significant job recovery still a while off, I wonder if an interest rate in the threes could actually be coming.

July Top Dollar Homes

Center City, 19107
$1,196,500 1101 Locust St 6 H, 3 bedroom, 3 full bath, 2188 sq. ft.

Society Hill, 19106
$1,110,900 22 S Front, 4 bedroom, 3 full baths, 2300 sq. ft.

Center City, 19102
$1,250,000 50 S. 16th 4401 2 bedroom, 2 and a half baths, 1875 sq. ft.

Rittenhouse, 19103
$1,650,000 264 S. Van Pelt, 6 bedroom, 3 full and 1half bath, 4,000 sq. ft.

Art Museum, 19130
$625,000 643 N 17th St, 3 bedroom, 3 full bath, 3200 sq. ft.

Graduate Hospital/Rittenhouse, 19146
$1,070,000 1506 Lombard, 4 bedroom, 2 full bath, 1 half bath, 3,500 sq. ft.

Bella Vista 19147
$705,000 514 S. Darien, 3 bedroom, 3 full baths, 1 half bath, 2900 sq. ft.

Northern Liberties 19123
$650,000 157-59 Poplar, 3 bedroom, 2 full baths, 4200 sq. ft.

Will the Home Buyer Tax Credit Be Back?

With July home sales down about 30 percent.  Many are asking if the government will intervene again to help the housing market.  United Press International reports Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan is not ruling out the possibility of bringing back the tax credit

Donovan said on CNN's State of the Union show yesterday that it is "too soon to say" whether the administration's $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit tax credit, which expired April 30, will be revived."All I can tell you is that we are watching very carefully," 

Donovan said. "We're going to be focused like a laser on where the housing market is moving going forward, and we are going to go everywhere we can to make sure this market stabilizes and recovers."

 The tax credit combined with the record low interest rates would make investing in the housing market more affordable than ever before.  It will be interesting to see what HUD decides to do.

Torpedo Found and Dragged to Port Richmond

Finders is not keepers for two men who found a 1,000 pound torpedo in the Delaware River.  The Inquirer reports an archaeological crew responded and found the two men sitting on the torpedo drinking beers.  The beers were much deserved after it took the men 6 hours to drag the torpedo ashore.  Established military regulation require the men to give their catch back, but they have their 15 minutes of fame.

                                                    Alejandro A. Alvarez / Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Photographer