Philly area remains a seller’s market as most of country shifts
Southeastern Pennsylvania homebuyers are seeing more competition than buyers across the country. According to Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin, as most of the country is shifting into a buyer’s market, the Philadelphia region is “remaining more of a seller’s market.” The combined market of Philadelphia and Delaware counties was one of only eight big metropolitan areas where a higher share of homes — about 24% — sold above the original listing price in February compared to the same time last year. In Montgomery, Chester and Bucks counties, 36% of homes sold in February sold for above the original asking price, according to Redfin. It is a higher percentage than in Philadelphia and Delaware counties but 4% lower than the previous year. Redfin states that nationwide, roughly one in five homes sold for more than the asking price in February, down from the same time last year.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 4/4/2025

Government watchdog to investigate attempted fair housing cuts
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) will investigate cuts to fair housing enforcement at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The investigation follows HUD's attempt to claw back $30 million in grants awarded to local fair housing centers. Four of the groups successfully sued to block the administration from withholding the allocated funds. The investigation was launched in response to a request from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, and other senators. It follows a letter signed by 119 members of Congress to HUD Sec. Scott Turner, requesting information about proposed further fair housing cuts, including reports of staffing reductions of 76% to HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. Read more at NAR’s Washington Report.
Source: NAR; 4/2/2025

FHA issues changes to residency requirements
On March 26, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) issued Mortgagee Letter (ML) 2025-09 and Title I Letter (TIL) TIL-490, revising the residency requirements for program participants. Specifically, FHA is removing the eligibility of “nonpermanent residents” from the Title I Property Improvement and Manufactured Home Loan, Title II Single Family, and Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) programs by May 25. Per FHA, the changes align with President Donald Trump’s call to prioritize benefits for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. FHA also states the changes ensure program integrity because “nonpermanent residents are subject to immigration laws that can affect their ability to remain legally in the country,” which “poses a challenge for FHA as the ability to fulfill long-term financial obligations depends on stable residency and employment.” FHA did not elaborate on how many nonpermanent residents have participated or currently participate in the programs, as it does not collect residency information.
Source: NAR; 4/4/2025

$264M for PA projects vanished in Congress’ budget battle
Several municipal projects in Pennsylvania were slated for federal funding this year, but the money has vanished. Bensalem Township wants to build a new fire station. Sharon Hill’s library needs renovations, and SEPTA’s subway entrances on Market Street were expected to receive a much-needed facelift. When Congress passed the continuing resolution to keep the government open last month, it bypassed the traditional budget process, which would have included earmarks — now called community project funds — amounting to about $264 million destined for Pennsylvania for the 2025 fiscal year. The project funds weren’t a major part of the debate between Democrats and Republicans during the vote on the continuing resolution. But the loss of the funding amid other federal cuts to local organizations and governments — and atop new tariffs rattling markets — leaves the future of funding for bridges, roadways, homeless shelters and stormwater projects in Pennsylvania and nationwide uncertain.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 4/8/2025 

Bucks commissioners address homeless shelter claims
Bucks County commissioners refuted rumors circulating on social media that they plan to convert a former law library in the Administration Building into a homeless shelter. Commissioners Diane Ellis-Marseglia, Gene DiGirolamo and Chairperson Bob Harvie addressed the claims during a recent public meeting. “The space is going to be used by Human Services to serve veterans and others seeking human services help,” Ellis-Marseglia said. The county opened a new law library in the Bucks County Justice Center in 2015. The older law library remained open in the Administration Building before closing recently during a consolidation with the new law library. According to Harvie, the consolidation was done with the approval of county courts, which are “statutorily required to operate a law library for legal staff, the public, the bar association and county officials.”
Source: LevittownNow; 4/2/2025

Bucks County Board of Elections reminds voters to be vigilant against scams
The Bucks County Board of Elections (BOE) reminds voters to remain vigilant when interacting with unsolicited election mail, email and text messages. The reminder comes after a county resident notified the BOE of an email originating from a Gmail address, titled “BucksCounty Elections,” that advocated for political candidates of one political party in the May 20 municipal primary election and encouraged the recipient to click a link to apply for a mail-in ballot. The BOE stressed that it rarely corresponds with voters via email, and it provided tips regarding election-related communication.
Source: Bucks County; 4/1/2025

Solebury asks residents to complete waste hauler survey
Solebury Township is considering soliciting bids for a single waste hauler contract to potentially streamline waste management services in the township and limit the number of large vehicles on the roads. Township officials have posted a short survey online. It will be available until April 18.
Source: Solebury Township; 3/2025

Tourism is up in Bucks County
Visit Bucks County announced that tourism reached record highs in 2024. About 8.4 million people visited Bucks County, having a $1.3 billion economic impact. Visitors directly spent $710 million on food and beverage, lodging, transportation, retail and recreation in 2024, a 2.3% increase over the previous year. Tourism spending supported 29,104 leisure and hospitality jobs in the county. “Visitor spending continues to be a powerful driver for the local economy,” said Paul Bencivengo, president and CEO of Visit Bucks County, the county’s official destination marketing organization. “The impact of visitor spending extends beyond our hotels and attractions — it supports local companies, creates jobs and enhances the quality of life for residents.” Read the full press release here.
Source: LevittownNow; 4/6/2025

West Goshen supervisors agree to preserve meeting videos
West Goshen Township supervisors have decided to keep old meeting videos available on YouTube, abandoning an earlier idea to remove them. Videos of supervisors meetings are currently available back to Oct. 19, 2016, on YouTube, at no cost to the township. Supervisors Chairperson Shaun Walsh had introduced a resolution at the April 1 meeting that would have limited retention of meeting videos on the township website to as little as three months, prompting a barrage of emails and public comments in opposition. Supervisors unanimously decided that there will be no change to the retention policy. Walsh referred to the social media landscape as a “swamp” and said his intentions were to remove the meeting videos from the internet. Residents who spoke against the resolution cited transparency issues. Neighboring municipalities preserve videos for different lengths of time: East Goshen and West Chester have no time limits; West Whiteland preserves videos for one year; Westtown holds on to videos for six months; and Malvern keeps them for 90 days.
Source: Daily Local; 4/8/2025

West Nottingham supervisors consider pair of proposed solar arrays
The West Nottingham Township Board of Supervisors held a conditional use hearing to consider the application of West Nottingham CSG 1 LLC and West Nottingham CSG 2 LLC for solar generating arrays at 10 State Line Road. The property is located in the township’s industrial zone, but is currently used for agriculture. Hayley Effler, the senior project development manager for Dimension Energy, the parent company of both LLCs, said the property will be subdivided so each of the two unmanned arrays is on a separate parcel, with a third parcel for the remaining farmland and wetlands. Each array will be able to generate 3 megawatts, which is the state’s maximum amount allowed. The expected life of the array is 25 to 35 years. Although the property is within the industrial zone, the township has not adopted an ordinance that deals with solar generation. There is a solar energy ordinance in the works that has yet to be approved. Effler testified that studies suggest small solar projects like the one proposed have no impact on neighboring property values. Supervisors did not render a decision at the hearing. If the application is approved, the next step would be the submission of a subdivision and land development plan. Read more at Chester County Press.
Source: Chester County Press; 4/3/2025

Dormant Devon restaurant complex will be revived
The landmark mosaic-tiled Devon building that housed the restaurants La Jonquille and Shiraz will be active again after two idle decades. Rich Kim, an owner of the critically acclaimed Salt Korean BBQ in North Wales, Montgomery County, said that he and his partners will open a second location of Salt on the first floor and a fine-dining Japanese restaurant on the second floor. A timeline is not fixed, but Kim said he hopes to open in eight months. The property — located at Lancaster Avenue and Berkley Road in Tredyffrin Township — has two buildings on about two acres, and 130 parking spaces. He intends to lease out the second building, which previously housed a spa and an aesthetician’s office.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 4/4/2025

Improvements coming to Mt. Vernon Street in Oxford
Oxford Borough officials have long discussed upgrades for the wells, water lines and sewer lines for Mt. Vernon Street. Traffic on the street has also greatly increased as the borough continues to grow as an urban center, and a proposed traffic calming bio-retention bump-out project will be located on the north side of the street. The project includes removing the existing sidewalk, grass median and asphalt, excavating the sub-grade, placing aggregate and bio-retention soils within the excavated area, planting the bio-retention area, and installing new concrete sidewalks. The bump-outs will improve stormwater conveyance and help the borough meet pollutant-reduction requirements. The Mt. Vernon Street project is intended to employ a “dig once” strategy, which means it will include structural repair and repaving, replacement of the water main, and any necessary utility upgrades, so that the new road will not need to be disturbed in the near future.
Source: Chester County Press; 4/3/2025

Goose Creek Alliance in West Chester releases watershed action plan
The Goose Creek Alliance has released its watershed action plan. The plan is a comprehensive blueprint that was developed in collaboration with local stakeholders, environmental experts and government agencies to address the problematic conditions experienced by the Goose Creek Watershed. The Goose Creek Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the monitoring and rehabilitation of Goose Creek, a stream in the West Chester region.
Source: Daily Local; 4/4/2025