Wholesaling resources page and webinar
The Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act (RELRA) regulates the practice of real estate and is being amended to clarify that the practice of wholesaling is licensed real estate activity. Anyone who wants to do a wholesale transaction for themselves or represents a wholesaler who is selling a property must have a real estate license. Act 52 of 2024, which was signed into law in July 2024 and takes effect in January 2025, modifies RELRA to provide uniformity in real estate licensing and protect vulnerable consumers. In recent years, the practice of wholesaling has become more prevalent with very little oversight. People who participate in wholesale transactions are sometimes promised an opportunity to “make money fast” in real estate with “little or no upfront investment” but with only a few hours’ worth of training in real estate transactions. Without oversight, some wholesalers can take advantage of homeowners who are elderly or infirm, in dire financial situations or are not informed of their property’s value. Now that wholesalers will be licensed, the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission will be able to investigate and address bad behavior. The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors (PAR) has created a resources page for wholesaling. PAR will also host a webinar on the topic on Jan. 8.
Source: PAR; 12/17/2024

Scammers plot to sell vacant land fraudulently
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center warns that losses from real estate and rental scams are steadily increasing, reaching more than $396 million in 2022. Scammers are plotting elaborate schemes to dupe potential buyers, property owners and real estate professionals. One of their latest targets is vacant land, warns Charlie Lee, senior counsel and director of legal affairs at the National Association of Realtors, in a 2023 “Window to the Law” video. Scammers comb through public records and flag vacant parcels of land and properties that don’t have a mortgage or other lien, Lee said. Then, they’ll pose as the landowner, asking a real estate agent to list the property. “For the agent, the deal seems too good to pass up,” Lee said. “The seller is willing to sell below market value, the property generates great interest and they’ll quickly accept an offer — with a preference for a cash sale.” Real estate attorney Victor Petrescu recently warned of an uptick in scammers known as “title pirates,” who use fraudulent or forged deeds and other documents to convey title to a property. Often, these scams go undetected until after the money has been wired to the scammer in the fraudulent sale. Read the full story in Realtor Magazine.
Source: Realtor Magazine; 10/23/2023

Delaware residents in ‘limbo’ worry reassessments will drive up taxes
A lawsuit over school funding has prompted a reassessment of properties in Delaware’s three counties after decades without any reassessments. School districts and the city of Wilmington are not bound to stay revenue-neutral after the assessments. By law, school districts can exact a 10% increase in their portion of property taxes. Tyler Technologies is doing the reassessments for all three counties. The process has raised outrage, confusion and frustration among some property owners worried their taxes will go up next year because of steep increases in their tentative property value assessments. Read more at WHYY.
Source: WHYY; 12/17/2024

Happy holidays from the SRA
The Suburban Realtors Alliance office will be closed on Dec. 24 and 25. The office will also close at noon on Dec. 31 through Jan. 1, 2025. The next edition of the news briefs will be sent on Jan. 3, 2025. 

Middletown passes no-tax-increase budget, adopts stormwater fee
Middletown Township supervisors approved a $45.1 million operating budget for 2025 that does not increase the 19-mill tax rate. Homeowners with a property assessed at the township average of $29,410 can expect a tax bill of $560. Township officials are warning that maintaining the real estate tax rate in 2026 may be impossible, with Supervisor Dana Kane pointing out that Middletown will be operating with a $2.8 million deficit in 2025. Kane voted against the budget. Supervisors also approved a new stormwater management fee for all property owners. Owners of single-family homes will pay $60 per year while commercial properties will be charged based on their impervious ground coverage, with a maximum fee of $6,000. The stormwater fee is expected to generate $1.79 million next year. The revenue from the fee will be used to upgrade aging stormwater infrastructure, sustain its maintenance and undertake new projects.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 12/17/2024

One housing development is approved and another opens in Doylestown area
Arcadia Land Company received approval from Doylestown Township supervisors for a mix of luxury townhomes and affordable housing for seniors and veterans at 280 N. Broad St. The project is located in both Doylestown Township and Doylestown Borough. The back portion of the site, located in the township, will be developed with 18 market-rate townhomes and a 60-unit, age-restricted residential building for veterans and seniors. The portion of the parcel that fronts North Broad Street is located in Doylestown Borough and will become a dog park. The project is just one of many in the Doylestown area — the borough’s largest new residential development recently began leasing its luxury apartments. 333 North Broad is a $77 million redevelopment project at the site of the former Intelligencer Newspaper building at North Broad Street and Atkinson Drive. The project includes multiple buildings, two interior courtyards with outdoor kitchen and pool, an expansive rooftop terrace and bar, a fitness center, 400 on-site parking spaces, a new park next to the post office, a golf and sports simulator, a game lounge, and hammock gardens.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 12/16/2024 & Doylestown Patch; 12/16/2024

Housing plan for Shady Brook Farm in Lower Makefield, Middletown submitted
A development team consisting of Foxlane Homes, Envision Land Use and DeLuca Homes submitted plans to Middletown Township for a portion of Shady Brook Farm. Called Farms Edge at Shady Brook, the plans include 161 age-restricted homes, consisting of single-family units and townhomes. Last fall, the owners of Shady Brook Farm announced their plan to sell about 80 acres of the 130-acre property to developers while keeping 50 acres for operating the farm, which is a popular agritainment and events business. Of the 80 acres available for development, Farms Edge at Shady Brook will encompass almost 54 acres, of which 19 acres, or about 35%, will remain green space, said Brian Dries, spokesperson for the development team. Another 26 acres will be used for another development phase by DeLuca Homes for additional commercial use adjacent to the farm. The proposal for development comes as residents in Middletown and Lower Makefield townships have spoken out against further development in the area.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times & LevittownNow; 12/11/2024

Plans for wastewater treatment plant in Newtown, near Middletown, revealed
The Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority presented plans for a new wastewater treatment plant at a recent Newtown Township Board of Supervisors meeting. The $128 million project is being proposed to address capacity issues and give the community more control over its wastewater treatment. The new plant could use advanced Aqua Nereda technology to treat up to 2.5 million gallons per day and would potentially discharge treated water into Core Creek or Neshaminy Creek. Authority officials visited a similar plant in Kansas and noted no detectable odors outside the facility and only a quiet hum that was inaudible from the site’s edge. The authority has already fielded inquiries from operators of nearby wastewater systems about potentially buying capacity at the plant. The plant would be constructed on a 17.5-acre property the authority purchased near the township’s border with Middletown Township. The Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority accepted an invitation from local officials to detail their plans at a recent Middletown Township supervisors meeting. Middletown residents packed the meeting to sound off against a planned wastewater treatment plant, citing concerns about the plant’s proximity to homes, businesses and community spaces, asking Middletown Township officials to do everything in their power to fight it.
Source: LevittownNow; 12/14/2024 & 12/16/2024 

200-acre Crebilly sale renews interest in remaining residential parcels
The $20 million sale of a large swath of Crebilly Farm has stirred up renewed interest in four residential parcels that make up the remainder of the sprawling property. Crebilly totals 308 acres, about 206 of which was closed on by Westtown Township following years of efforts to preserve it. The remaining acreage is subdivided into four parcels that carry price tags totaling $11.2 million and allow for single-family residential development. Homebuilders have targeted Chester County increasingly due to its large tracts of land and often at the expense of sprawling farm land. Farms like Heim Farm in Glenmoore and Moran Farm in Oxford have recently been slated for new residential developments. The remaining Crebilly parcels offer buyers an opportunity to build expansive single-family estates. One parcel went under contract in recent weeks in the lead-up to the closing of the acquisition.
Source: Philadelphia Business Journal; 12/13/2024

Kennett Township budget includes small tax increase
Kennett Township supervisors approved a 2025 budget, which includes a 0.1-mill real estate tax increase. The increase is expected to raise about $82,500 and represent an average $22 per year increase to taxpayers. “The reality though is that many of our expenses are actually increasing greater than our revenue is growing,” Township Manager Alison S. Dobbins said.
Source: Chadds Ford Live; 12/5/2024

Kennett and Longwood Fire agree to multi-year contract
The Borough of Kennett Square Council unanimously ratified a multi-year contract with Longwood Fire Company to provide the borough with fire and emergency medical services. The two-year deal, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025, and runs until Dec. 31, 2026, includes a funding increase of 5% for 2025 and 9% for 2026. The agreement also incorporates the borough seeking grants to help fund capital purchases on behalf of Longwood. Stabilizing the cost of fire and EMS, while maintaining outstanding services, was identified as a top priority of residents, business owners and community leaders at the borough’s 2024 strategic planning sessions.
Source: Chadds Ford Live; 12/4/2024

Birmingham OKs budget
Birmingham Township supervisors approved the township’s 2025 budget with a slight millage increase in township property taxes, as anticipated. The increase, from 1.6 to 1.9 mills, is the first increase since 2010, according to Township Manager Quina Nelling. She said during the November meeting that the increase would cost the average property owner an additional $100 for the year. Anticipated revenue under the approved 2025 budget is $3.5 million — which includes a carryforward of more than $500,000 — and expenses estimated at $3.39 million.
Source: Chadds Ford Live; 12/3/2024

Baker selected to fill supervisor vacancy in Penn Township
John Baker, a Penn Township Zoning Board member, was unanimously selected to fill a vacant seat on the township’s board of supervisors. The vacancy was created by the resignation of Laura Sperratore. Baker has lived in the township for about 20 years. He resigned from the zoning board upon his selection as a supervisor. He will serve until the end of 2025, filling out the term.
Source: Chester County Press; 12/11/2024

West Chester conducts survey of residents about parks and open space
West Chester Borough is developing a parks, recreation and open space plan. Residents can share thoughts and ideas by answering a few questions in an online survey.
Source: West Chester Borough; 12/2024