Office: 610-586-1300 • Direct: 610-960-5360 • PA License #: RS301080

Newsflash

CENTURY 21 Alliance gets the most for their sellers
CENTURY 21 Alliance gets the most for their sellers
According to Trend MLS, CENTURY 21 Alliance received more money than any other multi-office firm for their sellers between 7/1/2005 and 6/30/2006 (98.62% of the listing price).
 
Check out www.C21GT.com!
Posted by Keith Bentrup   
Check out www.C21GT.com! It's our new, improved site with more content, more market data, more of everything! It also has an advanced search and a map search to help you find EVERY home for sale in Southeastern PA.

All future updates will be posted to www.C21GT.com, and keithbentrup.com will eventually be repurposed for other content. Thanks!
 
Welcome to my web site
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

... your source for all things real estate.

In today's competitive market, timing is everything. Many good homes are sold before they are ever advertised. Beat other homebuyers to the hottest new homes for sale by using my up to the minute home search that's updated daily.

And if you own real estate that you're thinking of selling, I'd be happy to provide you with a FREE Market Analysis. Whether you are buying or selling a home, hire someone like me, who wants to earn your business. I invite you to contact me as I'd be happy to assist you with this important transaction.

In addition, if you have any general questions about buying or selling real estate in Pennsylvania, please contact me as I'm more than willing to help.

Please browse my website for listings, reports and important local real estate information.

 
What NOT To Do Before Buying A Home
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

You may know what to do before buying a home, but do you know what NOT to do?

Read more...
 
Vacation Homes Are Becoming A Reality For More Homeowners
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

Whether it’s a lakefront cottage or a log cabin in the woods, a vacation home often seems to be a dream that only the wealthy can afford, but these days, you don’t have to be a millionaire to own one.

Read more...
 
Timing Is Everything When It Comes To Buying Homes
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

The old adage that “timing is everything” especially applies to buying a new home. And trying to be at the right house at the right time and get it for the right price can be tricky. Here are some guidelines to assist you:

Read more...
 
Understanding Real Estate Terminology
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

Purchasing a home can be a complicated and confusing process, especially for first-time buyers. Throughout the process, first-time home buyers will encounter a variety of unfamiliar real state terms. There are several key terms associates with purchasing real estate that are helpful to learn. For example, many buyers confuse the terms broker and salesperson.

Read more...
 
Hassle-Free Homebuying
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

Perhaps you’d like to take advantage of today’s great buyer’s market in housing but feel a little intimidated by everything that’s involved.

You know the routine: finding the right locale and the right house; negotiating an agreement; putting together a down payment; and selecting the best mortgage available.

Read more...
 
Real Estate Remains A Strong Investment
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

Opportunities to make big, quick profits in residential real estate tend to come and go in cycles. When a local market is hot, families may find it possible to buy a house at an attractive price, fix it up, and watch its value rise in just a few years.

Read more...
 
Top Ten Suggestions For Selecting A Real Estate Agent
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

In order to find a real estate broker or agent who meets your needs and makes your buying or selling experience a positive one, Century 21 Alliance recommends to you:

Read more...
 
Remodeling Your Home: How Much Is Too Much?
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

The classic way for homeowners to increase the value of their house is by remodeling existing rooms or adding on to its current plan.

Some choose to build recreation rooms and studies while others add new appliances, fixtures and cabinets to enliven rooms and make their home more attractive to future buyers.

Read more...
 
How To Prepare Yourself For Owning A Dual Purpose Second Home
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

If you are thinking about buying a second home, you are not alone. A 1995 survey by the American Resort Development Association found that 60 percent of households surveyed feel they have a likely chance of purchasing a recreational property in the next ten years, a figure that rose 30% from the survey in 1990. The average age for the majority of vacation home buyers ranges from 40-50 years old. Qualifying as the baby boomer generation, this group of second home buyers consists of 80.5 million people out of the U.S. population of more than 260 million. Demand for vacation homes is rising as a result of consumers’ increasing desire to capitalize on low interest rates, low unemployment rates and a strong real estate market offering many viable second home options.

Read more...
 
A Guide To Low Down Payment Mortgage Programs
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

There’s no question about it: Buying a first home is a big financial commitment. In most cases, a home is the largest single purchase an individual or family will make in a lifetime. However, because of the tax advantages afforded to homeowners, buying a home also can be one of the best financial decisions you’ll ever make.

Read more...
 
How To Determine The Price Of Your Home
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

Why is it that some homes sit on the market for a year while others sell like hot cakes? Frustrated sellers will blame a bad market, while a good real estate professional will tell you that many times, a slow sale is often attributed to the listing price.

Read more...
 
How Long Your Mortgage Runs Determines How Much You Pay
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

The first thing most of us think about when the time comes to take out a mortgage on a new home is the interest rate.

That’s both perfectly natural and very sensible. The rate of interest we pay can make an immense difference – a difference amounting to tens of thousands of dollars – in what the actual cost of our house ultimately turns out to be.

Read more...
 
Comparing The True Cost Of Obtaining A Home Loan
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

Home buyers are often confused about where to begin in their search for a home loan. The process is usually narrowed down to finding which institutions provide the lowest settlement costs, but the different types of lending institutions and the variety of lending programs available can make the search a slow, difficult experience.

Read more...
 
The Smart Way To Look At Home Improvements
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

What home improvements really pay off when the time comes to sell your house?

That’s an important question for any homeowner contemplating moving or remodeling. And the only possible answer is a somewhat complicated one.

Read more...
 
How To Simplify Your Real Estate Buying/Selling Experience
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

Today’s real estate consumer has a lot to consider during the sale or purchase of a home. Be it waiting for the right buyer/seller, mortgage rates, or the moving truck, the experience can take a bit of patience on the part of the consumer. With this in mind, it is incumbent upon real estate brokers/agents/firms to institute services that will the buying/selling process hassle-free.

Read more...
 
A Few Easy Ways To Take The Headaches Out Of Moving
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

Moving from one house to another is always a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Here are some simple tips on how to get it done with minimal stress and strain.

Read more...
 
What To Expect In Closing Costs On A Home Purchase
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

Many are taking advantage of this year’s low mortgage rates to purchase a home. Pent up with excitement, many families, who have scrimped and saved for a down-payment, jump for joy when the mortgage lender finally approves their application. But, they should realize that there’s a whole new set of expenses that must be covered before actually closing on the sale.

Read more...
 
Attention To Details Helps Homeowners Sell Fast In A Buyer's Market
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

Your boss has just given you the career opportunity of a lifetime, but the job is in another state.

Soon you discover that moving your family to another city may be one of life’s hardest tasks. The thought of leaving behind old friends and schools for a strange town can be frightening. The biggest challenge of all, however, it to preserve the equity in your housing investment so you will be able to purchase a similar home in the new location.

Read more...
 
Conditions Are Right For Buying The Higher Priced Home You've Always Wanted
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

Higher interest rates and home prices in the past have kept home owners from purchasing larger homes. The current real estate market conditions, however, are encouraging for many home owners who want to “buy up” to higher priced homes with more to offer.

Read more...
 
Finding A Capable Agent To Meet Your Real Estate Needs
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, selling your current home or relocating to a different part of the country, the support of a qualified, knowledgeable real estate agent can alleviate many of your concerns and ensure a smooth transaction. A professional agent can market your present residence, help you locate the home of your dreams and assist in making your transfer to an unfamiliar area easier.

Read more...
 
Avoiding A Bad Investment Is Easier Than You Might Think
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

Human nature being what it is, none of us can get serious about the idea of buying a house without experiencing at least a few small twinges of worry. What we fear, of course, is making a mistake. And the mistake we tend to fear most is buying a “lemon” – a house that doesn’t simply fail to satisfy our hopes but turns out to have so many flaws that it’s a disastrously bad investment.

Read more...
 
How Your Real Estate Agent Can Help You Qualify For A Low Down Payment Mortgage
Posted by Keith Bentrup   

For many renters, the first step in buying a home is becoming educated about the process. If you’re like many people considering a home purchase, you’ve spent nights and weekends poring over your local real estate section. You’ve talked to friends and relatives about their experiences. Maybe you’ve even purchased a book or tow to help you become more familiar with real estate terminology and the various types of mortgages commonly used today.

Read more...