The purchase of your home is often the biggest investment of your life. It’s important to have a knowledgeable Realty team to guide you through the process. With over 37 years of real estate experience, there is no better team to trust than Kit Anstey Real Estate.
Serving West Chester and a 20-mile surrounding radius, Kit’s team has launched themselves as one of the top real estate teams in the area. Composed of six Realtors and a full-time assistant, the Kit Anstey team is celebrating its 25th year as part of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach Realtor brokerage.
Kit didn’t always start out in real estate. His first business ventures included two men’s clothing stores. When it became harder for boutique clothing stores to stay in business due to the large number of malls being built with large department stores in the mid-1980s, Kit decided to shift focus. In 1987, he opened his own company Anstey and Associates on Market Street in the West Chester Borough. He sold that company in the late 1990s to Prudential Preferred Realtors which was eventually bought by his current broker.
Kit’s team stands out amongst other Realtors in the area with their many distinguished awards such as the 10 Best in Real Estate for Exceptional and Outstanding Client Services Award that is issued by the American Institute of Real Estate Agents. They have been awarded this honor consecutively over the years and they are very proud of their accomplishment!
“I run my team like a business,” said Kit. “If you are a seller or buyer, we will specifically tailor a business plan that works for the individual.”
The market is currently continuing to be a seller’s market. With properties being listed at the highest price in years, homeowners stand to make a great profit off of their property. When getting ready to list a property, Kit suggests that the homeowner declutters the property both inside and out. Curb appeal is important, so he suggests trimming bushes, putting down fresh mulch, making sure there are no weeds, and that the grass is cut. Inside the home, your Realtor may recommend staging the home in a way that is more appealing to potential buyers.
If you’re selling and looking to downsize, Kit says it’s an opportune time. With a variety of townhomes being built at record speed, many homeowners are choosing to downsize into a newer community. Often these newer properties are offering outside maintenance as part of their homeowner’s fee, which means snow removal and grass cutting are no longer part of your responsibility. Two local communities are favorites of Kit and his team, which include Hershey’s Mill in East Goshen and the newly created Greystone in West Goshen.
If you’re a first-time homebuyer, Kit says the most important thing is to be represented by a local knowledgeable Realtor in the area. Since it’s a seller’s market, potential home buyers need to be aware of comparable sales and trust what their Realtor feels is a wise price to purchase the home they are looking at. Many first-time buyers are being hit by multiple offers and sellers are receiving bids that are a substantial amount over the asking price for their home. One way of staying ahead of the market is to get pre-approved by a reputable mortgage company. This will help a potential buyer’s contract compete with other competing offers coming in for the property. Home buyers want to make sure they are being educated throughout the entire process of the Buy/Close of a property.
If you are in your forever home, you know what type of investment owning a home can be. A home can also be a way of earning income through rental properties, especially as interest rates are starting to rise again.
“It makes a lot of sense to invest in real estate regardless if it is a sellers or buyers market. If you are looking for a small townhome for an investment with a down payment of 25%, for example, you can have a positive cash flow and have the rent pay your mortgage,“ stated Kit. “As you build equity over the years, the monthly rent will eventually pay off the property and then you get to keep the property for the life of the loan.”
As rent starts to increase in amounts of 15 to 20% more than in prior years, more and more people are converting to owning their own condo or townhome. Owning your home as your primary residence also makes excellent sense over paying rent, as you receive tax benefits and deductions as a homeowner.
For those looking to keep up with their investment, Kit states that it’s important to consult with a reliable source, such as your Realtor periodically. Kitchen and bathroom upgrades usually always make an excellent return on your investment when you go to sell the property. For those homeowners who are not part of a homeowner’s association. Kit warns you to pay close attention to the outside maintenance of your property as well, to make sure that nothing turns in a large price tag/headache down the road.
“Commonly we see homeowners neglect their gutters and windows,” said Kit. “This condition can lead to potential water intrusion. You also want to pay attention to maintenance and periodic painting or caulking of windows.”
When asked about the best part of working in the West Chester area, Kit said there is nothing like our area anywhere else in the country!
“The West Chester community in general is a most desirable place to live,” said Kit. “Both the West Chester schools and Chester County Hospital are award-winning. We offer many parks and beautiful open spaces to relax. Real estate taxes in West Chester are reasonable and even low compared to other areas. The West Chester Borough offers many culinary and retail attractions for the residents to come and enjoy together. West Chester is also the county seat, which leads to many unique opportunities.”
If you’re looking at buying or selling your home, Kit’s biggest tip is to choose a Realtor who is your local expert with the knowledge and experience to either make your dream of homeownership a reality or as a seller to have a flawless transaction to close.
For more information on Kit Anstey and his team, please visit www.ansteyteam.com or call them at 610-430-3000.
“If you are a seller or buyer, our team will specifically tailor a business plan that works for the individual.”
The West Chester community in general is one of the most desirable places to live!
