Jennifer LeBow

Gravity Lights for Rural Villages

February 6, 2018 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

A wonderful new invention uses gravity to fuel light for areas with no electricity.

I recently read about an invention to bring electricity to rural areas with no power. From the website:

GravityLight is powered by the lift of a weight.

As the weight falls it turns a gear train, driving the motor that powers the LEDs.

GravityLight doesn’t need batteries or sunlight and costs nothing to run. It takes seconds to lift the weight that powers GravityLight, creating 20 minutes of light on its descent.

In places like sub-Saharan Africa, many people cannot afford kerosene to feed their lamps. Even if they can, the smoke from them as well as the frequent fires pose serious health and safety risks. There are battery-powered head lamps and other lights, but access to batteries is not common in more remote areas. For people who have lived roughly half their lives in the dark, these lights could be a game-changer. They cost nothing to run, once the initial light source, pulley system and accessories are set up. They don’t need to “gather” light, like solar options, but can provide light on demand. They are safe both for the environment and people.

To see a video of how simple these lights are to set up, click here.

Lower Merion/Main Line: Best Place to Live

January 22, 2018 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

Philadelphia main line relocation — Money Magazine rated Lower Merion one of the top 100 places in the country to live. Find out why.

In a 2017, Money Magazine created a list of the top 100 places to live in the US. Lower Merion was in the top 50. In Novebmer of 2022, they rated it #2 in the country for best places to live for remote workers. Their criteria included cost of living, jobs opportunities, quality of education, affordability of housing (and expected appreciation), crime rate, commutability and general location (how convenient is it? ), cultural and recreational amenities and an overall “good feel”. While the article mentions our high average household income, top employers (Comcast,, many hospitals and pharma companies and colleges and universities), remarks on the township’s high school graduation rate of 97% (and lists some of our elite colleges), and touts the parks and programs that the township offers, it couldn’t paint a very clear picture. Obviously, a list like “Top 100 Place to Live” couldn’t possibly give a very strong sense of what any area is really like as the authors, for comparison purposes, stick to their criteria when describing each place.

As a Realtor specializing in relocating buyers to the Main Line, I spend a lot of time educating people about the area and learning, from an outsider’s perspective, what some of the most appealing features are. I think some of the most important omissions from the Money Magazine description were: the history of the area and the charm of our old stone homes and mature plantings, the diversity of the population, the ease of getting to the airport, shopping, world-class museums and arguably the best medical care in the nation, Furthermore, one of the things I like best about Lower Merion and the rest of the Main Line is the “un-generic-ness” of the region. It’s NOT “Anytown, USA”. It’s a very identifiable and unique place where almost every corner is some kind of landmark and the old mills and streams dot the landscape and coexist peacefully with modern buildings and activities. Finally, the Main Line has what I’ve always referred to as a high rate of recidivism–meaning that an unusually high percentage of people who are raised here remain in the area and many who leave for college or a first job often come back. That fact alone says something about the kind of place it is and why it made Money Magazine’s list.

If you want to find out more about the towns of Lower Merion and the rest of the Main Line, please peruse my Guide to Main Line Neighborhoods. If you’d like my complete Main Line Moving Manual, just contact me.

If you are relocating to the Philadelphia/Main Line area, please go to my blog page and search for posts using the relocation tag. Contact me to discuss your Philadelphia area relocation! jen@jenniferlebow.com/610 308-5973

Mariner East 2 Gas Pipeline in our Backyard

January 14, 2018 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

What are the concerns about Sunoco’s Mariner East 2 pipeline and how are they being addressed?

Most people who live on the western Main Line know about the gas pipeline, known as Mariner East 2, Sunoco is in the process of building across PA (it is an expansion of an existing line). The Marcellus shale that runs underground in much of the state is rich in natural gas, most of which the oil giant wants to sell to other countries (including Scotland and Sweden), to use in the manufacture of plastics. There have been several spills, though, and many residents are concerned about safety, evironmental effects and property values falling if located very close to the pipeline. Construction has been halted following a court injunction resulting from resistance to the installation of a valve (which had been originally supposed to go elsewhere) Sunoco was planning to put in the West Whiteland Township section of the pipe. Already a year and a half behind schedule, the 90% complete project is now slated to be finished by summer of 2018. Several complaints concerning eminent domain laws and whether the pipeline should qualify are currently being considered by the courts. Additionally, many law makers are requesting Governer Wolf fund risk assessments for safety and pollution worries. Sunoco has been very slow in submitting (court-required) new plans that demonstrate re-evaluation of the suitability of horizontal drilling in several areas along the pipeline route. Click here to learn more.

Market Outlook 2018

January 7, 2018 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

What are industry experts saying about the real estate market in 2018?

Disclaimer: no one has a crystal ball and if anyone were able to predict real estate trends accurately with any consistency, things would be a lot different. My point is that, while I’m going to share predictions (supplied by “industry experts”), I don’t want you to take them as gospel. So, with no further ado, here are some of the expectations for this year:

Continued low inventory will cause a mild increase in prices, but, also, will edge out first-time buyers due not only to the financial requirements, but also because of the competition among multiple buyers. First-time buyers often don’t move as quickly in a multiple-bid situation because they don’t have the experience to do so comfortably.
Young adults will be forced, by costs, to buy in less urban areas.
Many people, as has been the case for several years, will remodel versus move.
The fear of the market peaking may encourage more sellers to list their homes this year (creating a slight increase in inventory).
Increasing mortgage rates (expected to reach 5% by end of the year) coupled with the new tax laws may reduce the buyer pool. Of course, less demand will affect prices as well; predictions are that they will rise marginally, but less steeply than in the past few years.

Personally, I think we have even lower inventory than the national average which I think will transate to even more people remodeling versus moving. I don’t think the increase in rates will affect our area that much as most people buying on the Main Line are usually in a price range where the difference in their monthly payment due to a slight increase in rates is not that significant. Due to the lack in inventory, I certainly hope that sellers will see opportunity to command a slightly higher price–my buyers are so frustrated and would love more to choose from!

To see what experts are saying about the Philadelphia (city) market specifially, click here.

Jennifer LeBow’s Paris Potatoes Recipe

December 25, 2017 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

Looking for a recipe for creamy, cheesy, smooth mashed potatoes? Here it is!

When my family went to Paris several years ago to visit my oldest daughter who was doing a semester abroad there, we had these at a restaurant. They were the specialty of the house and when I asked for the recipe, the waiter surprised me by offering me a printed card with the recipe right on it! Of course, even after converting grams to ounces, I had to substitute cheeses available here for the ones that the restaurant used. I discovered that, as long as the cheeses melt well, you can alter the cheeses to taste. My youngest daughter, now 19, loves these and always asks for “Paris Potatoes”.

Jen LeBow’s Paris Potatoes Recipe

Boil til soft (about 25 minutes):

28 oz. Yukon Gold potatoes

Drain and cool enough to rice through ricer. Remove skins from ricer and discard.

IF YOU DON’T HAVE A RICER, DON’T BOTHER TRYING THIS RECIPE; WHIPPING MASHED POTATOES RELEASES GLUTEN AND MAKES THEM STICKY AND STARCHY.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Add to riced potatoes and combine:

8 oz. heavy cream or 1/2 and 1/2

4 oz. shredded sharp cheddar cheese

3 oz. shredded Gouda

3 oz. Brie or other creamy cheese, like Alouette or herbed goat cheese

Bake COVERED for about 20-25 minutes or until all cheese has melted enough so that the ingredients can be thoroughly combined. Serve warm.

A Target in Ardmore?

December 19, 2017 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

What will a proposed mini Target in Ardmore mean?

When I heard there was a Target store proposed for the corner of Ardmore and Lancaster Avenues, I didn’t believe it. I thought “that lot is way too small!” Well, it turns out the plan is for a “mini” Target with parking underground. And, it sounds like it’s actually pretty likely to be built. Not surprisingly, many locals fear the traffic and, along with local merchants, don’t feel that the chain store fits in with the business landscape which is almost exclusively independent stores and services. It is also supposed to include apartments above the store. Parking for those residents (who wouldn’t necessarily be able to park in Target’s garage) as well as the “light pollution” from the store are also causing concern. Interestingly, while the defenders of the plan postulate that it will bring more shoppers to the area (and create jobs), some people point out Ardmore’s history of vacant storefronts and it’s not entirely clear whether the mini Target would help that problem or exacerbate it. I expect local residents to be keeping a close eye on the approval process as it moves forward.

Selling your Home in Winter

December 18, 2017 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

Most people know that conventional wisdom dictates that spring is the best time to sell your house. In the Philadelphia suburbs, there’s no argument that there is the highest level of activity from March to May. But realize that while, yes, there are more buyers out there in the srping, there are also more sellers competing for those buyers’ attention. If you are thinking about selling your home during the winter, this article lists seven reasons why you might have an advantage, including less competition, a more serious and committed buyer (tire kickers don’t tend to come out in the cold weather) and a more attentive real estate agent who is less likely to be as busy with other clients as he or she will in the spring.

If you are going to be listing in the winter, there are a few things you’ll want to pay special attention to: make sure your lights are the highest wattage bulbs the fixtures will take and that they all work. Winter can be dark, especially for buyers who come to see your home after 5:00. Make sure it’s warm and even consider having your HVAC serviced. Be sure to clear snow and ICE both from the driveway and the walkway. Put a towel or mat just inside and ask people to remove shoes so they don’t track up the house. If you have a gas fireplace, turn it on. An apple with a spritz of water and some cinammon on a low temperature in the over will make the house smell great. Here are some more tips.

Amazing Pencil Drawings

December 14, 2017 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

Can you believe these are drawings done only with pencils? How utterly hyper-realistic!

I have no artistic talent. That said (and maybe as a result), I excel in art appreciation. I am usually drawn to clever/creative forms of artistic expression, but I also have immense respect for the skill and talent it takes to produce these kind of images. Kohei Ohmori is a 23-year old Japanese artist who, using only a set of very sharp pencils, draws these uspersized photo-realistic images. They can take well over 200 hours draw and require an unbelievably steady hand. While people with this kind of ability and patience are rare, here’s another artist who is equally impressive. Arinze Stanley is a portrait artist from Nigeria who can reproduce the most realistic image of skin I have ever seen using just charcoal and graphite. His interest in drawing began when he was around six years old and his family’s paper business afforded him the opportunity to experiment with different media and to hone his craft. Remarkably, he has received no formal art training and is entirely self taught. When asked about his great talent, he modestly refers to his creed of”patience, practice and persistence”. For a totally different hyper-realistic visual experience, check out these “paint blobs” which were created by artist C.J. Hendry using nothing but colored pencils. It is almost impossible to believe they are not photographs of 3-D paint images. I’m just “wow”ed.

Jennifer LeBow

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