I Want to Buy a House These are Magic Words  Magic words are spoken when I get a phone call and the person on the other end says " I want to buy a house "  What do I need to do  ? Most of the time people just want a price or they think we are just people who open up houses and show them  at their convenience . Something I did when I was a rookie but now I know better . In today's world like I  tell my children I do not meet strangers at properties . When I receive a call from someone like this I treat them with the deepest respect . I explain they need to set up an appointment with me and I will have a mortgage banker also meet with us . The mortgage banker will find out what they can afford to buy and what they are comfortable with   spending    We speak about what documentation they ... 02/13/2016

 "The Big Short" Oscar Nominated Movie Review &Trailer by HelpfulHannah  The Oscars will air Sunday February 28, 2016 this year on ABC in Hollywood California . I hope you have your tickets and your outfit picked out as it is almost time . This year the has been a wonderful diversified choice of entertainment and dramatic movies to choose from .  I have missed seeing two or three that I hope to see in the next week or two  There were some that were missed over that I thought deserved mention  and some that an actor thought should have been nominated and he is boycotting the awards . I say shame on him  This review is about "The Big Short " an amazing tale that hit me where it hurt . Yes I lived through this tale of whoa and disaster . There was a little voice inside my head that kept te... 02/11/2016

Weltanschauung Community Guidelines of Active Rain it's Biteable  We should all be thankful for our wonderful Lynn B. Friedman. Every January she comes up with a wonderful Challenge. This year she really outdid herself. She had me experiment with different features and sites to apply to our blogs. Lynn also has us write about Weltanschauung and the Community  Guidelines to remind us of what and why we are here in the 'Rain.Lynn gave us many links to sites with tools for adding Visuals to our posts. I looked at many of them. I am not a chart and graphs type of person. I try, I really do. They just do not excite me. I do not get the feeling of satisfaction when I make them. I did check out Powtoon and found that really interesting.  There is so much wonderful stuff. I am bookmarking this ... 01/31/2016

Market report and Homes sold in Bensalem  township Bucks county in December 2015 .Bensalem  township is located in Bucks County Pa. There are homes in all price ranges in Bensalem township. I looked up the mls this morning to see the real estate activity in December 2015.I looked for residential listings sold.There were 54  homes that settled in December 2015.Of these homes 31 were detached homes.The highest sale price of the single homes was $ 586,322 and lowest sale price was $80,000The lowest original list price was $95000.The highest list price was $500,900.The average sale price was $245,771The above is subject to errors and omissions.The 31  homes were on the market for an average of 83 days..Bensalem  township is located in Bensalem  school district. .Bucks County is a beautiful ... 01/28/2016

What's in the News Philadelphia & Bucks CountyEveryone knows there was a Blizzard and the municipalities have handled the situations the best the could . I live in the NE section of Philadelphia and the major roads as of today  Monday January 25 2016 are clear side roads not so great . Considering the snow amounts of nearly  two feet .They have done amazing job and still working .Here are two articles I found very interesting this past week .  One is on Bucks County and the other is about Philadelphia . It is something new I am trying I hope you find them informative .Bucks to initiate $5 fee added to vehicle registration cost Bucks County’s three commissioners recently approved a plan to take advantage of Pennsylvania Act 89 of 2013, which established a special “Local Use Fund” within ... 01/25/2016

The World of Rock & Roll Morn the Death of David BowieToday January 11,2016 David Bowie passed away at age 69 after his fight with liver cancer . Anyone who saw him perform knows he was a legend  in the world of music . I am sad another Rock & Roll Star has left our world and passed on to the next .  He has left us with some great magical music we will never forget . Let us listen -watch and say a prayer for David Bowie . 01/11/2016

Bensalem is a suburb of Philadelphia and is located in Bucks County. There are homes in all prices in Bensalem. The Parx Casino is located in Bensalem. There is plenty of shopping in the area. It is located within minutes from Franklin Mall where there are many outlets where you can buy designer brands at a bargain. Routes US 1 and I-95 are easily accessible from Bensalem. I looked up Realbird for listings in Bensalem. You can also sign up on my web site www.gitabantwal.com and look up all listings and be alerted of new listings as they come up. 01/05/2016

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Recline Your Seat Woodhaven Bensalem Pa   Prepare for another  journey  as the Force Awakens in the new Star Wars.  What better place to see  this movie then in a theater with reclining seats. Comfort and style was where I was as I prepared for the new sequel . I took my oldest grandson Ryan who is 14 . I had taken his mother in 1977 when the movie original was made . What memories . What excitement . The cast is wonderful.  Star Wars :The Force Awakens is  full of some of our old favorites . It also has prepared the way for some fantastic new stars . It has the music we have all grown to love . I enjoyed every second .  I feel Star Wars : The Force Awakens has done just that . It has prepared the way for a new generation of Star Wars . It has awakened the F... 12/27/2015

"In The Heart of the Sea" Now Playing a Tale of Moby Dick Woodhaven 10My grandson Ryan and I saw "In The Heart of the Sea"  in 3D last  weekend . It was the first time he had been to the new Woodhaven AMC 10 with reclining seats . He is the oldest of my grandchildren and extremely intelligent . On the way in he informed he was getting a bad mark on his report card .When I asked what he told me an eighty three in science . All his other grades were in the nineties he informed me   I was relieved . He is fourteen and in his first year of high school . I asked Ryan if he ever read "Moby Dick " He said he had not .I do not remember what year I read it in High School. I wonder if it is even required reading anymore   If any one remembers let me know .  We both enjoyed the movie . I loved the... 12/14/2015

Bensalem Voted 4-1 to enact a 1 Percent Earned Income TaxThere are many proposed projects and budgets . It is important that we as the  public should be aware of what is going on. Here are just of few of the projects and budgets in Bensalem Proposed county budget holds the line on taxesBucks County commissioners recently held a public meeting on the county’s proposed $495.4 million 2016 budget, which would maintain the current tax millage of 23.2 mills. Real estate taxes account for roughly 30 percent of projected county revenues in the budget. The budget is scheduled for adoption at the commissioner's meeting on Dec. 16 at the Bucks County Conference and Visitors Bureau, in Bensalem Township. A copy of the proposed budget is available at www.buckscounty.org.Source: Philadelphia Inquire... 12/13/2015

 "Spotlight" Now playing Woodhaven 10 Limited EngagementThis is the true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover up by the Catholic priests and how the Catholic Archdiocese covered up and moved the local priests from parish to parish .  From city to state . This is a powerful movie with an amazing cast . They shake the church and their attorneys to get to the truth .   Mark Ruffalo gives a powerful performance I think he is a wonderful under rated actor .I loved him in ''The Normal Heart " Michael Keaton and Rachael Adams were both riveting in this startling shocking biography  that opens the door and uncovered scandalous secrets of the Catholic Church . Stanley Tucci and Leiv Schreiber also give a wonderful performance Check your local... 12/09/2015

Village Greene Single Home Market Report November 2015 Bensalem Pa The sales information is obtained from Trend MLS It may not contain private sales such as for sale by owners Currently the is one active listing in the Village Greene Single Home Development   It is a Bensalem Model : 4 BR  2 full baths and 2 partial baths full finish basement & fireplace $385,000 Currently there are no pending sales There are however two Sold Houses : 1 . A Cornwell model : 3 BR 2.5 Bath No basement ,deck and sun-room addition, sq ft 1841  $315,0002 A Neshaminy model :  4BR 2.5 Bath full finished basement  2780 sq ft $410,000Average Settled Price to Original Price Ratio: 94.34% Average Settled Price to Last List Price Ratio: 94.34%Median Settled Price to Original Price Ratio: 94.34% Median Settled Price... 12/03/2015

"Victor Frankenstein" Opens Thanksgiving Day AMC Woodhaven 10 Movie I saw an early preview of this new take on Frankenstein  A movie I have seen many times with the same theme . This is a truly new spin to it . The reviews have not been favorable nor kind . I did enjoy it . This was another movie I did not expect to enjoy but did . The special effects were great and so was the roaring sounds. The costumes were very good and so was the color . It starts out with a fresh take on an old story  Electrifying and thrilling in the first moments of the movie. Personally it kept my interest with a twists and turns to the plot . Very different from what I expected . Daniel Radcliff and James McAvoy stars of the film were a good team Bringing to life spare parts with electrify lightning . Again no... 11/25/2015

What are five things  I am thankful for in my business I am going to keep this short   I am thankful for my broker Sal Palantino . He always tells me I know the right answers . Not to worry and he has faith in me .   I am thankful for the wonderful support staff  have at RE/Max  Eastern They make my job easier and give me time to smell the roses   I am thankful for ActiveRain as my blogging is what makes my phone ring . It gives me the opportunity to talk to many buyers and sellers . I have also sold and listed many houses because of my blogs . I am thankful for my daughter Johanna and son-in law John  who are always there to help me when I need it . For  my four awesome grandchildren ages  six - fourteen who are often featured in my blogs . I am thankful for all my loyal  clients who a... 11/23/2015

  Homemade Cranberry Sauce Quick Easy Add Raspberries I cannot believe next week is Thanksgiving  I go to my daughters house for dinner i make two things and she does the rest   I make the stuffing for the Turkey and the cranberry sauce   Today I am posting my recipe for homemade  cranberry raspberry sauce It is really very easy  to make  Once you make and taste it you will never eat canned sauce again   You can use it as a spread on breads  I have been told it is delicious on  Vanilla Ice Cream  Last year there were several members that tried the recipe and were very happy with the results  So this year I am posting it earlier in case you want to test it out  You do not have to use the raspberries as they are expensive and sometimes are hard to find  They also must be used right away a... 11/17/2015

AMC Woodhaven "Spectre" Now Playing OO7 James Bond  Looking for something to do this weekend . Football is not on until Sunday . The AMC movie theater in the Woodhaven Mall now has reclining seats . If you are a James Bond OO7 fan Spectre is now playing   Daniel Craig is a wonderful James Bond .  When the movie started I thought back to all the James Bond movies I have seen and so it was like I grew up on Bond James Bond . Sean Connery was to die for but I do love Daniel Craig . He does a great James Bond  He is really Hot   The movie is 2 hours and 28 minutes. So sitting in my comfy padded lounge chairs was awesome . Christoph Waltz  as the head of a sinister organization. Ralph Fiennes as the beloved M   Great plot  Wonderful cast    Simply Bond   Shaken not stirred       Thinking of ... 11/13/2015

 "Bridge of Spies" Now Playing Woodhaven Bensalem Relax Recline Enjoy  I hope my readers are not getting tired of my movie reviews  As  I  will never tire  of writing them as long as they make good movies  I shall watch them and write about them  Tom Hanks and Spielberg  were a combination I could not resist  I went early  Actually the first showing thinking I would beat the crowd  I was wrong  Almost every seat was taken  I will say in these reclining seats it does not make a difference  . It may have also been the excellence of the movie   "Bridge of Spies" brought back so many memories for me . The fear of air raids and fall out shelters  I was a very young child growing up in the 1950's  I remember begging my father to build a fall out shelter  We would have  air raid drills at scho... 10/21/2015

"Sicario" Playing Woodhaven AMC Bensalem Pa Recline Relax Remodeled I am starting to worry   I think I have a serious addiction  If you read my blogs you know I love movies  Now it is getting serious  The AMC in Bensalem Pa has remodeled and the boutique theater with the reclining seats are out of sight  I am not sure but I think the sound is even better then before  I worked in the morning office meeting and such   Had a difficult client  Worse was a very sad funeral for a family friend and neighbor  This made it a very melancholy day   I came home in the evening and sort of walked around and thought shoot  I am going to the movies  Didn't call anyone just checked the time   They say don't drink alone or people will talk  ( a sign of addiction )  or was that  what Clark Gable said in "... 10/16/2015

Market report and Homes sold in Bensalem township Bucks county in August 2015 . Bensalem township is located in Bucks County Pa. There are homes in all price ranges in Bensalem township.I looked up the mls this morning to see the real estate activity in August 2015.I looked for residential listings sold. There were 45 homes that settled in August 2015.The highest sale price was $ 469,900 and lowest sale price was 89,500The average original list price was $249,545.The average last list price was $247,596 The average sale price was $242,770The above is subject to errors and omissions.The homes were on the market for an average of 58 days..Bucks County is a beautiful place to live. There are parks, golf courses, restaurants and fine shopping in Bucks County. If you are looking to buy a hom... 10/13/2015

 "Black Mass" Woodhaven Boutique Theater Recline Seats at Bensalem Pa  I have a stubs card the AMC movie Theaters  This is a membership card  with rewards  For those of you who read my blogs you know I love movies  I also love to pass my love of movies on to my four grandchildren  My Mother  loved  movies . She would say no school today instead we will go to the movies My sister was ten years older then me and she also would always take me to the movies  . To get back to my Stubs card when I went to see "The Martian"  I had earned a free movie .  I had taken Alexis my grand daughter to an early show . Later that evening after taking her home & returning calls  .  I decided to go back and see the "Black Mass"  It was a Thursday evening so the movie was not crowded . I had a perfect seat ... 10/09/2015