If you're in the market for a new home, check out the June 7th auction that will sell off several new Westrum properties in the Hilltop at Falls Ridge development. At these prices, I suspect investors will snap up most of the properties - or people with fantastic credit and/or money. But you might get lucky.

This is the same developer who built the townhomes at 31st and Master/Girard. I wonder if he will eventually put the balance of his unsold properties there up for auction.

http://www.maxspann.com/

they'll probably go for a slight discount on what others paid. Marketing ploy if you ask me.

I would agree that its marketing as well to generate buzz. Those mimimum bid prices are fantastically low and the properties will sell for much more to the highest bidder.

But no doubt, the winning bidders will get a good deal compared to those who paid list price in the last couple years.

Did someone call me? I heard chatter about Westum here!! Basically the big 5 units there that are between 650-750k that overlook Falls Bridge and PHA are the big ticket items on the auction block. There has been no development there since they finished the existing buildings and, of course, the market is really slow. We hope that this will recalibrate the market pricing for their product.

With regards to the 31st and Thompson site, there are only about 20-25 units remaining. Some are still being marketed by Westrum, and some appear on other real estate sites. There is a steady stream of tours on the weekend. If you are thinking about this site, go to Craigslist and rent one for a year. If you still like it, then when one pops up on the market you can make your move. I suspect some current owners might even cut you a deal now. There are still almost 450 units that are on the drawing board for the Brewerytown Master Plan. Don't expect to see any more than the cool signs for a while.

I thought those Brewerytown units weren't allowed to be rentals.

I guess me and mine will the next ones to be cuffed and processed. We've been tenants for 2 years!!

Despite my constant ragging on the business of Westrum, we totally love the neighbors. We went to a nice "grown up" party last month and our neighbors had their son's 1st birthday party this past weekend. We enjoy the gossip on the poop-field across the street as well as the helicopters and trains at night. We are looking to buy elsewhere in the city eventually, but we will always remember our first place together!!

How has your experience been with the unit you're renting? I've read some complaints about inadequate heat, noise, etc. And, if possible, can you provide some ballpark figures of what the average rent would be for an Amber or Lager?

I can tell you stories about the heat and the noise. Basically the train squeals around both sets of tracks and some people complain about neighbor noise through the walls, but the big issue is the HVAC units in the Ambers. The heating system was either poorly designed or poorly installed or a little of both. It blows air, but by the time it reaches the downstairs room (office, den, bedroom) it is cold air. There is some variation, but people have recorded between 8-18 degrees difference in temperature between the floors. The units in East Falls have a different HVAC setup, but I haven't heard anything from the handful of owners there yet. The newer units here have been fitted with electric baseboard downstairs, so you end up with a hybrid heating system. That was the fix offered to the rest of us as well.

I've seen rent running from about 1500-2100 depending on the unit.