Happy Halloween weekend, friends!

This is the weekend I've been waiting for all October! You all know I LOVE a good haunted house, and Eastern State's Halloween Nights is finally on my calendar. I'll report back on how scary it is.

It has also been a full week with clients, including a happy settlement in West Chester, and wrapping up with the Delco 10 Miler committee after another great race. Below are my picks for the best ways to celebrate Halloween in and around Delaware County this weekend, from pumpkin patches in Media to haunted hayrides in Glen Mills.

This week's market update

Rates gave buyers a little relief this week. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dipped to 7.32%, down from 7.40% the week before, according to Freddie Mac. A year ago it was about 6.19%.

Nationally, existing-home sales rose 1.5% in September, though August and September were still the two slowest months of the year, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Here in the Northeast, the median home price is up 4.7% from a year ago.

Locally, I'm seeing homes sit a little longer, more price adjustments and buyers negotiating harder. Well-priced, well-prepared homes are still moving! If you're wondering what this means for your home, reach out and I'll walk you through it.

Jenna's Weekend Picks: Halloween weekend, Oct. 30-Nov. 1

Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary (Philadelphia)

Oct. 30-31. Five haunted houses, including a vampire-themed Crypt that's now twice the size, plus live performances and the Speakeasy at Al Capone's Cell. Tickets are sold in timed entry windows, and Halloween weekend sells out, so book ahead. Not a fan of scares? You can skip the haunted houses and still enjoy the bars, food and history. Get tickets

HKP Halloween Party (Media)

Sat., Oct. 31, 10am-12pm. Little goblins ages 1-6 are invited to a morning of music, messy play and costumes at Harmony Kids Playhouse on Baltimore Ave. Expect a DIY slime station, dancing, treats and a family costume contest. $40 for the first child, $20 for each additional child. Register

Halloween at Penns Woods Winery (Chadds Ford)

Sat., Oct. 31, noon-4pm. Halloween-themed cocktails, wine tastings, a free hay maze and face painting for the kids. Chris Despo plays live on the lawn from 1-4pm, with pizza from Pizzeria La Familia and treats from Boo Bakes Cupcakes. Costumes encouraged for kids, adults and pups! Details

Wayne Trick or Treat (Wayne)

Sat., Oct. 31, 1-3pm. Trick-or-treat at the shops and restaurants of downtown Wayne, then stop by the Wayne Art Center tent on North Wayne Avenue for Halloween crafts, entertainment and snacks. Details

Soul Crawl at Laurel Hill East (Philadelphia)

Sat., Oct. 31, 7-10pm. A grown-up Halloween night with a little history: a guided flashlight tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery and the stories of the people (and restless spirits) who rest there, ending with drinks around the fire pits. $25 general admission; advance tickets strongly encouraged. Get tickets

Harvest Hayride at Arasapha Farms (Glen Mills)

Sat.-Sun., Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 10am-4pm. It's the final weekend of the season! Take a hayride out to pick your own pumpkin, then try the corn maze, giant pillow bounce and tractor playground. The last pumpkin-picking hayride leaves at 3pm. Details

Misery at Hedgerow Theatre (Rose Valley)

Through Nov. 1. Last chance to catch Hedgerow's season opener, William Goldman's stage adaptation of Stephen King's thriller about a novelist and his "number one fan." A perfectly creepy night out close to home. 95 minutes, no intermission; recommended for ages 16+. Get tickets

Pumpkinland at Linvilla Orchards (Media)

Through Nov. 8. Our hometown favorite! Admission is free, so stroll the oversized fall displays, visit the barnyard animals and pick out your pumpkins. Hayrides ($9) and the straw bale and corn mazes ($7 online) run on weekends. Halloween weekend hours are 9am-6pm. Details

Chrysanthemum Festival at Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square)

Through Nov. 15. More than 5,000 mums fill the conservatories in spirals, cascades and a new walk-through double arch. Don't miss the Thousand Bloom Chrysanthemum: 1,355 white blooms trained on a single plant over 18 months! Included with garden admission; timed tickets required. Closed Tuesdays. Get tickets

Worth a read this week

Real estate news: Existing-Home Sales Increased 1.5% in September (NAR). Sales picked up slightly, but higher rates are still keeping many buyers on the sidelines. Northeast prices continue to climb.

Home tip: Home Maintenance Tips for Fall and Winter (BBB via FOX6). Before the first freeze, clear the gutters, schedule your furnace tune-up, insulate pipes in unheated spaces and have the chimney swept. If you're planning to sell in the spring, fall is the best time to knock out these projects. Need a trusted contractor? Ask me. I have a great list of local pros.

Featured listings

603 Harvard Ave, Swarthmore: Bespoke, down to the last detail. Some homes are renovated. This one was reimagined. When The Arters Collective acquired 603 Harvard Avenue, they inherited a property that time and years of neglect had left overgrown and forgotten. What they created is a true bespoke residence, where every finish, sightline and material was chosen on purpose.

Thinking about a move?

You know I am here for you to answer questions, address concerns and help you prepare your home when you are ready to make that move! Let's sell your home on YOUR terms.

Jenna Leggette, REALTOR® · The Jenna Leggette Group at Compass M: 484.442.0191 · O: 610.822.3356 · [email protected]

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