Lancaster PA Real Estate Blog

The YourLancasterHome.com Team Announces A New Member - Brian Schulman!

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:10:18 -0500

I am very pleased to announce the affiliation of Brian Schulman with the YourLancasterHome.com team as of this week. Those of you on Activerain will know Brian from his prolific Lancaster PA real estate blog. Brian is the top real estate blogger in Pennsylvania and has a reputation for integrity, professionalism and energy in the Lancaster County real estate community. He brings over 25 years of experience to the team and an irrepressible "can-do" attitude!

As an integral part of our team, Brian will be available to answer all of your real estate questions, so fire away! You can reach him at 717-735-6265 or 951-5552 or at BSchulman@CBSelectpros.com. Look for changes to the YourLancasterHome.com website reflecting Brian's addition and services offered. I'm proud to be associated with him and look forward to the future. This has been a great summer - first Coldwell Banker and then Brian Schulman! If you are interested in joining the YourLancasterHome.com team yourself, feel free to call me at 717-799-0851.

More about Brian:

Brian's professional career started as a Marketing Engineer with Texaco, Inc. He was promoted to Credit Manager of Western Pennsylvania, and for several years ran a $25 Million per month Division consisting of customers such as major steel producers, national trucking companies, and large road contractors. Brian was chosen as a local spokesman in Texaco's Speakers Bureau, where he spoke about energy policy and answered questions at many clubs and schools.

Eventually, Brian's love of historic homes and South Central Pennsylvania's ambiance and history led him to take up residence in Lancaster County and start a new career restoring architecturally significant houses. From that beginning, his real estate career developed. Brian is well known for his knowledge of historic homes and American architectural styles, and for his advocacy of protecting and preserving them.

Brian has owned, managed and restored some twenty historic buildings in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, including homes in Lancaster, Marietta, Columbia, Elizabethtown and Mount Joy. He saved two of them from condemnation and demolition: an eighteenth-century log and stone home in Marietta, PA, and the Linden House mansion, built in Marietta by lumber magnate Henry Castle in 1805 (see Brian's post of May 12, 2007 entitled "Historic Marietta").

One of Brian's guiding principles is that we are given two ears and only one mouth for a good reason: so we can listen twice as much as we speak! Brian doesn't dispense one-size-fits-all "canned" solutions - he wants to hear what your individual situation and needs are. Then he'll give information and options that fit your unique goals.

Brian has been a member of the Professional Standards Group, Dispute Resolution System of the Lancaster County Association of Realtors (LCAR), and an Alternate State Director, Pennsylvania Association of Realtors(R).

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For Lancaster PA homes for sale click here. Jeff Geoghan is a top real estate expert in Lancaster County, PA, and an involved community member. Jeff's work has been featured in the Lancaster Newspapers, WGAL Channel 8, PA Business Journal and Wall Street Journal. Jeff's blog on Lancaster County and its homes is nationally-featured. Contact Jeff for more help with your Lancaster PA Real Estate needs. Jeff is also a photographer - view some of his portfolio. Comments are welcome!

Tidbit of The Day - How To Quickly Find Local Gas Prices

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:52 -0500

Thought I'd pass along this little piece of intel that may help you with your search for the elusive "best deal" for gas in your area.

http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx

This is a neat tool that seems to be updated around the country. Try it out! Here's a screenshot:

You get a map with all the local stations, a cute price-range graphic, then the details on each station wiht the current prices. You'll note the dates at the bottom - 7/22/08 - right up-to-date.

Play with it and tell me what you think! Just trying to help you win the war against high fuel costs...

Building A Compost Bin - Lancaster Home "Green" Projects 2008

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:04:33 -0500

Some of you may be wondering "what's Jeff been up to this year with the green thing"? Well, I've got a 3-part series for you straight from my backyard 2008.

Building a Compost Bin using Home Depot lumber and a couple of screws
Installing a RainBarrel to catch downspout water for garden and pool re-use
Installing a solar pool heater on the roof of your garage

Today, let's talk compost.

Susan & I have had a small compost bin I made with some old 2x4s a couple of years ago. It was a basic design - called a "one-chamber" because that's all there was. I've really loved not having to put the grass clippings out for 2 years! Also, everything organic from the kitchen has gone out to the pile daily. We got a great compost harvest the second spring but this year didn't go as well. The pile had gotten too high and was a bear to turn (which is required for the stuff to decompose properly) with the pitchfork.

Solution: Rip the thing out and rebuild. Today I finished the compost bin (level two)! It's a "two-chamber" design which will allow me to turn the piles more effectively by going from one side to the other, and pulling out the finished compost as it happens. I would have preferred to have done a "three-chamber" so I had a pile for only finished compost, but space did not allow for that.

I stopped at Home Depot and picked up some PT (pressure treated) 2x4s (the last ones rotted) and 1x4's for the side slatting. I also bought some green-coated chicken wire in 24"x 25 ft (one roll - I already had 25 foot - you'll need two rolls to build this compost bin design). I used 2" deck screws to fasten everything together.

I sunk the posts using a post-hole digger and an iron "digging stick" with a tamping end to pack the posts in place. Lots and lots of measuring with a tape measure and level...The screws tightened the whole compost bin up nicely. Took me an afternoon and a half (with 3 kids in tow).

Right away I noticed how the extra 4 feet really helped separate the materials. Note the difference between the more recent deposits and the almost-ready compost on the left. My nagging problem had been the lack of consistent aeration - the stuff stunk! Now with the ability to turn more often without the hassle factor I'll get better aeration, which means lots of good compost to spread on mama Geoghan's vegetable garden in the fall and spring!

Look for my next piece - on putting together a rainbarrel using a local Lancaster PA barrel source and easily-available plumbing parts.

Iphone 3G Is On Order! The Excitement Mounts...

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 01:42:23 -0500

I went ahead and ordered my 16 gig IPhone 3G On Friday...oh yes, I DID spend over an hour on line at one of our two local Lancaster AT&T stores - along Lincoln Highway next to Dutch Wonderland. Friday was the worldwide rollout on the hot new 3G wireless-enabled Apple IPhone - even here in little'ol Lancaster County PA.

There were about 75 people when I arrived about 8am. At about 9:30 they announced that the 16 gig phones were out and the odds were pretty low that we could get an 8 gig version this far back in line.

Sigh.

I had called the Lancaster store the day before and talked to Ken Mowry (he's very good - use him first!) about the situation and Ken advised that I do a "direct fulfillment" should the stick run it (as it did). So I was back in the late afternoon ordering a 16 gig for myself and an 8 gig for my wife as a gift. It's going to be great to have the latest technology at my side to respond to real estate client & realtor emails, and even post comments on Activerain!

More on the IPhone once I receive it (7 days estimated) and have a chance to put it through it's paces.

East Broad Top Railroad - A Ride Into Pennsylvania's Mining Past

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:26:43 -0500

Last weekend we got up to a family retreat in Huntington County, PA - a nice cabin in the woods. Saturday, however, we took a short drive to the East Broad Top Railroad in Orbisonia, PA!

The Broad Top Line was built to service an extensive coal mining operation in 1856. Coal transport peaked in 1926 when the railroad handled almost 26 million tons! The line is a "narrow guage" - the trackes are only 36 inches apart...pretty small for full-sized locomotives and cars. The railroad had hundreds of custom high-capacity hopper cars built, the only such fleet in the US for narrow-guage tracks. After WW2 the line began to lose money and eventually closed in 1956. A salvage company immediately bought the railroad and it's parent coal operation. For 1960 the owner, Nick Kovalchick restored some of the line for Orbisonia's Bicentennial

Today, a five-mile section of the original line and four of it's steam locomotives are the centerpiece of the ongoing tourist attraction located deep in the heart of central Pennyslvania. The yards are all still there, including the roundhouse! It remains the only operating narrow-guage railroad east of the Rocky Mountains.

Our trip started by greeting the all-volunteer train crew at the Orbisonia Station (still as it was inside - very cool). Then we quickly mounted the train for the ride - we selected an open flatcar (upside - views of the countryside - downside - soot all over us)

The ride took us up the five-mile run through the woods with the whistle blowing and the soot flying as the engine climbed the grade. The thing is pretty loud if you're up close like we were - note the kids holding their ears in the photo below!

It's a pretty bumpy ride, and the pace is pretty slow. Definitely not for the video-game set...but if you're one who enjoys looking back into time and history, it's a "hoot" (I couldn't resist).

The outbounds trip ends with the train backing up into a siding and reversing direction on the same track, pausing for about 20 minutes at a wooded parklike area that has small pavilions and grass to picnic on. Since the runs are 10,1 and 3 daily you can opt to stay up in the woods for the 2 hours and have leisurely lunch or read a book.

After a while the conductors shoo everybody into the cars and engineer fires the locomotive up and you're off on the return run.

The countryside views are nice and it's rather funny to watch the passerby stop their cars along overpasses and under bridges to gawk and snap pictures.

The trip ends back at Orbisonia Station and the rail yards.

All a very good trip - cost was $12 for the open cars. The covered cars were $15 as I recall.

My boys and I spotted a small "put-put" railroad cart that was offering rides for $2 each. We jumped aboard and our operator, Cory, gave us a zippy ride down the back end of the yards and out about a mile in the other direction. He explained that East Broad Top has the largest collection of these little workhorse 2-cycle engined carts, and that they were used as a replacement for the handcrank carts (you've seen those in cartoons) for maintenance workers to get out on the line quickly. Cory claimed the thing would do 40 mph, but we couldn't cajole him into going for it... nothing to hang on to as you can see from the photo.

The place has a run-down and almost ghostly feel about it - the remains of a bygone era.

However, you can sense the pride of the restorers and volunteers. For once I'm sure the money's going to a good cause! And hey, coal's coming back I'm hearing - who knows?

Hope you enjoyed your trip into Pennsylvania's past!

Pennsylvania's "Keystone Help" Home Energy Loan Progran Is Taking Off...

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:56:00 -0500

AFC First, financial provider of the innovative Keystone Help loan program that I have both blogged about and used myself, happily reported yesterday that they are nearing the 3,000th loan issued in PA. New Keystone Help loans are up 40% over this time last year. Here's a link to the press release with details.

Why? Easy. With more and more local contractors selling their services and the tremendously-increased interest in high-efficiency HVAC systems, AFC First has effectively cornered the market for energy-efficient loan programs. I recently saw an ad in our local paper for a regional bank who was touting their energy loan program, but AFC First got it right by working with the state when it wasn't yet fashionable to do so.

For my own experience with the Lancaster PA Energy Loan, I was pleased with the way my purchase of a high-efficiency furnace went last summer. If you are considering an upgrade of your HVAC or other installed system, and if there are high-efficiency options available to you, don't forget to ask the installer if they are a Keystone Help-authorized dealer.

Eastern Lancaster County Homes For Sale - A True Country Gem!

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:33:17 -0500

5304 Countryside Drive, Kinzers PA 17535

Impressive country home within easy range of key Chester and Lancaster county areas. This 2006 floorplan boasts well over 3,000 square feet and a huge first-floor layout. Relax in the warmth of the exquisite sunroom or over a lingering breakfast in the massive kitchen nook. Enjoy the views of pastoral farmland. Multi-zoned HVAC makes energy sense, and a finished lower level adds more room for recreation. Drive out to see this gem today! Offered at $384,753

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Akron PA Homes - Main Street Home For Rent!

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:46:28 -0500

Here's a wonderful opportunity to rent a great home for a great price. A friend of mine is a missionary who is moving to Africa (Camaroon, to be exact) in September. They have a very nice house along Main Street in Akron PA that has lots of features:

3-4 bedrooms
Finished Basement
Washer/Dryer included
Renovated Kitchen
New Furnace (baseboard heat - very nice)
Propane stove/dryer
Backyard that borders a park

For those of you who don't know where Akron PA Real Estate is, it's just south of Ephrata off of Oregon Pike (272). There's easy access to the 222 freeway at the Brownstown exit 2 miles away. Akron's Main Street is very quaint and the post office, grocery store and pharmacy are all walking distance from this home.

The only restriction is on pets - none, please. Rent will be $750/month + utilities (currently approx.$300/month). Lease would begin in Mid-September. The home will be available from September 2008 to May 2010.

Give me a call or email on this rental opportunity - I'm protecting the owner's information on the web. I'll give you the owners phone number to call. You'll be working with her directly after that.

Jeff Geoghan In the News Today

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:17:48 -0500

Thought you might be interested in a TV spot running tonight at 5pm on WGAL Channel 8 featuring myself, a happy client and Mike Sprunger of Lancaster City Living. The piece is on the increasing interest in urban living as revealed in a recent Coldwell Banker survey of 1000 agents nationwide. We talked with Meredith Jorgensen about the various features and benefits of Lancaster City PA homes for sale and real estate concerns. MY client, a single woman who bought a 3-unit in the city to live in and rent, had some great comments for Meredith about the "walkability" she's discovering in her neighborhood next to Lancaster General Hospital. UPDATED 6/30 - Here's the Video!

Also, look for me on the cover of today's Intelligencer Journal in an article on Lancaster PA home price trends as reported by the federal goverment for the first quarter 2008. It's a decent article with good news for a change! I'll be covering that story in more detail in an upcoming blog article - stay tuned!

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Family Events In & Around Lancaster County - BMX and Barnstormers!

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:31:40 -0500

I thought I'd share abit about two events we participated in yesterday & today. The first was the annual Race For Life event held at Lebanon Crankers BMX - where we've been racing for about a year now. The riders raised over $3,000 toward cancer research! Yesterday was my first race as well - don't ask how I did...but I finished! The old man's still got something left.

Tonight, we all headed over to Lancaster's Clipper Stadium (only half a block from our office at Coldwell Banker Lancaster PA) for the annual East Petersburg Day "night at the barnstormers".

Kids got to throw out the first pitch and our very own Heather Harley sang the Star Spangled Banner.

East Petersburg had a section reserved and it was nice to see neighbors and friends. Of course, a night at the Lancaster Barnstormers wouldn't be complete without a snapshot with Cylo!

Just another post about some of the great family events happening right here in & around Lancaster County, PA.

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The Strasburg Railroad "Short Line" Comes Rumbling By...

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:03:09 -0500

Did you know that we have our very own railroad line right here in Lancaster County, PA?

Strasburg, PA is home to one of the most comprehensive railroad experiences in the nation. There is the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum, with many historic locomotives and railroad cars on display at their facility along Route 741 just east of Strasburg. Right next door is the Strasburg Rail Road, an actual operating "short line" railroad.

Strasburg Railroad operates one of the oldest "short line" railroads in the region, dating back to 1832. The current four and a half mile run is part of the original Strasburg Rail Road that served the Pennsylvania Railroad as a freight interchange. The line was saved from destruction in 1958 and placed in service as a memorial to the bygone era of rail travel.

Today, the line offers tickets for trips, dining and other special events seasonally. You can read more here about prices and availability.

Well, my family was out for a "saturday drive" in east county this past weekend, and happened by the railroad tracks along Cherry Hill Road. When I heard the whistle, I was out the door in a flash with camera in hand (it's never far away when I'm out in the county travelling).

The first shot was a bonus - an amish buggy zipping by with the train in the background...

Here's a shot of the train stopping at the "station" in the distance:

Then the train blew it's whistle again and rumbled down the tracks - it was like being transported into the old west!

When the train had passed me by, I turned to watch it chug it's way across the fields towards Strasburg and the Railroad museum. No doubt the smiling passengers were having a ball reliving something all too rare in the United States today - a ride on a real railroad car.

Lancaster PA For Sale By Owner - Playing "The Game"

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:09:55 -0500

They ought to give this game a name.

If you're an agent, you know. The game you play when you meet the guy who's selling FSBO. Maybe he calls you, maybe you jot down his number as you drive by one day.

Maybe you even get a chance to walk through his house. You're doing a mental inventory the whole way, thinking about the marketability of various features, staging and even how to compose your glamour photos of the home. The whole time, the seller is watching you thinking about one thing:

Commission, commission, commission, commission.

So then you get the prepare something more formal to present to the FSBO seller. You know, you're got your program and pricing nailed down and have many productive tips and ideas to get the house sold. However, the seller persistently derails you with discussion about commission. "Will you do it for 2%? I have a "high end" agent who will do it for 2%" Um Hmmm. You try to go over the differences between agents again, and highlight your skills which make you desirable irregardless of commission. You do try.

But it's not getting through.

Then, you follow up and get no response. You're not 100% upset about that, but the professional and competitor in you makes you try again. No luck. The next morning, the house is listed by that "high end" realtor. 4 photos taken by a polaroid, stripped down bare listing, overpriced by $20,000.

The game may be over for you, but the other agent's game with the seller is just getting warmed up! Now they'll have to negotiate the price down to your suggested price (as they figured from the beginning)and try to keep their sign in the guy's front yard for the rest of the season - free advertising, you know.

It's a game, but it's not a game. This is dealing with a mult-hundred thousand dollar asset, for goodness sake! It's beyond me, sometimes, what sellers are thinking. Folks, there is a difference between agents and sometimes the commission is worth every penny! I would absolutely love to explain the difference to you in person if you're reading this and contemplating selling FSBO (or going with that 2% agent).

You may be thinking "what's got into Jeff this morning?". If you guessed that I've been wrapped up in FSBOland, you'd be right. Why do I do this to myself? Oh, there's another one. Maybe he'll listen to reason...

Coldwell Banker Select Professionals - Moving on up…to the blue side!

Fri, 30 May 2008 01:32:45 -0500

This week has been a down week for blogging as I made my move to Lancaster's hot new Coldwell Banker brokerage, Coldwell Banker Select Professionals. The management there were awesome to deal with in the discussions and I'm incredibly excited at the possibilities to grow in many ways there.

What's the skinny? Well, I'm going to be wearing two hats for Coldwell Banker here in Lancaster County (and beyond).

1) Marketing guy - the owners of the franchise were looking to take their company to the next level in the realm of web marketing, so they thought of (little old - emphasis on old) me. I'll be helping grow the already wonderful presence of Coldwell Banker in new ways in our Central PA footprint, and help market new offices as we open them. This is right up my alley, for those of you who know me - I live and breathe the marketing stuff.

2) Agent in demand - more of what I had at my last company, and better! Coldwell Banker is the oldest and most respected name in Real Estate, and the most respected name in Central PA. I'm excited to bring the latest technologies to my real estate clients, as well as those of you looking to relocate to the Lancaster area. As you can see from my website, I'm still the same (old) Jeff, but comfortably settling into a new home!

I'll be developing and expanding my website page for Coldwell Banker Select Professionals, if you're interested. This week has been hectic moving things and setting up shop in the new digs at the company's incredible new building at 1000 North Prince Street in Lancaster City. The company's IT manager is a whiz and has thought of everything, so the electronic transition has been superb. Today was my first full day around the office, and the staff there are all intensely professional and friendly. The three owners of the brokerage are available and helpful, zipping here and there throughout the day to meet with agents & staff while handling business issues on their cell phones. The whole scene is reflective of what you see happening around Lancaster City & County - a new breed of professional with a great combination of real-people skills and electronic savvy. It's a very motivating atmosphere.

Business continues as usual, and the clients are calling. There are lots of homes to show. Call me today to talk about YOUR personalized real estate needs!

Lancaster Natural Childbirth - Our Midwife Wins The Appeal!

Fri, 23 May 2008 21:13:31 -0500

Some of you who have been reading this blog might remember our incredible natural childbirth story from last June after Ephrata Hospital and Aetna failed us miserably. The midwife who (literally) saved the day for us went on to suffer at the hands of the PA Board Of Medicine in court for months, as they tried to "make an example" out of her so as to put a damper on the growing homebirth movement in Pennsylvania. Our family attended a rally held for Diane in December of last year. Well, I'm extremely happy to report that Diane Goslin of Lancaster County has won a complete reversal of the "charges" against her in Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court! Here's the press release, courtesy of Pennsylvania Families For Safe Birth:

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In a stinging blow to both the Pennsylvania Medical Board and the Pennsylvania Medical Society, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court reversed all three rulings the PA Board of Medicine had issued against Diane Goslin:

- The Cease and Desist Order;

- the $10,000 fine for the unlicensed practice of medicine; and

- the $1,000 fine for the unlicensed practice of midwifery.

Pennsylvania midwife Diane Goslin may now legally attend births.

PA Commonwealth Court Justice Friedman opined that "practicing midwifery cannot be construed to be the same as practicing medicine..." Therefore, the court reversed the egregious and erroneous PA Board of Medicine ruling.

Additionally, the Court found that the PA medical"Board deprived [Diane Goslin] of due process" rights as required by Pennsylvania law.

The Court further pointed out that the 1985 PA Nurse-Midwifery Act, "...authorizes the Board to impose penalties only upon persons who practice as a nurse-midwife without a nurse-midwife license." Goslin practices as a Certified Professional Midwife.

PA Commonwealth Ruling

News Releases

Harrisburg News

Philadelphia News

York Daily Record
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You can read more about homebirth and the grassroots movement at the Save HomeBirth web site

All Susan and I can say is "woohoo" for Diane!

Oh, and by the way Carys is doing wonderfully & is getting her first tooth at 11 months...

NAR Reports Drop In Membership - Less Competition!

Fri, 23 May 2008 16:25:39 -0500

Interesting Stat - National Association of Realtors membership declined in the first quarter of 2008 by:

102,403

That's a big drop! For those of you bloggers out there, that's over a 100K less competitors to worry about...

Here's a couple of appropriate quotes for real estate pros and consumers alike, taken from some recent surveys of the business media:

“Your key to success is to arm yourself with the most current information available.”

- Stefan Swanepoel, 2008 Swanepoel Trends Report

“Sales professionals need to present facts, figures and charts that show the market clearly.”

- Steve Murray, RealTrends March 2008

“The number one concern of brokers going into 2008 is servicing smarter, more informed consumers.”

- Real Sure Brokers’ Survey

Another Satisfied Client!

Tue, 20 May 2008 12:27:00 -0500

I don't publish the comments from my client feedback surveys enough, I've decided. You'll note from my blog that I don't "toot my horn" too much. Today, though, I thought I would share a comment on a survey received yesterday from a Philadelphia customer buying in Lancaster City:

"Jeff was my third Real Estate Professional that I worked with this year. It was like night and day comparing Jeff to my previous experience with the other Professionals, he was certainly several notches above the others!"

Cary - Philadelphia

I really appreciated this feedback - it reminds me again that it's a competitive business full of professional competition. I love a challenge! In fact, I'm working on a website right now to show off the services I offer home sellers that are tops in the market...more on that later.

Free Video Greetings For Overseas Soldiers Now Being Offered!

Wed, 14 May 2008 13:39:01 -0500

I'm proud to be involved in a unique community outreach using some of our cutting-edge Real Estate technology! Here's our press release:

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Citizens Community Bank Mortgage Division located in Lititz Pennsylvania and Jeff Geoghan, Realtor with Long and Foster Real Estate of Lancaster, PA, is offering the families in Lancaster, Pennsylvania that have family members serving overseas in our Armed Forces a special free gift. CCBMD wants to help keep these families in touch with their loved ones by using cutting-edge video technology at their disposal.

Military families are welcome to schedule an appointment to come into CCBMD’s Airport Road office and record a three to five minute “Message to our Military” video on CCBMD equipment. A video link will be sent to their loved ones overseas via email. The link that the soldier can click on will play the video as many times as they wish.

“We are always trying to give something back to our community” says Jeff Geoghan, who is helping promote the unique opportunity. “With this ‘Message to our Military’ concept, Gary and his team can help local friends and families communicate in a more personal manner with loved ones overseas over the Memorial Day Holiday and beyond.”

Gary Thomas, Branch Manager at CCBMD said, “We have been sending out our Wednesday Tips, a video post card, going on two years now. We send these to all of our clients, friends, families and realtors. The video post cards have a weekly tip for the viewers and many say they love to watch them each week because of my bad acting. All I know is that they are a lot of fun doing them and the readership is unbelievable.” Also, we are currently offering Free Healthy Credit/ ID Theft services to community members. This is a way to improve credit scores and help those who may be struggling to get approved for a mortgage.

Geoghan recalled “Gary came to me with the idea of using this technology to help the families in Lancaster County that have loved ones serving our country abroad, and I saw the potential to promote the use of business technology to help the community in a tangible way. I imagine that it can get pretty lonely when you are so far away. What we’d like to do is to offer this to more counties in time, then eventually the entire state.”

Here’s how it works: To send a free video to a family member that is serving our country in the armed forces, call Citizens Community Bank, Mortgage Division at 717-569-8005 and ask for Gary Thomas or email gthomas@ccbloans.com. Put “Message for our Military” in the Subject line. Schedule a time to come to Citizens Community Bank office at 180 W Airport Rd. Lititz, Pa 17543. In addition, Jeff Geoghan is promoting the program on his popular web daily www.LancasterCountyBlog.com. Both Gary & Jeff look forward to helping send loved ones a personalized one-of-a-kind message from their families. Please have a valid email address of the proud veteran when scheduling the appointment. To view a sample video, go to www.Lancastermortgagelender.com and click on the “Message to our Military” flag.

Gary Thomas is a locally recognized mortgage expert who is exceptional with “credit repair”. Gary Thomas a Mortgage Expert at Citizens Community Bank Mortgage Division with 18 years of experience and specializing in working with “credit challenged buyers” his company has assisted many of clients achieve homeownership. If you would like more information or schedule a FREE “Healthy Credit ID Theft Program” please contact Gary Thomas at 717-880-7678 or email him at gthomas@ccbloans.com.

Jeff Geoghan MBA is a Lancaster County Realtor, speaker and author of LancasterCountyBlog.com, a daily local real estate news site. He is an East Petersburg Borough Councilman and involved community member focusing on Green Real Estate, sustainable living and historic preservation. To work with Jeff Geoghan for home buying or selling call 717-799-0851 or info@yourlancasterhome.com.

Lancaster Foreclosure Homes - Pennsylvania's Response

Wed, 14 May 2008 09:53:00 -0500

As 2007 came to a close, more than 52,000 Pennsylvania homeowners were in some part of the foreclosure process, according to recent survey results by the Mortgage Banker's Association. These numbers put Pennsylvania in the top 10 foreclosure states nationally. Since 23% of loans statewide between 2005-2006 were subprime, analysts expect the foreclosure trend to continue into the next two years. In fact, One in 46 Pennsylvania homeowners are expected to face foreclosure during that time period.

Almost as telling is the number of PA homeowners who will feel the effects of the foreclosure trend. 39% are predicted to feel a pinch in their home values as foreclosure properties pop up in their neighborhoods, according to a Pew Charitable Trusts Assessment. The average loss to home values is estimated at $4,000. On the local government front, $6.6 Billion will be lost from the tax base, also impacting the homeowner who isn't in foreclosure by limiting municipal projects and budgets.

So how is Pennsylvania responding to the foreclosures in Lancaster and throughout the state? As I've posted in past articles, Pennsylvania was one of the first states to create a Homeowners Emergency Assistance Program, or HEMAP. The state has been tweaking that program to tackle assistance for financially-based foreclosures rather than illnesses, etc. The program connects homeowners with financial counselors and addresses payment issues. In addition ot HEMAP, the state offers two refinancing options: REAL (Refinance to an affordable loan) and HERO (Homeowners Equity Recovery Opportunity program) (link to PHFA page here)Under HERO, Pennsylvania homeowners have the opportunity to obtain 100% financing as a replacement for their existing loan; the PHFA (Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency) actually purchases the loan from the lender and modifies the terms to help keep the consumer in their home.

If you are in the early stages of dealing with a mortgage challenge, it pays to contact your state agency to explore your options as soon as possible. Also, open a dialogue with your lender ASAP - accomodation programs are popping up at most mortgage servicing companies to counter the spike in foreclosure complaints. Most of all, don't do nothing! Those unopened bills won't go away...

If you are interested in a complete list of Lancaster County PA Foreclosures and regular email updates of homes listed by PHFA and banks, send me an email with your contact information and price ranges.

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Watch For "Green" Claims To Rise In Real Estate

Thu, 08 May 2008 17:11:11 -0500

I was recently introduced to an article in the St. Petersburg Times that deals with the now-popular term "greenwashing". It was called "'Green' Houses in Name Only?" by Chuin-Wei Yap. I thought the author did a good job of framing the problem that is starting to crop up everywhere in real estate - sellers inappropriately identifying their homes as "green" or "energy efficient". I loved this quote:

"As home building slumps and environmentalism becomes a business advantage, a fast-growing market for green homes is becoming synonymous with "buyer beware"

The article addressed the lack of proper oversight in "green" claims and the frustrations certifying organizations face when they see claims being made. Since most of the oversight still is voluntary, there's nothing to stop a builder (or realtor) from making a claim that the home is energy efficient or even green-built. In fact, we have at least one builder I know of who's labeling their homes as energy efficient (they're nothing special, and are not certified as Energy Star or better to my knowledge). When I questioned the claim to the listing agent (in a friendly way) I got silence in reply.

"Greenwashing" is the general term for mis-representation or over-representation of a product's environmentally-friendly attributes. Keep a sharp eye out for this trend in real estate and "buyer beware".

Lancaster PA Real Estate Market In Review - April 2008

Wed, 07 May 2008 15:54:42 -0500

Here's the Lancaster Pa real estate homesales report for April 2008:

Interesting numbers! Homes sold continued the 2008 trend of running at 25% off from last year, while new listings continued the trend of following 2007's numbers. As I've explained each month, I believe this discrepancy is due to the lack of "easy mortgages" for the first-time, credit-challenged and no-doc homebuyer market. Home sales have been climbing steadily all this year as the weather warms. As I always say, "a well-priced, well-marketed home in a good location will always sell quick". Those homes certainly ARE selling quick this month, as several of my buyer clients can attest to...

Pending listings are off slightly from last year (but up 20% from last month - encouraging!). One big stat is the huge increase in the number of expiring listings...69% up from 2007! Wow. That's mostly the "well-marketed" part not happening...(more on that in an upcoming article).

Active listings were up 20% from 2007 - no surprise given fewer homebuyers out there this year.

Can you say "competition for buyers"? That is 2008 in a nutshell.

Yes, the "gap" continues to widen. In April it blossomed to $46,501 - one of the biggest numbers in a year. I would say this is accounted for by the glut of higher-end homes, including new construction listings. The good news is that the sales price is once again strongly on the rise after a falloff at the end of 2007. You can see from the green line that sales prices are coming up in 2008. Will we get to $208,000 this year? Stay tuned...with the changes to FHA financing that may happen.

Just one more chart to reinforce the trends in new listings and sold homes for Lancaster County, PA. Homes for sale, new listings are largely mirroring last year's trend (note the similarity between Feb-Apr for both years). Again, just like the sales price curve from the last chart, total sold homes is on the rise in 2008.

So, is the market terrible? No way! Are there some local challenges? Yes, but if you are looking to sell or buy I believe this will be a good year to do so. No Hype, just the facts!

________________________________________

Manheim Township PA Condos For Sale - Hot New Listing

Fri, 02 May 2008 14:51:03 -0500

Lovely & Large Manheim Township Condominium

Location: Tollgate Station

Come see this large Manheim Township Condominium in desirable Tollgate Station an ideal location for commuters to Harrisburg, York or the PA Turnpike. A modern floorplan boasts over 2,000 square feet of living space with a wonderful central kitchen, large master suite and nice-sized bedrooms.

The great room connects to the kitchen via a tasteful breakfast bar, and also leads to a private deck for a complete entertaining package. The formal dining room includes a pass-through to the cooking area for serving ease. As a bonus, the large square foot lower level is waiting to be finished for a huge additional space.

All appliances are included in this attractive home, and the low association fee covers all exterior maintenance, making living accessible and easy for the busy lifestyle. Schedule a private showing today at www.35Tollgate.com today. Enjoy!

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Pricing

Asking Price: $217,959

Property Location

35 Tollgate Station
Lancaster, PA 17601
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Features

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2.5

Parking: 1 Car Garage, Offstreet

Year Built: 2005

Subdivision: Tollgate Station

Garage Size: 1 Car

School District: Manheim Township

Square Footage: 2065

Agent Name: Jeff Geoghan

Broker: YourLancasterHome.com

MLS #: 133984

Attributes

Appliances

Range/Oven

Full Refrigerator

Washer/Dryer

Dishwasher

Sink Disposal

Microwave

Satellite

Interior Amenities

Breakfast Bar

Large Bedrooms

Lower Level can be finished

Exterior Amenities

Private Deck

No Maintenance!

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VFLYER ID: 1643818

Delays In PPL Ratepayer Relief Program Loom

Fri, 02 May 2008 14:46:13 -0500

Reports from Harrisburg today indicate that the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has failed to approve the plan put forward by PPL, the area's largest electric utility, to soften the burden of the coming rate increases.

Originally slated for an approval vote 4/9, the issue was tabled by the PUC. For the commission's 5/1 meeting the review and approval failed to even make the agenda. A PUC official issued a statement saying that the commission was reluctant to act ahead of Pennsylvania Lawmakers, while another commissioner issued her own statement expressing her disappointment at the commission's inaction.

Go figure! A virtual monopoly tries to give their ratepayers a break by offering a prepayment program, and the state stonewalls it. I posted about the first round of rate hikes back in August of last year...and it's only going to get worse. Much worse.

Here's a link to my discussion about Ed Rendell's new budget items for energy conservation. Meanwhile, PPL posted earnings of $260million in earnings for the first quarter of 2008, vs. $203million for 2007. Hmm.

"The Three Blogoteers" of Lancaster County PA Meet Again...

Thu, 01 May 2008 21:48:09 -0500

Myself, Brian Schulman (with a "c") and Jeannie Kontis met at one of my favorite spots this week to talk blogging and local business happenings. With the unrest and changes in our little real estate market of Lancaster, PA there was a lot to talk about. Of course, talking about blogging is always good and we did a lot of that too. I was glad for the down time since this has been a busy week of buyers and sellers moving forward...

Ah, and the burrito was absolutely fabulous. Hats off once again to Senorita Burrita of 227 North Prince Street in Lancaster City! Looking forward to the next meeting of the "Three Blogoteers"...

East Petersburg PA Home For Sale - Great Value New Listing!

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:28:09 -0500

There's a new listing for a 3 bedroom 1.5 bath single family detached home coming on the MLS tomorrow - along Miller Road in East Petersburg, PA. According to the listing agent it will be priced at only $145,000! That's a great price for a detached 2-story home in Hempfield Schools.

I pulled a photo off the tax records to show you the style. It's about 1,200 square and has a finished basement - .24 acres too. I believe this price is very low - contact me ASAP to see this house before it goes! Call me at 799-0851 to set up a showing through me.

Don't be late!

Coldwell Banker Is Gone From Lancaster - Or Is It?

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:39:26 -0500

Ah, the rumors are swirling...

For those of you who don't know, our local real estate behemoth Homesale Services Group left the Coldwell Banker franchise April 1st, making the announcement that morning at a surprise agent meeting and via email as I have heard it. They decided to change their affiliation to Prudential, claiming an improvement in service to their customers. Of course there's much more to that, I'm sure...rumors of financial instability at CB corporate are all over the business sector. I was pretty blown away by the move, my marketing experience telling me that they would be forfeiting 25 years of brand recognition. After all, let's face it - customers are looking for the blue logo, and that's it. I suppose that after a few years the new identity will sink on to Lancaster's collective consciousness, but wow...it must have taken a serious falling out between the two firms to cause such a traumatic move.

So Coldwell Banker, the logo so synonymous with real estate in Lancaster PA, is gone. But wait!

Today the new breaking news is that another decent-sized local firm has brokered a deal to take over the blue logo. When I heard which company, I was completely unsurprised. In fact, I had thought of this company immediately once I had heard about Homesale giving up the franchise. I'll decline to name the company until the official announcement, but only say that I used to work there and know the owners to be innovative and able to see the potential with taking over the Coldwell Banker logo here in Lancaster and surrounding counties. Frankly, I wish I had the money to have done it!

My understanding is that a well-known broker from another office has joined forces with the new local franchise under the name of Coldwell Banker Select Professionals to create a Lancaster Coldwell Banker presence. We'll have to wait for the official announcements - but you heard it here first!