Monday night, another mom called to ask me if I had heard that the pending field trip to Harrisburg for Tuesday was cancelled...because of snow.

"SNOW?" I bellowed.  Softening a bit, I recalled an October day 5 years ago, when we received a dusting of snow.  My kids were ecstatic and got the sleds out - but after only two runs down the slope the snow was gone.  I came back to the present.

"I doubt they'll cancel it," I said.  "How much snow could we get?"

6:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 28. I peeked out the window - whoa - what's this?  The ground is covered.  I had a sick feeling in my stomach; my son was going to be devastated that yet another field trip will be canceled due to weather.

I turned on the TV and watched in surprise as the school closings scrolled by.  I snorted when I saw "Wallenpaupack Area School District - CLOSED TODAY."

Marveling at how quick the schools are to close these days, I was ready to wander down memory lane - remember walking 3 miles uphill both ways in blizzards to get to school? - when my reverie was interrupted by a snapping sound - and the TV went off.  Then it came back on - but then it went off again, for good.  Along with the lights. Hmmmm.

We were not prepared.  The kids had no snow boots yet - I thought I had till at least Halloween before I had to think about snow stuff.  We had no bottled water, but we did have flashlights, a kerosene heater, and some oil lamps.

By late morning, I bravely ventured out to Wal*Mart with the kids.  Soon, the hubby called to say the power was restored, but I bought some bottled water anyway...along with boots and snow pants.  We got some popcorn and movies from Blockbuster.

After a supper of hot tomato soup, we decided not to watch a movie - the power flickered again.  I lit the oil lamp, and we got out the Sorry! game.  We finished out the evening munching on chips and saying "Sooooorrrry!" without really meaning it.

WINTER IN THE POCONOS - Be Prepared in Case of A Power Outage!

• I LOVE my gas range/oven.  I can light the burners with a match.
• Have a kerosene heater or some other heating device not dependent upon electricity.  Some pellet, coal, and wood burning stoves may rely on blowers to radiate heat - which means they rely on electricity.
• Have a supply of bottled water on hand.
• When a winter storm is predicted, fill your tub with water for flushing toilets.
• Oil lamps, flashlights, and batteries are a no-brainer.
• Oh yeah, buy your kids their snow-pants and boots before Halloween.

Last November, I created a slide show after an overnight snowstorm transformed our area from autumn to winter with a lovely, soft, white blanket of snow.  I thought I'd share it again - enjoy!

CLICK HERE - OVERNIGHT "SNOW"-SATION

This was another Wild Card Wednesday post.

WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Paupack Group Independently Owned and Operated

Karen E. Rice is a real estate agent working in Pike & Wayne County of Northeastern PA in the Pocono Mountains. Lake Wallenpaupack is one of Pennsylvania's most popular destinations for vacations, retirement, and purchasing a home.

Lake Wallenpaupack Snow Survival Tips © 2008 by Karen E. Rice. All rights reserved. Originally published by the author on PikeWaynePABlog.com - "Snow Survival Tips at Lake Wallenpaupack"

Lake Wallenpaupack 

WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Paupack Group Independently Owned and Operated

Karen E. Rice is a real estate agent working in Pike & Wayne County of Northeastern PA in the Pocono Mountains. Lake Wallenpaupack is one of Pennsylvania's most popular destinations for vacations, retirement, and purchasing a home.

Scranton PA Toilet Lawsuit, © 2008 by Karen E. Rice. All rights reserved. Originally published by the author on PikeWaynePABlog.com - "Curse Your Toilet in Scranton PA and Get $19,000"

WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Paupack Group Independently Owned and Operated

Karen E. Rice is a real estate agent working in Pike & Wayne County of Northeastern PA in the Pocono Mountains. Lake Wallenpaupack is one of Pennsylvania's most popular destinations for vacations, retirement, and purchasing a home.

Pest Control in the Poconos, © 2008 by Karen E. Rice. All rights reserved. Originally published by the author on PikeWaynePABlog.com - "Pocono Pest Control"

(This was originally posted on PikeWaynePABlog.com)

This weekend, October 25, 2008, Weichert Realtors Paupack Group will be hosting several Open Houses in Fawn Lake Forest. If you've been thinking about selling your home, and would like to put it on the market, please contact me for a price evaluation and to learn about my unique marketing plan.

The Fawn Lake home that I originally had planned to hold open has a contract pending, so I'm looking for a new home to market and put on display!

It's not too late to get in on the action - I'd love to talk with you and tell you about what Weichert and I will do for you.

Mr. & Mrs. Buyer, I am very pleased that you have picked my client's home out of all the other choices available in the county.  It truly is a nice piece of property.

However, after speaking with my seller, they've asked me to tell you that we just can't accept an offer that is more than $100,000 below asking price.  Just can't do it...this home is not listed at a grossly inflated price.  The sellers are certainly willing to negotiate, but not like this.

I know the market is not the best right now, the economy is, well...it is what it is.  But my clients aren't that desperate.

They do want to sell, but not at any cost.

The housing market here in Wayne and Pike County is considerably slower than it was last year - all of the real estate offices have seen their sales volume go down.  Some buyers see this as an opportunity to "lowball."

But, there are lowball offerss, and there are lowball offers.  Trying to get a good price is one thing...

Sellers ARE willing to negotiate.  Many sellers may be more flexible now than they were in the past.  But that doesn't mean that buyers should expect to get homes for pennies on the dollar. 

Here are a few tips for buyers:

• Research the market before making an offer.  Ask your agent for recent sold comparables to help guage the value of the home you are going to buy against other recently sold properties.
• Check the tax records and look for the sale history.  Chances are, unless there is a serious defect in the home, the seller probably isn't going to sell his home for less than he paid for it.  Of course there is always that possibility, but except for special circumstances, this is unlikely.
• Only look at houses you can seriously afford to buy.  Don't get your heart set on something that is waaaay out of your price range, with the hopes of making the deal of the century.  If you only have $150,000 to spend, then don't look at homes that are nearly twice that price.

 

I belong to a message board for real estate agents.  Occasionaly, new users sign up and ask for "new" marketing ideas.  With the real estate market being as slow as it is, I can understand that.

First thing I suggested was to re-evaluate the price and make sure it matches the market.  If the price is lowered then it could automatically alert those who have been looking for a home in a lower price range.

I offered some feedback on this person's website (i.e., I couldn't find any listings without having to register.) 

She did remove the registration requirement but then said "I really wanted some different ideas besides the website, MLS, brochures, etc."

But buyers are looking online...more than 80% of buyers are conducting their home search online.  Shouldn't that be our main focus? 

I revisited her website to see her listings.  Hmm.

• Most of her listings had five pictures or less
• Some of the pictures were very small
• Most pictures were poorly exposed

My opinion: rather than look for new gimmicks to market your listing, why not go back to basics and take better pictures?

Buyers have told me, time and time again, that if they don't like the pictures online, they are going to ignore the listing.

Buyers who bought homes I had listed for sale told me that the pictures were what sold them, before they even saw the house in person.

This Wallenpaupack Lake Estates home on the right is a perfect example.  It sat on the market for 18 months when the seller contacted me and asked me to list it. 

The two previous agents had taken a few uninspiring pictures of this unique contemporary home...one listing had six pictures; the other had seven pictures and a tax map. 

There was nothing in the listing or the pictures to say to buyers "I'm unique, I'm interesting...buy me!"

In a community dominated by chalet homes and typical raised ranches, this home stood out and was unusual.  But the pictures didn't show that at all.

My marketing plan for this house included more than 20 pictures, showing different angles from outside as well as two or three photos per room.

The buyers told me "We fell in love with the pictures you took of this house.  We were calling it 'our house' before we even made an appointment to see it.  When we visited the house, it was just as we expected."

Folks, the pictures are the most important part of your listing next to price*.  Especially when the market is oversaturated with homes for sale - your home needs to stand out from the crowd in many ways.

*Nothing will sell an overpriced listing - even if Ansel Adams did the photography.

 

 

 

Wild Acres, located in Dingmans Ferry, is one of the larger homeowner developments / associations in Pike County and has a variety of homes for sale.

For families, there are several appealing amenities: outdoor swimming pools, several lakes for fishing and (non-motor) boating, playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, etc.

Wild Acres has miles of beautiful paved roads, and is accessed only though the security gate. Security patrols are on duty to ensure that speed limits are obeyed and to ensure the general safety and well being of the residents.

The area surrounding Wild Acres is beautiful: it is near the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Childs Park Waterfalls (a breathtakingly beautiful way to spend an afternoon!), nearby historic Milford PA, and thousands of acres of state forest is also nearby.

In addition, Wild Acres is close to the Dingmans Bridge, making it accessible for commuters who work in New Jersey or who want to take advantage of the NJ Transit system (Port Jervis or Dover) to NYC.

 

Homes for sale in Wild Acres cover a broad range, from under $110,000 to over $400,000 for a new 2000+ square foot home. 31 homes have sold so far in 2008 in Wild Acres, ranging in price from $40,000 for an investment property to $263,000. The average sale price, overall, was around $153,000.

Wild Acres homes are in the Delaware Valley School District. Visit the official Wild Acres website for more information on this community in Dingmans Ferry, PA.

This home for sale is on Mountain Lake Drive (see flyer here) is within walking distance of the lake, boat launch area, pool, playground, and tennis court. It has seasonal lake views, too!

Roomy and spacious, it is perfect for a growing family or for those who simply want more room! The finished lower level is perfect for a family room, 4th bedroom, or any way you'd like to use it! The living room is large. The carport can double as a shady party spot in the summer!

Overall, this is a terrific home - with a little bit of help (front porch needs repair, and it needs a deck in the back) it could be just what you're looking for! View the virtual tour below - and contact me if you have any questions.

WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Paupack Group Independently Owned and Operated

Karen E. Rice is a real estate agent working in Pike & Wayne County of Northeastern PA in the Pocono Mountains.

Wild Acres Home for Sale in Dingmans Ferry, Pike County PA © 2008 by Karen E. Rice. All rights reserved. Originally published by the author on PikeWaynePABlog.com - "Wild Acres Home for Sale, Dingmands Ferry, Pike County PA"

This is a must read from mortgage expert Jeff Belonger.  I recently closed a deal where the other REALTOR and I dropped our jaws at the fees the lender charged the buyers.

I was not the agent for the buyers so I do not know if they knew ahead of time about the $3,000 + fee, but it made me realize that I need to caution my buyers when they are choosing a mortgage professional - GET THE GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE & SHOP AROUND!

Thank you Jeff for allowing others to re-blog your excellent post.

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Yes, Virginia... There Are Cheap Houses in Pike & Wayne County PA....

BUT.... "How much work does it need?" That's one of the first questions asked when considering cheap homes for sale. Some are surprised at the home prices - even for fixer-uppers- in the Lake Wallenpaupack region of Pike and Wayne County.

Why home values are the way they are:

• Pike County is the fastest growing county in the Northeast U.S. (not just PA.) Supply & demand at work.
• Lake Wallenpaupack is a major attraction & is the largest powerboat lake in Northeast PA. It is the 3rd largest man made lake in the state (maybe the 2nd largest - more about the controversy here.)
• The Poconos offers year round recreation.
• Something for everyone: golfing, skiing, boating, hunting, hiking, fishing, camping, museums, great restaurants, waterfront homes, rivers, lakes, woods, waterfalls...you get the idea.
• Close to major metro areas; convenient location for commuters.
• Lower real estate taxes than New York & New Jersey.
• Good school districts (list of schools.)

In a nutshell, there's a lot to love. Even though we're in the mountains and many areas are rural, you'll find the expected modern conveniences: indoor plumbing, electricity (okay, ignore my sarcasm! ) High speed internet and cable TV is available in most areas. Ample health care and shopping is within a 20 to 45 minute radius of Lake Wallenpaupack.

Folks looking for a 2nd home in Pike or Wayne County don't want to spend "too much." They want something "cheap." Doesn't everyone?

"Cheap" is subjective; what's cheap to you may not be cheap to someone else. I define a cheap home as "low priced compared to similar or neighboring homes."

"How much work does it need?" is also quite subjective. To some, "a little fixing up" means applying a fresh coat of paint. To others, it means new carpets, new fixtures, and replacing paneling with drywall.

Everyone has a different perspective.

My husband and I bought a doozy of a fixer-upper 13 years ago, for one reason and one reason only: it was the cheapest home available in an area we wanted.

It had a working roof, furnace, and bathroom. The windows kept out drafts and let in the sun. The house was cheap.

We looked beyond the ugly burnt orange carpeting. The house was cheap.

We looked beyond the hideous purple & black 1950's bathroom tiles. The house was cheap.

We ignored the paneled walls and ceilings. The house was cheap. You may have to decide what you want vs. what you need. Everyone wants a cheap house - but homes are priced according to market value.

Homes that need work are priced at the lower end of the market; those needing less work are priced higher. Typically, the lower the price, the more work is needed.

Either you want a cheap home, or you want a home that doesn't need much work. It's rare to get both in one fell swoop. Unfortunately, watching HGTV for insights into real estate is like reading Harlequin romances for insights into love & marriage. The two have very little connection to the real world.

WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Paupack Group Independently Owned and Operated

Karen E. Rice is a real estate agent working in Pike & Wayne County of Northeastern PA in the Pocono Mountains. Lake Wallenpaupack is one of Pennsylvania's most popular destinations for vacations, retirement, and purchasing a home.

Pike and Wayne County PA - Cheap Houses © 2008 by Karen E. Rice. All rights reserved. Originally published by the author on PikeWaynePABlog.com - "Needs vs. Wants & Pike and Wayne County Cheap Houses"

I just finished creating this real estate show for this Saturday's "Fall Festival" of Open Houses at Wallenpaupack Lake Estates.

Stop by and see us (12-4pm) - we've got some new listings since our July Open House Extravaganza. I'll be the host at 5 Beaver Lake Drive - a brand new, lakeview chalet!

Here's a map in case you don't know how to get to WLE - someone will meet you at the West Gate (corner of Lakeland Dr. and Goose Pond Road) to give you directions and a map. Hope to see you there!

View Larger Map