Mary Yonkers

Is this you in the picture? Lost behind a mountain of work that never goes down?

Are you working your tail off for little or no money? Do do feel under-appreciated and over-worked?

Or maybe you lost your job due to the recession? Are you one of the Lucky Few who did not lose their job, but now are doing the work of two or three people with no extra $$$?

Are you in a rut, but don't know which way to go? Not challenged? Can't wait for 5:00?

Is it time for a career change?

• Are you ready to work for yourself?
• Do need & want a job with flexibility
• "Sky Is the Limit!" income potential

Assess your strengths

• Goal-oriented
• Ambitious
  
• Self-motivated
• Persevering
• People-oriented
  

A career in Real Estate maybe right for you.

I thought about Real Estate as a career possibility for more than 10 years. Finally I ran out of excuses of why it wouldn't work for me. Once I made the decision to get a Real Estate license I never looked back and have never regretted my decision. Yes, the first year can be challenging financially, but starting with my second year I made more $$$ every year than the previous year.

Getting started in Pennsylvania (Check your state's requirements)

• 18 years old
• 60 hours education Fundamentals & Practice
  
• Pass salesperson licensing exam

What are you waiting for?

In Erie, PA

Call Diane Potocki-Leggate 814-835-1200

Erie Classes Schedule:

• Fundamentals: September 19, 20 and 26, 27
• Practice: October 10, 11 and 24, 25

Unusual Realty

Let me share with you some very Unusual Realty in Erie, PA.

Houseboats

Yes, they really are houseboats.

Twenty-four houseboats are pemanently anchored in Horseshoe Pond at Presque Isle Peninsula. They attract the attention of Erie-ites and visitors alike. Earlier this summer we took two groups of visitors to see them while on tour of Presque Isle. See International Guest Tour Erie. One rarely comes on the open market as most sell privately. More later in Waterfront Paradise for Sale.

Ferncliff (Bayside community)

20+ townhouses hug the cliff along Presque Isle Bay, hence the name Ferncliff. As you can see from the photo on the right some are tiny and other have been enlarged by joining two or three together. The view is Priceless!

One downside of living here residents must park to the far right and carry their groceries, etc. to their home. This is more of a challenge during years when the lake level is higher. Stories have been written about owners wading to their home through ankle deep water..

A few more unusual Erie properties

Two unusual homes located side by side in Millcreek township. On left Quonset hut, a style of prefabricated home built after WW II. On the right is two bedroom all metal prefabricated home. It is unusual in that the interior walls are metal as well as the exterior. The kitchen cabinets, bedroom dressers, closet doors are all metal, too.

Waterfront Paradise: Houseboat for Sale

Amenities

• Priceless views
  

• Unhindered view of sunrise and sunset

• Wildlife including deer, owls, hawks, eagles, water fowl, migrating birds each spring and fall

• Sound of frogs chirping each night

• Watching a thunderstorm develop over Lake Erie

• Waking up to the sound of birds chirping

• Sitting on your deck while your cares float away

A few months ago Dave Yonkers, my husband, was contacted by a friend, who is licensed marine appraiser, for assistance in determining the value of the only houseboat to be offered sale since 2001. Many conversations ensued during which time my interest in the houseboats at Horseshoe Pond sent me on quest to learn more.

Constant maintenance in two categories is required: the usual home maintenance and underwater care. Even though they are called a boat they do not move, but are anchored at each corner with chains attached to cement blocks. Houseboats owners devise their own system for flotation. One houseboat rest on 70, 55- gallon drums filled with air which allow the houseboat to ride high above the water. Fishing from the deck or opening in the floor is possible year-round. Ice fishing is popular sport in Erie.

Electric and water service is available to each boat, but underwater lines must be maintained by owners.

No sewer lines service the houseboats and no soap or sewage can be disposed of in the lake. Unlike boats or RVs that can pull up to a Pump-out Station to empty the black/gray water tanks, houseboats must use alternative systems.

Per the marine appraiser, the houseboat he appraised this summer used an incinerator type sewage system. Another option is a compost toilet.

Not knowing much about these systems or where to find information I contacted John Mulkey who provided me with three sites that go into great detail about both options. Pictures and illustrations included.

www.compostingtoilet.org

www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/comp.pdf

www.airheadtoilet.com

www.ecojohn.com

See Unusual Realty for other unusual properties in Erie, PA.

No matter what my schedule is like I try to squeeze in a walk each day. I have many favorite routes. Since the weather was rather pleasant today I picked one of the longer ones that goes all the way down to the shores of Lake Erie. Great sunsets here, too

Of course if I lived on the waterfront I would have this Million $$$$ view 24/7

Consider the pluses & minuses of owning lakefront property with a million view.

Plus: The view

Plus: Easy access to the water

Plus: Awesome beauty

Plus: Sunsets every evening

Plus: Very calming

Plus: Great escape from the trials of life

Minus: I am out of ideas.

Oh yes, if I have to be realistic the price tag and the upkeep of lakefront property might considered minuses, but don't the pluses out way the minuses????

For Sale: Described as a castle on landscaped one acre lot for $825,000

approx 1/4 mile from Lake Erie

Great Blue Heron feasting on small fish in Trout Run

See the logs in the background. Some of those logs were washed down stream during the June 30th flood. A few came from my property a mile up stream. Hubby determined that from the marking left by his chain saw. Guess that is another Plus of owning property downstream. Just kidding. Their lawn was strewn with many logs and other debris after the flood.

Now the Million $$$$ Question: If I lived in one of these homes would I have noticed the heron or would I have been busy with daily life and taken the beauty of the area for granted?

I was backing out of my garage and glanced quickly across the road and saw three deer just beyond the fence. Fortunately I had my camera in the car. I wanted to get out of the car, but knew I would scare the deer. If I had been on the porch I would have gotten a shot of all three.

Two deer: left of flag pole Photo taken from car

Doe & two fawns

Unfortunately or fortunately Hubby, the hunter, was not home to see them. Occassionally the deer come across the road to our property and walk along the stream (Trout Run).

In late winter I saw where four deer had bedded down overnight under pine trees. We had had a fine dusting of snow which was melted where the deer had been.

Wildflowers near Manchester Beach, another great location for sunsets.

Mary's Flowers

My morning quest was to gather wildflowers for my dining room table. Seeing the deer was an extra bonus that I am glad to share with you.