Note: This is a reprint of a post originally published by Karen Rice, REALTOR on the Pike Wayne County PA Real Estate blog.

Wintering at Wallenpaupack!

Brrrrr! The air coming off Lake Wallenpaupack the other day felt as if it were coming directly from Antarctica! Even with no breeze to speak of, it was mighty cold! When I reluctantly crawled out of my warm nest of fleece and multiple quilts, the temperature outside was 3.4 degrees. The nip in the air INSIDE of my house hurt my nose!

I should not complain, for with the exception of our crazy October blizzard, we have had a pretty mild season so far. The children and I have also been longing for some more snow (the Mr. of the house, however, has enjoyed the lack of white fluff.) This is a great disappointment to the snow bunnies as well; but the good news for them is that Ski Big Bear at Masthope is in operation! (Update: Since I drafted this post, we got about 5 - 6 inches of powdery snow to make everything look perty!)

While real estate showings during the winter may not be as numerous as in the warmer months, I do still show (and sell) homes all winter long. Here are some things to keep in mind when searching for homes in Northeast PA while in the grip of Old Man Winter.

• DRESS WARMLY! This may seem like a "duh" or a statement from Captain Obvious, but it is NO JOKE that our air here can be quite a bit colder than it is where the buyers are from! Be sure to bring a hat, a scarf, and warm gloves. Many of the homes we see will be "winterized" and therefore will NOT have the heat on and, on a side note... the bathrooms will be inoperable.
  
• WEAR WINTER FOOTWEAR! Right now we do not have much snow and no ice to speak of. That is NOT the norm. Please wear water resistant boots with GOOD TRACTION. Some of the homes we visit may not have plowed driveways or walkways. I usually have a shovel with me and some rock salt, but remember - even though the Poconos ain't exactly the Rockies (well, not even close), you are still coming to "the mountains." Landscaping is "natural" and "rough." :)
  
• PACK A LUNCH! Depending on where we are, there may not be a convenient spot to grab a bite to eat. I usually bring my own lunch with me and nibble while driving in between houses. (Besides, McDonald's is really bad for you!) That said, I can get you a 10% discount for a delicious sit-down meal at Ehrhardt's Waterfront Restaurant on Lake Wallenpaupack!
  
• BEWARE OF TOO MANY BEVERAGES! Remember my side note above - many of the homes are winterized and will not have operable bathrooms. Additionally, we may not be near a public restroom.
  That said, it might be a good idea to bring a thermos of hot coffee to warm you up between homes.
  
• FILL YOUR TANK. Depending on the properties chosen, we may cover 200 miles or so in a day! While this isn't a barren wasteland by any stretch of the imagination, certain areas do not have service stations right around the corner. So make sure you have a full tank before we start out...we may be 15-20 minutes or so away from the nearest gas station!

This home on 135 Karl Hope Blvd in Masthope is truly one of the most beautiful I have ever seen.  My favorite, favorite, favorite element is the floor to ceiling fireplace - it is a masterpiece.  This contemporary prow-front chalet is in a great location - walk to the fitness center, and you are also quite close to the pool, lodge, ski slopes, market/deli, restaurant, playground...the location couldn't be better, the home couldn't be more beautiful, and the best part, it's READY for YOU!!!!

There is still time to get in for ski season - what a beautiful home to have for the holidays!

Masthope Luxury Chalet - Mountain Mansion!

Overview Maps Photos Features Description Videos Neighborhood Market Stats

$324,900 Single Family Home Main Features 5 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 1 Partial Bathroom Interior: 4000 sqft Lot: 0.50 acre(s) Location 135 Karl Hope, Masthope Mountain Lackawaxen, PA 18435 USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

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Karen E. Rice Weichert Realtors Paupack Group (570) 226-8240 karenerice@gmail.com http://www.wallenpaupacklakeproperty.com Listed by: WEICHERT REALTORS Paupack Group

Our recent listings Charming Poconos Cottage on Paupackan Lake A Lake Wallenpaupack Lakefront Lot & A Country Cottage Too Poconos Lake Front Cottage / Cabin Paupackan Lake Masthope Luxury Chalet - Mountain Mansion! Masthope Contemporary - Pocono Mountain Home for Sale in Pike County PA Subscribe to our listing feed

Nearby properties for sale

Lake Wallenpaupack Cottage with Wallenpaupack Lakefront Lot - HUGE PRICE DROP!
Open House on Saturday May 28 2011 - 2pm - 5pm!

Country cottage on 1.59 acres, with a private back yard - sold with a .22 acre LAKEFRONT LOT on Lake Wallenpaupack! What could be better?

This Lake Wallenpaupack home for sale is located on 120 Burns Hill Road. Just a little bit away is the Wallenpaupack lakefront lot on Big Woods II Road - get the best of both worlds without the gigantic price tag that comes with a lakefront home.

The Wallenpaupack lakefront lot has a land use and dock permit in place - you can have your own private access to the most popular motorboat lake in the Poconos!

A Lake Wallenpaupack Lakefront Lot & A Country Cottage Too

Overview Maps Photos Features Description Wallenpaupack Scenes Neighborhood Market Stats

$275,000 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms 1 Bathroom Lot: 1.81 acre(s) Location 120 Burns Hill Rd Greentown, PA 18426 USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

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Karen E. Rice Weichert Realtors Paupack Group (570) 226-8240 karenerice@gmail.com http://www.wallenpaupacklakeproperty.com Listed by: WEICHERT REALTORS Paupack Group

Our recent listings A Lake Wallenpaupack Lakefront Lot & A Country Cottage Too Charming Poconos Cottage on Paupackan Lake Poconos Lake Front Cottage / Cabin Paupackan Lake Masthope Luxury Chalet - Mountain Mansion! Masthope Contemporary - Pocono Mountain Home for Sale in Pike County PA Subscribe to our listing feed

Nearby properties for sale

Good stuff happening this weekend in Northeast PA by Lake Wallenpaupack, from Open Houses to Earth Day Fun!

On Saturday April 16, you are invited to the Open House at 111 West Shore Dr., Hawley PA 18428. This adorable log cabin is a lakefront cottage on the most awesomest (*smile*) fishing lake in Wayne County, Paupackan Lake. Click here to learn more about this lakefront Log Cabin for sale in the Poconos.

Paupackan Lake Open House Invitation:

GUESS WHAT? There's MORE Weichert OPEN HOUSE ACTION for you! On Sunday, April 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. there will be ANOTHER lakefront Open House - this time on Stonybrook Lake, a quiet little lake right across the street from "the big lake" itself, Lake Wallenpaupack! Click here for info for lakefront home for sale at 25 Lakefront Drive, Hawley PA, 18428.

25 Lakefront Drive Open House Invitation:

Now, in between those two open house events (and there are even more Weichert open houses planned, see a list of this weekend's open houses), there are a gazillion fun things to do at the annual Earth Day Festival.

After you stop by the open house at my lakefront log cabin in Paupackan Lake on Saturday (April 16), check out the Earth Day activities planned at the PPL Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center!

The learning center is located just off Route 6 near the dam (you'll see the signs!) Some of the activities include face painting, wildlife tracking, puppet shows, bird walks, a green camping demo, kayak and canoe demos, making art from recycled materials, kids crafts, music, storytelling, and info on solar pv and solar thermal energy. This event is totally free and appropriately fun for ALL ages.

Sponsored by the Earth Day Planning Committee:

• CalCat Solar, Inc.
• DCNR Promised Land State Park
• Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District
• Lacawac Sanctuary
• Northeast PA Audubon Society
• Pike County Conservation District
• Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau
• PPL
• SEEDS
• Wayne Conservation District
• Wayne County Master Gardeners

For more info on this year's Earth Day activities at Lake Wallenpaupack, visit http://www.pikewayneearthday.org or call 570-253-7076. And don't forget the OPEN HOUSES! :)

Syndication Note: Wallenpaupack Open Houses and Earth Day article was originally published on http://www.pikewaynepablog.com, by Karen Rice.