Karen Rice | Lake Wallenpaupack | Pike & Wayne County, Northeast PA Homes

Lords Valley Community Church, located in the Mr. Z's Shopping Center in Lords Valley, will host their first Coffee House this Saturday April 25, at 7 p.m.

Please join us for coffee and other refreshments, and the musical talent of Larry Bitterman.

Directions/Map

Contact Lords Valley Church: (570) 493 - 1645

http://www.LordsValleyChurch.com

Photo Courtesy of Flickr.com Creative Commons - Ballistik Coffee Boy

We see this logo in all sorts of sizes on varous websites and advertisements. What does it mean?

Basically, by having it displayed, it means that under Federal Fair Housing Law, I agree to abide by fair housing practice - meaning, that I will not discriminate against my clients and customers based on race, religion, national origin, sex, color, or familial status. Oh, and I'm going to throw in sexual orientation there too, just in case someone was wondering.

But I'm not merely complying with the Fair Housing Act because it's the LAW and I would face serious fines and who knows what else if I violate the law - I comply with it simply because - duh - it's the right thing to do!

I am shocked when I hear stories about real estate agents who have discriminated against customers because of their race or some other reason...it's inexcusable.

I have, on more than one occasion, taken phone calls from potential customers, seeking information about the area. Some are asking sensitive questions, such as "What's the crime like in this area?"

I really can only refer you to news websites, or you can contact the Pennsylvania State Police and question them about crime in the area. Worried about child predators? Click here for the PA Megans Law Website.

Sometimes I am told by customers: "We do not want to live in an area where there are lots of kids...what do you recommend?"

Ouch - I'm sorry, this too is discrimination and I am unable to answer that legally. You may want to visit the area, ask questions of your friends and family members - then YOU decide where you'd like to look for a home to buy.

The most obnoxious question I've been asked - this one I've gotten at least twice - is "I don't want to go in any areas, with, you know, the wrong kind of people, know what I mean?"

Oh, yeah, I know what you mean. (and let's be clear, these questions were not about crime ridden areas, or anything of the sort - it was obvious that racial discrimination was the motivating force behind the question.) And I'm not about to feed your racism - the answer you'll get for me is "I'm sorry, sir, Federal Fair Housing Law prohibits me from making discriminatory judgements such as this."

And with that, I may say "Thank you for calling - have a good day!" and that will be the end of our conversation. I do not want to give even a glimmer of an impression that I "understand" or empathize with this "position."

I have never been able to understand or tolerate racism. AT ALL. And I'm not about to start.

Every time I talk to potential new buyers, they seem surprised that I've been busier than ever the past several weeks.

The economy, while depressing, has also encouraged buyers to invest in real estate, particularly vacation homes. Perhaps it is because some people are no longer interested in spending thousands of dollars per year traveling, when they could instead be investing in a Poconos vacation home to spend their vacation and weekends off.

Maybe the fact that they don't have to make reservations or worry about check in / check out times is appealing. Maybe they like the idea of having a place with lots of activities to come to whenever the mood strikes them.

Some people have become disillusioned with the stock market and are instead investing in something they can use and enjoy for several years, and later sell for a profit (to be safe, you should expect to own a home several years before seeing a profit; this is not a market for "flipping!")

Who knows? All I know is that last month saw tons of real estate activity for my clients - we had closings in Masthope, Fawn Lake Forest, and The Hideout. One was an income / investment purchase, one was a vacation home purchase, and one was a first time home buyer purchase.

My clients currently have pending sales in The Hideout, Hemlock Farms, Wallenpaupack Lake Estates, and Paupackan Lake Estates. One of them is a relocation; the rest are vacation / secondary homes.

There are buyers out there - if your home is priced right, and in a desirable location, it just may be the time to put it on the market.  Sellers in Wayne / Pike County PA: CLICK HERE!

LISTING SOLD:  Fawn Lake Forest home, sold for $104,000.  Investment property for the buyer.

LISTING SOLD: Hideout (Lake Ariel, PA) home - sold for $114,000.  First time home buyers.

MLS PROPERTY SOLD:  Masthope home in Pike County, sold for $125,000.  This is the buyer's new vacation home by the ski slope!

LISTING:  PENDING SALE in Paupackan Lake Estates.  This is a vacation home for the buyer.

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

Pike & Wayne County PA Real Estate - Home Sales ©Copyright 2009 by Karen E. Rice. All rights reserved.

Originally published by the author on PikeWaynePABlog.com - "Real Estate Market - Pike and Wayne County Homes Sold"

I know, I know - you've all been wondering where the heck I have been this past month.  All the fan mail I've received, begging me to come back to blogging has been staggering.

(Okay, that was a lie, I didn't receive but one email, that was from my good buddy, professional mortgage banker Jason Sardi, asking me if I was going to be in Philly last week.  I didn't reply until after the event...which was an obvious "NO" to his question.  Thank you Jason, for missing me and writing to me.  That was very sweet.)

The fact is, I have been swamped with work the past few weeks - I have actually either been out with clients selling real estate, working on behalf of clients helping them buy or sell their real estate, or keeping up to date on paperwork (real estate generates almost as much paperwork as the military) practically non stop. I haven't had time to go on Facebook, or Twitter, or anything!

I only took time out to help my team with my awesome bowling handicap on Wednesday nights, and to watch 24 on Monday nights.

Oh, and one other thing - I took most of Saturday, February 21 off to attend my son's big Boy Scout event: Pack 229's Pine Derby 2009.  Clients were informed that I already had that day booked - indeed, it was to spend the entire afternoon with the family that hasn't seen much of me since sometime in January!

Every year our son Jared looks forward to the Pine Derby.  He and Glenn, my talented, creative, and oh-so-hot husband, figure out a design for the car and work on it together.

This year, I think Glenn outdid himself, fashioning an excellent replica of the Mach 5.  Keep your Dale Earnhart Jr's - give me Speed Racer any time! ;-)

There were lots of creative cars in the race - my favorites, aside from the Mach 5 of course, included the super-fast skateboard, the bubbly bathtub, and the giggle-inducing Spongebob car.  

I got caught up in the cake auction.  Luckily for everyone there, I did NOT bake a cake but desperately wanted the figure 8 racetrack cake.  I didn't win but did my part by helping drive up the price! Ha ha!!!

Love Scouts - Love Pine Derbys - Loved the day with the family.

Wayne & Pike County are in the Pocono Mountains of Northeast PA (NEPA). Lots of snow is quite common. It is normal to find a morning surprise of six inches or more!

Mr. & Mrs. Seller, we realize that the home you have for sale in The Hideout (or Masthope, or Wallenpaupack Lake Estates) is a vacation home and may not be used year round.

HOWEVER - if your home is for sale during the winter, hire a local contractor to plow your driveway & shovel a path to your front door.

Why?

The serious buyers are out now; many are looking at lots of homes. Easy to access property shines brighter than homes screaming "STAY OUT" with an inaccessible driveway and mounds of icy, crusty snow.

Three different times this week I have had buyers grow exasperated with snowy homes. Each time, after the third or fourth house hiding behind deep snow, the buyers said "We don't want to stop anymore unless the driveway is plowed."

Several houses were skipped because they were inaccessible. They may be gems, but they ain't worth a hill o' beans if buyers refuse to trudge through another drift to get inside.

SAVVY SELLER SNOW TIPS:

• Hire someone to plow your driveway. Many contractors will quote a "season price," plowing as often as necessary for one fee.
• Have a plastic container with ice melt on your porch, along with a handy scoop so your visitors don't risk injury on icy steps.
• Place a large rug inside the door for visitors to wipe feet - keep in mind there may be three or more people coming in at one time.
• A cheap plastic runner through the living areas is an easy way to protect your flooring.

SAVVY HOME BUYER SNOW TIPS:

• Wear winter boots when viewing homes and property in Wayne & Pike County.
• Dress warm. Many homes are unheated.
• Bring extra socks / shoes for the drive home, in case your feet get wet!
• Many homes are "winterized," so the bathroom will be off limits.
• Significant snowfall overnight may require rescheduling. I will only cancel if I feel our safety will be at risk. Often the Lake Wallenpaupack area gets much more snow than others!

One final note: one of my listings was shown last week. I called the agent afterward for feedback, asking: "Hey, did you guys like our nice plowed driveway?" She said "It was the ONLY ONE that was easy to get to! They LOVED it!"

Here's the best part: they placed an offer; it's now under contract! Coincidence? Maybe...but maybe not.

Interested in homes for sale? Click the links below for current real estate listings.

Use the Search Listings page for more real estate options!

Hideout Homes For Sale

Masthope Mountain Homes for Sale

Hemlock Farms Homes for Sale

Wallenpaupack Lake Estates Homes For Sale

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

Masthope, Wallenpaupack, Hideout - PLOW YOUR DRIVEWAYS if Your Home is For Sale,
©Copyright 2009 by Karen E. Rice. All rights reserved.

Originally published by the author on PikeWaynePABlog.com - "Plow Your Driveway If Your NEPA Home is For Sale"