Lauren Krady Lancaster PA Realtor

Someone sent me a question the other day via my blog asking about farms for sale in Lancaster, PA. Yes, it is true Lancaster is very famous for our beautiful farmland. From picturesque fields, streams, riding rings, and restored barns, we have it all.

So I looked at what is currently available in the MLS and there are about 25 farms for sale, these are all over 8 acres. Many of these properties are working horse farms. Some of these have beautifully restored farmhouses. Prices are between $369,900 and $4,495,000. There are some great values here, some of these have been reduced quite a bit in price over the past year.

Here are a few of the farms for sale in Lancaster County:

Buying your first home is one of the most exciting experiences in life. Now is a great time to be a first time buyer in Lancaster, PA!

• Interest rates are low (under 6 % last week) which means borrowing money is more affordable.
• There is a great selection for sale so you have a great chance of finding one that will fit your needs and your budget.
• You don't have to wait for your current home to sell so you have great bargaining power and can move quickly.
• The federal government is offering a tax credit of 10% of the purchase price of the home (up to $7,500) until July 1, 2009. (This is a 15 year interest free loan paid back at $500 a year out of your tax return.)

Buying your first home can also seem overwhelming at times. As a realtor I can help you through the process. Some people may want to take a homebuyer education course as I mentioned in a previous post.

One of the first steps is figuring out how much house you can afford. Getting pre-approved for a loan gives you an idea of the price range you can look at and what your interest rate and monthly payment may be.

It is important to keep in mind that you will have to pay for property taxes, insurance, and repairs. You will also want to set aside some money for curtains, paint, furniture, and moving expenses.

Homeownership is a great privilege and a great investment. Next post will be about determining your housing needs.

To search homes in Lancaster, PA:

Lauren Krady is a real estate professional with Coldwell Banker, the nation's oldest and most trusted brand. She is a member of the Jeff Geoghan Realty Group and serves all of the Lancaster City PA homes market with superior customer service and dedication. Contact Lauren to start your home search in Lancaster City and beyond by calling her at (717) 824-7236.

There are lots of great places to eat in Lancaster, PA. Located at 101 East King St in Lancaster city is the Red Rose. It recently underwent a complete remodel and is now a very pretty place to sit and eat. They offer breakfast (starting at 8 options include omeletes, french toast, etc) and lunch Monday – Saturday. Dinner is served Tuesday – Saturday. They have a varied menu and a full bar with drink specials. There are some tasty Greek dishes on the menu as well as wraps, salads, burgers and more.

There are large picture windows looking onto the street and it’s a nice place to eat in the downtown area. Check out there website at www.redroselancaster.com you can see their menu and drink list. , The last Friday of every month they have Greek Day, here is some of the food served on Greek day: Mousaka, Spanakopita, Baklava, and the dish I had the last time I ate there: Meze Platter (A sampling of Tiropites, Stuffed Grape Leaves, Fellafel, Hummus, Tzatziki Sauce, Feta Cheese, and Pita bread, it was delicious.)

The Red Rose, Lancaster, PA

Universal Athletic Club is a huge (90,000 sf) gym that I have been a member of for almost a year. It is located at 2323 Oregon Pike in Lancaster.

The aquatics center has 4 pools, but by far the favorite of me and my kids is the warm pool. This pool is kept at 92 degrees so you can walk right in and the kids never get chilly. There is also a whirlpool and scented steam room.

The Kidz Klub is spectacular! It is 10,000 square feel and has tubes, tunnels, rock wall, ball pits etc. Its kind of like those playlands at fast food places except quadruple the size. They also have mini classes for kids (crafts, dancing etc) that you can sign your kids up for when you get there and the teachers will walk the kids to their activity.

Adults love the fitness options, there is a main floor (picture above from their website) full of exercise equipment with a track around the outside, and full sized basketball court. Plus there are smaller exercise studios which are quiet and more private (my favorite). There are 3 class studios, a private dojo (classes included with membership!), spinning studio, youth club, yoga studio, café (great smoothies!) day spa, and chiropractor. There are more classes than you will ever need. It's great to be able to take your kids to the kidz klub when you have an appointment at the spa or chiropractor.

I haven't named all the amenities and you should check out their virtual tour at their website: www.universalathleticclub.com you can even get a 5 day free trial pass.

Here is what happened last week in Lancaster Township PA according to the MLS for the week ending 11/29:

• Sold - 7 houses sold last week for an average price of $171,157 with an average time on the market of 83 days.
• Pending - 2 houses went under agreement
• Expired and Extended - 1 listing expired and 2 of listings extended their contracts with their agents.
• Active - 104 houses are currently for sale with an average time on the market of 135 days.