Tim Rogers

As many of you know, I love to run -- as in lace up the Nike's, Adidas, etc. and shuffle quickly forward while breathing heavily and sweating profusely.

I re-started my running life a few years ago after ballooning to more than 220 pounds and knowing that I was on track for disaster. I took up running to lose the excess weight and I got hooked on the endorphin rush of running. Having success losing the extra weight didn't hurt either.

I've had some tough times along the way with an over-scheduled calendar and a variety of injuries mostly caused by my insane belief that I can run around a soccer field for two hours with high school athletes several times a week. I'm able to run around the field with them but invariably the old bones don't mix well with highly trained 17 year old bones.

In recent weeks I have overcome several injuries that have prevented me from running for the past five months and I have started running again with a half marathon goal in mind for later in the Fall. As I travel Central Pa I'm always looking for good places to run and I love to run in the mountains and on trails rather than the dull pavement of suburbia.

Several days ago I found myself near Snow Shoe, PA. and I remembered that there was a Rails-to Trails just west of town. I found the parking lot about 3 miles west of town on Rt. 144, laced up the running shoes and headed through the tunnel (pictured above) shuffling North through deep forests and a stream not too far from the trail. I thought I was running on the level but as I made the turn to head back to the parking lot after about 20 minutes it was clear I had been running down hill the entire time. There was no confusion in my mind as I headed back to the car -- I was clearly running up hill and it was up hill all the way to the end.

It was an exhilarating workout and I finished strong and refreshed. I would do this run again on this trail. I didn't see a single human but I did see three deer and a variety of birds. This trail allows ATV's and some runners may not appreciate them but I didn't see a single ATV. It was total tranquility.

Check out this trail when you are in the area. It is the Snow Shoe Rails to Trails and the sign says that it is the Gillentown Trailhead. It is well marked and the sign is on the left as you travel west on Rt. 144.

Happy running.

The contrarian that I am I love to continue to tell the folks in Happy Valley that despite media reports to the contrary, there is AFFORDABLE HOUSING available in the shadow of Beaver Stadium.

To that end I am updating the affordable housing statistics based on the USDA maximum purchase price of $189,900.

Current active single family listings - 735

Total Single family Homes priced under $189,900 - 305

% of Affordable homes as a percententage of all homes for sale - 41.5%

Affordable Housing by School District

State College - 57

Bald Eagle - 29

Bellefonte - 47

Penns Valley - 15

Philipsburg - 53

CCAR MLS DATA

In reviewing the data we see that 41.5% of all homes in the market qualify as AFFORDABLE HOUSING. This is a story that needs to be told to potential home buyers and the local media that continue to sing a tune to the public about the lack of affordable housing.

Is the affordable housing walking ditance to Penn State? Probably not. Can you walk to the nearest Starbucks? Probably not. Are there great homes available for the first -time homebuyer? ABSOLUTELY!

Call me to find out more about AFFORDABLE HOUSING in Centre County or to discuss the first-time homebuyer $8,000 tax credit.

Top Gun Tim Rogers of Davis Real Estate hosts the weekly real estate show on Coaches Corner Radio every Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

To learn more about real estate in Clinton County or to ask a real estate or related question call the Coaches Corner hotline at 814-272-9700 to talk to Tim.

Tune in every saturday morning on 970 AM WBLF radio.

This Saturday Morning on Coaches Corner Radio Top Gun Tim Rogers will continue the foreclosure discussion and it's impact on real estate. We will review Team Obama's campaign promises about solving the foreclosure issue.

It was announced today that Foreclosures reached a record high in the first half 2009 despite aid promised by the government. What went wrong and what can be done about it?

To join the discussion join me live on the air by calling the Coaches Corner hotline at 814-272-9700 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

A friend of mine introduced me to a friend of his last night at his friend's business establishment. We had some pleasant conversation and it was mentioned that I was in real estate. The small business owner then asked if I worked in a particular area since he wanted to open a second business in this area.

Then he described his recent meeting with a realtor whom he stumbled upon during a Sunday open house in the area. Since he was thinking about opening a second business he is considering buying a second home so he was checking out the area. The business man told me that the realtor wouldn't even look him in the eye never mind have a serious conversation with him. It goes without saying that the business man was dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, a baseball cap, and has two degrees from the school of hard knocks. He left his BMW and his alligator shoes at home. Actually, he never bought them because he was working a hundred hours a week and they are not a requirement in this guys business. The realtor with the impressive suit and car couldn't bother to give this guy the time of day but she did offer to help him open a new business in town when he told her what he wanted to do.

Fast forward three weeks later and the agent with the magic mojo hasn't even bothered to call the guy or return his calls. I'm sure she is too important to be bothered with a guy in blue jeans and a pick up truck.

So I would like to thank the arrogant, condescending realtor for her lack of follow-up and professionalism because I'm more than willing to treat this guy with respect and help him open the new business. I won't be disappointed to earn the $20,400 commissions that will be generated by this guy in the next 90 days. I'm really looking forward to the future referral income that I will generate by helping this small business man advance his goals in life.

Maybe I'll even buy a pair of alligator shoes or maybe not.