About Schuylkill County, PA

Okay, so you know about our School Districts, about our Financing Options, and Taxes. Now, let's talk about what there is to do here in Schuylkill County ... why you should move here.

First, there is SO MUCH to do here in Schuylkill County! We are a rural county with lots of great outdoors activities and things to do. Click here for information on the Schuylkill Visitors Bureau to see a sampling of what we have to offer our visitors. We have mountains and lakes, campgrounds and hunting lands. We have antique shops and shopping malls, and lots of great places to eat.

Second, these amenities are at the heart of everything! We are within a two- to three-hour drive of one-third of the population of the United States. Baltimore, Washington, New York City, Philadelphia... all are great metropolitan cities within 3 hours of us. Harrisburg and Allentown are one hour away. So you have the best of both worlds: country living, within a 1 to 3-hour drive of EVERYTHING you could wish for. From Broadway shows to outlet shopping, we have it all, within a short drive.

Third, we have a great business community. Check out the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce to see what we have to offer here to businesses who want to relocate here, or for the person looking for a job. Our industry and service community is alive and well here!

If you move here, you get the best of both worlds: small town, rural atmosphere within a short drive to big city life. Outlets, major malls, chain stores... drive 30 to 60 minutes to get to your favorite shopping, yet enjoy the slower lifestlye of rural America.

Our housing prices are very reasonable, and in fact are lower than surrounding counties (the average home in Schuylkill County sells for $90,000 and "higher end" housing starts at around $250-300,000). The top homes in the more expensive developments are $300,000-400,000. Your dollar buys more in Schuylkill County! Why not buy here and commute to Allentown or Reading or Harrisburg? For example, the custom built ranch home to left on a double lot is going for $290,000. The custom built home at right is only $299,000.

For more information on the area and attractions/amenities, see our webpage www.move2pennsylvania.com.

Schuylkill County's property tax system can be confusing, so if you're buying a house here, this is what you need to know about taxes.

Property owners in Schuylkill County receive tax bills twice a year.

- County/Municipality taxes arrive in your mailbox just after March 1, and are dated January 1- December 31, so they run for the full calendar year (yes, you are getting them 2 months into the year!).

- School property taxes arrive around July 1, and they run July 1-June 30 of next year. See--confused yet?

If your taxes are not delinquent, you pay your Municipality or City Tax Collector, and instructions for payment are on your tax bill. Your tax collector' s name, address, phone number and hours of collection appear on your tax bill.

If your owe back taxes, however, you must pay the Schuylkill County Tax Claim Office. A few school districts send their delinquent taxes to a Third Party Collection Agency—either the Tax Claim Office or your School District can inform you to whom to pay the delinquent school taxes.

On your tax bill, you will see your property's ASSSSED VALUE (or AV) and the MILLAGE you are being charged for either the county, municipality or school district. The millage rate is determined by the taxing authority. The tax calculation is (Millage x Assessed Value).

In Schuylkill County, your Assessed Value is NOT your Fair Market Value. For example, you may purchase a home with a Fair Market Value (according to court house records, not according to what you paid for it) of 100,000. Your AV, however, might be 30,000. Therefore, you are only taxed on 30,000 value.

Our last countywide property tax reassessment was well over 10 years ago now, and AV and FMV are totally out of whack. Ask your real estate agent what your property's current assessed value is, what the current property's taxes are, and also be sure to ask if the school district you intend to buy a house in has a reputation for appealing taxes after a sale. Because our taxes are so out of whack, if a school district sees a property transfer with a skewed fair market value that is very low compared to what you just paid for the house, the school district may APPEAL your taxes and ask the Appeals Board to raise your taxes to better reflect the new fair market value (which you indeed set by buying your home!). This gets complicated, and I won't blog about all the details here. Some school districts do it, some do not. Just be warned that you should ask your agent if the school district you're looking at has a history of doing this, or not. And know that taxes historically never go down, they go up. So just because an agent quotes you $x in taxes, that does NOT mean when next year rolls around they will remain the same.

Do your homework, and if you have property tax questions, call the courthouse for a detailed explanation.

Erica Ramus is Broker/Owner of Realty Executives in Pottsville, PA

If you're looking for a PROFESSIONAL to represent you in all your real estate needs, call Realty Executives! We can meet all your buying / selling needs ... and will exceed your expectations. That's what being an EXECUTIVE is all about Serving all of Schuylkill County ... Pottsville, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Auburn, Pine Grove, Frackville, Minersville, Ashland, Shenandoah, Port Carbon, Palo Alto, St. Clair, Barnesville real estate

Financing your home is not likely to be too much different than in other parts of the country. Once you begin your search for a home, you'll want to know how much home you can afford. Your agent will advise you to get "prequalified" by calling a lender and discussing your finances with him/her. That way, when you find the perfect house and want to make an offer, you will be ready to go and not waste time looking for a lender or straightening out financial issues.

I always advise buyers to start with banks/lenders who are familiar with them. If you already have a home, who has your mortgage now? Call your lender and tell the loan officer you are looking to purchase your next home, and they talk to you about how to do this. Ask what loan products meet your needs.

Do you need a swing loan? Should you get a home equity line of credit until you sell your current home? Do you even qualify for these products, or do you have to sell your home first? These are crucial questions you'll need to have answered before you make an offer on another house.

If this is your first home, where do you currently do your banking? Go there first, as these people know you and are likely to try to win your business. Start with people you know and have relationships with, and then move to "strangers" if you wish to shop around.

I prefer to work with local lenders, as opposed to out of state or internet lenders. In general, the transactions seem to go smoother when you can walk into someone's office and discuss an issue, rather than have to call an 800 number and pitch your case. A local bank will know you personally, and can handle any issues that may come up right there, without having to call multiple people out-of-state to accomplish the same task.

That said, I have seen internet-based loans go through (and have used these services myself in certain cases!). But in general, I advise buyers to (1) start with banks/lenders who know you and you have a relationship with and (2) shop around with local lenders first.

Here in Schuylkill County, I work with many different banks and mortgage brokers/bankers. Each one seems to have their strengths and weaknesses, and it may take several phone calls to find the "perfect" loan for your situation. What follows is a list of local lenders who I work with regularly, and have had good results with in the past:

CACL Credit Union

First National Bank of Minersville

Liberty Savings Bank

Miners Bank

Union Bank

VIST BANK (especially for commercial loans)

I also work regularly with mortgage brokers/bankers. The beauty of working with one of these firms is that they normally have a large portfolio of products they can weed through, to figure out what kind of loan is right for you. They also may find "nontraditional" loans that a regular bank might not have access to.

Nick Shestok is a private lender I turn to with years of experience in the business. His phone number is 570-366-6363. He sometimes comes up with solutions that might not be obvious to others, due to his breadth and depth of experience.

Schuylkill Mortgage in Pine Grove has been servicing Schuylkill and surrounding counties for over 35 years with a professional staff with over 90 years of lending experience. This company is a mortgage broker, dedicated to finding the best rate and program for their customers, dealing with several investors to achieve this goal.

I also recommend Jason Sardi and Bill Engleman from Infinity Home Mortgage. Bill is from Schuylkill County originally, and is very familiar with the area. Both Jason and Bill are internet savvy and their company has online tools to help you complete your application and check up on its progress online. For those who want a high-tech mortgage process, check this option out.

No matter who you choose as your lender, make sure you feel comfortable with that person. Buying a home can ba a bumpy ride. You want someone who makes you relaxed and can explain the process to you, not stress you out even more! If something doesn't feel right, choose someone else.

Your lender and your realtor will be by your side the entire transaction, so make sure you feel good about both relationships.

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Erica Ramus is Broker/Owner of Realty Executives in Pottsville, PA

If you're looking for a PROFESSIONAL to represent you in all your real estate needs, call Realty Executives! We can meet all your buying / selling needs ... and will exceed your expectations. That's what being an EXECUTIVE is all about Serving all of Schuylkill County ... Pottsville, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Auburn, Pine Grove, Frackville, Minersville, Ashland, Shenandoah, Port Carbon, Palo Alto, St. Clair, Barnesville real estate

Each part of the country is a bit different when it comes to buying property in that state, and even as it breaks down to county level. The laws in each region may be different, the tax situation, and customs. This series will be a guide to purchasing a home in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

One way we might be different is how we search for homes in our area. We are a rural county, in the heart of the Anthracite Coal Region, with a population of about 150,000 and "areas" are spread out for miles. Many small towns are linked together by school districts, and so the predominant way we narrow down the search for a home is not necessarily by town, but by school district.

For example, a buyer may say, "I want a single home under $100,000 anywhere in the Pottsville School District." That could encompass all homes in the City of Pottsville itself, plus St. Clair, Port Carbon, Palo Alto, the subdivisions of Forest Hills, Brookshire and Norwegian Woods, and even small towns in the valley east of Potttsville (Middleport, New Philadelphia, Kaska, etc., where the children all go to an elementary school in St. Clair and then the kids finish their years at Pottsville Area High School). Or, a buyer who wants to stay in a particular town could search only in Port Carbon.

So because we are so rural, we usually start the search by determining what school district you want to be in, especially if a buyer has children. You may not care which town or township your house is in, as long as you are in the desired school district.

Here is a link to our public school districts:

BLUE MOUNTAIN ... click here

MAHANOY AREA ... click here

MINERSVILLE ... click here

NORTH SCHUYLKILL ... click here

PINE GROVE ... click here

POTTSVILLE ... click here

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN ... click here

SHENANDOAH VALLEY ...web page not operational as of 8/14/09

ST. CLAIR ... click here

TAMAQUA ... click here

TRI VALLEY ... click here

WILLIAMS VALLEY ...web page not operational as of 8/14/09

Here is a map of the school districts and how they are laid out.

You may ask your Realtor to search for homes for you within so many miles of your work place, or within a certain radius of a town. Based on what you tell the agent about your work, family, lifestyle, he or she will create a search based on these criteria. Your search for Schuylkill County real estate may be spread out over many miles, or concentrated within a small town. If your criteria is very narrow or particular, you may have to be patient! We do not always have a huge selection of houses within certain price ranges or geographical areas. Some price ranges are so "dry" that when a house goes up for sale in a particular town or school district, in that price range, it is likely to be sold very quickly if it is priced correctly.

Some of the amenities a buyer is used to -- especially if you're coming from a large metropolitan area -- we just don't have here. For example, we have a real shortage of good rental properties suitable for families. We don't normally see very many nice singles with a good yard for rent, or higher end apartments. Loft apartments don't exist here, and it can be hard to find good rental units within walking distance of employers.

In Part 2 of this series, I'll go over financing and local lender information.

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Erica Ramus is Broker/Owner of Realty Executives in Pottsville, PA

If you're looking for a PROFESSIONAL to represent you in all your real estate needs, call Realty Executives! We can meet all your buying / selling needs ... and will exceed your expectations. That's what being an EXECUTIVE is all about Serving all of Schuylkill County ... Pottsville, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Auburn, Pine Grove, Frackville, Minersville, Ashland, Shenandoah, Port Carbon, Palo Alto, St. Clair, Barnesville real estate

Wine is big business in Pennsylvania! The state is the nation’s eighth largest wine producer, with more than 130 wineries throughout the state. Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania has a number of small, family owned wineries. Here is a list of wineries wihin our borders--and sometimes just over the border--and surrounding wine trails, complete with addresses, web page links, and hours if I could find them.

The Wineries

Benigna's Creek Vineyard and Winery

1585 Ridge Road, Klingerstown, PA 17941 (570) 425-3090

This Masser-family owned winery is located in the scenic Mahantongo Valley between Pitman and Klingerstown. It truly is out in the middle of nowhere, but it's a beautiful drive through the countryside so take your time. There is a fascinating history of the Masser family, and how they migrated from Germany to the farmlands of Pennsylvania in the 1750s, only to return to making wine here! Benigna’s Creek Sunshine Vidal outshone 361 other Pennsylvania wines to win Best in Show honors at the Pennsylvania Winery Association’s (PWA) annual Pennsylvania Wine Competition in State College. Benigna’s Creek 2005 Strawberry also nabbed the Double Gold for "Best Overall Fruit Wine" in the 2006 competition. Benigna's Creek also has a store open at the Schuylkill Mall, and you can find them at the Hometown Farmer's Market on Wednesdays. So if you cannot make the trip to Klingerstown, go to the mall or the market. Open Wednesday thru Saturday 11 a.m.- 5p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Galen Glen Vineyard and Winery

255 Winter Mountain Dr., Andreas, PA 18211 (570) 386-3682

Galen Glen has the distinction of being Schuylkill County's first winery, opening in the late 1990s. You'll find spectacular view of the scenic Blue Mountains from their vinyard. Because they are so close to Jim Thorpe and the Lehigh Valley, this winery is listed on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail. A decade a go, when they were just starting up, you'd see Galen Glen out at Chamber of Commerce events, all sorts of local festivals, wine tastings, etc. I have been to this winery, but have not seen them out and about as much lately. I do see they're at the Hegins Valley festival (Schuylkill Wine Festival) in September. Open Friday 12-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 12-5 p.m.

Long Trout Winery

84 Fork Mountain Road, Auburn, PA 17922 (570) 366-6443

Where the wine is cool and hippie chicks rule! This winery definitely has a hippie influence! I cannot say it any better than this, from their website:

Peace signs, tie dyes and bell bottoms, flower rings of baby's breath and daisies, headbands and halter tops, yellow subs and blue meanies, beads and weeds, 60's music veiled in smoldering incense and clean, crisp homemade style wines like everyone's Grandpa used to make... These familiar images capture the essence of Long Trout Winery. An unequaled slice of time and tradition where being "different" is what it's all about. So don't make a fuss, get on the hippie bus and experience a perfect blend of far out wines and furry friends at PA's "UNIQUE BOHEMIAN WINE BOUTIQUE".

You could buy the wines just to read the label. Seriosly. Here is one: Hippietage $16.00 Like Moe, Larry and Curly...gets you feelin' squirrelly, Like Crosby, Stills & Nash...makes you want the hash, Like Acid, Amnesty and Harmonic Distortion...Your mind will have a contortion, The Titti-lating Trifecta: Cab Sav, Cab Franc & Merlot...way to go!

This winery is near my house (as is Stone Mountain, below) so I've dropped by both of these the most often. Long Trout will also be at Rotary Club of Pottsville's 2009 Hops Vine & Dine fundraiser, October 14, pouring free samples. I have tickets for that, for anyone who wants to attend. Open Wednesday 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Saturday 1 p.m.-7 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m

Red Shale Ridge Vineyards

266 North Goodspring Road, Hegins, PA 17938 (570) 682-3203

This is a new winery, and the only one on our list I have not visited yet. I could not find a website for them yet. They are open for business now, though, and have12 flavors to choose from. Open Thursday & Friday 4:30 - 8 p.m., Saturday 12 Noon - 8 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Stone Mountain Wine Cellars

1615 Panther Valley Road, Pine Grove, PA 17963 (570) 739-4418

Brought to you by our friends at Jersey Acres Farms, who I blogged about earlier. Jersey Acres is a diversified farm operation consisting of a roadside market selling products from apples to watermelons ... and wine. Here is what the Heffner family has to say about the grapes they grow: "Wine, which we have produced in our converted apple ground cellar is added to the fruit and vegetables that we’ve marketed for many years through our “on the farm” Jersey Acres Roadside Market. While we produce some Vignoles and Cayuga wine grapes (both white), our primary acreage is planted to the NORTON variety (Vitas Aestivalis, also known by he name,Cynthiana). Norton is a unique American blue/black grape, which can be finished dry somewhat resembling Cabernet. We also ferment some of the old standard American varieties like Concord and Niagra. Additional varietals are also offered such as Jalapeno-Apple, Blackberry, Pear and many more."

Wine Trails

Berks County Wine Trail

Lehigh Valley Wine Trail

Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail

If you are planning a visit to tour our wineries, the Schuylkill Visitor's Bureau has a winery itinerary all planned out for you:

Wine Tour should begin either at Galen Glen Winery or Benigna Creek Winery. For the purposes of this tour we will begin at Benigna Creek.

Morning: Benigna Creek Winery, Klingerstown. Drive via Hegins Valley to Interstate 81 south to Pine Grove Exit. Through Pine Grove, lunch at the Red Lion Café Visit Stone Mountain Wine Cellars, Friedensburg

Drive via Hidden Valley to Route 61 to Long Trout Winery, Wine tasting and perhaps Frisbee Golf.

From Long Trout, via Route 895, possible detour to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary

To Galen Glen Winery before Dinner at The Restaurant at the Station in the historic train station, Tamaqua, where you can continue your PA wine tasting experience with their extensive selection of only Pennsylvania Wines.

Erica Ramus is Broker/Owner of Realty Executives in Pottsville, PA

If you're looking for a PROFESSIONAL to represent you in all your real estate needs, call Realty Executives! We can meet all your buying / selling needs ... and will exceed your expectations. That's what being an EXECUTIVE is all about Serving all of Schuylkill County ... Pottsville, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Auburn, Pine Grove, Frackville, Minersville, Ashland, Shenandoah, Port Carbon, Palo Alto, St. Clair, Barnesville real estate