Lancaster PA Real Estate Blog

I went online to pay my electric bill last night and Lo! and behold PP&L has set up the long-awaited "Phase In" program that I have reported on here in the past.  Rather than mess up the details, I'm forwarding their words on the subject to you here:

Electricity prices will go up in 2010. That's because a rate cap on the generation charge portion of your bill is ending after 11 years, and the costs to generate electricity have risen steadily while the cap has been in place.

PPL Electric Utilities does not generate electricity and does not profit from the generation charge.  The company must buy electricity in the open market.  It passes those costs through to you without profit. 

We understand higher generation prices in 2010 will not be easy for customers. Our new Phase-in payment option can help you adjust gradually to these higher costs. 

How it works
By making advance payments in your bill each month, you put money aside starting in October 2008 and continuing through 2009. PPL Electric Utilities adds 6 percent interest. The money you pay, and the interest you earn, is used to offset a portion of your 2010 and 2011 electric bills.

Benefits
Instead of one large increase in 2010, you'll have smaller increases spread over several years. And because of the interest you earn, you'll actually pay a little less overall over the life of the program than if you do not participate.
 
Eligibility
All residential customers, except those in our special OnTrack payment program, are eligible. Also eligible are small business customers on rate schedules GS-1, GS-3, GH-1R and GH-2(R), and street lighting customers on rate schedule SE. Payment and credit amounts are based on your average monthly electric use and rate schedule.

More information
To learn more about the phase-in option, eligibility and other programs that can help, read our phase-in brochure or call us at 1-866-597-2010 during our special enrollment operating hours: Mon. - Fri., 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sat., 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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So there you have it.  If you're a PP&L customer and are forward-thinking enough to want to offset the inevitable rate increases that we all know are coming with dregulation (thanks Harrisburg), then you might want to consider this option.

A week from tomorrow will mark a great day in the history of the developing green building and "Greener homes" movement in Lancaster County.  Saturday October 4th will be the first local edition of the annual "Green Home Tour" sponsored by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) of which I am a part.

There will be three local homes open between 10 and 4 that Saturday.  Here are the details:

1721 Windsor Ave
Contact Name: Neal Pressley
Email: nealpressley@comcast.net
Home Phone: 717 397-4448
Work Phone: 717 575-1862
Address: 1721 Windsor Ave
Address: Lancaster PA 17601
Type of Building: semi-detached
Square Feet: 1,500
Building Style: Brink
Year Built: 1950
Annual Heating Fuel Consumption: $650 (wood)
Annual Electricity Use: 3,000 KW
Year of PV/Solar Hot Water System: 1950

Building Features:1143 Composting Toilet, Daylighting, Energy Star Appliances, Green Roof, Instantaneous Hot Water, Non-toxic Products, Recycled Materials

Other Building Information:

General Information: I would say the main feature of our house is that we have had no grass to mow for about 8 years. We only have trails of wood chips, perennial gardens, raised beds for vegetables, some fruit bearing plants; i.e. cherry trees, blueberries, grapes, raspberries, strawberries & passion fruit. All wooden structures are built of non-treated, rough cut white cedar. A twin compost bin (Joe Jenkins style) and covered bin for fill material. A lattice type fence was built to replace privet hedge, which grapes and green beens grow on. Small hoop house (8X12X6'H) used for growing greens throughout part of winter. Small shed with living roof. A 300 gal. tank on N. side of house and 3 other 55 gal. barrels are use for rainwater harvesting. 95% of light bulbs inside and outside of house are 5 (five) watt cold cathode bulbs, all with dimmers. We use one 5 w. light bulb in the bathroom. Dual flush, water efficient toilet in main bathroom. Sawdust toilet in basement. On demand, gas water heater.

Special Considerations: Please do not park in from of driveways.

Directions: From Rt. 30, take New Holland Ave. exit towards Lancaster. (This is the first exit after Rt. 222 N. if going on 30 E.). Turn Right at traffic light on Pleasure Road; about 200 yards from Rt. 30. Go 4 blocks and then go STRAIGHT onto Oregon Blvd. and 5 more blocks to stop sign and turn LEFT on Homeland Drive. Take first Right on Windsor Avenue. 4th full house on left; right half of duplex. 1721 Windsor Ave. Call Neal at 717 575-1862 if lost.

Here's what they are saying is the trend nationally...if you're a seller you should be paying attention.  Luckily, Coldwell Banker is going to have a great answer to your pricing blues in October!  Stay tuned...

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U.S. home prices down 0.6% in July; annual drop is 5.3%

10:19a ET September 23, 2008 (MarketWatch)

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Even as Washington debates a massive rescue plan to cure the housing market's ills, the government reported Tuesday that U.S. home values declined 0.6% in July.

Home values were 5.3% lower than in July 2007, the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight reported Tuesday.

For July, prices fell among all regions. The only year-over-year rise was seen in the West South Central regions, according to Ofheo.

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For Lancaster PA homes for sale click here. Jeff Geoghan is a top real estate expert in Lancaster County, PA, and an involved community member. Jeff's work has been featured in the Lancaster Newspapers, WGAL Channel 8, PA Business Journal and Wall Street Journal. Jeff's blog on Lancaster County and its homes is nationally-featured. Contact Jeff for more help with your Lancaster PA Real Estate needs. Jeff is also a photographer - view some of his portfolio. Comments are welcome!

Another summer of stifling hot pool water.

Yes, it's definitely worth the challenges and annoyances of installing a solar heater for your pool.  And unlike many areas of the green building movement, you CAN actually install the thing yourself and get great results.  One caveat: there's no one to go cryin' to when you screw it up...

For those of you who know, I installed a solar pool heater two springs ago on my garage roof and immediately enjoyed the bump in the water temps.  Unfortunately, my system got beat up by winter windstorms and flapped its way into oblivion early this year during a particularly bad day of gusts (those of you locals probably remember that day). 

With the prospect of going back to 72-degree water this summer and my family breathing down my neck, I cleaned up the mess that was the old panels and went back to researching.  What I found was that, even with it's flaws, the best system for balancing effective results, install cost and service life was a low-budget PVC panel system piped directly off my pump/filter unit.  After checking out prices online I settled on a distributer of the SunHeeter Solar Pool Heater product I had had before.  The onlne purchase was flawless and the kit boxes arrived rather quickly.

As a recognized leader in the Lancaster PA green building circuit and the only Realtor in the region focusing on green items in real estate, I happen to know quite a few people in the industry.  One of my friends is Steve Mellinger of Blue Moon Enterprises over in Leola.  He humors me...He agreed to help me with my installation (he also agreed to help me paint my house a couple of years ago - sick, twisted freak).

Since I had used the same system the last time around the mounting points were very close, but I continue to be unhappy with their strap tie-down system - the webbing straps are junk and degrade over a couple of seasons (hence my flyaway experience this winter).  I would recommend researching another tie-down material.

Steve made some very nice upgrades to the setup I had used before, and secured the piping much better.  You can see from the picture the web strapping that comes with the system.  I had already upgraded my pump to a 1.5 hp unit and have had no trouble pushing the water through the filter and up to the garage roof. 

The finished installation took about 3 hours and worked immediately.  Love that 100 degree water coming out the jets!

 The finished product looks good and has functioned well this summer.  I will probably try to take the panels down this winter to avoid damage and unnecessary wear.  Total cost?  About $700.  Nothing else in solar even comes close.  Other than the winter maintenance issue I'm pretty stafisfied with the Sunheeter Solar Pool heater system.  If you're interested in solar pool heating or any kind of Lancaster PA solar applications drop Steve an email at steve@bluemoonenterprises.com.  Don't be afraid to educate yourself and discover the joy of DIY!  Remember, that's how most green contractors get started anyway...

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 For Lancaster PA homes for sale click here. Jeff Geoghan is a top real estate expert in Lancaster County, PA, and an involved community member. Jeff's work has been featured in the Lancaster Newspapers, WGAL Channel 8, PA Business Journal and Wall Street Journal. Jeff's blog on Lancaster County and its homes is nationally-featured. Contact Jeff for more help with your Lancaster PA Real Estate needs. Jeff is also a photographer - view some of his portfolio. Comments are welcome!

As my readers know, I ordered one of the new iPhone 3Gs on the first day they were available a few months ago.  Although Apple messed up my first order and cancelled my delivery (not impressive), I decided to re-order recently and happily they were in stock at my favorite local store along Lincoln Highway.  Instant gratification!

After having the iPhone for a couple of weeks I can say that I'm thoroughly enjoying it.  There are some kinks but overall the reception and functionality is on par with my previous phone and the web browser is incredible.  Nothing beats being able to show people you're talking to a web page (yours, for example...) or document right there & then.  I'm a happy Apple customer (never thought I'd hear myself saying that).

Now Lancastrians can REALLY indulge in their Apple mania.  Apple has finally opened the apparently long-awaited Park City Apple Store.  Park City mall is our local (and only) mall which currently houses the other AT&T store.  AT&T is the cell carrier for iPhone.  Here's the promo happening with the grand opening:

Come to the new Apple Store, Park City, and bring your curiosity. It's the place to test-drive any Mac or iPod, experience iPhone, and catch free workshops to learn all the latest tips and tricks. When you get there, find our Concierge in the orange shirt. The Concierge is your guide to everything from checking in for an appointment to instant checkout. And if you're one of the first 1000 visitors, you'll get a free Apple T-shirt.*

ANNUAL COLDWELL BANKER HOME PRICE COMPARISON INDEX FINDS $1.7 MILLION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NATION'S MOST EXPENSIVE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING MARKETS

La Jolla, Calif. vs. Sioux City, Iowa: Waterfront Living Differs for Cities on Pacific Ocean and Missouri River

Annual Report of 398 Markets Includes 83 from Outside U.S.; Dubai Most Expensive Overall

 Full press release available on hpci.coldwellbanker.com

PARSIPPANY, N.J. (Sept. 9, 2008) /PRNewswire/- Although both are waterfront cities, something besides the salt water separates La Jolla, Calif. on the Pacific Ocean from Sioux City, Iowa on the Missouri River - a $1.7 million dollar difference in the cost of homes studied in the 2008 Coldwell Banker® Home Price Comparison Index (HPCI). In an annual comparison of similar homes in 315 U.S. markets, La Jolla topped the chart as the most expensive real estate market in the nation with a $1,841,667 average home price. Sixteen hundred miles away in America's heartland sits Sioux City, the most affordable real estate market in America, where a similar home would cost $133,459.

La Jolla and Sioux City are not alone in representing California and the Midwest. In fact, eight out of ten of the country's most expensive housing markets are in California, and eight Midwestern cities make the list of the nation's 10 most affordable home markets.

Differing from most housing reports which compare median prices, the annual Coldwell Banker HPCI, which first launched in the late 1980s, provides an apples-to-apple comparison of similar 2,200 square foot, four-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath homes in 315 markets across the United States, in addition to Puerto Rico, Canada and a sampling of countries/territories outside of North America where Coldwell Banker has a presence.

"This year's study comes at an interesting time in our nation's history with the impact of the housing correction and mortgage financing serving as critical economic issues in the presidential election," says Jim Gillespie, president and chief executive officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate. "While Americans move for lifestyle reasons, a home is usually a family's most valuable investment asset. For those who want to get into the housing market, I believe this is the smartest time in my 33 years in real estate to buy a home. Combined with the amount of homes on the market and historically low interest rates, the correction in prices has brought affordability levels down."

The cumulative average sales price of the four-bedroom homes surveyed in the 315 U.S. markets (including one in Puerto Rico) covered in the Coldwell Banker HPCI is $403,738, a 4.4 percent decline from the $422,343 reported in the 2007 Coldwell Banker study.

Through the comprehensive HPCI section on www.coldwellbanker.com, prospective home buyers and sellers can calculate what their homes may be worth in other areas in the United States and gather preliminary intelligence about the affordability of housing from one market to another.

For those of you who are huge Lancaster City living fans (as I am), it's great to see another issue of the Lancaster City Living Magazine come out.  This is the third bi-annual issue and of course I'm still a preferred Realtor for city home sales and purchases. 

This fall I'm proud to say that my team is growing!  YourLancasterHome.com now boasts 3 Realtors and a top-flight mortgage consultant (more on that in our next post) in addition to a full-service home services group.  More than ever, we are the choice for anyone searching for Lancaster City homes for sale or interested in renovation projects of all sizes.

Click here to view the online edition of the Fall Lancaster City Living Magazine.  For more info on Lancaster City Living, contact Michael Sprunger at 358-9340 or info@lancasterliving.org.

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 For Lancaster PA homes for sale click here. Jeff Geoghan is a top real estate expert in Lancaster County, PA, and an involved community member. Jeff's work has been featured in the Lancaster Newspapers, WGAL Channel 8, PA Business Journal and Wall Street Journal. Jeff's blog on Lancaster County and its homes is nationally-featured. Contact Jeff for more help with your Lancaster PA Real Estate needs. Jeff is also a photographer - view some of his portfolio. Comments are welcome!

I'd like to introduce you to a friend and client of mine, Ken Knouse, whom I've worked with for years in Lancaster City.  He is a dedicated, professional remodeler who really does nice projects for his clients and customers.  Ken started out with me buying his first investment property in Lancaster City a few years ago using equity from his home. 

I interact with many, many would-be (or wannabe?) investors who never get to the point of committing funds to a rehab project.  They're almost always just blowing smoke and I can spot them a mile away.  Ken, on the other hand, jumped with everything and did an amazing job on his first project home.  I was impressed.  Since those beginnings Ken has developed a feel for renovations that surpasses most of the folks out there doing rehab homes.  It's all the rage just to slop things together and spray builder-grade white all over it and get it on the market, but Ken goes the extra mile with every detail, restoring classic architecture, adding modern features, enhancing curb appeal and overall making a great home.

Ken is featured this fall in the seasonal issue of Lancaster City Living Magazine, for a project he completed on North Reservoir Street.  You can read the story here or browse the whole issue digitally here (story on page 33 - nice photos included). I was proud to help him find the foreclosure, secure it for him, list it and sell it in only a few days last fall!

Ken's company is called Block Envy (meaning you'll be the envy of the block if you use him!).  If you are interested in buying a foreclosure and having him renovate it for you, give me a call. Ken would also love to talk to you about buying your home should you want to sell.  While Ken prefers historic Lancaster City homes, he has completed projects in other parts of the county as well.

Whatever your Lancaster City real estate needs, YourLancasterHome.com and Coldwell Banker Lancaster are your sources for premiere real estate services.  Call either myself (Jeff) at 799-0851 or Brian Schulman at 951-5552 for a consultation today.

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 For Lancaster PA homes for sale click here. Jeff Geoghan is a top real estate expert in Lancaster County, PA, and an involved community member. Jeff's work has been featured in the Lancaster Newspapers, WGAL Channel 8, PA Business Journal and Wall Street Journal. Jeff's blog on Lancaster County and its homes is nationally-featured. Contact Jeff for more help with your Lancaster PA Real Estate needs. Jeff is also a photographer - view some of his portfolio. Comments are welcome!