Lancaster PA Real Estate Blog

"Greening" Your Kitchen - Some Ideas

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:28:31 -0400

I love talking about the Kitchen because there’s so much going on there that can be impacted. I break my thoughts into 2 categories: Behavior Changes and remodeling ideas.

Behavior Changes:

Many of the things we take for granted as “typical” kitchen behaviors can be changed to reduce waste: Just a couple of examples would be:

1 - Stop accepting plastic bags at stores (they’re rampant these days). Plastics inevitably make their way into the trash can to be dumped somewhere. Start using a canvas grocery bag or two.

2 - Another idea is to start a compost system. You’d be amazed how much composting can reduce your trash load. My family started this a couple of years ago (here’s a link to my blog article) and it works great.

3 - A quick changeout (not really remodeling) is to replace bulbs with CFLs – kitchen lights seem to be on the most in our house.

4 - Environmentally sensitive cleaners are available everywhere today – replace toxic stuff under the sink and in the dishwasher. This is great for kids, too, who are often exploring under the sink.

Then we get to the really little items that nobody seems to do – like filling the dishwasher all the way before running and running it late at night when the rates are lower, or leaving the blinds open if you get morning light, so the sun can warm the kitchen better than your heating system.

Remodeling:

Replacing all or part of the kitchen should be accompanied by some research into green alternatives to traditional materials. Nearly everything (flooring, cabinets, countertops, lighting, appliances, windows) is now available in several styles and price ranges to meet any taste while reducing environmental hazards and energy bills.

1 – Cabinets – Use products utilizing FSC certified woods or new materials such as wheatboard rather then traditional formaldehyde-laced pressboard. Even better – if you already have serviceable cabinets just get them refaced or refinished with new hardware, etc. Substantially cheaper and old cabinets are reused.

2 – Flooring - New materials such as Recycled rubber and Marmoleum (updated) compete with ceramic tile these days. Cork and Bamboo flooring is hot these days but they can be more soft and less suited to heavy kitchen traffic in my opinion. (I’ve seen bamboo take a beating).

3 – Appliances – everybody knows about energy star appliances, but look closely at the ratings on the mandatory info sheet. There will be differences in performance and savings over time.

4 – Countertops – I’ve seen concrete ones and they’re pretty neat. With all the negative stuff coming out about granite (radon emissions) if you’re looking to remodel you should check out concrete or another surface that’s made of recycled stone materials.

4 – Lighting – the hot new topic in lighting is LED – technology is catching up and these things are cheap to operate! I think the expense is still a bit prohibitive, though. Skylights and “solatubes” are nice too, but take more work (of course they’re free after that).

I’ve been advising home buyers on green remodeling ideas for a couple of years now. I’m formalizing it into a program offering called “smartgreen”

More on that later…press releases are coming!

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Listen to this article as a podcast at:

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 lancaster pa photography portfolio. Comments are welcome!

School Lane Hills - Home Listing I Just Posted This Evening Photo - You Like?

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:05:16 -0500

I just added this special photo to my photo tour of this School Lane Hills home for sale in Lancaster, PA:

You can see the full tour at http://www.1112wheatland.com.

Here's the story of this amazing home:

Francis Leon Suter moved with the Armstrong Cork Company from Pittsburghto Lancasterin 1909 to manage operations there - by 1929 he was a principal manager on his way to an eventual senior vice presidency and lifetime board member. in 1922 He and his wife Mary had completed plans for a grand residence along tree-lined Wheatland Avenuein the then-expanding School Lane Hills Estates neighborhood. The architect was an Armstrong client named Henry Boettcher - the plans were finally done on February 17th, 1922. The house was mostly completed by 1924 with the exception of the "courting room" wing added in 1927 (we'll get to that in a moment).

The home design reflects the very best of the age in American architecture. An English Tudor Revival style, 1112 Wheatland boasts distinctive Tudor aspects such as combination half-timbering with stucco inlay, stone wall cladding and multiple gables. The Suters apparently were ahead of their time with regard to natural light because it abounds throughout the 4,000 square foot home.

Ok, about the "courting room". The Suter's daughter Elizabeth was beginning to "entertain courters" and Mr. Suter felt strongly that she needed her own "space" - hence the 500 quare foot great room added to the rear of the principal residence in 1927. This wing could be used as a dance hall (parkay flooring) or reception area.

1112 Wheatland is our featured home in School Lane Hills - Listed exclusively by Jeff Geoghan of Coldwell Banker Select Professionals. Emailhomesales@schoollanehillshomes.com to inquire about the F.L. Suter Home.

Prestigious School Lane Hills Home For Sale In Lancaster Township PA - 1112 Wheatland Avenue The "FL Suter Home"

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 23:28:38 -0400

School Lane Hills Prestigious Home

1112 Wheatland Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603 View Map

Visit www.1112Wheatland.com for more details and the property history (which is cool), plus huge photos!

You have an opportunity to own of the historic homes of Lancaster with this stately tudor revival home from the roaring twenties, fully updated with a brand new six-figure kitchen and state of the art heating system. The "F.L. Suter home" has over 4,500 square feet of hardwood floors, elegant spaces and dramatic architecture. Great stone covered porch and a large lot complement the elegant interiors nicely. Perfect location in Lancaster's premier historic register neighborhood School Lane Hills, a distinctive Lancaster PA luxury home that practically begs to host gatherings…this is your next visit!

Details

Asking Price:

$575,000

Sq. Feet:

4,604

Lot Size:

.58 Acres

Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

# of Floors:

Garage Size:

2 Car

Subdivision:

School Lane Hills

Year Built:

1924

Property Amenities

Community Amenities

Contact Info

Jeff Geoghan
Realtor

Main (717) 735-8400
Dir (717) 735-8402
Email | Website

All information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.

TOP 10 Reason to OWN a HOME in a NUTSHELL by Lauren Selinsky

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:23:22 -0400

Here' a cute summation of the "Top 10" reasons to buy a home. Thanks to Lauren Selinsky out in my old stompin grounds - coastal SoCal!

Via LAUREN SELINSKY, Aliso Viejo Area Speciallist~ (CA Coastal Estates- OC/LA, CRS, ABR, SFR, ePro):

10. You don't have to run into that leasing office and get tempted by those cookies that have been sitting all day...

9. NO MORE stares by the workers that come over and exterminate or change the filter and ask yourself, "Did I leave my panties on the floor?" <not me of course....>

8. Uncle Sam just might give you some of that tax break!

7. You now have a fence to paint!

6. You now have your OWN trash BINS and RECYCLE BINS of your own and the BILL of course....

5. You don't have to put a deposit down for YOUR PET! and he or she has a yard NOW to play in or an OC patio (LOL)

4. The AMERICAN DREAM OF HOME-OWNERSHIP! <God Bless the USA>

3. Paint your walls any color you want and actually put a NAIL in the wall and NOT freak out that you are NOT getting your deposit back!

2. A sense of responsibility and GROWING UP! Maybe commitment to a home is good and then you can COMMIT to other things too!

1. You have a mortgage payment that is less than your rental payment and IT"S YOURS!!! WOO HOO!!! SO, STOP THROWING THAT RENT MONEY AWAY!!!

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READY TO BUY A HOME IN THE ORANGE COUNTY, CA AREA? CALL ME TODAY AND LET'S BUY A HOME FOR A REASON NOW!!!! CALL LAUREN SELINSKY, 949-310-4960







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MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PRODUCER, SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY SPECIALISTS, PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE FOR BUYERS AND SELLERS IN SOUTHERN CA INCLUDING THE CITIES OF: ALISO VIEJO, BEVERLY HILLS, CORONA DEL MAR, CAPO BEACH, COSTA MESA, DANA POINT, IRVINE, LAGUNA BEACH, LAGUNA HILLS, LAGUNA NIGUEL, LAGUNA WOODS,LOS ANGELES, MALIBU, MISSION VIEJO, MONARCH BEACH, NEWPORT COAST, NEWPORT BEACH, SAN CLEMENTE AND SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, SANTA ANA, SHERMAN OAKS, AND WOODLAND HILLS. LUXURY HOMES & OCEAN VIEWS FROM MALIBU TO LA JOLLA... BI-LINGUAL IN SPANISH *** A LEADER IN MY COMMUNITY AND A CONTINUED VOLUNTEER IN YOUTH SPORTS IN ALISO VIEJO, LAGUNA NIGUEL, MISSION VIEJO AND DANA POINT SINCE 1994.

Real Estate Winners VS Losers (Where Do You Fall?)

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 11:57:35 -0400

This post is really about much more than real estate... it's true for anyone - certainly anyone in business. If you're self-employed, these are "hang it in my office" words. Worth the read!

Via Clint Miller (Real Estate Pipeline, Inc.):

Im not a 'preachy' kind of person. I don't claim to be an expert because I have a fancy title or years of schooling or experience (although both are true in this case). I am fairly simple. If you ask me for my opinion, you will get it. Honest...straight forward...perhaps even blunt to a fault. I don't pull punches...and I don't take it easy on anyone. So, when I was asked recently to evaluate a group of sales people on their successes and failures -- and to be honest about my findings -- I didn't pull any punches when reporting.

For the purpose of my evaluations, I decided to do this simply. No confusing quizzes to take; No weird comparisons to Sesame Street characters or Crayola crayons. (Yes, I took both tests...I'm Animal from the Muppets...and my color was red. What the hell that has to do with anything, I have no idea...lol) No questions about how you felt when you got your first tricycle or how long it took you to get potty trained. Just the facts. What do the successful people do that make them different from those that are not successful??? And, what I found out actually proved what I have believed all along.

Whether you call it the 'power of positive thinking', or seeing everything as 'the glass is half full' or whatever you want to call it, successful people all have the same mindset and the same core values. In fact, to those that are successful, success was the easy part. Maintaining the core values and discipline to get there...now, THAT was the hard part. With that in mind, read the following list and see where you fit in...and then decide if you need to change in order to be successful.

A winner is always a part of the answer. A loser is always a part of the problem.

The winner always has the program to get better. The loser always has an excuse not to...

The winner says,"Let me do it for you." The loser says,"That is not my job".

The winner sees an answer to every problem. The Loser sees a problem for every answer.

The winner says,"It may be difficult but its possible". The Loser says ,"It may be possible but is too difficult."

When a winner makes a mistake he says,"I was Wrong". When a Loser makes a mistake he says,"It wasn't my fault".

A winner makes commitments. A loser makes promises.

Winners have dreams. Losers have schemes.

Winners say,"I must do something". Losers say,"Something must be done."

Winners are part of the team. Losers are apart from the team.

Winners see the pain and try to rise above it. Losers see the pain and are held down by it.

Winners see possibilities. Losers see problems.

Winners see the potential. Losers see the past.

Winners choose what they say. Losers say what they choose.

Winners use hard arguments but soft words. Losers use soft arguments but hard words.

Winners make it happen. Losers let it happen.

Winners plan and prepare to win. (The key word is preparation.) Losers always plan and prepare to copy the winners.

Winners stand firm on values but compromise on petty things. Losers stand on petty things put compromise on values.

Winners are like thermostats - They set the standard. Losers are like thermometers - They measure where the standard is set.

Winners believe in winning. Losers believe for them to win someone has to lose.

If you would like information on how to build success with clients from www.realestatepipeline.com, please do not hesitate to contact Clint Miller at 406-532-5573 or follow me on Twitter. You can also FB us at www.facebook.com/RealEstatePipeline.

An intense (and embarrassing) real estate lesson

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:54:11 -0400

This happens to most well-meaning (and too trusting) realtors with regularity. If you're a home buyer, is it too much to expect even the nicest, most honest people to agree in writing to work with a particular agent for a period of time? I think not.

Via Mimi Foster - Colorado Springs Realtor (EPIC Real Estate Group Real Estate Colorado Springs):

As the mother of five daughters in a private Christian school in the 1980s and 1990s, my girls were often thought of as “The Infamous Foster Girls.” I was a lot more laid back as a mom than many of the other moms, so when I found a kindred spirit mom with four boys, it was a joy.

Many years later, kids grown and (mostly) gone, my friend contacted me to tell me that her parents would be moving to town from Michigan, and would I meet with them to show them houses? We agreed to meet the next time they were in town, and we really hit it off.

They were a couple that was retiring to the area because all they wanted in life was to be within walking distance to all of their children, grandchildren, and soon-to-be great grandchildren. They now had the means and ability to retire, so their number one priority was to find something close in proximity.

I showed them houses one day, and then told them that my policy is that they would need to sign a Buyer Agency Agreement before we looked at houses again. They were highly insulted, and insisted that they were good Christian people who would never treat someone else like that. And because I was friends with their daughter, of course there wouldn’t be a problem.

So I looked the other way and showed them houses. Not just for a day or two, but for SIX MONTHS. When they went home to Michigan to get ready to move, they would call me at any particular time to have me go look at a house for them since I obviously knew what they wanted. I even negotiated on two deals for them on detailed information to try to secure houses that they liked, to no avail. I had well over 100 hours in working for them.

As high end CASH BUYERS, they were going to be ready to move as soon as we found something. So I looked, and I looked, and I looked . . . and then I found it. They were in town, and I called to tell them that I had found their perfect home that fit every single one of the criteria that they had given me. After seeing it, they deemed it PERFECT. Because it was later in the day, we agreed that we would meet at 9:00 the following morning at the property to sign the contract (this was pre-eContracts).

When they didn’t show up, I was a concerned because it was so out of character, and left them a message. When I hadn’t heard by afternoon, I called them again. Still no response. The next afternoon, I called their daughter and asked what had happened. She assured me that she had no idea. Four days later, Mr. Buyer answered his phone.

“Sure, Mimi, everything is okay. When we left you the other day we went to Denver for dinner, and on our way stopped in Castle Rock (about 50 miles away) and went to an Open House. We loved the house (walking distance to the grandkids?) and put in an offer on the spot. We completed our inspection this morning and we will be closing next week. Thanks for all of your help.” When I asked if they had informed the other agent that they were working with a Realtor, they told me that they didn’t think it would matter because the property was out of town and they didn’t think that I worked that far north, but they really appreciated all of my help for the past few months.

Not only that, can we address the issue of NOT EVEN CALLING ME FOR FOUR DAYS? Did you FORGET that we were meeting to sign a CONTRACT on your PERFECT house? The one that fit every requirement you had me looking for for six months because every one of them was important to you? You had no problem contacting me when you NEEDED something.

State of shock? You bet! Anger? About as angry as I get. Legal action? After much consideration, I decided not to pursue it for a dozen different reasons. After a day or two, my anger spilled over and I wrote them a (professional but scathing) letter about just what I thought of them and their “good Christian values.” Their response? Good grief, there’s no need to get so upset. We TOLD you we were sorry.

Several years later, I have still not spoken to their daughter, and I’m not sure I ever would since she definitely knew what was going on. The biggest lesson to come from that was – I will not, no matter who they are nor how good their reason, show houses for a second time to someone who has not signed a Buyer Agency Agreement with me. It is not only a protection for me, it is also a protection for them.

I’m sure many of you have had similar horror stories. It’s part of how we learn our lessons, and a piece of how we get to be really good at what we do (hopefully) . . . and we are so much wiser on the other side. I wasn’t a rookie at the time, but I assure you I will never make that rookie mistake again.

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If you enjoyed reading this post, be sure to NOW to stay up-to-date with Mimi's Musings. If you are not completely satisfied, you may unsubscribe at any time and get double your money back!

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If you would like to Search for Homes in Colorado Springs, CO, or for any of your other real estate needs, please contact your Colorado Springs Realtor

Selling homes throughout Colorado Springs, Old Colorado City,

Manitou Springs and surrounding areas with a

Specialty in Victorian and Vintage Homes in
Downtown Colorado Springs

There’s No Such Thing as The Perfect House

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:39:32 -0400

A timely reminder to buyers everywhere - compromise is part of the home buyer proces. If you can't compromise, you will likely fail in your search (and probably be very frustrated at the least)...

Via Colleen McConnell, Tallahassee Realtor (Advanced Realty Group):

Some buyers aren’t satisfied unless a house meets their every requirement – and they often have a long list. It might be the right neighborhood, size, price, floor plan, yard, and pool, and they really love the kitchen, but they can’t sit in the LR and look out at the back yard, so it won’t work. Or it didn’t have a closet in the home office, so it’s off the list even though it meets their other needs. Their expectations are unrealistic. There are probably many houses that they could live in happily, but they demand perfection, down to the last detail.

Some of these buyers get discouraged and frustrated when they don’t find the right house by the third showing and decide to wait a few years to buy. Others are sure that they’ll find the perfect house that meets every requirement and won’t give up until they find it. They continue to look for months, and in extreme cases, years.

A good agent will help their customers understand that even though it’s a buyer’s market, it’s not likely they’ll find a house that is perfect in every possible way for their lifestyle, tastes, and needs. Rather, if they focus on the top 2 or 3 must-haves, they will probably find several houses that are suitable and then be in a good position to negotiate for the one they like best.

If you know of anyone who's thinking about buying or selling a home in Tallahassee, I'll be happy to give them the information and guidance they need to make a smart move.

Colleen McConnell, CRS, Broker-Associate

2344 Centerville Rd, Suite 105, Tallahassee, FL 32308

When the Historic Home is NOT Historic

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:16:29 -0400

A very relevant article on "historic" properties and the issues surrounding their transfer, by my fellow east-coast blogger Margaret Woda of Long & Foster in Maryland...

Via Margaret Woda, Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation Services (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., Crofton, MD):

Whoops! That historic two-story colonial in North Bethesda, Maryland, purchased for a million dollars in 2006 by Montgomery County government with state funds, is NOT quite so historic, after all. At least, not in the context for which it was purchased by the county.

Citizen activists urged the county to purchase this property because the attached log cabin was reportedly occupied by Josiah Henson, whose memoirs inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe's title character in her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin. The resolution authorizing the county to make this purchase described the cabin as "a perfectly preserved slave quarter".

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission applied for and received state funds, apparently without any verification of the oral history. Yet, according to an article in today's Washington Post, an accurate history of the site prepared by the county's preservation staff was "readily available".

While Henson did live on the 3,700 acre Riley plantation, he occupied slave quarters, not the cabin or house. The cabin standing on the property now was an addition to the original kitchen which, along with the slave quarters, is long gone.

"That inconvenient truth," as today's Post article calls it, "presents an immediate challenge to county officials: what to call the place. The site's official name is still Uncle Tom's Cabin Special Park."

And, of course, there's still the little matter of the county spending a million dollars to purchase the property and another million to expand it after closing on the property without first performing appropriate due diligence to verify the historical significance.

This story presents an interesting case study for those of us in the real estate business.

Did the seller and/or listing agent (if any) advertise (or even mention) that "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was located on this property? If so, was it done with/without disclaimers as to the accuracy of the information?

Was the county represented by a real estate licensee as a buyer broker? If so, did the agent recommend to the buyer a feasibility study period for verifying the oral history?

Did the appraiser (if any) give any value for historical significance? If so, what documentation would he require? How much more value would historical significance add to the property?

If you or I were the listing or selling agent in this transaction, what 3rd party documentation would our Broker require for our file as to any historical significance? Would Errors & Omissions insurance protect us if it turned out the oral history was just plain wrong and we did nothing to verify it on behalf of our clients?

What about you... how would you handle a situation like this, then (at contract) and now (after the error was discovered), if you were involved in the transaction?

Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

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For answers to your real estate questions about Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Fort Meade, Gambrills, Odenton and other communities in Anne Arundel County or nearby Prince George's/Howard Counties, Maryland, contact Margaret Woda at Long & Foster. If you prefer, simply click on a button below for information you can review online at your own pace.

A Pair Of Nice Lancaster PA Rentals

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:46:24 -0500

For those looking to live in Lancaster County PA, Real Estate can be something that's still a dream away. In the meantime, here are 2 nice rentals, one in Lancaster City and one Just outside in a townhome community. And both are nice homes for under $1,000 per month rent!

Comfortable Gable Park Woods (Lancaster Township) townhome,

3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, central air, almost 1400 square feet, hardwood entry, corner fireplace, all appliances including W/D, walk-out basement, garage with remote, French doors, large master bedroom with walk-in closet and vaulted ceiling. No smoking, pets. To schedule a showing, call Brian Schulman at (717) 951-5552. $995 per month.

If you're interested in Lancaster City living and want to rent within walking distance of most of downtown, including Binns Park, Lancaster Central Market, The Fulton Opera House, Lancaster General Hospital, The Belvedere, Building Character, Rachel's Creperie, the Lancaster County Courthouse, Musser Park, The Museum of Art and much more, then be sure to check out this great 2nd floor apartment on the 300 block of north Lime Street! At only $795 this classy location has lots of space and offstreet parking only steps away.

Here are some details: 3 bedroom refurbished, charming, convenient 2nd floor apartment. New kitchen and bathroom floors, new tub and bathroom cabinets, freshly painted, new blinds, and a ceiling fan in living room. No smoking or pets. Includes water, sewer and trash. Central air. Includes dedicated off-street parking.

Contact the Jeff Geoghan Realty Group at info@yourlancasterhome.com for more information.

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Lancaster PA Green Roofs - A Visit With Paul Cook Of LiveRoof

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:22:16 -0400

I've been interested in vegetated roofing systems for some time, and last weel I had the opportunity to meet Paul Cook, Pennsylvania sales reps for LiveRoof, and visit his growing nursery in Manheim.

Paul took me around the facility and explained how the roof system is grown. More commonly known as "green roof", these systems are designed to be directly mounted on an existing roof with only a thin root and moisture barrier in place. The engineering theory is that the layer of soil and vegetation create a cool zone beneath the roof of the building, allowing for reduced heating and cooling costs. In addition, green roofing absorbs the majority of stormwater before it runs off into municipal drainage arrangements.

LiveRoof, a Michigan-based firm, uses regional growers to provide the vegetation for their roof installations. The plants are selected based on their water retention, heat resistance, growth height and other factors. Plants used fall into the "sedum" category. Paul explained how the plants take approximately 3 months to fully grow once the order for a roof system has been placed. "We don't rush these" he cautioned as we examined a system growing for Drexel University. "Once the system is in place there isn't much maintenance - just a regular pH check and weeding. You CAN mow the roof once a year as the clippings do help with regeneration".

Imagine that - having to mow your ROOF!

Paul is pretty busy right now with jobs coming in from all points in his territory, which covers PA, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and New York City. He travels to do "lunch and learn" seminars with industry professionals and raise awareness of green roofs with landscape contractors & architects. One new customer is the School District of Lancaster, which plans to install a system in early 2010.

And what about the cost, you say? Depends...of course. Homeowners CAN install the system themselves, if they watch a "certification" video provided by LiveRoof. That would save roughly half the cost. The system itself runs about $12 per square foot on average for a residential installation. So, if you have a 20x20 roof its 400 square feet or $4,800. In Lancaster, green roofing would work best for city homes with a "bump out" rear rubber roof with would be about 15x20 feet or so. That would allow the vegetation to cool the kitchen and rear spaces typically in the bump out. Residential customers can pick up the interlocking 2 s/f trays right there at the nursery or have them delivered to the site. LiveRoof also sells aluminum "end caps" that slide under the end trays and create a pleasing look at the roof edge.

If you're interested in learning more about LiveRoof give Paul Cook a shout at Creek Hill Nursery, 717-723-0855 or at Paul@CreekHillNursery.com. For more about green building in Lancaster County PA visit my website at www.YourLancasterHome.com.

Another local resource for Lancaster PA green roof options is JV Heidler roofing: http://www.heidler.com/GreenRoofing.aspx

PA Senators Try To Designate Lancaster And York PA As National Heritage Areas

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:40:07 -0500

Spotted this on Arlen Specter's Senate Website today - FYI for the good people of Lancaster & York Counties...bring it on home! Oh, by the way, you can follow Arlen Specter on Twitter...

Casey, Specter Reintroduce Bill to Designate York and Lancaster Counties as a National Heritage Area

January 29th 2009 - U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) today reintroduced a bill that would establish York and Lancaster Counties as the Susquehanna Gateway National Heritage Area. The bill would grant national recognition to the Susquehanna Gateway region, an area that has played a key role in the development of our nation’s cultural, political and economic identity.

“For centuries, the Susquehanna River, which forms a natural border between Pennsylvania’s York and Lancaster Counties and represents the heart of the proposed National Heritage Area, has been at the center of agricultural, industrial and recreational activity in the Mid-Atlantic United States,” said Senator Casey. “I am pleased to join my colleague Senator Specter in introducing this important legislation which would help to bring national recognition to the region.”

“The Susquehanna gateway region is rich in natural, cultural and historical significance,” Senator Specter said. “I am pleased to cosponsor this legislation with Senator Casey to distinguish the Lancaster and York area as a National Heritage Area.”

Since 1984, Congress has designated 40 National Heritage Areas around the country which have helped to foster partnerships between the public and private sectors for undertaking preservation, educational and recreational initiatives in diverse regions throughout the country. Through these efforts, National Heritage Areas have helped to protect our nation’s natural and cultural resources while promoting local economic development. Pennsylvania is home to seven National Heritage Areas, including one created earlier this year called the Journey Through Hallowed Ground, which stretches from Gettysburg to Monticello, VA, and includes all of Adams County.

Senators Casey and Specter introduced a virtually identical bill in 2008. This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Watch a video of Lancaster County PA Scenic Tour Images...

FHA Head Says Housing Market Is On Life Support

Wed, 26 May 2010 10:18:51 -0400

Via John Mulkey, Housing Guru (TheHousingGuru.com):

According to David Stevens, head of FHA, the U. S. housing market is on life support. In an article in Bloomberg Businessweek, Stevens is quoted as saying: “This is a market purely on life support, sustained by the federal government.” He went on to say that the FHA’s monopoly of residential lending is “a sign of a very sick system.”

We should all be concerned by the level of lending from FHA and the potential for disaster should large numbers of the loans default. Earlier this year an article in the Washington Post reported that FHA delinquencies had increased by more than a third in the past year, with more than 9 percent of borrowers at least 90 days behind in their mortgage payments. And while newer data indicates that number to be decreasing, the concerning factor is the tremendous exposure of FHA due to the sheer volume of loans guaranteed. Recent data indicates that FHA’s involvement in home purchase transactions appears to have surpassed that of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Stevens has repeatedly tried to downplay the current risk by pointing out that the majority of the “problem” loans were originated in 2007 and 2008 when more lax lending standards were in place. New requirements, he points out, should significantly lower the default rate. But what FHA seems to be ignoring is the risk from continued sluggishness in the economy combined with high unemployment. Lacking a robust recovery, many of the borrowers who may have once been good credit risks may have difficulty remaining current on their mortgages.

The ultimate problem, however, isn’t just one of the FHA; the dramatic increase in loan guarantees puts taxpayers on the hook for 100 percent of any losses the agency incurs.

The Housing Guru: The expert source for all your housing questions

"WALKING AWAY" IS A MAJOR TREND---LET'S NOT PUT OUR HEADS IN THE SAND!

Mon, 10 May 2010 13:37:34 -0400

Via Paula Hathaway (Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate):

IF YOU WATCHED 60 MINUTES LAST NIGHT ON CBS, YOU TOO CAN SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL! Homeowners are considering walking away from "underwater" homes---and they are doing it in great numbers. These are not your "subprime" mortgage foreclosure---they are average homeowners who have been making payments and CAN AFFORD to keep paying! They choose to move on because they do not see a future in their homes!!!

FALLING HOME VALUES. This is still A REAL ISSUE TO CONSIDER......prices are still falling , and may fall further! Let's not put our heads in the sand---we need to act now! With attention on the seriously underwater middle class homeowners, walking away from their obligations, we now have another possible situation that will cut into the already lower home prices.

Falling home values have not stopped--they may have slowed somewhat in certain markets, but prices are still coming down! With foreclosures still a factor and short sales increasing each month, we need to take a long hard look at what we need to do in order to prevent further erosion in the housing market....What we DO have in our favor are BUYERS!...People are looking to buy in this market because of percieved value, Perhaps for the first time in a decade!

There is no way to say how far home values will fall; we can look at prices as closings happen or we can look back on a 3 month time period to try to catch the trend for the next 3 months. None of this information is usable, however, because the actual price where a property trades appears to be based on the homeowners situation, not on any market trend. No longer can we use 1 year or even 6 months as a criteria for pricing homes

So, given the fact that we are not able to price properties based on a trend, it is now essential to know the motivation of the seller in more detail than in the past---How do we measure home values NOW? How do we determine the real price of a property in a market where the homeowner, desperate perhaps, needs to sell fast?

Measuring home values in this market is like measuring a moving target....we can be very wrong very easily and the homeowner who is more vulnerable then ever before, can easily become the victim of a distorted sense of home values if we use our former ways of pricing.

LET'S NOT PUT OUR HEADS IN THE SAND ABOUT VALUES AND LOSE PRECIOUS TIME IN THE PROCESS!

One thing that I have noticed here in the Hamptons is that the "new builds" are selling quite quickly and they are selling at prices that were "set" before the downturn--in other words, at the highs of the market in '07-'08! Builders are more optimistic than I have seen them in a very long time; they are able to buy up properties in ideal locations for 1/2 the price they would have paid in '07-'08 and they are tearing down and building new homes that appeal to a "new" buyer. This new buyer has money and has been waiting to buy a new home in a great location....and the builders are making hay while the sun shines!

MEASURING VALUES IN A VERY DIFFERENT HOUSING MARKET: The challenges that we face going forward in measuring the true value of a home is going to cripple the housing market unless we fully understand the motivation of both the buyer and the seller. I have the sense that if we go about doing the same things we did in the past with prices, we will find ourselves in a very bad, longer term crisis than is now projected.

PROPER PRICING MAY BE THE ONE THING THAT IS PROPPING UP THE HOUSING MARKET!!

IN my opinion, there are 4 definitive categories that we need to focus on when pricing properly in this very precarious time. I have broken them down with pricing strategies by category so you can see the importance of giving each property the best chance to sell quickly:

1."Original" condition homes: those homes that may be coming on the market for the first time in it's history. These homes are usually 25 years old or older and need major work to bring them up to date.

Because the pluming and electric is old, the appliances and fixtures are out of date, this property needs to be priced to allow for replacement of these things---save time and money by pricing this house to motivate buyers to want to buy it...maybe even list the approximate costs of replacement.

These homes need to be priced at the lowest level possible, based upon mostc recent sales and in-contracts of similar homes in a given area. Emotion is a major factor in additon to price when a buyer is looking at this category.

2."Good" condition homes: those homes that have been well maintained and may have been recently renovated but are 10 years or older.

Here, the home has much to offer in terms of less work to do but again, offering the approximate costs of anything that needs to be re-placed will help to motivate the buyer who wants the charm of an "older home".

Proper Pricing is critical in this situation because a buyer knows that he/she will have to do work to make it like their own and is looking to have a good reason to buy it. The price will make the difference here; emotion willl be less of a factor.

3."Prime" condition homes: these are the houses that we may have considered "like new" or "mint" condition and are no more than 10 years old, have been very well maintained and are up brought up to date on appliances and baths.

This category of home is surprisingly easy to sell to the buyer who wants to move in and not have to do any work what-so-ever. Emotion will be a major factor and a good price will be the cherry on the top of a great "buy"

4."New build": is new and has never been lived in....generally no more than a year old.

This is a category that took a big "hit" during the downturn; prices could not go low enough for the buyers of those houses! Motivation to sell became a sheer need to sell; builders were making deals that were hard to say "no" to.

Because the "new builds" of yesterday ('07-'09) were going up in less than prime locations, they sat! What is that old saying: "LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION"....well it is still the key to selling a brand new home! Top dollar can be the result when a new home is in a desirable location.

With the additional factor of "walk aways" on top of the lost value through forelosure, we have an obligation to be at the top of our game when it comes to pricing homes in this market.

LET'S NOT MAKE THE SAME OLD MISTAKES WITH PRICES THAT WE HAVE IN THE PAST!!! LET'S NOT PUT OUR HEADS IN THE SAND WHEN IT COMES TO THIS ISSUE--OUR LIVELY-HOODS DEPEND ON IT!

Paula I. Hathaway, LBA, Prudential Douglas Elliman

Top Producer, Diamond , Gold and Chairman's Circle Awards

Solar Hot Water Heaters - Lancaster County Seminar At LCCTC

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:05:36 -0500

For those of you interested in learning more about how solar hot water works, there's a great local event coming up right around the corner at Lancaster County Career & Technology Center. Here's the information straight from the Career Center's Green Building Coordinator...see you there!

www.toolbase.org/lcctc
www.nahbrc.org/ greenguidelines

Solar Hot Water Heaters:
Installation Demonstration and Technical Briefing

9AM - 3PM · Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Drop in to see how to harness the sun. Industry representatives will be on hand to show attendees how to install a solar hot water system in new residential construction. There will also be dedicated time for questions about the installation, and solar hot water systems in general. Don't miss this unique opportunity!

For more information, contact Kim Patrick @ the Lancaster County Career & Technology Center: kpatrick@lcctc.org

A Satisfied Lancaster City First-Time Homebuyer Speaks...

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:35:50 -0500

I don't often publish the testimonials I receive from clients (perhaps I should) but felt this one was too good to file away...permit me the luxury of promoting myself on my own blog! This is from Brandon in Lancaster City, a first-time buyer who purchased a home on the west end this month:

1)    How did you meet Jeff? Quickly describe how Jeff helped you make your buy/sell decision.
•    After telling a friend I was interested in buying a home in the city, he told me to begin following Jeff on Twitter. I appreciated his blog and tweets so I emailed him to discuss of the idea of finding a home for me in the city. Jeff and I met for coffee and were under an agreement for a home within a week.
•    Jeff understood the type of home I was looking for and suggested areas of the city to look. He listed of the positives and drawbacks of each home, and he also countered by perceived drawback by putting things into perspective.

2)    Was Jeff professional in his efforts on your behalf? Any example you can give?
•    Jeff is a major league real estate agent. The whole office was very professional. The receptionist was especially friendly and helpful. I felt very comfortable dealing with everyone at Coldwell.
•    He was prompt to return emails & phone calls and prompt to arrive at multiple meetings. Jeff knows the city and its history well. He recommended great people to assist me in the buying process (home inspection, termite, etc.)

3)    What was your best memory of Jeff’s service during your search/transaction?
•    My favorite memory is getting a call from Jeff on Saturday morning telling me that the sellers agreed to sell me the house. The negotiation process went very smoothly. Jeff helped me understand what to ask and how to ask it. It was a great experience.

4)    Any constructive comments on how Jeff can improve his service in the future.
•    Educational classes for home buyers might be a great way to inform large groups of people of the city’s history and charm. This was a great learning experience for me. It may help people understand whether they want to live in the city or not.

5)    Can you summarize your Real Estate experience with Jeff in a sentence or two?
•    Jeff’s professional demeanor and knowledgeable expertise gave me the confidence to purchase my first home.