Brigita's Blog

Here is what's happening in the Pen Argyl and Bangor Area School Districts in Pennsylvania for September 2009 in Real Estate:

Recommendation:

If you're buying a home, it is important that you work closely with a highly-motivated agent who understands what's going on with the real estate market and local economy.  He/She will be able to advise you on how to get the most for your money and what homes you may want to avoid, as there are homes on the market that are not priced at their fair market value.

If you're selling your home, it's also important that you work closely with a highly-motivated agent who understands what's going on with the market and local economy.  Your goal is to net top dollar - which you may not achieve if you overprice or underprice your home.

Here is what's happening in the Nazareth, Pennsylvania area for September 2009 in Real Estate:

Recommendation:

If you're buying a home, it is important that you work closely with a highly-motivated agent who understands what's going on with the real estate market and local economy.  He/She will be able to advise you on how to get the most for your money and what homes you may want to avoid, as there are homes on the market that are not priced at their fair market value.

If you're selling your home, it's also important that you work closely with a highly-motivated agent who understands what's going on with the market and local economy.  Your goal is to net top dollar - which you may not achieve if you overprice or underprice your home.

Here is the activity for September 2009 for the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania:

The number of sales during September of 2009 were down approximately 3% from 542 to 526 in August.

The average sales price for September 2009 was recorded at $198,000, down approximately 5.7% from August 2009 where the average sales price of the month was recorded at $210,000.

The median sales price had decreased in September 2009 to $177,000 from $185,000 in August 2009.

The average market time for properties sold during September 2009 was 74 days, which remained the same as compared to August 2009 at 74 days.

The average sale price compared to list price for residential properties sold during the month of September 2009 is 96%, a decrease compared to August at 97%.

The average sales price for new construction with 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths was $379,000, down from $443,000 in August 2009.  The median sales price for September 2009 $356,000, which also decreased as compared to August 2009 from $443,000.

September Sales Distribution

Sale Price                                  Number of Sales
under $70,000                                    43
$70,001 - $100,000                            35
$100,001 - $150,000                         117
$150,001 - $200,000                         120
$200,001 - $250,000                          86
$250,001 - $300,000                          54
$300,001 - $350,000                          35
$350,001 - $400,000                          16
$400,001 - $450,000                           7
$450,001 - $500,000                           3
$500,001 - $600,000                           5
$600,001 - $700,000                           2
$700,001 - $800,000                           0
$800,001 and above                            3

I have noticed that some home inspections revealed some major problems in homes, which, if the home had been routinely taken care of, would not turn into such a big expense when selling.

Here is a list of good home habits:

Routine maintenance on the home's systems should be performed, depending on their age and style.  In general, it should include:

1.  Cleaning gutters once a year.

2.  Changing air filters every 2 - 3 months or when they appear dirty.

3.  Having the heating and air conditioning professionally serviced once a year.

4.  Changing the batteries in the smoke detectors once a year.

5.  Regular manufacturer recommended upkeep of appliances, such as changing the refrigerator's water filter.

Keep an eye out for signs of leaks, damage and wear.  If small problems are fixed early, it can save big money later.

Items to be aware of include:

1.  Cracks in the ceiling or walls could indicate foundation problems.

2.  Water stains indicate leaks, which need to be fixed as soon as possible.

3.  Eroding caulk around doors and windows can let in moisture that causes dangerous mold growth inside the walls.

4.  Buckling or faded shingles indicate the roof is nearing the end of its life.

5.  Tree branches scraping the roof can damage shingles and allow pests access to the home.

6.  Signs of pests common to the area.

Keeping up with the maintenance of the home will require a little attentiveness, knowledge and money.  In the long run it will be well worth it and save you a lot of money.

Looking for something to do other than corn maizes and pumpkin patches?  Well, here's something different!

Saturday, October 10th, 2009, come out to Wescosville in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania to see a different type of event.  It's a Rodeo.  Not your typical rodeo with horses, but it still includes horsepower.

It is the global freight hauler NFI's 5th Annual Truck Rodeo.  The day will include lots of FREE fun, food games and activities for all ages.

The professional truck drivers will demonstrate agility and safety as they navigate courses with horsepower from the big rigs.

Children 8 and under can show off their skill on big Wheels in a Kid's Rodeo, with a prize for the winner.  There will also be a traditional barbecue.

The rodeo will run from 8AM until 2PM.

Sounds like a fun day!!

The Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania now has an all volunteer organization that helps low-income pet owners.  And it all started out as a Girl Scout project.

Yesterday a ribbon cutting ceremony occurred iin Bethlehem at the Northampton Community College's Fowler Family Southside Center.  It was for the Animal Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley.

Four years ago, a 19 year old girl scout came up with the idea for a project of accepting donations of pet food for people who frequented the soup kitchen at Bethlehem church.  Originally it was to be a temporary project.  Instead it grew. 

The Animal Food Bank currently has 100 volunteers who collect and distribute pet food and help provide vaccines, spay and neutering for pets of low-income families.  There is also a board of directors with 10 members.  The organization is pursuing a non-profit status.

The food bank serves up to 1,000 pets per month and covers areas from Upper Bucks County to the Poconos, and Kutztown to New Jersey.  Recipients must register to receive the pet food.

The food bank relies solely on donations.  Businesses such as Wal-Mart of Quakertown, Phillips Feed & Pet Supply in Bath have made donations.  Starters Riverport in Bethlehem will be sponsoring a silent auction called Bounty for the Animals from 6-10PM on November 7 at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem as their contribution.

Click here for more information on available services or to learn how to donate or volunteer.

This past Sunday, October 4th, 2009, Burgundy Hollow Farms, in Northampton County in Pennsylvania, held their schooling Horse Trials.  The weather co-operated that day.  It was sunny with a slight breeze and temperatures in the mid 70's.  It was a perfect day! 

Now for those of you that don't know what horse trials are, it is a show with 3 phases of riding held within one day. 

The first phase is "dressage".  Dressage is where the horse is judged on it's obedience to the rider.  They have a pattern to ride and the horse must do what the rider asks at certain points of the pattern.  Each level has a different pattern, or test, to ride.  It gets more difficult as you go up in levels. 

The next phase is cross country.  This is where the horse and rider gallop across the countryside and jump different natural obstacles such as fallen trees, chicken coops, brush, even going through water.  The water is usually the scariest.  The jumps are usually solid.  They are to clear these obstacles and not have any refusals or falls.

The last phase is stadium jumping.  Here the horse and rider jump a course of stadium jumps without knocking down any rails or having any refusals or falls. 

The winner is the one that that has the least amount of penalties at the end of the 3 phases in their division.

This is also called eventing.  The difference between eventing and trials is the number of days it is held.  Eventing is usually held over the course of 3 days while the horse trials are held during one day.

Anyway, my job was at the start of the cross country course.  I made sure that the participants left the start gate at certain intervals.  This way a faster horse did not run into another horse on the course that was having a problem at a jump.  It was a lot of fun.  I was able to speak and encourage each rider while they were awaiting their turn.  Some of the horses were anxious to get going on the course, while others were rather calm about it.

If you ever have the opportunity to watch horse trials or eventing, take it.  It will be lots of fun for all ages.   If you can, volunteer to judge the cross country fences.  No horse experience needed for the job.  Just have an enjoyable day out watching the fun and your fence.

Ever since I was a little girl, I have had a passion for horses.  I always dreamed ofriding the champion horses in shows and have my wall covered in blue ribbons.  I would own my own training stable along with several horses.  Maybe even board horses.

     Whenever my family went on Sunday drives in the country (gas was only 25 cents per gallon at the time), or we went on vacation, if there was a roadside pony ride (yes, there were such things years ago), we had to stop so I could ride.

     I grew up in the Bronx, NY, believe it or not, and moved to Pennsylvania at the age of 23 with my husband.  I was determined to fulfill my dream.  After moving to the Lehigh Valley, and with extensive searching, I found a wonderful German instructor/trainer.  She saw I was serious about learning everything about horses, so, she took me under her wing, taught me English riding, a lot of information on horses, plus lots more.  She even helped me find my first horse, break him (he was an unbroken 3 year old ½ Arab, ½ Quarter Horse who only knew how to lunge) and train him.  I was ecstatic since I wanted to learn how to break and train horses, too, although this was my first and last time I broke a horse.  Now that is a different story in itself, which I'll share with you at another time. 

Since my instructor went above and beyond what a regular instructor would do, I wanted to give back to the horse community in some way with sharing my knowledge.

     As time went on and my family grew, both my son and daughter enjoyed horses and I ended up getting involved with them.  And so my horse family grew, too.

     The kids were involved in 4H, the U.S. Pony Club and showing.  So, mom (me) ended up volunteering as an assistant 4H leader, District Commissioner of a local chapter of the U.S. Pony Club, helping out at the different events and being a horse show mom.  The more I got involved, the more I learned about the horse world.

     All during this time I wanted so much to work with horses.  When I had my farm, I taught private riding lessons to beginners, which I loved.  It was just difficult for me to squeeze this into my busy schedule with the kids.  So, I only had a few students because of it.

     While continuing my education with horses (there is always something new to learn) by reading books and articles, attending seminars and lectures, clinics and lessons, I continued looking for jobs to keep me in the horse world.  Even though my volunteer work kept me in the horse world, it did not pay my bills.  I tried my hand at being a stable hand, judging low level and 4H hunter shows, horse appraiser, none of which really worked out for one reason or another.  I guess it wasn't my calling.

     When I remarried, my new husband suggested I go for my real estate license.  I thought about it and decided to try my hand at it.  Why not?  I tried a lot of other occupations.  What's one more?

     While attending classes, I thought about it some more.  "You know what?"  I thought to myself.  "With all the horse knowledge I have, I can specialize in horse properties."  That made perfect sense to me.  I remember when I searched for a horse property for our family, the agent I used had no clue what a horse property was.  What I got was: "It's 7 acres and zoned for horses."  That did not mean it was horse property.  For example, a mountain or a swamp are not horse friendly properties. 

     There are a lot of things to consider when buying a horse property.  Township zoning regulations and the lay of the land are just a couple of things to keep in mind.  Lots of research needs to be done. 

     When I realized there was a need for a horse property specialist in real estate, I found my calling.  I am still involved in the horse world with fellow horse people and I am able to help them, also, using my years of horse knowledge, not to mention that I get to see the sturdy architecture of the older barns.

     It's a great feeling helping other fellow horse people find the right homes and farms for their individual purposes, and seeing them happy in their new homes and farms.

     If you are interested in buying or selling, or even investing, in rural or horse property, large or small, or even if you want to get into the real estate field, contact Brigita McKelvie at Keller Williams. 

     Happy horses make happy owners, which makes everyone happy.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend a rodeo that was held at Shawnee Mountain in the Poconos in Pennsylvania.  It was lots of fun.

It had lots of action, such as calf wrestling . . . . .

calf roping . . . . .

clowning . . . . .

bull riding . . . .

barrel racing . . . . .

trick riding . . . . .

and many more events.

There was also lots of food and drink along with tasting chili from the cook-off, and vendors selling western items and cowboy stuff.  It was a day of lots of fun and excitement for everyone.  Looking forward to going to next year's event.