Brigita's Blog: Brigita McKelvie - Lehigh Valley, PA, Residential, Rural & Horse Properties (Keller Williams Real Estate)

THE YANKEES DID IT!! 

27th WORLD SERIES WIN!!

Wow!!  The Phillies put up a good fight and gave it their best, which made the series a really exciting one.  There was never a dull moment in the games.

What better place to win than in your own brand new stadium to end the year. 

That's the way to do it!

GO YANKEES!!!  2009 WORLD SERIES CHAMPS!!!

The senate is expected to vote today or tomorrow on a bill that extends the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers.

The credit is due to expire on November 30, and would be extended until April 30 and expanded to include more affluent homebuyers. People who have owned a home for at least five years would also be eligible for a $6,500 credit if they move!

This is great news for the real estate market when the bill passes.  The good part is it will include ALL homebuyers.

As I scan the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) on a daily basis, to see what is available for my buyers and to see what listings have expired, I find incomplete and incorrect information.

About half of my clients are looking for horse properties.  When I search for a horse property, I scan under the category of farms.  Did you know that 1 acre is a farm?  I wonder what they are raising on an acre.  Maybe guinea pigs? 

A buyer called me and wanted to see a farm that sounded like a great deal: 14,530 acres for $200,000.  WOW!!  That is a great deal!  Looking up the listing, I find it is located in town.  I don't think there are 14,530 acres available in town.  You think maybe it is 14,530 square feet??

How about properties that are listed with 0 square feet or 0 acres of property.  In all honesty, I haven't seen a house around that has no land whatsoever around it. 

Or how about a description like this:  "Impeccable condition!  Owner sad to leave this house."  This doesn't tell me a thing about the house.  Is there anything in the house?

When I scan through the expired listings, I notice some of the homes that I come across I had buyers that may have had an interest in it.  So why did the listing expire?  It was no where to be found when searched.

I guess there was no interest in selling these listings that have incomplete and incorrect information.  If there was an interest, the information would have been double checked to make sure all was correct and complete so that it can be found. 

So the next time a listing does not sell, it might not be because of price or location.  It could be because no one was able to find it.

The Trexler Nature Preserve has opened for all to enjoy in the Lehigh Valley area in Pennsylvania. 

Gen. Harry C. Trexler, who died in 1993 and was Lehigh County's most influential citizen, left more than 1,100 acres in the Schnecksville area to the people of the county to enjoy the great outdoors.  He wanted to help conserve some of our wildlife in the proper setting.  Gen. Trexler loved the outdoors and gave the property to share his love of the outdoors with his fellow people and future generations.

Friday, October 30th, 2009, county and other officials formally dedicated the Trexler Nature Preserve.  It is now open for hiking, walking, biking, horseback riding, bird watching, picnicing, fishing, and bow hunting in season. 

For years, the Lehigh Valley Zoo, located in a small section of the property, was the only accessible part of the land to the public.  A few years ago the county leased the zoo to a private operator.  The county then developed a plan for the preserve. 

The project included removing non-native plants, allowing native brush to grow and animals such as red fox, coyotes, deer, turkey and bluebirds to thrive.

Stream beds were also restored so people could fish.

The Wildlands Conservancy helped in developing the plan.  Community groups such as The Valley Mountain Bikers, the International Mountain Bikers and the Lehigh County Equestrian Council helped build the trails and the Appalacian Mountain Club helped the county parks department with trail mapping.

For more information, click here.

Daylight Savings time ends and Standard time begins tonight.  Remember to change your clocks this weekend!

The clocks are to be turned back so we gain an hour.  2AM will really be 1AM.  I guess this allows us to party an extra hour.

This will be great for those of you that will be having a great time at your Halloween parties or watching the World Series Game tonight between the Yankees and the Phillies.  It will allow you to sleep an extra hour in the morning without any worry about over sleeping. 

Happy November! 

Catholic or not you have to laugh at this one. 

Once again Halloween is upon us with lots of "haunted houses" and parks open to scare us out of our wits. 

Did you know that the Lehigh Valley here in Pennsylvania does actually have haunted buildings?  It's true!

Here are some of the buildings with actual ghost sightings:

1.  State Theaterin Easton

2.  Sun Inn in Bethlehem

3.  Former Carbon County Jail in Jim Thorpe

4.  Inn at Maple Grove in Alburtis

5.  The Widows Tavern & Grillein Stockertown

6.  King George Inn in Allentown

7.  Riegelsville Public Libraryin Riegelsville (of course)

-(Source: Morning Call research)

I'm sure there are many other buildings in the Lehigh Valley that ghost sightings have occurred.  If you have, or know of any, feel free to post it in the comments to share with everyone.

If you want to encounter a real ghost on Halloween, visit one of these buildings, if you dare.  OOoooooooooo.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

I read this post by Gary Woltal and thought it was well worth sharing with everyone.  Just think, they may actually come out with these breeds.

Brigita

I have noticed about half the buyers end up tired of looking at homes.  They have looked at 50 homes and none seem to be the "right" home, although some may be a possibility.

Why?  Simply because the buyer has not come up with a list of their personal needs and wants in a home.  Let's face it, the right house will meet all of your needs, and as many of your wants as possible.  What you want and what you need in a home's features and amenities need to be analyzed before starting your home search.

Here are some of the features and amenities you would want to consider:

Features

• Age: Are historic homes preferable or new construction?
• Style:  Are there special preferences towards ranchers, bungalows, or another style of construction?
• Bedrooms:  How many?
• Bathrooms:  How many?  Are they updated?
• Living and Dining Areas:  What type of floor plan - traditional, formal layout, or a more open, contemporary plan?
• Stories:  How many?
• Square Feet:  How much space?
• Ceilings:  How high?
• Kitchen:  How big?  Recently updated?  Open to other living areas?
• Storage:  Big closets, a shed, an extra large garage?
• Parking:  A garage or carport, on street or off-street?  Room for how many cars?
• Extras:  Attic or basement?

Amenities:

• Office
• Play/exercise room
• Security system
• Sprinkler
• Workshop/ studio
• In-law suite
• Fireplace
• Pool
• Hot tub
• Sidewalk
• Wooded lot
• Patio, deck, or porch
• Laundry room

Remember when making up the wants and needs list of criteria, always include

1.  Location

2.  Size

3.  Condition

4.  Appreciation

5.  Neighborhood

6.  Freestanding or Condo/Townhome, Resale or New Construction

7.  Features and Amenities

8.  Potential for Expansion or Improvement

With a list in hand, it shouldn't be difficult to find the right home.  If it feels comfortable and has all of your needs and your most important wants, it probably is the home for you.  The wants it does not have can always be added to the home later in time, if it is still desired. 

Remember, there is no perfect home.  Make up your list, give it to your agent and you should be able to find the right home for you and your family.