Brigita's Blog: May 2007

While driving around the area, I take notice of the lovely old homes and barns in the country.  Since I've become a Real Estate Agent, I've paid close attention to the homes in the area.  I like to know about what's in the area so that I may be able to better inform my clients.  My expertise is in horse farms.  Since the open spaces are getting to be less and less around here, I need to know what areas the farms and acreages are located.  Whenever a new listing comes up in this area, I try to make a drive by to check it out.  My prospects appreciate it when they ask about a property in area XX, I am at least able to tell them that I know of a property or two listed there and tell them some basics about them.  If they are interested in hearing more, I check out the details on those properties.

Anyway, in my drive bys, I like to look at the older homes and farms.  Personally, I am more partial to the old homes and barns.  I think they have a bit more coziness and charm.  I also like the sturdiness that they have.  Their structures are quite solid, unlike the new homes they are slapping together today.  You can see a lot of work went into the older homes, and as long as they are maintained, they will last for a VERY long time. 

I find it to be a shame to see some of these older homes and barns being let go and some of them even collapsing from neglect.  These places have lasted through years, some even a century or two, of history.  The new homes won't be able to do that.  If you look, some of them have parts (like the roofing shingles) falling off during a bad storm in less than a year of completion.  The owners also seem to have many other problems in these homes.  I don't think that this is the type of home that will even last 25 years much less a century.  What is hard to believe is that in some instances these older homes are torn down to make way for the new construction.  Why destroy something as rugged for something that won't last?  These homes can be updated and modernized, and they will go another century with maintenance. 

Because we live in a "throw away" society, the concept seems to be, if it's old, destroy it, even if it is structurally sound, and replace it with something new that will fall apart on its own.  No one seems to care if things will last, only if it is NEW.  What a waste to see the craftsmanship be destroyed from years ago, when they believed that homes should last for years to come.

Years ago we bought 10 acres to build our home and have horses on it.  Actually, the horses were on the property before we had our home built.  It was more cost effective to have them on our property than to board them.  Anyway, the horses were on the property and a friend of ours, who was a part time farmer and owned some farm animals, gave us a goat for a "farm warming" gift.  It was a young billy goat that had horns.  Jerry, our farmer friend, brought the goat over when we weren't there and from what the neighbors told us, he did not want to stay with the horses.  Kept ducking under the fence to get away and Jerry was right after him.  Finally, the goat did decide to stay, but only when he was on thop of the roof of the run in shed.  (Don't ask me how he got there.)  He did finally get used to the horses. 

He loved to butt you when you were dishing out the feed for the horses and had your back turned towards him.  Even when you tried to keep your eye on him, he still managed to butt you.  Sometimes he even tried to get into the feed barrals to eat out of them while you were scooping up the food.  He was always there around you.  Since I lived a few miles away from the property, I went up 2-3 times a day to feed and care for the horses.  The times I was absent, neighbor boys kept their eye on them and helped out. 

The one evening, I went up to feed as usual.  Everything seemed normal when I was up there and the neighbor boys hung around after I left.  When I got home, which was only about 5 - 10 minutes later, the neighbor boys had called to say that our goat was dead to come back up.  Now, how, I'm wondering, did the goat die within a few minutes.  Everyone was fine when I was up there.  I went back up to the horses and brought a trash bag with me so that if, indeed, the goat was dead, I could put him into the bag.  The boys and their father met me upon my arrival.  They explained what happened.  Since the mare (female horse, in case you didn't know) was in heat, the goat decided to mount her.  The mare did not appreciate that and kicked the goat right in the head.  Well, at least the goat died without suffering.  Now, the big question.  What to do with the body?  It was starting to turn dark and digging a hole for him now would be out of the question.  I asked the neighbor to help put it into the trash bag and put it into the back of the car for me.  (I had a hatchback at the time.)  I drove home with the windows down for obvious reasons.  I asked my husband to unload the goat from the car and he said he would as soon as he was done with what he was doing.

In the meantime, my brother-in-law, who was a teenager at the time, parked his "car" behind the hatchback.  He parked it so close that we couldn't open the hatch up, so we asked him to move his car.  Guess what?  He couldn't get his "car" started.  After tinkering with his car, we finally got it started and moved it.  By this time rigamortis had set in and the goat was stiff as a board.  What do we to do with a dead stiff goat when we get him out of the car?  My husband came up with the brilliant idea to put the goat in the trash can until we can bury it.  It is pitch black out now and here he is trying to get the goat into the trash can.  He ended up using a crow bar to break the legs so that it would fit.  I can imagine what the neighbors were thinking.  Anyway, finally he was in the can and we put the lid on and taped it shut.  It ended up raining the next day so the horrid chore was not done until the following day.

This is not something I want to go through again and I will think twice before getting another goat.  Although, I have to admit, this is quite an unbelievable story that will be told for years to come.  In a way I am glad it did happen.

I was born and raised in the Bronx of NYC, but never liked city living.  You see, I loved horses ever since I can remember and you can't have a horse living in the city.  At least not in an affordable sense or your backyard.  Once I was old enough to be on my own, I moved out to the Nazareth area in PA, which at the time was a nice, small friendly town.  People living here knew most everyone and it was a safe area to raise children.  Your children's teachers knew the children and their parents in the school personally.  It was a rural, agricultural area, low taxes, and I could keep a horse or two.  Lots of open space around.  That sounded great. 

As the years went by, more and more people were moving into the area from NY and NJ.  More and more of the open land was disappearing and more and more homes were being built.  The local schools were getting crowded to the point where more schools needed to be built.  You would walk into the little shops in town and people were no longer giving you personal service because they were just there to make money.  You did not even recognize your neighbors anymore.  These "foreigners" claimed to be living out in the country, but, how can it be country when there is no open space?  These people even complained about the animals and their smell.  Now, let me ask you this.  If I can't keep my horses in the country, where am I to keep them???  The animals were there before the development began. 

As more homes were built, more stores and malls followed, along with more traffic, more stop lights, congestion, etc.  The roads are being widened to accomodate the traffic.  Even local zoning seems to be more accomodating to the development than the agricultural.  (They just look at the money generated from the taxes.)  The building just doesn't seem to stop.

Where are the small towns headed to?  Does this mean that eventually we will no longer have the small towns with the small town feel?  Everywhere you go, will there be shopping malls around the corner and developments everywhere you look instead of fields, trees and wildlife?  If people want to live in the city, they should just stay in the city instead of converting the small towns into cities and chasing away the locals. 

It's amazing how people want everything cheap, but are not willing to invest into it and wait for the investment to increase in value.  I have noticed this in Real Estate.  For example, I have a listing for a 1+ acre lot.  It is a very nice wooded lot close to State Gamelands.  It's being offered at a low price because it needs fill where the septic will be in order for it to perc.  Now, the lot does not flood.  It just doesn't perc.  I have had many, many calls and inquiries on this lot, but no buyers.  No one seems to want to take the time to add the fill in order for it to perc.  Almost everyone I have spoken to want to have the home on it immediately.  I did get a couple of calls asking if the seller is willing to sell on the contingency that, (are you sitting down?) the property percs after adding the needed fill.  Now, they are willing to put a down payment on it, but want it back if it does not perc.  Would you be silly enough to take the lot off the market for several years and then find out that, because the wrong type of fill was used, it did not perc?? 

Then you have those buyers that purchase real estate, and then turn around and try to sell it a few months down the line for a much higher price, and they haven't done any improvements to it.  They figure just because they have had it for a couple of months, it has greatly increased in value.  Then, they are unable to figure out why the home won't sell. 

Investments don't increase in value overnight (OK the boom a couple of years back was an exception.).  I believe Real Estate is a very good investment, but you need to do some improvements and give it some time to increase in value. 

A few months ago I noticed about a 4 acre lot went on the market in my area for a very low price, and the listing claimed that it was buildable, but fill needed to be added in order for it to perc.  I was curious and wanted to find out why so cheap?  It was a wooded lot, with a pond and a stream running through the back of the property.  Actually, the lot was a very nice looking lot.  You were able to see tracks from wildlife traveling through the lot.  But, why was the asking price so low??? 

After a major storm hits, I like to drive around and check out the properties to see what they look like after a major rain, this way I can let my buyers know about the lot in case any are interested in possibly purchasing it.  Well, after one of the major spring storms hit, I took my usual drive around the area, which included this 4 acre lot.  Lo and behold, I found out WHY the seller was asking such a rediculous price for it.  It turned out that 90% of the acreage was under water.  The stream had turned into a rushing river straight through this lot.  I would say this would be a perfect lot for a home. A HOUSEBOAT to be exact.  Believe it or not, someone did actually purchase the property.  I hope they know what they are getting into.  It will take an awful lot of fill in order for it to perc.  I certainly would not want to take the chance and build on this property, especially after what I saw after the rains.  Even after adding tons and tons of fill.  NOT ME!!!  Would you???

Beautiful secluded, residential, wooded 1+ acre lot located in desirable Nazareth School District.  Located at the foot of the Blue Moutains within walking distance of State Gamelands, lots of wildlife, yet close to major routes.  A nice little stream runs through on the one side of the property.  Property has never flooded.  Lot has been surveyed and tested, but not perced.  In order for it to perc, about 30" of  fill is needed.  Single family home, modular, or mobile home is permitted.  Property is priced at $50,000.  Call me if interested or for more information.

Under agreement 10/17/07

SOLD 12/14/07

Secluded, spacious, Spanish style farmette with beautiful views on 7+ acres with lots of room to entertain and plenty of wildlife to watch.  Home has an oversized attached 2 car garage plus an oversized detached 2 car garage, which includes electric and water.  Detached garage may be converted into a barn.  Located minutes from Blue Mountain Ski area and close to major routes.  It has a nice sized greenhouse attached to the home. 

Home features a modern kitchen with center island,    

Spiral staircase to loft with custom designed wrought iron railing.  Loft overlooks FR.

It boasts high ceilings with a cathedral ceiling in LR.  Home has 2 full baths and 3 unfinished baths with plumbing in place.  Outside is a large patio with built in brick BBQ pit.

Home also includes a full basement, large pantry, pella windows and is a very well insulated home, and has efficient geothermal heating system (low utility bills), Central air, central vacuum and many, many more extras.  Well thought out construction.  MUST SEE TO APPRECIATE.

Property has a stream running through and is zoned for horses.  Plenty of room for pastures.  Farmette is located in Cherryville, PA.  Listed at $875,000, you can move in immediately.  Owner anxious to sell and price is negotiable.  If interested, please feel free to contact me for more information or to take a tour.

I specialize in horse properties and it's amazing how many so called horse people care as far as horse properties go.  I am seeing more and more "horse" people selling their farms for top dollar.  Or, if they have a large enough parcel, they will subdivide it into smaller parcels, so no one is able to keep horses on it.  When you ask them "Why?", their answer to you is that they just want to sell and get as much $$$ from it as possible.  It seemed that when I got into horses years ago, that horse people cared enough to help each other and make sure their horses had enough property.  They actually did not want any development because of the horses.  Now, it's their turn to move and therefore, just have a "don't care" attitude. 

What about local horse people that have horses and would like to buy a small farmette so that we can keep our 2-3 horses with us 24/7?  The sellers of these facilities are gearing towards selling to the big city folk and get as much as possible for their facility.  I seem to remember this being called GREED.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I realize real estate is a good investment, if it is maintained and improved, and you should be able to get a profit from selling it, but not to the point where it is insane.  This type of attitude is chasing the locals away to where property is more affordable.  Besides, if we keep subdividing, pretty soon there will be no farms or farmettes to keep our farm animals and it will be nothing but one huge "city".  As it is, we are running out of farms to grow our own crops because of development. 

Think about this: Do we really need so many shopping centers and malls?  Do we really need to build so many new homes when there are so many vacant ones sitting on the market?  The older homes, if in good shape, can be updated and remodeled.  It is so wasteful.  With all the development going on and cutting back on open space, we suddenly have so much flooding.  Places that never flooded before, are flooding now.  Why?  Simple.  It was open land before and the soil absorbed the water.  Now, with the development, it is all concrete and runs off the land into gutters, which lead to streams and rivers.  They all overflow and, voila, flooding has begun. 

When city people move into the rural places and there happens to be some type of farm animal next door, which had been there years before these people moved in, guess who complains about the so called smell.  And yet, they bring their kids down to see and pet these animals.  Does that make any sense to you?  If we can't keep the animals out in the country anymore, where are we going to keep them?

This is a topic that needs some serious thought and action.  If something isn't done about it, we will have major problems.  This is happening all over the country, not just a specific area.  I realize some counties and states are pl;acing some properties into conservancy and buying some farms, but the government can't do it all.  WE are still paying for it.  It's time all of us started thinking more about the future of our children rather than MONEY.  Just think, future generations may not even have a cow, a horse or a chicken even, if things keep going the way they are.  Remember, if you're in it for the MONEY, you will not be able to take it with you when your time comes.

Have you ever owned a horse that everywhere you went, everyone recognized?  No, he's not a famous race horse.  Nor has he been in the movies or the Grand Prix.  This is your plain old grade horse, unpapered and unregistered.  He is CLYDE.  Clyde (his barn name) is a 14.1 hand, buckskin pony that everyone, young and old, love.  At shows he is known as "Clyde Sleepy Hollow" and the name fits him to a tee.  Let's start from the beginning.

My son and daughter grew up on a horse farm.  They came up to the barn with me daily to take care of the horses since they were born.  (My son, my firstborn, actually rode before he was born.  Maybe that's why he has a passion for horses.)  In their younger years, I ponied them on my horse, Chanty.  They had a blast.  Upon reaching the age of 6 or 7, I was bugged about getting a pony.  Not wanting to have the chore of another horse to take care of, being the oldest, my son had to take care of my horse for 1 year (feeding, grooming, etc.), no matter what.  The only exceptions being: 1) school or after school activity or 2) illness.  (My daughter went through the same routine when she was the same age.)  Needless to say, they both completed the task because they were serious about getting a pony.  Now came the time to find that "special" pony.

When I shop for a horse, I never take any money with me on my first visit.  I always figure it will take time to find the right horse I am looking for.  Not so with Clyde.  I found out by word of mouth about a good pony for sale on a private farm that the kids had outgrown.  When I saw Clyde, he was just standing there, without a care in the world.  He didn't flinch when he was ridden.  Here was a dead quiet horse that kids would be able to learn on and get confidence on him.  I knew that if I didn't at least put a deposit down on him, he would be gone.  The only money I had on me was my grocery money, so, guess where that money went.  Certainly not on groceries. 

Once Clyde was brought to his new home, he settled right in.  He was put into the field with my horse, Chanty.  Now, Chanty was the top horse of the herd at the time.  So, here's Clyde, just muching away, minding his own business and Chanty comes trotting up to him, figuring he will put this newcomer into his place.  Boy, was he wrong!  Clyde just turned around and stared at him with his ears flat back and Chanty, at that point backed off as if to say "OK, your the leader now".  That went a lot easier than anyone would have figured.  No fighting.  Clyde was the type of horse that the only thing that interested him was food.  He was happiest when he was eating.  Anytime a child rode him and they weren't paying attention to him, he decided to take off to, you guessed it, the nearest source of food.  I never had to worry about him running off into the next county or having him spook.  He never had a worry in the world. 

I started giving riding lessons to beginners and every child loved him.  His stall was always decorated by drawings that the children made.  Even though he ran off to eat while they rode him, they still loved him.  Even the adults loved Clyde.  He was the same at shows as he was at home.  Just stood there without a worry in the world.  Nothing ever bothered him.  Except for once.  This was after I had sold him to a family with a daughter learning to ride and take care of horses.  He was brought over to a pasture with alpacas in it.  Clyde got so wide eyed, that he fought the handler to get away.  The handler just finally let go and Clyde took off as far from the alpaca's as possible.  He didn't want anything to do with them.

I sold Clyde when he was about 20 and my kids had outgrown him.  All that came to look at him like him, but were worried about him passing on within a short time.  If you know Clyde, you will agree that he will live for a looooonnnngggg time.  Someone finally decided to buy him for her daughter, figuring that by the time her daughter outgrew him, he would be dead.  WRONG.  At 27 he was still looking good and going strong.  He even did low level jumps and his usual tricks.  He really didn't look his age. 

Clyde is now retired at 32.  He still looks good and he is mostly in the pasture and, once in a while, ponies the grandchildren around the property.  He has a very good home and well taken care of.  Clyde will probably go until he's in his forties.  Everyone that has come in contact with Clyde in his lifetime, miss him.  He is the best pony any one could ask for.  It would be hard to find another like him.  There are so many stories I could tell you about him.  Maybe in one of my future postings I will tell you more.