Brigita's Blog: March 2008

For those of you that follow the Horse Show Circuit, the National Horse Show is leaving Wellington, Florida.  It will once again be paired with the ASPCA Maclay class, returning to it's roots as an indoor horse show.

The 125th National Horse Show will be part of the Syracuse, NY, International Sporthorse Tournament, held at the Oncenter Complex Oct. 29th - Nov. 2nd.

For years, the National Horse Show was held at Madison Square Garden with the Maclay class as it's featured event.  The Maclay is a prestigious equitation class for junior riders.  In 2002, the National was moved to Wellington after declining attendance and accumulating deficits.

A search committee was formed in November to find an area that would bring the show back indoors.  Putting it back with the Maclay was a major consideration.  The board wanted to get the National back as close as possible to it's Madison Square Garden days.                                                                                           

The new show will keep the Show Jumping World Cup Qualifier and will apply for a World Cup Qualifier in Dressage.  Plans are in the works for demonstration events in driving, eventing, vaulting and reining.

It will be nice to see the National Horse Show paired with the Maclays once again, as it was for over a hundred years at Madison Square Garden.  It will strengthen and revitalize the indoor circuit.

This is Noddy.  Noddy is a 5 year old Victorian Shire gelding.  He stands 20.1 hands high.  That's 81 inches for those of you that don't know what a hand is.  (Horses are measured in hands and a hand equals 4".)  He is unofficially the biggest horse around.  His full name is Luscombe Nordrum and currently resides in Australia.

He will be shown at the Royal Agricultural Show, which runs from March 12 - 15, where more than 1300 horses are expected to attend the horse show.  He will be featured in the Breeds of the World showcase. 

The owners are not currently sure what job he would be well suited for.

I've ridden an 18 hand horse, and that was quite big.  Anyone that has ridden a horse knows that even 16 hands is quite tall for a horse.  Image riding a horse over 20 hands high.  I'm sure ridng Noddy, you feel like you are defintely on top of the world.  This is a horse the Show Jumpers would absolutely die for.  All he needs to do is walk over the high fences. 

The Lehigh Valley Association of REALTORS just released the latest Market Update for the Lehigh Valley for the month of February, 2008.  The statistics are compiled every month based on the figures generated from the Lehigh Valley Association of REALTORS Multiple Listing Service.

The activity for February, 2008 as compared to January, 2008 is as follows:

Number of Sales - There were 361 sales reported in February, 2008, which was the same for January, 2008.

Average Sales Price - The average sales price for February, 2008 was recorded as $210,000, where in January, 2008, the average sales price was $222,000.  That is an average of 5.4% decrease.  The Average Sales price is calculated by dividing the number of sales into the total sales dollars.

Median Sales Price - The Median Sales Price for February, 2008 increased to $193,000 from $192,000 in January, 2008.  The Median price indicates the mid-range of prices - half the homes selling for more and the other half selling for less.

Average Market Time - The average time on the market for real estate sold during February, 2008 was 74 days, which is an increase from 68 days in January, 2008.

New Construction Average - The average sales price for new construction of a 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home was $456,000 with a median price of $430,000 in February, 2008, while in January, 2008 the average sales price was $495,000 and the median was $485,000. 

The Nazareth Area School District had 13 residential sales in the month of February, 2008, with the average price of a home being $338,000, with 17 pending sales.  The average price of commercial sales Year-To-Date was $1,138,000 with 2 sales, the highest in the Lehigh Valley.

The price range that the most homes were sold in the Lehigh Valley was $100,000 - $250,000.

Summary - Looking at the February, 2008 statistics, it seems like we are still in a buyer's market.  The number of days the homes are on the market are longer with a slight drop in market prices, with new construction of residential real estate slowing down. 

March 30th is opening day for the new Coca-Cola Park in the Lehigh Valley.  It is home to the local, minor league baseball team, The Iron Pigs

The Iron Pigs will be playing against the major league baseball team, the Philadelphia Phillies.  Tickets were sold out within hours of going on sale last week. 

Do you think the Iron Pigs will beat the Phillies??  It will be interesting to see.   

Great news for the buyer!  FHA has just increased it's mortgage limits.  The breakdown, as of March 5, 2008, for the Lehigh Valley, PA area is as follows:

In NORTHAMPTON COUNTY and LEHIGH COUNTY it is:

                              $402,500      for a single family home
                                515,250      for a 2 family home in Northampton County and $512,250 in Lehigh County
                                622,850      for a 3 family home
                                774,050      for a 4 family home

In BUCKS COUNTY it is:

                              $420,000       for a single family home
                                537,650       for a 2 family home
                                649,900       for a 3 family home
                                807,700       for a 4 family home

Along with the low intereset rates, this allows for more buyers to be able to afford homes in the Lehigh Valley area.

A pretty blonde decides to try horseback riding, even though she has had no lessons or prior experience.  She mounts the horse, unassisted, and the horse immediately springs into action.

It gallops along at a steady and rhythmic pace, but the blonde begins to slip from the saddle.  In terror, she grabs for the horse's mane, but cannot seem to get a firm grip.  She tries to throw her arms around the horse's neck, but she slides down the side of the horse anyway.  The horse gallops along, seemingly impervious to it's slipping rider.

Finally, giving up her frail grip, the blonde attempts to leap away from the horse and throw herself to safety.  Unfortunately, her foot has become entangled in the stirrup, and she is now at the mercy of the horse's pounding hooves as her head is struck against the ground over and over.

As her head is battered against the ground, she is mere moments away from unconsciousness, when, to her great fortune . . . . .

Bill, the Wal-Mart greeter, sees her and unplugs the horse . . . . . . .

With the current Real Estate Market being slow right now, many of you are wondering "How do I get an offer on my home and get it sold?"   

Here are some tips that will help you out:  

• Make sure it is priced correctly.  Set a price that is realistic.  If you do not want to have the home sit on the market for a long period of time, and I'm sure you don't, price it at the lower end of the price range. 
• Make sure the home is ready to show.  Get your home and property ready at least 2 weeks before you place your home on the market.  Make the outside of the home inviting.  The first impression is made at the exterior of the home.  If it is not appealing, the buyers will not be interested in seeing the inside.  Declutter the interior of the home and make necessary minor repairs. 
• Be flexible about showings.  Yes, it is disruptive to get a home ready to show at the spur of the moment.  The more flexible you are about letting people see your home, the sooner you will find a buyer.
• Anticipate the offers.  Decide ahead of time what price and conditions you will accept.
• Be prepared to possibly drop the price.  If your home has been on the market for 30 days or more without any activity, be prepared to lower the asking price.  Right now, there are many homes on the market, which are comprable to yours, and the buyers have a large selection to choose from. 

Overall, listen to your Real Estate Agent.  The agent will offer you suggestions as to the best way to market your home.  Between you and your agent, you can come up with a game plan that is best suited to market and sell your home. 

Have you been guilty of looking at others your own age and thinking . . . "Surely, I cannot look that old?"  The following did not happen to me, but I think you will enjoy this short story . . .

While waiting for my first appointment in the reception room of a new dentist, I noticed his Certificate, which bore his full name.  Hmmmm.  Funny, I seem to remember a tall handsome boy with the same name.  He had been in my High School class some 30 years ago.

Upon seeing him, however, I quickly discarded any such thought.  This balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was way too old to have been my classmate.  After he had examined my teeth, I asked him if he had attended the local High School.

"Yes," he replied.

"When did you graduate?" I asked.

He answered: "In 1965.  Why?"

"You were in my class!" I exclaimed.

He looked at me closely and then asked, "What did you teach?"