Lancaster County PA Realty Check: February 2008

Today, February 12, is the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, considered by many to have been the greatest President in our nation's history.

Born in meager conditions on this date in 1809 in a small log cabin in Illinois, Lincoln educated himself with borrowed books and went on to become a lawyer, a congressman, and in 1860 the first nominee for President from the newly formed Republican party. 

An early outspoken opponent of slavery in America, Lincoln as President introduced the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves, and precipitating the secession of the southern states.

Lincoln's life was often tortuous: losing a wife, losing a son, suffering the ridicule of his contemporaries, and agonizing over a bloody civil war.  But with principles, faith, and grace, he persevered.  Abraham Lincoln staked his presidency on holding the Union together throughout four years of war, eventually sacrificing his life for his cause.

    Does a grateful nation have a national holiday for this great man?  Not any more. Nor is there a celebration any longer of the birthday of the Father of our Nation, George Washington.

In our "wisdom", we have shelved an acknowledgment  of the accomplishments of these great men, and substituted a tepid "Presidents' Day" in its place.  What does Presidents' Day stand for?  Nothing much - except for a Federal day off and sales at the shopping malls.

By supposedly celebrating all of our presidents, whether good or bad, competent or misguided, we have diluted the significance of the holiday into meaninglessness.

I for one, on this day salute the timeless words and deeds of a man who rose from humble beginnings to preserve the union of the American States.

Copyright2008BrianSchulman©

The present owner saw the potential in this great house and started a rehab, but isn't able to continue - so the opportunity to own a reasonably priced future pride-and-joy home can be yours!  The price has been reduced to only $39,900, and the seller will consider a short-term Lease/Purchase to a qualified buyer.

There are three bedrooms plus a possible fourth bedroom on the third floor.  There are 1.5 baths.  The powder room, off the kitchen, already has new fixtures installed.  The kitchen renovation has already been started...

Extensive hardwood floors in the foyer, living room and dining room are in excellent shape and would refinish beautifully...

The third floor has a 19' x 15' bedroom which could be the fourth bedroom.  All that would need to be done is to refinish the softwood floor, and install baseboard heat.  The walls and ceiling are almost finished, and replacement windows installed.  This bedroom would add 285 SF to the 1392 SF on the first two stories, for a total of 1,677 SF.

Because it is difficult to get a mortgage for a house that doesn't have a functional kitchen and full bath, the seller will allow a short term lease purchase so that the buyer can have time to renovate the home before applying for a mortgage.  For more information on how this would work, or for your own personal showing, call Brian Schulman at (717) 951-5552.

Copyright2008BrianSchulman©

In a post today, "QuiQui" Lopez writes about a landlord who found that a tenant had left owing a huge water bill!  In Pennsylvania, water companies can put a lien on a property if the water bill is not paid.  This means that the building cannot be sold without the lien being cleared by the owner.

There are some solutions for landlords, to prevent such a situation from arising:

1)  Consider writing the lease so that the water bill is sent directly to the landlord, who pays it to the water company.  Then the landlord resubmits the bill to the tenant, who compensates the landlord for the tenant's own water use.  This way the landlord is assured that even if the tenant doesn't compensate the landlord for the water bill, the bill is nevertheless paid current.

2)  Alternatively, the landlord can set up an automatic notification system with the water company to let the landlord know if the tenant is past due on their water bill.  If the landlord then receives a notification of a past due bill, he or she can follow up with the tenant before the total bill gets out of hand.

3)  The lease should specify that being past due on the water bill constitutes a breach of the lease, which can result in eviction.

4)  Obviously, a thorough credit check of all applicants should be made before accepting any tenant, with particular emphasis on their method of payment of previous rent and utilities.

By being aware of such potential problems before they occur, much expense and aggravation can be avoided. 

If you would like more information on how a qualified REALTOR with Lancaster County property management experience can help investors save money and reduce their risk, please call (717) 951-5552 or email brian@FindLancasterHomes.com .

©BrianSchulman2008

This 2-bedroom starter townhouse has some features you wouldn't necessarily expect at the low price of $124,900!

Central air conditioning and economical gas heat provide effective heating and cooling.

In the kitchen all the appliances stay.  There is a pass-through from the kitchen to the dining area.  The powder room downstairs and the full bath upstairs both have new vanities.

                                                              A corner gas fireplace offers a focal point in the living area.

The location offers a suburban feel, yet is close to shopping, restaurants, and Route 30.  For more information or your own private showing, call Brian Schulman at 717-951-5552.

Copyright2008BrianSchulman©

Buying and restoring old houses is indeed a labor of love!  In my career I have restored a number of homes, including in historic Marietta PA.  You still need to be cognizant of costs, and probably everything you estimate for renovations will turn out to cost more because of unknown factors you will discover during the course of the renovation.

The Victorian house in the photograph is a home that I once owned in Columbia, PA.  The third floor had been in a fire and the roof destroyed.  Still, there was beautiful oak and cherry woodwork inside.

Do be careful not to remove old paint with either a torch or sander, because of possible lead being released.  A heat gun is a good solution because it softens the old paint without burning it.  Burning off old paint is one of the reasons historic houses sometimes catch fire during restoration - there may be embers under the eaves, for instance, that go unnoticed overnight while the workers go home.

Having said that, if you love these types of houses and the ambience that they create, nothing new will ever compare with the joy of living and entertaining in one.

Copyright2008BrianSchulman©