Lancaster County PA Realty Check: Pennsylvania

There's Still Time to Get a Home Buyers Tax Credit in Lancaster PA

If you missed the deadline last year to get a First Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit, don't despair!  The tax credit has been extended - and widened.  Not only can first time home buyers get up to $8,000. back - there is also a tax credit for homeowners who have lived in their homes for five consecutive years, or five out the last eight years.

However, there's not much time left to take advantage of these tax credits.  Agreements must be written up no later than April 30, 2010.  Settlements must take place no later than June 30, 2010. There are maximum income limits on the tax credits, but the limits are fairly high.  Discuss your particular situation with your tax preparer.

A recent TV news report from WGAL in Lancaster, PA gives some good imformation about the tax credits for both first time home buyers and trade-up (or trade-down) home owners.

Uncle Sam is still willing to put money in your pocket for buying a house!  If you would like more information about how to go about getting the tax credit for purchasing a home, please feel free to contact me.

Brownstown, PA Bilevel Coming Soon...

Just in time to take advantage of the $8,000 First Time Homebuyers' Tax Credit!  Gleaming new appliances, main bath with elegant marble floor and granite countertop, and a finished family room for entertaining...

For more information, email brian@cbselectpros.com or text or call (717) 951-5552.

Back in the 1980s, I was restoring two homes in Marietta, PA.  One was an 18th century log & stone home, and the other was a Federal mansion that had been cut into apartments, sustained a fire, lost its roof and been condemned.  As the Christmas season approached, I thought it would be good publicity to put them both on the annual Marietta Candlelight Tour of historic homes, even though they were far from finished.

As rough as they still were inside at the time of the tour, I decorated them with greenery and a tree.  I had a display inside the stone & log house showing some of the things I had dug up under the floor, which had needed to be replaced.  There were hand-blown bottles, shards of crockery, and even a rusty Derringer pistol!

We received many positive comments from the visitors who had bought tickets to the Candlelight Tour!

Are Lancaster County PA Home Mortgages harder to get these days?  If so, it's not because the Lancaster County housing market is slower than other areas of the country - in fact, Lancaster County is up 30% over last year for real estate sales! 

See the press release below published by the Lancaster County Association of Realtors:

Local Home Sales Continue to Rebound      August 2009 pending home sales up 30 percent

Lancaster, PA (September 22, 2009)-Lancaster County's real estate market continues to show signs of recovery, according to a recent report released by the Lancaster County Association of Realtors®  (LCAR). In August 2009, pending home sales were up 30 percent over August 2008 with most price ranges seeing double- digit growth in pending sales.

The $100,000 to $200,000 price range has proven to be 2009's strongest performing market with pending home sales up 45 percent in August 2009 versus August 2008. Growth in other price ranges is an indication that the first-time homebuyer tax credit has had a "trickle up" effect that has reenergized the real estate market as a whole, LCAR members say. In August 2009, pending home sales were up in the $0 to $100,000 price range (26.5 percent), $200,000 to $300,000 price range (13.7 percent) and $400,000+ price range (36.4 percent) over August 2008.

"We've seen a tremendous number of first-time buyers realize the dream of owning their first home. We're also seeing buyers and sellers in general regain confidence and move ahead with their homeownership goals," commented Scott Ulrich, president of LCAR.

A September 2009 article in BusinessWeek magazine recognizing Lancaster as the 19th strongest housingmarket in the U.S. further affirms that the local real estate market is fundamentally sound. With mortgage rates continuing to hold steady at historically-low rates, ample inventory available at all price ranges and a seeming boost in consumer confidence, LCAR looks for sustained market improvement.

As I discussed in Lancaster PA mortgage rate analysis, government overspending and overborrowing is robbing the credit markets of private money that could have been lent to private investors who would have restarted the recovery.

Stunning Elizabethtown PA Contemporary Home For Sale

Take a look at this lovely Elizabethtown PA contemporary home with its stone trim and beautiful open floor plan!  The soaring Palladian windows frame a cozy gas fireplace in the 2-story great room.

You'll love the custom cherry den with its built-in cherry desk, shelves, cabinets and entertainment center. 

The first floor master bedroom suite and first floor laundry add to the easy living style.

Entertain in the formal dining room with its tray ceiling, chair rail and wainscoting.  Professionally lighted landscaping surrounds the house.

P.S. - THIS HOME QUALIFIES FOR ZERO-DOWN USDA FINANCING!

Lancaster PA Singles Have a Blast at a Regional Dance:

New Singles sponsored one of the biggest dances in the south central PA region Saturday night.  The dance was held at the Wisehaven Banquet and Expo Center, York, PA.

The dance featured The Hubcaps Band, one of the finest rock'n'roll bands in the area.

Singles came from all over Lancaster County, York County, Adams County, Dauphin County and even Maryland, as far south as Baltimore!

The banquet hall was beautiful, with seating on the main floor plus tables on the second floor balcony as well.

A number of members of the Red Rose Singles of Lancaster PA were in attendance, as well as many friends and acquaintances from other dances in adjoining counties.

I estimated that over 500 singles came to the dance - and you wouldn't believe the energy in the room once The Hubcaps started their music...

I had only my cell phone with me, but no separate camera, so the photos I took in the dimmed light do not really do justice to the atmosphere or to the size of the crowd - but you can decide for yourself if they looked like they were having a great time!

Veranda is one of the most desirable communities in East Hempfield Township, Lancaster, PA.  With its miles of walking trails, scenic views and landscaping, it provides a peaceful ambience - yet it is ideally located near shopping, health services and major roads.

                                                                    A picturesque barn seen nearby...

                                              1465 Drake Lane is a fine home currently available in Veranda.

                                          Green grass cuttings from a fresh mowing along the pond...

                                                                Waterfall at the pond...

                                                                    1465 Drake Lane in the background...

The Blue Moon Big Band makes an appearance on the beautiful grounds of the Nissley Vineyards in Bainbridge, PA Sunday evening.

                         Entering the grounds of the vineyard - an eighteenth century stone mill.                                                   

                       The original farmhouse of the vineyard.

                                                                A storage barn on the premises.

In spite of rain predicted for the evening, lots of folks bring their picnic tables and chairs in preparation for the concert under the stars.

                 Some regular attendees go all out:  tablecloths, gourmet food and even candelabras!

                                        The band starts out well protected from the rain under a tent!

Some enthusiasts get up and start dancing the jitterbug to "Little Brown Jug" by Glenn Miller.

                                        Soon the dance pavillion fills up as everyone gets "In The Mood"...

                             Darkness falls as the rain cools things down and the band heats things up...

I have previously posted information on this great Lancaster PA luxury home for sale in the desirable community of Veranda in East Hempfield Township.

With an acceptable offer, this home is now available to qualified buyers with a lower than normal down payment (95% Loan to Value).

Special Financing Offer to Qualified Buyers: 

Purchase price of $549,900.

$417,000 Conventional Loan at 5.375%*

 $2,335.08 Principal and Interest

$77,910 Second Mortgage through Union National Bank at 6.0%

 $467.11 Principal and Interest

$27,495 Interest Only Owner Financing (terms to be negotiated)

 $91.65 per month

  Total Monthly Principal and Interest - $2893.84

  Total monthly principal and interest -  $3563.72)

 Total Savings** - 669.88 per month,  8038 per year,  241,156.8 over the course of the loan

*Interest rates subject to change.

**Plus $1000 off your closing and/or title costs if you finance through Ray Smith of Home National Mortgage.

Because the first mortgage is for 80% loan to value, it also avoids the cost of mortgage insurance.

 On a premium lot, this stately Georgian style brick home with its gables, overlooking a pond and farmland, has every upgrade imaginable.  Period characteristics such as wainscoting, chair rail and crown molding throughout blend with the most modern of conveniences.  Among its' many fine features are a sunken grand family room with a lovely fireplace and tray ceiling, master bedroom suite with gas fireplace, and a gourmet kitchen that includes a sunny English garden room.   With a three car garage, 3-1/2 baths and over 4,000 SF, this lovely home is now offered at the reduced price of $549,900.

1465 Drake Lane, a showplace in the desirable Veranda subdivision,  is now being offered as either an installment sale, or as a conventional purchase.  With your good credit and 10% down payment, the owners may approve  a structured sale in which you make monthly payments directly to the seller for a period of time, rather than immediately needing to obtain a mortgage.

The Installment Sale option can be very useful for buyers who may need to transfer quickly, but who have their own home to sell in a slow market,.  It also helps buyers who may not yet have worked enough time on a new job to qualify immediately for a loan.

On a premium lot, this stately Georgian style brick home with its gables, overlooking a pond and farmland, has every upgrade imaginable.  Period characteristics such as wainscoting, chair rail and crown molding throughout blend with the most modern of conveniences.  Among its' many fine features are a sunken grand family room with a lovely fireplace and tray ceiling, master bedroom suite with gas fireplace, and a gourmet kitchen that includes a sunny English garden room.   With a three car garage, 3-1/2 baths and over 4,000 SF, this lovely home is now offered at the reduced price of  $549,900.

Veranda is a beautiful community in East Hempfield Township, close to shopping centers, the Lancaster Health Campus and hospitals - yet in a historic setting overlooking a pond and picturesque barns and farmhouses.  Miles of walking trails and sidewalks meander through this well-planned community

The location is ideal.  If you would like additional details, or you would like your own private showing of this fine home, please call (717) 951-5552.