Lancaster County PA Realty Check: Pennsylvania

A Few Bright Spots in Local Lancaster County PA Real Estate Market

LANCASTER—According to a report released by the Lancaster County Association of Realtors® (LCAR), the 309 homes sold in November is a 1.9 percent decrease from the November 2010 mark of 315. For January through November of 2011, there have been 3,600 sales, a 4.6 percent decrease from 3,773 units during the same period in 2010.

The average sale price for November 2011 is $171,523, a decrease of 4.2 percent from the November 2010 price tag of $178,997. The five-year average sale price for the month of November is $178,175. The median sale price for November of 2011 is $157,000 compared to $164,900 in November 2010 (half of the properties sold during this period sold above the number, and half sold below).

For November, there were 555 new listings in 2011, a 32.5 percent decrease from the November 2010 new listings of 822. The five-year average of new listings for November is 609.

Pending sales, homes that went under contract in the month of November, increased 16.0 percent from 307 in 2010 to 356 in 2011. Over 43 percent of homes that sold in November were on the market 60 days or less.

“The bright light is that pending sales continue to trend upward (six of the last seven months). A drop over the last four months in the number of new listings is also an encouraging sign that the market is improving,” said LCAR president, Glenn Yoder. “Although 2012 will not be a record-breaking year, we do anticipate a steady return to a healthier local housing market.”

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said improved contract activity is a hopeful sign. “Home sales have been plodding along at a sub-par level while interest rates are hovering at record lows,and there is a pent-up demand from buyers who normally would have entered the market in recent years. We hope this indicates more buyers are taking advantage of the excellent affordability conditions,” he said. “Many consumers are recognizing that home buyers in the past two years have had one of the lowest default rates in history. Moreover, continued inventory declines are another healthy sign for the housing market.”

LCAR, representing over 1,400 members involved in all aspects of the real estate industry, is one of more than 1,800 local associations nationwide which comprise the National Association of Realtors®.

There are great singles activities in January, including several double-header weekends!

Saturday, January 7 - Singles Dance at the Wisehaven Ballroom, 2985 E. Prospect Rd. (PA 124), York, 7:30-11:00 pm.  BYOB.  Entertainment to be determined.  Admission $10.

Sunday, January 8 - Singles Dance at the Valencia Ballroom, 142 N. George Street, York, 7:30-11:00 pm.  Live music by Rumor Has It.  Admission $10.

Saturday, January 15 - Singles Dance at the Valencia Ballroom, 142 N. George Street, York, 7:30-11:00 pm.  Band to be announced.  Admission $10. 

Tuesday January 17 – Dine-out at Park City Diner, 884 Plaza Blvd. across from Park City, 6:15 pm.

Saturday January 21 – Singles Dance at the Wisehaven Ballroom, 2985 E. Prospect Rd. (PA 124), York, 7:30-11:00 pm.  BYOB.  Live music by The Dave Winter Group.  Admission $10. 

Sunday, January 22 - Singles Dance at the Valencia Ballroom, 142 N. George Street, York, 7:30-11:00 pm.  Band to be announced.  Admission $10. 

Saturday January 28 – Singles Dance at the Wisehaven Ballroom, 2985 E. Prospect Rd. (PA 124), York, 7:30-11:00 pm.  BYOB.  Band to be announced.  Admission $10.

Please bear in mind that the dances are not sponsored by Red Rose Singles, and are only provided as information. 

     Red Rose Singles of Lancaster PA December Newsletter      

 November 8 the gang dined out at the Kingdom Buffet. We had a great turn-out at Chancey’s Pub in East Petersburg November 15. Join us at the December 6 meeting for a holiday party!

There’s a full holiday line-up of activities for December 2011!

Sunday, December 4 - Singles dance at the Valencia Ballroom, 142 N. George Street, York, 7:30-11:00 pm.  Live music by Solid Gold.  Admission $10. 

Tuesday, December 6 – Red Rose Singles meeting - Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Rd, Lancaster.  Sign-in starts at 7:00 pm; meeting starts at 7:30 pm.  Holiday party - bring a refreshment to share! 

Sunday, December 11 - Singles dance at the Wisehaven Ballroom, 2985 E. Prospect Rd (PA 124), York, 7:30-11:00 pm.  BYOB.  Live music by The Headliners.  Admission $10. 

Tuesday, December 13 - Longwood Gardens day trip - meet at the Giant, Lancaster Shopping Center at 4:00 pm.  Cost will be about $18. 

Friday, December 16 - Dawn - holiday party - 6:00 pm.  Call 717-201-0715 for directions. 

Saturday, December 17 - Singles dance at the Lancaster Host, 2300 Lincoln Highway East, 6:30-10:00 pm.  admission $10. with coupon.  Santa will be making an appearance!

Sunday, December 18 - Singles dance at the Valencia Ballroom, 142 N. George Street, York, 7:30-11:00 pm.  Annual Christmas Dance.  Great door prizes, including a giant 51" plasma TV!  Music by D.J.Ray.  Admission $10. 

Tuesday, December 20 - Dine-out at Infinito's Pizza, 874 Plaza Blvd, across from Park City, 6:15 pm. 

Sunday, December 26 - "I Survived Christmas" Dance at the Valencia Ballroom, 142 N. George Street, York, 7:30-11:00 pm.  Entertainment to be announced.  Admission $10. 

Sunday, December 30 - Annual "New Year's Eve Eve" Dance - New Year's Eve one night early - at the Valencia Ballroom, 142 N. George Street, York, 7:30-11:00 pm.  Live music by The Headliners.  Admission $10.

 Please bear in mind that the dances are not sponsored by Red Rose Singles, and are only provided as information.

       Red Rose Singles of Lancaster PA November Newsletter       

Twenty singles dined out at D & S Brasserie in Lancaster October 18 – great atmosphere.  There was a large crowd of singles and some wonderful costumes at the Wisehaven dance October 30.  Join us at our November 1 meeting for a free line dance lesson!

   Here are some great singles activities for November 2011!

Tuesday, November 1 – Red Rose Singles meeting - Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Rd, Lancaster.  Sign-in starts at 7:00 pm; meeting starts at 7:30 pm. 

Sunday November 6 - Singles dance at the Valencia Ballroom, 142 N. George St, York, 7:30-11:00 pm.  Live music by the Citations Duo.  Admission $10. 

Sunday November 13 -  Singles dance at the Valencia Ballroom, 142 N. George St, York, 7:30-11:00 pm.  Live music by Rumor Has It (tentative).  Admission $10. 

Tuesday November 15 - Dine-out at Chancey's Pub, 6049 Main Street, East Petersburg, 6:15 pm. 

Sunday November 20 - Singles Dance at theWisehaven Ballroom, 2985 E. Prospect Rd (PA 124), York, 7:30-11:00 pm.  Live entertainment by The Headliners.  BYOB.  Admission $10. 

Sunday November 27 - Singles Dance at the Valencia Ballroom, 142 N. George St, York, 7:30-11:00.  Entertainment to be announced.  Admission $10.

Please bear in mind that the dances are not sponsored by Red Rose Singles, and are only provided as information.  

Lancaster County PA: Home Sale Increase May Be Misleading - 2011 September

The Lancaster County Association of REALTORS®  (LCAR) has released a report showing that 345 homes settled in July 2011, a 21.1% increase over the 285 homes sold in July 2010.  While an increase like this is encouraging, it masks the distortion of the Federal tax credit program last year.

In 2010, homes that were under agreement by April 30, that settled no later than June 30, were eligible for up to $8,000. tax credits.  This was a great incentive for buyers to schedule their settlements before the end of June 2010.  The result was that sales that might have otherwise gone into July 2010 were compressed into June settlements so that the tax credit would not be lost.

The effect of this artificial increase in June 2010, was a depressed level of July 2010 settlements.  Hence the percentage increase for July 2011 is somewhat overstated.  Nonetheless, there does seem to be an increased level of interest by homebuyers.

               "Increased Consumer Interest Bodes Well for Local Home Sales"

LANCASTER—According to a report released today by the Lancaster County Association of Realtors®  (LCAR), 345 homes sold in July of this year, a 21.1 percent increase from the 285 sales in July 2010. During the first seven months of the year, there was a 12.2 percent decrease from the 2,518 sales in 2010 to 2,210 in 2011.

Pending sales, homes that went under contract in the month of July,  increased 15.5 percent from 348 in 2010 to 402 in 2011. Over 52 percent of homes that sold in July were on the market 60 days or less.  The $180,678 average sale price for July 2011 is a 13.6 percent decrease compared to the July 2010 price tag of $209,023 (the highest single monthly average sale price recorded). The median sale price for the month in 2011 is $165,000 versus $184,000 for July 2010 (half of the properties sold during this period sold above that number, and half sold below). When comparing July 2001 to 2011, the average sale price increased 40.4 percent from $128,699 in 2001.  There was a 4.5 percent increase in the number of new listings from 685 in July 2010 to 716 in July 2011. The five-year average number of new listings for July was 734.

“Since trying to determine trends at this point by comparing 2010 to 2011 is difficult due to the effects of last year’s government-sponsored tax credits, we are predicting increased activity based on higher numbers of internet page views, greater volumes of calls, increased traffic at open houses and Government promises that interest rates will remain low into 2013,” said LCAR president, Glenn Yoder.  “Many offices throughout the County report that the public is expressing renewed interest in housing through the initial phases of the home ownership process.”

                                      Red Rose Singles of Lancaster PA August Newsletter                

Lancaster County PA Home Sale Market Report

LCAR, the Lancaster County Association of Realtors®, releases a monthly report of the latest home sale statistics gathered for Lancaster County, PA.  Following is the latest report, indicating that the number of sales this January is close to the number of sales last January.  However, the number of new listings is down over 15%.  This might be a leading indicator that the surplus of houses on the market in Lancaster may be ebbing, which could firm up prices.

January 2011 vs. January 2010 - Similar Home Sales Numbers

LANCASTER - According to a report released today by the Lancaster County Association of Realtors® (LCAR), 206 homes sold in January of this year, a 0.5 percent decrease from the 207 sales in January 2010.

Pending sales, homes that went under contract in the month of January, changed marginally from 303 in 2010 to 301 in 2011. Over 44 percent of homes that sold in January were on the market 60 days or less.

The $176,352 average sale price for January 2011 is a 6.2 percent decrease compared to the January 2010 price tag of $188,107. The median sale price for the month in 2011 is $169,900 versus $165,000 for the first month of 2010 (half of the properties sold during this period sold above that number, and half sold below). The difference in average sale price can be largely explained by the fact that in 2010 there were 11 homes that sold at $400,000 or more; in 2011, there were only 4 homes. When comparing January 2001 to 2011, the average sale price increased 45.2 percent from $121,443 in 2001. There was a 15.3 percent decrease in the number of new listings from 759 in January 2010 to 643 in January 2011.

"Lancaster real estate agents are reporting that activity is picking up with more calls and increased traffic at open houses; plus the January numbers this year are very similar to 2010," said LCAR president, Glenn Yoder. "That is very encouraging news, because the numbers this year stand alone without the influence of the government sponsored tax credit program that continued to be in play for the first four months of 2010."

Red Rose Singles of Lancaster PA March Newsletter

Due to the ice storm in February, the Red Rose Singles meeting had to be cancelled.  Therefore our March meeting will pick with the same program we were planning for February.

Here's the singles lineup for March:

Tuesday March 1 - Our Red Rose Singles meeting - sign-in starts at 7:00 pm, and the meeting starts at 7:30 pm.  As always, we meet the first Tuesday of each month at the Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Rd, Lancaster.  Come in March for a free line dance lesson!

Sunday March 6 - Dance at the Radisson Penn Harris, 1150 Camp Hill Bypass (Rtes 11 & 15), Camp Hill, PA, 7:30 - 11:00 pm.  Solid Gold will supply live music, and there will be a free line dance lesson.  Admission $10.

Sunday March 13 - St. Patrick's dance at the Radisson Penn Harris, 1150 Camp Hill Bypass (Rtes 11 & 15), Camp Hill, PA, 7:30 - 11:00 pm.  Prizes for the best St. Pattie's costumes, DJ Ray, and a line dance lesson.  Admission $10.

Tuesday March 15 - dineout at Yoder's Restaurant & Buffet, Route 23 in New Holland, off Route 23 at S. Tower Rd,  at 6:15 pm.

Sunday March 20 - Dance at the Holiday Inn, New Cumberland, exit 40A, Limekiln Rd. off I-83.   7:30-11:00 pm, with live music by Saxy.  Free line dance lesson.  Admission $10.

 Friday March 25 - Dance at the Lancaster Host Resort, 2300 Lincoln Highway East (Route 30, across from Dutch    Wonderland), Lancaster, PA.  Admission $10 (with $2. coupon).

 Sunday March 27 -  Dance at the Valencia Ballroom, 142 N. George Street, York, 7:30-11:00 pm, with live music by the      Headliners.

 Please bear in mind that the dances are not sponsored by Red Rose Singles, and are only provided as information.

 Hope you can come to the March 1 meeting - past meetings with this type of program have been very popular! 

Red Rose Singles of Lancaster PA February Newsletter

Our January meeting with its "Game Night" theme was a lot of fun.  We broke into several groups with varying editions of Trivial Pursuit.  There was no scoring, so no one got to gloat or be embarassed!

Here's the lineup for February:

Tuesday February 1 - Our Red Rose Singles meeting - sign-in starts at 7:00 pm, and the meeting starts   at 7:30 pm.  As always, we meet the first Tuesday of each month at the Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Rd, Lancaster.  Come in February for a free line dance lesson!

 Saturday February 5 - SuperBowl dance at the Valencia Ballroom, 142 N. George Street, York,  7:30 - 11:00 pm.  DJ Ray will MC.  There will be a contest to guess the score of the SuperBowl.  We're told that the prize for the closest guess will be a 42" TV!

Tuesday February 15 - dineout at Scooters, Route 501 in Lititz at 6:30 pm.

 Friday February 18 - Dance at the Lancaster Host Resort, Route 30 East, Lancaster, 7:30 - 11:00 pm.  Music will be supplied by Dee & Kerry Herman.

 Sunday February 20 - Dance at the Valencia Ballroom, York, 7:30-11:00 pm, with live music by Saxy.

 Sunday February 27 -  Dance at the Valencia Ballroom, York, 7:30-11:00 pm with live band Rumor Has It.

 There's a lot of good stuff going on in the shortest month - we hope you can participate.

 Go Steelers! 

Big Price Reduction on Lancaster PA Townhouse:

This remodeled Lancaster PA city townhouse has been reduced in price!  It has efficient upgraded windows, new laminate flooring, new carpet, an eat-in kitchen plus a dining room, and an oversize bath.

The asking price has been reduced to only $69,900!  A garage is available directly across the street for rent at $50/month if desired.

This property is eligible for a PHFA Keystone Plus loan - up to $3,000 assistance with closing costs and/or down payment!