Lancaster County PA Realty Check: Pennsylvania: Lancaster

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...

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.

Coldwell Banker Select Professionals of Lancaster, York, Hershey and Lebanon, PA holds its annual company get-together.

                         The festivities take place on CEO Ryan Hess's grounds near East Petersburg.

                       The swimming pool keeps the kids (and some of the adults) happily occupied.

A custom red, white and blue cake puts us in a patriotic mood.  Nearby is an announcement of the upcoming "dunk the partners" contest...

                                    Down goes partner Quentin Miller...  "Good shot, Honey!"

       Some of these guys take the contest seriously!  Do we have some major pitching talent here?

                                                        A freshly soaked partner Ron Felpel...

                Teammate Jeff Geoghan with his family.

©BrianSchulman2009

If you've passed Lancaster PA's Buchanan Park, located on Lancaster's West End at Buchanan and Race Avenue, you may have wondered why the small historic building, of almost doll house proportions, is located close to the middle of the park.  I had originally guessed that it might have once been a small schoolhouse.

In fact, the building is a miniature reproduction of the old Lancaster Courthouse.  During World War I, war bonds were sold from this small edifice, at the time located on Penn Square.

In recent years, the building has sat unused, its paint peeling and and its cupola leaning unsteadily.

Now Lancaster City Parks and Recreation plans to straighten up the cupola, paint and make other repairs with the help of students from the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.

Lancaster City Parks & Recreation will conduct a study toassess whether additional structural repairs may be needed to restore the building.

©BrianSchulman2009 

Cannons, a marching band and fireworks capped off the Fourth of July weekend in Lancaster, PA this year!

Long's Park was the focal point for an estimated 35,000 Lancastrians to celebrate our country's birthday!

The festivities were scheduled to officially start at 7:30 pm.  Knowing that the crowds would be large, we arrived an hour and a half early - only to be turned away at the lower entrance to the park, which was alread full.

We were guided into an upper meadow, where the overflow cars were parked.  Those who came too late to park inside Long's Park at all had to cross over into Park City Center.  There is a pedestrian tunnel which runs from Park City's parking lot, under Route 30 into Long's Park.

We brought a picnic dinner with us, along with folding chairs and a blanket, and set up our little space near the top of the hill overlooking the band shell.  

There were food concessions, from hot dogs and burgers to ice cream, funnel cakes and one stand with beautiful large blooming onions.  of course, if you wanted food from the concessions, you had to put up with the long lines...

The music was provided by the 257th Army Band - the same one that played at the inaugeration of Barack Obama.  They started out with a medley of Beatles tunes, then some WWII big band numbers, including "American Patrol".

 Then it was time for Lancaster ex-Mayor Charlie Smithgall's cannons, accompanied by the Army Band's rousing rendition of the 1812 Overture. 

                     As night fell, the fireworks started, to the accompaniment of patriotic marches... 

©2009BrianSchulman

 With the warm weather upon us, the farmland around Veranda in East Hempfield, Lancaster County, PA has come to life...

Historic barns and farmhouses surrounding Veranda, a lovely community, have been preserved and maintained...

Miles of walking trails run through the community.  There's also a wonderful square where community events take place throughout the year.

A pond, stocked with fish, supplies a peaceful, traditional way to pass the time on a summer weekend...

©BrianSchulman2009

If You See This Magnificent Home In the Heart of Lancaster County...

...you will appreciate what an incredible value it is at the reduced price of $549,900.

On a premium lot, this stately Georgian style brick home with its gables, overlooking a pond and farmland, has both superior size and superlative upgrades.  1465 Drake Lane is one of the finest homes in the desirable Veranda community.

The home is based on the largest model available in Veranda, the Creswood - but with even more square footage due to a huge game room addition on the second level, which could also be used as a fifth bedroom. 

Other features that set this home apart from the competition: gorgeous cherry finished oak floors - a $40,000 custom upgrade -complement the cherry kitchen cabinetry, and continue throughout the house.  Period characteristics such as wainscoting, chair rail and crown molding throughout blend with the most modern of conveniences, including wiring for Surround Sound and Internet throughout.  Custom wood interior shutters (over $20,000) add to the classic interior.   Rounded drywall corners are on all vertical wall corners and the arches.

 Lovingly built by Charter Homes, among its' many fine features are a sunken grand family room with an elegant fireplace and 10' tray ceiling, master bedroom suite with gas fireplace, and a gourmet kitchen that includes a new $5,000. stainless steel double oven and a sunny English garden room.   With a three car garage, 3-1/2 baths and 4,055 square feet, this lovely home is now offered at $549,900.

Veranda is a beautiful community in East Hempfield Township, close to shopping centers, the Lancaster Health Campus and Women and Babies Hospital - yet in a historic setting overlooking a pond and picturesque barns and farmhouses.  Family and cultural events are held throughout the year.  Miles of walking trails and sidewalks meander through this well-planned community.

Directions:  Rte 30 to Harrisburg Ave W approx 1.5 mi, L at Veranda, L on Banner Dr, L on Grassy Way, R on Carroll La, R on Drake La.

Discover Elegant Living In the Heart of Lancaster County...

On a premium lot, this stately Georgian style brick home with its gables, overlooking a pond and farmland, has both superior size and superlative upgrades.  1465 Drake Lane is one of the finest homes in the desirable Veranda community.

The home is based on the largest model available in Veranda, the Creswood - but with even more square footage due to a huge game room addition on the second level, which could also be used as a fifth bedroom. 

Other features that set this home apart from the competition: gorgeous cherry finished oak floors - a $40,000 custom upgrade -complement the cherry kitchen cabinetry, and continue throughout the house.  Period characteristics such as wainscoting, chair rail and crown molding throughout blend with the most modern of conveniences, including wiring for Surround Sound and Internet throughout.  Custom wood interior shutters (over $20,000) add to the classic interior.   Rounded drywall corners are on all vertical wall corners and the arches.

 Lovingly built by Charter Homes, among its' many fine features are a sunken grand family room with an elegant fireplace and 10' tray ceiling, master bedroom suite with gas fireplace, and a gourmet kitchen that includes a new $5,000. stainless steel double oven and a sunny English garden room.   With a three car garage, 3-1/2 baths and 4,055 square feet, this lovely home is offered at $549,900.

Veranda is a beautiful community in East Hempfield Township, close to shopping centers, the Lancaster Health Campus and Women and Babies Hospital - yet in a historic setting overlooking a pond and picturesque barns and farmhouses.  Family and cultural events are held throughout the year.  Miles of walking trails and sidewalks meander through this well-planned community.

OPEN FOR THE FIRST TIME SUNDAY, MAY 15, 1:00 - 3:00 PM. 

Directions:  Rte 30 to Harrisburg Ave W approx 1.5 mi, L at Veranda, L on Banner Dr, L on Grassy Way, R on Carroll La, R on Drake La.

Are you tired of renting??     

Have you heard about the new FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT?  It could put up to /$8,000 cash in your pocket!  You can make your dream of home ownership come true! 

There will be a FREE FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER SEMINAR THURS.  April 30, 6:30 -7:30 PM at 1000 N. Prince Street, Lancaster, PA.

Are you tired of making payments to your landlord month after month and having nothing to show for it?  Now a FREE seminar reveals secrets of how to stop paying rent and own a home instead!  Deciding to buy your own home is probably one of the biggest decisions you've ever made.  It's an exciting time - but it's serious business, too - and you need serious advice.

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credits 

What mortgage programs are available?

Is now the best time to buy?

What are the tax benefits of buying versus renting?

How do I get started?

Join us for an hour of powerful dialog in which these and many other questions will be answered!  

To reserve your place for this exciting opportunity, call Brian Schulman, Jeff Geoghan Realty Group, Coldwell Banker Select Professionals at 951-5552, or email brian@cbselectpros.com

Light refreshments will be served.

The original Boston Tea Party took place in 1773 to protest taxation without representation.  This year, Tax Day - April 15 - is the symbolic day when peaceful "Tea Parties" will be held across the country to protest trillions of dollars being spent by our own government.

In Lancaster, PA, Musser Park, at N. Lime & E. Chestnut Streets,  will be the location for what promises to be a significant gathering of citizens and political leaders, doing their part as guaranteed under the Constitution to practice free speech and send a strong message to Washington DC.

A distinguished lineup of speakers is slated for the party scheduled 4:00 - 7:00 pm.  At 4:20 pm, the National Anthem will be sung by Nicole Quinn.  Speakers include Representative Sam Rohrer of Berks County; Jim Compton of the National Veteran's Committee on Constitutional Affairs; Bill Neff, security specialist; Pat Sellers of the John Birch Society, constitutional scholar Bill Reil; Fred Weigand speaking on Foundations of our Forefathers, and Roy Minet of the Libertarian Party.

The drizzly weather of the last couple of days is unlikely to dampen the spirits of Lancastrians wanting to bring some common sense back to American fiscal policy.

Glenn Beck, nationally syndicated radio show host will be hosting a Tea Party at the Alamo, site of the famous 1836 San Antonio rebellion, in which Texas stood as an independent republic against Mexico.  Texas Governor Rick Perry will be the featured speaker.