If you drive through most rural areas during the summer you’ll notice corn stands or trucks filled with ears of corn along the side of the roads. In our area you’ll see signs for “Firestone Corn”. There are two “Firestone” brothers who both have their own farms and sell their corn.
Usually family members pick up fresh corn from the farm and set up their stands. The one that used to be on the corner of 31 and 711 in Donegal is now in the Family Dollar parking lot. How easy for those of you headed to the resorts or Ohio Pyle to just pull over and get a bag full! Look for the signs and the white truck.
Butter and sugar is the type that you’ll find at the Family Dollar store. These ears have the big yellow and white kernels mixed and tend to be very sweet!! A “farmers dozen” will run you $5.50 ENJOY! We’ve had several dozen and so far and it’s been very tasty!
July is when all of the boroughs and townships publicize their new millage rates. These rates are used along with the assessed value of your property to determine what amount of county, township/boro, and school taxes that you will pay.
Here are the new rates for all of the areas in the counties we do business 2010 Fayette Millage, 2010 Somerset Millage, and 2010 Westmoreland Millage. Each county uses a different formula for calculating the assessed value of your property. Millage for Hidden Valley (Jefferson Township) went from 48.95 to 50.26 and Seven Springs (Middlecreek Township) saw a slight decrease in mills going from 32.11 to 31.97.
Here’s an example of the difference! If your property has an assessed value of $75,000 and you are in Hidden Valley your total tax bill (county, township and school) would be $3,769.50. At Seven Springs your tax bill would come to $2,397.75 This is just one of the variables that should be considered when deciding between the two resorts!
Amenities, facilities, association fees, services, these are a few that should be at the top of your list. Then there is location, price, size, ect granted most times you will have to compromise! The best advice we can give you is make a wish list of what is important to and hold out for at least for the top three items! REMEMBER ALWAYS work with a REALTOR offering designated agency!
Wednesday the work began and it will take till next week to finish! When I tried to find out just what was being done and how long it would take I tried the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, (Penn Dot) web site. I was unsuccessful in finding anything about the project on line but did find some numbers to calls for help.
According to Val, “It’s from Route 381(around the Jones Mills post office) to 711 (around the PNC bank) on Route 31, that’s about a mile and a half.” This is the Gateway to the Laurel Highlands and when it’s done it will be one smooth ride! On Wednesday the milling work began on both sides of the road. There were no signs posted about the drop offs!
The resurfacing with asphalt begins as soon as the milling work is completed. As Route 31 is down to one lane you may end up sitting outside of the Prudential Preferred Realty Office. Here’s a slide show of the construction and the gang that works in the Prudential office! Remember you pass the office on the way to Hidden Valley, Seven Springs, and the Laurel Highlands!! Stop in for ANY OF YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS!
If you don’t want to deal with the construction and are headed to Seven Springs, when you exit the turnpike turn right, then turn left on Hellen School Road, at the cross road turn left (it’s County Line Road) and you’ll end up at the four way stop by the Champion post office and gas station.
We started offering this valuable resource in January and many of you are NOW watching the market in real time! On a monthly basis this program updates YOU on properties for sale, properties sold during the past 3 months, days on market and much more! The actual feed for the source is from the West Penn MLS.
Here are a few tips to consider when answering the 11 questions. The first three questions are the norm until you get to the “I am.” The program wants to know if you are a buyer or seller. We have found that the system works best if you select “buyer”.
Questions 6-11 all relate to YOUR search criteria. Here are a few zip codes that you may want to use, Hidden Valley (15502), Seven Springs (15622), Donegal (15628), and Somerset (15501). Unfortunately you are only allowed ONE selection for any of these six fields.
HOWEVER, we have an override! For example, if under home type you would consider condos AND town homes we can adjust your search parameters to accept them both! This really gives you a clearer picture of the market activity is in any price range. You just need to ask us to “fine tune” your search!
Remember, the report won’t tell you the variables in the market place such as MARKET ABSOPTION, condition, floor plans, or stats longer than 3months! All critical information you should have in your hands BEFORE buying or selling! That’s why WE are still around! To try out the Market Snapshot program go to Laurel Highlands Home Values.
We try to keep our readers more informed on the current happenings in the Laurel Highlands which includes Hidden Valley and Seven Springs Resorts. Now you are able to set up an RSS feed from our BLOG into your reader. That way you don’t have to search for our updates they come to when we post something new.
Many of you have a dazed look on your face! RSS feed! What’s that?! More technology?? Here’s a short YouTube video from commoncraft explaining what an RSS feed is and how it works!
Ok, now that you have a better understanding of how this will keep you updated on a more timely manner go get your reader! Then open up Laurel Highlands Local, look in the right column and scroll down until you come to the RSS Subscription box.
Click on the RSS symbol and it will ask if you want to subscribe and what folder you want the post to be delivered to. I have one in my e mail folders. That way you will get the latest on what’s happening in the Laurel Highlands, or from any other Blog or news source that you want to hear from!
NEVER HAVE BUYERS HAD THE PRICES, INVENTORY, AND INTEREST RATES THAT ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT BOTH RESORTS! After a ski season like we just had (historically) we see a jump in sales the following fall. Buyers recall the hassle of making the trip here (digging out of the driveway, hoping the roads have been cleared, forgetting ski gear, ect) and decide they should BUY NOW!
Stats for the first 6 months indicate sales just about even with last year sold resale transfers. Sold prices for the first half of the year are slightly higher at both resorts compared to the same time last year! This could be an indication that we maybe at the bottom of the market! SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!
We want to foreworn you that even though interest rates are awesome, down payments are back to being the norm. And we’re not talking 5 or 10%. Before you begin looking at properties have a chat with your loan officer. If you are considering a condo (especially at Seven Springs) you should be talking to the Private Lending Department.
Inventory at both resorts continues to grow ensuring a strong buyers market. Selling or buying you really want to make sure that options are provided to you for sheltering your bottom line! The ONLY way to do that is to work with a DESIGNATED AGENT like us!
The Somerset Daily American quotes Frank Kovak, Seven Springs Borough Manager saying that the “Council voted unanimously to disband the police department as of December 31, 2010.” According to the article Seven Springs Resort notified the department that their contract would not be renewed. That will end 37 years of work protecting guests and home owners. Let that action sink in.
Yes, the resort has a security department but their actions are limited by law. Not only does the resort utilize the services provided by this department but all of the home owner associations have a line item expenditure for police protection in their budgets. “Money” was cited as the deciding factor.
This means that if and when trouble occurs the “HELP” call will go to State Police.
In support of the Laurel Mountain Volunteer Group’s (LMVG) first of three 2010 trail care days, PTAG (Pittsburgh Trails Advocacy Group) will be hosting a “Laurel Mountain Work and Roll Weekend”, June 19-20th, 2010.
This is a great opportunity for everyone who enjoys the beautiful trails at Laurel Mountain to kick something back, break a sweat and make the trails even better and more enjoyable!
After a hard day’s work, PTAG will be providing cold, tasty, FREE Penn Brewery Craft beer!
The DCNR will be providing FREE camping on Laurel Mountain Saturday night!
On Sunday we FREE-ride and enjoy the fruits of our labor!
Details:
* When: Saturday, June 19th – Sunday, June 20th
* Work: Saturday, 9:30am – 2:30pm. Meet at the Warming Hut parking lot on Summit Road near the entrance to the Laurel Mt. Ski Resort.
* Camp: The DCNR has generously granted us permission to camp over for free Saturday night. PTAG will be providing free beer after Saturday’s work session at the camp area. BYO Everything. Bring telescopes too as this site offers a tremendous skyline view. Camping will be located at “Motorized Site #1. Directions: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/camping/forbes.aspx
* Ride: Sunday, 10am. Both brisk and casual-paced rides will be offered with multiple bail points. Everyone rides!
What a shame! This once to be, multi-million dollar property will be up for Sheriff Sale Friday May 21, 2010. The sale will be held in the main lobby of the Somerset County Courthouse, 300 North Center Avenue, Somerset, PA 15501 at 1:30 PM.
Sheriff Sale
This 5.95 acre parcel was purchased in 2004 for $255,000. It’s lot #5 known as 154 Ptarmagin Way. The building process began quickly and according to the sellers disclosure the roof was installed in 2005. However, the house itself was never completed and has weathered several winters without heat.
This two story dwelling has 5 bedrooms, 6 baths, 5 fireplaces, and a 3 car integral garage. The deed book number is 1788 page 14. We see someone with their own construction company being the successful bidder of this one!
According to the sheriff’s department all interested parties should do a lien search PRIOR to bidding to see who is in the first lien position. If you are the successful bidder you will need to have 10% down (cash or certified funds) and the remaining balance paid before the following Friday.
This is a rare occurrence at Seven Springs! One reason for that is since real estate development began there has NEVER been a case of overbuilding! It’s all about supply and demand.
Pheasant Run is a gated community with 31 parcels ranging from 3 to 12 acres. There are still 8 parcels offered for sale according to the Seven Springs web site.
If you would like to see a monthly active and sold report tailored to your specific criteria and delivered to your e-mail sign up for our Market SnapShot. It pulls information out of the West Penn MLS system. We keep a multitude of statistical information and welcome the opportunity to share our market knowledge with motivated parties.
For EVERYONE, the trick in getting relevant information pertinent to your needs is in the set up! Try going into the advanced screen to tailor the market areas YOU are interested in for buying or selling! Better yet catch up with Abe and she’ll help walk you through!
Recorded sales transfers for the resorts are acquired electronically from records inputted at the Somerset County Court House, Office of the Recorder of Deeds. We review sales in Jefferson (Hidden Valley) and Middlecreek (Seven Springs) Townships on a weekly basis. We have the ability to search records in Somerset, Fayette and Westmoreland counties to assist our clients.
Prices do not reflect bill of sales and other out of settlement transfers. Furnishings, which are included in the majority of sales are assigned no monetary value. We do not post transfers that carry $1.00 values.
Butter and sugar is the type that you’ll find at the Family Dollar store. These ears have the big yellow and white kernels mixed and tend to be very sweet!! A “farmers dozen” will run you $5.50 ENJOY! We’ve had several dozen and so far and it’s been very tasty!
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