The last Saturday in April of each year is a special day in downtown Bloomsburg, PA.  For over 20 years, Main Street is closed from early morning until early evening for a street fair. 

Renaissance Jamboree is a celebration of Spring where everyone comes out to enjoy lots of food provided by all non-profit organizations, and over 150 crafters selling their unique creations. 

In addition, there is plenty of entertainment for all ages. 

What a wonderful day in Downtown Bloomsburg!  Make plans to visit the only Incorporated Town in PA, Bloomsburg, for our next Renaissance Jamboree!

To see a video of Renaissance Jamboree of 2009, visit my web site at www.DotSellsBloomsburg.com and click on the Area Video Library. 

On my web site you can also see videos of our beautiful town. 

If you are moving to Bloomsburg, PA, contact me for the utmost in quality service.  I'd love to help you! 

Don't miss the window of opportunity!  There couldn't be a better time to buy!  Affordable prices, historic low interest rates (as low as the World War II era), and FREE MONEY FROM UNCLE SAM!  That's right...in February the new and improved tax credit expanded the $7500 tax credit (which was similar to an interest free loan because it had to be repaid) to an $8000 tax credit that does not have to be repaid!  Of course, there are some noteable guidelines--income limits for single borrower of $75,000 adjusted gross income and $150,000 for a married couple.  Also, you must own the home for three years, and to qualify as a "first time buyer" you could not have owned a primary residence within the last three years.  Settlement must occur in 2009 BEFORE December 1st, so don't wait until the last minute.  It is best to begin your search now vecause as the deadline approaches there will be more buyers in the marketplace, which can cause untimely delays with appraisers, inspectors, lenders, and title companies.  Visit my web site at www.DotSellsBloomsburg.com for additional information on the tax credit.

If you are interested in taking advantage of this awesome opportunity that we will probably never see again, I'd be happy to help!  I have a great presentation explaining the tax credit that I can e-mail to you if you'd like more information.  E-mail me at Dot@DotRhone.com and request the presentation.  I have over 24 years experience helping buyers and sellers in Bloomsburg, PA and the surrounding areas in Columbia, Montour and lower Luzerne counties.  If you are in another area of the country and need a knowledgeable and experienced professional to help guide you through this process, contact me and I'll research your area for the most qualified agent to represent you...for free! 

Contact me at Dot@DotRhone.com, call or text me at 570-204-0279, or call my office at 570-784-2821 Extension 19.  I'll look forward to helping you make your real estate dreams come true.  WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH AN EXTRA $8,000? 

Real estate continues to be the best investment on the planet.  Of course, it is a long term investment where you can build equity and appreciation as well as enjoy the tax benefits of home ownership.  The new stimulus plan that was passed in February 2008 included a tax credit to first time homebuyers.  Any first time buyer (a buyer who has not owned a property in the past three years) is entitled to an $8000 tax credit if they purchase a property in 2009 prior to December 1st (as long as they qualify within the income limitations).  Unlike last year's tax credit of $7500 for those buyers that purchased from April through December in 2008 where repayment was required...the $8000 credit is just that, a credit with no repayment!

Mortgage rates continue to be at historic lows, there is an abundance of inventory on the market with prices either flat or declining in many areas of the country, and the buyer is in the driver's seat!  If a buyer has stable employment, good credit, and a nest egg available for a down payment and closing costs (or a family member willing to "gift" them funds to close, plus a knowledgeable and experienced REALTOR helping them navigate through the home buying process--BUY NOW!

If the current economic condition heads toward recovery in the time frame that was projected, those buyers that are on the fence waiting for prices to go even lower may just miss the boat!

Once they determine the bottom is here and it is time to act, it will be too late, because an upswing would have already begun.

 The thought of the IRS crediting a qualified first time home buyer $8000 is a great incentive!  ALL eligible buyers should seriously consider taking advantage of this unbelievable opportunity that has been presented to them by this stimulus package before it's gone!  I am excited about helping first time buyers in Bloomsburg, Berwick, Danville, and the outlying areas of Columbia, Montour, and lower Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania to help them get the American Dream! 

The National Association of REALTORS has prepared an excellent presentation explaining the details of the tax credit.  Please CLICK HERE to review this information to see if you qualify, then e-mail me to begin your search. 

One weekend each and every July the town of Bloomsburg, PA will be overrun with truck enthusiasts.  The exciting summer 4-Wheel  Jamboree Nationals are hosted at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds.  Over 3,000 custom 4x4 trucks compete in various events including a ride and drive obstacle course, mud drag racing, burnout competition, and show and shine among others.  There is also a spectacular fireworks display on Saturday evening and a bikini contest.   For three days you can see big trucks, bigger trucks, and monster trucks.  Past participants have included the infamous monster trucks, Grave Digger, Bigfoot, and Avenger.  All of the participants and spectators, both young and old, enjoy seeing these incredible rigs.  The hours of operation for this year show are 10am to 6:30 pm on July 11, 9am to 8:00 pm on July 12, and 9am to 3:00 pm on July 13.  

The Progressive Farmer Magazine, published since 1886, has released its fourth annual top ten rankings of the Best Places to Live in Rural America 2008. Their selection is based on school quality, access to health care, low crime, and affordable farmland.  This year they offered extra credit to counties that have successfully protected farmland, controlled pressure from urban areas and struck a balance among agriculture, manufacturing, and modern convenience. Columbia County was listed as #5 on the top ten list, and was named #1 in the Northeast.  This convenient location is only a couple of hours from Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey, and travel is very easy with I-80 crossing the county from border to border.  The local schools have low student-teacher ratios, and Bloomsburg University, located in the county seat of Bloomsburg, has an enrollment of approximately 8000.  Excellent health care is readily available both throughout Columbia County and nearby at Geisinger Medical Center in the adjacent county.  Agriculture is still at the heart of the county with many farms scattered from one end to the other.  Nearly a half million-people visit the 250 acres of attractions at the Bloomsburg Fair each year, where the primary emphasis is still the promotion of agriculture.  The spectacular beauty of the hills and valleys can be seen throughout all four seasons, and visitors are in awe of the lovely countryside of Columbia County.  Here residents enjoy the escape from the hustle and bustle of city life while they enjoy country living, strong and vibrant communities where housing prices and the cost of living is still affordable, and scenic beauty any time of the year.  If you are looking for a great place to enjoy life and raise your family, Columbia County Pennsylvania may be the right choice for you!  When you are ready to move to Columbia County, I'm here to help!

Well the results are in!  My company, Century 21 Covered Bridges Realty, Inc. had a record breaking year in 2007.  We even had three agents break their personal best year.  We again lead the marketplace and outsold our nearest two competitors combined.  According to the multiple listing service of the Central Susquehanna Valley Board of Realtors, the average sale price increased slightly as did the number of days on the market.  My company continued to lead Columbia County in both the number of closed transactions and sales volume.

The media continues to dwell on the highest rate of forclosures in history and the weakness of the economy on the verge of a recession.  The doom and gloom in the real estate industry is perceived by everyone to be nationwide.  A friend of mine recently told me that the home values in his neighborhood are down 25% in Florida.  Even though I had heard that about several states including his, it was somewhat startling when he confirmed that fact. 

Real estate markets are local.  In our local area of northeastern PA, our market has been stable.  The best way to explain it is that we "never are as good as other areas, but we never are as bad either."  We are a small college town, home to Bloomsburg University, with local industries and medical facilities fueling our marketplace.  Sellers continue to sell their homes within a reasonable amount of time if they are priced properly and marketed extensively.  With interest rates continuing to fall, it could be one of the best times to be purchasing a property!

As an Associate Broker/Owner of my company, and training coordinator, we take great pride in our ability to effectively represent our clients with superior quality service.  Our agents have a combined total of over 40 professional real estate designations and college degrees to better prepare them to be successful Realtors.  We utilize all the most up to date tools available in our industry to the advantage of our clients, and take our committment to excellence very seriously.

For the best real estate service in Bloomsburg, PA, Coumbia County, and the surrounding area, call or e-mail us.

 Covered Bridges Realty, Inc.

                      395 Tenny Street

                      Bloomsburg,  PA  17815

                      570-784-2821

                     dot@dotrhone.com

Tush Push, Badonkadonk, Bow Legged, Settlin, Cruisin, Red High Heels, Waltz Across Texas, Irish Stew! 

                                                             What are they?                                        

Living in rural Pennsylvania, country music is enjoyed by many on their radios and televisions.  Country line dancing has been very popular in the Bloomsburg area since the early 90's.  Since my colleagues have always been health and weight conscious, we have been attempting to diet, work out, and lose weight for years.  It is always a struggle to find the time to get to the gym or have the energy to use the exercise ball and total gym after a long day of showing property and contract negotiations. 

Several of us (female agents) stumbled upon country line dancing lessons that are offered in our area.  Instructors hold lessons at various locations which include several churches, fire-halls, community centers, and a bar and restaurant.  We have been learning new dances every week for the past couple months.  We not only enjoy country line dancing, we are addicted!

Since I used to be a roller skating professional for many, many years, teaching figures, free skating, and dance, it is fairly easy for me to learn and remember the intricate steps, as I taught dance to my skaters and am used to remembering and teaching in small sequences of each dance.  In addition to reading real estate web sites most nights on my laptop, I find myself watching instructional videos on You-Tube of the newest country line dance from the prior week's lesson.  Now as I come into my office in the morning, it is not unusual for one of my colleagues to stop me and ask me to show them the missing steps they are unable to recall from the latest dance.  Periodically throughout the day it is also common to see one or more agents "dancing" through the office, or running up to the third floor storage area for a fifteen minute break to turn on the CD player that is kept there fully equipped with the proper country songs, to run through a dance or two. 

We are having a great time together a couple evenings a week and getting much needed exercise that is wonderful for the body and soul.  We even make it a family affair once a week and our husbands join us for dinner and watch our progress as we increase our repertoire of dance inventory while we all have fun!

If you are in Bloomsburg, PA and interested in learning country line dancing, e-mail or call me for the next date that instruction will be held at a local church, Buckhorn fire hall, or Bassetts.

If you are looking for a way to exercise that is fun and challenging, you may want to try country line dancing...and don't worry if country music isn't your thing, because you'll grow to like it as you learn the dances.

P.S.  We also wear Century 21 Covered Bridges Realty, Inc. logos on our shirts to promote ourselves and our company.

This morning was an ugly day in Bloomsburg.  It had been raining very hard since last evening.  My daughters called me at 9:30 a.m. and asked if I'd like to go along with them to the fall craft show to be held at the Columbia Montour Area Vocational Technical School today.  I think everyone in our town and the surrounding communities were there!  There were more than a hundred crafters displaying and selling their wares.  There were ghosts, goblins, Thanksgiving turkeys, and plenty of Santas and snowmen that were beautifully created and painted, many which were illuminated with sparkling white lights.  In addition there were lovely hand made clothing items,  handcrafted furniture, and decadent chocolates.  A highlight of the show every year is the luncheon that is available that is prepared by the food preparation students of the school.  Next weekend there will be a similar holiday craft show just across the hill at Central Columbia High School.  Each year in late October and early November these events are a nice way to get into the holiday spirit. 

 If you are near Bloomsburg on one of these craft show Saturdays, make plans to stop by and find some nice things for your home to enjoy the spirit of the holidays.

In 2005 when a home entered the market and was priced correctly, it would sell almost immediately.   Today our market conditions are quite different.  In the past two years we went from a hot sellers' market to a cool buyers' market.  We are experiencing more inventory and fewer buyers with a huge selection of available properties. 

When you are considering selling your home, be careful!  Make sure you chose a real estate professional who truly has your best interest at heart.  Hiring the wrong agent will negatively affect your bottom line.  Mistakes and ignorance can be very costly to you.  Many years in business, or lack thereof, is not necessarily an indication that the agent is or is not the right choice.  Many real estate rookies, with only a few years experience, are highly educated and have acquired various professional real estate designations and certifications to provide exemplary service.    On the other hand, don't assume that agents who have careers spanning a few decades are more knowledgeable and better equipped to represent you in the sale of your property.  There are both seasoned agents and rookies that are exceptional REALTORS, and you need to find that needle in the haystack.

 ! 

When involved in a changing market with fewer sales, unscrupulous agents sometimes become desperate.   Just last week I stopped by an open house hosted by one of my competitors.  Since it was in a neighborhood that I farm, I stopped by to view the property.  After quickly previewing the home, I cordially stopped to chat for a moment with the seller's agent.  As I left I said, "What is the asking price?"  After the agent quoted the price my response was, "I sure hope you sell it for that, because that will certainly help the appreciation in the neighborhood." 

For a second there was silence. .. Finally the seller's agent, who owes all her fiduciary and statutory duties to the seller to help the seller get the highest price, best terms, and keep their information confidential responded, "Well, we had to start somewhere!"  I couldn't believe my ears!  Not only did I feel the property was overpriced for the amenities of the home, but the agent representing the seller did too and told me so!!!   

The listing agent has been in business for several years and should know better!  This particular agent and her company fail to attend any of the educational sessions offered by the board of REALTORS, and also have NO professional designations and certifications.  Like the majority of real estate agents, they do nothing to improve their calling.  The real estate industry is ever changing, and it is essential for a REALTOR to continue their education for the protection of their clients and to provide exceptional quality service.   When selling your home, make sure you choose a real estate professional with a proven track record, satisfied clients, and professional real estate designations and certifications which assures you that you are putting your trust in one of the best qualified agents in your area.  The wrong choice in a real estate professional can be detrimental to your bottom line!

At the end of Main Street on the top of College Hill is the entrance to Bloomsburg University, and since it had been there as long as I remember, it was easy to take it for granted.  Since the early 1800's post high school education was available in the town of Bloomsburg.  The beginning of higher education in Bloomsburg began in 1839 with the founding of an academy.    Later in 1856 the academy was chartered as the Bloomsburg Literary Institute.  Upon the construction of the first building at its current location, the school was established as a state normal school in 1869.  The Commonwealth of PA purchased the school in 1916, and in 1927 it became Bloomsburg State Teachers College.  In 1960, due to a variety of available programs and graduate degrees, the "teachers" was dropped from its name making it Bloomsburg State College (from where I graduated in 1975).  When the State System of Higher Education was established, the school reached university status, and became Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in 1983. Upon my high school graduation, I was fortunate enough to have my education financed by my parents and was given the opportunity to go to any college I chose.   Even today I am quite surprised that I chose Bloomsburg and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Education and never left this quaint town.

As an alumnus of Bloomsburg, I was quite certain that when our younger daughter, an honor graduate and gifted athlete graduated from high school, she would broaden her horizons and search for her dreams somewhere other than her hometown.  After being heavily recruited for softball and field hockey and receiving significant academic and athletic scholarship offers, she began her college career at Ithaca College on beautiful Lake Cayuga in New York.  We fell in love the beauty and culture of her new surroundings, so we were quite astounded and disappointed when she made the decision to leave such a prestigious private college to return home.  Today she is a junior at Bloomsburg University and is extremely happy, and so are we!

Bloomsburg University is a leading regional university that attracts students from around the globe.  With enrollment of approximately 8700, Bloomsburg University is comprised of four colleges:  Business, Liberal Arts, Professional Studies, and Science and Technology.  Offered are 63 undergraduate degrees, 16 masters degrees, and doctoral degrees are available in audiology and elementary education.  Bloomsburg is known for its academic excellence, wholesome atmosphere and scenic beauty of its 192 acre campus. Located in the Appalachian foothills of north central Pennsylvania, this quaint rural town and its university have much to offer.    Only today, on this brilliant fall day, did I finally realize the similarities of the beauty between Ithaca and Bloomsburg from the spectacular views from upper campus in all directions.  Bloomsburg is built around creating the best possible educational experience for all of its students and is a great value!  Be sure to visit the web site of Bloomsburg University to learn more at www.bloomu.edu.