Expanded Home Buyer Tax Credit is About to Become Law!

The Senate has overwhelmingly passed an expanded home buyer tax credit, 98-0.  Yesterday the House passed the new bill as well!

It now goes to the President, who has supported it and is expected to sign it into law.

The new tax credit bill does several things.  First, it will preserve the tax credit for last-minute buyers who are having difficulty getting mortgage approval early enough for settlements before December 1, 2009.

Second, it extends the expiration of the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit for contracts on a principal residence written before May 1, 2010, with settlement taking place before July 1, 2010.

Third, the new bill expands to include a $6,500 tax credit to homeowners trading up who have lived in their homes for 5 out of the last 8 years!

Lancaster County PA first time home buyers who were afraid of missing the previous home buyer tax credit deadline can now relax a bit - and present home owners considering trading up can now get in on the action!

Lancaster PA Singles at Halloween Dance!

New Singles, run by Pat O'Connor and Sid Miller,  has organized singles dances in South Central PA for 20 years - in fact, New Singles just celebrated its twentieth anniversary!

 This year's Halloween dance was held at the Valencia Ballroom in York, PA.  Close to 300 singles attended, with over 60 arriving in costume!  Judges in the costume contest gave 34 costumes honorable mention, while four received cash prizes.

A number of Red Rose Singles from Lancaster County PA took part in both the dancing and the costumes.

(Photos courtesy of New Singles)

Time is quickly running out for the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit.  Homes must be settled before December 1, 2009 in order to qualify for the credit. A recent post by Jennifer Fivelsdal spelled out the situation.

This can be cash in your pocket from Uncle Sam!  If you live in Lancaster County PA and want to take advantage of the tax credit, email brian@cbselectpros.com or call (717) 951-5552.

Elegant Oak Knoll Condo Millersville PA Open House

Sunday October 21, 2009  1:00-3:00 PM               Light Refreshments served

Take advantage of this opportunity to preview a beautiful Oak Knoll Condo, with its custom kitchen, fireplace and full master suite!

All appliances are included in this second-floor condominium home at elegant Oak Knoll, for a  maintenance-free lifestyle.  The price of $138,953 includes an oversized one-car garage on a separate deed.

Within a short drive of Lancaster, Millersville and Route 30, Oak Knoll combines both privacy and convenience to shopping, schools, Millersville University, and Funk's Farm Market.

(Photos by Jeff Geoghan, Heritage Photography)

Directions: Rte 741 South past Millersville Pike, Left on Oak Knoll, Right at ''T''-building is directly in front of you.

Lancaster PA Fall Fest

Are you a fan of country music?  Here in Lancaster County, PA, country music is hugely popular - and 40,000 people proved it at the Big WIOV 18th Annual Fall Fest!  Held at the Overlook Community Campus in Lancaster, PA, a spacious complex which includes a driving range, a restaurant, roller skating rink and a golf course.

       The weather was perfect for a concert - partly sunny with mild temperatures and and a mild breeze...

Trailer Choir, Sarah Buxton, Chris Young, Darryl Worley headlined the concert, with Little Big Town as the final act.

                           Chris Young captured on the Jumbotron monitor, singing "The Man I Want To Be".

                        If it's in you, it's in you!  An enthusiastic young cowgirl shows off her dance moves...

                                                            Does it get any better than this?

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!

How should we be commemorating 9/11?  There seems to be some dilution of the poignant memories of what happened to this nation on September 11, 2001.  I watched the morning news today, and on most networks there was hardly any footage of the terrible things perpetrated on our country eight years ago.

OUr President in Washington DC, and the Mayor of New York at the site of the World Trade Center both mentioned something similar - that this day should be spent in community service in honor of those who gave their lives that day.  Kathleen Sebelius, the Secretary of Health wrote a letter to her employees expressing a similar theme.

But should community service be foremost on the anniversary of the deadliest day in our nation's history on American soil at the hands of a foreign enemy?  (Yes, I realize that there were days of greater losses during the Civil War).

The attacks on the Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, PA were acts of war by a foreign enemy, not crimes to be dealt with by a judiciary.  September 11 is a day in which we should remember what happened on that terrible morning, remember and honor the men and women who lost their lives, and those heroes who put themselves at risk, sacrificing in many cases their own lives and health.

We also should honor the brave men and women of our military - as we vow not to allow such an attack on our country to occur ever again.

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...