Demolition Over; Lancaster PA Convention Center Full Steam Ahead - 09/30/07 10:05 AM
The demolition phase has been completed for the Lancaster, PA Convention Center.  The hodge-podge of additions behind the historic Watt & Shand facade, which has been preserved to be included in the new Center, are now nothing but a memory. 

The buildings behind and next to the former Watt & Shand department store are gone as well.
                            
The gigantic cranes that have been instrumental in the demolition, are now  lifting huge concrete footers and sections of preformed foundation wall into place.
It's an awesome sight to stand under the cranes and appreciate the gigantic size of this project.

Concrete subcontractors are busy … (6 comments)

Sellers - Don't Let Your Buyer Move In Before Settlement - 09/28/07 08:18 AM
Sellers - Don't Let Your Buyer Move In Before Settlement
Every so often, when a vacant house is for sale, a buyer will have a situation where they need to leave their current home before their settlement on the new house.  They may be renters whose current home is being sold to someone else and they are being forced to leave.  Sometimes the house they are purchasing needs work, and the buyers want to take possession and do the needed repairs themselves before settlement.
It may seem easy for the seller to have their agent write up a pre-settlement occupancy agreement, … (8 comments)

Are You The Windshield or the Bug? - 09/26/07 04:57 PM
Some days you're the windshield; other days you're the bug...  I was reminded of this old saying recently as I read all the hand-wringing stories of how bad the housing market has become.
If you don't have a long term perspective, I'm sure it looks like the worst of times.  Sub-prime mortgages drying up, housing prices going down, builders pulling in their horns on new construction, too many listings on the market.
Do you feel like the windshield or the bug?  Are you a "doer" or a victim?  Are you reacting to the situation actively or passively?
I've been in business … (6 comments)

Chickies Rock County Park, Columbia PA - 09/26/07 07:14 AM
Chickies Rock County Park, Columbia PA
Located on Chickies Hill between Marietta and Columbia, PA, Chickies Rock County Park offers some of the most spectacular views of the Susquehanna River available anywhere in the Susquehanna Valley.

Located off Route 441, the park starts with a parking area. 
                                       
Walking trails meander west toward the river...

Although the river can be seen from Columbia, it's farther away from Route 441 than it appears.  The hike to the overlooks is a little over a mile, uphill but not too difficult.  After you break through the woods, the trail opens wider.
… (9 comments)

Caring Singles Autumn Picnic - 09/24/07 07:37 AM
Caring Singles held its annual Autumn picnic Sunday at the Manheim Township Community Park in Neffsville.

For some reason, this picnic is always blessed with great weather, and this year was no exception!  The temperature reached 80 degrees, but a cool breeze kept things totally comfortable.
                          
Red Rose Singles is a non-religious, non-profit, non-discriminatory organization.  Its purpose is to provide support for single, separated, divorced or widowed persons.  In addition, Red Rose Singles hosts get-togethers such as dine-outs and hikes.
Red Rose Singles meets the first Tuesday of each month at the Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Rd, Lancaster, PA.  Registration … (2 comments)

No "Blood in the Streets" - 09/23/07 08:06 AM
Meyer Rothschild, 1744-1812, the founder of the Rothschild banking dynasty, was famously quoted for saying, "Buy when there is blood flowing in the streets!"  He meant, buy when no one thinks there will ever be a market for real estate again.
Many buyers is today's soft housing market seem to have bought into this frame of mind.  I keep hearing from buyers, "I'm looking for a real estate investment, but only if I can STEAL it!"
Not all or even most sellers are desperate to sell at this moment.  Even if they were, they have high mortgages to cover in many … (10 comments)

Fed Comes Through With A Meaningful Cut - 09/18/07 04:38 PM
Both the stock market and mortgage rates reacted positively to the Federal Reserve's rate cut announcement today.  A federal funds rate reduction of 1/2% was announced after the Federal Reserve Open Markets Committee meeting.  Many pundits had speculated that a rate cut of only 1/4% was more likely, since the Fed is primarily interested in preventing the resurgence of inflation.
However, the softness of the economy in general, and of the housing market in particular, has apparently reduced the Fed's fear of inflation, and increased the probability of a recession if rates were not reduced more than a minimal amount.  Recent polls show that … (6 comments)

Lancaster PA Latino Parade - 09/17/07 10:03 AM
Lancaster PA Latino Parade
The 27th annual Puerto Rican Day Parade was held in Lancaster September fifteenth on a beautiful, cool, sunny Saturday!

The parade started on South Duke Street, turned on Orange Street, then went up Queen Street to end at Binn's Park.

Music filled the air, and a the sidewalks were crowded with celebrants watching the dancers, marchers, and musicians.  It would have been hard not to get caught up in the Latin beat!
                       
                                             

                                  
The parade theme this year was "Latino Youth: Nuestro Futuro Positivo" (Our Positive Future).

 
… (2 comments)

Lancaster PA Civil War Encampment - 09/17/07 09:18 AM
Lancaster PA Civil War Encampment
September fifteenth turned out to a beautiful pre-autumn day for the recreation of a Civil War Encampment on the grounds of the Lancaster County Historical Society, at the corner of North President and Marietta Avenue.

The pungent smell of campfires burning permeated  the cool morning air.

The "Mayor" was in attendance in full top hat and tails!
                      
A military drill practice included a musket firing demonstration.
                                                          
The Lancaster Civil War Round Table was in attendance.  They meet on the second Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm (except December) at … (14 comments)

Antique Show at Rock Ford - 09/13/07 01:37 PM
The beautiful stone barn at the historic Rock Ford Plantation will be the setting for an antiques show Saturday, September 15 from 9 am to 4 pm.
Rock Ford Plantation is the estate of Edward Hand, a Revolutionary War  General.  The plantation was saved from destruction in 1957 by the Junior League of Lancaster.
Antique dealers will have furniture and antiques for sale in the barn.  The public is also invited to bring their own antiques for  an "Antiques Road Show" type evaluation.  If an heirloon is too large or heavy to bring, photographs may be brought instead - but if bringing photos, they … (4 comments)

Lancaster County Historical Society Civil War Encampment - 09/13/07 01:02 PM
For the 19th year, the Lancaster County Historical Society, 230 North President Avenue, will conduct a Civil War encampment on its grounds at the corner of North President and Marietta Avenues.
Some fifty volunteers in period uniforms and costumes will portray Union soldiers and civilians.  the reenactment will be open to the public 10 am to 5 pm Saturday, September 15, and 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday, September 16.  Refreshments will be available.  There will also be a candlelight tour at 7 pm Saturday.
Musket firing demonstrations, military drills, and even a surgeon with an authentic civil war era amputation kit will … (4 comments)

Autumn's Almost Here! - 09/12/07 08:09 AM
I do like the autumn!  I’ll be happy to see a break in the heat.  I love country drives to areas with colorful fall foliage.  Two events that I like to be able to get to are the Fall Hershey Antique Auto Show and flea market, and the Fall Carlisle Classic Car Corral.  Each of them attracts RVs and people from all over the world.  There are literally thousands of dealers in attendance, selling everything from cars to auto parts to antiques, books, food, antique toys, and flea market items of all kinds.  It’s really a very exciting atmosphere.


… (11 comments)

Where Were You on 9/11? - 09/11/07 07:43 AM
Years ago, everyone, myself included, remembered exactly where they were on November 22, 1963 - the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.  The world changed again on September 11, 2001.  We all remember what we were doing and where we were on that fateful day.
I and three friends were in Ocean City, MD in a condo by the shore that week.  It was a beautiful morning, and while we talked about our plans for the day and prepared breakfast, we had the TV news on in the background.  The first picture I noticed was a high rise building in … (21 comments)

United Disabilities Services Breaks Ground - 09/10/07 02:48 PM
In a groundbreaking ceremony August 23, United Disabilities Services broke the ground for a major expansion of their offices at 1901 Olde Homestead Lane in the Greenfield Business Park.
Starting out in an old house on West Chestnut Street in Lancaster, United Disabilities has now expanded to serve thirty counties.  UDS, a non-profit organization, has a host of programs that assist people with disabilities to become integrated into their communities.
The new office addition will add 6,800 square feet to the office, allowing not only for expansion, but for some new corporate entities, including a Foundation and a services management arm.
… (0 comments)

First Friday in Lancaster, PA - 09/09/07 11:03 AM
September 7, the first Friday of September, was a perfect late summer evening for a celebration of downtown Lancaster!  Temperatures in the high 70s and a soft, almost imperceptible breeze made for a most pleasant outdoor atmosphere, and Lancastrians took full advantage of the city's First Fridays program.

Cafes on North Queen and North Prince Streets were open for business with tables out by the sidewalks, and people took full advantage of the pleasant weather to have a light repast and watch the passers-by.
               
Street musicians were out in force, from Caribbean rhythms to folk, jazz and blues guitarists.
                          
           … (12 comments)

Tips For Flippers - 09/07/07 04:48 PM
I remember the real estate market in 1981 and 1982, when adjustable rates soared to 18% and more.  I was caught with some of those terrible mortgages on investments, and I learned some valuable lessons.
I found out that the limit of your profit, if you are planning to fix and flip properties, is determined not at sales time, but at the time you purchase.  If you can't buy right, walk away.  Especially in today's atmosphere.
But that's not all.  Something I learned the hard way that I should have done, is spend more time analyzing who would be the most … (10 comments)

Is Your Life Cluttered? - 09/07/07 12:32 AM
For the past year, my home has been filled with the books, photos and memorabilia of two households - my own, and much of my parents'.
Being a naturally neat person, I keep trying to get it all organized.  It's more than I really want to own.  I don't want to keep it all.  At the same time, I remember many of the items from my youth, and I want to give my parents' possessions proper respect.  You can't just throw away memories.
It takes a lot of time to go through all the letters and papers and photographs.  It's been over a … (59 comments)

Rivertownes PA USA Tour of History - 09/02/07 09:22 PM
Rivertownes PA USA Tour of History
Rivertownes PA is a cooperative effort between the Susquehanna River towns of Marietta, Columbia, and Wrightsville.
The River Road Historic Excursion is a three hour tour that has been developed by Rivertownes PA USA to showcase the history of the towns on both the Lancaster and York County sides of the Susquehanna River.  A map of the tour is available for $20 From the Susquehanna Valley Visitors Center at Fifth and Linden Streets in Columbia.
The tour starts at the Vesta Furnace Office on Furnace Road in Marietta, the last remaining building of the 1868 … (6 comments)

Vesta Furnace Office, Marietta, PA - 09/02/07 07:39 PM
Vesta Furnace Office, Marietta, PA
Marietta, PA has a long and distinguished history going back to the earliest 1800s, when lumber from the north was floated down the Susquehanna River and sawed in its lumber mills.  A good portion of its wealth, reflected even today in its many preserved homes, derived from the iron furnaces that bought the industrial age to our area.

The Vesta Furnace, built in 1868, was the last of eight coal-fired blast iron furnaces constructed in the river floodplain between Columbia and Marietta, and the last complete blast furnace built in Lancaster County.  Ore for the … (2 comments)

 
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Brian Schulman - Your Lancaster County, PA Real Estate Expert

Lancaster, PA

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Coldwell Banker Select Professionals, Lancaster PA

Address: 1000 N. Prince Street, Lancaster, PA, 17603

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