Schuylkill County Real Estate

I cannot believe we're already half way through 2009! I just pulled the Jan-June 2009 statistics for the Pottsville, PA 17901 area and here's where we stand right now.

I pulled Pottsville homes for sale (single family) and there are 169 homes for sale right now in the School District, which is higher than norma, and 32 of those are pending. 

63 properties closed in the past 6 months, ranging from $6000 to $320,000!

Average selling price: $57,443 and average Days on Market: 118.

Compared to a year ago, we sold 66 houses in the same time period in 2008 (so very similar). But the difference kicks in when it comes to the other stats:

Average selling price: $70,414 was a year ago, with DOM only 97.

So in the past year, we've seen a serious drop in sales price (18.4% -- which is in line with national statistics) and a corresponding increase in days on market (22%).

 

DIAKON LIVING & LEARNING SUMMER COURSES

You’ll Want To Check Out These Courses For Your Artistic Side!

Scrap Booking 101: Thursday, July 16 / 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. / Schuylkill Haven / $10.00

Oil Painting: Saturday, August 15 / 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. / Mahanoy City / $50.00

Have You Always Dreamed Of Seeing Your Name in Print? The Nuts & Bolts of Getting Published: Tues. July 14, 21, and 28 / 6:30 - 8 p.m. / Pottsville / $40.00

Recapture your dreams – Refocus – Balance – Carve out some time for yourself – Recreate your future Your Life is Now Series / Mahanoy City / 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. / $25 per workshop

Appreciate Yourself: Wednesday, July 22nd. When You Think About Your Future…What Do You See?: Wednesday, August 19th. Who Am I Now...Now That I’m a ‘Grown Up’?: Wednesday, September 23rd.

Computer Courses - Tremont / $50 three day class

Introduction to Email and the Internet: Tues., Aug 11, 18, 25 / 2-5 p.m.

Introduction to Computers: Tues., July 14, 21, 28 / 6 - 9 p.m. and Tues., July 16, 23, 30 / 2 - 5 pm

Microsoft® Office Word 2007 Level 1: Mon., July 13, 20, 27 / 2-5 p.m.

Microsoft® Office Word 2007 Level 2:Thurs., Aug 13, 20, 27 / 2-5 p.m.

Microsoft® Office Excel Level 1: Mon., Aug 10, 17, 24 / 2 - 5 p.m.

eBay: Saturday, August 15 / 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. / Pottsville / $25.00.

eBay - Beyond the Basics: Saturday, August 15 / 1 - 2:30 p.m. / Pottsville / $25.00

Yoga For the Rest of Us: Mon. July 13 - Aug 17 / 10 - 11 a.m. / Mahanoy City / $36 six weeks

Early Harvest: Sunday, August 23, 12 p.m. First UCC (Rte 61) Sch. Haven / Admission is free Explore unique ideas for your bountiful harvest and how to prepare your garden for next year’s planting season. Vendor spaces available. Call Susan for information 570-624-3018

A Night in Morocco: Friday, Aug 28 / 6 p.m. / Pottsville / $60 Come to our Casablanca and experience the exotic foods of Morocco, the spirited music and the colorful atmosphere of this North African country.

Visit www.diakon.org/LL50/ for up-to-date news and course descriptions. Call 570-624-3018 or 1-800-621-6325 to join a class or for more information

Vulture Day will be held 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 23 with participants meeting at the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Visitors Center. It will include a guided walk for 20 participants to the North Lookout to watch for and learn about the turkey and black vulture. People will also learn about Hawk Mountain’s Turkey Vulture Migration Project and how to follow their movements using the Internet. For more information, phone 610-756-6961 or go online to www.hawkmountain.org.

 

And if you're a fan of Hawk Mountain and are looking for a riverside retreat at the base of the mountain, check out 51 Sawmill Lane, Orwigsburg PA 17961

This beautiful Hawk Mountain home is waiting for you!

June 28, 2009 10:00 am Oak/Hemlock Trail Dog Walk

Join Naturalist Robin Tracey on the Oak/Hemlock Trail at Locust Lake.

The trail is 2 miles in length and moderate in difficulty. The trail loops around Locust Creek and traverses up the mountain for a really great view of the forest below. Part of the hike includes the "Tree Identification Trail" made by one of our Eagle Scouts. Dogs are welcome, but must be leashed and get along with other pets and people. Please meet at the visitor parking lot at 10 a.m.

Pre-registration is required for this event by calling Robin at 570-467-2506. Shine only.

Here's another beauty I listed this week: This house was custom built with panoramic views of the mountains. Double fireplace between dinging room/living room. master suite has jacuzzi bath, heirloom sinks, and bonus room that could be an office, a nursery, exercise room, or storage. Kitchen is open to the dining room, with corian tops, custom fixtures and a builtin hutch/desk. French doors throughout, 9-foot celings, roomy sunken living room, beautiful corner lot. Driveway paved. Economical to heat: PPL gas This house should sell quickly. It's in an incredible development, close to Pottsville yet with Blue Mountain schools.

I'm really proud to show you this listing: You have to click thru to look at these photos. Stone/cedar ranch, Anderson double pane windows. Hickory hardwood throughout, roof 2006, heat pump/central air 2006, septic 2005, electrical upgraded 2009. Native stone wall with fireplace, gas logs in living room/dining room. Crown molding. Kitchen incredible view of the river and solid maple cabinets. Walk in pantry. 28x17 deck w/ 13x10 screened section. Screen porch opens with French doors onto sitting room. Outbuildings: Detached garage + apartment + office. 24x40 pole building. 530-sq.ft shop/studio. http://www.postlets.com/repb/2324033

Necho Allen’s Tavern Trek

1:00-5:00 p.m. with hike volunteer John Domalakes.

Hike into the back country of the Broad Mountain to see the over 200-year old site of Necho Allen’s Tavern. Hike starts in the south side parking lot behind Sears at the Schuylkill Mall along the mall entrance road. (six miles – challenging). Poor weather cancels and participants should dress for comfort.

For more information visit: www.schuylkillonthemove.com or email: porcupinepat@yahoo.com or 570.622.4124 x 113.

 

WHO WAS NECHO ALLEN?

Necho Allen was a hunter or frontiersman in 1790 who supposedly discovered anthracite coal, right here in Schuylkill County, PA!

The story goes he made camp under an outcropping of rocks and fell asleep. When he awoke the campfire had alighted a vein of coal!

 

 

 

The annual Schuylkill River Sojourn started today!

 

Go here for detailed information about this trip.

For those who don't know all about this event, here is a brief except from their webpage:

 

"The Schuylkill River Sojourn is a 112 mile guided canoe or kayak trip on the Schuylkill River. Beginning in Schuylkill Haven and ending in Philadelphia, Sojourn participants register for as many days as they can, or for the entire trip. Sometimes it is wet and wild. At other times it is peaceful and inspiring. There are a few rapids, calm water, plenty of laughs, songs at the campsites, and celebrations in the river towns. There is a little bit of everything in store for canoers and kayakers who take part in the week-long sojourn down the Schuylkill River that begins the first weekend of June. And even though the same route is paddled every year, a different river greets us every June."

 

There are also other Pennsylvania river sojourns that will take place this summer:

 

2009 Sojourns

1. Allegheny-Kiski-Connie (May 14 to May 17) - The 12th Annual Canoe Sojourn will take place May 14th through the 17th

2. Allegheny (June 13 to June 14)

3. American Whitewater Ohiopyle Festival (August 22)

4. Delaware River (June 21 to Jun 27)

5. Juniata River (June 10 to June 14)

6. Kiski-Connie (June 4 to June 7)

7. Lake Erie (August 12 to August 16)

8. Lehigh River (June 26 to July 1)

9. North Branch Susquehanna (June 18 to June 23) - This six day, 100 mile trip begins at Camp Lackawanna at Vosburg Neck. Opening night festivities will be held at Riverside Park in Tunkhannock. Paddle on to the Wyoming Valley River Fest, for musical entertainment, historical and river orientated displays. Sunday paddle to Shickshinny. Monday night will be at the Farm at Boone’s Dam in Bloomsburg. The journey ends June 23, with a closing dinner at Shikellamy State Park at the confluence of the North Branch and West Branch of the Susquehanna. Registration will open in late April. Additional trip information is posted at www.susquehannagreenway.org.

10. Schuylkill River (June 6 to June 12)

11. Swatara Creek (May 1 to May 2)

12. Lower Susquehanna (June 25 to June 28)

 

 

BEAUTIFUL PINE GROVE REAL ESTATE One acre lot includes mature Douglas Fir trees along property line with woods in back tapering down to a stream. Impeccably maintained ranch in peaceful country setting. Just off Panther Valley Road. Full walk-out basement with French doors. Plenty of potential for this space: family room, den, workshop, etc. Relax in a tilt-in window enclosed sunroom while oyu enjoy the surrounding nature. Enjoy the summer relaxing in your sun room, watching the birds. Nature lover's dream! Breath taking views from every window so you can watch the seasons change. http://www.schuylkillpahomes.com/

SHERIFF’S SALE of REAL ESTATE

Click here for list of properties to be sold.

At 10:00 o’clock in the Forenoon, in Courtroom No. 1 at the Court House in the City of Pottsville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

Basic Bidding Information For Mortgage Forclosure Properties

The properties are owned by debtors until they are sold on the day of sale. They are not open for public viewing - You will be bidding against the bank. - The bank has a predetermined amount that they will bid to. This is called the “upset price”. Only the bank, on the day of the sale, knows what this amount will be. It may be more or less than the judgment amount. - The Sheriff does not guarantee clear title to any property sold at sale. For example, you may buy a property with numerous liens requiring you to pay a lot more money than what you bid for the property and you must, under the law, pay these lien holders to clear what is now your title. This is solely YOUR responsibility. All liens registered on properties can be obtained at the Prothonotary Office in the Courthouse. A title search is recommended. -

CONDITIONS OF SHERIFF’S SALE 1. The Highest Bidder shall be deemed the purchaser. 2. The purchaser will pay ten percent (10%) of bid price at the end of the sale. A condition of sales form and an acknowledgment of purchase provided by the Sheriff must be signed by the purchaser immediately after the sale. The balance of the purchase money must be paid to the Sheriff within ten (10) days of the sale. 3. The purchaser is responsible for all unpaid real estate taxes and municipal liens. The Sheriff is not responsible for any unpaid taxes or liens except those included in the Schedule of Distribution. 4. Upon the failure to comply with these conditions of sale, any money paid on account shall be forfeited by the purchaser and shall be applied to pay the costs of the sale and the costs of any subsequent sale and nothing herein shall relieve the purchaser from liability for all costs and damages arising out of such noncompliance. If the executing creditor registers its highest bid and the purchaser defaults, then the executing creditor shall be deemed to be the purchaser. 5. The Sheriff shall not be liable for loss or damage to the premises sold resulting from any cause whatsoever, and makes no representation or warranty regarding the condition of the premises. 6. The Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value forms shall be prepared by the purchaser and returned to the Sheriff’s Office within ten (10) days from the date of sale. (NOTE: Effective July 1, 2005 the common level ratio will be 2.42) 7. The Sheriff reserves the right to postpone or stay the sale of any property in which the attorney on the writ has not appeared and is not present at the sale.