Schuylkill County Real Estate: September 2008

October 3, 2008

6:00 - 9:00 pm

Summer in the City Art Stroll: "Mardi Gras & Blues"

6 - 9 pm, Downtown Hamburg.

Feel the "Soul" of the evening transform as you snap your fingers to some blues during or after some Cajun cooking. Experience the magic of a New Orleans style party mile.

Mary Domsicz 610-562-3106.

October 12, 2008

9:00 am Harvest Home

ST.PAUL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 215 N. Warren St., Orwigsburg -

Gifts of non-perishable food will be given to the Orwigsburg Food Pantry.

Music for bassoon by Julianne Schenck at 7:00pm

For more info about Orwigsburg, click here.

Welcome to Orwigsburg Borough

"From where it all began is happening again"

I am passing this on for Rep. Seip who is trying to contact all Penna REALTORS.

Erica Ramus Realty Executives

September 23, 2008

Dear Realtor:

I am writing to bring you up to date on the status of my legislation to stop spot appeals. This issue has been my top priority for months, due to the incredible outcry from my constituents who have found themselves in a terrible situation when their property taxes increased through spot appeals brought against them by school districts.

As you know, in September of 2007, I sponsored House Bill 1438 and House Bill 1439 which addressed this incredibly unfair practice. Senator Rhoades sponsored similar language in the form of Senate Bill 1247. Both House Bill 1438 and Senate Bill 1247 overwhelmingly passed both Chambers on July 4, 2008 and were sent to the Governor’s desk. The Governor chose to veto both pieces on July 14, 2008. Since the very minute I learned of the Governor’s intention to veto my legislation, I have been working continuously with the House Majority Leader, House Majority Whip, the Senate, the Governor’s Office, and other interested stakeholders to reach a solution to the veto. Although I would have preferred to have the original bills signed into law as they were, I have arrived at a compromise that does not take away from the integrity of my bill and ensures signature by Governor Rendell.

Just like the previous version of legislation that was vetoed, an appeal could be filed if a property is divided, improved, or if existing improvements have been removed. Compromise language was added to also allow an appeal to be initiated by a taxing body only if certain thresholds are met. The appealed property would have to have an assessed value, which when divided by the county’s common level ratio, results in a value that is at least $200,000 more than its market value OR an appeal could also be initiated if the individual appealing body (school district OR municipality OR county) would realize $5000 or more a year in additional revenue from the appealed property.

Both House Bill 1439 and Senate Bill 1258 are expected to be up for a final vote in the Senate tomorrow, September 24, 2008. I expect that they will both be considered in the House the week of October 6, 2008, at the earliest. My goal is, and always has been, to see this legislation enacted to return fairness and equity back to the hardworking homeowners in my district and across the Commonwealth.

Please be assured that I have put forth an incredible effort to remedy this terrible problem for my constituents. I felt that this compromise was the best way to protect the vast majority of my constituents in Schuylkill and Berks County who have been or will be appealed by school districts, while also protecting the long term economic viability of our communities from the harmful side effects of the spot appeal practice. I have greatly appreciated the support of the Pennsylvania Realtors Association throughout this entire process and hope that you are able to see the value of the compromise language. Sincerely, Tim Seip State Representative 125th Legislative District

Schuylkill County is not the only county where property tax reassessment is big news. Our neighbor to the north is going through a nightmare right now.

Luzerne County is conducting a reassessment because a countywide rebalancing hasn’t been done since 1965, leaving the county with one of the most out-of-whack property tax bases in the state (in contrast, our last county-wide reassessment was in 1996).

Commissioners voted in July 2003 to conduct the reassessment and hired 21st Century Appraisals Inc. The values were originally supposed to be mailed in 2006, but the previous administration delayed the project twice. Taxes based on the new values will take effect in 2009. All formal assessment appeals must be heard by Oct. 31 to be counted for 2009 taxes.

The appeals process (and the onslaught of expected appeals--some estimate 2000-5000 will be filed!) has been described as ONEROUS at the very least.

If you want to read all the gory details, and the latest news on this process, go to the Times Leader's website. They have a special reassessment section, with tips on how to file, info on the whole background of the story, and daily updates almost on this situation.

http://www.timesleader.com/news/hottopics/reassessment

Formal Assessment Appeal Tips Property owners with questions about the reassessment should call 21st Century. To reach the center, call 1-877-570-8801 for northern county residents and 1-877-570-8802 for southern county residents.

It is my opinion that property tax assessment is seriously out of whack ALL OVER the state, not just here in Northeast PA. We need to stop relying on property taxes to fund our schools. We need to fix this problem!

Avenues Pumpkin Festival at Lessie’s Garden and Gift Shop

Saturday, October 4 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Stands inside & outside (weather permitting). Porcupine Pat 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Jello Eating Contest 11:00 a.m. Connor’s Magic Show 1:00 p.m. Activities and Contests all day! Flowers, Fall/Halloween Décor, Hay Rides, Pumpkin Painting, Chinese Auction, Crafters, Food, Bake Sale, Face Painting, and Tarot Card Readings. Free Parking and admission. Crafter space is still available, $10 for a six foot space. If you reserve 2 spaces you’ll get a third for free. Christmas items are in the Gift Shop.

Avenues (Founded as UCP) Haunted House

Eldergarden Day Program Mechanicsville

Friday, October 17th & Saturday, October 18th

7:00pm to 10:00pm both nights Food & Beverage will be available for purchase Admission: (Adults & Students) $5.00 / (Senior Citizens & Children under 10) $4.00 Long sleeve Haunted House T-shirts are available for purchase. Call 570-622-7920 x18 for any details If you are over 18 years of age and are a mature, responsible, reliable person and would be interested in volunteering, please give us a call.

 ANNUAL GINGERBREAD HOUSE CONTEST CALL FOR ENTRIES

• Are you a creative baker? Need a few extra dollars for Christmas Shopping?

• Want to do something to help kids have a great Christmas too?

• Then enter our Gingerbread House Contest for your chance to WIN $150!

• A limited a number of entries will be accepted.

• Finished house will be displayed from November 29th through January 10th. Prize will be awarded December 20th

Call The Restaurant at the Station, 18 N Railroad St., Tamaqua today for more information and to enter - 570-668-5020.

Here is a link to an excellent article in the Allentown Morning Call today:

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5home.6594657sep21,0,5568182.story

The premise is simple: Hownership is not a God-given right. It's a responsibility.

It starts:

"The whole crisis on Wall Street can be laid at the feet of one flawed American concept: Home ownership is an inalienable right. Check the U.S. Constitution: It's not in there.

But you might think it is, given that everybody from the federal government to your neighborhood mortgage broker has been bending over backward to get Americans into their own houses.

And if one home is good, two must be better, right? Buy a vacation home and a few rental units while you're at it. The ''get rich in real estate'' books, seminars and schemes never would have worked without a complicit government giving away tax breaks to the home-owning elite. And then there were the lenders, who accepted as currency ''liar's loans'' -- which don't require you to prove you can pay back borrowed money."

It's a short--yet very thoughtful--essay. Read it!

Now is the time we're getting lots of offers from companies for holiday cards, calendars and gift items to give to our clients. I received a catalog today that's not specifically for realtors, but there are 2 items in there that you can personalize and order unique marketing items. With many of the sources you have to order large numbers for it to be cost effective: 100 items at a shot many times. Not in this case.

1. Holiday mint tins with personalized stickers. 12 for $14.99.

2. Magnetic holiday calendars 12 for $9.99

The catalog is Terry's Village, and if you oder now they also offer free delivery. www.terrysvillage.com

I thought these were good prices for unique items...not the same old stuff.

September 27, 2008

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Schuylkill Haven Borough Day 9 am - 4 pm, Downtown Schuylkill Haven. Entertainment, crafters, vendors, food, train rides. Celeste 570-385-3134. Or visit: www.shboroughday.com

A day that is fun and entertaining for the whole family to enjoy — that’s affordable!

Only 1 hour from Harrisburg or Allentown. Half an hour north of Reading. Two hours from Philadelphia.

Train rides, free entertainment, lots of food, crafts/vendors. Spend the day here!

September 27, 2008

Tamaqua Area Mystery Tour 10 - 11:30 am with "Porcupine" Pat.

Meets at the Tamaqua Public Library on Railroad Street. This will be a flat hike featuring wilderness-like views. Free and open to the public. Dress according to the weather. Poor weather cancels. More information call 570-622-4124 ext. 113

If you've never been on one of Porcupine Pat's tours, you're really missing out! Pat is one of our area's greatest assets.

Quick Tamaqua fact:

The name Tamaqua is a Native American word that means "Land of the Beaver". It is the only community in the world to have this name.