Schuylkill County Real Estate: April 2009

Mother's Day Gifts: Visit The Grateful Thread!

Schuylkill Women in Crisis is happy to announce that The Grateful Thread will be open for Mother’s Day shopping! In addition to hand-woven handbags, rugs, aprons, and mug rugs, they will be featuring craft supplies and special gift items for mom, including gift baskets, silk flower arrangements, wreaths, and more….

 

the grateful thread

If you are looking for a unique bargain, The Grateful Thread Attic will have a variety of treasures!

Local artists with items for sale will include:

• Bubba’s Beads jewelry by Melanie Thornburg

• Pottery from the Mad Potter Mary Byrne

• Baskets by Jenn DeStefano

• Copper Jewelry by Dona Jones

• Jewelry by Jean Payne

• Sewn crafts by Lois Wagner

 

Store hours for this special sale will be: 9 am-2 pm, Saturday, May 2; 10 am-4 pm Tuesday through Friday, May 5-8; 9 am-2pm, Saturday, May 9.

The Grateful Thread is a venture of Schuylkill Women in Crisis, a private nonprofit organization serving Schuylkill County since 1983. All proceeds benefit services for area victims of domestic violence.

The Grateful Thread

Schuylkill Women in Crisis 20 N. Centre Street P.O. Box 96 Pottsville, PA 17901 Pottsville, PA 17901

570.622.2933

570.622.3991

 

 

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Erica Ramus is Broker/Owner of Realty Executives in Pottsville, PA.

If you're looking for a PROFESSIONAL to represent you in all of your Schuylkill County real estate needs, call Realty Executives at 570-622-6006.

We can meet all your buying / selling needs ... and will exceed your expectations. That's what being an EXECUTIVE is all about

Serving all of Schuylkill County ... Pottsville, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Auburn, Pine Grove, Frackville, Minersville, Ashland, Shenandoah, Port Carbon, Palo Alto, St. Clair, Barnesville real estate. Click on the link above to search Pottsville PA homes for sale or any Schuylkill County homes for sale. We have all properties listed for sale in the Schuylkill MLS on our website -- free search!

We also operate Schuylkill Appraisal Services, for all your appraisal needs.

 


Open Sunday May 3 from 1-3 pm: 25 Hidden Acres Lane, Pine Grove PA 17963

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. www.EricaRamus.com www.move2pennsylvania.com

 

 

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Erica Ramus is Broker/Owner of Realty Executives in Pottsville, PA.

If you're looking for a PROFESSIONAL to represent you in all of your Schuylkill County real estate needs, call Realty Executives at 570-622-6006.

We can meet all your buying / selling needs ... and will exceed your expectations. That's what being an EXECUTIVE is all about

Serving all of Schuylkill County ... Pottsville, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Auburn, Pine Grove, Frackville, Minersville, Ashland, Shenandoah, Port Carbon, Palo Alto, St. Clair, Barnesville real estate. Click on the link above to search Pottsville PA homes for sale or any Schuylkill County homes for sale. We have all properties listed for sale in the Schuylkill MLS on our website -- free search!

We also operate Schuylkill Appraisal Services, for all your appraisal needs.

 


Professional Rental in Pottsville, PA: 413 W. Market St. 17901

Erica Ramus | Realty Executives | eramus@comcast.net | 570-622-6006
413 Market Street, Pottsville, PA
Office
$750/month
Sq Footage 1,100

DESCRIPTION

Formerly a doctor's office, this has many potential uses. Front reception, office, large 2nd office, file/storage, full modern bath. Kitchen/break room. Upstairs efficiency apartment. Live on site or use upstairs for more storage. 2nd and 3rd floors of this classic brownstone are occupied by owner. Ideal usage: doctor, lawyer, accountant or other professional office. Nonprofit, counseling services, etc. Could also be used as an apartment if desired. Take a look! Prime location on the Square in downtown Pottsville. Parking can be rented in lot behind. Meters in front. Water/sewer/trash incl.

see additional photos below
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS


Main
Contact info:
Erica Ramus
Realty Executives
570-622-6006

powered by postlets Equal Opportunity Housing
Posted: Apr 9, 2009, 7:56am PDT
Formerly a doctor's office, this has many potential uses. Front reception, office, large 2nd office, file/storage, full modern bath. Kitchen/break room. Upstairs efficiency apartment. Live on site or use upstairs for more storage. 2nd and 3rd floors of this classic brownstone are occupied by owner. Ideal usage: doctor, lawyer, accountant or other professional office. Nonprofit, counseling services, etc. Could also be used as an apartment if desired. Take a look! Prime location on the Square in downtown Pottsville. Parking can be rented in lot behind. Meters in front. Water/sewer/trash incl.

 

 

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Erica Ramus is Broker/Owner of Realty Executives in Pottsville, PA.

If you're looking for a PROFESSIONAL to represent you in all of your Schuylkill County real estate needs, call Realty Executives at 570-622-6006.

We can meet all your buying / selling needs ... and will exceed your expectations. That's what being an EXECUTIVE is all about

Serving all of Schuylkill County ... Pottsville, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Auburn, Pine Grove, Frackville, Minersville, Ashland, Shenandoah, Port Carbon, Palo Alto, St. Clair, Barnesville real estate. Click on the link above to search Pottsville PA homes for sale or any Schuylkill County homes for sale. We have all properties listed for sale in the Schuylkill MLS on our website -- free search!

We also operate Schuylkill Appraisal Services, for all your appraisal needs.

 


April 22: Earth Day on Hawk Mountain

Discover the River on Earth Day Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton.

$20, Members $10. Ages 12 and up. Limited to 10. Explore eight miles of the Little Schuylkill River by canoe and discover the wildlife found along the base of Hawk Mountain – an ideal Earth Day evening! Map will be mailed for starting location. Trip ends at Hawk Mountain Road; shuttle back to vehicles. 4:30 pm, Starting Point.

Advance registration required. 610-756-6961. www.hawkmountain.org

And on April 25... Saturday...

Celebrate Earth Day at Hawk Mountain 10 am - 4 pm, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton, www.hawkmountain.org, 610-756-6961 Celebrate Earth Day outdoors at Hawk Mountain. Trail fee includes programs, activities and information on how to conservation natural resources--all with a special focus on birds of prey and Hawk Mountain history. Activities will include: Spring Migration Watch, all day, North Lookout, M&T Raptors Up Close, live hawk or owl program, 11 am and 2 pm, Amphitheater, Trapping & Tracking, presentation on how scientists study long-distance migrants, Noon, Amphitheater, Make a Recycled Puppet, all day, Visitor Center, Learn-Your-Trees Walk, sign up in Visitor Center, 1-2:20 pm, Interpretive Walk on the Lookout Trail, guided walk, Meet at Laurelwood Niche, Noon, Native Plant Garden Tours at Noon and 3 pm, Hawk Mountain History, South Lookout at 3 pm, Nature Sketching Workshop. Call 610-756-6961 to register and $10 fee, 9 am - 11 am.

 

www.EricaRamus.com

www.move2pennsylvania.com

 

 

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Erica Ramus is Broker/Owner of Realty Executives in Pottsville, PA.

If you're looking for a PROFESSIONAL to represent you in all of your Schuylkill County real estate needs, call Realty Executives at 570-622-6006.

We can meet all your buying / selling needs ... and will exceed your expectations. That's what being an EXECUTIVE is all about

Serving all of Schuylkill County ... Pottsville, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Auburn, Pine Grove, Frackville, Minersville, Ashland, Shenandoah, Port Carbon, Palo Alto, St. Clair, Barnesville real estate. Click on the link above to search Pottsville PA homes for sale or any Schuylkill County homes for sale. We have all properties listed for sale in the Schuylkill MLS on our website -- free search!

We also operate Schuylkill Appraisal Services, for all your appraisal needs.

 


Buyer Tip: Don’t Max Out

Buyers--this is GREAT advice for everyone!

Via Chris Olsen Broker/Owner - Olsen Ziegler Realty (Olsen Ziegler Realty):

Buyers are often amazed at how much a lender is willing to lend them, -- yes, even in this market.   There are still solid buyers out there with great credit scores, equity, down payment money in abundance and no home sale contingencies. 

Sometimes a buyer will make an off-hand comment:  Wow...I had no idea could afford this much.

This comment always takes me back to when I was 24 years old, a veteran, and I bought my first home with essentially no down payment (a VA Funding Fee was it), no equity, I made 30K per year, and I qualified for a 120K loan.  It seemed really high (Washington D.C. is more expensive), and when I looked at the monthly payment, I was taken aback, as a 24 year old, I was not well-versed in discount points, PITI, interest rates, APR, and the various other items that make up a real estate transaction.  I just knew I didn't want to be MAXED OUT and STRESSED OUT.

I provide my buyers some very cool spreadsheets that I have either created to help them compare lender costs as well as a public domain spreadsheet so they can easily see the impact of everything (down payment, interest rate, period length, equity building) via graphs, charts, column detailed reports, etc., so they can gain an understanding of what this is going to mean to them on a monthly basis.

I know my lender at the time, nor did my agent help me in this regard.  It was essentially: You are golden, here are the homes, pick one and sign here!

Boy...have times changed since the 1980s.

P.S.  I also wish I was a fortune teller:  I would have held onto that home, taken a 15 year loan, rented it after a few years, and it would be approximately 300-400% more in value today, with no mortgage payment.

 

 

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Erica Ramus is Broker/Owner of Realty Executives in Pottsville, PA.

If you're looking for a PROFESSIONAL to represent you in all of your Schuylkill County real estate needs, call Realty Executives at 570-622-6006.

We can meet all your buying / selling needs ... and will exceed your expectations. That's what being an EXECUTIVE is all about

Serving all of Schuylkill County ... Pottsville, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Auburn, Pine Grove, Frackville, Minersville, Ashland, Shenandoah, Port Carbon, Palo Alto, St. Clair, Barnesville real estate. Click on the link above to search Pottsville PA homes for sale or any Schuylkill County homes for sale. We have all properties listed for sale in the Schuylkill MLS on our website -- free search!

We also operate Schuylkill Appraisal Services, for all your appraisal needs.

 


April 18-19: Ringtown Library Used Book Sale

Friends of the Ringtown Library Annual Used Book Sale

Saturday, April 18th, 9am-9pm Sunday, April 19th, 11am-5pm at the Schuylkill Mall, Frackville

Support the Ringtown Area Library at this Bargain Book Sale, featuring THOUSANDS of hardcover and paperback books for adults and children, plus videos, audio books, puzzles, board games and magazines. Most hardcovers $1.00, paperbacks 50 cents, children's books 25 to 50 cents.

Contact the Ringtown Area Library at (570) 889-5503 for more information or about donating items for the sale.

 

www.move2.pennsylvania.com

 

 

 

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Erica Ramus is Broker/Owner of Realty Executives in Pottsville, PA.

If you're looking for a PROFESSIONAL to represent you in all of your Schuylkill County real estate needs, call Realty Executives at 570-622-6006.

We can meet all your buying / selling needs ... and will exceed your expectations. That's what being an EXECUTIVE is all about

Serving all of Schuylkill County ... Pottsville, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Auburn, Pine Grove, Frackville, Minersville, Ashland, Shenandoah, Port Carbon, Palo Alto, St. Clair, Barnesville real estate. Click on the link above to search Pottsville PA homes for sale or any Schuylkill County homes for sale. We have all properties listed for sale in the Schuylkill MLS on our website -- free search!

We also operate Schuylkill Appraisal Services, for all your appraisal needs.

 


April 18: Pottsville Yard Sale & Food Drive

Yard Sale and Food Drive 8 am - 1 pm, Salvation Army, Terry Reilly Building, 12th Street across Market Square Apts.

Bring two nonperishable items and you'll get a free Sloppy Joe sandwich. Help the Salvation Army. Everything under $10. Half off sale from Noon - 1 pm. 570-1220.

The Salvation Army really can use our help right now. Drop off your nonperishables please!

 

Info about our Pottsville Corps:

 

Salvation Army, Pottsville Corps PO Box 107 400 Sanderson Street Pottsville, PA 17901

Phone (570) 622-5252 Fax (570) 622-2262

Web www.salvationarmyusa.org

Captains Adam and Tammy Hench

Email: ahench@use.salvationarmy.org or thench@use.salvationarmy.org

Services

* Welfare assistance for those in need of food or clothing.

* Sallies' Kidz after-school program for ages 6 to 12.

* Gymnastics program for ages 13 and above. * Ceramics for teens and adults.

* Men's Club and Ladies' League to provide educational and recreational activities for ages 16 and over.

* Soup Kitchen and Homeless Feeding Program to provide hot meals for the homeless and poor.

* Summer Day Camp for children ages 5 to 13.

* Residential Camp for children ages 7 to 18.

 

www.move2pennsylvania.com

 

 

 

 

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Erica Ramus is Broker/Owner of Realty Executives in Pottsville, PA.

If you're looking for a PROFESSIONAL to represent you in all of your Schuylkill County real estate needs, call Realty Executives at 570-622-6006.

We can meet all your buying / selling needs ... and will exceed your expectations. That's what being an EXECUTIVE is all about

Serving all of Schuylkill County ... Pottsville, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Auburn, Pine Grove, Frackville, Minersville, Ashland, Shenandoah, Port Carbon, Palo Alto, St. Clair, Barnesville real estate. Click on the link above to search Pottsville PA homes for sale or any Schuylkill County homes for sale. We have all properties listed for sale in the Schuylkill MLS on our website -- free search!

We also operate Schuylkill Appraisal Services, for all your appraisal needs.

 


Sovereign Magestic Theater Events: Pottsville

Through My Lens by Johnathan Paroby (Photographer) Friday, April 17, 2009 6:30 p.m. Drop in at the Sovereign Majestic Theater for Pottsville’s first ever PhotoMovie. Followed by an opening reception at Sage Coffeehouse where you can mingle with the artist and his works…

From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Saturday, April 18, 2009 7:00 p.m. Tickets: $8.00 Length of Performance: 55 minutes To celebrate the 40th anniversary of E.L. Konigsburg’s Newbery Medal-winning classic, ArtsPower has created an enchanting new drama that follows Claudia Kincaid and her brother Jamie up the stone steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and right into the middle of an adventure sure to captivate audiences of all ages!

Block of Art—Red Creek Wildlife Display Sunday, April 19, 2009 2:00 p.m.—Free Admission Stop by and meet the wildlife from Red Creek Wildlife Center, including Raptors, Birds of Prey, Grey Horned Owls and a Turkey Vulture.

Jay Smar—Coal Mining and Folk Songs Saturday, April 25, 2009 7:00 p.m. Tickets: $5.00 per person. In the last 5 years, Jay Smar has toured Scotland twice, performed at the Philadelphia Folk Festival twice, recorded music for the Welsh BBC movie, "The Welsh in America" and has been selected by the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour to be on their professional touring roster. Armed with 2 guitars, baritone vocals, claw-hammer banjo, and fiddling, singing, and flat-footin ' (a form of clog-dancing), he serves his audience an "acoustic buffet" of traditional American and original folk, old time mountain music, bluegrass and gospel tunes, as well as coal mining songs of Northeast Pennsylvania preceded by their origin. Original and "covered" guitar instrumentals garnish this plate of cultural cuisine.

In Association with The Actors Guild of Schuylkill County Murder Me, Murder Me Not Saturday, May 2, 2009 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, May 3, 2009 2:00 p.m. Tickets: $10.00 per person. Randolph Gaston has been murdered and everybody is after the insurance money – the grieving widow, the girl next door, the family maid, the priest, the French inspector, and the insurance investigator. Not everyone is quite who they appear to be and most of the seven deadly sins are committed during this confusing night of double-crosses, double-double-crosses and mistaken identities at the Gaston residence.

The performance by 61 South on May 9th has been postponed Diversity Council of Schuylkill County presents In Light of Reverence Saturday, May 16, 2009 7:00 p.m. Free Admission. Donations greatly appreciated.

The Sovereign Majestic Awards Tuesday, May 19, 2009 7:00 p.m. Tickets: $5.00 per person. North Schuylkill High School.

M&T Movies at the Majestic—

Madagascar 2 Saturday, May 23, 2009 7:00 p.m. Free Admission and Popcorn. Hosted by the Pottsville Recreation Commission All of the loveable characters are back – Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo, King Julien, Maurice and the penguins – in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. They find themselves in the wildest place of all – the vast plains of Africa – where our zoo-raised crew encounter species of their own kind for the very first time.

Twilight Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:00 p.m. Free Admission and Popcorn. Hosted by the Pottsville Recreation Commission Bella Swan is a clumsy, kind hearted teenager with a knack for getting into trouble. Edward Cullen is an intelligent, good looking vampire who is trying to hide his secret. Against all odds, the two fall in love but will a pack of blood thirsty trackers and the disapproval of their family and friends saeprate them?

Rubi Wahhab Nicholas and Adrian Mesa Thursday, July 9, 2009 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 10, 2009 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 10, 2009 9:00 p.m. Saturday, July 11, 2009 7:00 p.m. Saturday, July 11, 2009 9:00 p.m. Tickets: $10.00 per person

Paul Blart—Mall Cop Thursday, July 16, 2009 7:00 p.m. Free Admission and Popcorn. Hosted by the Pottsville Recreation Commission When a shopping mall is overtaken by a gang of organized crooks, it's up to a mild-mannered security guard to save the day.

Hotel for Dogs Thursday, August 20, 2009 7:00 p.m. Free Admission and Popcorn. Hosted by the Pottsville Recreation Commission When their new guardians forbid 16-year old Andi and her younger brother, Bruce to have a pet, Andi has to use her quick wit to help find a new home for their dog, Friday. The resourceful kids stumble upon an abandoned hotel and using Bruce's talents as a mechanical genius, transform it into a magical dog-paradise for Friday--and eventually for all Friday's friends. When barking dogs make the neighbors suspicious, Andi and Bruce use every invention they have to avoid anyone discovering "who let the dogs in."

In Association with The Actors Guild of Schuylkill County Of Mice and Men Saturday, September 19th 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, September 20th 2:00 p.m. Tickets: TBA

In Association with Lift Your Spirits Performing Arts Godspell Friday, October 16th 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, October 17th 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, October 18th 2:00 p.m.; Friday, October 23rd 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, October 24th 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $12.00 per person. Conceived and originally directed by John-Michael Tebelak, with music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, "Godspell" is one of the biggest off-Broadway and Broadway successes of all time. Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew, and featuring a sparkling score by Stephen Schwartz, “Godspell” boasts a string of well-loved songs, led by the international hit, “Day By Day.” As the cast performs “Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord,” “Learn Your Lessons Well,” “All For The Best,” “All Good Gifts,” “Turn Back, O Man” and “By My Side,” the parables of Jesus Christ come humanly and hearteningly to life. Performed by Lift Your Spirits Performing Arts. -----------------------

Sovereign Majestic Theater 209 North Centre Street Office: One South Second Street Pottsville, PA 17901 Phone: 570-628-4647 Fax: 570-628-2860 E-mail: info@pad-co.com Website: www.sovereignmajestic.com

 

 

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Erica Ramus is Broker/Owner of Realty Executives in Pottsville, PA.

If you're looking for a PROFESSIONAL to represent you in all of your Schuylkill County real estate needs, call Realty Executives at 570-622-6006.

We can meet all your buying / selling needs ... and will exceed your expectations. That's what being an EXECUTIVE is all about

Serving all of Schuylkill County ... Pottsville, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Auburn, Pine Grove, Frackville, Minersville, Ashland, Shenandoah, Port Carbon, Palo Alto, St. Clair, Barnesville real estate. Click on the link above to search Pottsville PA homes for sale or any Schuylkill County homes for sale. We have all properties listed for sale in the Schuylkill MLS on our website -- free search!

We also operate Schuylkill Appraisal Services, for all your appraisal needs.

 


Fair Housing Lawsuit Settled Today for $280,000 + Retrofitting Costs

Pay attention to Fair Housing! This is serious.

Via Jason Rose (123 ConEd LLC (www.123ConEd.com)):

www.123ConEd.com

Here is another example of a recent settlement of a Fair Housing Act lawsuit brought by the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”). I try to post case summaries in order to provide timely updates to real estate agents and brokers about the "dos and don'ts" under the Fair Housing Act, since fair housing is such an important issue.

This afternoon (April 14, 2009), the DOJ settled a Fair Housing Act lawsuit that was brought against twenty-five defendants (individuals involved in the design and construction of various multi-family housing complexes) for failing to provide required accessible features for persons with disabilities at eleven multi-family housing developments in Kentucky. The lawsuit alleged that the individuals involved in the design and construction of twelve multifamily housing complexes discriminated on the basis of disability.

According to the lawsuit, the public and common use areas of those housing developments had steps leading to covered dwelling units, lacked walkway connections to covered dwelling units, lacked accessible parking, and had routes leading to covered dwelling units that were too steeply sloped to be accessible to persons who use mobility assistance devices. Inside the dwelling units, doors and hallways were insufficiently wide, thermostats were mounted too high, and bathrooms and kitchens lacked sufficient clear floor space for people who use wheelchairs.

The lawsuit arose as a result of a complaint to the DOJ by the Fair Housing Council, then a local Louisville, Kentucky non-profit organization that received funding from HUD.

Under the terms of the settlement, the defendants were required to pay all costs related to making the apartment complexes accessible to persons with disabilities and pay $255,000 to compensate individuals harmed by the inaccessible housing. The defendants were also filed $25,000 as a civil penalty to vindicate the public interest and undergo training on the requirements of the Fair Housing Act.

The retrofitting of the apartment complexes includes modifying walkways, removing steps, providing accessible curb ramps and parking, and providing accessible walks to site amenities, such as the clubhouses, pools, mailboxes and trash facilities. It also requires the defendants to replace inaccessible knob door hardware with levers, lower thermostats to accessible heights, and reconfigure bathrooms and kitchens.

Fair housing laws require equal access to housing, including equal access for persons with disabilities. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status.

********************************************

To learn more about fair housing issues (and many other real estate topics), please visit us at www.123ConEd.com.  We are the leading online provider of Michigan real estate continuing education.  All of our courses are fully approved and properly certified by the State of Michigan, and are offered online.

 

 

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Erica Ramus is Broker/Owner of Realty Executives in Pottsville, PA.

If you're looking for a PROFESSIONAL to represent you in all of your Schuylkill County real estate needs, call Realty Executives at 570-622-6006.

We can meet all your buying / selling needs ... and will exceed your expectations. That's what being an EXECUTIVE is all about

Serving all of Schuylkill County ... Pottsville, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Auburn, Pine Grove, Frackville, Minersville, Ashland, Shenandoah, Port Carbon, Palo Alto, St. Clair, Barnesville real estate. Click on the link above to search Pottsville PA homes for sale or any Schuylkill County homes for sale. We have all properties listed for sale in the Schuylkill MLS on our website -- free search!

We also operate Schuylkill Appraisal Services, for all your appraisal needs.

 


USDA Financing At A Glance!

Many many of our Schuylkill County properties qualify for this USDA loan program. Check it out!

Via Jason Sardi, Mortgage Banker (FHA-VA-USDA-Conventional-Pennsylvania Loans):

In case some of you haven't been informed, 100% is alive and well in the financing side of the Mortgage World.  Let not the rumors of their demise mislead you. VA (for those who have served our country) and USDA (Rural Development 502 Guaranteed Housing Loan Program) are becoming more and more important for certain borrowers and areas.  I shall concentrate on the latter, giving you a snap shot of the advantages of seeking a USDA Loan.

  • First off, there is no down payment required.  Indeed, I'm master of the obvious:)
  • There is NO Mortgage Insurance.  Unlike FHA & Conventional Loans, this product doesn't require Mortgage Insurance of any kind!
  • No Cash Reserves Required.  What that means is that you don't have to have money in the bank or in any sort of retirement account after closing.  That written, I'm personally a big fan of reserves.  Why?  Hey, once you buy a home and something goes wrong (inevitably, it will) the financial responsibility of fixing it lies with you.
  • No pre-payment penalty.  Actually, the majority of loans in this atmosphere don't have a pre-payment penalty.  So, if you hit it big at the casino or win the lottery, feel free to pay your house off in full without incurring any penalty whatsoever.  Then again, if you win that type of money, you may want to keep the mortgage for purposes of a tax write-off:)  Of note, I'm not an accountant.  And I don't play one on television.  I majored in it when I first went to College, but quickly opted for psychology... as accounting bored the snot out of my nostrils.
  • No First Time Homebuyer Requirement.  There are no special classes to take or education to go through prior to closing.  I do though, strongly recommend doing your due diligence (your Mortgage Guy or Gal should help you with this) and educating yourself to not only become a homeowner, but a smart homeowner.
  • New and Existing Homes OK!
  • No Seller Contribution Limit.  The Seller can literally pay ALL of your closing costs.
  • 100% gifted closing costs is acceptable.  If you have a kind and financially capable relative, they can flip the bill for all your closing costs.
  • It is a fully amortized 30-year fixed rate loan.  It isn't some complicated Interest-Only, Pick a payment, pied-piper pecking Peter type of loan.  It's pretty simple.  Each monthly payment you make pays down your interest & your principle balance.
  • Loan amount can include closing costs and repairs up to 102% of the appraised value. 

Folks, this can be a great product for a lot of people in applicable areas throughout our Nation.  It's still not known about by a lot of people... and individuals in the Real Estate Industry.  This is just a brief overview.  With any further questions, contact yours truly, Jason Sardi@ jsardi@ihmci.com or give me a ring Toll Free at 1-866-262-8720.  Have a wonderful weekend and remember, if you have financing questions and are in doubt... give that Sardi character a shout:)  If I don't know the answer, I'll find it out.

 

 

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Erica Ramus is Broker/Owner of Realty Executives in Pottsville, PA.

If you're looking for a PROFESSIONAL to represent you in all of your Schuylkill County real estate needs, call Realty Executives at 570-622-6006.

We can meet all your buying / selling needs ... and will exceed your expectations. That's what being an EXECUTIVE is all about

Serving all of Schuylkill County ... Pottsville, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Haven, Auburn, Pine Grove, Frackville, Minersville, Ashland, Shenandoah, Port Carbon, Palo Alto, St. Clair, Barnesville real estate. Click on the link above to search Pottsville PA homes for sale or any Schuylkill County homes for sale. We have all properties listed for sale in the Schuylkill MLS on our website -- free search!

We also operate Schuylkill Appraisal Services, for all your appraisal needs.