Bethlehem, Pa Recreation and Parks - Find information on the Parks & Recreation along with website links to other helpful information about this great area to live in. Recreation/Sports Activities in Bethlehem, PA:     There is much to do for those in search for recreational/sports activities.  They house their own Bethlehem Municipal Golf Course ( 9 and 18 hole), Green Pond Country Club, outdoor ice-skating rink, several public parks and pools, tennis courts, basketball courts, walking/jogging trails, dog parks, recreational sports fields,  and fishing at Monocacy Creek to name a few.If spending an afternoon shopping is your forte, then experience the charm of Bethlehem’s Historic and Southside Shopping districts.  Nestled alongside of historic buildings you will find boutiques, eclect... 07/10/2009

Bethlehem PA Annual Events - Information on many annual events with website links direct to The City of Bethlehem Annual Events.City of Bethlehem Annual Events: There is no shortfall of entertainment within this city. One of the largest events is Musikfest, which provides  professional , local, and amateur talent. Rich in cultural, art and music, it is one to see in August.  Bethlehem also hosts the Southside Film Festival, Bach Festival, Blueberry Festival, The Celtic Classic, First Night, and Movies in the Park.  New to Bethlehem’s Southside, the Sands Casino will add to your evening entertainment.This city has a plethora of local artists and musicians that showcase their talents.  The Banana Factory and art galleries warehouse the local talent.  Theatrical performances shown at the P... 07/10/2009

Bethlehem PA School Information will provide you with details regarding Public & Private Schools as well as Colleges and UniversitiesBethlehem, PA Public Schools:    For those families moving into the area with children, education will be on the mind.  Bethlehem Area School District    contains 2 High schools, 4 middle school, and 18 elementary schools. Bethlehem Area Private Schools: For those seeking private education for their children, there is Bethlehem Christian School, Bethlehem Catholic High School, (which provides education from pre-k through 12 grade), St. Anne’s School, Lehigh Valley Charter High School for Performing Arts, Moravian Academy, and Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School to choose from. Bethlehem Area Colleges and Universities:    For those seeking higher ... 07/10/2009

You found your perfect dream home, and it passed inspection.  Now you are just waiting for your closing date, but don't forget to review potential issues before closing.  These potential issues are related to the neighborhood and culture.  It is important to take several trips to the home, particularly in the evening, so you can get a feel for the neighborhood. When visiting the neighborhood, pay attention to the level of noise.  Are there loud parties or teens with no curfews?  These things could definitely become an issue.  Also, pay attention to any odd odors.  Odors from a manufacturing or waste-processing plant may not have been obvious before. Time your commute to work before signing the contract.  Make sure you are able to handle the commute.  You don't want to purchase the home,... 07/09/2009

The housing bust has has a huge impact on many Americans.  We are now finally starting to see a small improvement in real estate.  Home prices and buying incentives are encouraging bargain hunters. The stimulus plan offers first-time homebuyers a tax credit up to $8,000, and a refinancing program to help owners struggling with mortgages and an incentive to their lenders. In order to avoid repeating our mistakes, here are a few old-school rules that you should follow as you prepare to buy your first home. Save for a large down payment.  A large down payment of 15% to 20% will allow you to have a lower payment, better interest rate, and higher equity. Don't borrow more than you can afford.  Just because you are pre-approved for a certain amount, does not mean you have to borrow the entire... 07/07/2009

New Listings 13   Back on Market 2   Price Increases 0     Price Reductions 8   Contingents 1   Pendings 3   Solds 0     Expireds 11   Inactives 2    Looking for 100% No money down financing? Check out our No Cash Down program.   or call 24/7 (877) 735-3527  ID # 1074 Don Wenner The Don Wenner Home Selling TeamKeller Williams Real Estate 2901 Emrick Blvd. Suite 100 Bethlehem PA 18020PA RE License #RS300485 (C) 484-542-2868 (O) 610-867-8888(F) 610-867-8889 http://www.donwenner.com    email: don@donwenner.com "Your Home Sold Guaranteed, Or I'll Buy It" "Buy A home with our Team and Receive up to a $10,000 Cash Reward!" Chris HoffmanPa Re License #RS298340Theresa BarlowPa Re License #RS281312Barb MiersPa Re License #RS278138   07/05/2009

Many homebuyers use the Internet to find their home.  Although using the Internet for home buying is increasingly growing popular, there are still a lot of mistakes that can be made.  Here are five tips to help you avoid potential blunders. Don't try to do everything yourself. The Internet allows you to do many tasks that previously only realtors were able to do.  You may have access to a lot more information, but don't assume this is all you need to buy a house.  You should use a professional Realtor®, so you can avoid making costly mistakes. Don't limit your search to a couple of real-estate sites.  This will limit you to a smaller market of homes available.  Many sites don't include all of the most recent listings.  Also, you could miss important information about the housing market ... 07/03/2009

It is very exciting to purchase a brand-new home.  Unfortunately, some homeowners have difficulty when trying to get builders to repair problems.  Unable to get builders and insurance companies to stand behind their products, many homeowners are faced with the challenge of getting the repairs done. In the past, many builders provided customers with a year to report and let them fix any problems.  This has changed due to an increase of construction-defect lawsuits.  The lawsuits have raised the rates for builders' insurance, so now builders are being pressured by the insurers to not respond to homebuyers' problems unless they file a lawsuit. Filing a lawsuit is not always easy.  Thirty-one states have a "right to cure" law.  This law states homeowners must follow a complaint procedure be... 07/01/2009

  As you drive through sections of Bethlehem's residential district, the sight of some of the homes brings you to the early 20th century life in Bethlehem.  Some of these districts are not protected from demolition and these are the areas that the city officials do not want to lose.    Later this year, a consultant will be taking inventory of every building and structure to determine it's historic status.  Once a list is compiled, the city will consider laws that would "conserve, preserve and restore" these historic buildings.   The historic buildings could include everything from homes in residential neighborhoods to the former Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces.   In 1962, Bethlehem became the state's first municipality to create a local historic district.  The South side business distric... 06/30/2009

Some people forget about the exterior of the home when putting it on the market.  A home's curb appeal is important, and can make a big impression on potential buyers.  The following should be done to prepare for a spring selling. Removing weeds can definitely help sell a home.  A low-maintenance yard is appealing to many buyers.  A yard with a lot of weeds can be very intimidating to potential buyers, and possibly ruin a chance of receiving an offer. Pruning trees that are touching a home will allow buyers to get a better look at the home before viewing the inside.  It is important to make a good impression before buyers enter the home. Impress buyers by adding mulch and planting annuals.  There a new mulches available that retain color throughout the year.  Planting low-maintenance an... 06/25/2009

One of the best perks of being a homeowner is taking advantage of the tax breaks.  If you are not aware of the tax breaks, then you won't reap the benefits.  You need to know what expenses you can deduct and how new laws affect you.  Below are the top 10 tax tips that every homeowner should know. Remember to always consult with your tax advisor.  You can deduct your mortgage interest and real estate taxes.  You can deduct up to $1 million of the interest paid on a principal residence and a second home.  All of the property taxes are deductible. If you purchased the home this year, you can deduct the money paid for points or origination fees. If your adjusted gross income is $100,000 or less, you can deduct your PMI insurance.  This is deductible for loans that originated after December ... 06/23/2009

It can be difficult to sell a home in today's market.  Combine this with a selling dilemma - an added extra that makes it harder to sell your home - and the overall selling process can quickly become extremely complex.  If you have a selling dilemma, make sure you take it into account when creating your pricing strategy. If you need to move quickly by a set deadline, then you should price your home competitively.  Your goal is to be the lowest price house on the market.  You may have to consider lowering your home at least 15% less than your competition.  This may seem like a lot, but you need to consider the costs you could incur if you don't sell your home, like paying the monthly mortgage. If you need to sell in order to avoid a foreclosure, then you should look at a short sale.  A s... 06/18/2009

By now you've heard that the newest attraction in Northampton County has opened! The Sands Casino, located in Bethlehem, PA, has 3,000 slot machines, ranging from penny slots to the high-end room. Of couse, with every good casino comes good food! There are many mouth-watering meals to be had at the Sands Casino, and perhaps the most exciting, is the first Emeril Lagasse restaurant in the northeast! Bethlehem is less than an hour and a half from Philadelphia, New York City, Wilkes-Barre and Harrisburg, and just a very quick jump from Stroudsburg! If you find yourself looking for something new to see, or some new food to try, head down to the Sands Casino in Bethlehem!  For more information, go to pasands.com! 06/18/2009

Staging a home is a great way to transform your home into a place that appeals to potential buyers.  It is important that you don't take the suggestions from the stager personally.  You must detach yourself from your home, and allow the professional stager to make the necessary changes to quickly sell your home. Our homes represent who we are.  Many of us have accumulated a lot of things throughout the years.  Unfortunately, these collectibles tend to distract buyers.  The goal of the stager is to make your home appealing by eliminating distractions.  You need to be prepared to temporarily remove your treasures and collectibles until after the sale. Your stager will also help you eliminate clutter.  This is one of the most important things you can do to improve the appearance of your ho... 06/16/2009

  New Listings 33   Back on Market 2   Price Increases 1   Price Reductions 20   Contingents 4   Pendings 7   Solds 3   Expireds 7   Inactives 9   Looking for 100% No money down financing? Check out our No Cash Down program. or call 24/7 (877) 735-3527  ID # 1074 Don Wenner The Don Wenner Home Selling TeamKeller Williams Real Estate 2901 Emrick Blvd. Suite 100 Bethlehem PA 18020PA RE License #RS300485 (C) 484-542-2868 (O) 610-867-8888(F) 610-867-8889 http://www.donwenner.com    email: don@donwenner.com "Your Home Sold Guaranteed, Or I'll Buy It" "Buy A home with our Team and Receive up to a $10,000 Cash Reward!" Chris HoffmanPa Re License #RS298340Theresa BarlowPa Re License #RS281312Barb MiersPa Re License #RS278138 06/15/2009

There are several important things you need to remember when you are searching for a home.  First, you need to understand the importance of working with a realtor. You should never search for a home by yourself.  Not only is it unsafe, but you can end up looking at a lot of homes that don't even meet your criteria.  Using a realtor will allow you to find out the property details prior to scheduling a visit. Don't rush.  Make sure you give yourself enough time, so you don't have to rush.  Don't plan something to do for two hours later after house hunting.  You may actually find a home that you like and want to spend more time there, or even make an offer which definitely takes at least an hour. Also, don't drive yourself - always ride with your realtor.  This way, you will avoid getting ... 06/11/2009

  Tuesday, May 9th, was Bethlehem Sands Casino's Grand opening celebration.  Even though the casino has been open since May 22nd, it kicked off it's official opening at the former Bethlehem Steel's site.   Instead of a ribbon cutting ceremony, a torch was used to cut the ceremonial steel chain to the shrill clanging of a 650-pound whistle from the SS Normandy, a French cruise liner whose salvaged whistle was used to mark shift changes at the steel plant - at just about 1 o'clock.   Gov. Rendell and company and local luminaries were on hand to dedicate the slots parlor, which had 60,000 visitors its first three days and saw $18 million in wagering the first day alone.   The Sands already has drawn patrons from the Mount Airy Resort Casino in the Poconos, which is about 40 miles away.   T... 06/10/2009

The first step to making your move more eco-friendly is to plan ahead.  Start packing in advance, so you'll have enough time to get rid of items that you no longer need.  Remember you will use less fuel if you only move the items that you actually use. Hire an eco-friendly moving company to help with the move.  When searching for a company, you need to look at their environmental credentials.  Make sure the company is truly green and is not using gas-guzzling trucks or biodiesel rigs.  Use recycled boxes and packing materials, which you can probably find for free in your community.  Ask local businesses about giving you their boxes.  Many times they will even hold them for you.  You can save a lot of money by using free recycled boxes.  If you don't have time to find boxes and packing, ... 06/09/2009

Bringing the Dream of Homeowneship Within Reach As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed legislation that grants a tax credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers. How does the 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit help prospective home buyers become part of the American dream? Q. Who Qualifies? A. First-time home buyers who purchase homes between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009. To qualify as a "first-time home buyer" the purchaser or his/her spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase. Q. Which Properties Are Eligible? A. The 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit may be applied to primary residences, including: single-family homes, condos, townhom... 06/08/2009

New Listings 18   Back on Market 0     Price Increases 0     Price Reductions 16   Contingents 1   Pendings 9   Solds 1   Expireds 6   Inactives 3   Check out our No Cash Down program.  or call 24/7 (877) 735-3527  ID # 1074 Don Wenner The Don Wenner Home Selling TeamKeller Williams Real Estate 2901 Emrick Blvd. Suite 100 Bethlehem PA 18020PA RE License #RS300485 (C) 484-542-2868 (O) 610-867-8888(F) 610-867-8889 http://www.donwenner.com    email: don@donwenner.com "Your Home Sold Guaranteed, Or I'll Buy It" "Buy A home with our Team and Receive up to a $10,000 Cash Reward!" Chris HoffmanPa Re License #RS298340Theresa BarlowPa Re License #RS281312Barb MiersPa Re License #RS278138 06/08/2009