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Scranton, PA Real Estate News

By Karen Rice Keller Williams Real Est, Northeast PA & Lake Wallenpaupack Home Sales
(Keller Williams Real Estate)
Scranton PA:  Woman Gets Arrested for Cursing at Her Toilet & Wins a $19,000 Settlement It’s been a while since I wrote a Wild Card Wednesday blog. Unfortunately, today is Thursday, but this blog fits the category so well, I’m going to put it in there anyway. I prefer to stay on the subject of real estate in Pike and Wayne County, but sometimes you have to deviate from the norm.  Since many residents of northeast PA head to Scranton often (myself included) I thought this would be interesting to my readers. Indeed, NEPA (as Northeast PA is known) is an interesting and fascinating place. A while ago, Scranton PA made the news because a woman was arrested for cursing out her own toilet as it overflowed, spreading gross liquid across her bathroom floor and into her kitchen. Her windows wer...
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By Credit Repair Consultants, LLC
(Credit Repair Consultants, LLC)
Buying a home can certainly become a daunting task.  It sure helps if you have some information before jumping in.  You should always create a structured plan before beginning your home search. Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS) is a local not-for-profit firm that is dedicated to educating buyers about the home-buying process. If you plan to buy a home in the near future, your first step is attending this free course at their NEPA office in Pittston, PA.  It's going to be held Wednesday, September 17 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.  You can click here to enroll in the course to ensure you have a spot. Of course, you should also meet with a Credit Specialist if you fear you may have issues with your credit report.  CCCS is a very good company for debt management programs and education, bu...
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By Credit Repair Consultants, LLC
(Credit Repair Consultants, LLC)
Hey folks!  I just got back from vacation at Walt Disney World.  My wife and I decided to go for our 5th Anniversary without our 22-month old boy.  We wanted to be a little selfish and experience it for ourselves before we took him down a few years later.  Boy, am I glad we did!  There's a lot to accomplish in those parks and I can't imagine doing as much as we did with our boy in tow.  Now that we've experienced it, I can't wait to bring him down.  I know it will be a much more rewarding experience for all of us with him there. With my vacation, I wasn't able to contribute to my blog, but I will offer you another article from my column with the Scranton Post: In case you haven't noticed, the American Consumer has been pressed to their very limit.  More specifically, we've been pushed t...
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By Credit Repair Consultants, LLC
(Credit Repair Consultants, LLC)
I have had the privelidge of contributing to the newest newspaper publication in Scranton, "The Scranton Post".  It is a wonderfully unique paper with a concentration on local content. Since the paper comes out biweekly and is only available mostly in stores in Scranton, I wanted to republish my contribution here for all to read.  Please feel free to comment and pick up a copy of the next Scranton Post. I'm so glad to be a part of this new voice for the people of Scranton. It's been a whirlwind since I was asked to contribute to The Post. I've been getting a crash course education in the newspaper world. Most importantly, I've had to deal with something I hadn't experienced since college. I've been re-introduced to the concept of deadlines. Thankfully, the all-night cram sessions are do...
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By Credit Repair Consultants, LLC
(Credit Repair Consultants, LLC)
Hello and welcome to my Credit Repair Blog! I'm very excited about this blog because I believe that I can help a tremendous amount of people.  I have met countless people who had bad credit due to circumstances beyond their control.  Unfortunately, the credit reporting system is set up for failure for those people.  Because of the way debtors can transfer collection accounts, a person can be penalized for years, or even decades, for simple mistakes that they could not avoid. Thankfully, the Federal Government set up a series of strict rules and policies that consumers can use to clean up their credit and keep their creditors honest.  However, as government usually does, they made these rules very difficult to learn and to follow and left exceptions all over the place.  That's why I crea...
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By Universal Funding Partners
(Universal Funding Partners)
We live in America, the land of choice.  We can choose our elected officials.  We can choose whether to use a small mom-and-pop shop or a big store like Walmart.  What we haven't had here in Scranton is a choice of newspapers.  One person, one company, one organization could never fill all our needs in NEPA.  There are too many of us and our population is diverse.  Could you imagine having one grocery store in town?  One hardware store?  One news show on TV?  There are people who are ademant about their news shows, whether it's 16, 22, or 28.  There's no reason to not have that excitement about our city's newspapers. When I first heard about it, I thought what some of you may be thinking.  What's the big deal?  The news is the news.  You either read it or don't, no matter who wrote it. ...
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By Universal Funding Partners
(Universal Funding Partners)
Here we go!  Scranton is transforming.  I can still remember watching "The Implosion".  A long row of businesses on Lackawanna Ave were blown up from the inside.  My brother and I watched as the buildings folded into themselves and came crashing to the ground.  In what felt like a moment, the Steamtown Mall was upon us.  The transformation of Downtown Scranton was in full swing. Here we are again.  We're back on Lackawanna Ave, but this time there are no explosions.  Just celebration for the ongoing renovation project.  You can expect to see restaurants with inside and outside seating along the street.  The area will be inviting for pedestrians that can stop for a bite during some shopping or after a movie.  Perhaps the more important aspect of the new buildings are the condominium unit...
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By Todd Jones
(Weichert Realtors - Hibble & Associates)
Check out Scranton's good news from Money Magazine What can it be??? Maybe it is because Scranton is home to The Office. Maybe it is because the cost of living is relatively cheap. Maybe it is because of our many universities. Maybe it is because Scranton residents aren't buying in to the national media's negative outlook on real estate. I bet this wonderful news will barely make the media spotlight. That is why I feel compelled to share it with all of you. If you live in Scranton or the surrounding areas, now is the time to buy and sell. The market is doing great. Homes are affordable and people are buying them.   Todd Jones - Realtor, ABR, SRS, OA - Your Scranton, Clarks Summit Realtor Serving all of Lackawanna County www.realestatebytodd.com
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By Universal Funding Partners
(Universal Funding Partners)
I've written blogs about this in the past and feel very strongly about this subject.  But, I just came across this online video that backs up my feelings about "No Closing Cost Mortgages".Local and online banks have been touting these "No Closing Cost Mortgages" as a way to entice buyers and borrowers to take an application.  They are feeding on the general fear in the industry right now.  Charged by all the negative news in the media about mortgage brokers, they are stealing away market share using scrupulous tactics.You see, there's no such thing as a "No Closing Cost Mortgage".  Why would someone, let alone a bank, want to work for free?  They are trying to perceive themselves as the lowest cost alternative when, in reality, a "No Closing Cost Mortgage" costs much more than any other...
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By Universal Funding Partners
(Universal Funding Partners)
We can all use a vacation.  It's been a tough year so far.  We've had to deal with constant bad news, a draining war, a dwindling economy, and an exhaustive Presidential Campaign.  Wouldn't you love to get away?Escaping to the Caribbean is not an option for most.  Sunny blue waters sound great, but you can get an exotic experience without traveling far at all.  The Chesapeake Bay is a mere 4-hour drive away from NEPA.  Sailing is an incredible exerience and it can be very affordable.  Captain Dave and Penny Renollare retired Pennsylvania school teachers from Wyoming County, here in NEPA.  He and his wife run a Sail School and Charter business from their two sail boats on Kent Island in Maryland.  Kent Island is a quaint place right over the Bay Bridge, only a few miles from the Capitol ...
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By Universal Funding Partners
(Universal Funding Partners)
You've all been mesmerized by the catchy commercials for companies that offer free credit reports.  Their jingles stay in your head for days.  You may find yourself bobbing your head to the tune hours after you've heard it.  They're clever and downright infectious. But, are they free?Please.. please..  please don't sign up for this service if you are looking for a free credit report!  Just like way too many good things, it's a gimic.  Here's how it works:You hear that tune bounce around in your head for 3 days and decide to finally visit the website.  You type it in your browser.  It's something like www.absolutelyfreecreditreport-reallyitdoesn'tcostanythingatall.com.  They promptly ask for your credit card information.Red flag!!!  Why in the world would they need money to give you some...
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By Universal Funding Partners
(Universal Funding Partners)
Homes aren't cheap!  The purchase of a home involves a transaction in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.  We talk about abstract theories such as payments, interest rates, and points.  It's easy to lose focus on the big picture.  All this negotiating and maneuvering takes place to put into a service a mortgage that you will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on over the years.Closing costs aren't cheap either.  You can expect to use the services of a broker, title company, appraiser, inspector, etc. to help close your loan.  When you see all the work being put into the loan, and the magnitude of the financing, you can start to see that your monetary obligation in all of this is justified.  You may need a lot of money out of pocket to close on a home.For many people, their...
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By Universal Funding Partners
(Universal Funding Partners)
The job of a Realtor can be quite difficult.  There are many facts and figures you've got to keep at the top of mind at all times.  A talented and successful Realtor is a person with an outward personality.  Most of your day is spent talking to all kinds of people.  You've got to relate to buyers, relate to sellers, and then be skilled enough to bounce between the two to create an agreement that satisfies everyone.  A Realtor's day can be truly exhausting!Relating to people isn't the only skill you need.  A thorough knowledge of your market area is a must.  You'll memorize, not only your own inventory of homes, but also the ever-changing inventory on the MLS for Scranton and all of NEPA.  You'll need to keep Real Estate laws and regulations in your mind at all times.  Clients will also ...
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By Universal Funding Partners
(Universal Funding Partners)
The Scranton Hill Section is one of the most incredible areas in the country.  Or maybe that's my biased opinion.  Just take a walk!  You'll stroll through a quaint college campus at the University of Scranton.  Step off campus and you'll find a mix of new and older commercial buildings with small shops to enjoy.  Start climbing up the Hill and the first thing you'll notice is abandoned properties, empty lots, and multi-family homes that have seen the wear and tear from the abuse brought on by wild college parties.  Not the kind of place you'd want your small kids growing up.  But keep walking.It's unbelievable, but in just minutes and before you break a sweat, you'll be gaping at huge mansions from the turn of the century!  They are spectacularly maintained and are architectural marvel...
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By Todd Jones
(Weichert Realtors - Hibble & Associates)
It is about time that the national media starts giving some good news when it comes to real estate. But as soon as they do, they sabotage us by then focusing on the regions of the country that are hurting the most. What about the good stories? What about areas like Scranton, Pennsylvania that are increasing regularly and are on the up and up? In any real estate market there are going to be slumping areas. Why is that what the media focuses on?If I were an anchor for a major Tv station, I would let people know that this is a great time to buy. Good deals are out there and rates have been very good for a while now. This is also a great time for those who are looking to sell and "move up" to something bigger. There are lots of buyers out there looking in that median price range and they ca...
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By Universal Funding Partners
(Universal Funding Partners)
A combonation of news and rumors has been swirling around throughout NEPA in the last few days.  It started with Hillary Clinton's visit to Scranton and her 30-minute speech at Scranton High School.  She let it slip that she would be attending The Parade along with Gov Ed Rendell.  With the coming primary around the bend, PA has become a hotbed of political activity.  Hillary already has solid ties to the area.  Even during her husband's presidency, she would make trips to her father's home here in Scranton.When news of her next visit hit the wire, the media began to wonder if others may be interested.  Well, I'm sad to say that there will be no guarantee that a future president will be marching with the Irish in The Parade.  Obama's campaign confirmed that they would be there only to b...
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By Universal Funding Partners
(Universal Funding Partners)
The Scranton Parade is easily one of the largest in the country.  Not bad when you see who we're comparing to.  We're right up there with New York and Boston.  This Saturday's parade is expected to be 10,000 strong!  The latest news is the announcement of a special attendee.  Hillary Clinton was in town Monday to give a speech at Scranton High School.  She let the beans spill that she'll be attending the parade, in some capacity, along with Gov. Ed Rendell.  Mrs. Clinton has very close ties to our region.  She's made numerous trips to her father's home in Scranton.This "Parade Day" is particularly special to me.  I'll be taking my son to his very first "Parade Day".  No matter what ethnicity you are, it's hard to find someone that doesn't have some special memory of the parade.  I look ...
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By Kim Skumanick
(Keller Williams Real Estate)
Good thing my first morning cup of coffee was decaf. The only pick-me-up I needed today was found on the front page of my morning newspaper.There it was in The Times-Tribune...NEPA house prices rose 7.2% last year. "...things are different in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, where home prices in 2007 increased 7.2 percent, according to another index released Tuesday. The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight ranked the metro area 18th in home-price gains among the nation's 291 metro areas. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre shared the top 20 with other low-profile markets such as Bismarck, N.D., Longview, Wash., and Beaumont, Texas."Sure it was below the fold. The photo and story of last night's presidential campaign took care of that. But I'll take any good news, regardless of ...
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By Todd Jones
(Weichert Realtors - Hibble & Associates)
Have you looked at the calendar recently? Can you believe that it is almost March already?With the national media still taking the baseball bat to real estate, is your market staying afloat? I was excited this afternoon when I picked up the local newspaper and saw NEPA House Prices Rose 7.2% last year. Finally some good press! Locally, my real estate area (mostly Lackawanna County - Scranton and Clarks Summit real estate) has not seen the national drop that many areas have seen. Regardless of the market that you are in, how are you reacting to it?At the beginning of the year I set up 3 goals. I am gradually progressing at all of them and am seeing results too. I am learning more about the inside approach to foreclosures, my website is almost complete (still in progress), and I have been...
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By Todd Jones
(Weichert Realtors - Hibble & Associates)
Usually this time of year I am slow and am spending much of my time trying to scrape up new business. 2008 so far has been a different story. Don't believe what the national news is telling you. My neighborhood is still moving forward and people are buying and selling. Check out the article in Money Magazine. I have seen both buyers and sellers coming out of the woodwork. With all of the foreclosures out there, investors seem to be everywhere too. I have spent a lot of time in front of my laptop reponding to emails from clients. They are reaching out to me.They want to buy! They want to sell! Realtors, use email to your advantage. I still believe in the phone and face to face meetings, but clients are relying heavily on the Internet (I know, you are already aware of that, but are you re...
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