Jan
15
Fire and Ice Festival Begins TODAY Jan 15, 2010!
Posted by wags091898 under For Buyers, For Realty Professionals, For Sellers, Regional News, Somerset
Celebrating its 15th year the Fire and Ice Festival in Somerset, PA will offer up its 48 creative ice sculptures throughout up town Somerset and the Georgian Place. Mastro Gourmet Quality Ice from Pittsburgh will once again be delighting the crowds with their one of a kind pieces! This is a three day weekend with the Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday on Monday. Both Seven Springs and Hidden Valley are expecting awesome crowds!
Fireworks are set to begin tonight at 6 p.m. You may have caught, Little Big Shots, the local company responsible for tonight’s display on Dirty Jobs seen on the Discovery Channel. They are sure to delight everyone! New this year is the karaoke contest.
We always enjoy Crazy Alice’s Catering before checking out the carvings! They serve breakfast and lunch which you can enjoy dinning in or taking out (101 West Main St, Glades Court Mall, Somerset).
Fire and Ice headquarters may be found at 113 East Main Street, (Across from the PNC Bank for those of you who don’t have the GPS gadgets!) Somerset, PA 15501. Warm up there from 10-8 Friday and Saturday and 12- 4 on Sunday. Here’s a schedule for all of the fun filled events!
Wood Carvings by local and regional carvers are back again this year Saturday has a “Hot Stuff Chili and Soup Cook-OFF” contest in the American Legion basement, 162 West Main. Note that this event and several others require admission by the Fire and Ice Pin. They can be purchased at Headquarters and other local retailers. Here’s the story from our local Somerset Daily American! Enjoy!
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Jan
4
Telepalooza at 7 Springs Jan 30/31
Posted by wags091898 under Donegal, For Buyers, For Sellers, Regional News, Ski Conditions, Sking
Telepalooza Telemark Ski Event is the Largest in the Mid-Atlantic for the Eighth Year Running.
January 30 and 31st 2010
Seven Springs, PA
Telepalooza, a weekend gathering of telemark or “free heel” skiers is being held at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Seven Springs, PA.
The event features two days of races, lessons, prizes, food, beverage and fun.
This is the eighth year the Appalachian Telemark Association (ATA) has sponsored Telepalooza and it is anticipated to be bigger and better than ever.
This multi-day, multi-event, multi-fun festival celebrates “free heel” or telemark skiing, a style that originated in Norway.
Telemark skiing is the predecessor of today’s downhill skiing and is experiencing a resurgence of interest. The skis are similar to downhill, yet the bindings and boots allow the boot heel to come off the ski.
There will be lessons for children and adults, from beginner through expert from certified instructors. Children sixteen and under are free and discounted lift tickets are available. Demo equipment is available from Karhu, K2 and Garmont. Prizes awarded from great producers such as Cloudveil, Kahru, Leki and more.
The price for two days is $99 and $79 for a single day (Saturday or Sunday). Early payment discount of $10. Tickets available on the web site http://www.telemarker.org/ Pay Pal is accepted. Discount lift tickets to Seven Springs Resort are available.
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To learn more about Appalachian Telemark Association and see the Telepalooza 2010 PDF flier go to http://www.telemarker.org/
Jim Kapp is the founder of Telepalooza and available for additional information at 724-989-8913, or he can be contacted at kapperzootie@aol.com
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Jan
3
Announcing Market SnapShot, Buyer and Seller Research Tool
Posted by wags091898 under Donegal, For Buyers, For Realty Professionals, For Sellers, Marketing Reports
It is one more tool that we NOW offer our readers to help stay on top of current market conditions. Although we intended its use to be for the resort and Laurel Highlands market area it will work for any properties in the WestPenn Multiple Listing Service!This report is a snapshot of the past three months of sales, active listings, community and school information. There is a mapping feature but we caution you that our 911 system and property addresses ESPECIALLY at the resorts seldom match up. If you share your contact info you’ll receive a monthly update!
Buyers will want to keep focused on the sales to compare to the asking prices of properties they may be of interest to them. As communities and floor plans differ you may need help sorting out all of this information. Catch up with us so if we can’t help you we can refer you to a DESIGNATED AGENT!
Sellers or prospective sellers will want to watch how much competition there is of their design or in a similar price range. Figuring out HOW to give you the information YOU want may prove to be challenging! Not to worry! That’s why we’re here!!
For EVERYONE, the trick in getting relevant information pertinent to your needs is in the set up! Try going into the advanced screen to tailor the market areas YOU are interested in for buying or selling! Better yet catch up with Abe and she’ll help walk you through the system!
To try it out and see just what’s on the market and what has sold go to: http://www.laurelhighlandshomevalues.com/
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Dec
28
Sellers New Years Resolutions
Posted by wags091898 under For Realty Professionals, For Sellers, General Information
You have decided to sell your property in a very challenging market. There are multiple properties like yours on the market making pricing your property critical. However there are signs that Buyers confidence is coming back. To maximize your bottom line here are our recommendations for your New Years Resolutions.I resolve to interview at least TWO DESIGNATED agents, one to be Abe and Wags. I want to ensure that my concerns are a top priority.
I resolve to ask how many properties the agent was involved with last year. And what their list to sell average was, I’ll be shooting for over 90%.
I resolve to see a written marketing plan for all types of media that will expose my property to the greatest number of prospective buyers. I will research REALTOR.COM and see what my competition looks like.
I resolve to listen to the agent’s review of the market statistics and their suggestion on my pricing and merchandising strategies.
I resolve to work with an agent that will communicate with me the way I am most comfortable be that snail mail, e-mail, texting, and or social networking.
By adhering to these resolutions,
I resolve to be SOLD by December 31, 2010!! Here’s to a PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!
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Dec
21
Laurel Highlands Mining Permit
Posted by wags091898 under Donegal, For Buyers, For Realty Professionals, For Sellers, Regional News
Last week I attended a public meeting regarding a deep mine application for New Enterprise Stone and Lime. This stone quarry is across the street from Hidden Valley. It wasn’t a very large turnout and only three people shared their concerns. We were surprised not to see any representatives from Hidden Valley Resort or the Home Owners Association.When you’re on top of the mountain you can see only a portion of New Enterprise surface mining operations. They propose to deep mine 240 acres for LIMESTONE, NOT COAL. Approximately five and a half additional acres would be surfaced mined to open up an entrance. Here is a link to an aerial map.
Concern arises from the amount of impact the operations may have on the Shaffer Run watershed. Shaffer and Kooser Run are tributaries that may be impacted by the mining. They both feed into Laurel Hill Creek. If you recall, this creek made its way to one of America’s top 10 endangered rivers. More recently it made the headlines when a bottling company wanted to with draw 108,000 gallons of water a day. That permit was denied.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Recourses (DEP) is an incredible web site for homeowners. You can search by your zip code or check out their digitized maps to see if there is mining underneath your property! So far 11 of 43 Pennsylvania county maps are posted. Somerset County is still being processed. They even have a Help Desk, the number is 1-800-922-1678.
The DEP has an e-letter that you can sign up for if you would like to keep up with their news! Here’s the Link!
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Dec
17
Visual Tours
Posted by wags091898 under For Buyers, For Realty Professionals, For Sellers, General Information
One of the marketing products we offer our sellers is called Visual Tours. It is a software program that uses pictures of the property and stitches them together. When you view the end product it looks like you are standing in the room looking around!This company continues to upgrade their services and recently came up with multiple offerings for exposing properties on social media sites. We now have a link in our e-mail signatures that will open a gallery of all of our active listings.
If you have social media sites you as the seller and we as your agent can now insert the Visual Tour for friends to see! This is another way of exposing our listings to the masses! Last I checked they offered formats for 12 different social media sites!
Another new feature is a format for posting the Visual Tour on Craig’s List. The views on our properties have skyrocketed since we began using this one! We currently post our listings in Pittsburgh, DC, and Toronto.
We’re working on a project to document and share pictures of the communities at Hidden Valley and Seven Springs. This eventually will include exterior tours so buyers will be able to see locations and interior tours of the different floor plans within each community. Not a project that’s going to get done overnight! We even have a wide angle lens ordered to give you the largest visuals possible. Stay Tuned!
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Dec
14
Hidden Valley and Seven Springs Real Estate Market Update
Posted by wags091898 under Donegal, For Buyers, For Realty Professionals, For Sellers, Marketing Reports
Resort Market Overview – Everyone always wants to buy BEFORE the market begins to recover! We are here to tell you that in the past month we personally have put 7 transactions together! This is the first sign of a pulse for our markets. NEVER HAVE BUYERS HAD THE PRICES, INVENTORY, AND INTEREST RATES THAT ARE NOW AVAILABLE!The Pittsburgh market has come around and that should mean ours will be following. With the stats we watch we believe that next year may very well be the upturn SELLERS have been awaiting. In other words if you are a buyer, NOW is the time to get into your mountain home!
Buyers have great selection with 95 active listings at Hidden Valley and 87 at Seven Springs (from WestPenn MLS as of today). Many floor plans offer at least two properties to select from with interior merchandising and location being key factors in the buyers decision making process.
If next year is our turn around buyers will begin to see falling inventory which means fewer choices! Know that once inflation kicks in the interest rates will start to climb! We share much more in depth statistical information with our clients giving them a strong competitive edge. Buying or selling make sure you are working with a DESIGNATED AGENT who is looking out for YOUR interests!
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Dec
4
Kathy Corbett Joins Prudential Preferred Realty
Posted by wags091898 under Donegal, For Buyers, For Realty Professionals, For Sellers, Regional News
After 8 years with Kettler Forlines Resort Homes and two years with Seven Springs Resort Realty Kathy has become an independent contractor for Prudential Preferred Realty. Bill Hammill Jr, Manager for Prudential, is excited to offer another EXPERIENCED RESORT agent to the office. Kathy, Abe, Robin and Kelli go back years at Seven Springs.Kathy shared, “My goal is to continue to provide accurate, ethical, and prompt service that my homeowners and clients have come to expect and deserve from their REALTOR. Prudential Preferred offers a multitude of seller, buyer, and agent services that will enhance the service I can provide. I am very excited to be a part of such a respected and conscientious group of agents!”
The Donegal office of Prudential Preferred Realty offers real estate brokerage throughout the Laurel Highlands. This includes areas such as Mt. Pleasant, Connellsville, Donegal, Ligonier, 7 Springs, Hidden Valley, and Somerset.
We’re located .8 miles on the right side of Rt 31 after exiting off of the Donegal Turnpike. You pass us on the way to Hidden Valley, Seven Springs, and the Laurel Highlands! Make a point to stop in the office December 5th from 11am to 2pm to meet your mountain agents and share some holiday cheer! If you already have plans stop in another day for a print out of the properties for sale that might be of interest to you!!
Ron Croushore CRB Broker of Record
Bill Hammill Jr Manager
Abe Wagner Associate Broker, CRB, CRS, E-PRO, GRI, OA, RSPS, RECS, SRES, TRC
Wags Wagner CRB, CRS, E-PRO, GRI, OA, RSPS, QSC
Erin Mikolich ABR, CRS, RSPS, QSC
Mike Mikolich QSC
Robin Byard
Doug Bryga ABR, QSC
Kelli Winwood
And newest Kathy Corbett e-PRO!
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Nov
30
Flight 93 National Memorial Ground Breaking
Posted by wags091898 under For Buyers, For Realty Professionals, For Sellers, Regional News, Shanksville
Like any other Saturday I had a zillion things on my to do list. But this was November 9th. The ground turning day for the Fight 93 NATIONAL Memorial in Shanksville, PA. From the resorts it’s a 40 minute drive one way but I knew I had to be there.The site chosen for the ground turning was very flat. There were risers brought in for the media. Three small sections were roped off, Family Members, Media, Invited Guests. There were no chairs set up so everyone was standing making it challenging to see anything. The weather was gorgeous! Blue skies, warm sunshine, a slight breeze, planes in flight overhead.
Since I couldn’t see I recorded the audio for the majority of the ceremony. The state and federal government have committed millions to this Memorial. The plan is to have the first phase completed for the 10th anniversary.
As with September 11, 2001 the end result will be life changing. Understand that this area is rural. No city water, no city sewer, no stop lights, no zoning, no commercial businesses like hotels or major restaurants. NONE YET. We know they are coming. We welcome the world to this sacred site.
September 11 changed our country. The heroic efforts of the passengers on Flight 93 changed the lives of their family members. This National Memorial changes our community in so many ways. As a local with family roots and a REALTOR it is my intent to document the progress and impact this National Memorial will have on our area.
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Nov
20
Seven Springs, PA October 2009 Recorded Transfers
Posted by wags091898 under Donegal, For Buyers, For Realty Professionals, For Sellers, Marketing Reports
106 Southwind $675,000
2907 Swiss Mtn $100,000
Recorded sales transfers for the resorts are acquired electronically from records inputted at the Somerset County Court House, Office of the Recorder of Deeds. We review sales in Jefferson (Hidden Valley) and Middlecreek (Seven Springs) Townships on a weekly basis.
Prices do not reflect bill of sales and other out of settlement transfers. Furnishings, which are included in the majority of sales are assigned no monetary value. We do not post transfers that carry $1.00 values
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Abe and Wags Wagner's Blog is authored by Robert Wags Wagner
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