The Lancaster Life

109 E. Slokom Ave, Christiana, PA 17509

Dean Rock (Coldwell Banker) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:40:36 -0400

109 E. Slokom Ave in Christiana, PA is listed for $149,900. This historic building was the old Christiana firehall.

The building has 2 apartments in very good condition. The utilities are separated. This is a good opportunity for a low-stress investment property.

The property is listed as ML#161129.

Please call Dean Rock for any information or showings.

Dean Rock
(717) 341-0070
drock@cbselectpros.com
Coldwell Banker, Lancaster

529 W. Frederick St., Lancaster, PA 17603

Dean Rock (Coldwell Banker) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:29:06 -0400

529 W. Frederick St. is a nice house in a great Lancaster city location. It's listed for $139,900 (ML#162593).

It has 5 bedrooms and 1.5 baths. It's close to an Elementary school, daycare and Buchanan Park. The neighborhood promises to develop in the next few years as the old railyard on the north side of Harrisburg Pike is developed into green space and new buildings for F&M and the hospital.

The third floor was recently renovated. The floors are beautiful. It's a south-facing home, so it gets lots of sunlight.

The back yard feels private. There's a back porch and a patio area on the side of the house.

From the third floor windows there are great views out the front and back.

617 St. Joseph Street in Cabbage Hill, Lancaster City

Dean Rock (Coldwell Banker) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:45:23 -0400

Here's an incredible value -- a full-sized, totally renovated home in the low 70s. 617 St. Joseph St., in historic Cabbage Hill.

On $/square foot, Lancaster city homes are often half the price of suburban homes. And this home is even lower than the city average.

There aren't many fully renovated homes available in this price range. It has an attractive facade, large rooms, a great floor plan, and a fenced yard that gets lots of sun. From the third floor windows you have an interesting view of rooftops, church steeples and large trees.

The Cabbage Hill neighborhood is perhaps under-appreciated in Lancaster. This home is closer to market and downtown restaurants than most of Chestnut Hill. Talk to neighbors on St. Joseph St. to form your own opinion about the neighborhood.

Historic Building in Central Lancaster City

Dean Rock (Coldwell Banker) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:33:59 -0400

238 Mulberry St. is available for sale. The location is hard to beat -- west side of town, on a beautiful block, and very close to market and downtown restaurants/shopping.

It is a two-unit apartment building. A one bedroom apartment on the ground floor and a three bedroom apartment on the second and third floors. There is potential for the new owner to significantly increase rental income and building value through some basic renovations.

There is a large yard and a second floor rear porch. This building is a great candidate for an owner-occupant.

No such thing as a Bad Market

Dean Rock (Coldwell Banker) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:37:17 -0400

Everyone's talking about how bad the real estate market is. On the other hand, people commonly say that this is a good buyer's market. So which is it, good or bad?

The fact is, the market is never wholly good or wholly bad. People who say this is a bad market are oversimplifying. Too often, the people who tell us what type of market it is are the people who are trying to make a quick buck by flipping properties.

This is a bad market for flipping properties. This is a good market for expanding your real estate wealth.

Not every market is good for every purpose. But every market does contain opportunities. I believe that there are tremendous opportunities in Lancaster real estate right now. You may want to expand the percentage of your assets that are in real estate (i.e., "buy low"). Also, because high value and low value properties are subject to the same discount, it's a very good time to move up.

Dean Rock is a full-service real estate professional at Coldwell Banker in Lancaster. Dean's professional and volunteer activities are focused on long term health of Lancaster County's economy and society. Dean's areas of interest include historic homes, land preservation, low-income home ownership, education and youth social work. Click here to learn more about Lancaster PA real estate.

Denver PA Real Estate Highlight >> 30 Lausch Road

Dean Rock (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:28:49 -0400

There's an interesting property for sale in the Cocalico school district. It's a ranch house on almost two acres. The house has a large finished basement that includes a built-out sun room that exits on to an in-ground pool. Through the picture window in the living room you see cornfields to the horizon. The lot itself it beautiful -- truly a private park with mature trees.

Besides being a beautiful place to live, the location provides a rare combination of bucolic views and modern convenience. The intersection of 222 and the Turnpike is about a mile away. Because intersection of major transportation routes, a national developer is building a shopping center nearby. Construction has started and should be finished by the end of next year. Planned stores include a Lowes and a Giant.

You can find the listing on the MLS under #140553. For more information, call 735-6264.

Dean Rock is a real estate investor and a full-service realtor at Coldwell Banker in Lancaster. Dean's areas of real estate expertise include marketing hard-to-sell homes, historic homes in Lancaster County, Lancaster County farmettes, Lancaster city real estate issues, housing rehabilitation, and real estate investment. Learn more about Lancaster PA real estate.

Pequea Township Real Estate Spotlight >> Historic Home for Sale

Dean Rock (Coldwell Banker) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:10:10 -0400

One of the oldest homes in Lancaster County is for sale. It is a log structure built in the 1700s. Located just south of New Danville on Marticville Road (Rt 324). The home is near the Cherry Hill Orchard store at the intersection with 741.

The home is filled with modern amenities and upgrades. It sits on almost 5 acres of land, surrounded by beautiful farmland. There is a barn on the property as well.

You can see click here to view the listing. It's currently listed at $735,000. If you're in the market for a truly special property, this is one to consider.

If you're an admirer of historic Lancaster County homes, this one's definitely worth a drive-by.

And for those north Lancastrians who aren't tuned into the beauties of Pequea Township, spend an afternoon driving around some weekend. You'll like what you find down south.

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My name is Dean Rock. I earn my living as a realtor in Lancaster PA, but this is not a sales-oriented website. This project stems from my long-standing interest in writing, photography and historic Lancaster homes. I value the Lancaster Life because it connects me to people all over Lancaster County who share my interests and concerns. Please contribute your thoughts and photos.

Getz's Woods Homes for Sale >> Getz's Woods Open House

Dean Rock (Coldwell Banker) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 10:54:02 -0400

Getz's Woods enjoys local fame in Lancaster County for the quality of the homes and the wooded lots. Homes in Getz's Woods were first built in the late 80s. Homes are large, typically four or five bedrooms and at least one fireplace. Most homes have decks and screened in porches that enjoy privacy because of the mature woods surrounding the homes.

If you look at an address in Getz's woods on Google maps, you'll see the thickness of the woods. The homes were built without tearing down all the trees. While this added to the short term building costs, it has more than paid off in the long run with the quality of the lots.

There are currently 4 homes for sale in Getz's woods, ranging from $500,000 to $579,000. Three homes sold within the last 6 months, the highest selling for $640,000.

1109 Archers Glen will be open on Sunday, September 14 from 1:00-4:00.

Stop by on Sunday to get a flavor of what makes Getz's Woods special.

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Hamilton Park Real Estate Update >> Hamilton Park, Lancaster PA

Dean Rock (Coldwell Banker) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:20:41 -0400

Hamilton Park is a pleasant neighborhood located west of Lancaster city. There are approximately 1,000 homes in Hamilton Park. Currently there are 12 homes for sale in Hamilton Park listed on the Lancaster County MLS.

The Hamilton Park real estate market has followed the overall trends of Lancaster County real estate. Prices are fairly stable, but homes are taking longer to sell than in previous years. The average sale price for Lancaster County homes was down less than 1% in the last quarter.

The homes currently listed in Hamilton Park range in price from $139,900 to $299,000. They range in size from 1300 to 2100 square feet.

There are also 3 or 4 for sale by owner homes in Hamilton Park. According to the MLS, there have been 22 homes sold in Hamilton Park in the last 6 month. The average sale price was approximately $155,000.

Please note: the homes pictured above are listed on the Lancaster MLS.

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Dean Rock is a full-service real estate professional at Coldwell Banker in Lancaster. Dean's areas of professional interest include historic homes, farm preservation, low-income home ownership, housing rehabilitation, urban development and real estate investment. Click here to learn more about Lancaster PA real estate.

Lancaster City Restaurants -- The Belvedere Inn (near Northgate Condominium)

Dean Rock (Coldwell Banker) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:04:02 -0400

In New York City, people have been known to buy an apartment based on the restaurants nearby. In the Lancaster County real estate market, restaurants are less likely determine someone's choice of where to live.

The exception might be people who choose Lancaster city homes. Lancaster city has a surprising number of delicious restaurants. The Belvedere Inn is a restaurant that might just influence someone's neighborhood choice. In any case, being able to walk to the Belvedere for dinner or drinks is definitely a perk. I'm sure the developers of Northgate Condominiums are pleased to be across the street from the Belvedere.

The Belvedere Inn is located on North Queen at the intersection with Lemon. It's in an old brick mansion built in the 1870s by a wealthy tobacco farmer. Today it houses a restaurant, bar and piano bar/jazzclub called Crazy Shirley's.

We ate on the outdoor patio. The atmosphere is quite pleasant, with hanging plants, the brick exterior of the building and the perfect weather we've been having lately. There is a bit of traffic noise at times, and a few flies if you order the mussels, but all in all it's a very pleasant place to eat.

In case you're wondering, we ate a lot of steaks between the six of us. The filet, served with a portabello ragout, is delicious. You won't find a more tender short rib and the grilled ceasar salad deserves its local fame. The service is inconsistent, but generally decent.

If you haven't been to the Belvedere Inn for dinner, consider it for your next special occasion or if you're just in the mood for a good meal. And if you're lucky,

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Lancaster County Farmland Preservation >> Preserved Farms Map

Dean Rock (Coldwell Banker) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:46:33 -0400

Farmland in Lancaster County can be preserved when a farmer sells a conservation easement (aka "development rights") to a preservation program. An easement is a permanent attachment to a deed that affects the owner's rights. Farmers, in effect, sell right to develop their farms. This practice started in the 1980s to slow the rate at which farmland is lost to development.

In Lancaster, there are two programs that preserve farmland. The State Bureau of Farmland Preservation working through the State-funded Ag Preserve Board and the Lancaster Farmland Trust. Lancaster Farmland Trust is funded by both private and public sources. It was founded in order to reach out to Amish and Mennonite farmers who were unwilling to work with the government.

An Agricultural Security Area (ASA) is a related but slightly different concept. You may have read about ASAs in the news recently because East Lampeter Township is in a dispute with some farmers about the creation of an agricultural security zone. An ASA restricts a township's ability to pass ordinances that farmers may be a nuisance to farmers. There is some speculation that East Lampeter Township's opposition to the ASA relates to plans for a Route 23 bypass. If you have more information about this dispute, please send me an email or give me a call.

In any case, here's a map that shows the importance of farm preservation in Lancaster County. To learn more, follow some of the links I've included above or contact the Ag Preserve Board or Lancaster Farmland Trust.

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Lancaster City Historic Homes Spotlight: Serpentine Stone >> Geological Map of Lancaster County

Dean Rock (Coldwell Banker) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:44:31 -0400

As you walk around Lancaster city, you may notice historic homes with a greenish stone facade.

This stone is known as serpentine. Around the start of the 20th century, serpentine stone was mined in southern Lancaster County.

A vein of the stone can be seen on this geological map of Lancaster County from 1872.

Serpentine stone got its name because it is said to resemble the skin of a snake. Veins of serpentine are relatively rare. They exist in Japan and Australia. Lancaster County was once one of the largest sources of serpentine stone.

Today, you can see serpentine on historic homes in Lancaster city. Check out the entire block of N. Duke Street between New Street and Clay Street. There are also a few fine examples in the west end of Lancaster city, on Chestnut Street and Orange Street in particular.

If anyone has more knowledge of serpentine stone or the features of these historic Lancaster homes, please drop me a note or post some pictures.

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Hamilton Park open house

Dean Rock (Coldwell Banker) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:48:34 -0400

I'll be hosting an open house in Hamilton Park on Sunday, August 10 from 1:00-4:00. Everyone is welcome.

The house is 1500 square feet. The interior is in good shape and the yard is quite nice. Perhaps the best feature of the house is the location, at the end of a quiet block. If you're not familiar with Hamilton Park, this is a good opportunity to come out and see what makes it so popular.

Hamilton Park, Lancaster PA -- A Popular West Lancaster Neighborhood

Dean Rock (Coldwell Banker) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:16:32 -0400

Hamilton Park is a popular neighborhood west of Lancaster City. Surprisingly, many city and Lancaster County residents aren't familiar with this beautiful neighborhood. Hamilton Park is a place that has a strong neighborhood feel. Many residents have lived in the same house for decades. Streets are quiet, with children riding bikes and people relaxing on porches.

The neighborhood was originally housing built for workers at the Hamilton Watch company. The Hamilton Watch company was founded in 1892. At the time, railroads had a need for extremely accurate and reliable watches. Hamilton made their watches to this high standard, and continued to be one of America's top brands until 1969 when it was bought by a Swiss company.

The old watch factory tower is one of the most recognizable properties in Lancaster County. On the western edge of Lancaster city, Hamilton Watch Company tower is now a condominium. The transformation from a factory to residential real estate is a success story of historic preservation in Lancaster.

The Clock Towers condominiums
at the old Hamilton Watch Company

Homes in Hamilton Park come in a range of styles and sizes. The streets are filled with mature trees and landscaping. There are one and two story bungalows, bi-levels, and larger Victorian houses.

Lancaster County real estate is rich in options. If you're shopping for a new home, take some time to get to know Hamilton Park.

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Hamilton Park Homes for Sale >> Lancaster PA Real Estate

Dean Rock (Coldwell Banker) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:41:13 -0400

Hamilton Park is one of Lancaster County's most appealing neighborhoods for people who want a blend of suburban and city. Just west of Lancaster city, Hamilton Park lies to the south of Columbia Avenue (Rt. 462) and north of Manor Avenue (Rt. 999).

Map of Hamilton Park

There are currently 11 homes listed for sale in Hamilton Park. Real estate activity in Hamilton Park has been steady throughout 2008. Email me or visit My Lancaster PA Home for a detailed Hamilton Park neighborhood report.

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