Photo Credit: Scott Ryan, Penn Estates

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Let’s face it, our pets are important to us, and keeping them happy, healthy, and safe is a huge factor when we decide where to live. The Board of Directors of the Penn Estates Property Owners Association wisely decided to address the concerns around fences within the community and have approved a new set of regulations which allow property owners to erect fences for whatever reasons, including their precious doggies’ comfort :)

The fencing of your entire property is still prohibited because of aesthetics and safety of the wildlife, but now you may have a fenced in area of your yard as follows:

Fences in the community must be constructed of wood or vinyl in a natural wood or color that matches the house or trim. Chain link, stone, wire, and stockade fencing are all prohibited in order to preserve a natural aesthetic. Fences can be no more than four feet high and have slat separation between two and four inches.

The fence footprint shall only be located in the rear of the house, and shall extend no further than five feet into the side yard. Fence lines shall be generally straight, and shall be adjusted to avoid trees. Tree removal for the purpose of fencing will not be approved.

These are the basics of the new fence rules. I highly recommend you contact the Administration office for the official rules on fencing before you plan your project. And don’t forget that a permit is required to ensure your fence meets the guidelines.

Free Penn Estates home search here via the MLS/IDX

Ok, one more cute dog enjoying the Pocono lifestyle....

Photo Credit: Scott Ryan, Penn Estates

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Penn Estates Market Statistics

Increasing The Privacy Of Your Backyard

Angie's List: Adding a new fence

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Penn Estates sales data gathered from the Pocono Mountains Association of REALTORS’ Multiple Listing Service on July 17, 2012.

.		Active Listings	Pending Sales*	YTD Sales
.
.	Total	64	14	26
.	Lowest List Price	$49,900	$41,600	$25,999
.	Highest List Price	$224,500	$210,000	$215,000
.	Average List Price	$125,883	$103,995	$107,520
.	Average Square Feet	1,935	1,936	1,963
.	Average Price/Square Foot	$68.30	$52.30	$51.70
.	Average Days/Market	195	251	275

*Pending Sale information reflects only list prices as sold information is not available until the sale is final. YTD Sales are sales that closed since 1/1/12.  Average Sale Price of these sales is $99,258, which is 92.3% of the Average List Price. The Average Price/Square Foot indicated for these closed sales is based on the sale prices.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS: Year to date sales plus pending sales equal the total sales that occurred last year, so 2012 sales are set to outpace 2011. If this trend continues, it stands to follow that prices should recover. Still, we probably have a few years before we feel any real relief in this regard as the downward spiral reverses itself.

RENTALS: Homeowners have had a couple of good years in the rental market, but this is softening a bit. Average lease prices here in Penn Estates are down about 8% since 2010, and it’s taking about twice as long to find tenants these days. We can hope that this means more tenants are becoming homeowners, right? Search for home rentals in Penn Estates by clicking here.

Check out some of the great home buys available in Penn Estates below. This is a direct Pocono Mountains Association of REALTORS MLS/IDX link, so it is the most current information available.

About the Author: Lisa Sanderson, a 10 year resident of Penn Estates and Past President of PEPOA and the Pocono Mountains Association of REALTORS, is Vice President and Sales Manager of Ritter & Company, a real estate sales and property management company located at 730 Milford Road (Strawberry Fields Plaza) in East Stroudsburg.

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Here's one more reason to visit the Penn Estates Community Open House this Saturday...

Open 12 - 4pm, April 24, 2010

164 Kensington Drive
Beacon Hill Section
Penn Estates

The classic Pocono Contemporary, perfect for use as a vacation getaway or first full time home!

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Attention Pocono Home Buyers!

The Penn Estates Real Estate Committee cordially invites the general public to our first open house of the year.

Saturday, April 24, 2010
12pm to 4pm

Come and check out our beautiful community and visit some of the great home inventory available for sale. Last year's event featured 20 properties in various styles and price ranges hosted by various local real estate agents.

For more details about our community, please visit the official Penn Estates website.

When you visit the Welcome Center and register for access to our gated community, you will be provided a map that shows the locations of all the homes available for viewing. Please note that you will be asked to provide information from your driver's license and car registration to gain admission.

Directions to Penn Estates

(Note: Most GPS units do not direct you to the correct gate for entry. Please save yourself some aggravation and be sure you are pointed to the intersection of Hallet Road and Penn Estates Drive.)

From NY/NJ: Take Route I-80 West in to Pennsylvania. Take Exit 309 (Marshalls Creek) to a left at the first traffic light, Route 447 North. Follow the signs for Route 447 North, which will include a right turn at the Wendy's Restaurant. Make a left at the light on to Route 191 South/North Fifth Street. Go over bridge and make a right on to Hallet Road. You will see Penn Estates on the left.

From Tannersville: Take Cherry Lane Road (behind the Tannersville Inn) to a right on Bog Road. Athe the end, make a right on Hallet Road and continue to Penn Estates on the right.

From Scranton/Wilkes Barre/Hazelton: Take I-80 East to the Tannersville Exit. Make a right off the exit, another right on to 611 and then follow the directions from Tannersville above.

While you're visiting please stop by The Country Kitchen in our main amenity complex. They offer a variety of coffee, drinks and food items for a fair price. I love their cheeseburgers!!

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Check out the details for the Penn Estates Community Open House, and put this beauty on your must-see list! (Open House Saturday, 4/18/09, 11am - 4pm) Whether you are a first time buyer looking to take advantage of this year's stimulus tax credit , or just want a modestly sized home that doesn't need any work, you'll appreciate the care and detail of this contemporary home.

Pocono Home Sweet Home!

This two bedroom charmer has plenty of extra room to accommodate guests or your craft/hobby room or home office - in the lower level family room or the upstairs loft, take your pick! Shining hardwood floors accentuate the main living area, and rich sculptured carpeting is the perfect comfortable accent downstairs. Many other fine details will surprise you throughout.

Enjoy the wooded setting outside from the deck or the screened porch, a must-have feature in the Poconos!

180 Academy Drive Listing Details

• Master Suite with private bathroom & walk-in closet
• 2nd Bedroom (main floor) also has attached bathroom
• Kitchen appliances only 2 years old
• Brick fireplace & a separate woodstove downstairs
• Almost 1700 square feet of finished living space
• Garage with automatic door opener

For more information on this house or other fine Penn Estates properties, please contact me via email [email protected] or by phone 570.421.8950 ext 394.