The history of Jersey Shore started in the mid 1770′s when settlers arrived on the opposite bank of the Susquehanna River.   John Antes arrived in 1772 and established a homestead, a gristmill and a fortified home he called Fort Antes, which today is the borough of Antes Fort.  The fort provided safety for the settlers along the river from raids by Loyalist & Indian forces during the American Revolution.

Jersey Shore was named Waynesburg around 1785 by the  Manning brothers,  Reuben & Jeremiah, who laid out the town, while a settlement appeared on the other (east) side of the Susquehanna River, which led to the rivalry resulting in  the name “Jersey Shore”, as reported yesterday.   In 1826, when the borough was incorporated, the nickname had been so widely accepted that the town was so-named.

The location of Jersey Shore, on the banks  of the Susquehanna River, just  downstream from the point where Pine Creek enters the river, made the town an ideal location for traders and other businessmen, who sold goods to the pioneers, traders and settlers of the Susquehanna Valley and the Pine Creek Valley.   Later industries, to be discussed in future writings, included the railroad and its parts suppliers, the silk industry and a creamery, as well as farming.

New Year – New Resolutions – New Blog

This year I hope to consistently add local content to my blog.   If people from outside our area happen to come across my website, they most probably want to know about Jersey Shore and  its surrounding area, its peoples, it customs and its history.   My goal for 2011 is to make Jersey Shore as much a part of the life of readers as it is to me and the other 4,500 people who live here.

If you’re not familiar with Jersey Shore, PA, it’s a small “bedroom community” on the western edge of Lycoming County (the largest of PA’s 67 counties).   We call it a bedroom community because most of the residents live & sleep here, but work in neighboring towns of Williamsport or Lock Haven, and even State College (it will be REAL nice when I-99 is completed; we’ll only be a 45 minute commute to State College).   The western edge of the borough is defined by Pine Creek, and if you cross the bridge, you’re into Clinton County and/or Avis, PA.

Jersey Shore is nowhere near New Jersey nor the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.   We got our name in the late 1700′s from settlers on the Eastern side of the Susquehanna River who referred to our side (west of the river) as the “Jersey Shore” side because original settlers in our town had migrated from new jersey.

The 4,500 (exact 2000 Census population was 4,482) residents of the Boro of Jersey Shore   are complemented by the approximately 15,000 people in the adjoining townships – Porter, Piatt, Limestone, Nippenose, Watson & Cummings.   North of Cummings Township are McHenry and Brown Twps, then you’re into Tioga County.   Most of the housing in those last 2 townships are seasonal – the last time I checked, McHenry Twp had 685 properties but only  85 year-round residents.  

Size-wise, we have 1.2 sq mi of land (no water within the borough limits) and a population density of 3,655.1 people per square mile.  

As Democratic pundit James Carville once said of Pennsylvania, “It’s a tough state politically because you have Philadelphia on the east, Pittsburgh on the West and Alabama in the middle.”   So greetings from the heart of Central PA, rural  America at its best.

Check out this new Recreational property that I just posted on my Web site. It is at 195 Mountainview Lane in Loganton. This Recreational property has 3 bedrooms and 1 baths. Directions: 880 South to Gottschall Rd just past Ravensburg Park. On Gottschall Rd, go 2 miles(bear left at Y) to yellow gate on left.(2nd yellow gate). Thru gate, go RIGHT at T 2/10 mi. to ’195′ on LEFT. See our sign.
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A  recent NAR study listed the most-sought features of areas to which people want to retire.   In other words, they ask themselves, “When I retire, why would I ever want to retire there?”

The survey showed that retirees want open spaces, recreational activities, low cost of living, low crime rates and access to great medical care.   I submit that the Pine Creek Valley offers all of these features, depending of course on what recreational activities the retiree is looking for.   I Can honestly say that if you want to go disco dancing, you’ll have a bit of trouble in Slate Run or Cammal or Cedar Run.

But our area has a world-class (per USA Today) bike trail, numerous outdoor activities (hiking, camping, etc) and access to some top-notch golf courses, as well as relatively easy 945 min) access to State College and Penn State University.  

Our cost of living is low, neighbors keep on the lookout for anything suspicious, keeping the crime rate down and we are close to the Susquehanna Health System, Geisinger Medical System, Robert Packer Hospital and Hershey Medical Center.  

And do we have “open spaces” – how many of you have ever seen the PA Grand Canyon?

To top it off, housing prices are, for lack of a better word, cheap.   Take a weekend or tow to visit our area, investigate what it has to offer and consider it not only as a recreational paradise, but also as a possible retirement home.   The worst that can happen is that you’ll get hearty “Welcomes” and gracious smiles from those of us who live here.

Real estate is not a common, everyday transaction.   Most people buy only 2 or 3 houses in their 70-year lifetimes (starter home, move-up home and empty-nester home),   Since our Clients are nowhere near as familiar with our industry, practices, laws and procedures, it is up to us, the real estate professional, to make sure they understand what we are saying.

The other day, I heard an Agent tell their Client, “It’s a traditional 6/3/1″, only to be greeted with a blank stare from the prospective Buyer.   Sure, to us, it means it’s an older home, usually 2 stories,  with 6  total rooms, 3 bedrooms and 1 bath.    Here in Central PA, I can almost picture that house in my mind’s eye, because it is very common layout.   But to somebody who buys a house once every 15 years or so, they haven’t got a clue as to what we’re talking about.

Since housebuying is one of, if not the single largest purchase in our clients’ lives, it is imperative that we make sure they know what we are saying.   Always use the simplest  terminology that you can, and ask the listener to repeat back to you, and explain, what they just  heard.   The more our Clients understand, the more likely they are to take positive action because a confused mind always says “No!”

It’s a win-win situation, they understand what’s going on and you, the Realtor make more sales.   What’s wrong with that?

As a resident of Central PA, I always hate it when Harrisburg collects taxes or imposes fees that will primarily help citizens in our metropolitan areas, such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie and Harrisburg.   The latest attempt to impose tolls on Rt 80 is a good example.   They would have taken money from drivers in Central PA to help the bus system in Philadelphia, and naturally, I opposed it.

On the other hand, a major advantage that we have in rural Central PA is our wonderful system of State Parks.   Pennsylvania has 117 state parks, and Central PA has a dozen or more within a few hours drive.   Not only do we have access to parks, the State offers a variety of programs for  all ages, from youth to adult.  

If you ever want to see a comprehensive listing of Park Activities, visit the Outdoor Section of The Williamsport Sun Gazette’s Sunday edition.    You can find it online at www.SunGazette.com  which has features titled “In the Parks” “Outdoor Briefs” and “Shooting Sports”.   Better yet, subscribe to the paper and have it delivered to your door.  

Did you know that next weekend, Aug 6-8, Cherry Springs State Park near Galeton, will host the 59th annual Woodsmen Show?   I doubt that many of the taxpayers of Philadelphia will attend.

This morning I did a quick scan of recent sales in our MLS system and the most noteworthy characteristic of a relatively quick sale, even morso than location, location, location, was price, price price!!

Most of the homes that sold or went under contract did so at the original asking price.   It means that no further price  reduction was necessary to entice Buyers; the Sellers asked the proper  selling price from the very beginning.

Too many  Sellers want to “see what we can get” or “need room to negotiate” so they set  too high of an asking price, and as such, Buyers are turned off by the difference between Asking Price and Home Value.   Sellers, you need to know that Buyers know  more about their particular price range than a lot of Realtors.

A good Realtor  will tell their Sellers, “At this price, Buyers demand that the house have X,Y and Z, (central air, attached 2-car garage, in-ground swimming pool, for example) and your house lacks those items, so let’s price it lower.”

If you want to sell, be sure to price your house properly.

What if you don™t want to buy a cabin getaway?   Hard to believe a Realtor like me would be offering this advice, but I try to be   a “full service” Realtor.

 The Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks is ready to meet your needs in planning a stay in one of over 280 state park cabins located throughout the Commonwealth. Of the 117 state parks in Pennsylvania, 27 offer cabins.  These cabins please a variety of tastes–from those seeking a little adventure, to those who like the comfort of modern accommodations. Renting a cabin in a Pennsylvania state park is a great way to have a relaxing, enjoyable time in the out-of-doors.  

For more information, go to DCNR™s recreational cabin website:

www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/recreation/cabins.aspx

 For those who don’t know, the Black Forest Chili-fest is coming up this Saturday.   It’s a chili cook-off sanctioned by the ICS (International Chili Society) where anybody can enter, cook their chili to present to a panel of judges and the winner gets some prize money PLUS the opportunity to participate in the State cook-off in Harrisburg in September, with the winner there going to Nationals in October.

It’s held on the last Saturday of July every year in the  Village of Black Forest on Rt 44N (between Haneyville & Oleana) with proceeds being donated to the Black Forest Volunteer Fire Company (of which I am a proud social member).

Music, Civil War re-enactment, animal show for children, lots of food & drink – something fo reveryone.   Hope to see you there; look for me in the judges tent if I get picked to judge again this year.

I just finished scrolling through the weekend activities in our MLS and was surprised/disappointed at the relatively low co-broke fees that some offices offer.   It’s especially common in the Jersey Shore market area and with several companies who work in the Pine Creek Valley recreational market.

Whereas the common “split” is  an equal 50% to the Listing Office and 50% to the Selling Office (representing the Buyers), frequently it appears that the Selling Office is offered less.   Since I oftentimes work with Buyers,  it annoys me because I have to drive farther (in the Pine Creek Valley) to earn less.   I certainly don’t work any less for my Clients, why should I take what the Seller’s  offer?  

Since I know what my time and talents are worth, if the Seller isn’t going to pay my fee, I’ll have to look to the Buyer to make up the difference.   And does that help you, the Seller, if I say to my Buyer-clients, “On this one, you’ll have to pay me x%, but on this other property, you won’t?”  

Put yourself in those Buyers’ place – which property would you want to see?

If you are Selling, read your Listing Contract to see what commission your Realtor has offered to a Buyers’ Agent.   Hopefully, it will be the full Sales Commission divided by 2.