By Rick Koze Everyone is thinking more economically these days. When it comes to purchasing a home, buyers are increasingly looking to use every part of the home compared to the past when wasted space was often overlooked. That is not to say that that the trend is toward boring or less attractive. On the contrary, the new home buyer is demanding more aesthetic appeal than ... »
By Anthony S. Rachuba, IV, Esq. Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, P.C. Special Needs Trusts are important estate planning tools which should be considered by all families in which a member of the family is receiving, or may be eligible to receive, Medical Assistance (also known as MA or Medicaid), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Mental Health and Mental Retardation ... »
By Rick Koze Pick up any article about the housing market in the Lehigh Valley and they all seem to have a common theme – now is the time for first time home buyers to get into a home. At Kay Builders, we know that from a financial standpoint, now is a great time to buy a new home. With mortgage rates hovering around 3.5%, it is possible to purchase a 1600 square foot town... »
By Steven T. Boell The question is one often asked by residential landlords: “My tenant’s gone. What do I do with all the belongings he left behind?” The controlling law, the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, did not address the issue and no court decision established a clear procedure. This left a residential landlord in a quandary. Dispose of the property and risk legal... »
By Rick Koze Photo by Frank Mitman As lives become busier than ever before and technology has us plugged in more hours each day, home becomes our haven, a place to unwind and enjoy time with family and friends. With more “at home” entertaining – both indoors and out – home designs reflect this approach. Architects and builders are creating spaces to accommodate the way we ... »
By Michael R. Nesfeder, Esq. Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, P.C. The economy has been down so long, so slow in recovering, that “cutbacks” have become part of our home and business lives. High gas and energy prices aren’t helping, either. People are asking more and more – “where or what can I cut?” Sometimes this mentality – cutting back, reducing expenses, saving mo... »
By Rick Koze Having built exclusively in the Lehigh Valley for 50 years, Kay Builders has a pretty good handle on local market conditions for new home construction. By most measures, conditions in the Lehigh Valley home building market were once again challenging in 2011. Although total sales for 2011 were slightly lower than 2010 as a result of the boost given to housin... »
By Edward Hoffman, Jr. As Bob Dylan noted in 1964, “The Times They Are a-Changin’.” While this anthem of societal change may seem unrelated to the 2011 residential real estate market, in actuality, Dylan’s poetic title track serves as a template for today’s buyers. Back in 1964, most buyers were limited to “traditional” home ownership. Today’s buyers have a myriad of optio... »
By Rick Koze If you are reading this issue of Lehigh Valley Marketplace, chances are you have children in school and you are doing some short-range planning to prepare for the upcoming school year. If you are planning on starting a family or your family is growing, now might also be a good time to consider your long-term housing needs. In terms of seeking housing, the curr... »
By Eleanor Jacobs If sky-rocketing gasoline prices, a smaller than usual bonus, or an unexpected job loss has derailed your vacation plans this year, you are not alone. Many families will be foregoing the traditional vacation opting instead for a “stay-cation.” Congratulations to the decision maker for selecting this choice rather than using the “go now, pay later” optio... »
