Special offer

Clarks Summit, PA Real Estate News

By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
  Closed door meetings have been going on at the White House. President Obama has been directly involved trying to bring dissenting Democrats together in an effort to ram through his socialist health care agenda. The latest dirty deal involves caving into Union demands.  Most union health care plans are considered Cadillac and therefore will be heavily taxed under the proposed bill.   Lawmakers are giving a pass to Unions.  They will not be required to pay tax until 2018.  The losers in this deal are small business and those middle class employees who are not in unions.  They will be required to pay tax 5 years earlier. My husbands company is owned by Warren Buffet.  They have an excellent health care plan for thousands of employees nationwide. The plan could be considered Cadillac. The...
Comments 14
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
  The Associated Press reported that the Supreme Court is considering lifting the ban on Corporations, Unions and wealthy individuals from funding campaign ads.  The ruling could affect the upcoming 2010 elections and the 2012 Presidential election.    A ruling is expected as early as Tuesday. Lifting the ban would change the entire advertising strategy used by candidates.  It could become the sky is the limit with TV ads presented during prime time.  Super Bowl style ads costing millions could bombard the public during this critical election cycle. The court is in a position where they could strike down state laws which also ban such donations from political campaigns. The Supreme Court may also uphold the current ban at both the federal and state level. This ruling is one to watch and...
Comments 13
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
  I've taken much flack for my political position since I started blogging.  Some of it has been good natured.  Some of it has been down right low down gutter trash. More than once I've been called a Conservative, Repug, and all manner of labels.  I've often posted that I was a lifelong Democrat.  I've been called a liar by liberals who cannot believe I do not rubber stamp their views. Today I changed my drivers license to reflect my residency in Pa.  While I was completing the process I was asked if I wanted to Register to Vote.  Of course I do.   Then came the party declaration.  I looked hard at Republican.  I considered Libertarian.  I gave Independent a second glance.  None would do.  I've always been a Democrat.  Why must I change my party because it has been taken over by Sociali...
Comments 59
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
    Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian man who attempted to blow up a Northwest Airliner on Christmas Day, made a startling revelation.  According to Abdulmutallab there are 20 more men being trained in Yemen to blow up airliners. British Intelligence has also confirmed his claim.  The enhanced directive to screen all of those coming in from 14 targeted countries was based on the information supplied by Abdulmutallab. One has to wonder how much more valuable information, could have been obtained from him, if he was interrogated as a war criminal?  Instead he was treated like a shop lifter and afforded all protections under the law due a United States citizen. In his arrangement in the U.S. Federal Court he pleaded not guilty to the 6 charges against him.  (Source) _________________...
Comments 13
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
  Two days ago we closed our US Embassy in Yemen. The British followed suit based on credible intelligence that a bombing might be immanent. Yemen is where the bomber was trained who tried to blow up a plane on Christmas Day in Detroit. Yemen is where we want to send Gitmo detainees for rehabilitation.  46% of the Gitmo detainees are Yemeni. Over the weekend General Petraus was in Yemen meeting with the President of the country.  The purpose of his trip was to assure the President Ali Abdallah Salih that we would continue to supply 70 to 100 million annually in financial aid.Boy am I confused.  This reminds me of a revolving door.  Is Yemen too big to fail? The USS Cole was attacked in Yemen and American soldiers died.  The US Embassy was bombed in 2008 and 16 people were killed. Yemen ...
Comments 12
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
                                        Newt Gingrich has called for profiling.             Whether people like it or not that's what we need.  Glad to see someone is brave enough to speak boldly.  This is not an unknown enemy.  Why do we continue to offer them the vehicle to slaughter innocent people? "Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., wrote an op-ed piece for the conservative Human Events magazine Wednesday in which he called on President Barack Obama to encourage discrimination and profiling in searching out potential terrorist threats." "Gingrich argued that, instead of targeting the source of potential terrorist threats, "our politically correct government decides to make life more miserable for the travelling public by imposing hopelessly meaningless rules such as not all...
Comments 60
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
  Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. — The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Another blog I wrote today reveals that two bloggers were served subpoenas after writing about the ridiculous TSA counter measures to the Christmas Day air line sabotage attempt. http://activerain.com/blogsview/1409863/free-speech-under-attack-by-obama-administration-again- One blogger was on the staff of the Washington Post and refused to comply under freedom of the press.  The second blogger was an individual who wrote on his travel site Flying with Fish. He received 3...
Comments 8
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
  Perhaps our President should listen to Fox News or BBC instead of CNN.  President Obama, after 3 days of figuring out how to address the American Public declared Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab an isolated extremist. One must wonder why we suddenly have individuals acting like terrorists, but are isolated extremists and not part of a bigger plan? Seems Al Qaeda in Yemen has been taking credit for the plot and the act.  The BBC Reported it. Fox News Reported it.  Obama appeared not to know it. "We will not rest until we find all who were involved and hold them accountable," the president said.  Now that really makes me feel warm, fuzzy and totally safe.  Took you 3 days to come up with those words of reassurance.  How serious are you when you cannot even call it - what it really is?    If th...
Comments 58
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
  It is always amazing how out of touch our lawmakers are with society and the people they govern.  Not just the health care issue but all issues. The plight of the homeless in our country is a national disgrace. Has anyone seen what our illustrious federal government is doing to alleviate the problem?The best way to understand the conditions and the unique challenges of the homeless is to walk in their shoes. Well Speaker Pelosi - how about getting off your cushy arse and spend a night with the homeless to see first hand the conditions they endure?  Think your above getting your hands dirty?  Are you too good to associate with these curs? How about any law maker?  Will any of you take to the streets to see how grubby and miserable some of your citizens live?  Many of these forgotten ma...
Comments 12
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
What is the purpose of the Constitution?  Some how I thought it ensured equality throughout the United States. It prevented the federal government from creating unfair practices or inequitable advantages or disadvantages from one state to the other. Under the new health care reform being railroaded through Congress - 2 or 3 states will have their Medicaid costs covered by the Federal Government.  Since those costs are tacked onto the bill, that means you and I will ultimately pay for them. Three states will be allowed to keep the Advantage Medicare program - one of them is Pennsylvania.  So if you live in any of the other states where Advantage will be discontinued - that would appear to create an inequity. Might as well just shred the damn thing if Congress continues to enact legislati...
Comments 30
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
Living 50 miles south of Washington DC puts us in a weather band.  Usually Richmond, Va and Washington DC see much more snow than we do.  Our snow consists of an inch or two a couple of times during the winter.  Usually the next day it's all gone. I recall some pretty nasty blizzards.  1996 was a monster. My main road was not plowed out for 5 days.  Schools were closed for a week.  Along came 2003 and dumped another 18-20 inches on us. According to Global Warming predictions our climate is getting much warmer.  Last year we only had one little snowfall that was hardly worth getting out the shovel for.I was beginning to think old Al might be onto something. Saturday morning I opened my front door and this is what I saw.                               Looking out towards the main road - Th...
Comments 19
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
The handwriting is on the wall.  Several weeks ago an advisory board laid out new guidelines for mammograms.  The panel decided that it is not necessary for woman under 50 to have mammograms. Quickly the federal government came out to calm the fears of Americans.  No, those guidelines would not be used under the new health care reform currently being hammered out.  Fear not.  We would never do such a thing. It only took until December 8, 2009 for the state of California to adopt those new guidelines for Medicaid recipients.  If you live in California and are on Medicaid you can wait until age 50 before you qualify for a mammogram. How long before the insurance industry jumps on those standards to adopt them?  Naturally the insurance industry is always looking for ways to save money at o...
Comments 34
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
Sarah Palin's book tour rolled through Fort Hood on Friday night, with the former Republican vice-presidential candidate getting an adoring welcome from hundreds of fans waiting to get their copies of "Going Rogue" signed.    As Sarah exited her bus she was met with the crowds shouting and chanting SARAH  SARAH!  It would appear our military admires and respects Sarah Palin. The first well-wishers arrived at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, nearly 24 hours before Palin's tour bus would reach Killeen, and numerous fans braved frigid morning temperatures before they were let into Fort Hood's Clear Creek Post Exchange, a mall-like building.   Sarah will be donating the proceeds of her book sales at Fort Hood to the families of the massacre victims. ______________________________________________________...
Comments 22
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
MARKET UPDATE BY SCHOOL DISTRICT AUGUST 1, 2009 - AUGUST 31, 2009 ABINGTON HEIGHTS Chinchilla, Clarks Green, Clark Summit, Dalton, Glenburn, Newton, Ransom, South Abington, Waverly Units Sold              21 Aver Sales Price                    $224,621 Median Sales Price                    $193,900 Aver Days On Market                  98    Information provided by Scranton Board of Realtors and deemed to be correct.  Author is not responsible for any inaccuracies or typographical errors.
Comments 0
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
              WHO IS THE BEST REALTOR FOR YOUR HOME?                           This is the last in our series of 7 articles                  TURN AN EXPIRED LISTING INTO A SALE   What are some of the things that would encourage you to select a Realtor?    Who in this list do you feel is the best qualified to sell your home? #1 in sales #1 in units sold Multi-Million Dollar Producer Largest Billboard Newspaper ads TV ads Signs in the neighborhood Mails you promotional material The most letters after their name Website presence A relative A friend A friend of a friend   None of the above should be the single defining factor in your decision making process.       MY PREVIOUS REALTOR DID NOT BRING ME A BUYER If your home has expired you might feel your Realtor was the reason your home didn'...
Comments 4
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
This is the sixth installment in our series of seven.   In the prior installments of our series we covered:   Part Two ~ INTRODUCTION Part Two  ~ Make Like a Detective Part Three ~ The View From Afar Part Four ~ No Duct Tape Please Part Five ~ Spring into Action The prior installments addressed items that could negatively impact your home and turn buyers off. This installment will address how to get your home staged.  The purpose of staging is to tastefully arrange or decorate your home to compliment it.  A well staged home adds ambiance.  It removes distractions and an over stuffed feel.  Rooms that are cluttered are detracting to a buyer.  They are so focused on all your "stuff" they fail to appreciate your home.    A buyer typically looks at rooms and mentally places their furniture...
Comments 8
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
Everyone knows that if you eliminate the middle man you can save money.  Buying milk directly from the dairy is cheaper than buying milk at the grocery store.  Absolutely correct!  Does the same logic apply to the most important purchase you will make in your life?  You have heard that if you eliminate the Realtor and deal directly with the seller you'll get a better deal. After all if the  seller saves the commission they will pass the savings onto you, right?.  It is only human nature that a seller will want every possible dollar out of their home.Could you be walking into a sticky spiders web?   Why do sellers want to market their homes alone?  To identify all the motivations would require another series.  Let's look at two which could impact you adversely.     The property is over p...
Comments 4
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
PART 5 ~SPRING INTO ACTION ~ MAKING THE PLAN This is number 5 of a 7 part series.  In previous installments we listed some of the factors that negatively impact a home sale.  The single most influential aspect is pricing. We looked inside and out for obvious flaws.  Next we stood back and made a realistic assessment of what needed to be accomplished. We focused on the mechanical and maintenance in the last installment. PART 1 -INTRODUCTION PART 2 ~ MAKE LIKE A DETECTIVE PART 3 ~ THE VIEW FROM AFAR PART 4 ~ NO DUCT TAPE PLEASE In this article we are going to take all of the information you collected and decide on an action plan.    Why do some homes sell and others languish on the market?  It's not a lottery system. In the previous articles we have identified the critical factors you sho...
Comments 4
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
PART FOUR  ~  NO  DUCT  TAPE  PLEASE!   Previously we discussed assessing the exterior and interior of your home.  We addressed clutter, paint, and the condition of the living area. The next area to explore is everything that is mechanical or requires maintenance.   NO DUCT TAPE PLEASE!   If you find some temporary fixes or work arounds take the time to repair them properly. ROOF  Inspect your roof and make any repairs if it is leaking.  Does it need to be replaced? GUTTERS  Clean the gutters. Attach any areas that are pulling away from the roof.  Down spouts should be directed away from the house.  Gutters are extremely important.  They direct water away from the foundation of the home.  Over time water seeping down through the ground can seriously damage your foundation and in some ev...
Comments 6
By Bonnie Vaughan, CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers - Lackawanna & Surroundin
TURN AN EXPIRED LISTING ~ INTO A SALE -  PART 3   THE VIEW FROM AFAR! In our previous installment we talked about curb appeal and interior appeal.  Now lets take a critical look from afar.    Being objective is critical to changing the outcome.  Are there things in and around the home that cause buyers to overlook the positives and focus on the negatives?   Start by going around the exterior and interior of your home looking for ways to improve the way it shows.  In the last installment we suggested sitting outside your home and making a critical assessment.   CURB APPEAL: Keep the lawn and shrubs trimmed, plantings weeded and add fresh mulch.  If the exterior of your home looks drab or plain add some color.  Add a nice seasonal wreath to the front door.  Place colorful pots with plants...
Comments 2
Clarks Summit, PA Real Estate Professionals