Small Homes: Less is More (Efficient, that is!)

Posted on November 8, 2009 by Karen Rice

Are McMansions a thing of the past? While many people want to have as much square footage as possible, maximizing their living space, more and more people looking for homes in Northeast PA and in the Lake Wallenpaupack region are looking to simplify.

  • Smaller homes are CHEAPER to heat.
  • Small houses are CHEAPER maintenance costs.
  • Smaller houses are EASIER to keep clean.

When you are on vacation you do not want to spend much of your time cleaning and maintaining a large home.

Small House

A Really Small House!

This guy in California specializes in building REALLY small homes – check out this video.  He built a 96 square foot home for himself!  That’s right, ninety-six square feet.  It’s a bit too small for my taste – in fact, I got a little nervous when I thought about the loft bedroom as a real living space…that’s beyond efficient…

Homes for Sale Lake Wallenpaupack w/ Boat Slips

Wallenpaupack Homes with Boat Slips

Well, there are no 96 square foot homes for sale in the Lake Wallenpaupack area, as far as I know – but here are two very nice, efficient homes in Colony Cove that COME WITH BOAT SLIPS. No, they’re not huge mansions, but they’re really close to the lake and did I mention that BOAT SLIPS are INCLUDED?

Both of these homes are in the Colony Cove East Association.  The dues are VERY inexpensive – less than $300 per year, which covers the docks, road maintenance, and the community water.

Currently, these homes are used as part time or vacation homes, but they would also be perfect starter homes!  Located in the Wallenpaupack School District, they are only minutes from the town of Hawley and from the schools.

Click THIS LINK to learn more about these homes and to see the photos.  Call or email me to schedule a showing as soon as possible.

Filed under: Featured Homes for Sale, Home Buyers, Lake Wallenpaupack Real Estate | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Get Paid to Recycle Old Appliances!

Posted on November 7, 2009 by Karen Rice
Recycle Appliances and Get Cash

Recycle Appliances w/ PPL & Get Paid!

So, you’ve bought a home in The Hideout or Hemlock Farms or Masthope or Fawn Lake Forest. Or anywhere, really.  Your new home has working appliances, but maybe you decided to purchase new ones.

You could give them away using the local Freecycle.org website.  Or you could get paid a little for them! PPL is offering to pick up working appliances and air conditioners and pay you a little cold hard cash for them!

Visit http://www.pplelectric.com/recycle to learn more.

Happy Recycling!

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Cheap (FREE?) & Easy Window Insulation Idea

Posted on October 29, 2009 by Karen Rice

Winter often comes early here in Northeast PA.  Not sure if Wayne or Pike county is colder – but the wind blowing across Lake Wallenpaupack or Westcolang Lake or Lake Henry can freeze ya to the bone.  I know a lot of folks are looking for ways to cut heating costs this winter.  I was tipped off to this idea by one of my friends on the Northeast PA City-Data board.  I did not bookmark the actual

Insulate With Bubble Wrap

Bubble Wrap Can Keep Pocono Winter Drafts At Bay

link that Mathjac posted before our ever-zealous moderator moved the thread to some other spot – but I found this article that explains it nicely.

Basically, you ask someone from appliance or furniture store to give you the bubble wrap they would normally discard.  Then cut it to fit the inside of your window.  Using a spray bottle, spritz some water on the glass and simply place the bubble wrap on the glass.  It should come off easily in the spring.

Personally, I prefer to actually be able to SEE outside my windows – but I can see where this would be helpful for homeowners:

  • Use this method to insulate leaky basement or attic windows – still get lots of light; eliminate the draft.
  • If you choose not to winterize and leave the heat on in your vacation home , this will help save energy while you’re away; when you come up to go skiing or ice fishing, the wrap comes off in seconds…and simply replace before heading back home.
  • Use it for rooms / windows you rarely use.
  • Use it on that drafty sliding glass door that stays shut all winter…
  • Couple with heavy lined drapes for extra effect.

I like the idea because it’s easy and it’s cheap; my hubby  and I spent a small fortune one year on that 3m shrink wrap (it worked though) – even if you can’t get any free, you can get this stuff fairly inexpensively.  I don’t know if it works – most of my windows now are new and not drafty; my one window that is a candidate is the bay window overlooking my back yard from the sink…I don’t think I’d relish the “insect’s compound eye effect” while doing my dishes…but hey – I could always skip doing the dishes.

Filed under: Health and Home, Home Improvements | Tagged: | 1 Comment »

Westcolang Lakefront: OPEN HOUSE TODAY

Posted on October 25, 2009 by Karen Rice

Today is the OPEN HOUSE for this beautiful like new home for sale on Lake Westcolang – a 200+ acre powerboat lake in

Lakefront Home in Fawn Lake Forest

Lakefront Home in Fawn Lake Forest

Pike County PA. Part of the Fawn Lake Forest (click for info) community, this home has many community amenities to go with it!


Up to $5,000 closing cost credit to buyer w/ acceptable offer!

Open House Info:

182 Lower Lakeview Road, Hawley PA 18428.

October 25, 2009 – 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm. CLICK HERE for map & to get directions.

The home is a gigantic 4,500 square feet (including the huge unfinished basement) and is situated on almost an acre with over 140 feet of frontage on Lake Westcolang. The basement is ready to be finished; there is lots of light and the ceilings are high.

Home features include:

Huge Living Room (25x11) w/ great waterfront views

Huge Living Room (25x11) w/ great waterfront views

  • open layout
  • 4 large bedrooms
  • 2.5 baths
  • granite & stainless in kitchen
  • formal dining room (17 x 12)
  • huge living room w/ lake views and fireplace (25 x 11)
  • luxurious master suite w/ walk in closet, beautiful master bath, and views of the lake (bedroom: 19 x 14; bath: 16×9)
  • huge family room w/ lake views (23 x 16)
  • central air
  • liquid propane heat
  • huge deck overlooking lake and back yard
  • home warranty

Currently the level of the lake is down significantly due to the necessary repairs needed on the dam. The dam project is almost complete, and the lake will be back to its natural beauty soon.

CLICK HERE FOR VIRTUAL TOUR

Dock Included

Dock Included

Filed under: Fawn Lake Forest, Featured Homes for Sale, Open Houses | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Homeowner Insurance Caution

Posted on October 16, 2009 by Karen Rice

Was out with clients yesterday who just purchased a home in The Hideout. While chatting before the closing they told me that they canceled their MetLife insurance altogether and are going with a new provider and agent.

When they contacted their agent to inquire about including their vacation home on their homeowner insurance, they discovered that the insurance company had not only raised the premium on their existing homeowner insurance, but also dropped the coverage for the contents of their home. They had no idea that their policy had changed – they probably received a notice buried among other sheets of paper in with their bill – but it would have been nice had their agent called to inform them of this important change to their homeowner policy.

I’m sure this is not an isolated incident, and it probably has happened with quite a few other insurance providers also.

My clients were able to find an affordable policy with another company (I wonder if their MetLife agent even realized how he/she lost a client?) that does cover the contents of the home – for less money than they were paying.

The moral of the story is – check your insurance policy mailings EVERY time. While it would be nice if your insurance agent would contact you should a policy change, it behooves you as a homeowner to perform your own due diligence and inquire if you notice a change in your policy that you do not understand or that diminishes the coverage you thought you were paying for.

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Autumn Leaves – Northeast PA / Lake Wallenpaupack

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Karen Rice

Please enjoy this little show I put together, all with pictures taken by me in Wayne and Pike County, including some shots of Lake Wallenapuapck.  I love northeast PA – I wish that fall would linger just a bit longer than it does.

Filed under: The Rambling Realtor Misc. Category | Leave a Comment »

Tanglwood Ski Area – Gearing Up for 2009-10 Season!

Posted on October 5, 2009 by Karen Rice

Pike County’s Tanglwood Ski Area, located off Route 390 in Tafton, has been a popular local attraction for many years.  From the mountain top, you are given a breathtaking view of Lake Wallenpaupack…what a way to spend a winter day!

Tanglwood is getting ready for the Winter 2009 – 10 Season.  Speaking with a representative from the ski area today, I learned that season lift tickets are currently on sale and offered with a discount.  They plan on opening for the season around mid-December.

Please visit the Tanglwood Ski Area Website for more information. 

Now might be a perfect time to check into purchasing a ski house!  Click the following link to see all of the listings currently for sale in Tanglwood North, the community surrounding Tanglwood Ski Area.

TANGLWOOD SKI AREA’S NEW WEB ADDRESS:  http://www.skitanglwood.com

Tanglwood Ski Area New Website

Tanglwood Ski Area New Website

Filed under: The Rambling Realtor Misc. Category | Leave a Comment »

Wayne and Pike County Real Estate For Sale!

Posted on September 15, 2009 by Karen Rice

Hunting Cabins, Commercial, Year Round,
Homes with Boat Slips, Lakefronts

Promised Land Cabin for Sale

Promised Land Cabin for Sale

105 Branch Road, Greentown PA – $40,000

HUNTING CABIN ADJOINS GAME LANDS! 1/3 acre in Promised Land. Get back to basics and head out the back door to hunt, fish, hike.  Furnished cabin w/ electricity. No bothersome septic system to maintain; outhouse included.

INFO SHEET – GREENTOWN HUNTING CABIN: Click Here

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Blooming Grove Land for Sale

Blooming Grove Land for Sale

Cliff Road, $60,000

7+ ACRES PRIVATE SETTING – build your Pocono hideaway on more than seven private acres in Blooming Grove Township.  Close to state game lands, forest, and beautiful lakes.

INFO SHEET – ACREAGE IN BLOOMING GROVE TWP: Click Here

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Pecks Pond Lakefront Cabin for Sale

Pecks Pond Lakefront Cabin for Sale

Pecks Pond, Porter Township, $92,000

PECKS POND LAKEFRONT – Rustic PA state cabin with lovely views of Pecks Pond and plenty of old fashioned.  Two bedrooms, living room w/ wood stove, and even a cute outhouse.  Sold furnished.  PA residents/cash only.

INFO SHEET – PECKS POND LAKEFRONT CABIN: Click Here

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Lake Wallenpauapck Home for Sale w/ Boat Slip

Lake Wallenpauapck Home for Sale w/ Boat Slip

318R Colony Cove East, Tafton, $139,900

ATTN BARGAIN HUNTERS! RANCH w/ BOAT SLIP ON WALLENPAUPACK! A little TLC will make this 3 bedroom, 1 bath ranch w/ garage, fireplace, & full basement into the perfect vacation or starter home! Located in a LOVELY wooded setting complete with a lazy stream in the backyard.

INFO SHEET – RANCH HOME WITH BOAT SLIP ON WALLENPAUPACK: Click Here

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Greeley PA Home For Sale

Greeley PA Home For Sale

127 Market Road, Greeley,  $179,900

GARDENER’S DELIGHT – 4 Bedroom RANCH on OVER 1.5 ACRES in Pike County! Harvest the fruit trees, plant a vegetable garden…perfect place to exercise your green thumb! Lots of garage space for workshop, storage, etc. Wallenpaupack School District.

INFO SHEET – GREELEY RANCH HOME : Click Here

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Like New Tink Wig Home for Sale, Pike County PA

Like New Tink Wig Home for Sale, Pike County PA

229 Waterview Dr, Tink Wig, Hawley – $279,000

ALMOST NEW, GROUND LEVEL RANCH 10 MINS FROM TOWN, OVER 1 ACRE. Large rooms, porch, deck, granite kitchen island, lovely landscaping. Master suite w/ walk in closet PLUS 2 add’l closets, 2 car garage, fireplace, wood floors, full basement. In quiet community of Tink Wig  w/ pool & lake! 3 BR/2BA.

INFO SHEET – LEVEL RANCH HOME IN TINK WIG: Click Here

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Woodland Hills / Lake Wallenpaupack Home for Sale

Woodland Hills / Lake Wallenpaupack Home for Sale

23 Birch Drive, Woodland Hills – Hawley, $339,000

BOAT SLIP ON WALLENPAUPACK! TURN KEY CAPE in desirable Woodland Hills community / Wallenpaupack School District.  Excellent condition, lots and lots of room.  3 large bedrooms, 2 full baths, formal dining room, living room w/ fireplace, den, full basement, huge two car garage w/ storage.  Master on 1st floor.  Walk to your included boat slip!

INFO SHEET – WOODLAND HILLS HOME W/BOAT SLIP: Click Here

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New Home For Sale Lake Como PA

New Home For Sale Lake Como PA

278 Rose Hill Road, Lake Como,  $369,500

ACREAGE, PLUS POSSIBLE INCOME PRODUCING PROPERTY IN BEAUTIFUL NORTHERN WAYNE COUNTY! Gorgeous BRAND NEW custom ranch home on 16 acres of prime hunting land! 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, granite kitchen, huge garage, full basement, beautiful yard, uncommon craftsmanship.  Potential to receive royalties from gas lease.

INFO SHEET on NEW LAKE COMO HOME: Click Here

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Good Morning Paupackan Lake

Good Morning Paupackan Lake

139 East Shore Drive, Hawley, $379,000

PAUPACKAN LAKE LAKEFRONT BEAUTY – well maintained contemporary home with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, master on 1st floor, lovely views of one of the best fishing lakes in Northeast PA. Oversized garage, wooded setting – sold mostly furnished. Gorgeous vacation home. (Sometimes this community is misspelled as Paupacken Lake Estates)

INFO SHEET FOR PAUPACKAN (PAUPACKEN) LAKEFRONT: Click Here

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Hawley Commercial Property For Sale

Hawley Commercial Property For Sale

Rt 6/ Welwood Ave Hawley $479,900

PRIME COMMERCIAL LOCATION – excellent location to start your own business on busy Route 6 in Hawley! Lots of highway exposure.  Many options with this versatile property next door to the new Hawley Silkmill Project. Great for retail, office, even a cafe…room to create an apartment and live on site; why pay two mortgages?

INFO SHEET – COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IN HAWLEY: Click Here

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Lakefront Home For Sale in WLE

Lakefront Home For Sale in WLE

42 Aquarius Dr., Wallenpaupack Lake Estates – $489,900

LAKEFRONT! LAKEFRONT! LAKEFRONT! What a gorgeous lakefront home on Deer Lake in Wallenpaupack Lake Estates (WLE). Custom chalet w/ all the extras: central air, central vac, granite island, hot tub, screened porch, lots of decking, 4 roomy bedrooms, 3.5 baths (including a charming master suite) finished basement…it’s a true gem!  Enjoy the quiet of a non morot boat lake, and still have access to THE BIG LAKE and all the amenities.

INFO SHEET – WLE LAKEFRONT HOME: Click Here

Filed under: The Rambling Realtor Misc. Category | 1 Comment »

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