Anyone here own a home in Slatington - Walnutport area? (Philadelphia: ski resort, sale)

[LIKate07]

ok...need some thoughts...

My husband went to Allentown/Bethlehem to look around the different areas for about 3 days....he went to get a flavor for some of the areas, met with a couple of Realtors to see some houses - he was all over Lehigh County - Northampton County - even saw a few in the Bucks county area. He was very impressed overall <tired, but impressed - lol> He even got to eat at some nice restaurants and go to the Casino - a good trip for sure.

There were a few houses that he liked - some areas he liked a bit better then others (which was the whole point of the trip) but one house that REALLY stood out to me online, and that my husband really liked as well was in Slatington. I spent some time researching the area on the internet this afternoon, and read some not-so-good comments about it. Is there anyone here on the boards that lives/has lived in Slatington that could tell me more about the area. (you can send me a private message if you prefer) I know that there can be many differences of opinion, I just would like the good, bad and the ugly before we make a decision to move - especially since we really will not have the opportunity to find out what its REALLY like ourselves, until after we already buy something. A Real Estate agent is only going to say so much.... My husband said it looked like an interesting area.....he didnt have any RED FLAGS as he drove around the area. He said the house and its setting was quite beautiful. Exactly the type of property we want. Its listed in the hi $260`s...it has all we would want in a house and property - it even has a beautiful pool, but if the area is really that *Iffy*, I do not want to make a major mistake. I just want a quiet, safe area. I know I will end up finding myself driving a bit to find a favorite supermarket - or restaurant etc, and thats fine - I drive everywhere here in NY - but I do not want to go somewhere where I do not feel safe!! I just think it would be best to ask people who live there - know the area well to kind of give me a better idea.

ANY info would be great!!! Enjoy the rest of the weekend!! ~Kathy

[toobusytoday]

I would really think hard about Slatington. It's far enough out there that they don't get a lot of newcomers and it will be hard to make friends and I'm afraid it's going to seem more backward then quaint. If you look at the demographics, Slatington Pennsylvania Demographics only 8.2% of the population has bachelors degree, less then the state avg. of 14%, Less then 50% of the population even have a HS degree!

[AutumnSunset]

Hi LIKate,

I looked at houses mainly in the Walnutport area and wandered into Slatington to look at a house or two. Slatington turned me off. I am going to bottom-line it and hope not to offend anyone. I found the area trashy. Maybe it was just that one part I was in or the particular house, but it did it in for me. I won't go back. Now, when I search on-line, if a house pops up in Slatington I don't even open the link. For myself, you couldn't give me a mansion in Slatington for a bottom dollar price. It isn't terrible, and there are areas with higher crime, but Slatington was off my list...fast.

[PacoMartin]

Slatington $269,900 BDR:3 Baths:2 Sqft: 2,212 Lot:1.30 acres Year built:1978 taxes:$6,089

If that is the house you are looking at, I can see the attraction to the large piece of land surrounded by woods. It looks like the neighbor has 15 acres. Hopefully he has not plans to develop.

But the homeowners have been trying to sell for 5 months, clearly trying to get close to the $280K they paid three years ago.

The downside to that big piece of land is your life will be limited in the area. The area probably peaked before WWII. There is a PATHMARK for basic shopping in Walnutport, and a Weiss Market about 6 miles away. But if you want some luxury items then you will have to drive 12 miles to Wegman's Food in Allentown.

I would check the heat. If it's electric or oil (which it probably is) it will cost you in the winter.

The Slate industry which was so prominent in the 19th century took a huge hit in WWI and almost collapsed in the Great Depression of the 1930's. Don't be surprised by disparaging remarks, as locals tend to regard it as the backwoods, the Lehigh Valley's mini-Appalachia. But a lot of people have taken advantage of the cheap land and plentiful trees to build some nice homes. But they are people who like to keep themselves. Whitehall is the principal shopping area of Allentown, which is also north of the city.

[MatildaLoo]

I don't really consider Slatington that far out there. It's only about a 10 minute drive to Whitehall if you take the backroad through Walnutport and Laury's Station. Then again I live in Carbon County so what do I know? Everything is a drive for me.

However, I will tell you my exact comment that I made today when driving through Slatington on the back way to Cedar Crest Blvd.

"There are a couple of really nice houses in Slatington. It's too bad the rest of it is such a dump."

Up on the hill past Rentschler Chevrolet near the school campus, which I think is actually Washington Township, there are some nice homes. There are some nice homes further up 873 toward Schnecksville, too. But IMO the payoff of living near Slatington, with a not-so-great school district and a pretty crappy town nearby, is not worth it.

Plus IIRC I think you said you wanted to be in a walkable area? (Maybe that was another poster) Slatington proper may be walkable, but you won't like what you are walking around. The outskirts of town aren't walkable at all.

It's not terribly unsafe, but it's really dumpy.

[PacoMartin]

I think you get the picture. The borough has had no change in population in 50 years. There was one permit for a new house since 2004.

But the home is nice, and you are very nearby the Lehigh Gap so it is easy to go skiing at Blue Mountain or in the summer to go to Beltsville Lake. You are not living in the borough, but in the township nearby.

Ski Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains | Blue Mountain Ski Area

The nearby places to eat like Old Post Inn is 2.5 miles away.

Originally Posted by Morning Call

Old Post Inn: 3337 Old Post Rd. Slatington, PA 18080
Monday-Sunday 11am-10pm; Friday-Saturday 4:30pm-8:30pm
A former stagecoach stop and general store, the Old Post Inn has a colorful history.
Both a tavern and formal dining area are housed in the 17th century building, which boasts a cozy, country atmosphere.
After more than 20 years of family operation, this eatery has gotten the hang of making some traditional American favorites.
They have a few seafood signatures, so try the homemade crab cakes or the lobster tail dinner.
An extensive salad bar and weekly specials like the all-you-can-eat pasta are some added bonuses.

East Supreme Buffet :2610 MacArthur Rd Whitehall, PA 18052 (popular place 13 miles away)
Wegman's high quality supermarket (14 miles away)
Locator Detail | Wegmans - Wegmans Allentown

[LIKate07]

Thank you all! VERY much!

My husband got home last night - and was telling me all about his adventures. All he did was drive from 7 am until dark, looking all over - talking to Realtors and people from the area. He gave it a thumbs up! He especially liked Bethlehem and said that Allentown was better then he was expecting (given some of the things he has read/heard beforehand) We had at one time drove through an area in Philly that scared the heck out of me.

I thank you for the honest opinions on the area. I really do not think that Slatington is the place for us. Though that house IS quite amazing (Yes Paco - I believe that is the house) My husband was not too excited about the other house being in front of this one - and someone possibly developing all that land down the road would NOT be something I would want to deal with!! Very good point!!!)

I am sure we will find something nice.....I look forward to getting there in the next few weeks and getting a good look around.

Have a great day!

~Kathy

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by LIKate07

I thank you for the honest opinions on the area. I really do not think that Slatington is the place for us. Though that house IS quite amazing (Yes Paco - I believe that is the house) My husband was not too excited about the other house being in front of this one - and someone possibly developing all that land down the road would NOT be something I would want to deal with!! Very good point!!!)

My guess is that the house you are looking at (built 1978) was the original house. It was sold for $250K in 2003. It looks like the owner built the new house in front (closer to the road) in 2009, and sold the old house (30 July 2009 for $280K).

Since the other house has the land on all sides of you, if he develops it would change the nature of the property significantly.

In theory the price paid for the house should be irrelevant to the sale price. In reality if the seller can't get enough to even clear his mortgage, they may not be in a position to sell.

Find out about the heat. You are near the mountains, and some homes from that era have expensive electric heat with poor insulation.

The 18080 zip code covers the borough of Slatington and the Township of Washington (Lehigh County) , and some of Heidelberg and North Whitehall Township. But Slatington is the default name for the zip code. Since the home is outside of the borough limits, you should try to refer to your home as being in Washington Township in any documentation that might be used for resale or evaluation. The stats are slightly better for the Township. There are mansions in the township that are on sale for over $700K, while you would be very hard pressed to find a home for as much as $180K in the borough.

If you end up anywhere in the north part of the Lehigh Valley the Blue Mountain ski resort is very close, so it would help to get a season pass. For a small hill it has over 1000' of vertical which is very rare. Season passes are $635 pp or $490 pp for weekdays. An all day pass is as much as $51. The mountain can get very crowded on weekends as it is so close to Philadelphia, so a weekday pass (mountain open to 10PM) might be more useful for someone living 10 minutes away.



Median Price of home from (2006-2010)
Slatington Borough $141,700 median price, 4,232 population, Persons below poverty level (15.9%)
Washington Township $209,600 median price, 6,624 population, Persons below poverty level (7.8%)

The Lake at Beltsville is also not far, which is a nice place to go in the summer.