Relocating to Lehigh Valley

[JohnZ963]

Originally Posted by ryanmaudi

To EmmausRocks
Is this true what you say about "LMT & UMT are turning into mini hood's.". We are moving to the area and wondering about that area. Is it true homes were built on "swampland". Is Southern Leihigh school district better area to look at? help. Thanks

EmmausRocks tends to be extremely cynical on anything in the Valley other than low end rental apartments in Emmaus. Fortunately he ran his course and I don't think he's posted here in awhile.

LMT & UMT aren't turning into "mini hoods." Yes, not every single citizen is a white person with PA dutch heritage anymore. It's not exactly downtown Allentown. My only area of concern would be the THP townhouse development in Lower Macungie. Some slumlord bought like 40 of them and is renting them out to some shady characters. That's about it.

Also be careful if you're looking at a THP home since they are going through bankruptcy proceedings and this may affect certain work in the development and customer service on the homes.

[ryanmaudi]

John,
Thanks so much for your help. I would be looking at a single family home but undecided location. Those homes look beautiful and great prices but there are alot of resale. That worries me alittle. Plus being built on a swampland? I also saw they have a community pool. Is there association fees? I just trying to get an idea on areas so when we meet with a realtor I can let them know where and when. This is our 5th move in five years (4th buy is this one) so I am fornuate to know what to look for. Thanks

[JohnZ963]

Originally Posted by ryanmaudi

John,
Thanks so much for your help. I would be looking at a single family home but undecided location. Those homes look beautiful and great prices but there are alot of resale. That worries me alittle. Plus being built on a swampland? I also saw they have a community pool. Is there association fees? I just trying to get an idea on areas so when we meet with a realtor I can let them know where and when. This is our 5th move in five years (4th buy is this one) so I am fornuate to know what to look for. Thanks

I doubt that the "built on swampland" part is true. Most of the newer developments in the Macungies were built on farm fields. Township zoning regulations as well as DEP requirements pretty much prohibit anyone from building homes on swampland in this area. Some developments might have small areas of wetlands but they are generally preserved as open space and protected.

I heard there was a part of the Ancient Oaks development near Trexlertown (which was built in the 1960s) that flooded occasionally but you're not looking at that one.

[BearSwamped]

Macungie means bear swamp. That being said all of the 4 bedroom single family homes have been built on old farms. The area near Ancient Oaks does flood. Near the bottom is Spring Creek Rd which will flood occasionally.

Lower Macungie is hardly turning into a slum or anything like it. I recommend looking around the Saurerkraut Road / Willow Lane area. They are building an elementary school and fire station there now. There are lots of very nice houses in the low 300s there.