Should I buy a vacation home at Harveys Lake? (York: to buy, property taxes) - Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Pocono area - City-Data Forum

cleaning5586 · 05-25-2011, 10:40 PM

We have been looking at homes around the Harveys Lake area. Price range around $150,000 to $200,000. My husband and I would like a relaxing place to bring our kids (3,11, 19 and 25 yr old married with a 1 year old). We love water activities and were looking at the different lakes in nepa. We only live an hour away and want a weekend property to just get away from our hectic lives!

I did read on some other lakes, like the Hideout in Lake Ariel, but it is a community. I do love the harveys lake and think we would enjoy it. We like fishing tournament, boating, jet skiing, swimming.

It is confusing because we really want a place to relax and unwind. We just want to be sure the kids will enjoy it there also.

Not really that important to have a ton of activities like I did see at the hideout. After all it is suppose to be relaxing. LOL

Are we going to be satisfied with a second home at Harveys Lake??

Any comments or suggestions appreciated. Thank you!

thecoalman · 05-25-2011, 10:48 PM

If I was looking for vacation home to relax and get away it wouldn't be Harvey's Lake.

There isn't a lot of large bodies of water but if you can forgo the jet skiing and skiing there is lot of small lakes out there much more secluded that only allow small fishing boats.

PWGUNNY · 05-26-2011, 09:09 AM

Hmmm, you have a different outlook than I do. When I bought my vacation home, I made sure I that I bought in an active community. The reason is my wife and children are happiest when they have others to interact with. The community let my family find instant friends and they have the best time running around together with the other children. My children are 11 and 13. They join the tennis team and swim team each summer. I know that a house in the country without others to interact with would not have made them happy. Good luck with the house hunting.

thecoalman · 05-26-2011, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PWGUNNY

Hmmm, you have a different outlook than I do. When I bought my vacation home, I made sure I that I bought in an active community. The reason is my wife and children are happiest when they have others to interact with. The community let my family find instant friends and they have the best time running around together with the other children. My children are 11 and 13. They join the tennis team and swim team each summer. I know that a house in the country without others to interact with would not have made them happy. Good luck with the house hunting.

I'm not saying to live in seclusion, just a little more private than HL. Matter of fact I cant think of anywhere you might get a place that doesn't have a lot of people on a larger body of water. For example right down the road is Lake Silkworth.

lake silkworth - Google Maps

It's private and if you get a place on the back of the lake you don't have to worry about the traffic on the road. They do have horsepower limit for a boat on this lake but you can water ski.

sheena12 · 05-26-2011, 01:59 PM

To the OP, I like Harvey's Lake a lot! It's beautiful, not a community, and not overly secluded. The scenery there is awesome! Since I am originally, from Long Island, New York, the sight of the sunset, the large lake next to the mountain display is a really a visual treat!

It's not rustic in feel, the way some other lakes are. The housing stock is very varied though, ranging from newer post-modern homes, Simple A - Frame cottages, Victorians, and craftsman bungalows.

In your price range, there is quite a bit! Last summer we looked at a 1930's classic "Lake House" - it did not have s summer water view, but it was literally steps to the sandy beach. The house has real knotty pine tongue and groove paneling, a stone fireplace and a guest cottage. They were only asking 135! With your family, make up something like that would be perfect. And there are others.

I also like the fact that the community has history and is not a artificial community. That's just not my preference.
There is a beach club that is open to non-residents, so you could spend a summer there partcipating in Harvey's Lake summer activities and get a feel for the area.
Send me a DM if you want more info.

cleaning5586 · 05-26-2011, 04:43 PM

Thank you for the responses. I would like more info. on the beach club. Where do I go to join? What all do they allow and how would I go about getting a boat slip?

I know in my earlier thread I stated on the relaxation. Funny because I definately need relaxation, but we do love water sports and will certainly participate in activities.

I am trying to make everyone happy. Myself, my husband and the kids. Activities and relaxation.

We have look at some homes that are like half a mile from the lake.

We just want to choose the right lake, since there seem to be so many in the pocono area.

Being able to use a motor boat is important to us. That is a definate. We have not looked at other lakes because we have heard good things on harveys lake. A friend of my daughters has family that go there and they really like it.

We did see a particular property we like and may put an offer in. We just want to be sure!

I love opinions,! I like to see what others have to say about the different lakes nearby or in the poconos.

Thanks!

Lisa

sheena12 · 05-26-2011, 05:04 PM

Harvey's Lake is the largest natural lake in PA. The only other lake that I am remotely familiar with is Lake Wallenpaupak. To my knowledge, both of them permit power boats and fishing.
I like L.W. too, I think it has several communities, and housing options out side of communities.

Really it's all a matter of taste. The reasons why I like HL, that it is countrified, yet not in the middle of nowhere, might be the exact same reasons why others may not like Harvey's Lake.

I like the beachy feel, the prices and the scenery. There are reasonable homes with over an acre for under 150! Three acres is private enough for me, but some folks really want some thing very rustic, others want many planned and structured activities. Neither are for me.

okaydorothy · 05-27-2011, 06:09 AM

We choose to buy a property in a community as I felt it was important for the kids to have activities to look forward to and a change from their everyday life.
In WLE, the kids play on the street, hang with the neighbours, go to the pool and fish.
Here on Long Island, the kids have no friends in our developement and getting away to do regular kid things is a huge treat for them. They absolutely love it.

W-B proud · 05-27-2011, 07:13 AM

I love Harvey's Lake. I'd move there right now if I could.

SteelCityRising · 05-27-2011, 07:24 AM

I miss Harvey's Lake. A lot. My childhood friend's family owned a home right along Lakeside Drive, and they had us up a few times every summer for parties. We dove into the lake off their dock, tooled around on their pontoon boat, and watched the sunrise over the lake while soaking in the front porch hot tub. The only impediment I can think of to owning at the lake would be the relatively high property taxes. In addition I know Lakeside Drive being so narrow helps the "ambiance" out, but it NEEDS to be widened just a few feet to add a shoulder for cyclists and pedestrians. Whenever we went for walks we were always terrified someone in an SUV would fly around a bend and take us out.