More info about NE PA areas (Scranton, Wilkes-Barre: for sale, real estate, homeowners association)

[NEEDMORESPACE2]

We are interested in moving to NE PA but have not narrowed down the areas we are interested in checking out yet.

Next month we are planning a four day trip to look around and we're looking for advice as to what areas to check out.

We would like to be within 3 hours of NY city.

We would like an area with a decent school district.

We want to be in a more populated area but still have at least 1/4 acre of property, we don't care for areas where the homes are right on top of one another.

We would like a home that is NOT in a homeowners association.

We would like an area where we can fence at least part of our property for our dogs.

We would like an area where we can find a 3 bedroom home under 200,000.00, even less if possible.

Any direction you can provide would be appreciated.

[Retired Law 08]

You might want to check out clarks summit...It's approx.2hrs15 mins from NY
good school district..abington heights..the area is a mix of rural and city..
not secluded..they have a section with older homes that you can fence in property...it is basically a nice,safe,friendly area...you could probably get
a older home for about 170'+ taxes around 2k+ Any further specific info
just ask,there are alot of people here that know the different areas very well..

[W-B proud]

I think you'd like West Pittston in Luzerne County. Has everything you have mentioned, and is situated inbetween Wilkes-Barre and Scranton (the regions two largest cities) so it's close to everything, shopping, entertainment, restaraunts ect., and if I'm not mistaken it's in the Wyoming area school district, which is one of the better districts in NEPA. It's a nice riverfront town will alot of victorian houses, nice, clean neighborhoods. Give it a look. let us know what you think.

[NEEDMORESPACE2]

Originally Posted by coartist88

You might want to check out clarks summit...It's approx.2hrs15 mins from NY
good school district..abington heights..the area is a mix of rural and city..
not secluded..they have a section with older homes that you can fence in property...it is basically a nice,safe,friendly area...you could probably get
a older home for about 170'+ taxes around 2k+ Any further specific info
just ask,there are alot of people here that know the different areas very well..

Thanks. I had fished around in these forums back in March for info on areas to check out and Clarks Summit had been recommended as well as a few others. It looks like a nice area. Do you know why it would only be in the older home areas that we could fence part of the property?

[NEEDMORESPACE2]

Originally Posted by W-B proud

I think you'd like West Pittston in Luzerne County. Has everything you have mentioned, and is situated inbetween Wilkes-Barre and Scranton (the regions two largest cities) so it's close to everything, shopping, entertainment, restaraunts ect., and if I'm not mistaken it's in the Wyoming area school district, which is one of the better districts in NEPA. It's a nice riverfront town will alot of victorian houses, nice, clean neighborhoods. Give it a look. let us know what you think.

Thank you. We will check that out too. I had also been recommended to check out the Broadheadsville area. Any other areas we should look at when we visit?

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by NEEDMORESPACE2

Thanks. I had fished around in these forums back in March for info on areas to check out and Clarks Summit had been recommended as well as a few others. It looks like a nice area. Do you know why it would only be in the older home areas that we could fence part of the property?

The areas surrounding the town proper of Clarks Summit are teeming with newer subdivisions, most of which don't permit homeowners to install privacy fencing because they "don't look pretty." Heck, for that matter many developments up there even ban above-ground pools, so we commoners who can't afford in-ground pools apparently aren't allowed to go swimming in the summer.

[NEEDMORESPACE2]

It seems a lot of areas in PA are anti fencing.

Someone else said it best on another post -- fences make for good neighbors....

I did a search on real estate in Clarks Summit and a lot of nice homes came up in our price range. I did the same search on West Pittston and found 1 home?? Is that area more expensive?

I also found homes for sale in Scranton in our price range with at least .20 of an acre. But how do you tell the nice areas from the bad?

Anywhere else we should check out besides Clarks Summit and Broadheadsville?

[nyctransplant]

Between clarks summit and Tunkhannock- this is a pretty and semi-rural area convenient to clarks summit and tunkhannock. This area has several conveniences, doctor, drug store, gas, markets - on rt. 307 within 2 or 3 miles -and the school district is a good one - my children graduated with great educations.

Lots of nice country homes and nice farmhouse styles, as well as cottage type residences. i'm moving closer to a parent or i'd remain. Nevertheless, it's a laid-back area and you can pretty much put a fence up anywhere. i used to have a less expensive method for my dogs - very large chain link "kennel" type enclosure. But you can privacy-fence your areas if you can dig a hole anywhere in pa. and not hit rock or find flat land. it's a safe and beautiful place, taxes are pretty low, and it's pretty much as private as you like to make it. No associations to deal with. 2 1/2 hrs. to GW bridge-i get my culture in nyc too, easy to travel to. It's a wonderful area. access to Rt. 81 to nyc and the Turnpike to Philly about 12 mi. on main roads. more info if you like, photographer@epix.net

[nyctransplant]

clarks summit is very strict about what you can and cannot do. even without homeowner associations, over the years, the town council has had issues with the public over rules and fines. from where to place a satellite dish to what people see in the (non-)privacy of your yard. i have friends and family there, but freedom and privacy don't seem to go with the high property taxes - i agree fences make great neighbors. i'll take my privacy and freedom over a perceived "status" home or neighborhood any day.

[NEEDMORESPACE2]

Originally Posted by nyctransplant

clarks summit is very strict about what you can and cannot do. even without homeowner associations, over the years, the town council has had issues with the public over rules and fines. from where to place a satellite dish to what people see in the (non-)privacy of your yard. i have friends and family there, but freedom and privacy don't seem to go with the high property taxes - i agree fences make great neighbors. i'll take my privacy and freedom over a perceived "status" home or neighborhood any day.

So it sounds kind of like belonging to a HOA anyway!?
Are they as strict with their older areas?