Jefferson Heights (Scranton, Dunmore, Moosic: for sale, HOA fees, new home)

[gospelhill]

Hi, was looking at homes in Jefferson Heights in Mt. Cobb....very nice homes and seems like a nice neighborhood but upon talking with a few people mowing their lawns I was told that the neighbors are not friendly and are petty about everything and was given the advice to look elsewhere. I did notice ALOT of ATV's riding around the neighborhood...are these allowed? Anyway would appreciate any feedback if you know this neighborhood. Thanks

[live_in_nepa]

Hi Gospelhill,

First off welcome to looking in Mt Cobb. The area is great and the school district is one of the best in the region. A little high on taxes, but that depends on the property you are looking at.

In Jefferson Heights, most people are nice and keep to themselves. Like any community where you share living space (lets face it.. developments are shared land with more often than not close neighbors), there will be the few that are petty and may be judgmental.

Allot of the homes in the development are older, as you reach the rear they are newer. The hill is taken care of in the winter but we get allot more snow in Mt Cobb than other areas. 2 to 3 times what Dunmore and Scranton get in a storm.

My feeling is if you are looking for a home in this area, why not buy on a private piece. There are many homes for sale that you would not need to worry about close neighbors or HOA fees.

ATV’s are not allowed, but you will see in the area that many people have them and most respect the land. There are the few younger riders that get out of control. I would not dare step foot on the land surrounding Jefferson heights. Hey patrol it pretty good and the owners are “good ole boys” and don’t really like people trespassing.[SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
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[cathyde]

We just purchased a home here in Jefferson Heights about 1 1/2 years ago, and we really enjoy it here. We're right on Jefferson Blvd. Overall, it's nice and quiet, except for the occasional ATV cruising up the street, or heavy equipment coming up for housing work (they're still building up here!)

We picked this area mainly because of the commute time for my husband (he works at Sanofi Pasteur, along with a few others that live here) and the school district, North Pocono. (My son is autistic and NP is coming along well with their special ed dept.; their regular ed curriculum is very, very good - I'm pleased.) We're at the northern end of the district (I think the line stops up at Moosic Lakes, a bit further up on 247). If you've got older kids (middle and high school) you will be driving quite a bit to get the kids to and from activities, which I've had to get used to. (thank goodness my oldest turns 16 next month!! )

The summers are beautiful! We won't put our air conditioners in at all this year - the breeze is great and cools things off nicely! Now mind you, we pay for this weather in winter, where we DO get more snow, since I believe we're the highest point in Lackawanna County! If the forecast is for 4 inches of snow, add a few on to that, and that's what we get! The roads, however, get plowed quickly, so we've never been stuck up here. The hill is tricky for getting down in bad weather, plowed or not, just FYI.

The neighbors do keep to themselves a bit, but we're outside a lot and have met quite a few people here in the "development." I do like that people take good care of their property and houses, so it's nice when I'm walking or riding my bike around. A nice mix of older and younger families all around.

Please feel free to PM me with any other questions you may have. I'd be happy to help you out!

Cathy

[weluvpa]

I lived in Moosic Lakes for 25 years and that area has changed in my mind for the worse. We sold the house and my folks moved within months of the sewers going in. The sewer rates are going to go thru the roof within the next few years because the system is taxed heavily right now and they might need to put in their own treatment plant. My mom was also on the sewer authority board there for probably 6 years and fought to keep the costs down but once it went thru it was time to leave.

The develpoment of the area around Jefferson Heights and Moosic Lakes will never stop now that they have sewers. The septic laws where the only thing keeping the developement to zero.

I'm glad you like Jefferson but I would never want to live there, they will start to build on both sides of 247 and it will go right to the top and around Moosic Lakes.

In 25 years I saw 5 new homes built in Moosic Lakes, in the 6 years since the sewers are in they have built over 25 new homes in Moosic Lakes.

Keep an eye on the sewer rates.

[ScranBarre]

I'll side with weluvpa on this one. Cathyde is correct in that Jefferson Township may be a nice area now, but I fear that in several years (especially if and when the housing recession ebbs) you'll see several new housing developments sprouting up in and around Mt. Cobb, which will transition the semi-rural atmosphere to suburban, or at least outlying suburban. The Poconos are starting to spill their growth over into Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, and the North Pocono School District is going to be the first to notice the influx (hence why they thought ahead to build a larger high school in anticipation of future population growth, despite people squawking about it).

In 20 years you may not be able to tell the North Pocono and Abington Heights School Districts apart, and that's saying something considering Abington Heights is presently a pretty built-out suburban school district.

[live_in_nepa]

By the time Mt Cobb gets up to that level of population, I will be putting my home on the market and walking away with a pretty penny.

Finger Lakes.. here I come.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by live_in_nepa

By the time Mt Cobb gets up to that level of population, I will be putting my home on the market and walking away with a pretty penny.

Finger Lakes.. here I come.

My parents are talking about retiring there as well. They'd love to open up a bed & breakfast along Lake Seneca. It's a gorgeous area! The Northern Virginia wine country just doesn't compare.

[weluvpa]

Originally Posted by live_in_nepa

By the time Mt Cobb gets up to that level of population, I will be putting my home on the market and walking away with a pretty penny.

Finger Lakes.. here I come.

That all depends on whether or not the sewers create a ton of problems or if they actually get a plant. Its not many years away before that area is over developed. You realize that Jefferson Heights was 1/2 the size it is now before the sewers and that Laural Ridge would NEVER have happened if there were no sewers and all this happend in the last 8 years. Like I said we owned a house and lived at Moosic Lakes since 1978 and 90% of the development of that area happened in the last 5- 8 years that the sewers were installed. The sewers will be the downfall of Jefferson township in the long run.

It went from being quite rural living to an ATV race track between Jefferson Heights, Laural Ridge and the new development at Moosic Lakes the ATV traffic has increased 100 fold.

[I LOVE PA!]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

I'll side with weluvpa on this one. Cathyde is correct in that Jefferson Township may be a nice area now, but I fear that in several years (especially if and when the housing recession ebbs) you'll see several new housing developments sprouting up in and around Mt. Cobb, which will transition the semi-rural atmosphere to suburban, or at least outlying suburban. The Poconos are starting to spill their growth over into Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, and the North Pocono School District is going to be the first to notice the influx (hence why they thought ahead to build a larger high school in anticipation of future population growth, despite people squawking about it).

In 20 years you may not be able to tell the North Pocono and Abington Heights School Districts apart, and that's saying something considering Abington Heights is presently a pretty built-out suburban school district.

OMG!!! He shows his face in NEPA!!!!!
Love ya Paul!!!

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by I LOVE PA!

OMG!!! He shows his face in NEPA!!!!!
Love ya Paul!!!

I'm bummed I never got to meet you!