Subdivisions in Lewisburg (Scranton, St. Marys, Selinsgrove: for sale by owner, lease, insurance)

[PAorBust]

Well just came back from Lewisburg again...searching for a house to buy. And, as usual, I have a million more questions than I had before I went there.

Can anyone out there give me some "city-data" on some of the subdivisions in the area?

For instance: Spruce Hills and/or Fairfield...nice? quiet? older residents-younger residents? alot of children in area? Nasty neighbors, etc. etc? Can anyone recommend a nice subdivision?

Also...anyone live on or right near route 45? I have some questions for you.

Thanks!!

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by PAorBust

Well just came back from Lewisburg again...searching for a house to buy. And, as usual, I have a million more questions than I had before I went there.

Can anyone out there give me some "city-data" on some of the subdivisions in the area?

For instance: Spruce Hills and/or Fairfield...nice? quiet? older residents-younger residents? alot of children in area? Nasty neighbors, etc. etc? Can anyone recommend a nice subdivision?

Also...anyone live on or right near route 45? I have some questions for you.

Thanks!!

I'm hoping Susquehannock and/or Dawne, our two experts on Union/Snyder Counties, will chime in soon to help address your inquiry. If not, feel free to send them both a private message. I've only been to the town once before (for my photo tour), and while I was blown away by it, I didn't wander around to the suburbs at all (The Buffaloes), so I'm not a good resource on this one.

Any particular reason why you have written off the town proper of Lewisburg itself? Fears of rowdy college kids? Concerns of flooding? Not enough elbow room?

[Dawne]

I'm sorry that I can't help you out with the subdivisions you've named. I'm not familiar with them at all.

I would stay away from a home right along Route 45 unless you have back access to other roads. With kids, they wouldn't have anywhere to play other than in your yard. I prefer communities with streets where they can ride their bikes. I myself live right along Route 204 outside Selinsgrove, but we have alleys where my kids can go, and a large back yard to keep them away from the traffic.

There is one area of Lewisburg that is highly thought of - Linntown. It's behind the middle school and has nice homes. I'm not sure of the prices, though, but they may be in your range or just slightly above, so you could offer less. Also, the area near Fairground Road and Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village (just before you get to the Brookpark area) is very nice and within walking distance of the town park, playground and pool.

Hopefully someone else can help you out more with the subdivisions you mentioned.

[PAorBust]

Originally Posted by ScrantonWilkesBarre

I'm hoping Susquehannock and/or Dawne, our two experts on Union/Snyder Counties, will chime in soon to help address your inquiry. If not, feel free to send them both a private message. I've only been to the town once before (for my photo tour), and while I was blown away by it, I didn't wander around to the suburbs at all (The Buffaloes), so I'm not a good resource on this one.

Any particular reason why you have written off the town proper of Lewisburg itself? Fears of rowdy college kids? Concerns of flooding? Not enough elbow room?

Hi! Thanks for your reply. We did look at a few houses within the borough of Lewisburg and they are higher priced for lesser houses. I am also afraid of the Flood zone A houses (I won't lie) so that rules out alot. I'm the type of person that even if the house never flooded in 30 years, but it was a flood zone A...every single time it rained I'd be stressed out terribly. LOL

We were also looking for a little bit of property...only have .16 right now and we'd want at least .25 (but really more) and the houses there, although really quaint, don't really have much property.

Rowdy college kids?? Not a concern at all...I'm used to that-used to be one...LOL

[PAorBust]

Originally Posted by Dawne

I'm sorry that I can't help you out with the subdivisions you've named. I'm not familiar with them at all.

I would stay away from a home right along Route 45 unless you have back access to other roads. With kids, they wouldn't have anywhere to play other than in your yard. I prefer communities with streets where they can ride their bikes. I myself live right along Route 204 outside Selinsgrove, but we have alleys where my kids can go, and a large back yard to keep them away from the traffic.

There is one area of Lewisburg that is highly thought of - Linntown. It's behind the middle school and has nice homes. I'm not sure of the prices, though, but they may be in your range or just slightly above, so you could offer less. Also, the area near Fairground Road and Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village (just before you get to the Brookpark area) is very nice and within walking distance of the town park, playground and pool.

Hopefully someone else can help you out more with the subdivisions you mentioned.

Thanks Dawne...I appreciate it and I hope someone out there will be able to help out with those divisions. The house on route 45 is on a corner so the driveway faces a regular street and the yard is in the back. So.....provided they don't have a deed restriction against fences...our girls could play in the back yard as well as ride their bikes on the side street. You think exactly like me...one of the biggest concerns I had was "where will the kids ride their bikes". I think my poor realtor has had it with me. I have so many requirements...and at first I like something and then I think about it and then I don't like it. The problem is...is that there aren't too many houses for sale in the "nice" areas in our price range...and what houses go on the market...that are really good...get snatched up before we can make it there to see them.

Let me ask your opinion. The house on route 45...they are asking 175K for it. I don't want to pay that much because of the location...noisy. They also have well water which I will want changed to public. And...they don't have a formal diningroom...They have a big kitchen dining area combo. I will have to put up a wall and separate them (I have to have a separate diningroom). The house is in pretty decent shape and was built in 1989. Now none of these things are the sellers fault...but again...it's on a VERY busy road. And...the house has been on the market since early 2006. Now taking all of these things into account....what price would you offer them??

[Dawne]

Flood Zone A is definitely something to stay away from. Also, be sure to check with your realtor to be sure that even if something is in Flood Zone B or C that it will stay that way. Pennsylvania has recently redone their floor plain mapping and homes that were never in a flood plain will not be in a flood plain. This all becomes effective November 16, 2007. Before then, people can get flood insurance based on the current flood maps, which will make it much cheaper, and that rate will continue and not go up when the flood maps become effective in November. So there's a window of opportunity for people who will be affected by this change to get in under the wire with their flood insurance.

From the way you describe the house you're looking at, I would offer $150,000 and see where it goes from there. Do you have an MLS number that you could PM me. I could tell more if I had some pictures to look at, and I might have some input on the area also.

And don't worry about driving your realtor crazy. We looked at 12 houses or more before we decided on the one we have now. Our realtor was great, but I'm sure she was frustrated with us too. The house we live in she never even actually showed us because it was for sale by owner. We had signed an agreement with the realtor for her to be our "Buyer Agent" so we made sure she still got her commission at closing and we've been on great terms with her. Treat your realtor fairly when you do make your decision and all the craziness will be forgiven!

[susquehannock]

Originally Posted by PAorBust

The house on route 45...they are asking 175K for it. I don't want to pay that much because of the location...noisy. They also have well water which I will want changed to public. And...they don't have a formal diningroom...They have a big kitchen dining area combo. I will have to put up a wall and separate them (I have to have a separate diningroom). The house is in pretty decent shape and was built in 1989. Now none of these things are the sellers fault...but again...it's on a VERY busy road. And...the house has been on the market since early 2006. Now taking all of these things into account....what price would you offer them??

I know your post wasn't direct to me, but I think I can help for I lived in Lewisburg for many years.

Rt. 45 is an extremely busy road. It's the main east to west artery that most of the locals use. If there's is a Penn State home game, it gets really busy and it also gets extrememly busy during morning and afternoon rush hours. There is a tremendous amount of commuters traveling between Mifflinburg and Lewisburg. On Wednesdays, the Farmers Market on Fairground Road also creates a lot of traffic.

It seems as though the home your looking at is in the Linntown area. That is a very nice location and out of the floodplain unless you are in the vicinity of Bull Run. Bull Run meanders through the northern part of Linntown. It flows north to south along Fairground Road and turns west to east along St. Marys St. It then flows through Lewisburg to meet the Susquehanna on the southern side of town.

Bull run caused much of the damage to downtown Lewisburg during the '72 and '75 floods. It cuts right through the heart of Lewisburg and affects north and south 6th Street , the northwest end of 7th street and the Brown Street area on the south side of town. Anywhere where Bull Run flows, try to stay at least one block away and at least two blocks from the river. In '72, the water made it all the way into the backyards of 2nd St. residents.

If you are in the Linntown area, you could between the Jr. High and the High School. Check to make sure what school district you are in. Mifflinburg's area extends right up to the west end of Linntown. The location of the house could be deceiving in which school district you are located.

Houses are very expensive in the area and the taxes are high.

Even though i lived in Lewisburg for many years, I am not familiar with either Spruce Hills or Fairfield. I have an idea where they could be, but I'm not positive of their locations. The developments have exploded since I moved from the area. Heck, I remember when there were only 2 red lights on Rt 15. Now, the tally is 13 and more will be added.

I forgot to mention Buffalo Creek. It also did major damage to the northern end of Lewisburg along 8th, 7th, 6th, 5th, 4th, and the eastern area of St. Anthony, Water., and Front Streets.

['raybucknell]

I lived in Lewisburg for four years while attending Bucknell. I loved it. The school is amazing and the atmosphere of the town was great! There were certain things that I didn't love, but that is because I'm from Texas and there was some culture shock. However, if they had more job opportunities I would move there in a heartbeat. There is nothing better than a long run through campus and across the bridge toward Goodwills... especially after the first snow! As far as subdivisions, I cannot really give you any input, however, I did live in Lewisburg during the flood of '99 (i know, no one talks about it).. I lived on 6th street between Market Street and the Bucknell Campus. The creek (and it really seemed like just a creek) overflowed so much that our house flooded, through the basement and up to my knee on the first floor. I totally understand why you don't want to live in a flood plain. I don't think that was even 'that bad' of a flood historically speaking, but it was enough for me to NEVER want to live in a floodplain.
As far as the town goes, it seemed to me that most of the run-down houses were really the ones that were being leased to students; the houses closer to one of the grade schools looked in better shape. I cannot tell you enough how much I loved the town! Be sure to drive to Danville and eat at the Arizona Cafe- the only place I could eat 'mexican' food and feel like i wasn't 1700 miles away from home. Also, check out the Temperance House (I think on 3rd street) and the Market Street Deli has great sandwiches. La Casa de Pizza is also good- mind you, it may not be NY style pizza, but I love the thin, crispy crust and the price is nice too!