looking to relocate to lancaster/lebanon/reading area....need advice from "locals" (Philadelphia: appointed, real estate)

[katmar37]

Sounds like you have a good plan. I will also rent in PA until I'm sure I like the area but renting my house here is not an option for us.
I'm basically a friendly person and I'm sure I'll get along fine however it may take awhile for the NY in me to calm down. Technically I'm not a NYer, I lived most of my life in Phila. Maybe we'll meet someday in PA!

[ladybug979]

I live in in What is techniaclly Lower Lebannon Township, but is actaully just outside of Rexmont and Cornwall. We chose to live here mainy because I commute to philadelphia and My husband goes to Penn state-Hershey. Some of out neigherbors are teachers at the school and It isa good school district. Also, there is the VA hospital less than 5 min, Good Samaritian hospital less than 15 min. You are only 5-6 min from the turnpike and Ren fair. There are fantastic parks, people know eachother in the neighborhoods, and the veiw from anywhere is great. Also a Spa just opened near by with a coffee shop so there is actually someplace to get a cup of coffee in the area. Ephrata is no a bad drive either. There is also "Rails to Trails" project that have a great bike, running path. There is a drive to the grocey store 15 minutes at least depending on which one. It take about 35 minutes to reading 1.25 hours to King of Prussia, 40 minutes to harrisburg, 20 minutes to hershey ( near side 30 mintues to the hospital), from where we are. Hope this information helps anyone looking in the area.

[JAAS]

Hey.. I posted way back and have been reading this thread on and off. I am moving from NJ to Lebanon, PA the end of April.. Ladybug- was glad to hear things aren't too far. I know it'll be an adjustment but you make it sound less daunting. At least I have beautiful farmland to look at. I worry most about meeting new friends for myself and my children. Sounds like that shouldn't be too difficult with all the parks and stuff. Can't wait to bike.

I put my house on the market. Had to take a loss but in this economy that is the norm.

Good luck everyone deciding what to do.. Should all meet at the new coffee house! Guess I'll find it when I get there.

[DanbyMagic]

I have lived in many parts of Berks County and worked for the administrative part of PA Schools. There are some great schools in Lancaster Co. I would home school in Berks. Lived in Sinking Spring and still have family there, unless things have changed at Wilson it has always been a school catering to football players and band members. Conrad Weiser not faring much better. If you have any special education issues, there are many good services at the IU's but you have to be proactive. You are entitled to all there is to offer, but the pushy parent gets the goods. Stay on top of the IEP and check up!!!MuhlenbergTwp has some beautiful places (10 minutes to Sinking Spring) especially by the river. My favorite house was right on it and I loved it! Cherokee Ranch area,no. Laureldale, okay.Stay out of Reading proper. Or duck and cover.

[Stephanie P]

Originally Posted by DanbyMagic

I have lived in many parts of Berks County and worked for the administrative part of PA Schools. There are some great schools in Lancaster Co. I would home school in Berks. Lived in Sinking Spring and still have family there, unless things have changed at Wilson it has always been a school catering to football players and band members. Conrad Weiser not faring much better. If you have any special education issues, there are many good services at the IU's but you have to be proactive. You are entitled to all there is to offer, but the pushy parent gets the goods. Stay on top of the IEP and check up!!!MuhlenbergTwp has some beautiful places (10 minutes to Sinking Spring) especially by the river. My favorite house was right on it and I loved it! Cherokee Ranch area,no. Laureldale, okay.Stay out of Reading proper. Or duck and cover.

My husband and I are moving to Berks County this year. Our daughters are 3 & 2 years old, so they will be going to school in a few years. I was under the impression that Wilson was supposed to be a good school district. We are renting at first, then will buy a home next year. The most important thing to us will be to live in a good school district. His office will be in Sinking Spring. Any help/advise would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!
Stephanie

[katmar37]

Thanks to everyone to posted on my thread about moving to Lancaster/Lebanon area. My house here in NY is still for sale and I'm probably going to walk away with pocket change. My first choice was Lancaster but it's too expensive for me and the taxes are much higher than Lebanon. I'm considering the Cornwall area since they have a good school district and it's not too far from Hershey. I'm a medical assistant so being close to a major medical facility is a plus for employment and healthcare for my family. I'll keep you posted on the progress of my "blind" relocation. I can't say I'm familiar with this area of PA but thankfully I have this website and others that give me a pretty good idea of the area.
Thanks DanbyMagic for your info about schools in Berks county. These trying times for me are a little easier with all of your input. Keep posting.

[Wolfman89]

Reading is horrid so don't look in Berks.

I love Lancaster is there is a lot to do there (rennaisance fair, shopping centers, farm shows)

Lebanon is your best bet though as it is small yet close to Hershey..which has a huge medical center.

[katmar37]

Originally Posted by Wolfman89

Reading is horrid so don't look in Berks.

I love Lancaster is there is a lot to do there (rennaisance fair, shopping centers, farm shows)

Lebanon is your best bet though as it is small yet close to Hershey..which has a huge medical center.

Thanks Wolfman,
When I say Reading, I really mean the surrounding area. I know Reading city is a mess. Do you know anything about the more rural areas of Reading? I think I'm going to concentrate on being close to Hershey.

[SerenityWriter]

My wife and I (both mid-fifties) are planning a move to a 55+ community in the next year. We are coming from the suburbs of DC. We have looked at communities from NY to NC, but primarily in NJ, PA, and DE because ideally we want to stay within two hours or so of both Princeton NJ (where our daughter lives) and the Camden County area of NJ (immediately across the river from Philly) where we have an elder care situation. We've looked extensively in NJ and DE and are now considering the Lebanon valley area of PA. We have dismissed the Lancaster area as too expensive, too crowded with tourists and because we don't like the drive through the Philly suburbs and the city to cross over into NJ on the Walt Whitman Bridge. Elizabethtown was, admittedly, a very nice small town.

We are looking at Briar Lake by Landmark Homes in Lebanon this weekend, weather permitting. My concern is that from this thread and others, I am getting mixed messages about Lebanon. Some say it is a nice small town, others say there is crime or that it is old and rundown. We've yet to find anyplace in NJ, DE, or PA that is perfect and we realize our choice will end in compromise. There's a community in NJ that we love, but the taxes are $8000 a year now and we all know they will only increase.

I am retired military and our search is complicated by the lack of doctors accepting the military retirement medical plan in many areas. There happen to be several doctors in Lebanon that take the plan, so that was a plus for us. I am a published author (novels) and a serious-amatuer nature photographer and both my wife and I enjoy galleries and musical concerts. At about 25,000 people, Lebanon is just about big enough to support the arts. One or both of us will need to work for at least a few more years. My wife is a teacher, but is ready to give up control of a classroom and would probably step back to a teacher's assistant or aide.

So, why the mixed signals about Lebanon? Is it just the different opinions of different people? Housing prices seem right, we want four seasons, the town is about two and a half hours from both places in NJ that we need to go, there appear to be doctors we can use and there are hospitals and it seems there is some kind of an arts scene. We haven't visited yet, but have seen Lancaster, Elizabethtown, Hershey, and Annville, so we know something of the area.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

[ki0eh]

I suspect you'd be better off sticking to the south edge of Lebanon Valley, the north slope of the Furnace Hills, i.e. Cornwall and Mount Gretna, which will also put you closer to the Turnpike. Mt Gretna is a summer artsy community with a Chautauqua heritage. The City of Lebanon, well, it relates to Lebanon County about as the City of Reading relates to Berks.