Cheap housing in PA gone? (Erie, Scranton: hotel, home, theater)

[mams1559]

If you don't want to spend a whole lot ($100K max) and you don't care to be near businesses, retail, neighbors, etc. and you like rural ... try Somerset, Bedford or Huntingdon counties. They are rural and set right in the Laurel Highlands. You can have a home in the woods all to yourself and ATV ride. As long as you stay away from the towns (Somerset/Beford/Huntingdon, respectively) and their burbs, you should be able to find exactly what you're looking for, for a good price.

Just a thought.

[digitalwoodshop]

Yes, drugs are starting to be a problem. We are being harvested like a crop.... Country boys and girls are being targeted by city dealers expanding the area they control from the inner city to the country. Seen more in the very active Tourist areas then in outlying areas like here. Crime is up, I listen to my Police Scanner all day in the shop and I hear the calls.

Employment opportunities in this area are poor. Expect $8.00 per hour. I worked for Sony in Philly and was getting more than double that but that job is now outsourced to Mexico. So much for fixing Play Stations.

Many of my Sony friends went to Circuit City when Sony closed the Philly Service Center. Circuit City was in the news this week for firing anyone getting paid over the local average wage. They then hired new people at half the wage. Most of my friends are out of work. It's a going trend, K Mart did it here too.

The County Jail starts guards at about $11.00 per hour but you are locked in with them for your whole shift.

A Scranton Company Techno Glass at the top of the North East Turnpike. They Closed..... a few years back and you wonder why??? Well I have a little insight into that... I Retired from the Navy in 95 and went to work for Sony in San Diego as they were starting up a new Picture Tube line making the 17 inch Computer Monitor CRT or Picture Tubes. They made 32, 27, 21, 19, and 17 inch Picture Tubes 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I was so proud talking to the various Techno Glass tech's visiting San Diego knowing where the 17 inch glass came from. Thin Flat panel Monitors and TV's put Techno Glass out of work. I believe they only make the 32, and 27 inch Picture Tubes in San Diego now. From 4000 employees down to 400.... Progress.

In 1983, I was in the Navy and my Ship went to the Philly Shipyard for a year of repairs. I was in Heaven driving 3 hours home every weekend for a year.

We had a port brief by the Navy about things to watch out for, just like we did going to any US or overseas port. The brief covered the high drug problem in the Pocono's and what to watch out for. I found this interesting, I had not heard about this having lived in Japan from 1977 to 79 then Norfolk, VA until then.

What we are seeing now is the big developments are getting visits from the "Grand Kids" and Mom and Pop don't understand the kids new interest in visiting "Grandma"..... Some kids see Supply and Demand as Free Enterprise.... Even with the local kids, it more of a problem then anyone is letting on. On the news tonight 4 Churches were broken into to steal money. Crime is up.

We need more police coverage, more tax dollars going to fight crime.

In the 30's Shohola was known for the Shohola Glen and day trips from the city. Bringing the City people to the country on day trips. There is talk of doing it again. The local fear that bringing the gangs in on the trains in the morning and they leave that night after overwhelming the little law enforcement we have in place.

The sale of Security product are up, everything from motion detectors, Video Cameras, Driveway Motion Detectors and related products. I even have a pager hooked to our driveway system that was part of a add on of a Car Security System. It works off of a spare Car Antenna and has over a mile range, so I know someone is in the driveway. I even know what detector as it has 3 colors on the pager. Progress.... I call them wildlife monitors..... 4 and 2 leg......

Well enough rant.... You will have crime no matter where you go.... Japan has or HAD little crime, it's just not in the culture. When I was there most crime was related to the US Serviceman..... It is so bad now that the sailors are not allowed to go out into the towns.... Read it for yourself on millitary.com forums.......

Good Luck with your home hunting adventure. Even better luck with your job hunting. This area is more a retirement area, that is why I left for 27 years. Employment is better now then when I was a kid but good jobs are hard to find.

That is why I am doing a home based business making tourist stuff.

AL

[digitalwoodshop]

A follow up on the gas line.... As I understand it the line on our property moves gas to the North East big city areas and the demand is higher than the supply. Another pipeline in the area was up sized at a great cost due to demand. The Conservation District watched every move to prevent environmental damage.

With our closest neighbor being about a mile away it would not be cost effective to plumb the homes in the outlying areas. The pipeline companies want to serve high density areas to be more cost effective.

The area in the shadow of the Windmills didn't have Cable TV yet as of my last trip to the area. They set up transmitters on the mountain to re transmit the local channels on the high UHF channels and they pick them up with rabbit ears.... Progress of the Windmills put the area back 40 years in the TV world. And we wonder why they SNEER at the towers..... Progress...

A friend using Direct TV in the area said they cut the local's for some reason so no local TV.... Progress....

I have not seen it written, but this area and surrounding areas have attracted a very large and growing gay community with very positive economical benefit to the area. Some think 2 incomes and few kids is a plus. I have seen the benefit to the economy while I worked a year for the local Lumber Company. Many new houses being built. Being a world traveler I believe variety is the spice of life and have a neutral feeling on the issue. We all get along, everyone is happy.

Good luck with your search,

AL

[MrTudo]

Great thread. Thanks for the pictures Digitalwoodshop .

[dullnboring]

In my grandmother's old neighborhood in Carlisle, I would say the average home is one-story, usually two-bedroom, one bathroom, maybe another bedroom and bath (or half bath) if they have a finished basement, and large yards (I'm bad at guessing acreage, but I'd guess an acre, which is large to this DC area native ), and they are going from around 90-120K. These are right outside of the town RIGHT next to where they have the auto show (you can literally walk there in five minutes and people in neighborhood often use their lawns as parking lots and make a few bucks during the show). So homes are definitely doable in that price range, but of course it won't be newer developments.

[sharris]

hello filmsniffer, there is plenty of lower priced homes in Pa . I would look in the Newville,gettysburg,YorkSprings area . if you want closer to MD Redline and Delta is very affordable and close to nature..sharris

[Chefkey]

Wilkes Barre-Scranton Area is your answer. There is some crime in South Wilkes Barre but it is not a major problem. If you head west of both Wilkes BArre and Scranton you will be in the backwoods. Even if you stay in the valley you can find a great home for much cheaper than almost anywhere in America. If you choose carefully you can find a home for under $100,000 that is in great shape in a good location. I know because I did.

[filmsniffer]

Originally Posted by mams1559

If you don't want to spend a whole lot ($100K max) and you don't care to be near businesses, retail, neighbors, etc. and you like rural ... try Somerset, Bedford or Huntingdon counties. They are rural and set right in the Laurel Highlands. You can have a home in the woods all to yourself and ATV ride. As long as you stay away from the towns (Somerset/Beford/Huntingdon, respectively) and their burbs, you should be able to find exactly what you're looking for, for a good price.

Just a thought.

That's a good one. I browsed that area a few nights ago, seems good.

But one thing is, Johnstown is in that area. I hear it's very bad?

[filmsniffer]

digitalwoodshop, that is interesting to hear. Too bad they are that way these days. Think I can live with the gas, but not the bad people and what they bring...

[filmsniffer]

Originally Posted by sharris

hello filmsniffer, there is plenty of lower priced homes in Pa . I would look in the Newville,gettysburg,YorkSprings area . if you want closer to MD Redline and Delta is very affordable and close to nature..sharris

Thanks. I checked out York...all they have rowhouses??

Don't want to be very close to MD line.