Endeavor Properties Blog

Bethlehem ranks high in Fortune magazine list

Sean P. Burke — Thu, 01 May 2008 02:30:29 +0000

Ranked 88th two years ago on Money magazine’s top 100 places to live, the city of Bethlehem came in at No. 58 on this month’s Fortune Small Business magazine’s top 100 “Best Places to Live and Launch.” Pennsylvania Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Yablonsky helped celebrate the recognition Friday alongside some 85 local businesspeople and leaders.
Source: The Express Times, 4.19.08

Emmaus council eyes new ordinance requiring sidewalks

Sean P. Burke — Thu, 01 May 2008 02:28:43 +0000

Emmaus Borough Council is considering adopting an ordinance requiring sidewalks throughout the borough less than a year after a county judge decided an existing sidewalk law was deeply flawed. Council held the first reading of an ordinance Monday that, if adopted, would repeal the former ordinance and put in place a new law requiring residents to install sidewalks by Jan. 17, 2009. About 30 residences along Dalton Street, State Avenue and Keystone Avenue would be affected. Council voted 4-2 to approve the first reading of the ordinance, with Holtzhafer and Nathan Brown opposed and Craig Neely absent.
Source: The Morning Call, 4.22.08

Sidewalk Inspection Ordinance

Sean P. Burke — Thu, 01 May 2008 02:27:31 +0000

Hellertown Borough has recently begun to aggressively enforce their Sidewalk Inspection Ordinance (Ordinance No. 683), which was adopted in 2005. The Ordinance requires that sellers contact the Borough so the Code Officer can inspect the sidewalk for compliance. According to the Ordinance, it is the responsibility of the current property owners (seller) to bring the sidewalk into compliance prior to sale. If there is no existing sidewalk, the current owner is required to install one at their expense. A handful of REALTORS® contacted LVAR to express their concern with the enforcement practices of the Borough, and their lack of notification to property owners and real estate professionals. LVAR has since obtained further details about the Ordinance and posted it on our members-only website, along with an e-mail notification through the LVAR listserve. To read the full text of the Ordinance, log on to your members only website, www.lvar.org, and click on “Government Affairs” then “Municipal Government Information.”

NAR Joins Senators to Introduce the Small Business Health Options Program

Sean P. Burke — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:51:00 +0000

On March 2, 2009, The National Association of REALTORS® joined Senators Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) as they introduced S. 2795, the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP). President-elect Charles McMillan spoke at the press conference where the legislation was introduced to offer NAR’s support. As proposed, SHOP would offer tax incentives to encourage states to reform group insurance markets and make health insurance premiums for small businesses and the self-employed more affordable. It would also develop a nationwide insurance small business purchasing pool that would still be subject to state insurance regulation to protect those who choose to participate.

REALTORS® seek legislative remedy to stop point of sale reassessments

Sean P. Burke — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:49:07 +0000

LVAR has now met with all 10 State Representatives over the past two months, urging them to support HB 1438 and HB 1439, which would stop local taxing districts from engaging in the practice of point of sale reassessments. 9 Representatives indicated they support our position and will vote in favor of the bills. 7 signed on as cosponsors to express their support of the bills. The bills passed House Local Government Committee on April 1 (passed 20-7). On the Senate side, State Senator James Rhoades (R-Schuylkill) has two companion bills, SB 1247 and SB 1258. LVAR met with Senator Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) to urge him to hold public hearing on these bills and to bring them up for a vote in his Senate Finance Committee as soon as possible. Senator Browne indicated he supports the bills and will get them acted on as soon as possible. He confirmed he will hold public hearings in Allentown sometime this summer. LVAR will continue to urge passage in the full house then on to the Senate.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN WILL VISIT THE LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL

Sean P. Burke — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:38:15 +0000

When people hear “health care” mentioned, they most likely think of the Democratic Candidates and their extensive discussion of creating affordable health care for the American People. Senators Obama and Clinton have focused strongly on their health care plans for the country. Senator Clinton would force everyone to purchase some type of health coverage but at a largely discounted cost so that everyone would be capable of securing insurance. Senator Obama would make available the discounted coverage to uninsured or underinsured individuals but would not make the policies mandatory. John McCain has taken a different stand point and is coming to the Lehigh Valley to discuss it more in depth with health care workers.

Senator McCain will visit the Lehigh Valley Hospital this week to speak with the employees about his visions for the future of health care. His campaign believes that in order to make health coverage more affordable we must first pay some attention to the rising costs of actual health care in hospitals and doctors’ offices. McCain will speak with LVH employees about new medical technologies and the most efficient and least costly ways to utilize them. McCain’s health insurance policies would create more options and availability for coverage as well as making group coverage easier to get for community groups and professional organizations in order to decrease the need to rely on coverage provided by employers. In addition to his visit to the Lehigh Valley Hospital, John McCain will host a campaign fundraiser luncheon at Saucon Valley Country Club the same day.

Source: http://www.mcall.com/news/elections/local/all-b1_2mccain-r.6380678apr26,0,3340083.story?track=rss.

STREET CAMERAS ARE FIGHTING CRIME IN ALLENTOWN

Sean P. Burke — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:46:03 +0000

According to police, the recently installed cameras around Allentown streets have helped considerably by identifying a number of criminals. The cameras have helped to place at least four individuals under arrest and more cases are currently being processed. Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski also reminds residents that the mere threat of the cameras pin pointing criminals has most likely prevented an immeasurable number of crimes as well. The cameras are mounted on traffic signals and street lights throughout the city. They are capable of zooming in and out, as well as rotating and panning to keep an eye on points of interest. The city plans to increase the number of cameras to 100 in the future.

Source: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-cameras0428-cn,0,2008551.story.

OBAMA PREDICTS HIS OWN LOSS IN TODAY’S PENNSLYVANIA PRIMARY

Sean P. Burke — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:19:48 +0000

In order to have a strong hold on the Democratic nomination for this year’s presidential election, senator Barack Obama must comfortably win today’s Pennsylvania Primary election. Obama himself has predicted a win for Hillary which will leave the decision for Democratic nominee up in the air as they candidates continue to the rest of the state’s leading up to the Democratic Convention this summer. Although polls do seem to place Hillary as the winner of Pennsylvania, they do not show her leading as strongly as she had been six weeks ago. A win by a large margin, of greater than 10%, would help to put her ahead in the race. However, it does not appear that Hillary will win the primary by a landslide therefore dragging the race on until the very end. The polls will be open all day today around the state from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM. For up to date information regarding exit polls and voting results visit: http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/state/#PA.

Source: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-determine.6372387apr22,0,6027049.story.

HILLARY CLINTON PLANS A TRIP TO BETHLEHEM

Sean P. Burke — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:33:16 +0000

Hillary Clinton is all set to visit the Bethlehem area this weekend with a stop at Liberty High School. The school will open at 11AM and the program will begin at 1 PM. This visit may prove critical for Clinton, as recent polls show she has maintained only a 1% lead over Barack Obama with 47% to his 46%. It appears that the presidential candidates are targeting the young, new voters by visiting a number of college and high school campuses this past month. Senators Obama, Clinton, and past President Bill Clinton have all made stops at Pennsylvania universities throughout the past month. Hillary plans to visit now only Liberty High School but also West Chester, West Lawn, California, York, and McKeesport, as well as Johnstown and State College this weekend. For more information about Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania visit: http://hillaryclinton.com/hq/pennsylvania/.

Source: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-n-l-clinton-appearance-041808-cn,0,5899522.story.

ECONOMY MAKES THIS A GOOD TIME TO BUY REAL ESTATE

Sean P. Burke — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:45:50 +0000

There hasn’t been much good news published regarding the economy these past months, but there may be some hope for smart investors. Blanche Evans of the Realty Times believes that this may be just the right time for purchasing a property. With many people panicking and selling off their assets before they believe it will be “too late”, the recent slight drop in interest rates, increasing number of homes on the market and declining prices, buyers should have the benefit within the coming months. Experts believe that for this quarter the housing market should remain relatively stable before making a potential upturn around the middle of this year. So, to buy a home at a low price and get a fixed low interest rate on a property that could become an excellent investment, now may be the time for you to buy.

Source: http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080418_realtyviewpoint.htm, http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2008/existing_home_sales_to_stablize_before_upturn.html.