Many people are struggling to raise their FICO score to meet mortgage qualifications.  A forgotten payment, high balances, a prior foreclosure, short sale or bankruptcy can wreck havoc with your score. Banks have been unforgiving about past transgressions.  Qualifying for a mortgage has been pretty tough the last couple of years.  FHA allows borrowers to have a credit score of 580 or above.  The banks are the ones who have been more stringent and unyielding.  Most banks have not considered folks for a mortgage if their score is less than 620. It's a struggle to repair credit and get scores moving upward.  It seems no matter how hard you try to pay down debt that pesky score just does not move.  The FiCO score can prevent you from attaining the dream of home ownership. To make matters mo... 04/11/2014

Thinking about buying your first home?  You are perhaps excited.  Maybe you are fearful.  Both emotions are perfectly normal.  Buyers Agent with Clients   Let's face it - you've been doing lots of research.  You've looked at homes online. Spent hours shifting through your favorite real estate websites.  You've researched prices.  You've sought out neighborhoods and locations. Perhaps you've saved some properties which appeal to you in your "favorites".  Wonderful!  You are educating yourself and making decisions about what you like and dislike. Along the way you've encountered some real horror stories about deals going bad.  Yes they are out there.  Do they happen?  We've heard about them too.  Most of them occur when inexperienced buyers attempt to represent themselves with a seller u... 04/02/2014

As Real Estate professionals we tour more homes in a month than the average consumer will tour in a lifetime.  Consistently we see the same marketing mistakes over and over again. Clarks Summit Home For Sale   A home will sit and languish on the market for months without an offer.  The seller gets frustrated when the house does not sell.   The Realtor gets frustrated when they can't produce a viable buyer.  The seller blames the Realtor.  The Realtor blames the market.  The reality is the culprit is one of the  7 deadly sins.  Any one or all of them can negatively impact the desirability of a home. The following is part one of a 7 part series discussing each issue in detail.  The purpose of these articles is to educate sellers and give them food for thought.  Selling your home can be a ... 04/02/2014

Many first time home buyers we encounter in Scranton Pa use the internet for all their needs. The internet is either a blessing or a curse. Recently we had a couple come to us who had been pre-approved by two lenders. One was a local bank and one lender they found on the internet.   There was a big spread between the two lenders. The bank was $60,000 less than the internet lender. Naturally the couple wanted to use the lender who gave them the higher qualification amount. The spread raised our concern that something was wrong.   As buyers agents we have to know exactly what the pre-qualification is for, and what the costs or fees are. We want to be sure when you sign an offer you can actually afford the home and the costs. No one likes surprises and certainly no one wants to find out a ... 02/26/2014

Since 1962 St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been held in Scranton, PA, that’s 51 years! This Parade in Scranton has become nationally known and is the SECOND LARGEST parade in the Country, based on participants per population. THAT’S BIG! The Parade of Parades in Northeast Pennsylvania!It is highly regarded in the Community, everyone participates in one way or another it seems. For lots of St. Pattys Fun, come to Scranton PA for their Annual Parade, this year to be held on March 9th. They have been known to have 150,000 spectators and more than 12,000 participants. WOW. That’s one fantastic parade.The Parade begins at 11:45am at the corner of Mulberry Street and Wyoming Avenue. Then continues down Wyoming avenue to Lackawanna Avenue, up Spruce St and then down N. Washington Avenue.  Coverin... 03/03/2013

For all those convention goers and zombie lovers, the city of Scranton in Northeastern Pennsylvania has a treat for you. Scranton is holding its Infect Scranton convention that will begin Friday September 21st, 2012 through Sunday September 23rd, 2012. This Festival gives zombie fans a whole new look and feel for a coming zombie run world and apocalypse. friday will be bringing the zombie fanatics and attendees of the apocalypse a zombie trolley ride after dark on the Lackawanna Historic Society, and a haunted downtown walking tour of the once electric city of Scranton Pa after a full on zombie takeover of the great city! The zombie outbreak will indeed occur this one dark and scary weekend in Scranton, but do not fear the generals of the apocalypse are here to protect you. Participate ... 09/04/2012

For all the zombie fanatics, zombie movie fans, or the ones who plan on surviving the coming zombie apocalypse, Scranton Pa is where you all need to be for this blood thirsty event taking over the Northeast this September! An event full of zombies, make - up, zombie movie stars, and many more. Infect Scranton is a themed fan-focused zombiecon like nothing you've ever seen before in the world of zombies and walking corpses. Get your tickets to the place to be after the a zombie plague has broken out. SC 232 Survivor Camp is located in suburb of the city of Scranton in Northeastern Pennsylvania. This zombie stake out will be under the guidance of US Military Civilian Defense. This zombie hideout is a convention that will surely include everything to fullfill the needs of all the zombie fa... 05/31/2012

Scranton- Ron Parasole has joined the Wilkins organization as a Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates.  Within a set period of time, Parasole will open his own business under the name Parasole Property Management & Assoc.'s (PPMA) of which Thomas R. Wilkins will serve as Broker of Record for the newly formed property management group.   Parasole, who has worked with Wilkins prior, has been a licensed Realtor since 2002.  Earlier this year, Parasole, with the assistance of Wilkins began managing income producing properties in and around the Scranton-Wilkes Barre area.  It was then that they decided Parasole would open his own management company under the direction and licensing of Wilkins.   Said Thomas R. Wilkins, CEO, "Ron simply loves property manageme... 04/28/2012

Many of us have one or more kitties in our homes.  We become very attached to these affectionate felines and share our lives with them.  The list of horrendous disases which can be fatal to them has grown over the years.  The latest disease to catch my attention is Cytauxzoonosis or Bob Cat Fever. The disease is caused by a parasite which infects the Bob Cat.  The Bob Cat does not die from it but becomes a host.  Ticks suck the blood of the Bob Cat, fall off and perhaps next attach to the family cat.  The tick is the carrier.  Domestic cats once stricken with this deadly disease rarely survive. As we enter Spring the season begins for ticks and lasts until early fall.  Because of our mild winter the crop of new ticks this year may be much higher than usual. Cats who roam outdoors and ne... 03/22/2012

We are in the throws of one of the worst gas crunches this country has ever seen. Gas  is over $4.00 per gallon in parts of the U.S. and rapidly headed there every where else.  Some experts are convinced we will see $5.00 gas or more.  Gasoline - like it or not - is intertwined with almost every facet of our daily lives and existence.  Mom - Apple Pie and Gasoline.  We depend on it to get to work, shop, and for essential errands we all must run.  Many homes in America still use oil to heat their homes. Our trucking industry which moves the majority of commodites across and around our country has been severely impacted by $4.00 diesel for more than a year. More and more trucking companies and owner operators are going out of business due to the rising costs. While you might consider cutt... 03/18/2012

As Spring gets into full swing many folks will begin a Spring Cleaning ritual.  In the home it might be time to clean out the attic, basement or garage. Straighten up the wood pile that became disheveled after the heating season.  Rake up fallen branches and dead leaves.    One of the most deadly and dangerous creatures you can encounter is a brown Recluse Spider.  Tiny and hardly noticeable. They can be deadly to children and the elderly.  Their bite is as venomous as a rattle snake.  The amount of damage they can do to body tissue through necrosis is truly unbelievable. They can be on your clothing and carried into your home from the outside. They can be on your pets.  Their nests can inadvertently be disturbed in your attic or basement causing them to crawl into the living area.  The... 03/13/2012

Scranton Pa St Patricks Day parade is toted to be the 1st or 2nd largest in the country depending on who you talk to. On Saturday March 10 ,2012 Scranton Pa was decked out totally in green. Every body had one day to be Irish. The 51 st annual parade began promptly at the conclusion of mass held at St Peters Cathedral.  The bells pealing at 11:45 am signals the kick off to the festivities. This years crowd was estimated at between 140,000 and 150,000 people.  The parade route extends through the city for a mile.  An estimated 12,000 people march, deck out floats and participate in the parade.   Even the dogs get included.  Greyhound and Pitbull rescue dogs march in the parade.    Here companion and guide dogs along with handlers march down the street. Vendors begin to set up in the wee h... 03/11/2012

According to a recent article in the Scranton Times, home values have dropped in the Scranton Wilkes-Barre real estate market. Home prices have shown a decline in recent years in the Scranton real estate market.  Price drops were not as fast or significant as markets in Las Vegas, Florida, Arizona and some parts of California.  Those areas were hit hard and fast early on as a result of the real estate bubble. CoreLogic a real estate data aggregation firm reported that in the month of August home values fell in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazelton metro area by 11%.  The report went on to say the Scranton Pa metro area fell more than any other metro area in the state.  11% is a substantial adjustment especially for home owners who purchased their homes prior to the real estate collapse. In... 10/09/2011

                                     Bargain Priced Homes In Scranton Pa. Looking to take advantage of great deals now available on the market?  Bank owned properties offer a great selection even if your budget is modest. Get them before they are gone.  Take a peek at some very reasonably priced homes in Scranton Pa. just use the link below to see a current list of homes. BARGAIN PRICED HOMES 09/25/2011

Every now and then an American company will do something not for financial gain, but to make a point.  We are all Americans - we have all been touched by the tragedy. From the smallest to the largest we are united by our common bond - Love of the United States.I am so moved by this 9/11 10th Anniversary commemoration by the Budweiser Company that I just had to share it. Please view it and pass it on to your friends and family.   MUST SEE: Very Rare Budweiser 9/11 Commercial 09/11/2011

Today the National Association of Realtors circulated a story I saw on the wire yesterday. It seems that Robo signing of documents around the United States has led to paperwork discrepancies in real estate transactions. The current owner of the home may not in fact own it, if the documents filed are robo signed. What happens when they want to sell their home?  At the same time the banks who hold mortgages on homes in default may not legally be able to foreclose on them because of robo signatures. We have already heard that banks who acquired mortgages and do not have the original signed note may not be able foreclose without it.  There are attorneys who have been savvy to this fact for quite some time.  Many homeowners have managed to win in court and challenge the legality of a foreclo... 09/08/2011

Disasters can be created as a result of one incident or a combination of incidents leading to an unfavorable outcome.  It appears the accumulation of rain from both Irene and Lee has pushed river stages into the danger zone here in Pennsylvania.  Officials expect massive flooding similar to what was experienced from Hurricane Agnes in 1972.  In Luzerne County the Susquehanna River is expected to crest at or above flood stage later today or tomorrow. I lived through and experienced the devastation of Agnes when it hit.  I can tell you first hand how treacherous the force of water can be.  I remember tiny trickles in farm pastures that turned into raging rivers of mass destruction. Roads and bridges were washed away like they were toothpick structures.  I can still see herds of cows being... 09/08/2011

Recently when I was commenting on a blog I noticed a previous Rainer had made a comment about "Walking on the moon" in a skeptical manner. Our lunar presence has been questioned by scores of people as a farce.  A fairy tale if you will.  I vaguely remember a movie James Brolin starred in which was based on the theory that our moon landing was a creation of Hollywood. Those of you who know me, know I am a firm believer in political conspiracy. I believe our government has concealed and covered up the truth about all the major (and minor) assassinations which took place in our country starting with JFK.  I believe our government conceals facts which may give credence to alien visitations.  Roswell comes to mind and Area 51.  What I do not believe is that we concocted and perpetrated a far... 09/08/2011

NEW HOPE FOR UNDERWATER MORTGAGES Globe Newswire reported on July 25, 2011, that an innovative approach to "fixing" delinquent mortgages had been announced by Ocwen Financial. Ocwen is a mortgage service provider. They are going to offer a program designed to help underwater homeowners by forgiving part of their debt and bringing their mortgages current. The program allows the resetting of the mortgage to 95% of the current market value. This gives the homeowner an instant equity position. The deficit amount is forgiven in stages over a 3 year period as long as the homeowner stays current on the new lower mortgage payment. If the homeowner sells the property they agree to participate with Ocwen and share appreciation at the rate of 75/25. 75% to the homeowner and 25% to Ocwen. The inves... 09/07/2011

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTINGLocation: Miller ParkAnalomink and Kistler Street, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301Town: East StroudsburgPhone: (570) 424-7540 December 3, 2010 - Annual Christmas Tree lighting in Miller Park.  Join them as they ring in the season with seasonal music with the New Approach Singers, Hot Cocoa and Candy Canes, and a visit by Santa Claus!   Visit Website         12/01/2010