Every year thousands of people are drawn to the beauty of the Pocono Mountains of Northeast Pennsylvania. Between it’s proximity to major population centers and the relative affordability of a trip to the Poconos as compared to other travel destinations of similar distance, our little mountain communities swell up with travelers during the “in” seasons.
For some, the charming pace of life in the Poconos is so alluring they look to get their own piece of it through homeownership. Buying property is always local, so make sure you equip yourself with local knowledge- here are a few points to consider:
- Short Term Rentals
Short term rentals (sometimes referred to as Airbnbs) add another dynamic to the local marketplace – it can affect your experience while at your property but also your experience selling that property later on. Research a bit about the short term rental policies in the area. Get the specifics and equip yourself with all the pertinent details. If you have professional representation they should be a great source of information on this topic, but don’t stop there – you can read the specifics of regulations on short term rentals on the websites of the relevant townships and HOAs, but you can read a representation of public opinion in other places such as Facebook groups. - Local Homeownership Quirks
Are you coming from a place where you have a public water and sewer system servicing the property and into a place where you will be using well and septic instead? It would be prudent to familiarize yourself with some information about water and septic systems. Is this your first home with a crawl space? A good Home Inspector will often be a great source of information about things like this, but as with all things make sure you do some further research to make yourself knowledgeable. Understanding how to care for your property as the homeowner could be the difference between a relatively cheap, hassle-free experience and a costly set of repairs.
~~~ See all Active Pocono Homes For Sale here ~~~ - Tally Up The Total
HOA Dues, Utilities, Yard Maintenance – what expenses are you looking at outside of your monthly mortgage payment? Think about the things that aren’t on the Settlement Sheet – utility expenses, yardwork expenses, internet. And then consider the less obvious things – is your driveway plowable or will it need to be shoveled after snow? Will you need to hire local professionals to clean the yard up after Fall?
Though these things may seem minute in the larger context of owning a property, if neglected they can lead to potentially bigger headaches down the road that could be costly. - Multiple Perspectives
Ask to see pictures of the property in different seasons if any are available. This can give you an idea of what you can expect to see at different times of the year – how much shade in the Summer and how much cleanup in the Fall. Information like this can help you get a fuller picture of day-to-day life in your new house.
For more homebuying tips, check out my previous article here.
For tips on selling your Pocono home, check out my previous article here.
Ready For Life At A Better Pace? Click here to view all active home listings in the Poconos! When you’re ready to talk shoot me a text at 570-620-6127 or an email to MatthewCordisco@gmail.com and let’s talk about how you can get your own Pocono Peace of Mind.
Living Pocono 