The Working Class in Philadelphia

I guess it depends on where you are.

Just saw an article where the Carpenters Union in Philadelphia turned down the latest contract offer.

It would have raised the base from its current $58.60 per hour.

Remember folks that's the base rate. Sure the carpenters in Philly are hardworking but throw in a little seniority or overtime and that's better than $120,000 per year.

Want to know why the stimulus dollars aren't going as far as you thought they would.

Information on any listing by any broker on your phone

I can now offer the ability for the curious, whether active home buyers, neighbors or just curious, to get current information on ANY HOME for sale by ANY BROKER.

All this while your parked in front of the house. Before you drive away.

It only takes a phone call or an email to activate your account.

Allen J. Gordon
Prudential Homesale Services Group
717-856-0669
717-657-8700

Pennsylvania State Government Acting to raise housing costs

I guess the less than wonderful housing market escaped the notice of the Pennsylvania construction code review board.

This week, they decided to implement a requirement for fire sprinklers in ALL new homes.

No showing of any need. When was the last time anyone heard of a loss of life in a home with functioning smoke detectors? Structural loss? Smoke damage versus flood damage from frozen sprinkler heads up in the attic areas.

Let's just add $5,000 to the cost of the average new home in Pennsylvania.

Breakfast Ride Sunday 19 April 2009

All of you Central Pennsylvania Riders looking for a good breakfast ride, here it is.

From 6 to 11 on Sunday 19 April at the New Kingstown Fire Company. Just up the Carlisle Pike from Appalachian H-D and Velocity Cycles.

Good food and it supports a good cause.

Gives you Lawn devotees a place to ride on 3rd Sunday since Lawn doesn't start until May.

Congratulations Obama Administration

Hey I am the first to criticize but this is a genuine congratulations.

The handling of the pirates in the Indian Ocean was superb. Unfortunately one survived.

Following well in the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson of not paying tribute to pirates.

Let's say thanks and hope we will continue to impose the same punishment that removed pirates from the Caribbean and stopped the Barbary pirates hundreds of years ago.

Very Good News on First Quarter Home Sales in Harrisburg

The number of pending home sales according to Harrisburg's Central Penn Multi-list are up by 56% for the first quarter of 2009 compared to the last quarter of 2008.

We've got a ways to go but this means the buyers are getting out and buying.

First Foreign Challenge to Obama

Fortunately for all except those involved it's the seizure of one U.S. ship by pirates off Somalia.

Let's see if President Obama can live up to the example his predecessors set over 200 years ago when they refused to pay and sent the Marines to Tripoli.

The entire world knows what the penalty should be for pirates.

Forbes says Harrisburg on List of the Most Liveable

Forbes magazine recently rated metropolitan areas with populations more than 500,000 to come up with their 15 most liveable cities in the U.S.

Harrisburg ranked number 12. Just ahead of Madison, Wisconsin and just behind Denver.

They looked at 5 year income growth, cost of living, crime index, leisure index and unemployment statistics.

Here is the Forbes.com entry

Harrisburg Home Sales up 27%

It's amazing. Pending sales in the Harrisburg region are up 27% for March over February.

Are there still issues? Yes but the rates are still down and first time buyers can get an $8,000 tax credit that does not have tobe paid back.

Congratulations to the Legislature

The Pennsylvania Legislature has now been meeting since January. Guess how many bills they have sent up for the Gov. to sign or veto.

That's right. I can't think of any significant ones either.

Amazing efficiency. How is it our neighboring states can get all of their legislative business done in 90 days??

Oh, I forgot we have the benefit of having professional legislators.

Harrisburg Road Hazards

Once again this morning, 2 tie ups on the Capitol Beltway from the same old issues and still no action from Penndot or police.

First, another wreck 581 east to 83 south. Same old problem - no merge area and drivers not waiting for an opening on 83 south. I still have yet to see a ticket being written to a driver failing to yield coming down the ramp, although you can see it daily in any 10 minute span. Penndot's solution - close the ramp to 83 northbound which is almost never a danger, just a long wait sometimes for those using it.

Second, one more tail gate crash on 83 south bound. Cause, as always, following too close. It would only take about a week of police handing tickets to tailgaters to get this to stop. But no they would rather run speed traps. Which is more dangerous - the driver 2 car lengths behind the car in front at 50 mph or the driver running 10 miles over the limit at 65 with no traffic around him? Just watch for the weekly wrecks to get your answer. They mostly happen when no one is even going at the speed limit.

And of course our Legislature still sees no need to require liability insurance.

Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency

One of the benefits of the new stimulus bill is the increase in the Federal Tax Credits for making your home more energy efficient.

The eligible improvements are things like insulation, windows and doors and heating and ventilation.

They are not looking for exotic improvements to qualify for 30% tax credit. The more exotic things like solar products qualify for more.

The link below to Energystar gets you more specifics on what you need to do to qualify.

Energystar

As always when dealing with the IRS, consult your tax professional

Breakfast Ride Season is Upon Us

The weather is better, so clean off the bike and get ready to ride to breakfast and support local causes at the same time.

In the case of Ephrata and Lawn there are so many in attendance that you get a bike show too.

Sunday April 5
Ephrata First Sunday
Citizens Fire in Mechanicsburg

Sunday April 19
New Kingstown

Saturday April 25
Summerdale

Sunday May 3
Ephrata
Citizens Fire in Mechanicsburg

SundayMay 17
Lawn - first one of the year. If youhaven't been in a while, last year they doubled their serving capacity
New Kingstown

How to Reduce Dependence on Foreign Energy - REDUCE AMERICAN PRODUCTION

In one of its first steps to reducing our dependence on foreign energy, the new administration in Washington has STOPPED THE ISSUANCE OF ALL permits for coal strip mining of mountain tops.

We have lots of coal but the current administration would rather see it stay in the ground.
Did you notice what's happening to the price of oil this week?

Sort of reminds me of when the Rendell Administration chased out the companies that had already mobilized to go for natural gas on Marcellus shale. They just pulled out and went to West Virginia to hit the same structure.

Wonder why the Chinese economy is still growing? Their coal production is going up and they open another coal fired generation plant every month or so.

Hope I'm wrong

I'm seeing more and more reports of folks who have taken the attitude that since it is reported nationally that there is a housing crisis that they will okay if they just walk away from their home.

Not talking here about people who have lost their job or had a health problem. Just people who for whatever reason, have decided they don't feel like paying their debt any longer.

These are people who are someday going to be applying for another professional job. Their credit report will probably be run as part of the hiring process. Would you hire someone to manage a budget for your firm who couldn't manage their own budget? Would you hire someone to teach your children who had no problem abandoning their personal resposibiilties?

Hopefully these are just overblown reports. Like the reports of housing tanking everywahere.

Let's have some leadership and hard work.

Saint Patricks Day Music

If you have any love at all for Irish Music treat yourself to Fire in the Glen at Appalachian Brewery in Camp Hill on Saint Patricks Day, March 17 from 7 'til 10

Breakfast Ride for March 15

Good Breakfast ride for a good cause at New Kingstown Fire Department.

6-11

New Kingstown Fire Company
277 North Locust Point Road
New Kingstown, PA 17072-0247

How to help kill a real estate recovery

President Obama's budget cuts the mortgage interest deduction.

Guess what that does to the value of the home.

Guess what that does to the banks and others (including retirees) who hold the mortgages on these homes.

Some Homebuyer Trends

Some interesting trends reported recently from the National Association of Home Builders show.

Flooring – hardwood replacing carpet

Kitchens
Granite counter tops are slowly becoming less desirable among buyers who are moving toward lower maintenance products

Top 5 kitchen wants – Walk-in pantry, Island work area, special use storage for appliances, built in microwave, drinking water filtration.

Desk areas going away going away in favor of larger desk/message center in or near the family room where eyes can be kept on kids at computer.

Skylights are definitely a thing of the past.

Top Decorative Features Ceiling fans, built-in shelving, window seats

Irresponsible Middle Class Help

Last night had to listen to President Obama whine about workers on Wall Street getting their normal, basic pay which happens to be called "bonuses"

AT THE SAME TIME

He has raised the price of every new car in the country by from $2,000 to $7,000.
Talk about irresponsible from someone who promised to change to make life better.

With one stroke of a pen he has cost all Americans more money on the second largest purchase most of them will ever make than he will ever be able to generate with his stimulus bribes.

Talk about irresponsible.
Don't call it a tax cut unless you are cutting someones taxes. Using IRS forms to give money to people who don't pay taxes is not a tax cut.

Quick Inexpensive Home Freshening.

Everything needs updating eventually. Here are some quick ideas to freshen up your home without breaking the bank.

1. Move it around.

Simply rearranging the furniture can re energize a room. Add and remove furniture, lamps, rugs, and accessories from other parts of the house to create a whole new look. Mirrors are particularly useful when it comes to updating a room. Try one out in different rooms to see where it fits best. Even just moving a mirror to a different wall can create a more welcoming feel.

2. Plants

Houseplants are a generally undervalued design component that can add texture, warmth, and color to any room. Just drop plants in their store containers into decorative planters. Small plants can be moved easily and regrouped to change a room's look, while larger ones make a statement on their own.
Group plants of differing heights, fullness, and color for the most dramatic effect. Jettison the scraggly specimens,

3. Paint

Paint is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to make a substantial change. Use dramatic colors in powder rooms and dining rooms, and more neutral colors in living spaces. When selecting colors, "be sure to ask, 'What am I trying to do? How do I want this to feel?'"

4. Organize

Clutter just happens.

A few simple devices can help.

Hooks and shelves inside the door give a place to hang coats and keys

Canvas bins or simple baskets help keep magazines and mail from spreading everywhere.

5. Lighting

Lighting can have a major impact on a home's look and feel. Whether a room seems dark or too bright and harsh, try "layering" the lighting by adding accent pendants and lamps. Make sure they have independent controls, so that you can turn them on and off at will.
Adding dimmers can allow you to create a cozy feel just by turning down lights. Caution - if you have switched over to compact fluorescent lamps, be sure the lamp is capable of dimming and the dimmer switch is capable of handling fluorescents. you want.

A Senator Who gets it

Congratulations to Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia.
He says "Housing got us into this, and housing will get us out of it ....."

He's pushing to have Senate Bill 253 be part of the stimulus package now bulldozing its way through Congress.

It would turn the existing $7500 tax credit into actual funds that buyers could use for closing costs or other expenses to actually get them into a home.
It would also limit the repayment requirement to only those who resell within 3 years.

Now the interesting question is whether the Senate Democrats and the reconciliation group will follow what President Obama has requested and allow for bi-partisan input on the stimulus package or follow the Pelosi machine in the house which has said the Republicans are not even entitled to have any of their ideas voted on in committee when crafting a stimulus package.

The Price Tag of Change

According to this morning's paper the price tag for the Obama administration's change in air quality standards for cars will be $2,000 to $10,000 per car.

I'm sure that struggling car buyers and struggling car manufacturer's are glad they have someone who is watching out for the Main Street.

House Ways & Means Sweetening First Time Buyer Deal

House Ways & Means Committee reported out bill eliminating the repayment provision of the the First Time Homebuyer Tax credit for purchases in Jan-June 2009.

Keep watching to see if this makes it all the way through.

No move yet to extend so act now even if it's only a free loan.

Change = Obama raises the cost of a new car

In part of what change means, President Obama has given the states the ability to impose their own emissions standards. Something the Bush administration had kept them form doing.

So now struggling auotmakers will have to make different cars for different states and include more expensive emissions controls.

The struggling consumer will have to pay ore for the car initially and more for repairs down the line.

Great way to help put more money in the pockets of a select few.

Ride For Kids 2009

The local Ride for Kids 2009 will be September 27th in Columbia, Maryland.

All riders invited all brands - it's all for the Kids.

If you can't ride and would like to donate, go to my donation page at http://www.firstgiving.com/allenjgordon

Thanks

Another Breakfast Ride

Those of you who ride and are always looking for breakfast, the New Kingstown Fire Dept has a breakfast mid month Sundays - their schedule of events is at http://www.newkingstownfire.com/schedule.html

It's one that doesn't go away in the colder months and when they don't have it in the summer, there's always somewhere else anyway.

Good food - it's not Lawn - but then what is?