You are on the private e-group of Adrienne "Abe" Wagner and Robert "Wags" Wagner, Realtors of Prudential Preferred Realty, Laurel Highlands Office, Donegal PA, in the Laurel Highlands of SW PA, USA. If this message comes to you in error our apologies. Please let us know and we will clear you from this group. This update is not an attempt to solicit the offerings of other brokers and is for informational purposes only. Properties referred to are those listed or represented by our team and do not represent all properties in market area. All opinions are ours alone.

Thank you to all who enjoy our updates! Always know that we do post these updates on our Newsletters Page on our website so if in the future we may seem to be late please check our site, your spam system may be blocking our message.

1. Market Overview Hidden Valley and Seven Springs have swapped markets. With Jan and Feb statistics in, Hidden Valley is setting a record pace for sales while their listing inventory under $300,000 continues to decline. Seven Springs recorded sales are down for Jan and Feb and inventory there continues to grow. Still their total active listings are not at any numbers that we haven't seen in past years. There are several land parcels that are available that have potential for subdivision or just great locations for your home! Let's take a closer look at both markets. To "View our Listings" click the link.

2. SEVEN SPRINGS: Listing inventory continues to grow with Southwind offerings at 10 (only one on the market as of this time last year). As in the past, Sellers seem to be very resilient when it comes to getting their price even though they may have to wait longer, they're up for it. Proof of that is we are seeing very few price reductions with the majority of sellers holding onto their asking prices. Jan and Feb combined recorded sales totaled 10 compared to 14 in 2007. Listings at the end of Feb 2008 totaled 58 compared to 28 last year.

The right hand side of SunRidge condominium building F (that had the fire) is under construction. Depending upon the weather framing could take several months. Our BLOG listed several suggestions for reviewing your insurance policies along with some home owner comments.

NEW COMMUNITY: Marketing says, "Close to Stowe Slope" map shows across Village Road back by the paint ball field. The Planning Commission and Conservation Department both share that there have been no formal plans submitted. The same scenario played out with Southwind and still presales began. As this area is a highly sensitive environmental area (Blue Hole stream is below the proposed site) there will be more hoops to jump through. Check out weekly Notification of Public hearings at the Pennsylvania Bulletin. This site has tons of departments, categories, and information so make sure you check out The Department of Environment Protection and NPDS Construction.

Taxes: Avid readers will recall a section we did last year about the school's budget for home owners in the Seven Springs community falling short by some $500,000. In December the school board members passed a budget that includes a proposed 5.35 mill tax increase. Under the Act 1 index, combined with department exceptions the district is only allowed to raise taxes approximately 1.75 MILLS.

On April 22 tax payers can pass a 3.6 mill increase referendum by a popular vote. Note that this is in addition to 1.75 mill increase allowed. Here are the meeting dates and places. All of these links are to the Somerset Daily American, our local newspaper. Even if this does pass the school mills are still substantially less (18.49 mills now) than on the Hidden Valley side (33.10). Both are still way better than some of our Pittsburgh neighbors!

SOUTHWIND This community will soon be totally owner occupied. Check out our slopeside offerings at AbeandWags.com. With the new community only being "close to Stowe Slope" the ski in and out locations of the Southwind properties should still capture a pretty price.

We'll be happy to share details about specific designs and their prices. E-mail ABE@ABEandWAGS.com or give her a call at 412-897-8535 if you're interested in what's happening with properties like yours!

3. Hidden Valley: Under the $300,000 mark this market is HOT, HOT, HOT! Asking prices continue to climb similar to what we saw at Seven Springs in 2006. Homeowners and buyers are anxiously awaiting the release of the planned new construction. Recorded sales for the first two months of 2008 set a fast pace of 20 compared to only 11 for Jan and Feb last year.

Inventory under $300,000 is shrinking at only 17 offerings with the majority being 1 and 2 bedrooms. Over $300,000 is a different story. We can't stress this point enough MAKE SURE YOU ARE WORKING WITH A DESIGNATED BUYERS AGENT to make sure you have all of the facts concerning past sales. You may decide to pay a premium price but you should know what past sales where BEFORE making an offer

Keep in mind that even with the marginal natural snow fall these resorts only need COLD WEATHER to be in top form. We saw a marked improvement with the slope management. Snow was made, slopes and trails were open, their first Annual Spring Carnival debut with their new Moose Mascot was a big success. Rumor is they will try to stay open until April for bragging rights. Check with the resort for spring skiing hours.

The newly constructed Fire House for the Bakersville Fire Department should be ready for occupancy come this April. We thought you would enjoy knowing that the Buncher's, as resort owners go, are turning out to be EXCELLENT GOOD NEIGHBORS. Most importantly they know how to watch their bottom line! That's a very comforting feeling for homeowners at Hidden Valley! Read this article published in the Somerset Daily American to see how they are recouping one million dollars of their 2.4 million building investment. It's all a part of the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program! Very Clever!

4. Local Activities: A recent outdoors article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on March 16 focused on Laurel Hill Creek in Laurel Hill State Park, just a few miles east of Seven Springs on County Line Road as one of the most heavily stocked streams in the southwest region. " Trout buffs who just can't wait until April 12 can fish Laurel Hill Creek today if they like. Two delayed harvest artificial lures only projects are open to year round fishing" quotes author Ben Moyer. For the article click here.

Another article by Paul Wiegman in the March 16 Trib talks about his favorite Trillium fields. He missed our favorite field at mile marker 1 on the rails to trails starting from Champion. Expect the bloom in the first week of May. This is the trail on County Line Road about 200 yards east of Route 711. This is a very flat trail and great for all the family. CLICK HERE for the map. Have fun.

5. Ski Conditions, Pond Skim: Spring skiing is great but going fast!!. Warm weather, plenty of base, blue skies, sunshine, and wow what carvable snow. There is still plenty of snow on the slopes and you can't beat the weather unless you are like me, an old retired patroller who likes to tele when it is 5* F and ballistic. Make sure you wax for warm and wet, in conditions like this it makes all the difference. Was out this Monday and young friend Christopher said it was the best day snowboarding of his life. HEY, best day of your life, get out there!! OK, he is only 17. Can I say more? Check with the resorts for open times as this skiing treat will be gone soon. Go to our site for resort links.

Come to Seven Springs March 29 for the annual Pond Skim. Contestants try to skim over a double pond with their ski or snowboards. Tasteful costumes are encouraged, registration starts at 10:00, skimming starts at 12:00. FREE to spectators.This supports the Seven Springs Ski Patrol and is a wild and crazy fun day to end the season. See you there.

6. Local: WELCOME IRISYS! It is the first of it's kind that we know of on the mountain! This gadget is a wonder of modern technology. It is a hand held Infrared Thermographer. It's main function for properties on the mountain will be to evaluate and detect electrical, mechanical, HVAC, and plumbing system issues. Similar machines read body temperatures looking for abnormal signs.

The screen shows colors ranging from blue to red. Blue indicates a colder area where red is the hot zone. So if you aim this at a wall you can tell if, where, and DOCUMENT the location of the problem! No more tearing down a roof, wall, ceiling, or fireplace to find the cause. This gizmo identifies the problem area, takes a picture of it, and even can print it out so that you can have your contractor fix what is broken!!

We are always very excited when sub contractors improve their offerings. In commercial and industrial applications it is used as a preventative maintenance system checking on a regular basis and comparing the pictures to ensure maximum efficiency! Joe Raffaele, local contractor and our go to for do it all guy is the proud owner of this amazing system. He can be reached at 724-640-4407.

ORGANIC FOOD COOP OPPORTUNITY This is another first that we know of on the mountain and hopefully will be very successful! Ever read the label on the food you buy? For those of you who want to be healthier you may want to consider giving this program a try. Local friends have set up MWA (Mountain Watershed Association) an account with Frankferd Farms Foods (you can search their online catalog). For the past twenty years this family farm has been raising and selling organic food. They are an OCIA certified organic farm and flour mill. Working with others they have "created an alternative, organic-oriented food system. Please contribute to the MWA to support their environmental efforts in your resort area. They fight to keep your resort area pristine and not trashed and spoiled. Be a member today. Thanks.

This hit home with us after reading the article, "DNA Pollution May Be Spawning Killer Microbes" by Jessica Snyder Sachs in the March issue of Discover magazine. The linked story is pretty awesome as it has additional links sharing more studies. It's all about why antibiotics don't seem to pack the punch that they used too as evidence by the many MRSA outbreaks that we've heard about this year. Here's the cycle Farmers feed livestock antibiotics, we consume the meat but that's just the beginning. The animal waste after treatment often is sprayed onto crops then it goes into the soil, breaks down and eventually particles end up in our fruits, vegetables, and water!

When you call in an order (724-352-9500) use MWA for the delivery drop off and set up an account in your name. All orders must be at least $30 and our group order must be $295 per month for delivery.The schedule can be found on line in the catalog under GB. Any questions' call Kelly 724.593.7644 or e-mail hop41@hotmail.com

7. Marketing: Are you upstream or downstream?? If you are selling your home are you getting to your buyer on the upstream? We saw this move in marketing strategy years ago as the Internet began to dominate the way people search for property. Upstream is aggressively finding the buyer when they start their search on the Internet. National Assoc. of Realtors statistics show that over 90% of future buyers see their home first online.

That is why over the last 5 years we have developed our marketing strategy to now include posting on over 25 real estate Internet sites, e-mails to over 4800 potential buyers monthly, Blog sites, printed media, and international marketing. Almost daily I get a call that starts with " I am on line looking at your listing and want more information". Downstream marketing is before the Internet where the agent waited in the office for the buyer to physically come in and ask about a property. Last year almost 40% of our closed buyers came to us personally from the Internet.

8. Team News: LISTING OPPORTUNITY! The majority of listing contracts in PA are templated with 365 days as a set term. Our contracts allow us to offer you a 45 day test period. If you like our marketing campaign and our client follow up the contract continues for 365 days BUT if you don't we shake hands and you are on your way. We also offer negotiable commissions! What we refuse to NEGOTIATE on is our expansive marketing program!! Give us a call today to schedule an interview!

Blogging. For those of you who like to be updated more than bi-monthly check out our BLOG. We try to keep this update easy to read and often have to edit to keep it from getting too long. Our BLOG allows us to add more content but YOU have to go there to read the info! We update it when mountain news happens with property sales and activities weekly. Try the RSS feed for keeping current! This update eventually will become a much shorter recap of what we have posted there. What's nice about the BLOG is that you can be interactive by adding your comments. Try it out!

9. Tek Tip: As members of the Real Estate Cyber Society we have a Monthly Newsletter with really neat Internet tips and tricks. DEEP WEB personal information search, search yourself to see what is online about you. Virtual Mapping, we love that we have been using this resource for 6 months to map our LISTINGS, SEVEN SPRINGS, HIDDEN VALLEY, DEVELOPMENTS and ACTIVITIES. Enjoy.

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