Anyone Live in the Poconos?

[firebirdcrazy]

I am going out there this weekend to go look at the New Construction Houses built by LTS Builders. Anyone have any feed back on them? And how you like living in that area?

[Fleetwiz]

Be carefully of the commute, RT 80 at rush hour - 5 am then anytime after 4 is a Major PIA

[Untamed]

Nearly two years ago my wife and I were seriously looking to buy in the East Stroudsburg area. The houses were built in planned communities, convenient to local commuting roads, and just over the border from New Jersey, so close enough to where I work (Florham Park) to make it a 1 hour commute +- depending on traffic.

Two things struck me as we looked at the houses:

1. The prices are very close to NJ prices, because the builders realize the majority of their clients come from the NY or NJ area, so therefore have those salaries and can afford more than most folks who live and work in PA.

2. The infrastructure to support the explosion of houses (and therefore families) wasn't there yet (as of 2 years ago). So things like convenience stores, grocery stores, schools, and well-maintained roads just weren't there. Two years ago the place still felt like a winter vacation spot rather than a full-time bedroom community. That all may have changed since then.

We ultimately decided to discontinue our search out there because the amount of traffic and lack of infrastructure just made the idea of living out there, and commuting to north-central NJ, impractical. If I worked in Allentown, or at the college in Stroudsburg, it might make sense - but then the salries aren't the same as what they are in NJ, even though the cost of living in these new communities in East Stroudsburg, were almost as high as living in NJ.

Good luck!

[79CamaroDiva]

Depends on where in the Pocono's you're looking. Its definitely not as built up and 'convenient' as NJ is, btu that's also a good thing. There was a few times when I had to commute up to Scranton from NJ, and I was surprised at the total lack of traffic during rush hour. We looked at houses in the Mt. Pocono/Tobyhanna area through Weichert, and a LOT of the houses are now going for very cheap (under 150k for a good sized house in a closed community), I'm guessing because of the ARM boom a few years ago that people could no longer afford their mortgages.

[Demonicbird00]

where my gf lives in tannersville, shes renting a room from a girl who owns the house and goes to esu as well.....and i dont know who built this house, but it was built like ****!!

you can hear the pipes banging, you can hear the water trickle through the pipes in the ceiling, measurements are off by up to 2" in closets, heat circulation is horrible, and the hot water varys when taking a shower,alon w/ pressure

-brandon

[Demonicbird00]

here ill let my gf candace explain........

when i was workin at my old job a customer who moved from new york was in the store and he was complaining about his house regarding his property, location, and the way it was built, the manager that was working with me had asked him who built the house. The guy said LTS and my manager burst out laughing...he told the guy how horrible they were and that they do give out ****** locations and dont build the houses like they really should...i dont know personally but like brandon said the house i live in now is nice, but built ****** so it was prolly LTS lol...but id just be careful with what u buy and who u get to do it

-candace

[firebirdcrazy]

I work in Manhattan and I am really tired of being any where near the damn city. The thing is I am looking in the 270,000 - 300,000 range and must have seen about 50 houses. And almost all needed total renovations including crappy 2 bedroom Condos that were asking 250,000 and over. In PA for 215-250,000 I can have a brand new home that would cost half a mil in NJ. I have talked to some people who have built homes out there by LTS and they are happy with them. There only gripe was it took very long to get it done. I would want to stay near rt 80 and as close to the Del water gap as possible. What areas does anyone recommend I look in too? I really dont mind the Drive if I love where I live. Done it before living in the Princeton Area and commuting to NYC.

[DaSkinnyGuy]

Years ago it was well worth it to move to PA, its barely anything different then NJ now. I know a family friend who lives in Marshell creek, the house is ok, the roads are poop and all the roads in her develpment was dirt. Main reason homes in PA are cheaper is because they lack quality. I am sure you could find a good home in warren county or southern sussex county that might be a little closer to your work and have a better build quality. Just dont move to Hopatcong, all the homes are over priced, even my house which we have been trying to sell.

[Fleetwiz]

Northern Passaic, Northern Morris Southern Sussex Counties

[slaptastic]

I live north of East Stroudsburg. I pass LTS Builders all the time. They seem to be nice. I'm not sure what houses they have built, but if you go more north they get nicer. By Shawnee are some really nice houses. I'm going to be looking at houses in about a year, so I'll have some more info then about the houses around here, but I'm sure you'll find something by then. I do have to admit that the roads here in PA are really crappy. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the Stroudsburg area. I love living where I do now. It's peaceful. I do have to warm you though, the roads are HORRIBLE in the winter time here. They hardly plow.

[Knipps]

I live north of East Stroudsburg. I pass LTS Builders all the time. They seem to be nice. I'm not sure what houses they have built, but if you go more north they get nicer. By Shawnee are some really nice houses. I'm going to be looking at houses in about a year, so I'll have some more info then about the houses around here, but I'm sure you'll find something by then. I do have to admit that the roads here in PA are really crappy. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the Stroudsburg area. I love living where I do now. It's peaceful. I do have to warm you though, the roads are HORRIBLE in the winter time here. They hardly plow.

My parents have a timeshare @ Shawnee
it's not bad but the roads are pretty shot, seems like a nice quiet(er) area
seems to be developing more each year though

[slaptastic]

My parents have a timeshare @ Shawnee
it's not bad but the roads are pretty shot, seems like a nice quiet(er) area
seems to be developing more each year though

If you take the road behind Shawnee there are some really really big houses. And yeah the roads are pretty bad.

[79T/A]

I love the Pocono area...for vacation, that is. Not only is Route 80 absolutely horrible during commuting hours, East Stroudsburg and Marshall's Creek are downright crowded in the summer time due to all of the area attractions. Beautiful area, but remote.

I just bought a house in Wantage last year. It's almost as northwest Jersey as northwest Jersey gets. I think of it as living at summer camp all year round. In the summer, I'll lay out on the porch with my family and look at stars or have a campfire in the backyard. In the winter, you can sled just about anywhere you want (Just be careful and wear orange during hunting season) and if skiing is your thing (It's not mine), Mountain Creek is close enough to go after school or work. Now, I paid over $300k for my cape-style house. HOWEVER, the house is only 15 years old and sits on two acres of property, has a (Very small) garage, fireplace, finished basement, finished attic space with a second bathroom and my taxes are under $5k a year. And I'm happy to pay the taxes because no one hassles me over my disassembled cars in the driveway (I think that's a status symbol up here) and the roads...even my little dead-end street...get plowed.

I commute to Essex County every day. Takes me about an hour + (No more than 1 1/2 hrs) to get to work.

I love it. Waited my whole life to be able to have a house up here and I don't regret it one bit. The smaller the lot, the less expensive the house.

Just my two pennies.

[Fleetwiz]

79T/A Sat nights at the Chatterbox :)
I live in Vernon commute to Mahwah 50 minutes. Some of my neighbors go to JC, Hoboken or NYC. Park-Ride or the new Dover train station is the way to go to NYC.
You can pick up something real nice for 300k. Just stay out of Barry lakes or Highland lakes. PM me if you want more info. FYI I have about and 1 1/2 acres and just put up a 24x24 garage last fall. Taxes a little over 5. schools are some of the bet in the state

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

where I work (Florham Park) to make it a 1 hour commute +- depending on traffic.


When do you normally get there? I drive through Florham Park on my way to school.

And more to everyone else -

And there are ways around the traffic. I commute form a small town in Western Morris county (Long Valley) to Seton Hall in South Orange....1 hr/33 miles going my way on Rt. 24/510. If I take Rt. 80, it can take anywhere from 40 min to over 2 hrs. There are roads other than Rt. 80 that work just as well.

[slasherbarb]

my aunt and uncle live right in Tannersville right across from Camelback Mountain...on weekends, the traffic by the outlet stores is horrible...they have traffic lights there but they are off during the weekend...other than that...they have a nice bit of propety for a nice price...and the people i have met there are nice...plus they are getting more like NJ everyday...new restaurants and stores are popping up....

[Untamed]

When do you normally get there? I drive through Florham Park on my way to school.


Usually between 7:45am and 8:15am. I currently commute from Hillsborough, so it's usually less than an hour in the morning. The evening commute sucks once everyone in Morristown empties onto 287.

[slaptastic]

Well that whole area (Marshalls Creek, Tannersville, East Stroudsburg) is always horrible with traffic. 80 in general is horrible with traffic. When I travel, I travel non-peak hours/days. I can't stand sitting in traffic. Then again, who can. Other then traffic, it's a nice area.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

Usually between 7:45am and 8:15am. I currently commute from Hillsborough, so it's usually less than an hour in the morning. The evening commute sucks once everyone in Morristown empties onto 287.


Ah, I either drive by like 15 min earlier, or hours later depending on the day of the week. We should meet up sometime....I drive by 11am / ~540 pm on Tues/Thurs, and 730 am/1145ish am on M/W. If you see a red Explorer with eagles on the back windows, wave!

[DaSkinnyGuy]

Ah, I either drive by like 15 min earlier, or hours later depending on the day of the week. We should meet up sometime....I drive by 11am / ~540 pm on Tues/Thurs, and 730 am/1145ish am on M/W. If you see a red Explorer with eagles on the back windows, wave!

I will run your butt off the road if I see big red

[Fast92RS]

Just be careful with new construction. The majority of the have very poor craftsmanship. Just becasue its new does not make it better. They just dont build house's like they used too. I have quite a few freinds that bought new construction and have lawsuits against the contractors that built them becuase of the numerous problems with there homes with everthing from cracks in the walls, gaps in the floors, poor fitting doors and so on.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

I will run your butt off the road if I see big red

you don't go by there :moon:

[Knipps]

Just be careful with new construction. The majority of the have very poor craftsmanship. Just becasue its new does not make it better. They just dont build house's like they used too. I have quite a few freinds that bought new construction and have lawsuits against the contractors that built them becuase of the numerous problems with there homes with everthing from cracks in the walls, gaps in the floors, poor fitting doors and so on.

we just had an addition put on and there's one part of my little brother's floor that sinks a little & they forgot to nail down a few things.. compared to the rest of the house (don't know a date but found a 1936 license plate when they redid the porch) the craftsmanship just isn't the same...

[79T/A]

79T/A Sat nights at the Chatterbox

Forgot about that! I'm ten minutes from The 'Box. :mrgreen:

[Fleetwiz]

They also now have a cruise night in Florida NY, I believe it's Tuesday I/ll pm you the info Once I find it. (thy moved the Warwick drive in from Thurs to Fla NY on Tues off 94)
Sorry about the hijack...
PM if you have a questions about Vernon.
Also check out Fair Lawn and Hawthorn.. prices have dropped a little. My mom still lives in F.L .so I get down there weekly... been following the RE prices