Happy Holidays!

This past year has been a great year at the Lehigh Valley Community Land Trust!  We are looking forward to next year, when we will have homeownership opportunities in Easton, South Bethlehem, Catasauqua, and Fountain Hill!

Free Upcoming Homeownership Seminars

 

Upcoming ENGLISH Seminar: January 5, 12 and 19th

 

 Location: The Borough of Wilson 

  Guy B. Tomano Municipal Building

2040 Hay Ter

Easton, PA 18042

   

 

  

Discussion Topics:

Preparing for Home Ownership

Establishing & Maintaining Good Credit

Predatory Lending

Obtaining a Mortgage

Shopping for a Home

Completing the Sale

Maintaining Your New Home

Classes are from 8:15 AM -1:00 PM.   All 3 classes must be taken to receive Certificate of Completion.

*We regret that we are unable to provide child care.

Community Action Financial Services

A program of the

Community Action Committee of Lehigh Valley

                   

Contact Amy Arroyo @ 610-691-5620

Homeownership Opportunities for Veterans?

We are hoping to create some more homeownership opportunities for those who have served in the U.S. military.  All veterans are encouraged to complete this survey: http://bit.ly/Veteran_Survey_LVCLT.  Thank you for your service!

Before & After: 31 N 9th Street

See the transformation.

Two Chances to See 31 N 9th Street

We've been excited about launching this stunningly-beautiful, restored 1894 home into the world, and now you have two chances to see it!  Even if you aren't looking to buy a home, a peak at this home is well-worth your time.  We've bundled a host of energy-bill cutting features with a Victorian-era beauty unique to the area.  Come and see it!

The first date:

Tuesday evening, September 25th from 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

The second date:  

Saturday, September 29th from Noon to 2 p.m.  We'll have hot dogs and door prizes to liven up the day even more!  On this day we'll also have 1207 Bushkill Street open too!

Coming Soon: 31 N 9th Street Preview

We are almost ready to host a preview of 31 N 9th Street.  Keep watching for updates!

Saturday Open House @ 1207 Bushkill

On Saturday, August 17th, come and see 1207 Bushkill Street in Easton between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.!   Courtesy of Embassy Bank, we'll have 4 tickets & a preferred parking pass to next Saturday's Iron Pigs game on August 25th as a door prize! 

Thank you Mike Handzo!

Mike Handzo recently completed his year of service with LVCLT as an Americorps VISTA member.    During his time at LVCLT, he worked as the Project Assistant and took the lead on spreading the word about LVCLT homes.  He also was a crucial part in putting together LVCLT's Strategic Plan for the next 5 years and developing a proposal for a new product for Lehigh Valley homebuyers.  He also put together LVCLT's initial walk-through videos of homes, one of which you can see here...

Thank you Mike!

1207 Bushkill St Preview Event...

...Wednesday, August 8, at 6:30 p.m. Click through to see the invitation!

Check out our new...

...1207 Bushkill St page!

This home should be ready for listing on the Lehigh Valley Multiple Listing Service (MLS) shortly. Be sure to check back often for updates!

31 N. 9th St Bedroom Photos

See these photos, and more of 31 N. 9th St, on the Coming Soon page!

Second floor rear bedroom.

Second floor middle bedroom.

Third floor bedroom.

Pricing for 1207 Bushkill St

1207 Bushkill St will be listed for $97,500 dollars.  Your monthly payments could be as low as $848 dollars, with $1,600 dollars cash down.  Click through to see a detailed breakdown!

Features of 1207 Bushkill St

Click through to see the list!

1207 Bushkill St: Ready for its Close-Up!

1207 Bushkill St in Easton is very close to completion.  So close, in fact, that we were able to take some "official" photos of the exterior and interior.  We will use these photos in marketing materials.  Click through to see them!


Front Facade

Rear Facade



Living room, looking into dining room, with refinished hardwoods



Refinished hardwoods and new wood windows in master bedroom

3rd floor loft space

512 Cherokee St Featured in the Express-Times Again!

Once again, the Express-Times used the photo of 512 Cherokee St from our press event in March to accompany their most recent real estate market update.  Click through to see the article!

514 Cherokee St, S. Bethlehem: Pre-Construction Walk-Through

LVCLT will be renovating 514 Cherokee St in S. Bethlehem.  This home is the other half of the twin including 512 Cherokee St, our most-recently-sold home.  Click through to see a pre-construction walk-through video!

Pre-Construction Walk-Through: 1116 Russell Ave

1116 Russell Ave in Fountain Hill is our next home slated for renovation.  Click through to see a pre-construction walk-through video!

31 N. 9th St: Tile, Trim, and More

We're very excited to report that finishes are now being installed at 31 N. 9th St in Easton!  Tile, trim, and the other details that make a house look like "home" are now visible.  Check out the latest photo update on the Coming Soon page!

512 Cherokee St in the Express-Times!

Yesterday's Express-Times included an article giving some good news about the Lehigh Valley real estate market. It was accompanied by a photo of 512 Cherokee St from our press conference in March! Click through to read the article.

LVCLT AmeriCorps*VISTA Position Available!

LVCLT is looking for its next AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer!  Click through to see a description of the position.  If you're interested, please submit a cover letter and resume to Project Assistant (and current VISTA) Mike Handzo by July 1.


LVCLT AmeriCorps*VISTA 2012-2013 -

Check out a new photo update...

...from 31 N. 9th St on the Coming Soon page.

Lots of Photos of 1207 Bushkill St

It's been awhile since we last posted a photo update, but we have a large one today! 1207 Bushkill Street is very close to completion, and the home now has a real "wow factor."  The hardwoods have been carefully refinished, and many of the rooms appear in their finished state.  This will be a great home, for sure!

New Townhomes for Sale through HADC Allentown

Housing Association & Development Corporation is a nonprofit organization providing high-quality affordable homeownership opportunitues in Allentown.  They're currently selling some new construction, ADA-accessible townhomes on North Street in Allentown.  Take a tour!

Interested in learning more?  These homes are all listed through Anthony Ramos of Century 21 Ramos Realty, the same realtor who represents LVCLT!

More new photos...

...of 31 N. 9th St and 1207 Bushkill St have been added to the Coming Soon page.

31 N. 9th St Pricing and Completion Date Announced!

Renovations to 31 N. 9th St should be finished sometime around Memorial Day. Once the work is complete, the home will hit the market for a listing price of $86,400 dollars. More details will be coming soon! In the meantime, check out the latest photos of the renovations on the Coming Soon page.

Easton Homes on Channel 39

  Channel 39, our local PBS station, featured several Lehigh Valley neighborhoods in a recent program.  The program first focuses on Bethlehem.  Beginning in minute 13 of the program, the focus shifts to Easton.   In this part of the program, you'll meet some new homeowners in Easton who purchased a home from the Easton Redevelopment Authority--another provider of great homes.  31 N 9th Street--an LVCLT home--is discussed a little bit after that. Allentown completes the story.  Enjoy!



Both 31 N 9th Street and 1207 Bushkill Street are scheduled to be fully renovated in May.

It's Tax Day...

...and we're due for a photo update!  Check out the Coming Soon page for lots of new photos of 31 N. 9th St and 1207 Bushkill St.  Both homes are really taking shape!

"Like" us on Facebook!

Search for "Lehigh Valley Community Land Trust," or click through to follow this link!

Mid-Construction Walk-Throughs for Easton Homes

We've added some new mid-construction walk-through videos of 31 N. 9th St and 1207 Bushkill St to the Coming Soon page.

Media Coverage: The Express-Times and Channel 69!

Our press event this past Friday was covered by The Express-Times and Channel 69 WFMZ!  Thanks to both for their coverage.

Read the article from The Express-Times.  Thanks to Sarah Wojcik!

Watch the segment from the Channel 69 News.

Press Event: Fri. 3/30, noon, 512 Cherokee St - Please join us!

We will be holding a press event to celebrate our first homeowners at noon this Friday (3/30) at 512 Cherokee St, and we hope you can join us! The news release follows.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE            March 28, 2012

Contact: Justin Collins
(484) 893-1061
jcollins@caclv.org
http://www.lvclt.org/

Lehigh Valley Community Land Trust

to celebrate first homebuyers March 30

(BETHLEHEM, PA) – Lehigh Valley Community Land Trust (LVCLT) will announce the sale of its first homes and introduce its first homebuyer during a press conference at noon on March 30 at 512 Cherokee St. in Bethlehem. The very first homebuyer, Jessica McGinley, recently purchased a home with help from LVCLT. Tours of the completed Cherokee Street home as well as a home slated for renovation next door will be available.

LVCLT purchases properties, renovates the homes, and sells them to income-qualified applicants. A qualified homebuyer purchases a home with as little as $1,800 down and monthly mortgage payments comparable to local fair market rents.

“I never thought I would own a home this early in life,” McGinley said. “I love my house. We can’t allow this to be a secret anymore!”

Unlike conventional models of homeownership, LVCLT ensures that homes remain affordable to future generations of homebuyers. LVCLT also provides support to existing homebuyers before and after the home purchase.

Founded in 2009, LVCLT has renovated six homes and sold three. Over the next year, LVCLT will be selling at least six additional homes in the Lehigh Valley. LVCLT is a nonprofit subsidiary of Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley.

SOLD: 323 Walnut St, Catasauqua!

LVCLT closed on 323 Walnut St in Catasauqua this morning.  Congratulations to our new homeowners!

We now have homeowners in all three communities where we listed homes for sale: South Bethlehem, Wilson, and Catasauqua.  More great LVCLT homes are currently on the market in South Bethlehem and Wilson Borough, with homes currently under construction in Easton.  Contact us to find out how you could become the next LVCLT homeowner!

Photo Update

More new photos of 31 N. 9th St and 1207 Bushkill St have been added to the Coming Soon page.

Even More New Photos

31 N. 9th St and 1207 Bushkill St have been progressing well. Plumbing and electrical rough-ins are being installed at both homes. Check out one of the largest photo updates so far on the Coming Soon page.

Rough-ins and New Photos!

Both 31 N. 9th St and 1207 Bushkill St have recently received some plumbing rough-ins, and 31 N. 9th St received some electrical rough-ins. We added photos of the progress to the slideshows on the Coming Soon page!

New Photos

We've added lots of new photos of the renovations to 31 N. 9th St and 1207 Bushkill St. Check them out on the Coming Soon page.

31 N. 9th St - More New Photos

LVCLT staff visited 31 N. 9th St today, and added more new photos to the slideshow. Check them out on the "Coming Soon" page.

New Photos - 31 N. 9th St and 1207 Bushkill St

We've posted some new photos of the renovations to 31 N. 9th St and 1207 Bushkill St on our "Coming Soon" page.

31 N. 9th St: New Construction Article from 1894

We're afraid "Latest News" is a somewhat inaccurate name for this post!  This report on the construction of 31 N. 9th St, and the other homes on its block, ran in the Easton Daily Express (the predecessor to the Express-Times) on Monday, February 5, 1894, when the home was newly built!

“Twenty-Two New Houses: Details of a Great Improvement
Nearing Completion on North Ninth Street”

Many new dwelling homes were erected in Easton during the past year, but nowhere has the improvement been more conspicuous than on North Ninth street, within a stone throw of Northampton street, where 22 pretty, comfortable dwellings have about completed. The homes were planned and started by the late Samuel Drake; they were continued by the estate, under the supervision of Albert Rute.

Thirteen of these new houses are on the west side of the street; the other nine are on the east side, directly opposite, and occupy a site made desirable only after thousands of loads of earth has been carted there to fill up a steep grade.

The houses all have pressed brick fronts, of a Netherlandish style of architecture, running to a peak on the third story with designs of steps or gentle slopes, each producing a pretty effect.

The houses on the west side of the street and all on the east side, with the single exception of that at the north end, have a frontage each of 16 feet six inches and a depth of 48 feet. And all are finished alike. The front doors are of the old-style “Dutch double barn-door pattern,” a novelty that is attracting no little admiration.

These doors are of oak and are separated in the centre, allowing the lower half to be closed and fastened while the upper half can be swung open during the Summer for additional ventilation, etc. In the centre of the upper portion of the door is a large plate glass, protected by a grill or iron screen.

The front door opens into a hallway of comfortable dimensions, from which an open stairway leads to the second floor. On the first floor a cosy parlor occupies the front, back of which is the dining-room. The kitchen, in the rear, is fitted up with a range, from which the ashes drop in a brick pit in the cellar.

On the second floor is a sitting-room (front), two bed-rooms, and a bath-room. The third floor is occupied by two bed-rooms and a storage room. Each home has a front and rear stairway. The homes are supplied with arrangements for hot and cold water, and during the Winter each room is heated either from the kitchen range or from furnaces in the cellars.

The interior of the dwellings are finished with oiled white pine and have white-coated walls and ceilings. Each house has a closet in every room except the parlor.

The dwelling on the north end of the east row is not quite so deep as the others, but is several feet wider and has a bay window on the north side on the first and second floors.

Each house has a front porch 8 feet deep, extending the full width of the dwelling, and a 6 foot porch the entire width of the house in the rear. The porches are all covered.

The porches in front of the houses on the east side are even with the building line of the street; those on the west side are back 12 feet from the building line and will have front grass patches leading up to the pavements.

The houses will be completed by the last of February and ready for occupancy early March.
----
See the Express-Times' (much) more recent article on this home, from December 2011!

Hear all the LVCLT radio ads!

Click through to listen to all four versions of the LVCLT commercial currently running on B104. Be sure to tune into 104.1 FM to hear them on-air!

Click through to hear LVCLT on B104!

Relocate With Your Refund

Your tax refund could serve as your down payment on a beautifully renovated, built-to-last LVCLT Home. Visit RelocateWithYourRefund.com to learn more!

LVCLT to Advertise on B104!

LVCLT will be advertising on B104 (104.1 FM) for the next 3 months, starting the week of January 16. Tune in to hear about some great homes along with your favorite hits!

Work is Underway at 1207 Bushkill St!

Work has now started at 1207 Bushkill St in Easton's West Ward!  We have added our first photos of the renovations to this home, along with a few new photos of the renovations to 31 N. 9th St, to the Coming Soon page.

Income Limits Updated for 2012

The income limits to purchase an LVCLT home have risen slightly for 2012. You can find the new numbers here.