I have heard that buying a house is like having a baby: there's no absolute perfect time to do either.

In my opinion there are two major questions to ask yourself when considering purchasing a home.  The first question asks “Is it a good time to buy in the market?”  This question looks solely at the market data and does not depend on you.  The second question is the more important one and asks “Is it a good time to buy for me?”  This question has nothing to do with the market overall and looks at whether now is a good time to buy for you and your family given your current situation and expected future.  Since I can’t really address the second question in this article I’m going to focus more on the first one.  If we can determine the market is providing…

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The Baker's Table is the most recent addition to the Baldwin family's community at Urban Place.  Hospitality is the focus for this team that brings you exquisite dining at Cork & Cap Restaurant and memorable stays at Cork Factory Hotel and is proud to invite you to gather around their table.  The Baker's Table is more than just a bakery, with a unique blend of history, food, and baking classes you are sure to find this a memorable place worth visiting.  In fact the executive chef from Cork & Cap, Tammy Hurley, also runs the show at the Baker's Table.  

Like Urban Place, The Baker's Table is a blend of the old and the new, the refined and the simple, the hearty and the delicate. Antique tools for baking are artfully arranged around the space--a gesture…

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For those of you who are looking for different ideas of things to do in Lancaster City the First Friday Events are a must.  The bustling of the busy streets, impromptu playing of outside city pianos, art exhibitions, and entertainment on every street make for a great time.  The last time my wife and I were there we commented that on King St near the Marriot it almost felt like a big city almost, dare I say, Philadelphia??!?  It's great to witness a city grow and attract many local and non local guests with art, innovative exhibitions, and performances.  The First Friday event happens, as you might guess, the first friday of every month year round.

A great place to find entertainment, excitement, and an inspiring design atmosphere is at Tellus360.…

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If you're looking for a great spot to grab coffee or a tasty bite to eat I would highly recommend Cafe One Eight in Lancaster City on 18 W Orange Street.  I recently ate here for a business lunch and found it to be quite pleasant...and busy.  The space is quaint so the place was full and active but the atmosphere was quite and comfortable.  I enjoyed that my conversation wasn't overcome by music in the background or coffee making machines.  The owners did a great job creating a friendly and inviting environment combined with great food and even better coffee.  If you find it tasting right up there with Square One coffee then you won't be surprised to know the coffee is roasted from there.  This time I got the Kenya Matetani coffee in a mug and would…

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If you are like me and live in Lancaster, Pa than you are probably also excited by what Lancaster County Central Park has to offer.  Conveniently located just south of Lancaster City in the middle of the county (Central Park) it is accessible for everyone in the area.  The park boasts 544 acres making it the largest park in the County.  The Conestoga River creates the northern boundary with entrances off of Chesapeake St and Rt 222 on the south side of the city at Meadia Heights Golf Course.  

So what exactly does the park offer?  An Environmental Center and library, a Garden of Five Senses, Garden Plot Rentals, a Camping Area, Pavilions, Swimming Pool, Skate Park, and a Wedding Venue to name a few!

My wife and I tried, for the first time, renting a…

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Come take a look at this beautiful home in Sweetbriar Creek! This 3211 sq ft home features a 10 ft island w/ granite countertops, hardwood floors, 42" cabinents, 4 bedrooms with 5 walk in closets, and an incredible master bathroom with 2 vanities and a Roman tiled walk in shower. 

You can find more information about this home here: 

6136 Bayberry Ave Manheim, PA

You can also take a look at more homes in Sweetbriar Creek here: 

Sweetbriar Creek Homes for Sale 

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As noted in Part 1, this post originally appeared on our blog in April 2010.

As I mentioned in my first post, I am fond of Strasburg and would recommend anyone to go there to experience it's small town charm. My first post gave three places to see on your trip to Strasburg and in this post I will show you two more. Enjoy!

4. Village Greens Miniature Golf

Village Greens Miniature Golf Village Greens

A miniature golf course? Yes of course! Anyone who has had the opportunity to go to Village Greens knows that it is a beautiful course that is fun for the whole family. A place that has been voted the best miniature golf course in Lancaster County for 5 straight years! Struggle on the course? Well you can forget your troubles with some fresh milkshakes, homemade ice cream…

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This post originally appeared on my blog in April 2010

Strasburg, Pennsylvania is, to me, one of the most beautiful parts of the country. The rolling hills and the laid back people make it a great place to visit and an even more wonderful place to live. Having grown up in Strasburg, I think I have at least a little idea of what's fun to see in Strasburg. So here we go:

1: "The Strasburg Railroad"

The Strasburg Railroad The Strasburg Railroad

Any post about Strasburg would be lacking without a mention of the Strasburg Railroad. What's the big deal about a train you say? Well, this is no ordinary train ride. It is a trip that will take you back in time, through Southern Lancaster county's beautiful countryside. You get to witness working farms and hear from a…

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There's a brand new restaurant in Lancaster County located in Mill Creek Square near The Outlets. Noodles & Company is a 'fast casual' type restuarant similar to a Panera or Chipotle meaning it's a step up from a fast food restuarant like McDonalds, but not quite a full service restaurant. 

I checked Noodles & Co out last week and really enjoyed the visit. There are plenty of options for any appetite and the options can easily be customized. I was also impressed by the great customer service, although the prices were a little higher than I would like to pay for that type of dining environment, but I have similar complaints at Panera Bread. 

So, if you are looking for some place new to eat in Lancaster County, go check it out and let me know what you…

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In a previous blog post, I wrote about "What is a Short Sale". You can easily spot these short sales in Lancaster County by using the advanced real estate search tools available on our website. For your convenience, I’ve even included a few short sales at the bottom of this blog post.

If you would like to search for short sales, or if you would like to exclude them, the easiest place to start is the real estate search page.  Along the right hand side of the page (picture included below), there is a drop down list where you can easily select to search exclusively for short sales, or exclude them entirely.

If you are unsure if a property is a short sale, most times it will be indicated directly on the listing information (picture below).

If…

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