Restaurant Week is the perfect opportunity for everyone in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas to take advantage of the new eateries and old favorites alike in the area.

During Bethlehem Restaurant Week, each time you dine at a participating restaurant you will receive  a “Restaurant Week Contest Slip”.  Each time you dine out off of a Restaurant Week menu (max 3 times daily), fill out the contest slip given to you by your server.  Just give that slip back to the waiter and you are automatically entered into the contest.  You can enter up to a total of 21 times for the week!  At the end of Restaurant Week, 5 winners will be chosen and will win a gift certificate for TWO to EVERY Restaurant involved in Restaurant Week!

Here is the full list of restaurants to visit during this tasty winter week:

1741 On the Terrace

Apollo Grill

Blue Grillhouse & Wine Bar

Cactus Blue Mexican Restaurant

Confetti Cafe

Emeril’s Chop House

Emeril’s Italian Table

Loopers Grille & Bar

Mama Nina’s Foccacheria

The Melting Pot

Petra Mediterranean

St. James Gate

Starters Riverport

Alando

Bethlehem Brew Works

Burgers and More by Emeril

Carnegie Deli

Edge

Hello Burrito

Jumbars

McCarthy’s Tea Room

Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub (website not available)

Sotto Santi Pizzeria

Starfish Brasserie

The Tap Room

Prime Steak House

Horns

The Wooden Match

Malto Pazzo

Retro Deli

Yianni’s Taverna

Tapas on Main

Visit any or all of these 32 restaurants to show your support of Bethlehem City and enter for your chance to win gift certificates!  What an amazing way to bring a community together with fun and food!

What’s your favorite Bethlehem restaurant?

Contact Barb Bottitta for any and all of your Lehigh Valley area questions, as well as real estate needs, as I am always happy to help in any way that I can!  You can also connect with me on my Facebook Page for events and happenings in the Lehigh Valley area, as well as home ownership tips, real estate market updates, and so much more!

Changes in Home Design Trends for 2012

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As we welcome in 2012,  I wanted to take a look at some of the newest design trends that we are seeing when it comes to home style and decor.  Many people are focused on renovating their existing home or buying a more energy-efficient home, so there is no surprise that some of these trends follow suit.

The first trend I want to talk about is the formal family room.  More people are interested in making sure that the family room is open, spacious and able to encourage family gatherings.  With people focused on spending more time with family after a long day at work, it’s no surprise that more home buyers are leaning toward creating these spacious areas where the family can be together whether they’re watching television or eating dinner.

Having an open family room also allows for people to feel like they have more space to entertain and hang out with family if they cannot afford to have a second level or a basement area.

Another change in home décor for 2012 is the replacement of soaker tubs with steam showers.  People are focused on having showcase bathrooms, so they are removing the soaker tubs to allow for space to have a steam shower installed.

Finally, another home décor item that we are seeing go out the window is the two story foyer.  We all know that two story foyers of been very popular for several years, but more people are seeing them as a waste of space.  They are also not very energy-efficient in most cases.

Instead, people are opting to have drop zones where they can easily put their coats, boots and umbrellas.  People are looking for more functional spaces rather than areas that look pretty but cost a lot of money to heat and cool.  Instead, people would rather have that extra space upstairs than a two story foyer.

Please make sure to e-mail or call me if you have any questions about the real estate market.  I’m always here to help and love to receive your referrals of family and friends!

There are many great Lehigh Valley homes for sale. Click here to perform full home search, or if you’re thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today’s market. You may also call me at (610) 398-8408 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions. You can also connect with me on our Facebook Page.

Introducing my Real Estate Video Blog – This real estate video tip is the eighth in a series of videos I will be providing in order to help home buyers and sellers become as informed about real estate as possible. It is my goal to help you have the best home buying or selling experience, so if you liked this video, you can sign up to receive these updates right to your email inbox!

One of the newer addition’s to the event includes the SnowBlast Winter Festival Art Show and Sale at the Clock Building (320 Main Street) featuring a Lehigh Valley Jazz Ensemble and a special performance by the Emmaus High School Fermata Nowhere acapella group.

The SnowBlast Winter Festival kicks off on Friday at 5:00 pm in the Emmaus Triangle Park with family friendly activities happening all weekend.  Hang out with your family or friends bonding over the Snowman Beanbag Toss, Ring Toss and Fish Pond sponsored by Lehigh Valley Martial Arts, then taste some of the food that Lehigh Valley locals consider famous; from Armetta’s Italian Restaurant & Pub, Emmaus Lions Club and Creamery on Main, all while enjoying music by Wesley Works Entertainment.

The festivities continue on Saturday morning at 10:00 am with fireside storytelling with Martha Vines and craft making and the First Annual SnowBlast Winter Festival Community Art Project, sponsored by the Emmaus Arts Commission and Blick Art Materials.  These are just a few of the highlights you and your family have to look forward to during this activity packed annual event.

SnowBlast Winter Festival 2012 is brought to you by The Emmaus Arts Commission.  “Our sixth year celebrates the arts,” says Ellen Wilson, co-chair of the event.  “Plus, we’re offering Saturday art activities coordinated by the EAC,” says co-chair Teri Sorg-McManamon.  “Our goal is to continue the great traditions around SnowBlast and add more collaborators and artistic events throughout Emmaus.”

This family friendly event is just one of the anticipated things that happen here in the Lehigh Valley.  Take a look at some of the other annual events for a peek at why so many make the Lehigh Valley their home.

What is your favorite annual event?

Contact Barb Bottitta for any and all of your Lehigh Valley area questions, as well as real estate needs, as I am always happy to help in any way that I can!  You can also connect with me on my Facebook Page for events and happenings in the Lehigh Valley area, as well as home ownership tips, real estate market updates, and so much more!

8 Common Credit Myths Debunked

Myth: Paying on Time Guarantees a Good Score

Paying your bills on time is an important component to your credit score, but it’s not a surefire way to a perfect score, especially if you’re prone to bumping up against your credit limits before making a payment.

In addition to payment history, “credit bureaus see the balance on your last statement,” says Adrian Nazari, CEO of Credit Sesame.  If this balance is extremely high, it can negatively affect your credit utilization ratio – the amount of credit you are using versus the amount of credit you have available to you – and can cost you some points in that category.

This is why it’s a good idea to “pay [your issuer] a few days ahead of your credit card statement date,” Nazari says, which will ensure a low balance gets reported to the bureaus each month.

Myth: Carrying a Balance Helps Build Credit

The credit bureaus are privy to your payment history and the balance on your monthly credit card bill, “but they don’t know if you’re paying interest or not,” Nazari says.  This means deciding to pay the minimum each month isn’t going to do much more than cost you money, especially if you’re carrying a particularly high annual percentage rate.  The lesson?  Don’t forgo payments just to carry a balance month to month.

Myth: All Credit Scores Are the Same

Most consumers are probably familiar with the FICO scoring model, which calculates your score on a scale of 300 to 850, but the truth is there are many other credit score models available to consumers and the lenders who service them.  Pulling one or another isn’t going to guarantee that you’re going to see the same score that the lender does.

“Many of the scores calculated for and used by lenders are not available to consumers,” says Susan Papp, a spokeswoman for credit card comparison site Credit Donkey.  “Consumers unaware of the variety of scores may purchase a score believing it is their ‘true’ score and when in reality the score that lenders are seeing is quite different.“

This is why it is important to pay more attention to the information on your credit report (as opposed to its accompanying score) and the risk level that the service you are using to view the information assigns you.

Myth: Your Income Affects Your Score

People tend to assume that the more money they make, the higher their credit score will be, but that’s not the case.  While it’s true your income may affect your ability to pay your bills on time, it has no bearing on your credit score, Albary says.

Your income can, however, influence a lender’s decision to approve you for a loan.  This is because lenders often compare the income you’ve listed on your application to the debts listed on your credit report in an attempt to judge your ability to make monthly payments.

Myth: You Should Cut Up the Cards You Don’t Use

Those who have accumulated significant debt may be inclined to close credit card accounts as they pay them down, but doing so may hurt your score – in a few ways.

“You risk lowering your credit utilization ratio,” Nazari says.  Instead of cutting up unused cards if customers consistently bump up against their credit limits, Nazari adds, it is better to keep your cards open and restrict use to one or two small payments a year to keep your utilization ratio intact and your payment history stellar.

Myth: Using Only Cash Will Help Your Score

Sorry to break it to you, but consumers have to use credit to build credit.  Credit scores are a way for lenders to predict whether you will pay back money you’ve borrowed, and one of the best ways to demonstrate your creditworthiness is to show you’ve paid off some type of debt before.  Sticking to cash only may seem like the responsible thing to do, but it won’t help you establish a payment history with lenders.  This can be problematic when you need to buy a big-ticket item such as a car or house.

“If you don’t have or use credit, you may have no credit history at all, and if you do, your credit score won’t be as good as someone who consistently demonstrates responsible use of credit over time,” Albary says.

Myth: A Store Card Will Boost Your Score

If you’re looking to build credit, you’re better off adding a card backed by a major credit card issuer than a store card being advertised at the point of purchase.  While credit bureaus don’t award extra points for taking out a line of credit from a big bank, store cards typically have lower limits than traditional credit cards, Nazari says.  This can lead to a higher utilization ratio if it’s among one of the only cards you have in your arsenal.

Myth: Paying Off Debt Will Instantly Change Your Score

Getting up to date on delinquent accounts is certainly a good idea, but a score of 580 isn’t going to turn into a 700 overnight no matter what you do.

“Negative information on your credit report that is accurate can only be removed over time,” Papp says.  “For example, credit delinquencies will stay on your credit report for seven years and bankruptcy information will stay on your credit report for 10 years.”

We hope this article helps you to better understand the confusing world of credit.  What questions do you still have?  How can we help you to better your credit score if you are hoping to purchase a home in 2012?

Contact Barb Bottitta for any and all of your Lehigh Valley area questions, as well as real estate needs, as I am always happy to help in any way that I can!  You can also connect with me on my Facebook Page for events and happenings in the Lehigh Valley area, as well as home ownership tips, real estate market updates, and so much more!

Original Article from YahooFinance, written by Jeanine Skowronski

1. This first suggestion isn’t really educational, but it sure is fun (if there is snow on the ground) – SLEDDING!

• There are a variety of places to sled in the Lehigh Valley from Allentown to Easton and everywhere in between. Whether you have very young children or teenagers, sledding is fun for the whole family! Be sure to stay safe, drink plenty of water, and let us know if you find a great place that’s not on our list.

2. Head to the Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown.

• This educational but so much fun place promotes curiosity, creativity, and imagination in children of all ages. With events like a toy design challenge and ice cream wars, your children will thank you for such an awesome day!

3. Stay in and have a cold weather craft day.

• Have fun with your little ones by making snowflakes, sparkling ice crystals, 3-D crafts or book blankets! Disney family fun knows how to make sure you and your kids have a great winter day.

4. Take the kids skiing or snow tubing!

• There are a surprising number of places to ski near the Lehigh Valley, like Bear Creek and Blue Mountain. You can even make a day of skiing educational by counting the number of other skiers or learning how the fake snow is made!

5. Visit the Crayola Factory at Two Rivers Landing.

• You can color, draw, paint and create with the latest Crayola products without the worry of cleanup afterwards. Each creative space invites you to play and explore while learning and having lots and lots of fun. See how Crayola Crayons and Markers are made. Learn about the history of the Crayola brand. Explore dozens of interactive projects and activities. Most importantly enjoy a day with the family while learning!

The things you can do with your kids on a day off school in the Lehigh Valley are endless, these are just a few. What are your favorite things to do to spend the day with your children?

Contact Barb Bottitta for any and all of your Lehigh Valley area questions, as well as real estate needs, as I am always happy to help in any way that I can! You can also connect with me on my Facebook Page.

While I don’t think Valley prices have hit bottom yet, I think we are very close!  Based on the Real Estate information I’ve seen recently, the 2012 predictions are for a 3-4% decline in home prices nationally compared to the 9% decline we experienced last year.  The LV average sales price was $182,000 for November, down approximately 12% from $200,000 last November.

Nationally, home sales were up a little over 12% while Lehigh Valley sales were up a little over 13% (seasonally adjusted).  Realtors are being told that more foreclosures will hit our local market in the 2nd quarter of 2012.  Since these distressed sales usually sell below market value, it remains to be seen if this might be a wildcard
effecting local sales.  If you or anyone you know has any real estate needs or questions, please contact me and my team of LV Home Experts.

GET SURPRISING INSIGHTS INTO THE MIND OF A HOME BUYER BY WATCHING THIS MONTH’S VIDEO:

Interest Rates
Mortgage rates continued to push historic lows in November, dropping another .08 points, to 3.99% for a 30-year fixed mortgage.  “Rates on 30-year fixed mortgages have been at or below 4 percent for the last eight weeks and now are almost 0.9 percentage points below where they were at the beginning of the year, which means that today’s home buyers are paying over $1,200 less per year on a $200,000 loan,” said Frank Nothaft, Vice President of Freddie Mac.

Home Sales
Sales among existing homes rose in November by a seasonally adjusted 4%, to 4.42 million units up from 4.25 million in October, and are 12.2 percent above last year at this time.  Lawrence Yun, chief economist for NAR said, “Sales reached the highest mark in 10 months and are 34 percent above the cyclical low point in mid-2010 – a genuine sustained sales recovery appears to be developing.”

Home Price
While median home prices in November rose to $164,200 from $162,500 in October, they are down 3.5% from a year ago.  David Stiff, chief economist at Fiserv, stated, “Housing affordability has improved dramatically because of declines in both prices and mortgage interest rates.  The monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced single-family home is now $700, compared to $1,140 in 2006—a decline of nearly 40%.” (Based on 2011 Q2 figures)

Inventory
With increased levels of sales, the inventory of homes on the market continued to decrease, falling by 5.8% in November to 2.58 million homes available for sale, or an equivalent of a seven month supply at the current sales pace.  This positive sign of increasing sales and lower inventories are keeping the housing market on track for stabilizing home prices and a stronger housing sector.

Buyer/Seller Tip
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to sell your home, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Although the traditional home-buying season starts in the spring, here are some reasons why listing your home now, rather than waiting, could prove to be a smart decision.

On average, the number of home sales in January drops almost by half from the previous year’s peak.  A house that is priced right and staged well will stand out even more with less competition.

Lenders, home inspectors, movers, and other vendors also see a seasonal dip in transactions.  This could mean a quicker, easier, and possibly cheaper time to buy, sell, and move.

Even if you’re not ready quite yet, now is a great time to start the conversation with your local real estate agent.  He or she can give you pointers on which repairs and preparations to tackle first, and which ones may not be necessary, saving you time and money.  Starting now can help you capture the most buyers by busy season.

Contact Barb Bottitta for any and all of your Lehigh Valley area questions, as well as real estate needs, as I am always happy to help in any way that I can!  You can also connect with me on my Facebook Page.

Baron worked for many years doing technical support for a national company (connected to Victoria’s Secret), but has been living and working in Allentown for the last 4-5 yrs.  He has a great sense of humor, as evidenced by his extraterrestrial website (“Welcome earthling“) and loves a technical challenge.  With more than 25 years of extensive computer experience, he makes it work for you or you pay nothing!

One of the best things about Baron is that he offers a free diagnosis and repair estimate for your laptop or desktop computer and can also help with any and all of your home office or small network questions.  Baron loves to “talk computers” and has always been more than happy to do everything he can to make it easy to accomplish what you want done.

Most repairs are completed within 24 hours, unless repair parts are required (shipping times may vary), and get this – ALL parts are billed to you at cost!  Baron’s PC Repair offers services including system scan, data recovery, fresh Windows install and hardware install, as well as IN-HOME services including hardware installation, network configuration, and training.

In order to help you in every way possible, a how-to page is provided on the website, www.area51pcrepair.com, complete with answers to common questions and handy self-help guides.  The how-to page also includes an extensive list of shortcuts and frequently asked questions.

If you need any computer help at all, Baron Sims is just a phone call or an email away!  You can call him at 484-866-6155 or email him at support@area51pcrepair.com.  We couldn’t be happier with his services and will continue to recommend him!

What tech gadgets did you get for Christmas this year?

Contact Barb Bottitta for any and all of your Lehigh Valley area questions, as well as real estate needs, as I am always happy to help in any way that I can!  You can also connect with my team on our Facebook Page.

Allentown started as just a small village along Trout Creek and has grown to become the third largest city in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  With changes happening daily to improve everything about the city, Allentown will continue to grow and evolve, making it one of the more sought after locations to live.

To commemorate Allentown’s semiquincentennial, there will be a few changes during 2012, some of which have already begun.  The first new construction project will be a 200,000-square-foot Class A office and retail building with connected parking on 7th Street between Hamilton and Walnut Streets.  This announcement was made by Jim Harbaugh, executive vice president and COO of City Center Lehigh Valley.

“City Center offers tenants the opportunity to join a unique and vibrant urban community complemented by Allentown’s new arena, great restaurants and green spaces, not to mention easy access to Philadelphia, New York City and the area’s major roadways.  We don’t believe anyone can offer more quality or excitement at such competitive rates,” said Harbaugh.

Another exciting development in the city of Allentown is the addition of an 8,500-seat hockey arena that is expected to be home to the Flyers’ minor league affiliate, the Phantoms, as early as September 2013.  Demolition has already begun at Linden and Hall Streets with the hope to have the entire block at Hamilton and Seventh streets ready for arena construction to begin as early as February.

Lehigh County will celebrate its Bicentennial on March 6, 2012 with a variety of ways to celebrate!  A one-day community celebration will take place on March 10th at the Allentown Fairgrounds Agri-Plex facility, involving community groups, churches, youth organizations and historical societies with displays, exhibits and cultural entertainment on the county’s rich history, and will also include a variety of ethnic foods and beverages.

There will also be fireworks, a parade, and entertainment, as organizers expect it to be a star studded event!  The Bicentennial Committee will launch a Lehigh County Hall of Fame, inducting a class of living honorees who either were born, worked, or lived at one time in Lehigh County.

Join us while our commemoration marks the 200th anniversary of the creation of Lehigh County, as the celebration will be very much about today – and the bright future that tomorrow holds for our residents.

What an amazing way to ring in the start of a brand new year – both the 250th anniversary of Allentown and the 200th anniversary of Lehigh County!  It’s going to be a great 2012!

Do you know anyone who will be inducted into the Lehigh County Hall of Fame?

Contact Barb Bottitta for any and all of your Lehigh Valley area questions, as well as real estate needs, as I am always happy to help in any way that I can!  You can also connect with my team on our Facebook Page.