Month: September 2013

Things To Do Near State College, Pennsylvania – October 2013

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Looking for something to do in State College, Pennsylvania?

Check out the upcoming events in October…

State College Farmers Market

When: October 1st – October 29th [1130am-530pm]

Where: Locust Lane, Downtown, State College

Price: FREE

What: A producer only Farmers Market featuring 14 vendors selling fresh produce, meats, dairy products, baked goods, soaps, flowers, crafts, perennial, annual, herb, and houseplants, and more.

For more information click here!

 

Beaver Stadium Tours – Parents & Family Weekend

When: October 4th – October 6th [Fri. 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM; Sat. 11:00 AM. 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM & Sun 9:00 AM , 11:00 AM]

Where: Penn State All-Sports Museum

Price: $15 for adults, $10 for Museum friends, students, children, and seniors

What: The Penn State All-Sports Museum has announced its Beaver Stadium tour schedule, which includes Alumni Weekend, Arts Fest weekend and Parents Weekend. Beaver Stadium tours include the media room, home locker room, tunnel and field, as well as recruiting and club areas.

For more information click here!

 

Penn’s Cave Flashlight Tours

When: October 4th – October 25th [6pm]

Where: Penn’s Cave

Price: Reservations are not required, but are recommended.

What:  We’re excited to offer our NEW “Friday Fall Flashlight Tour” of Penn’s Cave (this will replace our Halloween Glow Tour), which will be offered every Friday evening in October at 6:00 p.m. (Beginning October 4th).  This tour will include a ride out onto Lake Nittanee (weather permitting).

For more information click here!

 

Cycle-Thon & 5K

When: October 5th [10am]

Where: Chambers Building

Price: $15-25

What: The College of Education at Penn State University is organizing a Cycle-Thon and 5k Run/Walk to benefit our Summer College Opportunity Program in Education (SCOPE). This is Cycle-Thon’s seventh year and all proceeds go to the SCOPE program. The 5k and 9 mile bike race will start and end at Chambers Building at University Park campus. We hope to see you there!

For more information click here!

 

Oktoberfest

When: October 4th – October 5th [Friday from 1 pm to 11 pm and Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm]

Where: VFW Carnival Grounds

Price: FREE
What: Mifflinburg’s Oktoberfest will begin Friday, October 4 with a Volksmarch at noon with the festival officially opening at 1 pm lasting until 11 pm. Saturday, October 5, Oktoberfest will be from 11 am to 10 pm. German beer, German style wine, German food and American festival favorites, German dancing and music and competitions. See website for schedule of events.

For more information click here!

 

Lincoln Caverns 30th Annual Haunted Cave & Trail

When: October 4th – October 26th [Fridays 6:00pm – 10:00pm & Saturdays 11:00 am – 10:00 pm]

Where: Lincoln Caverns

What:  With 26 years of haunted tour experience and expertise behind them, Lincoln Caverns and Whisper Rocks, near Huntingdon, is busy with preparations for their 30th Annual Ghosts & Goblins Tours.  “Pennsylvania’s most unique haunted house and trail” provides scares, laughs, and even some cave education to thousands of visitors each year.

For more information click here!

Penn State Vs Michigan

When: Saturday October 12th 5PM


Where: Beaver Stadium, University Park PA

CRPR Scarecrow – STUFF IT!

When: Sunday October 20th 2PM

Where: Millbrook Marsh Nature Center

Price: $20 Per Scarecrow

What: Gather your supplies (old clothes) and let your imaginations soar as you plan to build the best Guardian of the Garden! We provide straw, string and bags only; you provide the rest! Bring your crew & create your scarecrow. Event rules: (to be posted)
• Entry Fee: $20 per scarecrow. All proceeds will benefit the nature center.
• Each team leader should pre-register their family, company or group:
Program #34030 by 5 PM on Fri. Oct. 11. Registration Options
• Held in the Picnic Pavilion area at MMNC.
• Open to all ages! Spectators are also welcomed!
• Rain Plans: (TBA)

For more information click here!

Fall Harvest Festival Featuring Children’s Halloween Trail

When: October 26th – October 27th [10AM]

Where: Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center

What: Come celebrate autumn with Shaver’s Creek at the Fall Harvest Festival! Enjoy great music and storytelling, fun nature activities, delicious local food for sale, and the ever-popular Children’s Halloween Trail. Members may purchase tickets for the Children’s Halloween Trail beginning September 18th by calling 814-863-2000. Non-member ticket sales begin September 25th.

For more information click here!

2013 Halloween Costume Parade

When: Sunday October 27th [630PM]

Where: N Burrowes St Off W College Avenue

What:  A FREE fall family tradition . . . the 2013 Centre Region Halloween Costume Parade. Centre Region Parks & Recreation and the State College Lions Club will cosponsor the parade through downtown State College.

The parade forms on N. Burrowes St. off W. College Avenue (beside the PSU steam plant) starting at 6:30 PM with step-off promptly at 7:00 PM. Costume judging takes place at Memorial Field by the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. Treats will be provided by the S.C. Lions Club.

Please choose from one of the following costume categories: • Halloween Tiny Tots (ages 2 & under) • Cartoon Characters • Witches & Monsters • Fairy Tale Characters • Ghosts & Goblins • TV / Movie Characters • Animals on Parade • Halloween Twosome • Groups (3 or more) • Open Class. Watch for the group signs as you walk up Burrowes St., then join in!

For more information click here!

Trick Or Treat Night in the Centre Region

When: Thursday October 21st [6pm-8pm]

Where: Centre Region

What: The official Centre Region Trick-or-Treat Night is proposed for Thursday. Oct. 31, 2013 from 6-8 PM. Once approved by each municipality, this official designation will apply to the Borough of State College and the Townships of College, Ferguson, Harris and Patton. The “Trick or Treat Night” schedule is coordinated regionally and annually set by an action of each municipality.

Way Fruit Farm Fall Festival

When: October 12th & 13th [9am]

Where: Way Fruit Farm, Port Matilda PA

What: Every year Way Fruit Farm hosts a Fall Festival on the 2nd and 3rd Saturday’s of October, from 9am-4pm. The Festival is a great time to come out with family or friends and take a free wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch and pick just the pumpkin you want. There is also numerous other things to do at the festival. There is an apple slingshot, over a dozen crafters, a petting zoo and other activities to enjoy. Food is provided by a local Lions Club and baked goods including apple dumplings are available. The best part of it all is that 10% of all the earning’s on both Saturday’s will go to an orphange in the Dominican Republic. So come in join us this October in this annual tradition and have a great time with your family and friends.

For more information click here!

 

3rd Annual Fall Punkin’ Chunkin’ Festival

When: October 19th [10am-5pm]

Where: Bald Eagle State Park

Price: FREE

What: The Howard Volunteer Fire Company will hold the 3rd Annual Fall Punkin’ Chunkin” Festival on October 19,2013 at the Bald Eagle State Park, Howard, Pa.  The Festival will run from 10am to 5pm.  Planned events include food vendors, craft vendors, bands, square dancers, a pie-eating contest, hayrides and Punkin’ Chunkin’ !!!  Trebuchets will launch pumpkins through the air at speeds of nearly 100 mph!!!  The Pumpkins will try to hit targets which will be floating in the Park lake.  Free Admission…Free Parking.  Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the day!

For more information click here!

Fall Fest As Wassom Farm

When: October 12th & October 13th

Where: Wassom Farm, State College PA

What: This years Fall Fest will take place on October 12th and 13th. Come out for a day of family fun! Like in the past you can take a hayride to the pumpkin patch, navigate your way through our corn maze, sit down and enjoy a bowl of our homemade soups, and pick up a jar of apple butter to take home with you.

 

Philipsburg Harvest Fest

When: October 26th [10am-6pm]

Where: Philipsburg Towers, Front Street, Philipsburg

What: Parade at Noon, Events 10am – 6pm, Downtown Philipsburg

For more information click here!

8 Questions To Ask Your Realtor Before Selling

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Before you sell your home, there are a few things that you need to go over with your real estate agent. Selling a home is not an easy task, so it is important to make sure that you have a competent real estate agent, who is familiar with the area, and who has a good plan for marketing and selling your home. Here are eight questions to ask your real estate agent before you list your home for sale…

 

  1. Why should I list my home with you? The real estate market these days is much different than it was even 10 years ago, so it’s important to make sure that your real estate agent is competent, understands the market, and knows how to sell a home in today’s world.

  2. What is your company’s track record and reputation in the marketplace? Some of this research you can do online, but it is very important to figure out what their record is for selling homes that are comparable to yours in your area. This is a very specific piece of information that you will need to talk to an agent about. Basically, you want to find out whether or not they will be able to sell your home for a fair price.

  3. What are your marketing plans for my home? Figure out where your agent will be listing your home for sale. Top real estate listing websites such as Trulia, Zillow, and RealBird are almost a must for successful listings. Additionally, your home should be marketed by a “for sale” sign in your yard as well as in print, such as in local newspapers.

  4. On average, when your listings sell, how close is the selling price to the asking price? Again, this is specific information that you will have to get from the agent. Ask how often their homes have to undergo a price reduction before selling, and whether or not previous clients have been happy with the price their home sold for.

  5. On average, how long does it take for your listings to sell? You want to make sure that your agent can sell your home in a timely manner, or by a certain deadline if you have one (for work purposes, etc.)

  6. How many buyers are you currently working with? Typically, agents who work with buyers will have a better chance of selling your home quickly, but you want to make sure that the agent isn’t overloaded with too many clients.

  7. Do you have a reference list of clients I could contact? It is important that your agent provides you with a reference list so that you can talk to previous clients and get a good idea of what working with this agent will be like.

  8. What happens if I’m not happy with the job you are doing to get my home sold? If, for some reason, you are unhappy with the real estate agent’s attempts to sell your home, what are your contractual obligations to him or her?

Advantages To Buying A Home With Cash

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Making a cash offer on a home eliminates the need for bidding wars and gives peace of mind to the buyer and the seller. Here’s why:

If you’re in the market to buy a new home, you may have heard about some of the advantages of buying a home outright with cash. According to research by the National Association of Realtors®, almost a third of all residential sales are cash transactions and more than 70% of properties bought by investors and international buyers are cash transactions as well. So, you may be wondering, what exactly are the advantages to buying a home with cash and how can I make a cash offer?

Preparing yourself to be able to make a cash offer on a home requires patience and self-control. Follow these tips to increase your chances of being able to purchase a home with cash:

  • Set aside any unexpected money that comes in (inheritances, bonuses from work, etc.).

  • Lock your money in a long-term CD to earn interest.

  • Look for homes that you can afford with the money you have (the goal is to not have to borrow).

  • Homes outside of the city limits are likely to be cheaper-look there.

  • Manage your spending habits; don’t make impulse purchases.

  • Ask your family and friends for support and help to keep you spending smart.

Here are just some of the advantages to purchasing a property with cash:

  1. Most sellers favor buyers who can offer cash payment. Sellers don’t have to worry about a cash buyer being approved for loans, so it’s a very reliable choice for the seller. Plus, a cash transaction means a quicker and smoother sale. So, cash buyers have greater negotiating power on price, closing time, repairs, and more.

  2. Some sellers will discount the cost of the property if the buyer pays in full, upfront, with cash.

  3. When using cash, and not a loan, the home-buying process is quickened and becomes much easier for both parties. Without loans, there are no stacks of paperwork to fill out and you don’t run the risk of being delayed for approval.

  4. Cash buyers can save money on closing costs, bank appraisals, mortgage applications and fees, title insurance, and more.

  5. There is no risk of loan denial with cash purchases.

  6. Mortgage interest on a typical 30-year loan can double or even triple the original purchase price of a home. Cash buyers don’t have to pay interest on any loans, so they end up paying much less for their homes in the long run.

  7. Cash buyers are able to save valuable time by eliminating the need to search for the optimal lender (which can be hard to find) and gather the necessary documents for the lender.

  8. Cash buyers have a better sense of security about their home. Paying in full and upfront eliminates the chance of losing your home if you can’t afford to repay mortgage loans. Losing a job, becoming injured, or facing other hardships doesn’t affect the cash buyer’s sense of security-no matter what the circumstances, there is never the risk of losing the home to foreclosure.

  9. Cash buyers gain full, immediate, excellent equity in their home. In the case of any type of financial emergency, homeowners can draw on that equity for quick cash.

  10. Cash buyers are able to avoid mortgage applications, which can often prevent a buyer from being able to afford the home. This can happen when a low appraisal of the home causes the lender to reduce the loan amount offer to the buyer, making it impossible for the buyer to afford the home.

When a buyer purchases a home up front with cash, both they and the seller benefit. Financially and emotionally, cash transactions are beneficial to everyone involved in the transaction. Cash transactions save time and money and allow homeowners to be more secure in their purchase. Cash transactions can, in many cases, take away a lot of the uncertainty associated with buying and selling a home.

For more information on the advantages of buying a home with cash, read the original article from Realtor.com here.