The Public Opinion Soapbox

Amatrine · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 25

We have a realtor. through remax. What is a one deep school? Never heard that term. If we want to stay with a single home and not an attached, there only about 13 listings in our price, I have searched all the real estate sites for the area. There is anthother house that looks nice but its on south main, comming into town, and I imagine that is a real busy area, but it does have a fenced yard, ( We have cats need fenced so dogs dont chase them) and it also has a double garage. I worry about homes that have street parking, as I am disabled, and would not be able to walk far if I had to park far.

Ama

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 3093 Location: Chambersburg

One deep school means they have one class and one teacher per grade. Sharpe is an old school. No cafeteria, the kids eat lunch in their classroom, they have quite a few 15 minute recesses each day. Hardwood flooring with old tennis balls covering the desk chair feet. They just added a security door with a camera so visitors have to buzzed in. 3rd and 5th grade are on the second level. I like the teachers. The school is half-day kindergarten through 5th grade then all kids go on to CAMS and then I *think* at the appropriate grade level some CAMS students are sent to Faust before everyone meets back up at CASHS. I know they plan to build a rather large elementary school in the next few years and Sharpe will be closed.

We went with a single family home, as well. I don't see the appeal of half houses, unless you purchase both halves and return it to a whole house. I guess you could also rent the other half to help with mortgage, but I don't share well. Very Happy

If I'm not mistaken, South Main is rather busy. As far as parking goes, you can actually have a disabled parking sign put right in front of your home if you have street parking. From what I understand, it is quite simple and you do not have to pay out-of-pocket. I'm not sure if you would contact to municipals or PennDOT. That's one way to reserve your spot, eh? Very Happy

We've lived here almost 4 years; I don't know nearly as much as I should about the area, but I'll help you any way I can.
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Nevermind.

Amatrine · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 25

Wow, thanks so much. Security cameras, is that considered a bad area?

My daughter is a picky eater, so I pack her lunch or she won't eat at school, I have learned, this way I know she eats, so that does not bother me, but the quality of education and safety does.

Being chronically ill, limits the amount we can get financed, as only my husband works, but he does not do too bad. I will probably try to start a web design business from home for something to do up there, I do that on the side here. The house on king, is rather large around 2500 square feet, and just needs the siding painted, it looks good from photos but we will fly up in 7 weeks.

I am used to living in a single home , so I think it would be too hard for me to adjust living in a shared. It would feel more like a condo to me.

I also love the older homes, so thats a plus for me. There is house on Queen street that I like, that I did not consider beacause of the parking, but if they have some kind of permit, that may be ok. Sometimes I use a walker, so that piece of mind wouldnt be so bad .

Wendy

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 3093 Location: Chambersburg

Amatrine · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 25

Thankyou:) Yeah I rememeber the days when I was embarresed to use the electric carts at the grocery store, but now I do not give it a second thought.

Ama

Amatrine · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 25

Ooops I messed up, the other property that has the front of the house parking is on Catherine street, not queen.

Ama

Me!!!!!!!! · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 306

Depends where at on Catherine. Some parts are better than others.

Amatrine · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 25

I just did a search of the area school, the king street house that I really liked is only two blocks from king elementary, and it has 85 percent of the students on state lunch program, so not a good sign. I guess that one is out. I did just find on the list a beutiful property in carslile, but it is a small
two bedroom, but the poperty it is on is wonderful! A half acre. Mabey I should do something like that. Would be cramped but could add on later.

Wendy

Me!!!!!!!! · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 306

Yes, king street school is probably more hispanics than others. They actually teach English as a second language there. But they are also closing that school and building another one for students and other students (mb sharpe ect) ,so it may not be that bad. Carlisle has alot more unique shops and better shopping but has Dickenson college also.
I hope that helps in your hunt. Do you have family members here?

Amatrine · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 25

I have an Aunt and Cousin in Northern PA and My parents are retitring to Northern PA in two years. I just figure that if the school there is primary hispanic, then the neihborhood is to, mabey Im wrong.

I wouldnt mind a manufactured home on some land, but I do not know of any mortagage companies that would fincance that, which is too bad because they make them nice these days.

We are on a aproval of only 120k, so our choices are very limited. If we cant find something where my daughter is in a good school, and we feel safe, that it may not be wise for us to move at all.

Its too bad, just 7 years ago we bought a house in NM, for 110k, that
was very nice on an acre, had a pool, and overlooked Albuquerque. When I got pregnant, we moved to Arizona, and broke even on sale. Now that same house is worth 240k. It just kills me.

I really like the land in Carslile, but the house is only 900sf, and the second bedroom is an attic, and I think I would die of clausterphobia, lol.
Though the land is perfect and pretty with the most beautiful view. Oh, I dont know. Mabey something else will come up.

wendy

Bobo · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 173 Location: Chambersburg

The part of King Street within two blocks of King Street Elementary is not a very good neighborhood. Avoid South Main Street at all costs. As for Catherine, as someone else said, it depends on what part of Catherine but I bet it's the not-so-nice area.

It sounds like your price range is going to make getting into a good neighborhood a real challenge. All the neighborhoods you've mentioned so far are not very good. You might find something better in one of Chambersburg's "suburbs" - Fayetteville, St. Thomas, Greenvillage, etc.

Good luck.
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The sun, the moon and the stars would have disappeared long ago... had they happened to be within the reach of predatory human hands. ~Havelock Ellis, The Dance of Life, 1923

anonymous_coward · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 577

Amatrine · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 25

Wow. I thought it was only a problem out here in the west where people cant speak english. I guess it is everywhere. This is crazy . Out here you can not go to a mcdonalds half the time and get someone to take your order that speaks English. Dont get me wrong, nothing wrong with immigration. Its when you immigrate here and decide you do not want to learn the language or integrate into the culture.

Yeah, I think I may have to go with a smaller property, outside of town, and when I get some equity, expand it or something. I want my daughter to have the same quality of school she does now, so that is going to be most important. And I really can fall in love with some of the views on a couple of those properties. I just wonder about snow removal on the outskirts. I told my husband that, and he said no problem, Ill get a shovel. He has never been back East and I laughed and said no shovel,
try a small snow plow,lol

Ama

Amatrine · Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 25

Here is the area on Catherine: Main Street South To Catherine, Turn Right, Property On Left

The home has just been remodeled.

Wendy

Ret-Fed · Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 6

Forget that house. It's behind a corner tavern and hotspot for drug deals !