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Pennsylvania is a state famous for its manufacturing economy and being home to the original capital of the United States. Pennsylvania real estate currently offers many deals and should be considered for investment, as the housing market (for sellers) has taken a hit. Pennsylvania stretches from the Poconos to the shores of Lake Erie on its northeastern tip and has many interesting cities and communities to offer. Following are some of the most vital. Philadelphia is the most populous city in the state; it has one and a half million people, but the city is usually lumped in with its surrounding neighborhoods and communities, which brings its overall population to about 6 million people. This city is home to a number of colleges from Drexel University to the University of Pennsylvania, the oldest university (rather than college) in the country which was founded by Ben Franklin and is a member of the “Ivy League.” Many ethnic communities, beautiful neighborhoods, and fine museums enhance this area as well. Unfortunately, Philadelphia is characterized by high crime at present, but there are still many real estate opportunities in the commercial and residential arenas. One will find that the surrounding communities are especially interesting for homebuyers and investors. It’s a “buyer’s market” to say the least—prices are coming down, as there’s a high inventory of both condominiums and homes. The second largest city in the state is Pittsburgh which boasts over 3 million people and almost 2.5 million people including the eight surrounding counties. Pittsburgh is almost synonymous with steel and manufacturing in the public eye and the city’s economic history explains this. However, has transitioned to an economy based on high technology and service industries as well. Because of the current housing situation, their real estate market is being hit pretty hard by foreclosures and a dip in housing prices. Since this region has much to offer the homeowner and investor, it can be considered a great place for bargain-hunting. Lancaster County is rather famous, even iconic, since it’s home to the Pennsylvania Dutch, or Amish, and was made especially famous by the 1985 Harrison Ford movie Witness. It also has a large Puerto Rican community and celebrates a Puerto Rican festival every year. Unfortunately, there is high unemployment in the southeastern part of town, but there are many inns and campgrounds associated with the Amish country. Lancaster has also been subject to a lot of revitalization efforts, so commercial real estate opportunities abound here. There are also incentives to help people move from public housing into private homes. To find out more, simply visit the town’s website at http://www.downtownlancaster.com/did.htm. From access to the Great Lakes to great cities, Pennsylvania really has a lot to offer.
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