Located in the Laurel Highlands in southwest Pennsylvania about 60 miles east of Pittsburgh, Hidden Valley is a four-season resort area with over 2000 condos, townhomes, and single-family homes.

"A fairly active resale inventory and new construction available has made this a more attractive buyers market as compared to neighboring resort Seven Springs," say Realtors Adrienne and Abe Wagner. "Last year there were over 140 transactions recorded or about 7 percent of total homes, slightly below national averages for resorts. Buyers not willing to accept the higher prices at Seven Springs and are coming to this resort for more moderate priced resort housing, increasing buyer demand and causing some slight price increases."

The Wagners add, "In Hidden Valley, the market is active, with new construction planned with similar floor plans. It doesn't look like homeowners are going to get any kind of break this year. It's tough to be competitively priced against new construction. We are finding that new construction buyers will pay far above resale prices for "new construction."

They advise, "Location of your property and its condition are the keys to adding value and competing for this buyer. With 58 active listings and no new construction and low resale inventory at Seven Springs, we are seeing much more buyer activity at Hidden Valley. This is offering sellers here a chance to sell at original cost or with some appreciation. The key for quick sales is simple. Paint and clean to perfection, fix everything that is broken or may break, and add some pizzazz to a simple decorating scheme."

To buyers, they suggest, "Single-family homes in the surrounding rural areas still offer the best buy per square foot. A three-bedroom condo slope side at Seven Springs recently sold for $345,000. A three-bedroom brick and frame house, on one acre, 8 miles from Seven Springs with a garage, on the Pittsburgh side, is being offered for $98,000. No advanced math needed to see where the bargain is. We anticipate some unique two and three bedroom homes coming on the market within 10 miles of the resorts."

There's also talk, they say, of a large tract of land in Jefferson Twp (around Bakersville, near Hidden Valley) being sold for several housing developments. Haven't seen the transfer and there are no new developments filed as of May 3, 2004 for Jefferson Twp. Glades Pike is sold out. Fern Mountain has two lots left. S-1 is closing with a spec log home going in. In Pheasant Run, as of this date, no new lots closed, say the Wagners.

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Published: July 14, 2004

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