Lehigh Valley PA, investing

[Ray T.]

Hello all,

I've reached out to a few folks individually but wanted to start a thread on this as well. I'm an investor from the NYC area and recently took a trip out to Lehigh Valley, PA to get a feel for Allentown and Bethlehem (saved Easton for another trip). I really liked what I saw and from some basic research, the housing/tenant laws seem to favor the landlord (unlike NYC). I want to see if anyone else on here has invested into the Lehigh Valley (from NYC or anywhere else) whether into residential or commercial and get your take on your experience so far.

Looking forward to getting this conversation started.

Ray

[Brett Peters]

@Ray T. I am a commercial agent and investor in the lancaster, Pa area. I own property in that general vacinity, namely Reading, Pa. I also have clients from NYC that invest in the Lehigh Valley, and all have been very pleased with the results. In general rental rates are strong and property taxes tend to be very low. My only suggestion is that you research the transfer tax in those areas. Reading city for example holds the highest transfer tax in Pa, 5%. This may not seem like a big deal, but it is something that you will need to nail down and factor into your analysis. Best Wishes!