Tobyhanna - In late May, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates, in cooperation with Appletree Management Group, Inc. and Executor of the Estate of Kenneth G. Bell, closed the first sale for what is now Pocono Farms Realty, Inc. Pocono Farms Realty, Inc. is the name of the Association's new real estate office. On August 3rd the office was officially licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The office is located in the lower level management office at the Pocono Farms Clubhouse. Pocono Farms Realty will be exclusive to the Pocono Farms community.
The home located at 7529 Birdie Place boasts a 1st class golf course view and was purchased by Thomas and Jennifer Miller whose primary home is Manhattan. The Miller's expect to move in shortly and are excited to become new members of Pocono Farms Country Club and owners in Pocono Farms. The sale was handled by Judi Moniz, Assoc Broker and Al Grant, Realtor. The sale took approximately 5 months to close. Said Moniz, "The Miller's had the opportunity to purchase a vacation home anywhere in the Poconos, but when they saw Pocono Farms they knew that this was the community for them."
For some time, Jim Ott, in cooperation with the Pocono Farms Board of Directors and in particular the Long Range Planning Committee, has investigated the best way to start, operate and own a real estate company that focuses on assisting PFCCA owners in the ability to sell, rent and attract perspective owners to one of the best golf communities in the Poconos. Said Jim Ott, "Pocono Farms Realty, Inc. was a dream of the Long Range Planning Committee and members like Tony DeMarco and Frank Milano for a number of years. We want to enhance the current PFCCA marketing program and to utilize the communities' membership opportunities which include golf, a new fitness club and a great country club." Ott also said, "Eventually, we're hoping to expand to offering 'community realty services' which would include such things as property maintenance, services to all PFCCA owners and tenants alike. That could include snow removal, housekeeping services, interior/exterior repairs and home security checks just to mention a few."
To open Pocono Farms Realty, Inc. the Association needed a Broker. Thomas R. Wilkins, President and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates took the job. Said Wilkins, "I'm very pleased to be working with such a forward-thinking Board of Directors. This project will be a lot of fun to watch grow."
Eventually, Pocono Farms Realty, Inc. will be involved in Vacation and Short-term rentals, and corporate rentals (which are those furnished homes rented off season to businesses). Wilkins also stated, "When you have large employers such as Sanofi Pasteur, Johnson & Johnson, Tobyhanna Army Depot and other companies that have consultants and/or personnel that come into the area, it's not unusual for them to want sophisticated housing in a community such as Pocono Farms. That's one of the areas we're going to accent services on."
Wilkins also stated that in addition to being actively involved with Pocono Farms, being Broker of Record and actively building that business with Pocono Farms, his organization plans on doing similar "partnerships" with other associations in the Poconos. Said Wilkins, "Pocono Farms Country Club Association and golf community is the best place to start, and being exclusive to a community (and being able to use their name) is the way of the future."
The office of Pocono Farms Realty, Inc. is being made more attractive to bring in the public. In the beginning, the main Realtors to contact should you want to list and sell your home, or if you know someone who's interested in purchasing in Pocono Farms, contact Judi Moniz, Assoc Broker at (570) 977-2668 or Tony DeMarco, Realtor and full-time resident of "The Farms" at (570) 350-3815. The office will soon be open on weekends moving forward. The grand opening, although not scheduled yet, will be the first step in introducing the new office to the community members. Everyone is excited about this great opportunity.
Left to Right: Al Grant, Realtor; James H. Ott, Appletree Management; Thomas & Jennifer Miller, Lorie Lehman, Pennsylvania First Settlement; Christine A. Scrofano-Wilkins, Senior VP Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates; Thomas R. Wilkins, President/CEO Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates; and Judi Moniz, Associate Broker Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates.
