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Waterfront property growing in demand along Mon River

By Joyce Koballa jkoballa@heraldstandard.Com 4 min read
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A surge in recreational boaters using the Monongahela River has created a demand for waterfront property, making the hard-to-get real estate a hot commodity.

Tom Simon, real estate broker and owner of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services in Belle Vernon, said waterfront property has always been at a premium, if priced within the market.

On average, Simon said he receives several telephone calls a week for waterfront property, which is hard to come by.

“Typically there’s not a large surplus,” said Simon. “When something comes up they do sell quick.”

Simon said prices for waterfront properties typically range between $60,000 to more than $200,000, depending on the location.

Simon added that he mainly tracks properties located along the Maxwell Lock and Dam from Brownsville to Charleroi.

According to Dennis Slagle, president of the Fredericktown Chamber of Commerce, boating is a big draw for the 20-mile section of river that runs between locks from Fredericktown to Point Marion.

“We have a focus on boating and water recreation,” said Slagle, who also serves on the marketing committee for the Mon River Valley Coalition.

Slagle said the coalition formed last October and is comprised of representatives from Morgantown, West Virginia, to Monongahela aimed at promoting tourism and recreation.

Simon, an avid boater who also owns waterfront property, attributed the boom to an improvement in the economy and housing market.

For the most part, Simon said about 80 percent of people who purchase waterfront property make it their permanent home versus a summer retreat.

Tim and Jennifer Sepsi of Fredericktown built a waterfront home four years ago on property owned by her late parents.

“The property’s been in our family for decades,” said Jennifer Sepsi. “It’s hard to find, especially in this pool of water.”

Sepsi said the couple decided to build on the water after her husband, who is from Brownsville, fell in love with the area.

When she was younger, Sepsi said she would spend the weekends camping on the river while her family members had docks and boats.

Carl Zanardini of Lower Speers purchased a house along the river in 1988 where his business, Smitty’s Marina is also located.

“Real estate has gone up considerably,” said Zanardini. “Most property purchased on the river consists of people looking to get into boating.”

Zanardini said the number of houses in the area is limited, though, because a lot of waterfront property is still owned by former corporations and industries.

The river once served as a major transportation route during colonial times and later propelled the industries along its shores to worldwide production, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resource (DCNR).

After purchasing riverfront property in 1994 in Fredericktown, Valerie Petersen and her husband agreed to make it their permanent home.

“It’s almost like going home on vacation every evening,” said Petersen. “You can sit along the river and watch the nature.”

Slagle said the Maxwell Basin recreation area has grown to having 450 boats docked along its shores.

Petersen described the community as close knit with businesses also supporting each other, especially during events.

Slagle said people are also attracted to the area’s six-and-a-half mile Green River Trail and Ten Mile Creek Park in Washington County.

“People looking to buy property. Look to see what is going on in the area,” said Slagle.

Petersen noted another draw to the area is the significant progress among various groups and organizations including a coalition of people who work to keep the river clean.

“It’s cleaner now than it’s ever been,” said Slagle.

Petersen said her husband and their two daughters also enjoy watching the tow boats and water skiers.

“There’s never going to be more waterfront than what there is,” said Peterson. “So it’s a resource that whenever you have the opportunity to find it or enjoy it, the best thing to do is jump on it.”

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