Lehigh Valley Real Estate

The spring homebuying season is off to a robust start in the Lehigh Valley, with homes selling quickly and at above asking price, but there are plenty of reasons some would-be shoppers are still on the sidelines.

Longtime representative for the 136th District Robert Freeman will face off against challenger Taiba Sultana on April 23, essentially determining who will take the seat in the Democratic stronghold.

Realtor and associate broker Nancy Ahlum of Dorey Real Estate has handled the sales of the top two highest-priced residential properties ever in the Lehigh Valley, the firm says.

Easton City Council became contentious Wednesday evening when Councilmember Taiba Sultana read a letter from the PA ACLU urging the local government to vote against a bill focused on forcing landlords to evict tenants who engage in certain crimes.

Gateway on Fourth — a new mixed-income housing project on Fourth Street in South Bethlehem — will bring 120 apartments to part of the city long slated for redevelopment, officials said.

Developers for a proposed 10,000-square-foot retail complex along Hamilton Boulevard displayed site alterations for Lower Macungie's planning commission Tuesday, though it appears more changes may need to be considered.

The Lehigh Valley continues to be among the nation's leaders in economic development, it was revealed at the Lehigh Valley Real Estate Development Outlook event on Tuesday in Allentown.

A proposed 273-unit apartment complex set for Downtown Easton received conditional approval from the planning commission Wednesday evening, even if plenty of residents and business owners worried about parking.

A proposed warehouse project in Allen Township was reviewed and advanced by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission's Comprehensive Planning Committee on Tuesday afternoon.The committee found several issues with a proposed apartment complex in Bethlehem and a proposed mobile home park in Palmer Township.

The National Association of Realtors has agreed to eliminate its rules on commissions. That will have an impact on real estate professionals' fees — and perhaps supply a jolt to the tepid housing market.

Developer Abe Atiyeh had a rough 24 hours after Allentown zoning and planning officials denied two separate proposals for his property.

Easton's Planning Commission ultimately opted to vote against recommending a special exception which would allow for a 256-unit apartment in College Hill during Wednesday's meeting.

A proposed property tax rebate for senior citizens, drawn from hybrid police patrol vehicle fuel savings, will have to wait to be voted on until Jan. 2026.

Easton officials announced the launch of nonprofit HOME Easton and the start of a new Landlord-Tenant Engagement Program on Wednesday, with the goal to address affordable housing and improve the rental scene in the city.

City planners meet at 5 p.m. Thursday at Bethlehem Town Hall, 10 E. Church St. The proposal for the former Wells Fargo is listed fourth on an agenda of five items.

Units will be spread across seven buildings on an almost-17-acre undeveloped lot, with construction on the approved apartment complex expected to start in the spring.

The developer behind a proposed 37-story skyscraper in Allentown asked planning officials for another delay.

Josh Siegel wants to pursue a housing plan utilized in Montgomery County, Maryland, to create 1,500 apartment units in the region. His transition team includes a committee tasked with responding to Trump administration directives.

Conditional preliminary approval was granted for a six-story apartment on Northampton Street in Easton, provided the developer and a neighboring property owner resolve a property line dispute.

Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg opened a discussion Sunday by noting many Allentown residents are “one missed paycheck” from being forced to experience homelessness. She called the housing crisis “a challenge that we don’t have to tolerate.”

Bethlehem Parking Authority, the property owner, and applicant Larken Associates, of Branchburg, New Jersey, have plans for a mixed-use building with 105 dwelling units — including 67 one-bedroom and 38 two-bedroom units ranging from 759 sq. ft. to 1,279 sq. ft.

Controller Jeff Glazier said the measure could be "one of the most impactful things council has done in a long time.”

After more than a year of meetings, plan review and expert testimony, Easton Planning Commission on Wednesday denied an application for a million-square-foot warehouse at 1525 Wood Ave.

After a near four-hour hearing, Easton's Zoning Hearing Board continued the session on the Spring Brook relocation — part of the Easton Commerce Park site — to January 2026.