What if you love the location and basic layout of your current Poconos home—but just want (or need) a little extra space? An addition to your existing home may just solve your dilemma, without the hassle and expense of selling and moving. But what kind of addition makes the most sense?

Without a doubt, the kitchen is the heart of your Poconos Mountain home. For a lot of people the Poconos region is synonymous with a rustic style. But what could that look like in your new kitchen? Can you combine rustic, casual, or mountain styles with elegance and quality? Can you create an atmosphere that says, “Welcome to cabin living in the Poconos” without sacrificing comfort and convenience?

Building a custom home is a very personal experience. Your home, after all, is a reflection of your tastes, your sense of style, and your personality. So what is your “custom home personality”? What are the things that shape it?

The name Tobyhanna Township has a nice ring to it—even if it doesn’t exactly flow easily from the lips. The township’s name has its origins in Native American language, roughly translated as, “a stream whose banks are fringed with alder". Those trees—and others—were later to play a significant role in the development of the area. For many years, however, the area was largely undeveloped with only 239 residents calling the township home in 1830. By 1900 the population was still below 900 residents.

The Poconos Mountains are actually a poorly kept secret. Plenty of people from up and down the East Coast find their way into the region every year to enjoy the great scenery; to ski the mountains in the winter; and to take advantage of the trails, waterfalls, and beautiful foliage at other times in the year.

Setting the budget for your new home in the Poconos is one of the most critical steps you’ll take in the homebuilding process. So how do you “get it right”? It’s a process that’s filled with questions. Let’s take a look at some of the key questions that will help you get things off on the right foot and ensure that you end up with the Poconos home that’s right for you.

Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got til its gone.

—Joni Mitchell

There’s an old saying that “fences make good neighbors.” That may well be true, but here in the Poconos we think there’s more to the story than that. If you’re considering building a new home in the region, paying attention to who different neighborhoods is essential!

Smart homes are no longer a thing of the future or something that only “Tech-savvy” homeowners enjoy. Smart devices are everywhere and can make everyday life easier, more convenient, and even more fun. There’s more good news. In addition to being more affordable than ever before, they are also easier to install and to use.

You’ll face lots of choices when you consider building a new home in the Poconos. You’ll think about colors, appliances, finishes, flooring, window coverings, and more. But there are seven factors you can’t afford to overlook if you want to be satisfied with your Poconos home for years to come. And these are factors you need to consider long before thinking about other things. Let’s take a quick look at them.