Making Gretna Home
- Apr 11
- 4 min read
by Linda Brain Beck
[Originally published in the Spring 2026 issue of Mount Gretna Magazine. View the full issue to see this story in its designed layout, complete with additional images.]
Buying or selling a property in Mount Gretna comes with a fair share of challenges. It’s best to have a Realtor who knows and understands the quirks of the distinct Gretna communities.
That message resounded from three long-term agents who also call Gretna home: Joe Wentzel of Penn Realty resides in Campmeeting. Rhoda Long of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices lives in Timberbridge, and Michelle Shay of Coldwell Banker Realty calls The Heights home.
“What I call ‘geographically competent’ matters,” says Michelle, who has worked as a real estate agent since 2010.
Joe, who has 43 years of experience, says, “We know the people to talk to. We know where to get answers.”
“I put them [clients] in my car, and we drive around, and I describe all the different areas,” including the different school districts, says Rhoda, who has been a Realtor since 2007.
‘Get’ Gretna
All agreed there is no “typical” Gretna home buyer. Some have longstanding ties to the community through relatives who lived here. Others discover it through visits to The Jigger Shop Ice Cream Parlor, hiking in the area, or traveling here for music and arts events. Others have bought on a whim after a first visit.
Regardless, it’s essential for a potential homeowner to “get” Gretna, being part of a community and living in a wooded area.
“If you’re new, and if time is on your side, I recommend coming to stay — rent a place or two. Spend a weekend or a week. Attend some shows. Get a feel for what area speaks to you, if you have that luxury. If not, pair yourself with someone who knows what’s what,” Michelle says.
Once you’ve found a preferred Gretna location, consider the different needs of available properties.
Many cottages are “not going to have the most up-to-date features in them. Part of our job as Realtors is to educate them,” Rhoda says. “Usually by the time they get to us, they have already spent time here.”
What to know before you buy
If you want to make Gretna home, you’ll want to keep a few points in mind.
“Maintenance. That’s probably the first thing. People underestimate the maintenance of living in the woods,” Michelle says.
“A lot of people think you don’t own your land, and you do. Sometimes it’s only 20-by-24 feet, but it’s owned,” Joe says.
“There are so many buyers and sellers who don’t really understand the history back to the Colemans and when the National Guard was here,” Rhoda says.
Structural quirks, lack of air conditioning, scarce parking, steep stairways, and property lines can all contribute to property considerations.
“Inspectors are sometimes blown away by what they see here,” Rhoda says. “If a survey is done, you find out your kitchen sink is on somebody else’s property. That’s been one of the challenges, especially in Campmeeting.”
“We always joke that when somebody in Campmeeting sneezes, the neighbor hands you a tissue through the window,” Joe says.
The state of real estate in Gretna
Despite these challenges, Gretna’s real estate market remains stable.
“If things start getting soft in the real estate industry, Mount Gretna is usually one of the last to feel it. And it never lasts as long here in Gretna as it does in other places,” Joe says.
“Even in 2008, when things were going down the tubes, we were one of the last ones to feel the hurt,” says Rhoda, who began her career right before the housing market crisis began.
Indeed, the market has been quite robust, especially during the last few years.
“I think the record number of times I’ve sold the same house is four, and that’s happened more than once,” Michelle says.
“We just put a house on the market on Monday. I had 18 showings by yesterday [Wednesday], and it sold this morning [Thursday],” Joe says.
Interest in Gretna as a year-round community grew in the late 1980s and early 1990s, according to Joe. It accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when homebuyers saw opportunities to stay in less crowded areas.
“They could get outside here. They could walk; they could do things here,” Joe explains.
Growing interest and rising prices have resulted in more frequent turnover as the market evolves.
A 2014 tax reassessment updated property values for the first time in decades, leading to significant tax increases.
“Folks who were paying extremely low taxes — $600 a year — suddenly went to $2,500. That changed the landscape,” Michelle says.
Home prices have risen as well.
“When I was working in the title company, I would see transfers in the Chautauqua, which are now going for $300,000 and $400,000, happening for $24,000 to $30,000,” Rhoda says. “It was mind-boggling.”
While spring and fall traditionally see a bump in sales, now there’s more year-round activity than in the past.
With the demand, many offers on Gretna homes are cash with few contingencies.
Joe says he advises buyers to “be prepared to give your best offer possible. A lot of times, you don’t have a second chance to go back.”
And potential homebuyers need to be patient. Sometimes, buyers have a quick turnaround, while others wait years to find the right place.
“Depending on the year, the market, the inventory, some folks get discouraged and move on,” Michelle says.
The demand for housing in Gretna means there are enough opportunities to keep agents busy.
“We live in a small community, and many of the people I ‘compete’ with are also my friends and neighbors,” Michelle says. “If there’s an issue that affects all of us, we come together and collaborate.”
“If we have a house listed and Rhoda sells it, or Michelle sells it, the transaction is so much smoother,” Joe says.
As Gretna residents themselves, Joe, Rhoda, and Michelle bring more than professional expertise to their work — they share the perspective of people who’ve chosen to make this distinctive community their home.
Linda Brain Beck’s diverse career spans corporate and academic realms. She teaches communication courses for HACC, Lebanon Valley College’s MBA program, and Dale Carnegie. A seasoned speaker, she delivers keynotes and has given a TEDx presentation. With her husband, Ed, she co-manages a communications and leadership training company.
