Lehigh Valley Real Estate is the hottest selling real estate around. There are many factors for why the area’s real estate is greatly appreciated and valued. Having a piece of property located in the Lehigh-Valley could be considered of one’s greatest assets. The history behind this great area is the main reason why it is what it is today.

The Lehigh Valley is historically known for its production of steel, anthracite coal, and other natural resources. It has historically served as a major U.S. center of industrial manufacturing, though this role has diminished at least slightly in the 21st century as companies have shifted to Asia and other lower wage, off-shore locations for industrial mining and manufacturing. The “shift” has cutting edge industries invading the Lehigh-Valley area to develop, prosper and become the part of the “economic power house” that the Lehigh Valley area is.

Companies based in the Lehigh Valley include Agere Systems (Hanover Township), Air Products & Chemicals (Allentown), Bethlehem Steel (Bethlehem, which ceased operations in 2003), Buckeye Pipe Line (Emmaus), Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Bethlehem), Mack Trucks (Allentown), Olympus Corporation USA (Allentown), Pennsylvania Power & Light (Allentown), Rodale Press (Emmaus), Lutron (Coopersburg), and many others.

The Lehigh Valley is also one of the larger areas on the east coast for the location of warehouses and distribution centers. This is due to the Lehigh Valley’s central location in the BosWash metropolis. Most of these distribution centers are located along the U.S. Route 22 and Interstate 78 corridors.

After the 2003 demise of Bethlehem Steel, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network (Allentown), one of Pennsylvania’s largest hospital systems, has taken Bethlehem Steel’s place as the Lehigh Valley’s largest employer.

The Lehigh Valley’s top five employers:

1. Lehigh Valley Hospital
2. St. Luke’s Hospital (Bethlehem)
3. Air Products & Chemicals (Allentown)
4. The Federal Government
5. PPL Corporation (Allentown).