Chatting with Bill Puffer

There's not much that Bill Puffer, the co-founder of Puffer Morris, hasn't seen in his thirty-plus years of real estate experience here in Lancaster.  We caught up with Bill recently and had a lively and informative exchange that really put into perspective some of the big changes that have reshaped our community during the past three decades. 
Lancaster Notebook: What was your background before going into real estate?

Bill Puffer: I have been involved in sales and marketing for over 50 years and I came to Lancaster with the Hamilton Watch Co.  Among other experience there, I was the District Manager for the South Eastern US. and National Director of Sales for the Vantage watches, a Hamilton product line.

Puffer Morris founder Bill Puffer

LN: When did you launch Puffer Morris, and what motivated you to go into the business here?

Bill: My partner, Nancy Morris and I established Puffer Morris Real Estate in 1982. We both had a strong interest in Lancaster City and believed that there was great future potential here. For many years, we advertised ourselves as urban realtors who specialized in Lancaster City. This was unique in the local real estate community since most offices offer services in the general  market.

LN: What are the primary changes that have taken place in the city during the time Puffer Morris has been in business?

Bill: The City of Lancaster has gained wide recognition as one of the finest urban residential locations in the Eastern U.S.A. This has been like a snowball that continues to grow and today several surveys have listed Lancaster among the top choices in the country.

LN:  So how have these changes affected the real estate market during this time?

Bill: Real estate values have continued to increase and will do so in the future because home prices here are only a fraction of those for homes in adjacent markets from Washington DC to New York.

LN: And have the changes in the real estate market changed the way real estate professionals go about doing their job?  What has remained the same?

Bill:  When I got in to the business, we operated with a card system that was unmanageable. Changes were updated twice a week and the pile grew rapidly. For information, we would call the listing office. Comments regarding the system were mostly profane and in the first office that I was in, the broker stacked the cards in a corner.  When the pile fell over the cards were thrown out. Today, we operate with a state of the art MLS system that gives us and the customer instant access to thousands of listings and information, present and past.

LN: In the near term, what are a few of the biggest factors that will shape the future of the real estate market in Lancaster?

Bill: Maintaining the stable government that we have now is critical. The city has a dynamic menu of special events that is also growing. The list is too long to cover here, but the lifestyle in Lancaster is robust. People who come in from other areas are surprised to find the wide range of activities. Lancaster is also a city of neighborhoods where residents get to know each other and interact socially. Groups often get together and visit the many fine restaurants, taverns and cultural events downtown.

LN: Do you have any off-the-beaten-track places in Lancaster you love to visit or take visitors to? 

Bill: I often take clients on a tour of the Lancaster that I know. We go through neighborhoods, side streets and alleys where there are remarkable homes hidden behind facades that normally would not be noticed. These run the gamut from beautiful restorations, to dramatic contemporaries, to converted warehouses and commercial buildings. Many of them could be featured in a magazine. One of the pleasures of this business is that we have been fortunate over the years to have sold many of them several times.

LN: What trends in your business do you see growing in the years ahead?

Bill: Each year, our clientele from other areas of the country continues to grow as more people become aware of the benefits of life in the City of Lancaster. They become our best ambassadors,  and  at this time, I can think of several who are now moving in, or planning to, because of friends who are here now.

LN: This year, Puffer Morris's ownership changed hands.  What does the future hold for your firm?

Bill: Last January 1, our business was sold to Ric and Mary Tribble and Scott Haverstick, three of our former agents. They are continuing our long term interest and commitment to Lancaster City while also using their considerable knowledge and expertise as they expand in to select suburban areas.