Real Estate Information Archive

Hooray for bumpy sweaters! Let’s put all our knitware on wire hangers and revitalize the mid-80s style of lovely shoulder pads.

Oh. Wait. Is that not a cool look anymore? Good to know. No problem, no problem at all. Switching gears…

You can get rid of sweater bumps in a snap – all you need is an ice cube and a paper towel.

Here’s how:

Save Your Sweater with an Ice Cube

When you realize you’re rocking a sweater bump, grab an ice cube. While wearing the sweater, run the ice cube vigorously over the area until the fabric is damp (but not wet). Depending on how thick your sweater’s material is, this will take 15 - 45 seconds.

Then, lightly press a paper towel or dry cloth over the wet spot, which will press the fibers back into place. As the water dries, the fibers will shrink and your knitware will return to its normal, fashionable state.

Prevent Bumps by Using Your Drawers

Ok, now that the bump-crisis has been averted, prevent future problems! Hangers are usually the problem, so clear out a few drawers and fold your wovens. If drawer space isn’t an option for you, place a shelf specifically for sweaters in your closet.

Love Hangers? Try the Bump-Be-Gone Bendable Hangers

If you can’t stomach the idea of ditching hangers, try the Bump-Be-Gone Bendable Hangers. While they’re slightly more expensive than your average hanger ($30 for a 4-pack), your clothes can hang in your closet for months without a crease or bump.

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

Are you familiar with the name Hyman Minsky? We didn't think so, but the name is worth knowing. Minsky was an economist who wrote a short, but influential, monograph titled “The Financial Instability Hypothesis” 20 years ago. In short, Minsky hypothesized that the longer the good times roll, and the stronger the roll is, the likelihood for a catastrophic turnaround increases. Think what occurred to housing around 2008. 

Housing has been on a strong run for the past five years. To be sure, much of the run has been a matter of reclaiming ground lost after the housing bubble burst, but it has still been a strong run.  So, does this mean we're anticipating another housing-market correction? No, we think the market remains healthy. We don't see the speculative fervor that lead to the bubble that formed a decade ago. That said, we think it's a good idea to keep in mind where we are and where we've come from over the past five years. 

Few people were imploring people to look at housing to the degree we were post-2008. We still think housing is worth a look today. We just think it's worth being a little more discriminating while looking.

Information provided by Jessica Regan.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

The Best-Performing Sector in the Economy Today

Home builders are downright spunky these days. Optimism runs rampant. The latest Wells Fargo/NAHB Sentiment Index posted at 64 for October. This is the highest posting since 2005. (A posting above 50 tilts sentiment toward optimism.) Things are good today, and they're good for the immediate future. The current sales component of the index, the most heavily weighted component, rose three points to 70. This means the immediate outlook for new-home sales is strong.

As for the longer-term outlook, it looks like blue skies ahead. The permits component was up seven points to 75. This means home builders are expecting strong starts and sales for the next six months.

As for starts today, they continue to ratchet higher. Starts jumped 6.5% to 1.206 million units on an annualized basis in September. This is nearly double the number of starts we saw four years ago. Multi-family units lead the charge. They spiked 18.3% to 466,000 units for the month. The good news is that we're still seeing gains in the larger and more important single-family component. Here, starts rose 0.3% to 740,000 units.

Now, combine rising construction activity and rising sales volumes with rising stock prices, and it's easy to understand why so many home builders are so optimistic. The S&P Home builders ETF (NYSE: XHB) is up 134% compared to 73% for the S&P 500 Index over the past five years. From the depths of the recession, March 2009, the XHB is up 270% compared to 170% for the S&P 500.

On the financing end, mortgage rates continue to provide a strong tailwind for anyone looking to buy or to refinance a home. Freddie Mac's latest survey shows borrowers across the country are getting sub-3.9% on a 30-year fixed-rate loan. Borrowers who prefer a shorter-term loan are seeing the 15-year fixed-rate loan hover around 3%.

We think rates will hold these levels through November, and possibly through the rest of the year. We're sticking with our January 2015 prediction – no Federal Reserve interest rate hike for 2015. Fed officials meet next week and futures traders are betting only a 5% chance for a rate increase. Looking to December, when the last Fed meeting of the year will occur, traders are betting a 30% chance.

Getting a low-interest rate loan is nice, but it's even nicer when the process gets easier. Fannie Mae recently said that it will allow lenders to use employment and income information from a database maintained by credit bureau Equifax. For loans Fannie Mae buys, this means it won't require the traditional documentation of physical copies of pay stubs and tax data. 

Anyone considering a loan should consider acting sooner than later. Application volume has been volatile lately due to the new lending disclosure rules under TILA-RESPA. Last week, purchase activity spiked 16%, while refinance activity was up 9%. Given the expected rise in new and existing home sales, we expect lending activity to rise too.

Information provided by Jessica Regan.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

What’s better than Thanksgiving Day? You get to kick back, relax, and fill yourself to the brim with turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. Then, you can flip on the football games and embrace the impending food coma. It may be awesome, but this day of indulgence isn’t free! Whether it’s triple-digit calorie counts, rage-inducing airport delays or a big bill from the plumber on Black Friday, you may be spending more than you think on Thanksgiving.

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

The costumes are all put away and the best of the candy has been eaten. Halloween is over. So, what are you going to do with your pumpkins? Nobody wants to be the one house on the block that lets their jack-o-lanterns rot on the stoop until Thanksgiving, but you don’t have to toss them in the garbage right away, either! Here are seven fun things to do with your old pumpkins.

Carved Pumpkins

Carved pumpkins will rot quickly, so it’s best to get them off your stoop and put them to work as soon as possible.

Compost It

Pumpkins are full of nutrients, which makes them a great fertilizer. Just make sure you remove the seeds before you add them to your compost pile (unless you want baby pumpkins cropping up in your garden next year).

Bury It

No compost pile? No problem. Simply bury your jack-o-lantern in your winter garden. It will decay quickly and enrich the soil.

Share It

You may be done with your jack-o-lantern, but the leftovers are a delicious snack for animals like deer, squirrels and birds. Place your pumpkin in a spot where you don’t mind a little wildlife activity and let the feast begin.

Uncarved Pumpkins

If you didn’t use a knife on your pumpkin this Halloween, there’s a ton you can do with it now. However, only cook and eat your leftover pumpkin if you used non-toxic paint and materials to decorate it.

Make Pumpkin Puree

This is an easy and popular pumpkin dish. Simply cut your pumpkin in half or in quarters, scoop out the seeds and guts, and place your pumpkin face down in a baking dish that’s filled with 1 cup of water. Bake for 90 minutes or until the pumpkin flesh is tender, then scoop it out and puree it in a food processor. You can use this to make pumpkin pie, cake, muffins or bread!

Eat The Seeds

If you’re looking for a healthy snack to munch on for the rest of fall, look no further than your pumpkin! All you need to do is wash, drain and toast the seeds, then add the seasoning of your choice. For specific instructions, try this recipe from FitSugar.

Turn It Into A Planter

Post-Halloween pumpkins make for a unique addition to your winter garden. To convert it, cut a large hole at the top and hollow out the center. Then drill a small hole at the bottom for drainage and fill the pumpkin half-full with potting soil. Add some seasonal plants like pansies or thyme, water thoroughly and enjoy your seasonal planter!

Prepare For Thanksgiving

One fall holiday is over, but there’s another one right around the corner. Upcycle your Halloween pumpkin by turning it into a Thanksgiving centerpiece! As long as your pumpkin wasn’t damaged or munched on by animals during its stint on your doorstep, it should last for a few months before it starts to rot. If you want to give it a nice shine and preserve it better, rub some Vaseline into a rag and buff the surface.

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

WHY DO THIS?

Starbucks has started serving their Pumpkin Spice Latte, and that means one thing: fall! Take advantage of these final bouts of warm weather before they’re gone and prepare your house for the upcoming winter months by banging out the following tasks around the house.

1. Change your linens and move your mattress. Strip and vacuum your mattress and machine wash all of your bed linens, including your comforters, duvets, bed skirts and pillows. Then, turn your mattress front-to-back and end-to-end – flipping your mattress prolongs its life by evenly distributing the wear. For more tips, read:Maintain Your Mattress.
2. Inspect your windows. Start by cleaning your windowpanes, then your drapes or blinds, and finish with the window tracks (a vacuum with a hose attachment works best for this last job). If your windows are older, you likely have weather stripping to help seal your windows and keep cold drafts and moisture at bay. Inspect this weather stripping to see if it’s torn, damaged or needs to be replaced. Proper weather stripping can reduce your energy bills by as much as 30 percent! For a step-by-step guide to cleaning your windows, read: Inspect and Maintain Your Windows.
3. Inspect your exterior doors. For each exterior door, check the weather stripping that runs along the bottom and side of it for any cracks, leaks or wear. Close the door and place your hand along the bottom and sides of it. If you feel a draft coming through, you should replace your weather stripping. For extra insulation, purchase a few draft stoppers, which cost about $5 at your local hardware store.
4. Check your gutters. During the fall and winter, your gutters are filled with leaves, rainfall and snowmelt, so the clearer they are now, the better you’ll fare come winter. Break out a ladder (always practice proper ladder safety) and remove all dirt and debris from your gutters by hand. For a step-by-step guide, read: Gutter Cleaning.
5. Clean and store patio furniture. It’s always a good idea to clean your patio furniture before you store it inside for the winter. Different types of patio furniture require different cleaning techniques, so to learn how to properly clean your type of patio furniture, read: Clean Your Deck / Patio. Tip: Remove any stains from your furniture cushions before putting the chairs into storage, because if a stain sits on the fabric all winter, it’ll be more difficult to get out.
6. Clean light fixtures and dust ceiling fans. It doesn’t take long for dirt to create a film on your light fixtures and a layer of dust to form on the blades of your ceiling fan. To clean your glass light fixtures, denture tablets are actually one of the most effective products. To remove dust and dirt from your ceiling fans you simply need a ladder, canned air and all-purpose cleaner.

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

On first blush, ultra-low lending rates would appear to be nothing but good. After all, lowering the cost of financing lowers the financing cost of purchasing a home (or any asset). 

But things aren't quite that clear cut. When interest rates are low for borrowers, they are also low for savers and investors. Investment portfolios generate less income. This means savers and investors generally have less income to spend. It also means savers and investors have to take on riskier assets to capture income that was formerly available in safer assets. This increases the likelihood of capital losses, which can impede the ability to service loan obligations. 

Closer to home, low interest rates may not be as good for home buyers as people think, even if interest income isn't a consideration. Low financing costs sound attractive, but interest rates are a discounting tool: When rates are low, asset prices rise at a quicker pace than when rates are higher. It's a wonderful benefit to see surging home prices when you're a home owner, but it's not so wonderful if you're a young buyer seeking that first home. 

All things considered, a higher level of interest rates could actually improve the overall health of the housing market more than it could harm it. 

Information provided by Jessica Regan.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

Good News Abounds, But Interest Rates Continue to Fall

It has been awhile, but economic growth has finally kicked into gear. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the second quarter was revised higher to 3.9% on an annualized rate. For most of 2015, and a good chunk of 2014, GDP growth has wallowed at 2% or lower. 

More encouraging, most everyone contributed to the growth spurt. Personal spending was stronger than most economists expected. At the same time, businesses upped their rate of fixed investment. Spending matters, to be sure, but investing matters just as much. You can't have personal spending without the investment to produce the goods and services on which to spend money. 

Speaking of investment, rising home builder investment in land, material, and labor continues to pay dividends. New home sales were up strongly in August, with sales posting at 552,000 units on an annualized basis. This is the highest monthly rate since February 2008. A 15,000 upward revision to July's tally added to momentum.

Expect more home builder investment and more new home sales in the months to come.   Supply remains tight, and prices remain strong. The former stands at 4.7-months supply at the current sales pace; the latter shows the median sales price at $292,700, a 0.5% monthly increase.  Low supply plus a favorable price trend equals more investment. 

As for overall home prices, the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index showed prices up 5% year over year in July. The rate of appreciate continues to ease, but no one should be alarmed. The rate is simply reverting to the historical long-term rate (2% to 4%). This is a good thing. Prices in many markets have been rising faster than incomes, preventing potential first-time buyers from taking the plunge. Unfortunately, the rate of price appreciation in the lower-price niches continues to run at an accelerated pace. Younger buyers are still having a tough time entering the market. 

Given the recent spat of solid economic news, you'd think interest rates would trend higher. That hasn't been the case. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note has shed 25 basis points over the past two weeks. As the yield on the 10-year note goes, so goes long-term mortgage rates. Rates on 30-year fixed-rated mortgages are hovering near a four-month low. Quotes as low as 3.75% haven't been uncommon. 

What's more, rates continue to fall in spite of Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen saying the Fed is likely to raise rates this year. But market participants still aren't buying the narrative, which is understandable given the Fed's propensity to cry “wolf.” Federal funds rate futures are trading with only a 12% chance of a rate hike in October and 35% chance in December. 

As for us, we continue to stick with our January 2015 prognostication: No rate hike until 2016. All things the same, sub-4% on the 30-year fixed-rate loan should hold for the remainder of the year.

Information provided by Jessica Regan.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.