Real Estate Information Archive

Seriously, who doesn’t love Thanksgiving? You can hang out with your family, consume more carbs than may be considered medically advisable and then relax on the sofa for anywhere from one to five hours. Sounds like a fantastic day.

The thing is, even though you don’t do much more than eat, chat and sit around, Thanksgiving can get pretty expensive. Not only do you have to purchase a feast, but the pressure that half a dozen (or more) houseguests put on your house can add up to more than a few pricey repairs and cleanup efforts.

So, as turkey day approaches, give one of these cost-effective strategies a try and save the extra dough for those Black Friday deals.

Be Kind to Your Pipes

For residential plumbers, Black Friday is the single busiest day of the year (plumbing problems increase by about 50 percent). A typical visit from a plumber costs anywhere from $125-300, so this is definitely something to avoid! How do you manage that? Easy, don’t treat your garbage disposal like a trash can. That means things like turkey bones, poultry skin, potato peels, grease, oil and fat should all wind up in the garbage, not down your sink. If you do wind up with a clog, don’t panic. You can probably fix it yourself.

Buy a Frozen Turkey 

To some this suggestion may be borderline blasphemy, but hear us out. If you opt for a fresh turkey from an expensive grocery store, you might pay as much as $64 for a 16 lb. turkey. On the other side of the spectrum, discounted frozen turkeys of the same size are going for as little as $8 in some places. That’s a pretty big difference. So, if you want to trim some dollars off of Thanksgiving, there’s nothing wrong with going frozen. Just make sure you allow enough time for it to defrost! 

Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies 

Between a massive feast and an influx of houseguests, Thanksgiving can really make a mess of your house. Instead of springing for a bunch of store-bought products to clean up that turkey shrapnel, why not try some homemade supplies this year? With little more than a lemon, vinegar and some baking soda, you can make anything from eco-friendly drain cleaner to a nice fall air freshener.

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.

Have you heard of the Thanksgiving Murphy’s Law? Anything that can go wrong with your turkey, will, especially with your entire family and a group of friends gathered in your home.

The solution is simple. For the tastiest turkey and most succulent stuffing, be sure to do some quick kitchen maintenance to ensure your appliances are working properly before you start cooking.

OVEN

From turkey to green beans to pumpkin pie, your oven is there for you through every course. Here’s how to make sure it’s running on all cylinders.

DO: Make sure your oven temperature gauge is working properly. Place an oven thermometer at the center of the oven and set the oven to 350F.

After 15 minutes, check the temperature on the thermometer. If it’s not within 5 degrees, you'll need to adjust the oven's temperature control. If you’re pressed for time, you can simply tweak the oven setting required in your recipe to match your oven’s actual temperature.

DON’T: Don’t self-clean your oven the day before Thanksgiving. We know it seems counterintuitive, but self-cleaning can cause damage to the temperature gauges of electrical ovens. Just give the oven a good old-fashioned wipe down and save the heavy-duty cleaning until after the turkey is basted and baked.

COOKTOP

For many, mashed potatoes are the crown jewels of the Thanksgiving feast. To ensure this dish is delicious, don’t be stingy on the butter and make sure your cooktop is working like a charm.

DO: If your electric stove burners are caked with spots from former tenants, it’s time for a quick clean. Remove the burners when they’re cool and wipe them down with a warm, damp cloth and mild dish soap. Be careful not to get any part of the electrical connection wet and don’t submerge the burners! Let them completely dry before cranking up the heat. NOTE: Refer to your owner’s manual for help safely removing electric coils.

DON’T: Don’t start cooking before you’ve inspected your gas burners. Clogged burners are a fire hazard. According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking equipment is the leading cause of home structure fires and associated injuries. So, gently unclog each “port” in the burner with a straight pin or open paper clip. Your owner’s manual can provide more details on how to care for your specific cooktop.

FRIDGE

The best part about Thanksgiving is that it’s the holiday that keeps on giving, so make sure your refrigerator is ready for leftovers.

DO: Locate your drip pans under the refrigerator and clean them. Then, vacuum dust off the coils (located under or behind your fridge depending on the model). Why is this important? A fridge with caked coils requires about 25% more energy to function properly than one with a clean underbelly.

DON’T: Don’t put your sweet potato casserole into the fridge until the dish is properly cooled and covered. Your fridge is an energy hog and uses 15% of your home’s total power. Don’t make it work harder than it needs to!

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.

We spend a good deal of time talking about the Federal Reserve, and we do so for a good reason: The Federal Reserve is the most important economic planner in the country. The Fed is charged with promoting employment, stabilizing prices, and regulating the financial sector. Not surprisingly, it holds tremendous sway over both the housing and mortgage markets.

We frequently monitor the Fed to get an idea where lending rates are headed. Last week, we mentioned that we thought lending rates would hold today's lower levels. We've become more convinced that the Fed won't step back from quantitative easing or raise short-term rates soon. We say that because the Fed has targeted a 6.5% unemployment rate and a consumer-price inflation range of 2% to 2.5%.

On the former, the goal isn't close to being reached. Unemployment still runs well over 7%, and it's only that low because of a falling labor participation rate. As for consumer-price inflation, it still runs well below 2%. Much of the new money the Fed has pumped into the economy, instead of flowing into the consumer sector, is finding its way into asset. It's no coincidence that stocks are at an all-time high.

In short, the Fed has plenty of room and plenty of incentive to keep pumping money and to hold mortgage lending rates low. We don't see that changing in the near future.

Courtesy of 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.

A Contrarian's Guide to Good News

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that the homeownership rate hit an 18-year low of 65.1% in the third-quarter of 2013. The rate had climbed steeply in the 10-year period from 1994 through 2003 – topping 69%. From there, it has been downhill ever since.

At the same time, residential rents continue to rise. The Census Bureau also reports that the median residential rental rate rose to $736/month in the third quarter to hit an all-time high.

Home prices also continue to rise, which is mostly positive. The negative is that the strong rise in home prices over the past two years has made it more expensive to buy a home. Home-price increases have helped drive the National Association of Realtor's affordability index down to a five-year low.

Rising rents and rising home prices are pressuring household formation – where a person moves into his or her own housing unit. For decades, new household formation averaged roughly 1 million per year. In the third quarter of 2013, the rate dropped to 380,000 on an annualized basis.

New households are, not surprisingly, associated with first-time buyers – both categories are overwhelming young in age. The percentage of first-time buyers in the market has fallen this year. These buyers historically account for 40% of home sales. But the latest NAR data show these buyers accounted for only 28% of homes bought in September.

The news appears bad for the housing market, but it really isn't. It's important to emphasize that all markets are forward looking. Where we're going is more important than where we've been. Quite frankly, we like where we are going.

Current household formation at lows and rents at highs point to growth in homeownership rates. Surveys from Fannie Mae still show 75% of us prefer to own a home. Yes, homes are more expensive than they were a few years ago, but the good news is there is pent up demand for a home, particularly when the cost of owning that home is juxtaposed to the cost of renting.

Rising home prices, though lowering affordability, are also positively impacting the mortgage market. Excessively tight lending standards has been a recurring criticism, but there are signs of change.

Rising home prices are putting more homeowners into positive equity positions, which means more homeowners are motivated to service and maintain their mortgage. In fact, the delinquency rate for mortgage loans decreased to 6.4% of all loans outstanding at the end of the third quarter. This is the lowest level since the second quarter of 2009.

Rising home prices and lower delinquencies, in turn, are making lenders less risk averse. Today, we see more loans in the conventional market being originated with down payments as low as 5%. In other words, private lenders are competing with the FHA, and many are even offering better deals when all costs are factored in.

So don't be put off by today's cloudy negative news, because silver linings can be found. The future is what matters, and we see a positive future based on the likely reversal of several negative trends.

Courtesy of 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.

When you think about preparing for an emergency, we’re sure you and your family are well taken care of. But if you count pets as part of your family, you need a specific plan catered just for four legs.

Pets have their own specific needs, even in times of disaster. And first responders are obligated to help people and may not even have training in animal rescue and handling, which means you need your own pet-friendly action plan in case of emergency. Here are some guidelines to follow to make sure your pets are prepared.

Display Rescue Notifications

Get a Rescue Alert sticker for your home. This will help emergency responders identify the pets you have in your home. Best of all, the rescue alert notification is free from the ASPCA.

Keep Pets Calm

Make sure your pet feels safe during a storm. Prepare a smaller area for pets, such as the bathroom or a covered crate — with all their favorite toys and extra bedding — where they can hide and feel safe. Also, close curtains or shades and play classical music or turn on a white noise machine. For super nervous pups, invest in a ThunderShirt, which offers a calming pressure.

Watch Exits Carefully

If your pet seems nervous during a weather-related disaster at home, be sure to watch entrances and exits. Make sure your skittish pets can’t dash out the door.

Prepare An Evacuation Kit

Prepare an evacuation kit so you have everything you need in a disaster. Some things to include:

• A pet first-aid kit and guide book (ask your vet what to include)
• Three to seven days' worth of canned or dry food
• Litter and disposable litter trays or paper towels
• Liquid dish soap and disinfectant
• Disposable garbage bags
• Non-breakable pet feeding dishes
• An extra collar or harness, and leash
• Toys and chew toys
• Photocopies of medical records and a waterproof container with a two-week supply of medicine
• Bottled water (at least seven days' worth for each person and pet)
• A traveling bag, crate or carrier
• Flashlight and backup batteries

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.

Earlier this year, we said that we expected the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage to rise to 5%. For a while, we appeared clairvoyant. Rates took flight in May and continued to gain altitude through August. Many credit-market participants were expecting the Federal Reserve to begin tapering support for low interest rates beginning in September, thus rates ran up in anticipation of the event.

But as September approached, we become more circumspect on the Fed actually tapering. The economic data were simply too negative, pointing to continued low job growth and low inflation – two variables that carry considerable weight with the Fed. We even came out and predicted that the Fed was unlikely to begin tapering. We were one of the few market watchers who expected quantitative easing – purchases of mortgage and Treasury securities – to continue unabated.

Many market watchers now expect the Fed to begin tapering early next year; we're not so sure. Unemployment remains stubbornly high and economic growth remains stubbornly low. Little progress has been made on either front for most of 2013. By all indications, we don't expect much progress to be made in the near term.

In other words, we expect the Federal Reserve to continue to keep mortgage lending rates low. Of course, we can't say they will remain low through 2014, but we see them remaining low through at least the first quarter.

In the recent past, we've said that there was little impetus for the rate on the 30-year loan to fall meaningful lower. We'll amend that to say that we wouldn't be surprised to see 4% – a meaningfully low rate – on the 30-year loan before the end of the year.

Courtesy of 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.

You may have bought an older home for its history and character, but that character can come with a few maintenance surprises. If your house is over 35 years old, you could be dealing with unique issues that don’t plague the newer-house crowd. Fortunately, these issues are easy to deal with if you know the warning signs.

Note: If your home was built before 1950,  it’s considered “Pre-War,” and was built with materials like wood, masonry and stone. Contact a professional before doing any major repairs to make sure modern materials will work for the job.

Here are 5 home maintenance curveballs you could be facing in an older home:

1. Pre-1940s: Grade Issues and Moisture Problems

Before the 1940s, moisture issues were typically dealt with by simply building the house off of the ground – typically about 24 inches up. Over time, however, a house can level and can now be sitting firmly on the wet, moist ground. These grading issues can lead to leaks and other moisture problems. If you haven’t had your home’s grade inspected by a professional, doing it now could save you from costly repairs in the future.

2. Pre-1940s: Steel Pipes

Steel pipes were common in pre-war homes, but they are susceptible to rust, clogging, bursting and low-water pressure (a.k.a. a huge headache for you). Professionals recommend a pipe replacement if you have steel plumbing. It sounds like a big job, but it’s better to change them out now than deal with any moisture problems or a burst pipe fiasco!

3. Pre-1960: Drafty Windows

Before the mid-century modern craze took flight, windows were typically made from wood, which means they frequently become drafty. These leaks could be costing you big bucks on your energy bill, so do a thorough window inspection to make sure air isn’t sneaking in (or out).

4. Pre-1970s: Fuse Boxes Instead of Circuit Breakers

Older homes typically have fuse boxes instead of circuit breakers, and some even have more than one fuse box. If this is the case in your home, do a thorough test so you know which box controls which area of the house. Also, always have extra fuses handy in case of a power outage. Fuses are inexpensive and can be found at any hardware store, so it’s best to stock up now before the lights go out!

5. Pre-1978: Lead Paint

In 1978, the U.S. government banned lead in paint, but before that, lead was used in almost all home paints. If you have an older home, it’s extremely important to check your home for lead-based paint, especially if you have children. Lead-based paint is dangerous if ingested, and has been linked to numerous health issues in children including nervous system damage, learning disabilities and slow growth. In adults, lead poisoning can cause irritability, nerve damage and a low sperm count. So make sure your home has been checked!

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.

We long for a return to a normalized mortgage and housing market; that is, a market before the housing boom and bust. We certainly aren't there on the mortgage side, where a normalized market would be characterized by higher lending rates, more private-market participation, and less-restrictive lending practices.

Housing is a different story. We thought we were moving toward normalization, where owner-occupied buyers' share of the market was growing. It appears we jumped the gun.

The latest data from RealtyTrac show investors are still very much in force. Institutional investors, in particular, remain a major market player. Institutional investors – REITs, private equity, and hedge funds – accounted for 14% of all sales in September, up from 9% in August. Their activity is reflected in the percentage of all-cash purchases, which represented 49% of all residential purchases in September, up from 40% in August.

Of course, we have nothing against investors, but institutional investors are a new phenomenon. In the past, investors in the single-family rental market were primarily individuals or small partnerships. In recent years, billions of dollars of institutional money has flooded the market.

Institutional investors have certainly impacted prices. We suspect their money has also lead to increased price volatility. This is something to consider should you read of institutional money entering or leaving your particular local market. When institutional money enters a market, prices can move meaningfully higher. And the opposite is true when it leaves – prices can move meaningfully lower.

Courtesy of 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.

Slowing But Still Steady

More evidence points to slowing home-price appreciation. The Federal Housing Finance Agency's (FHFA) latest data show home prices rose again in August, but the rate of increase slowed. Prices rose only 0.3% in August compared with 0.8% in July, which had been revised down from 1%.

We've been warning for some time now that the pace of home-price appreciation will likely abate. Double-digit annual price increases are unsustainable for simple economic reasons: Rising prices reduce demand. At the same time, rising prices draw in more supply, which presents more buying options and more price competition.

Supply is certainly on the rise. After trending lower through 2011 and 2012, the inventory of homes for sale has trended mostly higher through 2012, according to NAR data. We shouldn't be surprised, then, that homes are appreciating at a slower rate.

As for mortgage rates, they continued to trend lower this week. Bankrate.com's survey shows the average rate on the conforming 30-year fixed-rate loan at 4.27%. Freddie Mac's survey puts the average at 4.13%.

For the past month, we've been saying we expect the 30-year loan to fluctuate between 4.25% and 4.50%. We are obviously at the lower limit of that range, and we we don't expect rates to go much lower.

We say that because credit markets are already factoring in no tapering for the immediate future. This means most market participants don't expect the Federal Reserve to reduce its monthly purchases of Treasury notes and bonds and mortgage-backed securities (MBS) this year. The good news of continued Fed support is factored into today's mortgage rates.

Unless the economy materially worsens or the Fed ramps up its monthly purchases even more (which is unlikely), there really is no impetus for mortgage rates to fall much further. Indeed, the odds favor rates rising, because as soon as the Fed announces it will begin tapering, rates will rise. Keep in mind, the Fed will have to taper one of these days.

Of course, the rate itself is only one variable in the cost of a mortgage loan. Fees are another variable, and they could be on the rise. New rules on ability to pay are slated to hit the mortgage market in January. Unless something changes between now and then, fees borrowers pay will certainly rise because costs to lenders will rise.

To be sure, lenders are fighting back with a lobbying effort, and they appear to be making inroads. But we can never be sure in matters of politics. So the bottom line is the risk of waiting for something better tomorrow outweighs the benefit of acting on today's known lower-rate, lower-cost mortgage.

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.

Between planning Halloween costumes and buying candy for trick-or-treaters, it can be tough to squeeze the creation of super crafty Halloween décor into your schedule, too. Don’t be scared of winding up with the least decorated house on the block – we’ve got you covered!

Here are five no-hassle Halloween decorations you can make in five minutes flat:

1. No-Carve Mummy Pumpkin

Materials: medical gauze, googly eyes, scissors and spray adhesive

This year, skip the knives and transform your pumpkin into an easy-to-make mummy. Wrap gauze (cheesecloth or toilet paper work, too) around your pumpkin, pop some wiggly eyes on it, and that’s it! Tip: To help the gauze stick, give the pumpkin a quick coating with the spray adhesive between each mummy layer.

2. Acorn Pumpkins

Materials: acorns, orange acrylic paint, paint brushes and a fine-tipped permanent marker

This project is great for kids! Send your little ones out into your yard to gather acorns. Once you have a nice collection of acorns, remove all of the tops. Now it’s pumpkin time! First, paint the acorns orange and let them dry completely. Then, use the marker to draw jack-o-lantern faces on the acorns. You’re done! Place them throughout your home for some finishing touches on a Halloween display.

3. Bleeding Candles

Materials: a set of tall, white candlesticks, and one small, red candlestick

Cast a creepy glow over any room with this twist on regular candles. With a little red wax, you can give the illusion that your candlesticks are dripping blood. Place the white candlesticks in holders, and light the red candle. As the red candle wax begins to melt, tip it over the white candles. When the red “blood” will drip down the sides of the white candlesticks. Tip: Prevent a Halloween disaster by doing this over a kitchen sink or outside, and be careful not to burn yourself!

4. Glow-in-the-Dark Ghosts

Materials: white balloons, a permanent marker and a few green glow sticks

Want a last-minute, frightfully fun door decoration? First, crack and shake a few green glow sticks so they’re lit up, and then put them inside of the white balloons. Blow up the balloons and tie them closed. Then, carefully draw ghost faces with your permanent marker. Attach the glowing ghosts to your front door or tie the ends with a string to hang them from your porch railing.  

5. Candy Corn Centerpiece

Materials: one glass jar or vase, flowers or lollipops and a bag of candy corn

Is something missing from your dinner table – say perhaps, a perfect (and effortless) Halloween centerpiece? Dump the candy corn into the jar or vase, then add fall flowers or lollipops to the candy to secure them in place. Tip: You don’t have to use candy corn for this! Ghost-shaped Peeps, black licorice and gumballs all work well.

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.

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.