Real Estate Information and Homes For Sale

Renting is…. fine. But there are some drawbacks. First, when you’re signing checks over to a landlord every month, it can feel like you’re throwing money away. Second, if you own your own house, you can paint the walls, switch up the floors and have as many pets as you want without fearing for your security deposit fate.

According to the National Association of Realtors, you’re not alone if you’re lukewarm about renting – they predict 2015 is going to be “the year of the first-time home buyer.”

Don’t run out and call up a realtor just yet! Jumping the gun on buying a home is a recipe for regret and disaster.

Ask yourself the following six questions to determine if you’re really ready to pull the trigger, or if 2016 may be a better bet:

1. How Healthy Are Your Savings?

In order to qualify for a conventional mortgage, you’re expected to put down at least 5% of your down payment up front, plus a few thousand in closing costs (roughly 2-3% of the purchase price) and escrow fees which have to be paid in cold hard cash, and have money in the bank, so you’re not house poor once the deal is done.

If you don’t have the money for a down payment squared away, we recommend focusing on building up that savings account in 2015.

2. How Much Money Can You Afford to Part With Each Month?

If you’re comfortable financially, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can go out and buy a house at any price. Before going Zillow-crazy, get a realistic understanding of what you can spend overall and what that will look like monthly. For a quick breakdown of how much you can expect to spend, you can use this straightforward CNN Mortgage Calculator.

Okay, so now you have your mortgage number. That’s just the start. Unlike the Rent-Life, the Owner-Life includes paying for anything that goes wrong and all ongoing maintenance. To determine how much you should save annually in a house fund, calculate 1–3 percent of what you think your house’s initial price will be. This is the average cost of maintenance every year. So, owners of a $200,000 house should plan to budget $2,000 to $6,000 a year on ongoing upkeep and repairs.

Add the above numbers together. Can you realistically make those payments? Or are you getting over your head? If you’re already freaking out, just head back into the Renter Waters for a spell.

3. Are You Planning on Sticking Around?

If you’ve lived in one city your entire life, your family is there, you love your job and you have no plans of leaving, buying may be a great idea. But if you’re unsure about your city for the long-term, you shouldn’t buy just because a calculator says you’ll pay less than renting.

Experts recommend staying in a home for a minimum of five to seven years to actually get any value out of your real estate because the transaction costs of buying a home are so high. If you skip town in a year or two, there’s a chance you won’t break even on your mortgage and will owe more than your house is worth. Not cool.

4. Are You Preapproved?

Do you have enough cash to pay for a house? Most people don’t. Realtors know this, and most of them may set up a search for you, but they won’t spend a lot of time on wanna-be buyers who aren’t preapproved. If you don’t get preapproved for a mortgage, you’d be wasting both the realtor’s and your own time. Before you get too far into the process, set up a meeting with a mortgage professional to make sure you’re good to go.

5. What is Your Credit Score?

Some numbers, like your weight, your GPA and your credit score just feel private. Unfortunately, when it comes to getting a home loan, you’re going to have to spill the digits. Here’s why it matters: Before you can be approved for a loan, lenders take a look at your credit score to determine if you’re a safe or risky investment.

The maximum credit score you can have is 850, but only 10% of people applying for a mortgage have a score over 800. Basically, any score over 700 is seen as safe. Anything below is considered dicey, and mortgage lenders begin to say “No” when they see a score below 640. If you get into the 500 area, you’re basically only eligible for subprime loans, which come with a lot of hidden fees.

There is good news: Credit scores can be fixed! The first step is finding out what your number is right now. (Check out LearnVest for the skinny on how to get that rolling. It's free!) If it’s lower than you expected, you should consider having a conversation with a financial counselor to get back on track.

In the meantime, pay your bills on time and make sure your credit-debt ratio is less than 30% (meaning that you aren’t carrying a balance on a credit card larger than 30% of the total credit limit). And if you’re holding onto any small balances on multiple credit cards, pay them off. It’s better to hold a balance on one card, even if it’s a larger balance, than hold onto multiple small balances.

6. Is Your City a Good Spot to Buy In?

When experts talk about a hot market, that doesn’t necessarily mean your neighborhood is a hot market. In many cities, the market varies from neighborhood to neighborhood. Before you dive head first into homeownership, do your homework. Make sure you’re making a sound financial decision by buying not only in your city, but in the neighborhood of your choice. If you’re still tempted to buy in a “hipster” area and cross your fingers it pays out, read one woman’s tale of buying in an up-and-coming neighborhood.

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 Central Penn Business Journal reported the following real estate sales statistics for January 2015:

When you’re sleeping in an unfamiliar room for the first time, a good night’s sleep can be a little elusive. So how can you make sure your guests are resting comfortably when they come to stay? A few small details can make all the difference.

Here are six tips to make sure your houseguests get the best night’s sleep:

1. Help Control Noise

Sleeping in an unfamiliar place often means hearing unfamiliar sounds, and that can make it difficult to sleep at all! What sounds like background noise to you can feel like Chinese water torture to your guests, so offer white noise to help cancel it out. Add a spare fan to the room, sync up an iPod to play apps like SimplyNoise or Sleep Fan or purchase an alarm clock that plays pink noise and soothing sounds. You can also place disposable earplugs in a nightstand drawer, too.

2. Add Some Night-Lights

Even when you try to find the bathroom at night in your own home, there’s at least a 10% chance of a toe-stubbing event. For guests, it’s way higher! Before your houseguests arrive, add a night-light in the hallway or near the bathroom door to help light the way. No more stubbed toes in the middle of the night!

3. Don’t Skimp on the Pillow Options

We all have our pillow preference – some like extra firm, some like super plush. Unless you wish a terrible night’s sleep on your friends and family, when it comes to pillows, give them more options! Just copy what you see in hotel rooms: offer two medium-to-firm pillows, two medium-to-soft and a reading pillow to help prop up the neck and back for any bedtime reading.

4. Know How Much Light Enters the Room

Since you don’t sleep in your guestroom, you probably aren’t aware of it’s lighting quirks. If your guest area has south- or east-facing windows, you can expect a hearty amount of sunshine in the AM, which will piss some guests off. So make sure your guest room has easily adjustable curtains. You can also provide lightweight, disposable sleep masks (easy to find at the Dollar Store) for added comfort.

5. Change for the Seasons

A good night’s sleep for guests can often be dependent on the time of year. Summertime? Make sure the room has lighter blankets and a cooling fan near the bed. Winter months? Place a few heavy blankets at the foot of the bed and add an electric space heater. Also, if the space where your guests are staying has wood floors, place a cushy rug beside the bed.

6. Bring on the Relaxing Smells

Soothing aromas like lavender or vanilla can help houseguests wind down before bedtime. Provide candles or linen spray (homemade or store-bought) on the nightstand. Avoid any scents that are too overwhelming - sometimes less is more.

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.

First, the good news: Sales of new homes came in at 481,000 units on an annualized rate for December. This was the best December since 2007. What's more, it appears builders were selling with little discounting. The median price of a new rose 2.2% to $298,100. Year over year, the median price is up 8.2%. At the current sales pace, 5.5-months worth of inventory is on market. Inventory below six months is considered normal.

Now for the not-so-good news: The struggles in the existing-home market continue. ThePending Home Sales Index decreased 3.7% to a 100.7 reading in December. Compared to December 2013, the index is actually up, but if we go back two years, it's flat. According to NAR chief economist, Lawrence Yun, prices and inventory are still an issue. The former is up, but the latter remains down.

Of course, there is the usual caveat: All markets are local, so national numbers frequently fail to capture local reality. It is interesting, though, that the new-home market at the national level is more fundamentally sound from a historical perspective than the existing home market. This suggests to us that the dearth of first-time buyers still weighs on the existing-home market.

Despite the mixed data, we still think 2015 will shape up positively for housing – new and existing. Rates are obviously favorable. In addition, the economy continues to grow and to create more jobs. Home prices also continue to rise, but at a more normalized rate. All these variables taken together point to more housing activity in 2015.

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

It’s  a Central Banker's World; We Just Live in It

We've devoted a good deal of space over the past few months discussing central banks and monetary policy. We've focused on ours – the Federal Reserve – and theirs – the European Central Bank (ECB). These are the two most important central banks in the world.

Usually, we'd focus on matters purely housing or mortgage related – sales, prices, mortgage rates, underwriting rules, etc. Thing is, the Federal Reserve and the ECB have taken center stage. These institutions have never been as influential as they are today.

It's all about the money.

The Federal Reserve was responsible for flooding the U.S. economy with new money after the housing-market collapse in 2008. The Fed injected nearly $4 trillion through quantitative easing (QE) – buying Treasury notes and bonds and MBS with newly issued money. A drop in mortgage rates and new money flowing into housing were the intended consequences. Mortgage rates fell and housing prices rose.

We mentioned last week that the ECB had torn a page from the Fed's playbook. It will implement its own version of QE. It might seem a stretch for the European Union's central bank and its monetary policies to influence U.S. markets, but they do.

The yields on U.S. debt instruments are higher than those on European debt instruments of similar vintage and quality. This means more European money flows into U.S. debt. Prices rise and yields fall. Today, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note – an influencing instrument for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages – is below 1.8%. Not surprisingly, rates on the 30-year mortgage remain well below 4%. (Historically, the 30-year loan has averaged two percentage points more than the 10-year note.)

The ECB's commitment to easy money and low interest rates will also influence Federal Reserve policy. The best guess among most economists is that the Fed will begin raising the fed funds rate – an influential short-term rate – in June. The ECB's new monetary policy puts that guess on shakier ground. It appears more likely to us that the Fed will push back raising the fed funds rate unit the third quarter.

With all this new money sloshing around in the world's economies, it's extraordinary that consumer price inflation has failed to take off. In the United States, consumer price inflation runs below 2% annually. In Europe, deflation, not inflation, is the greater concern. Money remains in high demand. That's reflective of heightened uncertainty.

Our best guess is that interest rates in general and mortgage rates in particular will hold current lows through the first quarter. Unless there is a blockbuster jobs reports or an unexpected surged in economic growth, there is simply no reason for rates to rise. That said, it's always worth remembering that markets are marked by trend-reversing surprises. Therefore, there are no guarantees.

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.

So you just bought a new home. Congratulations! Break out the bubbly and celebrate.

But, once the champagne flutes are put away, it’s time to get down to business. We know that between daily chores and preventative maintenance, it’s easy to forget a few things when you’re getting in the groove of new homeownership. Let’s refresh your memory!

You found our original list so helpful that we’ve doubled it. The best time to tackle these must-do items is before the ink dries on your mortgage, but they’re worth doing even if you’re a veteran homeowner.

Allen Shulman, custom home builder of 25 years, said, “The biggest mistake homeowner’s make is succumbing to what I like to call the ‘eyes wide shut’ syndrome. They see the problem, they understand that it’s only going to get worse, and then they do nothing in the hope that it will simply go away."

To prevent a costly problem, don't ignore warning signs! 

Shulman adds, "A customer of mine once noticed that there was water in the cabinet under their kitchen sink and just assumed that they had spilled something and it was still wet. They did nothing. A few weeks later, they notice that the wood floor near their kitchen sink was starting to buckle. Long story short, the slow leak from their kitchen faucet caused significant damage to their wood floor costing them thousands of dollars."

If Shulman's customer would have addressed the issue when they first discovered it, they would have nipped the issue in the bud and saved themselves time and money.

Here are 14 tasks that will help you stay on top of homeownership (and prevent a money-sucking disaster): 

1. Save for Unexpected Problems

You can’t stop things like your dishwasher from breaking, but you can set some cash aside to pay for unexpected replacements. As a general rule of thumb, you want to save 1-3 percent of your home’s initial price each year so that you can afford unexpected problems.

2. Form an Inspection Habit

Detecting certain issues early (like a rodent infestation or mold growth) can be the difference between a simple fix and an unaffordable disaster. Take the time to properly inspect your furnace, basement, attic, insulation and roof at least once during that first year. Then, make an annual habit of it! Tip: If you would rather have an annual inspection conducted by a professional home inspector, visit Angie's List to find the best local service provider to fit your needs. 

3. Buy a Bunch of Furnace Filters

Changing your furnace filter regularly is one of the easiest ways you can save money (since your furnace will last longer) and improve your health (since the air you breathe will be cleaner). But remembering to pick up a filter from the hardware store every few months isn’t always so easy. Nip that problem in the bud by purchasing in bulk! Take a look at your furnace and write down the filter size, then order enough to last for a few years (the exact number you need will vary depending on the type of furnace you have). 

4. Get to Know Your Appliances

Just like cars and televisions, the appliances in your home have different life expectancies. For example, furnaces usually last for 15-20 years, but water heaters tend to start wearing down after 10 years. It’s worth figuring out how old each appliance in your house is because then you can plan ahead for their replacements. A new furnace can cost as much as $5,000, so a little heads up can really help!

5. Take Advantage of Tax Credits

Did you know that you can receive credits for things like installing solar panels or purchasing Energy Star appliances? Do some research early on about the different tax credits that may apply to you, and then reap the benefits when tax time rolls around! 

6. Start Keeping Records

Every improvement or repair you make to your home – from adding caulk around your bathtub to installing a new roof – will increase its resale value. Make sure all of your hard work pays off by keeping track right from the start! 

7. Beef Up Your Insurance

Take a good look at your homeowners insurance policy and look for any relevant gaps (this is a situation where professional advice can be really helpful). Two areas of coverage to consider are flood and fire protection, which aren’t always included in standard policies. Tip: It’s also worth taking another look at your car insurance, because you now have a much bigger asset (your home) to lose in the event of a lawsuit. 

8. Change Your Locks

You never know how generous the previous homeowner was with their house keys. To be safe, re-key all locks and change your garage door code. Also check to make sure all windows and slider doors lock properly. For added protection, you may want to consider installing a security system as well.

9. Purchase Fire Extinguishers

If a fire starts at home, are you ready? Fire experts recommend you keep at least one fire extinguisher in your kitchen and one in your garage (if you have one). We recommend keeping one extinguisher on every level of your home, so you can extinguish any fires as fast as possible. Extinguishers can be purchased for as little as $20, so there's no excuse not to have them!

10. Replace Your Washer Hoses

Check the hoses that came with your washing machine. If they’re rubber, it's a good idea to replace them with steel braided hoses. These cost $5-$10 more than rubber, but last a lot longer and won't split open.

11. Test Your Smoke and CO Detectors

Your new home probably has smoke detectors. (If not, purchase those, too!) Do they work? This is incredibly important, because about 62 percent of home-related deaths occur because the home did not have working smoke alarms.

To test the detectors, locate the "test" or "reset." If you are having trouble finding it, refer to the manufacturer's instructions. Press the button (you may need a paper clip). If it goes off, your detector is working. The test usually runs about 30 seconds. If your detector doesn’t work, try putting in new batteries and repeat.

12. Check for Radon

Radon is an invisible, odorless, and tasteless gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in the ground, so you won’t know that your home has a radon problem unless you test for it. What are the odds? Well, radon problems affect an estimated one out of every 15 homes in the U.S., and causes more than 20,000 deaths annually due to lung cancer. There is good news – a radon test only costs about $30.

If you’d rather not do it yourself, you can hire a qualified tester. Some states maintain a list of radon service providers that are registered, certified, or licensed to test. To learn more about your states requirements for contractors and to find a contractor, click here.

13. Shorten Your Dryer Vent Hose

This one-time fix will cut 20 percent off of your drying time (and save you money in the long run)! Remove the vent hose from the back of your dryer and shorten it using some tin snips, tape and a couple other household items. By decreasing the length of the hose, you reduce the amount of work it takes for your dryer to expel steam and clothes will dry quicker.

14. Check the Size of Your House Numbers

If your home’s address number isn’t visible from the main road (or it’s too small to read), the police and fire department won’t be able to find your house in an emergency. Safety inspectors recommend that your numbers be at least 3-6 inches tall and a color that contrasts with the exterior of your house. Seconds and minutes can make a huge difference in these dangerous situations, so protect your family by making sure your home is easy to identify.

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.

All finished binging on Friends? Yeah, us too. And now we’re ready for something a little more...practical. Care to join us? You’ll get all of the chill-factor with none of the guilt. (Because you’re being “productive,” get it?)

So don your sweatpants, ditch your bra (if you wear one) and chill out to these shows that’ll help make your home awesome:

If You’re Thinking About Going Minimalist...

Tiny: A Story About Living Small

Have you ever felt the urge to sell your stuff and downsize your life? These people actually did just that. Live vicariously and take away some minimalist tips.

If HGTV is Your Jam...

House Hunters Collection  + House Hunters International

It’s the home buying classic you know and love! Follow intrepid couples as they pair up with a realtor and try to find their dream home out in the world.

Flea Market Flip

Do you get a little tingle of excitement every time you pass a yard sale sign or a flea market? Then you’ll dig this show! Laura Spencer and her team scour flea markets looking for furniture and decor they can reinvent.

Property Brothers

This show is all about transforming fixer-uppers into dream homes. It’s fun to watch a family start with a wish list for their home, and watch (some) of it come to fruition.

If You Want to Improve Your Mood...

Happy

Happiness can be elusive, but the director of the award winning film Happy is determined to find out what gives people the feels. Being happier at home is just a click away.

If You Like History, Palaces and Castles...

Secrets of Henry VIII’s Palace

If it’s been awhile since you took a history class, Henry VIII is the one that had six wives beheaded. Do we have your attention now? While this documentary is full of juicy secrets, it’s also full of royal design tips.  

Secrets of Highclair Castle

Downtown Abbey is a real place called Highclair Castle, and it holds more than secrets. In fact, it holds centuries-old Egyptian relics - get this - in its walls. A previous owner bankrolled the expedition that found King Tut’s tomb, and the castle is full of long-forgotten relics and other interesting treasures.

If You Want to Improve Your Cooking...

The Mind of a Chef

Have you ever wanted to get inside the head of the food-obsessed? Here’s your chance. Throw in the fact that this documentary is narrated by our boy Anthony Bourdain, and it is basically gold for the foodies out there.

Somm

What’s harder to pass than the Bar, the GMAT and the PRAXIS rolled into one? It’s called the Master Sommelier exam, it’s about wine, and it’s the toughest test to pass in the world. Follow along as three sommeliers try their luck on the test and learn some wine knowledge along the way.

Spinning Plates

Good food can only take a restaurant so far. Success is really made by the people within the restaurant. A kitchen works the same way - think organization and cleaning regimes - so take a page out of these three amazing restaurant owners’ book.

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.

Falling mortgage rates have ignited a mini financing boom. The Mortgage Bankers Association reports mortgage applications were up a whopping 49% in the week ending January 9. Refinances were up 66% week over week. Just as encouraging, purchase applications were up 24%.

Of course, one week does not a trend make, but we like the potential for mortgage (and home sales) activity to rise this year.

First, there is the strength in job grow and economic activity we mention earlier. Second, more households are in a financial position to service more debt. The Federal Reserve reports that household debt and financial obligations as a percentage of personal income is near multi-decade lows. In fact, mortgage debt is only 4.67% of disposable income on average. For comparison, it was over 7% back in 2007.

More people working, more people in a sound financial position, cheap lending rates, and leveling home-price growth all offer persuasive evidence that 2015 could turn out to be a banner year for housing and mortgage lending.

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.

It's All About the Interest Rate

The employment numbers for December were released last Friday. As expected, the economy created another 200,000+ jobs for the month, which has been the case for 11 of the past 12 months. To be specific, 252,000 new jobs were created in December.

December's job gains has dropped the unemployment rate to 5.6% – the lowest it has been in seven years. 2014 turned out to be a darn-good year for anyone seeking a job. In fact, 2014 was the best year for private-sector job growth since 1997.

The economy is obviously doing well. Usually with rising economic output comes rising interest rates. This occurs for a couple reasons: namely rising loan demand and rising inflation risk.

But here we are in the second week of January 2015 and interest rates are very low, and in some cases at an all-time low. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note is down to 1.8%. That's as low as it has been in two years. Meanwhile, the 30-year Treasury bond is down to 2.4%, which is indeed a record low.

Not surprisingly, mortgage rates are also at a multi-year low. Bankrate.com's survey shows the 30-year fixed-rate loan averaged 3.8% over the past week. Freddie Mac's survey has the 30-year loan averaging 3.66%.

Last week, we mentioned that low consumer-price inflation is the principal reason rates remain so low. Falling oil prices are an obvious factor in their being a dearth of inflation. Many consumers are paying less than $2.00 for a gallon of gas these days. Depending on where you live this is $1.00 to $1.50 less than what you paid this time last year. Because oil is so pervasive throughout industry, lower oil prices are helping to keep inflation muted across the economic spectrum.

In Europe, China, Japan, and the United Kingdom, lower oil prices have not only kept inflation at bay, they've darn near extinguished it.

We also mentioned last week that shorter-term German bonds were actually being quoted with negative yields. The same negative yields are being seen in Japan. Given record low yields on many foreign government bonds, the yields on U.S. Treasury notes and bonds look generous in comparison. This means demand for U.S. debt will remain high, which means yields will remain low.

Because of low consumer-price inflation in the States and possible deflation abroad, lending rates are unlikely to move anywhere, except down. We don't expect to see mortgage rates rising anytime soon. That is, we don't expect to see longer-term rates – rates on the 15-year and 30-year loans – rising anytime soon.

But we could see pressure on short-term rates. The Federal Reserve is expected to begin raising the federal funds rate by mid-year. This means short-term loans, particularity the 5/1 ARM and adjustable-rate HELOCs, could see rates rise.

In other words, locking in a longer-term fixed-rate loan appears the least risky, and possibly least expensive, financing option in this market.

Information provided by Jessica Regan.

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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.

Not only does a paperless system kill clutter and clear up storage space, it can also keep you organized, reduce stress and save time when searching for long-lost documents. Sounds great, right? Well, when you’re staring at a decade’s worth of paper, going paperless can seem daunting and not worth it.

Relax! Say goodbye to paper with this process:

Part One: Deal With Your Current Paper Problem

1. Invest in the Correct Tools

Before you think about incoming mail, deal with the paper you’ve already accumulated. You’ll need two tools: a scanner and Evernote. While the scanner is an investment, Evernote’s Premium will cost you less than a fancy Starbucks latte ($5 / month). And Premium is worth it. With that $5 a month, you’ll be able to scan all of your documents at once for keywords, so you’ll never dig through recipes for that one chicken salad with the pecans again. (But more on that later.)

2. Organize Your Paper Into Three Piles

Take all of your paper, and create three piles: 1) Toss, 2) Scan and 3) Keep.

The "toss" pile will consist of things like the assignments you did in high school, those old pieces of scratch paper and the love letter from your ex. Basically, the trash you hold onto for no good reason.

In the "scan" pile, you’ll put everything you want to hold onto, like bank statements, tax information and favorite recipes. This will be the largest pile.

Finally, in "keep" pile, you’ll place birth certificates, marriage license(s) and passports. This is the pile for the uber-important stuff that you actually need in hard-copy form.

3. Get Scanning

Toss or shred pile number one. Set pile number three aside. Now it’s number two’s turn. Time to get scanning! We recommend scanning everything in the "scan" pile directly into Evernote. This will save you the headache of trying to keep up with a folder organization system on your hard drive. Plus, (like I mentioned before) Premium will scan everything for keywords, so you won’t have to rely on memory to know your organization system. Boom!

It gets even better. Once everything is scanned into Evernote, you can access your documents from your smartphone, tablet or Evernote.com. So, next time you’re pulled over, you’ll know for sure that you have your proof of insurance handy.

4. Ditch the Filing Cabinet

Now, give the "keep" pile some love. This pile should be relatively small, so a big ‘ole clunky filing cabinet is unnecessary. Instead, store your important docs in a firebox or in a bank deposit box.

Part Two: Make a Plan for Paper That’ll Arrive Later

1. Switch to Electronic Bills and Bank Statements

Most companies that send you recurring bills or receipts, such as banks or insurance companies, also offer the option to receive statements online. Take them up on it! Making the switch usually only takes a few minutes. Tip: Drink something with a huge amount of caffeine in it, and do all your accounts at once.

2. Change Your Magazine and Newspaper Subscriptions

What happens after you read your monthly Vogue? What about the Sunday NYT? If the answer is typically “trash,” switch your subscription to online only. You’ll be able to enjoy the same great photos, content and crossword puzzles from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

3. Create a Workflow You’ll Stick With

Mail happens. So do bills. And clipped recipes, and birthday cards, and "save the date" invitations. All of a sudden, your paper situation is bad again. To prevent this from happening, make a plan now! Use a three-tiered paper shelf to stay organized. Remember those piles you made earlier? Assign one to each level of shelf. Then, once a week, take ten minutes to either toss, scan or keep.

4. Ask for Digital Receipts

If you’re a receipt tosser (you know who you are), then don’t even bother - it will save you paper to just decline a receipt. But, if you keep receipts for tax purposes, always ask for a digital receipt before the cashier rings up your items. Create an email account just for digital receipts that’s quick and easy to say. Not only will you never lose a receipt, you’ll have them all in one place when it’s tax time.

5. Download an App for Notes and To-Do Lists

Paper clutter isn’t just about papers. Sometimes, to-do lists and scratch paper get in the mix and makes things really messy. Plan ahead and download a to-do list app like Any.Do or TeuxDeux before you jot down thoughts or activities. With a digital to do list, you’ll be able to search your lists for keywords quickly and reorder your list based on changing priorities.

6. Visit the Library

Calling all bookworms: Sometimes your favorite tomes create clutter. Instead of buying new paperbacks every time you’re itching for a read, visit the library. You’ll save precious shelf space and money.

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.