Real Estate Information Archive

We all do it. Let’s talk about it: disinfecting toilets.

If you’re doing the dirty deed anyway, you might as well make the most out of your time, right? Knock out two chores at once by tackling your grout while you’re cleaning the toilet. All you need is a scrub brush and bleach.

Toilets should be cleaned once a week. Why? Well, we all make a daily stop at toilet town, and over the course of seven days the porcelain throne gets grimy. So pencil in a cleaning sesh once a week.

Grout is less predictably dirty, so keep an eye on it. If it looks dirty, give it a scrub. Not dirty this week, though? Chill instead of doing step number two.

Here’s your three-step routine:

1. Pour a ½ cup of bleach into the toilet bowl. Let it sit for ten minutes. Note: If bleach isn’t your thing, check out some alternatives in step three of this to-do.

2. While you’re waiting, dip the scrub brush into the bleach and tackle your grout. A few scrubs should make your grout sparkling clean and handle any residue.

3. When the ten minutes are up, scrub away at the toilet with your brush. Tip: Don’t forget toclean your brush afterwards so it’s ready for next week.

That’s it! Bask in your sparkling bathroom.

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.

Getting to the heart of a complicated financial matter in a few paragraphs is no easy feat, but we’ll try. After all, interest rates are an important variable in housing and lending.  It’s a good idea to understand how the Federal exerts its influence on our lending rates.

The Fed has been a central and pivotal figure since the 2008 financial crisis. It has moved to lower interest rates to levels rarely seen.

The usual way to lower rates is to simply move the range on the federal funds rate – a key overnight lending rate for commercial banks. The Fed influences the fed funds rate by adjusting the interest rate it pays banks on the reserves banks hold at the Fed.

Today, the Fed pays 50 basis points on these reserves, which was raised from 25 basis points in December. The fed funds rate, in turn, adjusts to reflect the rate the Fed pays on bank reserves.  No bank will lend for less than the Fed pays on reserves, so the fed funds rate adjusts to what the Fed pays on bank reserves.  Other lending rates adjust to the fed funds rate over time.

Buying and selling securities are other means to influence interest rates.

When the Fed buys a mortgage-backed security or a Treasury security, it pays with newly created money.  The Fed buys these securities from banks and primary dealers. The money is credited to the seller’s account at the Fed. This creates liquidity – more money to lend.  At the same time, the Fed’s demand for these securities raises their price and lowers their yield. Interest rates tend to fall.  The opposite occurs when the Fed sells securities; rates rise. Other interest rates take their lead from what is paid on these low-risk securities.

Mortgage rates tend to take their immediate lead from long-term Treasury securities, particularly the 10-year U.S. Treasury note.  The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is typically quoted around two percentage points higher than the yield on the 10-year note. This is why we frequently refer to trends in the yield on the 10-year note to get an idea of where mortgage rates are heading.

So, if you want to get an idea of where mortgage rates are heading, keep an eye on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield (found readily at Yahoo Finance) and the effective federal funds rate (found at Bloomberg). Both will give you an idea of what to anticipate in our lending market.

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.

Starts Still Spinning Wheels

It’s encouraging to see that home builder sentiment remains positive. The Wells Fargo/National Association of Home Builders Sentiment Index posted at 58 in April.  This is the third-consecutive month the index has posted at that number. (A posting above 50 is a positive sign.)

Home builders are optimistic about the future, but for the present, activity has slowed. Housing starts fell a sharp 8.8%, to a 1.089-million annualized rate, in March.  Permits, which are indicators of where activity is heading, show similar weakness. They were down 7.7%, at a 1.086-million annualized rate, last month.

That said, the long-term trend remains positive. Starts are up 14.2% year over year. What’s more, there’s still plenty of room to grow. The long-term average annual start rate is 1.5 million. Starts could increase by 50% and that would bring us only to historical norms.

Mortgage rates remain accommodating to both home starts and sales.  They continue to hold near lows established a few weeks ago.  Best execution rates on the 30-year fixed-rate loan are still regularly quoted below 3.75% in many parts of the country. What’s more, rates show little inclination to move beyond the tight range they’ve held since the beginning of April.

The good news is that more buyers are taking advantage of low rates. Though purchase applications were off slightly last week, they are still up 17% year over year.  Purchase applications for new homes have been particularly robust. They were 17% for March, and that was a month-over-month increase.  Perhaps that’s the reason for builder optimism.

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.

Superfood, or super unhealthy? Some of the eats in your fridge or pantry may be doing more harm than good for your body. Tons of recent health studies have revealed new facts about everyday foods, from improving your mood to putting you at risk for tooth decay. These days, some of the most common foods have big health secrets.

Time to check your cupboards! Here are eleven health secrets found in everyday foods.

Surprisingly unhealthy:

Granola Bars

It may be the classic crunchy hippie snack, but it’s worth checking the label next time you stock up on granola bars. Just like Snickers or cookies, many granola bars contain high fructose corn syrup, which has been linked to weight gain. Some granola bars even contain the same amount of sugar as a candy bar!

Fruit Juice

Some types of fruit juice can be deceptively bad for you. This is partly because of what they contain (tons of sugar!), but it’s because of what they DON’T contain (fiber!). Fiber gets lost during the “juicing” process, so if you drink a lot of fruit juice say, after a workout, you could find yourself in an irritable and sluggish way because you’re essentially experiencing a sugar crash.

Coffee Creamer

Most coffee creamers contain trans-fats in the form of hydrogenated oil. This oil can raise cholesterol and has also been linked to poor memory in younger adults. Some coffee creamers also contain titanium dioxide, a chemical that’s frequently used in sunblock as a UV radiation blocker. No thanks! Instead, try half-and-half, almond milk, or just plain ol’ milk.

Canned Soup

Before you reach for that chicken noodle or vegetable minestrone, do a double check. The canned soup in your cupboard might be loaded with sodium, and cream-based soups are often chockfull of fat. Check the label, and opt for low-sodium tomato and veggie-based broths when you can.  

Chewing Gum

Sugar-free chewing gum is better for your teeth (for obvious reasons), but there’s actually another reason to rethink the chewing gum you buy! Even sugar-free gum can contain acidic flavorings that can cause dental erosion on your teeth. Ouch!

And now, some surprisingly AWESOME foods:

Strawberries

Sure, this vibrant fruit has high levels of Vitamin C, but did you know it can also help whiten your smile? The astringency in strawberries can act as a natural teeth whitener, helping to reduce tooth discoloration caused by coffee and other staining food and drink.

Chickpeas

You’ve probably been adding chickpeas – also called garbanzo beans – to your salads for years. As it turns out, they are known to aid in melatonin production (a hormone that helps regulate your sleep cycle). They’ve also been proven to reduce inflammation and boost memory.

Tomatoes

This is totally a shocker: tomatoes can help scars fade! They promote tissue growth and provide nutrients that can help cuts heal faster, too.

Sweet Potatoes

Do you dream of shiny, luscious locks of hair? Maybe it’s time to add sweet potatoes to your diet. These potatoes are full of Vitamin A and they can help produce healthy scalp oils that promote natural, rapid hair growth and shinier hair. That’s because sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene, a healthy compound that promotes hair growth.

Rosemary

You no doubt have this herb in your spice rack, but rosemary does much more than spruce up savory foods. It also helps rid the body of bacteria that causes body odor. The odor-fighting properties of rosemary are sometimes also used alongside antiperspirants as a topical solution, too.

Walnuts

If the W-nut isn’t a common item in your diet right now, you may want to reconsider. These healthy nuts can produce serotonin, a chemical that our brain releases associated with happiness. They also contain several rare antioxidants that are hard to come by in other foods.

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?

Even when your TV is turned off, it (like most electrical devices) is still using power if it’s plugged in. In fact, the Department of Energy estimates that Americans waste $4 billion a year on “vampire electronics." When you consider that the cost comes out to $130 per household, unplugging at night seems like a no-brainer. Here’s how to identify and conveniently power down the biggest offenders.

HOW TO:

1. Look for remote controls. Remote controls are a sign of an extra-active device – one that’s waiting and prepared to respond at the click of a button. Among these devices, plasma TVs are the greatest energy offenders, costing about $165 a year for standby power consumption alone! Power these puppies down at night. Note:We’ll make an exception for the DVR, because it needs to remain “On” in order to record those hilarious late night shows.
2. Use a power strip. For those gluttonous remote control devices near one another (like your TV, Apple TV or X-Box), plug them into a single surge protector to make turning them on and off a breeze. Better yet, there are now smart options likeBelkin's Conserve Socket, which turns off up to five peripheral devices automatically when the TV is powered down.
3. Eliminate chargers. If you’re actually charging your cell phone, tablet or camera battery at night, then disregard this step. However, when those items are fully juiced, pull the plug on their chargers. Tip: Start the charge session a few hours before bedtime so you can unplug before hitting the lights.
4. Cover kitchen sockets. You may not want to turn some kitchen devices (like coffee makers and microwaves) off at night because it’s a hassle to turn them back on (hello, flashing 12:00!). Instead, use energy-saving outlet switches. These magical gadgets draw zero power when switched off, but restore devices to their full, time-correct glory when flipped on.

 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.

There are two big accents in your home that you may be ignoring.

When’s the last time you took a look at your interior doors and trim? For an easy, inexpensive room refresh, consider painting an interior door or trim. A quick paint job for both will totally transform a room, making this area of your home kinda like the dark horse of decor accents.

Use these tips when you’re ready to get started.

When Painting Interior Doors

1. Choose a paint color that’s the same tone as your walls. For example, if you have a lighter, pastel color on your walls, keep it the same for your door. A bright, contrasting color will make the room feel small and choppy.

2. You don’t always need to remove doors to paint them. Removing a door from it’s hinges will prevent drips and runs, but let’s face it – doors are heavy and can be difficult to remove. So it’s totally okay to paint them in place, as long as you’re careful!

3. Spread out a drop cloth or an old sheet underneath your door where you’ll be doing the painting. This will prevent any damage to your floor.

4. Remove the doorknobs. No need to try to awkwardly attempt to cover up the door hardware with painter’s tape - just remove them completely. Pro Tip: Now’s the time toswitch up your doorknob designs!

When Painting Your Trim

1. Before you even break out the paintbrush, make sure to clean your baseboards.

2. When choosing a color, use a stark white to brighten up a room and a cream or off-white to create warmth.

3. Shine a light. Take a flashlight and follow along the perimeter of your baseboards to help spot defects or dents. Circle them with a pencil.

4. Before you paint, smooth down areas with a gentle rubber-sanding block. Then, fill in blemishes with wood filler.

5. When you paint, start from the corner of the room and work your way out. Re-up the paint on your brush every 12 inches or so. Pro Tip: If you’re painting window trim, avoid brushing your paintbrush against an edge, as this will create a buildup of paint that will drip.

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.