Real Estate Information Archive

When it comes to 4^th of July gatherings, the old adage “the more, the merrier” almost always applies. With humans, that is. The thing is, insects also love a good party, but they’re much less fun to hang out with than your friends and family.

To avoid spending your holiday swatting at six-legged party crashers, keep these tips in mind:

1. Use Marigold Centerpieces

Not only are marigolds an attractive accessory, they’re also natural insect repellants. Placing a pot of them on the table will keep bees and other bugs from milling around your tasty 4^th of July treats.

2. Keep Food Covered

Speaking of treats, your guests won’t be the only ones attracted to your watermelon slices and potato salad. Keep bugs from sampling the spread by covering dishes with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

3. Place Cucumbers on the Ground 

To keep ants from scaling the table, place slices of cucumber (which ants hate) on the ground surrounding its legs. Tip: If you don’t want to confuse your guests with strangely-placed vegetables, grate the cucumber into fine shreds so that it is camouflaged in the grass.

4. Distance the Trash

Placing the garbage can near your eating area is a logical-but-buggy choice because trash is a major pest magnet. To spare your guests unnecessary swatting efforts, keep your waste covered and away from the action.

5. Grill with Herbs 

Sage and rosemary smell dreamy to us, but they’re a bug’s worst nightmare. Placing these herbs directly on the coals of the grill when barbecuing (AKA “The BBQ Bomb”) will have your human guests gathering around and insects fleeing for the neighbors’ yard.

6. Garden Smart 

If you have a garden, plan ahead and plant natural bug-repellants like lavender, citronella, spearmint and chrysanthemum so that they’ll be in full bloom by the time your party rolls around. Tip: If you’re late to the planting game, you can still buy these plants in pots and place them strategically around the yard.

Existing home sales account for the majority of sales and mortgage-finance activity, but new home sales and construction contribute more to overall economic growth.

Therefore, we were someone disappointed that housing starts eased in May, with starts falling 6.5% month over month to a 1.001 million annualized rate. Single-family starts dropped 5.9% after a 4.6% rise in April. Permits followed a similar pattern, falling 6.4% month over month. This suggests starts could tread water over the next month or two.

That said, we could still see a pick up in starts based on home builder sentiment. The National Association of Home Builders' confidence index rose four points to a seasonally adjusted 49 in June. The future sales component also moved higher, up 3 points, to 59. This is the best reading since January. This is particularly encouraging, because the future matters more than the past.

Topping our wish list, though, is rising purchase mortgage activity. Unfortunately, purchase applications – after posting a couple weeks of gains – decreased 5% in the Mortgage Bankers Associations' latest survey. With institutional buyers (cash buyers) pulling back, we want to see the individual owner-occupied buyer – the buyer likely to take on mortgage – move into the lead. We still haven't seen that. Until we do, we don't expect to see continual improvements in the housing numbers.

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.

Bond markets were given a slight jolt this week on unexpectedly high consumer-price inflation.

Specifically, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) jumped 0.4% month over month in May. This was the largest monthly increase since February 2013. The latest increase in consumer prices lifted annual CPI to 2.1%. This is within the Federal Reserve's tolerable inflation range, but it still raised a few eyebrows.

Eyebrows were raised because inflation influences interest rates. When inflation rises, bond yields rise as well. At the same time, bond prices fall. Investors want to be compensated for lost purchasing power over time (which is the result of inflation). If investors anticipate higher inflation, they will demand a higher interest rate.

The CPI was released Tuesday, and mortgage rates rationally rose. But they've actually eased back since. When we look at the national averages we don't see much change week over week: Bankrate.com's survey has the 30-year fixed-rate loan at 4.33%, a basis point lower than the previous week. Freddie Mac's survey pegs the 30-year loan at 4.17%, a three-basis point decrease.

To be sure, the national surveys unlikely captured the full impact on rates when the CPI was released. (The 10-year U.S. Treasury note serves as a good proxy for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. You can see that the 10-year note's yield spiked higher .) But there is a mitigating factor for rates to remain subdued – low Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth.

We've been cautiously optimistic that growth would accelerate this year. Indeed, we've been encouraged by the trend in job growth, with the economy adding 200,000-plus new jobs each month for the past three months. This seemed like a good omen.

Today, we are a little more cautious and a little less optimistic. This past week, the Fed cut its growth prediction to 2.2% from 3% for 2014. That's a sharp reduction and reflects the 1% economic contraction that occurred in the first quarter. The reduction also suggests the Fed is still wary that widespread predictions for an economic growth breakout will not occur.

Low growth, in turn, will hold inflation at bay, because loan demand will remain muted. For anyone unfamiliar with how our banking system – which is based on fractional reserves – works, more lending increases the money supply. More money chasing the same amount of goods and services eventually leads to consumer-price inflation.

Today, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage is as close to 3.5% as it is to 5% – the year-end prediction we proffered in January. So do we still think we'll hit 5% by the end of December? We have to confess that it's appearing less likely. That said, keep an eye on the monthly employment numbers, which are released the first Friday of every month. Should the economy continue to create jobs at a 200,000-plus rate each month, 5% on the 30-year remains a possibility.

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 can save up to 10 percent on your energy bill by targeting your energy hogs and unplugging them when you aren't using them regularly! While refrigerators and air conditioners consume the most energy, there are many small appliances that consume large amounts of unnecessary energy, too. These ‘vampire’ products cannot be turned off without being unplugged, and draw power 24 hours a day.

1. If you want to know what current energy hogs you’re using, buy a low-cost wattmeter to measure the devices in your home.

2. Identify the vampire appliances in your house. If you don't use the following appliances regularly, unplug them!
    
3. Computers. Whether you have a desktop or a laptop (or both), your computer is a Dracula-level energy vampire. By turning your computer off instead of letting it idle or sleep, you can reduce its energy usage by as much as 250 percent.
    
4. Toaster. Once your crispy toast is on your plate, there’s no need to leave your toaster on. Unplug it until it’s time for your next snack.
    
5. Cell phones. Even when your phone is plugged-in and fully charged, it’s sapping energy from your outlet. Make a point to unplug your cell phone once the battery is full. Same goes for the charger.
    
6. DVR and cable box. Even when your cable setup isn’t recording and is turned off by remote control it uses a whopping 43.46 watts an hour. When you’re going to sleep or leaving the house for a while, unplug your setup completely.
    
7. Coffee machine. You may take your cup of java to go in the morning, but your coffee machine hangs out all day draining power. Unplug it once you have your brew, or go classy and switch to a French press!
    
8. To make unplugging appliances easier, consider using a switchable power strip to easily unplug a cluster of cords all at once. If there are energy hogs you aren't use regularly, plug them into the power strip and get in the habit of switching it off.

Investment is just as important as consumption in driving growth. Indeed, investment sets the stage for consumption. You invest to produce, and what is produced is consumed.

This brings us to residential real estate investment, which has been on the upswing since mid-2010, but it still has a long way to go. In 1999, the housing sector was investing over $600 billion annually. Today, that figure is less than $500 billion.

This suggests that there is plenty of room for more growth and overall housing improvement. The peak that was achieved in late 2005 has been offset by a decade of low investment. We think housing is well-positioned to increase investment, which will increase housing supply, housing consumption, and overall housing activity.

We say that because we think demand will pick up in the second half of 2014 and continue into 2015. As we note, job growth is on the upswing, which points to an upswing in the overall economy.

In other words, the positive trend in the labor market, and even that in the mortgage market, will eventually set housing on its own positive trend.

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.

We've been keeping a close on employment numbers since the 2009 recession. Many times in these pages we've noted that as job growth goes, so goes the economy... and, of course, so goes housing.

Job growth is finally going the way we want. The economy added 217,000 new jobs in May, with the private sector by far leading the increase, adding 216,000 new jobs. The gains in May come on top the 282,000 new jobs in April and the 203,000 in March.

This is good news, because we haven't seen monthly job growth continually exceed 200,000 each month until recently. To sustain a recovery, the economy needs to add 200,000-or-more jobs each month. With the recent gains, total employment is now 98,000 above the pre-recession peak and at an all-time high. (Though it's worth noting that the population continues to grow as well: 10 years ago there 290 million of us; today there are 317 million).

Interestedly, another month of strong job growth hasn't had much impact on mortgage rates. Rates moved up this past week, but only slightly. Looking at the national averages, Bankrate.com's survey shows the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.34%, which is two basis points higher than the previous week. Freddie Mac's survey shows the 30-year loan averaged 4.20%, a six-basis-point increase. Rates are still very reasonable.

More borrowers took advantage of low mortgages last week. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reports that application activity for the week ending June 6 was up strongly. Week over week, refinances were up 11%, while purchase applications were up 9%. This is one of the strongest weekly gains in months.

Our enthusiasm is somewhat tempered, though. Too many times we've seen purchase applications string together two or three weeks of gains only to reverse course. But with institutional buyers (the cash buyers) pulling back, we are cautiously optimistic the individual buyer – using mortgage financing – will pick up the slack. Recent job growth is behind our optimism.

Given recent job data, we wouldn't be surprised to see mortgage-purchase activity trend higher. More people working is obviously a plus. At the same time, mortgage credit continues to avail itself to more people. The MBA, which produces the Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI), reports that the MCAI rose in May to 115.1, from 113.8 in April. So, yes, underwriting standards are easing, and actually have been easing over the past two years when you consider the MCAI base was 100 when it was introduced in March 2012.

This isn't a surprised. As the economy improves (which it has), lenders become more willing to extend loans, and to extend loans to lower-rated borrowers. This is another positive trend we've seen developing in the past two years, as evinced by the MCAI.

The trends we see in job growth and mortgage lending bode well for housing, which is why we remain bullish on housing.

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.

Whether you have a John Deere that’s been with your family for generations or a brand-new Craftsman, you’ve probably been annoyed by the sight of freshly cut grass stuck to the bottom of your lawn mower. But did you know that annoyance can potentially damage your mower, too?

It’s true! When grass gets built up and clumps together, it can prevent your mower from working at its full potential.

Prevent grass from sticking to your lawn mower with a few simple steps:

1. Remove Old Grass from Your Mower

Use a wire brush or a garden hose to remove any built up grass that is already on your lawn mower wheels or underneath the lawn mower deck. Bonus: You’ll be cleaning your lawn mower at the same time!

2. Spray Vegetable Oil

Give the mower time to dry. Then, spray household cooking spray on the wheels and underside of your lawn mower (near the blades). Coat all surfaces evenly. Note: If you don’t have any cooking spray handy, pour vegetable oil onto an old rag and use the rag to apply oil to the mower, instead. Just be sure to use thick gardening gloves to protect your hands from any sharp pieces.

3. Repeat After Each Use

Mow your lawn as you normally would, and then add another coat of oil when you’re done. Continue to give your lawn mower a light oil coating every time you’ve finished mowing lawn. That’s it! 

If you were handed keys to a motorcycle right now, would you assume you could drive it? For most of us, the answer is no – not without some guidance. Your home is no different!

If you’re the proud owner of a new home, avoid making these five costly assumptions:

1. Do-It-Yourself is Always the Way to Go

When it comes to decorating, doing it yourself is usually the most cost-effective option. Beyond that, it’s important to know your DIY limits. Unless you’re trained, don’t take on an electrical or plumbing project on your own!

Not only is it dangerous, it could wind up costing you more than you expected to purchase the necessary tools and materials or fix potential problems. It pays to hire a professional service provider for any job that requires plumbing or electrical work. 

2. Fire Isn’t a Real Threat

According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 400,000 United States homes caught fire last year, resulting in more than $8.5 billion of damage. If you’re a new homeowner, make fire safety a priority.

Buy a fire extinguisher for every level of your home and one for your garage. Make sure you have working smoke alarms, and test them regularly to keep your family (and your property) safe.

3. Small Problems Can Be Ignored

If your toilet is running, it’s easy to ignore, especially when there are larger problems looming. But, ignoring the small issues can lead to expensive fixes down the road. For example, a constantly running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water a month, meaning you’re spending on average over $300 on wasted water. Save money by fixing small problems as soon you discover there’s an issue. 

4. Windows and Doors are Energy Efficient

When you’re moving into a new home, you should always do a summer energy audit, with special focus on your doors and windows. If you assume that the previous homeowner took the time to make sure air wasn’t leaking in or out, you could end up wasting as much as $600 a year! Do an energy audit as soon as you move in to make sure you aren’t wasting precious dollars.  

5. The More Expensive the Air Filter, the Better

Instead of going for the most expensive air filter, go for the right air filter for your furnace unit. Check your owner’s manual to make sure you have the right type. Then, unless your furnace specifically needs a fancy filter, choose a pleated filter. Typically, this $1 one-inch pleated filter will do the job and won’t cost nearly as much as the higher-maintenance fiberglass option.

Your house looks great, but how does it feel? If you think your home is falling victim to clutter and chaos, the Chinese practice of feng shui may be able to help! Feng shui incorporates age-old principles for maximizing positive vibes in the home. While some laws of feng shui call for more elaborate considerations, there are plenty of simple tweaks that you can try in just a few minutes!

1. Clear the clutter. Those stacks of papers and piles of odds and ends aren’t just eyesores – they’re also energy barriers. Feng shui dictates that positive energy or chi can only flow when clutter is eliminated. By clearing your space, you’ll allow for greater mental clarity and a better sense of well being. If decluttering your entire house feels a little too ambitious, start with a single room like your kitchen.

2. Make your entryway inviting. The front door is considered a vital element of feng shui because it serves as the energy gateway to the home. So, a balanced entryway is the key to a balanced space. To achieve this, keep the path leading up to your home free of unsightly obstructions such as trash cans, cracked flower pots or dead plants. Also, make sure the door itself opens smoothly – no squeaking – and looks well-maintained with fresh paint and hardware.
    
3. Check your knives. A common feng shui view is that the sharp edges of knives contain a negative, cutting energy. Because of this, some practitioners suggest that kitchen knives should be kept out of sight (either in a closed drawer or a knife block). Others take a less conservative approach and simply recommend that kitchen knives should be kept in a place that is safe and accessible. If you have children in the home, then keeping them out of sight makes sense. If not, the most important thing to do is avoid dangerous locations such as above your head.
    
4. Hide the TV. No matter how uplifting your favorite romantic comedy may be, the television itself is not conducive to good vibes. If you want to adhere to feng shui, it’s best to hide your TV altogether in an entertainment cabinet or behind a concealing screen. At the very least, make sure it isn’t the focal point of the room by arranging it off to the side or camouflaging it on the wall among framed artwork.
    
5. Sleep freely. The rule for peaceful bed placement can be summed up in one word: space. Position your bed in the so-called “power spot,” which is directly across from the bedroom door. Then, make sure there’s an even amount of room on both sides. Avoid pushing your bed against a wall, unless you want to trap both your partner and negative energy.