Real Estate Information Archive

If you’re totally new to gardening, it’s easy to go overboard when purchasing garden tools. Walk into any home improvement store and it can feel pretty overwhelming. Luckily, there are only a handful of essential tools you actually need to get your green thumb going. Focus on the basics!  

Here are seven tools for the beginner gardener.

A Pair of Gloves

Ever tended to roses without garden gloves? Yeah, ouch. Keep splinters and thorns away from your skin with a good pair of sturdy gloves made of leather or latex coated cotton. Make sure they fit snug, and aren’t too bulky.

Garden Shoes

Grab a pair of clogs or garden shoes to make spending hours outside a bit more comfortable. Make sure to get shoes with a sturdy sole (think pressing down on a shovel’s edge) but also something that is waterproof. If you’re on a tight budget and have an old pair of tennis shoes, that works perfectly, too.

Hose with Adjustable Nozzle

A quality, long garden hose may sound like a no brainer, but just as important is anadjustable nozzle. This will allow you to cover every inch of your garden, and put you in control of the water pressure. If you’re working with a smaller plot of land or an herb garden, a watering can will also work.

Shovel

It may not be the most exciting tool, but it’s definitely one that will get a lot of use. Use a round-headed shovel for digging any holes or picking up dirt or compost to create your garden beds.

Wheelbarrow

This will come in handy especially during spring and fall when there is a lot of pruning and cleaning up to do with your garden space. Excellent for hauling soil or compost to your garden, a wheelbarrow can also help with construction materials if you’re doing raised beds. Expect to shell out about $85 at your local home improvement store, but it’s well worth it.

Hand Trowel

These are perfect for planting herbs, small patches of flowers and removing weeds! Plus,hand trowels are relatively inexpensive. Make sure to properly clean your tools after each use, and avoid storing the shovel with any caked-on dirt. This will help prolong its life.

Scissors

Garden shears and scissors are necessary for deadheading, pruning small plants or thinning your vegetables. You can also use these to cut and bring in bouquets of fresh flowers. Larger shears are great for trimming and edging garden beds and paths.

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

Purchase mortgage activity has been a bit weak in recent weeks, but we’re not worried.  We like this housing market and our affinity is unlikely to wane this year.  The outlook is simply too positive.

The outlook is certainly positive among homebuilders. The NAHB’s sentiment index increased two points to 60 following four-consecutive months stalled at 58. The latest report shows improving traffic, which has languished over most of 2016.  First-time buyer interest, in particular, is finally gaining traction.

Optimism picked up despite a slowdown in housing starts. Overall starts slipped 0.3% to 1.164 million units on an annualized rate in May. But there was a silver lining: Single-family starts continue to trend higher, rising 0.3% to 764,000 on an annualized rate. Year over year, single-family starts are up 10.1%.

As we all know, our bread is mostly buttered by existing-home sales. The NAR reports that existing-home sales sprang ahead in May to their highest level in almost a decade. Sales were up 1.8% to 5.53 million units. Prices continue to rise, with the median price of an existing home rising to $239,700, a record high.

Better yet, existing-home inventory is up, and that bodes well for summer sales. Inventory rose 1.4%  to 2.15 million existing units for the month.

To be sure, most people look to housing for shelter. But with financial markets riddled with uncertainty and volatility these days, we’re not surprised that more people look to housing as a store of wealth and as an investment opportunity. This, too, is unlikely to change in the indefinite future.

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.

We’ll Believe It When We See It

June 15 came and went, and it came and went as we expected it would, with the Federal Reserve again postponing raising the federal funds rate.

It’s like deja vu all over.

To start 2015, we predicted that the Fed would not raise interest rates that year.  We weren’t foiled until December, when the Fed raised the target range on the fed funds rate by 25 basis points.

We then started 2016 by expressing skepticism that the Fed would raise the fed funds rate within the first six months. We’ve been proven correct.  Now, we wouldn’t be surprised if we went the entire year without a rate increase (though we could well be foiled again in the later months).

We’re not alone in our skepticism. Traders in federal funds rate futures contracts aren’t giving 50/50 odds of a rate increase until December.  These same traders – who can be a schizophrenic lot – entered 2016 giving 50/50 odds for a June rate increase.

In testimony before Congress this past Tuesday, Fed Chair Janet Yellen gave pretty much the same reasons we’ve been giving for holding off on a rate increase: Stagnating domestic economic growth, subdued economic growth with our primary trading partners, a strong U.S. dollar, weak commodity prices, and the recent slowdown in payroll growth.

It has become apparent that the Fed’s crystal ball is no more clairvoyant than the crystal ball of anyone who spends time monitoring financial markets. Just a few months ago, the Fed said everything was on the mend and that rate increases would come in short order. (Actually, the Fed foreshadowing rate increases is a new convention. Before the 2008 financial crisis, the Fed didn’t tell it just did.)

That said, interest rates have trended higher. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note gained nearly 14 basis points this past week. As the yield on the 10-year note goes, so, too, go mortgage rates.  Quotes on the 30-year fixed-rate loan have hit a two-week high.

This isn’t a total surprise.  Last week, we mentioned that the rumor (or the anticipation of news) moves markets more than the news itself.  When it became apparent that the Fed would raise rates in December, rates moved higher.  When the Fed actually raised rates, rates drifted lower.

This go around, rates dropped when it became apparent the Fed would not raise rates.  When it didn’t raise rates, rates moved higher.  Market participants frequently buy the rumor and sell the news.

Until we’re proven wrong, we’ll stick with the status quo: Low mortgage rates for now and for the indefinite future.

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.

Summertime is most certainly the season of long days and poolside cocktails. But if you don’t take precautions, it can also become the season of sweaty armpits and heat-induced agitation. The thing is, staying cool at home during the summer can sometimes cramp your style.

If you’re less-than-psyched about breaking out that clunky floor-fan, try one of these tips for staying hip while you beat the summer heat at home:

1. Get creative with ice cubes. It turns out that ice cube trays can hold a lot more than frozen water. For example, they can become your secret weapon for making amazing coffee, impressing guests and even saving money. Check out nine tricks of the ice-cube trade.

2. Freeze grapes. Once you’ve mastered the art of creative cubes, start freezing grapes! It may seem like a strange idea at first, but popping a few frozen grapes into your mouth after a long, hot day in the sun is a fantastic (and delicious) way to chill out. Plus, nothing is cooler than sharing a frozen treat with friends and family. Bonus: Eating smaller meals and snacks will help your body stay cool throughout the day.

3. Taste the rainbow. The rainbow fan, that is! In some cases, being hip is just a short DIY craft project away. In just a few minutes, you can unlock the fashionable side of this functional item. Take your fan to the next level with this easy DIY project! Tip: If you want to add some pizzazz to your ceiling fan, check out this quick project from Design Sponge.

4. Bling out your blinds. Drawing your blinds during the hottest parts of the day is a great way to keep your home cool (and save on your utility bill), but if you have “blah” shades, doing that can be a bit of a bummer. Spruce things up with some spray paint. Simply remove your blinds, clean them off, lay them on a sheet outside and get to spraying! 

5. Make ice-cube treasure hunts. If you have young kids at home, no cooling trick will amaze them more than this. Grab an unused plastic bin or container. Fill it with colored water and various treasures – action figures, toy cars, marbles, shells and spare change all work well. Freeze it overnight (or for at least 12 hours) and then let your kids start digging! They can use kitchen utensils and a wooden mallet to dig, just be sure to keep an eye on them while they plunder. Tip: If you’re going to have them hunt outside, add a spray bottle full of warm water to their treasure-hunting arsenal. The hot water will help the melting process along.

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.

Close your eyes and picture your best beach day.

What makes it so great? Chances are it’s the warm sun on your face, cool beer in your hand, gentle breeze and a relaxed attitude. Great news! If you have a deck or porch, you don’t have to spend money on a fancy vacation to recreate all of the above. All you need is a can-do attitude, a free afternoon and a few good ideas.

Here are seven of our favorite ways to make your porch (or deck!) ready for summer awesomeness:

1. Seal, Stain & Weather-Proof

There’s a reason you don’t put lipstick on a pig – it doesn’t do any good! Unless the exterior of your deck or porch is in good shape, any fun accessories you add will be a waste of time. Plus, an unsealed porch will become waterlogged and rot over time, getting worse with every summer storm or winter snow. If your setup is looking a little ragged, check and see if there are any professional deck and porch maintenance offers in your area. It’s the easiest way to whip things back into shape.

2. Hang Twinkle Lights

Now that your porch is protected, it’s time to have a little fun. To extend the time you and your family enjoy your outdoor living space, throw up some patio twinkle lights.  A few strands of lights can transform a so-so patio into something special.

These lights come in an assortment of sizes, shapes and colors. And you’d be surprised how far they’ll go towards making your area look like it’s straight out of Pinterest. Plus, you’ll be able to see your cocktail during those nighttime hangs, and everyone looks great under the glow.

3. Add an Outdoor Cooler

A perfectly lazy afternoon isn’t complete without a cold drink (or two…or three). Make living easy by adding an attractive outdoor cooler to your deck or patio oasis. Avoid ugly plastic coolers, and opt for interesting shapes and containers, like this baby bathtub idea fromSouthern Living. When you’re headed outside for a long afternoon of leisure, fill the bathtub,metal planter or other unique cooler with ice and beverages. That way, you and your guests barely have to move to refill.

4. Bring Out a Bar Cart

Turn the porch party up with a bar cart. Don’t limit your bar cart to booze! On the cart, you can store booze, and cups, stirrers, coasters, books, magazines, speakers, sunglasses or anything else you may fancy while you’re wiling away the afternoon. It’s basically a chest of drawers on wheels.

If you would fancy a cocktail or three on your porch, build a baller bar cart with these tips.

5. Hang Up a Hammock

Hammocks are the best. Really, the best. We cannot overestimate how great wasting an afternoon in a hammock can be. You swing, you feel the breeze and you relax, all from the comfort of your front (or back) stoop. To turn your hammock time into romantic-time, consider a two-person hammock. We love this one, because it has a steel stand, so it’s mobile and easy to set up.

6. Think Indoors

To make your outdoor living space feel cozy, add a few traditionally indoor items like rugs, lamps, and flower vases. If your porch isn’t enclosed, we recommend bringing the smaller items inside at night, or some jealous passersby might nab them.

7. Plant Perennials

Adding pots full of perennials to your outdoor living space is an easy way to inject some color and visual interest. Why perennials, instead of annuals? You only have to plant perennials once and then you’ll get to enjoy them every year.

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.

High temps are breaking records left and right this summer. And if you don’t have central AC, your house is probably feeling like a sauna these days. Enter your savior: the classic fan.

This basic, inexpensive appliance can be the difference between misery and comfort, so don’t just set it down anywhere – maximize its potential! By using a few strategic tricks, your home will drop a few degrees in no time.

Don’t thank us, thank your fan.

Create a Crosswind

Creating a crosswind is a refreshing one-two punch: you’ll get hot air out while also pulling cooler air in. The first step is to close up your house during the day – close windows, drapes, blinds, everything. You don’t want any sun-warmed heat getting in. Note: This will make your home darker, so if you’re partial to a lot of natural light, you may want to choose being warm over a dark room.

When the sun sets, swing open your windows and grab two standard fans. Place one fan facing out of a window in the room you want the coolest. Then, use a second fan to create a strong flow of air towards that fan. Do this by setting up fan #2 so it’s facing inwards, and is either in front of a second window or pushing air into the room you’re trying to cool. This setup will remove stale, hot air out and bring in fresh, cool air.

Use Tall Windows

This trick is all about getting hot air out. If you have tall windows (lucky you!) place your fan as high up as possible, facing out of the window. A shelf, ladder or stool can help with this. Remember, hot air rises, so the goal is to push as much hot air out of the house as possible.

Switch Directions (of Your Ceiling Fan)

If you have a ceiling fan, switch the fan direction so that it moves clockwise instead of counterclockwise. That way, instead of blowing warm air around the room, it will circulate heat up and away. Be safe and make sure you turn the fan off before adjusting. Ceiling fan a little dirty? Read: Clean Your Ceiling Fans.

Make a DIY AC Unit

Don’t have an air conditioner? Make one! This quick project will have you reaching for a sweater in no time. Place a standard fan on the ground (or as low as possible). Put a large bucket of ice directly in front of the fan. The fan will blow air over the ice, cooling it in the process. It may not be pretty, but it’ll keep you cool. If a big bucket of ice sounds like a lot of work, a wet washcloth will do roughly the same time – just place it over the front of the fan.Tip: Keep one window open so hot air can escape.

Trick Mosquitoes

Okay, so maybe mosquitoes don’t make a room hotter, but they certainly make a sticky, sweaty day worse. To stop mosquitoes from bothering you, hang out directly in front of a fan. If you have a patio, bring the fan with you! Mosquitoes can’t land in a crosswind and hate flying against it, so they’ll avoid breezy areas.

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.

I’m going to be straight with you: if you already love naps and are happy with your routine, you can skip this article. (Try this post about spider prevention, instead.)

This one goes out to the napping haters – all those desperate souls living a full-night’s-sleep-only existence. You don’t hate naps because they’re bad…you might just be doing it wrong.

Ready to up your napping game? Follow this four-step nap routine.   

Step 1: Find The Perfect Nap Spot

Studies have shown that it’s 50% harder to fall asleep if you’re sitting up versus lying down. So, avoid chairs if you can. In terms of the old “couch vs. bed” debate, I’ll say this: the more important thing is to nap in as dark and quiet a room as possible, so both beds and couches could work. I personally nap on a couch because I’m afraid of oversleeping in the incredible comfort of my massive bed (not to brag or anything…but my bed rocks).

Step 2: Aim for the Afternoon

You don’t want to nap too close to bedtime. So, an afternoon snooze between 1 and 2 pm is ideal (this is also the time when most people get groggy and reach for coffee). You want to get in and out of sleep before it gets dark outside because waking up in the dark can be confusing to your body.

Step 3: Nap for Less than 45 Minutes, or More than 90

Messing this part up is the reason a lot of people hate naps. It takes 45 minutes to enter a REM sleep cycle and 90 minutes to complete one. This means that if you sleep for an hour you’re going to wake up groggy and pissed instead of relaxed and re-energized. If you want to just refocus and recharge quickly, shoot for a 20-30 minute catnap. If you’re looking to boost your creativity, go big with something north of 90 minutes.

Step 4: Don’t Panic If You Don’t Fall Asleep

As soon as you think something like, “Crap it’s taking forever to fall asleep my time’s almost over,” your nap is ruined. So don’t stress about it! Research from the book Permission to Nap: Taking Time to Restore Your Spirit has suggested that just trying to nap can reduce blood pressure and help you relax, so you’re still helping yourself out.

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.