Real Estate Information Archive

There’s nothing quite like cozying up to a warm fireplace on a cold night with a cup of hot tea and a good read. But, if you rent or live in a home without a fireplace, you totally miss out on this relaxing pastime. (Not fair, right?)

Fortunately, you can have the next best thing: crackling candles. These special candles come with a wooden wick, that, when burned, are specifically designed to make a “crackle” sound like a wood-burning fireplace.

Here are five of our favorite wood-wick candle scents to try in your home:

Orange Clove

It’s everything we love about fall in a single candle – orange plus clove plus crackle. What’s not to love?

Evening Bonfire

It says “bonfire” but we don’t mean the scent that’s left on your clothes after a camping trip! This scent is the closest you’ll get to the scent of a wood-burning fireplace in your home.

Vanilla Bean

If you’re into traditional scents, try Woodwick’s Vanilla Bean crackling candle for a warm, “fresh-baked cookies” aroma.   

Cinnamon Chai

This spicy cinnamon scent has all of the benefits of sipping a hot chai without any of the caffeine overload.

Frozen Lake

This candle has intermixing scents of peppermint, clove, juniper berries and cedar to instill a little wintertime aroma in your home.

Love these autumn scents, but don’t want to spring for a new candle anytime soon? Check out these simple fall air freshener recipes that can be made with every day items.

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.

If you were to ask most people, what's an interest rate? They'd answer that it's the price to borrow money. They wouldn't be wrong, but they'd be incomplete. Interest rates are more than the price to borrow money. In fact, there would be interest rates even if there were no money and we all bartered.

More than anything, interest rates allocate. Specifically, they allocate resources between present consumption and future consumption. Everyone prefers a present good to a future good. If someone offered you 10 apples today or 10 apples a year from now, you'd take the 10 apples today.  But if someone offered you 10 apples today or 12 apples a year from now, you'd take the 12 apples if your required rate of return was 20% or less. 

Higher interest rates encourage consumers to forgo current consumption and to lend to producers so that they can produce goods for future consumption. Lower interest rates encourage the opposite; they encourage consumers to consume more today. 

Perpetually low interest rates would seem to be a perpetual positive, but that's not necessarily so. More consumption today can lead to less consumption tomorrow. This is something worth remembering as the Fed continues to hold interest rates at unprecedentedly low levels.

 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.

Lending Rates React to a Chronic Case of Inertia

Sept. 17 came and went as expected, with nothing happening. We, along with most traders, were proven right. The Federal Reserve held the federal funds rate near zero, where it has been since Dec. 2008.

Interest rates were not formally raised, but interest rates, in general, and mortgages rates, in particular, formally fell. 

On the former, the bellwether 10-year U.S. Treasury note dropped 15-basis points when the Fed announced no increase in the fed funds rate. On the latter, rates on most mortgage products moved lower.  Depending when you called for a quote, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was down 10-basis points or more compared to where it was last Wednesday.  They've inched higher since – rates have been volatile – but you're still likely to get a sub-4% quote on the 30-year loan. 

Fed officials will meet two more times before the year ends: on Oct. 28 and Dec. 16.  As it now stands, traders in fed funds future contracts are betting on a 12% chance the fed funds rate will be increased at the October meeting. They're betting that there's a 32% chance it will be raised in December. 

Few people think a rate increase is in store for 2015, which has been our take since the beginning of the year.  No major central bank is looking to raise interest rates. The U.S. dollar, meanwhile, remains as strong as it has been in years, especially against emerging-market currencies. (Today, a dollar will get you nearly 17 Mexican pesos and over four Brazilian real – a multi-decade high on both.) 

Lower rates have spurred additional lending activity, though activity is being spurred by more than low rates. For the week ending Sept. 18, the Mortgage Bankers Association reports that application activity was up 13.9%.  The seasonally adjusted purchase index was up a strong 9%, and is up 27% year over year.  This is before the full impact of the Fed's rate decision kicked in.

Given the downdraft in lending rates and the updraft in lending activity, we should see an increase in home sales for September. As for August, existing home sales were somewhat sluggish, posting at 5.31 million on an annualized rate. Most economists were expecting around 5.6 million. 

That said, existing home sales have been strong through most of 2015, so a one-off month is no reason for concern. Fundamentally, things still look good. Supply has improved a bit, up to 5.2 months at the current sales pace. Price appreciation is also countenancing toward historical norms.  Year over year, the median price of an existing home is up 4.7% to $228,700.  In many markets, entry-level and lower-priced homes continue to drive aggregate price appreciation. A further deceleration in price appreciation in these niches would be welcomed news for prospective first-time buyers. 

Overall, the outlook is good for both housing and mortgage lending. Expect the outlook to remain good as we head into 2016.  

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.

Are you getting the most out of your smartphone’s camera?

If you mostly use it for selfies and cute photos of your cat, the answer is no.

With a few strategic snaps, your smartphone camera can save you time and money at home (in addition to sharing your amazing brunch with the world, of course).

Here are eight ways a snap of your phone camera can make life easier:

1. Audit Your Fridge

Before you head out to the grocery store, snap a picture of your open refrigerator. Make sure everything is in plain sight before you take the photo! The photo will help you remember what you have, so you’ll know exactly what you should buy and won’t be left wondering if you have any milk left while trolling aisle six.

Tip: Fridge too messy to photograph? Organize it today!

2. Keep Track of Disassembly Projects

If you need to fix something with a lot of different parts, take a quick photo of the assembled item before you take it apart. It’ll be way easier to put Humpty Dumpty back together again that way.

Tip: If the project is extra complex, we recommend shooting a couple of photos from different angles and at varying levels of detail.

3. Find a Qualified Pro to Help You Out

If your home improvement to-do list is growing, and you don’t have the time (or interest) in knocking things out yourself, get some help from the pros! Snapfix allows you to snap a photo of your project, and then sit back and let someone find you a pro. It’s that easy!

4. Pick the Right Paint Hue

Painting is one of the quickest ways to update the look of a room, but choosing a color isn’t easy. Before you head to the home improvement store, take a panorama of the room you want to paint. Then, take a few close-up snapshots of the fabric in the room. That way, you’ll be able to pull out distinct colors that may work for the wall. Using the panorama, choose a few different paint chip hues at the store.

Tip: Use the 60-30-10 rule. That means 60 percent of the room should be a dominant color, 30 percent of the room should be a secondary color and 10 percent should be the accent color.

5. Keep Track of Your Appliance’s Serial Numbers

An appliance serial number is something you probably never think about until there’s a problem. To make your life easier, take photos of your appliance serial numbers and store them in a folder on your computer. It’s a nice backup system!

6. Never Forget a Borrowed Item Again

Have you ever searched for a certain book, remember you lent it to someone but …. who? To get your belongings back, take a quick photo every time a friend borrows something from you. Tell your friends to smile, and snap a shot of their face with the borrowed thing. That way, you’ll always know where your stuff is and who to bug to get it back. You can also send them the photo as a not-so-subtle reminder to return the item!

7. Always Have Your Prescription Numbers Handy

There’s no need to hold onto empty pill bottles! Instead, take a photo of your prescription number as soon as the medicine comes in from the pharmacy. Next time you need a refill, you’ll be able to quickly pass along necessary information, even if you don’t have your medication with you.

Tip: Some pharmacies will even scan a picture of the barcode if you have a clear enough image.

8. Have Your WiFi Password Handy, Always

When guests visit, one of the first questions asked is typically “What’s your WiFi?” To avoid scrambling to remember or worse, moving your router to look at the back of it, take a photo of the long password. That way, all you need is your phone to get your friends online. 

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.

Regardless of the direction of interest rates, the housing market remains sound. We’re not alone in our bullish sentiment. Optimism among the nation's home builders continues to rise.

The National Association of Home Builders' sentiment index was up another point this month. The current reading, at 62, is at a 10-year high.  More encouraging yet, the weakest component of the sentiment index, traffic, was up two points to 47. It appears sky-rocketing rental rates are finally motivating more people to do what they want to do anyway – buy a home to occupy.

At this point, housing and mortgage lending have sufficient strength and momentum to survive whatever the Federal Reserve tosses our way. Therefore, interest rates are a non-issue for the immediate future. Unless we see a 150-basis-point spike in the 30-year loan, highly unlikely, we don't see rates derailing housing any time soon.

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.

The Day of Reckoning Beckons 

By the end of Thursday we'll know: Will the Federal Reserve have raised its target range for the federal funds rate, or will it have once again kicked the can down the road? 

As of Wednesday, the folks who put money on the line are betting a 23% chance that a higher fed funds rate will prevail. This is according to CME Group, which monitors trader action in the federal funds rate futures market. Of course, these same traders were betting a 19% chance last week and a 32% chance the week before that. These traders are a fickle lot. As the stock market goes, so seems to go their sentiment on the fed funds rate. 

It's all scuttlebutt, really, and scuttlebutt on the Fed and the fed funds rate is similar to scuttlebutt on the weather: There's a lot you can say, but not much you can do. You have to live with what you get. 

As for us, we still think we'll get another kick of the can. The target rate will remain as is – between 0% and 0.25%. This is where the fed funds rate has been firmly ensconced for the past six years. The rationale for our prognostication remains unchanged: low inflation, stagnating global economic growth, an unstable stock market, a strong U.S. dollar.

But what if we're wrong? What will happen to mortgage lending rates if the Fed moves to raise its target on the fed funds rate? 

The fed funds rate is a short-term rate. Indeed, it's a very short-term rate: It's the overnight lending rate among commercial banks. If the fed funds rate rises, short-term rates will likely be impacted most, at least initially. This means 1-year and 5/1-year ARMs will likely adjust first. 

On the longer end, it's possible little will change immediately. Rates on the 15-year and 30-year loans tend to act more independently of the Fed. It's possible the fed funds rate could rise, and rates on the 15-year and 30-year loans will continue to hold current levels.

Inflation also favors longer-term rates holding steady. The latest data on the consumer price index (CPI) show prices actually fell 0.1% in August. The shift down was lead by a fall in oil and gasoline prices. Given the dearth of inflation, it's possible we could see the yield curve begin to flatten, or even invert. This means short-term rates could rise, while long-term rates do nothing. 

But as we say this, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note, which influences longer-term rates, is up 15 basis points this month. In the past week, rates on long-term fixed-rate mortgages have drifted higher. As we've mentioned frequently, the long-term impetus is still for rates to rise. 

That said, predicting the flight path of interest rates is akin to predicting the flight path of a butterfly: Short term, they're all over the place; long term, there is a direction. For the butterfly, it's to head south for winter; for interest rates, it's to rise. For this reason, the best lending value just might reside on the long-end of the rate curve.  

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.

If Mr. Bean was going to hide a spare key to his house, here are two spots he’d probably choose: under the door mat, or inside the dead-giveaway plastic rock in the garden.

Don’t be like Mr. Bean. His house is really easy to rob! Instead, take a page out of James Bond’s book and try one these secret-agent worthy places to hide your key. You’ll save yourself from the hassle of getting locked out and the disaster of getting robbed in one fell swoop. 

1. Inside of a Tree

Is there a tree on your property? Then you’ve got a perfect key hiding place. Simply cut out a square chunk from the bark that’s large enough to cover your key. Then trim a bit off the back of the “chunk” so there’s enough space to leave your key in the hollow. Replace the bark chunk, and enjoy your perfectly camouflaged key. Tip: Consider marking the location of the hollow with something like an old nail so that it isn’t too camouflaged and is easy to find.

2. Wedged Between Two Bricks

We’re all for well-maintained brick, but one small chink in the mortar can be good news! Put the brick blemish to good use – if there’s enough space for a key, wedge it in there. Just make sure the key fits in a way so that it’s both inconspicuous and easy-to-remove. Spending an hour trying to dig a key out from between two bricks is almost as frustrating as paying a locksmith to let you back in.

3. Inside of a Wind Chime

Pop quiz: What do burglars hate? Noise! That means that if a potential robber is searching for a spare key, they’re probably not going to go digging inside your wind chimes. Tip: To make this method even more secure, replace the wind chimes’ “knocker” with an entire ring of keys (only one of which actually opens your door). Even if a burglar finds the keys, they’ll have to struggle with the ring of decoys.

4. On Your Car

There are a lot of magnetized lock boxes on the market meant to hide a spare key for your car, but we think these can be used for house keys, too. Think about it: When is a burglar most likely to try and break in? When you (and your car) aren’t at home. There are certainly some flaws to this method (no car, no keys), but it’s still worth considering.

5. With a Neighbor

Okay, this one may not be super-spy clever, but it’s worth mentioning because it is super effective. Leaving a spare key with a trustworthy friend or neighbor means that access to your home is just a knock (or phone call) away. Plus, you’ll never have to worry about a burglar finding it on your property. Again, there are problems – if your neighbor isn’t home, you can’t get inside – but if you have a close friend next door, give this method some consideration. 

Information provided by BrightNest.com.

Search all Harrisburg PA homes for sale.

When you are buying or selling property in today's Harrisburg PA real estate market, it's important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Don’s commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR® is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, you'll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. That's why Don’s goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Don’s objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please don't hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700, complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

We've spent a good deal of time over the past month vetting the Federal Reserve and the odds of an interest-rate increase.  This stuff matters, but really not as much as the overall health of the mortgage and housing markets. Fortunately, the overall health is very good. 

Mortgage-credit availability is no longer an issue. Indeed, credit availability measured by the Mortgage Bankers Association shows that credit is as easily obtainable as it has been in years.  This is no surprise. Even when credit standards were tight, we were sure they would loosen once economic growth and job creation picked up. We've been proven right on this point.  Better yet, credit standards should remain accommodating for some time to come. 

At the same time, home sales continue to march ahead. Prices are still on the rise, but at a more reasonable pace. Starts and demand for new homes continue to trend positively. This is obviously all good news. So don't worry about next Thursday. Whatever happens with interest rates – whether up or hold – mortgage lending and housing will remain in good health.

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.

The Great Reprieve Appears 

In recent weeks, we've mentioned more than once that the employment report for August could sway the Federal Reserve's decision to raise or hold interest rates. The report is in, and the numbers were less than what was bargained for.  

August saw only 173,000 new jobs created. The key number has always been 200,000+ new jobs. Nevertheless, the latest job gains (plus revised gains for the prior two months) pushed the unemployment rate down to 5.1%, but there is a catch. The employment participation rate remains at a multi-decade low, at 62.6%.

Part of the lower participation rate is attributable to changing demographics – an older population and more younger people staying in school longer. Still, participation remains stubbornly low.  Too many people are not working. The good news is that wages and average weekly hours worked continue to creep higher.

The latest employment report could lead to a fiery debate when Fed officials convene on Sept. 16 and 17. The stock market should add fuel to the fire. The Dow 30 and the S&P 500 were down over 10% in the last week of August. A drop of 10% or more is considered a stock-market correction.

The Fed is supposed to act independently of stock prices, but stock prices do influence the Fed. Stock prices certainly influence traders in federal fund rate futures contracts. These traders bet on the odds of a Fed interest-rate increase. They're not giving very good odds these days. CME Group, which offers a “Fed Watch” service, says traders are pricing futures contracts with a 19% chance of a rate increase. This is down from 32% in the prior week. The decrease in traders odds correlates with the decrease in stock prices. 

Of course, stocks could rally and odds could change. Both frequently do. Still, we remain sided with the traders betting the low odds. We don't think the Fed will raise the federal funds rate come next Thursday: The U.S. job numbers were weak for August, the U.S. stock market is in a funk, inflation remains muted, and global economic growth (most notably China) is waning.  Also, the U.S. dollar remains historically strong against most world currencies. An interest-rate hike would further strengthen the dollar.  (This is a mixed blessing: Imports are cheaper, but exports cost more.)

Mortgage rates seem to side with us. Rates have drifted lower since Friday's employment report. A quote below 3.9% on the 30-year fixed-rate loan is the norm in many markets.  The 15-year fixed-rate loan is regularly quoted below 3.1%. 

This doesn't mean we are home free. Market participants move interest rates independently of the Fed. Mortgage rates can rise even if the Fed does nothing onSept. 17. 

Yes, we see mortgage rates holding current lows, but that can change in a hurry. Though we don't think it will, “a hurry” could come as soon as next week. 

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.

When you first moved into your home, you probably trekked over to Target or logged onto Amazon and stocked up on all of the obvious stuff like light bulbs, a hammer and a few cleaning supplies.

But moving into a new space can be chaotic, and in that chaos, there are always a few things that don’t make it into the shopping cart. And a month later when you’re hanging art, you really wish you’d bought that level.

That’s okay. You’re not alone!  Here are 13 things almost every homeowner forgets to buy:

1. Level

Have you ever seen a painting or photo in someone’s home that’s just crooked enough to be noticeable? Yeah. That’s really annoying. A level doesn’t just make sure your artwork is straight; you can also use it for hanging shelves, mirrors or sconces.

2. Guest Towels

You may have purchased a new, plushy set of towels for you and your partner, but chances are you weren’t thinking about towels for your first house guests. Grab a new set of guest towels so no one is left using your old beach towels to dry off.

Hosting house guests soon? Check out these five tips for making your guests feel at home.

3. Oven Mitt

What’s worse than an oven mitt that does a poor job of keeping heat from your hands? Not having an oven mitt at all. No, really – using a dishtowel puts you at risk for serious burns 99.9 percent of the time.

4. Plunger

It only takes one traumatic bathroom experience before you realize you forgot to buy one of the most important bathroom tools: a plunger. Pro Tip: Hide your plunger with this chic storage idea.

5. Fire Extinguisher

If you remembered to purchase a fire extinguisher, cheers to you! (They’re really important.) However, there is a common misconception that “one kind fits all.” Not true! You actually need a specific kind of extinguisher depending on the type of fire you need to put out. Use this guide to make sure your home is stocked up with the right fire extinguishers.

6. Mixing Bowls

They may not be as sexy as a mandolin slicer or a new set of knives, but when it comes to your kitchen, mixing bowls are a must-have part of cooking, especially if they’re durable and easy to store.

7. Coasters

Save yourself the stress of finding drink rings on your new coffee table by purchasing some coasters. There are a lot of options out there, so we suggest going with some that are practical and sturdy without sacrificing style (like this set or this collection).

If you do find yourself with drink rings, don’t panic! Here’s how to take care of the problem.  

8. Food Thermometer

A food thermometer is not just for perfecting a pot roast or an egg-based dessert – it’s important for food safety, too. A food thermometer is essential to making sure your dinner has been cooked (or re-heated) to the correct temperature to prevent illness or contamination.

9. Paper Towel Holder

Okay, a paper towel holder may not be something that will make or break your kitchen, but we still think it’s nice to have, especially if it’s durable (read: not plastic). After all, you’re likely to use this every day.

10. Welcome Mat

Think of your entryway as your home’s first impression: it’s the first thing guests will see as they enter your home. All the more reason to deck out your front porch or entryway with a fun, stylish welcome mat!

11. Salt and Pepper Shakers

You could just use the containers that your salt and pepper came in from the grocery store, but let’s be honest: those are ugly. Salt and pepper shakers are an inexpensive way to show off your decorating personality without sacrificing functionality.

12. Watering Can

You may have filled your home with houseplants, but how are you going to water them? That’s where a small, easily storeable watering can comes in handy. Tip: If you don’t have the storage space for a watering can, snag one of these watering bulbs, instead.  

13. Tea Kettle

No kitchen is complete without a way to boil water for tea and coffee. When it comes to tea kettles, it’s worth it to spend a little more to get a little more – any kettle under $25 can chip or worse, rust! We’ve tested and approved this one from KitchenAid. 

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.