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Get a Little Japanese with Your De-Cluttering

by Don Roth

Cleaning and organizing books are everywhere these days. And if we're being honest, a lot of them are pretty similar. But The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, a book by Marie Kondo, stands out from the pack. Marie adds a fresh perspective to the age-old clutter struggle by incorporating a decidedly Japanese outlook on the problem.

If your current clutter solutions just aren’t working, we definitely recommend picking up Marie’s book. But in the meantime, we pulled some quick tips from Kondo’s book that you can start doing today.

Start with a Small, Unsentimental Category

When you embark on the ultimate organization session, don’t start somewhere bound to spark memories or tough decisions like your photos or clothes.

Take your first steps by discarding a manageable grouping like your Tupperware or toiletries. Although it may be intuitive to start in an area that you use every day, it could stunt your progression.

Discard Every Time You Tidy

Try getting rid of at least one item every time you set out to de-clutter a space. Ideally, you want to do a full audit of what you own every time you tidy, but realistically, one item is a good start.

Remember, putting everything away only avoids the clutter problem – it doesn’t solve it.

Tidy by Item, Not by Space

The idea here is to organize based on the item and not by the room. For example, audit and organize all your clothes at the same time. That means you’ll have to go through your dressers, closets, coat closets, the outdoor gear in the basement. Do it all!

This way you have a clear vision of what you have and what you really need. You’ll feel more comfortable paring down to the necessities.

Understand Why We Let Things Go

Kondo argues that by having piles of things, we are neglecting the items we love. Learning to let go stems from understanding each item’s purpose and honoring it – whether you are choosing to keep it or to leave it behind. Either way, understanding your relationship with every item will help you know what to keep, and what to toss. 

If you want to continue the Japanese de-cluttering journey, you can grab The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up on Amazon right here.

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) 657-8700complete my online form, or e-mail me at don@donroth.com.

Mortgage Market Debate

by Don Roth

Mortgage Market Debate It's no secret that a lot of mortgage lending is in government-backed loans. Nationally, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the FHA back nine in 10 new mortgages. The federal government is looking to pull back and see if more private investors and lenders can be lured into the market.

There are legitimate concerns with a prospective federal pull back. There is the possibility of reduced available credit, thus leading to fewer sales and lower home prices. We've already seen some reduction in volume in higher priced homes when limits on loans backed by Fannie and Freddie declined at the beginning of October.

There is also the concern that sellers will find that fewer potential buyers qualify to purchase their properties. Less liberal down payments and lower loan limits could also hamstring trade-up buyers who want to tap their home equity as a down payment for their new residence.

Here's the conundrum: If we went to return to a more market-driven lending environment, we have to attract private investment, which means rates would have to rise. Private lenders and investors require a greater return than public sources of funds. It's worth noting, though, that many private lenders are flush with money they could put to work. What's more, private lenders and investors will add diversity to the market, which it is currently lacking.

The point is, we can see the mortgage market changing. We can't say whether it will be a net positive in the short term, but we think it raises the uncertainly level enough for borrowers to seriously consider taking advantage of the mortgage market as it is today.

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.

Displaying blog entries 1-2 of 2

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