Real Estate Information Archive

Heat rises and moisture falls. That’s why your basement smells like a 100-year-old mothball community, which is just the worst. Whether you’re worried about stinking up stored items, you want to furnish the space or the mothball smell is just driving you crazy, don’t worry! The space is salvageable.

Here’s your 3-step guide to de-musting, de-stinking & de-funking your basement:

Step 1: Invest in a Dehumidifier

Dehumidifiers remove excess moisture from the air so your basement stops feeling like a rainforest. It’s important to keep the moisture level in control to protect your furniture, health and home. If the air in your basement is higher than 60% relative humidity, you have a problem. (Here’s a step-by-step for checking your home’s humidity if you’re not sure where you fall.)

One Amazon reviewer said the humidity level of her home dropped more than 30% after just a few hours of using this dehumidifier. A close alternative is this option, also with positive reviews.

Step 2: Give The Floor a Good Scrub

Combine one cup of oxygen bleach with one gallon of cool water for a musty-scent killing concoction. Go after the corners and any areas where you have found mold before. Safety Note: Oxygen bleach is a safer alternative to chlorine bleach that won’t damage most floor types, but you still need to be careful! Make sure you follow all the warning labels and keep the bleach out of reach from kids and pets when you store it.

Step 3: Baking Soda, Baking Soda, Baking Soda

Baking soda is a good must prevention item once you have the situation under control. Place a few open boxes of baking soda around the basement. You can do this in an inconspicuous places like behind furniture and inside of cabinets.

The baking soda will absorb the humidity and any smells that may be trying to brew. Note: It’s a good idea to replace the boxes every few months.

Still Stinky? Try Charcoal.

Charcoal is another, more powerful natural substance that can be used to absorb moisture and remove odor. Just be sure to store it on a plate or inside an old sock so it doesn’t get soot everywhere. Pet Tip: If you have pets, this solution may not be a good idea. You don’t want give Sparky a new toy.

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 just read an article that said the average monthly rental payment in the Harrisburg area was $846 in 2013. Since this report says they calculate that number every two years, I made the adjustment to $900 per month. So using this number and rounding down to consider a 3.75% 30 fixed mortgage rate you arrive at a monthly principal and interest payment of $879.92. Amazing how close that figure is to the average monthly rental payment, wouldn’t you agree?  Yes, I am aware that the mortgage payment does not include real estate taxes and insurance but I wanted to give you a reference point to consider.   Included below are a few pictures of homes that fall into this affordability price range. 

You probably are asking why I am posting this article now? Well, we have all been saying that interest rates are going to increase by the end of 2015. AND yes we have made that prediction before and nothing has happened and I am not saying this is different than previous times but it is. So if you are paying this amount of money in rent at least consider the alternative, talk to a lender and see what your options are.  Or give me a call and we can look at some homes, just like you take a car for a test drive.  If you don’t like anything at least you know that home ownership is not for you at this time. Give me a call or text me at 717-579-2879 or send me an email at Don@DonRoth.com.  I am happy to assist you ! 

Here are 5 renovations that will increase your Harrisburg PA home's value.

Reno Do #1: Upgrade Your Kitchen

All of our experts agree that a kitchen renovation should be at the top of your list, since it's the heart of a home—the room where families spend most of their time. But where to start? A couple of givens include upgrading to stainless steel appliances and installing countertops made from engineered stone or granite, because these fairly easy changes will improve the aesthetic appeal of the space. Details can also make a difference, like putting shiny knobs on cabinets and purchasing a sparkling new faucet for the sink.

Another wise kitchen upgrade? Knocking down a full or half wall, so you can connect the kitchen to a den or living room. “It makes the kitchen feel more spacious," says Phyllis Rockower, owner of the Real Estate Investors Club of Los Angeles in California. "If you’re cooking, you can still hear what people are saying during a party, or keep an eye on your kids while they’re playing.”

Reno Do #2: Revamp Your Bathroom

Yeah, spring! It’s just about time for longer days, warmer weather and poolside cocktails. But it’s hard to enjoy the perks of spring when flowers make you sneeze like a banshee and budding trees make your eyes water faster than the end of Titanic.

You can’t stop trees from pollinating or grass from growing, but you can keep allergens out of your abode! If allergies have arrived at your doorstep, follow these seven steps to minimize your symptoms.

1. Wash your bedding. Millions of dust mites and other types of bacteria may be using your mattress and pillows as a home! Remove and wash your bedding on a hot water cycle at least once a week, including your pillows. If you’re especially allergic to dust mites, consider encasing your pillows and mattress in dust-mite-proof covers.

2. De-clutter. During allergy season, it’s a good idea to de-clutter the rooms where you spend the most time, like the living room and bedrooms. Remove items that tend to collect dust like junk mail, old magazines and knickknacks.

3. Clean your curtains. Give your curtains a good sprucing by vacuuming them with a hose attachment and hand-washing them in cold water. Heavy drapes and curtains can easily trap dust, dirt and allergens.

4. Avoid feather dusters. Use a slightly moist cloth or a special dry cloth that will trap dirt when dusting your home. Feather dusters generally spread allergens around instead of removing them!

5. Keep shoes near the door. One of the easiest things you can do to reduce allergens in your home is leave your shoes at the door! According to the EPA, the bottom of your shoes can track in all sorts of germs and allergens, including pollen grains, mold spores and pet dander. Simply clear a space next to each of your exterior doors where people can place their shoes. Bins or wicker baskets work great for this!

6. Vacuum with a HEPA filter. Destroy dust mites by vacuuming your floors with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter at least once a week. Vacuums with HEPA filters trap very fine dust particles that other vacuums only re-circulate back into the air of your home.

7. Check your home’s humidity level. Humidity levels above 55 percent can foster mold and mildew growth, which triggers allergy symptoms. Measure your home’s humidity to determine if it’s at a healthy level. If your humidity is too high, it’s a good idea to buy a dehumidifier.

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.

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.

I read a recent article in the Wall Street Journal titled “How to Fix a Credit Report Error Before It Bites Back” and being in the real estate business for many years it had a number of good points that are useful to all of us and especially if you are looking to purchase a Harrisburg PA home. We all have heard and seen the trials and tribulations when a bad credit score derails a purchase or if approved the interest rate is higher than the going rate for most borrowers.

What are the causes and what are the remedies? Naturally, late payments are definitely going to have a negative impact on your credit score and your ability to make a purchase. AND yes sometimes there are reporting errors by a creditor for a number of reasons, including reporting a delinquency that is not yours because there is one or more John Jones that lives in your area. And I am sure there are many people who can give me examples of bad reporting. BUT you do have some recourse in these examples such as disputing the claim and/or providing proof of payment – that is the best way to counter the negative by keeping good records.

Also, it is up to you to monitor your credit report and the best (and it is free) way is to go to AnnualCreditReport.com and you can receive a report once a year at no cost to you. That is an excellent way to insure that the Credit Bureau has all the correct information. Yes, there are offers, at a cost, to give you the same information but free is for me and I hope for you also. Soon I will provide info on Credit Repair concepts and hopefully help you in that arena.

If you are looking for information on who you can talk to about credit, please let me know, and especially, if you are considering purchasing Harrisburg PA real estate. Please also visit my web site, DonRoth.com, to have access to all of the properties that are for sale in the Harrisburg area.

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 all know it’s important for your Harrisburg PA home to be green, but did you also know it can be easy? Bonus: These changes will save you money, too!

Switch To CFLs. They’re bright, stylish and will save you money! Yes, CFLs have a slightly higher purchase price, but they only use one-fifth of the power and last up to ten times longer than your current light bulb. Plus, these new bulbs give you design options that don’t exist with standard light bulbs. Want a red, warm light to match your grey walls? No problem!

Make A Compost Bin. Yard trimmings and food waste make up 27% of the solid waste stream in the United States! Instead of adding to the landfill, make a compost bin. The mix you make of fruits, vegetables, coffee grounds and other leftover food scraps will help make your garden lush and improve its soil structure and water retention. Bonus: You’ll save money on fertilizer!

Reduce Junk Mail. Every year, the average household gets nearly 800 pieces of junk mail. To stop the never-ending stream of snail mail spam, just take a picture with PaperKarma! PaperKarma is a mobile app designed by two Microsoft guys to help you easily unsubscribe from the junk mail of your choosing. Simply use the PaperKarma App to snap a picture of the offending catalog or mailer and within 24 hours they will unsubscribe you from the spammer’s distribution list.

Wash Clothes in Cold Water. Up to 90% of the energy used while doing laundry comes from the fuel used to run your water heater, rather than the electricity needed to run the machine. So, wash with cold water instead! Bonus: It also saves the average family around $63 on their electric bills. If you’re curious just how much your family will save, try Seventh Generation’s Calculator. Info provided by www.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.

Knowing how much Harrisburg PA homes similar to yours, called comparable sales (or in real estate lingo, comps), sold for gives you the best idea of the current estimated value of your home. The trick is finding sales that closely match yours.

What makes a good comparable sale?

Your best comparable sale is the same model as your house in the same subdivision—and it closed escrow last week. If you can’t find that, here are other factors that count:

Location: The closer to your house the better, but don’t just use any comparable sale within a mile radius. A good comparable sale is a house in your neighborhood, your subdivision, on the same type of street as your house, and in your school district.

Home type: Try to find comparable sales that are like your home in style, construction material, square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, basement (having one and whether it’s finished), finishes, and yard size.

Amenities and upgrades: Is the kitchen new? Does the comparable sale house have full A/C? Is there crown molding, a deck, or a pool? Does your community have the same amenities (pool, workout room, walking trails, etc.) and homeowners association fees?

Date of sale: You may want to use a comparable sale from two years ago when the market was high, but that won’t fly. Most buyers use government-guaranteed mortgages, and those lending programs say comparable sales can be no older than 90 days.

Sales sweeteners: Did the comparable-sale sellers give the buyers down payment assistance, closing costs, or a free television? You have to reduce the value of any comparable sale to account for any deal sweeteners.

Agents can help adjust price based on insider insights

Even if you live in a subdivision, your home will always be different from your neighbors'. Evaluating those differences—like the fact that your home has one more bedroom than the comparables or a basement office—is one of the ways real estate agents add value.

An active agent has been inside a lot of homes in your neighborhood and knows all sorts of details about comparable sales. She has read the comments the selling agent put into the MLS, seen the ugly wallpaper, and heard what other REALTORS®, lenders, closing agents, and appraisers said about the comparable sale.

More ways to pick a home listing price

If you’re still having trouble picking out a listing price for your home, look at the current competition. Ask your real estate agent to be honest about your Harrisburg PA home and the other homes on the market (and then listen to her without taking the criticism personally).

Next, put your comparable sales into two piles: more expensive and less expensive. What makes your home more valuable than the cheaper comparable sales and less valuable than the pricier comparable sales?

Are foreclosures and short sales comparables?

If one or more of your comparable sales was a foreclosed home or a short sale (a home that sold for less money than the owners owed on the mortgage), ask your real estate agent how to treat those comps.

A foreclosed home is usually in poor condition because owners who can’t pay their mortgage can’t afford to pay for upkeep. Your home is in great shape, so the foreclosure should be priced lower than your home.

Short sales are typically in good condition, although they are still distressed sales. The owners usually have to sell because they’re divorcing, or their employer is moving them to Kansas.

How much short sales are discounted from their market value varies among local markets. The average short-sale home in Omaha in recent years was discounted by 8.5%, according to a University of Nebraska at Omaha study. In suburban Washington, D.C., sellers typically discount short-sale homes by 3% to 5% to get them quickly sold, real estate agents report. In other markets, sellers price short sales the same as other homes in the neighborhood.

So you have to rely on your REALTOR’s® knowledge of the local market to use a short sale as a comparable sale.

Information provided by HouseLogic.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 is a great deal of talk on whether there is a recovery occurring in the real estate landscape or if it just an illusion. In many areas of the country there has been a turn around and markets and home prices are improving, some more than others but there is an improvement after the last five years of nothing but negative news. Each purchaser has their own reasons for buying a Harrisburg PA home, maybe the need for a larger or in many cases a smaller home. Other circumstances may necessitate a move, but if one of the motivating factors to moving to a new home is unbelievably low mortgage rates that are being offered by lenders...now is the time to move!

Today a 30 year fixed interest mortgage is at 3.375% which equates to a monthly principal and interest payment of $663.14 on $150,000. Compare that to 2006 – 2008 when the average rate was approximately 6.15% meaning the payment on the same amount would have been $913.84. And remember everyone wanted to buy a home during that period. Yes, circumstances have changed dramatically in the intervening time frame, but if you are looking to buy for the same amount borrowed you are “saving” $3000 per year in payments. AND most likely you are paying somewhat less for the home you are considering, so there can be a twofold benefit to you. No the real estate market, likes trees, is not going to grow to the sky but I hope this provides some perspective that there are positives in owning a Harrisburg PA home in 2013.

On the other hand, if you plan to stay in your home for a period of time why not consider refinancing at a lower rate than you have at the present time. Knowing each situation is different than the next, look into the possibility of refinancing? I had a quote on a 15 year fixed rate mortgage of 2.75% meaning the payment of the above amount of $150,000 would be $813.25 compared to a payment of $948.97 if you had a remaining term of 20 years left on your mortgage and at an original rate of 4.50%. That is $135 less per month and 5 years less of payments. And guess who saves all that money? You do.

Realizing that all circumstances may be different and the rates may be slightly higher or lower, I think you owe it to yourself to check what is available and put the money in your pocket. If you would like to discuss this further, need the name of a lender or just find out valuations in preparation for 2013 please contact me at Don@DonRoth.com or 717-579-2879.

May you have a happy and prosperous New Year!

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 wrote a few months back that the mortgage interest rates will probably begin to increase very shortly. Well, it looks like the time has arrived, at least in the short term. In the last few weeks the rate has increased from the 3.75% range up to 4.35%.

Please review the chart below and see what the impact is on a projected mortgage payment. Yes, there may be some pull back in rates for a while but as I said in a blog last week we never intentionally hit the bottom of the rate cycle until after it has passed. If you need any additional information on interest rates or homes that are available for sale please contact me at Don@DonRoth.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.