Real Estate Information Archive

Never underestimate the importance of first impressions. Your entryway is the first thing a guest sees when they step into your home, so it should shout “Welcome!” Think of your entryway or foyer as the space that sets the tone for the rest of your home.

But what if your entryway isn’t up to snuff? Instead of welcoming your guests, it may be sending off a completely different vibe. Change that!

Add some charm to this space with a few simple adjustments.

1. Clear Away Clutter

If your entryway is tight and full of clutter, it can feel overwhelming. Keep this area feeling spacious and clean by eliminating clutter and properly storing coats and shoes by your front door or in a closet. This is especially important if you don’t have a mudroom.

2. Switch to Light Curtains

If you have windows in your foyer, fit them with lighter-fabric curtains that will let in some natural sunlight. If natural lighting isn’t possible, consider adding wall lighting for a warm, soft glow. Tip: Overhead lighting can feel harsh, so avoid it unless the lighting fixture has a decorative touch such as pendant lighting or chandeliers.

3. Add Mirrors

Hanging a large mirror on the wall or above a piece of furniture is an easy way to make small entryways feel larger than they actually are. This will also make the space brighter, because mirrors will reflect light and help it bounce from wall to wall.

4. Display Treasured Items in a Tablescape

A tablescape is a tabletop display of your most cherished items arranged in an organized fashion. To make your own, push a small chest or table against the wall. Then, decorate the top of the table! The items you choose should be an extension of your personality and past experiences. Design Tip: A tablescape looks best if the accessories are different heights and shapes. We also recommend you follow the 60-30-10 rule for a color palette.

5. Infuse Inviting Aromas

There’s a reason why realtors always want the home they’re selling to smell like fresh-baked cookies! Baking scents such as vanilla and cinnamon are inviting and comforting, so they’ll make your guests feel at home. Consider keeping candles, air fresheners or reed diffusers near your entryway.

6. Bring the Outdoors In

If your front door opens directly into a living room or kitchen, large floor plants can help create the illusion of an entryway. Their presence wiill help define the space between the front door and the rest of the living area. Tip: If you have a small foyer, add small potted plants or succulents on a table or shelf.

7. Don’t Forget the Floors

If you have hardwood or tile flooring in your entryway, add some texture by laying down a floor runner or rug. This can completely transform the vibe your entryway gives off to your guests. Tip: Oriental or patterned rugs are a great choice because they tend to hide dirt and wear well.

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.

For the past year (if not longer), we've been preaching that economic growth, not interest rates will drive housing. To be sure, it was encouraging to see purchase-application activity pick up on lower rates. Unfortunately, cash is still king. The NAR's latest sales data show cash buyers comprised 32% of existing home sales in December. Therefore, a 2% uptick in purchase applications isn't as meaningful as it would have been a decade ago.

Whether mortgage rates are lower or higher, they don't appear to have much impact on home sales these days. Sales of existing homes bounced back in December from a very weak November, but not by much. Sales for the month came in at 4.87 million units, which is about where they were 18 months ago. Unfortunately, sales remain significantly below where they were this past summer. Interestingly, during that time, mortgages rates were rising as monthly sales were rising. Source: Econoday

For this coming week we'd like to see the Federal Reserve's data show stronger economic growth. In addition, we'd like to see that data supported by strong fourth-quarter-2013 GDP growth. If strong economic growth is supported with strong job growth, a 5% rate on the 30-year loan will still be an affordable rate in the grand scheme of things.

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.

Defying Consensus Estimates

We, along with most everyone else , believe interest rates will rise in 2014. If you were to ask most mortgage bankers where the rate on the 30-year fixed-rate loan will be on Dec. 31, 2014, you'll likely get a response of 5% or above.

To be sure, the year is still young, but mortgage rates have defied the majority opinion by trending down, not up. This past week, rates were either steady or slightly down across the board. Bankrate.com's weekly survey shows an average rate of 4.56% on the 30-year loan. Freddie Mac's survey shows the 30-year loan averaging 4.39%, two basis points lower than last week.

Depending on your local market, the rate on the 30-year loan has dropped from 10-to-15 basis points in this new year. Rates have dropped despite the Federal Reserve announcing it was reducing its purchases of mortgage-backed securities.

We're not terribly surprised mortgage rates have been falling. At the beginning of the year, the 10-year U.S. Treasury note was yielding above 3%. As we write, the yield is below 2.8%. (To get a rough idea of where the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is headed, follow the yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which you can readily find at most financial portals .)

The upside of lower mortgage rates has been an uptick in both refinance and purchase application activity. The Mortgage Bankers Association 's latest survey shows refinance applications were up 10% last week, while purchase applications were up 2%.

The downside is that lower rates have come tethered to lower job growth. We mentioned last week that we were sorely disappointed in the December payroll numbers. Job growth for the month was far below expectations.

Later next week, we'll get an idea if December's employment numbers were simply an anomaly that's unrelated to the economy. Preliminary data point to gross domestic product (GDP) growing 3% on an annualized rate for the fourth quarter of 2013. Let's hope that growth is moving ahead at least that much. If growth meets or beats exceptions, December's weak job numbers will likely have been a one-off aberration, and not the start of a new trend.

The Federal Reserve will also influence interest rates this coming week. Fed officials are scheduled to convene on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we'll be privy to what they discussed. Most likely, we'll hear that the Fed still supports holding interest rates low into the distant future. But for the immediate future, rates could still rise or fall depending on the Fed's outlook on the economy.

The bottom line is that we expect to see some volatility in mortgage rates over the coming week, with most of it occurring on Wednesday and Thursday.

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.

Lowering the temperature of your thermostat can do more than reduce your energy bill (although we think that benefit is so awesome that it still made the list). Dropping temps just two to five degrees can also help you lose weight and provide a better night’s sleep.

If you’re not ready take the temperature plunge 24/7, consider only dropping household temps at night or while you’re at work. Tests show that lowering your home’s temperature for at least four hours a day will make a difference.

Here are five ways that lowering your thermostat can improve your life:

Below 75 Degrees: Prolong the Life of Plants

Give houseplants a longer lease on life by dropping below 75 degrees. We’ll spare you the science as to why this works, but basically, plants need less water when they’re cool. This is especially handy if you’re heading out of town. The chances of coming home to lifeless leaves will be much less likely (unless you have tropical plants)!

Below 70 Degrees: Lose Weight (Without Hitting the Gym)

Move over “diet and exercise,” there’s a new weight loss secret in town! To shed a few pounds, drop your thermostat below 70 degrees. You don’t want the room to be so cold that you’re shivering and uncomfortable, but cool enough so that a light sweater feels perfect.

Here’s how it works: When the temperature drops, your energy expenditure increases, so you burn more calories (roughly 100 more a day). Over a period of several weeks, that increased energy can translate into an extra 3,500 calories burned, which means one lost pound.

Below 65 Degrees: Extend the Life of Your Fridge

Your refrigerator and freezer work really hard to keep your food safe and fresh, so cut them some slack. When your home is cooler, these large appliances don’t have to work as hard to keep your food cool. This can translate into fewer maintenance problems and a longer appliance lifespan.

The lower your thermostat, the easier things are for your fridge and freezer, so try dropping the temps dramatically for a few days if you’re heading out of town. Just don’t go below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, or you’ll be battling frozen pipes!

Below 65 Degrees: Get a Better Night’s Sleep

If you want a better night’s sleep, lower your home’s temperature by about five degrees. This works because when you go to sleep, your “set point” – the temperature your brain needs to reach before going to sleep – is lowered. If your room is too hot, you’ll have a harder time reaching this point and falling asleep.

One Degree at a Time: Save Cash on Energy Bills

If the ‘ole energy bill is sucking up more cash then you’d like, look to your thermostat! Each one-degree drop can reduce your energy bill by 1-3 percent. Tip: To save even more money, drop your thermostat by five to ten degrees while you sleep. Not only will you get a better night’s sleep, you’ll lower your energy bill by 10-15 percent!

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.

Do lenders prefer higher or lower interest rates? The answer isn't straightforward. Higher lending rates translate to higher income as long as the rate at which a lender borrows (generally a short-term rate) to fund a loan remains unchanged. On the flip side, higher rates lead to lower lending activity.

We still think higher lending rates are in our best interest long term. We've noted many times that higher rates are reflective of the two important market variables we mention above – economic growth and job growth. Both can easily compensate for higher rates. If job growth is accompanied with rising wages, home affordability remains relatively unchanged.

Higher rates also lead to more accommodating lending standards. We'll all agree that standards are tight today, possibly overly so. But Federal Reserve data lend credence to our assertion: When rates were rising last year, lending standards showed a measure of easing. This makes sense; higher rates lead to more profitable lending opportunities. What's more, the risk of lending to lower credit-quality borrowers is mitigated by price-appreciating collateral.

So rising rates are a mixed blessing, but a blessing that in the grand scheme of things will prove beneficial.  

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.

Can We Trust the Numbers?

We'd like to think we can, but we have to ask, even if we ask tongue-in-cheek: Are these numbers real and do they reflect the state of the economy?

We're referring to the employment numbers released last Friday, which we found to be highly unusual and very surprising. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the unemployment rate dropped to 6.7%, the lowest it has been since the Bush Administration. That's the good news, and news we can understand, given strong economic growth in the waning months of 2013.

The bad news – and the news that left us scratching our heads – is that payrolls increased by a mere 74,000 in December, which fell far short of the consensus estimate for 193,000. Even more disconcerting, many of the new jobs – 55,000 – were in retail, which tends to be a lower-compensated segment of the economy. We were, quite frankly, expecting job growth to hover near 200,000, especially when considering payrolls increased 241,000 (revised up from 203,000) in November and 200,000 in October. We thought elevated monthly job growth would coincide with gross domestic product , which had risen through most of 2013.

But at least the unemployment rate is falling, you might reason. This is a point of contention among economists, because it's falling on falling labor participation . Those working or seeking work has dropped to 62.6% of the population, the lowest since 1978. As recently as 2008, the labor participation rate was at 66%. Many market commentators fret over the low labor participation rate. But there appears to be a mitigating factor: There is evidence the lower participation rate is related to a higher retirement rate. If that's the case, today's flaccid labor participation rate is less dire than first appearances might lead us to believe.

Employment and economic growth is a recurring theme in these pages because of their importance to the housing and mortgage markets. We've said repeatedly that we'd love to see more jobs and more economic growth, even if they lead to higher lending rates.

The upside to disappointing job growth is falling mortgage lending rates, which is what happened this past week. Bankrate.com reports the average rate on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped nine basis points to 4.57%. Freddie Mac's survey shows the average rate on the 30-year loan fell 10 basis points to 4.41%.

The sizable drop in mortgage rates over the past couple weeks has ignited application activity, which we're glad to see. The Mortgage Bankers Association's latest survey shows that refinance activity jumped 11% last week. More important, purchase applications increased 12%. The surge in purchase applications leads us to believe that job growth for December was an aberration. After all, a loan is frequently contingent on the borrower being employed.

So if the December job numbers prove to be an aberration, then today's lower lending rates are likely an aberration, and also a window of opportunity. If the January job numbers move up to the 200,000 range, you can be assured mortgage lending rates will move up with them. Recent positive economic reports, along with our instincts, lead us to believe January's payroll numbers will be closer to 200,000 than 100,000.

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.

A winterized house and a heavy blanket will keep you comfortable during a chilly night, but nothing delivers that toasty, warm-to-the-bone feeling quite like a space heater (except maybe a roaring fireplace). If you’re going to break out a space heater or two this season, take a minute to brush up on these dos and don’ts. That way, your cozy rooms won’t be harboring a fire hazard.

In the market for a new space heater? We like the Presto Heat Dish because it has multiple settings and super-focused direction. In fact, it’s warming our office right now! If you want something a little bigger, try this Oscillating Ceramic Heater from Lasko.

The Dos and Don’ts of Space Heaters:

Do. Check the safety features on your heater. You want one that has been certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, so check the box (or heater itself) for a UL, ETL or CSA certification symbol. On ours, the symbol is on the bottom.

Don’t. Rely on space heaters for your entire house. This wastes energy and won’t be very effective. Instead, only use a space heater when you’re in the room you’re trying to heat, and close any doors to maximize efficiency.

Do. Choose a model with temperature controls. Multiple settings increase comfort, decrease energy usage and prevent overheating.

Don’t. Use a kerosene or propane space heater indoors! These types of heaters emit carbon monoxide, which is extremely toxic to humans and animals. To be safe, only run these heaters outdoors, where there is plenty of ventilation. 

Do. Place your space heater on a nonflammable surface (like tile) and keep it at least three feet away from bedding, curtains, furniture and feet.

Don’t. Leave your space heater on while you sleep or when you leave the house. If you’ve been using your heater to warm your bedroom at night, this is the perfect time to invest in a thicker comforter!

Do. Plug your space heater directly into an outlet. Using an extension cord or multi-plug power strip creates a fire hazard, and should be avoided.

Don’t. Run your space heater in the garage if you have chemicals or highly flammable items (like gasoline or paint thinner) stored in that area.

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.

Speaking of positive equity, RealtyTrac reports that the universe of equity-rich properties, defined as equity 50% higher than what's owed, swelled to 9.1 million in the fourth-quarter of 2013 from 7.4 million in the previous quarter. On the other end of the spectrum, those deeply underwater – owing 25% or more than what the house is worth – declined to 20% in December from 25% at the start of 2013.

These two trends are obviously encouraging to our respective industries, but they're also important to the national economy. We say that because fewer people will view a house as an albatross. Many people have been reluctant to buy a house for fear if they need to move in a year or two, they'll be stuck with an asset that has lost value.

Today, people feel more secure because they don't believe their mobility will be compromised. This is obviously an important factor in bringing more people into the housing market.

This is also an important factor in economic growth. If someone buys a house in Denver and two years later is offered a better job in Chicago, that person needs to feel confident the house can be sold without incurring a loss. When people feel more mobile and more confident, they're more likely to take steps to improve their economic situation.

The perception of unimpeded mobility is crucial to maintaining a vibrant housing market. Thankfully, we should see more labor mobility in 2014, which will lead to a more vibrant housing market and a more vibrant economy.

 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.

Change Is on the Way

The most noteworthy change in 2014 is the confirmation of a new Federal Reserve chairperson. This past Monday it was made official: Janet Yellen now chairs the Federal Reserve.

In the course of a regular workday, few of us give the Federal Reserve much thought. But the Fed does matter; its policies are very influential to housing and credit markets, and to the economy as a whole. So the lead question is, is the new boss much different than the old boss?

For the immediate future the answer is “no.” Everyone is aware that the Fed under the old regime leader, Ben Bernanke, was foreshadowing a tapering, which came to pass. Starting this month, the Fed will purchase $75 billion in Treasury notes and bonds and mortgage-backed securities instead of $85 billion. We don't expect a further reduction until the unemployment rate falls below 7% and stays there.

At the same time, personal consumption expenditures (PCE) remain sedate, running at 1.2% on an annualized basis. PCE is the Fed's preferred measure of inflation, and it would like to see PCE running at 2% annually instead of 1.2%. Therefore, we don't expect the Fed to announce any rate changes, possibly until 2015.

So the Federal Reserve has changed chairpersons, but its current policies are unlikely to change.

With that said, we still see changes in the mortgage market. We see rates rising, to be specific. Even if the Fed wants to hold interest rates low, it can't mandate the rate at which market participants lend. Markets are anticipatory, and they are anticipating economic growth, which is why the yield on the 10-year Treasury note – a leading proxy for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage – is now hovering at 3%.

This is why we expect a change in mortgage lending rates; “change” being a euphemism for higher mortgage rates in 2014.

A slowdown in home-price appreciation is another looming change. Admittedly, we've been talking about a price slowdown for some time, and yet the data from the major home-price aggregators has contradicted us. Are our eyes lying?

It's appearing less likely. The latest price data from Trulia show the year-over-year increase in asking prices slowed for the first time in nearly two years. Asking prices rose 0.4% month over month in December, and that translates to an 11.9% year-over-year gain. But in November the year-over-year gain was 12.2%.

2014 won't be a repeat of 2013, and that's a good thing. Yes, mortgages won't be quite as affordable and slowing home-price growth won't immediately lift as many homeowners into positive equity, but these negatives will be offset by big-picture gains in job growth and more economic activity – two themes we've been banging the drum on for the past six months.

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.

Why Do This?

Even if you’ve taken precautions to prevent frozen pipes, it can still happen during single-digit nights. Frozen pipes can lead to expensive water damage, so you want to thaw them as soon as possible. However, hiring a plumber to do this for you can cost $200 or more, so you can save a lot of money by getting it done yourself!

Time: 60 minutes

What You'll Need:

• hairdryer
• patience

How To:

Safety Note: NEVER use an open flame to thaw your pipe! This will permanently damage the pipe and may even start a fire. It’s also best to avoid “thawing machines,” which are expensive and can be dangerous when they’re not operated by a professional.

1. Check the weather forecast. If your pipe froze because of a freak cold snap, but the weather has warmed up since then, the pipe may thaw on its own. If the foreseeable forecast is frosty, you’ll probably need to take action.
2. Locate the main shut-off valve. Before you begin, locate your main shut-off valve to make sure you know how to turn off your water. Once your pipe thaws, leaks are common. So, it’s important to be ready!
3. Turn your hot and cold faucet handles. Check to see if water will come out of your cold water faucet handle, and then do the same for your hot water. If your cold water pipe has frozen, but water is still flowing from your hot water pipe, you’re in luck! Turn on your hot water and let it run for 10-20 minutes. The heat will usually transfer to the frozen pipe and fix the problem.
4. Grab a hairdryer. If that doesn’t work (or your hot water pipe is frozen, too), it’s time to break out the hairdryer. If you can see the frozen area, great. Set your hairdryer to high heat and blast away (holding the dryer a few inches from the pipe) until your water returns. If you can’t see the freeze because the pipe goes into a wall, just aim your hairdryer as close to the problem as possible. Pipes conduct heat extremely well, so even if the freeze is behind a wall, you can usually thaw it out. Just note that this can take 30-45 minutes (sometimes more) to work.
5. Call a professional (optional). If you continue to have trouble, your best bet is to call a professional plumber. If you ask nicely, most of them are willing to talk you through other solutions at no charge.

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.