Real Estate Information Archive

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.

There is a common misconception that consumption is the prime driver of the economy. To be sure, consumption matters (because everything is made to be consumed), but production and investment shouldn't be overlooked. After all, production precedes consumption. You have to produce before you get paid with the money to consume.

With that in mind, residential real estate investment (defined as investment in new single family structures, multifamily structures, home improvement and commissions on existing home sales) matters. Investment goes hand-in-glove with production.

The good news is that residential investment was up strongly in 2012 and 2013. The even better news, it still has a long way to go to reach historical norms. Demand for new investment should be strong through 2014, and very likely through 2015.

Stronger residential investment isn't just good for us, it's good for the aggregate economy. Residential investment is a powerful contributor to gross domestic product (GDP) growth and employment. Housing activity contributes up 5% of GDP. The simple logic is that more investment activity will lead to more economic growth.

The bottom line is that we look for another strong year for housing. As long as the economy continues to improve, rising lending rates won't alter our outlook.

 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.

Trends Persist Heading into 2014

Trends established in 2013 show signs of persisting into 2014... but for how long?

Take home prices, which continue to move strongly higher. The latest edition of the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index shows prices rose 1.05% in October. Year over year, prices are up 13.63% in the composite 20-city index to post the strongest year-over-year gain since February 2006.

There are a couple points worth noting: First, the latest index reading is for October, so it's two-month in arrears. That said, price data from other providers point to continued gains in November and December. The Case-Shiller index will very likely show that 2013 was a very good year for home prices.

It's also worth noting that there is some market rotation going on. Gains are no longer being paced by formerly depressed Phoenix and Las Vegas (where sales dropped to a five-year low in November). Instead, they are being paced by Detroit and Atlanta – markets that have been struggling until recently. This makes sense: Trees don't grow to the stratosphere and holes aren't dug to the center of the earth. There is a limit to how high or how low markets will go until they reverse course.

With that in mind, the Case-Shiller index has performed exceptionally well over the past two years. Aside from a hitch in 2010, the index has been on a tear since January 2009. This is unprecedented. And as we've noted before, it's also unsustainable. Once the last of the depressed markets rally, we expect national price appreciation, as well as price appreciation in more local markets, to slow. We wouldn't be surprised to see that begin as early as the first quarter of 2014.

The other major trend – rising mortgage rates – is showing signs of being sustained into 2014.

Bankrate.com's national survey shows the rate on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose six basis points to 4.69% in the past week. We're not surprised that rates moved higher, because the yield on the influential 10-year U.S. Treasury note is on the rise. In fact, the yield on the 10-year note is above 3%, the highest it has been in over two years.

The 30-year loan historically trades two percentage points above the 10-year note. Simple math, therefore, points to a 5% rate on the 30-year loan. We'll likely see 5% prevail by the end of the year, or even by mid-year.

On a more positive note, we see a trend reversal in existing home sales. After stagnating in the second half of 2013, sales should gain traction in 2014. We say that because we agree with NAR's chief economist Lawrence Yun and his assessment of the market. Says Yun, “ We may have reached a cyclical low because the positive fundamentals of job creation and household formation are likely to foster a fairly stable level of contract activity in 2014.”

We've expressed similar sentiments over the past few months. If our sentiment prevails, it's unlikely that markets will be derailed by higher lending rates and slowing home-price growth.

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.

This post originally appeared on LearnVest, where smart people learn to manage their money and live their richest lives.

If you’re a homeowner, chances are you’ve taken on a home-repair project that you probably shouldn’t have. Whether the results were disastrous, costly or comical, we can all relate to the desire to do-it-yourself instead of calling a pro.

Meet four people who went it alone (with less-than-stellar results) and then find out what the experts say they should have done differently. These homeowner heartbreaks just might save you big the next time you decide to whip out the toolbox!

1. When Toddlers Attack

The Homeowner: Patrick Morris, Troy, New York

The Situation: “My wife and I were painting rooms," explains Morris, a public relations manager. "At one point, she went downstairs for something and came back to find that our two-year-old had used the paint roller as a push toy throughout the hardwood floors upstairs. There was light blue paint all over the floor in each room.”

What Went (Really) Wrong: “We tried to remove the paint. I went to Home Depot to get a floor sander, polyurethane finish, etc. Five minutes into sanding, there was wood dust everywhere. The sanding was uneven and a total mess. We ended up going to Sears and arranged to have wall-to-wall carpeting installed. The whole thing cost us $6,000!”

What the Expert Says: “When you’re painting walls, especially with children in the home, you should always be using a low VOC water-based paint on the walls,” says Amy Matthews, a home improvement expert. “When wet, it can be removed from most surfaces with soap and water. Always take the time finding a pro to solve home improvement issues for the right price at the right time. There is no crime in having a patch of temporarily damaged wood floor!”

2. The Bathroom Debacle

The Homeowner: Kathi Rollberg Boldt, Ashland, Massachusetts

The Situation: "We decided to renovate our bathroom while we were also doing the kitchen because there was a sale on bath countertops. If you ordered them with the kitchen, you saved a bit," says Boldt, a middle school math teacher and married mother of three.

What Went Wrong: "We had to buy a different sink because the countertop wouldn’t fit the dimensions of our bathroom,” she explains. “After demolishing the wall tile, we found water damage on the walls. When all was said and done, the job that was going to just cost us for the tiles, countertop and cabinet ended up being about $3,000!”

What the Expert Says: Beware of what seems to be a “good deal,” but leads you to expand the size of your project, suggests Matthews. “If you don’t assess the reality of the cost, physical commitment and tools needed for the job, you will always end up biting off more than you can chew,” she says.

3. A Mudslide in My Backyard

The Homeowner: Kyle James, 
Redding, California

The Situation: “I fancy myself a pretty handy guy,” says James, the founder of Rather-Be-Shopping.com and a married father of three. “So last year, after we had our pool professionally installed, I took on the task of doing some erosion control on a fairly large slope created by the pool installation. I did some research, installed jute netting to hold the soil and seeded the hill with seasonal rye grass.”

What Went Wrong: ”One afternoon, I went outside and turned on the sprinkler on the hill to water the seed. We left for a family get-together and returned only to discover that I hadn’t turned the water off. The hill got completely saturated, and the sprinkler created a mudslide. After a phone call and a $2,500 bill, I learned to leave some D.I.Y. projects to the pros.”

What the Expert Says: "Kyle’s only mistake was not turning off the water! When doing your own projects, you have to be very mindful. Attention to detail can make the difference between a successful project and a debacle.”

4. How Not to Fix a Leaky Toilet

The Homeowner: Marci Echeverria, 
West Orange, New Jersey

The Situation: One afternoon, I heard the toilet running. I tried playing with the handle, which didn’t help at all. My husband Tony came home and he went upstairs to fix it. Neither one of us had any experience in this area. Still, Tony found some online videos explaining how and began to work on it. He came downstairs and declared that the toilet was fixed.”

What Went Wrong: ”Two days later, I saw drops of water on the floor of the second-floor hallway,” says Echeverria. "The next day, there were more drops on the floor. Then, I saw water dripping down from a huge wet spot. I called the plumber right away. Total cost: $300–$400, including paying the plumber to fix the toilet and a contractor to patch the ceiling. For every other repair since, we’ve gone straight to the pros!”

What the Expert Says: “Water damage can be one of the most costly (and inconvenient) repairs in a home," Matthews says. "And, though a running toilet can be an easy fix, ask yourself if the risk is worth the reward when a professional can often leave you dollars ahead in the long run.”

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.

The holidays are almost here, so your guest bedroom is probably about to earn its keep. Hosting large groups of people is never easy – especially when crazy Aunt Rita decides to stay for a few extra days – so it’s a good idea to be proactive and organized. We partnered with Jill Pollack, organizational expert and host of HGTV Canada’s show Consumed, to come up with these 10 tips for taking great care of houseguests.

1. Break Out the Hotel Toiletries

If you secretly pocket those mini shampoo and moisturizer bottles from hotels, you’re not alone. But do you ever actually use them? Unexpected houseguests give you an excellent opportunity to use your stash of small toiletries to turn your guest bathroom into a four-star hotel.

2. Kid-Proof Your House

You may not have any little ones in the house right now, but if your guests have young children, it’s a good idea to take some basic safety precautions. Pay special attention to the kitchen, which will likely see a lot of action during the holidays.

3. Prep Your Front Porch

You probably use your side or garage door most of the time, but guests will park on the street and enter through your front door. Do a quick check to make sure your porch lights are working, and have some salt and a shovel handy to keep walkways safe if it snows or freezes overnight.

4. Set Up a Shoe Basket

This is more for you (and your house) than for your guests. Place a big basket near your front door to store shoes. This will prevent dirt from being tracked through your house, which wreaks havoc on your carpets and hardwood floors. If you don’t want to go through the hassle of making everyone take off their shoes, at least throw down some welcome mats so they can wipe the worst of winter off before they explore your house.

5. Test-Drive Your Guest Room

This is an easy way to find out what’s working and what isn’t. Is the temperature comfortable? How about the pillows and mattress? If there are any issues, you may want to balance your heating system or flip your mattress. And don’t forget to wash the pillows and sheets!

6. Check Your Outlets

These days, most people travel with a smart phone, laptop and possibly an iPad. If everyone is going to stay fully charged, you may need to increase your outlet availability. Grab a few extra power strips from storage (or Best Buy) and set them up in common rooms. That way, everyone can get their Angry Birds fix before dinner.

7. Remove Pet Hair

If you have a furry friend in the house, your guests may not find his or her hair quite as endearing as your immediate family does (they might even be allergic). So, go on a quick pet-hair removal mission before people arrive. Our favorite method? A rubber cleaning glove.

8. Clean Out Your Closets

If you’ve been using your closets to hide a bunch of clutter, you should probably take care of the problem now before your niece or nephew gets buried in an avalanche of knickknacks. For step-by-step instructions, read: Organize Your Closet.

9. Demystify Your Bathroom

Have you ever gotten all undressed and ready for a shower in an unfamiliar bathroom only to realize you can’t figure out how the faucet works? It’s a major bummer. If your bathroom has a few quirks (like the hot water only works if the faucet is set just right) make sure you let your guests know before it’s too late.

10. Break Out the Photos

This is a good tip if you’re the kind of host who takes an above-and-beyond approach. Guests will feel more welcome if they can check out some photos of shared experiences and memories that are placed around your house. If you’ve moved all the photos of some people on your guest list into a box somewhere, make sure you pull them out of storage!

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.

This post is for all you lucky people who might receive a new tablet for Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwansea. Here are tips for keeping that new table safe and secure...

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 principal reason we remain housing bulls is that we have a lot of ground to make up.

It's worth mentioning that the new-home market is not the existing-home market. Many people want new homes, and there aren't as many of them as there was in the recent past. This suggests that we will see a sustained uptrend in housing construction over the next few years. This is important not just for us, but for the economy in general, as housing has historically contributed 2%-to-3% to gross domestic product.

The good news is that we see stronger economic growth and stronger job growth in 2014. The bad news is that this growth will ensure higher lending rates.

 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.