Real Estate Information Archive

The Central Penn Business Journal reported the following real estate sales statistics for January 2015:

The results are in and there is a great improvement in Harrisburg PA real estate sales for the first quarter of 2012 increased by 18.1% compared to the first quarter of 2011 according to the Central Penn Multi List. The area covered by the Multi List is the greater Harrisburg including all of Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties and portions of York, Lancaster and Lebanon counties. AND the number of homes sold, not settled, has increased by 20% since the end of 2011.

Not all categories are positive as of today. The days on market category, homes that have sold but not taking into consideration homes that are still on the market or are no longer for sale still is increasing, but at a substantially slower pace than in previous quarters. Also, the average sales price has declined again but the percentage decrease is slowing considerably.

The bottom line is that the Harrisburg PA real estate market is improving faster than many would have expected just a few months ago and I anticipate that all price points will see positive results moving throughout the rest of 2012. We still see plenty of inventory but in the price ranges under $225,000 there is more of a balanced (six months or less) inventory levels and I anticipate that the other price categories to improve although it will be a slower process. With a good supply of inventory and still extremely attractive mortgage interest rates I am anticipating continued improvement in the real estate market locally.

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.

Steadily and slowly the Harrisburg PA real estate market continues to improve on many fronts. The number of homes sold and settled in February 2012 increased by 18% over the same period in 2011 and the number of homes sold and pending increased by approximately 15% since the end of 2011. But the average sales price for homes settled decrease by about 5% in February when compared to February 2011. And the number of active listings for residential listings increased slightly since the end of 2011. Overall this is excellent news for the areas real estate market and it is anticipated that the overall positive trend will continue throughout the year.

I have been asked by many people “how is the market and is this a good time to buy or sell a home?” My answer is absolutely, and yes! I assist buyers and sellers in most likely their largest financial transaction that will occur, and my answer is absolutely. Why? As I have been saying interest rates are at or near historic lows and there is only one direction they are going and that is up, almost guaranteed. As with the price of a home and the comment of I am going to wait until they hit bottom. Well, my answer is that we never know where the bottom is until they have already begun an upward trend. And if I was that smart to figure out the bottom, I would be spending more time on the beach rather than giving you an analysis of what appears to be an improving real estate market. Will there be challenges ahead? Absolutely, but remember when prices were keeping many people from buying a home? Well, you now have a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a home at a unique time in our history.

Remember there is an excellent inventory of homes in all prices ranges so to find your next home please visit my web site, www.DonRoth.com, and click on the search listings tab and find the most current list of available homes for sale.  

Harrisburg PA Real Estate Sales Statistics - Feb 2012

West Shore School Districts

School District    Average Sales Price 2011 Average Sales Price 2012      Days on Market

Camp Hill                    $125,900                                 $155,900                     184/90

Carlisle                        $168,012                                 $199,130                     160/155

Cumberland Valley      $266,689                                 $283,057                     162,116

East Pennsboro            $115,960                                 $189,075                     101/67

Mechanicsburg             $210,978                                 $165,354                     89/174

Northern York                $215,025                                 $173,206                     139/154

West Shore                    $169,636                                 $156,007                     90/114

East Shore

School District               Average Sales Price 2011 Average Sales Price 2012      Days on Market

Central Dauphin        $201,096                                 $156,527                     177/115

Derry Twp                  $309,625                                 $216,863                     70/124

Harrisburg                  $ 46,628                                  $ 59,924                      121/111

Lower Dauphin          $213,853                                 $227,433                     55/145

Middletown                $179,925                                 $ 79,419                      163/93

Steel High                   $69,500                                   $ 42,633                      65/142

Susquehanna Twp     $195,471                                 $129,294                     131/125

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 Central Pennsylvania real estate sales numbers for May are in and they are very telling. The number of homes that sold in May decreased by 37% compared to May 2010. Yes, that is a dramatic drop but we must remember that in 2010 we were winding down from the Federal Governments First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit incentive which accomplished the intent of selling more homes in an effort to get the economy moving at a faster pace. It worked and probably it sacrificed future home sales.
 
The average sales price of Central Pennsylvania real estate declined by 6% from 2010 and that decrease does not concern me since when reviewing full year over year average sales prices have held constant for the last three years, which averaged in the $185,000 to $190,000 range. You are probably saying that I am looking through rose colored glasses and that there are positives in the real estate market. Well, the numbers of pending sales (homes that are under contract but have not settled) increased by 17% since the end of the first quarter of this year and are up over 20% since the end of 2010. Factor in the extremely attractive mortgage rates, currently at 4.50% for a 30 year fixed rate and the abundance of inventory there are many reasons to be positive in the next coming months. Are we out of the woods totally, probably not but I am seeing the positives rather than the negatives. Yes there is still some pricing pressure in the market but when you read that the alternative to owning a home is renting and those costs are accelerating at a faster pace than total mortgage payments, in my opinion there is not a contest between owning a home or paying rent.
 
This region has not had a high percentage of short sales and foreclosures that many areas of the country have experienced so that is an extreme positive. We will see  more positives in the future so if you are a buyer take advantage of this opportune time. If you are a seller be sure that your home is properly priced and as I heard recently insure that your home is a compelling value.