Real Estate Information and Homes For Sale

Another home price index, another index that shows monthly price gains.

CoreLogic released its home price index for May, and no surprise – prices were up for the month.  The index showed national home prices up 1.3%, which lifts the year-over-year gain to 5.9%. The index is up 22-consecutive months.

We’re not surprised by CoreLogic’s findings. All the other housing-data aggregators – Case/Shiller, Zillow, Black Knight, etc. – show persistent monthly price gains as well.  What’s more, CoreLogic’s HPI Forecast shows that prices will increase by 5.3% annually by May 2017, and by 0.8% month over month in June 2016.

More price appreciation appears in store, at least at the national level. But as we know, real estate markets are local markets. Demography, the rate of price appreciation, and the market composition of homes in Aurora, Colo differs from demography, the rate of price appreciation, and the market composition of homes in Aurora, Ill.

The good news, at least to us, is that the rate of price appreciation is slowing in more markets, particularly in the hotter markets, like those in Northern California.  We think this is healthy. Rapid price appreciation reduces the number of potential buyers. It also leads to a more stratified market.

We agree with CoreLogic: Home prices in many local markets will likely trend higher.  We like the idea, though, of prices trending higher at a rate that adheres more closely to historical norms.

Information provided by 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.

How Low Can Rates Go?

Each week, we see interest rates as low as they’ve been in our lifetime. We obviously continue to live each week, and each week we continue to see interest rates at the lowest we have ever seen. (Of course, one week one of the two conditions  – the living or the falling interest rates – will give. Needless to say, we prefer the latter to give first.)

This week, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note hit another all-time low, dipping below 1.37%.  Mortgage rates aren’t quite at an all-time low, which occurred in December 2012, but they’re darn close.  Quotes on a conventional 30-year fixed-rate loan frequently range between 3.25% and 3.375% on best execution these days.  As for the 15-year loan, quotes are well below 3%.

Again, we look to the other side of the Atlantic for the cause. Financial markets rallied over the second half of last week, but they pulled back again this week. It seems market participants, after having a holiday weekend to mull things over, returned to work Tuesday thinking there is still considerable market risk associated with the U.K. Brexit vote.  Investors re-embraced haven assets – precious metals and U.S. Treasury securities.  Prices in both asset classes have risen meaningfully over the past week.

At this point, you would think the odds of the Federal Reserve raising rates would be zero for the remainder of the year.  That’s not the case.  Traders in federal funds rate futures contracts are pricing a 6% chance of a rate increase at the Fed’s September meeting (even though they’re pricing contracts with a 2.4% chance of a rate cut later this month).  Last week, they weren’t giving odds for an increase until December.

But as we are quick to note, traders can be a schizophrenic lot, as can Fed officials.  The June meeting contrasted sharply with the April meeting. Back then, many Fed officials chatted up the possibility of rate increases in the near future. At the latest meeting, everyone softened his stance, evinced by a 10-0 vote to hold rates steady.

Falling interest rates have certainly impacted our corner of the word. Refinance applications have taken flight, which comes as no surprise. More important to the housing market, purchase applications are again moving higher.  The Mortgage Bankers Association Purchase Index was up 4% last week after treading water over the previous three weeks.

So, again we ask: How low can rates go?

What occurred this past week may have been one last spastic reaction to the Brexit vote. In that case, rates could start trending higher, especially when you consider no other major event hangs over our heads.  With nothing hanging over heads, the risk for rates to move higher rises. In short, it’s tough to argue against locking in at today’s rates.

Information provided by 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.

Have moths been fluttering into your immaculate home every time you open a door this summer?

Moths may not bite, but they’re definitely pesky, and for the insect-averse, they can totally ruin a cozy evening spent reading by lamplight. 

If moths are hanging out by an outside light and rushing inside whenever you open your patio or front door, cinnamon can help. The anti-microbial qualities of cinnamon oil make it a great bug repellent. Wherever the smell is strong, insects will stay away!

Fill a few cotton or mesh bags with cinnamon sticks and hang the bags outside, near the lights that are attracting the moth menace. 

For a double whammy, unscrew your outdoor light while it’s cold and use an eyedropper or small brush to paint the bulb before screwing it back in. When the light turns on, the heat will spread the scent of the cinnamon oil and repel moths. 

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 U.S. economy is improving, but it’s still sluggish from a historical perspective. First-quarter gross domestic product grew at a 1.1% annualized rate. Consumer spending remains weak and has been a drag on growth for most of the year.

That said, the economy is driven as much by investment as by consumption. After all, we all have to produce in order to consume. Investment drives production. Residential investment has been a key driver of economic growth for the past two years. In fact, residential investment is estimated to have added a half percentage point to GDP growth in the first quarter.

Home sales – both new and existing – have been up most of the year. Price appreciation continues unabated in lower-end homes in many markets, though the overall trend in price appreciation is moderating. Case-Shiller's 20-city index shows prices year over year were up 5.4% compared to last year when they were up 6%.

We favor moderating price appreciation.  Prices at the national level should really appreciate at a percentage point or two above consumer-price inflation.  Yes, real estate wealth will accumulate at a slower pace, but at the same time sales activity will increase.

Homeowners want higher prices and home seekers want lower prices.  Prices appreciating at a rate closer to consumer-price inflation provides a nice equilibrium. We’re getting closer to a nice equilibrium that’s also a sustainable equilibrium.

Information provided by 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.

Thank the British for Today’s Lower Mortgage Rates

A vote occurred on the other side of the Atlantic last week, and the result was unanticipated by most political wonks.

As you no doubt know, the citizens of the United Kingdom voted their country out of the European Union.  And given the immediate response from financial markets around the world, you’d have thought that they had voted themselves off the planet.  Market participants responded by marking most everything down: stocks, commodities, global economic growth, and interest rates. (Gold, silver, and U.S. Treasury securities – havens all – bucked the trend to trade up.)

The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note dropped nearly 25 basis points overnight to a level unseen since, well, never.  Because long-term mortgage rates follow the 10-year note (though not in lockstep), the 30-year fixed-rate loan hit a four-year low. Sub-3.5% on the 30-year loan has become the new norm.

The UK vote – known by the tedious portmanteau “Brexit” – enables the UK to free itself from EU diktats, which can be stultifying at times. (For example, bottled-water manufacturers are prohibited from saying water PREVENTS dehydration.) By voting “yes” on Brexit, the Brits voted for more local control, which it appears they will get.

Market participants are worried that the Brits also voted themselves out of the European market.  Worries were exacerbated by the notion that other EU countries – most notably France and the Netherlands – will also vote themselves out of the EU, thus starting a contagion that could end the EU.  Should this occur, a worldwide recession would ensue, so we’ve been warned.

Last week, we mentioned that we remain skeptical that the Federal Reserve would raise the federal funds rate before the end of the year. After the Brexit vote, we now have plenty of company. Traders in fed funds rate futures contracts are no longer giving near-term odds on a rate increase; the odds have shifted to a rate decrease.  Futures contracts are trading with a 6% chance that the Fed will cut the fed funds rates at its Sept. 21 meeting.  Odds for a rate increase don’t arise until the December meeting. The odds given are only 13%.

We think the potential negative consequences of the Brexit vote are unduly amplified. Yes, feelings are hurt and passions are inflamed, particularly among the losing side and among continental Europeans. But in time, cooler heads and rational thought will prevail.  The EU and the UK will maintain trading relations and the world will go. As for a global recession, It’s possible, but also improbable.

For now, we’ve got a low-lending rate environment that’s likely to persist through the summer months. With the Brexit vote out of the way, no major global event resides on the horizon. This means mortgage rates are unlikely to trend much lower.

There’s no overriding reason to lock at this point, but there’s also no overriding reason to float. Just keep in mind that rates tend to rise faster than they fall.  

Information provided by 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.

If you’re totally new to gardening, it’s easy to go overboard when purchasing garden tools. Walk into any home improvement store and it can feel pretty overwhelming. Luckily, there are only a handful of essential tools you actually need to get your green thumb going. Focus on the basics!  

Here are seven tools for the beginner gardener.

A Pair of Gloves

Ever tended to roses without garden gloves? Yeah, ouch. Keep splinters and thorns away from your skin with a good pair of sturdy gloves made of leather or latex coated cotton. Make sure they fit snug, and aren’t too bulky.

Garden Shoes

Grab a pair of clogs or garden shoes to make spending hours outside a bit more comfortable. Make sure to get shoes with a sturdy sole (think pressing down on a shovel’s edge) but also something that is waterproof. If you’re on a tight budget and have an old pair of tennis shoes, that works perfectly, too.

Hose with Adjustable Nozzle

A quality, long garden hose may sound like a no brainer, but just as important is anadjustable nozzle. This will allow you to cover every inch of your garden, and put you in control of the water pressure. If you’re working with a smaller plot of land or an herb garden, a watering can will also work.

Shovel

It may not be the most exciting tool, but it’s definitely one that will get a lot of use. Use a round-headed shovel for digging any holes or picking up dirt or compost to create your garden beds.

Wheelbarrow

This will come in handy especially during spring and fall when there is a lot of pruning and cleaning up to do with your garden space. Excellent for hauling soil or compost to your garden, a wheelbarrow can also help with construction materials if you’re doing raised beds. Expect to shell out about $85 at your local home improvement store, but it’s well worth it.

Hand Trowel

These are perfect for planting herbs, small patches of flowers and removing weeds! Plus,hand trowels are relatively inexpensive. Make sure to properly clean your tools after each use, and avoid storing the shovel with any caked-on dirt. This will help prolong its life.

Scissors

Garden shears and scissors are necessary for deadheading, pruning small plants or thinning your vegetables. You can also use these to cut and bring in bouquets of fresh flowers. Larger shears are great for trimming and edging garden beds and paths.

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

Purchase mortgage activity has been a bit weak in recent weeks, but we’re not worried.  We like this housing market and our affinity is unlikely to wane this year.  The outlook is simply too positive.

The outlook is certainly positive among homebuilders. The NAHB’s sentiment index increased two points to 60 following four-consecutive months stalled at 58. The latest report shows improving traffic, which has languished over most of 2016.  First-time buyer interest, in particular, is finally gaining traction.

Optimism picked up despite a slowdown in housing starts. Overall starts slipped 0.3% to 1.164 million units on an annualized rate in May. But there was a silver lining: Single-family starts continue to trend higher, rising 0.3% to 764,000 on an annualized rate. Year over year, single-family starts are up 10.1%.

As we all know, our bread is mostly buttered by existing-home sales. The NAR reports that existing-home sales sprang ahead in May to their highest level in almost a decade. Sales were up 1.8% to 5.53 million units. Prices continue to rise, with the median price of an existing home rising to $239,700, a record high.

Better yet, existing-home inventory is up, and that bodes well for summer sales. Inventory rose 1.4%  to 2.15 million existing units for the month.

To be sure, most people look to housing for shelter. But with financial markets riddled with uncertainty and volatility these days, we’re not surprised that more people look to housing as a store of wealth and as an investment opportunity. This, too, is unlikely to change in the indefinite future.

Information provided by 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.

We’ll Believe It When We See It

June 15 came and went, and it came and went as we expected it would, with the Federal Reserve again postponing raising the federal funds rate.

It’s like deja vu all over.

To start 2015, we predicted that the Fed would not raise interest rates that year.  We weren’t foiled until December, when the Fed raised the target range on the fed funds rate by 25 basis points.

We then started 2016 by expressing skepticism that the Fed would raise the fed funds rate within the first six months. We’ve been proven correct.  Now, we wouldn’t be surprised if we went the entire year without a rate increase (though we could well be foiled again in the later months).

We’re not alone in our skepticism. Traders in federal funds rate futures contracts aren’t giving 50/50 odds of a rate increase until December.  These same traders – who can be a schizophrenic lot – entered 2016 giving 50/50 odds for a June rate increase.

In testimony before Congress this past Tuesday, Fed Chair Janet Yellen gave pretty much the same reasons we’ve been giving for holding off on a rate increase: Stagnating domestic economic growth, subdued economic growth with our primary trading partners, a strong U.S. dollar, weak commodity prices, and the recent slowdown in payroll growth.

It has become apparent that the Fed’s crystal ball is no more clairvoyant than the crystal ball of anyone who spends time monitoring financial markets. Just a few months ago, the Fed said everything was on the mend and that rate increases would come in short order. (Actually, the Fed foreshadowing rate increases is a new convention. Before the 2008 financial crisis, the Fed didn’t tell it just did.)

That said, interest rates have trended higher. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note gained nearly 14 basis points this past week. As the yield on the 10-year note goes, so, too, go mortgage rates.  Quotes on the 30-year fixed-rate loan have hit a two-week high.

This isn’t a total surprise.  Last week, we mentioned that the rumor (or the anticipation of news) moves markets more than the news itself.  When it became apparent that the Fed would raise rates in December, rates moved higher.  When the Fed actually raised rates, rates drifted lower.

This go around, rates dropped when it became apparent the Fed would not raise rates.  When it didn’t raise rates, rates moved higher.  Market participants frequently buy the rumor and sell the news.

Until we’re proven wrong, we’ll stick with the status quo: Low mortgage rates for now and for the indefinite future.

Information provided by 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.

Summertime is most certainly the season of long days and poolside cocktails. But if you don’t take precautions, it can also become the season of sweaty armpits and heat-induced agitation. The thing is, staying cool at home during the summer can sometimes cramp your style.

If you’re less-than-psyched about breaking out that clunky floor-fan, try one of these tips for staying hip while you beat the summer heat at home:

1. Get creative with ice cubes. It turns out that ice cube trays can hold a lot more than frozen water. For example, they can become your secret weapon for making amazing coffee, impressing guests and even saving money. Check out nine tricks of the ice-cube trade.

2. Freeze grapes. Once you’ve mastered the art of creative cubes, start freezing grapes! It may seem like a strange idea at first, but popping a few frozen grapes into your mouth after a long, hot day in the sun is a fantastic (and delicious) way to chill out. Plus, nothing is cooler than sharing a frozen treat with friends and family. Bonus: Eating smaller meals and snacks will help your body stay cool throughout the day.

3. Taste the rainbow. The rainbow fan, that is! In some cases, being hip is just a short DIY craft project away. In just a few minutes, you can unlock the fashionable side of this functional item. Take your fan to the next level with this easy DIY project! Tip: If you want to add some pizzazz to your ceiling fan, check out this quick project from Design Sponge.

4. Bling out your blinds. Drawing your blinds during the hottest parts of the day is a great way to keep your home cool (and save on your utility bill), but if you have “blah” shades, doing that can be a bit of a bummer. Spruce things up with some spray paint. Simply remove your blinds, clean them off, lay them on a sheet outside and get to spraying! 

5. Make ice-cube treasure hunts. If you have young kids at home, no cooling trick will amaze them more than this. Grab an unused plastic bin or container. Fill it with colored water and various treasures – action figures, toy cars, marbles, shells and spare change all work well. Freeze it overnight (or for at least 12 hours) and then let your kids start digging! They can use kitchen utensils and a wooden mallet to dig, just be sure to keep an eye on them while they plunder. Tip: If you’re going to have them hunt outside, add a spray bottle full of warm water to their treasure-hunting arsenal. The hot water will help the melting process along.

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.

Close your eyes and picture your best beach day.

What makes it so great? Chances are it’s the warm sun on your face, cool beer in your hand, gentle breeze and a relaxed attitude. Great news! If you have a deck or porch, you don’t have to spend money on a fancy vacation to recreate all of the above. All you need is a can-do attitude, a free afternoon and a few good ideas.

Here are seven of our favorite ways to make your porch (or deck!) ready for summer awesomeness:

1. Seal, Stain & Weather-Proof

There’s a reason you don’t put lipstick on a pig – it doesn’t do any good! Unless the exterior of your deck or porch is in good shape, any fun accessories you add will be a waste of time. Plus, an unsealed porch will become waterlogged and rot over time, getting worse with every summer storm or winter snow. If your setup is looking a little ragged, check and see if there are any professional deck and porch maintenance offers in your area. It’s the easiest way to whip things back into shape.

2. Hang Twinkle Lights

Now that your porch is protected, it’s time to have a little fun. To extend the time you and your family enjoy your outdoor living space, throw up some patio twinkle lights.  A few strands of lights can transform a so-so patio into something special.

These lights come in an assortment of sizes, shapes and colors. And you’d be surprised how far they’ll go towards making your area look like it’s straight out of Pinterest. Plus, you’ll be able to see your cocktail during those nighttime hangs, and everyone looks great under the glow.

3. Add an Outdoor Cooler

A perfectly lazy afternoon isn’t complete without a cold drink (or two…or three). Make living easy by adding an attractive outdoor cooler to your deck or patio oasis. Avoid ugly plastic coolers, and opt for interesting shapes and containers, like this baby bathtub idea fromSouthern Living. When you’re headed outside for a long afternoon of leisure, fill the bathtub,metal planter or other unique cooler with ice and beverages. That way, you and your guests barely have to move to refill.

4. Bring Out a Bar Cart

Turn the porch party up with a bar cart. Don’t limit your bar cart to booze! On the cart, you can store booze, and cups, stirrers, coasters, books, magazines, speakers, sunglasses or anything else you may fancy while you’re wiling away the afternoon. It’s basically a chest of drawers on wheels.

If you would fancy a cocktail or three on your porch, build a baller bar cart with these tips.

5. Hang Up a Hammock

Hammocks are the best. Really, the best. We cannot overestimate how great wasting an afternoon in a hammock can be. You swing, you feel the breeze and you relax, all from the comfort of your front (or back) stoop. To turn your hammock time into romantic-time, consider a two-person hammock. We love this one, because it has a steel stand, so it’s mobile and easy to set up.

6. Think Indoors

To make your outdoor living space feel cozy, add a few traditionally indoor items like rugs, lamps, and flower vases. If your porch isn’t enclosed, we recommend bringing the smaller items inside at night, or some jealous passersby might nab them.

7. Plant Perennials

Adding pots full of perennials to your outdoor living space is an easy way to inject some color and visual interest. Why perennials, instead of annuals? You only have to plant perennials once and then you’ll get to enjoy them every year.

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.