Pretty On The Outside

First impressions are important. It's mid-summer and some people are a little less energetic about pulling weeds, mowing the grass, tending to the garden, etc ...

It's simple: deferred maintenance with the landscaping of a home translates to potential buyers second guessing the amount of care given to important components such as the furnace, the roof, and more.

Hire a professional if you aren't up to the task. The market is different throughout the country, but one thing that is most likely universal: The homes that are maintained well outsell similar homes that are not maintained well.

One of your neighbor's lawns outshining yours? Compliment them and ask for the name of their landscaper. They do it themselves? See if they'll help. You'll be surprised at how involved a neighbor will get into helping you sell your home. After all, they have a vested interest in that too.

The Reluctant Real Estate Recruiter: Me?

The phone rings and it is the daughter of a friend. Or maybe an old highschool acquaintance. Neighbor. Past client. They are interested in doing what I do. Full of energy. Almost all of them tell me they watch most of the HGTV house buying/selling/flipping/designing shows. They love looking at houses. I have to pause and remember what I promised myself a few years ago. When I first got into this business it wasn't long until my old brokerage asked me to mentor new real estate agents. The same demeanor that helps me form successful working relationships with clients today led to a thought that I would be a great ambassador for new Realtors 20+ years ago. Think again. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) announced that in 2023 they lost over 26,000* members. How does that happen? While there are some other factors (ie, selling real estate without being under the NAR umbrella, retirement, etc .. ) a reasonable assumption is an overwhelming majority of Realtors left the business...

Let's Go For A Walk: Meet the Wurbles

When's the last time you opened your front door and walked down the street for a cup of joe or to hit the gym? A number of people, especially those in the "717", can't do that. We live in the suburbs. The country. We drive to work, shop, and play. Some stats and news reports the last two years would have you believe that everyone is moving to the sticks. The truth is, I've never had so many people tell me they want to live in a community where they can walk or bike for shopping, exercise, work, school, etc ... Some things to consider if you find it appealing to be using your car less. This goes for both buying a home or renting. - Flirt with living in town . A novel idea! Take your pick, almost all of them have housing options that allow you to do a number of things on foot or two wheels. If sustainability is important to you, this is a homerun - Live near public transportation . The "717" doesn't have a subway, but options include the CAT bus, ...

92 Months

It has been 92+ months in a row that the median price of homes in the 717 area code have increased. The difference in median sales price from just one year ago is +8%. On the flipside, buyers in the 717 area do have *more* choices than they did last year. There are more homes available. Prices going up, but more homes available. This is not the same in other areas in the Mid-Atlantic region. What does all this mean? I started helping people buy and sell real estate over 20 years ago. There have been highs and lows for buyers and sellers - but generally speaking they haven't been as high or low in Central Pennsylvania as they are in many other parts of the country and even within our own state. Make a move when you want to, not when the talking heads on the TV tell you it is time. *statistics courtesy of BrightMLS report Nov 13, 2023

717 Real Estate

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