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Showing posts from 2013

Taxes - Some Perspective in Cumberland County

The headline in Cumberland County's Sentinel Newspaper this morning reads: County may raise taxes The byline mentions a possible 3% tax hike. The county's median price range is steady at right around $180, 000. The proposed increase in taxes would mean an approximate  additional ELEVEN DOLLARS a year for someone with a home value in that range. While it's important to be informed, I hope there is some perspective presented on tonight's evening news. What may be a bigger topic is that the county apparently spent $60, 000 on consultants to figure out to raise the taxes. It will be easy to think they over spent,  but if the best solution was found by a third party -- I'm all for it. What do you think?

The Eisenhower Farm

President (and General) Dwight D. Eisenhower spent weekends on a Gettysburg farm just far enough removed from Washington DC that he was able to relax and recharge without too much of a travel hangover. The house and surrounding buildings are open to the public. This December visitors may see the house decorated for Christmas. Stop by and take a look at a real piece of 717 area Real Estate history. Come on, I know you Like Ike! Information on the Christmas tour of the Eisenhower Farm is here . As far as I know, the farm is not for sale. However, I'd be happy to contact the Park Service for you to try to negotiate something :-) 

Is the Sky Falling?

Everyone is asking me about interest rates:  I heard rates skyrocketed and now the market is bad!  Relax. The sky is not falling. Yes, rates are higher now than they were a couple of months ago. However a couple of months ago rates were super, super crazy low. That's not a professional description, but I'm trying to make a point. Mortgage interest rates are still very low. They are about 1/2 of what they were when I bought my house in 1999. If I would have waited until 2011 - 2013 to buy a home to wait on the rock bottom interest rate, then I would have been renting for ... well, you do that math. Read this: http://money.cnn.com/2013/07/18/real_estate/mortgage-rates/index.html