Appliance Life Expectancy

Appliances – What is the Life Expectancy?

Not ready to face the expense of replacing your stove, dishwasher, or even your vacuum??  Read on to discover some preventative measures you can take to keep many of your household appliances from reaching an early demise.  Also, discover when it might be to consider finding a replacement…

Appliance	How to care for it	When to replace it
Stand Mixer	Never overload the mixer, causing it to work harder and put extra strain on the motor.  When cleaning, make sure ALL parts are cleaned including the attachment socket!	If the mixer won’t turn on at all, you probably have a dead motor.
Microwave	Always use proper microwave-safe plates and bowls.  Keep the interior clean and the turntable rotating smoothly.	Takes too long to heat food or it won’t turn on.  Beyond replacing a fuse, the cost to repair could exceed the cost to replace.
Drip Coffeemaker	Rinse pot and grind basket after each use.  Once monthly, run 1 part vinegar/2 parts water solution through it to clean, followed by 2 brew cycles of plain water to rinse.	If your coffee isn’t really hot after brewing.  The heating element has probably died.
Vacuum Cleaner	After every few uses, clean the filters, the opening to bag or canister, hoses, etc.  Keep all air flow and parts moving properly.	If the motor dies.  The cost to repair typically costs as much as a replacement.
Hair Dryer	Clean lint and dust from the rear filter regularly.	Replace if blowing cold air or has a burning smell!
Range	Wipe up spills and messes right away, keeping burners clean and preventing fires.  The same applies to spills in the oven which can smoke or ignite!	Time to replace when the buttons or knobs no longer work the burners, gas burners won’t light, or the oven doesn’t heat up.
Dishwasher	Check the filter located in the bottom of the machine for clogs and debris.  Use a cleaner made for dishwashers regularly.	If the machine is cracked, rusted, leaking from the bottom, and if the motor or pump stop working.
Washing Machine	Keep machine level, never use more detergent than instructed, and always remove objects from pockets to avoid damage to the machine.	If the washer sounds like a freight train during the spin cycle!  This indicates a bad support bearing and a very pricey repair!
Clothes Dryer	Clean lint screen after each cycle.  Hire a professional to clean vent duct and interior of dryer once a year.	Time to replace if you need to repair more than one part at a time, like a motor and timer.
Refrigerator	Once a year, use a vacuum to clean the coils located in the bottom or rear of the fridge.  Also test the doors seals periodically to keep cold air from escaping.	Replace if it no longer keeps food cold or frozen.  Almost every other part is repairable or replaceable except for the cooling system.

With a little extra time and TLC you may be able to squeeze a few more days, months or years out of these frequently-used home appliances!

Why Buy a Brand New Home

Keep your eyes peeled for our new commercial

http://youtu.be/VFoJql-Kluw

Buying Your First Home

Buying your first home?

If you are considering buying your first home, planning is essential.  If you are not prepared, the excitement of buying a home could quickly fade behind a pile of paperwork.

Prepare ahead of time by gathering the proper paperwork and ensuring your financial situation is in order.  It could take weeks or even months for this process, especially if you have any credit items that need “fixed”.  Here is some helpful information to get you moving in the right direction:

Credit Score
Review your credit report closely.  Credit reports can be obtained for free, annually, from the 3 major credit bureaus, but you may have to pay for your actual credit score.  The score required could depend on the type of financing and price of the home you want.  Most lenders will want to see a score of at least 660.  You should start boosting your credit about a year before you want to purchase.  Try to avoid obtaining new credit cards at least 3 months before applying. Multiple credit checks can lower your score.

Financial History
Having a good payment history is also taken into consideration.  Banks will want to see that you have made auto loan payments and credit card payments on time.  They will also look for bankruptcies and an excessive number of credit lines.  Clean up any history of consecutive late payments at least a year before you apply for a mortgage.  If you rent, they may request a history from your landlord.  Be prepared to show them everything.

Adequate Income
Will you have enough money to pay for your home, as well as, all expenses associated with it?  Typically no more than 28% of your gross income can be used for any house payments and 42% of your income must be set aside for other expenses.  Lenders will also consider the time you have been at your current job.  They usually like to see a period of 2 years, unless a job change was made to improve your financial situation.  They might make an exception in that case.

Down Payment
The specifics of how much you need to put down could vary based on the type of loan you are considering.  Typically, conventional mortgages will require 10-20% down, while an FHA loan may require 3.5% -10%, based on your credit score.

Closing Costs
Some areas have higher taxes and homeowner insurance rates.  You should plan on setting aside approximately 5% of the purchase price for these costs.  This may be a little high, but it’s better to have more than not enough at settlement!

As a first-time home buyer, being prepared is the best first step.  As soon as you start to think about buying, contact a lender to discuss each of these items in more detail and determine how they pertain to you!

Happy home buying!

It's price that sells real estate

Click here for explanation as to why price controls

DO YOU WANT THE TRUTH OR THE FEEL GOOD

Growing up it seemed ‘white lies’ were okay while lying was a sin. As children, we sometimes had difficulty understanding where the line was. As we matured, we realized there most definitely was a difference.
If a husband or wife asks if it is okay to invite their parents over for dinner, the spouse would probably say ‘sure’ even if it wasn’t 100% the truth. That was a ‘white lie’. If a young boy dresses up as a monster on Halloween and asks his father if he looks ‘really scary’, it was okay for his dad to say ‘YES’! That was a ‘white lie’.
In both cases, the person telling the ‘white lie’ was saying what the other person wanted to hear. In both cases, there was no harm in not telling the 100% truth. In both cases, it was a ‘white lie’. However, if we are not telling the 100% truth in order to save someone’s feelings AND IT HURTS THEM, we are lying.

What does this have to do with real estate?

We believe there are some in the real estate industry more worried about a homeowner’s feelings than they are about telling the truth about the current value of their home. These agents are not necessarily malicious. They just realize they may disappoint a seller at a listing appointment by telling the truth about what the house will sell for. They find it difficult to deliver tough news. To make sellers feel better, they lie.

Good agents can deliver good news. Great agents know how to deliver tough news.

In today’s real estate market, you need an agent that will tell you the truth, even when you don’t want to hear it. You need an agent more worried about your family than they are about your feelings. You need an agent who can get the house sold!

What this means to you

If you are interviewing potential listing agents, demand they tell you the truth. Don’t hire the agent that tells you what you want to hear. Hire the agent that tells you what you need to know. Reward their honesty.

New Harvard Study on Financial Reasons to Buy

WHAT IT COST THOSE WHO HESITATED TO BUY LAST YEAR

Some hesitated to buy last year as prices and rates recovered. Here is what it cost the average buyer to wait last year.  That's better than $2,000 per year for 30 years.
So far haven't heard any disagreement over predictions that price and rate increases will continue in 2014. The only disagreement seem to be how much.

If  you are ready to avoid the cost of waiting, just get in touch so we can start.

21st Century Return on Investment

There have been ups and downs in both the stock market and the real estate market but still so far in the 21st Century real estate leads the way.

And you can't live in your stock portfolio and you can't finance it for 30 years.

Growth in Household Formation 2014-2017

The Urban Land Institute forecasts strong growth in the number of new households being formed over the next 3 years, which should be good news for those trying to sell their home.

DAYS ON MARKET FOR HOMES THAT SOLD

The number of days it takes to get a home sold continues the downward trend of the prior 2 years.
Remember that this is an average.  More importantly it is only for homes that sold.

As always, if you have questions as to how this might apply to your specific situation, please get in touch.

THE NUMBER OF HOMES SOLD LOCALLY CONTINUES TO CLIMB

The number of homes sold in both Dauphin and Cumberland Counties continues to increase year over year.

When you are ready to join the increase call me.

5 Year Look Back at Harrisburg Market Pricing

As we start the new year, here's a look at what the prices have been on homes that have sold in Dauphin and Cumberland Counties over the last 5 year period

Again the stability of the Harrisburg market.  We didn't fall off of a cliff like some areas of the country so our recovery is more steady as well

Remember these are the prices of homes that SOLD