How air conditioning remade modern America

An interesting reflection on why childhood and lots of other things have changed

How air conditioning remade modern America

Don't Get Caught in Rental Trap

Please take the time to explore with a professional what your real opportunities are to become a homeowner.  There is a lot of misinformation out there

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If your house hasn't sold consider this

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Financial Considerations When Thinking about Home Ownership

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Here is my Charity of Choice - Help the Kid

2014 Baltimore-Washington Ride for Kids: Mr. Allen Gordon - Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation

Don't be Afraid to break out of the restrictive rules

Interior Design Rules You Should Break

“The first rule of decoration is that you can break almost all the other rules.”

Decorating your new/current home can be stressful and intimidating, but it can also be fun and exciting! Whether you arepreparing to sell your home, just purchased a new home or are looking for some inspiration, here are a few creative tips on how to add a personal touch to your house.

1.) “Don’t Mix Old and New”

Source: http://www.houzz.com

The most livable and inspiring rooms combine old and new pieces in a variety of styles to give them an effortless sense of having been assembled over time. Mixing vintage and contemporary pieces will give any room or space personality and dimension.

2.) “Paint a Small Space in a Light Color”

Source: look-n-feel.tumblr.com

Most people are under the impression that the easiest way to make a small room appear larger is to create the illusion by painting everything in the small area white, yellow or another lighter color. However, by using a darker paint, you are able to create a sense of depth within the small space.

Painting with darker colors can fool the eye into not knowing where the wall begins and ends, creating the impression of more space. Be sure to balance the dark color with light-catching objects, such as mirrors, metallic accents, and incorporating lamps/lighting to ensure that the room has a warm radiance.

3.) “Don’t Mix Metals”

Source: simplymodernhome.com

There was a time when mixing metals, whether in home décor or jewelry, was considered “tacky”. Although the idea of mixing metals to some people is still preposterous; many designers and homeowners are embracing this previously misconceived decorating faux pas. There are many ways to approach mixing metals. You can choose to take the subtle route by adding a few pieces within the house or you can go bold by bringing in large pieces that will play off one another in combination with lights and mirrors. Either approach is a guaranteed way to incorporate richness in any room.

4.) “Use Only One Type of Wood In A Room”

Sources (from left to right): buzzfeed.com and modpiecesblog.com  

The era of the matching furniture sets is long gone, but many people are still apprehensive to mix multiple wood finishes in the same room. Allowing various wood tones to cohabitate within the same room will create a layered and textured look.

5.) “Dining Chairs Should be part of a Matching Set”

 Source: decorallure.blogspot.com

It has been the norm to always have a kitchen/dining table with matching chairs. But sometimes those furniture sets can look too perfect. Although a formal dining room equipped with a matching table and chairs can be absolutely beautiful, it can also appear unimaginative and “stuffy”. Purchasing one of a kind/unique furniture pieces allows you to add a little spice and personal touch into your dining area. Remember there is a difference between being mismatched and being “stylishly” mismatched.

6.) “Don’t Mix Patterns”

   Source: http://www.2014interiordesignarticle.com

There are no guidelines when it comes to mixing patterns, however it may take a few tries before you feel your unmatched patterns somehow match. For a first-timer, choose a limited palette (such as blue and white) so you will be able to focus on and play around with patterns and size, instead of being overwhelmed with too many colors. Or another approach is to choose complimentary colors, and then mix/match from there.

Designer Tip: When choosing patterns, the key is to stick with an odd amount, particularly three. According to home décor style guides, three is the minimum number of patterns you should use.

7.) “Match Your Colors”

 Source: decoist.com

There is no reason to continue following the rule that you have to match your pillows to the drapes and /or carpet. Playing with color is fun, and adds a touch of unique personality to your home. In order to avoid getting carried away with all the color options, choose fabrics and finishes within the same color family, but that don’t necessarily match. If the thought of combining so much color in one room is unsettling, there are subtle ways to play with color as well. For example, if you prefer a clean natural look in your home, you could play with different neutral shades in varying fabrics.

8.) “Ceilings Should Remain Unpainted”

 Sources (left to right):  housebeautiful.com and old.murcadesign.com

Don’t forget to look up. Ceilings are often considered “the forgotten fifth wall”. Many people give little thought to the horizontal dry-wall hanging above their head. A ceiling is usually given a fresh coat of paint only once during its existence. However, it is time to change our perspective on the rooms we live in. Color, sheen, pattern, and texture on the ceilingcan transform the entire look and feel of a room. Give yourself and your guests something to look up to…..literally.

 When you are ready for a new palette to decorate or want to sell your current one get in touch wirh me.

5 Reasons not to Sell it Yourself

Some homeowners consider trying to sell their home on their own, known in the industry as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). We think there are several reasons this might not be a good idea for the vast majority of sellers.

Here are five of our reasons:

1. There Are Too Many People to Negotiate With

Here is a list of some of the people with whom you must be prepared to negotiate if you decide to FSBO.

• The buyer who wants the best deal possible
• The buyer’s agent who solely represents the best interest of the buyer
• The buyer’s attorney (in some parts of the country)
• The home inspection companies which work for the buyer and will almost always find some problems with the house
• The appraiser if there is a question of value
• Your bank in the case of a short sale

2. Exposure to Prospective Purchasers

Recent studies have shown that 92% of buyers search online for a home. That is in comparison to only 28% looking at print newspaper ads. Most real estate agents have an extensive internet strategy to promote the sale of your home. Do you?

3.  Actual Results also come from the Internet

Where do buyers find the home they actually purchased?

• 43% on the internet
• 9% from a yard sign
• 1% from newspapers

The days of selling your house by just putting up a sign and putting it in the paper are long gone. Having a strong internet strategy is crucial.

4. FSBOing has Become More and More Difficult

The paperwork involved in selling and buying a home has increased dramatically as industry disclosures and regulations have become mandatory. This is one of the reasons that the percentage of people FSBOing has dropped from 19% to 9% over the last 20+ years.

5. You Net More Money when Using an Agent

Many homeowners believe that they will save the real estate commission by selling on their own. Realize that the main reason buyers look at FSBOs is because they also believe they can save the real commission. The seller and buyer can’t both save the same commission.

Studies have shown that the typical house sold by the homeowner sells for $184,000 while the typical house sold by an agent sells for $230,000.   This doesn’t mean that an agent can get $46,000 more for your home as studies have shown that people are more likely to FSBO in markets with lower price points. However, it does show that selling on your own might not make sense.

Bottom Line

Before you decide to take on the challenges of selling your house on your own, sit with a real estate professional in your marketplace and see what they have to offer.

When you are thinking about selling, please get in touch with me.

What Trulia combining with Zillow means to Home Buyers

When you are ready for your dream home, call text or email.

Next to last Lawn Biker Breakfast is this Sunday

Lawn Fire and EMS has the best of the biker breakfasts each summer - but now there are only the August and September breakfasts left.

If you ride, you owe it to yourself to try this event. Up to 1500+ riders and absolutely the best food of any of the biker breakfasts

Starts at 7 on Sunday morning

5596 Elizabethtown Rd
Lawn, PA 17041

Support the Ride for Kids

We each should choose at least one charity on which to focus our giving back to society.  For the last 20 years mine has been the Ride for Kids of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
Over the years it has been heartwarming to see the survivors which indicates how much better we are doing against this disease but there are still kids who didn't come out last year who were there the year before.

Any and all donations appreciated

For Sellers wondering about the impact of the Zillow Tulia tie up on my business

Zillow/Trulia provides marketing and computerized prices.

I help you to understand what the numbers mean and guide you through the ever more complex process

Which Mortgage does it make the most sense for you to be paying?

Either way you're still paying a mortgage.

Click the pic to understand

Home Sales Prices this year versus last

Home sale prices in the Harrisburg market 2013 v 2014 depend on where the home is located. For once that river really is a dividing line.

What the Federal Reserve found as the impact of home ownership on net worth

To see the impact they found just click the picture below. Then let me know what you think.

The market appears to be getting better for local Sellers

Remember that 6 months is a balanced market.

Bigger Ads Don't Create Dumber Buyers

Click the pic for why this idea Doesn't work

Paying off Your Mortgage Early

Paying off your Mortgage Early

If you are looking to pay off your mortgage earlier than you had initially planned, there are multiple ways to get this done. Before doing any of them, however, you should check with your bank to make sure there are no hidden fees or charges for paying early.

Refinance your Mortgage

A good way to put a dent into paying off a 30-year mortgage is to refinance it into a 20-or-15-year loan. 15-year mortgages are the most popular, as there is considerably less mortgage interest in the long run. Be sure before making the change that you are financially able to do so, as changing to a 15-year loan commits you to higher monthly payments. If you are unsure about your financial ability to change to a 15-year, try staying on your 30-year loan and make payments as though you are on the 15-year one. This decreases the amount of time on your mortgage without adding the risk of a late payment.

Add a Little Extra

One of the best ways to pay your mortgage off early is to pay a little bit more where you can afford it. You can either do this by adding a set amount every month, or even just by rounding up every month. Even adding an extra 6 dollars to your monthly payments on a 200,000 dollar 30-year loan will save you 4 payments in the end. Make sure before doing this that you check your contract for any prepayment penalties.

Unexpected Money

Adding a little bit extra every month is great, but another option to keep in mind is adding any unexpected or extra cash flow to your payment. This can include anything from tax refunds or work bonuses to inheritances and investment earnings. This way it doesn’t feel like you are paying as much as long as you do not rely on that money.

Bi-weekly Payments

In Australia, people make bi-weekly half-payments on their mortgages. Why does this make any difference? Well, there are 12 months in a year, so most people will be paying 12 months worth of their loan. Someone who is paying half of their loan every other week, however, will be paying 13 months of their mortgage since there are 52 weeks in a year. This allows you to pay more of your loan off without feeling like you are paying more than you were before.

Other Options

These are great ways to cut down on the amount of time you have a mortgage, but there are many other ways as well. These include doubling up on your monthly payment 4 times a year and a money merge account. Money merge accounts should only be used by people who really understand cash management. If using any of the above options, it’s a good idea to get statements from your bank showing how much is still owed and also to make sure that any extra payments are going towards your principal and not being saved until the following year.

Buying a Home? You Don't Have to do it Alone

Last week, Discover Home Loans released an interesting survey which revealed how prepared home buyers are for the actual mortgage process. The survey reported that 94 percent of prospective buyers believe they are making a good investment decision if they buy a home. The survey also explained that 66 percent of buyers reach out to real estate agents to help determine whether buying a certain home would be a good investment. However, there is less certainty regarding the mortgage process.

Most buyers overwhelmed

The majority of potential buyers are actually overwhelmed with the plethora of information available about the home financing process.  Here are some interesting highlights from the report:

• Nearly 66% feel overwhelmed with the amount of information available
• 76% of those under the age of 30 feel overwhelmed
• 76% of first time buyers feel the same way
• 54% of those buyers who have previously owned also were overwhelmed
• 59% of buyers turn to mortgage bankers to help evaluate mortgage terms and comparing offers
• 49% of buyers turn to real estate agents to help evaluate mortgage terms and comparing offers

There is help available…use it!

Cameron Findlay, chief economist at Discover Home Loans, gives great advice:

“The industry is becoming more transparent in an effort to help homebuyers become informed about changes that may affect their process. The sheer amount of information can lead to confusion and stress. Those looking to purchase should work closely with their lender and realtor to make sure they are comfortable with mortgage terms and understand the impact a loan will have on their finances.”

Bottom Line

The purchasing of a home can put great pressure on a family. Reach out to the best mortgage and real estate professionals in your market for assistance throughout the process.

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