You’ve got big plans for 2026. But what you do now could be the difference between a smooth listing process and a stressful one. If you’re thinking of selling this spring (historically the busier season in real estate), the smartest move you can make is to start prepping now. As Realtor.com says:
“If you’re aiming to sell in 2026, now is the time to start preparing, especially if you want to maximize the spring market’s higher buyer activity.”
Because the reality is, from small repairs to touch-ups and decluttering, the earlier you start, the easier it’ll be when you’re ready to list. And, the better your house will look when it’s time for it to hit the market.
Talk to any good agent and they’ll tell you that you can’t afford to skip repairs in today’s market. There are more homes for sale right now than there have been in years. And since buyers have more to choose from, your house is going to need to look its best to stand out and get the attention it deserves. Here in Lancaster County, based on Bright MLS, there were 390 active listings in December 2022. 3 years later, in December 2025, there’s 517- a 33% increase.
Now, that doesn’t mean you have to do a full-on renovation. But it does mean you may want to tackle some projects before you sell. Your house will sell if it’s prepped right. And you don’t want to be left scrambling in the spring to get the work done.
Because here’s the advantage you have now: if you start now, you’ll be able to space those upgrades and fixes out however you want to. More time. Less stress.
Whether it’s fixing that leaky faucet, repainting your front door, or finally replacing your roof, you can do it right if you start now.
To figure out what’s worth doing and what’s not in your market, you need to talk to a local agent early. So, let’s meet now, no matter when you want to sell. That way you’re not wasting your time or money on something that won’t help your bottom line. As Realtor.com explains:
“Respondents overwhelmingly agree that both buyers and sellers enjoy a smoother, more successful experience when they start early. In fact, a recent survey reveals that, for sellers, bringing a real estate agent into the process sooner can pay off significantly.”
We can tell you:
And having that information up front is a game changer. If you’re in South Central PA, we’d be happy to help you! Give us a call or text at (717) 371-0557 !
Here are the most common updates agents are recommending today, according to research from the National Association of Realtors (NAR):
Just remember, what’s worth updating really depends on the homes you’re competing with in your market. Some areas don’t have a ton of inventory, so little updates may be all you need to tackle. In other areas, there are far more homes for sale, so you may need to do a bit more to make your house stand out.
If your plan is to sell in 2026, it’s time to get started. Taking some time to prep means you’ll hit the market confident and ready ! Give us a call or text at (717) 371-0557 with any questions!
Homeownership comes with its fair share of projects and upkeep, but some common shortcuts or outdated advice can cost you more in the long run. From painting brick to leaving your ceiling fan on 24/7, here are some mistakes you’ll want to avoid!
Your Friends in Real Estate,
Jason Burkholder Team
Hometown Property Sales
——————————-
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Jaci Hoosier
Ron Weaver
717-371-0557 – cell
717-207-9083 – office
*Post adapted from this HouseLogic article
Have you ever heard the phrase: don’t believe everything you hear? That’s especially true if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in today’s housing market. There’s A LOT of misinformation out there and lots of folks predicting doom and gloom. And right now, making sure you have someone you can go to for trustworthy information is extra important. Cause they’re all wrong.
Feel frustrated? Well, that’s normal. You don’t have to stop the world just to stop the feeling. You just have to partner with an experienced real estate team like us, we can help clear up some common misconceptions and reassure you by backing them up with research-driven facts. Here are just a few myths you might be hearing:
No, you won’t. Why? If you’ve heard home pricesare going to comecrashing down, it’s time to look at what’s actually happening, because they won’t. While prices vary by local market, there’s a lot of data out there from numerous sources that shows a crash is not going to happen. Back in 2008, there was a dramatic oversupply of homes that led to pricescrashing. Across the board, there’s anundersupplyof homesfor saletoday. That makes this market a whole different scenario (see chart below):
So, if you think waiting will score you a deal, know thatdatashows there’snot a crash on the horizon, and waiting isn’t going to pay off the way you’d hoped. It just won’t.
If this nagging fear about finding the right home if you move is still holding you back, you probably haven’t talked with uslately. Throughout the year, the supply ofhomes for sale has grown, it hasn’t doubled, so it could be discouraging. The thing is, new homes hit the market every day. DatafromRealtor.comhelps put this into context. While there are still fewer homes on the market than in a more normal year like 2019, inventory is still above where it was at this time last year and you’ll have new opportunities each day. (see graph below)
If you’re remembering all that media coverage about record-low supply during the pandemic, you can rest a bit easier. While the market isn’t back to normal just yet, inventory is moving in a healthier direction. And that means as your options improve, you can let go of this now outdated myth because finding a home to buy won’t feel quite so impossible anymore. Just don’t count on a surge of new listings, again, expect it to be similar to the last 12 months or so.
Many people still believe you need a 20% down payment to buy a home. You don’t. We have people buying with 0%-5% all the time, and many people average under 10%. To show just how widespread this myth is, Fannie Maesays:
“Approximately 90% of consumers overstate or don’t know the minimum required down payment for a typical mortgage.”
And if you look atthe datafrom theNational Association of Realtors(NAR), you can see the typical homeowner isn’t putting down as much as you might expect (see graph below):
First-time homebuyersare typically only putting down 6%. That’s far less than the 20% so many people think they need. And if you’re looking at that graph and you’re more focused on how the number for repeatbuyersis closer to 20%, here’s what you need to realize. That’s only because they have so muchequity built up in their current house that can be used to make a larger down payment for their next move. They’re moving money from one house on to the next, the equity is allowing them to make the move to a higher price point.
Now, you do still need some money, but definitely not a full 20%. We can meet up to show you the math, how it all works, and help you see what first time buyer programs you might qualify for.
The world is confusing. You have hopes and dreams. We can help you make it all make sense and work. You deserve to have someone you can trust to get the facts. Call us at 717-371-0557, let’s talk.
If you’re still waiting for the market to “home prices to fall”, you’re likely to wake up in the middle of the night, with your head in your hands and nothing more than rental life. And when you thinking about not buying all those years ago, you’re standing face to face with I told you so….. well.
You know we hate to say we told you so, which means all you have to do is call and get together with us, and we’ll never have to say good luck babe. You won’t need luck when you have us to help you, you’ll be in your new home, with no regrets.
Your Friends in Real Estate,
Jason Burkholder Team
Hometown Property Sales
——————————-
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Jaci Hoosier
Ron Weaver
717-371-0557 – cell
717-207-9083 – office
Looking for a few easy ways to keep your house shiny and keep it simple? Here’s 5 simple tips to make your space shine!
1. Purchase a pack of microfiber cloths- they’re more effective than paper towels for cleaning surfaces and trap dust and grime without leaving streaks. Plus, they’re reusable, making them an eco-friendly and cost-effective choice. Just wash, dry, and reuse !
2. Use cleaner concentrate- you can find tabs that dissolve in water (huge space saver !) or liquid concentrate that you dilute with water. You’re cutting down on plastic packaging and saving money!
3. Use a cotton ball- soak a cotton ball in the essential oil of your choice to put in the bottom of your trash can!
4. Keep your supplies accessible- when you’re trying to form a habit, you have to make it easy on yourself. Don’t put your cleaning supplies on a shelf that requires a ladder or tuck away your vacuum in the back of your coat closet. Have your supplies readily available!
5. Set a timer- most of us don’t want to clean, but it needs done. You can make a lot of progress in short amount of time, but it does take some mental energy to get started. Set a timer for whatever amount of time you have, even if it’s 10 minutes, and see how much you can get done. Sometimes you just need a push to get started and can continue working past the timer!
Looking to buy or sell in Central PA? We can help !
Your Friends in Real Estate,
Jason Burkholder Team
––––––
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Jaci Hoosier
Ron Weaver
717-371-0557 direct or text
Hometown Property Sales Group, LLC
717-207-8093 office
57 E Main St
Lititz, PA 17543
If you’re considering selling your house on your own as a “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO), you’ll want to consider a few factors. Going this route means shouldering a lot of responsibilities by yourself – and, if you’re not an expert, that opens the door for mistakes to happen and can quickly become overwhelming.
A report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows two key areas where people who sold their own house struggled the most: pricing and paperwork.
Here are just a few of the ways an agent makes those tasks a whole lot easier.
Setting the right price for your house is important. And, if you’re selling your house on your own, two common issues can happen. You might ask for too much money (overpricing). Or you might not ask for enough (underpricing). Either can make it hard to sell your house. According to NerdWallet:
“When selling a home, first impressions matter. Your house’s market debut is your first chance to attract a buyer and it’s important to get the pricing right. If your home is overpriced, you run the risk of buyers not seeing the listing.
. . . But price your house too low and you could end up leaving some serious money on the table. A bargain-basement price could also turn some buyers away, as they may wonder if there are any underlying problems with the house.”
To avoid these problems, team up with us. We know how to figure out the right price because for your property in today’s market (not yesterday’s) because have a deep understanding of the local housing market. We use that expertise to set a price that will get you to the best price that buyers are willing to pay, giving your house the best chance to impress from the start.
Selling a house involves a bunch of paperwork and legal documentation that has to be just right. There are a lot of rules and regulations to follow (plus it all varies by state !), and that makes it a bit tricky for homeowners to manage everything on their own. Without a pro by your side, you could end up facing liability risks and legal complications.
We aren’t lawyers and can’t give legal advice, but we are experts in all the contracts and paperwork needed for selling a house. We know the rules and can guide you through it all, reducing the chance of mistakes that might lead to legal problems or delays. As an article from First American explains:
“To buy or sell a home you need to accurately complete a lot of forms, disclosures, and legal documents. A real estate agent ensures you cross every ‘t’ and dot every ‘i’ to help you avoid having a transaction fall through and/or prevent a costly mistake.”
So, instead of dealing with the growing pile of documents on your own, team up with us so we can be your advisor, helping you avoid any legal bumps in the road.
One of the biggest perks of using us as your listing agent isthe fact that we know how to leverage the tools available for the best result. We have access to the MLS, as do others. This is part of how we can instantly post your home to over 14,000 websites, including the big names you know. But really, “put it in the MLS” is one piece. Not all of it. How you use it, when, what info is there and when, all of it matters. Other agents also use the local MLS when searching for their buyer clients and will often set up saved searches. This means that once a home is listed that fits a buyer’s criteria, the buyer is immediately notified. So it has to be right from the start, or you miss out on them.
We use the latest metrics of buyer activity, open house attendance (yes, we do them, and they work), professional marketing materials and the right presentation to make your home attractive not just to all buyers, but to the ones looking for a place like yours.
Long story short, using us gives you massive exposure that isn’t possible as a FSBO. The more exposure your home gets, the more offers you receive. The more offers you receive…the more options you have. Those options will vary on price, closing timeline, requested repairs, and more. We’ll will help you pick the best offer for you! We’ll also walk you through every step- from listing to settlement.
Selling a house on your own can cost you a lot of time and stress. Let’s connect so you have help with all the finer details, including setting the right price, handling all the paperwork, and so much more. Give us a call or text at (717) 371-0557 !
Your Friends in Real Estate,
Jason Burkholder Team
——————
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Jaci Hoosier
Ron Weaver
717-371-0557 direct or text
Hometown Property Sales Group, LLC
717-207-8093 office
57 E Main St
Lititz, PA 17543
Thinking about selling your house and wondering if now’s a good time to do it? Here’s what you need to know. Even though the number of homes for sale has been growing this year, there still aren’t enough homes on the market for all the buyers who want to buy.
So, what does that mean for you? To keep it simple, it means it’s still a seller’s market. Here’s how it works:
The graph below uses data from the National Association of Realtors to show just how deep into seller’s market territory we still are today:
The market is still working in your favor. If you lean on an agent for advice on how to get your house list ready and how to price it competitively, it should get a lot of attention from eager buyers. That means you’ll likely get multiple offers and see your house sell quickly and for top dollar. As a recent article from Ramsey Solutions explains:
“A seller’s market is when demand for homes is higher than the supply of homes. And that’s still the case right now. If you’re planning to sell your house, you can expect to sell it fairly quickly for close to your asking price—as long as your asking price is realistic for the current market.”
Today’s housing market still favors sellers. If you’re ready to sell your house, let’s connect so you can start making your moves ! Give us a call or text at (717) 371-0557 !
Your Friends in Real Estate,
Jason Burkholder Team
——————
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Jaci Hoosier
717-371-0557 direct or text
Hometown Property Sales Group, LLC
717-207-8093 office
57 E Main St
Lititz, PA 17543
Get ready for 10 days of ice sculptures, special menu items, family friendly fun, and a whole lot more in Downtown Lititz, PA ! Below is the full schedule! For the full event info, including food trucks, FAQs, a giveaway, and the sponsors who support the event, visit the Lititz site here!
We’re proud to sponsor the annual Hometown Fire Crawl, where Downtown Lititz shops create special dishes, drinks & samples for the Fire & Ice Festival ! Some examples include a creme brulee latte, hot cocoa cookies with some heat, hot sauce samples, handcrafted cocktails & more!
We hope to see you there !
Your Friends in Real Estate,
Jason Burkholder Team
––––––
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Jaci Hoosier
717-371-0557 direct or text
Hometown Property Sales Group, LLC
717-207-8093 office
57 E Main St
Lititz, PA 17543
You’ve seen how gray has become the norm for new construction and renovated homes in the last decade. We’ve seen it in the form of paint, furniture, and decorations. Rip out the carpet, replace it with hardwood flooring, paint the walls gray, cabinets white, add a gray couch, and you’re done. They call this look “millennial gray”.
Why do they call it “millennial gray” when plenty of Gen X’rs and Boomers bathed their homes in gray? We don’t know, probably because they blame millennials for everything, but we can’t solve that problem here. Back to the gray. Or is it grey?
However you spell it, it has been everywhere. The perk of gray is it’s neutral. There’s a lot of versatility. Now, it’s coming to an end as tastes change (thank you everyone, gray is so played out it’s just now grayed out – Jason). People are ready for something different. It’s time to bring back some color to the world, are you ready for color and unique interior design? We are (well, Jason is)!
Why should you use colors?
How can you implement color ?
Of course, no amount of new paint will fix everything, so if you’re looking for a new space altogether, you know we can help! Give us a call or text at (717) 371-0557, let’s talk about where you want to go next!
Your Friends in Real Estate,
Jason Burkholder Team
––––––
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Jaci Hoosier
717-371-0557 direct or text
Hometown Property Sales Group, LLC
717-207-8093 office
57 E Main St
Lititz, PA 17543
“‹Info & ideas pulled from this article written by Evelyn Long for NAR.
Hey friends, how many of you love getting junk mail? Would you like to find a way to get out of getting junk mail?
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It’s really actually easier than you think. The three credit reporting companies out there that keep track of everything you do, TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian, have lists that they sell on a regular basis to financial companies, credit cards, auto loan refinancers, insurance companies, you name it. Watch this video for an easy way to opt out and protect your privacy!
A huge majority of these solicitations you find in your mailbox come from the fact that the credit reporting companies sell you on a list. If you want to get off that list, you can go to this page on FTC.gov and fill out the information requested. Your junk mail is going to trickle down to next to nothing, not nothing, because, you know, of course it’s 2024, you’re going to get tons of junk mail, no matter what, you’re not going to stop robocalls or all spam emails, but you can stop the credit reporting companies from selling you on lists of people that just want to spam your mailbox with mail that you don’t want, you don’t need, and things you’re just going to throw away anyway. So, you want to get rid of the junk mail? Go to www.OptOutPrescreen.com or find the link on FTC.gov
After you’re done, feel free to go to the individual credit reporting companies, TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian, and see if they have additional opt out methods on their website. You might have to create an account, but go in there and turn off their ability to sell you. Just because they’re collecting your information doesn’t mean you have to allow them to profit off of it. I hope that helps, and if you ever have any questions that I can answer for you, feel free to give me a call.
Your Friends in Real Estate,
Jason Burkholder Team
——————
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Jaci Hoosier
717-371-0557 direct or text
Hometown Property Sales Group, LLC
717-207-8093 office
57 E Main St
Lititz, PA 17543
