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 prices are going to come crashing 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 prices crashing. Across the board, there’s an undersupply of homes for sale today. That makes this market a whole different scenario (see chart below):
So, if you think waiting will score you a deal, know that data shows there’s not 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 us lately. Throughout the year, the supply of homes for sale has grown, it hasn’t doubled, so it could be discouraging. The thing is, new homes hit the market every day. Data from Realtor.com helps 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 And that means as your options improve, you can let go of this now outdated myth because finding a home to buy won’t feel quite so impossible anymore.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 Mae says:
“Approximately 90% of consumers overstate or don’t know the minimum required down payment for a typical mortgage.”
And if you look at the data from the National 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 homebuyers are 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 repeat buyers is closer to 20%, here’s what you need to realize. That’s only because they have so much equity 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
As the holidays come to a close and you begin to “de-decorate,” here are a few ways to keep your decorations organized. Plan it out, be intentional, and your future self will thank you!
1. Tubs & labels- purchase clear tubs or heavy duty tubs like these to store everything. Having items “tucked away” keeps your storage area looking its best! Labels can be printed or handwritten onto masking/painter’s tape- just make sure you have the label on the side AND top of bin! Take it one step further and use an app like Sortly, which assigns you QR codes for each bin. Scan the code and you’ll be shown photos of that bin’s contents! (source)
2. Use cardboard for string lights– avoid tangles by wrapping string lights around cardboard! It’s the perfect way to use up empty gift boxes!
3. Hang wreaths- if you’re already using a closet to store decorations, you can use the existing rod to hang wreaths, or buy another rod to have a double decker closet ! That way your wreaths won’t get flattened in storage.
4. Accessibility- what decorations or materials are you reaching for first? Pack those away last so they’re easy to pull out next season!
5. Door organizer- maximize your storage space and have an over the door organizer for wrapping supplies! Stay organized and keep the supplies within arm’s reach for all gifting occasions!
6. Reuse tissue paper- save used tissue paper to wrap around fragile ornaments
7. Purchase a tree bag- keep your artificial tree clean & looking its best
8. Declutter- with all your decorations already out, now’s the time to decide what to keep, throw away, or donate!
Ready to be in a new home for next holiday season? We can help! 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
You don’t have to knock out a wall or rip apart your kitchen to upgrade your living space. Small changes can make all the difference !
And of course, the ultimate home upgrade, buying a new place to start all over again is something we can always help you with!
Ready to make a move? We can help! 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
The Jason Burkholder Team has affiliated with Hometown Property Sales Group, LLC! We’re thrilled to partner with Broker Jeff Bowman and his team at this independent real estate firm, where we offer depth of experience and a partnership like none other.
We plan on increasing our local community involvement, while helping sellers and buyers move forward with a commitment to making any market successful! This partnership also allows us to add an affiliation with Hometown Property Management Services, to bring you an even wider range of services.
We’re based in Lancaster and Lititz, we serve clients in Lancaster, Lebanon, Berks, York, and Dauphin counties, and we have relationships with a wide network of professional Realtors that are everywhere we aren’t. Our team is locally focused, with a regional reach and global connections to help you move anywhere you want to be.
Looking to sell or buy real estate? Call us 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
