Just start somewhere. When you decide you’re ready to buy your first home (and stop throwing money into the bottomless pit that is rent), you don’t have to get your dream home. You can buy a starter home, stay awhile, build some equity, sell it, then move up.
Why do we say that? Well, according to a recent survey 57% of buyers looking for their first home want it to be their “forever home”. Forever. Wow. As the purple one himself, Prince, said:
“Dearly beloved
We are gathered here today
2 get through this thing called life.
Electric word life
It means forever and that’s a mighty long time
But I’m here 2 tell U
There’s something else:
The afterworld.”
Too deep? What does a song lyric have to do with buying a home? Well, let’s focus on one sentence: forever’s a mighty long time. It really is. So final. Here’s the thing. No one knows where they’re going to be in 10-20 years with 100% certainty. 38% of millennials don’t expect to be with the same employer in 5 years.
If you are like most people, and you’re buying your first home, you simply don’t have the budget for that perfect “forever home” and if you did, the huge majority of homeowners buy 2-3 homes in their lives and move about, on average, 7-10 years after they buy their first home.
Odds are, you’re buying something, and moving in the next decade or two. Why not buy and make it your own?
Your money is better spent paying off your own mortgage, rather than someone else’s. The interest rate on rent is 100%.
Did you know that since 2012, low-income homeowners built $98,900 in home appreciation and upper-income households built $150,800? The NAR report also states that “middle income homeowners accumulated $122,100 in wealth as their homes appreciated by 68% in the last 10 years.”
“In the areas with the highest homeownership rates for low-income households, wealth gains were $140,000 on average.”
You don’t wait to buy. You buy, and wait, so when it’s time to sell and upgrade to a new place, you’ve got equity to use!
Not to mention some of the other benefits of home ownership:
Don’t let the internet, or the tv, fool you. Most of those influencers on social media are still renting, and pretending to be happy anyway. Perfect is rarely attainable without a selfie filter, and they don’t make those for home buying. It’s not only ok to buy a starter home, it’s better for you. It’s what your generations before you have done, and it’s how most “middle class” people in the last century have built their wealth. How about you think about getting started now?
Ready to take the first step as a homebuyer? Give us a call or text at (717) 371-0557 and we’ll get you on the path that’s best for you!
Your Friends in Real Estate, Jason Burkholder Team
——————
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Jaci Hoosier
717-371-0557 direct or text
Hometown Property Sales Group
717-207-8093 office
57 E Main St, Lititz, PA 17543
Another month, another market update for not only Lancaster County, but also our surrounding counties!
Numbers. They make the world go round, some say math is a universal language. The thing to remember about numbers is that they simply are. What does that mean? They “are”? Well, it means, despite what someone on a Tiktok, Instagram or tv channel says, the world is not ending. The market is not crashing. Far from it actually. Let’s see what the numbers say, and of course, if you ever want to discuss any of this, you can always call us at 717-371-0557!
Let’s look at a snapshot of Lancaster County:
Compared to February, things are getting a little busier, which is exactly what we expected!
When it comes to the median and average sold price for March, numbers are holding steady. Don’t believe the hype friends, home prices are stable and still rising at “normal” appreciation levels.
Here’s where we’re at (based on the 375 units sold last month):
And again, mortgages are still the most popular form of financing.
Median Sales Prices and Number of Units Sold for Lancaster County School Districts in March 2023:
Solanco (24): $310,000
Pequea Valley (4): $400,000
Penn Manor (28): $281,500
Columbia (15): $175,000
School District of Lancaster (75): $229,900
Eastern Lancaster (16): $325,000
Conestoga Valley (18): $319,000
Lampeter Strasburg (13): $395,000
Warwick (19): $325,000
Cocalico (14): $268,000
Elizabethtown (21): $270,000
Manheim Central (12): $348,000
Ephrata (26): $280,719
Donegal (15): $250,000
Manheim Township (39): $383,800
Hempfield (33): $350,000
When it comes to our surrounding counties, here’s where we’re at:
Need help buying or selling in any of these counties? We’re happy to help! Give us a call or text at (717) 371-0557
Your Friends in Real Estate, Jason Burkholder Real Estate Team
——————
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Adam High
Jaci Hoosier
717-371-0557 direct or text
Welcome Home Real Estate
717-298-8040 office
57 E Main St, Lititz, PA 17543
You’re getting quotes for a new patio and wondering- is it worth it? Will I enjoy it? Will this add value when it comes time to sell?
Short answer: if it will bring you joy, then it’s worth it. You own the house. Do what makes you happy!
Long answer: if you want to consider resale value, consider the following numbers-
For all of these projects, on a joy scale of 1-10, homeowners gave each of them a 9 or higher. In ground pools and landscape lighting were both at 10!
Whether you want to remodel for aesthetics, functionality, or just because it makes you happy, do it!
Need a contractor recommendation? Give us a call at (717) 371-0557 and we’ll be happy to connect you with a local professional!
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 February numbers are in for Lancaster County! Let’s take a look.
Another month of opportunity for lots of sellers and buyers. Let’s take a quick look at some numbers that you might find useful!
Half of homes sold for less than $260,000. As we said last month, there are affordable homes out there, they are simply selling quickly.
Mortgages are still the most popular way to purchase, versus cash. Not sure what your financing options are? We partner with trusted lenders that offer every program imaginable- give us a call or text at (717) 371-0557 and we’ll connect you with the lender that’s right for you!
The average sales price is a bit different than the median, in the way it’s calculated. They aren’t too different this month though!
302 new listings and 331 listings under contract in February. New homes are coming on the market all the time, and they are selling fast. There’s a home out there for you, you can buy, you just have to be as fast as everyone else! Your best way to do that is to talk to us. Let’s get you ready before you see the home you love, so when you do see it, we can move quickly.
Zooming in, here’s where we’re at for the Warwick School District. The median sales price is a point where the exact middle is, and like most of the county, lots of affordable opportunities pop up each month, as the median is where you find half the sales under that price, and half the sales over it.
Median Sales Prices and Number of Units Sold for Lancaster County School Districts in February 2023:
Solanco (17): $265,000
Pequea Valley (3): $100,000
Penn Manor (18): $265,000
Columbia (4): $267,250
School District of Lancaster (46): $196,750
Eastern Lancaster (7): $385,000
Conestoga Valley (10): $270,500
Lampeter Strasburg (10): $349,000
Cocalico (11): $237,000
Elizabethtown (19): $271,000
Manheim Central (20): $243,000
Ephrata (19): $235,000
Donegal (10): $265,000
Manheim Township (22): $352,450
Not sure where to start when it comes to buying or selling? Want to discuss these numbers and how they affect you? We can help! We’ll tell you what works best for you personally, because when it comes down to real estate, the best time to buy or sell is when it works for YOU!
Your Friends in Real Estate, Jason Burkholder Real Estate Team
——————
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Adam High
Jaci Hoosier
717-371-0557 direct or text
Welcome Home Real Estate
717-298-8040 office
57 E Main St, Lititz, PA 17543
The real estate market is local. There is no national real estate market, just like there is no national weather forecast. Well. There is a “national” weather forecast, it’s just that 99% of it simply doesn’t affect you here in Lancaster County. Wherever you are, always get the local numbers and make decisions based on that. Lucky for you, we have those local numbers!
Did you know that 50% of homes sold for under $300,000 in January? Despite the headlines, buying is within reach.
Again, not everything you hear is true. It’s not all cash buyers out there. The majority of sales are still done with a mortgage. Not sure what your financing options are? We partner with a variety of local lenders, who have every program imaginable, for any buyer’s situation. We’ll connect you with the one that’s right for you! Give us a call or text us at (717) 371-0557 !
Getting more local, here are some numbers for Warwick, and the median sales price for all the school districts in Lancaster County for January. The median sales price is a point where the exact middle is. The median is where you find half the sales under that price, and half the sales over it.
Median Sales Prices for Lancaster County School Districts in January 2023:
Solanco: $284,500
Pequea Valley: $442,500
Penn Manor: $250,000
Columbia: $210,000
School District of Lancaster: $222,500
East Lancaster: $265,000
Conestoga Valley: $267,500
Lampeter Strasburg: $380,000
Cocalico: $322,450
Elizabethtown: $297,000
Manheim Central: $330,500
Ephrata: $227,500
Donegal: $238,000
Manheim Township: $390,000
Not sure where to start when it comes to buying or selling? Want to discuss these numbers and how they affect you? We can help! We’ll tell you what works best for you personally, because when it comes down to real estate, the best time to buy or sell is when it works for YOU! Don’t let the market dictate your life.
Your Friends in Real Estate, Jason Burkholder Real Estate Team
——————
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Adam High
Jaci Hoosier
717-371-0557 direct or text
Welcome Home Real Estate
717-298-8040 office
57 E Main St, Lititz, PA 17543
You’ve likely heard all of these terms before and have wondered if they can be used interchangeably. Realtor.com breaks it down this way:
Real estate agent- “someone who has a professional real estate license to help people buy, sell, or rent all sorts of housing and real estate.”
“To get that license, states generally have education requirements, which include pre licensing training.” These requirements vary from state to state. To earn their license, agents must pass a written exam.
Real Estate Broker- “A real estate broker is someone who has taken education beyond the agent level as required by state laws and passed a broker’s license exam.”
“Similar to real estate agent exams, each state sets its own broker education and exam requirements.” A certain amount of experience is necessary to take the broker’s exam. In Pennsylvania, that’s a minimum of 3 years, a specific number of closed transactions and an additional requirement of 240 hours of education.
On top of that, there are 3 different types of brokers. Principal/designated broker, managing broker, and associate broker.
Realtor- This one’s pretty straightforward. “In the real estate industry, in order to become a Realtor—a licensed agent with the ability to use that widely respected title—an agent needs to be a member of the National Association of Realtors®. As a member, a person subscribes to the standards of the association and its code of ethics.”
Beyond those titles, a Realtor® can also earn designations and certifications through the National Association of Realtors (NAR). These are the acronyms listed after a Realtor’s name, such as CMS, CCIM, etc.
NAR provides “provide a wide range of programs and services that help members increase their skills, proficiency, and knowledge…Real estate designations and certifications through NAR are specialized credentials for REALTORS®.”
What’s the difference between a designation and certification? A Realtor pays annual dues for a designation, where as a certification only requires an application fee.
Here are a few examples of designations an agent can earn:
And some examples of certifications:
You can read more about the designations and certifications by going to NAR’s article here.
Fun fact, Jason earned his Associates Broker’s license in 2007, and has these designations/certifications:
e-Pro, Real Estate Negotiation Expert, At Home With Diversity, Certified Marketing Specialist, is a LGBTQA Real Estate Alliance Certified Ally and is C2EX Endorsed by the National Association of Realtors.
Looking to buy or sell in Central PA? We can help ! Reach us at (717) 371-0557
Your Friends in Real Estate, Jason Burkholder Real Estate Team
——————
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Adam High
Jaci Hoosier
717-371-0557 direct or text
Welcome Home Real Estate
717-298-8040 office
57 E Main St, Lititz, PA 17543
Take some pressure off yourself- hidden kitchen storage is coming back! You can hide that mismatched dishware behind closed cabinet doors, rather than displaying it on open shelving.
According to fixr.com, 53% of designers say that hidden storage in the kitchen will be a 2023 trend.
Make the most of your kitchen cabinets by considering the following:
For next to your oven…
Blind corner space- add cabinet pullouts or half moon lazy susan!
For next to your fridge- a pull-out pantry! Great for spices, cans, bottles, foil, Ziploc bags, and more!
A solution for the second-most disorganized cabinet (Tupperware takes first place)- sliding rack for pots and pans!
For the lids, use Command Hooks on the inside of your cabinet door. Thekitchn.com suggests “You’ll just need two Command Hooks per lid, and you’ll want to work out your positioning before you start sticking things on. Once you have a general idea where things should go so that the cabinet can still close, affix a hook at 8:00 and 4:00 (pretending your lid is a clock face) and slide your lid in.”
No tools required- drawer organizers!
Your appliances deserve a built-in garage:
For more ideas, check out this article or browse Pinterest- the options are endless.
Your Friends in Real Estate, Jason Burkholder Real Estate Team
——————
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Adam High
Jaci Hoosier
717-371-0557 direct or text
Welcome Home Real Estate
717-298-8040 office
57 E Main St, Lititz, PA 17543
We all want a tidy home with no clutter, but most of us don’t have the hours to dedicate to deep clean-outs. The solution: finding moments in your daily life for a few minutes of organization.
Waiting for water to boil- go through your kitchen utensils and decide what to keep, donate, or throw away. You can also wipe down your microwave, counters, or clear out any old leftovers in the fridge.
Grabbing a Tupperware container with no lid- time to admit defeat and throw it away. Same goes for any lids without a match!
Brushing your teeth- clear out your medicine chest and vanity of expired medications and cosmetics.
Breaking down an Amazon box- keep it as a donation box! Give Back Box allows you to donate and ship your unwanted clothing and household goods to charity, for FREE!
Putting away laundry- throw out any lone socks or other item of clothing that’s past its prime.
Letting your conditioner sit- sort through body washes, shampoos, conditioner, old razors, bath poofs, and anything else that’s taking up real estate in your shower.
Watching TV- go through junk mail, magazines, and circulars
Putting clean sheets on the bed- if you’re avoiding another set of sheets, ask yourself why. Are they scratchy? Ugly? Decide whether to donate or throw away! Keep in mind that animal shelters will happily accept bedding and towels!
On hold with customer service- go through your junk drawer!
Hanging up your coat- are there any that could be donated? Thrown away? Sold?
Rome wasn’t built in a day and your house won’t be clutter free tomorrow, but chipping away bit by bit is manageable and adds up!
Source: houselogic.com
Looking to buy or sell in Central PA? We can help ! Reach us at (717) 371-0557
Your Friends in Real Estate, Jason Burkholder Real Estate Team
——————
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Adam High
Jaci Hoosier
717-371-0557 direct or text
Welcome Home Real Estate
717-298-8040 office
57 E Main St, Lititz, PA 17543
Is it time to say goodbye to all-white bathrooms and chevron tile? NAR released their home design trend predictions for 2023 and what trends are fading out.
Dark Purple
Brittany Farinas, creative designer with House of One in Miami has been seeing dark purple in draperies and accent walls.
Stone Furniture
Bathroom vanities, dining tables, side tables, and more- natural stone is trending.
Smart Lights
We’ve all seen the LED light strips- you can control them with your phone, change the color, brightness, and animate them to no end. You can completely change the vibe by placing a strip or bulb anywhere in your home ! And change it again by adjusting the colors and patterns !
Philips Hue is a popular option, but Govee is more affordable and offers extensive customization. Read here to see which one is best for you !
Fluting and Reeding
These two trends add a ton of texture to furniture, whether that be just the doors, sides, or the entire thing.
Mix & Match
Vy Truong and Han Dang of Very Handsome Studio note that contrasting colors and metals continue to add visual interest in a space. You can use bright monochromatic color schemes alongside a bold metal such as gold or silver to pull a design together.
Vintage Touches
Rather than perfectly matched furniture, lighting, and artwork, vintage pieces are being added to create a truly unique space. That could be a knick knack, rug, lighting fixture, or piece of furniture.
Slab Backsplash
April Grandy at Alluring Designs Chicago says, “Slabs of quarts or marble are perfect for any design aesthetic and help to create a clean, seamless look in any kitchen.” Bonus- no grout makes them easy to clean !
Home Office Upgrades
Level up your WFH space with a feature wall for video calls, new desk, accent decor pieces, rug, new (or vintage?) furniture, or fresh paint.
Is it the end for these trends?
Amy Younglood of Amy Youngblood Interiors reports the following:
Looking to buy or sell in Central PA? We can help ! Reach us at (717) 371-0557
Your Friends in Real Estate, Jason Burkholder Real Estate Team
——————
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Adam High
Jaci Hoosier
717-371-0557 direct or text
Welcome Home Real Estate
717-298-8040 office
57 E Main St, Lititz, PA 17543
