This month we’ve got numbers for all of Central PA, courtesy of Bright MLS! Long story short, similar to what we’ve been saying, there’s still plenty of opportunity for buyers and sellers right here in Central PA.
Don’t watch national news for local coverage friends, the numbers won’t tell you the reality here. Home sales (pending and closed) would have been, and would still be, higher if we had more inventory (homes for sale). There is still a lot of buyer demand. Does that mean a buyer can’t compete? No, not at all. The reason the listing inventory isn’t rising is a multifaceted discussion, but the main reason? Buyers are buying as quickly as they come on the market, and then those are the closings you see.
Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, we can help you navigate this market. We’ve been through the ups and downs of the real estate market and have the experience to help you. Questions on these things and what they mean? Just ask, we are here to help !
Let’s dive in!
If you’re a buyer, don’t let the current interest rates scare you away from buying. The interest on rent is still 100% and you can refinance your mortgage when interest rates decrease. Don’t let the market dictate when it’s time to buy, or sell, for that matter. The best time for you to make a move is when it’s right for you!
While homes aren’t sitting on the market long (7 days is the current median), that doesn’t mean buyers don’t have a chance. Work with a Realtor who can help you write competitive offers, while still looking out for your best interests. Yes, that is possible. We can help.
If you look at the column on the right, you’ll see the Home Demand Index (HDI) for each county. HDI “tracks pre-sale activity to measure housing market competitiveness.” Overall, Central PA is at a 93, which is in the “steady” range. You can learn more about the HDI here.
Now, focusing on Lancaster County specifically, here’s a snapshot for April ’23:
Again, if we had more inventory, we’d have more solds and more pendings, but that doesn’t mean you can’t buy.
Mortgages still hold the majority for home financing! This percentage has remained steady the last several months.
Hyper local, this is what Warwick School District looks like:
Median Sales Prices and Number of Units Sold for Lancaster County School Districts in March 2023:
Solanco (13): $355,000
Pequea Valley (2): $410,000
Penn Manor (27): $291,250
Columbia (7): $195,000
School District of Lancaster (55): $215,000
Eastern Lancaster (15): $282,000
Conestoga Valley (13): $307,650
Lampeter Strasburg (17): $355,200
Warwick (20): $335,375
Cocalico (14): $287,500
Elizabethtown (22): $323,750
Manheim Central (20): $323,000
Ephrata (11): $226,000
Donegal (18): $275,250
Manheim Township (36): $384,900
Hempfield (25): $340,000
For our surrounding counties:
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 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
No heat, pipe bursts, or falling gutters- the joys of owning a home in the winter! Let’s go over how to prevent the above and more so you can hopefully have a hassle-free winter at home.
Furnace- Sears Home Service suggests the following:
Some benefits of furnace maintenance include lower heating costs, less risk of a breakdown, and longer service from your furnace (https://www.nationalheatingandac.com/blog/furnace-inspection-before-winter/)
Sump Pump- If everything is functioning as it should, water that collects around or under your house, think rain and melting snow, will drain into the sump pump pit, then be directed away from your foundation. An annual inspection is suggested- you can hire a professional or consult with the sump pump owner’s manual.
Gutters- everyone’s favorite chore ! It’s suggested you clean your gutters twice a year to prevent clogging, which can “lead to issues like water damage, loosened gutters, ice dams, and issues with insects, and rodents.” (Allstate.com)
Pipes- cold temperatures + water in exterior pipes = a pipe burst. Allstate.com suggests you disconnect garden houses from outdoor faucets, use shutoff valves if your exterior faucets have them, then open and close the outside tap to release any leftover water.
If you’re leaving your house for an extended period time, such as going on vacation, be sure to set the thermostat no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, you may come home to a pipe burst. You can read more on preventing that here !
Reverse Fan Direction- Allstate.com recommends you “flip your ceiling fans’ reverse switches so that the fans move in a clockwise direction. ENERGY STAR says this creates an updraft that pushes the warm air that rises toward the ceiling back down into the room.” Another way to save on heating !
If you’re looking for a handyman or HVAC professional recommendation, call or text us at 717-371-0557 and we’ll be happy to help 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
Do you know what a popcorn ceiling is? Love it? Hate it? Most people hate it. After all, ceiling popcorn is about the most useless (not to mention ugliest) decoration ever. Want to get rid of it? Well. Normally that involves scraping it off, or demolition. Tear it down. As effective as that tutorial is, some of you might not want to get that messy. Or if your house was built in the 1950’s, scraping off popcorn means dealing with potential health hazards like asbestos. Not fun or safe.
Well, I have some great news! Imgur user, makesomething, chose a different way to handle the ceiling popcorn in a room in his 1950 home. Here’s the thing, they didn’t even bother removing the popcorn at all!
Removing all those layers would be too much of a hassle.
They also bought 2 inch brand nails, which they used to nail some planks to the joists in the ceiling.
However, if you want to save money, you could always use wooden pallets!
Obligatory dog photo. She would walk in every once in a while to check on the progress.
This method would be awesome for old, cracked plaster ceilings too! Not exactly a DIY kind of person and need a professional to help you pull this off? Call me, I can connect you with a contractor!
Have questions? Do you want to buy or sell a property? Call me or text at 717-371-0557, I’ll be happy to help you! You can always email me at Jason@JasonsHomes.com or contact me at the office at 717-291-1041 as well!
Your Friend in Real Estate,
Jason Burkholder
Realtor, e-Pro
Associate Broker
Certified Marketing Specialist
Weichert, Realtors – Welcome Home
717-291-1041 office
717-371-0557 direct or text
PS – As always, I’d like you to be part of the conversation, so if you like what you read here please feel free to let me know, forward this post to your friends and subscribe!
Why would someone write another article on buying versus renting a home? What’s in it for the author of the article? Why would you read one? What is it you want to hear?
Do you just want confirmation and justification for what you already believe and want to do? Or, are you looking to be convinced otherwise? or simply just trying to “figure it out”? These are all good questions to ask if you find yourself reading an article on whether it makes more sense to buy a home, or to rent.
There are “reasons” to buy, and “reasons” to rent. Which is good, people want to make choices based upon reason. So, if you start reading about whether to buy versus rent a home, you’ll certainly be given “reasons” like:
Those are all real and valid reasons to some degree. But if you start reading articles bent on renting a home, versus buying, you’ll be given opposing “reasons”, like:
Again, all valid “reasons” to some degree. Regardless of whether the article is pro-buying or pro-renting, the “reasons” cited tend to ALWAYS be the same, decade after decade, regardless of the market. They are overused, and honestly, pretty useless to anyone in particular. There is no absolute answer that is right for everyone.
You can find plenty of “sources” to formulate your opinion on what makes sense for you. There are online calculators to help you figure out if renting or buying makes more sense for you. But that’s kind of like looking up health information online. It’s good to get some thoughts and perspective. Educate yourself. But it’s not necessarily proper for you to diagnose and treat yourself.
Same when it comes to financial and real estate decisions. Certainly educate yourself. Become informed. But truly assessing whether or not it makes more sense for you to buy a home or rent a house warrants getting some professional help. Professional help can cost less than self-help (At least in real estate…). While you can certainly sift through all the information you want online for free, and come to your own conclusion, you can also get the advice of someone who is a real estate expert for free, one thats actually applicable to your situation.
All you have to do is reach out to a real estate agent. A good real estate agent will give you advice. A great one will help you figure out if buying or renting makes better sense for you. They’ll help you assess your situation lend you their thoughts and insight based upon their knowledge and experience. And most of them will do this for free. They get paid if and when you end up buying or renting a place.
Now, certainly, you might question their motives… Will they push you to buy versus rent to make more money? Will they push you to rent because it’s quicker, easier money? Why would they help me for free? There’s got to be a catch. Sure, there are some agents who are in it just to make money. But most real estate agents are more caring and concerned about their clients’ best interests, than their own self-interest.
That doesn’t mean every real estate agent will necessarily be able to give you the best advice, even if they are caring, concerned, and not pushy. Finding an agent who knows the local area and has experience makes a huge difference in the quality of the advice. So, make sure you find not just an agent, but a great agent when you ask for advice. (If they’re all offering their advice for free, you might as well choose the best, right?)
Considering this is my article, of course I feel like I’m the best agent for you to talk to. Maybe I’m the best agent for you to talk to… maybe not. The best way to find out for sure if, or how, I can help is for us to have a quick chat.
I work all throughout Central PA, primarily in Lancaster County, Lebanon County, York County and Berks County. But in all honesty, I am not an expert on buying a home everywhere in the State of Pennsylvania. There are some parts I am not as familiar with. So if I’m not the best agent for you, I’ll tell you and I almost always know another agent who may suit your situation better.
So why not give me a call at 717-371-0557, or send me an email, and let’s schedule a time to talk. No obligation. I never push people to do one thing over another. If buying makes more sense for you, we’ll figure that out. If renting does, we’ll figure that out. I just want to make sure you’re able to make the best and most objective decision possible.
Have questions? Do you want to buy or sell a property? Call me or text at 717-371-0557, I’ll be happy to help you! You can always email me at Jason@JasonsHomes.com or contact me at the office at 717-291-1041 as well!
Your Friend in Real Estate,
Jason Burkholder
Realtor, e-Pro
Associate Broker
Certified Marketing Specialist
Weichert, Realtors – Welcome Home
717-291-1041 office
717-371-0557 direct or text
PS – As always, I’d like you to be part of the conversation, so if you like what you read here please feel free to let me know, forward this post to your friends and subscribe!
