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Lancaster Inspector’s Corner – Saving Energy in Lancaster Pa Part 2

Energy Efficiency in Lancaster PAWelcome Back Readers!  This post wraps up the two part series on energy efficiency from Matt Steger with WIN Home Inspection !   As we began discussing last time. electricity costs in Lancaster PA have skyrocketed due to the deregulation of electric companies here in PA.  One of the ways to combat this is to take steps to make sure your home is as energy efficient as possible, so this week Matt has some specific steps you can take, so read on after the jump to find out what they are!

Fannie Mae Offers Closing Cost Assistance and Appliance Incentive

Welcome Back Readers!   It’s been a busy month in real estate, so many things happening both locally and nationally it seems everyday there is something new!  That’s actually the becoming the normal state of affairs nowadays and I don’t mind as it gives me lots of things to write about!

I wanted to let you know about a program announced today by Fannie Mae.  Fannie Mae has a little problem, namely 50,000 homes they now own through the foreclosure process and they are looking to move them.  You can see a list of what’s there at www.homepath.com (there are 19 Fannie Mae Foreclosures in Lancaster County Pa as of today).

That’s not the announcement though, the announcement is that Fannie Mae is now offering 3.5 % of the home’s purchase price as an incentive to buyers!  Read on after the jump to find out more!

Remodeling Lancaster – Homeowner Tax Credits You Can Claim this Year!

Welcome Back Readers!   This is the first in our new Remodeling Lancaster Columns by Guest Columnist Mike Blank with MBC Building and Remodeling, LLC !

If you live in Central PA and you have ever wondered who you could trust to provide quality remodeling and handyman repair services, look no farther than Mike Blank.  From Decks to Kitchens, Additions to Painting, repairs needed to sell a home, if it needs done at your house Mike can either make it happen or find you someone who can.  Call Mike at 717-371-5136 for the best service for your contracting needs. 

This week Mike brings you tips on how you can claim Tax Credits for making repairs and improvements to your home.  Read on after the jump to find out more!

Did FHA Just Throw First Time Buyers in Front of the Bus for a PR Gain?

 Welcome Back Readers! 

I apologize in advance for the negative tone of this post, but it is information that people who plan on buying this year need to have.  Let me start with this:  There are many solutions available to FHA’s problems, and there are other programs that allow cash poor buyers to still purchase homes.  It is not the end of the world, FHA is still a fine program, but I have an issue with their changes not offering a solution to their problem. 

Call me if you want to find out how low money down programs can still benefit you, in the meantime please be aware of the following info.

FHA has announced policy changes today that will potentially have a negative impact on the housing market.  Read on after the jump to see excerpts from a release by NAR:

Lancaster Inspector’s Corner – What Happens During a Chimney and Fireplace Inspection by a Home Inspector?

Happy Friday Readers!   Welcome back to our Friday Inspector’s Corner, where we are continuing Matt Steger’s discussion on Chimney and Fireplace inspections.  Matt is a Home Inspector with WIN Home Inspection and he is the one I call for all of my Lancaster County Pa Home Inspection needs, you should call him too!  Check out his info after the jump!

It Isn’t a Question of “If” Waiting Will Cost You, but Rather “How Much?”

3204081744_d411eab054Waiting.  Sometimes a wise strategy, sometimes a foolish one.  When it comes to home buying, waiting will surely cost you.  There are a number of reasons why, but before I go into that, let’s get one thing clear…. if you aren’t in a positions to buy, if you truly can’t afford it, don’t do it.  But if you are unsure, if you are “thinking about it”, if you are planning to “start looking” in a few months, you need to hop off the fence and start now.  Waiting is a mistake.  Here’s why:

HUD Secretary Donovan woke up this morning and got himself a gun……

close up … and he plans to use it to take out the US Housing Market!

I know, very dramatic.  Maybe even a little uncalled for.  On the other hand, there is really no other way to describe how potentially dangerous the policy changes that  HUD Secretary Donovan is proposing this week.  What are those changes?

The numbers are in and they’re…… not that bad!

I know, I know, not the most inspiring title but seriously, when we look at market statistics in today’s ecnomy not that bad is pretty darn good!  Read on to find out more!

It’s Back! PHFA Allows Buyers to use the First Time/Repeat Buyer Tax Credit to Close!

It’s official!  Today, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) announced that it has allocated funding in the amount of $5,000,000 for the continuation of their Tax Credit Advance (TCA) program!   This is a limited time offer, so take note, once they run out of money it will be too late, so you need to move now if you want to take advantage of it!  Read further for details!

A Whole New World – Why the New and Expanded Tax Credit May Save the US Economy!

This past Friday, President Obama signed into law H.R. 3548.  This bill, at it’s heart a bill to extend unemployment worldbenefits {which, by the way, is being completely overlooked as the critical step it was to help the unemployed workers in this country, but that’s a topic for another day (see, I’m overlooking it too!)} contained a roundly supported amendment to Extend and Expand the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit that was set to expire this month.  Unless you were hiding under a rock, by now you’ve no doubt heard countless talking heads telling you that this bill will either (A) Save the US Economy or (B) Lead the US Economy into a head on Collision with the ever growing Mountain of National Debt.

Well, if you were looking for someone to support Choice (B), you should probably look elsewhere.  But if you were looking for someone to explain just why this bill is critical to the recovery of the nation’s housing market and just may save our entire economy, then keep on reading!

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