BRIGHT IS BETTER

            Sometimes Realtors walk into a home that is basically attractive, but lacks something that they can’t quite put their fingers on.  Then they notice that all of the drapes are closed, and there is a lot of overgrown shrubbery blocking the sun.

            A dark house is not as appealing to most buyers as one that is flooded with light.  As a part of your preparations to market your home, try to maximize the light in your home.  Make sure that all the windows are clean, and open the drapes when the house is being shown.  A fresh coat of light paint can do a lot to brighten up the interior.  If your house has very dark paneling, and there is not a lot that you can do about it, you may want to consider adding additional lamps.  Your Realtor may be able to provide other simple and cost‑effective ideas about how to maximize your home’s appeal.

            For solid advice on selling or buying real estate, consult Jim Powers at Prudential Bob Yost.

WHAT’S STOPPING YOU?

When you decide to buy a home, you may feel resistance to doing some of the things that are necessary to turn your dream into a reality.  An important part of a professional Realtor’s job is to help you overcome such resistance.

            When you locate the property you want to buy, you will have to handle many details within a very short period of time.  There is a lot of paperwork, such as the financial statement and purchase agreement, in addition to the negotiations with the sellers.  You may also experience a wide range of emotions at each step of the way, everything from mild jitters to profound buyers’ remorse.  Just take a deep breath and trust your Realtor.

        It also helps to remember that everyone who has purchased a home has experienced these same feelings–”it’s too much money ” or ” the local market will collapse completely the day after we settle”.  Fortunately, almost none of these fears ever come true.  A professional Realtor is trained to take you through the home-buying jitters.

            For solid advice on selling or buying real estate, consult Jim Powers at Prudential Bob Yost. 

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REALTORS Give Thanks and Give Back

With the holiday season right around the corner, members of the REALTORS Association of York & Adams Counties take time to give thanks by giving back to the communities in which we live and work.  2008 will not go down as a record-breaking year for the real estate community.  “Sales didn’t come close to previous years, but REALTORS, appraisers, lenders, title companies and other real estate related businesses still donated great amounts of time and money to support local non-profits through the RAYAC Foundation,” said Steve Snell, executive officer for the REALTORS Association of York & Adams Counties, Inc.

RAYAC has an ongoing partnership with Habitat for Humanity and 2008 was an exciting year for the association.  RAYAC sponsored its third Habitat home which was built in Dover during the summer.  Members appreciated the opportunity to financially help Habitat and spent three weeks building the home.  What a reward to see a deserving family finally have their own home.

The association also awarded contributions to five area housing-related organizations to help them fulfill their missions to help people here in York and Adams Counties.

Additionally, the foundation supported relief efforts from floods in Iowa through its Robert Murphy Disaster Relief Fund.

Most recently, members of RAYAC’s staff and Board of Directors participated in REALTORS Reach Out by volunteering at Rocky Ridge Park to help the York County Parks Department get ready for its biggest fundraiser of the year – Christmas Magic: A Festival of Lights.  Volunteers painted the interior of a barn to transform it to a concession area, added lights to new displays and replaced regular light bulbs with new energy-efficient ones on existing displays.

The Foundation raised and contributed over $46,000 this year alone through its annual bowlathon and golf outing fund raisers to give back to the community.  Individual real estate offices, REALTORS and employees in related businesses do so many other worthwhile volunteer activities throughout the year – hold food drives for area food banks, collect backpacks and back to school supplies for needy children, collect donations for animal shelters and  Toys for Tots, host charitable fundraisers, and so much more.

The RAYAC staff continually supports the United Way campaign with 100% participation and encourages others to do the same.  As economic times become more difficult on families and senior citizens, more services will be needed throughout our community.  “If you have the means, please share it with others who can use it to make a difference.  The United Way is a shining example of broad-reaching support to provide funding to a wide variety of agencies that provide vital services in York and Adams Counties,” explained Snell.

“While there is so much negative news on TV, the radio or in newspapers, the REALTORS Association is fortunate to have dedicated members who truly care about and get involved in our community,” said Snell.  

York County Real Estate Statistics for September 2008 - According to the Realtors Association of York and Adams Counties, the average sales price in York County is $183,302 (as of September 2008), only a drop of 5% from 2007 (average sales price was $192,860). What our statistics have shown, is the number of sales in the month of September have dropped 27% from 2007-2008. However, the sales prices have only dropped 4.7% from 2007-2008. This is above the national average of 9%, according to the National Association of Realtors.

september-2008-montly-comparison

Septic Inspections are not included in a whole house inspection! If your home or the home you are purchasing, has a septic system instead of public sewer, we always advise our clients to have a septic inspection completed by a reputable company. A septic system could consist of a cesspool, sandmound system, standard septic system or a holding tank. Usually, when an inspection is being completed, the inspector will require the tank(s) to be pumped out. After the tank(s) are empty, the inspector will look at the tank and baffles to ensure that everything is connected properly and working properly. The inspector will also probe the drain field, to verify that the field is draining properly. Any problems with either of these items will be noted on a report, and should be fixed/replaced prior to any transfer of the property. A working system must be in writing and supplied to the mortgage company in order for the buyer to obtain financing. Buyers and Sellers should also check with their townships to see how often the tanks should be pumped and if the township or Sewage Enforcement Officer (SEO) needs to complete a separate inspection report in order to transfer the property. Read More

Ask Jim Powers your Real Estate Questions

Market Conditions for York, PA, real estate. Watch our real estate video with up to date information on the local and national real estate market, as well as morgage information and other news. If you have an specific questions regarding real estate, please feel free to ask me.