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.

York County Real Estate Statistics for November, 2008 - According to the Realtors Association of York and Adams County, the median sales price of homes in York County is $165,000 (as of November 2008). This is a 6% drop in prices from 2007. The number of homes sold in 2008 has dropped 27% from the same time period a year ago (as of November 2008). However, Central York School district has seen a 1% increase in home values since 2007.  For more information, or other questions regarding York County Real Estate, contact our office.  Other monthly stastics.

175 Thundergust Mill Road, Wellsville, PA - Custom Built 2 story with 2700 SF on 1.38 Acres across from Pinchot State Park and near Ski Roundtop. Country living at it’s finest! Grand 2 story foyer is open to the formal dining room with cherry hardwood floors, first floor family room with stone fireplace is open to the spacious kitchen with ceramic tile floors, granite counters, maple cabinets and stainless steel appliances, first floor laundry with ceramic tile floors, master bedroom suite with cathedral ceiling, spacious walk-in closet and bath w/whirlpool tub, ceramic tile floors, separate shower and double bowl sink. Room to expand in the lower level with superior walls.

175 Thundergust Mill Road

Search the York County MLS

* OPEN HOUSE AT THE ELKS LODGE

750 Satellite Drive, York, PA - Beautiful park-like setting for this 2 story home in York Township! Located in a well established neighborhood, close to I-83 Exit 18 and Route 30 - great for commuters! Freshly painted and updated - all you need to do is arrange your furniture! Updated kitchen with island, large pantry closet and corian counters, is open to the family room with gas fireplace, 2 ceiling fans and sliding glass door to a patio and 16×25 deck overlooking the large yard with mature trees. Also features formal living and dining rooms, spacious hallways and closets, master bedroom suite, natural woodwork throughout, hardwood foyer, insulated windows, new driveway, walk-up attic storage and room to expand in the lower level.

750 Satellite Drive

Search the York County MLS

Gorgeous 2 story on large corner lot is convenient to I-83 exit 24. Nicely decorated throughout w/1st flr den w/pocket door to foyer, 1st flr FR w/gas, stone to ceiling fp is open to eat-in kitchen w/cherry cabinets, corian counters & island plus sliding doors to spacious yard. Spacious bedrooms w/ceiling fans. Main bath with wainscotting and laundry chute. Deluxe master bedroom suite with walk-in closet & 9×13 bath w/double bowl vanity, whirlpool tub and separate shower. Full basement with 9′ superior walls, rough-in for bath and outside entrance. Plenty of room to expand!!

Nature lovers delight! Nestled among trees on 5.12 acres, & up a winding drive you’ll find this 2 story stone home w/18×36 Foxx inground pool. Features 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 4 car garage, three wood burning fireplaces, two working kitchens, all appliances and a finished basement with rec room and outside entrance! Main kitchen features plenty of cabinets and a breakfast bar to the formal dining room. First floor family room with fireplace and door to covered porch, formal living room with marble bow window and fireplace, spacious bedrooms and large closets, balcony off master bedroom and flowering trees!

Privacy on 5 Acres!

Search York County MLS

Here’s your chance to own a newly remodeled home for under $200,000! A unique property for the first time buyer or car lover, with a 4 car tandem garage! House was a bank barn that’s been remodeled from head to toe, with original stone walls in the basement, as well as a hot tub room. This home features a spacious country kitchen with ceramic tile floors, all new appliances and trey ceiling. The master bedroom features sliding glass doors to the deck with a great view of the countryside. The spacious living room is located off the kitchen and features a sitting area. Both baths have ceramic tile floors! Very cozy!

Remodeled Rancher on 1.1 Acre

Conewago Valley School District - Gorgeous custom built JA Myers home on one of the largest lots in the development. Features 9′ ceilings on first floor, spacious kitchen with maple cabinets, island, upgraded appliances and granite counters, which is open to the 2 story family room and sun room. The sun room features ceramic tile floors, vaulted ceiling and prado doors to the deck. The 2 story family room also features a gas fireplace and balcony above. A first floor master bedroom suite and first floor laundry make this home perfect for anyone. There is also a formal living and dining room, both with trey ceilings. This home also features textured ceilings throughout. There is room to expand in the lower level with a rough in for a full bath.

71 Bough Lane, Oxford Township

See the Visual Tour

WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve has cut its target for a key interest rate to the lowest level on record and pledged to use “all available tools” to combat a severe financial crisis and prolonged recession.

The central bank on Tuesday said it had reduced the federal funds rate, the interest that banks charge each other, to a range of zero to 0.25 percent. That is down from the 1 percent target rate in effect since the last meeting in October. Many analysts had expected the Fed to make a smaller cut to 0.5 percent.

The Fed’s aggressive move was greeted enthusiastically by Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial average closed up just under 360 points.

The Fed’s action and statement made clear that economic conditions have worsened since its last meeting in October.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues said they will use unconventional methods to try to contain a financial crisis that is the worst since the 1930s and a recession that is already the longest in a quarter-century. For example, the Fed last month said it planned to purchase up to $600 billion in direct debt and mortgage-backed securities issued by big financial players including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in an effort to boost the availability of mortgage loans.

That move was one of a series the central bank has taken to increase its loans by hundreds of billions of dollars as a way to deal with the worst financial crisis to hit the country in more than 70 years.

The Fed on Tuesday also made clear that it intends to keep the funds rate at extremely low levels.

“The committee anticipates that weak economic conditions are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels of the federal funds rate for some time,” the central bank’s panel that sets interest rates said in a statement.

Even before the announcement of a lower target, the funds rate has been trading well below the old target of 1 percent. For November, the funds rate had averaged 0.39 percent. Analysts said it was likely to fall further with the Fed setting the new target as low as zero.

The Fed’s decision was matched by a reduction in the prime lending rate, the benchmark rate for millions of business and consumer loans. Banking giant Wells Fargo and Co. said it was cutting its prime rate to 3.25 percent, down from 4 percent before the Fed action. Other banks are expected to quickly match Wells Fargo’s move.

The Fed has never pushed its target for the federal funds rate as low as zero to 0.25 percent. The lowest target rate before had been 1 percent, a level seen only once before in the past half-century.

Given how low interest rates are, the central bank said it planned to use a variety of unconventional methods to flood the banking system with credit and drive interest rates lower.

“The Federal Reserve will employ all available tools to promote the resumption of sustainable economic growth and to preserve price stability,” the Fed said.

From the Associated Press

Ask more real estate questions.