Jason Burkholder, Broker/Sales Manager, ABR, e-Pro, Lancaster Pa Homes for Sale

Happy Friday Readers! Here we go, this is the last in a Series of 6 Fall Maintenance Tips from Matt Steger at WIN Home Inspection. Don't worry though, Matt will be back next week with more helpful tips and advice. This week's tip deals with the not so glamorous, but ever so important, issue of proper insulation. The easiest way to lower your heating (and cooling) costs is to have the right amount of properly installed insulation. Don't know what that is or how to figure it out?

Don't forget to to call Matt Steger with WIN Home Inspection at 717-361-9467 for all of your Home Inspection needs!

This week's discussion deals with insulation. Before it gets really cold, it's a good idea to check your attic and basement insulation to ensure it is still in place and uniformly distributed. Loose fill fiberglass or cellulose can be smoothed out to a more uniform thickness to help maximize its insulating value. Fiberglass batts in a basement ceiling or crawlspace can fall down, or there may be small areas in the basement ceiling or crawl space with no insulation.

Adding insulation in the basement and attic can help lower energy bills and make your home more comfortable. In most circumstances, adding insulation is fairly simple. Generally, the thicker the insulation, the higher the insulation value (called R-value). If you have fiberglass batt insulation installed with a paper vapor barrier, the vapor barrier should face the home's warm side. In a basement, the bare insulation should face the basement floor. In an attic, the bare insulation should face the roof. If the insulation is installed upside down, this can allow moisture to be trapped in the insulation.

I'd like you to be part of the conversation, so if you like what you read here please comment, forward The Lancaster Connection.com to your friends, subscribe and as always, if you have questions, need real estate advice or want to buy or sell a home, you can call or text me at 717-371-0557, email me at Jason@JasonsHomes.com or contact me at the office at 717-490-8999!

Your Friend in Real Estate,

Jason Burkholder

Search for Lancaster County Homes for sale at www.JasonsHomes.com by clicking here!

Want to see what's happening to home prices in your neighborhood? Go to www.RealEstateCrystalBall.com !

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!

I don't know if you are familiar with Zillow.com or not, but they are a national website that aggregates real estate listings and data. I don't agree with everything they do, but they do a nice job of creating cool charts and graphs that show area trends and when you look at those charts, it's easy to see why I say things are doing pretty good here in Lancaster!

Zillow Home Value Index for Lancaster County PA

Zillow Home Value Index

More Lancaster Metro Home Values

Take a look at the home price trends for Lancaster, Ephrata, Manheim Township, Manor Township, Warwick Township and Providence Township. If the embed code from zillow didn't flake out on me, you should see those lines up above. They show a nice little leveling out/uptick in average home prices. Now, if you compare the numbers for Lancaster County as a whole, you'll see a similar trend.

All in all, not bad, for us or the rest of the country. Now, it's important to note that these graphs show the Average prices and each market area is different. But if you look at the very pronounced dip in the national numbers, you'll understand why the media has been proclaiming loudly the pains of the real estate world, as the national average sales price is down about $50,000.

Zillow Home Value Index

More US Home Values

So, these cool little charts are instructional, but not the authority for what is happening in your neighborhood. If you want to see trends more local to you, check out my Crystal Ball (www.RealEstateCrystalBall.com). All you do is pop in some basic info about your location and the system gives you detailed, easy to understand info about your area and what's happening to home prices there. Check it out, it's free and easy!

I'd like you to be part of the conversation, so if you like what you read here please comment, forward The Lancaster Connection.com to your friends, subscribe and as always, if you have questions, need real estate advice or want to buy or sell a home, you can call or text me at 717-371-0557, email me atJason@JasonsHomes.com or contact me at the office at 717-490-8999!

Your Friend in Real Estate,

Jason Burkholder

Search for Lancaster County Homes for sale at www.JasonsHomes.com by clicking here!

Want to see what's happening to home prices in your neighborhood? Go to www.RealEstateCrystalBall.com !

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!

According to Kate Newton, the Director of Homeownerships Programs for PHFA, the original program began offering the advance loans in June and by September they gave out $5,750,000 in loans and were out of money. The new funding breathes life back into this popular program and will help hundreds of Pennsylvania Home Buyers who may not otherwise be able to purchase, but don't count on any more funding coming in the future. According to an article on PAR Just Listed:

"First-time buyers will be able to receive up to $6,000 for new construction and $5,000 for existing homes, just like the PHFA program earlier this year, Newton said. PHFA will earmark $3.5 million of the total funds for first-time buyers. This time, PHFA will allocate $1.5 million of the funds for non first-time homebuyers, who must also fit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines for the tax credit program. Non first-time buyers will be able to qualify for up to $4,000 for new homes and $3,000 for existing homes," she added.

Just like the recent Extension and Expansion of the current Tax Credit, no one expects this program to be repeated.

If you qualify, you can take advantage of it, but my advice is to hurry up and do it now! Here are the program specifics directly from PHFA:

• TCA is available to eligible buyers getting a PHFA first mortgage and who close on their loans by June 30, 2010 (and entered into a sales contract by April 30, 2010).
• First-time homebuyers are eligible for the lesser of 10% of the purchase price OR $6,000 for newly constructed homes, $5,000 for existing homes
• Non first-time homebuyers are eligible for the lesser of 10% of the purchase price OR $4,000 for newly constructed homes, $3,000 for existing homes
• For first time homebuyers, all occupants may not have had an ownership interest in their primary residence in the last three years, nor may they have a present interest in any other real estate, except for a business property if the business is that person's primary source of income.
• TCA's minimum loan amount is $500.
• Through TCA, PHFA will make a zero percent (interest free) loan to the homebuyer at the time of closing.
• These funds must be used towards the minimum down payment requirement and/or closing costs. Under conventional guidelines, all TCA borrowers must invest a minimum of $1,000 of their own funds towards the purchase of their first home; this does not apply to FHA, VA or RD loans.
• Homebuyers must fall within the lesser of the Federal First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit income guidelines or PHFA's income and purchase price limits per county.
• TCA borrowers must require maximum financing (a maximum of five percent down) under conventional guidelines. In other words, the TCA cannot be used to fund a down payment of over five percent.
• All PHFA-eligible homes that will be used as a principal residence will qualify for the credit. This includes single-family detached homes, attached homes like townhouses and condominiums, manufactured homes, and two-unit properties (duplexes).
• TCA can be combined with PHFA's Access Modification and Purchase Improvement Programs.
• TCA cannot be combined with PHFA closing cost and down payment assistance programs (Keystone Assistance Loan, HOMEstead, or Access Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance Programs).
• The homebuyer is responsible for claiming the Federal Tax Credit when filing federal income taxes for 2009 or 2010 and for using their refund to repay the advance to PHFA.
• TCA is a soft second loan with no interest if it is repaid in full by the following deadlines (regardless of the borrower's tax liability, when the borrower's taxes are filed, or whether the borrower seeks an extension for filing).
• Loans closed in 2009 are due to be paid back to PHFA by June 30, 2010, If the advance is not repaid by June 30, 2010, the loan will immediately begin to amortize over a 10 year period at the same interest rate as the first mortgage. This pertains to both first-time and non first-time homebuyers.
• Loans closed in 2010 are due to be paid back to PHFA by June 30, 2011, If the advance is not repaid by June 30, 2011, the loan will immediately begin to amortize over a 10 year period at the same interest rate as the first mortgage. This pertains to both first time and non first-time homebuyers.
• TCA is funded by a paper check at closing, much like the Homestead program.
• The TCA loan is only applicable on arms-length transactions (where the homebuyer is not receiving favorable treatment because of his/her relationship to the seller).

This is a Pennsylvania specific program so if you think you qualify and would like to move on this opportunity, call me, I'll be happy to help!

I'd like you to be part of the conversation, so if you like what you read here please comment, forward The Lancaster Connection.com to your friends, subscribe and as always, if you have questions, need real estate advice or want to buy or sell a home, you can call or text me at 717-371-0557, email me at Jason@JasonsHomes.com or contact me at the office at 717-490-8999!

Your Friend in Real Estate,

Jason Burkholder

Search for Lancaster County Homes for sale at www.JasonsHomes.com by clicking here!

Want to see what's happening to home prices in your neighborhood? Go to www.RealEstateCrystalBall.com !

Happy Monday Readers! It's time again for another Monday Fit Bit from Mickey Glick at Body and Soul Fitness Studio. When people tell her they don't always have time to go to the gym, Mickey tells them that going to the gym isn't the only way to stay healthy and there are many excercises that can be done at home that are just as effective as a gym membership. Read on to find out what they are!

Don't forget, if you have more questions or would like Mickey to create a personalized fitness plan for you, call her at Body and Soul Fitness Studio 717-509-7777

Don't be fooled into thinking you need a bunch of equipment to get a good workout. If you want to keep up with your exercise program but are short on time, trying to stay away from the public, or away from home, here's a no-equipment travel, outdoor or home workout.

*Prisoner Squats

* Pushups (whichever you can do- regular, knee, incline)

* Lying Hip Bridge

* Plank to Pushup*

* Prisoner Lunges (pick one- front, rear, stationary)

* Spiderman Climbs

Do all 6 exercises with minimal rest between them. Base the number of repetitions on your current fitness level, with a maximum of 15 reps (or 15 per side). Depending upon your weak areas and fitness level, you may be able to perform fewer reps of some exercises and more of others. That's O.K., just make sure you concentrate on good form and challenge yourself. Rest 30-60 seconds as needed and repeat the full circuit up to a total of 6 times.

*If Plank to Pushups are too difficult for you, just substitute Bird Dogs or Inchworms. If you're unfamiliar with any of these exercises, you should be able to find them on You Tube.

I'd like you to be part of the conversation, so if you like what you read here please comment, forward The Lancaster Connection.com to your friends, subscribe and as always, if you have questions, need real estate advice or want to buy or sell a home, you can call or text me at 717-371-0557, email me at Jason@JasonsHomes.com or contact me at the office at 717-490-8999!

Your Friend in Real Estate,

Jason Burkholder

Search for Lancaster County Homes for sale at www.JasonsHomes.com by clicking here!

Want to see what's happening to home prices in your neighborhood? Go to www.RealEstateCrystalBall.com !

Happy Friday Readers! Time for another Fall Maintenance Tip from Matt Steger with WIN Home Inspection! Windows. They bring in light, add beautiful accents to the look of a home, create a warm, welcoming environment and, if you aren't careful, drive your heating costs through the roof! Read on to find out how you can make your windows as efficient and draft free as possible!
Don't forget, call Matt Steger with WIN Home Inspection at 717-361-9467 for all of yourHome Inspection needs!

This week, the topic is windows and keeping the cold weather outside. If your home hassingle pane windows and storm panes, ensure that the storm panes are in good condition, sealed properly, and aren't cracked. A properly installed storm window can help prevent water and cold air infiltration and help lower your fuel bills. If you don't have storm windows, although it's not the most attractive, covering your windows with plastic film can reduce drafts as well. Now can be a good time to check the home's exterior caulking and touch it up, where needed. Caulking at joints around doors and windows, where wiring and pipes enter the home, and where different building materials meet can help keep water, insects, and cold air out. Also, check the weather-stripping at all exterior doors to ensure you don't see daylight or feel drafts. If you do, add more weather-stripping and ensure a proper door fit.

Double or triple pane windows are fairly common in most newer homes and are more efficient than single pane windows, so upgrading, if feasible for you, can make a big difference in your energy bills.

I'd like you to be part of the conversation, so if you like what you read here please comment, forward The Lancaster Connection.com to your friends, subscribe and as always, if you have questions, need real estate advice or want to buy or sell a home, you can call or text me at 717-371-0557, email me at Jason@JasonsHomes.com or contact me at the office at 717-490-8999!

Your Friend in Real Estate,

Jason Burkholder

Search for Lancaster County Homes for sale at www.JasonsHomes.com by clicking here!

Want to see how the market is doing in your neighborhood? Go to www.RealEstateCrystalBall.com !