About Lancaster County, PA

This post was inspired by Amy Hahn's post:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1481780/i-challenge-you-to-help-promote-a-positive-attitude-about-the-real-estate-market-

Ray Kroc, the long time owner and chief architect of the McDonalds empire, said this: It wasn't about how many hamburgers they sold, it was about the real estate acquired for selling them.

A direct quote of Ray was "I'm not in the restaurant business, I'm in the real estate business." Of course, Ray used all the real estate he bought pretty wisely and did sell alot of hamburgers. But what if people suddenly stopped buying McDonalds food? They still are the number one private land owner in the world. I think they'd still be worth a mountain of money.

We have collectively lost our focus. We used to be a people that worked hard for our money, saved some, invested some and lived within our means. We, as a nation in general, have become a people wanting to get rich quick and quicker. Riches are quickly obtained and just as quickly lost. I have plenty of stories of people I know that fall into this category. A friend of a friend on the extreme side, was worth over 32 million 2 years ago and today is fighting just to stay in his home... he lost it all. Wealth on the other hand is acquired over time and will last more than a generation. It builds up so well that it will be passed down through generations. Real estate is a huge key to anyone's wealth if you investigate how they obtained it.

So how do we build wealth with real estate? Buy it right, meaning when it's low. Buy it with equity from the start. That means have a nice down payment or pay cash if you're able. Debt free gives you no tax deductions but a mighty amount of freedom and stressfree ownership. No money down is a get rich quick type of buying, but if you have no other choice and can afford the payments based on 70% of your income, go for it.

There is a very definite plan I've learned to acquire wealth, not riches. Learn to live on 70% of your income. That's right, Learn to live on 70% of your income. Learn to live on 70% of your income. There you have it, Amy's post said people need to see things 3 times to remember it. Learn to live on 70% of your income.

Give the 1st 10% to God, the 2nd 10% in savings, the 3rd 10% for investing and 70% to live on. It's very simple. If anyone follows this plan for 20-30 years, they will never have to worry about money... guaranteed.

Real estate has always been, and still is, the best investment you can make!

Real estate has always been, and still is, the best investment you can make!

Real estate has always been, and still is, the best investment you can make!

Umm, I wonder. Could this be fact or is it fiction? Is it fear mongering or is it truth? Are lobbyists preventing the word from getting out? I know parts to be truth, being in the advertising business, I am aware of who each ad I see is aimed at attracting. I know my kids were after us to let them have cell phones and we did finally give in to our 1st child when she went away to college. We stopped now. If she wants it now, she will have to cover the expense.

Fortunately, as we kid with people who are always frustrated with not being able to call us and reach us each and every minute of the day or night, there are no emergencies in the advertising business. Our clients know that one simple email at or before deadline will assure their latest price reduction or pulling a listing that changed their minds.

I hear many people saying they couldn't survive without their cell phone anymore. My question: Is it worth risking your health over? All I really know for sure and is fact: I really dislike cell phones most of the time and the manners of those using them, whether it be put on hold in the middle of a conversation in the flesh while someone answers their phone, or the person standing behind me in a line suddenly talking very loudly behind me, someone driving and coming into my lane because they aren't paying attention while talking or worst- texting or my personal favorite; a young friend of our daughter getting a text message in the middle of worship, nudging me and showing me news of a football player just found dead. I'm really glad to know I can get the football news even in the middle of worship... not.

What say you? What do you think about this report?

Knowledge is Power- Calling the Home Appliance Repair Hotline for Information can Save Consumers Money, Time, and Peace of mind.

Lancaster, PA – Appliance repair is an unwelcome and often unexpected expense. LH Brubaker is an appliance repair company that services Lancaster PA. In a effort to make a difference for consumers in that area, they have established a Repair Tips Hotline. They know we want the convenience of working appliances, and to avoid those frustrating experiences we have, when we have to call the manufacturer, and then the warranty provider, to explain multiple times what the problem is. Their hotline offers helpful tips in getting your appliance repair handled.

LH Brubaker is a Lancaster appliance repair specialist. They provide factory trained and authorized repair services for all major household appliances including washer, dryer, dishwasher, stove, garbage disposal, microwaves and more.

LH Brubaker is a one-stop manufacturer and appliance repair company who provides all types of services from maintenance to repairs. They are a family owned and operated business that tries to create a family atmosphere for their customers.

LHB appliances and PuerH20 Water Systems serves the Tri-state area in sales and service of appliances and water treatment. With over 250 years combined experience in the appliance repair business, skilled, specialized technicians and a friendly customer care staff, they remain ahead of their competition. Visit http://www.lhbrubakerappliances.com/ for more information.

Contact:

Don Frank, Sr.

LH Brubaker Appliance ( Lancaster Appliance Repair Guys )

340 Strasburg Pike

Lancaster, PA 17601

717-299-2351

Sr@LHBrubakerAppliances.com

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!

Here is the deal as per the details on homepath.com:

Fannie Mae is offering a 3.5% incentive* for buyers who purchase and close on a Fannie Mae-owned home between January 28 and April 30, 2010. Buyers purchasing properties listed on this site that are closed within this period may receive up to 3.5% of the final sales price for:

• Closing costs;
• The purchase of new Whirlpool® appliances by Fannie Mae; or
• A mix of closing costs and appliances, at the buyer's discretion, up to the maximum 3.5%.

To be eligible for this incentive:

• Offers must be accepted on or after January 28, 2010
• Property sales must close before May 1, 2010
• Buyers must be owner-occupants, investors are excluded

Now, the one caveat is that the lender for the buyer must approve the use of this incentive, but most lending programs allow the use of seller assistance with closing costs. This is an exploding offer though, it's gone if you don't buy before May 1, 2010.

I think this is a great program, but I am definitely seeing a contradiction here. Just 9 days ago HUD announced changes to FHA lending (read about those changes HERE ) that lowers the amount of allowable seller assitance to 3% starting in the summer of 2010. Notice how the Fannie Mae incentive runs out at the beginning of May? How about how the tax credit deadline is April 30th 2010 ( read about it HERE )? My post in December about the expected rise in interest rates ( read it HERE ) tells you about how that will be happening in late spring as well.

So, on the one hand we have the government telling us that buyers need more of their own money in the game (go back to the FHA post) and on the other hand we have them crating programs to enable buyers to buy with less money in the game. See the contradictions here? Is it any wonder why people are confused and the nationwide market is all over the place?

Don't get me wrong, this program is great, I think Fannie Mae needs to sell these homes and I will be happy to help anyone take advantage of this offer (call me if you would like to!) but Uncle Sam needs to get it together and decide what they want their message to be.

As always, 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 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

Weichert, Realtors - Engle & Hambright

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 !

Welcome Back Readers! Thanks for stopping in, you've arrived at the last installement of our Radon series with Matt Steger of WIN Home Inspection. This week Matt tells you how to go about fixing your Radon problem, read on for all the details!

Before I forget, you know I tell you this every week but it needs repeating, when it comes time for me to recommend an expert to protect my home buyers, I always recommend Matt. Call Matt Steger at 717-361-9467 when you need any home purchase related inspections.

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Last time, we discussed how a radon test is performed and the requirements that must be met before and during the radon test. This week, let's take the discussion a step further and talk about what to do if radon concentrations are high in your home.

What if a radon test indicates a high radon level?

If the radon test shows a high level of radon in the home (4.0 pCi/L or higher), radon mitigation (aka radon remediation) can be successful in lowering the home's radon level in most circumstances. The most common method of remediation is a sub-slab depressurization system. To put it simple, one (or more) hole is drilled in the basement slab, a small amount of dirt (approx. 5~10 gallons) is excavated under the slab, PVC piping is installed through the basement slab with a radon fan, and this system vents to the exterior away from doors and windows and above the roof line. Penetrations and cracks in the basement slab and foundation walls should also be sealed, most often with a silicone sealant and backer rod. Radon fans can only be placed in an attic or exterior of the home and should not be installed in the home's living space or in a garage. The EPA has specific requirements about how and where radon systems can be installed. The cost of a professionally installed radon mitigation system is most commonly in the $600~$1,500 range in PA. Each mitigation system may be a little different depending upon the home's design, the initial radon test result, type of system installed, etc.

Who performs a radon test and remediation?

The PA DEP requires that all individuals performing radon testing or mitigation for a fee be licensed by the Commonwealth. Also, radon testers and radon remediators are licensed separately by the PA DEP, although some radon professionals offer both testing and remediation. For the radon test itself, using a radon professional who performs testing only, and doesn't also perform remediation, is recommended to help prevent a possible conflict of interest.

A home owner or builder can perform radon testing and mitigation since it is their own home, however a PA DEP licensed radon tester should be used for a home transaction to ensure a non-compromised test performed to DEP requirements. Any changes to an installed radon mitigation system should only be performed by a licensed radon mitigator, as well. Contractors (plumbers, electricians, etc.) who are not PA DEP licensed for radon mitigation should never modify mitigation piping or radon fans. This is against the law in PA. Who knows if the radon mitigation system is properly functioning after the plumber leaves? Minor changes to mitigation pipes and fans may cause the system to not work properly. The PA DEP updates the list of licensed testers and mitigators each month. This info can be obtained from the PA DEP website (http://www.depweb.state.pa.us) or by calling the PA DEP radon hotline at: 1-800-23-RADON.

To learn more about radon check out:

http://www.epa.gov/radon/

http://www.dep.state.pa.us/brp/Radon_Division/Radon_Homepage.htm

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As always, 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 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

Weichert, Realtors - Engle & Hambright

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 !