About York County, PA

Just received preliminary news that the Home Buyer Tax Credit is going to be extendend, and not only that ... it's also going to be available to ALL Home Buyers - not just first time home buyers! The current installment of the new Home Buyer Tax Credit requires homes be under contract by April 30, 2010, and closed by June 30, 2010. First time home buyers can receive up to $8,000, and non-first time home buyers can receive up to $6,500! Of course there will be tweaks before the bill is made final, but this is great news for the economy, home buyers and sellers!

So often my Sellers ask my opinion on the best way to sell a home with children in the household. Let's face it, all their toys and books can make an otherwise beautiful home seem a little cluttered. The best way to sell a home with children in the household is to make it convenient and easy for you and them to pick up and store their belongings.

Sometimes you'll get that last minute call of a Buyer wanting to see your home. If you have storage options available for the children, you can make it easy and fun for them to scoop up their stuff and stash it out of sight until after the showing. Selling a home with children doesn't need to be a frustrating task.

Check out the video and see just how fun and easy it can be to sell a home with children!

Well the stats for year over year sales for the York PA area are here. Overall the York PA area has seen a 3% decline in Median home prices and a 7% decline in the total units sold compared to same period in 2008. Many in the Real Estate profession here locally in York PA expected total units sold to be above the 2008 lows with incentives like FHA interest rates in the high 4's to low 5%'s, a $8000 Tax Credit for 1st time buyers, aggressive listing prices and a PHFA $5000 Tax Credit Advance to help 1st timers enter home ownership.

Compared to our -27% decline in total units sold thru August 2008 over same period in 2007---all in all I am please at the 1st eight months of this year----it will be interesting to see what happens over the traditionally slower 3rd & 4th quarters. With the possibility of the Fed's not extending the 1st time buyer tax credit I would expect to see these numbers continue to adjust downward thru 2010.

Many different areas have been affected by this ever changing market --- some areas, like the Central and Dover School District areas have seen price adjustments for the 1st eight months at -4 out of 16 reporting districts reports a small increase in Median values-----this does not factor in closing cost assistance paid by sellers which can further adjust the prices by 3-6%.

Whether you are looking to sell your present home of looking to make a purchase being informed of the market affecting your investment is imperative.

Follow the statistics as they are posted by visiting http://housingstats.yorkhomelistings.com
regularly.

If you want to buy up should you do it now? Or wait til prices come down a bit more?

For many existing home owners this is a common question. In most cases selling now while you have equity to produce the funds needed for today's financing - down payment & closing costs- selling now and buying that dream home is my recommendation. We know what comparable properties are selling for and can determine how much of that equity you need for your purchase. We also know that today we have interest rates around 5% or lower.

Waiting til that dream home comes down another $15k, $25k or even $40k may seem like a good reason to wait however what many existing home owners do not realize is that while their dream home adjusts in price so does their existing home.

Many existing home owners are putting themselves at risk of not having the money to make their purchase. As the market adjusts so does they cash funds that are needed to purchase that dream home.

It is imperative that home owners be fully educated about the possible risks if waiting for a slightly better price on that new house.

1. Interest rates of the future are unknown- they can't get better that what we have today.

2. The criteria for a mortgage approval is changing all of the time- today we have stricter guidelines than just a few months ago with higher credit score requirements and tighter debt-to-income ratios.

3. While they wait for anticipated price adjustment on that dream house to hit-their existing house is also adjusting. The money needed to make a purchase is dwindling away every time the market adjusts down.

4. More competition will be in the market place. More seller will be putting their "starter" home on the market increasing the available competition and these sellers will now also be looking for those "good" deals of "buy up" properties. This will limit your ability to negotiate as there will be more and more players all going after the same inventory.

Today we have an abundance of homes available in all price ranges and in all areas.

Taking advantage of the "Right Now" is my suggestion for most consumers who are looking for a place to call home for at least the next 5 years.

Whether you are a 1st buyer, a seller looking to buy up or downsize or looking to exit the home ownership world- ACT TODAY - waiting just might cost you thousands in the end and prevent your dreams from ever coming true.

For More advice Check out Blog.YorkHomeListings.com.

Grand Opening - Advance Realty Heritage, located at 1150 W. Elm St., Hanover, PA 17331

It's my pleasure to welcome Gene Bailiff and Advance Realty Heritage to the Advance Realty family. Gene is the Broker and Manager of our latest Advance Realty office in Hanover, PA. Advance Realty Heritage is the fourth Advance Realty office to open in Pennsylvania and will serve York and Adams County. Gene and his wife Tonya live in Hanover and their children attend local schools. Gene formerly held his real estate license at Advance Realty Timonium in Timonium, MD. Gene has many years experience in the real estate market and is a great agent and a great asset to Advance!!

Please join us on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 from 12 - 2pm for Gene's Grand Opening celebrations. For more information call 717.634.2729.

Advance Realty, known for its low 1.75% fee and consumer-driven programs, was established in 2001 in Baltimore Maryland. Within the last three years, Advance has moved into six states following a steady expansion plan. Through the "List more, sell more" system, agents are offered the most incentive rich, income-generating programs available in the trade and the most long-term profitability. Advance Realty offers complete real estate services and money-saving programs to clients in addition to numerous agent benefits including profit sharing, integrated real estate technologies and comprehensive training.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home give me a call today and we'll talk about the market conditions and what your home could possibly be worth in today's market place if you are thinking of selling. You can save thousands by listing your home with Advance Realty Anne Arundel Inc.. If you are considering buying a home, there is no better time than now to buy. The tax savings and wealth building a lone is worth the plunge into todays market.

In keeping with saluting our heroes, during 2009 Advance Realty Anne Arundel Inc is waving administrative fees active duty military, retired military and the families of fallen military, as well as policemen, firemen and emt's. If you enter into a contract by the New Year's eve Advance Realty Anne Arundel Inc. will waive the admin fee at settlement. This is a $350 savings. If you are thinking about buying or selling a home give Advance Realty Anne Arundel a call and receive full service real estate assistance from an experienced agent. Our office is open 7 days a week and we can be reached at 410-761-1550.

June Piper-Brandon, Broker - Advance Realty Anne Arundel Inc.