Our Holiday Traditions

With the holiday season in full swing and Christmas coming on Sunday, we’ve decided to put together some of our favorite holiday traditions/memories. 

Mary and Gina in the kitchen preparing
their traditional spaghetti dinner.

Mary Sill, a Realtor® at Lawyer’s Realty, and her best friend, Gina, have spent Christmas Eve together since 5^th grade missing only two in the past 47 years. They enjoy a special spaghetti dinner from a family recipe.

John Andrews, an associate broker, has produced an elaborate family Christmas card and letter since about 1995.  It includes family photos and recounts major events in the family. John also comments on major trends in politics and culture and goes a bit over the top on this to serve as a standing joke for the family as well as a family history.

Andrews’ traditions continue on Christmas morning with a breakfast of eggs Benedict and a particularly rich coffee cake followed by beef tenderloin for Christmas dinner. John quips, “It’s an expensive and high calorie food day.”

Megan Duffie Flor with her 2 brothers
which includes Mark, our Broker, in the plaid.

Elizabeth Statler, one of our Realtors® says, “our most favorite family tradition is the Christmas Eve reading of The Night Before Christmas.”

It began as a way to get her young sons to willingly go to bed on Christmas Eve.  By using the last line of the poem, "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night" its then off to bed!!!  This has become a cherished tradition. As the boys learned to read, they earned their turn.  Oh, how proud they were the first time they got to read it. 

Since the boys have grown, they have read it over the phone with each other when they could not be together. They have recently welcomed a grandchild, but with her son and his young family living very far away they decided to buy a recordable version and sent it to their son to help continue the tradition with their granddaughter. The tradition carries forward with her son’s families.

Finally, myself, Lori Zimmerman, now that my children are in their 20’s I look back, and my fondest memory of Christmas is the magic of it. 

Lori's children, Ami & Zachary with Santa

Back to the years when they believed that there was a jolly man wearing a red suit driving a sleigh pulled by reindeer that cruised around the world delivering presents to good little boys and girls.  And to believe this all happened in one evening. Just the anticipation of it all as they had to wait a whole month as it counted down.

Then Christmas Eve arrives.  Oh, how long that evening was.  First there was Church service which my son couldn’t sit still for because he had to get home and get to bed or Santa would miss our house!  Then we would go to a dear friend’s open house which was always tradition for us to get lost getting too because they live in the middle of the back roads, and this was before GPS.  Then, finally home to bed.  

But with the morning came more anticipation as there was a whole pile of wrapped presents.   What was inside?  They wouldn’t know until they got their hands on each one and opened the magic inside.  

What is your favorite Christmas memory/tradition?

Want Holiday Sales? Only if you are listing.

When it comes to selling a home, many houses are sold in the warmer months of the year. Logically the warmer months usually mean a clear day to move and less risk of a snow storm on your potential moving day. However, don’t count out winter sales.

Top three reasons to keep your house listed throughout the holidays and winter months.

1)      The first reason to keep your house listed is simple. Potential buyers are still looking for homes. No matter the time of year, there are at least a few people still looking for a new home. Even if they aren’t necessarily looking to move in January, you can count on the buyer braving the cold and snow for that right house at that right price.

2)      Second reason - Less Competition.  Many people don’t want to have to “deal” with showing their house throughout the holiday season and may take their house off the market. Being one of the fewer homes kept on the market or listing it during this time will allow you to stand out among the crowd because there is less of a crowd.  

3)      The final reason to list your house through the holiday season and  throughout the end of the calendar year is because of transfers. Many businesses will transfer employees at the end of the calendar year and those buyers and families NEED to find a great house IMMEDIATELY. Take advantage of the lack of homes for sale and leverage that with the demand of the transfer market.

These are just three simple reasons to keep your house on the market during the holiday season. Can you think of any other reasons to put or keep your home on the market during this time?

A Season for Giving

This time of year means many things to many people.  Be it family, friends, football, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, or shopping ‘til you drop in the early hours of the morning, there is one thing that Thanksgiving means to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors and that is giving. Lawyer’s Realty is a proud member of the Association.

For the past 25 years your local Realtors and sponsors have donated to help feed those in our community who are less fortunate.  This year was my first year as a member of the committee that facilitates this drive.  This year we raised over $22,000 which allowed us to purchase 725 turkeys plus 725 Giant gift cards.  

On the morning of November 18^th, in the parking lot of the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors, the turkeys were organized and ready to be picked up by the various charities that would in turn distribute them to the different families.  Each family would be receiving a turkey and a $20 Giant gift card for them to use towards the remainder of their Thanksgiving feast.  As each van or truck pulled up to be loaded, we received smiles and warm hugs that were worth more than money could buy.   Before this year, the total number of families that the food drive has fed was 8,344; now it is 9,069!

Keep an eye on our blog in the coming weeks as we will be highlighting both a reason to still be listing your house through the holidays and winter as well as our personal family traditions for the holidays. It should be a lot of fun and we look forward to hearing what you and your holiday traditions are.

Lori Zimmerman, Operations Manager/Realtor

Battle in the Spirit of Giving

Recently, the Salvation Army of the Capital Region announced a battle.  No, not a typical Army battle, but one in the spirit of giving. We are all use to seeing the red kettles and bells signify the Salvation Army’s annual fundraising drive outside of various retail stores as we do our holiday shopping, but this year they’ve added a twist.

Beginning November 17 and running until the end of the year, a battle will begin.  Harrisburg-area businesses and organizations will staff 25 Red Kettles positioned at high-traffic locations to compete for the “Battle of the Bells” title by raising the most money at their kettle during the battle.

The Salvation Army is also asking local businesses and corporations to share their Red Kettle experiences via YouTube Videos as well as Twitter and Facebook updates and photos. While Harrisburg has been making international news for many negative reasons, the Salvation Army is hoping to turn the negativity around.

The Red Kettle Campaign is the Salvation Army’s most significant source of annual revenue to help feed, clothe and care for those in need. As the temperatures begin to drop, especially at night, and since we’ve already seen significant snow, remember those who are less fortunate. The Salvation Army aims to help protect those who need help and this battle is one way that you can help your local community.

For more information check out  http://www.salvationarmyharrisburg.org.

Trick or Treat…Lets plan for nothing but Treats.

As the temperatures drop and it begins to get dark earlier, it can mean just one thing…Halloween is just around the corner.  As goblins, witches, football players and cheerleaders, your little ones are likely getting excited for Trick or Treating. Here at Lawyer’s Realty we’re feeling the Halloween spirits and wanted to offer a few quick tips for a safe and fun time for all.

No matter how old your kids are, there are certain “rules” that should always be followed. Make sure your child chooses a safe costume. Reflective materials or blinking lights on their costume is easier to spot for drivers in passing vehicles. 

Masks sometimes make a more exciting costume, but make sure the mask doesn’t impair your child’s vision. Blocked vision can lead to tripping or other injuries. If the costume requires a prop, you want to make sure that the prop has flexible edges and obvious markings to ensure that it’s not mistaken for a real weapon.

It may be hard for them to avoid the temptation to start indulging in the great amount of chocolate treats, but you want to make sure your children know to wait until they get home to eat any of their treats. Once home, inspect the treats for tampering.  If it looks suspicious, throw it out. I’m sure they’ve gotten enough candy from their trip that they won’t notice a few pieces missing. Better safe than sorry.

If your child is older and trick or treating with a parent is just not cool, ensure that you know their planned route and they have a cell phone with them.  Remind them about not cutting through alleys or fields and to  only use the sidewalks that are often well lit and are much safer. Many developments are also patrolled by the police throughout the designated trick or treat times.

They don’t want to hear this, but it makes you feel better to remind them about not getting into a stranger’s car or going into any house other than their own. It may seem redundant, but a simple reminder never hurt anyone.

Finally, ensure your group, or your child’s group, if they are going out without a parent, has several flash lights. It not only helps to brighten any dark area, but also works much the same as headlights on a vehicle. It increases your visibility to passing cars and will help to keep everyone safe.

From the Lawyer’s Realty family we wish you and your family a safe and fun Halloween!

Found a Home, but it is in Need of Work? There’s an App…err, Program for That!

You have been looking and looking for a new home within your price range, but what you are finding are houses that are best described as  “fixer-upper”, “needs TLC”, “has great bones” and houses that are stuck in the 1970’s (lime green?).  What has been your reaction to these houses?  “No way, too much work!” “We won’t have any money left over to bring it to 2011!”  “How did a family survive with one bathroom, we need at least 2!” Sound familiar? 

Well, did you know that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has a program for that? The FHA 203k Program allows for the cost of renovations to be included in your mortgage. By considering this program, many more houses may open up to you as possible choices. 

  

There are a few options in the 203k program. For smaller renovations there is the 203k Streamline. Cosmetic work and minor repairs would usually fall under this program. In order to qualify, the renovations must be between $5,000 & $32,000 and can even include the cost of appliances. This program allows up to 110% loan to value of the improved property. Depending on the work needed, this option can convert into the 203k full renovation option.

The 203k Full Renovation option allows for additions, garages and other structural/foundation work needed, but it does not allow luxury items such as an in-ground pool or a spa. While the streamline program has an upper limit of $32,000 this option covers renovations that total over that mark. A HUD consultant is required for the 203k full renovation.

The final option is the 203k Conventional. This option allows for luxury items to be added to the house, and is only limited by the conforming limits. Those limits are 95% loan to value for the improved property if the owner occupies the unit, and 75% LTV if it is a non-owner occupied unit.

For all of these programs, a validated contractor will be required to provide estimates on the renovations as well as complete the work. Home Depot & Lowe’s are both validated contractors.  

The FHA 203k Program is a great option to help improve a potential home, but the process may be slow so be prepared to be patient.  By working with a REALTOR®, you will be guided throughout the process including finding the right mortgage professional who knows the in and out’s of the FHA 203k Program.

I Don’t Have to Have 20% Down Money to Get a Mortgage?

Traditionally, a 20% down payment is ideal for many mortgages to avoid paying private mortgage insurance, aka PMI.  Also, by having more money saved that you initially put into your home rather than borrowing will help to reduce your monthly payments, and provide you instant equity in your new home.  However, thanks to the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), you need much less down money, or with some programs, zero money down.  We’ll briefly discuss several of the programs available.

First, let’s take a look at FHA 203(b). This program allows a qualifying buyer to put down as little as 3.5% of the total purchase price. There are loan limits in this program, but they vary by area so be sure to check with your REALTOR® about your area. Also in this program, the PMI is wrapped into the loan. You can use this loan to purchase one to four unit structures. There are some income and other limits with this and many other FHA programs so be sure to check with your REALTOR® about those as well. Some other FHA programs can be found here.

Another popular program is the 100% USDA Rural Development Program. This is a 100% loan that requires no down payment as well as no PMI. A minimum credit score of 640 is required and the loan can be up to 103.5% of the appraised value of the structure. With no limit to the seller’s contribution toward closing costs this loan is very beneficial to the buyer and may require little to no money at all for closing.

However, there is one “catch” to the USDA program. The property must be in designated rural areas. You can check out http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov to see what areas are approved. Also, there are income eligibility requirements to be met as well. They vary based on county for instance a 1-4 person household can make no more than $81,650 in Dauphin or Cumberland counties but in Lancaster county the limit is $77,500 (as of June 2, 2010 – subject to change).

Are you a veteran?  Don’t forget that as a veteran you are entitled to a VA Loan which is also a 100% loan that requires no money down.  As with all of these programs, your REALTOR® can help you to get in touch with a mortgage broker that will work with you to understand which program will best meet your needs.

Next week, we’ll go into more detail about another FHA program that allows you to include money for improvements to the dwelling in the purchase price. Be sure to stay tuned for a great FHA program that is often overlooked.