Keep Up To Date on the local real estate market.

Happy Friday!

 If you follow my page on Instagram or Facebook (if you don't, you are missing out! Check out @MegSeibertRealtor), you will know that every Friday I do a #FactFriday. Just a real quick post to start your weekend off with some cool information. It may real estate-related, it may be something random! I decided to bring this over to LancasterHomesFinder. So without further ado.. 

#FactFriday!

Today's Fact : 30-year mortgage rates have hit the lowest point in their history (almost 50 years)!

So, what?

This is great for homebuyers because:

1. Lower interest means that you’ll pay less over the life of the loan

2. Your purchasing power increases and you may be able to afford a home that you wouldn’t have qualified for with a higher…

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The top 10 things you need to know when buying a home.

1. Don't buy if you can't stay put.

If you can't commit to remaining in one place for at least three to five years, then owning is probably not for you, at least not yet. With the transaction costs of buying and selling a home, you may end up losing money if you sell any sooner - even in a rising market. When prices are falling, it's an even worse proposition.

2. Start by shoring up your credit.

Since you most likely will need to get a mortgage to buy a house, you must make sure your credit history is as clean as possible. A few months before you start house hunting, get copies of your credit report. Make sure the facts are correct, and fix any problems you discover.  A good lender will…

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Ikea was curious about what Americans want from their homes. Surprisingly, it has nothing to do with expensive upgrades.

The Swedish retailer’s first annual “US Life at Home Report” uncovered that, above all else, 95% of Americans consider comfort a top home feature. We’re not talking about cushy furniture or other features that makes life at home physically more comfortable. It’s an emotional thing. Ikea found that American consumers want their homes to have a feel-good environment so they can let their hair down and connect with loved ones.

Here are more insights from the report:

1. We aren’t show-offs.  In fact, we’re modest. Ikea says, “… home in the U.S. is not so much about status or wealth as it maybe once was or about keeping up with the…

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In a recent Forbes blog post, multimillionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson declared that today’s record-low interest rates made this the best time to buy homes in fifty years. “If you don’t own a home, buy one,” Paulson said. “If you own one home, buy another one, and if you own two homes, buy a third and lend your relatives the money to buy a home.”  Why should we care what Paulson thinks? Well, he was among the few to accurately predict the subprime collapse and, while no one has a crystal ball, a closer look at the numbers supports his call to action.

Historically low interest rates are the key…and they aren’t likely to hang around for long.

According to Gary Keller in his book, SHIFT, buyers who “choose to wait until prices come down…

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Shoppes at Belmont is an upcoming high-quality, unique mixed-use development proposed for the Southeast corner of Fruitville Pike and Route 30. The Shoppes will be located in an existing, vibrant commercial corridor of Manheim Township in Lancaster County.  The developer is Manbel Devco, whose partners are Phil and Nick Frey.  Manbel Devco is partnering with R.J. Waters & Associates and Charter Homes & Neighborhoods to complete the project.

Shoppes at Belmont will transform a commercial-zoned tract of land into a dynamic community featuring retail and residential housing. Smart lifestyle features such as bike and walking trails will connect the community to downtown Lancaster.  In addition, many of the historic attributes of the Mayer-Hess farmstead…

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I have heard that buying a house is like having a baby: there's no absolute perfect time to do either.

In my opinion there are two major questions to ask yourself when considering purchasing a home.  The first question asks “Is it a good time to buy in the market?”  This question looks solely at the market data and does not depend on you.  The second question is the more important one and asks “Is it a good time to buy for me?”  This question has nothing to do with the market overall and looks at whether now is a good time to buy for you and your family given your current situation and expected future.  Since I can’t really address the second question in this article I’m going to focus more on the first one.  If we can determine the market is providing…

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