Month: May 2013

Things To Do Near State College, PA – June 2013

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Summertime has arrived and the weather outside is beautiful. Take advantage of the long days with all of the fun things available to you in Central Pennsylvania. Here are some events near State College, PA, that you can participate in this month.

 

Bellefonte Children’s Fair

When: June 1, 9:00 a.m.

Admission: Free

Start the month out on the right foot by bringing the kids out to the Bellefonte Children’s Fair. There will be five hours of fun, games, activities and so much more. Proceeds for the event benefit the Bellefonte Borough playgrounds.

 

Music in the Gardens: Healing the Soul

When: June 6, 6:00 p.m. – dusk

Admission: Free

Head out to The Penn State Arboretum for an evening of outdoor music performed within the garden rooms of the H.O. Botanic Gardens. Begin the experience with a walk around the gardens and follow that by soaking in the peaceful music.

 

3rd Annual Sprint and Super Sprint Triathlon

When: June 8, 7:00 a.m. check-in

Admission: $50 – $75

Support your local community by participating in the 3rd annual triathlon. There is a single loop or double loop option available depending on how far you want to go. If you’re not into swimming, biking or running, no problem! Come out and support members of your community.

 

“Kids Day” Learning Kitchen Demonstration

When: June 11, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Admission: Free

Take the kids out to the Pennsylvania Military Museum for an afternoon hour of learning how to cook. Tony Sapia of Gemelli Bakers will demonstrate how to make simple dishes from everyday products available at the market.

 

Lemont Village Strawberry Festival

When: June 15, 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Admission: $6 for adults, $3 for children 4-12, free for 3 and younger

The 32nd Annual Strawberry Festival, benefitting the Granary Project of the Lemont Village Association, will be held on the Village Green. There will be plenty of sweets and treats, as well as face painting and other activities for the children.

 

For more information on exciting things you can do this month, visit here.

 

6 Reasons Your Home Is Not Selling

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Are you having trouble selling your home? There are many reasons why your home might not be selling. According to an article from RIS Media and many years of experience in the industry, here are some issues that may not be as obvious, but are still preventing the sale of your home…

1. Your Home Is Not Easily Accessible For Showings: Are you getting a lot of showing requests that you are turning down? Many sellers make the mistake of not accommodating a buyer’s request for showings because requested showing times are inconvenience to the seller. Try and remember that your home is a product for sale. Do whatever you can to cooperate with showing requests, even if they are last minute or on off hours.

 

2. Pets: Pet problems can go beyond unfriendly pet barking or jumping on a potential buyer. Pet owners need to go to extra lengths to make sure to remove pet hair and keep odor to a minimum. Take your pets out of the house during showings or make sure they are crated. A potential buyer is there to view the home that is for sale and should not have to worry what your pet is going to do.

 

3. Not Aggressively Marketing Your Home: Is your home listed on MLS and public websites? Most buyers are shopping for a home online these days, so having an online presence is highly important. If you are dissatisfied with how your home is being marketed, you may need to sit down for a brainstorming session with your agent.

 

4. Your Agent is Not Familiar With Your Area: Did you list your home with an agent from outside of your area? Do they know much about your market? If your agent knows little about the market how can they properly position your property for sale? They may be missing the important selling features of your home.

 

5. Pictures: 89% of homes buyers start their search online before calling an agent. Even when they have an agent, they are still viewing your home online before setting up a showing. So their first impression of your home is through the pictures that are displayed on the MLS and other real estate websites. Make sure the pictures of your home make a good impression and invite buyers to want to set up a showing.

 

6. Price: Before listing your home, your real estate agent most likely showed you the comparables and market statistics for what others homes are selling for in your area. If your home is not priced properly, you could be missing out on potential buyers. The market stats don’t lie, make sure you pay attention to them and the advice of your agent to price your home properly for today’s market. No matter what you paid for it or how much money you spent fixing it up over the years, make sure to pay attention to the statistics.

For more possible reasons your house isn’t selling, check out the original article here.

Tips For Home Improvement Safety

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Home improvement projects often call for risky practices. We always preach safety first, but we don’t always practice what we preach. Home Tips recently wrote an article passing along some tips for those of you tackling home improvement projects this Spring.

Accidents can happen. You need to be especially careful when you are working at heights; with power tools or sharp blades; with heavy, awkward, or toxic materials; or with electricity and natural gas. It isn’t worth it to do your own home improvements if you run a high risk of injuring yourself.

1. Tackle only those tasks that you feel safe handling.

2. Keep a tidy work area. Keeping a tidy work area helps you to avoid creating your own hazards. Don’t allow power cords to tangle. Pick up and properly store power tools, sharp tools. or dangerous materials that might cause injury. Pull all nails from old lumber.

3. Keep tools and supplies away from the reach of small children.

4. Dress for safety. Don’t work in flip-flops and shorts. Sturdy clothing, work boots, and gloves will protect you. Wear safety glasses when you use power tools, hammers, or other striking or cutting tools. If you are going to be working beneath construction, get a hard hat.

5. When using a ladder, position it on a flat, firm surface. As you climb or reach, keep your weight centered. Do not lean on one side, keep your hips between the rails and never stand on the top two rungs. When using the extension ladder to reach the roof, extend at least two rungs about the eaves this way you can hold on to the ladder as you step onto the roof.

6. Don’t go up on the roof in bad weather.

7. Equip your garage or workshop and your home with fire extinguishers. Every home should have two working fire extinguishers. Be sure they are large enough to handle home fires; they need to be rated a minimum size of “2A10BC” on the label. Periodically check them to make sure they are fully charged.

8. Protect yourself against exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials. Many varnishes, solvents, preservatives, adhesives, and other products used to accomplish projects contain hazardous ingredients. Pay attention to all label warnings, including instructions about proper ventilation.

9. Dust and fibers can be hazardous to breathe. When sanding wood, wear a dust mask. Never sand, scrape, or dislodge surfaces that you suspect contain asbestos; doing so can put highly hazardous fibers into the air.

10. Always keep a good first-aid kit on hand.

 

For more information and safety tips read the original article here.

How To Win The Multiple Offer Bidding War

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The real estate market is picking up here in Pennsylvania! We are seeing homes sell quickly and for top dollar. When the market is this hot we see many multiple offer situations.  Low inventory with high demand will do that!  For the seller, that is great news! For the buyer, you have to make sure you are prepared to go into a multiple offer bidding war. It is best to talk to your real estate agent, but here are a few tips for you…

 

1. Make your offer attractive

You don’t know what the other buyers are offering, if they have any contingencies, if they are paying cash, or if they are asking for closing costs. Try to make your offer as attractive as possible without breaking the bank or leaving yourself without room for inspections or ample time for closing. This could simply mean offering more and asking for less. Your real estate agent can advise you on this.

 

2. Get pre-approved, not just pre-qualified

This is a must when purchasing any home. Even if it is not a bidding war, having a pre-approval letter is something the seller will ask for before accepting any offer. With mortgage underwriters cracking down on loans these days, it is very important to get pre-approved.

 

3. Price

Typically when it comes to a multiple offer situation, the listing agent will let each buyer know they need to bring their highest and best offer to the table. Keep in mind this might mean something different for each buyer. Do not over stretch yourself financially just to win a bidding war. Make an offer based on your highest and best purchase price. Highest and best also includes the bottom line. The listing agent will plug in the amount of your offer along with any closing costs or things you are asking for within the contract to show the seller what they will net at closing. Whichever offer presents the highest and best under the most favorable terms typically wins.

 

It is not uncommon to see a multiple offer situation. It just depends on the house, the real estate market, and the demand. Talk to your real estate agent about competing in a multiple offer bidding war. Remember, do not over stretch yourself just to win the war. Make sure it makes sense for you and your situation.

Luxury Home Neighborhoods Near State College, PA

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If you’re looking to buy a home in a luxury home neighborhood near State College, Pennsylvania, here are a few that you should include in your search.

 

The Village of Nittany Glen

 

These new homes have so much to offer from gourmet kitchens and over-sized gardens to so much more. Visit the website to become part of this outstanding new neighborhood, located in the Benner School District and minutes away from Beaver Stadium.

 

Price: From the high $100’s

 

Collegiate Station

 

The new homes at Collegiate State offer a luxurious and maintenance-free environment. These single family homes feature over-sized kitchens, 2 car garage space and endless possibilities.

 

Price: From the low $300’s

 

Fieldstone

 

These single family homes are located at the base of Mt. Littany. The community features custom home designs, sidewalks and beautiful views of the nearby mountains.

 

Price: From the high $200’s

 

For more information on luxury home communities throughout State College contact me, Susan Rupert at info@susanrupert.com. I will be happy to help you find the perfect community that you can soon call home.

Tips For Buying An Investment Property

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With home prices still on the lower end, now is a great time to purchase an investment property to get a huge return on your investment. Whether you’re looking for a property in a University community or a fixer-upper in and up-and-coming neighborhood, here are five tips for buying an investment property this spring…

Plan and Research

You wouldn’t buy your own house without a plan or conducting research, so don’t invest in a property without doing the same. You want your property to achieve the best result, so come up with a long-term plan of what you ultimately hope to achieve. Make your goals realistic and include a thorough budget. The planning stages aren’t always the most exciting, but they provide the framework for the overall development of your new property.

Location is Key

Location will be the dictator of how much you can charge in rent or how much you can sell the property for after it is fixed up. Seek out locations with good transportation links and recreational areas. Avoid busy roads or areas that are being developed, potential buyers will see those as noisy inconveniences. University communities are usually a great place to invest because there is always a need for housing from students, faculty and staff.

Get an Inspection

Hiring someone to do an inspection might seem like a waste of money, but this is one thing you should not overlook. Even if the owner says the property was already inspected, paying the extra money will be worth it in the end. Whether or not they find a problem, you will have the peace of mind knowing that you’ve checked – and double checked – the quality of the property.

Use your Imagination

Don’t look at the property for what it is now, look at it for what it could be. Try to see past the chipped paint and lack of curb appeal, and pay attention to the attractive things that you can shape it into. Buying an investment property is a great way to let your creative juices flow.

Ask Experts

Seeking help from a buyers’ advocate, financial planner and/or a property manager is also something to look into. They can each help you at different stages in the development of your investment property, and they can make all the difference.

Buying an investment property should be an experience that you learn and grow from. It can also be rewarding in more ways than one.

 

For tips on choosing an investment property that earns you the most profit, visit here.