If you are looking to buy or sell a home, get all the information and the latest updates, tips, and tricks from The Dave Hooke Team LLC - your professional Real Estate Agents.
Recent Mortgage Trends: Stability and Consumer Confidence in the Real Estate Market Over the past couple of years, we've seen some of the most volatile mortgage trends in U.S. history, reminiscent of the fluctuations we saw back in the 1980s. About a year to a year and a half ago, we experienced a series of rapid rate adjustments. The cost to borrow money for a 30-year mortgage saw some of the highest rate changes in the shortest time span ever recorded in the history of our country. However, I'm pleased to report that today's market environment is much more stable. Over the last several months, we haven't seen any dramatic shifts in mortgage rates, and no significant changes are expected on the horizon. This stability is excellent news for both home buyers and sellers. A year ago, many buyers were hesitant to make a move due to the uncertainty—wondering if mortgage rates would spike or drop week to week. This created a lot of anxiety and fear in the market. “This stability is excellent news for both home buyers and sellers.” But now, as we've moved into a more predictable environment, consumer confidence has rebounded significantly. Those same buyers who were cautious last year are now re-entering the market, buoyed by the ongoing increase in home values and a renewed confidence in the stability of the mortgage market. If you have any questions about current mortgage trends or are considering buying or selling a home, I'd be happy to assist. Whether you're looking for a free home value estimate or a buyer consultation, we're here to help. We're currently conducting 10 to 12 buyer consultations every week, and there's no charge or obligation. Feel free to reach out to us at Support@DaveHookeTeam.com, and we'll get you pointed in the right direction. Check out our Facebook page for more updates: Facebook.com/DaveHookeTeam
IMA Medical Supply is here to fill all your medical equipment needs. Today, as part of our Brand Ambassador program, we're highlighting an incredible local business, IMA Medical Supply. It's owned and operated by Richard Gobin, a 50-year community leader and role model for me. They offer special products and services that you can't find anywhere else. In Richard's own words, if you or a loved one has a medical condition or recently had surgery, IMA provides anything they can to make your life easier. That includes medical supplies, medical services, durable equipment, and more. They're located just off Sprint Drive. You can come in and grab things like canes, rollators, wheelchairs, lift chairs, hospital beds, etc. The No. 1 thing they get asked is if they provide service and maintenance for medical equipment. The answer is yes. You can take your medical equipment into the store, or they can send a tech out to your home to help you there. If you're recently impaired, there are two easy ways to get in touch with Richard: call 717-323-8240 or visit the IMA website. If you have any real estate questions, reach out to my team and me at 717-216-0860 or dave@davehooketeam.com. We'd love to help you.
I speak with local business owners Bob and Tam of Serafin Family Dentistry. Today I'm pleased to be speaking with some of my favorite local business owners: Bob and Tam from Serafin Family Dentistry. If you don't know about them, they aren't like your typical dentist's office. We'll discuss their business, what they do for their community, and more. Let's get into it! So guys, can you remind everyone what you do at Serafin Family Dentistry? We're a husband and wife dental practice and your friendly local dentists. We see everyone from little kids to seniors, and our goal is to comprehensively serve our patients. You guys have been working with me for a while, and I couldn't be happier with your service. What's the No. 1 question you are asked by your customers? The most common question we receive is about how we participate with different insurances. We try our best to get our customers the benefits they need, but as insurances change over time, we've adapted by creating an in-house benefit program that makes it much easier to work directly with us. “Bob and Tam truly care about their customers' needs. ” That's awesome; I'm sure a lot of people will appreciate that. Looking forward to the next couple of years, what are you guys most excited about? We want to focus on prevention and teach our customers simple things they can do to prevent bigger issues down the road. Major dental problems can be painful and costly, so it's better to nip things in the bud. If someone hasn't been to the dentist in a while, what's the best way for them to reach you? During office hours, the best way to get in contact with us is to give us a call at 717-243-3335. This way, a live person can talk through your concerns and answer your questions. However, you can always visit our website, serafinfamilydentistry.com, if you want to set up an appointment or have your questions answered. Finally, I want to thank you guys both so much. My entire family, most of my real estate team, and a good chunk of our clients work with you, and we all feel how much you care about your customers' needs. We all look forward to working with you in the future! If you have questions about anything real estate related, please call 717-216-0860 or email dave@davehooketeam.com. I look forward to hearing from you!
Three of the main benefits you'll see from choosing to downsize. What are the three benefits of downsizing? I want to answer this question because so many Americans are at a point in their lives where they're looking to downsize. I have family members who are primed to downsize, and I think these three things would benefit them as well: 1. More money. They can take advantage of the equity they've built up in their homes and have less to take care of, which equates to more money at the end of the year. 2. More time. This is the most common reason for downsizing that I hear about. People want more time to visit family and travel. Doing things they've always wanted to do is easier when they have a smaller home and less to maintain. 3. Increased efficiency. You can make your carbon footprint smaller and decrease utility bills. A smaller, more efficient home is a great reason to think about downsizing. If you have any questions or want a free copy of our downsizing docket, call me at 717-216-0860 or email dave@davehooketeam.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
The simple process by which you can choose the best buyer's agent. So you're buying a home; how do you choose a real estate agent? Many buyers begin the process by looking at real estate websites and saving properties they like without taking the proper steps first. You need to start the process by choosing a great agent because you're entitled to that in Pennsylvania, and they'll ensure your success throughout the transaction. Start by interviewing more than one buyer's agent, and ask each one for a written strategy detailing how they're going to serve you. Then ask for their proven track record of experience in real estate sales and a couple of references they've worked with that you can call. Doing those things will make you more confident in your choice of agent. If you want a detailed copy of the steps mentioned above or a copy of our VIP home-buying strategy, just type “home-buying strategy” in the comments below or private message us the same thing. We'll follow up, send you a copy, and tell you all about it. Of course, if you have any other real estate questions or needs, call us at (717) 216-0860 or email dave@davehooketeam.com. We would love to help you.
Spotlighting a great water quality business, Black's Water Conditioning. In today's Brand Ambassador video, I sat down with Jason Black of Black's Water Conditioning to learn more about what services his business offers. When it comes to issues of water quality, whether those be about hard water, iron levels, or the pH balance, Black's Water Conditioning is the place to call. The most common issue that Black's deals with here in the Cumberland Valley is hard water; they can provide water softeners to reduce the amount of soap, scum, and other residues that can build up in your pipes over time. Beyond that, they provide UV light tests to see if the water you're consuming has harmful bacteria in it. That's especially important if you're using well water. “Black's Water Conditioning is the company to call if you have issues with water quality.” Black's Water Conditioning also offers free consultations where an expert can come out to your home and do tests to determine what issues are present and how to solve them. If the issue requires lab testing, they work with a couple of excellent facilities that can do the necessary tests to find out what's happening. If you need water conditioning services or would like to schedule a consultation, give Black's Water Conditioning a call at (717) 486-5033 or visit blackswater.com. If you know of any local, family-owned businesses in Central Pennsylvania that deserve to shine under our business spotlight, don't hesitate to give us a call at (717) 216-0860 or send us an email at dave@davehooketeam.com. We'd love to hear about them.
Shining my Business Spotlight on the Tuckey Companies and all they do. Today I'm so excited to sit down with Matt and Nathan Tuckey from the Tuckey Companies, a multigenerational, family-owned local business. They do many different things, so for today's Business Spotlight, I thought it would be good to have a conversation with them to learn more about their services and how they've impacted the community. The Tuckey Companies is actually a family of three different companies: Tuckey Mechanical Services, Tuckey Restoration, and Tuckey Metal Fabrication. They all operate with a shared focus on serving their neighbors and neighborhoods and have done so since 1986. “Whether it's commercial or residential, if you have an issue with your property, just give Tuckey a call.” They offer a wide scope of services, but they have deep roots in the construction industry. If it's not something that they're uniquely positioned to do, they can also act as a resource to connect you with someone who can. Whether it's commercial or residential, if you have an issue with your property, just give Tuckey a call—I've found that 99% of the time, they can help in some way. Though the past year has been challenging, they've worked hard to assemble a locally-focused team that is proud to serve the south-central Pennsylvania area. In the coming year, they're excited to implement some new back-end systems that will enhance their customers' experiences by streamlining the clarity of their communication. Systems are something I'm passionate about—if you're willing to invest resources, time, and money into great systems, you can enrich your client relationships and keep them better informed than you would otherwise. If you need to contact the Tuckey Companies, give them a call anytime at (717) 249-3733 or visit their website at www.Tuckey.com. As it's almost springtime, it's a great time to get your air conditioning units serviced; if you call them to schedule an appointment within the next few months and mention that you saw this video, you'll be given 25% off your first preventative maintenance visit for 2022. As always, if you have questions for my team about anything real-estate related, please call us at 717-216-0860 or email at Dave@davehooketeam.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
This Brand Ambassador is the perfect guest for tax season. It's tax season! If you've been stressing about filing your return on time or if there are any extra pandemic-related tax forms you need to fill out, I'm back once again to highlight another awesome Brand Ambassador who can help. Today we're with Chris Farrandas at Cohick & Associates to answer the No. 1 question he's been hearing from his clients lately: “What do I need in regards to my stimulus or child tax credit so that my return is recorded properly?” “Cohick & Associates is one of the best organizations with which we work.” In the spring of 2021, there was a letter mailed out by the IRS with form 144c. That form would be super helpful to bring to your tax accountant this year to ensure your stimulus is recorded properly. Additionally, if you have children, there's a letter called 6419, which would ensure the advanced child tax credit is calculated properly on your return. Cohick & Associates is a small accounting and tax office that handles bookkeeping, payroll, and tax services for individuals and small businesses. They're excited to kick tax season off and make it through April 18 before a nice, relaxing summer. They've given us great tax advice, prepared our payroll, helped many of our clients, and are one of the best organizations that we work with. If you have any tax-related questions or needs they can assist with, don't hesitate to reach out via phone at 717-249-5321 or on their website at cohickassociates.com. They would love to help. If you have any real estate-related questions for me, don't hesitate to reach out via phone 717-216-0860 or email at Dave@DaveHookeTeam.com. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Four things that can help you determine how much house you can afford. How much home can you afford? A lot of people ask us what their purchase price should be, and to answer that, you really have to go over four specific things: 1. Credit. Your credit will determine the interest rate that your lender gives you, and the interest rate determines your monthly payment. The first thing to do is talk to a trusted lender about your credit. 2. Down payment. If you have a lot of money saved up to put down, your loan will be smaller, which means you can afford more. If not, you'll have to finance more, and it may affect your buying power. 3. Debt-to-income ratio. This is the amount of debt you have divided by your income. Your lender uses this to determine your affordability, and most of them will want to be below a 40% to 42% debt-to-income ratio. “Just because you're approved up to a 42% debt-to-income ratio doesn't mean you should take advantage of that.” That means that they want all of your debt plus your projected monthly mortgage payment to be less than 40% of your income. If it does exceed that point, they won't approve you for a loan. Your pre-approval will be for a price that would put you at the 40% mark, but personally, I prefer to stay below that amount because it feels like it stretches people too far. 4. Payment and financial plan. Just because you're approved up to a 42% debt-to-income ratio doesn't mean you should take advantage of that. In the 80s, a lot of people said you should only go up to a 25% ratio so that you have more money to do what matters to you. That more expensive house might seem new and shiny for the first few months, but after that it just feels like more space to clean. If you have any questions about these four things or real estate in general, call us at (717) 216-0860 or email us at Dave@DaveHookeTeam.com. We would love to have a conversation and give you the guidance you need to make a great decision.
Five closing costs that every seller should factor into their costs. There's nothing worse than selling and buying something and paying more than you thought you would due to hidden fees you weren't aware of beforehand. Here are five closing costs that every seller should be factoring into their situation so that they aren't surprised at the closing table: 1. Transfer tax 2. Deed preparation 3. Property tax certification 4. Mortgage payoff 5. Inspection repair requirements All of these costs can add up, especially if you don't factor them in beforehand. We explain all of these costs to our home-selling clients before beginning the process. If you want to learn more about how much these costs will run you, just type “learn more” in the comments below or private message me the same phrase. With any other questions, call (717) 216-0860 or email dave@davehooketeam.com. I'm happy to help.
Here's my list of the seven habits of highly effective homebuyers. What are the seven habits of highly effective homebuyers? My favorite book is “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey, so we wanted to take that format and apply it to your home-buying process. Let's get into it: 1. Get pre-qualified. It will give you financial peace of mind and make sure you're armed and dangerous when you make an offer. 2. Define your must-haves, like-to-haves, and don't-wants. Be clear, write them down, and share the list with your Realtor. 3. Be realistic. If it's a low-inventory market, you can't make lowball offers. If it's a high inventory market, you might have more leverage. Ask your agent to educate you so you can make the best offer for the market. “Make sure you have fun with the process.” 4. Be open and flexible. Even if you follow No. 2, you won't get everything you want. You will need to make sacrifices 5. Understand the process. Ask your agent to walk you through everything. We have something called the Home-Purchase Pathway that we'd be happy to share with you whether you're working with us or not. 6. Be responsible. Don't make any huge purchases while you're buying a home. It can delay your home purchase. 7. Have fun with it. Make sure you like and trust your agent, and have a good time! If you have any questions about these habits or anything else, call us at (717) 216-0860 or email us at Dave@DaveHookeTeam.com. We'd love to hear from you; no question is too silly.
Here are three things to know about the brand-new Bennington development. Here are the three updates you need to know about the upcoming Bennington housing development with 134 brand-new homes: 1. The model home is completely finished. It's ready for you to come in and design your dream home. Check it out at 0:35 in the video above. 2. CJ Longenecker is holding the model home open on a weekly basis. You and your family can stop by anytime from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday through Sunday or on Monday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. 3. This community is really busy. CJ and the team already sold 30% of the lot inventory in phase one. We're fast approaching the next phase, so we don't want you to miss out. Reach out to us today if you have any questions. VIP members get the latest updates and incentives for Bennington. Just fill out this form to get signed up. If you have any other questions for us in the meantime, don't hesitate to reach out at dave@davehooketeam.com or (717) 216-0860. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Here are the three steps to starting your home-buying process. “I want to buy a home, but where do I start?” Let's answer this question because a lot of people start their home-buying process the wrong way. Many look at properties online and window shop without taking the right steps first. This could get you in a bit of a bind. Here are three steps you should take to start the home-buying process: Interview a few real estate agents. Ask the right questions and choose the correct one for you. Talk to a mortgage broker that you trust and get a pre-approval. This way, you'll have financial peace of mind during the home-buying process. Start shopping for a home with your agent. If you want a free consultation with a lender, just comment “mortgage” below or private message me, and I'll point you in the right direction. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to reach out to me at dave@davehooketeam.com or (717) 216-0860. I look forward to hearing from you.
Here are three questions you should ask when you interview listing agents. So you want to sell your home; how do you choose a real estate agent? This is a crucial question I want to answer because there's nothing worse than calling an agent, entering a binding contract with the brokerage, and then realizing two months later that it was the wrong choice. You could end up in a nightmare. There are three main questions you need to ask agents to stay informed and choose the right one for you: 1. What is your written marketing plan? Ensure the agent has something written down so they can show you how they're going to sell your home. 2. What is your proven track record? Make sure they have something in writing that can tell you about their experience in selling homes. 3. Can I call three references that you've worked with? Hearing firsthand from their clients will give you a great idea of what it's like to work with them. “There's nothing worse than realizing you've hired the wrong agent.” If you check these three things with the agents you're interviewing, you'll have a better chance of hiring the right agent. We have a 15-point questionnaire that will guide you through all the questions to ask when hiring an agent. We give it to all of our clients before they choose us. We want them to be informed, and we want you to be as well. If you're interested in the 15-point questionnaire, just type in “15-point questionnaire” in the comments below or private message me with that phrase, and we'll send a copy over to you. If you have further questions about hiring an agent or anything else, call us at (717) 216-0860 or email dave@davehooketeam.com. We would love to help you.
Cal Yoder of Waymark Property Management joins me to discuss his business. In our Brand Ambassador videos, we like to talk with business owners in our community and share what they do for us all. Today Cal Yoder with Waymark Property Management is joining me again to share what the last year has been like for them and what they're looking forward to in the future. Waymark Property Management is taking care of many of our clients' property management needs, and thankfully they're doing well despite the changes the pandemic has caused. The uncertainty they experienced at the beginning of the health crisis has settled, and they have a new routine to combat its effects. Most tenants continue to pay and are caught up on payments, so the fears about how that was going to impact their business have been alleviated. They're grateful for their tenants, property owners, and business that they've been able to navigate it all. That's a great indicator that our local economy isn't doing too badly. “Waymark Property Management is taking care of many of our clients' property management needs.” Waymark Property Management's opportunities in Cumberland and Dauphin counties have grown 30% in the past year, and they believe they'll continue to grow for the next several years. I've given them my properties to handle for me and provided them with plenty of referrals in the past year. They've always done an excellent job. If you have a property (or know someone who does) and want a free consultation with Waymark Property Management about what they can do for you, check out their website. You can also call Cal at (717) 413-0744. They'll follow up and take good care of you. If you ever have any questions or real estate needs, call us at (717) 216-0860 or email dave@davehooketeam.com. We would love to help you.
Here are the five steps for simultaneous buying and selling. There are a lot of people out there who'd like to make a move, take advantage of today's interest rates, and get top dollar for their homes. However, they're not sure what to do first because they need to buy and sell at the same time. Here are the five essential steps to selling and buying a home simultaneously: 1. Choose the right agent with a proven track record for doing that type of thing. 2. Choose a great mortgage professional who can give you financial peace of mind and guide on your next steps. 3. Get a bridge loan. Make the purchase and move into the property, and then sell your old home and pay off the bridge loan. “Many people aren't sure what to do if they need to sell and buy simultaneously.” 4. Or list your property for sale. Your experienced real estate agent is going to put a contingency in your contract that says your home sale is contingent on you finding suitable housing. This will protect you from being homeless and let you find your dream home first, then sell your old home. 5. Or keep an eye out for a rental property. Put your home up for sale and move into the rental temporarily until we find your dream home. We should have a consultation to figure out the best option for you. The first part of a consultation is to learn what your home is worth. We offer free, no-obligation home valuations. Just type “free home value estimate” in the comments or reach out to us at 717-216-0860 or dave@davehooketeam.com. We'll follow up and take great care of you. We look forward to hearing from you.
Here's how Black's Water Conditioning can help with all your water needs. Hey friends, I'm here with Jason Black of Black's Water Conditioning, a locally owned, multiple-generation family business that handles anything that has to do with water. They're excellent at what they do; they've helped out my family and many of our clients. The pandemic had plenty of surprises in store for quite a few local businesses, but it affected individual industries differently. Thankfully, Black's Water Conditioning wasn't affected too much. They saw a small slowdown at the beginning, but it was off to the races with people wanting and needing their assistance ever since. Jason and the Black family are most excited about building off of what they've seen in the past year. They're mostly referral-driven, so they're hoping all the new business they've done will bring in more referrals from people who see the quality in their work. “They're a whole family of fantastic people who take great care of their clients.” They receive the most amount of phone calls about water softeners, but they can handle anything. There are multiple types of water here in Southcentral Pennsylvania, and they can help you with all of it. They can clean the water, get rid of harmful bacteria, use UV lights, reverse osmosis if there's metal in the water, assist with water softening systems, and more. They're a whole family of fantastic people who take great care of their clients. Black's Water Conditioning serves its customers with the highest form of integrity. If you want them to take a look at your water system for any reason, whether you're noticing discoloration, a smell, water in the dishwasher doesn't look clean, or anything else, they always love speaking with customers. Reach out to them via phone at (717) 486-5033 or visit their website (where you can also learn more about them). If you have any real estate questions, you can always reach out to us at (717) 216-0860 or dave@davehooketeam.com. We would love to help you.
If you're looking to buy a home but can't find one, what do you do? In this low-inventory market, many buyers want to take advantage of our low interest rates but can't find a home. That can be frustrating, so what can be done? Well, there are three steps to take to alleviate your stress: 1. Make sure your agent is calling properties that used to be on the market but never sold. 2. Ensure that your agent calls on privately owned properties for sale, like FSBOs. 3. Have your agent contact property owners in neighborhoods where you'd like to live. All three of these are ways to get ahold of inventory that hasn't yet hit the market. If you'd like a leg up through our list of off-market properties or if you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us at (717) 216-0860 or dave@davehooketeam.com. We'll follow up and get you that list so you can move forward with your real estate goals.
Here's the latest information about our new Bennington Community. What's the latest update about the new Bennington Community in Carlisle? We were here just over a month ago when the roads were being laid. Gemcraft Homes is going to be building over 130 homes in this area, and today I'm standing in the first home being constructed. This home is being framed, and the plumbing is completed; the insulation and electrical are getting finished up now. This home will be finished in six to eight weeks, and it'll be our model home and design center where you can make an appointment to reserve a lot to build your dream home and choose its features. When this model home is finished, we'll have a muddy boots tour for all the brokers in South Central PA to come take a look. We'll also be having a grand opening of the Bennington Community, which we hope to have before the end of the year, so reserve your spot. If you have questions about pricing, floor plans, or anything having to do with the Bennington Community, click here and our sales consultant will follow up and take great care of you. If you have any other questions about real estate call us at (717) 216-0860 or email dave@davehooketeam.com. We'd love to be your real estate resource.
Here's how Roof Maxx in Mechanicsburg can save your roof. I'm delighted to be joined by another member of my Brand Ambassador team today, DJ Lehr with Roof Maxx in Mechanicsburg. We're learning about his business today and how they help so many homeowners in Central PA, including many of our clients. DJ actually got into the roofing business after discovering the Roof Maxx product. It's an all-natural soybean oil that extends the life significantly of asphalt shingle roofs. It's a modern, sustainable product that solves a big problem for homeowners. Each treatment adds five years to the life of your roof. Whether you're thinking of selling your home soon, adding solar panels, or you're a property manager, Roof Maxx helps you protect your roof and extend its life. “Every treatment comes with a five-year warranty.” How old should a roof be before it gets a Roof Maxx treatment? According to DJ, the treatment works best on roofs that are an average of 10 to 12 years old, however they have treated roofs up-to 30 years old. The oils in the shingles have dried out by this point, and this treatment will re-lubricate them and solve a lot of potential issues. The treatment will definitely benefit an older roof, too. Every treatment comes with a five-year warranty and transfers to a new owner. The best way to get in touch with DJ and Roof Maxx is by giving them a call or text at (717) 487-8752 or check them out online. If you give DJ a call after reading this blog or watching this video, he's happy to offer you a free consultation. If you mention Dave Hooke Team, you'll get 10% off your estimate. If you have any real estate questions for me in the meantime, don't hesitate to reach out via phone at (717) 216-0860 or email me at dave@davehooketeam.com. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Here are the first three steps to take when you decide to sell your home. So you want to sell your home, but where do you start? Thinking about selling your home can be confusing and overwhelming, so today I'm sharing the first three steps you should take when selling: 1. Choose an agent. We recommend interviewing two or three (and we'd love to be on that list). This will help you choose the right person to help you through the entire process. 2. Set the price. Work with your real estate agent to choose the right price. 3. Have a staging consultation. Having this consultation with your agent will help get your house into the best shape possible so it'll sell for top dollar. If you want a copy of our free home value estimate process, feel free to comment “Free home value estimate” below, and we'll follow up and get that to you. If you have questions about your first steps or real estate in general, email dave@davehooketeam.com or call me at (717) 216-0860. I would love to help you.
Here's my latest update on the Bennington Community's progress. When exactly can you start construction at the new Bennington Community? I want to answer this question and give you a quick update on the community's progress. The Bennington Community is being created by the premier homebuilder, Gemcraft Homes, and my team has partnered with them to sell property for their new community. “There's limited supply, so don't hesitate.” As you can see in the video, we have infrastructure installed and streets being built. They're starting to put the roof on the first new home. This means the end date is in sight, so pretty soon we'll be taking our design center from the local office and moving it on-site to the Bennington Community. We're already talking to our VIP homebuyers about building their dream homes. In fact, CJ Longenecker, our sales consultant, has already scheduled eight consultations with potential residents. These consultations are completely free and are just a way to talk about pricing and move-in dates. There will be 134 homes built here in the Bennington Community, and they'll be starting at about $300,000. There's limited supply, so don't hesitate. If you're interested in a Bennington home, give me a call at 717-216-0860 or shoot me an email at dave@davehooketeam.com. I look forward to hearing from you! VIP List: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfeccbXqyotcs5c-qPJSC0OZ_MokBIQB5XUa_iT5eEBVCSvJw/viewform
Here's my conversation with Serafin Family Dentistry owners, Bob and Tam. Hey guys, Dave Hooke here to highlight another awesome local business: Serafin Family Dentistry. They're locally owned by Bob and Tam, and they've been taking care of me and my family for years. Since I last talked with them, a lot has happened. Today, I wanted to catch up with them and get a quick update on how they've been handling everything. The pandemic has really changed everything for small businesses. How have you guys navigated its challenges? Bob: Our business was affected really early on. We were even closed for two and a half months, and we only saw patients if it was an emergency. Recently, we've returned to some form of normalcy, but for a while there, it was really chaotic. “Everyone is vaccinated and back in the office, so I'm looking forward to getting back in the swing of things.” So, now that we're turning the corner in 2021, what are you most excited about? Tam: I'm excited to regain some calm and consistency. We've never had a year like last year. Even though our staff handled it really well, I'm glad we can get something back to something close to normal. Everyone is vaccinated and back in the office, so I'm looking forward to getting back in the swing of things. I think we all crave normalcy right now! So, if someone in the audience wants to set up an appointment for a checkup or teeth cleaning, what's the best way to contact you guys? Bob: You can always call our office directly at 717-243-3335, or you can visit our website at serafinfamilydentistry.com. We're always happy to see new, smiling faces! Awesome! You've always made it easy for me and my family. It's a kid-friendly place too. My kids actually like going to the dentist! I would like to thank Bob and Tam once again for sitting down with me today and talking about this crazy year. If you need anything dental work done, I could not recommend them highly enough. As always, if you have any questions regarding real estate, do not hesitate to give me a call at 717-216-0860 or send me an email at dave@davehooketeam.com. I'm always willing to help.
Here's what our 2021 housing shortage means for both buyers and sellers. For the last year or so, we've been in a housing shortage, and that means different things for buyers and sellers. If you're a seller, economically speaking, supply is low, and when supply is low and demand is consistent, you can get top dollar for your home. That's what's happening in our current market: we're seeing home values appreciate at levels we've never seen before, and sellers are getting more money than ever before and selling in record time. “Never has it been a better time to sell or buy a home.” Typically, the above is detrimental to buyers. However, 2020 and 2021 have been the perfect storm for real estate. Due to the pandemic and several other reasons, interest rates have been held at historic lows. I have an economics degree, so I love looking into all this. The cost to borrow money on a $250,000 home, for example, with the present interest rates, compared to if those rates increased just two points, can save a buyer $100,000 in interest savings over a 30-year loan. That's quite a bit of money, so you may want to consider buying soon. Never has it been a better time to sell or buy a home, and it's very rare for those to line up. If you want a free copy of our lender list, just comment “lender list” below or private message me the same phrase, and we'll get it out to you so you can explore whether buying and/or selling is the right decision for you. If you have any other questions about the housing shortage or real estate in general, call us at (717) 216-0860 or email dave@davehooketeam.com. We hope to speak with you soon.
Here are some reasons why I think this is a great market in which to buy. With inventory being so low out there, a lot of buyers are hitting pause on the purchase button because they're concerned it might not be a good time for them to buy. Homes are selling quickly, but the buying process is a little more difficult due to our low inventory. I can think of two great reasons why right now may be the best time ever to buy from a financial perspective: 1. If you're selling a home, you're going to get more money than in any market in recorded history. You can take advantage of this seller's market and get top dollar for your property right now. “Homes are selling quickly, but the buying process is a little more complicated.” 2. We have record-low interest rates. If you get your calculator out, you can do the math. Let's say you lock in a 3.25% rate on a $250,000 house. Over 30 years, the interest paid on that loan is about $144,000 straight to the bank. If rates go up just two points to 5.25% and you're buying that same $250,000 home, you're going to pay $246,000 in interest over the same 30-year period. When you get caught up in paying a little more for a home, just remember what you should truly be focusing on is the cost to borrow that money. If you want a free consultation from a local mortgage professional, type “mortgage” in the comments below or private message me the same, and I'll send you two or three to choose from who would be happy to have a conversation, get you pre-approved, and discuss your next steps. If you have any other real estate-related questions, don't hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
If you want a home in the Bennington Community, it's time to get started. Our team is partnering with Gemcraft Homes to eliminate the housing shortage in Southcentral Pennsylvania. You've heard plenty about the housing shortage and all the housing communities being built in the Carlisle real estate market, and I have another update about our premiere development: the Bennington Community. Gemcraft Homes is building over 130 single-family homes adjacent to the Carlisle High School campus, and we're thrilled about it because the competition for homes is high right now. Many buyers have stress and anxiety because they can't find the home of their dreams in this market; there are multiple buyers for every home for sale. Now's the time to get out of that competition, step in front of it, and start designing your dream home with Gemcraft. In the video above, I'm standing in their design center, and we can invite our VIP clients (you) here to start looking at your options for countertops, siding, exterior stone features, flooring, and fixtures. If you'd like to be kept informed of any new updates we have on Bennington, click here to be added to our VIP communication list. Just call us at (717) 216-0860 or email dave@davehooketeam.com to get the process started or if you have any questions. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
My conversation with business owner John Towne about 2021 and the future. Today, I'm here with John Towne of Christian Companion Senior Care. John's a friend of mine, a staple in this community, and his business has taken incredible care of my family members and a lot of people we've referred his way. Dave: It's been a while since we last talked about your business. We've had a global pandemic. How have you navigated that, and how are you doing today? John: We've done pretty well despite the pandemic. Our business is slightly down around 10%, but through it all, we've remained open and kept all of our schedules without missing a beat so it's been very good for us and our clients. Dave: What are you most excited about doing for the rest of this year? John: Having the opportunity to grow and fulfill more people's needs. We've had to turn business away for 10 months, but now it's time to expand again. “John is a local business owner and provides a great service to the community.” Dave: I know you have lots of demand for your business. You have a lot of clients who are looking for a companion in their lives, and you are on the lookout for great people who are looking for a flexible work schedule. If there's somebody out there that would like to set up a conversation and join your team to help people in the community that could use their care, how can they best reach you to set up that conversation? John: The best way to reach me is our office phone at (717) 249-1700. You can also go on our website at christianseniorcarenetwork.com. Dave: I understand you want to give a shout-out to another business in the community. John: Yes, Brian Gobind of Quality Care Pharmacies is a fellow member of the Brand Ambassador program. He has done a terrific job of organizing and getting vaccinations spread across the county, and I think it's a wonderful thing that he's doing. It's been very helpful to our business, clients, and the whole community. Dave: John, thanks for being on with here with us today. John is a local business owner and provides a great service to the community. If you know somebody who could use care or is interested in working with a great, giving company in the community, give John a call. They'll follow up and take great care of you, just like they have for me and many of my family members over the years. If you have any real estate questions, please feel free to contact me at (717) 216-0806 or dave@davehooketeam.com. I'd love to help you. Talk to you soon.
Here’s our latest update about the Bennington community: pricing! The Bennington community is just a stone’s throw from Carlisle High School’s campus in the heart of Carlisle. 134 new homes are being built by Gemcraft Homes, a builder that’s been working in our community for a long time. Our latest update is that we not only have site plans on file for you, but we also have floor plans for some of the homes being constructed and pricing! Click here for the Bennington community homepage. You’ll see the latest home pricing updates, and you can join our VIP list so you can get live updates as we roll out new pricing options throughout the summer. If you have any questions about the Bennington community, just comment below or private message me. If you have any other real estate questions or needs, call me at (717) 216-0860 or email me at dave@davehooketeam.com. I hope to speak to you soon.
Here are three reasons why 2021 is the best year to sell your home. With the pandemic easing, many sellers are wondering whether it’s a good time to sell a home. Here are the three reasons 2021 could be the best year to sell, ever: 1. Supply. Housing inventory has continued to shrink to record lows in the past year. When supply is low and demand is consistent, prices will increase. 2. Interest rates. Rates have remained at all-time historical lows, which keeps demand consistent. “Homes are selling quicker and for more money than they ever have.” 3. The combination of low supply and high demand. This means home values are rising. According to the National Association of Realtors and Cumberland County market statistics, homes are selling quicker and for more money than they ever have. The first step is to get a home value estimate of your property. We do seven or eight per week, and there’s no pressure or obligation. Just type “free home value estimate” in the comment section below or private message me the same phrase, and we’ll follow up and provide one for free. If you have any questions about selling or real estate in general, call me at (717) 216-0860 or email me at dave@davehooketeam.com. I look forward to speaking with you.
Here’s what we know so far about Carlisle’s newest housing development. We’re currently in a low inventory housing market and need more homes for sale here in South Central Pennsylvania. So I couldn’t be more thrilled to announce that a 53-acre tract of land just a stone’s throw from Carlisle High School’s campus will be a 134-unit housing development called Bennington. This is an excellent location, convenient to downtown Carlisle, and will roll out within the next couple of years. Sometime in the next couple of months, you’ll even see a model home pop up there. We’re excited to be partnering with the builder, Gemcraft Homes, which has been around for a long time and is building in numerous counties in South Central Pennsylvania. They can also build a custom house that would provide you and your family with anything you need. As time goes on, we’ll provide updates about this development. “We’re excited to be partnering with the builder, Gemcraft Homes.” If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the features of these houses or Gemcraft Homes, join our VIP list. You can comment below or private message me “Bennington”, and we’ll put your name down to get you the newest information as soon as it arrives. For more information on Bennington, click here. **Please note that our name of our community has been updated to: Bennington If you ever have any questions about real estate, please call me at (717) 216-0868 or email me at dave@davehooketeam.com. I would love to help you.
It’s time to shine the Brand Ambassador spotlight on Tuckey Companies. It’s time for another exciting Brand Ambassador video. I’m here with Matt and Nathan Tuckey, managers of Tuckey Companies, to highlight the work they’re doing. I can’t recommend them enough. They’ve served a lot of our clients, me, and my friends and family. They do everything from restoration, to HVAC, plumbing, electrical work, and all sorts of remodels. Their motto is ‘Don’t know who to call? Call Tuckey.” I can vouch for that because we’ve called them a lot. They’re prompt, efficient, reasonably priced, and have the best customer service. “They’ve served many of my clients, friends, and family.” Navigating the pandemic was challenging for Tuckey Companies, and they had to change their game plan a little bit. However, some of these constraints have actually provided new opportunities for them, and they’re looking to make things better in the future. As we continue through 2021, Matt and Nathan are most excited about their customers’ increased interest in indoor air quality products and services. They’ve been doing that kind of work for a long time, but they’re excited to help more and more homeowners improve their quality of life. I had them do an indoor air quality check for my parents and they actually ended up doing a few repairs. If you need to get a hold of Tuckey for something in your home, visit them online or give them a call at (717) 249-1535. They’re always available to chat. If you have any additional questions for me, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email at 717.216.0860 or dave@davehooketeam.com. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Here’s why Cohick & Associates has long been a staple in our community. It’s time for another edition of our Brand Ambassador program, where we highlight local businesses and see how they’re growing and providing great services to the community. Today we’re with Chris Farrands, a CPA with Cohick & Associates, an absolute staple in the community for tax, payroll, and bookkeeping services. Since we’ve last talked, there has been a global pandemic that everyone has had to navigate differently. For Cohick & Associates, they’ve navigated the situation well. They have been busier than ever, which is a blessing, and continue to help and serve people in our community every single day. “Cohick & Associates have taken great care of me and my family.” As we turn the corner into 2021 and there’s a return to normalcy on the horizon, Cohick & Associates is gearing up for tax season and getting back to a more normal life on the other side of things. If you have any questions for Chris about their bookkeeping, tax, or payroll services, give them a call at (717) 249-5321. They always do a great job for me and my family, and I’m confident they’ll do the exact same for you. If you have any other questions for me, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email at 717.216.0860 or dave@davehooketeam.com. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Here are some of the different ways to find out what your home is worth. There are four different ways to determine the value of any home: 1. Tax assessment. If you live in south-central Pennsylvania, you can go to your county’s website, find the tax mapper or assessment tool, and learn the assessed value of your home. There is a margin of error there because it doesn’t take your home’s condition into account. 2. Online valuation tools. They’re a little more accurate than the assessed value. We even have an online valuation tool of our own. These will have a margin of error as well, but they will get you in the ballpark. 3. Talk to an appraiser. We can give you some information from local appraisers who will walk through your property and give an opinion on its value. The one thing to keep in mind is that an appraisal will require you to pay a fee. “Assessments and online valuation tools will have a margin of error.” 4. Talk to a licensed agent. This is my favorite method. We can give you a free, home value estimate or CMA even if you’re just thinking about listing your home in the future. This can help you get some more accurate estimates on what you’d get if you sold in the current market versus a past or future one. If you have any questions or would like us to come out for a free value estimate of your home in today’s market, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email at 717.216.0860 or dave@davehooketeam.com. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Here are five things to remember when you receive a lowball offer. When someone submits a lowball offer on your for-sale home, it’s hard not to take it personally. After all, this is the property you’ve proudly maintained and called home for years. That said, you should never throw away lowball offers or respond harshly to them. It might not seem so at first, but that buyer could actually be the one you’ve been waiting for. Here are five tips for responding to a lowball offer: 1. Don’t be insulted. Emotion tends to drive most of our decisions; we use logic to justify them after the fact. Do your best to step back, take a deep breath, and give yourself the time needed to see things from a detached, rational perspective. 2. Respond gracefully. If you react defensively or combatively, it usually builds a wall where there could have been a bridge. Snapping back at the buyer’s lowball offer will drag them down into an emotional mindset too, making it harder to ultimately get what you want from them. 3. Write a strategic counteroffer. What do I mean by strategic? Your agent should be a skilled negotiator capable of tactfully probing the buyers’ motivations. Once they find out what’s most important to that buyer, they can help you structure a response that accommodates their angle while still championing your home’s value. “Your agent should be a skilled negotiator capable of tactfully probing the buyers’ motivations.” 4. Expect a counteroffer to your counteroffer. Working through a lowball-offer situation can be a process that takes a couple of days. Finding the middle ground isn’t easy, so give it the time it needs. 5. Negotiate other terms. While you might be stalled on price, you can make headway elsewhere. Work out the settlement date, inspection contingencies, a rent-back period (if necessary)—heck, you can even bring your old pool table or zero-turn mower into the discussion. Get them what they want so you can get what you want. As always, if you have questions about this or any other real estate topic, don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone or email at 717.216.0860 or dave@davehooketeam.com. We’d love to help you; no question is too silly or complicated. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Before you go house hunting, get pre-approved for a mortgage. There are three reasons why you should get pre-approved for a mortgage before you begin the process of shopping for a home: 1. It helps you understand your current financial position, what your closing costs and monthly payments will be, and what homes are affordable to you. Perhaps more importantly, it helps you go through the process of speaking with a mortgage lender who can inform you about all the mortgage programs you can take advantage of given your financial situation. This will help you feel at peace before you go house-hunting. 2. It prevents you from getting emotionally attached to a home only to find out later that you can’t afford it or aren’t pre-approved for it. There’s no need to set yourself up for that kind of disappointment. 3. It’ll help you get your offer accepted. In a competitive market with low inventory, a pre-approval document will likely mean the difference between acceptance and rejection for your offer. Even if it’s not a competitive situation, a seller who uses a real estate agent will probably require a pre-approval statement from a reputable mortgage institution. If you have any questions about today’s topic or anything else to do with real estate, reach out via phone or email us at 717.216.0860 or dave@davehooketeam.com. One of our team members will follow up with you and take great care of your needs.
Here’s how our year of activity generally works in the real estate market. What are the hottest real estate months in the south-central Pennsylvania market? According to all the statistics, in a usual fiscal year, April, May, and June are when the highest percentage of properties go under contract. We commonly see a midsummer lull around July because kids are out of school and people are in “vacation mode.” Then we see activity ramp up between September and November; it’s our second-hottest market time of the year. Between the winter holidays and March, we have the winter lull when activity slows quite a bit. “Knowing this information could be helpful if you’re planning a move.” It isn’t exactly the same every year because of elections, the federal Reserve changing interest rates, the pandemic, and more. If you’re watching the market, you need to keep an eye on large events such as these that can alter things. Knowing this information could be helpful if you’re planning a move. If you have any questions about timing your move or what may work best for you and your family, reach out via phone or email us at 717.216.0860 or dave@davehooketeam.com, and one of our team members will follow up and take excellent care of you. We would love to be your real estate resource.
There are five hidden costs associated with buying and owning a home. There are more costs to buying and owning a home than just a monthly mortgage payment. Here are the five hidden costs of homeownership: 1. Closing costs. When considering their home-buying journey, people think about the down payment but forget about the transactional costs. The good news is that you shouldn’t pay much to a buyer’s agent because you’re entitled to that service in Pennsylvania. Buyer’s agents get most of their commission paid by the listing agent. Closing costs can include transfer tax, property tax escrows, lender fees, appraisal fees, and more. Add these up and get a good faith estimate of your closing costs before you make the purchase. “Put some money aside each month to reinvest into your property as things happen.” 2. Furniture. People often forget that when you move into a new house you’ll need to furnish it, and this can add up. Unless all your furniture is getting donated by family or friends, be sure you calculate these costs into your home-buying journey. 3. Ongoing maintenance. Have an emergency fund because even though your home inspection may have turned out great, things will only stay great for a while. Put some money aside each month to reinvest into your property as things happen. 4. Taxes and insurance. You have school and property taxes and property insurance that need to be calculated into your closing costs and ongoing annual fees. 5. Property utilities. Get a copy of these from the previous owner of the property so you can factor in an estimate of these costs. These include heating, electricity, water, sewer, etc. If you can think of another hidden cost of homeownership or have any questions, don’t hesitate to call or email us at 717.216.0860 or dave@davehooketeam.com. We’ll follow up and take excellent care of you.
Here's how you can avoid a dreaded trifecta of home selling mistakes. Here are the three top things that keep your home from selling when it’s on the market, which are also three things you as a homeowner have control over and can adjust if needed: 1. Bad marketing. The quality and quantity of the marketing make a huge difference. This is one of the things you’re hiring a real estate brokerage to do for you. Make sure your agent has a written-out marketing strategy and you know how much money they’re spending monthly to market your house. If no one knows your property’s for sale, no one will buy it. However, if many people know it’s for sale and it looks favorable in all the marketing, you’ll have showings and offers. “If no one knows your property’s for sale, no one will buy it.” 2. Rough condition. If your property has some rough edges, consult with your real estate agent about how best to prepare it for the market. This may mean staging, painting, landscaping, or a good cleaning—all of which get you a high return on investment. You have influence over your home’s condition, so make sure it’s in the best condition it can be before you list it. 3. The wrong price. If the house is marketed as well as it can be, it’s in good condition, and it’s still not selling, chances are you have a pricing issue. You may need to reevaluate your pricing strategy with your agent and consider adjusting the price until you’re getting multiple showings per week (the average in this current market). If you have any questions about these three points or anything else concerning real estate, call or email us at 717.216.0860 or dave@davehooketeam.com. We’ll follow up and take great care of you; hope to hear from you soon!
Here are the five steps to selling a home on your own. How do you sell a home successfully on your own in today’s market? There are five steps to keep in mind. First, consider seeking guidance for all the documentation involved in the home selling process. There are a lot of documents to keep track of to ensure your home sale is compliant. You’ll have to sift through a multi-page seller’s disclosure statement, for example. You’ll also have to ensure your buyer has a pre-approval statement with appropriate conditions, and structure the agreement of sale to ratify the offer. All of these things have to be done to ensure the sale is executed properly and produces a legally binding contract. If you haven’t done this type of thing before, consult a local real estate attorney so they can help you. Next, consider your pricing strategies. One of the things you can rely on an agent for is a comparative market analysis (CMA) to better understand comparable properties and what your home might sell for. Since you won’t have an agent to provide this for you, hire an appraisal service to do the job. It’ll cost some money, but you’ll get valuable guidance when it comes to pricing. You may want to get two appraisals just to have multiple opinions. If they give you two different numbers, you might be able to average them out to set the right price. After that, think about your home’s marketing exposure. One of the main things you hire a real estate brokerage for is to show your property to as many eyes as possible through high-quality marketing. If you’re doing this yourself, know that professional photography is a must. You should stage your home and take high-quality photos of it to present it in the best light possible. Also, make sure it’s present on consumer websites. You’ll have to manually add your home to these sites, make sure the signage is nice and bright, and include a phone number that stands out. It should stand out as much as possible to real estate brokers so they can show it to their buyers. “There are a lot of documents to keep track of to ensure your home sale is compliant.” When you hire an agent, your home gets put in front of the 35,000+ agents who belong to our MLS and all of their buyers. Without that demand, your home might fetch a lower price than what you’re looking for. I know that’s not what you want, so you need to show your home to as many people as possible. Also, consider the negotiation aspect. If you don’t know much about negotiating, it might not hurt to take a class on it. One of the reasons you’d ordinarily hire an agent is that we ask the right questions to a potential buyer to learn their motivation and use that as leverage to collaboratively come to terms with them. We give them what they want so you can get what you want. It’s up to you to think about how to collaborate, ask the right questions, and listen for answers as part of your negotiation strategy. Finally, remember to monitor the contract-to-close process. You’ll work with a title company or local attorney to do this, and you may have to pay them hourly so they can take you from the execution (or ratification) of the contract to the signing of the deed. If you have questions about this topic or would like a free copy of the Dave Hooke Team’s 125-step listing process, don’t hesitate to call or email me. I’d love to speak with you. If you ever get frustrated, my team and I are just a phone call away!
Black’s Water Conditioning can help with all your water treatment needs. I’m delivering another brand ambassador local business highlight. Today I’m meeting with Black’s Water Conditioning, a third-generation family business with an excellent reputation for all your water treatment needs. They sample water, install equipment, and do just about anything having to do with the water in your home. We’ve also invited the Black family to the Hooke household to assess the needs of the water in my house so you can see them in action. Feel free to watch the full message above, or use these timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. 0:00: Introduction to today’s topic 0:35: Meet Laverne and Jason of Black’s Water Conditioning 1:35: The challenges of the water conditioning business 3:10: The Black family comes to my house to test our water 4:20: Addressing some of the water issues in my home 5:35: Wrapping up today’s topic Black’s Water Conditioning does an exceptional job and takes great care of our community. If you or someone you know needs a free water consultation, call (717) 486-5033 or reach out to them at blackswater.com. If you have any questions for me about today’s topic or real estate in general, contact me via phone or email. I would love to help you.
Strickler Agency, Inc. has been able to serve our community for nearly a century. Today I’m excited to showcase yet another great local business in my latest Brand Ambassador installment. This time I’m visiting Strickler Agency, Inc. to chat with some of their team members and learn all about the great insurance products they offer. They’ve been serving our community for nearly 100 years, and you have the opportunity to see why they’ve lasted so long. Feel free to watch the full message above, or use these timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. 0:44—A quick history of Strickler and a rundown of their products 1:25—What keeps them up at night? 2:03—What are they most excited about for the future? 2:26—Meeting the team 5:23—Wrapping things up If you’re looking for insurance options and need a free coverage comparison, you can reach Strickler Agency, Inc. by phone at (717) 243-2921 or visit their website. If you have questions about today’s video or know of a local business you’d like to see featured in a future Brand Ambassador episode, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to hear from you.
United Way can help you give back to our community. Here’s how. For today’s video, I couldn’t be more excited to be at the United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County and sitting down with Pat Bartoli and Adam Schaffer, co-chairs of the 2020-21 fundraising campaign. What does United Way do and why is it so important to the greater Carlisle area? In Adam’s words, United Way addresses a lot of issues in our community—specifically, those that deal with the health, education, and financial stability of families. They’re also a handy gateway for people who don’t know where to donate funds but want to help their community. You can donate at United Way, and they then vet 38 partner programs and 24 partner agencies to distribute those funds to. According to Pat, this year’s campaign has been vastly different than those of years past because they’ve had to pivot from a traditional campaign to a more digital one. To get their message out there, they’re utilizing social media and shooting videos just like this one. They have a couple of videos out already, and you can expect to see a couple more from them before 2020 is over. If there’s one thing that typifies the generosity in our community, it’s United Way’s 100% Guarantee. Keen Transport, Allen Distribution, and M&T Bank sponsor this guarantee by paying all of United Way’s administrative costs so that 100% of the funds donated to them go directly to their partner programs and agencies. “To get their message out there, they’re utilizing social media and shooting videos just like this one.” If you care about the wonderful organizations in our community, a key thing you can do is like, comment on, or share this video with your friends on social media. Then, the most important thing you can do is use the following contact information to donate your time and resources to United Way Lu Flickinger, Resource Development Director (717) 243-4805 Text to donate: text ‘uwcarlisle’ to 41-444 Email: events@uwcarlisle.org Website: UWCarlisle.org As always, if you have questions about today’s guests, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. I’d love to hear from you.
Here are five different roads you can take if your appraisal comes in low. If you’re buying a home and the appraisal comes in low, you have five different options to proceed: 1. You can terminate the contract. Provided you have an appraisal or mortgage contingency, you should be able to terminate the contract and get your deposit money back. “If you truly want the home, it might make sense to pay the difference yourself.” 2. Renegotiate the terms with the seller. Perhaps you can meet in the middle, or make a compromise. 3. Put up more cash. If it’s your dream home and you’ve been searching for it forever, you can foot the bill for the difference between the offer price and the appraised value. 4. Modify your loan terms. Most people don’t know this because they don’t ask about it up front, but lenders will usually have a lot of different creative options at their disposal for structuring a loan. 5. Challenge the appraisal. This is one of my favorites. You can leverage your relationship with your agent and the listing agent to provide more research and comparable sales in the hopes that they might resubmit or modify the appraisal. These are five different things you can do if an appraisal comes in low, which has been happening more and more in our market. If you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Strickler Agency has been serving their clients for nearly a century. I’m back with another Brand Ambassador Spotlight. This time, I’m joined by Erik Olsen of Strickler Agency to learn about what they do here in the Carlisle and South-Central PA community. Strickler Agency was started in 1925 down in Chambersburg. Erik came to Strickler about 20 years ago after working in the insurance industry and reaching a point where he was tired of telling clients he couldn’t help them because the company he works for didn’t have the right products. That’s when he found Strickler, who did have the right products, and the rest is history. “Their core clients come from all around the area.” The agency is divided into four departments. The commercial department sells your typical business insurance, property, auto, liability, etc. There’s also a personal department that does coverage for homeowners, renters, and auto owners. The ag department services anything from a small farm owner’s policy to large agricultural risks and crop insurance. Finally, the rapidly growing employee benefits department sells group health and other related employee benefit products. Stickler Agency’s core clients come from the local area. They like to be able to service what they sell, so they have clients in South Central PA, Maryland, Virginia, and primarily the 81 corridor. The most common question Erik hears from his clients is, “Do I have enough coverage?” He likes to sit down with them, identify risks and exposure, and see what he can do to help them out. If you want to learn more about Strickler Agency, give them a call at (717) 243-2921 or (800) 503-8908. You can also visit them online at www.stricklerins.com.
New Life Community Church is offering two ways to give back to the community. Today I’m joined once again by my friend Ryan Brown, senior pastor of New Life Community Church in downtown Carlisle, to talk about two exciting ways you can help them make a positive impact on our community. In Ryan’s words, New Life Community Church is all about living out the love, acceptance, healing, and hope of Jesus Christ, whether that means helping people, filling in the gaps in the community, partnering with agencies and organizations, etc. In the decade I’ve known Ryan, New Life Community Church has helped a lot of people in our community, and they’ve been a huge blessing to our area. Right now, they have two initiatives (among many others) you can participate in if you’re looking to give back to those in need: LifeCycle and LifeStyle. LifeCycle is their bicycle repair ministry. They receive bicycles, fix them up, and give them to anyone who needs them. All of this takes place through their Earn-a-Bike Program or a low-cost payment. This ministry is booming, so they’re in need of bikes. They have plenty they can recycle, but they need ones that are ready to ride. If you have a bike to donate, even if you think it’s junk, they’ll take it off your hands. Their doors are also open for new volunteers, whom they train themselves. “In the decade I’ve known Ryan, New Life Community Church has helped a lot of people in our community.” LifeStyle is their household goods and furniture ministry. This ministry helps homeless people move into homes by setting them up with everything they need. Their goal is to make them feel valued by supplying them with high-quality items so they feel right at home when they move into their new residence. They accept donations of household goods, furniture, and anything else you can think of that would help those in need get back on their feet. You can help by donating these items or volunteering as a delivery assistant. Many single moms out there don’t have access to trucks, so they’re looking for teams of people to deliver furniture. Many senior citizens with furniture to donate also don’t have the means to transport it, so they need pickup teams as well. If you’re interested in either of these opportunities, you can give New Life Community Church a call at (717) 240-0060 or email Ryan at pastorryan@newlifecommunity.us. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me as well. I’d love to speak with you.
Avoid these six buyer mistakes to ensure your home purchase goes smoothly. What should you never, ever do when buying a home? In 19 years of helping people buy and sell houses, you start to see patterns; when people make mistakes in the purchase process, it can cost them a lot, both emotionally and financially. Here are six mistakes to avoid when buying a home: 1. Don’t shop for homes without an agent. In Pennsylvania, you’re entitled to a buyer’s agent, and that wasn’t always the case. Interview a couple of real estate agents and choose one you connect with who can be your advocate throughout the process. 2. Don’t meet with just one mortgage lender. Just as you’re interviewing a few agents, also interview a couple of lenders. Different lenders will have different programs and rates. Find one you can trust who will sit down with you, explain things, and answer all your questions. 3. Don’t under or overstate your budget. Understating your budget could keep houses that you may love off your radar, and overstating could make you house poor. It’s incredibly stressful to be locked into a 30-year mortgage that isn’t truly affordable for you. “When people make mistakes in the purchase process, it can cost them a lot.” 4. Don’t make lowball offers. Especially in our current market when inventory is low, you need to be prepared to make a competitive offer because sellers are receiving many right now. 5. Budget for closing costs. Don’t forget about this; speak with your agent and lender about what these will cost. They will include taxes, insurance, lender and appraisal fees, etc. 6. Don’t make big purchases. Don’t buy expensive items between the time you go under contract and closing. Your credit will be reviewed multiple times, and if they see large purchases, it can sometimes prevent you from closing on time. If you have questions about the home buying process or know someone who does, reach out via phone or email. We’ll follow up and take great care of you.
Here are five tips to get the home you want in our competitive market. What does it take to get the home you want in this competitive market? 1. Get pre-approved before making an offer. 2. Know what you’re looking for. Your real estate advisor should do a needs analysis to structure a document that helps you understand what your perfect home is. “You’re hiring an agent to be your advocate throughout the process.” 3. Work with a trusted agent. Be sure to interview two or three real estate agents before you settle on one. That way, you can find out exactly what they’re going to do for you throughout the process. 4. Set up a home search. You might find the home you’re looking for on a consumer site, or your real estate agent might be the one who finds it, though that’s not necessarily what you’re hiring them for. You’re hiring an agent to be your advocate throughout the process and work to protect your best interests. 5. Be prepared to view and make an offer quickly. Chances are that the home of your dreams is the home of someone else’s dreams, too. Make sure your agent is prepared to get your offer in at a moment’s notice when that property hits the market. There are dozens of pages to fill out when making an offer, so be sure to go through that process with your advisor in advance. If you have any questions or you’d like us to do a buyer’s consultation with you so that you know how we’ll help you find success, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. One of our team members would be glad to follow up with you.
These five tips will help first-time sellers sell quickly and for top dollar. As a first-time home seller, here are the five steps that will help you maximize your sale quickly and smoothly: 1. Choose an agent based on their marketing plan and reputation—not what they offer to price your property at. You’re hiring an agent to do many things, and one of those things is to give a consultation on your pricing strategy. The reality, though, is that if you schedule five certified appraisals, they’ll each result in different price points. This is why the most important thing you can do is rely on your agent for pricing guidance and set a price with a strategy that works. Then, follow their marketing plan so they can generate demand. That’s what will bring buyers, and buyers ultimately sell your home. Reputation is something that can’t be understated, so check your references and work with an agent who has a great reputation in the community. Sometimes it takes one or two interviews with an agent to make sure you understand their marketing plan and verify they have a good reputation, so don’t hesitate to interview multiple agents to make sure you find one you trust. 2. Price the home accurately. As I said, don’t choose your agent based solely on price, but do get a couple of pricing estimates during the interview process. If yours is a unique property, you should also get an appraisal. Money is won or lost during this step. If you price your home too high, you’ll lose money because the home will sit on the market and become stagnant. If you price too low, you’ll leave money on the table. “The most important thing you can do is rely on your agent for pricing guidance and set a price with a strategy that works.” 3. Ask for advice on staging and prepping your home. This process also cannot be understated. Builders with model homes spend a lot of money on staging because it’s a good return on investment, so you should make that investment too. There are several key items your agent can advise you on to prep your home for sale, such as staging, cleaning, curb appeal, etc. 4. Be flexible with showings. In today’s market, there should be plenty of buyers wanting to look at your property, so open up your home during times that are convenient for them, not just you. 5. Insist on professional photography. Stellar photography will display your home in the best light possible, so hire a professional photographer. Your agent should foot the bill, so don’t worry about the cost. As always, if you have questions about this or any real estate topic, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help.
Jason from Black’s Water Conditioning joins me to talk about their company. For today’s Brand Ambassador message, I sat down with my friend Jason for some Q&A about his family business, Black’s Water Conditioning, Inc., here in South Central Pennsylvania. “How did you get into the water business?” Jason is the third generation in his family to get involved in the water conditioning business. His grandfather was a farmer who found himself in a position where he had some free time and a need for water treatment equipment. The process intrigued him, and the technician he worked with agreed to show him the ropes. 50 years later, the business is still going. “What is the main service or product sold at Black’s Water Conditioning?” Water softeners are the first thing people think of when they think of water conditioning and treatment, so Black’s naturally sells a lot of those. They also sell ultraviolet lights to disinfect drinking water and reverse osmosis. “Who are your core customers?” Black’s serves anyone who wants good, quality water in the South Central Pennsylvania area! “What is the No. 1 question you hear most often?” Black’s customers most often ask about the white or orange stains their untreated water leaves on dishes, clothes, bathtubs, etc. They know they have a problem, but they don’t understand the root cause of it. “What’s the best way to get in touch with Black’s Water Conditioning?” If you have a water treatment issue in need of solving, you can call Black’s at (717) 486-5033 or visit www.BlacksWater.com. “Are there any deals or incentives of which the audience should take advantage?” Black’s always offers free consultations, and if it’s determined that you need to have a technician come out, they’ll be happy to send someone to help you figure out what’s causing your issues and what can be done about it. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them for any of your water treatment needs! In the meantime, if you have any questions or recommendations for businesses you think would benefit from our Brand Ambassador spotlight videos, give us a call!
Real estate is a great investment for everyone, but managing a property isn’t. Here’s how Waymark can help you fill the gap and ease the headaches. I’m back with another exciting look at a great local business in my Brand Ambassador Program. Today I’m joined by Cal Yoder from Waymark Property Management to talk about what he does. As a property investor himself, Cal knows the pains of self-management on investors. He started his business to remove the barriers of pain that people have when trying to manage their own properties. I’m well aware of the headaches that come up and how the services Cal and his team provide can help. They provide property management services for both residential and commercial units. They help their clients with collecting rent, making repairs, and more. Then, they cut property owners a check at the end of each month with the full detailed list of expenses and profits, making things headache-free for owners. They’re ready to help any and everyone who owns property in Cumberland or Dolphin Counties. One of the most common questions they hear from prospective clients is, “Can I trust you to care about my property as much as I do?” Cal owns investment properties himself, and he ensures that he and his team care for every single property as if they owned it. “They’ll take care of all the headaches and give you a check at the end of the month.” If you want to learn more about Waymark and how they might be able to help you, visit them online or give Cal a call directly at (717) 413-0744. Right now, you can get a free consultation from Cal and his team, including a free investment consultation for a property you’re thinking about buying. If you have any real estate questions for me, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Our latest brand ambassador highlight is of The Tuckey Companies, a great local maintenance company. Today I’m providing another brand ambassador local business highlight! I’m here with The Tuckey Companies’ Matt and Nathan Tuckey to learn all about their maintenance business serving South Central Pennsylvania. Matt, why did you start the business? Our business began in 1968 with my grandfather, and his motivation was to have a business that served his neighbors and neighborhood well. Our business has grown since then, but that’s still the driving incentive of what we do. Nathan, what are the main products and services that you sell? We do a lot, but generally, we’re in construction and manufacturing. Some specific trades we’re involved with are HVAC, electrical, plumbing, restoration and remodeling, and metal fabrication. It includes just about anything related to maintenance, be it residential or commercial. Our tagline is “If you don’t know who to call, call Tuckey.” Matt, who is your main customer base? It’s very diverse, we have a wide scope of customers. On any given day we could be serving a contractor on a large HVAC project, and at the same time have a crew doing a small drywall patch in a customer’s home. “If you don’t know who to call, call Tuckey!” What’s the No. 1 question you guys get asked by customers? We often hear “You do that?” or “You would do that?” For example, there’s a misconception out there that we’ll help with huge commercial buildings but not help with your leaky faucet. We do both. When you ask “Would you really do that?” The answer is most likely “yes!” What’s the best way for someone to get in touch with you? You can get information on our website at www.tuckey.com or you can call us 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (717) 249-1535. Someone will always be answering that line to help you. Are there any incentives you offer that people can take advantage of right now? We consistently have different things going on throughout the year, so always ask when you get in touch with us. At the moment, for those listening or reading this brand ambassador message, we’re offering $25 off your first preventative maintenance visit. This can be on your air conditioner, furnace, heat pump, and so on. We truly appreciate that! If you or someone you know needs some attention on a system in their home or business, take advantage of this offer. We’re glad Matt and Nathan could join us today. If you ever have any questions concerning real estate, please reach out to me via phone or email. I would love to help you.
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