Who in the world signs an agreement of sale promising to sell a home then suffers a change of heart and refuses to budge? It happens, or at least is threatened, many more times than you might expect. And who are these seller‐offenders? Many times they are older sellers who have lived many, many years in the homes they are selling…
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Median Home Sale Price Decreases Slightly ENOLA, PA (April 12, 2016) – The number of residential housing units sold in south central Pennsylvania increased 10.6 percent in the first quarter of 2016. According to the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS® Multiple Listing Service, 1,775 units were sold, up from 1,604 units sold in the first quarter of 2015…
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It has been almost 17 years since Act 112 of 1998 became law authorizing real estate licensees to act as dual agents in a real estate transaction. During that time, I have consistently heard real estate licensees tell me that they “must” become a dual agent when an unrepresented buyer wishes to make an offer on one of their listings…
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Dual agency has been around long enough now that we see how it is working and whether it’s causing hardships for those who practice it. Here are few tips regarding dual agency issues that are either overlooked or not handled cleanly enough. The law requires that buyers and sellers consent to dual agency before it may be practiced…
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ENOLA, PA (Feb. 11, 2016) – There’s a difference between a licensed real estate agent and a REALTOR® and it’s one that matters to consumers. “REALTORS® are members of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and their local and state associations,” said Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS® President Jodi Diego. “What distinguishes us from other licensed agents is that as REALTORS® we're held to a higher…
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A FSBO, or for Sale by Owner, is objectively a seller who is marketing his/her real estate without the assistance of a licensed real estate broker. Subjectively, we think of a FSBO as cheap and not wise enough to know what he/she does not know about the marketing and sale of real estate. You, my readers…
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ENOLA, PA (Jan. 18, 2016) – The number of residential housing units sold in south central Pennsylvania increased 10.4 percent in 2015. According to the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS® Multiple Listing Service, 9,145 units were sold, up from 8,284 units sold in 2014. In the fourth quarter (October-December) 2015, 2,147 units sold, a 3.1 percent increase from the 2,083 units sold in the fourth quarter of 2014…
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ENOLA, PA (Jan. 18, 2016) – Going through the mortgage pre-qualification process before looking at houses can save buyers both time and heartache. “Many times buyers begin looking for a home, with no idea of how much they can afford to spend and how much they’ll qualify for,” said Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS® President Jodi Diego…
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ENOLA, PA (Jan. 4, 2016) – In a ceremony led by 2015 GHAR President Bernie Campanella, CSP, with Fine Line Realty in Harrisburg, the Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS® installed Jodi Diego, CSP, ABR, CNE, with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, Camp Hill, as president for the upcoming year. She assumed her duties beginning January 1…
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“Need to sell your house fast?” “We buy homes in [your town], PA for cash.” “We buy properties! Divorced? Bankrupt?” “We buy ugly houses.” Sound familiar? You have read these statements on signs on telephone poles, on the internet, and who knows where else. The outfits who post these are also the subject of a number of HotLine calls…
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