How Does Your State Rank in Higher Education? - 08/31/11 10:39 PM
The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education recently released their report for 2011. (http://www.highereducation.org/reports/reports_center.shtml)  When you go to this link you can pick another year if you want to do a comparison.  This site measures the progress of higher eduction overall in the country and on a state by state basis.
While Pennsylvania's numbers have improved over the past two decades, the affordability of higher education in Pennsylvania ranks is one of the lowest in the country. The study shows that the percentage of income, after financial aid, to afford college is very high here, which makes the affordability low.
You … (7 comments)

YOU PLAY A PART! - 08/27/11 06:22 PM
You’ve just listed your home for sale.  You analyzed recent sale prices and terms, and priced your home accordingly.  You’re ready to watch your agent begin marketing and selling your home.  There’s nothing left for you to do . . . WRONG!  
 
While your agent’s marketing activities are critical to the sale of your home, you also bear some heavy responsibilities.  Sitting back waiting for your buyer is not one of them. 
 
Two responsibilities should be taken very seriously.  First, be sure you have priced your home with the market, not ahead of it.  Pricing with the … (5 comments)

Kindergarten - my life began, Dixie's life ends . . . - 08/27/11 05:12 PM
 My father was a Chaplin in the Army and he had recently returned from Korea and so we were living together in a "non-military" home in my mother's hometown (Dauphin, PA) as a family.   It was very nice to have a real home and not typical of most of the years of my life.  We lived right across the Street from the Middle Paxton Elementary School in Dauphin, PA.  The house was for sale about 2 years ago and this is a picture of my house! 
In those days students that lived a mile or less from the school were considered "walkers."  I walked to school - … (4 comments)

BE MAGNETIC! - 08/26/11 09:37 AM
 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
 
Have you ever played with a small magnet and a handful of paper clips?  If you first scatter the paper clips on the table, then slowly move the magnet across the tabletop, what happens?  The loose paper clips quickly move towards the magnet.
 
To sell your home in the shortest amount of time at the best price, it must attract buyers like the magnet attracted the paper clips.  To do this, there must first be paper clips on the table.  That is to say, there must be potential buyers in the market.
 
Next, your home must … (3 comments)

STAY HOME? - 08/25/11 08:11 PM
STAY HOME?
 
Run ads in the newspaper and place a “For Sale” sign in your yard, and you may expect to receive inquiries.  Individuals may come to your front door unannounced, which means you must be there at all reasonable hours and graciously show the home at their convenience. 
 
They may also call. You may think, “I’m home most of the time, and if I do happen to be gone, my answering machine will take their call”.  Yes, some will leave a message or call back-the ones with plenty of time on their hands, but most will move … (2 comments)

MOUNT GRETNA OUTDOOR ART SHOW - 08/19/11 09:28 PM
    MOUNT GRETNA OUTDOOR ART SHOW  -- August 20-21, 2011   Don't miss this years Mt. Grenta Art Show.  It starts tomorrow and ends Sunday.   It is a wonderful time to walk through the streets of Mt. Gretna.    Every year, during the third weekend of August, this community of some 700 homes and cottages suddenly springs to life, welcoming 285 artists chosen through juried competition and 20,000 visitors who—by their presence—acknowledge the role that art plays in their homes, hearts, and lives.  And every year, as thousands of art show patrons return, many others discover Mount Gretna for … (3 comments)

JOY DANIELS REAL ESTATE GROUP - COMMERICAL - 08/18/11 05:02 PM
JOY DANIELS REAL ESTATE GROUP - COMMERICAL 
Or should I say Joy Daniels COMMERCIAL Real Estate Group!  We have organized a commerical real estate company and I am very excited because we put up our first sign today! 
If you are looking for an 18,000 SF COMMERCIAL building in Cumberland County, PA  on a 1.59 acre lot that can be used for an office, retail, service or warehouse  - contact me and I'll email you the listing! 
To add even more appeal - this is an elevated site that offers a beautiful view of the Harrisburg skyline.
I hope Dauphin, Perry & Cumberland County starts to … (1 comments)

Perception is Reality - 08/16/11 09:24 PM
Perception is Reality
My husband and I were taking a walk this evening and I looked up and saw a cloud formation that appeared to me to be a big bear, I pointed it out to my husband he said - "it's not a bear, it's a pig!"  I wanted to see a bear and that is what I saw, he perceived a pig and to him the cloud was a pig.  I wish I would have had my camera or at least my cell phone with me so I could snap a picture (I know - I should always have … (6 comments)

Military Personnel - Short Sale help! - 08/14/11 09:39 PM
Military Personnel - Short Sale help!
I need help and I am hoping there is an Active Rain member that can advise or direct me to the right path.  I just met with a couple that is moving to Alsaksa (or should I say being deployed) and they have owned a home sign 2008 that is not worth what they paid and to make matters worse, they took out a home equity loan and owe more than they paid for the home.  Not to mention in most situations a vacant home (they had to take all their furnishings) does not show as … (5 comments)

Dauphin County School Districts - Calendars & more! - 08/13/11 07:24 PM
Dauphin County School Districts - Calendars & more!  
                           
Dauphin County, PA is compromised of 12 Public School Districts. They are spread out around Dauphin County and include many schools in each district. You can find the school calendars, school football schedules, school basketball schedules, school sports school calendar, and other important information by visiting the district websites as listed below.
DauphinCounty PA School Districts     Derry Township School District   www.hershey.k12.pa.us – 30 E. Granada Avenue, Hershey (717) 531-2501
  Harrisburg City School District    www.hbgsd.k12.pa.us - 215 Market Street, Harrisburg - (717) 703-1900
   Central Dauphin East School District  www.cdsd.k12.pa.us - 626 Rutherford … (3 comments)

Derry Township School Board Meeting - 08/11/11 01:23 PM
Derry Township School Board Meeting is scheduled to be held on Monday, August 22, at 7PM at the Derry Township District Office, 30 East Granada Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033.  Phone(717) 534-2501
Some other upcoming events in the Derry Township School District
Tuesday, August 23 at 9AM are tours of the 6th grade for the elementary students that are moving up to the Middle School.
 
Wednesday, August 24  (Time varies by grade) are New Student Middle School Tours
Wednesday, August 24 is Kindergarten "Meet the Teacher Day" and appointments are scheduled by appointment only.  Wednesday, August 24 is GRADE 1 New Student … (0 comments)

Why I Chose Real Estate - putting the pieces of my life together! - 08/10/11 09:09 PM
      Why I Chose Real Estate - putting the pieces of my life together!
I grew up a P.K. and an Officer's Brat - so I was labeled before I could talk!  Because my father was a Chaplin in the Army we moved almost every year.  I attended 6 Elementary Schools, 1 Junior High and 2 High Schools for a total of 10 different school systems in my 13 year school tenure.   I believe that my need to make friends quickly and ability to ask questions in order to get to know someone was a huge piece of the real estate puzzle.  10+ relocations is another … (6 comments)

Derry Township Upcoming Events - School Calendar - 08/09/11 08:24 PM
Derry Township Upcoming Events - School Calendar
 Derry Township consists of 3 Elementary Schools:  K-1st grade, 2nd & 3rd grade, 4th & 5th Grade
There is one Middle Schoool and one High School.
The Derry Township Schools cover an area of Dauphin County and are located in the center of the sweetest town on earth - Hershey, Pennsylvania. 
August 15, 2011 is the First Day of Fall Sports
August 15, 2011 from 10AM to 12PM is New Student Tours for Grades 2-5
August 16 (9AM to 11AM & 1PM to 2PM) and August 17 (9AM to 11AM) are New Student Tours for … (1 comments)

MAKE CONTACT! - 08/07/11 04:26 PM
MAKE CONTACT!
Do you like the idea of finding your next home on the internet?  You just point and click your way to propeties of interest.  You can even take a "virtual tour" without personally visiting the home.  Very cool!
What then?  Do you also make a virtual offer using your favorite platinum VISA card?  Can you do a virtual inspection of the homes condition?  Just how far can you go without having personal contact?  Chances are good that you will not make a purchase offer before inspecting the home.
So. . . who should you call?  Rather than choosing the … (4 comments)

What You See is What you Get! - 08/03/11 08:46 PM
What You See is What you Get!
How can we convince our sellers that they need to make improvements to their homes in order ot entice buyers?  That was one of the subjects that we discussed in our Real Estate Minute taping. 
I am not with RE/MAX any more - but the rest of the video information is very pertinent to helping our sellers get it right!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1tiG-MMDuk&feature=related
 
I actually tape almost 30 of these videos and thought it would be fun to share one of my favorites.  Sheri Walker ran a home staging company, and after working with her … (7 comments)

UPFRONT LISTING SUGGESTIONS - 08/03/11 07:39 PM
We have decided at Joy Daniels Real Estate Group to Advice our Sellers immediately after listing the home IN WRITING of what they can expect to happen as we represent them in listing their home.
 
We tell them to look for emails from our Listing Coordinator, a date for our photographer, emails about our online advertising and 800# and overall plan for their home! 
 
We have found that it is wise to give them as much up front information as possible IN WRITING. 
 
First we give them a paragraph on Pricing Advice:  describing the flurry of activity in the … (4 comments)