Many homeowners think they should refinance when they see mortgage rates drop, but this is not always the best idea.  Refinancing a home doesn't always make sense for everyone.  Before you decide to refinance you need to do your research and establish exactly what you are trying to accomplish from the refinance.  Once your goal for refinancing is established it becomes easier to decide whether refinancing makes sense or not.  The following are some of the top reasons why people refinance. Most people want to reduce their interest rate. Homeowners like to extend their loan period in order to lower their monthly payments.  People look to refinance so they can consolidate their debt. Many homeowners refinance to get out of adjustable rate loans. Homeowners also refinance to get cash from t... 03/19/2009

What are you doing to take advantage of the new energy efficiency tax credits? Just over two weeks ago President Obama signed into law a stimulus package that can help make your home more energy efficient as well as give you a nice tax deduction. Anyone who takes advantage of this write off will save up to 30% off the cost of new windows, doors, energy efficient HVAC systems, water heaters and more, up to $1,500. By making your home more efficient you will be saving money in the long run, so why not grab a deduction for it?  Today, let's consider how upgrading your windows and doors can make your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer and your pocketbook a little fuller all year round while you do your part for the planet. To qualify, these energy efficient doors, windows and skylig... 03/17/2009

New Listings 34   Back on Market 1   Price Increases 22   Price Reductions 15   Contingents 4   Pendings 7   Solds 1   Expireds 35   Inactives 8   Check out our No Cash Down program. or call 24/7 (877) 735-3527  ID # 1074 Don Wenner The Don Wenner Home Selling TeamKeller Williams Real Estate 2901 Emrick Blvd. Suite 100 Bethlehem PA 18020PA RE License #RS300485 (C) 484-542-2868 (O) 610-867-8888(F) 610-867-8889 http://www.donwenner.com    email: don@donwenner.com "Your Home Sold Guaranteed, Or I'll Buy It" "Buy A home with our Team and Receive up to a $10,000 Cash Reward!" Chris HoffmanPa Re License #RS298340Theresa BarlowPa Re License #RS281312Barb MiersPa Re License #RS278138 03/16/2009

Now that the details of the new plans have been announced, many are wondering if they are eligible to receive assistance under the Obama administration's foreclosure prevention plan.  Two sets of homeowners will receive help: People that have regular conforming mortgages and are presently current on their payments may quality to refinance at a lower interest rate.  So, on a $200,000 loan with a 6.85% current rate people could refinance and lower their rate to around 5%, providing a savings of approximately $200 a month. People that have subprime mortgages that have adjusted to an amount that they are struggling or unable to pay, may be able to keep their current loans.  They could qualify to have them modified to make the payments more affordable. The goal of Obama's Homeowner Affordabi... 03/12/2009

The area of expertise all Americans have mastered is bargain hunting and bargain shopping. We have to, to survive. When we venture to the grocery store, we may purchase a can of house brand corn over the other brands; unless we are corn connoisseurs, and truly believe a certain brand tastes better, we are happy to salvage a few pennies. Buying and selling a house is similar, though of lot more is at stake than in selecting vegetables. After buyers figure out what they want in a home, where they want to be located, and what the price range they want, they begin to research the best deals. With most subdivisions, the houses are built very much alike.  Your home must have something to stand out from homes in your subdivision or your area. Instead of duplicating what everyone else has alrea... 03/10/2009

New Listings 35   Back on Market 0     Price Increases 0     Price Reductions 18   Contingents 2   Pendings 2   Solds 1   Expireds 21   Inactives 3   Looking for 100% No money down financing? Check out our No Cash Down program.   or call 24/7 (877) 735-3527  ID # 1074 Don Wenner The Don Wenner Home Selling TeamKeller Williams Real Estate 2901 Emrick Blvd. Suite 100 Bethlehem PA 18020PA RE License #RS300485 (C) 484-542-2868 (O) 610-867-8888(F) 610-867-8889 http://www.donwenner.com    email: don@donwenner.com "Your Home Sold Guaranteed, Or I'll Buy It" "Buy A home with our Team and Receive up to a $10,000 Cash Reward!" Chris HoffmanPa Re License #RS298340Theresa BarlowPa Re License #RS281312Barb MiersPa Re License #RS278138 03/09/2009

It is assuredly a buyer's market out there, and many sellers find themselves having to give something extra to buyers to get a sale. According to Home Appraiser T.J. McCarthy, "This is definitely the age of seller concessions."  When the house you're selling seems to be sitting on the market longer than you'd like, paying closing costs such as document fees, homeowners insurance and property taxes may be one way you could help sweeten the deal on the sale of your home. While down payment options are changing and most conventional mortgages now require 10 percent down, if your prospective purchaser is getting an FHA loan, they will be required to put only 3.5 percent down. Until late in 2008, you could have contributed directly to the buyer's down payment, but the FHA has now removed tha... 03/05/2009

As a home buyer you may be worried that you are being too picky in finding just the right house. A good realtor knows that looking at several or many houses is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, selecting and buying a new home is probably the biggest and most crucial purchase you will make in your life. To help your realtor find your perfect home, you need to give him or her as much detail as you can by clearly specifying your needs and wants. To help you with your list, sit down and try to envision what you want your life to be like while living in your new home. Do you want to do renovations to the house yourself or do you want to be able to move in and not have to worry about changing a thing? Do you want an extra bedroom for unexpected guests or are you hoping to downsize?  Pri... 03/04/2009

New Listings 32   Back on Market 2   Price Increases 0     Price Reductions 26   Contingents 2   Pendings 4   Solds 7   Expireds 50   Inactives 5   Check out our No Cash Down program.  or call 24/7 (877) 735-3527  ID # 1074 Don Wenner The Don Wenner Home Selling TeamKeller Williams Real Estate 2901 Emrick Blvd. Suite 100 Bethlehem PA 18020PA RE License #RS300485 (C) 484-542-2868 (O) 610-867-8888(F) 610-867-8889 http://www.donwenner.com    email: don@donwenner.com "Your Home Sold Guaranteed, Or I'll Buy It" "Buy A home with our Team and Receive up to a $10,000 Cash Reward!" Chris HoffmanPa Re License #RS298340Theresa BarlowPa Re License #RS281312Barb MiersPa Re License #RS278138 03/01/2009

Kermit the Frog once said, "It's not easy being green."  However, he got used to it.  What choice did he have? Modern Americans could say the same thing.  Currently, Western-world lifestyles consume a disproportionate amount of natural resources; thinking "green" requires people to rethink what they use in living their daily lives and then to embrace a more energy-efficient way of life.  With prices to heat and cool our homes rising, with resources being deleted at a rapid rate as more people world-wide claim their rights to consume, what choice do we have other than to choose to become more "green?" Part of the move toward being green is personal economics; if you use less heat, water, and electricity, your bills should reflect this.  When you use less, fewer resources are expended to ... 02/24/2009

New Listings 32   Back on Market 1   Price Increases 0     Price Reductions 15   Contingents 2   Pendings 12   Solds 4   Expireds 22   Inactives 13   Check out our No Cash Down program.  or call 24/7 (877) 735-3527  ID # 1074 Don Wenner The Don Wenner Home Selling TeamKeller Williams Real Estate 2901 Emrick Blvd. Suite 100 Bethlehem PA 18020PA RE License #RS300485 (C) 484-542-2868 (O) 610-867-8888(F) 610-867-8889 http://www.donwenner.com    email: don@donwenner.com "Your Home Sold Guaranteed, Or I'll Buy It" "Buy A home with our Team and Receive up to a $10,000 Cash Reward!" Chris HoffmanPa Re License #RS298340Theresa BarlowPa Re License #RS281312Barb MiersPa Re License #RS278138 02/22/2009

Well from listening to several buyer agents and many of our own if anything comes out of this foreclosure, short sale boom for the real estate industry maybe it will have something to do with a standardized system for dealing with short sales.  I have heard and experienced many nightmares for agents but more importantly buyers who actually do want to buy but are unable to do or just don't understand the process when making an offer on a property which is tagged with "short sale" or "bank approval required" as a label in mls.  I don't blame them, many times I don't understand the process either. For the most part many banks have similar needs and requirements for instance the need for the property owners participation and cooperation as well as hardship letters and other explanations.  I... 02/22/2009

  Sand Island in Bethlehem is a city park surrounded by the Lehigh River.  It's a place where city dwellers can get closer to nature without traveling far.  There is a slight problem, though.  There is no simple way of enjoying the river itself.    It is difficult to get a boat into the water because of the steep slopes.  There are no decent picnic spots with a view of the river.  And, if nature calls, there are no convenient rest rooms.   In light of these problems, the city leaders are looking to improve Sand Island.  Last year, the city did some landscaping and poured concrete for a boat launch.  This will allow trailers to bring in motorized boats and easier access for canoeists to the Lehigh River.   Later this year, a pavilion will be erected near one of Musikfest's major stages, ... 02/18/2009

Our government let me down again.  I actually had high hopes for them a few weeks ago when I heard rumors that they were actually thinking of a home buying credit of $15,000 for everyone who purchased a home this year.  When I heard that I thought WOW thats incredible and will get us out of this mess much faster or at the very least get all of those buyers who are on the fence off the fence and into a new home. Here is why I liked it.  I heard one time (couldn't tell you where or when) that when someone buys a home it puts $25,000 on average back into the economy and circulation.  How..... simple.... you buy a home what is the first few things you do, paint it, new furniture, new wall hangings, new improvements and so forth, all of these things that you buy provides a sale for someone e... 02/16/2009

My boys Elias and Caleb and I are at indoor baseball practice at the Lehigh Valley Baseball Academy.  This is a trip we take every week at least 2-3 times throughout the winter.  In fact, I have driven the same way so many times it almost a brainless act that does not require much thinking.  Yesterday and today were different.  We travel down Airport Road to get to Union Blvd just past the Lehigh Valley International Airport.  There is a lot of construction going on because of a new high end mall going in near the intersection of Airport Road and Route 22.  Yes.... there is a NEW mall being constructed in the midst of these horrible financial time, but I digress and don't want to steal the thunder from CNN or MSNBC. Anyway, as we are going down the road there is a small (economicall eff... 02/15/2009

Don Wenner | Keller Williams Real Estate | donwenner1@hotmail.com | 484-542-2868 3610 Church Rd, Bethlehem Twp, PA 2-story stone front Colonial 4BR/2.5BA Single Family House offered at $309,900 Year Built 1980 Sq Footage 2,109 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial Floors 2 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size 29,185 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION This immaculate 2-story stone front Colonial features four bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, formal dining room & living room, large remodeled eat-in kitchen that leads into a gorgeous family room with stone fireplace from floor to ceiling. Incredible Hardwood floors through out the first floor; living Room and dining room hardwood floors are new, kitchen through family room have been totally refinished. Beautifully remodeled 1/2 bath and upstairs hal... 02/03/2009

Don Wenner | Keller Williams Real Estate | donwenner1@hotmail.com | 484-542-2868 320 8th Ave, Bethlehem, PA Totally remodeled Ranch with beautiful hardwood floors! 2BR/1BA Single Family House offered at $174,900 Year Built 1973 Sq Footage 988 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 1 full, 0 partial Floors 1 Parking Unspecified Lot Size 7,521 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Totally remodeled ranch in Bethlehem. First floor has all hardwood floors throughout.Large family room with picture window. Bathroom has all new fixtures and ceramic tile floors. Great size masterbedroom. Kitchen has been updated with plenty of storage. Lower level offers one large finished room with a closet(currently being used as a bedroom) along with another large area for storage and utiities. Large fenced in yard is grea... 01/22/2009

Is your home ready to show?  Implement the following checklist to make your home stand out and shine for prospective buyers and maximize your bottom line.                                                                          Maximize Your Curb Appeal   Move all garbage cans, recycling bins, gardening tools/supplies, shovels, etc.. from the front yard and arrange neatly in garage or shed. Make sure lawn is neatly mowed, weeds are pulled from planting beds, dead or dying plants are removed. Mulch where needed. Sweep all sidewalks, walkways, and steps that lead to the front door. Touch up paint where needed around front door, windows, and garage doors. Dirty, peeling paint will give potential buyers the impression that your home is not maintained well. Replace worn, stained doormats wit... 01/04/2009

Christmas City Cirque was back in town this past weekend.  It was a great show!  A press handstand is difficult on it's own, but when performed on top of a table stacked with 7 chairs...it was truly amazing!  The show was a fun combination of tumbling, balancing, juggling and dancing acts requiring an incredible amount of strength, balance, concentration AND courage! My family had a great time...the show took place in the heated tents that held the Christkindlmarkt Marketplace.  There is always something fun going on in Historic Bethlehem!  Check out www.christmascity.org for a calendar of events, purchasing tickets, and money-saving coupons. Prior to the show, we had dinner at Mama Nina's Foccacheria on Main Street.  If you are in Bethlehem and in the mood for Italian...I highly recomm... 12/29/2008

In this challenging economy, we can all use a break.  If you love going to the movies, but HATE the cost, check out The Boyd Theatre on Broad Street in Bethlehem. For all of you long-time residents...Yes, it IS still open! If you are new to the Lehigh Valley...put it on your list of places to try.  I remember going there as a kid.  It is still as charming as it was, featuring one movie at a time.  And they are first-run movies.  For a matinee, you will only pay $4, after 6pm, admission is $6!  For 65 and over or 11 and under, admission is always $4!  The theatre currently has the lowest first-run admission and concession stand prices in the Lehigh Valley. Walking distance from all of the fun, trendy shops and restaurants of Historic Bethlehem...it makes for a wonderful afternoon or nigh... 12/23/2008