Katelyn Mayer Realtor - Iron Valley Real Estate of Central PA

 Thinking about managing your own rental property? You're not alone—many investors choose to self-manage to keep expenses low, stay involved, and build hands-on experience. While self-management can be rewarding, it also comes with responsibilities that shouldn’t be underestimated. Here are some practical, proven tips to help you succeed if you're planning to manage your own rental property in South Central Pennsylvania or North Central Maryland . 1. Know the Laws (Really Well) Before you hand over the keys to a tenant, make sure you understand federal, state, and local landlord-tenant laws —including: Fair Housing regulations Security deposit limits and return timelines Proper notice for entry or lease termination Eviction procedures and timelines 📝 Pro tip: Always use a lease agreement that’s compliant with your state’s laws —don’t just download a generic one from the internet. 2. Screen Tenants Thoroughly Your tenant can make or break your experience...

When you're building a real estate investment strategy, one of the biggest questions you’ll face is whether to focus on cash flow or appreciation . At the end of the day, the goal of investing is to make money—but how you make that money matters. Both strategies have merit, and experienced investors often use a combination of the two. But in my opinion, new investors should start with cash flow . Here’s why—and how each approach can support your long-term financial goals. Why I Recommend Starting with Cash Flow For most people, the primary reason to invest in real estate is to achieve a personal financial goal—whether that’s early retirement, paying off debt, or leaving a 9-to-5 job. Cash flow investing gets you closer to those goals faster. With properties that generate consistent income above expenses (mortgage, insurance, taxes, maintenance), you're putting money in your pocket every month. Even better, that income is relatively predictable and can be reinvested to g...

Buying your first home is an exciting milestone — but it can also feel overwhelming. As your trusted REALTOR® serving South Central Pennsylvania and North Central Maryland , I’m here to guide you through this journey with confidence. Below are the key steps every first-time homebuyer should know before making their purchase. Step 1: Explore First-Time Homebuyer Programs The average American will own at least three homes in their lifetime, but the first home is often the hardest to buy. Without equity from a previous sale, coming up with a competitive down payment can be tough. Luckily, many programs are designed to help first-time buyers get on the path to homeownership. These include down payment assistance, affordable loans, and educational resources. Start by researching programs in your city or state—many municipalities offer grants or forgivable loans. On a national level, FHA loans are popular for first timers, with lower down payment requirements and more flexible credit sta...

  Presented by Katelyn Mayer, PA & MD REALTOR® | Iron Valley Real Estate Market Overview Market Type: Strong Seller’s Market Months of Inventory: 2.38 months (up 17.8% month-over-month, +96.7% year-over-year) — still a low inventory environment favoring sellers Median Sold Price: $520,000 (up 7.4% from last month) Sold to List Price Ratio: 101% (homes are selling just above asking price) Median Days on Market: 12 days (up 71.4%, homes are selling fast but a bit slower than last month) Listings & Sales Activity Active Listings: 285 homes Median List Price: $629,900 (+0.8%) Median Living Area: 2,572 sqft Median Price per Sqft: $233 New Listings: 286 homes Median List Price: $527,000 (+0.6%) Median Price per Sqft: $234 Total $ Volume: $176.7 million (+33.1%) Pending Listings: 174 homes Median List Price: $500,000 (+2.9%) Median Days on Market: 20 days (+185.7%) Median Price per Sqft: $243 New Pending Lis...

  Presented by Katelyn Mayer, PA & MD REALTOR® | Iron Valley Real Estate Market Overview Market Type: Seller’s Market with balanced trends Months of Inventory: 2.37 months (up 5.3% from last month, +43.6% year-over-year) — still a relatively low inventory favoring sellers Median Sold Price: $574,500 (up 5.8% month-over-month) Sold to List Price Ratio: 101.6% (homes typically sell above list price) Median Days on Market: 14 days (up 75% from last month) — homes are selling quickly, but slightly slower than last month Listings & Sales Activity Active Listings: 372 single-family homes Median List Price: $694,500 (+2.4%) Median Living Area: 2,923 sqft Median Price per Sqft: $234 New Listings: 342 homes Median List Price: $649,900 (+4%) Median Price per Sqft: $233 Total $ Volume: $234 million (+21.4%) Pending Listings: 282 homes Median List Price: $648,925 (+10.9%) Median Days on Market: 16 days (+77.8%) Median...

  Presented by Katelyn Mayer, PA & MD REALTOR® | Iron Valley Real Estate Market Overview Market Type: Balanced with some Seller’s Market conditions Months of Inventory: 2.97 months (down 14.4% from last month, +21.7% year-over-year) — moderate inventory favors neither buyers nor sellers strongly Median Sold Price: $157,000 (up 3.7% month-over-month) Sold to List Price Ratio: 98.1% (homes are selling close to list price) Median Days on Market: 43 days (up 48.3%) — homes are taking longer to sell Listings & Sales Active Listings: 164 single-family homes Median List Price: $160,000 (+4.5%) Median Living Area: 1,765 sqft (+5.8%) Median Price per Sqft: $104 (+3.7%) New Listings: 83 homes Median List Price: $169,000 (+6.3%) Median Price per Sqft: $114 (+1.8%) Pending Listings: 90 homes Median List Price: $147,450 (+1.6%) Median Days on Market: 61 days (up 56.4%) New Pending Listings: 80 homes Median List Pric...