In this episode of Central PA Property Talk, Brian and Chris from 717 Home Buyers tackle one of the most common homeowner questions today: Can you really sell your house while you still owe money on your mortgage? Spoiler: yes — and it happens every day in Lancaster, York, Harrisburg, and beyond.

They break down the three main options — listing with a realtor, renting out your property, or selling directly to a local cash buyer — and share real examples from Lebanon and York to illustrate what works best (and when). This episode will help you understand your numbers, avoid unnecessary carrying costs, and make confident decisions about your next move.

Key Topics:

• What “carrying costs” really mean and how they add up

• The pros and cons of selling through a realtor vs. cash buyer

• Real local stories from Lebanon and York homeowners

• How the mortgage payoff works during a cash sale

• When to act to protect your finances and credit

• ✅ You can sell even with an active mortgage — the payoff happens at closing.

• 💸 Every month you wait costs money in carrying costs (mortgage, taxes, insurance).

• 🏡 Local buyers like 717 Home Buyers can eliminate uncertainty and double payments fast.

• 📅 The earlier you act, the more leverage and options you’ll have.

Brian and Chris open the conversation by addressing a common dilemma in Central Pennsylvania: homeowners feeling stuck between what they owe and where they need to go. Many bought during the low-rate years and now face much higher payments if they move. With housing inventory rising in Lancaster County and slower sales in York and Harrisburg, people are struggling to balance life changes with financial reality.

The hosts explain the burden of carrying costs — the ongoing expenses of owning two homes — which can easily hit $2,500 to $3,500 per month in Lebanon or Lancaster. From utilities and insurance to property taxes and maintenance, those costs eat away at potential profits quickly.

Three main paths exist for homeowners in this position. Listing with a realtor can work but often means paying commissions, waiting months, and covering expenses in the meantime. Renting it out can backfire if the rent doesn’t cover the mortgage or tenant issues arise. The third option — selling directly to a cash buyer like 717 Home Buyers — offers speed, certainty, and simplicity.

They share two real-world stories: a Lebanon couple paying double mortgages who sold fast and walked away with $45,000 in cash, and a single mom in York who avoided foreclosure through a short sale arranged by 717. In both cases, fast, local action prevented financial stress and long-term credit damage.

The episode closes with practical steps: know your exact mortgage balance and carrying costs, get a realistic property value, and request a no-obligation cash offer to compare your options. As Brian puts it, “You’re not stuck — you just need the right solution.”

Most homeowners think selling with a realtor means only paying the 6% commission — but there’s a lot more that eats into your profit. In this episode, Brian and Chris from 717 Home Buyers break down the true, often hidden costs of selling your house in Central Pennsylvania.

From pre-listing repairs and inspection fixes to months of holding costs, they reveal the math most sellers never see — and share how a direct cash sale can eliminate those expenses entirely.

If you’ve ever wondered whether that “higher listing price” is really worth it, this conversation is for you.

• Realtor commissions (typically 6%) are just the beginning.

• Pre-listing repairs and buyer inspection credits can total $5,000–$15,000+.

• Holding costs — mortgage, taxes, insurance, and utilities — often add thousands more.

• Cash buyers like 717 Home Buyers purchase as-is, with no repairs, commissions, or waiting.

• Selling directly can be the most financially sensible path for older or inherited homes.

Selling a home in Lancaster, York, or Harrisburg often looks straightforward — list with a realtor, pay the 6% commission, and close. But as Brian and Chris explain, traditional sales hide layers of expense that most homeowners don’t anticipate.

Pre-listing updates like paint, carpet, or kitchen touch-ups can cost thousands before a single showing. Then come inspection repairs, which buyers frequently demand as credits or fixes. Meanwhile, every month your home sits, mortgage, taxes, and utilities continue to drain your bottom line.

That’s where a direct sale to a local cash buyer — like 717 Home Buyers — can make the difference. No repairs, no commissions, no waiting. Sellers in Lebanon, Reading, and Lititz have saved thousands and avoided months of stress by choosing a fair cash offer instead of the uncertainty of the open market.

For many Central PA homeowners, selling “as-is” isn’t just faster — it’s smarter.

In this episode of Central PA Property Talk, Brian and Chris from 717 Home Buyers tackle one of the biggest homeowner questions: Should you fix your house before selling, or is it better to sell as-is?

They break down what’s happening in the Central Pennsylvania housing market — from Lancaster and York to Lebanon and Reading — where buyers are getting pickier and fixer-uppers are sitting longer on the market. Through real local stories, you’ll hear what happens when homeowners choose to repair vs. when they decide to sell as-is.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why many Central PA sellers lose money waiting for the “perfect buyer.”

• How repairs, inspections, and time on market can eat away profits.

• Real stories from homeowners in Lebanon, Hanover, and Mechanicsburg.

• The hidden costs of fixing up vs. the simplicity of selling as-is.

• How 717 Home Buyers helps local sellers close fast — no stress, no repairs.

In this Central PA Property Talk episode, Brian and Chris from 717 Home Buyers get real about one of the toughest decisions sellers face — whether to invest time and money into fixing up their property or sell it as-is.

Across Central Pennsylvania, home prices are still slightly higher year over year, but inventory is also rising. That means buyers have options — and they’re prioritizing move-in-ready homes. The hosts share data and personal experiences showing that houses needing work are often taking 90+ days to sell, compared to just 30 days for updated properties.

Brian and Chris share several real-life cases from Lebanon, Hanover, and Mechanicsburg — homeowners who poured thousands into repairs and months into waiting, only to discover the costs outweighed the gains. Carrying costs like mortgages, property taxes, and utilities quickly pile up, turning every extra month into lost equity.

They also discuss today’s buyer psychology. With higher interest rates, stricter inspections, and more cautious lending, buyers aren’t looking for projects — they want homes they can move into immediately. Even small issues like dated wiring, musty basements, or unfinished projects can scare off potential offers.

That’s where selling as-is can make sense. Brian and Chris explain how 717 Home Buyers, a trusted local company serving Lancaster, York, Lebanon, Reading, and Harrisburg, gives homeowners a faster, simpler alternative — selling directly, without repairs or showings.

Their message is clear: in a shifting market, time is money. For many Central PA homeowners, selling as-is means saving both.

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