Greater Cincinnati Luxury Market Update – Multiple Listing Service Stats

A few months ago I gave you information about the upscale housing market in the Greater Cincinnati area.  Those areas included Butler, Warren, Hamilton and Clermont counties.  We discussed the Jumbo Mortgage Market, and how tight control on the interest rates for the luxury home market may be slowing the housing market, at the “grass roots” level.

I just put together an update with closed sales stats through November 15, 2009.  I thought you might like an update. Read more

One More Good Reason to Inspect Before You List – Your Buyer’s Timely Loan Approval

Having just missed Halloween, I may be a little late to try to scare you with a horror story or two. But hey! There’s never a moment when a good story to shake things up isn’t welcome.  Today, I wanted to share a potential trend that a few of us have experienced in the “wonderful world of real estate”: the lenders becoming involved in the home inspection negotiation process. If that doesn’t scare the living daylights out of you, maybe it should. Read more

For Outstanding Service & Representation, Commit to One RE/MAX Agent

Ready to jump into the market? Good!! Interest rates are low. Inventory is high, and sellers are feeling “negotiable”. It’s the perfect time to buy. You’ve done things right. Your loan is in place. Now you’ve found a handful of homes that you might like to see. Ok, so you start to call the realtors. 5 Houses. 5 Agents. 5 Phone Calls.  The 1st  listing agent asks “So, have you been working with an agent?”  The 2nd agent asks “So, have you been working with an agent?”   See a pattern? Why so many questions? Why don’t they JUST set an appointment to show the home? Read more

Foreclosure Homes in Cincinnati. Are they a Good Deal?

Buyers often tell me that they want to be sure to explore the foreclosure market when we begin our home search.  Enthusiastically armed with more fantasy than fact, they are quite sure that there is a bargain to be found because they over heard their co-worker telling the story that their uncle’s, cousin’s oldest child, three states over got a $350,000 home in great shape for only $150,000!  Baloney.  T.V. commercials are currently running that show beautiful homes in wonderful condition, bank-owned, that can be bought for pennies on the dollar. My advice: Turn the channel. Read more

How to Interview a Potential Lender

When it’s time to consider whether to work with a bank or a mortgage broker to obtain a loan for your new home, many people feel overwhelmed and confused. Even within a well established name in the banking and lending field, there are loan officers that are more knowledgeable than others, and provide a greater level of service and communication than their co-workers. Mortgage rules and regulations have changed recently, and you need a good, well informed loan officer to assist you.  Read more

Home Buyer Worksheet – The “Wants” and “Needs” in My New Home

What kind of home do you want? Seems like a simple question doesn’t it? Ranch? Split-Level? Wooded view or a sidewalk community?  Buyers can often become overwhelmed with the numerous options on the market. Take a minute to review this checklist. Think about your “wants” and “needs”.  You’ll find that it helps to organize your thoughts as your go through the home buying process. Read more

10 Buyer Traps & Trips – 10 Ways to Avoid Them

Of all the major purchases that we make in our life time, buying our homes, especially our first home, is an emotional decision. True for even for the most analytical among us. Major purchases require doing a little homework and getting prepared. The more you know, the less emotional about the purchase you will be. The more you know, and the less emotion going into your decision, the more comfortable you will be in your final decision. Decision making, calm and confident, will greatly enhance your home buying experience. Read more

Is that Overpriced Home “The One”? Don’t Be Afraid to a Make an Offer

In a brisk market, when homes are selling at a good pace, a home that just doesn’t move is quickly stigmatized.  The available pool of buyers begins to wonder if there is something wrong with the home. Buyers will form the opinion that if the home has been on the market for an unreasonable amount of time, most certainly the buyers that have toured the home have discovered something terribly wrong with the home, and will not buy it. They think “why should we waste our time viewing the home?” So the home sits. Read more