Stalled Luxury Home Sales

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.

Single Family Sales: Butler, Warren, Hamilton and Clermont Counties.
Source: Greater Cincinnati Multiple Listing Service

It’s possible that once the current 23 pending sales do close, that we the “Over $700k+” sales will not come to the anticipated 138 total.  We will just have to see if those homes, in this buyer driven market, that are priced close to the $700,000 list price, do indeed sell over $700,000

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

Our "leaf lawn"

Did you see that gorgeous full moon last night?  It was a beautiful sight.  I love the chilly nights and cool days.  The leaves are everywhere! I have to confess:  We don’t do a great job of raking at our house. Never have and probably never will. We just like the look of the scattered leaves. I am glad to see that several of our neighbors do too.  We aren’t the only house on the block with a “leaf lawn”.

Are you ready to take the time to look at year to date numbers? Let’s see how this year, through October 31, 2009, compares with the last few years, back to 2005.  These stats are, of course, from The Greater Cincinnati Multiple Listing Service. January 1 – October 31, single family closed sales, no auctions. The stats include the Hamilton, Clermont, Butler and Warren Counties.

                                                             January 1 – October 31 

See any trends here?  So far this year, closed single family dwelling sales are 394 units down from last year, but a whopping 5,476 from the 2005 high.  The list to sale ratio continued dropped with a “thud”, as buyers drove hard bargains. Combine the buyer’s “upper hand” approach to negotiations with sellers who are still over-pricing, and the L/S ratio widen.   The back story on these numbers you don’t see, are the number of homes that had to have 2 or 3 price reductions before a buyer wrote an offer that resulted in a closed sale.

If you want more detailed information about your specific neighborhood or price range, let me know! The RealCincy Group would be glad to prepare your personal report.

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

When gold coins were plentiful, the princess was loved by the people. After the darkness appeared, some would even want to literally argue, challenging her to a duel, about why their castle was special, and how it had escaped the plague on the land. “But I’m next to a park” shouted one! “But I’ve just drained the swamp!” yelled the other. “Could you not see that I’ve painted the Great Hall blue, the master suite purple, and shined all the suits of armor?!” raged the next.

After the darkness appeared over the faraway land, some people decided to not sell, but perhaps re-finance their castle. Maybe take cash equity out of the castle, and dig a bigger moat or pay down some credit cards. Perhaps finance a trip to another far away land: Acapulco or the Grand Cayman Islands for instance.

If we are going to re-finance, we’re going to need an appraiser. If we have an appraiser, we have an opinion of value. The key word here is “opinion”.  I’m not here to suggest that we send the appraisers to the stockade.  Not even close. I successfully work closely with an appraisal group to assist me with our Serious Seller Program. Now, that being said, let the story telling continue.

A couple of weeks ago, someone I know gave me a copy of an appraisal, now about 6 months old.  If you can remember back with me, to January 2009, the Greater Cincinnati real estate market wasn’t exactly stellar, and the MLS stats that I posted outlining 2008 final numbers spoke to that point. As the market has continued to remain low these last 6 months, it’s possible that the future reporting will show that it was better then, than it is today!

I would love to be able to share the entire contents of this book of fiction, um, professional appraisal, but ya’ know that’s not going to happen. I will however, continue with the “fairy tale” aspect of this story, by sharing a couple of key thoughts. This was a well intentioned appraisal, I’m sure. However, the mistakes made, and the storybook effect of this tale of fiction disguised as an expert appraisal, has yet another homeowner thinking her castle may be worth a few thousand more than it is.

The point of the appraisal was, as you’ve probably gathered, for a re-finance.  The home is served by a school district with an “Excellent” rating, per the Ohio Department of Education. That school district had 207 sales in July 2008 – January 2009. In the same time period, one year prior, July 2007 – January 2008, there had been 236 sales.  I know you did the math: 29 fewer sales
Now, check out this information:
2006 – 504 Sales. Median List Price: $215,000 Median Sales Price: $209,250
2007 – 419 Sales. Median List Price: $205,000 Median Sales Price: $195,000
2008 – 387 Sales. Median List Price: $189,900 Median Sales Price: $184,500

Here’s how the fairy tale continues: this appraisal was performed the first week of January 2009, thus the appraiser would have concentrated on the 6 months prior to the report.  The appraiser would have access to the above information; however, this is not the type of sales history an individual appraiser will take the time to create or consider for one homeowner. The appraiser commented that this area had “…stable to modestly increasing property values.” I don’t know about that. What do you think?  $184,500 SOUNDS like quite a bit less to me than $195,000. A $10k drop in median value for one of Greater Cincinnati’s most popular areas in one year’s time! That’s information I might like to have if I’m selling a home, or re-financing and looking for true market value, (not pumped up re-fi value)  now that the dark cloud of slow sales has moved over the land.

Let’s consider something else in the appraisal that will cause even the sturdiest gargoyle to rock off its base. Under the “Additional Listings” section of the report, the appraiser voluntarily and arbitrarily decided to discuss a home that was being offered “for sale”, in “active” status in MLS, far above the most probable sales price, or market value, of the subject property. This home was entered into the report as an “oh, by the way” commentary. Just what did the appraiser say? Glad you asked. She noted that while “…this is not to be considered a comparable, due to the fact that it does not meet the requirements of a comparable, which is a closed sale. This listing exhibits the strength of the market in the area”.  In my book, 32 fewer sales than the year before, with a $10,000 drop in median price doesn’t sound too strong…but what do I know?   That “non-comp”  home was on the market, the day of the appraisal, January 6, 2009 at $183,500. It had first entered the market priced at $187,500. Currently, the home is still being marketed, 301 days later, and reduced to $177,500.

In some wierd way, I guess you can say the this home “…exhibits the strength of the market…” I just don’t think that was the twist the appraiser was going for.

In the meantime, there is a homeowner who has been given some “false hope” about the reality of the real estate market. Unfortunately, she has put her faith in this appraisal that is riddled with inaccuracies. I think I know a princess whose frock is about to get dirty.

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

• Thomas & Friends – June 10 & 11, Bank of Kentucky Center, NKU
• Riverbend Music Center has a great line up for June:
June 4 – Coldplay, June 12 – Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion, June 16 – Dave Matthews Band, June 19 – Brad Paisley, June 20 – 311, and June 27 – Oh yea, they’re back! It’s The New Kids on The Block.

• Milford Ohio Kicks off the Summer with the 47th Annual Frontier Days! June 4 – 7. The parade starts at 6:30 on Thursday June 4th. Enjoy Food, Games, Lawn Mower Races, Karaoke Contest and the Big Chicken Dinner. Check out the official Frontier Days site for more information!

• At the PNC Pavilion at Riverbend The Offspring play June 24
• Broadway Across America Presents “A Chorus Line” at the Aronoff Center through June 7
 
• Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra – June 18, Music Hall. Featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
• Playhouse in the Park presents “Marry Me a Little” – Through June 14. In the Thompson Shelter house.  Songs by Stephen Sondheim. “What can you do on a Saturday night alone?” These and other meaningful questions answered comically and musically here!
• There is ALWAYS something happening at Jungle Jims! The following events aren’t necessarily “kid friendly”, but mom & dad need an afternoon off too!  Here are few things to check out:
June 19, 7 – 10 pm it’s Beerfest!  What true Cincinnatian, or soon to be Cincinnatian, would pass on the “native” refreshment?
June 13, France vs. USA. Wine Tasting 1 – 3 p.m.
June 20, “Rhone Style” Wine Tasting 1 – 3 p.m.
June 27, The “Not to Miss” Event….Battle of the Bands Wine Tasting Event! Ten of the Top Suppliers will be on Hand Vying for Your Vote as “The Best”
Be sure to check out www.junglejims.com for more information, times, reservations and costs.

• Kevin Pollack – June 18 & 20 Special Engagement! Funny Bone Comedy Club. Newport on the Levee
• “Junk in the Trunk” Sale in Lebanon. June 6. Interfaith Hospitality Network of Warren County Hosts at Lebanon Jr. High. Call 934-5250 for more information
• Pack up the Family and head to a Reds Game. Buy the $5 “Cheap Seats” for an economical night out. There isn’t a bad seat in the place! June 5 – 7 the Reds hot the Chicago Cubs. June 16 – 21, there’s a 6 day home stretch. The Reds host the Atlanta Braves & the Chicago White Socks. Let’s see if they can stay in the run for 1st place!
• June is a big month for church and school festival fundraisers. Link to Local12.com for a complete list.

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

You Must Sell What You Have. Don’t Try to Sell Your Vision

When meeting with homeowners getting ready to put their home on the market, it goes without saying that we are going to discuss the condition of the home as it relates to salability and market value. Unfortunately, too many homeowners are still putting homes on the market before they are “market ready”.  Other homeowners have simply run out of time or money, and are unable to build the deck or re-finish the hardwood.  Understood. Sometimes cash is tight. But what else needs to be understood is this: Unfinished projects will affect the marketability and the bottom line sales price of your home.

I was recently in a home where the homeowners had a door from the breakfast nook to, well, nowhere! That first step outside is a potential leg breaker! This 5 year old home never had a deck attached as was intended when the home was built, yet there was no apparent pricing adjustment to the list price. Then there is the story of the owners of a 1 year old Fischer Homes resale in the Polo Fields who had accepted a corporate transfer.  I will never forget listening to the homeowner justify the price he wanted, based on the fact that his unfinished basement with 10’ ceilings and 3 nice sized windows let in quite a bit of daylight. Now, the home wasn’t built with a walkout basement.  He reasoned with a few adjustments, like cutting through concrete, it could have a walk-up stairwell basement, be properly finished, and add about another 2500 sq. foot of living space….What?!  Are you serious?? By the way, the home did not sell anywhere near this guy’s price.
 “No kidding?” you say.

I am currently representing a buyer purchasing a home in West Chester. The out of town owner purchased the foreclosed home as a “fix and flip”.  The problem is, he put it on the market before completing in full the re-hab project.  What my buyers saw was unfinished hardwood, a master bedroom in need of carpet, no appliances, and a yard full of weeds needing attention. Costing his checkbook a great deal of cash, the seller priced the home not as you see it, but as though it were complete. It is not.  My buyers are getting one great purchase, and the seller is completing the unfinished projects, including re-finishing the hardwood floors. Why? Because he needs to sell!  Putting this home on the market before it was ready probably cost him $20,000 – $25,000. Great for my buyers! I’m just glad I don’t represent this seller!

I walked away from an opportunity to list a 4 –unit apartment complex, deeply in need of updates. Why would I potentially “leave money on the table”? Because the seller of the apartment was, and still is, trying to compete in price with newer, more up to date 8 – 12 unit apartments that from an investment position, make sense vs. his very run down “could be” building.

One truth seems to ring true whenever I find myself sitting at the kitchen table with a potential seller, who is sharing his or her vision about what they were “going to do” with their home or investment.  These people had a vision for the home, and life’s circumstances prevented them from being able to complete that vision. Often, I can see it pains that person, or couple, to sell. They love their home, or this investment is supposed to take care of their retirement. We understand.  But as I’ve mentioned before, you need someone who will be objective. You need someone who will tell you the truth. That’s where we come in.

Trust me, it gives me no pleasure to tell someone they need to downwardly adjust their expectations of their home’s value when major, buyer favored items, are missing.  Decks that didn’t get built, appliances that didn’t get installed, fences that didn’t get repaired, gardens that didn’t get planted, and a fresh coat of paint that didn’t get applied. It all adds up.  Potential buyers just have too many options to get wrapped up in your vision. Buyers have their own lives to think about, including their own vision, and it will not help your sale to assume they will share yours.

Your best bet is to put your home in as clean, staged, inspected and corrected condition as your circumstances will allow.  Edit the personal items. Take down the magnets and baby pictures off the ‘fridge. Clean….deep clean. Have the home fresh and in showing shape each and every day. 

Take advantage of our Serious Sellers Marketing Program to make sure you are staged, inspected, and priced accordingly. It’s only $650! If you spent $650 and it brought you several thousand more, doesn’t that make sense? Follow through with this program and your home will sell!

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

Are you ready to Get Serious and get your home SOLD in 2009?   

Great! ….Here’s How!

Gone are the days of “let’s just see” and “we’ll test the market”.  Today’s sellers must be serious about selling…..or the market will make that decision for you!  Today’s seller must take a pro-active approach to marketing to protect their equity.  Today’s seller needs to encourage what precious few buyers are available to choose their home, by eliminating as many obstacles as possible! 

Maybe your home failed to sell previously and you are ready to try something new. You waited for showings that were never scheduled, or had showings but no offers.  Perhaps you are ready to sell, but don’t want to experience the “never-ending time on the market” that your neighbors did. The stress of never knowing how much longer that “For Sale” sign would be in their yards. Then let’s Get Serious!

The $650 “Serious Sellers” Satisfaction Package

* Here’s What’s Included *

• Home Warranty – Coverage is Provided to YOU While the Listing Agreement is in Effect. Transferable to Buyer at Closing.
• Pre-Listing Home Inspection – INCLUDING Termite & Wood-Boring Insect Inspection!! This WILL Save You Time & Money!!
• Professional Photographs – Experience the Difference!
• Staging Consultation with Home Staging and Decorating Professional – Your Home is Lovely, But Today’s Buyers Demand More than “Clean & Tidy”.  The Way You Market & Stage a Home is Much Different from the Way You LIVE in Your Home.

Learn From a Professional & Reduce Your Marketing Time!

Also Included………

• Pre-Marketing Appraisal – Your Agent Has Provided You with a Statistical Right Price Analysis.  The Appraiser Will Provide True Market Value, or TMV.  Price at or Near TMV. You WILL Reduce Your Marketing Time & Saves it WILL Save You Money!
• Online Promotion – Your Home Has its Own Web Page!  Showings Happen Around the Clock, Every Day of the Week. Online Promotion in the MLS, Local Broker Websites, RE/MAX.com, Craigslist …..and 10 Other Sites Used by Home Buyers Across the Globe!
• VoicePad…a 24/7 Information Line!  and In-Home Brochures
• “Front and Center Promotion” to our Google Based Online Home Buyers – Literally Thousands of Online Shoppers Reach Our Site Monthly. Your Home is Featured in our “Market Monitor”.  We Are Keeping Home Buyers Up to Date AND Promoting Your Home When it’s a “Match” to Their Search Criteria!
• Vacant Home Cleaning – An Added Value to Your Potential Buyer & A Time Saving, Stress Reducing, Money in Your Pocket Bonus!

Give The Real Cincy Group a call! We will prepare your Right Price Analysis and get serious about selling!

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

 Spring has arrived!

• Paula Deen – April 8. Cintas Center, Xavier University
• Tom  Foss – April 9. Funny Bone Comedy Club. Newport on the Levee
• Drew Hastings – April 15. Go Bananas Comedy Club…that should be a good show!
• Kings Island – April 18th……Opening Day….!
• Queen City Barbie Doll Club Show & Sale – April 19. Holiday Inn, Sharonville. I know my girls would have loved this when they were little!
• Sesame Street Live: When Elmo Grows Up – April 23 – 26. Bank of Kentucky Center
• Butterfly Show – April 18 – June 21. Krohn Conservatory

Such a welcome sight

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

One of the most important elements of the Cincinnati home buying experience, and perhaps the most stress inducing portion of the process, is the home inspection.  In Part One of this series, I shared with you this thought: Just because the inspector wrote down a “problem”, that doesn’t make it so. Some “problems” are nothing more than items that can be fixed with a screw driver or by pushing the re-set button on the GFCI outlet. An inspection report that lists 5 or 6 of these types of “problems” nearly inevitably causes a nervous home buyer to doubt his purchase decision. Look objectively at the report. Dirty gas fireplaces can be easily cleaned by a homeowner. Smoke detectors can be installed after you move in. Wobbly banisters serve no real threat to your health. Just get out the screwdriver.

The purpose of the inspection is to determine if the home has any material defects that were not immediately visible when we toured the home together. What are we concerned with?  Roof condition, termites, radon, non-functioning windows that may prevent an escape in case of fire are good examples. A good inspector should be able to help you understand the difference between real issues, and items that should probably be done at some point….like adding an extra smoke detector in the upstairs hall for example.

Your home inspector is not supposed to be there looking for little bits of problems. He is there to identify major fixes, and major problems.  The purpose of writing down wobbling ceiling fans and loose banisters is to help you “perfect” the imperfect home.  These are not written down to give you a list of items to present to the seller. A wobbling ceiling fan should not affect your decision to buy your home.

Now that we have wrapped our heads around the purpose of the report, and the very real fact that we will need to go line item by line item, making a clear determination between fact, opinion, safety and a weekend minor chore list, let’s talk about what else can happen.

Why Didn’t He Find This Problem?

During the 2 or 3 hours that you and your inspector are together, your inspector may miss a few things. Why? Some problems can not be found unless you actually live in the home. A good example is  hot water distribution in the home if two showers are being run. Drippy faucets can materialize at any time. Leaks can develop after you move in and certain conditions arise…..like a wind storm a month after you buy the home.

The “Last Man In” Theory

It has happened that an inspector discovered a leak in the roof that could be fixed with securing shingles, or correcting a problem with flashing. Bring in the roofer that recommends a new roof. Why? The “Last Man In”.

The “Last Man In” theory is this: The last guy to work on a problem is reluctant to just “fix”, he would rather replace. He doesn’t want the exposure of liability, real or imagined, because he was the last guy to touch it.

Just another thought: in the winter, your inspector can not test the air conditioner. If we are having a snowy winter, the roof may not be clear for weeks. When we are experiencing a hot, sticky summer day, the furnace will not be flipped on.  Problems can manifest later. Wind can be damaging and ground settles. Motors on garbage disposers and trash compacters can give out. I’ve never been able to make sense of the life span of a water heater.  I’ve had them last 20 years and I have seen them go in less than 10. Your inspector doesn’t have a crystal ball.

Different Opinions

There is more than one way to build a home. On the Cincinnati market today are homes built what we might call “Good”, “Better”, “Best”.  All are acceptable.  If you are purchasing a 10 year old $150,000 home, it’s probably “Good”. An inspector might call out something that is “Best” because it is his opinion that all homes should be constructed a certain way or contain a particular feature.   If your home is built to code, the seller doesn’t have to make design changes to make the home “Best”. Bring in a contractor and his opinion may differ on how something should be done that was not noted on an inspection report. Remember, you have two different opinions because the two sets of eyes are coming from different approaches.

You home inspector is giving your home a general, overall visual sweep.  He will not light the pilot light on water heaters, pull apart the furnace, or conduct an extensive mold test. He will generally recommend HVAC and fireplace cleaning.  He will not perform any invasive tests.

Remember that your inspection, even if no real material defects are found, is not going to eliminate any and all future issues. When I bought my home in 2000, my favorite inspector performed a very good inspection. However, within the first 12 – 14 months my dishwasher leaked, the ice maker stopped making ice, the A/C didn’t work the following summer, the water softener stopped working and the garbage disposal quit and needed to be replaced. 

I hope this helps you understand what to expect at your home inspection. The home inspectors that we can recommend will try to do a good job for you. They are here to help. Let’s just be sure to take the report, one item at a time, always keeping in mind the purchase contract language and intent of the inspection contingency, and keep the emotion out of it. I bet you’ll find that the stress just melts away and you will enjoy the home purchase process even more.

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

Story #1

Let’s set the scene: 1st time buyers nervously moving forward on a purchase. They are doing things right. They have saved for the down payment, they have the money in the bank for emergencies, and they are buying well below their approved purchase price so they do not stretch themselves.  Enter the home inspector.  The home inspector convinced them that the electrical wiring in the 25 year old home “was shot”. His exact words. The sellers need to have an electrician re-wire the home. He could not get the front porch light to come on. The exterior plug on the porch didn’t work. It was “dead”.  There were major issues to address! The couple was scared to death of the “fire trap”. They wanted out of the contract….NOW!

Solution:  Burned out light bulb & a GFCI that just needed reset. Yep, that’s it. Seller replaced the light bulb and pushed the little red button on the GFCI, and problem solved.

Story #2

Let’s set the scene: Young executive moving to Cincinnati with his wife and baby. We select a beautiful, gently lived in one year old home. The sellers barely had time to unpack, when he was transferred so the home was sitting there empty, just waiting for my buyers.  For some reason that we don’t quite understand, the paint work is a bit “patch-y” & it really shows up in certain sunlight. Not the nicest touch up job I’ve ever viewed, but this is a great house, reduced in price to meet the market conditions. My customers decide this home is “the one”.  We draft an offer with the understanding that if the sellers accept our contract, we will take the home “as is” and not ask for the home to be re-painted. Offer accepted.  Enter the home inspector who notes on his report that the whole house needs repainted.  I explained to the buyers that our “best deal” included the fact that the home needed repainted, and the sellers are not even going to entertain that notion. And…AND….the purchase contract clearly states that we are not conducting an inspection to discuss cosmetic issues!!   I might add that the same home inspector made comments on his report about yard conditions, on the neighboring lot, in a new construction neighborhood, before there was even a house built!!  He also missed the giant sink hole in the front yard.

Solution:  Our purchase contract clearly states the following. “It is not the intent of this provision to permit the buyer to terminate this agreement for cosmetic or non-material defects or conditions.  Buyer agrees that minor repairs and routine maintenance items are not to be considered material defects with regard to this contingency”. If you sign it…you agree to it!!  Did the buyers ask for the paint job after the inspector said that they should? Yep. Were the sellers a bit, let’s say miffed? Yep.  Did it cause unnecessary anxiety as the buyers suddenly decided that because the home inspector “…said that we should put that in the contract and have them repaint the home….” that this normally respectful and calm Realtor ® didn’t want to put her foot in someone’s backside? Oh yes!!

Story #3

Let’s set the scene: A lovingly maintained 15 year old, custom built 2 story enters the market.  It goes under contract and the buyers send over their inspector.  The inspector notes a problem with the roof. A small leak is noted near the chimney.  It is his opinion the roof has lived a useful life, and that the sellers should spring for a new roof.  The seller disagrees. He understands the integrity of the roof, and knows that a new roof is not at all necessary. There is no curling, no flaking, no loose shingles, zero indication that this roof doesn’t have another 10 years of life. He hires his own roofing expert to examine the issue.  A $200 fix later, and the flashing is repaired, the water is now properly flowing as it should.  Would you rather spend $200 for a minor fix, or about $4000 – $5000 for a new roof? Just because an inspector said so?

Ok….I have collected plenty of stories over the years, but this should do it for now.  Here’s my point:  We absolutely, positively must keep home inspections as an integral part of our home buying and selling process. The guys generally do a good job, and I don’t for a minute think that any one of them are out to “trash” a contract, nor do they intend to make trouble with poor reports.  But they are human. Until the perfect humanoid home inspecting droid is invented, there will be mistakes.

The unintended consequences of the home inspection that notes every “this or that” is this: while it may sound “thorough” it scares the heck out of buyers! It causes buyers to question their purchase, and wonder if they should move forward on a home that is now “tainted”. Talk about buyer’s remorse!! Sorry, but there is no provision in a purchase contract to dump on a home because now you doubt your decision.   When you are handed your home inspection report, be objective. Really look at what is important on that report.

Let’s not bother to address cosmetics like paint, landscaping, carpet stains or what’s happening in the neighbor’s yard. We took that into consideration when we drafted our offer.  There is no perfect home and your inspector will certainly find something to jot down. Your inspector may note items like wobbling ceiling fans, loose banisters, stains on linoleum, etc.   That’s ok. The point of noting these items should be to help you have a running list of “to-do’s” and point out items that you just might want to take care of after you move in.

Don’t panic. Give the seller the opportunity to correct the “issues”.  Keep in mind there may not even BE an issue!  Sorry, but just because the inspector wrote it down does not make it so.

Yes, we can ask the seller to take care of these items. Many sellers who take pride in their home will be glad to address even a minor “to-do” list. Let’s just try to keep in mind the purpose of the inspection……material defects.

More Cincinnati real estate information can be found at RealCincy.com

I grew up thinking “chili” as in “Tex-Mex” or Texas style chili. A big ole’ bowl of chili pepper spiced ground beef, onions, kidney beans, tomatoes. Pile on the cheese and hot peppers. When I was about 11 years old and needed to earn my Girl Scout Cooking Badge, I flipped through my mom’s circa 1960’something Betty Crocker cookbook, and found a recipe I thought my family would go for.  Chili-ghetti it was called. Basically, make the beef, beans and onion tomato-based sauce, and serve it on spaghetti. It was a hit, even with my twerp little brothers.

When I first move to Cincinnati in 1988, a co-worker suggested Skyline for lunch. I wrongly assumed it would be similar to the Chili-ghetti I so proudly served.  She warned me that most people don’t like it at first. I didn’t. “You have to try it a second time” she said, “… it takes getting used to.”  She was right. I’m hooked.

Now, for something different: Cincinnati-style chili.

Don’t think Tex-Mex, think Greek.  Cincinnati style chili recipes are all based on what might be considered a Greek version of spaghetti.  Spices like cinnamon, cloves, and rumors of chocolate, are woven into the closely guarded secret recipes of each of Cincinnati’s old chili parlors.  Pile the chili on a hot dog or spaghetti, serve with soda crackers and hot sauce, and you now have a regional delicacy!  Cincinnati is the Chili Capital of the World, with bragging rights to more chili parlors per capita than anywhere else you will ever live.

You need to learn the lingo if you’re going to be mistaken as a Cincinnati native.  A 3-way is the sauce, spaghetti and generous heap of cheddar cheese.  A 4 – way: sauce, spaghetti, cheese, and your choice of beans or onion.  A 5-way is the base, plus onions and beans. Definitely my favorite. Hot sauce and soda crackers are a must.  Of course, the sauce can be found in burritos, on salads,  or on top of hot dogs then topped with cheese.  (I watched Randy eat 4 of those one day, I promise) A Greek salad with feta cheese and kalamata olives makes a great side too.

 By the way, you don’t “twirl” the spaghetti, you cut. I don’t know, it’s some kinda’ rule. Rule breakers will be quickly admonished by the seasoned Cincinnati-style chili connoisseur.

A couple of the most popular chains are Skyline and Gold Star.  Skyline Chili opened in 1949. The first restaurant strategically overlooked the Cincinnati skyline. Skyline products can be found in groceries and Skyline Dip is a staple at “bring an appetizer” parties all over town.  Gold Star Chili was opened in 1965 by 4 brothers who scraped together $1200 to open their first restaurant, Hamburger Heaven, in the Mt Washington area. On the menu was their Greek inspired chili. They “tweaked” the recipe until they had a hit. The brothers renamed the store Gold Star and opened 2 more restaurants within the year!

Independent or small chain parlors are a hit here too.  Price Hill Chili is a west side landmark, family owned.  Big specialty sandwiches, tasty appetizers, and salads are on the menu. But it’s all about the chili that gives this Cincinnati establishment its name.

Pleasant Ridge Chili is known for its late night dining. Open until the unreasonable hour of 4:30 am, you know they are competing for the attention of the White Castle and all night pancake house crowd. They probably win.

Empress Chile has 3 locations, including one in Alexandria, Ky. On the Ohio side of the river, you’ll find Empress on Vine Street and Rapid Run Road.  Milk shakes, good looking salads, and a popular baked potato entry topped with the sauce. I can’t say I’ve been to Empress, but I hear nothing but good things. Give it a try in my stead.

Randy raves about Dixie Chili.  Established in 1929, “Papa Nick” opened Newport, Kentucky’s first chili parlor. Remember the lingo? 3 –way, 4-way, etc?  At Empress, they offer a 6 – way that include chopped garlic. I’m willing to bet that’s good.

Now my favorite: Blue Ash Chili. Established in 1969, this chili parlor is like entering a ‘50’s diner complete with celebrity photos and the tempting desserts under glass on the counter. Have the carrot cake. Our office is close enough to Blue Ash Chili that whenever we have a team meeting of The RealCincy Group, we look for an excuse to make it a late lunch or early dinner at Blue Ash Chili.  Their 6 –way adds jalapenos to the 5-way base. Incredible! The double and triple decker sandwiches could feed a small army. They have a gyro served on a grilled pita with onion, tomato and tzatziki sauce that I want to try. Problem is, I can’t go in there and NOT get a 5 –way or 6-way. What’s a girl to do?  Be sure to play the Spin to Win game on their website. Maybe you’ll win a freebie.

There are small, local parlors dotted throughout the Greater Cincinnati area. No doubt, wherever you decide to live in the area, there will be a Cincinnati-style chili parlor right around the corner. Give it a try. Then try it a second time….it’s take some getting used to.

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