Current homes sold last month looked down However the number of homes in pending status still stayed steady at 27 this month.  Meaning that we should expect more closings showing next month.  Another factor to look is the dwindling inventory in the area.  With this inventory going down home prices will expect to increase latter in the summer. Price per square foot was sitting this month alone at $121. a square foot  This can be early indications here that Avon Lake is returning to previous years values.  03/17/2013

Do you like to be heard? I mean really heard when you know the client you’re talking to gets what you’re saying and understands you? Me too!  Reflective listening is a step beyond active listening. Not only does the listener stay engaged and attentive while the speaker is speaking, afterwards they reflect what they heard.Reflecting at its simplest is saying back to the speaker what you just heard and understood from their words. At a slightly deeper level it involves making empathetic guesses about what the listener thinks is going on for the speaker. At any level it involves humility and honesty. Reflective listening requires vulnerability. Just say what you heard. That’s it. No more. No less. Then ask the client if you got it, if that’s what they wanted you to understand, and is there... 03/16/2013

A secondary offer is essentially a back up offer that has not been accepted.  It {the secondary offer} stands second to an accepted (primary) offer on the same property.  The secondary offer potentially becoming the accepted offer if the contingencies of the primary offer can not be met. Examples of this could be financing can not be achieved, the buyers existing home need to be sold, the home must appraise at  price offered or higher, the home inspection is not completed or the buyer is unsatisfied with the findings of the home inspection. There are usually firm time lines that all contingencies must be met by. If and when contingencies can not be met the buyer will sign a mutual release from contract (usually the earnest money going back to the buyer) with the seller and agent has 3 d... 03/14/2013

    Egg Dye Day Date:  Thursday, March 21, 2013 Time:  10:00 a.m. Location:  Old Firehouse Community Center Celebrate the Easter holiday and springs arrival.  Join us for this free program of coloring eggs for our Easter Baskets.  All materials will be supplied.   Fish Fry Fridays Dates:  March 22, 2013 Time:  11:45 a.m. Cost:  $7.00 Location:  Old Firehouse Community Center, 150 Avon Belden Rd. Enjoy a lake perch lunch including 4 pieces of perch, au gratin potatoes, tangy coleslaw, beverage, and a cookie for dessert.  Don't have time to sit and eat at the Old Firehouse Community Center, call ahead and have your lunch to go.  Pre-payment is required.  Questions please call Lisa at 440-930-4135. Click here to Register   Breakfast with the Easter Bunny Saturday March 23rd Two seatings: 9... 03/14/2013

The mission of the Avon Lake City Schools, a district committed to personalized educational excellence, is to challenge all students and develop their individual goals through community partnerships, resources, and technologies which will produce responsible and compassionate citizens. We believe that all children have the desire and capacity to learn, each in a unique, individualized and sometimes special manner. We also believe that learning is best in a safe, supportive and nurturing environment marked by expectations, challenge, mutual respect and trust, risk-taking, connection to the real world, and personal responsibility. Avon Lake City Schools serve approximately 3,800 students in grades K-12 with 250 teachers. We also offer our LEAPS (Learning Early and Parenting Skills) progra... 03/13/2013

During the week of Monday, March 11, 2013 through Friday, March 15, 2013, all 10th grade students will be taking the five sections of the Ohio Graduation Test (OGT). Each student must pass all five sections of the OGT in order to graduate their senior year. Any 11th or 12th grade student who has not yet passed all five sections of the OGT will be required to take the remaining sections they have yet to pass. This same week, we will be giving all 9th grade students five sections of an OGT practice test. We are giving the 9th grade students this practice test to gather data that will allow us to better prepare them to pass the official OGT, which will be taken in the spring of their sophomore year. The length and format of the 9th grade practice test is identical to the 10th grade test.T... 03/12/2013

In the near future the Avon Lake Police Department will be utilizing helicopter services to survey deer population and locations. This is in accordance with the deer culling operation that the City of Avon Lake is undertaking. The exact dates and times of the survey are weather dependant; however we expect this operation to take place within the next week. If there are any concerns of low flying aircraft please contact the Avon Lake Police Department at 440-933-4567. 03/11/2013

The A.L.I.C.E Plan - New School Emergency Procedures Past practice for lockdowns has been fairly simple - staff locked their doors and turned off the lights. Students would move to a part of the room where they could not be seen and huddle quietly until they were given the "all clear" notice. The premise was to not bring attention to your presence and hopefully any intruder would leave you alone. This strategy changed after the Virginia Tech incident in 2007.  From this tragedy a new strategy was developed that will now be used at all Avon Lake City Schools - the ALICE plan. The philosophy behind the ALICE plan is to utilize technology and information in ways that allow staff and students to make informed decisions, to remove as many people as possible from the DANGER zone, and to provi... 03/10/2013

The Avon Lake Symphonic Band is one of four bands from throughout the USA selected to perform at the 4th Annual Percy Grainger Wind Band Festival on March 9th in Chicago’s Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center. The students will rehearse and perform in this famous hall, home of the Chicago Symphony, and participate in a clinic with Colonel Arnald Gabriel, Conductor of the United States Air Force Band (retired). The Avon Lake Symphonic Band has been rehearsing for several months in preparation for this performance. They will perform John Philip Sousa’s “Circus March” to open their program, followed by Claude T. Smith’s “Incidental Suite”. In tribute to Percy Grainger, the band will play “Children’s March”, subtitled “Over the Hills and Far Away”, composed in 1919. This piece has maintained i... 03/09/2013

To answer your question with the least detail, the answer is, no and here is why. 1. Home sales and home prices are growing fast in many part of the country.   "Home prices rose 9.7 percent in January from a year ago, according to data released Tuesday by CoreLogic. That’s up from an 8.3 percent increase in December and the biggest annual gain since April 2006. Prices rose in all states except Delaware and Illinois. And prices increased in 92 of the 100 largest metro areas, up from 87 in December."   2. Inventory is low in many parts of the country. You need to have a look at the inventory in your area.  If there are few home in your area for sale your home may be gold to a long or new searching buyer.  For example here in Avon Lake there is few single level Ranch style homes on the mar... 03/08/2013

 Reflections Creative Art Fair is this Sunday March 10th at ALHS.  The award ceremony is at 1:00pm in the PAC and the fair will run from 1pm-4pm.  There will be entertainment, a magician, caricaturist and live music. Most of all come and view the wonderful artwork, photography and literature from this year's entries.  We are still in need of volunteers for set-up on Saturday March 9th from 4pm-6pm.  It is a great way for high school students to get volunteer hours and you can also bring your kids to help.  Please contact Suzy Pate if you are interested-suzy1230@hotmail.com or 933-6730  ·         CRS is hosting a food drive throughout the Avon Lake City School District.  We are asking every student to bring in at least one non-perishable item.  Some suggested items are paper products, pe... 03/07/2013

  How many times have you heard that question.  Have you let a buyer into a home before it was closed and he or she had clear title?  Not a good idea.  The first thing that comes to mind is liability.  So they have your contractor or rehab expert in there and he falls off the ladder or you even get a small fire that impacts the neighbors home in some way.  The owner is liable and you know who he will come after... your buyer and probably you too.     As much as you think it won't happen to you it might well happen.  Keep the keys out of your buyers hands until that title is legally filed.    03/06/2013

And the answer is YES. Though you may have packed the items in closed boxes and isolated the location in the basement.  The presentation of the boxes takes away from seeing the basement from it's space and potential. Be it a finished basement or an unfinished space, leaving boxes just create an eye sore and will make your basement look smaller than it is.     People are not seeing the space for what it could be for them but rather  what are your hobbies, keep sake's... perhaps your unusual habits and  quirks... Yikes.     Then there is the potential smell from what you are keeping in boxes as well as the cardboard smell of the boxes themselves.  And here is another one, the boxes could work like a sponge, drawing up smell in the padding of your carpet.  You have just a little moisture i... 03/04/2013

Here are the Open Houses for today!! 3378109      $117,500   2274 Ridgeland Dr   Avon   503   38   03/03/13    1:00 pm - 3:00 pm   Hosted  Howard Hanna / Ada Taylor     Comment:  New Price! Hosted by: Bev Newsome 440.452-1888     Directions to Property:  West of Rt. 83, South off of Detroit   3382030    $169,500   2127 Southampton Ln   Avon   503   23   03/03/13    1:00 pm - 4:00 pm   Hosted  Howard Hanna / Robert C Szarek     Comment:       Directions to Property:  Avenbury Lakes is just east of Avon Commons & Rt.83,north of Detroit to Shakespeare Lane,left on Southampton.   3385339    $199,900   1451 Ledgewood Ln   Avon   503   6   03/03/13    2:00 pm - 4:00 pm   Hosted  Prudential Lucien Realty / Donna J Trunko     Comment:       Directions to Property:  North off Chester, West of Rt... 03/02/2013

Avon Lake Early Childhood PTA presents their Spring Kids Closet Resale, Saturday March 23, 2013 from 7am-12pm. Over 80 sellers of gently used kids clothing, toys, furniture, games, maternity, etc. Sellers may register online @ www.alectpa.com on 1/28/13. Cost is $30/space. Where: Avon Lake High School (Auxiliary Gym), 175 Avon Belden Road, Avon Lake, OH 44012When: March 23rd, 7am-12pmWho: EveryoneHow: Pay at the doorCost: Early Bird 7am-8am $5.00; $2.00 8am-12pmFor more info: www.alecpta.com Cost: Payment required - $5 (Early Bird) 7am, $2 8am-12pm 03/01/2013

Houses are a great place for mold spores to settle in and thrive. The drywall, paper, wood and insulation make for an ample supply of food. When these materials get wet, mold spores multiply becoming thriving colonies of black gunk. The musty odors are waste products from the growing mold. The odors are a sign that mold is actively growing and thriving.One of the best ways to clear out the mold is to eliminate its environment. Molds need water in order to grow, so by eliminating excess water buildup, you can stop the growth. The first task is to repair any leaks, including pipes, roof, water heater, toilet seals etc. Next use the exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms. If you don't have an exhaust fan, install one. If it's humid, use a dehumidifier or air conditioner.Next, you must r... 02/28/2013

For the month of January across all price ranges the market showed a slight decrease in sales but an increase in number of homes in pending status. With the growth in pending we should see great sales for for the month of February. Date 11/11 12/11 1/12 2/12 3/12 4/12 5/12 6/12 7/12 8/12 9/12 10/12 11/12 12/12 1/13 For Sale 199 183 194 183 184 187 186 191 182 168 173 166 150 147 148 New Listing 26 20 30 38 50 42 41 51 46 39 30 30 22 23 41 Sold 16 20 15 14 21 25 30 38 23 37 37 37 25 19 14 Pended 20 14 10 27 32 33 27 37 43 33 25 21 15 22 29 Months of Inventory (Closed Sales) 12.4 9.2 12.9 13.1 8.8 7.5 6.2 5 7.9 4.5 4.7 4.5 6 7.7 10.6 Months of Inventory (Pended Sales) 10 13.1 19.4 6.8 5.8 5.7 6.9 5.2 4.2 5.1 6.9 7.9 10 6.7 5.1 Absorption Rate (Closed Sales) % 8 10.9 7.7 7.7 11.4 13.4 16.1... 02/27/2013

Town Hall meeting: Avon Lake Mayor Greg Zilka will have a town hall style meeting for Ward 2 Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Learwood Middle School. Department heads and the ward’s council representative will give a brief presentation and answer questions. 02/27/2013

Join the Fitness Walks every Monday night in March at 5:30 pm at theLorain County Metropolitan Parks District (Website | Profile) Splash Zone, 95 West Hamilton Road in Oberlin. No membership is required and all ages are invited to join. Each walker receives a bottle of water and achance to win prizes for participating. Walk indoors with WOBL/WDLW on-air personalities and get to know fellow walkers. You are welcome to join a walk whenever you have time in your schedule; a weekly commitment is not necessary. March's Featured Speakers:  March 4th - Valerie Borzy, Mercy Wellness Nurse March 11th - Rebekah Edwards, Licensed Massage Therapist March 18th - Jill Connone, Wellness Coordinator, Kendal at Oberlin Lorain County Fitness Walks is a walking program that was established in coordination... 02/26/2013

See below Bill McBride of Calculatedriskblog.com says, "In every area that reports distressed sales, the share of distressed sales is down year-over-year – and down significantly in most areas."  If these numbers hold true it would appear that we are in a tru upswing.   What is your impression in your area?   02/26/2013