Everyday I am asked, "How is the market?" I would like to say "Good if you price your home less than your competition!" There are alot of sales happening, but we have a 2 fold situation. first our inventory is more than 10 to 25 % higher than it was last year, and the number of home sales are about 5 to 10 % less than last year. Just like stocks at the right price it will sell!! 03/23/2007

http://prwebpodcast.com/releases/pod488417.htm Welcome to my BLOG!  You can listen to the Pod-cast of a recent interview in which I was asked to provide an update on the current state of staging in the Cincinnati marketplace.  Just click on the link above and a variety of listening options will appear.  For more information about many of our successful Cincinnati Home Staging projects, Please contact: Design To Market LLC                               Jo Potvin                             513-265-0952 Design To Market has been staging homes throughout Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky since 2004.  For more information about this project and our  other Cincinnati home staging services please call us at 513-265-0952 or visit our website at www.designtomarketllc.com . 03/23/2007

While showing a property today, I noticed that there was a sump pump in the corner of the basement that looked to be a part of a waterproofing system.  Since 95% of the basement was finished, it was not possible to know if the waterproofing went all of the way around the foundation.  That's what property disclosure forms are supposed to tell you.I then started looking closer at the unfinished area near the furnace and after moving a some stacked items, I noticed what appeared to be some mold across the bottom section of the back-side of the drywall.  Obviously with the basement being waterproofed, they previously had water in the basement.When looking at properties, make sure you "carefully" check out things whenever possible, so that you can get a better idea of the true condition of t... 03/12/2007

I was recently scanning the loan programs for a client of mine looking for 100% financing. It turns out that 100% financing is the most common form of financing in the US today. After looking into some options for them, this particular “No Money Down Plus” program seemed to be a fit for my clients. Sharon Natarus of Wells Fargo has made some additional comments below on this new product: Here are some thoughts on the 100% NO Money Down Program. Many people have chosen the 80/20 program over the last several years, but there is a nice alternative for people that one to have "one loan and one payment" Our product is the No Money Down Plus. We can offer a fixed rate for 30 years. Many times the payment is lower than 80/20 ( if a customer chooses a fixed product for the 2nd, the rate is hig... 03/11/2007

Does your home have a little piece of Cincinnati history inside? If you live in Cincinnati, chances are good that you or your neighbors’ home just might! Here in Mt. Lookout, Hyde Park and Oakley, almost every other home built in the early 20th century houses a work of art: Rookwood Pottery! You’ve seen it a million times; shopping for a new home, visiting friends, or at a party, a fireplace adorned with beautiful Rookwood tile would likely stand out, and be given attention. This home in Mt. Lookout showcases its fireplace in the Living Room as the center of attention. This warm, neutral color tile is found in many Hyde Park, Oakley, Mt. Lookout and Walnut Hills homes, even areas of Ft. Thomas, Newport and Covington in Kentucky have fireplace and other focal points made by Rookwood Pott... 03/07/2007

The Number 1 Question I have been asked in the last month as a Certified Residential Specialist is: "Is it the right time to buy Real Estate and why?" Usually the very next question is "Where should I invest?" and that second question is for another blog topic! To answer this question, for me, a well seasoned Accredited Buyers Representative, is second nature. Absolutely! In this buyers market, it's the right time to buy. There are several reasons I am confident in my advice. To begin, there are more homes on the market than buyers. It's simple supply and demand. What that means to the buyer is that they have a greater opportunity to find the exact home of their dreams with almost zero compromises to make. Versus a market with much less supply and greater buyer competition, ... 03/07/2007

Here is a property that a rehabber bought this past week. A real Victorian beauty that needs some love. Looks like it could have been a Princess Anne style in it's youth. Tax value was just under 100,000.00 purchase price 9,000.00.    Listings as of 02/16/07 at 8:05amPage 1Sold  01/29/07CD 02/12/07 DOM 11SOTRIS01 CONVSP$9,000 E01AV 873 Lexington AveUnit# SubuAvondaleLP$10,000City/Village Cincinnati   Cnty HamiltonState OHZip45229OP$12,500Subd           Twp Family Rm YBedRm Lev1 NRooms 10Bedrms 4Baths 1-1Formal Din YBthRm Lev1 Y  Partial  Type ResidentialBsmt FullLev 3 StoryGarage   NoneArch TraditionalParking On StreetConst VinylFirepl   NoneFound PouredGas NaturalRoof ShingleWater PublicWindows VinylSewer PublicHeating Gas, Forced AirZoning ResidentialCooling Central AirSa-Tax 535.09Ag... 02/15/2007

Look at the lowest priced property in Cincinnati last week  Sold  01/16/07CD 01/29/07 DOM 173SOHUFF16 CASHSP$1,000 W04PH 1008 Purcell AveUnit# SubuPrice HillLP$4,900City/Village Cincinnati   Cnty HamiltonState OHZip45205OP$8,900Subd           Twp Family Rm NBedRm Lev1 NRooms 7Bedrms 3Baths 2-0Formal Din YBthRm Lev1 Y  Full  Type ResidentialBsmt PartialLev 3 StoryGarage 1  AttachedArch TraditionalParking DrivewayConst Wood, AluminumFirepl   NoneFound StoneGas NaturalRoof ShingleWater PublicWindows VinylSewer PublicHeating Gas, Heat PumpZoning ResidentialCooling NoneSa-Tax 470.58Age 116TxRate 90.77New No   Existing StructureAsmnt Of RecordLot 35x95Occupy At ClosingAcreage 0.066Transp West on Glenway. Right on Purcell.Lev Condo School Cincinnati City SDHOA Fee $District Cross St Open House                    ... 12/24/2006