Special offer

Cincinnati, OH Real Estate News

By Liz and Bill Spear, Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
(Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com)
Ohio Alleycat Resource Continues To Rock The Record Book!! It was just early October when we told you about Cincinnati's Ohio Alleycat Resource and Spay/Neuter Clinic adopting out their 250th cat for 2012!  That was their goal for ALL of 2012 so what did they do?  They upped the goal to 300!!  And now they've got a dilemma because they've ALREADY adopted out their 300th cat for the year!!  What to do, what to do??  350 anyone??  And if anyone can hit the goal of adopting out 350 kittens and cats for 2012, it's the dedicated team of volunteers of O.A.R.!   And that's not the only milestones reached in the last couple of weeks, as Ohio Alleycat Resource and Spay/Neuter Clinic put the clinic to great use!  They "fixed" the 8,000th cat of the year and also the 20,000th cat of the clinic's l...
Comments 16
By Liz and Bill Spear, Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
(Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com)
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park presents A Christmas Carol Nov. 29-Dec. 30 2012Are you ready for another holiday tradition?  Tiny Tim, Ebeneezer Scrooge, three ghosts and an opportunity to reform?  Then you don't want to miss this year's edition of A Christmas Carol at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park!  Performances are held at the Robert S. Marx Theater, just around the corner from the Cincinnati Art Museum in beautiful Eden Park.  And considering how many great restaurants that are just around the corner in Mt. Adams, you can really have a great day or evening! Performances start November 29th and finish December 30th, 2012.  They do not perform daily, so click Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park A Christmas Carol performance schedule to see the full schedule and purchase tickets.  Tick...
Comments 21
By Liz and Bill Spear, Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
(Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com)
Cincinnati Ballet Performs The NEW Nutcracker December 14-23 2012 You can't say Christmas without The Nutcracker coming to mind!  And this year the Cincinnati Ballet is taking last year's TOTALLY new version of The Nutcracker and making it even better!  We went last year and it was just amazing, so hard to imagine it being better, but if Victoria Morgan is promising improved, you KNOW she'll deliver!  Below she talks about this year's edition and you'll get to see portions of last years performance.  The stagecraft and skill of the dancers was phenomenal! Now your opportunities to attend are limited, with just 11 performances scheduled at downtown Cincinnati's Aronoff Center for the Arts, with lots of local participation with over a HUNDRED local kids (and sometimes their parents) invol...
Comments 6
By Liz and Bill Spear, Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
(Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com)
Cincinnati Zoo's 2012 PNC Festival of Lights Starts November 23rdTonight's the night!  Thanksgiving is over and it's time to get the Christmas season underway!  For the 30th year, the Cincinnati Zoo's PNC Festival of Lights is ready to go!  TWO MILLION brightly colored LED lights and special activities too through January 1st!  For a taste of the event, check out this promotional video: Open 5-9 p.m. each night Sundays-Thursdays and until 10 p.m. on Fridays & Saturdays with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  And you can expect plenty of company, with 200,000 visitors expected during the PNC Festival of Lights! And of course it's more than just walking around a looking at lights!  Enjoy the Madcap puppets black light shows.   And there's some new activities, like the Wild...
Comments 6
By Liz and Bill Spear, Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
(Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com)
Scuba Santa Returns To Newport Aquarium November 23 to January 1, 2013Another perk of Warren County Ohio living is convenient access to the best of the Cincinnati AND Dayton areas!  Most attractions can be reached with not much more than a 1/2 hour drive!  And now it's time for another annual tradition, the return of Scuba Santa to the Newport Aquarium!  Scuba Santa swims alongside sharks, sea turtles and the other inhabitants of the 385,000 gallon tank and the show is sure to entertain the young and old alike! The show has been previously featured on "Good Morning America" and "The Today Show", so you know they're doing something right! Scuba Santa includes an underwater version of "Twas the Night Before Christmas", and the Newport Aquarium will have other holiday related activities th...
Comments 19
By Liz and Bill Spear, Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
(Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com)
Ohio Alleycat Resource Hosts Black Cat Bash October 21 2012 If you've been reading our blog you know one of our "side jobs" is working with rescue animals, primarily cats.  We've got our own pride that found us and our cars never see the inside of the garage because that's kitty home!And our favorite local organization for cat work is Ohio Alleycat Resource and Spay/Neuter Clinic.  Located in Madisonville, this group is dedicated to addressing the feral/stray cat overpopulation problem.  They and the many volunteers supporting the group offer a low cost spay/neuter program that makes sure thousands of cats won't add to the overpopulation problem. And they also have a no-kill shelter and work to adopt out as cats to good homes.  They passed 250 adopted cats for 2012 and are working hard ...
Comments 13
By Liz and Bill Spear, Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
(Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com)
Secret ArtWorks Is Back And So Are The Big Pigs!  November 16 2012 The Pigs Invade! It's time to mark your calendars for the 7th Annual Secret ArtWorks event!  Reserve 5-9 p.m. November 16th and set your GPS to MCA Event Center (120 E. Fourth Street Cincinnati)!. The ArtWorks group is back throwing an awesome fundraising party to support their numerous projects that support the Cincinnati area.  And just in case you haven't heard of ArtWorks specifically, you've seen their work and just didn't know it!  They're the creative force behind The Big Pig Gig and other neat projects that put art in the forefront of the community!  Have you seen some of their mural work downtown?  We're betting you have! And they involve the community with opportunities for both teen and professional artists!  ...
Comments 30
By Liz and Bill Spear, Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
(Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com)
Cincinnati Hosts Oktoberfest Zinzinnati September 22-23 2012 Hoist a stein, flap your arms for the Chicken Dance and enjoy Cincinnati's version of the German Oktorberfests, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati USA.  Centered on Cincinnati's Fountain Square, the location is perfect for the 100's of thousands of people that come to party every year!  Now in it's 37th year, this is the 2nd largest Oktoberfest in the WORLD!  You'll have to go to Munich if you want bigger!Featuring Beer, Brats, Beer, Metts, Beer, Creampuffs, Beer, Black Forest Cake, Beer, Potato Pancakes, Beer, Sauerkraut and Beer!Okay, so really there's a LOT more to Oktoberfest than just the BEER! (although there is typically  more than 800 BARRELS of beer consumed at this Oktoberfest!).  There's actually quite a bit of entertainment!  ...
Comments 20
By Liz and Bill Spear, Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
(Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com)
2012 Rubber Duck Regatta To Benefit Freestore Foodbank When we posted this morning about the P&G Riverfest and WEBN Fireworks September 2nd, 2012, there's another MAJOR event going on during the day besides the entertainment and The Big Bang!  It's the annual Rubber Duck Regatta held every Labor Day Weekend!  At 3 p.m. up to 150,000 rubber ducks will be dropped into the Ohio River, each with it's own serial number and a sponsor. Starting at the Purple People Bridge, they'll race down to the Ohio River to the finish line!  Now this isn't being done for the 18th year just for sheer entertainment value, but to benefit one of our area's most worthy charities, the Freestore Foodbank!  The Freestore Foodbank is Cincinnati's primary foodbank, serving 20 counties across Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana...
Comments 10
By Liz and Bill Spear, Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
(Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com)
P&G Riverfest & WEBN Fireworks September 2nd 2012 3...2...1....KABOOM!!!  It's time to countdown to the unofficial end of summer blast, the biggest fireworks show in Cincinnati.  The P&G Riverfest is a day long event and the WEBN Fireworks show are the highlight of this end of summer bash!  Fireworks start at 9:05 p.m. and are like the Energizer Bunny, they just keep going and going!  Here's a taste of them with last year's finale: And after decades of running this Big Boom Party, Rozzi's Fireworks & WEBN know how to throw a party that will bring hundreds of thousands of people down to the riverbanks of the Ohio River!  Now of course there's much more to this Ohio River Fireworks Show than JUST the fireworks!  There will be live music and other entertainment starting at noon on Septembe...
Comments 9
By Liz and Bill Spear, Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
(Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com)
Search All Cincinnati Foreclosures & Short Sales?  It's Not That Easy! Mr. Buyer on the prowl for a Cincinnati home bargain, Cincinnati foreclosures are your ticket to a real steal, right?  All you need to know is where they are!  If only we provided you a website to search for them without charging you for the service! But here's the catch, we can't provide you a complete, up to the second public MLS search for Cincinnati foreclosures or short sales!  Don't get us wrong, we've got access to them, but we don't have the ability to give the public a click this button solution because the Property Ownership field is protected from public searches.  The distinction between regularly owned homes, government owned, bank owned, relocation, etc., all of that is contained within the Property Own...
Comments 12
By Liz and Bill Spear, Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs
(Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com)
25th Great Inland Seafood Festival August 9-12 2012 in Newport Kentucky The Great Inland Seafood Festival is already underway for it's 25th year on the banks of the Ohio River!  Just across from Cincinnati on the Newport side of the Ohio River, you're going to have plenty of opportunity to get your fill of seafood despite being so far from the coasts.  Crabs, shrimp, oysters and..... Maine Lobsters aka "bugs" will be trucked in, so that $10.95 each price will beat anyplace else in town!  But with ONLY 10,000 lobsters, you might want to not wait to make your visit.  When they're gone, they're gone!  And in additional to all those Maine lobsters, 15 local restaurants will be doing their best dishes to get you to buy from them instead of their competitors!   And in addition to the food, th...
Comments 18
By John Ceranic
(Maronda Homes)
One way to track the pulse of Cincinnati’s real estate market is to look for new construction. Lots of new homes going up is a sure sign of confidence in the local economy. It’s when builders know if they build a “spec home” (a home that is not sold before construction) it will sell in a relatively short time frame. Maronda Homes in Greater Cincinnati and N.KY has 26 market homes available, and we feel that confidence is coming back to the Cincinnati homebuyer. Builders began work on 26% more single-family homes in May 2012 than the depressed levels of May 2011. The stock of unsold newly built homes is back to 2005 levels. In each of the past four quarters, housing construction has added to economic growth. In the first quarter, it accounted for 0.4 percentage points of the meager 1.9% ...
Comments 0
By John Ceranic
(Maronda Homes)
Americans have weathered the rough real estate market of the last few years by staying out of the market, and renting an apartment. It may be time to reconsider that plan, asapartment rental rates are now rising at a higher rate than home values. The Trulia Pro Blog is reporting that while housing prices have increased slightly, “…rents have risen faster, at 5.4% year over year. In 22 of the 25 largest rental markets, rents are outpacing prices. This means that buying a home is becoming an even better deal relative to renting – that is, for those who can qualify for a mortgage and put up the down payment.” Trulia reports that each metropolitan housing market is recovering at its own rate. The stronger, more stable real estate markets are in localities where unemployment rates are decrea...
Comments 0
By John Ceranic
(Maronda Homes)
This real estate slump is a real drag, especially if you’re trying to sell your home. So, stage your pad to beat out the competition and draw in more prospective buyers. Most buyers have a hard time looking past pink walls and green shag carpet, so do the legwork for them and present their “new home” on a silver platter. If done smartly, the money spent staging will be made up tenfold in the house sale — and you keep all the hot accessories for yourself afterward (or unload them on Craigslist). Here are some tips I used when staging my Chicago home. Oh and by the way the exact same home down the street took 3 months longer to sell (No staging) Clear it all out I mean it, girlfriend, move every single thing out of your place. That goes for your beloved troll doll collection, leopard skin...
Comments 0
Your Maronda Home Will Reflect Your Unique Style    There are three really excellent reasons for buying a brand new Maronda home. You probably have a few more of your own, but let’s start with the first one… 1. Brand New! Everything in your home is new! You are the first person to use each item — when your baby or grandchild is crawling across the carpeted floor, you feel good about the fact that yours is the first family to use this home. 2. It’s Your Unique Style. Your new home will reflect your personal taste and design styling from top to bottom. It provides you with the opportunity to make things the way you’ve always dreamed they would be; with your favorite colors, finishes, kitchen and bath details, and much more!   ... Read the rest of the article on our Maronda Homes Blog ...
Comments 0
By John Ceranic
(Maronda Homes)
            Eagles Watch is a community of New Homes in Milford, OH. This gorgeous community has wooded lots available and gives you a feeling of being in the country, but you are truly only minutes from whatever you need, shopping, schools, and the expressway. Be sure to check us out at Maronda.com. Be sure to ‘Like” us on Facebook, and Follow us on Twitter.   ... Check out more interesting articles on our Maronda Homes Blog ...
Comments 0
Call it whatever you like, staging, primping or glossifying- most of today’s homeowners in greater Cincinnati need to do “something” before opening their doors to potential buyers.  How much or how little prep work done really depends on the condition of your home and how much money and/or time sellers are willing to donate. My advice to the average owner (average equals =taken good care of the property and no massive repairs needed) is: Fix/replace broken stuff. Remember I’m a huge advocate of pre-listing whole house inspections so if you’re not sure what’s broken or leaking- the inspection is the best way to find out. De-clutter and clean. Keep it simple-if you think you have too much furniture …so will buyers.  Store, sell or donate excess furniture, items stored in garages, basement...
Comments 0
Maronda Homes can help you get back on track. and get you in your New Home sooner than you thought possible! There are so many companies out their today that talk about credit repair, and how they can help get your credit back on track, and they can, but it is usually at a pretty hefty cost. Maronda Homes has a program that we offer FREE of charge to any of our customers that qualify, that’s right I said it….FREE! So you can not only build your dream home a lot soon then you thought, but fixing your credit won’t cost you a dime. I would have to say that is a WIN! WIN! In conjunction with our mortgage company FBC Mortgage and a certified credit counselor who will guide you through the process of repairing your credit, while we are building your new home.Maronda Homes offers so many great...
Comments 0
By Roger D. Mucci, Lets shake things up at your home today!
(Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092)
Tuesday I drove down to Cincinnati and had lunch with Bill Spear before going to Ellen and Mike's place.  Always a pleasure to see Bill, but a little disappointed I didn't get to see Liz also, but she had other things going on that afternoon. I just wanted to share with you where I had coffee every morning and the view I had also. This is the Taft Museum of Art which is right next to the building that Mike and Ellen live in............it's a beautiful building, but I have yet to tour the museum. This is a photo of Lytle Park. It is directly across the street from the Taft Museum of Art.  It's a lovely little park with flower gardens, an herb garden and a bocce court for the residents of 400 Pike Street.  Excellent place to relax with my coffee each morning before starting my day. These...
Comments 21