Real Estate
Web 2011
 |
10/03/12Don't Move, ImproveFabulous work and excellent customer service is what you’ll find when working with both Phantom Theater & Sound and Clayton Douglas Homes. Just ask Danny and Donelle, who have recommended both companies to numerous friends and family members. Homeowners Donelle and Danny built the home of their dreams in September 2003. The main floor and upstairs of the home were perfect, but something was missing – a finished basement for entertaining. The couple was no stranger to the high quality service provided by Phantom Theater & Sound, having worked with them on the product selection, installation, and maintenance of the whole house speaker system that runs throughout the upper levels and pool area of their home and is controlled via iPad and iPhone. “It... Posted at 10:05 AM | Permalink |
02/06/12Warm Weather Winter SalesOur unusually warm winter so far has produced some potentially surprising results. While many homeowners have spent the holidays contemplating the appropriate time to sell their home, there have been a few who went for it now, in the “middle of winter”, and put their homes up for sale. What I have seen happen is a perfect answer to the question “how’s the market looking this year?” Listing two very nice homes in very good condition seemed to be the ticket – both homes sold quickly, within weeks, and there were showings lined up with regularity until the homeowners decided to stop showing their homes. See what happens when you spend so much of your time getting your house ready for the market? You wind up spending... Posted at 10:36 AM | Permalink |
|
 |
12/02/11A Buyer's MarketAccording to a report from the Cincinnati Area Board of REALTORS(r), local home sales for October – at 1,382 units -- were up 25.1% over October 2010. It was the fourth month in a row of increased sales on a year-over-year basis. Last month’s average price was $142,893, compared to a year prior of $158,832. Average price for the first 10 months of 2011 was $152,188 compared to $159,228 the same 10 months a year ago. The Cincinnati area housing market currently has 9 months of available inventory compared to nearly 13 months a year ago. A balanced housing market has 6 months of inventory. Therefore, buyers have the advantage in today’s market. According to BankRate.com the average rate for a 30 year fixed mortgage in... Posted at 09:20 AM | Permalink |
 |
11/22/11Thankful For Doing What I LoveLet’s just say that I really love what I do. I love seeing new and different houses every day and finding the right match for clients. When a buyer finds the right house, you can tell. It’s usually in the first few minutes of a showing that a buyer decides that a house is going to be “the one”. Everyone reacts a little differently, but I have seen it happen so many times that I know it too. I have admitted a lot of things through the course of writing real estate blogs – I love architecture, I enjoy watching real estate-related shows on TV, I have an affinity for beautiful pictures, I went to school in the south (a real Jeffersonian influence on my early taste in architecture), and various other bits of information. One other thing I... Posted at 03:48 PM | Permalink |
 |
11/14/11Negotiating Tips for Real Estate and LifeOver the years I have learned that in every business venture, and in many life situations we are negotiating. Most of us learn negotiations as children with our parents. Mom offers a special treat if we finish our spinach. Dad might get that special toy for me if I get good grades. As we get older we learn how to turn these negotiations in our favor and suddenly Mom and Dad are at our mercy! “Dad if you let me get that new smart phone you will be able to get a hold of me to make sure I am where I'm supposed to be, and besides, if I am in an emergency I can call Mom.” Our negotiation skills can determine success in our business life, our personal life, and in our financial life. Here are a few tips on negotiating from a REALTORS(r) perspective, but first a... Posted at 03:23 PM | Permalink |
 |
11/08/11Fall's "Rise" in Real Estate ActivityThe end of the week is usually a busy time for real estate. Other agents call our office to set appointments for the weekend when most people have free time and can go out and look at homes for sale. Here we are in November, with Thanksgiving in less than three weeks, and you would think that it was the peak of the market the way our receptionist is talking! I walked back in through the front door of our office on a beautiful fall day around 4:30, met with this look of amazement on her face, “We’ve set about 75 showings today!” she said. She scrolled through the list on the computer screen, showing me all the confirmed appointments. It turns out it wasn’t quite 75 showings, but it was well over 50. She tends to exaggerate a little, which is why I made her... Posted at 11:08 AM | Permalink |
 |
11/01/11Mold Problems?Recently I had a client write an offer on a home that seemed to have an active mold problem. We suspected a problem because of the odor and decided to have a mold inspection performed. Although we couldn't see the mold, the inspection confirmed our suspicion. There were multiple colonies of mold in areas that were not visible. Inspections are much more complicated in today's real estate market than the past, if you have any doubts, have the house tested, your health might be at stake. For more information regarding mold, please visit my website and get the free report "10 Mold Facts for todays Homeowner" Courtesy of Ron Adams, Bastion REALTORS www.bastionrealtors.com Posted at 08:31 AM | Permalink |
 |
10/14/11Social Media and...FilmAs some of you know, I am a big advocate of social media as a way to reach potential home buyers and sellers. In fact, there are those of you out there who have seen my short (two minute) videos that I make whenever I want to say something interesting or unusual about one of the homes that I am trying to sell at the time. I think that these videos can be effective because they are an attempt to promote something without actually having to “sell” it. And my philosophy has been that the consumer no longer wants the hard sell, so my hope is that these videos have given people a way to be introduced to me and my business (my listings!) without hitting them over the head. So it’s a rather big announcement when I say that I have just thrown my hat in the ring as a... Posted at 02:27 PM | Permalink |
 |
09/27/11Ready or Not?I had the conversation the other day with a home buyer who, unable to find the right home so far, asked me if I thought the inventory would remain the same now that we are heading into fall. "Aren't most people settled in now with school and everything else and the only people that are selling will be people transferring out of town?" he asked me. So if buyers are thinking this, maybe homeowners who are ready to move are also considering waiting until spring to put their home on the market. I had to remind my client that we had put his home on the market last fall and that we had a contract written sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I actually remember negotiating some inspection items just after Christmas! So here’s your answer, or at least... Posted at 01:47 PM | Permalink |
 |
09/14/11Expect the UnexpectedThe realization that things aren’t going to turn out like you had hoped has happened a lot in real estate over the last five years. Posted at 11:06 AM | Permalink |
 |
08/31/11Peer RecommendationsOur company president was in our office this morning for a “town hall” meeting to discuss everything from market conditions to what the company has been doing over the past five years. Posted at 01:55 PM | Permalink |
 |
08/20/11Believe It or NotBelieve it or not, the summer is coming to an end. Everyone seems to be getting ready to head back to school soon if they haven’t already started classes yet. With all this activity, I am always asked about whether or not this is a good time to have a house for sale. I guess the logic is that anyone who has moved into the area probably wants to be in a house by now and have their kids enrolled at school. Everyone must just stop looking at houses now, right? Well, the only people looking to move aren’t just relocating transferees. While local movement has admittedly been a little slow this year, I have heard about a lot of homes that have recently sold to someone moving up within the city. I have seen an increase in traffic in some of my own listings, too.The next several... Posted at 11:22 AM | Permalink |
 |
08/05/11Addicted to Home ShowsI have recently become addicted to HGTV. Holmes on Homes. Design Star. Selling New York. I can’t seem to get enough of watching people correct problems left to them by previous owners, or re-designing difficult spaces. And watching other Brokers try to sell property in the biggest markets in the United States gives me lots of fun ideas. And what about Bravo network’s Million Dollar Listing? And Flipping Out? Those California homes are out of this world – I would love to be responsible for selling property like that!Having a different perspective on how people do things has helped me here in Cincinnati too. The same lessons can be applied to my daily encounters and how I handle objections. I even have some new ideas that I can’t wait to implement as things fall... Posted at 01:17 PM | Permalink |
 |
07/29/11Does selling now make sense? Consider “quality of life”I have this conversation weekly with folks who are considering a move. Conventional wisdom says you shouldn’t try to sell a property in today’s real estate environment. Although the decision to sell your house is a financial one, finances are not the only consideration. My advice to clients is that the most important factor in deciding to sell a house is your “quality of life”. Proximity to schools, hospitals, family, church and community are the non-financial considerations that will help determine your overall quality of life.It makes sense to sell when it will improve your quality of life, regardless of the financial implications.Houses are still selling, and if you are also buying you are likely to trade for a better equity position even if you take a small... Posted at 01:33 PM | Permalink |
 |
07/19/11The Power of Good PhotographyThere is something powerful about good photography. You recognize it when you see it in a magazine like Sports Illustrated or National Geographic. A moment, frozen in time, that captivates you and makes you want to know more – the whole story behind the photograph. A good picture will really “sell” you on that experience.You know where I’m going here don’t you. If you are selling your home, I cannot stress enough the importance of having good photographs. I know; it’s just your family room right? Well, what a buyer sees is the family room with the beamed ceiling that is open to the beautiful kitchen. The family room with that amazing stone fireplace. The family room that they want in their next house! You are capturing a moment, a mood, and the... Posted at 07:54 PM | Permalink |
 |
07/15/11Using Apps as an AdvantageFinding real estate for sale gets easier and easier these days. With the use of smart phones and tablets, taking or getting information is a snap. Two of my favorite apps that I have found so far are offered by Realtor.com and Coldwell Banker Real Estate. Both are free and offer really neat property search features that I was able to explore while on the drive from Cincinnati to Florida recently. Believe me, lots of time to explore! I like the ability to draw my own maps on the Realtor.com app, but the Coldwell Banker app is probably my favorite, and is the only app that provides listing or agent videos. It’s great – and since I enjoy making videos it gives me another spot to talk about a house, a neighborhood, or anything else that might be important to buyers around the... Posted at 11:31 AM | Permalink |
 |
07/08/11Top 5 Remodeling Projects for Real Estate ValuesRecently I showed a property to a client. He was interested in the house and most likely would have purchased, but, the home had recent renovations that didn’t “seem” like they were done professionally.In has been my experience that buyers will buy a house when they sense that the property is quality and will not give them future problems. It is all about feeling secure and confident of the purchase.My advice to any homeowner, when it comes to home remodeling, please, hire a professional!Here are some improvements that can add value.Of course, consult your real estate agent when deciding on your remodel, most are happy to share with you the trends in the market place and to help you make a good decision.CourtesyRon Adams Posted at 10:25 AM | Permalink |
 |
07/08/11Utilizing TruliaColdwell Banker actively utilizes Trulia, a real estate web site, to promote their agents and their listings. All of my listings appear on Trulia to help maximize exposure to the consumer, so I pay attention to what is happening on the site.Recently, Trulia met with a group of buyers to discuss what they were looking for when hiring a real estate agent. Topping the list was honesty and credibility. I thought this was kind of a no-brainer but when I read on, most of the points made were regarding bad experiences that these buyers had already had with real estate agents. That’s too bad. I know that things aren’t always perfect – often people just don’t work well together, but we all deserve a straight shooter. And if you’re not honest about how you present... Posted at 09:33 AM | Permalink |
 |
06/29/11Happy Fourth of July! Are you there?What a holiday weekend! With the fourth falling on a Monday this year, it makes for a great long weekend, capped off by fireworks shows throughout the city. I hope everyone has a great time with family and friends!I feel like our real estate market has gathered a little momentum heading into the summer this year. There have been closings and pending sales to indicate that people are still moving. Historically though, I have noticed that things taper off a little bit in July, especially in the upper end of the market. Families are travelling on vacation, often weeks at a time, and they focus less on looking for a new house. So I’m wondering what happens this year. I am actually busier with new listings than ever before at this time of the year, and I have very motivated sellers,... Posted at 12:05 PM | Permalink |
 |
06/24/11Green is GrowingAt a closing today, everyone was talking about this year’s Homearama, an event showcasing new construction in the Cincinnati area market. This year’s show features smaller, less expensive homes than in the past and follows a year where Homearama was cancelled altogether. I haven’t been able to get out to West Chester to see the show yet so I was interested in what people were saying. Now, certainly the economy impacted what people will spend on their homes and on the things that they put inside their homes, but the consensus opinion was that there wasn’t a whole lot that really created a “wow” factor for anyone at the table. Well, the indoor basketball court sounded pretty cool, but I’m not sure that something like that is what very many people... Posted at 06:21 AM | Permalink |
 |
06/16/11Using YouTube to sellToday I was asked to participate in a company webinar addressing the use of video. I happen to use a Flip video camera to shoot short (two minutes) videos with interesting or unusual information about the listings that I have at any given time. Because I have all my listings professionally photographed, and have the software tools to create a “visual tour” of each property, I don’t think there is the need for me to make a video of the exact same thing that professionals do for me. So that leaves me to be creative, think of something that is totally unique to that particular listing, and then talk about it in front of the camera!As the moderator asked me questions about how and why I make the videos, it made me wonder why more video doesn’t appear on... Posted at 01:54 PM | Permalink |
 |
06/10/11Too much information….Looking for a home? “My friend tells me to buy a foreclosed property, you can get a great deal! My aunt tells me to buy new construction, the builders are doing whatever it takes to sell a home, plus you have a new home with none of the expenses of older homes. My brother told me about this new thing banks are doing called a short sale, they are selling homes before they go to foreclosure for a deep discount!”Who do you believe? Yes, foreclosures can be good deals. It is true, builders are making great deals. True also, short sales can be a way of getting an undamaged property at a significant discount. However, focusing on what type of property to buy is not as important and how you proceed.The way to proceed is through education. The simplest and most effective way to... Posted at 11:06 AM | Permalink |
 |
06/10/11Accommodating the Whole FamilyWell, it’s now certain. School is out and the kids are everywhere. I have four ranging in age from eight to sixteen and the older ones are carving out their freedom from mom and dad while the younger ones are becoming more demanding with their regular need for a ride or to schedule something with their friends. Somehow, everything just got a little busier!Things have been picking up a little bit too in my marketplace. Showings have increased and I can sense that there are a lot of buyers who really are ready to commit to buying something when they find that perfect house. One of them said something to me the other day that was later reiterated by another buyer that I met recently. They both had families with young children and they were concerned that if they didn’t find... Posted at 07:03 AM | Permalink |
 |
06/02/113 Considerations when Purchasing Real Estate for InvestmentWhen buying real estate for investment purposes I advise my clients to keep it simple. You can over- analyze a deal and miss out to another investor. Here are 3 key simple rules of residential real estate investment.1) The Strategy: What are your goals? Do you want to save for your child’s education? Are you looking for tax advantaged way to diversify your portfolio? Would you like a steady dividend or would you like to build large equity and cash out? These questions will help you to determine what type of property to buy and will help determine your exit strategy.2) The Numbers: In order for an investment to accomplish your goals, the numbers MUST WORK! What kind of return do you expect? How much do you have budgeted to spend? (including repairs and maintenance) How long... Posted at 07:32 PM | Permalink |
 |
06/02/11Keep That AC RunningIt’s certainly starting to feel like summer! I spent today showing two old Hyde Park homes, neither of which had central air conditioning. Trust me, when you get to the third floor that heat is in your face! Seriously though, it seems like there are more people that are out there looking at houses again, so it’s more important than ever to have your home ready to go when you put that sign in the yard. I haven’t met too many people who tell me that they want to undertake a major project, and most limit the amount of work they want to do to next to nothing! With that in mind, Realtors can’t stress enough the importance of making that good first impression.I always like to tell people that 90% of the work they do when they sell their house is prior to actually... Posted at 05:01 PM | Permalink |
 |
05/27/11Is Now the Time to InvestSo, you’re looking to balance your investment portfolio; what are your options?Stocks have rebounded nicely over the last 18 months, as has gold, silver, and other commodities. There are lots of choices. The old adage “buy low, sell high” is true in real estate as it is with other traditional investments. I think now might be the time to consider residential real estate to diversify your portfolio. Consider the following:According to the Federal Reserve Website (federalreserve.gov), from 2000-2009 the average bond yield was 4.46% and the average CD yield was 3.32%. Although bonds and cd’s have their place in the portfolio, maybe you’re looking for a little better return. According to the MSN Money website (money.MSN.com) the period between January of 2000... Posted at 12:13 PM | Permalink |
 |
05/27/11Not Scared of a Few Dark CloudsThe news about our real estate market in the Cincinnati Enquirer this past weekend was so big they started on the front page and then moved to the Business section to finish off the story! Amidst the picture of dark storm clouds and a crooked real estate sign that makes the whole scene look haunted (really, who thinks of this stuff?) is the title of the article “Mired In A Trough”. Now, because I’m not scared of a few dark clouds, I went ahead and read the article, and studied the list of all the neighborhoods that that I work in to see if I could take something away from all this “big news”.Now, I don’t want to make light of the severity of the situation here or around the country, but the numbers in front of me only helped to demonstrate the very... Posted at 12:01 PM | Permalink |
 |
05/19/11How Does Your Neighborhood Compare?How does your neighborhood compare? . . . “Just the facts, ma’am”“Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.”Okay, I am not actually old enough to remember the originally aired episodes, but I remember watching the reruns. The inquisitive detective Joe Friday of the popular Dragnet television program would always try to take the emotion out of the situation and ascertain “just the facts.” Although there are many factors that contribute to the sale of property, it is important to first get the facts.Why is it important that you understand the basic facts first before buying or selling a property? Don’t people just buy houses based on needs and emotion?Emotion... Posted at 09:48 AM | Permalink |
 |
05/19/11The Days of the Hard Sale are OverWhat are you doing to sell my house? I had a conversation the other day with clients who had recently closed on their house after having it on the market for over a year. While nobody goes into the process of putting their house on the market expecting to show their home to prospective buyers for that long, the last year in local real estate was anything but stellar, and my clients understood that. So the friendly conversation turned to how many days out of that year did I think I had worked on selling their home. It really made me think that perhaps not everyone completely understands the concept of what exactly I do in my job.The days of the hard sale are over. The days of newspaper ads, telephone calls in to the office, and plopping down a sign and hosting the open house are all... Posted at 09:47 AM | Permalink |
 |
05/09/11So how is the real estate market?How is the real estate market? It’s a question I get regularly. How do I answer? Well, it depends. Clearly we are having difficulty with housing prices and sales compared to boom of the late 90s and early 2000s.Sales in 2010 and 2011 are down. The total number of residential single-family homes sold in 2010 in the Greater Cincinnati area were 15,111 units, compared to 23,491 units at the height of the market in 2005. In addition, the average home price is down in Greater Cincinnati from $184,353 in to $160,601. Although the market has slowed considerably, there are opportunities for buyers who understand the conditions and position themselves to take advantage. First, mortgage rates are at historic lows and, inventories are at all-time highs. Since there are fewer buyers... Posted at 06:46 AM | Permalink |
 |
05/09/11Real EstateThings have started to get a little busier around my office in Hyde Park Square lately. I’m sure it has something to do with the weather—today our front door is wide open to take advantage of the warmer temperatures. But after several difficult years of selling homes in Cincinnati, I am sensing that there is something a little different this spring. Right down the street at the corner of Edwards Road and Erie Avenue, prime commercial real estate space, Cock and Bull English Pub is getting closer to a warm weather opening. When I go down to the Reds game tonight, I will see something that didn’t really exist yet last year. The Banks, an 18-acre mixed-use development, has risen directly across from the Great American Ball Park.The real estate market is a product of... Posted at 06:45 AM | Permalink |
