America's Best Cities

Bloomberg Businessweek posted an article on the 50 Best Cities in America. I posted a link on my Facebook page but thought it was so good I wanted to put it on my blog too. One of the great things about the article is that not only is Columbus placed at #20, but Cleveland (#46) and Cincinnati (#21) also made the list. What a state!

The rankings were based several criteria including leisure and economic factors. They highlighted the fact that our unemployment rate is 6.5% which is below the national average. It mentions we excel in education with 8 colleges, including the great Ohio State University. And finally, they also mention the Columbus Zoo and director emeritus, Jack Hanna.

I think those are all pretty good reason to be proud of our city and I'm glad others are getting to see what we're all about too. For more great things in Ohio, check out my Pinterest board "About Ohio".

Bloomberg Businessweek "America's 50 Best Cities" http://ow.ly/er0re

Don't Wait Too Long....

Don't wait too long to buy a home... if you like a good deal! Prices are right - NOW, rates are low, and there are plenty of homes on the market, but no one knows when this will change. If you're playing the waiting game, consider the possibility that you might be disappointed when the market heats up again. (And it will!) Take advantage of today's opportunities.

Sellers are pricing their homes to compete, since there are more homes for sale than there are buyers. When the economy improves and more people begin to look for homes, prices will rise again. Take advantage of today's market. You'll be glad you did!

When there was an economic and housing downturn in the 1990s, those who purchased homes during that time came out on top because the economy recovered and housing prices picked up.

Waiting for prices in the housing market to "hit bottom" may not be the smartest strategy. Most people only know when a market has reached the bottom by "seeing the trend in the rear-view mirror." Waiting for the absolute lowest prices before buying a home puts you at risk of missing the signals, then finding yourself paying higher prices because the market's in an upswing

Curb Appeal - It's Your First Impression

Everyone has heard the saying "You only get one chance to make a first impression". Typically we think of this for people but it applies to houses too. Most advertisements, including MLS listings, show the front of a home. So how can you get the most out of your first impression? Here are some tips.

1.) Take a Look with New Eyes- Put yourself in the buyer's shoes. Go outside, stand back from your house & take a look.  Sometimes it helps to take a picture so you can see things objectively.

2.) Roof - The roof is a concern for most buyer's because it's a big ticket item. Even if your roof is newer, winter weather can do some damage. Take a look for loose or missing shingles. You might also want to check out the gutters and downspouts.

3.) Driveway & Walkways  -  Driveways can be a dominant feature in a photo of a home. Check for oil stains or cracks. Also check for settling of concrete which may cause a trip hazard.

4.) Landscaping - When most sellers think of curb appeal, they think of their landscaping. That's a good idea. Clear out leaves, pine needles and branches that may have fallen during the winter & early spring. Mulch landscape beds & add some colorful flowers for accent.

5.) Clean - It's time for spring cleaning! Wash down siding & decks, clean out cobwebs from the porch & around the front door, sweep walkways and wash windows.

Putting these simple tips into action will help you make your best first impression.

**For more information on the two homes pictured, click on the following links:  Top photo: 12067 Auburn Ct., Pickerington, Bottom photo: 564 Berkeley Rd., Columbus

Investment Properties

I've had a lot of questions lately about investment properties. Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions about the investment market right now.

5 Tips For Presenting Offers To Sellers

Low offers are common in this market. In many cases the offer is in line with market values but the list price is not. Here are tips when presenting a low offer to get the most favorable outcome.

1.) Understand The Market - Have a professional Realtor provide you with a market analysis specifically for the house you are wanting to write an offer on. This gives you valuable information about current prices. It will help you make an informed decision on pricing.

2.) Back Up Your Offer - Provide the seller with information on your ability to obtain financing. A pre-approval letter from a mortgage lender is best. If the offer is low, provide your reasoning for the pricing.

3.) Write A Simple Offer -As Realtors, we consider a simple offer with few contingencies as a clean offer. Nothing out of the ordinary & very simple for negotiating. This allows the seller to concentrate on the main objective - the price.

4.) Don't Assume A Cash Offer Will Get You A Better Deal - Cash offers do have their appeal. There have been a lot more restrictions put on lenders for approving mortgage loans. Cash offers take away the risk that comes with a buyer getting a loan. However, there is a point at which the price difference in a low cash offer does not offset the risk of a buyer getting a loan, especially if the buyer is pre-approved.

5.) Pick The Right Realtor - Make sure your Realtor is experienced in negotiating contracts and has strong negotiating skills.

9 Year Old Interviews Realtor

During the taping of my video blog, Josh decided he wanted to do an interview. He came up with the questions by himself and I didn't even know what they were until we did the video. He did a really nice job!