What is Tuesday Open House??  Well, it’s clearly not an “open house”.  It is my way of throwing the doors open on the RealEstate-Ink.com blog and offering up a few quick articles and facts on real estate for the West Chester, Liberty Township, Beckett Ridge, Mason and Fairfield Township, Ohio areas.  It is not intended to be all about homes for sale, but it will be about that some of the time…

For all of you fine dining fans out there, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the former Mesh restaurant located in West Chester, Ohio at Union Centre which closed Feb. 13, will be transformed into an “elegant, casual” Stone Creek Dining Company restaurant in the next couple of months.  You can get the full story on this West Chester Ohio restaurant here.

From my March Real Estate Newsletter:

HomeBuyers: Why Green Is Worth It.  For new and existing home buyers alike, the options to “green up” homes abound.  Green upgrades on homes offer two-fold benefits. They contribute to a healthier environment, both now and in the future, and they can save homeowners big when it comes to energy costs.

How much impact does a green home have on the environment, you ask? The government reports that Energy Star qualified homes built in 2009 are the equivalent of… You can read the entire article on green homes and other real estate market info in this months newsletter here.

Realtor.com update:  The Lowry Team’s homes listed for sale are now upgraded and enhanced with more photos and text than ever before.  Check out these West Chester, Liberty Township, Beckett Ridge, Mason and Fairfield Township, Ohio homes for sale here.

Thinking of buying a home in West Chester, Beckett Ridge or Liberty Township, Fairfield Township, Monroe or Mason Ohio?

Visit My YouTube channel at:  www.youtube.com/LowryTeam

 Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester, Fairfield and Liberty Township, Ohio

For first time homebuyers now is the time to act.  With the government offering an $8000 tax credit on homes purchased by April 30th, 2010 and with the historically low interest rates available today, this is an opportunity not to be missed! 

First of all there is the tax credit.  It goes like this, buy a home by April 30th, file your tax return and get cash back from the government.  This is a true credit and not just a nice deduction.  Of course there are some limitations based on your income level, etc.  You should definitely consult a tax professional regarding your own personal situation.

Second, we have the low interest rates.  As of today they are hovering around 5.00% for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage.  These are terrific rates that will not last!  Why won’t they last?  Because the government’s intervention in the mortgage markets which forced rates to drop dramatically is slated to end on March 30th, 2010.  When this stops, rates go up.  Some experts predict that rates will be over 6.00% by year’s end.  Don’t miss out!

In addition to both of these great factors, home prices and selection are also terrific.  With housing prices having fallen and the available supply of homes for sale still very, very good, this would be a great time to buy even without the tax credit and low interest rates.

So we have:

$8000.  tax credit + low interest rates + low home prices + great selection of homes = FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY!

Get more information on buying your first home by visiting my website .  Available there, are three e-Books packed with information on buying your first home and they are completely free and there is no obligation.

Thinking of buying a home in West Chester, Beckett Ridge or Liberty Township, Fairfield Township, Monroe or Mason Ohio?

Visit My YouTube channel at:  www.youtube.com/LowryTeam

 Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester, Fairfield and Liberty Township, Ohio

Now might be the best time to lock in a low mortgage rate

Low interest rates have been gracing the real estate market with their presence for the past year but the word on the street is that they won’t be here much longer.  While mortgage rates aren’t going to skyrocket out of sight, it is doubtful that they will decrease and certain that they will steadily begin to rise.  Many so called experts expect that the 30 year rates may be at 6.00% or higher by years end. 

For those wishing to lock in at below 5%, the time just might be now or never (or at least for a very long time).  Today in fact I saw a 30 year fixed mortgage rate quoted at 4.85%.  The general sentiment among economists is that rates are not going anywhere but up from here and in my opinion this is definitely the case.  The federal government’s intervention in the mortgage market has caused rates to be artificially low for some time now.  This intervention is coming to an end by March 30th.

The strengthening of the economy equals less chance for discounted rates.  If you are looking to buy a home, now is the best time to do so.  We have low interest rates, tax credits and a great supply of homes for sale.  These three factors will not line up like this again at one time, for a very long time.

Looking for a referral to a good lender with good interest rates and reasonable closing costs?  Call me or email me and I will get you in touch with a lender that will take great care in getting your financing lined up for you.

Thinking of buying a home in West Chester, Beckett Ridge or Liberty Township, Fairfield Township, Monroe or Mason Ohio?

Visit My YouTube channel at:  www.youtube.com/LowryTeam

 Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester, Fairfield and Liberty Township, Ohio

What is a Market Snapshot?  A Market Snapshot is a detailed real estate market report providing you with information on homes for sale and recent home sales in the West Chester, Liberty Township, Beckett Ridge, Fairfield Township, Monroe or Mason Ohio home.

Detailed information on each home is included on an interactive map as well as statistical data, all of which comes directly from the Greater Cincinnati Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

 Thinking of buying a home in West Chester, Beckett Ridge or Liberty Township, Fairfield Township, Monroe or Mason Ohio?

Visit My YouTube channel at:  www.youtube.com/LowryTeam

 Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester, Fairfield and Liberty Township, Ohio

Waiting for the bottom in real estate is similar to grabbing a Yo-Yo at the bottom, you are usually a little early or a little late

There are many people out there waiting for the bottom to hit in many facets of the economy, including real estate.  Perhaps there will be a big announcement one morning across newspaper headlines and across the internet “THE BOTTOM IS HERE: NOW IS THE EXACT MOMENT TO BUY”.  Of course by the time the announcement comes the bottom will have hit and the exact time to buy real estate will have come and gone.

A great analogy to the bottom of the real estate market is a yoyo.  Take a yoyo in your hand and use it.  Can a person grab the yoyo at the exact moment it hits bottom every time?  Chances are a person will grab it just before it hits bottom or just after, rarely at the exact bottom.   Real estate is the same game, if it is indeed a game.  If people knew, absolutely knew, the exact time to buy stocks, real estate, or any other investment then no one would ever have a financial worry.

For people who believe in investing in real estate, now is a great time to buy.  Interest rates won’t be low forever, in fact interest rates have been inching up the past 10 days now.  Most mortgage experts expect interest rates to return to the 6.00% range over the next few months to a year.

In addition, the tax credits available for purchasing a home make now an incredible time to buy.  You can get more information on the tax credits here.

Real estate has either already hit the bottom, is about to or is already on its way up, we’ll know for certain sometime in the future.  If you want to buy at the bottom, buy now. Or wait until it’s too late, when you can look back and say, “If only I had bought then.”

Thinking of buying a home in West Chester, Beckett Ridge or Liberty Township, Ohio?

Search the entire MLS here!

Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester, Fairfield and Liberty Township, Ohio

Business Week magazine has a pretty interesting article on the opportunities that are out there for home buyers right now.  I don’t agree with the title, but the information is very valid.

Click here to read the article from Business Week magazine

Thinking of buying a home in West Chester, Beckett Ridge or Liberty Township, Ohio?

Search the entire MLS here!

Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester, Fairfield and Liberty Township, Ohio

If monthly payments are affordable buying a home can make more sense than renting

A question that surfaces on most people’s mind at some point is, whether to rent or to buy a home or condo.  The first thing that pops to mind is affordability but there are other factors, such as job stability, relocation possibilities and lifestyle.  If you intend on being in an area like West Chester, Liberty Township, Fairfield Township, Mason or Monroe, Ohio for at least two more years, your income is steady and purchasing a home fits your lifestyle then it is time to break out a pen, paper and a calculator and see if buying makes more sense financially than renting.

At first glance buying a home makes more sense than renting because of the ability to gain equity in a home, especially in today’s market with the lowest home prices in years and historically low interest rates.  For First Time Homebuyer’s there is also the $8000 tax credit for purchasing a home to factor in.

There is no sense making a two column list when it comes out to equating the cost of renting and buying.  Renting is a fixed equation, the monthly number typically doesn’t change.  To compute your costs for buying a home you look at the following:

• Purchase price
• Down payment amount
• Loan Amount
• Loan Term
• Interest rate
• Property taxes
• HOA fees
• Monthly mortgage payment
• Home owner’s insurance
• Mortgage insurance

Your monthly costs will include your mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance, and any HOA dues that may exist.  If these numbers add up to an amount you can afford it could make sense for you to purchase a home instead of rent.  The important thing to remember is that once you buy a home you are not going to have a landlord to rely on to make repairs so factor in putting aside some extra money for a home repair and maintenance account.

Buying a home is an important decision and one which can add to future security and financial stability if done with great thought and evaluation.

Search the entire MLS here!

Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester, Fairfield and Liberty Township, Ohio

Home-A-Rama, the luxury home show, starts this weekend and runs through September 27th at Carmelle in Mason.  The show is smaller in number of homes this year due to the current market conditions, but five homes listed between $600, 000 to $1 million should still be a pretty interesting show and the homes are certain to be full of fantastic amenities like granite kitchens, terrific finished lower levels and the finest in outdoor living spaces.

You can read the Cincinnati Enquirer article about Home-A-Rama that ran in today’s paper here.

Wondering what your home is worth in today’s real estate market?  Request a market analysis here!

 Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester, Fairfield and Liberty Township, Ohio

A Realtor can be an invaluable tool when buying or selling real estate

An often asked question is: Should I use a Realtor or not?  People often underestimate Realtors and their importance in a real estate transaction.  On both sides of a sale the right real estate professional can be an invaluable asset, helping to keep deals together and run more smoothly.

For sellers Realtors are valuable in a number of ways.  Realtors know the local market and how to evaluate the price your home should be listed for sale at and also can provide an estimate of what it will sell for.  A real estate professional will advertise, market and expose your home to other real estate professionals as well as the community at large, not to mention the large customer base that they may already have.  A Realtor can help you prepare your home for sale in today’s real estate market.  Realtors are indispensable when it comes to negotiating contracts and inspection issues as well as making sure each step is carried out to the seller’s best interest.

For buyers a real estate broker can be an incredibly helpful tool when looking for real estate.  The right Realtor knows his local West Chester, Beckett Ridge and Liberty Township, Ohio real estate market. He knows what is available and knows the community, its amenities and all that it has to offer.  The right Realtor will prepare a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) of the home an offer is being prepared on and will write a contract for the benefit of the buyer when the buyer has found this ideal property. The right Realtor can make recommendations on financing and will help the buyer follow through with each step until closing.

In a nutshell, the right Realtor is incredibly helpful in diminishing the stresses involved with buying and/or selling real estate.  Contact an experienced Realtor in the area you are thinking of buying or selling property in today. Please let me know if I can assist you.

Wondering what your home is worth in today’s real estate market?  Request a market analysis here!

 Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester, Fairfield and Liberty Township, Ohio