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

The tax credit is not just for those buying a bigger home, it also works for those wanting to downsize

When the First Time Home Buyer Tax credit was extended and expanded most people thought the expansion was only for home owners who wanted to move up, those who wished to buy a bigger, more expensive home. In fact, the expansion simply includes those who have owned a primary residence and lived in it for at least five consecutive years out of the last eight years. If current home owners want to downsize they can use the tax credit toward their new home, regardless of whether it costs less or is smaller than the home that they are selling.

It is an anomaly that everyone assumes the tax credit is only for purchasing bigger and better. Many people, especially those whose children have grown and left the nest, want to downsize. After-all, who doesn’t want to make life simpler these days?

If you have been considering selling your home and moving into a smaller space, consider doing so before the tax credit expires. Place your new home under contract by April 30th and close by June 30th and you could have a few extra dollars in your pocket.

Learn more about both of the homebuyer tax credits 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

Take time to choose the right broker when selling your home

When preparing to sell your home it is important to find a real estate professional that will best suit your needs.  A warm handshake and a friendly smile is all well and good but if you want to sell your home pick a Realtor that is experienced and knowledgeable, someone that will do the best job for you.  When selecting your real estate agent here are a few things to keep in mind:

Choose someone with experience.  In today’s market, experience  and the knowledge of what it takes to get the job done are more important than ever.

Get references from your potential Realtor and get in touch with them.  Find out what other people’s experience with a particular Realtor has been.

Have your Realtor do a detailed market analysis of your home.  A top selling real estate agent will be able to detail for you what has been selling and for what price.  They will be able to evaluate your home, it’s condition and your location, giving you a value for your home that will help sell it not deter people from looking at it.

What does your Realtor plan to do for you in terms of marketing?  Do they take a large number of interior and exterior photos of your home, do they post a virtual tour of it, do they distribute the listing to all of the major real estate websites on the internet?  Do they even have a website of their own or just a bio page on their company’s website?  And do they have a strategy for capturing incoming calls of the listing from potential buyers?

Do you need to sell your home as a short sale?  If you do, make sure to select someone with extensive training in this process, such as a Realtor with the CDPE designation.  This is a complicated process and you need someone that has the training and experience to help you navigate this process.

Your home may be your most valuable asset.  Do your legwork and choose the best Realtor for your home.  They should be a salesperson, they should have experience and they should know your market area very, very well.  If they can sell themselves to you perhaps they are halfway to selling your home for you as well.

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

Finding a mortgage before looking for real estate is a smart idea

The first step in buying a home should be getting a mortgage.  Getting a mortgage, or rather getting approved for a mortgage, lets you know what you can expect in the way of a monthly payment before you begin to look at homes.

Interest rates can have a big impact on what your monthly payment ultimately ends up being and rates have been inching upward in the last few weeks.  Now is the time to take advantage of both these historically low interest rates as well as the tax credits now being made available to both first time homebuyers and move up buyers.

There are any places to look for a mortgage these days.  There are banks, mortgage brokers, finance companies, credit unions and private lenders.  Often experienced Realtors have mortgage brokers or banks that they work with often and using a lender that has a good reputation is often a safe bet.

When looking for a mortgage you should have a good idea how much you can afford to pay each month.  Look into the past, present and future to determine this.  It is of the utmost importance not to bite off more than you can chew when it comes to your finances and the affordability of a home that you might buy.

When applying for a loan you will need to provide documentation of income, monthly expenses, and assets.  Have your financial statements and tax returns ready and the process will be much easier.

Having a mortgage ready to go before finding a property will make the entire process smoother.  Financing is harder to get these days and being prepared is a wise step in the home buying process.

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

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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

Consider doing a home inspection before selling your home

If you are considering selling your home in the current real estate market it would be prudent to have a home inspection completed before putting your home on the market.  It is rare that a buyer will not have a home inspection done before closing and being aware of any problems and taking care of them prior to selling can alleviate the pain that surprise issues can bring.  Doing the inspection prior to listing also gives you time to seek out competitive estimates for completing the work as opposed to being under the gun right before closing.

It is a competitive real estate market out there.  A seller’s best chance of snagging a buyer always comes from having the home in top notch condition.  More than looking good, a home needs to function well and it is important to examine the mechanical systems such as plumbing, wiring, heating and cooling issues, as well as, the roof and other structural componets.

If problems with a property are faced and dealt with before selling, it will make the entire process go more smoothly and there should be no surprises when going through the contractual steps before closing.

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

Learn the current market value of your home here!

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