Bridgewater Falls sheriff sale planned

The sale is planned for March 5th according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.  It should be noted that the shopping complex is continuing to operate business as usual.

♦Homearama 2009 has been delayed until September this year.  The show featuring the finest luxury homes in the area has normally been held in June each year.  Several weeks ago the Cincinnati Home Builders Association annouced that the show had been delayed by the economy.  Read the full story regarding the Homearama 2009 here.

The price point of the homes built will be between $550,000 and $950,000.  Homebuilders that have committed to the show so far are: The Drees Company, Fischer Homes, John Henry Homes, Pendragon Homes and Summit Custom Homes.  More details on the luxury home show can be found in this article.

Moving to West Chester or Liberty Township, Ohio?  Request our Relocation Packet  It’s full of information about our area.

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

irst the interest rate drop.  Interest rates have dropped considerably in the last week and a half with the 30 year fixed rate mortgage falling from 6.20% to just 5.60%.  A more than welcome decrease.  Interest rates do continue to be very volitale.  This article on the CNBC website provides more details on the volitility.  FHA financing is the new trend in home mortages.  I will provide an update and more information on this in the next few days.

And what a little bit of paint can do for the appearance of a home listed for sale.  Especially in today’s real estate market, anything that can be done to make your home show better an dbe more appealing should be done. The freshness of a new coat of paint both visually and in the fresh smell when you walk in the door are hard to deny.  This is a great home in West Chester, Ohio, listed for $165,000 and is now freshly painted throughout most of the interior.  Click here to checkit out.

Living Room before:

Living Room after:

Lower Level Family Room before:

Lower Level Family Room after:

And finally… I saw this video on Seth Godin’s blog this week and had to pass it on:

Your comments and questions are always welcome!

February 2008 Home Sales For West Chester & Liberty Township, Ohio

When is a decrease in home sales good news??

When the decrease in the number of closed units is the lowest percentage decrease in quite some time.

Home sales in West Chester and Liberty Township fell by 3.66% in February 2008 when compared to February 2007.  This is remarkable when you consider that the last couple of months decreases were 29.27% In January and 21.00% in December.  We are seeing sporadic increases of showing activity by buyers, however these showings are not resulting in an increase in sales as of yet, however this is clearly an improvement over the steep declines that we were seeing. 

The average sale price in West Chester and Liberty Township was $228,849 in February.   This is a lower average sale price than what was seen in February of 2007.  It is 2.63% lower than 2007.  This is certainly not surprising and continues to re-inforce the need to price your home aggressively to get it sold. 

Wondering what your home is worth??

Click here to find the current market value of your home

The average days on market rose to an average of 84 days on the market,  which is a 14 day increase over homes that closed in January and it is just a 2 day increase over February 2007.  Keep in mind, the "days on market" statistic is based on homes that have sold and closed, and is not impacted by homes that are still for sale.  So that home that you drive by everyday, that you know has been for sale for months and months, is not factored into this statistic.

The list price to sale price ratio was considerably lower again in February 2008 as compared to February 2007.  It fell 1.69 basis points from the prior year and was .09 basis points higher than January 2008.  This list to sale price ratio of 95.19% is one of the strongest indicators of jus how much of a buyer’s market this really is.

Mortgage rates have climbed considerably.   Mortgage rates which were hovering around 5.49% for a thirty year fixed rate mortgage just weeks ago, are now  at 6.05% for the same thirty year fixed rate mortgage.  I had many people tell me that they were waiting for rates to go even lower when they were at 5.49%.  These people waited to buy or refinance and missed out on a great rate.  Will the rates return to these lower levels??  Only time will tell.  My guess is they may not get below 5.50%  again for quite some time.  If they do, I sure wouldn’t wait again!

As always I will continue to monitor these market numbers  for West Chester and Liberty Township Ohio and will share them as they become available.  Should you have particular questions about these numbers please let me know!

If you would like to learn the current market value of your home I would be happy to provide you with it.

Moving to West Chester, Liberty Township, Mason Or Cincinnati, Ohio?  Click here to receive our Relocation Packet, full of information and completely free, with no obligation!

I would love to hear your thoughts and comments!

Here are links to a couple of them that caught my eye as being interesting and/or good additions to our area.  (It should be noted that there are many more than the couple noted here).

The first is a very interesting article in the Sunday Cincinnati Enquirer on the development of the Union Centre Blvd area.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080309/BIZ01/803090329

Of course the article is very timely due to the opening of the Ikea store this week.

Also opening a new store this week in Liberty Township, Ohio is Play It Again Sports, again in the Enquirer:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080309/BIZ01/803090335/1076/BIZ

Your comments and questions are always welcome!

8894 Steeplechase Way

West Chester, Ohio 45069

Lakota Schools

$200,000  - Four Bedrooms – Two Full Baths, One Half Bath

This is a beautiful, move in ready home in Saratoga Farms:

• Bright, Open Floor Plan
• Warm,Inviting Family Room w/ Fireplace
• Formal Living and Dining Rooms
• Large Kitchen Features New Hardwood Floors, Breakfast Nook & Island
• Terrific Luxury Master Suite w/ Adjoining Garden Bath & Huge Walk-In Closet
• Many Updates Including New Exterior Doors (08) & Windows (07)
• One Year Home Warranty
• Close To Schools, Shopping, Dining & Expressways!

To see more information on this home including many more photos and a virtual tour click here

Moving to West Chester or Liberty Township, Ohio?  Request our Relocation Packet  It’s full of information about our area!

Just a reminder though, that you do need your photo id to be able to vote.  This is a relatively new requirement and unless you voted in November you may not be aware of it.

If you need further election information click here for the Butler County Board of Elections website.

Are these really secrets?  No, but they are certainly the keys to selling a home in this market!

Secret #1:

Your home must standout!  The condition of your home must be great, (good doesn’t cut it).  The decor must be tasteful, it must be clean and fresh.  Your home must be updated;  for example, new countertops and appliances in the kitchen, new carpet, maybe a new or re-finished deck, etc.  Spring is coming, (I think), so look at the front of your home.  Is it clean, freshly mulched, no weeds, etc.?  

Need more information on this, email me and I will send you my checklist, "20 Steps To Help You Sell Your Home".   Have questions call me.

There are so many homes for sale right now that the homes that are cluttered, dark and out-dated are being and will continue to be overlooked by today’s buyers.  And, these homes will continue to sit on the market for sale.

Secret #2:

Your home must be priced right!  The price of your home must be great, (good doesn’t cut it).  "Trying a little higher price" on your home for a while has never been a good strategy, now in this real estate market in West Chester and Liberty Township, Ohio it is a really bad strategy.  The homes that are selling are priced agressively.  This may be hard for some homeowners to accept, but it is the truth!

So…  these aren’t really secrets, but they are the answers to the question "What will it take to get my home sold in this market in West Chester and Liberty Township, Ohio?".

Wondering what your home is worth?   Click here to find out!

Your comments and questions are always welcome!

1.)  The higher loan limits when they are published by HUD will allow a significantly higher number of buyers to qualify for an FHA loan, which has less stringent qualifying criteria and lower down payment requirements. 

2.) This change in the loan limits may open up some additional avenues for buyers to obtain financing, which will certainly impact our West Chester and Liberty Township real estate market.  Many borrowers, in particular first time home buyers, have felt that they may not be able to get a mortgage loan due to all of the recent news and talk about the sub prime mortgage mess.

The National Association Of Realtors has developed an "estimated" amount of the new loans.  These are only estimates at this time.  HUD has 30 days to publish the new loan limits.  The estimated FHA loan limit for West Chester and Liberty Township, Ohio are $337,500, which is a significant increase from the old limit of $256,500.

Interest rates have moved higher in the last couple of weeks.  Just three weeks ago a 30 fixed rate loan was 5.49% with no points and as of Friday it was now 5.80% with no points.  Ouch!  Will the rates go lower again?  It is so hard to say if rates will go up or if they will go down and if someone tells you they do know the answer, proceed with caution.  My sense is that we are in a range for rates that we will probably stay in for a while.  With rates moving slightly lower and then back up slightly higher.  There is no doubt in my mind though, at some point, there will be people saying they wished they hadn’t waited so long and missed out on the opportunity to get a 5.5% or so interest rate.

Your comments and thoughts are always welcome!

8111 Tollbridge Court

West Chester, Ohio 45069

Lakota Schools

$229,900  - Three Bedrooms – Two Full Baths, One Half Bath

Don’t Wait To See This Home:

• Beautiful, Open Floor Plan
• Vaulted Great Room Features Gas Fireplace
• Vaulted Dining Room w/ Hardwood Floors
• Large Kitchen Features Hardwood Floors, Breakfast Nook & Island
• First Floor Master Suite w/ Adjoining Luxury Bath
• Terrific, Sought After Cul-de-Sac Street (Tollbridge Court)
• One Year Home Warranty
• Close To Schools, Shopping, Dining & Expressways!

To see more information on this home including many more photos and a virtual tour click here

My Newest Listing…

6737 Mahogany Court

Liberty Township, Ohio 45044

Lakota Schools

$315,000  – Four Bedrooms – Three Full Baths

Beautiful, Like New Home Features:

• A Two Story Great Room w/ Gas Fireplace & Wall Of Windows
• Large Island Kitchen Includes Stainless Steel Appliances & Hardwood Floors
• 1st Floor Study
• Two Story Foyer Features Hardwood Floors
• Large Master Suite w/ Luxury Bath
• And Much More To See!
• All Located On A Terrific Tree-Lined Fenced Rear Yard w/ A Large No Maintenance Deck!
• Pool Community!

To see more information on this home including many more photos and a virtual tour click here