Welcome 2010! I think we all agree that it feels good to have put 2009 behind us, and I hope we all look forward to making a great 2010 for ourselves, our friends and family!

The buyers and sellers I am currently coming into contact with all seem to share one thing: Determination!

Buyers are determined to make better choices and use their financial resources more wisely. Sellers are determined o face the reality of the market and are appreciating my expertise in the area of Short Sales, Pre- Foreclosures, and traditional home sales.

So much has changed in all aspects of our lives and we as a whole are making truly different choices than we ever made over the past several years. My clients are more value driven in all aspects of their lives. This is an exciting time to embrace the challenges AND the opportunities that this new market creates.

January has set me further in action working with lots of new buyers and sellers.As always I am helping my clients reach their real estate goals, and I am excited about 2010!

Remember  I am also a specialist: Get the inside track on Short Sales, Bank Owned/REOs and Foreclosures.

Have a great month!

Christy  740-404-6304

As the temperature rises so to the the summer cooling bills. We all want to stay nice and cool, but also save a little money. Why not follow some of these money saving tips?

* Keep blinds and curtains closed over windows that get a lot of sun in the day time. This limits the amoutn of heat that will come in and raise the temp...raising your cooling bill.

* If you are going on a vacation for several days set your thermostat to a warmer setting. the empty house doesn't need to be as cool as when you are in it. Of course if you have pets staying in the home consider their comfort first.

* Energy efficient windows will limit the amount of heat that gets transfered to the inside, and keep your bills down over the long run.

* Of course you can consider moving into a brand new, more energy efficient home too! Make your dreams come true and maybe even lower your monthly energy bills! There are deals, promos, and programs right now that offer up to $50k off a brand new promo home. Call me today see if you qualify for any or all of the offers. 740-404-6304

STAY COOL!!!

Up to $50,000 to you in reasons to buy a Brand New Promo Home to qualified buyers. Quick and easy phone qualification!

Federal tax credit up to $8,000

MCC Tax Credit up to $2,000 (ANNUALLY FOR LIFE OF LOAN!)

Ohio Heroes Program 1/4% interest rate reduction

Huge Discount in certain promo homes int he Columbus area & Sweat Equity Creditsup to $35,000

ARE YOU ANY OF THESE?

    *  Active Military, Active Reserve, or a Veteran – Qualified Active Duty Service personnel include Armed Services or Reserve Forces. Qualified veterans include military members honorably discharged from any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
    * Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians or Paramedics – Sworn paid members of a fire department whose regular duties include fire suppression or prevention, emergency medical response, hazardous materials response.
    * Health Care Workers – Certified, accredited, or licensed health care workers who are employed full-time as a medical resident or fellow, dental hygienist, nurse, nursing assistant, pharmacist, pharmacy technician, physician’s assistant, medical technician, technologist, or therapist.
    * Police Officers – Individuals commissioned as a police officer by a federal, state, county, or municipal or township government, or a public or private college or university; must be sworn to uphold, and make arrests for violations of federal, state, county, municipal, or township law or respond to terrorism.
    * Teachers – Individuals employed full-time by an accredited or state recognized public school, private school, or federal, state, county, or municipal educational agency as a state-certified classroom teacher or administrator in grades K-12 or higher education.
    *First Time Home Buyers, or if you haven’t owned a home in the past 3 years.

Didn’t see yourself on the list? You still may qualify for the savings of up to $35k off a new promo home. Call to see what offers you Do qualify for! 740-404-6304

*Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Well, the weather as me dreaming of fun and fabulous getaways! I am so thrilled that it is starting to warm up. If you are like me, then you are always looking for fantastic deals on last-minute getaways.

Travelzoo.com is probably one of my favorite sites for travel. Most of the time, my busy schedule does not allow travelling, but it is fun to dream about so many of the locations that they feature. Maybe YOU are ready to plan a getaway or a big vacation for your family...just make sure to do your homework and research the best and most reliable places.

My favorite vacation planning tips for saving money:

• Rent a car. What sounds expensive can actually often save you money. Consider renting a car instead of using the airport shuttle. Many times the cost of the shuttle is more than that of a modest car rental – and you have the flexibility of having available transportation. Also, if you are driving to your destination, renting a car instead of using your own vehicle is often cheaper than the extra wear and tear on your own car. Take advantage of coupons to upgrade to a larger, and more comfortable, vehicle.
• Eat breakfast where kids eat free and split meals. This can mean an enormous saving for a family of four or larger. Children are many times too excited or tired to eat much at a time. Restaurants that are kid friendly are more than happy to accommodate special requests for extra plates.
• Eat lunch in your room. You'll be surprised how good a peanut butter sandwich, chips, and fresh fruit tastes away from home, and everyone gets a needed break from the heat and crowds of tourist destinations.
• Take advantage of coupons. Whether it is for lodging, food, or attractions – coupons SAVE money! Find them everywhere... online, in local newspapers, at convenience stores, motels, etc. Always read the fine print carefully for terms of the coupon.
• Bring your own stroller. This can save $7 to $10 a day at some of the attractions.
• Bring along individual refillable water bottles. These can be refilled at the hotel and at attraction water fountains. A family of four could easily spend $20 or more a day buying water.
• Take advantage of multi-day passes at the attractions. This is especially a good deal when they can be used anytime.
• Make your own reservations. Many hotels and airlines offer additional discounts and specials for booking online.
• Give each child a set amount to spend. You can tame the "gimmes", and your pocketbook at the same time, by giving children a pre-set spending limit for souvenirs. Also, invest in an autograph book (about $6 at most attractions) and watch the fun as the children collect the "autographs" of their favorite characters. My girls still cherish their "Barbie" autograph obtained at Epcot several years ago.
• Spend the day away from the attractions. You're paying for that hotel swimming pool... use it! Spend the day at the beach or a nearby museum. The shopping areas near the major attractions (like Downtown Disney) have children's play areas, providing an inexpensive day of fun for the little ones.

I've been doing some thinking recently, and it appears to me that the math is adding up ESPECIALLY for first time home buyers.

look at this simple equation:

Value+Low Rates+Tax Credit= An Awesome New Home!

Let me break it down for you:

1. Value: This should come as no surprise to you that home prices are the lowest they have been in years...this means that you get value as a buyer right now.

2. Low Rates: Right now rates for qualified buyers are hovering in the 4%'s...but did you know that you may be able to get as low as even 3.5% 30 year fixed if you go with some of my NEW home builders?!!!

3: Tax Credit: This is the icing on the cake.. A tax credit of up to $8,000 is now available for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. Unlike the tax credit enacted in 2008, the new credit does not have to be repaid.

So, to re-cap...home buyers have a great opportunity here to get going with value and low rates, and 1st time home buyers have an even sweeter deal when you add in the taxt credit.

First time home buyers who qualify WON"T want to miss the huge tax credit the government is giving away for a limited time to help you get into your new home.


As always, I'm here to help. Any real estate question is neither too little nor too big to call me with... 740-404-6304 Have a great March!

Money-Saving Energy Tips for Winter's Cold Days
The average U.S. household will pay $2,300 this year on residential energy costs, with heating accounting for almost 45 percent of that total, according to the Alliance to Save Energy, a nonprofit public policy group based in Washington, D.C.

Gas and electric costs are up from last year, the group says. Data from the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration shows that homes heated with natural gas will pay about $30 more compared to last winter, while those heating with electricity will pay about $80 more.

In Pennsylvania, for example, where about 55 percent of residents' home energy bills are devoted to heating, costs for consumers using natural gas or electricity are projected to increase by about $90 and $125, respectively, compared with last winter's.

To help consumers cut costs, the Alliance is sharing these tips:

• Turn down the thermostat. In America, lowering it by just 1 degree can reduce heating energy costs by up to 5 percent–between $35 and $70, depending on the fuel used to heat the home.
• Plug leaks. Gaps between windows and doors may be small, but they can collectively add up to big energy losses. Plugging these leaks with caulk or other materials is the first action home owners should take to combat high heating fuel costs. By sealing those leaks and installing proper insulation, especially in the attic and crawl spaces, American households can reduce home heating costs by up to $180-$340 per year, depending on the fuel used.
• Heat people and pets, not empty space. About 80 percent of space is usually not being used at any given time. Closing vents in unoccupied rooms and using small space heaters to heat occupied areas can save a significant amount of energy and money.
• Use a programmable thermostat. It costs about $100, but if used properly, it can save American households up to 10 percent on their home heating bills–up to $90-$170 a year.
• Set the hot water heater at 130 degrees. Use cold water when washing clothes to save more energy and reduce bills for water heating.
• Replace the four most used bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. American households can save about $135 over the lifetime of the bulbs.
• Look for the label. When choosing a new heating and cooling system, windows, or appliances, consumers should purchase models with the ENERGY STAR label.
• Save gas on the road. Vehicle fuel economy can be improved with a few simple measures: tuning the engine (4 percent), using the recommended grade of motor oil (1-2 percent), keeping tires properly inflated (up to 3 percent), curbing aggressive driving such as speeding and rapid acceleration and braking (10 percent on average, but possibly as much as 33 percent), and removing unnecessary weight from the trunk (2 percent per 100 pounds). Even better, carpool, take public transportation, ride a bike or walk to really rack up the savings. 
  
  Source: Alliance to Save Energy

More flexibility available to help borrowers avoid foreclosure

On Dec. 8, Fannie Mae announced it was giving mortgage servicers more flexibility and more loss mitigation options to minimize foreclosures. The changes will allow servicers to act earlier to avoid potential delinquencies. The changes affect mortgages in mortgage backed securities (MBSs) and mortgages held by Fannie Mae in portfolio.

The changes "build on and complement" the Streamlined Loan Modification Program (SLMP) that takes effect on December 15, 2008, and is described elsewhere in this week's Washington Report. Highlights of the changes include:

1. Authority for servicers to apply loss mitigation tools for borrowers facing reasonably foreseeable, imminent default, so they don't have to wait until they are late making payments.
   
2. A new Early Workout program that allows servicers to pre-negotiate a loan modification that takes effect and becomes permanent after the borrower successfully completes a trial period.
   
3. Clarification that a loan can remain in a pool even if it is 24 months delinquent, if there is ongoing activity to address the problem.
   
4. Elimination of the requirement that a loan must proceed to foreclosure after a specified period of delinquency.

Fannie Mae has also announced a new Single Family Master Trust Agreement that will allow servicers, for new MBSs, to remove a loan that is 30 days delinquent from the MBS to modify the loan.

Freddie Mac guidelines also permit servicers to address problems faced by borrowers who are at risk of imminent default. It is not known whether Freddie is considering enhancing this policy to complement the SLMP.

This post is courtesy of the Ohio Association of Realtors. 

For more information, Please call me, Christy.   I'm here to help you review all of the options to best fit your needs!

I’m often asked if this is a good time to buy a home.  Some clients are concerned that home prices may fall further than they have already.  They are assuming that the best course of action is to wait for the bottom in the market and then buy.  The problem with this approach is that you don’t know where the bottom is until you see it in the rear view mirror, meaning until you’ve missed it!

Home prices are one factor in determining your cost of ownership, but so are interest rates and financing availability.  Even though interest rates have gone up in the last six months, they are still near historic lows.  Since your monthly mortgage payment is a combination of paying down your principal and paying the interest owed, if home prices come down a little further but interest rates go up, it could cost you even more to service a mortgage on an identical home!

While a home is a major investment, it is also the center of your personal life.  It’s important to live in a home that reflects your taste and values, yet is within your financial “comfort zone.”  To that end, it may be more important to lock in today’s relatively low interest rates and low home prices, rather than to hope for a further break in prices in the future.

Please give me a call if I can be of any assistance in determining how much home you can afford in today’s market.

 ** THere have been NEW and improved updates to this in 2009** The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 was just signed by President Bush with some amazing benefits for first time homebuyers.  Call everyone you know who wants to buy their first home (or who hasn’t owned one in three years), this is too good to miss – it’s a $7,500 tax CREDIT (not deduction but a credit).

If you have not owned a home in three years, you qualify as a first time home buyer.  If you buy a home after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009, you qualify for this credit.  Call your friends who just bought a home since April 9th and tell them they may take $7,500 off their tax bill if they qualify.  It has to be your principal residence, so rentals do not count.

The tax credit is 10% of the cost of the home, up to a maximum of $7,500. This is not an additional deduction that lowers the amount of income to be taxed, it is a tax credit.  In other words, you take $7,500 off your tax bill.  But there is a catch; the credit you receive now is actually an interest-free loan that must be repaid.

The loan has no interest, and will be paid back over 15 years.  You get the credit on your 2008 taxes, but you start paying it back on your 2010 taxes that are due in 2011, so you get at least two years without a payment.  You pay back 6.67% of the credit each year, so for a $7,500 credit the payment is $502.50 per year.  If you stay put for 15 years, you pay it off with no interest.
What happens if you sell the house?  You pay the balance back at the closing.  So, you get $7,500 now, and pay the rest of it back if you make money on the sale of your house.  What happens if you do not make enough money when you sell your house?  They forgive the rest of the debt. 

Other restrictions stipulate that you have to buy your first house in three years before July 1, 2009, not have super high income, not use bond financing and buy anywhere in the US.

If you’d like to learn more about this program, please call me!