Updating Ohio Flood Maps

Ohio flood map modernization process...Many communities throughout Ohio have flood maps that are 10-30 years old and these maps may not reflect the current flooding conditions of their particular areas. Such outdated maps can directly affect flood risk management, potentially putting more citizens at risk of sustaining losses of property or lives.

FEMA’s Flood Map Modernization initiative is a nationwide, $1 billion effort to modernize the nation’s inventory of flood maps. During this update the maps will be produced in a seamless, countywide format. The digital flood layer that is generated will be compatible with most Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Auto-CAD platforms. Thus, local communities will be able to utilize this digital data in conjunction with other data (such as parcel data) in order to enhance their local floodplain management programs.

Such an extensive project requires the collaboration of many players, including federal, regional, state and local stakeholders. Each participates at a different level, through tasks such as data development, map production, and/or map maintenance. Without these partnerships, such a large project could not be completed effectively and efficiently.

Click below to learn more about the flood map modernization process: www.ohiodnr.com/water/floodpln/map_modernization

Why Buy Now?

Do you think mortgage interest rates are too HIGH?

Well, here's a look back over the last 25 years of interest rates:

1981 - 16.95%

1982 - 13.62%

1983 - 13.42%

1984 - 13.18%

1985 - 11.28%

1986 - 9.32%

1987 - 10.64%

1988 - 10.61%

1989 - 9.74%

1990 - 9.67%

1991 - 8.50%

1992 - 8.21%

1993 - 7.17%

1994 - 9.20%

1995 - 7.20%

1996 - 7.60%

1997 - 7.10%

1998 - 6.74%

1999 - 7.91%

2000 - 7.38%

2001 - 7.07%

2002 - 6.05%

2003 - 5.88%

2004 - 5.75%

2005 - 6.27%

2006 - 6.24%

So this year probably doesn't look too bad, does it? Now is a great time to buy a home. There's plenty of inventory to choose from and many sellers are motivated to sell.

To receive HOT, New Listings By E-Mail as they come on the market, just contact me at 513-615-1890 or e-mail me at: dan@danweis.com and tell me what your search criteria is.

FREE Home Buyer Classes Are Back!

Well, it's the first quarter of 2007 and it's time for our FREE Home Buyer Classes again. We had our first class last Wednesday evening and had a great class.

We are teaching a special Home Buyer & Seller class this Wednesday evening in Anderson Twp at the Nagel Middle School. The Forest Hills school district charges $15 per person or $25 per couple. It's not too late to sign up. Just call me directly at 513-615-1890 and I'll make sure you can get into the class.

Do you have any family or friends who've recently talked about making a move this year?

They may have been wondering exactly how the home buying process works. Do they have a bit of 'fear of the unknown' perhaps holding them back from making the important decision to purchase a house or condo in Cincinnati?

Our upcoming schedule for our FREE Home Buyer Class:

• Wednesday, February 21st, 7:00 - 9:30pm
• Wednesday, March 7th, 7:00 - 9:30pm

To register for either date or future class, click on: http://www.HomeBuyingClass.com

4 Ways To Cut Your Homeowner's Insurance Bill!

Home insurance rates been on the rise for the past several years. Often, shopping around for rates at different companies will show a wide range of premiums, so you need to find out about what's really covered and how their claim service ranks with other insurance companies.

Here's what you can do to minimize homeowner's insurance premiums:

1. Maintain your home. Take care of small problems before they grow and get expensive to repair.


2. Increase your deductible. Being willing to pay $1,000 out-of-pocket instead of only $500 can drop your premium by up to 15%. (If you're lucky and you never make a claim, you'll never have to pay the deductible anyway.)


3. Think twice about small claims. The more claims you make, the higher your premium will go. Insurance companies that see homeowners making two to four claims in a three-year period may decide not to renew the plicy. Keep the numbers down by paying out-of-pocket for smaller problems this year.


4. Check the homes's insurance history. Before you purchase a home, find out whether the property or area is prone to problems and therefore higher insurance rates.

Just as consumers want to keep up with their credit reports, now buyers and owners may want to check out a CLUE report. The Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (C.L.U.E.), maintained by Choice Point, Inc is an information database used by 90% on insurance providers to keep up with the claims history of policy holders and the homes they insure.

If you're considering buying, selling or insuring a home, get the home's CLUE report and look it over. Various report formats are available starting at $19.50 at their site: http://www.choicetrust.com

Sellers can use the CLUE report to get a competitive edge over other sellers if the home is revealed to be claim-free. Homeowners may also want to check their home's report when seeking to switch insurance providers, ensuring the report doesn't included inaccurate information.

Buyers can use the CLUE report to find out whether a home tends to have problems or whether past claims might drive up premiums or prevent them from insuring the property at all. Note, however, a CLUE report can only be purchased by the homeowner, so buyers will need to request the report from the sellers of the home they're interested in purchasing.

New 2007 FHA Mortgage Limits!

For Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren Counties in Ohio:

Single Family: $252,700

2-Family: $284,620

3-Family: $345,800

4-Family: $399,000

To determine whether selecting an FHA mortgage loan is right for you, contact my Preferred Mortgage Consultant, Rick Pilger of Trustcorp Mortgage - 513-772-2900 or e-mail: rpilger@trustcorp.com.