New FHA Buyer Incentives!

In an effort to increase the affordability of homeownership, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is announcing sales incentives on purchases of HUD Homes in the State of Ohio. These incentives are available on HUD Homes bids placed on or after November 15, 2007 and expire on September 30, 2008. There are thousands of properties eligible for the incentives in Ohio. Contact me for the list of available properties online.

$100 Down Payments! Homebuyers can purchase a HUD Home with a $100 down payment when they utilize FHA-insured financing.

Sales Allowances! Homebuyers can also obtain a $2,500 sales allowance at closing when they utilize FHA-insured financing. The sales allowance is paid at closing in one of three ways:

1. Closing costs
2. Repairs
3. Reduce the mortgage amount

Homebuyers not using FHA financing can still obtain a $1,000 sales allowance which they can use to pay closing costs.

Why use FHA Financing. FHA-insured financing has been used by millions of Americans to purchase a home. It is a safe, affordable way to obtain the dream of Homeownership. FHA-insured loans offer low down payment requirements, competitive interest rates, and flexible credit qualifying. Rick Pilger of Union National Mortgage (770-6999) is an FHA-approved lender.

Fix up your HUD Home with the FHA 203(k) Program. For those properties that require fixing up, FHA has a loan for rehabilitating and repairing properties called the Rehabilitation Loan program or 203(k). You can get just one mortgage loan which includes the mortgage and the cost of repairs combined.

Last Home & Condo Buyer Class of 2007!

Don't miss our last Home & Condo Buyer Class of 2007 on Dec. 5th at 7:00pm.

Our classroom is already half full, so hurry to save your seat by registering at: Home Buying Class

I know the media has been slamming the real estate market, but Cincinnati has not been as hard hit as other areas like Florida, California & Nevada. Home sales are still happening in our area and with interest rates still in the 6% range, it's still a great time to shop for a home. With so much selection available, you can find the right home for you. Home sellers are being more realistic with their pricing, especially if they have to sell.

If you plan on starting your home search within the next 3 - 6 months, NOW is the time to start your learning process! So before you start looking, get 'educated' in the home buying and mortgage process - from start to finish.

I've taught this class well over 100 times in the last 20 years. Our purpose is to educate you with money and time-saving strategies you'll learn in this class to reduce your stress while ensuring you avoid many costly buyer mistakes. This class is designed to build your confidence and arm you with the knowledge to become an informed consumer, so that YOU can make the best decisions for your situation.

Sign up today at: http://www.HomeBuyingClass.com

Are You on Facebook?

Are you socializing on Facebook?

I've been on it for a couple of weeks and would love to be friends, so next time you're on Facebook, please look me up and "Add a Friend".

Once you register, you can check out my profile and learn more about me. I also look forward to learning more about you.

Just an FYI! Facebook is not just for teenagers and twenty-somethings. A large percentage of people in their 30s - 40s - 50s are also posting profiles there too.

So join me and let's get to know each other better!

Go to http://www.facebook.com/

October 2007 Housing Stats

Oct. 2007 sales were down 13.8% from Oct. 2006.

Interestingly, Oct. 2007 sales were off by 1 sale from Oct. 2001.

For the year (Jan - Oct), sales were down 11.6% from 2006.

The Listing Inventory is just about double the amount of inventory as in 2002 and 2003.

The Housing Supply (called Absorption Rate) is 10 months, which 1.7 months greater than last October.

What does all of this mean? Homes are still selling, but not at the rate we need to decrease the active listing inventory to a "balanced market" level.

A Touching Story - The Cab Ride

I just read this story and it reminded me of a time when I was nine years old and had a paper route...

A Great Moment Wrapped in Kindness

By Art KoffHRMS-Netassets.net

Originally published: November 12, 2007

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. One early morning, when I arrived at 2:30 a.m. for a pick-up, the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.

Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, and then drive away. But I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door.

‘This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance,’ I reasoned to myself. So I walked to the door and knocked. “Just a minute,” answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

“Would you carry my bag out to the car?” she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It's nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.” “Oh, you’re such a good boy,” she said.

When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?” “It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly. “Oh, I don’t mind,” she said. “I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice.” I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. “I don’t have any family left,” she continued. “The doctor says I don’t have very long.” I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

“What route would you like me to take?” I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she’d ask me to go slow in front of a particular building or corner, and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.”

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. “How much do I owe you?” she asked, reaching into her purse. “Nothing,” I said. “You have to make a living,” she answered. “There are other passengers,” I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,” she said. “Thank you.” I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life. We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware, beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one. People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel. Do something nice for a stranger this holiday season. You may get more from it than they will.

...when I was nine, I had a paper route and one of my customers, Mrs. Johnson, who was a sweet lady, was a widow. She didn't get around well, so I'd always take the paper to her door. We'd always chat for a little while on the days she paid me for the newspaper. I think she took her time getting the money, so we could talk longer. Then one day I was notified not to deliver to that address any longer. Until I read the story above, I had forgotten about Mrs. Johnson.

2008 Hamilton Co. - $35 Million Deficit

The 2008 Hamilton County Budget, the projected $35 Million deficit and how to fix it continue to receive a lot of focus and attention.

Last week, the Cincinnati Enquirer ran an article mentioning proposals by Hamilton County Administrator Patrick Thompson to close the remaining 2008 budget gap – one of which is to increase the county’s real estate transfer tax by 1 mill.

- Suggesting the commissioners increase the real estate transfer tax is a step in this process that the Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors (CABR) knew would come and have been anticipating. In last year’s budget process for 2007, Hamilton County faced a $4.7 Million gap and Administrator Patrick Thompson recommended that the County Commissioners increase the real estate transfer tax by 1 mill to close the gap.

- Both times – last year, and this entire year when looking at 2008 – we actively lobbied the Hamilton County Commissioners that increasing the real estate transfer tax is not the way to fix the county’s budget difficulties.

By all indications, it appears our efforts have been successful, both last year and this year.

Last year, County Commissioners Heimlich, DeWine and Portune unanimously opposed a proposed 1 mill increase in the real estate transfer tax.

This year, despite a different composition of the County Commission, we have once again secured unanimous agreement by Commissioners Portune, Pepper and DeWine to not increase the real estate transfer tax.

Click the link below to access the article from the Cincinnati Enquirer:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071115/NEWS01/711150369/1077/COL02

The Cincinnati Board of Realtors will continue to work with the Commissioners and the entire staff of Hamilton County to protect the interests of all property owners.

Could You Be Like Britney Spears?

I found this link from Dave Ramsey of Financial Peace University, radio talk show host and now Fox Business News consultant, talking about the Power of Investing Over Time and how many consumers today are falling into a financial hole that they may not be able to get out of in the future.

Please click and listen to this audio:

Dave Ramsey - How Britney Spears Is Like Many of Us

Dave gets to the nitty-gritty about what it takes to have a retirement where you're not ending up being dependent on others. Listen closely. We can all learn something from this audio.

We're Trapped...

We haven't been able to use our garage door for the past several days, because one of the springs snapped. I was coming home and the garage door would only go up about 2 feet and then immediately go back down. Well, the handy guy I am (NOT!), I kept hitting the garage door remote thinking maybe the next time it'll go up. Well, it didn't. Then I got out of my car and punched in my garage door code and that didn't work. Finally, I just went in the back door and looked at the garage door from the inside. The spring had broken.

With Amy's mini-van stuck inside and my car outside, we called Russ from Queen City Door to help us out. He came over on short notice and rescued Amy's van from being stuck in the garage over the weekend. He had to order us 2 new springs (when one breaks, it's best to install two new ones, because then they have the same tension - you don't want one new and one older.)

Now, we have a working garage door again and just in time to not have to leave our cars outside and scrape them in the morning.

If you need New Replacement Doors, Springs Replaced, Replacement Panels, Cables, New Operators Installed or Repaired, Remote Controls & Keypads, Retrofit Services, Weatherstripping and Door Seals or Openings Enlarged, Russ at Queen City Door can help you. Russ can be reached at 831-0144 (office) or 543-7187 (cell).

The DREAM Movie

Is something holding you back from going after your dreams?

What a powerful video! Watch this every morning when you wake up and every night before your head hits the pillow. Let your conscious and sub-conscious mind go to work to help you achieve your dreams!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmM2g4Qcqr8