Crescent Communities, a builder in Charlotte, has released their list of the hottest home-building trends after researching their most-requested items from buyers in their luxury communities. Outdoor Living This is a trend that continues to gain popularity. Especially in some areas of the country, where outdoor living can be accomplished for three seasons. (In our area, as you know, weather can be unpredictable, but we can enjoy a ton of outdoor time.) More homeowners are requesting screened-in porches as well, so they can extend the feeling of outdoor living even more. In some homes, buyers are... [more...]

A mini-duct heating and/or cooling system is a different than the traditional system with large ducts that you may have seen in many homes. You may not know what it is, but a “mini-duct” system can solve several heating and cooling problems. Many homes in Cincinnati – especially Hyde Park and Oakley, where I often operate – were built before AC systems were installed in homes. A lot of these homes have hot water heat, which is the kind that uses the large radiator units we’re all familiar with. It can be very difficult to put AC in homes with this kind of heat because there is... [more...]

It’s usually a good idea to consider upgrades to your home. Many people want to know what percentage of an upgrade they will get back when they sell their house. Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report provided numbers for our area for a ton of different projects. I will provide a list below. There are several other factors besides resale to keep in mind. First of all, you want to keep your home appropriate to the neighborhood. If a lot of homes on your street are upgrading, you may want to consider it. You may also not want to over-upgrade for your area. This could definitely keep you... [more...]

Yes, the economic news we see every day continues to be a little bleak, making all of us want to turn off our televisions and put down those newspapers. However, there comes a time to absorb the situation and move forward! Let’s talk a little more about what the future may hold and take a look at some factors that will likely continue to weigh down the housing market this coming year. Recession: Yes, we are officially in a recession, although this may not be news to many of us! Remember that our country has been through several recessions, and they are a part of our economy and how it corrects... [more...]

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