The city of Cincinnati will no longer be collecting yard waste. This means the brown bags of grass clippings, weeds, branch trimmings, etc., and will also include fall leaves. Residents may not know that Ohio law actually prohibits throwing your yard waste in your regular garbage. (This is in part because yard waste takes up 20% of the residential landfill space.) So, you will need to have a new solution to your yard waste disposal! Unless it is a very small quantity, you really should not put yard waste — like your fall leaves — in the garbage. There are several solutions to this problem.... [more...]

There are a lot of first time home buyers in the market right now. Thanks to the $8,000 tax credit especially, and the low prices and high inventory, many people are entering the market. But many buyers share some beliefs that turn out to be myths! The Real Estate Buyers Agent Council (REBAC) listed 10 of those myths. We discuss them here, with some info from Randy Templemann, ABR. All real estate agents are the same. No! We’re not all the same. Different agents have different designations, different levels of experience — even different personalities can matter when it comes to finding... [more...]

Head up to Ault Park Pavillion today to enjoy some of the finest brews presented by Dutch’s Wine Merchant and Beer Dock.  Read More →

The National Association of Home builders has researched how long some of your household features should last. Knowing how long a roof should last or different kinds of flooring can help you decide what shape your house is in, or any house you may be considering purchasing. This list doesn’t take style of cabinets or flooring into account, but could help you think twice before you tear out a hardwood floor or select a certain material for your new roof or windows. 100 Years or More Brick Siding: Lifetime of the home All wooden floors: Lifetime of the home Cellulose insulation material:... [more...]

The Ohio Schools Report Card came out on Tuesday, and schools in the area are rated, for the most part, good. Cincinnati Public retained it’s mid-level ‘continuous improvement’ status for the fifth straight year, although there were some dips in the ratings from last year. (The school system had seen gains last year from previous years.) CPS met six out of 30 indicators, down from nine last year. Each indicator measures a grade’s passing rate on different subjects. The test scores are the only basis for these ratings. These scores are based on tests given to students last year... [more...]

Chief NAR economist Lawrence Yun published an article on the organization’s website this week about the “Road to Normalization.” He observed that throughout the summer, the housing market has been relatively busy. According to Yun, recent home sales numbers (both pending and closed) indicate “that housing market recovery prospects have improved considerably.” In June, pending home sales (contract signings, not closings) have risen for the fifth consecutive month. There has also been a decrease in inventory and distressed property home sales. Here’s some more... [more...]

We’ve mentioned before how the appraisal rules are have changed. (If you need to catch up, read this and this.) The highlights are as follows. - Lenders and third parties are not allowed to have any influential contact with appraisers. For instance, as your Realtor, I can’t call your appraiser and ask when the appraisal is going to be finished. -Borrowers must have access to a copy of the appraisal within in three days of the closing of the loan (although they may waive right.) -This means that buyers should not plan to close any sooner than 30 days. Because the lender can only have... [more...]

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Don’t forget to buy your ducks for this year’s Rubber Duck Regatta hosted by the Cincinnati Freestore Foodbank. For every duck you buy, you earn a chance to win a 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid. The ducks will be released into the Ohio River on September 6 as part of the Cincinnati Bell-WEBN Fireworks extravaganza. The Rubber Duck Regatta has raised an astounding $4,000,000 over its history, which supports the efforts of the Freestore to make sure no one in our area goes hungry. Ducks can be purchased online, or by a representative hanging out at your local Kroger. Ducks are $5 each, or... [more...]

This condo is clean and neutral and has rarely been lived in. The living room is large and opens out to the 23 foot private balcony. Hardwood floors are in the living area including the kitchen, Living room and dining area. The master has 3 large custom cabinets and lush carpeting, with a walk out to the balcony as well. This property has 1 car assigned parking space. It is located on the 2nd floor and is clean, neutral and in move in condition. A gas fireplace, recessed lighting, crown molding and beaded board keep the charm of Hyde Park! The community features a club house with pool, exercise... [more...]

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