If you are buying or selling your house and bringing cash to the table, you may need to know the appropriate guidelines for using financial gifts. Many of us are fortunate enough to receive money from a parent or other relative in order to buy a house. But you can’t just deposit a huge check into your account and easily use it for a downpayment. Please read through these important guidelines, which come directly from our lender. Basically, you need a solid paper trail. If the gift funds are verified in the account before you apply for your loan and appear on your statement, you need to prove... [more...]

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Are you ready for tax time? Did you install an Energy Star upgrade in 2009? Then you need to make sure you file correctly for the $1,500 tax credit. Energy Star Tax Credit If you’ve installed Energy Star windows, doors, roofing, insulation, heating/cooling, water headers, etc., make sure your item qualifies for the credit. Here’s the government’s chart about qualifications. For example, windows: Not all energy star windows qualify. They have to have a certain rating. Personally speaking, we have documentation from Gilkey for our new windows verifying their qualification for the... [more...]

By Lisa Eddingfield | AmyBSells Team Buyer Specialist Many buyers find listings online for homes they’d like their agent to show them. It is in your best interest to drive by these homes prior to scheduling a showing with your real estate agent. In the long run, it is a time-saver, and you will be able to avoid looking at a house you KNOW is a NO as soon as you pull in to the driveway! Here are some helpful hints of what to be on the lookout for when you are driving by homes for sale: Is this the type of neighborhood you envision for yourself and your family? Think safety and aesthetics. Does... [more...]

We paid the 11th highest airline fares in the nation here in Cincinnati, but prices are lower overall. This rank has moved down 10, after CVG held last year’s top spot for most expensive. Average fare was up slightly from the previous quarter, however. Current average fare is $367 round trip. This information comes from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics for the 100 busiest airports in the country. Fares have dropped due to a change in price structure by Delta, the airport’s major airline. Regionally, Louisville ranks 40th out of 100, Dayton is 62nd, Indianapolis is 70th, and Columbus... [more...]

The International Builders Show took place recently, and times have changed. What are today’s consumers looking for, according to the Nation’s builders? Smaller homes, more authenticity, more energy efficient, with a feeling of family and togetherness — oh, and it’s still about the kitchen. A survey conducted among home buyers this year defined the following as the top 10 must-haves: Large kitchens, with an island. Buyers still want higher end kitchens, and it’s still a good place to put in the money. Granite is on the bubble however — a must for a lot of move-up... [more...]

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