For buyers who missed the homebuyer tax credit, don’t fret! Thanks to lower interest rates post-credit, waiting is not the worst thing you could have done. Interest rates have fallen so dramatically since April 30th that the typical purchaser of a $350,000 home, financed with a $280,000 mortgage would have saved money by waiting until May. Here are the numbers: April’s $280,000 (30-year fixed) mortgage, with a rate of 5.34 percent has a monthly payment of $1,561.82. May’s $280,000 mortgage, with a rate of 4.625 percent has a monthly payment of $1,439.59 per month. That’s... [more...]

Do you have a pile of old computer equipment in your house? Most of us know we can’t throw old electronics in the trash — their materials become toxic when they break down. But those big old monitors, printers and computer parts — even old televisions — take up a ton of space. If you live in Hamilton County, there is a city program available that will properly dispose of your old equipment for free. This service is available Monday-Friday through the month of June, as well as this Saturday, June 19. See hours and location below. They will accept: CPUs, hard drives, personal... [more...]

The jobless numbers have dropped across many counties in the Cincinnati area during April and May, as reported in the Cincinnati Business Courier. Here’s a rundown of numbers from March to April of this year: Butler County: 10.5% (March) → 10.2% (April) Clermont County: 11.3% → 10.4% Hamilton County: 10.2% → 9.9% Warren County: 10.1% → 9.6% City of Hamilton: 12.1% → 11.8% City of Cincinnati: 10.6% → 10.3% Overall in the State of Ohio, the March to April unemployment rate fell from 11.5% to 10.7%. Clinton and Highland Counties have had it the toughest, due to the closing of a... [more...]

By Molly Eynon, Buyer Specialist Many people, including me, will openly admit that they treat their pets like children. Many pet lovers eventually become homebuyers, and these buyers like to take their pets’ needs into consideration. Below are some of the main things to consider when starting your home search. 1) Check County and City Code Restrictions Most counties in Ohio require you to purchase a dog license every year. Many cities also restrict the number and types of pets allowed within city limits. For those of you who live in Hamilton County, this year the Hamilton County Commissioners... [more...]

The National Association of Realtors has reported a rise in existing home sales nationally in April. (Existing home sales means transaction closings on single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops.) This is on top of a rise in March as well. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist said the gain was not surprising. “The upswing in April existing-home sales was expected because of the tax credit inducement, and no doubt there will be some temporary fallback in the months immediately after it expires, but other factors also are supporting the market,” he said. “For people who were on the... [more...]