It’s that time of year! Time to head to Kroger and purchase your ducks for the Freestore Foodbank Rubber Duck Regatta (presented by Dawn). Ducks are $5 and also available online. Buy 5 ducks and get one free ($25), 10 ducks and get 2 free ($50), or 20 ducks and get 4 free ($100). On Saturday, September 4 at 3 p.m. the ducks will be launched into the Ohio River from the Purple People Bridge. The event precedes the annual Cincinnati-Bell/WEBN fireworks display. The owner of the first duck to cross the finish line will win a 2012 Honda Civic Sedan LX from Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Honda... [more...]

CNN/Money Magazine has named their 100 top towns in their annual “Best Places to Live.” Mason ranks 24 this year, with five Ohio cities placing in the top 50. Mason’s great schools, proximity to Cincinnati, good public parks and low crime help place this city in the top 25. Mason ranks 17 in affordable housing. See Mason’s stats here. Other regional cities in the top 100 include these places in the Cleveland, Dayton and Indianapolis areas. 3.) Solon, Ohio 30.) Highland Heights, Ohio 32.) Twinsburg, Ohio 42.) Springboro, Ohio 48.) Westfield, Indiana 50.) Noblesville, Indiana 55.)... [more...]

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According to the National Association of Realtors, pending home sales rose in June, up a surprising 2.4%. This number was also up in May (from April.) This is up 20% from June 2010, which as right after the expiration of the home buyer tax credits. This data reflects pending contracts, not closings. A Reuters poll of economists had predicted a 2 percent drop in June, so this number came as a surprise. However, contract cancellations are also up. Credit is still tight and loans are hard to get for some buyers. It’s also possible more buyers are postponing their home buying decisions during... [more...]