If you purchase a Fannie Mae-owned property in the near future, the group will give you 3.5% back to cover closing costs. To qualify for this program, you must go under contract after April 11, 2011 and close before June 30, 2011. This is a tight timeframe. Fannie Mae can’t guarantee closing in time, but they do recommend going under contract before May 15 to have the hope of closing in time. The home must be one that is owned by Fannie Mae, all of which are listed on HomePath.com. A similar strategy has been in use before, with the goal of unloading Fannie Mae’s inventory of homes.... [more...]

The National Association of Homebuilders has conducted a survey to predict what buyers will be looking for in a few years. It seems that the recent changes in the housing market will leave lasting impressions on what buyers really want out of a new home. Here’s what NAHB determined to be the likely characteristics of a typical 2015 new home: The average, new single-family home will be smaller and have more green features The living room will either vanish or merge with other spaces in the home The “Great Room” is the likeliest room to be included in the average new home Low-e windows... [more...]

What inspired buyers to purchase homes in 2010? Not surprisingly, affordability was the driving factor. That’s according to the Wall Street Journal, based on a survey of buyers who purchased homes in the second half of last year. (Survey by Weicher Realtors, Inc.) Twenty eight percent of respondents listed “favorable financing” as their primary reason. It’s no secret that inventory is high, home prices are low and, most importantly, interest rates are lower — this is allowing buyers to get great deals on real estate. Clearly this is true for buyers last year even after... [more...]

A survey has found that, in 72 percent of the country’s 50 largest cities, it is cheaper to rent instead of buy. The study by Trulia.com calculated home price to monthly rent ratio in each city to determine if homeowners are paying less than renters. The top ten cities to buy vs. rent: Miami, FL Las Vegas, NV Arlington, TX Mesa, AZ Phoenix, AZ Jacksonville, FL Sacramento, CA San Antonio, TX Fresno, CA El Paso, TX There are a couple of reasons we’re finding buying cheaper than renting in some places. More homeowners have had to sell their homes and need to rent, thus increasing the... [more...]

By Molly Eynon Buyer Specialist Just because you had a home inspection done prior to buying your home doesn’t mean that you can move in and forget about it!  There are a couple of tests that you might want to consider doing right away or at least every couple of years to keep your family and your investment safe. 1.  Radon Test - Radon, a radioactive gas, is one of the deadliest home problems, causing about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.  This odorless, colorless gas, formed from the decay of uranium found in virtually all soils,... [more...]

We are proud to announce a very special new addition to the AmyBSells Team! Dexter Charles Habegger Born January 21, 1:14 p.m. 9lbs, 5oz 22 inches long Born at Good Samaritan Hospital in Clifton with Dr. Choi, greeting the world 8 days past his due date! _____ I will not be taking a traditional leave from Real Estate. You can still reach me by phone or email any time — rest assured that I’ll still be receiving your messages. I have great support from my partner Molly Eynon, and she’ll be available to you in the event that I am not. Thanks for all the well-wishes I have received... [more...]

There are many reasons to buy a home, and incase you’ve been living in a cave you may be aware it is a buyers’ market. Realty Times listed just 10 of these reasons in a recent article. If you’re a renter with the financial means to buy, consider these reasons among the many benefits of home ownership. 1.) Low Interest Rates: Interest rates are still hovering around historical lows. This means that you’ll be paying less interest over the entire course of your loan on that home. This can make your monthly payments lower. 2.) Mortgage Interest Deduction: It’s possible... [more...]

2010 was an eventful year in Real Estate! Even though we’re already rolling fast in 2011, let’s take a moment to review the helpful info in our favorite blogs of 2010. #12: Five Reasons You Still Need a Realtor #11: Five Creative Ways to Go Green #10: Tylenol Recall and Home Medicine Safety #9: Sellers: Avoid These Pricing Mistakes #8: Overpricing Can Attract Fewer Byers #7: Financial Gifts and Homebuying #6: Top Ten Things to Consider When Buying a Home with Pets #5: Molly Eynon: New Buyer Specialist #4: The Post Tax-Credit Real Estate Market #3: How to Get Money in an Emergency #2:... [more...]

Sales are still recovering both nationally and locally, but one thing Cincinnati can brag about: affordability. The affordability in the area ranks at 257, with the nation’s affordability at 172 — the higher the number, the better. The numbers are compiled by looking at median home prices, mortgage payments and household income. You can also visit the national Housing and Transportation Affordability page. They supply a chart for most areas of the country. Areas where a housing cost is less than 30% of that household’s income are considered affordable. So, those areas in yellow... [more...]

Looking for a home but overwhelmed by all the choices? Not sure what kind of home best suits your style? Don’t kbow the difference between Tudor and Colonial? Answer these 10 questions and you’ll have a better idea of what type of architecture suits you. 1.) What geographic location would you like to call home? Like the east coast? Southwest? Perhaps Europe? Look for a home style that fits your fantasy location. For example, moving to Mason but dreaming of Boston? Look for something in the Cape Cod style. East Coast home styles: Cape Cod, Colonial, Federal, Neoclassical, Tudor... [more...]

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