Central Ohio Real Estate Cafe'

With everyone talking about foreclosures and with how much they have been in the news lately, it's easy to get worried about the future of your Central Ohio home. The silver lining here is that you often have plenty of warning from your lender before they foreclose your property.

Ohio has judicial foreclosure which basically means that your lender will have to go through the courts system to implement the foreclosure. Currently the system is so bogged down that it is taking 8-10 months to complete the entire process.

The Foreclosure Act is when the lender takes legal action to repossess your home if you default on the loan.

The process begins when you miss the first payment. Your lender will call make efforts to reach you to arrange to get the loan current. It's very important to talk to your lender at this point. If you're having trouble making the payment due to a temporary problem, your lender may be able to offer options like Forbearance on your loan for a month or two.

With a second missed payment or a failure to meet the arrangements made from the first missed payment, the lender will begin to call you more often demanding that you catch up on the loan. Typically by this point, your mailbox will be overflowing with letters from the lender telling you to become current or they will take appropriate legal action.

If you continue to fall behind on your mortgage, and remain unable to catch up on you payments, you'll receive a different kind of letter from your lender. You will receive a Notice of Acceleration from the lender telling you to become current on your payments by a certain date, or the entire amount of the loan will become due and payable. If you are unable to pay up, the lender will begin the judicial foreclosure process on your Central Ohio home.

Remember, lenders do not want to be in the real estate business and would prefer working with you to avoid the whole foreclosure process and keep you in your home. The key is to stay in contact with the lender and diligently work with them to avoid foreclosure.

With it taking so long to process the foreclosure you have quite a bit of time to try to come up with a way to become current to stay in your home or pursue sale options to help you avoid a foreclosure on your credit.

This is an area I specialize in so if you have more questions please feel free to contact me at 614-273-6406 or email me at Vanessa.simmons@realliving.com. Subscribe to my blog to automatically receive free real estate advice and tips.


LINKS:
Foreclosure: http://credit.about.com/od/df/g/foreclosure.htm
Forbearance: http://www.allbusiness.com/glossaries/forbearance/4951290-1.html
Notice of Acceleration: http://dtbfinancial.com/glossary.html
Judicial Foreclosure: http://www.investorwords.com/2677/judicial_foreclosure.html

OUCH!!

 Was all I could muster after that shocking statement from a fellow agent in my office.    My daughter plays basketball for Pickerington North High School's freshman team.  They had an undefeated season this year, doing far better than their male counterparts, I might add.

Pickerington, Ohio is known for girls' basketball, being the home to a few state championships.  Several graduates have gone on to play for The Ohio State University and other great institutions.   

I would be the first to admit that back in the late 70's when I played high school sports our fan base consisted of a few faithful followers and often not even our own parents.  But today these girls have elevated their game and are pulling in a crowd.  Not yet to the level of the boys but a definite improvement and getting better...

So before you succumb to old assumptions do yourself a favor and check out the Lady Panthers and The Lady Tigers  ........they have some real Ballers!

Looking for a Central Ohio Home in please feel free to call me at 614-273-6406 or email me at Vanessa.simmons@realliving.com

Everyone knows what HUGE pain short salescan be, however; most real estate agents will agree that they are an unavoidable part of the Central Ohio landscape.  The more  the process is understood the greater likelyhood there is for a smoother transaction.  As a buyer's agent it is important have a clear picture, with as much information as possible.  This will allow agents to better understand how to effectively work through short sales process minimizing buyer frustration. 

Buyers' agents play a large role in the successful competition of short sales.  Going into the transaction with the right expectations is a key element to successfully completing a short sale.

I suggest you Don't Make a Short Sale Offer on any Central Ohio home, until you get answers to following 10 questions from the listing agent:

•1.       Has the seller completed all the paperwork for the short sale?

•2.       Are there currently any offers on the property?

•3.       Have there been any offers on this property?

•4.       Has the BPO/Appraisal been completed

•5.       Do you know if the lender will pay any seller concessions?

•6.       How will multiple offers be handled?

•7.       How many mortgages are on the property?

•8.       Has a negotiator been assigned?

•9.       Have you worked with the lender before?  If yes are they responsive?

•10.   Is there anything else you can share with me that will better insure my client successfully getting this home?

Once armed with the answers to these questions agent and buyer will better be able to determine how to set correct expectations for short sale success...  It does no one any good to lose a potential buyer due to frustration or not having an understanding the process.

If you need help with short sales or any other type residential real estate in Central Ohio, please give me a call at 614-273-6406 or email me at Vanessa.simmons@realliving.com

 

If you are like me, I start thinking spring in mid February, but here in Central Ohio we are still have plenty of winter days left. Any Central Ohio real estate agent will tell you that it's harder to sell your home in the winter. The days are colder and shorter, leaving less time to show your home to potential buyers.

The good news is that most of the buyers who are looking at houses in the winter aren't just killing time. They're serious enough about finding their new home to go house hunting at a time that most people would rather stay inside.

There are a few things you can do to make a good impression on home buyers this winter:

· Make sure all walkways are safe. Spread out ice melt or sand to provide traction during snowy weather. Shoveling the snow on the driveway and sidewalks will make your Central Ohio real estate appear more inviting and well maintained. Be sure to place a mat for visitors to wipe their feet on.
· Warm up the house. Buyers will remember the house that was pleasantly warm on a frigid day. In addition, you will be able to demonstrate to the buyer that your furnace is in good working order.
· For a welcoming scent, bake cookies the day of the showing. Some people are sensitive to the fragrances in air freshener's and perfumes, so skip spraying those when expecting someone to look at your house.
· Serve snacks in the kitchen. Give the buyer a reason to linger in your home by leaving a light snack in the kitchen. If the weather is cold, consider providing chili or soup in a Crockpot to keep it warm with festive disposable bowls. Or, to keep it simple, you can provide coffee or hot chocolate and cookies. Be sure to talk with your Central Ohio real estate agent before leaving these snacks so he or she knows they're for the buyers.
· Make your house appear warm and inviting. Turn all the lights in the house on; place warm-toned throws and decorator pillows around the living room. Put on some soothing classical or jazz music; keep the volume low enough that buyers can talk quietly to each other.

You can make your home seem more inviting this winter by using these proven techniques.

Ready to sell your home? Call me today at 614-273-6406 or email me at Vanessa.simmons@realliving.com

KEYWORD: Pickerington, Central Ohio, Columbus, Gahanna, Canal Winchester, Worthington, Renyldsburg,OHIO real estate

LINKS:
Ice melt: http://www.ecos.com/pages/icemelt.html
Furnace: http://www.buyfurnace.org/
Jazz music: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/ 

Neglected and abandoned properties are not only an eye sore they can be havens for rodents and vagrants.  Properties allowed to go uncared for has a tremendously negative impact on surrounding property values in neighborhoods.

CNN reported  about a new website, called Lender Offender, which allows anyone to post pictures along with addresses of the neglected and abandoned, lender owned homes.  Several lenders who own these properties have taken care of the problems just to avoid the embarrassment.  Please use this site and pass it along.

If we get lucky this could have a side benefit of forcing the lender-offenders to move more quickly to move these properties versus locking the banks into long term maintenance programs.

If you are looking for Central Ohio Real Estate help please give me a call at 614-273-6406 or email me at Vanessa.simmons@realliving.com

REMINDER.... all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sale calls.

.... YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone:

888-382-1222.

It is theNational DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number.

If I can assist you with any of your Central Ohio real estate needs please call me at 614-273-6406 or vanessa.simmons @ realliving.com

The Wall Street Journal's Market Watch Report recently ranked the top 50 U.S. Metro Areas for Business.

I was please to see that Columbus was listed in the top 10 at #7.  Columbus gained that position through a 26 point increase over 2007 which saw the Capital City in the #10 spot.  Seattle had the the largest over all gain with a 27 point jump to land the #14 spot. 

Check out the complete story by Clicking Here.

Recently I went to on a pre-listing appointment and found a lovely home that looked beat up because of the scratched and damaged woodwork around the doorways and the baseboards.  The client has two dogs that have really done a job on the natural woodwork.  Since everyone is looking to save a buck I have become the queen of low cost fixes.   I shared with him a tip I received a few months ago from a handy man.

First, buy wood putty for the deep gashes, my handy man suggested Minwax.  Then you will need a wood stain with a drying agent.  Water based stains provide a wide range of colors and they blend will with existing treatment.  Water base stains are less toxic and clean up easily.

Start by applying the putty to the deep gashes and you can follow the instructions for applying and drying time.  After the area is toughly dried use a clean, dry, lint free cloth to apply the stain.  Again follow the application instructions by it is as simple as wiping one and wiping off.  Allow 8 hours drying time and you should have a new look to that beat down woodwork.

I have lots of low cost tips for preparing your home to get the maximum return.  When you are ready to buy or sell call me at 614-273-6406 or email me at Vanessa.simmons@realliving.com.

No matter how we may want to dance around the subject, the truth is, one of the first things people notice when they enter your Central Ohio home is the way it smells good or bad.  Everyone will agree that each home has its own unique smell.  As residents we often become immune to the smells in our own homes, however, when a seller is looking to impress perspective buyers it is critical to be aware of potentially offensive smells.  Below are a few tips on how common household occurrences like pet stains and musty odors can be eliminated.

Identify Were the Smell is coming from:

•1.        If the smell is coming from an identifiable source clean the area with warm water and baking soda.

•2.       Sprinkle a little baking soda on the area and allow sitting and vacuuming or cleaning up after an hour or two.

•3.       Spray a little vinegar and water mixture on the source and dab away excess

Unidentifiable Source:

•1.        Open a box or two of baking soda and place in areas where they will not be disturbed (behind furniture, up high in a room)

•2.       Place charcoal briquettes in a container with holes in the top (good for absorbing pet smells, cigarettes smoke smells, and musty smells also helpful in absorbing moisture)

•3.       Utilize kitty litter to help eliminate unidentifiable sources of odor.  Place in containers under furniture of in out of the way areas.

Other Items that can be used to neutralize odors are:

•1.        A mixture of lemon juice and water use to spritz base boards.

•2.       Coffee beans to absorb kitchen smells.

•3.       Citrus fruits to deodorize garbage disposals.

If you are looking for more cost effective tips to help your home sell call me at 614-273-6406 or email me at Vanessa.simmons@realliving.com

Baking soda: http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/154/1/30-baking-soda-tips.html

Vinegar:  http://greenliving.lifetips.com/cat/63666/alternative-green-lifestyles/index.html#tip-118349

Charcoal:  http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/heloise/odors/basement-deodorizer-oct01

A bathroom renovation is one of the best things you can do to help sell your Central Ohio home.  But, remodeling a bathroom is an expensive project, and in today's market it is not likely that the return will be worth the investment.  As a realtor I am always open to looking for budget friendly ways that I can help my seller boost the bottom line.  So, here are a few inexpensive changes that can be made to spruce up the bathroom in your Central Ohio Home for sale:

Paint

A fresh coat of paint is a good way to improve the overall look of the bathroom.  Choose paints in a light, neutral color to make the room seem more spacious. 

Fixtures

Most buyers will notice if the fixtures in the bathroom are old, and it can have a negative effect on their view of the home.  Buy a set of bathroom fixtures at a home improvement store.  Most stores have matching towel racks and bathroom tissue holders, too.  There is a good selection of stainless steel, wood or ceramic fixtures available at most stores. 

Floors

If your bathroom floor has tiles, it's a good idea to add fresh grout to brighten it up or at least clean the grout so it looks new.  Scratched and or damaged linoleum will need to be replaced.  You can buy rather inexpensive flooring that is easy to install in a variety of patterns and colors.  Look for remnants.

De-Clutter

You want the prospective buyers to be able to imagine themselves living in your home.  It's easier for them to do that if your home is free of clutter.  This is even true in the bathroom. 

Clear out your medicine cabinet.  (Yes, many buyers will look in there.) Leave only essentials like toothpaste and hairbrushes.  Don't forget to de-clutter and organize under the sink.

Clean

Nothing is a bigger turn off to prospective buyers than a dirty bathroom.  A little time and elbow grease will yield big returns.

Making a good impression on buyers can be easier when you've redone your bathroom.  You really don't have to spend a lot of money to increase the value of your Central Ohio home for sale.

I have many more tips like this to inexpensively prepare your home so that it sells faster and for the most money.  I'd love to share them with you.  Give me a call today at 614-273-6406 or email me at Vanessa.simmons@realliving.com

KEYWORD: Columbus, Pickerington, Canal Winchester, Gahanna, Worthington, Blacklick, Reynoldsburg, Ohio homes for sale

LINKS:

1.  Fixtures: http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=Improve/UpdateBathroomFittings.html

2.  Paint: http://www.swatchbox.com/paint-interior.asp

3.  Clean the grout: http://video.about.com/housekeeping/How-to-Clean-Grout.htm