ROCKY RIVER BANK OWNED BARGAIN!

LET ME SELL YOU THIS HOUSE!

I marvel at the fact that this house is still available.

I have shown it to a number of buyers. Can I show it to you (the already financially qualified buyer that is ready to pull the trigger and isn't afraid to roll up his or her sleeves?).

Here are the NEGATIVES, from a layperson's observation

(Remember, I am NOT an inspector!):

Mold in the basement
Leaky skylight(s)
Dirty
Poorly renovated master bath
Overall cleaning and standard maintenance required

Here are the POSITIVES!

Phenomenal cul de sac street and desirable neighborhood bordering Westlake
Hardwood Floors Throughout
Expansive Kitchen
Vaulted Family Room Addition with fireplace and adjacent half bath
Size!! Square footage is recorded as 2699!
Flow and floor plan: FABULOUS for entertaining
1st Floor Master with skylights, private full bath and walk in closet
Additional first floor bedroom with immediate access to full bath
Spacious finished basement with an additional full bath
Two spacious bedrooms up with full updated bath
Great backyard with mammoth deck (which, yes, needs some attention).
Attached two car garage
UNHEARD OF PRICE FOR THE SIZE AND LOCATION: 60.95/sq foot...164,500!

This property borders Westlake, is MOMENTS away from I-90 as well as Clague Road (which is a five minute drive to I480/I-71. I also live moments away, so give me a ring and let's see if it's the place for you: Christina, Realty Professionals, 216-215-4232.

Yikes! What Ever Happened to Christina???

Real Estate has happened to me! And for a sluggish market, it sure has been busy!

Please know that I am engaged as ever in this crazy profession, most recently (for the past two years) with the fortuitous partnership with John Becker, a senior member of our Realty Professionals Team with thirty years of experience who also occupies a prominent place as an arbitrator on ethical issues within the revered Professional Standards Committee of CABOR (the Cleveland Area Board of Realtors). His professional life prior to real estate – stemming from his ivy league education and ranging from academia to corporate accounting – enhances his credibility with clients and his affinity for understanding market trends and the financial layers to each transaction.

Another intriguing trademark of John is his intimate, hands on knowledge of the inventory that stems from his robust participation in the Tuesday Broker's Tour. The Tuesday Broker's Open, typically from 11-2 each week, is intended to acquaint the realtor community - who is our greatest customer in the sales of your home - with your home as a new piece of inventory in the marketplace. While some broker's laugh it off as a time for realtors to get together to chit chat and overeat (yes, we have to rouse the crowd with food), John probably hits 40+ homes in our area on that day, and has the brain power to keep the intricacies of all these properties straight, which makes him a great resource for knowing the market, competition, pricing and all the nuances of those layers that enhance his knowledge and credibility as a real estate professional.

So we are both at your service, and you reap the benefit of two professional realtors – who equally blend the insights of two generations, two genders, and two contrasting but complimentary approaches to marketing – for one competitive commission fee.

2365 Clague: Appraised in mid-300K's; New Short Sale 7 BR Westlake Bungalow NOW UNBELIEVABLY PRICED AT 200K!!!

Welcome to 2365 Clague within Westlake, in a beautiful 1-owner home custom built by the original owner for his large family of 10. This delightful brick home has 2 first floor bedrooms, 5 second level bedrooms, a mammoth kitchen with access to the house-length lounging deck, formal dining room, and spacious family rooms both on level one AND level two.

The walk out finished basement descends to a gently sloping open lot that leads to a babbling brook that borders a premium Westlake neighborhood.

The well cared for home has many newer mechnical features, from windows to bedrooms to refinished flooring and much more.

This is a deceiving home from the exterior...you must tour it within to appreciate its size, quality and features.

We will be OPEN THIS SUNDAY 3-5PM.

NEW PRICE AND OPEN SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 1-4: COME HOME TO 32632 Fieldcrest Circle in Avon

W O W !

This is truly a home like no other.

SAVOR THE PREMIUM, EXCLUSIVE LOCATION
within "The Woodbridge Subdivision" off Schwartz Road,
just moments from the Westlake / Cuyahoga border and is
desirable, high dollar communities and the inviting and ever-
dynamic Crocker Park! There are ONLY fifteen (15!) lots
in this exlusive community, which features wooded and water views!

DISCOVER A REFRESHING FLOOR PLAN
that defies the typical new construction home

• 3 bedrooms down, 2 bedrooms up
• Indulgent First Floor Master Suite with Addictive In Suite Bath and Private Access to Outdoor Spa
• Potential for 2 ADDITIONAL MASTERS, one up, one down
• 1st Floor Laundry Room privately situated to service BEDROOMS (versus off the kitchen)
• Seamless Flow of Living, Dining and Family Rooms Clustered Around an Absolute "Cook's Delight Kitchen"

A HOME BUILT TO LAST A LIFETIME, with CHOICE CONSTRUCTION & AESTHETIC SELECTIONS that reflect the Sellers' diligence and long term vision (too many to list!)

SOME NUMBERS & FACTS:

• Bedrooms: 5
• Bathrooms: 4 (3 Full, 1 half)
• Basement: Massive, Full, Roller Rink Quality
• Fireplace: Unique "Center Stage" Location, both gas and woodburning
• Lighting: upscale and including premium Schonbek pieces
• Flooring: includes ceramic tile and lustrous hardwood
• Foyer: Stunning 2 story with Juliet Balcony
• Living, Dining and Family Rooms
• Cavernous Storage and Walk In Closets Throughout!
• Patios: 2 (cooking and 3-tier, 2-tone Stamped Concrete with Outdoor Spa); Direct Views of Stocked Pond, Springs, Woodlands
• Exterior: Stone, Vinyl, Composite
• Garage: 3 car, oversized in width and height
• Location: corner, with view of bus stops from virtually every front window
• Affordable Taxes: 7452.38
• Lot Size: .6 acre, 195' x 200'
• Year Built: 2006
• Square Footage: 3480 (excludes basement)
• Homeowners Association Fee: 375./annually
• Builder: Schafer
• Price: 519,300 (priced below construction/reproduction cost)

Qualified Buyers Welcome Sunday, June 20,
1-4PM or Call Christina for a Private Showing at 216.215.4232 or John at 216.389.2121

INVESTING IN YOUR HOME: COST/GAIN ANALYSIS

RISMEDIA has captured realtor-driven suggestions for what sells homes, and where to invest when improving. Here is the article:

According to the HomeGain survey, the top five home improvements that Realtors recommend to home sellers based on cost and return on investment (from highest to lowest ROI) are:

1. Cleaning and de-cluttering ($200 cost / $1,700 price increase / 872% ROI)

2. Home staging ($300 cost / $1,780 price increase / 586% ROI)

3. Lightening and brightening ($230 cost / $1,300 price increase / 572% ROI)

4. Landscaping ($320 cost / $1,500 price increase / 473% ROI)

5. Repairing plumbing ($385 cost / $1,250 price increase / 327% ROI)

Cleaning and de-cluttering continues to rank as the top suggested home improvement (since the survey was originally conducted in 2000), recommended by 98% of Realtors, costing less than $200 and returning a value of nearly $1,700 to the home’s sale price, or an 872% return on investment.
“Many Realtors agree, especially in a buyer’s market, that sellers who make these recommended home improvements often get their homes sold faster and at higher prices,” stated Louis Cammarosano, General Manager at HomeGain. “We have customized our Home Sale Maximizer online home improvement tool to help identify and prioritize the projects that can increase the salability and selling price of a home.”

Rounding out the top 12, the list of low cost, do-it-yourself home improvements includes: updating electrical, replacing or shampooing carpets, painting interior walls, repairing damaged floors, updating kitchen, painting outside of home, and updating bathroom/s.

The home improvement projects with the highest price increases to a home’s resale value are updating the kitchen ($1,200 cost / $2,850 price increase), followed by painting the outside of the home ($900 cost / $1,815 price increase) and home staging ($300 cost / $1,780 price increase).

“Inexpensive cosmetic home improvements and basic improvements greatly enhance the value of the home,” stated Carol Wilson of Carpenter Real Estate in Indianapolis, IN, HomeGain AgentEvaluator member since 1999. Read more: http://rismedia.com/2009-11-09/home-sellers-top-5-home-improvement-projects-based-on-cost-and-return-on-investment/#ixzz0WS1c58Ut

EXPANDED TAX CREDIT...LET'S KEEP MOVING FORWARD!

Thank you, President Obama!

The President recently signed an expanded version of the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit that was set to expire on November 30 and it now includes a $6,500 tax credit for homebuyers that have lived in their current primary residence for at least five consecutive years out of the past eight years. Under the old rules, move-up homebuyers did not qualify.

Some examples per RISMEDIA, November 9, 2009:

Example 1:Jane purchased a home in 2002, lived there for 5 years as her primary home, moved out in 2007, and turned that home into a rental property. If Jane decides to buy a new primary residence today, she would qualify for the $6,500 tax credit based on the fact that she lived in the same residence as her primary home for at least five consecutive years out of the past eight.

Example 2:Harry purchased a home in 2004, and lived there for the past 5 years as his primary home. If Harry decides to buy a new primary residence today, he would qualify for the $6,500 tax credit based on the fact that he lived in the same residence as his primary home for at least five consecutive years out of the past eight.

Example 3:Nicole purchased a home in 2006, and lived there for the past 3 years as her primary home. If Nicole decides to buy a new primary residence today, she would not qualify for the $6,500 tax credit based on the fact that she did not live in the same residence as her primary home for at least five consecutive years out of the past eight.

Some additional restrictions/guidelines:

The tax credit only applies to homes less than $800,000
Purchase deadline is May 1, 2010
Transaction must close BEFORE July 1, 2010
Income limitation is now 125K (was 75K)
Married income limitation is 225K (was 150K)
Credit will be issued as a check once a specific form is submitted to the IRS after the purchase is complete

RISMEDIA further cites "many creative ways of structuring your home purchase transaction in ways that maximize the benefits of the credit."

Examples:

-The credit applies to 1-4 unit homes as long as you live in one of the units as your primary residence – you could live in one unit and rent out the others

-If two unmarried individuals buy a home, and only one of the individuals qualifies for the credit based on their income or past home ownership status, the individual who qualifies for the credit can claim the full credit. (Note: In the case of married couples, both spouses must qualify for the credit).

-The credit applies even if you have co-signers on your mortgage loan

Read more: http://rismedia.com/2009-11-08/expanded-version-of-tax-credit-will-allow-more-homebuyers-to-qualify/#ixzz0WRTpqOOt

HOME ACT OF 2009. . . Keep your eyes open !

"HOME OWNERSHIP MOVES THE ECONOMY" - - - The Home Act of 2009 would extended the current tax credit for first time homebuyers, and enhance he program to include ALL BUYERS, as well as eliminating the income restrictions. It doesn't surprise me that it was authored by a Republican (Howard Coble, NC), but that's just my bias. Let's hope partisan politics doesn't get in the way of what could be a more stable recovery...