Carolyn Kolba - RE/MAX Traditions - Mentor, Ohio's Blog

I Got "Goosed" In Mentor, Ohio... And I Liked it...

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:58:38 -0700

There are so many different things I just LOVE about living in Mentor, Ohio. It's such a pretty city, so many things to see and do. Trees are abundant in Mentor. I am sure that's one of the reasons why Greater Cleveland... of which Mentor is a part... is referred to as The Forest City. (Did you know that ?)

Mentor is also on the southern edge of what has become once again... beautiful Lake Erie. Thirty or forty years ago... very few would have called it that... but wow... Lake Erie has come back "in style."

With all that water, and with all those trees... Mentor also has more than it's share of birds. And Ducks. And... Geese. Of course, geese fly south for the winter, and north for the summer. At least they used to.

Somehow or other... with the climate change that is going on... and with Cleveland more likely than not to have Winters like the one that just ended... (which really wasn't much of a Winter, at all)... somehow many of the Canadian Geese that used to fly south from Canada... and used to bypass Northeastern Ohio... have chosen not only to stop and rest a bit in Mentor... but many, many of them have chosen Mentor to be their home.

I have heard some Mentor'ites... quite a few, actually... who don't really appreciate having all these Canadian Geese around. I think the main reason is because of all those little "presents" that the geese leave behind. But hey, it's free fertilizer, so why complain. Keep Mentor Green !

About a week ago I was driving down Mentor Avenue heading towards the lovely colonial city of Painesville... and stopped to have lunch at Panera Bread. And yes, that is where I met my new little friend. I think her name is Gertrude. Yeah, that's it. Gertrude T. Goose.

Trudie stopped waddling around when she saw me park, and we chatted awhile. We had a nice "visit" actually... and would have spent more time together if it weren't for the rain.

Please... do me a favor. If you happen to be out near that Panera Bread on Mentor Avenue, and see Gertrude T. Goose and her friends... please tell her that Carolyn said Hi !

I'll probably be down the street in my office on the south side of Mentor Avenue (just east of 615). It's that absolutely GORGEOUS brand-new RE/MAX Office... RE/MAX Traditions. And... if you need help finding a "goose" of your own, and a home with a nice back yard to put it in... please call me... Carolyn Kolba... at (440) 567-7211.

Hey Al ! What Happened To All That Global Warming Stuff ?

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:57:53 -0800

Well... I think the long streak of good luck... weather-wise... has come to an end.

And... doesn't it figure that it would happen on Friday the Thirteenth ?

What am I talking about ? Well... if you live in NorthEastern Ohio, and just look out the window, you will know very quickly. I was hoping for a miracle this year. Is it too much to ask ?

It's on the way. It's coming. Part of it is here... and there is much more to come, I am sure. And, with it this cold, some of it may turn to ice before it ends up melting.

SNOW !

And here I was hoping that we could get through the entire winter without having to really deal with it. All that shovelling, all that mess, and tracking it all through the house. Oh yes... then then there's watching my puppies track the stuff back in.

Awwww... come on, Global Warming. Where are you when I need do. Hey Al ! Al Gore ! What's the deal ? Sniffle, sniffle, sniffle.

Winter is Coming to Mentor, Ohio. Do YOU Have a Fireplace in Your Apartment ?

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:37:30 -0800

It almost seems like it was just last week. Or maybe even just last month.

You know. You remember it well. All that SNOW !

Here in Mentor, Ohio we had snow just about up to our eyeballs. Okay... you really had to be a "short person" to actually have the snow be even close to your eyeballs... but we really DID have lots and lots of snow last winter.

During those snowy times last year, I was lucky enough to be able to bring in some firewood from the garage, and get a roaring, toasty-warm fire going for me and my puppies... CiCi and Winston.

I'd sit in my favorite chair, with my favorite winter quilt or afghan on my lap, and my puppies on my lap right on top of the afghan. Sometimes when it was extra snowy, they even wanted to get under "my blankie..." but that was rare.

My point here IS... so many of the homes in Mentor, Ohio have fireplaces. And I don't mean those hokey metal-box fireplaces that are so small you have to pick and choose the logs you bring in... so they'll fit.

But yes... so many of the homes that are available on the market right now DO have fireplaces.

So, if you are in your apartment... just like you were during last winter, and the winter before, and the winter before that... we need to get together. With a little notice, I am sure I can set aside a time when we can get together. Before winter sets in... don't you think it's about time that you decided to spend this coming winter in a warm, toasty home... in front of your very own fireplace ?

We can do that. Just give Carolyn Kolba (that's me...) a call at (440) 567-7211... and let's go find you a home with a fireplace. Just think how glad you'll be when the snow gets so high it's up to your eye-balls !

Former Builder's Model... 1164 Waterfront Place, Painesville Twp, Ohio 44077

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 16:18:38 -0700

I want to share with you an absolutely beautiful home I am marketing for my sellers. It's located at 1164 Waterfront Place, Painesville Township, Ohio 44077. It's in a lovely area of Painesville Township, and used to be a former New Home Builder's Model Home.

I just love the colors on the outside... so "homey" looking. This two-story colonial is approximately 2512 sq ft in size... and is being marketed for $325,000.

When the home was the builder's model... it, of course, was loaded with many of the builder's extras and optional features.

Once my folks moved in... they added some additional features that made the home even more awesome than it was as a builder's model. The home looks so great, you might think the sellers were also professional home stagers... it came out so nice.

The home features granite counter tops, ceramic tile floors... and newer stainless steel appliances. The remainder of the first level flooring is all beautiful hardwood flooring.

The first floor Family Room/Great Room has an awesome fireplace... with a stain-grade wood mantle and surround, and ceramic tile facing and hearth.

The 1st floor utility room has newer appliances which are included. There are custom window treatments throughout which are also staying with the home. Just off the foyer is a first floor home office... just perfect for anyone who does a lot of working from home. If you spend a lot of time online... it is so cool to have one room where everything you need... is right there.

Outside... there's some really great landscaping. There's also a rear patio, a full sprinkler system, and additional custom outside lighting. (Remember... it used to be a model home !)

As the address implies, it's just a short walk to the beach. How cool to sit under the pavilion and watch the waves roll in... or watch the kids playing on the playground.

I'm getting kind of "wordy" here... but I could just go on and on. Obviously the best thing to do is give me a call... Carolyn Kolba... at 440-567-7211. I would love to set aside a time where we could get together and see the home.

Look Before you Leap... Becomes Look... Before You Sit... (Humor)

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 21:28:18 -0700

I just read a post by a home inspector about the perils of finding a home that had the hot and cold water lines reversed.

It reminded me of something I remembered from long, long ago.

I had sold a new home to a very nice young couple. They moved in... and were getting all settled... when the wife's mother offered to come and spend some time with them... about a week in all... helping them get all unpacked, and all organized.

All was going well... until one night... very late at night... when the visiting wife's mom had to use the guest's hall bathroom.

Unbeknown to her... two events had proceeded her visit that night to the guest bathroom.

First... as is typical... the hubby had used that bathroom earlier that night... and of course, he left the commode lid UP.

Secondly... when the home was built... the builder had inadvertently reversed the hot and cold water lines in that guest bath. This of course meant that the sink faucets had hot water from the cold faucet, and cold water from the hot faucet.

Unfortunately... it also meant that the hot water was hooked up to the commode.

So... that night... "Mom"... being half asleep... wandered down the hallway, and into the guest bath... and sat down on the commode. Yes... she sat down on the commode, which had the lid in the upright position.

I was told that the screams could be heard for miles.

Active Rain and the Power of Reciprocity. It Really Works !

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:47:12 -0700

I haven't been on Active Rain for all that long. And lately, I have been trying to be more active. I have not written as many posts as I need to, but I am working on it.

But what I HAVE been doing... is commenting more often. And lately, a lot more often. I'm finally getting to feel more comfortable with all this "blogging stuff."

Well... I had written a little blog post about a property I had up for sale... Privacy Plus and Low-Maintenance Living in Painesville, Ohio. It's a cute little house, and I thought the post came out fairly well.

But ! It just sat there. No comments. Not a peep.

I had included it in the five groups I know I am supposed to... but still no comments. But then today, I found THREE comments there. Yes... One, Two and Three !

I was so excited. Activity ! My poor little house in my poor little post was no longer an orphan. I very quickly wrote a reply comment to each of those who commented... and then wondered to myself... "Hmmm... why now ? Why, after eight days of my poor little post sitting there with nothing... why now ?"

And then I remembered. So I looked at the list of the comments I had made recently, and YES... wouldn't you know it. Over the past few days... I had commented on a post written by EACH of those who commented on my post. They were posts written by Active Rainers Don Sabinske, Michele Cadogan, and Diane M. Phillips.

So, here's to all three of you, Don, Michelle and Diane. Thanks so much for coming over to my post and making a comment. My poor little post has been here... all by its little ol' self... alone and "comment'less." It feels so good no longer being an "orphan post."

And to all my fellow and sister Active Rainers... the Active Rain principle of "Reciprocity" really does work.

So if you are concerned that some of YOUR posts aren't getting very many comments... you might try "upping" the number of comments YOU make on the posts other Rainers write. If you can do that... don't be surprised if you start seeing those same people commenting back on YOUR posts.

Reciprocity Works !

Privacy Plus and Low-Maintenance Living in Painesville, Ohio... $84,900

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 20:19:11 -0700

This really great home in Painesville is one that I am so excited about. I am marketing it for the sellers, who are, of course, also very excited.

It's really sharp... kind of cape-cod'ish looking from the outside.... with lots of city charm ! It's three years old, and although it is a single, detached home, it is technically termed a "ranch condo." Don't you just LOVE that three-sided bay window in the front?

It has an over-sized garage... the builder called it a two-and-one-half car garage... but where you'll get another half-car to put in there... I don't know. So... I am guessing it would be perfect for a whole bunch of storage.

Having a home in such a nice quiet area, and being on a cul-de-sac... and all those trees... means lots and lots of privacy. There are lots of trees all around the neighborhood. Full sidewalks, of course, and all front-entry garages.

Although there are many really cool features in this home, the kitchen is one of my favorites. Just oodles of cabinets, a really great gas range, hard-surface counter tops, and a range vent-a-hood. All the appliances remain.

The laundry room is spacious, and included a full-sized washer and dryer, and extra cabinets for even more storage. The landscaping is beautiful, and the maintenance fee of $115 per month is considered low. It has central air, of course, and a nice private rear patio that overlooks a wooded area.

For your very own personal tour... please give Carolyn Kolba a call at my direct number... 440-567-7211. I think you will be very pleased at how much low-maintenance home you can get for such a teeny price.

Please Light a Candle for the Ground Hog...

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 22:14:17 -0800

Oh, I just know he's gonna see his shadow. And I know if Mr or Ms GroundHog does... that it's gonna mean six more weeks of THIS ! I don't know about you, but I have had just about as much of this kind of fun and any sane person could ever want or need.

Therefore... I am going to suggest that everyone on Active Rain who agrees with me... make sure you have some candles ready to light tomorrow, Monday, February 1st. The next day... as you probably know... is GroundHog Day.

How about you ? Have you had enough snow for this year yet ? Mentor, Ohio is just east of Cleveland, and we get a lot of what we call "lake effect snow." And this year, for some reason... we have had a lot of it.

So... get those candles lit tomorrow, puhleeze. And puhleeze Mr or Ms GroundHog. Take it easy on us...

From Autumn Leaves to Falling Snow. No... I'm Not Ready Yet...

Sat, 06 Nov 2010 03:23:15 -0700

Oh, what oh what is a girl supposed to do ? This is typical of what I have been so used to seeing over the past month or six weeks here in the beautiful city and countryside in Mentor, Ohio.

The leaves have been just gorgeous. The trees... just brilliant with the changing of the leaves... well... it could not have been prettier if it had been painted by an artist.

But, then again... it HAS been painted by one of my all-time favorite artists... Mother Nature ! She uses such beautiful colors.

The last six weeks or so has been such a great time to take walks... again, both in the neighborhood here in Mentor, and all around the beautiful countryside here in NorthEastern Ohio.

Such beauty is so hard to say good-bye to. But it appears that I may have to be using sad words of farewell to these beautiful colors all too soon.

It appears that Mother Nature is up to her old tricks again. Last weekend was Halloween, and it was so great seeing all the cute little neighborhood kids... and some of the bigger "kids" as well... all decked out in their costumes.

Door to door they went... with their yearly chants of "Trick or Treat."

From what I have been hearing on the local TV and Radio weather forecasts, however, it sounds like Mother Nature is going to be taking away her treats, and playing some of her at times cold-natured tricks on us.

Would you believe it ? The local weather guys and chicks are telling us there is actually a chance that it could SNOW this weekend.

I have checked some of the weather history around Mentor for previous years. And of course, that nasty old "lake effect" may just sneak up on us... and drop a nice heavy, wet blanket of this stuff they call "snow" on us.

I really do NOT want to spend part of my days tomorrow or Sunday clearing away the snow... even IF I get an extra hour of time... (which I was hoping to spend sleeping).

I know Active Rain covers all different parts of our beautiful country. Has anyone else felt Mother Nature threatening to wave her Icy Fingers your way yet ? Just curious as to if I am going to be the only one shivering when I thought I would be raking leaves.

Blue Man Group, or Balloon Head. How Do I Escape ?

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:24:39 -0700

I have a confession to make.

I know this is going to sound silly, but I contend with it every day when I sign on to Active Rain.

I guess I could be called what some of my friends at RE/MAX call "balloon heads."

I have heard others call those of us who look like this... members of the Blue Man Group.

I am even considering going to my dermatologist to see if perhaps, without knowing it, I have developed some sort of "skin condition."

So yes, I guess I AM... a balloon head. And yes, I guess I DO belong to the Blue Chick Group.

Oh... the shame of it all. Ostracized everywhere I go. I went to Dillards the other day... and I guess I got just a little too close to the Clinique counter. Some of the girls... you know, those pretty young things in those cute white lab-coat dresses... I just knew they were talking about me.

And yes... I guess... just from looking at my photo, I guess I DO need a make-over. I stopped, bought some new foundation, some eye-liner, and even some blush. They even applied it for me... sort of a mini-make-over.

Then... back to the office... revved up the computer... and there I was again. Faceless. Hmmm... this just hit me now. Can I even BE on Facebook... if I don't have a "face ?"

What a scary thought. Any ideas on how I can fix this, or perhaps who I should go to for a better make-over... I would love to hear about it.

Perhaps if I went to Nordstrom. I hear they do great "make-overs."

Gourmet Kitchen with Spacious Food-Prep Island. What Were They Thinking ?

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 23:47:11 -0700

I was looking through the available homes today. I have a buyer who is very "kitchen conscious." I guess you could easily say that having a nice spacious kitchen is one of her top "hot buttons."

So you can just imagine how "up" I felt when I read in the comments... all about the "gourmet kitchen" with all the 42-inch hanging cabinets, the oodles of counter space, and the over-sized gourmet food-prep island.

If you can imagine all of that... you can then probably imagine how UN-excited I was when I saw the actual picture of this wonderful, spacious gourmet kitchen. And... just as was written... it has its very own "over-sized gourmet food-prep island."

Ummmm... anybody see an island here ? I think there's one her somewhere. I am guessing that neither this Listing Agent nor this seller... used the services of a home stager in preparing to market this home.

So, just how quickly would you jump to your computer keyboard to email this lovely picture to your ready-to-buy buyer ? What were they thinking ?

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Please give me a call... Carolyn Kolba... at Prudential Select Properties in Mentor, and Let my put my Marketing Magic to work for you. I have seen some really nice homes up for sale recently, and I'd love to show them to you. I can best be reached at 440-567-7211. Let's see what we can do to start Making your New Home Dreams Come True.

Buying a Home in Mentor, Ohio ? Ask the Seller to Pay your Closing Costs.

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 12:25:28 -0700

So often when I am talking to young buyers, one of their primary complaints is that they think they don't have enough money to buy a home. They have all heard the stories about how loans are harder to get, that down payment requirements have increased, and lots of other scary stuff.

This is where my past experience as a Realtor can be extremely helpful... both to first time buyers, and to just about anyone who is buying a home in today's market.

If you can come up with about 3.5% of the selling price for a down payment, that SHOULD be just about all the money you will need to buy your new home, and get you moved in.

Why so little ? Well, sure, you will need closing costs... and closing costs generally run another three to four percent of the purchase price. But, instead of having that problem DOUBLE the amount of money you need... asking the Seller to PAY your closing costs instead of making a "price offer" can take care of that.

If you would like to purchase a home, and take advantage of some of the great prices on homes currently for sale, and ALSO take advantage of interest rates that are LOWER than most folks can even remember... when we write your offer, we can ask the Seller to pay your closing costs... and then, start packing !

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Carolyn Kolba, Mentor and Lake County, Ohio Real Estate Expert, can be reached at (440) 567-7211. Call Carolyn today, and ask her how YOU can buy a home, and have the Seller pay your closing costs !

Clearing up Some Mysteries about Loan Modification...

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:04:55 -0700

In a recently published study, a consumer advocate who is also a spokesperson for Federal Loan Modification Law Center, released a list dispelling the top 5 myths about loan modification. I think Ralph's study is quite valuable, considering today's housing situation, so I am sharing some of his great ideas with you.

My goal is to better educate homeowners in the Mentor, and Lake County, Ohio area who might be facing the prospect of losing their home to foreclosure. The following list clears up some of the most common misconceptions surrounding what lenders refer to as the loan modification process.

Myth# 1: My bank wants me out of my house. My bank wants my home.

Wrong: Banks and other lending institutions do not want to foreclose. They make more money if you make your payments.

Myth# 2: My credit score is so bad I won't qualify.

Wrong: Loan modification adjusts the terms and perhaps reduces the balance of a loan you already have. This is not about refinacing and applying for a new loan.

Myth# 3: I am not late on my mortgage payments so I won't qualify.

Wrong: Early on you had to be 61 days delinquent in order to qualify. The truth is the eligibility requirements are constantly changing and differ among lenders.

Myth# 4: I would be better off walking away or declaring bankruptcy than modifying my loan.

Wrong: Walking away from the home and filing for bankruptcy are certainly 2 options, but they are rarely the best options when your facing foreclosure.

Myth# 5: It's too late.

Wrong: As long as you still live in the home and it hasn't been sold at a foreclosure auction- you may still have time to work out a loan modification with your lender.

If you would like a full copy of this report, either call me or email me, Carolyn Kolba, at (440) 567-7211, or let me email it to you. There is a lot more to this report and more information available.

If you know of anyone either heading for or already in a financial situation with their home, please have them contact me for a free consultation. There are alternatives to many of these problems.

Mentor, Ohio is The Place to Buy... Compare Mentor's Pricing... and Be Amazed...

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:41:23 -0700

What an incredible place Mentor, Ohio is. What a great place to live and raise a family, or to just buy a home for yourself. Why do I say that? Here is some proof !

I was reading some real estate articles this morning, and came across the house below. It is NOT located in Mentor. Not even in OHIO. Where is it? I will share the answer in a few paragraphs, but first... some "different" info.

How much would a home like this cost in Mentor ? Well... first of all, this home is much larger than it appears. It looks like a home that could be in "Old Mentor" near Mentor Avenue and Rt 615. Or, it could be a home between 20 and 84... perhaps between 306 and 615... on either side of Great Lakes Mall.

IF... it was about as big as this one looks like it might be... 1,800 square feet... and IF it had a basement, and was on a typical nice-sized lot for those two areas I mentioned, the price could be perhaps around $150,000. Maybe even higher. There occasionally ARE homes like this that "pop up" at this price in those two areas, but they usually sell VERY QUICKLY.

Or... how about if this home was actually "larger" than it looks in the picture ? This actual home... the one pictured above... is pretty large. it actually has 3,567 square feet... which makes it "huge" as far as I'm concerned. So, lets play with this again, and just say that this home is on about an acre of land, and is somewhere in South Mentor or Concord.

If that were the case... how much would it be? Maybe $220,000 ? Maybe a bit less ? Maybe a bit more ? It could go either way... depending on that old number one Real Estate Rule of Location, Location, Location.

Ok... time to let the "cat out of the bag" here. This home pictured above... sits near, but not in, the California city of Santa Clara.

It has, as I said above, 3,567 square feet. It also sits on slightly more than one acre.

And... the price ? Sit down, now, and hold on to the chair rails. The actual price of the above home... sitting near Santa Clara, CA... is Five Hundred Ninety-Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars. Yes,... $599,900 !

Wow, folks. What an absolutely great area we live in... here in Mentor, Ohio. We can get so much more for our home-buying dollars. We have such beautiful homes here, and they are so incredibly well-priced when we compare them to prices in other parts of the country.

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Carolyn Kolba, Mentor and Lake County, Ohio Real Estate Expert, can be reached at (440) 567-7211. Call Carolyn, and mention this home you saw on her Active Rain blog... and see if she can find one for you... just as pretty as this one is !

This article is just one in a series of comparisons of homes in other parts of the country... and is designed to show by comparison what great home values we have here in Mentor, Ohio, and in Lake County, as well.

There's Still Time to Move Before School Starts...

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:13:32 -0700

Occasionally folks will ask me a question that we all here from time to time. I am asked... "When IS the best time to put my home up for sale ?"

The answer to this question, is similar to the answer to most questions. "It all depends."

There are so many reasons why people move.

If we started with the first of the year, we could go completely through the entire year and come up with a great reason why "that particular month" would be a great time to move.

Want to move, and get settled in time for your kids to go to school? If so, now is really the time to do something.

If your home is priced "within reason"... which means it is priced right about where it will appraise when the mortgage company sends out their appraiser... it should sell fairly quickly in the general Mentor, Ohio real estate market.

If the condition of your home makes it appear roomy, pleasant, and gives off a feeling of "yes, I could live here"... then your home should sell fairly quickly... in the Mentor, Ohio real estate market, or in any market.

Seriously... if you and your family would like to be settled by September... NOW is the time to act.

The longer you wait, sure, it can still be done, but if you wait too long... things can get "kinda crunchy" as far as timing is concerned.

Give me a call at (440) 567-7211... and let's set aside a time to get together and see what we... you and me... need to do to get all of your "moving ducks" in a row.

I've been helping folks get their "real estate ducks" in a row for over thirty years now. I would be pleased to help you with yours.

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Carolyn Kolba, Professional Real Estate Duck Herder, can be reached at (440) 567-7211.

Home Mortgage Interest Rates Drop... Again !

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:29:36 -0700

There's some great news out today. The latest issue of Realtor Magazine gives us something to celebrate.

With all the negative news going around these days... it sure is nice to be able to read about good news.

It's all about interest rates. The first thing, of course, that most folks want to know when the rates come out are... did they go up or down ? And... what IS the current interest rate for a thirty year fixed mortgage loan ?

Well... the 30 year mortgage rate went up just a skootch. That's not much. It went from 4.72 percent up to 4.75 percent. But... four and three quarters is a wonderful rate.

But... now comes the really good news. The national averages, which I am sure are equally true here in the Cleveland/Mentor Ohio area... tell us that most folks when they purchase their first home... usually stay in it for from three to five years.

In all my years of experience... I have found that to be true, as well. Some folks even move into their second, and more permanent home even sooner than three to five years.

And... here is that "good news." There is a type of loan out there in "mortgage land" that gives a fixed rate for FIVE years. For the first five years of the loan... it works just the same way as as a thirty-year fixed rate mortgage. BUT... that interest rate DROPPED from 3.91 percent to 3.82 percent.

If you asked anyone... from back in the 1980's and 1990's... if they thought they would ever have an interest rate of 3.82 %... they would have thought you had just escaped from the looney bin.

Wow... what a great interest rate. There's such a great selection of homes on the market right now in Lake County... and to have the five-year fixed rate drop to 3.82 %... is just amazing.

If you are currently renting, or maybe even have a home that you have found is too small or too big for you... this is a really great time to make a move.

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Please give me a call... Carolyn Kolba. I have seen some really nice homes up for sale recently, and I'd love to show them to you. I can best be reached at 440-567-7211. Let's see what we can do to start Making your New Home Dreams Come True.

Last Night I Received a Referral from a Past Customer. I Am Thrilled !

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:25:59 -0700

Yesterday was a pretty normal day. At least it started out that way. I had to fill up a few flyer boxes, and had to check on one of my listings that is up for sale. The sellers had to go out of town for a few days... and I told them I'd be glad to drop in at the house a few times while they were gone... just to make sure everything was ok.

While I was driving over there... my cell phone rang. I looked at the number... and it seemed to be familiar. I answered... and it turned out to be one of my previous buyers calling. They have been in their home in Mentor for about two years, and are just thrilled with it. Luckily, as this call was evidence of... they were also thrilled with me... and my service to them two years ago.

They were calling to tell me that they had a neighbor who had been talking about selling their home. And... as many of my previous buyers and sellers have done in the past... they told their neighbors all about me... and what a wonderful job I did for them in selling their previous home, and then finding the home they are now in.

This just must have been fun to watch... them talking to their neighbor. It sounds like they did just about everything they could to tell these poor folks that they needed to use me, and my marketing plan, to get their home sold for them.

So... that brought them to make the phone call to me. Hooray !

I told them I'd call them back when I got back to my office, which I did. I got all the info, and then called their neighbor... and ended up going over to their home last night.

I spread my marketing program out for them... and spent much more time listening to their concerns than I spent talking about myself. They told me they really liked that.

Bottom line... we are going to put their home up for sale, soon. I gave them a short list of things I suggested they do before we begin to market their home. They loved the ideas I gave them... and really loved the fact that the things I suggested were simple things that wouldn't cost them much money.

Whew ! Another personal referral from one of my previous customers.

I am so thrilled. For as long as I can remember... the great majority of my sales and listings have come from referrals from my past customers and clients.

How have I managed that ? Basically, for about fifteen years now, I have followed the By Referral Only program that I learned from Joe Stumpf years ago.

I think I first went to one of Joe's seminars in the early 1990's... and have been one of his greatest and happiest fans since then. Joe's By Referral Only program can be seen on his website at www.ByReferralOnly.com .

All I can think of saying right now is... thank you so much Joe Stumpf !

That $8,000 tax credit from Uncle Sam... is Slowly Slipping Away !

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:50:46 -0800

I'm sure we've all heard about the Eight Thousand Dollar tax credit that Uncle Sam is giving away. It's really a great thing, and it would be a shame to miss out on it.

Well... that's what I want to tell you about. That "Gift" is close... very close... to slipping away from all of you first-time buyers. By the way... a "first time buyer" is considered to be someone who has not owned a home in the last three years.

In order to qualify for this $8,000 "gift"... all you have to do is buy a home... do the paperwork... and have it dated by April 30, 2010.

Then... it must be "closed" by June 30, 2010. What that means is that your loan must be approved, and all paperwork with the mortgage company completed... and everything completely finished... including the home being "closed"... which means the title to the home you buy must be transferred into your name by June 30, 2010.

So... you ask... what happens then ? How do I get my money?

Well... the best thing to do, is to contact your tax preparer. But... the quick version of it is as follows:

You can either re-file your tax return from 2009... along with proof of your closing on your home... and also the form that the IRS requires for this tax incentive. Or... you can wait... until you end up filing your tax return for the year 2010. Either one works.

If you get a refund from filing your taxes... that amount that you get back... will be INCREASED by $8,000. The money... comes straight to you... just like your refund normally would.

Or... if you end up owing more taxes... let's use the example of your ending up owing Uncle Sam $3,000. Not only would you NOT owe that $3,000... but you would get the difference between that $3,000... and the total of the tax credit... $8,000... or $5,000 back from Uncle Sam.

If you'd like to chat about this... and find out more information... please give me a call at my office... at (440) 567-7211. I'm Carolyn Kolba... and this is my direct number. There are some really great homes out there... just waiting for us to look at. Call soon... 'cuz time's a wastin'.

Top 5 Myths About Loan Modification

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:37:34 -0800

A prominent consumer advocate and spokesperson for the Federal Loan Modification Law Center recently released a list dispelling the top 5 myths about loan modification. Intended to better educate homeowners facing the prospect of losing their home to foreclosure, the following list demystifies the most common misconceptions surrounding the loan modification process.

Myth# 1:My bank wants me out of my house. My bank wants my home. Banks and other lending institutions do not want to foreclose. They make more money if you make your payments.

Myth# 2: My credit score is so bad I won't qualify. Loan modification adjusts the terms and perhaps reduces the balance of a loan you already have. This is not about refinacing and applying for a new loan.

Myth# 3: I am not late on my mortgage payments so I won't qualify. Early on you had to be 61 days delinquent in order to qualify. The truth is the eligibility requirements are constantly changing and differ among lenders.

Myth# 4: I would be better off walking away or declaring bankruptcy than modifying my loan. Walking away from the home and filing for bankruptcy are certainly 2 options, but they are rarely the best options when your facing foreclosure.

Myth# 5: It's too late. As long as you still reside in the home and it hasn't been sold at a foreclosure auction- you may still have time to work out a loan modification with your lender.

If you would like a full copy of this report, either call me or email me and tell me where to send it or email it to. There is a lot more to this report and more information available.

If you know of anyone either heading for or already in a financial situation with their home, please have them contact me for a free consultation. There are alternatives to many of these problems.

Extra Help for First Time Homebuyers

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:04:24 -0700

There's never been a better time to buy your first home. Congress has passed the Housing and Recovery Act of 2008. The big news for you is this act provides for a possible tax credit up to $7500 for first-time home buyers purchasing homes priced at $75,000 or greater*. The tax credit is paid back to the federal government interest-free over a period of 15 years.

There is a bank that wants to help as well. Now for a limited time, they will match 10% of your customers' allowable tax credit, up to $750, and apply the amount towards their closing costs. Together that could total over $8,000 towards your first home. This lender calls it the Stimulus Plus Mortgage.

For details on 2008 Housing and Economic Recovery Act tax credit visit:www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com.

*Tax credit equal to 10% of the purchase price up to a maximum of $7,500. Contact your tax advisor for specific details and tax advice.