When choosing an agent to list or purchase a house, does the size of the company matter?  I'm sure that we all have different opinions on that.  I am part of The Danberry Co., the largest independent broker in Northwest Ohio, and the 192nd largest broker in the country, based on closed transaction sides for 2009. 

What does using a larger broker get you?  Well, if you work with myself and Danberry, it gets you the most visited website in the area (over 12,500 unique visitors/month; 2009 average), your own individual property website, a weekly TV show, our exclusive Infoline on every listing, automatic Home Alert emails, staffed phones 7 days/week, and much more.  We have a full time education coordinator, which allows our agents a higher level of training than other brokers.  We have a full time technical director, which keeps us on the leading edge of technology. 

I hope that you can see why sometimes size can matter.  Don't forget, however, that whether you are buying or selling a home, I will give you the personal attention that you deserve!

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It’s hard to believe that we are finished with the first decade of the new millennium, isn’t it? So much has happened, from the Y2K scare to 9/11 to the historical Presidential election this past year.

For me personally, it has meant becoming a father to 2 wonderful boys, seeing the passing of family members, getting my real estate license, moving into a new home, and much more. No matter what has happened, good or bad, we all need to keep things in perspective and remember the important things in life. Family, friends, and loved ones need to be a part of our lives. Involvement in activities that enrich our lives is good for our emotional, physical, and spiritual well being. I hope that you are able to connect with loved ones regularly.

I do want to thank those of you that are a part of my life, you are an encouragement and blessing to me.  I particularly thank those of you here that have thought of me with the real estate needs of you or those around you. My business is built on recommendations and referrals from people like you. If you ever have any questions about your home, or if you’re just curious about what your home’s value is, don’t hesitate to contact me. For that matter, if you just want to chat, I’d love to do that as well!

I do want to make you aware that the first time home buyer’s tax credit has been expanded and extended. It now includes repeat buyers, and is good on contracts that are in place by April 30, 2010. There are some restrictions, so contact me for details.

Thanks again for thinking of me for your real estate needs; I pray that 2010 is a very positive and rewarding year for you.

It probably isn't a real shock to those of us that call Perrysburg, OH our home, but it has been named as a top 10 city for raising a family in the August issue of Family Circle magazine.  And this is following the naming of Perrysburg, OH as a top 5 city to live in Ohio by Ohio magazine.  So why did Perrysburg, OH make the list?  There are many reasons, and I will try to fill you in on some of them.

First, I'd like to point out what some of the criteria was for choosing the award winners.  The initial group of 1,700 cities had to have a population between 15,000 and 150,000 residents.  Also of importance were the school system, parks & recreation, places of worship, and history.  Affordable housing also played a role in the decision. You can get a really nice house here for around $500,000.  Don't believe me?  Just do a search!

Regarding the school system, Perrysburg is rated at the highest level (excellent with distinction) by the state of Ohio.  On a personal note, my wife and I have found our son's teachers and administrators to be exceptional. 

Perrysburg boasts many parks and recreational areas.  There are 12 municipal parks in Perrysburg.  The recreational division offers summer programs and camps for children of all ages.  This year there were 26 camps offered, ranging from sports camps to yo-yo, sports writing, and science camps.  Also, there were 39 other recreational programs offered, from tee ball to dodgeball to one called Games 'N Giggles (my boys loved all 3 of them, by the way). Municipal Park has a wonderful pool that is used for open swims as well as water aerobic, diving, and swimming lessons.

Fort Meigs is the largest wooden-walled fort in North America.  Fort Meigs, established by William Henry Harrison in 1813, was an important part of the British defeat in the War of 1812.  It continues to serve as an educational establishment to students and adults from all areas. 

Perrysburg has done a great job of blending its history with the current times.  There is a historic district in which many homes are on the national registry of historic homes.  There is a wonderful downtown area with a blend of stores, restaurants, and offices.  There are many retail businesses building stores in Perrysburg and Perrysburg Township. 

Levis Commons is an open air, multi purpose planned development that includes rental and owner occupied housing, retail stores, office space, a movie theater, restaurants, and a Hilton hotel.  It is a beautiful space, and has added to the attraction of Perrysburg. It is located next to the world headquarters for Owens-Illinois, the world's largest manufacturer of glass containers in the world.

Green energy is certainly a growing industry right now, and Perrysburg Township houses the largest of the solar panel manufacturing companies.  First Solar is located in Perrysburg Township and has brought hundreds of great paying jobs to the local area and has helped stabilize the economy.  They are continuing to expand their manufacturing facility as well as their research and development space.  (If it seems like I'm bragging a little bit, I am; my wife works for them!)

Way Library has been recognized nationally as a top library and has received numerous awards.  It recently ranked 10th out of 1,773 libraries in its category (10,000-24,000 population).  Not only does it have a large selection of books & magazines, it also has meeting rooms, a historical room, which contains a good deal of local history, plenty of computers, and a nice play area for the children.  There are always clubs and groups meeting there.

As you can see, there are many reasons why Perrysburg is a top 10 city to raise a family.  I think that it's just a plain old good city to live in, whether or not you're married and whether or not you have children.  Please contact me anytime, I'd love to give you a personal tour!

Here are the numbers for the second quarter of 2009 for Perrysburg (including township):

Here's a side by side comparison:

                                               2009              2008               Difference

Units Listed                               197                199                 -2  (-1%)

Units Sold                                  84                 125                 -41 (-32.8%)

Inventory Accumulation               4.04               1.78                +2.26 (+127%)

Average Sold Price                      $193,820        $207,184         -$13,364 (-6.5%)

Median Sold Price                       $176,250        $184,000         -$7,750 (-4.2%)

Average DOM                             130                106                 +24 (+22.6%)

What do the numbers mean? Overall, it is good news for buyers, not so good news for sellers. There is a larger inventory of homes for sale versus 2008 and they are selling, on average, for less than in 2008. Also, it is taking longer, on average, for homes to sell.

This means that if you are a seller, you need to be serious about your asking price as well as the condition of your home. Are you competitively priced? Is your home in top notch condition, or does it need some sprucing up and updating?

If you are a buyer, know that you should be able to get a great home at a very reasonable price. This doesn't mean that you can get any home you want at half of the listed price, as homes in great condition that are priced correctly are still selling quickly. An example is that my neighbor's home across the street had an accepted offer in one week! Why was this? It was because it was competitively priced and was in great, updated condition. 

If you would like a free analysis of your home's value, contact me today!

If you are a first time home buyer, the time to buy is TODAY! The first time home buyers tax credit goes away on December 1st!

Here are the numbers for the second quarter of 2009 for Sylvania (including the township):

Here's a side by side comparison of 2009 vs. 2008:

                                           2009               2008            Difference 

Units Listed                           183                  227             -44 (-19.4%)

Units Sold                             96                    98               -2 (-2.04%)

Inventory Accumulation            2.72                 3.95            -1.23 (-31.1%)

Average Sold Price                 $185,494          $195,110      -$9,616 (-4.9%)

Median Sold Price                  $165,000          $179,850      -$14,850 (-8.3%)

Average DOM                        119                   132             -13 (-9.8%)

As you can see, the results are mixed, although mostly positive. With less units listed and the same number sold, that means less overall competition and a lower inventory amount.  Houses have been selling, on average, almost 10% quicker versus last year. The negative is that prices have been down versus 2008, although when compared with other areas (locally and nationally), the price drop isn't very significant at all.

Contact me today to get a free analysis of your home's value!

Don't forget that the first time home buyer's tax credit disappears on December 1st, the time to buy is TODAY!

Well, the first half of 2009 is over!  Here are the stats for the second quarter of this year for single family homes in Toledo, Ohio:

Here are how the numbers compare:

                                    2009           2008         Difference

Units listed                    1,771          2,132        -361 (-16.9%)

Units Sold                      782            783           -1

Inventory Accumulation   3.79            5.17          -1.38 (-26.7%)

Average Sold Price          $69,318      $80,310     -$10,992 (-13.7%)

Median Sold Price           $52,700      $67,000     -$14,300 (-21.3%)

Average DOM                 99              97             +2 (+2.1%)

So, what does this all mean?  Basically, it's a mixed bag. With regards to the number of units listed being down and the units sold staying even, that means that there are fewer homes on the market versus last year at this time (that's a good thing for sellers).  The downside is that the homes have been selling at loewr prices versus last year.  This means that if you are selling your home, you may have a little less competition (depending on the neighborhood), but expect to sell it for a little less than you might think it will sell for. Buyers still have a lot of choices right now, and the 2 big factors for them are price and condition of the property.

Contact me today to receive a free analysis of your home's value!

Remember, the first time home buyer's tax credit goes away on December 1, the time to make an offer is TODAY!

Here are the numbers for Sylvania, OH for the first quarter of 2009, as well as stats from the first quarter of 2008 for comparison. What you will be able to see and compare are the number of homes that were listed and sold, the average and median prices, and average time on market. You will also see a spot that says "Inventory Accum.". This is essentially an estimate of how long it will take to sell all of the currently listed homes in terms of months. You can see how this is calculated right above the third blue bar. By the way, these charts are only for single family residential homes, not condos, commercial, or multiple family properties.

Here are what the numbers say...

Average List Price:$262,029 vs $235,183 (+11.4%)

Average Sold Price:$168,792 vs $225,361 (-25.1%)

Median List Price:$214,900 vs $199,925 (+7.5%)

Median Sold Price: $159,450 vs $201,500 (-20.9%)

Units Listed:160 vs 191 (-31)

Units Sold:80 vs 77 (+3)

Average Days On Market (DOM):108 vs 112 (-4)

Inventory Accumulation: 3.0 mo. vs 4.44 mo. (-1.44)

These results are a little bit difficult to interpret. The average & median list price has gone up, which usually means the market is improving, but the average & median sales prices are down significantly, which typically means the market is declining. There have been slighly more homes sold and also fewer listed, which is indicating a stabilization in inventory.  This is supported by the average DOM and inventory accumulation as well. I would say that overall, buyers have been able to negotiate better deals this year versus last year, but that possibly prices are beginning to stabilize in this area. Time will tell, and this is still a great time to get a deal on a home.

If you have questions about these charts or about another area in Northwest Ohio, please feel free to contact me anytime.

If you are a buyer looking for homes, please go to www.RealEstateToledoOhio.com (or www.toledorealestatesearch.mobi from your web-enabled phone) to search all Northwest Ohio properties for sale, including Toledo, Sylvania, Perrysburg, Holland, Maumee, Oregon, Whitehouse, Waterville, Bowling Green, and more!

Here are the numbers for Sylvania, OH for the first quarter of 2009, as well as stats from the first quarter of 2008 for comparison.  What you will be able to see and compare are the number of homes that were listed and sold, the average and median prices, and average time on market.  You will also see a spot that says "Inventory Accum.".  This is essentially an estimate of how long it will take to sell all of the currently listed homes in terms of months.  You can see how this is calculated right above the third blue bar.  By the way, these charts are only for single family residential homes, not condos, commercial, or multiple family properties.

Here are what the numbers say...

Average List Price:$209,610 vs $191,653 (+9.4%)

Average Sold Price:$184,329 vs $207,436 (-11.1%)

Median List Price:$187,200 vs $179,900 (+4%)

Median Sold Price: $156,000 vs $196,200 (-20.5%)

Units Listed:171 vs 197 (-26)

Units Sold:55 vs 64 (-9)

Average Days On Market (DOM):114 vs 126 (-12)

Inventory Accumulation: 6.33 mo. vs 6.23 mo. (+0.01)

These results are a little bit difficult to interpret.  The average & median list price has gone up, which usually means the market is improving, but the average & median sales prices are down, which typically means the market is declining.  There have been fewer homes sold, but also fewer listed, which is keeping inventory relatively stable, as shown by the average DOM and inventory accumulation.  I would say that overall, buyers have been able to negotiate better deals this year versus last year, but that possibly prices are beginning to stabilize in this area.  Time will tell, and this is still a great time to get a deal on a home.

If you have questions about these charts or about another area in Northwest Ohio, please feel free to contact me anytime. 

If you are a buyer looking for homes, please go to www.RealEstateToledoOhio.com (or www.toledorealestatesearch.mobi from your web-enabled phone) to search all Northwest Ohio properties for sale, including Toledo, Sylvania, Perrysburg, Holland, Maumee, Oregon, Whitehouse, Waterville, Bowling Green, and more!