Norma's Blog

The Extended and Expanded Homebuyers Tax Credit

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:09:43 -0600

Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or a long-time homeowner, Congress recently extended and expanded a home-buying tax credit for which you may qualify.

Current Homeowners

If you're an existing homeowner and would like to sell a principal residence (a location where you spend more than 50% of your time) that you've lived in consecutively for 5 of the past 8 years, then you may qualify for a tax credit of up to $6,500 on the purchase of a home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

Qualifications

If you're a current homeowner who wants to purchase a new residence, here are a few things to consider. First, a qualifying home must be a single-family, primary residence. This can include condos, co-ops and townhouses. Secondly, your income has a bearing on whether you're a fit for this credit. The full amount of credit is available for individuals with modified gross incomes (MAGI) of no more than $125,000 (single) or $225,000 (married). The credit phases out above these income levels, and at $145,000 (single) or $245,000 (married), the amount of the return reduces to zero. Homes that are being purchased must go into contract between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010 in order to qualify. The purchaser has until July 1, 2010 to close on a home. Lastly, if you're purchasing a home for $800,000 or more, you do not qualify for this credit. You also do not qualify if you are considered a "dependent."

First-Time Homebuyers

If you're a first-time homebuyer looking for a new home, then you may qualify for a tax credit of up to $8,000 on the purchase of a home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

You may be classified as a first-time homebuyer and not even know it. Obviously, if you haven't previously owned a home you fall into the category of first-time homebuyer. But did you know that if you haven't owned a principal residence (a location where you spend more than 50% of your time) in the past 3 years you also constitute what we call a first-time homebuyer? It's important to note that if you're married, both you and your spouse qualify for this tax credit if neither of you have owned a principal residence in the past 3 years. If either of you have, you don't jointly qualify. If you're unmarried, you can jointly purchase a home with somebody if one of you qualifies as a first-time homebuyer. The catch is that you have to allocate the credit amount to the individual who qualifies. This sometimes happens if a parent decides to jointly purchase a home with a son or daughter. Remember, you still qualify for this tax credit even if you have a vacation home or rental property that isn't used as a primary residence.

Qualifications

If you are in fact a first-time homebuyer, here are a few things to consider. First, a qualifying home must be a single-family, primary residence. This can include condos, co-ops and townhouses. Secondly, your income has a bearing on whether you're a fit for this credit. The full amount of credit is available for individuals with modified gross incomes (MAGI) of no more than $125,000 (single) or $225,000 (married). The credit phases out above these income levels, and at $145,000 (single) or $245,000 (married), the amount of the return phases out to zero. You must be purchasing a home in the U.S., and you can't take advantage of both this tax credit as well as the Washington D.C. First-Time Homebuyers tax credit. Homes that are being purchased must go into contract between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010 in order to qualify. The purchaser has until July 1, 2010 to close on a home. Lastly, if you're purchasing a home for $800,000 or more, you do not qualify for this credit. You also do not qualify if you are considered a "dependent."

For more information on the new extended and expanded homebuyers tax credit, be sure to contact your local agent or a certified tax specialist today!

Quick and Stress-Free Holiday Cleaning

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:04:37 -0600

Reduce Clutter

As the holidays approach and family members are overwhelmed with parties to attend and gifts to buy, it is natural for everyone's personal belonging to accumulate in the living room, entryway and other common living spaces throughout the home. When you are in a time crunch, placing all of these miscellaneous items in their designated spots often takes too long, so instead get a basket for each person in the house and put everyone's belongings in the corresponding baskets. Once the baskets are full, distribute them to each person's designated room so they can filter through their own belongings. This simple delegation system allows for a quick clean-up, and ensures that items get to their proper owner.

Starting with the Surface

According to Consumer Reports, the best product to use when cleaning surfaces is Lysol Sanitizing Wipes. For the eco-friendly consumer, Consumer Reports suggests Seventh Generation Products, along with biodegradable detergents, and 100 percent recycled paper towels. Quickly wiping down surfaces in the main rooms of your home is an easy way to give the room a facelift. This is especially important in rooms where there's food preparation or dining.

Empty the Trash and the Sink

Taking out the trash and emptying the sink are the easiest ways to clean up the kitchen. Emptying the trashcan before the party begins ensures that you won't have trash overflows during the party. An empty sink will also allow guests to comfortably fill their water glasses or wash their hands. Remember that during the event, the dishwasher is your best friend-just place dirty dishes in there for a fast cleanup. This allows you to get back to mingling with guests.

Restock Party Supplies

To help save time in this area, only restock the essentials. This includes paper towels, tissues, napkins, toilet paper, hand soap and hand towels. Most importantly, the refrigerator should be fully equipped with food and drinks. Keep backups in the pantry and check supplies about halfway through the party.

Display

How you to choose to display items in your home is another important element when it comes to creating great holiday ambiance. Simply prop pillows, fold blankets, light candles, turn on the holiday lights, create a centerpiece and set the table (if you have time) in a matter of minutes. To create an instantly elegant centerpiece, arrange fruits and vegetables in a decorative bowl or create a bouquet of flowers from the backyard or store. A simple cluster of candles can also do the trick.

So don't stress about spending an entire Saturday getting ready for your party this season. Just know that by worrying about the essentials, and cleverly displaying items throughout your home, your event will be a hit.

FICO Reveals How Common Credit Mistakes Affect Scores

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:35:24 -0600

I thought this was such helpful information about our credit score.

Disclosed for the 1st time, 'damage points' taken off for late payments

Borrowers already knew that late payments hurt their credit scores, but for the first time, they now know the extent of that damage.

More from CreditCards.com:

· Retail Credit Cards Boost Rates, Cut Rewards

· Card Issuers Sweeten Deals for Those With Great Credit

• Gift Cards: Practicality is In for '09

Did you max out your credit card? Expect a credit score drop of 10 to 45 points. Declare bankruptcy? Your score will plummet by up to 240 points, and your odds of getting credit will nosedive with it.

The "damage points" data, unveiled recently by FICO, are part of the most revealing glimpse into the firm's once-secret -- and still mysterious -- credit scoring model. The new information discloses how many points borrowers' scores will drop when they make the most-common mistakes.

'Help People Understand' Scores

"I hope this information will help people to better understand FICO scores and the value for them of avoiding credit missteps. It illustrates key points such as the higher your score, the farther it can fall if you stumble," says FICO spokesman Craig Watts. "Getting and maintaining a good score isn't complicated. We all just need to pay our bills on time, keep credit card balances low and take on new debt sparingly. "

The greater transparency about FICO scores is important because American consumers' ability to get credit rises and falls with the number. FICO, the company that pioneered credit scoring, assigns consumers a three-digit number from 300 to 850, depending on how well they handle credit. Other companies also offer scores, but FICO's version is the most widely used by lenders in determining whether a consumer can borrow, and at what rate.

FICO's credit score has been around for decades, but only within the past decade have consumers gradually gained access to theirs. Though the raw numbers can be purchased, how they're figured remains a FICO secret, as closely guarded as the formula for Coca-Cola. Until Thursday, FICO revealed only broad categories of factors influencing the score, but not the number of points at stake for consumers who fail to pay as agreed. The "damage points" information, revealed in a report by personal finance writer Liz Pulliam Weston, will be made available through its myFICO.com Web site starting this weekend.

FICO's information shows that bankruptcy does the most serious damage to a credit score (up to 240 points), followed by foreclosure (up to 160 points) while maxing out a credit card has the least numerical impact (as few as 10 points).

Those with good or excellent credit -- so-called prime borrowers -- put more points at risk with each mistake. For example, someone with an average credit score of 680 who pays a bill 30 days late will see a drop of 60 to 80 points. But for someone with an excellent credit score -- 780 -- that same delinquency can send a FICO score tumbling by 90 to 100 points.

The Cost in Dollars

In order to show just how badly a drop in your FICO score can hurt your wallet, we spoke with members of the home mortgage, auto and credit card lending industries. We presented hypothetical scenarios of a consumer who decided to apply for a $200,000, 30-year mortgage; a $20,000, five-year auto loan and a credit card. While all the industry insiders stressed that a FICO score isn't the only factor in determining who gets credit and at what cost (other factors they cited include the borrower's debt-to-income ratio and whether they have already established a relationship with the lender), they were able to provide an idea of what a borrower who had the following credit scores could expect.

For a Consumer Who Started With a FICO Score of 780:

Following a 30-day late payment, the consumer's car loan rate would jump nearly 3 percent, costing the borrower $26 more each month.
Following a debt settlement, the consumer would pay as much as $109 more each month on a home mortgage.

For a Consumer Who Started With a FICO Score of 680:

Following a 30-day late payment, the consumer would pay $41 more each month for a car loan.
Following a 30-day late payment, the consumer would pay as much as $95 more each month on a home mortgage.
Following a debt settlement, the consumer would no longer qualify for a credit card.

Some Surprised By the Details

Consumer advocates say it's important for borrowers to know what can damage their FICO scores. "If they know it in advance, they won't go out and step in a pile of doo-doo. They won't go out and do some of these things," says Linda Sherry, director of national priorities with advocacy group Consumer Action. Even experts found some surprises in today's news. "FICO imposes bigger hits than I would have thought for being maxed out or 30-days late just once, reinforcing my view that it is a cruder, blunter instrument than they like to claim. Nevertheless, it is a powerful, widely used crude blunt instrument," says Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program director for the U.S. PIRG consumer advocacy group.

Of course, knowing the impact on a FICO score and actually avoiding these mistakes are two separate things: Amid rising unemployment and other daily financial struggles, paying bills and staying on-track financially becomes a much bigger challenge for many borrowers.

"Some of these things are out of their control," Sherry says of consumers.

Additionally, as Weston points out, consumers with identical FICO scores can have different credit histories. That means the same slip-up -- such as maxing out a credit card -- could have different impacts on consumers who have the same FICO score. In the examples they provided, FICO assumed each borrower had several active major credit cards, a mortgage, car loan and student loans.

Sherry acknowledges the benefit of putting a number to a financial blunder. "I don't think we necessarily knew the numbers that a bankruptcy could apply to a credit score," Sherry says.

Helping You Make Better Decisions

While knowing the numbers may not keep you filing for bankruptcy if given no other choice, the information may help you make the best decision when faced with a bad situation.

FICO scores -- and the access to credit they provide -- are a valuable asset to consumers and supply a safety net when incomes are stretched. It's an asset that needs to be protected, Sherry says, even if job loss or catastrophic illness makes bill paying problematic.

"In that period of time, paying down debt is the last thing on your mind. Paying the minimum payment may also be the last thing on your mind, but you'll be doing yourself a big favor if you do," Sherry says.

by Jeremy M. Simon
Sunday, November 29, 2009

New Listing on Lancaster Rd.

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:34:24 -0500

Property Details

$180,000

8436 Lancaster Rd

Hebron, OH

43025

MLS:	2938440

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Click images below to view full sized.

Description

1.63-acre setting with pond. Nice open kitchen w/cherry cabinetry. Vaulted ceilings in kitchen & living room. 2 skylights,newer roof & updated bathrm. Nice sized pole bldg. w/concrete floor. Underground heated pool w/diving board and Florida Rm. Seller will consider lease w/option to buy ($1200 a mo.) w/$5000 down. Seller will also consider renting or rent to own w/credit check - $1200 a mo. w/$1200 down. Agent is related to sellers.

Features

Split Level
Single Family
3 Bedrooms
1 Full Bathroom
Garage/Parking: Side load, 1 car garage, attached garage
Additional Building
Deck
Dishwasher
Electric Range

Fenced Yard
In Ground Pool
Microwave
Refrigerator
Trash Compactor
Well
Acres: 1.63
Fireplaces: Wood Burning
Heating: Forced Air, Propane
Pond

Other Rooms: Eating Space/Kitchen, Florida Room, Living Room
A/C: Central
Basement: Walkout
Exterior: Aluminum
1654 Square Feet
Yearly Taxes: $2,234
County: Licking
School District: Lakewood
Built in: 1972

Contact Me

Norma Crouse
Direct: (614)273-6274
Fax: (740)927-1933
www.RealLiving.com/Norma.Crouse

Ranch Condo SOLD!!

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:56:20 -0500

$96,840

217 Brueghel Rd

Blacklick, OH

43004

MLS:	2922000

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		Save Listing

Click images below to view full sized.

Description

Large lower level rec room w/walkout that is a must see! Pool & clubhouse. Close to shopping & dining. Nice deck. Great price! Pre-approved buyers only. Bank owned, being sold "AS IS." Additional addendums, earnest money deposit.

Features

One Story
Condominium
2 Bedrooms
2 Full, 1 Half Bathrooms
Garage/Parking: 2 car garage, attached garage
Deck
In Ground Pool
Refrigerator

Lot Size (Front): CND
Lot Size (Side): CND
Fireplaces: One
Heating: Forced Air, Gas
Ravine Lot
Other Rooms: 1st-Floor Master Bedroom, Living Room, Rec Room/Basement
A/C: Central
Basement: Full, Walkout
Exterior: Stone, Vinyl

1742 Square Feet
Yearly Taxes: $2,590
County: Franklin
Subdivision: Ravines at Waggoner Park
School District: Licking Heights
Built in: 2002

If your on the fence about buying a home now

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:11:19 -0500

Home Buying Assurance through Real Living Insurance

You've found the perfect home. It has the right number of bedrooms, great living spaces, and boasts prime proximity to everything you need. Now is the time to buy-or so you've heard, but what if you have reservations about plunging into such an important financial commitment in the midst of economic uncertainty?

Real Living wants to give you the opportunity to take advantage of some of the lowest interest rates today, while ensuring your financial peace of mind tomorrow. Life can be unexpected at times, and we want to protect you and your home from unforeseen financial curve balls like involuntary unemployment. As a result, Real Living has created the Peace of Mind program. We believe that, "home is where the heart is, " and that financial stability provides peace of mind. So, here's how the Peace of Mind program works:

Peace of Mind Program

One-Year Coverage*
When you are represented by a Real Living agent during the purchase of your next home, and finance through Real Living Mortgage, Real Living will provide you with one year of insurance benefits that cover a monthly mortgage payment of up to $1,500 for up to six months if you become involuntarily unemployed during the first year you are in your new home. Many buyers who purchased a home in recent years have interest rates that exceed current available rates. So, additionally, if you refinance through Real Living Mortgage, we'll also provide coverage for one year. Please refer to the terms and conditions section for more detailed stipulations.

Two-Year Coverage*
If you purchase a Real Living listing, use a Real Living agent, and finance through Real Living Mortgage, we'll extend your Peace of Mind benefits for another year (two years altogether) so you can take advantage of the up to $1,500 each month for up to six months of coverage. This means that you have coverage for up to six months of mortgage payments if you become involuntarily unemployed at any point during the two-year period.

*This program is available for Real Living HER and Real Living Realty Services customers only. Please refer to RealLivingHER.com or www.RealLivingRealtyServices.com for detailed program terms and conditions. For more information on Peace of Mind as well as other Real Living programs give me a call.

Are you inspired? Feeling good? In control? If not, take action.

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:11:44 -0500

I thought this blog was really inspiring. I have felt the same way myself. If you take control and not be controlled by the situation, it does make you feel a lot better.

www.normacrouse.com

Via Kaira Sturdivant Rouda (Real Living):

If you're not feeling happy, why not? Here are your options: you can lament increasing unemployment, a shaking economy, a cold winter, a New Year's resolution not met, a kids' bad report card, a gray sky, and any number of other depressing mid-winter realities. Or, you can change your mindset. You can decide to live a positive, optimistic life. That doesn't mean Pollyanna or rose-colored glasses. That means you are in charge, and at the center of your life. You are standing in your power with confidence over the things you can change - and with acceptance of the things you cannot.
Fearful about losing your job? You aren't alone. In Ohio, where I live, our state just reached 7.8 percent unemployment, a number not seen since in decades. It's scary. But it's not immobilizing. You cannot be the one who sits frozen with fear. Those are the folks who go down with the ship. This is a time for action. To decide what it is that you, the Real You, wants to do, and who you want to be. Perhaps it is the time to start the business of your dreams, on the side for now, as you wait to see what happens where you are. Or maybe, instead of waiting for something to happen to you, you'll make a plan and take action for yourself.
Perhaps in this time of great uncertainty you'll step into the center of your life and take charge. Sometimes, when the going gets tough, the tough start their own businesses. As odd as it may seem, now probably is one of the best times in history to go for it. Back in the recession of 1991, there were record numbers of people starting businesses. In fact, in the last two recessions, 77 percent of the net new jobs created in the country were created by micro enterprises - businesses with five or fewer employees, according to Women's Economic Ventures in Santa Barbara, California.
It's OK to start small. If you dream of becoming your own boss, and you are passionate about what you want to do, now may be the perfect time to turn a hobby into a business. There is a concept that originated in the Great Depression called the "lipstick factor " - that people will still indulge in small luxury items such as cosmetics while they cut back on big luxury purchases. In fact, employment rose in the cosmetics industry during the last two recessions, even as it fell in all other segments. And of course, there is always a need for the other basics: food, babysitting, household products, green anything and the like.
Inspired? I hope so. Instead of feeling out of control, start dreaming. Look around at the marketplace and see if you could fit into it with your own business. I know, many small businesses fail, but many others succeed. And hey, if you can make it in this economy, just imagine what will happen when happy days are finally here again.

Prices of real estate

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:11:50 -0500

I just got back from Los Angeles, California, had a really nice time as usual but I still can not believe the prices of the homes there compared to here in Columbus, Ohio. My sister lives in a fairly nice neighborhood and the prices are just crazy. I think the same home in my area would sell for less than $200 thousand but there they are selling for around $500 thousand. I don't see how people could afford to pay that on a middle class income? No wonder so many people are losing their homes. It's sad when you have to move people in with you just so you can pay for your home or have all your family living in a small 3 bedroom home just so you have a place to live because the rentals out there are very expensive also.

Could you use an extra $8,000?

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:51:45 -0600

I want to share with you one component of the recent economic stimulus package that could make a huge impact on you personally if you are considering selling or buying a home within the next year.

This package includes a tax credit of the lesser of $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price of a home for first-time homebuyers. This means it will be easier to sell your home with more buyers in the market and, if you're buying a home, you may be eligible for the tax credit too.

This tax credit is refundable, which means if you subtract your tax liability from $8,000, you receive a credit. However this is assuming you purchase a home that's at least $80,000 (since $8,000 is 10% of the purchase price). For example: If you have a tax liability of $3,000, you will receive a $5,000 credit. If you have no tax liability, you receive an $8,000 credit. If you are due a tax refund of $1,000, you'll receive a $9,000 credit.

Call me today to take advantage of this great offer.

Norma Crouse, FIS
740-975-3271 - mobile
614-273-6274 - office
Norma.Crouse@realliving.com

www.RealLiving.com/Norma.Crouse

Real Living Mortgage - Stacey Wilson (740) 927-7400

A Waterfront Revival in Columbus, Ohio

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:46:24 -0600

Great article on Columbus Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A decade ago, a 75-acre area along the Scioto River less than a mile west of this capital city's downtown was an industrial no man's land, consisting of barren railyards, old warehouses and a shuttered 19th-century penitentiary. But that was before Nationwide Realty Investors, an affiliate of Nationwide Mutual Insurance, turned the area into the Arena District.

The district, a $750 million mixed-use neighborhood of housing, offices, retailing and entertainment, has attracted some of the city's most prominent architecture, law, real estate development and advertising firms and is regarded as one of the Midwest's most successful urban redevelopment projects.

Late in October, the Columbus City Council approved the development plan for the Arena District's final phase: a $250 million project to add 450 units of housing, 300,000 square feet of office space in two buildings, an 80,000-square-foot grocery store, an eight-level garage with 1,600 spaces and as much as 40,000 square feet of retail space.

As for the financial crisis that has gripped the credit markets, Brian J. Ellis, the president and chief operating officer of Nationwide Realty Investors, noted that in the 11-year history of the Arena District's development, the company had contended with what he called "down cycles." Though the current crisis is more severe than the others, Mr. Ellis said, the company's strategy is to "build with the market."

"What's happening now may affect the speed at which we complete this final phase," he said in an interview. "But we continue to see strong demand for the office space and housing. We continue to command the highest rental rates in the city."

Indeed, at annual leasing prices of roughly $25 a square foot - compared with about $20 downtown - 97 percent of the 1.4 million square feet of office space is occupied in the Arena District's three- and four-story brick buildings.

Their design pays homage to the old warehouses and factories that once stood here. They now house some 5,000 workers, including more than 100 employees of SBC Advertising, a top Midwest firm, which leased 30,000 square feet at 333 West Nationwide Boulevard, the district's newest office building.

About 1,000 people live in the 525 housing units in the Arena District, and much of it is leased or sold. This includes North Bank Park, a 20-story condominium building along the river with striking views of downtown, which Nationwide completed in December 2007. The two-bedroom two-bath units sell for $350,000 to $1 million, and nearly 50 percent of 88 units have been sold.

Thousands of people from outside the area regularly attend games of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League in the 18,500-seat Nationwide Arena, which was the catalyst for this redevelopment, and they spend time before and after the hockey games and other events in 14 restaurants and bars in the district.

The area also includes the handsome and welcoming McFerson Commons, a pocket park that connects to the Scioto Mile, a $39 million promenade and riverfront park that the city started to build this year.

Nationwide is also developing Huntington Park, the new 10,000-seat baseball field for the Columbus Clippers, a Triple-A franchise of the Cleveland Indians. The $50 million stadium, which covers eight acres, is owned by Franklin County and is to open next spring.

"The district has become an experience," Mr. Ellis said. "As each piece of the project is put in place, the experience of living in an urban neighborhood or working here or playing here improves."

Such a view is a departure from the strategic vision that Columbus, and many other major Midwestern cities, embraced for much of the last half century. Though it is Ohio's largest city, with nearly 750,000 residents, Columbus's growth long came through suburban development and annexation. The city is now spread across 225.9 square miles, almost six times its 39.9-square-mile jurisdiction in 1950.

Columbus was so bent on pursuing suburban-type development that it supported highway construction that sped people out of downtown to the suburbs and scraped away historic buildings for parking. In 1989, it opened a windowless mall in the heart of downtown.

That approach proved disastrous. Even now, much of downtown is empty at night. High Street, once the city's retail and business spine, has 152,000 square feet of vacant office space and 12 acres of vacant lots and parking, according to the city. In October, the city began demolishing an overhead walkway to the City Center Mall, which the city now controls and where just 10 of 100 original stores are still in business.

Nationwide Realty helped Columbus envision a new approach to land use. The Arena District, a partnership between the city and the company, which has developed almost everything in the decade-old district, was to be an answer to Columbus's downtown woes, and it seems to be succeeding.

The mixed-use district embodies three influential theories of urban redevelopment of the last decade: energetic and walkable street and neighborhood designs, as advocated by prominent architects who call themselves "new urbanists"; urban settings that let creative young professionals weave work and play, as advanced in the writing of Richard Florida; and sports venues, which some experts see as essential to civic economic health.

The Arena District's popularity has prompted Mayor Michael B. Coleman to accelerate a plan for the city's depopulated downtown that he introduced in 2002. Four years after it closed as a historic department store, the one-million-square-foot Lazarus building reopened in 2007 as an office building.

Nearly 2,000 people work there, and it has spurred housing development. About 4,700 people have moved downtown into almost 4,000 units of housing built since 2000, and 1,000 more units have been approved for construction.

Mayor Coleman said his target was to attract 10,000 people to live downtown, and in March he committed to spend $20 million to develop 86 miles of bike paths and lanes, with both to be completed by 2012. "Let's take advantage of our flat city," he told a group of supporters earlier this year. "Flat is good."

The 54-year-old mayor has also started planning a new streetcar line that would tie downtown to the Ohio State University campus, to the Arena District and other parts of Columbus. "Downtown is the engine that drives our economy and the epicenter of life as we know it in central Ohio," Mr. Coleman said. "We are making progress."

Since 2000, according to the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, $2.2 billion has been invested in commercial, office and residential development in and around the city's core. More than a third was spent in the Arena District. "Our idea was to make this a 24-hour neighborhood," Mr. Ellis said. "And that's what it's become."

By KEITH SCHNEIDER
New York Times

State Auto Puts the Spirit of Christmas in downtown Columbus

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:38:17 -0600

I read this and thought it was very interesting

A word of warning to any would-be corporate Nativity designers: State Auto pretty much has the market cornered when it comes to celebrating the birth of Christ.

Every December, while fights ensue at city halls around the state, an elaborate hand-crafted, life-size 70-piece Nativity scene routinely goes up on Broad Street without protest.

"While Downtown holiday traditions come and go-we've seen shopping at Lazarus, the ice rink and Ferris wheel-this one has been around 77 years," said State Auto spokesman Kyle Anderson. "It's part of who State Auto is."

The otherwise low-profile insurance provider, located in the shadow of the 40-story Nationwide Plaza, relishes in its annual Christmas tradition-both inside and outside the building. There are no less than nine Christmas trees in the State Auto lobby. Christmas music is pumped through the halls. And if employees-or passers-by-of other faiths are annoyed by it, they're keeping it between themselves and their HR representatives.

"We have a lot of people, both working here and out in the community, who are very protective of the display," Anderson said. "If we missed a year, we would hear about it."

Complaints about the religious paraphernalia are very rare-maybe once a decade, Anderson said.

"It comes down to the fact that we are a private company," he said.

"Yes, we are celebrating the birth of Christ."

Why not Chrismukah? Or Kwanza? Or, god forbid, the Holidays?

"If we were to try to please everybody with their own display," the list would get out of hand, very quickly, he added.

The display, like its star, was born of humble beginnings. While the Great Depression raged, State Auto founder and Columbus philanthropist Robert Pein could be seen on Broad Street handing out eggs to those in need during the holidays. In 1931, when apparently the eggs weren't comforting enough souls, Pein, who famously loved Christmas, set out to get people's minds off the then-wretched economic conditions by decorating the heck out of his building. There were wreaths, 480 trees and more than nine miles of lights and garland. He called it a "Christmas card to the community," according to company history.

In the 1950s, the display ditched its more secular roots by adding a life-size Nativity scene to complement Santa's rooftop workshop. Since then, the Nativity has multiplied into a cast of 70, including three different Marys molded from the same plaster face.

The models are made from wire frames and plaster, and include elements such as hemp, hula skirts (for the roof of the manger, that is) and shag carpet. Care and refurbishing is done in-house.

In fact, State Auto has devoted a significant chunk of personnel time to its annual tradition. The work usually starts in October, when Corporate Sales Team Manager JoAnn Huntwork morphs into Head Nativity Designer. The maintenance crew devotes at least 600 hours to setting up the display.

Considering the annual lighting ceremony in early December, and the Christmas Eve service (where a local dignitary hand-delivers the baby Jesus) not to mention the loads of concerts and performances in the meantime, State Auto CEO Bob Restrepo quickly realized the positive publicity-err, embraced the rich community tradition that the display represents when he came to the company in 2006.

Restrepo hopes to expand the current display by adding more lights and decorations each year, Anderson said. Two 12-foot nutcrackers were added to the rooftop this year.

Columbus residents can take solace in the fact that the display is standing there at all. Only the most dire circumstances have interrupted the display, which did not go up for two years during World War II, or during the oil crisis in the late 70s.

By - Lyndsey Teter

What is a Short Sale

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:14:27 -0600

Via Mike Sher:

A Short Sale may assist a homeowner prior to the Foreclosure process.

If the proceeds from the sale of a house fall short of the owner's existing mortgage balance, a lender may agree to accept the proceeds of a short sale in lieu of the total obligation due on the mortgage.

By accepting a short sale, a lender can avoid a lengthy and costly foreclosure, and the owner is able to pay off the loan for less than what he owes.

Opinions differ in the real estate industry, but most experts suggest that you should let the lender involved know as soon as possible of a potential short sale. Others say you should wait until you have an offer because the bank will not consider your request until then.

If a lender is approached before the property is listed, they may want to get a broker's price opinion (BPO) or even an appraisal to see what the property is worth before a list price is set. One way to help ensure that the bank's estimate of value is realistic is to offer comps of recent sales, both traditional residential and foreclosed residential, if available.

If a short sale is being negotiated once an offer is received on a home that is listed, you will have to provide hard numbers to show that the amount of money a bank will realize on the short sale is better than the amount it may recover from foreclosing on the property and selling the property as an real estate owned property (REO).

When you have a written purchase agreement, your request may have a better chance of having the bank's asset manager or loss mitigation department review your proposal for a short sale.

Although response times vary from lender to lender, it can take two weeks or as long as 60 days to receive an approval of a short sale from a lender. That's why it's critical that buyers and their representative understand and accept that time frame before they make an offer.

Check with a real estate professional to determine whether your home and circumstances will qualify for a short sale. The final decision is up to the lender.

If you have any further question, please mike@mikerealtor.com and we will gladly assist you. Content from Real Estate One

Taxpayers say no once again to income tax

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:41:22 -0600

If you are a Patakala resident you have seen the income tax levy be turned down for the 7th time. I can see why people turn it down but I really don't know what Pataskala is going to do for funding? We are going to end up losing services that we really need which is very sad.

I really think that the council is going to have to think of something else to do because the city can not go without police services and cleaning of the roads during the winter. At the rate Pataskala is going if there is not something done than I think more and more people are not going to want to live in Pataskala. Especially when you live in one of the housing developments and they don't come and clean your road and you can't get out to go to work (and they will do that just like when you don't pass the school levy a few times the first thing they do is take away bussing).

I have lived here my whole life and it has changed so much. The taxes have at least doubled and I am pretty sure people's income has not doubled. I am not saying that is Pataskala's fault but I do feel they need to let in more business and by business I don't just mean small business. Every person I have talked to that has a small business though tells me that Pataskala is the worst place to deal with if you want to have one there. It should not be like that. Business should want to come and we really need it to come. All we have is housing so the tax burden is put on homeowners.

One thing I am confused about in Pataskala is some people say they will never vote for an income tax levy for the city but obviously there were a lot of people that voted for an income tax levy for the school. Maybe they were different people I don't know?

Who's Real to Blame for the Banking Meltdown

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:24:27 -0500

WASHINGTON, DC - Anyone who has picked up a newspaper or turned on the TV over the last few monthswas led to believe that the current housing crisis was caused by greedy wall street types and unscrupulous mortgage lenders, and reckless real estate agents. As industry insiders we all know that although there were some bad apples, byand largemost of our industry was just doing their jobs, getting people into homes using the programs that were readily available.

So then what went wrong and who is really to blame for the meltdown of the country’s banking system?

The process of securitizing mortgages in the United States is the most unique in the world. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were established by Congress with a mission to provide liquidity and stability to the U.S. housing and mortgage markets. Fannie Mae was established as a federal agency in 1938, and in 1968 was chartered by Congress as a private shareholder-owned company. In 1970 Freddie Mac was established to provide competition for Fannie Mae. Both of these organizations are commonly referred to as a (GSE) Government Sponsored Enterprise.

It was precisely this GSE status, and the belief by investors that securities sold by the GSEswere backed by the federal government, that both gave the GSEs the ability to raise nearly unlimited capital to be eventually used to loan as mortgages, but it also set a series of events into play that was at the heart of the meltdown.

In 1992, the democratically controlled Congress enacted The Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act ("FHEFSSA") which was supposed to modernize the regulatory oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in response to the savings and loan crisis. The act created the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight ("OFHEO") as a new regulatory office within HUD with the responsibility to "ensure that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are adequately capitalized and operating safely." However, the act also established HUD-imposed housing goals for financing of affordable housing.

Although the GSEs corporate structures went through several iterations of government then public ownership since their inception in 1938, OFHEO’s first initial report to congress stated that even though “the savings and loan crisis was the catalyst for the [FHEFSSA] act,” the GSEs were financially sound.

It’s important to note that prior to FHEFSSA the GSEs needed to adhere to strict underwriting guidelines that essentially prohibited them from unsound lending. However, now they were mandated by FHEFSSA to make loans that were unsound under the guise of “affordable housing.”

Since the formation of OFHEFO both Democrats and Republicans constantly argued over the effectiveness of the agency. In fact according to the New York Times, “the Clinton administration did not take the agency very seriously and left the top job unfilled for two years after Aida Alvarez, the agency's first director, left to head the Small Business Administration.”

In 1999, President Clinton finally appointed Armando Falcon Jr. a little-known Washington lawyer and former Congressional aide to head OFHEO. According to the New York Times, “He and his agency were often the target of political attacks by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and were ridiculed by lawmakers who viewed the office as ill-equipped to oversee such large companies.”

That same year Franklin Raines took over as CEO of Fannie Mae. In 1991 Raines became Fannie Mae's Vice Chairman, a post he left in 1996 in order to join the Clinton Administration as the Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, where he served until 1998.

During the Clinton administration, Fannie’s and Freddie’s combined portfolios grew five fold - from about $200 billion to over $1 trillion.

In accordance with the mission of Fannie Mae and in compliance with the affordable housing provisions in FHEFSSA, Raines, while Chairman and CEO, began a pilot program in 1999 to issue bank loans to individuals with low to moderate income, and to ease credit requirements on loans that Fannie Mae purchased from banks. The move was intended in part to increase the number of minority and low income home owners. Some observers have noted that the expansion of easy credit to home buyers with a lesser ability to pay them back was one of the major contributing factors to the subprime mortgage crisis.

Although under Raines, Fannie Mae invested in some securities backed by subprime loans, it didn't start buying subprime and Alt-A loans directly (and bundling them into securities) until late 2004 after the accounting scandal. Purchasing of subprime and alt-A mortgages expanded exponentially under the guidance of Raines's successor Daniel H. Mudd.

Raines was the subject of controversy and investigation during his reign at Fannie Mae. He took an “early retirement” in 2004 as the SEC was investigating “irregularities” and OFHEO, led by Falcon who accused him of accounting errors that shifted losses so that executives could reach their lucrative bonuses.

OFHEO had enough evidence to take Raines to court in 2006 in an attempt to recover the $90 million Raines pocketed by “adjusting” the company’s earnings by over three billion dollars. In 2008, Raines agreed to a settlement that allowed him to walk away after paying fines of $3 million.

Additionally the OFHEO investigation found that James A. Johnson who served as Fannie Mae’s chairman and chief executive officer from 1991 to 1998 had improperly deferred $200 million in expenses. This enabled top executives, including Johnson and his successor, Franklin Raines, to receive substantial bonuses in 1998. A 2006 OFHEO report found that Fannie Mae had substantially under-reported Johnson's compensation. Originally reported as $6-7 million, Johnson actually received approximately $21 million.

Mudd, the son of TV anchor Roger Mudd took over as CEO of Fannie Mae in 2004. According to the Washington Post, "Raines recruited Mudd from General Electric Co., where he had risen quickly from a line management job to chief executive of GE Capital in Japan." Prior to his appointment as CEO, Mudd was Fannie's chief operating officer,he oversaw systems technology, back-office operations and customer relations.

As the CEO of Fannie, Mudd faced mounting pressure from some mortgage lenders and Congress to increase purchasing of risky affordable housing loans. According to a published New York Times article, ”Democratic lawmakers demanded that the company buy more loans that had been made to low-income and minority homebuyers.” Under this pressure Mudd capitulated, and between 2005 and 2007, Fannie’s acquisitions of mortgages with down payments of less than 10 percent nearly tripled. Under Fannie’s leadership the market for these risky loans soared to $1 trillion.

Mudd was dismissed as CEO of Fannie Mae when Federal Housing Finance Agency stepped in as conservator on September 7, 2008. The government has advised him that his severance package will not be paid.

In 2005 the Democrats came under fire as they fought Republican’s efforts to implement a regulatory overhaul in regard to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, sparked in part by the Raines accounting scandal, with a plan called the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005. The New York Times reported the following quotes in a published story.

“The Bush administration today recommended the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry since the savings and loan crisis a decade ago. Under the plan, disclosed at a Congressional hearing today, a new agency would be created within the Treasury Department to assume supervision of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored companies that are the two largest players in the mortgage lending industry. The new agency would have the authority, which now rests with Congress, to set one of the two capital-reserve requirements for the companies. It would exercise authority over any new lines of business. And it would determine whether the two are adequately managing the risks of their ballooning portfolios.

“Democrats pushed back. Among the groups denouncing the proposal today were the National Association of Home Builders and Congressional Democrats who fear that tighter regulation of the companies could sharply reduce their commitment to financing low-income and affordable housing.”

“These two entities, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not facing any kind of financial crisis”, said Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. “The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing.”

Representative Melvin L. Watt, Democrat of North Carolina, agreed. “I don’t see much other than a shell game going on here, moving something from one agency to another and in the process weakening the bargaining power of poorer families and their ability to get affordable housing,” Mr. Watt said.

Senator and presidential candidate John McCain strongly supported the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005. In McCain’s record text he stated, “Fannie Mae's regulator reported that the company's quarterly reports of profit growth over the past few years were "illusions deliberately and systematically created" by the company's senior management, which resulted in a $10.6 billion accounting scandal.

“For years I have been concerned about the regulatory structure that governs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the sheer magnitude of these companies and the role they play in the housing market. OFHEO's report solidifies my view that the GSEs need to be reformed without delay.

“I join as a cosponsor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005 to underscore my support for quick passage of GSE regulatory reform legislation. If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole.”

However, the bill never made it to the floor for a vote. On Jul 28, 2005, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs"Ordered [the bill] to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably." This action is commonplace and generally indicates the bill was unable to gather enough votes for cloture, which requires 60 votes. The Republicans at that time controlled 55 seats.

Democrats continue to be implicated in the financial crisis as it was revealed in 2008 that Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), along with Franklin Raines and several other friends of Angelo’s , (Angelo Mozilo was Countrywide’s CEO at the time) took illegal loans from Countrywide. Dodd’s press secretary said the loans were not given with preferential treatment due to politics but because he was a good customer.

Countrywide was a huge financial supporter of Dodd’s while he proposed a bailout in June that would have rescued troubled companies like Countrywide.

Coincidently, Bank of America – the company that bought Countrywide – is also a big contributor to Dodd’s campaign. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington alleged that Bank of America employees were the actual drafters of the bailout bill Dodd proposed, the FHA Housing Stabilization and Homeownership Retention Act of 2008.

Democrats say the allegations are ridiculous and slanderous. They point out that Countrywide is also a financial supporter of McCain’s and has donated nearly triple Dodd’s contribution to McCain’s campaign.

Countrywide was not the only company that paid off politicians through campaign donations. According to the GSEs they directly contributed to both Democrats and Republicans. Dodd received the most money of any politician a whopping $133,900 and Dodd is the current chairman of the Senate committee that has direct oversight of the GSEs.

In fact the GSEs strategically donated to lawmakers that are currently sitting on committees that primarily regulate the industry. Fifteen of the top 25 campaign recipients sit on the House Financial Services Committee, the Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee, or the Senate Finance Committee.

The top three recipients all received over $100,000. They are Christopher Dodd (D-CT) $133,900, John Kerry (D-MA) $111,000, and Barack Obama $105,849 (D-IL).

So where are they now?

Franklin Raines (D) – After adding $190 million to his bank account, on July 16,2008, The Washington Post reported that Franklin Raines had "taken calls from Barack Obama's presidential campaign seeking his advice on mortgage and housing policy matters." Neither Raines nor the Obama campaign disputed this reporting until the McCain campaign picked the story up.

James A. Johnson (D) – Originally reported as $6-7 million, Johnson actually added approximately $21 million to his bank account. On May 22, 2007, Democratic Party officials confidentially divulged that Obama had asked Johnson "to lead the process" for selecting Obama's running mate. On June 4, 2008, Obama announced the formation of a three-person committee to vet vice presidential candidates, including Johnson. Johnson announced he would step down from the vice-presidential vetting position on June 11, 2008, in order to avoid being a distraction to Obama's campaign. In addition to personal donations, Johnson is a bundler for the Obama campaign, raising between $200,000 and $500,000. He has also participated in Obama campaign efforts to recruit former Clinton supporters.

Daniel H. Mudd (?) – After being dismissed from Fannie Mae in September of 2008, little is knownof his whereabouts. Although the political party of Mudd is unknown, according to records he did donate money to Bush in 2004. The government said that his severance package will not be paid.

Christopher Dodd (D) – Still serving his term as a US Senator from the state of Connecticut and continues his reign as chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee, which has direct oversight of the GSEs. He accepted $133,900 from the GSEs. He is up for re-election in 2011.

Barney Frank (D) – Still serving as a member of the House of Representatives from the 4th Congressional District of Massachusetts and continues to serve as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, which has direct oversight of the GSEs. As late a July of 2008, Frank still claimed the GSEs were financially stable.He is up for re-election this year.

National Realty News

OPEN HOUSE at 7980 Smoke Rd. in Pataskala on 10/26 from 3-5 part of City wide HOP

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:40:20 -0500

Property Details

Old Price: $299,900

New Price: $289,900

Save: $10,000

$289,900

7980 SMOKE RD

Pataskala, OH

43062

MLS:	2818441

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Description

Beautiful, country setting that is Move-in ready! This unique property is sitting on 5 peaceful acres in Pataskala with plenty of mature trees for the ultimate private retreat. A few of the features of this home include: Tennis Court, Wooded lot, Stream, Pole Barn, Patio, Deck, Harmon Pellet Stove, freshly painted interior and Attached 2 car side load garage. Traditional floor plan. Sliding doors open out onto the patio overlooking a park like setting.

Upcoming Open Houses

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM on Sunday, October 26, 2008
Hosted by: Hosted by: Norma Crouse

View complete list of current Open Houses.

Features

Two Story
Single Family
4 Bedrooms
2 Full, 1 Half Bathrooms
Garage/Parking: Farm building, side load, 2 car garage, attached garage, opener
Additional Building
Deck
Dishwasher
Microwave

Patio
Refrigerator
Waste Tr/Sys
Well
Acres: 5
Fireplaces: One
Heating: Electric, Heat Pump
Stream on Lot, Wooded
Other Rooms: Dining Room, Eating Space/Kitchen, Family Room, Living Room, Rec Room/Basement
A/C: Central

Basement: Block, Crawl Space, Partial
Exterior: Brick, Stucco
2226 Square Feet
Yearly Taxes: $4,449
County: Licking
Subdivision: Rural
Parish: St. Pius X
Built in: 1978

Presented By

Norma Crouse
Direct: (614)273-6274
Fax: (740)927-1933
www.RealLiving.com/Norma.Crouse

Bright Waters in Pataskala, Ohio

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:24:57 -0500

Bright Waters is a beautiful family community tucked away in the heart of Pataskala with a distinct country feel, fresh air, beautiful trees and large lots. Lots of room for a family to grow and make memories. Pataskala is an Indian word for "Bright Waters" thus the community name.

Bright Waters is located just south of Broad Street and east of State Route 310, just minutes from I-70, National Road (Main Street), Morse Road and State Route 161. With this great location, Bright Waters has easy access to great shopping, dining and recreation. Bright Waters is close to the swimming pool and Pataskala Elementary School.

For more information, call Norma Crouse at Real Living HER at (614) 273-6274. For a free pre-approval, call Stacey Wilson at 740-404-7505 or log onto www.loaningtoyou.com and receive $100 off on your closing costs. These are just a few homes for sale in Bright Water Subdivision.

Demographics for Zip Code 43062

Population
Total Population	22851
Male Population	11397 (49.88 %)
Female Population	11454 (50.12 %)
Percent Change Since 1990	46.0 %
Percent Change Since 2000	14.0 %
Density (Persons per sq. mile)	270.00
Median Age	36.37

Employment
White Collar	3789
Blue Collar	1616

Households
Total Households	8283
Family Households	6104
Non-Family Households	2179
Households With Children	3467
Households Without Children	4817
Average People Per Household	2.75

Education
Number of people who have achieved the following levels of education:
No High School	245
Some High School	1206
Some College	3168
Associate Degree	964
Bachelors Degree	2675
Graduate Degree	1272

Marital Status
Number of people who have the following marital status:
Never Married	3430
Married	11641
Separated	350
Widowed	850
Divorced	1761

Income / Financial
Average Household Income	$64,125
Median Household Income	$69,211
Median Income Under 25	$47,024
Median Income 25-34	$68,558
Median Income 35-44	$71,917
Median Income 45-54	$80,150
Median Income 55-64	$71,174
Median Income 65-74	$43,333
Median Income Over 75	$33,241
Percent increase/decrease in income since 1990	89.0 %
Percent increase/decrease in income since 2000	22.0 %
Average Household Net Worth	$528,615
Median Household Net Worth	$164,979
Median Home Sale Price	$155,000
Median Total Debts	$203,550
Sales Tax Rate	7.0000 %
Sales Tax Type	PL
Average Total Household Expenditure	$51,778

Weather
Average High in January	36.20° F
Average Low in January	20.30° F
Average High in July	85.30° F
Average Low in July	64.90° F
Annual Precepitiation	38.52 in.
Air Pollution Index	162

Other Amenities
Airport	PORT COLUMBUS INTL
Miles To Airport	15
Junior College	TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION COLLEGE
Miles To Junior College	11
University	DENISON UNIVERSITY
Miles To University	9
Sports Team	COLUMBUS CREW
Miles To Sports Team	16

Pataskala Market

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:03:54 -0500

This is what has been going in the Pataskala Ohio Market since 7/07.

*All reports are published Oct. 2008, based on data available at the end of Sep. 2008.

Pataskala Ohio

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:38:08 -0500

20 miles east of Columbus, in the "Land of Legend", Licking county.

History...

    The first settler to the area which was to become known as Pataskala was David Heron, who was living here in 1805 when Richard Conine and his wife Sarah visited the area. Richard Conine, who was to become known as the "Father of Pataskala", liked what he saw, and when he returned home to New Jersey, he arranged to purchase 2,000 acres of land here.
    He returned to this area in 1821 to live and built the first grist mill in the area at the south end of town, and prior to 1850, platted a village which he called Conine.However, by the end of 1850, he had sold most of his land, much of it to Jess Stoneman Green, and it was Green who actually put the village of Pataskala on the map. Green laid out lots and sold them, built buildings for businesses, and donated land for schools and churches.
    In 1851, the village of Pataskala received its first Post Office, and controversy grew over the name of "Conine" until finally the name "Pataskala", which is an Indian word meaning Licking, was decided upon and from that point the village continued to grow until it was finally incorporated in 1891.
In 1994 Lima Township and the Village of Pataskala voters agreed to establish a merger commission to research a possible merger. In 1995, the citizens voted unanimously to accept the merger proposal, and as of January 19, 1997, the Secretary of State declared Pataskala to be of city status.
    The City of Pataskala encompasses 39 square miles of territory. Its boundaries begin at the Franklin/ Licking County lines on the west and extend to past Watkins road on the east. The northern boundary is south of CR. 25, Morse Road, and Jersey Township.
     We proudly welcome you to one of Ohio's fastest growing communities which is striving to retain its rural flavor.

Citywide House Hop 10/26

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 18:02:18 -0500

Who's eligible for the $10,000 deal?

Part I: $7500 Tax Credit

The first time homebuyer tax credit was recently introduced in August of 2008 and available for homes purchased between August 9, 2008 through July 1, 2009.
Here is the, "at a glance" version of the credit...

The tax credit is available for first-time home buyers and those who have not owned a principal residence in the last 3 years.
The maximum credit amount is $7,500.
The credit is available for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009.
Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
The tax credit works like an interest-free loan and must be repaid over a 15-year period.
The tax credit must be repaid. Home buyers will be required to repay the credit to the government, without interest, over 15 years or when they sell the house, if there is sufficient capital gain from the sale. For example, a home buyer claiming a $7,500 credit would repay the credit at $500 per year. The home owner does not have to begin making repayments on the credit until two years after the credit is claimed. So if the tax credit is claimed on the 2008 tax return, a $500 payment is not due until the 2010 tax return is filed. If the home owner sold the home, then the remaining credit amount would be due from the profit on the home sale. If there was insufficient profit, then the remaining credit payback would be forgiven.
In general, the tax credit is equal to 10% of the qualified home purchase price, but the credit amount is capped or limited at $7,500. For most first-time home buyers, this means the credit will equal $7,500. For home buyers purchasing a home priced less than $75,000, the credit will equal 10% of the purchase price.

If you have further questions, we strongly encourage you to seek the assistance of a qualified tax professional. For complete information on the program please visit www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com .

Part II: About The $2,500 Real Living Incentive

Buyers who purchase a home featured in the Citywide House Hop are eligible to receive up to $2,500 when upon closing.
Here is how you qualify:

Buyers must purchase of one of Real Living HER's Citywide House Hop homes
Buyers must be in-contract on a home prior to November 5th, 2008 and close prior to December 31st, 2008
To be considered in-contract you must have a mutually accepted agreement with the seller of a Citywide House Hop home
Buyers must utilize Real Living Mortgage for financing
Buyers must close using Real Living Title

When you qualify:

Buyers can receive up to 1% credit in closing costs and prepaid items on their first mortgage, with the purchase of a Citywide House Hop Open House.
Borrowers must close their loan through Real Living Mortgage, subject to qualification, approval, and closing with Real Living Title.
Credit amount will not exceed closing fees resulting in cash back ... and cannot exceed $2,500.

This offer cannot be combined with any other first mortgage incentives. Not available on Ohio Bond loans. All first mortgage products are offered and provided by Real Living Mortgage, LLC. Equal Housing Lender

http://www.realliving.com/norma.crouse/OpenHouseList.asp

Presidential Election

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:28:57 -0500

All you see and hear about lately is the presidential election. I do think that everyone needs to know where the candidates stand but if you really think about it does the president really decide anything? I really believe the president is just a figurehead and if no one in congress backs him up on anything nothing gets done. I really think people need to know more about who they elect into congress. I don't think that I have ever really looked at that like I should. I have wondered if other people are like me? I have also noticed alot of people seem to vote all the same thing for the candidates. Some people are just republicans and some are just democrats and no matter what the people stand for they do not care that is how they are going to vote. America is not doing the greatest right now, in case you haven't noticed and I think and pray that americans will really look at the actual candidates before they place their vote. We really need a change if we are going to succeed!!

Pet Peeve

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:20:05 -0500

I don't know if anyone has noticed this but I was out driving around today looking at homes and I noticed this older man blowing his leaves out of his yard into the street and into his neighbors yard. I don't know why so many people do that? I guess the leaves aren't that bad since I am not his neighbor but when the snow comes I have noticed the same thing. I don't understand why people think that it is ok for them to shove their snow out into the road to cause a hazard for drivers. Some people are just not considerate of others!

Why Should you give your Real Estate Expertise Away?

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:41:56 -0500

At its heart, real estate is a business of information. A Realtors job is to gather, understand and convey that information. It's what makes you an expert in the field. You can spend every hour of your working day processing information. You can know your market area cold, able to spew out even the smallest market detail in a second.

For a Realtor, the rubber meets the road when a hot prospect is interested in the information they possess. So what possible reason could there be to give away hard earned expertise for free? The biggest reason is that it's the surest way to build your business. What good is the ability to spew out the data if you have no one to spew it out to?

Being an expert and establishing yourself as an expert are two different things. When you establish yourself as an expert, you will attract prospects to you. In the community, the Realtors that get the business are the ones who have established themselves as experts. They've branded themselves as a trusted source of information. They did so by giving away their expertise.

Giving away expertise is a technique that has been used by internet marketers for some time. They call it the pink spoon. Attract interest in your product, you, by developing a giveaway that establishes you as an expert. It's a concept that Realtors can use to their benefit too.

Sharing your expertise with the community is how you develop your pink spoon. It's what will separate you from all the other choices consumers have when time comes to buy or sell. It's like this. When consumers look to participate in the real estate market they have limited sources with which to research realtors.

Consumers want and look for the best service they can find. But unfortunately they don't often have the resources they need to make the best decision. They may have a refrigerator magnet with a number, there may be a sign down the street they can check into and maybe they'll ask their family. But wouldn't it be nice if you were positioned in their minds as the local expert. Who do you think they'd call then?

If you've become aggressive in placing yourself in the local market, chances are your name will come up when consumers start to search. But being aggressive means more than putting your listings and name in the homes book once a month. Even there, your one in many Realtors consumers can choose from.

The trick is to stand out. The key is to find the outlets to stand out in. In real estate those outlets are mailings, advertorials, local newspaper columns and internet advertising campaigns. In each of these outlets you are marketing your expertise. You give away your information and knowledge so that prospects are naturally attracted to you when the buying or selling time comes.

But even if you do stand out, you still need to deal with the competition. And the competition comes in varying forms these days. In many markets there is tremendous pressure to lower listing fees. When I first got into the business the fee was traditionally 7%. Recently in my market it has become 6% and is heading down. It is becoming harder and harder for most Realtors to sell value for service.

You need to give ample reason to earn the higher fee. One way of doing this is to establish your expertise in advance. The way to do this is marketing. I'm talking specific marketing with the intent of building your value beforehand. This marketing comes by way of sharing your expertise with the community.

A good example would be the difference between a buffet steak house and a premier steak house. Sure they both sell steak, but which one has the higher value. Steak is steak at the end of the day, but the premier steak house has established itself as superior brand. They command more money.

When Realtors work in the community they face many marketing challenges. Among them are perceived depreciation of a Realtors value, increased competition and in some places stagnating market conditions.

In order to compete more effectively, Realtors must position themselves as experts in their field. The best way to do this is to give away targeted expertise in as many outlets as possible.

10 Ways to Cut Energy Bills This Fall

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:10:29 -0500

Staying warm doesn't have to cost a fortune. Here are some ideas from the U.S. Department of Energy for conserving heat and saving money.

When the leaves start falling, you know that the heating bills are about to start rising. But keeping your home warm and cozy on chilly autumn nights doesn't have to break the bank.

The U.S. Department of Energy offers these simple tips and relatively inexpensive home improvements that will help ensure cold gusts stay out and your furnace doesn't have to work harder than it should.

The goal: Conserve energy and keep more of your hard-earned dollars in your pocket.

Share these ideas with customers and use them for your own house. After all, who doesn't need to save a little money these days?

1. Plug air leaks with caulking, sealing, or weather stripping. Save 10 percent ($190 per year) or more on energy bills. Focus on windows, doors, outlets or switch plates on exterior walls.

2. Properly maintain the heating system. Heating accounts for half the average family's energy bill (approximately $950 per year). Make sure the furnace or heat pump receives professional maintenance each year. The small cost (about $75-100 for most service calls) will pay back in better performance all year long.

3. Install a programmable thermostat. Programming the thermostat from 72ºF to 65ºF for eight hours a day while no one is home, or everyone is tucked in bed, will cut the heating bill up to 10 percent ($90 per year), paying for a basic unit in less than a year.

4. Seal and insulate heating ducts. A system can lose up to 60 percent of its warmed air before it reaches the register (wasting $570 in warmed air per year) if ducts are not properly insulated in unheated areas such as attics and crawlspaces.

5. Insulate, insulate, insulate. Adequate insulation in the attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawlspaces can save up to 30 percent on home energy bills ($630 per year). Focus on the attic. (Heat rises.) Most homes should have between R-30 and R-49 insulation in the attic. Learn more at www.eere.energy.gov/consumer.

6. Close fireplace dampers when not in use. When in use, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window about an inch, close doors to the room, and lower thermostat setting to 50-55ºF.

7. Let the sun shine in. Open curtains on south facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat the home, and close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.

8. Stay out of hot water. Water heating accounts for 15 percent of household energy use. Reduce water heating costs by lowering the water heater's thermostat setting. Each 10ºF reduction can save between 3-5 percent in energy costs. Also insulate the hot water heater and hot water pipes.

9. Install storm windows over single-pane windows or replace them with Energy Star qualified windows. Storm windows reduce heat loss by 25 to 50 percent, and storm windows with low-e coating that reflect heat back into the room during the winter months save even more energy. Look for the Energy Star label to maximize savings. Energy Star qualified windows reduce heating and cooling bills by an average of $345, but could be higher in cold and hot climates, compared with uncoated, single-pane windows. Can't afford new windows just now? Tape clear plastic sheeting to the inside of window frames if drafts, water condensation, or frost are present.

10. Net big savings with a little label. When replacing appliances, light bulbs, electronics, or heating and cooling systems, cut energy bills by up to 30 percent ($600 per year) with Energy Star labeled products. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in place of comparable incandescent bulbs. Find retailers at www.energystar.gov.

These and other improvements that impact the energy efficiency of a home can save home owners money in the short term and serve as a selling point to potential buyers later. Be sure to save receipts, documentation, and manufacturer's information.

Not sure where to begin? Try the Department of Energy's online energy audit tool at www.hes.lbl.gov. In the long run, a whole-house energy audit is a fool proof way to make a plan to address wasted energy and make a home operate efficiently for years to come. Visit www.natresnet.org to find a qualified auditor in your neck of the woods.

The Power of a Single Vote - Pataskala Election Information and Polling Places

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:09:04 -0500

category:Government and Politics

Pataskala voters, if you think you're too busy to get out and vote on Election Day or that your vote "won't matter anyway," consider that just one vote ...
-made English the language of America instead of German (1776)
-approved American independence from England (1776)
-gave Thomas Jefferson the presidency (1800)
-admitted Texas (1845) and California (1850) into the Union

See Pataskala voters? Your vote DOES matter in elections. And this one-stop local voting election resource for Ohio that has all the election information you need to cast your Pataskala ballot and make your voice heard for this election.

We have:
- Early OH voting and registration information
- Pataskala, OH polling places
- Ohio ballot measures
- Election candidates and coverage
- How to register to vote in Pataskala, Ohio

Start here to get involved in a little thing we like to call "democracy".

Presidential Race
Democrat: Barack Obama
Republican: John McCain
Independent: Ralph Nader
Libertarian: Bob Barr
Green: Cynthia McKinney
Constitution Party: Chuck Baldwin

U.S. Senate
No races this year.

U.S. House of Representatives
1st District:
Democrats: Steve Driehaus
Republicans: Steve Chabot
Independent: Richard Stevenson

2nd District:
Democrats: Victoria Wulsin
Republicans: Jean Schmidt
Write-In: James Condit Jr.
Independent: David Krikorian

3rd District:
Democrats: Jane Mitakides
Republicans: Michael Turner

4th District:
Democrats: Mike Carroll
Republicans: Jim Jordan

5th District:
Democrats: George Mays
Republicans: Robert Latta

6th District:
Democrats: Charlie Wilson
Republicans: Rich Stobbs
Write-In: Dennis Spisak

7th District:
Democrats: Sharen Neuhardt
Republicans: Steven Austria

8th District:
Democrats: Nicholas von Stein
Republicans: John Boehner
Write-In: Rich Stevenson
Write-In: Eric Wilson

9th District:
Democrats: Marcy Kaptur
Republicans: Bradley Leavitt

10th District:
Democrats: Dennis Kucinich
Republicans: James Trakas
Libertarian: Paul Conroy
Independent: Paul Visokaj

11th District:
Democrats: Marcia Fudge
Republicans: Thomas Pekarek
Write-In: Eric Johnson
Write-In: Robert Reed III
Write-In: Craig Willis

12th District:
Democrats: David Robinson
Republicans: Patrick Tiberi
Libertarian: Steven Linnabary

13th District:
Democrats: Betty Sutton
Republicans: David Potter
Write-In: Robert Crow

14th District:
Democrats: William O'Neill
Republicans: Steven LaTourette
Libertarian: David Macko

15th District:
Democrats: Mary Jo Kilroy
Republicans: Steve Stivers
Write-In: Travis Casper
Independent: Don Eckhart
Libertarian: Mark Noble

16th District:
Democrats: John Boccieri
Republicans: Kirk Schuring

17th District:
Democrats: Tim Ryan
Republicans: Duane Grassell

18th District:
Democrats: Zack Space
Republicans: Fred Dailey

State Senate
2nd District:
Democrats: Jackie Brown
Republicans: Mark Wagoner Jr.

4th District:
Democrats: L. Kathryn Bridgeman
Republicans: Gary Cates

6th District:
Democrats: John Doll
Republicans: Jon Husted

8th District:
Democrats: Daniel McCarthy
Republicans: William Seitz

10th District:
Democrats: Roger Tackett
Republicans: Christopher Widener

12th District:
Democrats: Thomas Matthew
Republicans: Keith Faber
Independent: Jack Kaffenberger Sr.

14th District:
Democrats: Greg Napolitano
Republicans: Tom Niehaus
Libertarian: Margaret Leech

16th District:
Democrats: Danielle Blue
Republicans: James Hughes

18th District:
Democrats: No Candidate
Republicans: Timothy Grendell

20th District:
Democrats: Rick Shriver
Republicans: Jimmy Stewart
Green: Timothy Kettler

22nd District:
Democrats: James Riley
Republicans: Bob Gibbs

24th District:
Democrats: Gary Kucinich
Republicans: Thomas Patton

26th District:
Democrats: Thomas Kruse
Republicans: Karen Gillmor

28th District:
Democrats: Thomas Sawyer
Republicans: James Carr

30th District:
Democrats: Jason Wilson
Republicans: Tim Ginter

32nd District:
Democrats: Capri Cafaro
Republicans: No Candidate

State House of Representatives
Click here to see State House of Representatives Candidates for OH

Governor and Statewide Races
State Attorney General
Democrats: Richard Cordray
Republicans: Mike Crites
Independent: Robert Owens

Statewide Ballot Measures
Issue #4 - Pending Statewide Ballot Issue: Initiated legislation requiring paid sick leave for employees in Ohio
To require certain employers to provide a minimum amount of paid sick leave to employees in Ohio by enacting Chapter 4114 of the Ohio Revised Code

Issue #5 - Pending Statewide Ballot Issue: Referendum on Legislation Making Changes to Check Cashing Lending- Sometimes Known as "Payday Lending-" Fees- Interest Rates and Practices
To lower the maximum loan amount to - provide borrowers with a minimum of 30 days to repay the loan- and set a maximum interest rate of 28% annual percentage rate (APR) on loans.

Issue #6 - Pending Statewide Ballot Issue: To Amend the Constitution by Initiative Petition for a Casino Near Wilmington in Southwest Ohio and Distribute to All Ohio Counties a Tax on the Casino
To adopt Section 6a to Article XV of the Ohio Constitution

Issue #3 - To amend the constitution to protect private property rights in ground water- lakes and other watercourses
To adopt Section 19b of Article I of the Constitution of the State of Ohio. This proposed Amendment would: make explicit that a private property owner has a right to make reasonable use of the ground water that lies beneath the owner's land- although this right is subordinate to the public welfare; make explicit that a private property owner who owns land on the border of a lake or other watercourse has a right to make reasonable use of the water in such lake or watercourse located on or flowing through the owner?s land- although this right is subordinate to the public welfare; not affect the public?s use of Lake Erie and other navigable waters of the state; and prevent the rights confirmed under this proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution from being impaired or limited by the operation of other sections of the Ohio Constitution.

Issue #1 - To provide for earlier filing deadlines for statewide ballot issues
To amend Sections 1a- 1b- 1c- and 1g of Article II of the Constitution of the State of Ohio. The proposed amendment would: require that a citizen-initiated statewide ballot issue be considered at the next general election if petitions are filed 125 days before the election; establish deadlines for boards of elections to determine the validity of citizen-initiated petitions; standardize the process for legal challenges to citizen-initiated petitions by giving the Ohio Supreme Court jurisdiction to consider these cases and establishing expedited deadlines for the Court to make decisions.

Issue #2 - To authorize the State to issue bonds to continue the Clean Ohio program for environmental revitalization and conservation
To adopt Section 2q of Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of Ohio. This proposed amendment would authorize the state to issue up to two hundred million dollars (-000-000) of bonds for conservation and preservation of natural areas- open spaces and farmlands and other lands devoted to agriculture; provision of state and local park and recreation facilities; and land- forest- water and other natural resource management projects. It would also authorize the state to issue bonds up to two hundred million dollars (-000-000) for environmental revitalization and re-development of publicly and privately owned lands- including environmental remediation- assessment or clean up of contamination or pollution. Additionally- it would limit the amount that could be borrowed in any one fiscal year for either conservation or revitalization purposes to no more than fifty million dollars (-000-000) plus the principal amount of those obligations that in any prior fiscal year could have been but were not issued.

Recycling Dos and Dont's

Norma Crouse (Real Living HER) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:38:41 -0500

Each community has their own regulations on what can be recycled and what cannot. Always check with your community recycling program to see what's ok before you start. We've found that, in most communities, the following recycling dos and don'ts usually apply.

OK to recycle:

High-quality plastics labeled with number one and two recycling symbols.
Food and beverage containers, such as milk, soda, water, salad dressings, etc.
Jars and canisters, like peanut butter jars, soap, aspirin bottles, etc.
Cleaning products and detergents, including bleach, soap, shampoo, drain cleaners, etc.
Automotive and yard care products, but make sure the containers are empty for those like antifreeze, oil, plant food and herbicide containers.
Junk or direct mail, including brochures, fliers, white/light envelopes, etc.
Aluminum, tin and steel cans, such as soda, beer, tuna, vegetable, etc.
Printed paper like newspaper, magazines, phone books, legal pads, etc.

NOT OK to Recycle:
including, household cleaners, cough syrup, shampoo bottles, condiment bottles,
cosmetic containers, ketchup bottles, yogurt cups, deli product containers, egg cartons, disposable
cups, ready-made lunch containers, etc.

Plastic bags
Newspaper delivery bags
Styrofoam
Lids from glass containers
Pizza boxes
Phone books
Mirrors
Aerosol cans
Paint cans
Wax paper
Food-soiled paper
Window glass
Ceramics
Light bulbs
Microwaveable food trays
Other types of plastic not labeled as CA Redemption Value or CA Cash Refund,



A Short Sale may assist a homeowner prior to the Foreclosure process. If the proceeds from the sale of a house fall short of the owner's existing mortgage balance, a lender may agree to accept the proceeds of a short sale in lieu of the total obligation due on the mortgage. By accepting a short sale, a lender can avoid a lengthy and costly foreclosure, and the owner is able to pay off the loan for less than what he owes. Opinions differ in the real estate industry, but most experts suggest that you should let the lender involved know as soon as possible of a potential short sale. Others say you should wait until you have an offer because the bank will not consider your request until then. If a lender is approached before the property is listed, they may want to get a broker's price opinion (BPO) or even an appraisal to see what the property is worth before a list price is set. One way to help ensure that the bank's estimate of value is realistic is to offer comps of recent sales, both traditional residential and foreclosed residential, if available. If a short sale is being negotiated once an offer is received on a home that is listed, you will have to provide hard numbers to show that the amount of money a bank will realize on the short sale is better than the amount it may recover from foreclosing on the property and selling the property as an real estate owned property (REO). When you have a written purchase agreement, your request may have a better chance of having the bank's asset manager or loss mitigation department review your proposal for a short sale. Although response times vary from lender to lender, it can take two weeks or as long as 60 days to receive an approval of a short sale from a lender. That's why it's critical that buyers and their representative understand and accept that time frame before they make an offer. Check with a real estate professional to determine whether your home and circumstances will qualify for a short sale. The final decision is up to the lender.

If you have any further question, please mike@mikerealtor.com and we will gladly assist you. Content from Real Estate One