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Knox County, OH Real Estate News

By Sam Miller, Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
(RE/MAX Stars Realty)
Getting a home ready to list and sell can seem like an overwhelming task but it doesn't have to be if you follow these easy steps.1. Declutter: The first step to preparing your home for sale is to declutter. We all have accumulated items over the years that we no longer need or use, and these items can make our homes feel cluttered and overwhelming. Take some time to go through each room in your home and get rid of anything you no longer need or use.  Storage tubs can become your new best friend.2. Spotless Clean: Once you have decluttered, it's time to deep clean your home. Spotless clean will make your home more attractive to potential buyers and showcase its best features.  Don't forget to clean hard-to-reach places like inside your oven and refrigerator, ceiling fans, baseboards, wi...
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By Sam Miller, Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
(RE/MAX Stars Realty)
Apartment living and renting a home can be a very difficult experience for a lot of people now and in the future. You may not be aware of this but there are a lot of huge financial investors and corporate hedge funds that have been buying up residential homes and apartments. This is changing the landscape of housing because they have been buying up a sizable portion of the available housing inventory and making them into rentals. Some of these investors would love for you to become their tenant now and for years to come.Imagine buying a home when you are 30 years old and taking out a fixed interest rate mortgage. You pay the same monthly house payment for 30 years (principal and interest never change because you have a fixed rate loan). You never make another house payment for the rest ...
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By Sam Miller, Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
(RE/MAX Stars Realty)
It is important to understand that not every home successfully sells during it's initial listing period with a real estate agent. There is a term in the real estate industry for homes that don't sell and they are called an "Expired Listing" because they expired during their listing term. When a property expires and doesn't sell it usually leaves the homeowner disappointed and many wonderful what caused their home to not sell.Here are 3 of the most common reasons why a house fairly to sell1. The home wasn't spotless clean and or wasn't staged in a way that made the buyers want to schedule a showing appointment to see the property in person. Remember, your first showing happens online so if your presentation isn't great you won't likely attract many serious buyers. Having high quality, pr...
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By Sam Miller, Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
(RE/MAX Stars Realty)
When considering purchasing a bank owned home, it is important to understand that these types of properties are not for everyone. While they can offer great deals and potential profits, there are some key things you should know before making a decision.Firstly, many bank owned homes may not be in the best condition. As foreclosures, they may have been neglected or damaged by previous owners. Many of these repossessed properties won't pass traditional financing and even more won't pass government loans such as FHA or VA due to the condition of the home and repairs that are needed.Secondly, you won't typically be dealing with the prior owner of the home since the bank now owns it and this means the prior owner won't be completing a residential property disclosure form. You won't be able t...
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By Sam Miller, Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
(RE/MAX Stars Realty)
 For those who just purchased a home in 2023, the real estate tax bill can be a bit confusing.  It is likely that if you just bought a home this year that you received a property tax proration credit at your closing.  This means that the seller paid for their time of ownership to you in the form of a credit.  The title company or closing firm may have given you a check for the property taxes or more likely they gave you a credit which would reduce the money you needed to bring to closing.  I mention this because it is natural for someone who has only owned the property for 2 or 3 months to wonder why they are receiving a tax bill for the entire year. If you or your lender have set up an escrow account and have your taxes and insurance included into your monthly payment, this won’t likel...
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By Sam Miller, Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
(RE/MAX Stars Realty)
The real estate market and especially homes at the lake in Apple Valley have been super hot for the majority of 2023.  I created a 10 year summary showing how many homes sold each year at the Apple Valley Lake and what happened to the average Apple Valley home price starting in 2014 and I included each year all the way through December 19th, 2023.  The graphic below makes it really easy for you to see how many home sales were reported through the Knox County Ohio MLS each year.  Take a close look at the number of homes that sold and compare that to the average price range of each year.  2023 home sales are the lowest in the last 10 years but that is mainly because there were far fewer homes listed for sale in 2023 compared to most previous years.The Sam Miller Team of REMAX Stars Realty...
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By Sam Miller, Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
(RE/MAX Stars Realty)
Many homeowners are not aware about the primary residence home sale exemption and the qualifications. Recently I was working with a buyer client who purchased a property and I asked them what they planned to do with their current home. They weren't 100% sure what they were going to do but they mentioned possibly renting it out and maybe even giving AirBNB a try. Some real estate agents would say "that's great" and that would be the end of the conversation.I didn't take that approach because I had a feeling they were not aware of how choosing that path could hurt them financially down the road. The couple had lived in their current home for more than 20 years and they had purchased their home back when home prices were significantly lower than they are today. This is an important fact be...
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By Sam Miller, Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
(RE/MAX Stars Realty)
If you a own home and you are anything like most other homeowners', you will want to get as much money from the sale of your home as you can. However, selecting an initial listing price that is too high and above the current housing market value will likely slow down your home sale plans and you will likely end up selling your property for less than you could have gotten if you had priced it right in the very beginning. When you overprice your home, it will discourage buyers from wanting it because buyers shop for a home by comparison. They look at the homes that are available in their specific price range. They choose and purchase the home that best fits their needs and their price range. If they feel your home is overpriced, they typically move on and select another home to buy. Overp...
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By Sam Miller, Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
(RE/MAX Stars Realty)
A "Home Equity Line of Credit" is a popular way to access some of the equity from your home. An important fact to know is that most home equity loans require adequate equity in order to qualify. Your equity is typically determined by an appraisal of your home and by determining your current mortgage loan balance if you have a loan against your home. This is important because if you do not have enough equity you won't likely qualify to obtain a home equity line of credit.The way a home equity line of credit (HELOC) works has some similarities to how credit card works. This example might help you understand how the payment on a home equity line of credit typically works:When you get a credit card, you are pre-approved for a specific amount of money that you can spend (credit line) and you...
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By Sam Miller, Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
(RE/MAX Stars Realty)
It has been about 3 years since monthly loan monthly payments were required for most people who had student loans. For the majority of people with student loans, their monthly payment requirement has returned in October 2023. Many people who previously have had automatic payments setup to pay their student loans should double check and make sure their automatic payments are still setup and working properly because there is a concern that many who have automatic payments will need to contact their bank accounts to authorize those monthly payments again. The Sam Miller Team of REMAX Stars Realty 740-397-7800 http://www.SamMillerSells.com
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By Sam Miller, Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
(RE/MAX Stars Realty)
Over the last couple of years we we have been blessed with farmers who have set aside acreage and created a field of sunflowers.  They have made their sunflower field available to the public to walk, photograph and for a very small fee, you can buy a sunflower.  This year the sunflower field was planted on State Route 229 just outside of Gambier, Ohio and Kenyon College.  The sunflower crop was spectacular and it appears that it was a huge success based on all of the photos and videos we saw posted on social media.I shot this photo while standing on the farmers hay wagon to elevate my camera view and perspective.  The sky and cloud activity was impressive because we had experienced a rain storm just a few hours earlier.  Be sure to click on the Sunflower Time-Lapse video and watch the c...
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By Sam Miller, Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
(RE/MAX Stars Realty)
We have been testing out some new camera gear that we can use in our real estate business.  The video below is a long exposure video that captures automotive light trails from headlights and taillights while the cars are in motion.  It is a very neat effect and there are a lot of possible uses for this technology relating to real estate and houses...think time-lapse videos featuring sunrises, sunsets and star trails above the homes that we are marketing.If you are in the market to buy a home in Knox County Ohio be sure to check out this specialty real estate listing link The Sam Miller Team of REMAX Stars Realty 740-397-7800 http://www.SamMillerSells.com 
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By Sam Miller, Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
(RE/MAX Stars Realty)
The Apple Valley Lake in Howard, Ohio is a gorgeous private lake and boating community that is located within an hour of Columbus, Ohio.  I shot this time-lapse video from the east boat launch in September 2023 right after an evening rain storm and you will see in the video that the clouds and sky were really moving.If you enjoy the outdoors, you will likely fall in love with the Apple Valley Lake because there is a little something for everyone.  Some of the more popular activities at the Apple Valley Lake are boating, jet skiing, wake boarding, water skiing, fishing, swimming, relaxing on the beach, camping and enjoying a little relaxation and downtime away from your busy life.  The Sam Miller Team of REMAX Stars Realty 740-397-7800 Apple Valley Lake Real Estate Listings
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By Sam Miller, Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
(RE/MAX Stars Realty)
 Here are 5 reasons why the cost of renting a home or apartment is on the rise. Inflation is one of the key reasons why the cost of rent is increasing The federal government has increased mortgage Interest rates which is a contributing factor why the cost to rent a home or apartment is higher because the monthly payment for many landlord are going up.  Some landlords have their rental properties on commercial loans which are typically variable interest rate loans – these mortgages have experienced sizable increases in monthly mortgage payments.  Most landlords have to pass that additional monthly cost onto the buyer by raising the rent.   The same principal applies when there is an increase in real estate property taxes and when the insurance industry has insurance rate increases on hom...
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By Sam Miller, Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
(RE/MAX Stars Realty)
5 Things you should do to get top dollar from the sale of your home#1. Declutter your home and free up the floor space inside of your home including all living areas, closets, cabinetry, your basement, and your garage. You can use storage tubs to help organize or store your items. #2. Once you have decluttered, it’s time to clean your house like it has never been cleaned before. Spic and span, spotless and shiny. Give your home the white glove treatment.#3. Fresh paint especially in areas where your it is looking a little worn. Paint is one of the least expensive things you can and it has the most bang for the buck spent. Paint does 2 things: It suddenly modernizes your home especially if your home has old out of date colors and it makes a home appear cleaner. if you choose lighter and ...
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By Joe and Sherrie Toth, The #1 Apple Valley Lake Team
(RE/MAX Consultant Group | Apple Valley Lake)
Your Apple Valley Lake home can bring you top dollar in our current real estate market.I created a list of 5 proven strategies to get your lake home sold for the most amount of money in the shortest time.1. We Will Write Your Listing StoryOur expert listing marketing strategies brought my team and me to the #1 spot for the most Apple Valley Lake home sales. To sell your home fast and for top dollar, buyers must see your home's impressive features. And there is no better way to do that than a well-written listing story!If you allow us to help you sell your home, we will ensure that your beautiful property receives the exposure it deserves. The listing story will highlight every significant feature of your home to attract potential buyers. As property owners in Apple Valley, we can also e...
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By Joe and Sherrie Toth, The #1 Apple Valley Lake Team
(RE/MAX Consultant Group | Apple Valley Lake)
Lake or waterfront property may be a significant investment due to limited supply and high demand.Don't wait! Now is a good time to buy an Apple Valley Lake home. Keep reading to find some tips!Is A Lakefront Property A Good Investment?A lakefront property can be a good investment for several reasons. Many people dream of owning a property with a lake view. Lakefront living has benefits, but it's crucial to consider all factors before buying.1. It can appreciate at a higher rate than a non-lakefront property. This is because waterfront property is scarce and in high demand.2. A lakefront property can be a great source of rental income. Vacationers are willing to pay more for lakefront houses.3. A lakefront property can provide its owner with a unique lifestyle. Wake up each morning to t...
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By Sam Miller, Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
(RE/MAX Stars Realty)
There was a time when top real estate agents and motivated homeowners priced their homes at $199,900 instead of at $200,000.  It was this way for many years and the concept actually originated from the retail sales business where retailers would list and sell a ton more products at $9.99 compared to if they priced the same product at $10.00.  You may be wondering what changed and why is $200,000 a more compelling listing price than $199,900.  I am glad you are wondering this!The internet and real estate websites changed the pricing game in a big way.  Think back to your days in math class and remember the lessons you learned regarding "Greater than, less than and equal to".  Now, think about the last time you were searching for a home online.  Most websites don't have you search a speci...
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By Joe and Sherrie Toth, The #1 Apple Valley Lake Team
(RE/MAX Consultant Group | Apple Valley Lake)
You are on your way, excited to start looking for the home of your dreams. You discover the home-buying process is complex. Buying a home does bring pressure from different directions. It requires enormous effort and careful planning. It is time to take the pressure off yourself! Our home-buying guide is here to help you navigate the home-buying process. This guide is worth checking if you want to buy a home in Apple Valley Lake, OH! Sherrie and Joe have put together some of the best questions to ask yourself before purchasing a home.What Steps Should You Take When Buying A Home?1. Get Started"Am I making this decision based on clear reasons?"Make no rash decisions. Avoid buying a home in a hurry or for the wrong reasons. Ensure you understand best why you're buying a new home. It would...
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By Sam Miller, Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist
(RE/MAX Stars Realty)
If you bought a home with less than a 20% down payment you are most likely paying PMI which is short for Private Mortgage Insurance. PMI is an added expense on the majority of conventional homes loans above and beyond the monthly principal and interest payment. If you bought your home with a 5% down payment conventional loan it will typically take between 7 and 8 years for you to pay down your mortgage for you to have enough equity to have your monthly PMI payment removed. For most people who are paying PMI, there may be another way to get your monthly PMI payment removed. The housing market and home values haved increased substantially over the last couple of years and there are a lot of people paying PMI who haven't considered that they may already have more than 20% equity due to the...
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Knox County, OH Real Estate Professionals