Columbus Ohio real estate : real living her

In Homebuyer Credit about to Expand Dawn Maloney asked that "Or will it all still stall due to JOBS?" about the proposed expansion of the 2009 tax credit for home buyers....

The possible expansion? 

Not just for first time buyers anymore???? 

$15,000 tax credit rather than the present $8,000 tax credit.

What about jobs?  Dawn asked "Or will it all still stall due to Jobs?"  Central Ohioans have all the luck!  The solution was recently introduced by Real Living HER and Real Living Mortgage for Central Ohio home buyers:

Real Living HER Real Living will pay your mortgage if you lose your job*   includes a flyer from Real Living explaining the Peace of Mind Program (.pdf Acrobat Reader)

Maureen McCabe Real Living HER Worthington

The image is a Real Living HER ecard. It's a link to a post about Real Living in Central Ohio (Real Living HER)

There are 189 open houses on the Real Living HER Open House list this week.  That number is subject to change.

Search all Real Living HER open houses on my website.

Sundays open houses include:

• Clintonville area only 1 home for sale open Sunday 
• Columbus 31 homes for sale open Sunday priced from $82,900 to $599,000
• Dublin area homes for sale 8 open Sunday priced from $114,800  to $487,200
• Gahanna only 1 home for sale open Sunday
  
• Hilliard area homes for sale -13 open Sunday priced from $144,900 to $374,900
• Powell area  homes for sale - 8 open Sunday priced from $218,900 to $359,900
• Upper Arlington 1 home for sale open Sunday
  
• Westerville area homes- 8 homes for sale open Sunday priced from $184,900 to $484,900
• Worthington area homes for sale - 7 open Sunday priced from $117,900 to $679,900

If you visit my website each home on the Real Living HER Open House List is "Presented By" ME.   I am not holding all the houses open. This same open house list is on each Real Living HER agent's site.  Each listing on the list tells you who the listing agent and office is, or whom is holding the property open if you need that information.

For all home buyers

The Real Living Peace of Mind program started on June 1, 2009 for Central Ohio home buyers.  Real Living will pay your mortgage if you lose your job*  limited time, restrictions apply.

MyRealLiving.com is for you Central Ohio

Buying a home in Central Ohio should not be scary 

Central Ohio Open House Advice

Doing "the Bump" in Columbus real estate

Buying a Home; It's about time

For first time buyers

Changes to First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit are Good but Buyer Beware

First Time Home Buyer Credit - income limits

The First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

Maureen McCabe Real Living HER Worthington (614) 388-8249

The image at the top is a Real Living eCard.

I took a refresher course on a tool my company has for consumers (both buyers and sellers) yesterday. 

The tool is called MyRealLiving the "My"  in it it is "You" ... not "me."

Your MyRealLiving allows you to search and save Central Ohio homes.

<--- That is just a photo.  Here's a live link to create a Free Account and View the Demo. 

MyRealLiving Sign Up on My website

You do need the latest version of Flash for MyRealLiving.  I had a very, very "techy" client when MyRealLiving was first introduced who could not use MyRealLiving because his computer was too old to use a current version of Flash.  My client was in his 80's.  We muddled through without MyRealLiving. 

MyRealLiving.com is about searching for homes.  You can search virtually all homes on the market in Central Ohio, but it is about more than just searching for a home.

Real Living HER is the number one broker in Central Ohio.

On another note:  The Real Living Peace of Mind program started on June 1, 2009 for Central Ohio home buyers.  The gist? Real Living will pay your mortgage if you lose your job*  limited time, restrictions apply.

Real Living Open Houses there are lots to visit but before we do the usual open house info...

Real Living Peace of Mind Program 

The Real Living Peace of Mind program starts on June 1, 2009 for Central Ohio home buyers.  The gist? Real Living will pay your mortgage if you lose your job*  limited time, restrictions apply.

The Real Living Peace of Mind Program is NOT just for first time home buyers.  This is a buyers market.  It is a great time to move up.  There is an added benefit for buyers who buy a Real Living HER listing which will benefit Real Living HER sellers.

Back to our regularly schedule open house post

There are 205 Open Houses on the Real Living HER list this week.  That number is subject to change.

Search all Real Living HER open houses on my website.

Sundays open houses include:

• Clintonville homes for sale 4 open Sunday  from $228,500 to $429,900
• Columbus homes for sale 36  open Sunday  from $69,900 to $549,900
• Dublin homes  for sale 16 open Sunday from $114,800 to $487,200
• Gahanna 1 home for sale open Sunday
  
• Grandview 1 home for sale open Sunday
• Grandview Heights 2 homes for sale open Sunday
• Hilliard homes for sale 13 open Sunday  from $89,900 $314,900
• Lewis Center homes for sale  7 open Sunday  from  $240,000 to $309,900
• New Albany 1 home for sale open Sunday
• Powell homes for sale 8 open Sunday  from $189,900 to $439,900 
• Upper Arlington 1 home for sale open Sunday (I'd swear there are some UA houses listed as Columbus open houses)
  
• Westerville homes  for sale 13 open Sunday from  $234,900 to $739,500
• Worthington homes for sale 5 open Sunday  from $117,900 to $439,900

Check the open house list for specifics, maps, more about the homes that are open on Sunday.

Each Open House or home  for sale displayed on my website, is presented by Maureen McCabe.  If you are looking for who is the listing agent or who is holding a particular house open that information is there for you! 

The Real Living HER Open House list is on each Real Living HER agent's site.

My open house is in Worthington $149,000:

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM on Sunday, May 31, 2009
Hosted by: Maureen McCabe

For all home buyers

Buying a home in Central Ohio should not be scary 

Central Ohio Open House Advice

Central Ohio's Best Home Search - a poll

Doing "the Bump" in Columbus real estate

Buying a Home; It's about time

For first time buyers

Changes to First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit are Good but Buyer Beware

First Time Home Buyer Credit - income limits

The First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

Maureen McCabe Real Living HER (614) 388-8249

The image at the top is a Real Living eCard.

It's called "Peace of Mind."

From Real Living - Peace of Mind - How it works

It's in the Columbus Dispatch today Local real-estate agency will pay mortgages of clients who lose jobs

" The Columbus-based real estate firm Real Living HER announced today that it will cover the mortgage of clients who lose their jobs.

The firm, the largest in central Ohio, says it is the first real-estate company in the area to offer the protection, which some car makers and home builders also offer."

You have to work with a Real Living HER agent (have I ever mentioned I am one?)  and get a  Real Living mortgage on the home of your dreams.  The program is for a limited time. *

Buy a Real Living HER listing and the benefits increase.... this would be a great weekend to visit the Real Living HER Open Houses huh? 

Real Living HER is in Central Ohio.  I am an agent with Real Living HER Worthington. Looking for a home?

The image is a Real Living HER ecard.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! There are 64* properties for sale on the Real Living HER Open House list.  Holiday Weekends are NOT big for open houses.

Clintonville area - 1 home for sale is open

Columbus - 10 homes ranging in  price from $69,900 to $368,000

Dublin area - 3 homess ranging in price from $192,000 to $359,900

Gahanna area -  1 home for sale

Hilliard area - 4 homes  ranging in price from  $219,900 to $499,900

Powell area -  1 home

Worthington area - 1 home

Check the list for specifics, maps, more about the homes that are open on Sunday.

Each Open House or home  for sale displayed on my website, is presented by Maureen McCabe.  If you are looking for who is the listing agent or who is holding a particular house open that information is there for consumers too.  The Real Living HER Open House list is on each Real Living HER agent's site.

*The number of open houses on the Real Living HER list may increase or decrease before Sunday afternoon.  Last minute opportunities to hold open houses present themselves.  Or a home sells before the open house... sometimes the seller and agent decide to hold the open house anyway... telling visitors the home has just gone in contract and since the financing or home inspection is not "nailed down" yet they choose to hold the home open.  Other times "Hooray, cancel the Open House" and take the day off.  It's personal choice....  It's a holiday weekend too. I'd bet the numbers don't rise much. 

Last Sunday there were 269 Open Houses on the list, the last time I checked.

Dublin's Riverside Green Neighborhood - Open House

Home Buyer Links

First Time Home Buyer Credit - income limits

Buying a home in Central Ohio should not be scary 

Central Ohio Open House Advice

Central Ohio's Best Home Search - a poll

The image at the top is an ecard from Real Living.  I am an agent with Real Living HER Worthington.

Edit Sunday "There are 269 Open Houses available."

The Real Living HER Open House List on my website says there are 217 Open Houses this week (now.)  That number is subject to change.*  It's a Super Sunday Open House May 17, 2009.  There are more homes n the Real Living HER Open House List than in the past few weeks.

Clintonville Area Homes $189,000 to $259,900

Columbus "Area" Homes $89,900 - $579,900

Dublin Area Homes $139,900 - $639,900

Gahanna Area Homes $146,900 - $175,000

Grandview Heights Area Homes - only one open house Sunday

Hilliard Area Homes $154,900 - $487,500

Lewis Center Area  Homes  $234,900 - $234,900 (two homes.. same price.)

Powell Area Homes $218,900 - $449,900

Upper Arlington Homes  $159,900 - $735,000

Westerville Area Homes $139,900 - $250,000

Worthington Area Homes  $84,900 - $579,900

Each Open House or home  for sale displayed on my website, is presented by Maureen McCabe.  If you are looking for who is the listing agent or who is holding a particular house open that information is there for consumers too.  The Real Living HER Open House list is on each Real Living HER agent's site too.

*The number of open houses may increase or decrease before Sunday afternoon.  Last minute opportunities to hold open houses present themselves.  Or the homes sells before the open house... sometimes the seller and agent decide to hold the open house anyway... telling visitors the home has just gone in contract and since the financing or home inspection is not "nailed down" yet they choose to hold the home open.  Other times "Hooray, cancel the Open House" and take the day off.  It's personal choice....

Open House 2:00 to 4:00  at 114 W. Stanton Dr. Worthington 43085*.

Home Buyer Links

First Time Home Buyer Credit - income limits

Buying a home in Central Ohio should not be scary 

Central Ohio Open House Advice

Central Ohio's Best Home Search - a poll

*Property is presented by Maureen McCabe.  Listing agents contact information is there.

The image at the top is an ecard from Real Living.  I am an agent with Real Living HER Worthington.

Real Living's Advice to Buyers on Open Houses includes this question:  

Q: I've heard that visiting an open house without my buyer's agent means s/he can't represent me in my home purchase. Is that true?

A: Perhaps.

Understand that Real Living is a company with brokerages from the east coast to the west coast and one size does not fit all.  Laws vary state to state and customs vary market to market.

Maybe rather than "Perhaps" it should be "Depends."   Real Living goes on to say (I corrected the spelling) of Realtor:

"Real estate rules of representation may prohibit you from being represented by your buyer's agent, under certain circumstances, such as, if you visit an open house without your agent or without immediately disclosing that a Realtor is representing you. Since your agent knows your particular set of circumstances, and is working to represent your interests, it's best to arrange your home viewings with your agent. Doing so should not only save you time, but it will also ensure your interests are protected."

Depends on our agency relationship and what you are looking for...

Resale

I tell clients you are relatively safe visiting Open Houses on your own.  There is NOT a threshold rule... you aren't married to the person who carries you over the threshold. 

You have the right to representation.  If the person at the open house is the listing agent, they have a fiduciary responsibility to the seller.  If they are willing to work with you as a disclosed dual agent they don't represent you or the seller in the transaction.

If we have a buyer agency agreement you should be OK. You should still have representation in the purchase of the home. 

We can schedule an appointment to see the home together too, before or after the open house.

New Construction  

This can be a different matter.  Let's try to visit together, or set it up to make sure you will not lose your right to representation. 

Like I said "Depends"

Central Ohio Open Houses Presented By Maueeen McCabe - Real Living HER Worthington

Free Online Tools to Find your Columbus Ohio Home

Creeping Real Estate Acronyms  & a glossary of R. E. Terms

The image is a Real Living e-Card.

There are only 94 Open Houses on the Real Living HER list now. 

Search for  Central Ohio Open Houses on my website

The number  of open houses will probably go up before Sunday...although Mother's Day traditionally is not a big day for Open Houses.  Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers. Wonder if the dog will even remember... (I am not a Mother except to an adopted canine and of course the step-cat.) 

Enough personal info back to Central Ohio Open Houses...  last week on my Open House post I wrote:

"It is NOT a big Sunday for Open Houses in Central Ohio.  There are only 184 open houses in Central Ohio on the schedule at 1:00 PM Friday May 1, 2009."  The total count did go up over 200 I believe but I never had time to update the post as I sometimes do.

Columbus area properties (single family homes and condos) priced from $69,900 to $228,400 
Hilliard area properties (single family homes and condos) priced from $154,900 to $190,000
Powell area properties (single family homes and condos) priced from $289,900 to $359,900

The onesies...  there are a number of communities that I usually pu on my list with only one open house at this point including Dublin, Gahanna, Westerville and Worthington... but the house in Worthington is not in Worthington, it is in the Village of Riverlea.

That's it. Different than most weeks.  I did not do an Open House list the weekend of Easter but searched for open houses for a client who wanted to go to open houses. There was nothing for her.

Each home on the Real Living HER Open House list on my website is "Presented By" me.   I am not holding all the houses open. This same open house list is on each and every Real Living HER agent's site.  Each listing on the list tells you who the listing agent and office is, or whom is holding the property open. Don't want to confuse anyone but you knew that didn't you?

*The Real Living HER open house list now has two weeks worth of open houses. The number of open houses and price range is always subject to change.  Each listing on the list tells you who the listing agent and office is, or whom is holding the property open. Next week ought to be a big Sunday for Open Houses in Central Ohio... pent up demand...

More about buying a home in Central Ohio

Doing "the Bump" in Columbus real estate

Buying a Home; It's about time

Real Advice - Can you use $8000?

The Mother's Day card is a Real Living e-card.  I am an agent with Real Living HER Worthington.  I usually use an Open House e-card when I post this list, but this is special.

In this age of TARP (toxic asset something or other) and other new acronyms creeping into jargon each day, is it becoming harder and harder to talk to one another?

I was using BPO in a conversation with a past client recently... more than once.  He had to ask. Mea Culpa (forgive me.)

What is the Columbus MSA?  After posting a couple of posts about home values recently I wondered if everyone reading would know what the Columbus MSA is. 

Some will. 

Some won't.

MSA from Answer.com include Medical Savings Account and Metropolitan Service Area.  I always thought it was Metropolitan Statistical Area..... and that definition for the acronym is there.

An acronym that has become totally enmeshed in our collective minds in the US is ZIP which stands for Zone Improvement Plan.  A ZIP code is not a place it is a route for mail delivery.   Mail delivery was improved by us using a 5 digit code sometime in the 1960's?  Then an additional four digits really, really helped at some point later.

Real estate and finance

BPO = Broker Price Opinion

CMA = Competative Market Analysis (some say Comparable Market Analysis)

FHA = Federal Housing Administration

FNMA =Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae)

HUD = Housing and Urban Development

MLS = Multiple Listing Service

MSA = Metropolitan Area

NAR = National Association of Realtors

VA = Veterans Administration (so much more than real estate but we talk about VA loans, VA Repos)

There are many more....

Real Estate Closer to Home

OAR = Ohio Association of Realtors

CBR = Columbus Board of Realtors

HER =  Harley E. Rouda the founder of Real Living HER or the original company that is today Real Living HER, formerly HER Realtors. The #1 real estate company in Central Ohio.

The  Real Living website has a glossary of real estate terms... not just acronyms... but some of the real estate  acronyms are there if you need them.   It's not just for first time buyers either.  New words and acronyms creep in all the time... like TARP....

OK this is a guess...

TARP =  Toxic Assets Relief Program

Here's an online Acronym Finder 

They say Troubled Assets Relief Program...

I'd abbreviate my title "Creeping Real Estate Acronyms"  to CREA but that means Canadian Real Estate Association and Certified Real Estate Appraiser and according to the Acronym Finder.

"Note: We have 70 other definitions for CREA in our Acronym Attic"

Oh my.

The word image is from Wordle.net

Maureen McCabe Real Living HER Worthington