Advice for Buyers

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08/13/12

Welcome Home!

Coming from a 900 square foot house to a new home with 2,700 square feet – Kari’s still working on filling up the cabinets. 🙂 Congrats to my clients who are now residents of Monclova!
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05/08/12

It’s Spring!

It’s spring here in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, and it’s the perfect season for everything Real Estate!  If you are thinking about listing your home for sale, don’t miss this awesome market!  Now is the perfect time to give me a call for a consultation; check out a few of these recently listed homes whose owner’s did just that:
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Featured image for “Stop by 138 N. Second St. in Waterville, OH for National Open House Day  (It’s TODAY!)”
06/05/11

Stop by 138 N. Second St. in Waterville, OH for National Open House Day (It’s TODAY!)

Hundreds of Realtors are doing OPEN HOUSES all over the country today. The National Association of Realtors has declared it, National Open House WEEKEND, so take advantage! Stop by MY open house in the heard of WATERVILLE, OHIO! From 2-4, you can come by and see this historical home right out of the Sears Catalogue from 1910. There might be
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06/05/11

Most productive real estate firm in Toledo? Yup.

So, it IS true.  Not all firms ARE alike.  At RE/MAX Preferred in Toledo, OH, the number of closed transactions PER AGENT is among the top in the country.  I’m really proud to be part of such a firm.  Some firms have agents who do a couple deals a year on the side of their full-time jobs. Agents here are
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06/05/11

Don’t forget the closing costs!

If you’re a seller, make sure you consider closing costs — and not just YOUR closing costs.  Buyers will ask you to pay THEIRS, too. I’m attaching a document to help Seller’s calculate their closing costs. (closing costs SELLER)  Now. for buyers, depending on your type of loan, a seller can contribute up to 3 or 6 percent towards your
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03/26/11

And now a brief RE/MAX testimonial

Click here! So proud of my company.
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02/12/11

So far in 2011, nearly HALF of Toledo area real estate transactions were CASH

In January 2011, nearly 46 percent of all Toledo area transactions were CASH, that’s according to John English at Birch Tree Title and NORIS MLS. That’s the highest percentage of cash sales in the past 5 years. It’s a reflection of our hard-hit market and banks not loaning money like they used to a few years ago. February 8, 2011
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01/26/11

Can FDIC Hotline give the little guy better access to credit?

Scarcity of credit for housing is a problem. I’m an affiliate member of the Toledo Home Builders Association and do my best to keep tabs on what’s happening in the housing industry. I received a message from Bob Nielsen, 2011 NAHB Chairman of the Board (National Association of Home Builders) regarding a number to call to help address difficulties in
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Featured image for “My two cents on the Toledo real estate market got published”
10/28/10

My two cents on the Toledo real estate market got published

It’s not sugar coated.  The homebuyer tax credit boosted sales for a time, but has not sustained them. The market is still healing.  The Certified Residential Specialists puts out a bi-monthly magazine in which Realtors from cities around the county were asked if the current market is moving in slow motion.  I have to say, yes.  My excerpt is attached
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Featured image for “Open House Sun. Feb. 13, 2-4! 1023 Richland, Maumee, OH 43537”
10/17/10

Open House Sun. Feb. 13, 2-4! 1023 Richland, Maumee, OH 43537

1023 Richland is a total rehab, complete with wisteria, (I know–sexy!) a new gourmet kitchen with–get this, tons of natural light and brand new appliances. Since appliances are such a personal thing, YOU CHOOSE your colors and we’ll have them delivered and installed for you!  If you’re a gardner — or even a *lazy* gardener like me, you’ll LOVE all
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10/06/10

Warm and fuzzy kudos.

This message from a client MADE MY DAY. Hi Jody! I think you totally go off the charts on customer service!!!  You work hard for your clients before during and AFTER the sale!  I feel you have gone above and beyond more times than I can mention.  Everytime someone mentions anything related to home buying/selling I sing your praises.  I
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09/18/10

Home Builders Parade of Homes Tickets

Toledo Home Builders Association Parade of Homes is going on NOW THRU SUNDAY SEPT 26! Wanna go? I GOT your tix! Just holler. As a local real estate expert, that’s just what I do. Locations are scattered throughout NW Ohio and SE Michigan. Here’s the hours. 5-8pm Friday 1-8pm Saturday 1-6pm Sunday Here’s a link with the homes and a map
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09/08/10

An MLS HOTLINE for your speed-dialing enjoyment! Call 877-405-JODY

Next time you’re driving around your favorite neighborhood and you want to know how much they’re asking for a listing, just call my MLS HOTLINE!  Of course – you’re always welcome to call my cell, but this is just one more way to get the info you want immediately. Once you’re prompted, you’ll only need to punch in the house
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08/18/10

Money Mistakes Buyers Make: #1.

Moving Money Around. Lenders are concerned about the source of funds for your down payment and closing costs. You’ll likely be asked to show proof liquid assets, including checking and saving accounts, money market funds, certificates of deposit, stock statements, mutual funds, and even your company 401K and retirement accounts. If you’ve moved money between accounts during that time, there
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08/18/10

House Hunting 101. First step: Pre-approval

Getting pre-approved with a lender is beneficial in several ways. Avoid heartache. You’ll know how much you can spend up front. It’s no fun to find your ideal property and then find out you can’t afford it. Plus, once you find the house you want, you’ll be ready to pounce! Don’t waste time. Yours or your agent’s. What good is
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08/18/10

Ah, Loyalty! Get yourself an advocate.

Make sure your agent is on YOUR side!
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07/04/10

A Homebuyer Tax Credit Success Story

Homebuyer Tax-Credit Success Story.
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06/30/10

U.S. Senators-convince your colleagues to extend homebuyer tax credit for PENDINGS through Sept.

Dear Senator, PLEASE consider passing the home buyer tax credit for PENDING deals through September.  There was no way to have known how complicated some of these deals would be—-especially with regards to foreclosures and short sales.  For me, every deal left to close is in that category. Foreclosures and short sales are the ones taking much longer to get
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06/29/10

My Rant to Congress about the Homebuyer Tax Credit

Dear Congress, I’m asking you to please consider extending the homebuyer tax credit for pending deals through September 30, 2010. I cannot seem to get over the tax credit not being extended on all these pending deals! Getting some of these deals done is like struggling to climb a mountain. Or swim the ocean. Or capture the moon. For my
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06/28/10

Abby and Adam’s move-in day!

THIS IS WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY JOB. Days like this are always special for a couple reasons. The first, two more great clients have a new place to call home! (In my neighborhood no less!) Second, real estate is seeing some crazy times right now. We’ve entered unchartered waters with regards to prices, appraisals, inspections and underwriting guidelines. The
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01/01/10

NOW you can apply for the homebuyer tax credit from your 2009 purchase!

It’s now 2010! So you can now file your tax return for 2009 and apply for the tax credit you’ve been wondering about! What an incentive to file early. First-time homebuyers can get back 10 percent of the purchase price UP TO $8,000, and up to $6,500 for repeat buyers who’ve lived in their home for 5+ years. (Those repeat
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11/23/09

Here’s the skinny…. Tax Credit Extended for First Time & Repeat Home Buyers

Home sellers and potential buyers nationwide welcomed the recent news that Congress had decided to extend and greatly expand the Home Buyer’s tax credit in an attempt to further stimulate the economy. Not only does the new legislation extend the existing first time buyer’s credit until mid-next year, but it also creates a tax credit for qualified repeat buyers. The
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