The City of Brecksville has negotiated a fixed gas rate of $6.74 through IGS Energy.  There is NO early termination fee and it runs through October 2010. If you are currently using an "Energy Choice" type of provider, please ensure the company does not charge an early termination fee.   IGS Energy can be reached at 1-800-280-4474. 11/15/2009

Some people hate to grocery shop but I don't mind it at all. In fact I have been so busy listing and selling that I barely have time to shop. My daughter attested to this during the summer by asking me "Mom, are you ever going to go grocery shopping again?" The reason I don't mind grocery shopping is because of a wonderful store called Heinen's. It's located at 8383 Chippewa Rd in Brecksville, right around the corner from my office at ReMax Trinity. The produce is fresh and often locally grown, the meat and seafood are fresh and reasonably priced, the bakery...well what can you say about a bakery...and great weekly specials. But here is what impresses me the most. When you ask someone where an item is located, they walk you to the item! With a smile. And that's another nice thing about ... 11/06/2009

If you have never been to Heartfelt Holiday in Brecksville Ohio,  make this the year you go. The Brecksville Center for the Arts will host this lovely event at the Brecksville Community Center on Saturday, Nov. 14th from 10:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. and Sunday Nov. 15th from 11:a.m. to 4:00p.m..Events include: Artworks: photography, jewelry, wood turned bowls, motorcycle lamps, loom woven rugs,  stained glass vases, handbags, and moreDelectable Edibles: rum cakes, organic dog biscuits and kolachiThe Art of the Tart: made from scratch bakery, and assorted sweetsCollectible Corner: one of a kind home decorThemed gift baskets Local vocalists and musicians will be on hand to perform from their vast repertoires. My daughter Erin has performed in the past, playing flute solos with her teacher Rebecc... 11/05/2009

I recently sold 4546 Hunting Valley Drive in Brecksville, Ohio 44141 for $1,140,000. This home never entered the market.  My buyers were searching for a home with some very specific requirements and needs and there was nothing on the market that met their criteria.  I used my professional and cordial relationships with various agents who specialize in the luxury home market and fortunately, was able to locate a property that met all of this buyer's requirements. As the co-owner and broker of Olsen Ziegler Realty, I take great pride in listening to each client's needs and presenting them with a very customized approach so they can make the most educated and informed decisions.  One size never fits all in real estate and only through attentive listening, attention to detail and pro-active... 11/01/2009

Star Sports 7032 Mill Road, Brecksville, Ohio 44141 (440) 838-4414 is the place to go if you are looking for Bee's clothing and accessories for the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Schools.  The BBH Bee's colors are red and yellow. I took my two kids into the store this past week to pickup a "Go Bee's" yard sign -- a common sight around Brecksville and Broadview Heights. The Brecksville-Broadview Heights School District is ranked #11 in the entire State of Ohio and has the highest rating given by the State: "Excellent with Distinction." If you want to view my latest Brecksville Ohio Real Estate Market Report, learn about locally-owned businesses, search for homes in Brecksville Ohio, and read about fun things to do in Brecksville: Click Here! View all the homes for sale in Brecksville Ohio... 11/01/2009

Sleepy Hollow Golf Course in scenic Brecksville, Ohio is a wonderful and locally-owned treasure.  Sleepy Hollow Golf Course is owned by the Cleveland Metroparks. I live in Brecksville Ohio and drive past Sleepy Hollow Golf Course every day, and most days, I drive by at least 6-8 times.  I always admire the beauty of Golf Course and the views it provides, how the views look during the different seasons and how incredibly busy this course is during the playing season. Sometimes, I use this course as a 5-minute respite from the hectic pace of life and I will just sit back out of the way on a small hill and overlook the course and the views of the Cuyahoga Valley it provides.  I imagine what it must have been like to settle this Western Reserve frontier hundreds of years ago.  I wonder what... 11/01/2009

Have you heard of the Halloween Tradition: You've Been BOOED? Well...Our home got BOOED this past week and we booed another home as well. For those not in the know, you can read about it here. Getting BOOED has half the fun.  Your doorbell will ring or you will hear a knock at your door, typically after dark, which can be a little unsettling -- especially when you have two large dogs like we do who are at the door barking.  Anyway...when we opened the door, we saw a pumpkin basket filled with goodies and two sheets of paper (identical) brightly colored with a poem on how we've been BOOED and to spread the good cheer.  Also in the pumpkin (plastic and good for trick-or-treating) were various things such as candy, jacks, and sundry items (all left to one's imagination). After you've been ... 10/25/2009

My previous post today described the fun we had while hiking and walking 7-miles along The Towpath Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park from Rockside Road to Station Road. Here are a few more photos so I hope you enjoy them and your Sunday was as fun as mine was -- that is...errr...until I watched our beloved and hapless Cleveland Browns get slaughtered for the umteenth and consecutive time by the Pittsburg Steelers.  Oh well...one out of two ain't bad as the saying goes. 10/18/2009

My friend Glen and I took another hike in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) today.  This time, we decided to hike solely on the Towpath Trail, which parallels the Cuyahoga River.  We started at Rockside Road and ended up 7 miles later at Station Road in Brecksville.  Along the way, we saw two blue herons, dozens of woolly bears, anglers scouting for steelhead trout -- one angler said he caught a 30" steelhead trout the day before.  We stopped at the Canal Visitor Center and learned about the history of the valley, dating back some 10,000 years. We saw the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR) train go by -- one can hop on for $2 with their bike -- what a bargain.  While the fall colors are mostly behind us, there were still a few brilliant oranges, yellows and a few reds.  Seein... 10/18/2009

The Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) is the 3rd most visited National Park in the country and it sits conveniently located in a major metropolitan area between Cleveland and Akron Ohio.  I live in Brecksville, Ohio, a wonderful community graced by both the Brecksville Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks as well as the CVNP. The CVNP in 1999 created the "Countryside Initiative" to restore agricultural use within the park.  The Halko family runs the Spring Hill Farm and Market at 9570 Riverview Road in Brecksville Ohio and 440.546.0652.  I know the Halko's and they are a wonderful family and provide a much needed connection between our local environment and the food we eat.  They grow and sell tomatoes, herbs, pumpkins, cut flowers, organic eggs and more. Please call the Halko's a... 10/18/2009

Two years ago, I was having a lot of pain in a specific area of my lower back that nothing I did (stretching, Advil, posture awareness, etc.) seemed to help one bit.  After months and months of realizing it wasn't getting any better, I decided to seek out the massage therapist that my wife used recently when I gave her a gift certificate for a general massage. I went to see Mary Ellen Derwis Balaz.  To describe Mary Ellen as simply a licensed massage therapist is a gross simplification of this amazing woman's professional talents.  She knows numerous types of massage therapies as well as a host of other related capabilities that I can't begin to fathom. Mary Ellen pinpointed my problem with the muscle and nerves affected, described how they are suppose to work, what was happening now, w... 10/18/2009

Below you will find the market statistics for Brecksville Ohio. We have seen a slight increase in activity due to first time buyers who want to avail themselves of the $8000 tax credit, but the Nov. 30th deadline is looming and realistically they should be under contract by about Oct. 15th. Pricing continues to be key in this buyer's market and will continue to be key as we enter the 4th quarter of this year and the first quarter of the new year.   BRECKSVILLE   SINGLE FAMILY CONDOS # OF ACTIVE LISTINGS 104 41 AVG. SQFT. 3370 1520 AVG. PRICE PER SQFT. $125.32 $96.64 AVG. MARKET TIME 183 183 AVG. LIST PRICE $434,694 $146,598 AVG. SALE PRICE N/A N/A       # OF CONTINGENT LISTINGS 6 0 AVG .SQFT. 2670   AVG. PRICE PER SQFT. $96.53   AVG. MARKET TIME 152   AVG. LIST PRICE $402,233   AVG. SAL... 10/16/2009

Brecksville Ohio Homes For Sale from 1,000,000+. As a Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR), a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) and a REALTOR with strong negotiating experience, I would be happy to assist you with your next home purchase or sale in the Brecksville Ohio real estate marketplace. View the August 2009 Brecksville Real Estate Market Report. Various Brecksville Neighborhood Real Estate Market Reports: Echo Hills Chippewa Hills Heather Hills Bradford Village Chapel Hill Preston Village A Stone's Throw Crane Creek Brecksville Ohio Rated #2 of 20 Best Affordable Places to Retire. View a few of my favorite Brecksville local businesses: Honey Hut Ice Cream Shoppe Paul Duda Gallery Frankie's Wok Chinese Restaurant Clip-ity Clop Horse Tack Brecksville Donut & Cof... 10/11/2009

Brecksville Ohio Homes For Sale between $700,000 - $1,000,000. As a Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR), a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) and a REALTOR with strong negotiating experience, I would be happy to assist you with your next home purchase or sale in the Brecksville Ohio real estate marketplace. View the August 2009 Brecksville Real Estate Market Report. Various Brecksville Neighborhood Real Estate Market Reports: Echo Hills Chippewa Hills Heather Hills Bradford Village Chapel Hill Preston Village A Stone's Throw Crane Creek Brecksville Ohio Rated #2 of 20 Best Affordable Places to Retire. View a few of my favorite Brecksville local businesses: Honey Hut Ice Cream Shoppe Paul Duda Gallery Frankie's Wok Chinese Restaurant Clip-ity Clop Horse Tack Brecksvil... 10/11/2009

Brecksville Ohio Homes For Sale between $250,000 - $500,000. As a Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR) and a REALTOR with strong negotiating experience, I would be happy to assist you with your next home purchase or sale in the Brecksville Ohio real estate marketplace. View the August 2009 Brecksville Real Estate Market Report. Various Brecksville Neighborhood Real Estate Market Reports: Echo Hills Chippewa Hills Heather Hills Bradford Village Chapel Hill Preston Village A Stone's Throw Crane Creek Brecksville Ohio Rated #2 of 20 Best Affordable Places to Retire. View a few of my favorite Brecksville local businesses: Honey Hut Ice Cream Shoppe Paul Duda Gallery Frankie's Wok Chinese Restaurant Clip-ity Clop Horse Tack Brecksville Donut & Coffee Shop Fun things to do in and around Br... 10/11/2009

Brecksville Ohio Homes For Sale up to $250,000. As a Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR) and a REALTOR with strong negotiating experience, I would be happy to assist you with your next home purchase or sale in the Brecksville Ohio real estate marketplace. View the February 2010 Brecksville Real Estate Market Report. Various Brecksville Neighborhood Real Estate Market Reports: Echo Hills Chippewa Hills Heather Hills Bradford Village Chapel Hill Preston Village A Stone's Throw Crane Creek Brecksville Ohio Rated #2 of 20 Best Affordable Places to Retire. View a few of my favorite Brecksville local businesses: Honey Hut Ice Cream Shoppe Paul Duda Gallery Frankie's Wok Chinese Restaurant Clip-ity Clop Horse Tack Brecksville Donut & Coffee Shop Fun things to do in and around Brecksville O... 10/11/2009

The 69th season is now underway at the Brecksville Little Theatre in Brecksville, Ohio.  The season opener is Ladies in Retirement by Edward Percy and Reginald Denham.  The play ends on October 10th, so call for your tickets today. Visit my earlier blog post. If you are intrigued by the natural beauty and surroundings of Brecksville, Ohio, feel free to view all the homes currently for sale in Brecksville Ohio here: Brecksville Ohio Homes for Sale Olsen Ziegler Realty -- A $marter Way to buy and sell your Brecksville Ohio Home Display all homes currently for sale in Brecksville Ohio 10/04/2009

Below you will find the number of all active listings along with those that are contingent, pending, or closed for the month of August. There has been a definite increase in activity as first time buyers try to meet the Nov. 30th 2009 deadline for the first time buyer tax credit.   BRECKSVILLE   SINGLE FAMILY CONDOS # OF ACTIVE LISTINGS 95 40 AVG. SQFT. 3438 1617 AVG. PRICE PER SQFT. $125.75 $94.54 AVG. MARKET TIME 172 182 AVG. LIST PRICE $443,510 $150,866       # OF CONTINGENT LISTINGS 2 1 AVG. SQFT. 2538 1336 AVG.. PRICE PER SQFT. $113.27 $56.59 AVG. MARKET TIME 48 179 AVG. LIST PRICE $291,950 $79,000       # OF PENDING LISTINGS 9 1 AVG. SQFT. 2423 1044 AVG. PRICE PER SQFT $113.18 $61.21 AVG. MARKET TIME 158 96 AVG. LIST PRICE $262,911 $63,900       # OF CLOSED LISTINGS 12 3 AVG. SQFT... 09/17/2009

Here are the August 2009 real estate market statistics for the Brecksville, Ohio community in Northeast Ohio Absorption Rates and Months Housing Supply These two terms are one piece of the puzzle to help real estate agents, appraisers, home sellers and buyers alike make sense out of the real estate market. This is a little-known, but effective tool, if used in proper context, to help a home seller or buyer understand the market conditions for the home they wish to sell or buy. The easiest way to define these two terms is with an example: Absorption Rates (AR)- The rate at which homes are selling (ie. absorbed), over a specific time period, typically 12 months.  This is beneficial in determining supply and demand trends for the local market. Months Housing Supply (MHS) - How long it will... 09/13/2009

Brecksville Ohio Luxury Homes For Sale Luxury homes for sale in Brecksville Ohio currently only makes up about 16% of the total homes for sale in the community.  While the luxury home market segment in Brecksville Ohio is rather small, the inventory levels are high, credit is available for buyers with good credit, the housing market favors buyers, and prices have come down from the highs of the 2006-07 market.  Moreover, a truly motivated seller should be willing to negotiate hard to sell their home in this challenging marketplace, so even more opportunity exists in light of the already attractive environment that exists today. As a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist and a REALTOR with strong negotiating experience, I would be happy to assist you with your next luxury home purch... 08/30/2009