If you're interested in buying a home with your parents, you have a third option: a non-occupying co-borrower loan. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) notes, in chapter two of its Mortgage Credit Guidelines, that the occupying co-borrower loan provision's purpose "is to enable a family member to have a joint interest in a property that would enable another family member to attain principle residence homeownership." Parents qualify as the occupants with such a loan so long as the co-borrower is "related by blood, marriage, [or] law," or able to "document evidence of a family-type, longstanding, and substantial relationship."              The non-occupying co-borrower provision is useful for adult children of elderly parents because it allows a borrowe... 12/05/2012

          Allowing your mom or dad to live at home in a property you provide is a wonderful gift - a way to say thanks for all they've done for you, and a way to be sure that they're safe and comfortable. If you're thinking about buying a home for a parent, you have several options to consider. Many adult children of aging parents purchase a rental home, then loan or rent the residence to their parents for free or for a low monthly fee. Others buy the house as a second home in order to reap some great tax benefits. There are also children who help their parents get into a home by signing on a mortgage together.           If you can afford to buy a home for your parent, and are prepared to pay the mortgage for the foreseeable future, you have choices to consider. How you proceed with buy... 12/05/2012

To some people, broken windows, dilapidated roofs or collapsing porches mean trouble. People like Kenny Rushing, a Tampa, Florida-based real estate investor, see dollar signs. "More than 60 percent of the houses I have bought in Tampa were condemned properties," says Rushing. "I have yet to lose money on those." How Properties get Condemned Local authorities condemn buildings for a variety of reasons. In some cases, the government wants to build something in its place and will condemn the property as part of an eminent domain proceeding. Or, it could be a construction, maintenance, or pest issue that makes the structure unusable for its original purpose. In some cases, the repair or maintenance needed is relatively straightforward, but the owner does not always have the resources or kno... 11/23/2012

By John Mangas, Broker/Partner RE/MAX Preferred Toledo, Ohio   We are all in business, and self employed… And upon occasion we all fall into the certain traps that are part of being human. Let’s face it, sometimes we allow ourselves to take the easy path and yet there are times when we are super motivated, organized and on our A+ game.  Why is that?   Psychologists tell us that the majority of us do the same 8 or 9 things every day. This includes the work patterns that we manage our business and our personal lives with. They also tell us that of these 8 or 9 tasks, only 1 or 2 is pro-active and drives business.   This is a great time of the year to analyze how we manage our business and activities. How much time do we spend working IN the business vs working ON the business?   Working I... 10/29/2012

By John Mangas, Broker/Co-Owner RE/MAX Preferred Toledo, Ohio   It’s the 4th quarter…are you re-positioning yourself to reflect that in your business practices?   I think most of us would agree that how you are conducting your activities in the 4thquarter is different than it is in other times of the year. Many times I receive feedback from associates acknowledging that, but then there is generally a “what do you think I should be doing” follow up question. So let me share a few thoughts…   Listings: OVER COMMUNICATE! My suggestion is to be face to face with every seller at least one time during the 4th quarter. Sharing market stats, feedback, perhaps a new market analysis or even a price adjustment are all great topics. Updating seasonal appropriate photos is a must! A great tip for th... 10/15/2012

Energy Efficiency Can Help Sell Your Home "Any time you can bring light into a house, that is going to make people feel good," Rae says. That's why agents typically open curtains and blinds and turn on all the lights before a showing. It's a simple thing to "By 2010, North American energy costs are going to rise 50 percent. Who would not want a more energy-efficient home? If you're focusing on energy efficiency, that's going to help the buyer buy your house," Rae says. Rae says energy-efficient light bulbs in a daylight finish are great for helping show off your home. "Daylight bulbs, when they are placed in retail stores, increase retail sales by 40 percent. That reduces energy costs and increases sales; so doesn't that make sense that it's going to have a dynamic effect when you put i... 10/07/2012

Target Your Buyers Determine which buyers are most likely to buy your home, and target them. That means paying attention to economic trends in your market. Also, when advertising, feature the items that are likely to attract the targeted buyers. "One of the biggest demographics that you have in the U.S. is the Hispanic demographic; 40 percent of the homebuyers are going to be Hispanic. You have a cultural difference in the way that culture lives, buys, and lives in homes," Rae says. If you think that group might be interested in your home, consider learning more about how to make your home more appealing to them from an agent who routinely works with the Hispanic market. Check out my awesome information-loaded web site! 10/07/2012

Country Club Addition Neighborhood Newsletter for September 2012 Toledo OH by Dee Nofziger. Volume One Issue Two of our Neighborhood Newsletter talks about the most recent Block Watch Meeting, among other topics. Click here to view the Newsletter. Or go to Toledo Real Estate Resource to see both September 2012 and August 2012. 10/03/2012

   By John Mangas, Broker/Co-Owner RE/MAX Preferred Associates Toledo Ohio    “Where did I leave my MLS book?” “Can you fax this for me?” “Will you pick up the prints at Photo-Mart for my new listing?” “Let’s ride together today on tour” “After I stop at Quick Print for 5 color copies, let’s do lunch” And the list could go on endlessly…   And YES, I can recall making each of these statements!   The days of showing homes with an MLS book under one arm are long gone. Today most real estate professionals know how to do property searches on line and can upload a digital photo. But what does it mean to be truly relevant in today’s fast forward arena? Back in the day of the MLS book and the other antiquated activities above, the agent was gatekeeper to the information and the listings, condui... 09/28/2012

When you think of indoor pollution, those grotesque, blown-up images of dust mites might come to mind. Tiny bugs living in our mattresses are only one source of pollution, however. Different types of indoor pollution include air and water pollutants, cleaning products and cosmetics. Most of us think of our home as a haven - a safe place where we are protected from the rest of the world. But sometimes extra care needs to be taken to create a healthy home. What Causes Indoor Air Pollution? While we might be wary of smog and acid rain, outdoor pollutants probably don't affect us nearly as much as indoor pollutants do. Concentrations of indoor pollutants are 25 to 62 percent greater than outdoor levels. Because Americans spend 80 to 90 percent of their time indoors, they're at risk for seri... 09/22/2012

Privacy. It's a hot commodity in a world where we're pushed ever closer in proximity to one another. It almost seems like a diabolical developers' cruel joke to see how many houses they can cram onto a couple of acres. You don't have to put up with feeling like you live in a fishbowl. There are a number of creative and low maintenance landscaping techniques that, in some cases, provide almost-instant privacy. If you do your homework before choosing landscaping materials, you can get the solitude you crave and keep the work on it to a minimum. Baby Steps to Privacy One of the first things you need to determine is if your Homeowners' Association has landscaping rules. Many of them do, so dig out the paperwork and pore over the CC&Rs to figure out what you can and can't do with your proper... 09/22/2012

Privacy. It's a hot commodity in a world where we're pushed ever closer in proximity to one another. It almost seems like a diabolical developers' cruel joke to see how many houses they can cram onto a couple of acres.   You don't have to put up with feeling like you live in a fishbowl. There are a number of creative and low maintenance landscaping techniques that, in some cases, provide almost-instant privacy. If you do your homework before choosing landscaping materials, you can get the solitude you crave and keep the work on it to a minimum. Baby Steps to Privacy One of the first things you need to determine is if your Homeowners' Association has landscaping rules. Many of them do, so dig out the paperwork and pore over the CC&Rs to figure out what you can and can't do with your prop... 09/05/2012

Ah, the vay-cay! We work for it, we live for it -- typically fifty weeks of the year. When the time finally rolls around, many Americans have their own slice of heaven in which to spend their well-deserved time off: a vacation home. Whether it's a cottage by the beach, a house in the mountains or a condo on the Las Vegas Strip, it begs you to unpack and relax. If you're thinking about buying a vacation home, there are some things you should consider.     Buying a Vacation Home Means Managing two Mortgages If you're not a member of the 1 percent, you may find that managing more than one mortgage is challenging. Your vacation home should be a haven, not a place that stresses you out because it costs so much every month. So, before considering the purchase, make sure that you can comfortab... 08/29/2012

Working with buyers can be very time consuming and discouraging.  You should, of course as a Realtor, find out the usual:  area(s), schools, bedrooms, baths, one or two story home, basement or no basement, garage or no garage. There are other issues besides what is written above that would help make the buying process a better experience for everyone.  The more information a buyer can have the more confident they are about their purchase Listed below are some different pieces of information the buyer and you, as the Realtor, might find helpful to think about.when working with buyers: 1. Market Inventory Trends 2. School District 3.Community Information 4. Market Analysis of the area 5. Crime Risk for the area 6. Compare Different Areas 7. Compare Schools 8. Compare Crime Risk 9. Price ... 08/29/2012

It does not take magic to turn your "For Sale" sign into a "Sold" sign. it takes a full time Local Agent who specializes in Listing homes like yours. If you need to sell your home and you owe more than your house is worth, I may be able to help. I specialize in working with home owners to get your home sold. There are many options such as a short sale which may be able to help you. Please try and avoid out of state or out of town agents and companies that make "out of this world promises". I am a  local agent with 23 years of experience who never charge any up front fees. WE GET RESULTS!!!   Please call for a FREE MARKET ANALYSIS (419) 481-3117 to let you know what the value of your home is.   I stand by you through every step in selling your home.   Linda Sabo Realtor—(419) —(419) 481-... 08/26/2012

Heatherdowns Community Block Watch Meeting is scheduled for Monday August 20, 2012 at St. Andrew's Church on Heatherdowns Blvd. in Toledo OH. 6:00 - 7:00 pm. I plan on attending. Hopefully there will be no distressing news on neighborhood break-ins or car thefts. For years I never locked my home, but the last two years I lock it up tight. Not because the neighborhood is declining, but simply because better safe than sorry. In this economy, desperate people do desperate things, and I don't want to make the desperation easier than it has to be.         Have never had a problem, exept for about 17 years ago when the neighborhood teenagers broke in and stole all the liquor. Damn kids. That hurt more than losing my jewelry would have! Now we have 2 dogs and I feel much better. They bark if a... 08/19/2012

  Real estate agents and brokers from Palm Springs, Calif. to Nashville, Tenn. and Garden City, N.Y. can be found online encouraging homeowners to rip up the carpet and replace it with tile or hardwood flooring to increase the value of their homes. But does flooring really add value? New flooring can add a ton of perceived value, encourage higher offers, and even make a home sell faster, but it may not add dollars to your appraisal. Buyers may like the updated flooring and offer more as a result, but don't expect a higher appraised value. The potential exception to this is if an appraiser considers the overall condition of the home has been raised from poor or average to good with the addition of new flooring. So sellers, be warned. However, it is important to point out that some picky ... 08/17/2012

Neighborhood Newsletter August 2012 |Country Club Addition Subdivision | Toledo OH. Welcome to the first edition of the Neighborhood Newsletter for Country Club Addition Subdivision. Off Heatherdowns just west of Bryne Rd. Maumee Schools. Frames the northern edge of South Toledo Golf Course. To download and print click here.       Please contact Dee Nofziger at 419-260-1435 to be added or removed from the neighborhood newsletter mailing. If you like this newsletter, please like my facebook business page at http://facebook.com/toledorealestateresource.   Link to newsletter in google docs, public view ...https://docs.google.com/open?id=1geCfLCfYD3pa9JWsEjBCpcwfQibLZnNPbWaoBZCGQkHbt717cazXpauHXCj8   08/17/2012

Byrne Rd Heatherdowns Farmers Market in Toledo OH. Every Tuesday 2:00pm - 7:00 pm. Located in the far east end of the Cedar Creek Church parking lot, near Caper's Pizza Bar. Fresh produce, homemade bakery items, handmade soy candles, Ackerman's Berry Farm items, handmade jewlery and beads, fresh gourmet popcorn and many other items. http://youtu.be/ZkQzkXNWL84.   08/15/2012

Old South End Community Murals in Toledo OH. Photos by Dee Nofziger, Toledo Realtor. I just noticed recently a terrific effort in Toledo's Old South End at beautifying the Broadway Corridor. Murals have been painted on numerous building facades and building wall sides between South Avenue and The High Level Bridge. The colors are vibrant, the faces are warm, the sense of community, friendship, and family is overwhelming. Good job to all involved! Que Viva Toledo! 08/12/2012