I am truely looking for BIG things to happen in 2010. Watch for real big changes to The Wooster Real Estate showcase office!  We are heading up - lol - watch.... coming soon! I have been very busy with people seeking a market value report in the last 2 months. All have logged onto www.waynecountyhousevalues.com and have requested the market report.  From the response we are getting from this service, I would expect any will list in the coming months - so buyers be prepared!  There are going to be some great houses on the market soon! With the renewed first time credit and the new repeat buyer credit - I think it just may shape up into a great year in 2010. Happy Holidays to all!  Call me if you need me! Happy to help! 12/13/2009

The real estate market in Wayne County is looking up!  With rates still low, inventory high and confidence on the rise, new contracts are coming in daily!!! The $8,000 tax credit is still available and I think it's is a great benefit for first-time buyers! There hasn't been a better time to buy in years and, when priced right, it's a great time to sell. Keep a positive attitude and remember real estate is still an excellent long-term investment! If you're buying or selling in the Wayne/Holmes/Ashland county area, call the #1 locally owned and operated brokerage in Wayne County to get started! ~TOM 06/09/2009

The Ohio Association of Realtors has put together a brochure with updated details regarding the new tax credit for first-time home buyers.  The brochure is available for download and contains answers for questions such as: If I haven't filed my 2008 tax return yet, can I claim the credit for a home purchased on Jan. 1, 2009? The answer is YES! You can claim it on the return due April 15; file for an extension; or even amend a previously filed return. Do I have to repay the tax credit? No as long as you stay in the home for three years. Is there an income restriction? Yes...$75,000 for single or head of household; $150,000 for married couples filing jointly. Visit www.reshowcase.com/tax-brochure to download the brochure... 03/09/2009

Real Estate Showcase & AmeriFirst Home Mortgage will be hosting a free home buying seminar March 12, 2009 @ the Wayne Co. Public Library. $8,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance • The tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. • The tax credit does not have to be repaid. • The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home's purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000. • The credit is available for homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. • Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit. Visit www.reshowcase.com/seminar for additional information... 03/04/2009

Home rehabbers who are considering a move in the not-too-distant future should focus mostly on exterior upgrades. That's the message from REALTORS® who participated in Remodeling magazine's 20th annual "Cost vs. Value Report," done in cooperation with REALTOR® Magazine.REALTORS® in 65 markets were given construction specs and costs on 29 upscale and midrange projects and asked to estimate the percentage return at resale.Of projects that saw national cost recovery rates of more than 80 percent in 2007, only one - a minor kitchen remodel, with 83 percent of cost recovered - was a strictly interior job. The others were an upscale siding replacement using fiber cement materials (88.1 percent), a wood deck addition (85.4 percent), midrange vinyl siding replacement (83.2 percent), and upscale... 03/03/2009

Even before you begin looking for a home, the homebuying process requires diligent preparation. Buyers who have been preapproved for a home loan often have their offers taken more seriously by sellers. With advance preparation, you can tackle the process of acquiring the financing you need with more confidence. Read more at www.realtor.org regarding the following points... Knowing and Understanding Your Credit Opening the Door to a Home of Your Own Choosing the Mortgage that's Right for You Borrowing Basics: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You These authoritative homebuying guides (in PDF format) are available in nine languages, including English, Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese. You can download a guide or order a print version online f... 03/03/2009

1. Who is eligible to claim the tax credit?First-time home buyers purchasing any kind of home-new or resale-are eligible for the tax credit. To qualify for the tax credit, a home purchase must occur on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. For the purposes of the tax credit, the purchase date is the date when closing occurs and the title to the property transfers to the home owner. 2. What is the definition of a first-time home buyer?The law defines "first-time home buyer" as a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase. For married taxpayers, the law tests the homeownership history of both the home buyer and his/her spouse.For example, if you have not owned a home in the past three years but your spouse has owned a p... 03/03/2009

$8,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance • The tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. • The tax credit does not have to be repaid. • The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home's purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000. • The credit is available for homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. • Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit. 03/03/2009

Attention potential homebuyers! Take advantage of an $8,000 tax credit toward the purchase of a principal residence for first-time buyers on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. And to make the deal even better, the credit does not require repayment. It's all part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Click here to learn about the new 2009 tax credit and legislation... (source: Realtor.org) 03/02/2009

Want to educate yourself on the finer points of buying or selling a home? NAR and your local REALTOR® can help. For more info, visit http://www.realtor.org/buyers_and_sellers     02/27/2009

Many people are concerned about how today's challenging economic environment might affect their ability to buy a home, or even whether they should become homeowners right now.Over the long term, homeownership is an investment in your future. "Buyer Strength" explains that current conditions such as low interest rates and available properties put many potential home buyers in a position of strength. For more information visit http://www.realtor.org/pac.nsf/pages/BuyerStrength   (Source- Realtor.org) 02/27/2009

Real Estate Showcase & AmeriFirst Home Mortgage will be hosting a free home buying seminar March 12, 2009 @ the Wayne Co. Public Library. Visit www.reshowcase.com/seminar for additional information... 02/27/2009

Last week, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  The following is a list of some of the major provisions of the new law without significant details which will follow as rules are issued. Note that many of the benefits are temporary and/or are phased out for higher income individuals. Higher Loan Limits. Conforming and FHA mortgage limits in high-cost areas were temporarily raised back to the limits which expired at the end of 2008. This will mean an increase of $625,000 to just under $730,000 in higher cost of living areas such as Northern California and New York City. The bottom line will be lower rates in these areas because "jumbo" loans carry a higher rate. "Making Work Pay" Tax Credit. For 2009 and 2010, the Act creates a refundable ta... 02/26/2009

1. Down payments are critical. Borrowers should expect to put down at least 10 percent for a "conforming loan" -- a mortgage that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will purchase. 2. Credit scores count. A 720 on the 850-point FICO rating scale will get a borrower access to the best rates. Rich Bira, branch manager of FCM Direct Lender in Chicago, says: "A score between 720 and 739 gets 0.125 percent added to the rate, a score between 700 and 719 gets 0.375 percent added to the rate, and a score between 680 and 699 gets 0.5 percent added to the rate." 3. Consider VA and FHA. Borrowers without down payments or with less than stellar credit scores should consider these government-insured loans offered through the Federal Housing Administration or the Veterans Administration. 4. Unearth the record... 02/24/2009

The National Association of Realtors has been working hard to help stabilize the housing market. Thanks for their hard work, here's what's coming soon... Lower interest rates for home mortgages A greater ability to get financing through FHA, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac in high-cost areas A true tax credit incentive to buy a home NOW Foreclosure mitigation and short-sale standards Check back soon for additional updates... 02/24/2009

Terrific home buying opportunities are out there!  To assist buyers our team (Bob Schubert & myself) along with several other Realtors and Kirsten Bowie from AmeriFirst Mortgage are offering a Home Buying Seminar on March 12, 2009 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Wayne County Library's Main Branch in Wooster.  NO obligation - NO pressure - NO commitment!  FREE, FREE, FREE!  As an Accredited Buyers Representative we will be giving out a Buyer's Toolkit to all attendees (or contact me if you cannot attend).  We will be covering every aspect of buying a home, Including: Buying Foreclosures, Rehab/Remodel loans avail., all the different financing that is available, Negotiating, Inspections, What to expect and so much more!]If  you would like to attend or if you would just like more informatio... 02/22/2009

The market is changing!  Finally after a long (at least it seems long with all the snow) winter so far, houses are starting to see activity and offers. Just showed a bunch of houses over the weekend, several have offers pending - looks like when this snow finally melts we will have buyers with "Cabin Fever" ready to get out there and start shopping! Rates are great!  Selection is great! 02/01/2009

I'd like to take an opportunity to share some info about the #1 locally owned & operated real estate company in Wayne County, Ohio... With over 100 agents company-wide, we serve central and northeast Ohio with offices in Wooster, Ashland, Millersburg, Loudonville and Mt. Vernon. We also have a full-time staff of award-winning auctioneers to serve your chattel and real estate needs. In the areas we serve, our Realtors are local people who truly understand the local markets they're in! With our 35 years of integrity and honesty in real estate, our service is 2nd to none! Visit us online for a complete list of our locations, services and agents... www.reshowcase.com   01/30/2009

I'm to the point where I refuse to watch the news!  Every story is about another business closing, more people without work and more money needed to bailout businesses who've made poor choices.  I CAN'T TAKE IT!  I think we all realize that today's economy is not the economy of 2003 or 2004 or any other year.  The economy is ever-changing and the only constant is the fact it does change.  The local market of Wayne County and Holmes County Ohio posted 649 residential sales in 2008.  That number is within 10% of the average number of sales of the past 5 years!  That tells me that the market may be different today than it was yesterday,  but WE STILL HAVE A MARKET.  It's still a great time to buy with interest rates amazingly low and a large inventory to choose from.  On the selling side, ... 01/23/2009

Well, quite day in real estate!  Maybe everyone's home toasty and warm and exploring the internet for info and listings... Wooster's got nearly a foot of snow and roads are very slippery!  Be careful out there. We had to cancel open house on one of our listings - so, here's to toasy and warm in Wooster, Ohio!  And, to warmer days and sales ahead!   Lynn Semer 01/10/2009