General Information

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The Fashion of Housing

It seems like some many fashions come full circle, including some aspects of housing. I can’t help but think of the predecessor to our current homes. For the middle class, after we moved past caves or cliff dwellings to actual individual homes they were usually one-room structures. If I understand my history correctly, many of these homes were the size of today’s garages and were one room with a heat source like a wood burning stove or fireplace, that kept the everybody warm and allowed for the cooking of meals.

Smoke Detectors

Each year I like to remind everyone that October is not only the time to change your clock (fall back) but a perfect time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors. If you haven't changed your smoke detector batteries recently, now is the time. With smoke detectors, even if you have a large, two story home with many bedrooms, for less than $50.00 you can protect those you love from being caught without warning in the case of a fire. Of all the costs associated with home ownership, this seems like a wonderfully inexpensive investment.

Reflections on Real Estate Values

As a real estate professional and a home owner, it is clear to me that owning a home is a great investment. The rule of thumb I have used for years is that if you buy what you can afford to hold for 2 to 5 years, you will reap the rewards of home ownership.

Need a Tax Break?

I am a real estate expert, not a tax expert. In order to be of help to my clients, general knowledge of taxation when they buy or sell real estate is helpful, since almost all transactions have some tax implications. I recommend clients consult their tax expert, sooner rather than later.

Make Effective Use of the Internet

Want to know what you can buy for $300,000 in Ohio, or in Idaho? Want to know what the homes cost in the area down the road, or whether you can afford to buy a second home in Mammoth or Hawaii? It’s easy - we just go online and take a look at what is available. Go to Realtor.com, MLS Listings, or Google - and those are but a few of the many sites where you can find property on the Internet.