Posts in category 'Ycar'

It wasn't supposed to be two years. It wasn't supposed to be that you and I would share this
time every other Sunday getting to know one another for the last 24 months. But like any
home transaction, there has to be a closing. There has to be an end.

For the last 24 months, you invited me into your home through The Vindicator and entrusted
me to impart on you some wisdom that will help you with your home. Whether it was buying
or selling, improving, moving or just living, this column, that was a part of my responsibilities as
the President of the Youngstown Columbiana Association of REALTORS®, was something that
became very therapeutic for me. Like any perfect relationship, ours wasn't perfect. We've had
laughs. We had some disagreements. We shared stories and even helped each other out
during this time. But we've always came back, right here, for each other.

You see, I got into real estate more than a decade ago to not only follow in...

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I get it! Technology is great and the internet, along with eCommerce sites like Amazon, has brought the world together in a global marketplace. Trust me, with the holidays approaching, I feel like I might as well offer the Amazon, USPS, UPS or FedEx drivers a room in our home they are here so often. But not everything translates well to an online sales environment. Some things, you just have to see for yourself. They have to feel like they are yours and when it comes to highly involved purchase decisions, like, oh…say….BUYING A HOME, there is no online experience that can replace what a REALTOR® offers you in person. Think I'm wrong?

Zillow, arguably, one of the world's largest digital real estate companies, announced earlier this month that they are closing their doors to their home buying division. The company that showcases homes and allows you to compare, contrast and even contact agents to set up appointments, tried to convert to an actual brokerage and...

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While all of you were enjoying the tricks of the Halloween season, I was counting the treats I
received from all of you in the form of emails asking me questions about selling your home.
Let's get to your questions!

"I just bought my home in January and interest rates have dropped since I financed it. Can I
refinance my home even though it hasn't been a year since I bought it?" - Sarah (Salem, OH)

Happy one year anniversary, Sarah, well, almost! We get this question quite a bit, especially
with interest rates STILL at an all time low. In your case, Sarah, yes, you can refinance. In order
to refinance, you must have at least a 6-month period in between financing applications and
transactions. So get with your local lender or, in your case, call the title company you closed
with a year ago, since they may able to offer a reissue rate and you can save on your closing
costs. It will help put more money in your pocket, esp...

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Let's be honest, with all of us having been in masks for the last year, every day might as well be
Halloween. But Halloween is back and so are the costumes, the treats and the tricks.
Whatever you are deciding to do for Halloween, your home is the one place to make sure there
is nothing but treats awaiting your ghoulish visitors this year.

As my treat to you, I'm going to take a break from the awesome questions that we have been
receiving. You can still email me your real estate questions to theprez@ycar.org, we'll get back
to in two weeks. But until then, open up your bag and allow me to pour in some tricks to make
sure your home is safe for your visitors this Halloween.

Light It Up
While dim and dark areas create a great mood for Halloween, they can also lead to people not
being able to see where they are going. Be sure to replace bulbs that are defective outside and
even install additional, temporary lights to help people as they...

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The questions keep flowing in, which is awesome! Normally, I kick off the articles with a fun,
little paragraph that makes you chuckle or smile, or at least I hope it does, but we've got an In
Box full of questions. Who am I to commandeer this space with my own verbal escapades and
deprive my fans of the answers they are seeking? So without further ado, let's roll!

"Everyone talks about Spring cleaning with your home. What about Fall cleaning? Should I be
doing anything to prepare my house for the upcoming seasons?"
- Tammy K. (Warren, OH)

Yes, Tammy, it is a thing and it is an important thing. As the weather gets cooler, making sure
you home is not only free of leaves, but properly sealing your windows and doors can keep your
heating costs low while being comfortable. While there is a host of chores you can do to Fall
Clean your home, when you are cleaning up your yard and gutters of leaves, be sure to check
your roof for any visib...

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