Small changes will make Nov. 3 election much easier

May 10, 2020

Ohio completed its primary election April 28 in a way no one envisioned, but that was necessitated by the global pandemic. While it’s obvious no one wanted to change how we run elections in Ohio the day before voting was set to occur, the fact that we responded to the pandemic and did so successfully should, in many ways, be a point of pride for our state. Tireless and dedicated bipartisan teams of election officials in all 88 counties made Ohio the first state to respond to this pandemic by conducting our election almost entirely by mail. In spite of these challenges, Ohio ...

CARES Act preserves cultural soul of America

April 19, 2020

On March 27, Congress passed the CARES Act, the stimulus relief program to shore up the U.S. economy that has ground to a halt in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Tucked within that $2 trillion package is $75 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities designated to provide emergency support for historical societies, art museums, colleges and other centers of cultural activity. A portion of that $75 million appropriation will be distributed to 56 state humanities councils to help local organizations preserve jobs and keep the lights on. Long before the CARES Act was ...

Year of opportunity for buyers, sellers

April 18, 2020

The year 2020 has been a challenging year so far but promises to be a year of opportunity for anybody who may have been considering a real estate purchase or sale. People always need to buy homes, whether they need larger homes for growing families, or when it is time to downsize or move for jobs or other reasons. During the past few years, many have delayed buying because of disrupted credit, tightened mortgage lending, and uncertainty with jobs and the economy. These delayed purchases have created a rare phenomenon known as pent-up demand, when there are more buyers, and shrinking ...

New programs provide lifelines for small businesses

April 12, 2020

Small businesses are the backbone of Ohio’s economy, and during this time of crisis many small business owners are feeling the strain of social distancing with many Ohioans having found themselves either sick, out of work, or taking care of a loved one. In this difficult time, it is crucial that small businesses are able to to keep their doors open and maintain payroll as much as possible. With small businesses stepping up to help their communities, President Donald Trump and Ohio Republicans have taken aggressive action to ensure they are also getting the relief they need. One ...

Set goals to help you get to your new home

March 28, 2020

Below are ideas to save to buy a home and most of these suggestions are great during a normal period. Because we are sort of homebound during the COVID-19, this is a great opportunity to tighten your budget. Take advantage of the closures and put your money to good use. Saving for a down payment can seem like an overwhelming task if you’re on a tight budget. It’s not easy to make a plan, stay on that plan no matter what, stay motivated even when your plan goes temporarily awry, and finally achieve your desired result. So how do you get from, “I want to to be a homeowner” to ...

Just like you need a physical, so does your home

March 14, 2020

There have been many times I have toured a home before listing it and pointed out a blown light bulb or chip in the paint outside, and the homeowner said “I didn’t see that!” Realtors are very concerned about your home being ready for sale and ready to live in. Every day we are told to check our credit, look at ourselves in the mirror, change the oil in our cars, or visit our doctor for an annual physical. What about your home? Most of us never think about our home like we think about other things … after all it is wood, steel, bricks and glass. It doesn’t run down the ...