We’re in a difficult time for public education. Spending at the state level has been cut, and with a slow economy we can expect more funding struggles statewide and locally. At the same time, our students’ academic, emotional and physical needs are greater than ever due to the challenges of ...

In our collective attempt to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 through physical distancing and business closures, some folks have found temporary reprieve from the daily grind. However, for others, an even-darker cloud has emerged. Those in recovery from addiction are being tested with stressors ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

In June of 2017, it was widely reported that over $1 million was stolen from a New York Supreme Court judge by internet hackers / thieves pretending to be a party in her real estate transaction. The simple facts of the case are so startling that it has alarmed Realtors and should wake up ...

In December the House of Representatives took a critical step to lower prescription drug costs and passed the Lower Drug Costs Now Act. This bipartisan bill offers real relief to the millions of Americans who struggle to afford their needed medications. The bill allows Medicare to use its ...

There is an insurance ad on TV where the man says, “We know a thing or two, because we’ve seen a thing or two.” After 40-plus years as a Realtor, I’ve seen a thing or two also and would like to spend these next weeks talking about them. You might find them very interesting and how ...

As a buyer looks at a home a second or third time, they will invariably ask: “What are the utility costs?” More times than not, the cost of heating and lighting a home are important deciding factors in a purchase. This is especially true when first-time buyers are shopping for a ...

Realtors aren’t just agents. They’re professional members of the National Association of Realtors and subscribe to its strict code of ethics. This is the Realtor difference for home buyers: 1. Ethical treatment. Every Realtor must adhere to a strict code of ethics, which is based on ...

I am proud to have been elected as the 2020 President of the Warren Area Board of Realtors. With this honor comes the responsibility of providing leadership to our membership during the year. I will continue to build upon the efforts of the other presidents, who volunteered to establish a ...

It is amazing to think that nine months after the last Chevy Cruze rolled off the line at Lordstown, on Christmas Day the Washington Post runs a story exploring the possibility of the Mahoning Valley becoming a hub for electric vehicle technology. I will not go as far as calling this rebirth an ...

With editorial license taken upon the 130-year-old letter to the editor from 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon who said “my friends say there is no Santa Claus” We say… Trumbull County, your friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. Many lifetimes ...

For more than 50 years, GM-Lordstown was a pillar of our local economy. Generations of northeast Ohioans devoted their lives to produce award-winning cars and vans, while building GM into the company it is today. For these reasons and so many more, the plant closure shook our community to ...

As a buyer looks at a home a second or third time, they will invariably ask: “What are the utility costs?” More times than you might think, the cost of heating and lighting a home are an important deciding factor in a purchase. This is especially true when first-time buyers are shopping ...

Debate rages on all sides as to the value and effectiveness of offering companies tax abatements to lure them to build or expand at a given location. From those who claim it is corporate welfare that ultimately cheats the poor and middle class to others touting the benefits of jobs and ...

One of the most invisible items in a real estate transaction are the rules governing the use of the home itself. There are “rules” that may be present that can dramatically affect your ability to use it. Those sets of rules may be the zoning, deed restrictions, or if you are looking at a ...