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 ...

Home sweet home is where we spend more than 50 percent of our time. For most people it is a place of security, but statistics can tell a different story. Most accidents and injuries occur at home, so I want to offer some tips to make your home just a little safer and more secure. As Realtors ...

It’s important to have a good storage system for firewood; otherwise, it will rot before you can use it. Whether you burn fires as a supplemental heat source for your home or strictly for ambiance and pleasure, it’s important to know how to properly buy and store firewood. For homeowners ...

I have had the honor to experience both the thrill of the process to bring national football championships to YSU and Ohio State and now participating in the academic and economic development of our Valley. These truly are magical times. However, it concerns me that the conversation of the ...

In one of our last columns, we talked about the proper way to clean your fireplace. In this article, we will deal with how to make sure your fireplace is safe. So, how do you keep your fireplace safe? The best tools you have are your eyes. With regular visual inspections both inside your ...

Since President Donald Trump’s first day in office, and from my first day as his health secretary, our country’s opioid crisis has been one of our most challenging missions. But there were always sources of inspiration: We heard from the Americans on the frontlines of the fight against ...

Wood- and gas-burning fireplaces need regular cleaning for safety and efficiency. Although some tasks are do-it-yourself-friendly, others are best left to the pros. The appeal of a wood- or gas-burning fireplace is undeniable — especially for Ohioans. But both appliances require regular ...