Making do with what you had

May 3, 2019

Sometimes I have been called a saver. Other times I have been known as a pack rat. I do have a habit of saving things, of not being able to throw things away. I can’t throw that away because I might need it sometime, even if I haven’t used it for several years. Yes, I grew up in a generation when we didn’t have much. It was back in the time when you used it up, wore it out, made it do, or did without. We didn’t have many material things but we always had plenty to eat. Mom was a good cook and knew how to make the most of the food she was preparing. Dad always had two or three ...

Does Moving Up Make Sense?

April 27, 2019

These questions will help you decide whether you’re ready for a home that’s larger or in a more desirable location. If you answer yes to most of the questions, it’s a sign you may be ready to move. 1. Have you built substantial equity in your current home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don’t build up much equity in the first few years of your mortgage, as monthly payments are mostly interest, but if you’ve owned your home for five or more years or financed your mortgage at 15 or less years, you may have significant, ...

Awards given to celebrate home ownership

April 20, 2019

As Community Home Week comes to a close for 2019 and we celebrate the 51st anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, it is important to recognize the value of home ownership. While a home is the place where you can do a lot of living, it also represents an investment that you can keep on appreciating. A home means putting down roots and becoming involved in the community. All property owners in Trumbull County are encouraged to join in activities that lead to property improvement. Pride in a property is important in today’s way of life. At the Warren Area Board of Realtors’ Community ...

Not all Biden hugs were unwanted

April 14, 2019

Joe Biden hugged my younger daughter when she was 13 years old. She won’t be having a press conference, telling the sordid details of her traumatic experience, but it’s an incident that cost me thousands of dollars. The cost wasn’t for therapy to learn to cope with the horror; it was for the degree in political science she earned at Kent State University. My wife and Ali went to see Biden in downtown Youngstown in 2008 when Obama-Biden was the Democratic ticket. After the speech, Biden worked the crowd, something few politicians do better. He took time to talk to a child ...

Spruce up your home if you are selling it

April 6, 2019

It’s a great time to buy a home, and buyers are starting their annual spring tour of homes. This weekend kicks off our Community Home Week Celebration. This weekend is a prime time for sellers to get their homes in tip-top shape. Curbside appeal is very often the determining factor that persuades potential buyers to venture into a home that is for sale. Once inside, the best way to help ensure that these lookers stay is to offer an interior that is just as inviting as the outside. Sprucing up your yard before you sell doesn’t necessarily have to be costly in terms of time or ...

Spring time is prep time for selling a home

March 30, 2019

Springtime is finally here, and this is the time of year homeowners begin to think about putting their house on the market to sell. Here are some helpful tips of things you can do that will help in the presentation of your home, contract negotiation and for getting the best price for your home. When competing in the housing market, you need to have an edge. You want to make sure that your home not only looks good, but presents a smart investment. Buyers are not only looking for the best price of a home, but the best value in their price range. • Remember first impressions are ...