Special offer

Cleveland, OH Real Estate News

By Carole Cohen, Realtor, ePRO
(Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office)
I hate this time of year; not because it's winter specifically though of course 95 degrees and sunshine is better. But it's tax season. Bah humbug. I have been checking the 2006 changes/updates for this year's filing. I stumbled across a site called selfemployedweb.com. It may or may not be useful but some of the fact sheets they promote have names like: 'good tax news' (isn't that an oxymoron?) or 'SUV Deductions for Dummies'  SUV deductions? Anyway, if you need to de-stress  while preparing your taxes, you might want to check it out. 1.  Money Now. I'm sure others will write posts on this and I know there has been at least one so far. I'm going to highlight just a few things regarding taxes. First, a warning. Ever drive by those check cashing places with signs in the window that say '...
Comments 34
By Carole Cohen, Realtor, ePRO
(Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office)
Do you celebrate Valentine's Day? Or are you a member of the 'anti' group!If you DO celebrate, and are a procrastinator, and live in Cleveland, you might be up the proverbial creek this year if the weather folk are correct and we continue to get three inches of snow an hour until who knows when. Why do we spend our money on Valentine's Day? Where do we spend our money on Valentine's Day? In card shops and candy stores of course. Sweethearts Day makes me roll my eyes (and this was true even when I had a sweetheart). Valentine's Day has been around long enough that I guess I can't consider it just another ploy to boost the economy! Apparently, the first known Valentine's Card goes way back, and resides in the British Museum and dates back to the 1400s. One of Cleveland Ohio's long-standi...
Comments 113
By Carole Cohen, Realtor, ePRO
(Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office)
From what I have read, most of the 50 States offer some form of tax incentive to build. Some do it to encourage farmers to get into the 'clean energy' business with solar power. Some do it to encourage building in areas the city would like to see revitalized. Some do it to keep up the properties on their main streets. Cleveland got into the tax abatement issue in 1991 when The City authorized a Tax Abatement Program. That authority is coming up for discussion because in June of 2007 that autority runs out....City Council has been holding hearings to see what community response is and builders showed up for the Hearing held last Monday. What is your experience with buyers and Tax Abatement? I find buyers frequently decide to purchase one property over another - all other things similar -...
Comments 11
Today on a few acres of a former steel yard near downtown Cleveland, the first store in Steelyard Commons opened up: Home Depot.  Okay, so another Home Depot opened up.  Big deal.  But if you look at where this Home Depot is located, it is a bigger deal than what you think.A local real estate developer in 2004 purchased land that was used as part of a former steelmill near downtown Cleveland.  This land has just been sitting there as an eyesore for people from Cleveland's westside driving to downtown.  By the end of the year, a Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy and many other stores will be opening up in this location, just a 5 minute drive from downtown Cleveland and other inner city neighborhoods.  So why is this a big deal?The City of Cleveland, until now, has not had a shopping complex wit...
Comments 12
By Carole Cohen, Realtor, ePRO
(Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office)
Sound odd to you? Well, not odd to a group of people who formed a partnership to work on the Euclid Avenue Idea Design District for Downtown Cleveland. Businesses, Insitutes of Higher Learning, Design Award Winners and Cleveland's Government all sit as idea people for this .....idea about ......an idea center. Don't be confused, it's actually pretty cool. And it's bascially about Branding and Positioning, which we all know is near and dear to my heart. Cleveland is already home to 40 of the top 100 brands like Moen or SAECO (which was started in Milan and I have a feeling the impetus for the new monniker for Cleveland). I used to have one of their expresso machines (Nespresso) and it was awesome, but I digress. If we already have a position as a Manufacturing City with institutes of hig...
Comments 20
By Kevin Cahill, REALTY Funnels software, 6 Figure Month coaching
(REALean brokered by eXp Realty)
There was an article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer this morning about tax abatments as a tool that builders and developers require if they are to continue building in the city of Cleveland... click here to read the article:http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/stories/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/116963163281500.xml&coll=2 I think that tax abatements are an artificial driver of the real estate market.  Much like existing construction competing against new construction in the same development, these tax incentives will hurt re-sale when the abatements begin to run out... they last only 15 years.  So how will a house which is 15 years old and has no tax abatement remaining compare against a home that is 6 years old and has 9 years of abatement remaining... I think "not too well".Let me know yo...
Comments 2
By Carole Cohen, Realtor, ePRO
(Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office)
Those of us who are from Cleveland relish the gritty, roll up your sleeves history, the sight of a steel mill chimney spewing fire at night; I even have a photo of a rainbow I took as a kid, as a backdrop to a steel mill. Cities embrace their heritage or they lose their identity; at least that is my humble opinion. To show ya that Clevelanders embrace Industry, this is the view from Tremont, Cleveland's hottest west side housing market, and the most coveted views are like the heart stopping one (to me anyway) on the left.Now we have Steelyard Commons. On the surface it's WalMart and Target. But look closer, and there is even a playground that looks like an old blast furnace. The Western Reserve Historical Society is also working with the developers at Steeyard (and yes Mr. Brady, it's p...
Comments 15
By Carole Cohen, Realtor, ePRO
(Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office)
Hot off the press, Mayor Frank Jackson announced today the City's new Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that encompasses a mission and a strategy for the next five years. There is an emphasis on economic development, especially along Cleveland's Lakefront A few weeks ago, the City, in conjunction with the Cudell Development Corp., imploded an old factory and this new CIP Plan talks about bringing business to that space as well. There is an emphasis on high tech development, infrastructure and neighborhoods. What I liked most is that for the first time, all of this information, as it progresses through to completion, will be available to us, private citizens who want to see it work and see our neighborhoods improve. Cleveland is entering the technology age (finally!). To get more informatio...
Comments 10
By Carole Cohen, Realtor, ePRO
(Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office)
Will Reviving the Passenger Rail System Be Good for the Economy?  This idea intrigues me, I admit it. The Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers and ODOT are major players in this initiative, which would bring high speed passenger rail trains to cities within a two to four hour travel time of each other, cities like: Toledo, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Toronto, Chicago, Columbus and Cincinnati. Think about it: airlines are struggling, and even if things get better in that industry,  how many plane transfers does it take when you leave from Cleveland or Omaha or Pittsburgh, to get someplace like Washington D.C., New York City, Boston or New Jersey. Now you know why  the Hub Initiative sounding good?  Vacations, easy to understand. Fast travel, easy travel, no waiting in line at airpor...
Comments 119
By Kevin Cahill, REALTY Funnels software, 6 Figure Month coaching
(REALean brokered by eXp Realty)
Cleveland, I feel, is at a very important moment in its history... a time when we can make some really smart decisions, which will pay big dividends down the road.  Or we can miss some opportunities, and really fall farther away from our affluent and well-positioned heritage.Cleveland sits in Cuyahoga County, amid many other wealthy counties... and we are struggling to remain vital in the national economy.  Looking back, we really were damaged most by the advent of affordable air conditioning.  Once people could choose to live in Arizona or Florida, year round, we began to lose much of our appeal... our winters are long and often miserable (present winter excluded).  The challenge here locally, as I see it, is the in-fighting between counties for jobs.  Inside Cuyahoga County, you have ...
Comments 2
By Kevin Cahill, REALTY Funnels software, 6 Figure Month coaching
(REALean brokered by eXp Realty)
I was so heartened this morning to open the Cleveland Plain Dealer and find a wonderful article outline the multiple BILLIONS of dollars being invested in downtown Cleveland's residential market!  This is a phenominal opportunity for local residents to find that new home in our own urban core.  Prices range from the $140s for the first time home buyers, to up over a million dollars...Here is a link to the Sunday Plain Dealer article:http://www.cleveland.com/business/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business/116807597834530.xml&coll=2This is long overdue, and not without its own set of struggles... there are some eminent domain issues right now, a few interesting lawsuits over key parcels of land needed to unify a project site here or there, and issues regarding tax abatement incentives, whic...
Comments 0
By Carole Cohen, Realtor, ePRO
(Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office)
Hey All You Don Quixote Home Builders....Were you the chickens or the eggs? Did neighborhoods start to get revitalized before you built new construction homes or condos? Or did you go into the neighborhoods and lead the way?To a large extent, a lot of Home Builders seem like they enjoy a good challenge, playing the odds. What made home builders decide to go into urban areas and take a chance and revitalize a neighborhood?  Americans have always been drawn to pick up and move farther out, claim a stake and put up a white picket fence, So it seems less risky to me to be a builder in the suburbs. I'm talking about the builders who went into the neighborhoods and said OK, let's build. We have a neighborhood in Cleveland called Ohio City (my office is located there). Before I left in the 70s...
Comments 62
By Carole Cohen, Realtor, ePRO
(Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office)
The anticipation of a new year, full of promise and hope. Even though I always resist making resolutions on New Year's Day, I have been memed and have no choice. And not only one resolution but five! ? !1. I resolve to learn one new 'tekkie' program. Yes it will be good for me, but that's not the reason. A few of us determined that we would find programs, platforms, etc that we all wanted to know how to utilize, and each of us would learn one and teach the others in the group; you know, just like in forced study groups in school only this time we are volunteering so we don't mind. I would love to tell you what 'tekkie' adventure I will be on, but that is TBD (TBD....that is also how our '1/2 year tax amounts' show up on MLS when there is tax abatement). (See I'm teaching already!) 2. I ...
Comments 42
By Carole Cohen, Realtor, ePRO
(Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office)
Homes are selling, even in Cleveland, don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. What is helping them sell, over the many others buyers have to choose from? I believe it's Price.  Broker Bryant from Florida agrees with me.  So does Jeff Dowler from California. I also believe it's Condition. I also believe it's Amenities. You want to sell your home? Let's focus on it's condition and how little you may have to spend to make it appeal to a buyer over and above all the others out there. A professional Realtor® (like mysel!) can help you - but this is what I suggest as a first step: walk your house from room to room, look at your yard, your garage, your basement. Use a critical eye. Pretend this is not your home, but a house for sale. Here are a few things you might notice that can be correct...
Comments 44
By Carole Cohen, Realtor, ePRO
(Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office)
Keith, I think this group is a grand idea! All of the recipes in here so far are whetting my appetite. I decided to include a recipe for a dish that can be used for  Broker's Opens. I don't know about everyone else's area, but when you serve food you are more likely to get people to come see your listing!Orzo is a tiny pasta. You can buy it at most any grocer or market. ORZO WITH MUSHROOMStwo steps: First, boil water for the orzo; when a rolling boil is reached, add box to water; cook as directed; drain and set aside.next step:     Chop up onions (one small), mushrooms - about two cups ( I usually use baby Bella's but any will do) and a small garlic clove.  Get out a large skillet or wok; pour in olive oil add a pinch of salt and heat; when hot, add in chopped ingredients; saute until s...
Comments 49
By Carole Cohen, Realtor, ePRO
(Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office)
It has been so gratifying to begin reading Realty Blogging along with other Rainers, with the intention of brainstorming our way through the book as we go along! I am only on Chapter Three, but it has been mind expanding (in a good way!) while also bringing up questions and looking for feedback. So I am excitedly posting with the hope that we can have a blast with our on line book club. First, credit where credit is due: if any of our blog posts in this group inspire you to read the book, it was written by Richard Nacht and Paul Chaney. The post on Realty Blogging by Mariana Wagner, is a good start to our book reading process!So what is striking me about the book so far? Mind blowing facts for one thing - and opinions on what blogs should be:"Blogs Beg to be written in punchy, informal ...
Comments 112
By Carole Cohen, Realtor, ePRO
(Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office)
 Are we all guilty of not supporting our community stores? I know many or most of us who are active in the Active Rain Puddle frequently comment on how we like the sense of community we all have here; it's important to us. Now most of us here are involved in the Real Estate profession in one way or another (I am a Realtor®), so we also hear clients talk about their sense of community and we help them find communities in which to live. My take on it is that a Sense of Place, a Sense of Community is important to us, no matter what our jobs, be we Firemen, Lawyers, Teachers, or Shopkeepers! That last category is near and dear to my heart.What got me going on this topic was my recent order of a blogging book. First instinct was to go to a famous on line bookstore and yes it's a fabulous sit...
Comments 57
By Carole Cohen, Realtor, ePRO
(Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office)
 Cleveland's West Side is home to the Longmead Puritas Neighborhood, also known as Bellaire Puritas. It makes up almost a quarter of Cleveland's economic base. It has an exciting future ahead of it for several reasons: it's close proximity to NASA and Hopkins International Airport; it's already existing rail and commuter rail lines; and it's fabulous newly constructed and 'to be constructed' public schools. And the neighborhood's vibrant shopping areas enhance it's live ability even more. First a bit of history: The area started out as a 'railroad town' so to speak, but became a hub of industry. Most of the areas housing development occurred after World War Two, so unlike some of the other West Side neighborhoods, the general housing stock is a tad newer. Northeast Ohio is known for it'...
Comments 16
By Carole Cohen, Realtor, ePRO
(Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office)
I am so tired of hearing how wonderful Chicago is, how many opportunities there are in Chicago, how fabulous the food is there, blah blah blah. And why I would listen to this dreck from a Clown who couldn't even find his nose if his life depended on it, is beyond me.  And certainly someone who could NEVER have lived here, in Cleveland, becaue otherwise he would know that Cleveland Rocks! Let's do a comparison:First, the smiling gent to the left here; Boss Daley; need I say more? As opposed to Cleveland where in 1968 we proudly elected (well not me I wasn't of voting age yet but I would have voted for him!) the first African American Mayor in the United States: Carl B. Stokes. Secondly, do you think all the big industries got started in Chicago? Of COURSE not. Cleveland was THE place to ...
Comments 18
By Carole Cohen, Realtor, ePRO
(Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office)
It's happened too many times, the look of disappointment on a client's face when reality sets in. They want desperately to own a home, be a part of the American Dream, but they just don't qualify yet. Too much debt, no savings, medical bills, could be a lot of reasons. It makes me sad. It makes them sadder!We have gotten mixed messages for years about debt. Some economists say go ahead and use those credit cards, because consumer credit card debt is good for the economy. Some say it is an investment in the country. How much debt then is good? It's another one of those murky areas if you ask me. I've heard varying figures, but supposedly an average debt per family in the United States is $30,000. I don't even want to say how long it can take to pay off a $30,000 credit card. That's not m...
Comments 14