The global conscience regarding the environment has rapidly shifted in recent years, and an interest in saving energy (and money!) is shared by many people in all demographics. Homebuyers in particular are making more energy efficient choices in the search for their next home. As a result, energy inspections for home sales are increasingly an important step in the home selling process. Energy Audit Checklists Whether your house is on the market now or selling is only something you're considering, you'll be ahead of the game if your home has undergone an energy audit. A good place to start is our earlier article, "Strategies to Help Save Energy In Your Home." When the weather cools, it's time to look into programmable thermostats, a few touch-ups on your weather stripping, better insulat... 08/12/2012

There was an interesting article in Healthy Living News (http://hlntoledo.com) which reminded me of what all of us should do when away from our homes.  Well, I hadn't thought much about it--we always lock the door, put the security system on, notify the neighbors that we will be gone, stop the mail & newspaper.  So that should be enough--right?  Wrong! #1--Don't broadcast your departure--really?  What this means is:  don't broadcast you departure in Facebook or Twitter that you will be out of town.  Or worse yet--that you are currently partying in .... (Aruba, France, Canada, etc).  Ok that makes sense. #2--Take a critical look at your landscaping--what does that mean?  It means overgrown bushes and other landscape plants located near home entrances.  Another example is a tree that is g... 07/22/2012

Own this home with as little as $2100 out of pocket and a monthly payment of just $531 a month or less which includes taxes and home owners insurance. Credit & income requirements apply. Rates subject to change. 3506 Torrance Drive, Toledo, Ohio 43612 This property is friendly on your pocket!  Ready for your furniture with a spacious floor plan designed with comfort in mind.   ADDED VALUE and ENERGY EFFICIENT (MONEY SAVING) AMENITIES      Easy maintenance brick exterior      Solid construction, exceptionally well cared for      Large fenced yard      Shed for additional storage      Dog run      Detached 2 car garage      Patio and deck      Energy efficient windows      Whole house (saves on air conditioning costs)      Central Air for those really muggy days and nights      Efficient,... 07/18/2012

By: John Mangas Broker / Owner  RE/MAX Preferred Associates     Spring has given way to Summer.   Just like how the seeds that we planted in our gardens have blossomed into flowers, the Metro-Toledo real estate market is blossoming. Single family and Condo/Villa properties are showing a lower number of days on the market and an increased number being sold.   The Toledo Board of Realtors statistics show that closed sales for May 2012 were up 20% from May 2011.  Additionally, our internal data shows that 2012 closed units for our agency, RE/MAX Preferred through June 27th  when compared to the same period in 2011 are up 15.9%.   We are seeing additional activity nationally and also in our local market for new homes and new construction contracts. The pent-up demand for new homes is begin... 07/06/2012

Toledo OH Area May 2012 Real Estate Market Report. Provided by the Toledo Board of Realtors. Sales of single-family homes reported in May by the Toledo Board of REALTORS totaled 706, the highest figure yet this year! This was as increase of 20% compared to May 2011. The Northwest Ohio area has now experienced monthly increases in sales for the last 5 months. Sales volume generated by May's activity totaled $874 million, leading to an average sales price of $110,737. This represented an increase of 8% compared to last May. Sales through May reached 2,618, a 10% increase over 2011 when 2,370 transactions occurred for the same period. The average sales price year-to-date stood at $126,871 and represented a 2% decline from 2011's year-to-date numbers. 1,304 listings were added to the system... 06/20/2012

The current state of the real estate market can make it easier to get more for your money, but it's not a given that every house will be a great deal. If you're looking for a super deal in a crummy market, you may have to put up with inconvenience, pay in cash or be confident about your home improvement skills. Offer Cash Green talks. If your offer isn't contingent on financing, you may be able to talk your way into a very sweet deal. Obviously, this kind of deal is contingent on your ability to come up with the cash to pay for a house without a mortgage. If you are in a bidding war for a property, cash can seal the deal due to the security that it provides the seller, assuring an easy close. Non-cash sales can be contingent on appraisals, the property condition and the ability of the h... 06/10/2012

Real Estate News: Do We Need Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae? There’s a flicker of hope despite the nightmarish poverty and unemployment numbers released in the past week. Signaling that the government is indeed concerned about the housing market situation, top Senate lawmakers started debating housing finance reforms at a Congressional panel. Among the issues taken up were whether to wind down government backed entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Many people following the housing market have wondered, why do we need Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae at this stage in the game? According to Reuters, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree that the two entities should be “wound down,” but senators can’t decide where the government should have a role in doling out housing finance subsidies. Senat... 06/09/2012

  Despite the pall and gloom surrounding the nation’s real estate market, there are pockets across the country showing some recovery signs. A new economic index released by the National Association of Home Builders measuring improvement in areas such as housing permits, employment and housing prices for at least six months found a string of cities slowly emerging from the housing slump. On the spotlight are: Alexandria, LA; Anchorage, AK; Bangor, ME; Bismarck, ND; Casper, WY; Fairbanks, AK; Fayetteville, NC; Houma, LA; Midland, TX; New Orleans, LA; Pittsburgh, PA and Waco, TX. “By examining key indicators of home prices, employment and housing permits data, we are using a comprehensive, but conservative method in determining which markets are improving,” said NAHB Chief Economist David ... 06/06/2012

If you’re thinking about selling your home, you are probably asking yourself, “How do I find out how much a house in my neighborhood sold for, and are the prices houses sold for in my neighborhood comparable to the price I could ask for my house?” When deciding how much you should list your house for, you have a couple of options. A CMA will Show what Prices Houses Sold for in Your Neighborhood If you’re looking to sell your home, a real estate agent will be able to give you the prices houses sold for in your neighborhood. This will help you determine how much you should list your home for. If you’re selling your home, you need to get the best and most accurate pricing data you can a If you’re thinking about selling your own home as "For Sale By Owner” or if you’re just doing research o... 06/05/2012

By John Mangas, Real Estate Broker at RE/MAX Preferred Toledo, Ohio I had the great privilege to be in Washington DC for the REALTOR Rally at the Washington Monument. There was patriotic music, terrific speeches and a feeling of oneness. But the message was much, much more. Home ownership matters. It’s the reason that many of our ancestors came to America in the first place and the legacy was demonstrated throughout the program. People spoke about the tangible benefits of home ownership such as a great long term investment. However, they also spoke how owning your own home provides a sense of community and can even be traced to higher testing scores among students. Home owners take pride in their property and get involved in the neighborhood, schools and community in ways that are meani... 05/23/2012

Our company was founded in December 2001 and between that time and now, May 2012 we have accomplished an extraordinary amount of recognition.  I am proud to be a Re/Max Preferred Associate in Toledo, Ohio.                                                                                                05/13/2012

First up is some positive breaking news for the housing market. Shadow inventory of homes is declining, providing a dose of good news for the glum housing market. Shadow inventory, or homes on the verge of foreclosure, fell to 1.6 million units representing a five-months supply in July compared to 1.9 million units representing a six-months supply a year ago, according to CoreLogic. It’s a good sign that troubled homes, normally headed toward foreclosures, are getting sold faster. Lesser inventory will help stabilize falling prices on homes for sale. Of course we won’t be seeing a drastic change in numbers, but even a small percentage of troubled homes off the market is a blessing for sellers and the industry as a whole. "The steady improvement in the shadow inventory is a positive deve... 05/01/2012

I ran across this article in Lowe's Creative Ideas section and wanted to share their idea with you.  It doesn't take much time and I think looks fantastic when finished.  Juse a little something to do on the weekend! Water Feature Create a relaxing addition to your outdoor space with this unique water feature. All it takes is a few boards, some common plumbing parts, a sheet of decorative aluminum, and a little time in the workroom.   Make the BoxStep 1: From a 1"×12", cut the sides (A) and top (B) to length (Cutting List & Diagram). From 1"×4" boards, cut the bottoms (C), cross rails (F), and side rails (G) to length. From a 1"×8", cut the wave boards (D) and front (E) to length.Step 2: Assemble the outer frame—the sides, top, and bottoms—using glue and 2" deck screws (Drawing 1, Proje... 04/20/2012

Getting the house you want at the price you want can be tricky – even in a buyer’s market. Sometimes a home seller just isn’t willing to budge on price. Don’t despair! There are other ways to sweeten the deal and drive it to close in a buyer’s market. Here are seven tips on how to negotiate with a home seller.       Get the Dirt on the Home Seller Learn as much as you can about the motivations and situation of the home sellers. For instance, if they’re living in the house and they need flexibility around the closing date, you could offer to be flexible on closing if they move on terms. In the case of estate properties, take some time to learn about the heirs - where they live, what kinds of houses they live in and whether or not they are in legal or financial trouble. It sounds creepy,... 04/16/2012

                                                        It's Spring in Holland, Ohio and everything is blooming--even the dandelions!  My hyacinths have bloomed and have a wonderful smell, the Pear Tree is blooming and starting to spread it flowers all around, and the grass is growing!  Did you hear me say--THE GRASS IS GROWING!.  Now it's the week whacker and the edger and the mulch and the flowers are blooming in Holland, Ohio Happy Easter everyone and enjoy your day.  We are having family over with the menu as follows:  ham, glazed sweet potatoes,corn, homemade canned beets, Olive Garden Salad, and Costco's Carrot Cake with ice cream, of course!    Here's another picture to bring the site of Spring to you--      HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!  ENJOY THE DAY!     04/08/2012

 A high percentage of ownership can indicate an area where people like to live and stable property prices. While a high percentage of rentals could indicate an area with shifting demographics, a younger community, or possibly a downtown area. High vacancy rates can indicate that the market is unhealthy and that it could be tough to sell a home in this area. 04/04/2012

                                            This chart shows home occupancy within an area. A high percentage of ownership can indicate an area where people like to live and stable property prices. While a high percentage of rentals could indicate an area with shifting demographics, a younger community, or possibly a downtown area. High vacancy rates can indicate that the market is unhealthy and that it could be tough to sell a home in this area. 04/04/2012

                              Review the inventory and health of the market by looking at the number of sold and listed properties To understand if the market inventory is growing or shrinking, compare the number of sold properties to new listings. If inventory is growing, the market could be trending toward a buyer's market. If inventory is shrinking, then it could be a seller's market. Gauge the health of the market by comparing the number of standard to distressed listings. If the number of distressed listings is greater, the market could be unhealthy and more likely a buyer's market.                                                                      Sold: Properties sold that month                                                            New: Listings that are new on the market ... 04/04/2012

                                     Long Road to Recovery Despite encouraging signs of a recovering market, economists and industry experts predict that the the dark cloud hovering over the housing market has yet to move away. “Real recovery remains far from reality,” according to a Washington Post story. So, don’t be misled by improving numbers.                                              “There has been some improvement, but the numbers are still abysmal,” Patrick Newport, U.S. economist at IHS Global Insight told the Washington Post. “The market is doing really badly; it’s just doing better than it was early in the year.” A report by consumer advocacy group Center for Responsible Lending found that the barrage of homes lost to foreclosures will continue for some time, which is a t... 04/04/2012

                                                         How to Bid on a Repossessed Home                                                  With the downturn in the economy, many homes have been repossessed or are known as distressed properties. Bidding on a repossessed home can be a great value and save a prospective buyer anywhere from 10 to 70 percent because banks or government agencies are eager to unload the properties. However, when bidding on a repossessed home, the buyer must remit all funds at the time the auction closes. Unless you have a large cash reserve or are able to arrange a large reserve from your lender in advance, bidding on a repossessed home or distressed property may not be possible for the average consumer. Bidding on a repossessed home is also a challenging proc... 04/04/2012