Friday, May 18, 2012

Skyline photo by Andy Snow

Grants for Grads and other mortgage assistance programs for Ohioans

Graduation_Portrait

Congratulations to everyone who met a graduation goal this June! Whether it was high school or some level of college, hard work is always to be commended. What is your next move? Staying in Dayton Ohio, we hope. Buying a home? If so, you might want to take a look at the Grants for Grads… (continue…)

4 Quick and dirty tips for making the most of an Open House

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Don’t pass up a great Open House in Dayton Ohio just because you don’t want to talk to a Realtor. Understand the dynamics of situation, be clear about your goals going in, and above all, have fun!

How Dayton home sellers can create their own Seller’s Market in 2011

Seller financing options in Dayton Ohio

Here’s the thing: Everybody needs a place to live, and Daytonians are no different. So while you may have heard about changes in lending practices and how this will make it more difficult for buyers to obtain a loan through a lender, what this really means is that buyers and sellers in Dayton Ohio are looking at their options in seller financing- lease to own, land contracts.

Looking forward: Opportunities in the Dayton real estate market for 2011

HUD owned home in Dayton

there’s another story out there and it’s just as important to tell. There are new and beneficial real estate opportunities that have suddenly presented themselves to those people who have decided to move beyond fear and look at Dayton Ohio real estate with new eyes. I’d like to share a few of those stories.

One Year To A Better Neighborhood

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one of the things I hear from buyers is that they want to live in a neighborhood where residents really know each other. They want a sense of community and camaraderie. People don’t just buy a home, they buy into a neighborhood and they want to know that not only are there are people within shouting distance who’ve got their back, they want to find a neighborhood where their own presence is felt and appreciated. Not all neighborhoods come with a ready-made sense of community so maybe it’s up to you to be the change.

Oregon District holds its 2010 Candlelight Holiday Home Tour

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OD Holiday Home Tour participants will gather at “The Meeting House” which is 23 Van Buren Street, and end with a dessert at one of the hosting homes. Tickets for the home tour only are $25.00, payable at the door. The tours will begin at 6:30 pm, 7:00 pm, 7:30 pm and 8:00 pm each evening. Call Elaine at 937-223-5607 for details and reservations.

Dayton Holiday Home Tours 2010: Grafton Hill

GH Holiday Tour

Grafton Hill is going to open its doors to the public on Dec. 4 & 5, 2010. What’s on this tour? Seven architecturally significant historic homes including Queen Anne, Craftsman, and American Four-Square styles, in a variety of construction materials and stages of restoration. Expect this guided tour to take two to three hours, including a stop for assorted holiday food and beverages. Tours start at 5pm and 6pm Saturday, 2pm and 3pm Sunday.

McPherson Town Holiday Tour

McPherson Tour

The McPherson Town Holiday Tour will be held Thanksgiving weekend on the evenings of Friday November 26th & Saturday November 27th, 2010. This is a guided tour of 10 homes, some have been opened during past tours but Rick told me that there will be a variety of home styles, ages, and sizes, and homes in various stages of repair or disrepair, including an infill house. One of the more interesting homes on the tour is one that was once a complete rehab and made the cover of “Country Living” magazine. After that it was sold, fell into disrepair, and is now being rehabbed again.

Buying and selling a house of the living dead

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Let’s say you just moved into town, bought a house at a fair market value- that is, it’s not a foreclosure or otherwise discounted price- you paid a fair price for a property you love. You’ve moved in, you are settling in, and one day a neighbor tentatively knocks on your day to say hello and introduce themselves. The conversation naturally turns to your new home and your neighbor shakes their head sadly and says, “It’s so horrible what happened here.” You say…”Huh?” The neighbor explains, “Yeah! Six months ago there was a murder/suicide in the master bedroom. Didn’t you know?”

Five Oaks Dayton: How community gardens create community

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The area just north of Grafton Hill is another historic Dayton neighborhood called Five Oaks. Each historic neighborhood in Dayton has its own vibe and to me, Five Oaks is one of the more difficult to get a handle on. Maybe that’s because there are several historic sub-districts within FO, or perhaps the gated streets, while creating “defensible space” throughout the neighborhood, also make it difficult for non-residents to casually wander through, but I’m told these gates do indeed serve their intended purpose of creating a strong sense of community and neighborhood ownership for the residents. This summer that sense of community was increased by one garden plot.