Breast Cancer Walk

Come out and get some exercise and raise awareness for a great cause. Sunday, October 15, 2006 there will be a 3.1 mile walk for breast cancer. The walk will be at Akron Aeros Stadium 300 South Main Street Akron, Ohio 44308. If you are unable to attend the walk you may mail a contribution to American Cancer Society 525 North Broad Street Canfield, Ohio 44406 or make a donation online at www.cancer.org/stridesonline, their secure site. Funds raised are used for investment in breast cancer research, provide lifesaving screening tests and treatment, regardless of income, promote mammography for early detection of breast cancer and offer free programs for patients and families.

Marine Fundraiser

A fundraiser for Marine Cpl. Joe Tomci will be held Friday September 29, 2006 5- 10pm at Acker-Moore Memorial Post at 3733 Fishcreek Road Stow, Ohio 44224. Cpl. Tomci, a Stow resident was killed in August by a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq. The fundraiser is to raise money for military families in memory of Cpl. Tomci. The fund was established by Huntington National Bank to help families of military personnel. The fundraiser will include a meal of pasta, meatballs, sausage, salad, Italian bread and desert. The cost for adults is $8 and children $4.

Questions or comments: write or email eugene.dougherty@realliving.com

Home Heating

We are approaching that time of year when the cost of heating our homes will put a dent in our wallets. Residents in Stow who are members of the City's natural gas aggregation program, which is supplied by Vectren, can expect to pay a fixed rate of $11.70/Mcf for all gas consumed during the upcoming winter months starting with bills prepared after November 02, 2006. If you are a resident or business in the city of Stow currently in the aggregate program you need not take any action, you will automatically receive the fixed rate. If you are not enrolled in the aggregate program you can call Vectren Source at 1-866-200-5634 for information and a comparison to your current natural gas provider.

Source: Stow Sentry 09-21-2006

Questions or comments: write or email eugene.dougherty@realliving.com

Housing Construction Falls to Three Year Low

According to the commerce department housing starts fell 6% last month to 1.655 million. The growth in new housing, which fueled the economy for half a decade is now declining. This raises concerns with leading economists that the slowdown will slow the rest of the economy. The Fed is expected to keep the interest rate at 5.25% when they meet on 09-20-2006 (the Fed did keep interest rates at 5.25% at their 09-20-2006 meeting).

New housing starts declined in all regions except for the northeast which was up 5.4%. There was a 12% decline in the midwest, 6.1% decline in the south and and 5.5% decline in the west. In the month of September building permits for new homes fell to 1.722 million from 1.763 million in the previous month. This trend is also causing inventories of unsold homes to rise.

Realtors forecast the median existing home prices will rise 2.8% this year to $225,900 after a rise in 2005 of 10.5%.

Source: Bloomberg 09-19-2006

Questions or comments: write or email eugene.dougherty@realliving.com

Selling a home in Stow or Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Selling a home in Stow or the Falls, here is some housing statistics.

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio: In June 2006, there were 328 houses for sale, 68 sold and the homes were on the market for 61 days.

Stow,Ohio: In June 2006, there were 185 houses for sale, 29 sold and the homes were on the market for 77 days. New stats coming soon.

Questions or comments: write or email eugene.dougherty@realliving.com

Stows Law Rescinded

Residents living in Stow will no longer be billed for police department services as a result of being involved in a traffic infraction. On Thursday 09-14-06 City Council voted to rescind the program aka the cost recovery program. Individuals who were charged will have 60 days from the date the mayor signs legislation to apply for reimbursement. The exact day the mayor will sign the legislation is still unknown. To receive reimbursement citizens will have to send a written application to the mayors office and be prepared to provide proof they were billed and paid the fee, citizens can contact the mayors office for more information.

Source: Stow Sentry 09-17-2006

Questions or comments: write or email eugene.dougherty@realliving.com

Homes for Sale

Economic growth is slowing and one of the reasons is a slowing housing market. This should allow the federal reserve to keep interest rates steady through the first half of 2007. Higher mortgage rates resulted in home sales being down which further resulted in less cash consumers had to spend over the five year housing boom. The housing slow down is also responsible for consumers having less cash from refinancing and home appreciation.

On 09-07-2006, The National Association of Realtors reduced their forecast for 2006 home sales and went on to say there are currently a record number of homes on the market.

On a somewhat positive note as of 09-12-2006 a barrel of crude oil: $63.76, the lowest since 03-22-2006 and as of 09-12-2006 mortgage rates: 15 year- 5.65%, 30 year- 5.94%, 1year ARM- 5.31%.

Source: Bloomberg News

Questions or comments write or email eugene.dougherty@realliving.com

Your Real Estate Agent

Is your real estate agent representing your best interests? Under Ohio law real estate agents are allowed to practice three types of agency, sellers agency, buyers agency and dual agency. A sellers agent represents the seller and only the seller of a home, the sellers agent must follow the sellers lawful instructions, be loyal to the seller, promote the sellers best interest, disclose material facts to the seller, maintain confidential information, act with reasonable skill and care and account for any money they handle in the transaction.

A buyers agent represents the buyer and only the buyer of a home, the buyers agent must follow the buyers lawful instructions, be loyal to the buyer, promote the buyers best interests, disclose material facts to the buyer, maintain confidential information and account for any money they handle in the transaction.

In dual agency, a real estate agent represents the seller and the buyer. The dual agent must maintain a neutral position in the transaction. They may not advocate the position of one client over the best interests of the other client.

Questions or comments write or email eugene.dougherty@realliving.com

Stow's Law

Have a traffic infraction in Stow and expect to be billed for the services of the police department. Under the current system aka the cost-recovery program citizens of Stow are being billed for police department services. The mayor and city council members are meeting this week to discuss discontinuing the program. Billing is being handled by a company by the name of Cost Recovery Corp who was sending the bills to an individuals insurance company. A spokesman for Cost Recovery Corp said they were surprised to learn that the insurance companies were passing the bills along to the individual involved in the infraction. According to city council there are police departments in 13 other states that have the same program. All this poses a question that should be obvious. Isn't this what tax dollars are for?

Source: Stow Sentry Sunday 09-10-06

Questions or comments: write or email eugene.dougherty@realliving.com

Schools in Stow and Cuyahoga Falls

Stow, Ohio:
Buying a home in Stow, Ohio or Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, or if you are a current resident here is some general school information.

Stow- Munroe Falls High School average class size in math, science and English is 25. 45% of students take the SAT scoring 546 in math and 548 in verbal. 58% of students take the ACT scoring 22.7. There are 390 seniors, 95% receive diplomas, 70% attend a four year college and 5% attend junior college.

District Information:
The school district spends $8,360 per student. There are 6,053 students with 252 teachers and staff. The student to teacher ratio is 24. Median years of teaching experience is 13. The lowest grade level is PK, highest is 12.

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio:
Cuyahoga Falls High School average class size in math, science and English is 25. 25% of students take the SAT scoring 525 in math and 500 in verbal. 60% of students take the ACT scoring 22.6. There are 378 seniors, 95% receive diplomas, 50% attend four year colleges and 10% attend junior college.

District Information:
The school district spends $8,244 per student. There are 4,853 students with 202 teachers and staff. The student to teacher ratio is 24. Median years of teaching experience is 13. The lowest grade level is K, highest is 12.

Source of data eschoolsprofile.com 09-06

Questions or comments write or email eugene.dougherty@realliving.com