Friday, October 27, 2006

Selling a home in Stow or Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio?

Selling your home or thinking of putting your home on the market? Here are the market stats for July, 2006.

Stow: 196 homes for sale, 34 sold, 43 days on the market.

Cuyahoga Falls: 286 homes for sale, 42 sold, 58 days on the market. New stats coming soon.

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

Thinking of buying a home?

Thinking of buying a home, now may be the time. At Wednesday's meeting the Federal Reserve kept its lending interest rate at 5.25% which means interest rates on mortgages are virtually unchanged. If your a buyer the inventory of existing homes is up which means you will have plenty to choose from. According to the National Association of Realtors housing starts are down 18% from last year, new home sales are down 17%, existing home sales are down 14% and inventory of existing homes for sale is up 35%. Mortgage rates as of 10-27-2006 source Bloomberg: 15 yr current- 5.61, last month 5.47, 30yr current- 5.89, last month 5.75 and 1yr ARM current- 5.36, last month 5.26.

Other economic news
For the third quarter 2006 oil companies once again posted record profits.

Exxon Mobil $10.5 billion up 5.7% from last year
Shell $5.94 billion down 34% from last year

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

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Ohio's Governors Race

The election is November 7, 2006. Here is where the candidates stand on the issues.

Ted Strickland: Democrat, Assistant Minister Trinity United Methodist Church Portsmouth, Ohio 1997- present. His running mate is Lee Fisher, former Ohio Attorney General.

Ken Blackwell: Republican, Ohio secretary of state 1999- present. His running mate is State Rep. Tom Raga.

TAXES:
Strickland
Believes Ohio should take time to realize the effects of the tax reform which was recently passed. He says he won't cut taxes and also says he will not raise taxes.

Blackwell
Is in favor of cutting the states income tax to a flat 3.25%. He wants to do away with the stand alone estate tax and would roll back the state sales tax to 5%.


HEALTH CARE :
Strickland
Is in favor of creating an Ohio healthcare exchange where by small businesses and private insurers would come together to create low cost health care packages and make them available to uninsured Ohioans. Participation would be voluntary. Low income families would get help to pay for premiums.

Blackwell
Is in favor of creating the Buckeye Health Plan to cover uninsured Ohioans. The plan would match Ohioans with existing health care programs which would include the transfer of all Ohio's Medicaid programs to private insurance companies.

EDUCATION:
Strickland
Would spend $50 million per year on early childhood education and would establish a state department which would establish programs for children from prenatal to age 6. Also, college savings accounts which the state would contribute a total of $4,000 annually
over 18 years.

Blackwell
Is in favor of the 65 cent solution which requires 65 cents of every education dollar be spent in the classroom on books, teachers and supplies.


JOBS:
Strickland
Wants to expand state assistance to help save and grow business in Ohio. Also wants to invest in alternative fuels and clean energy technology which he believes would create 22,000 jobs. The plan includes ethanol production and clean coal technologies. He would also invest in the states broadband infrastructure.

Blackwell
Wants to lease the Ohio Turnpike for $4- $6 billion and use the money to start Jobs for Ohio Businesses Fund (JOB). The money would be spent on alternative energy development and clean coal, a revolving loan fund, improving turnpike corridor development and creating universal broadband access.

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

Summit and Portage County, Ohio Trick or Treat

Summit County, Ohio

Akron 5- 7 pm Oct 28
Barberton 5- 7 pm Oct 28
Bath Township 5- 7 pm Oct 29
Boston Heights 6- 8 pm Oct 31
Clinton 2- 4 pm Oct 29
Copley Township 5- 7 pm Oct 29
Coventry Township Each neighborhood sets times
Cuyahoga Falls 6- 8 pm Oct 28
Fairlawn 5- 7 pm Oct 29
Green 6- 8 pm Oct 29
Hudson Each neighborhood sets times
Macedonia 6- 8 pm Oct 31
Mogadore 2- 4 pm Oct 29
Munroe Falls 6- 8 pm Oct 28
New Franklin 6- 8 pm Oct 28
Norton 5- 7 pm Oct 29
Northfield 6- 8 pm Oct 31
Northfield Center Township 6- 8 pm Oct 31
Peninsula 6- 7 pm Oct 31
Reminderville 6- 8 pm Oct 31
Richfield 6- 8 pm Oct 31
Richfield Township 6- 8 pm Oct 31
Sagamore Hills Township 6- 8 pm Oct 31
Silver Lake 6- 8 pm Oct 28
Springfield Township 5- 7 pm Oct 28
Stow 6- 8 pm Oct 28
Tallmadge 5:30- 7 pm Oct 26
Twinsburg 6- 8 pm Oct 31

Portage County

Atwater Township 2- 4 pm Oct 29
Aurora 6- 8 pm Oct 31
Brimfield Township 2- 4 pm Oct 29
Franklin Township 3- 5 pm Oct 29
Garrettsville 5:30- 7 pm Oct 31
Hiram 5- 7 pm Oct 31
Kent 3- 5 pm Oct 29
Mantua 6- 8 pm Oct 31
Mantua Township 5- 7 pm Oct 31
Ravenna 3- 5 pm Oct 29
Ravenna Township 3- 5 pm Oct 29
Rootstown Township 1- 3 pm Oct 29
Shalersville Township 2- 5 pm Oct 29
Streetsboro 2- 4 pm Oct 29
Suffield Township 2- 4 pm Oct 29

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

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Schools

Cuyahoga Falls Board of Education is located at the Harold Wilson Administrative Center 431 Stow Avenue Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio www.cfalls.cummit.k12.oh.us

Superintendent: Dr. Edwin Holland
Assistant Superintendent: Walter Davis
Treasurer: Kathryn Sines

The Board of Education meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 7pm. Meetings are held in the board room at the Harold Wilson Administrative Center, 431 Stow Avenue.

Cuyahoga Falls Schools:

Dewitt Elementary School, Grades K-5 425 Falls Avenue, Cuyahoga Falls
Principal Curt Kennedy

Price Elementary School, Grades K-5 2610 Delmore Street, Cuyahoga Falls
Principal Dyanne Schoterman

Lincoln Elementary School, Grades K-5 3131 Bailey Road, Cuyahoga Falls
Principal Rose Heintz

Richardson Elementary School, Grades K-5 2226 23rd Street, Cuyahoga Falls
Principal Frank Margida

Preston Elementary School, Grades K-5 800 Tallmadge Road, Cuyahoga Falls
Principal Kirk Bennett

Silver Lake Elementary School, Grades K-5 2970 Overlook Road, Silver Lake
Principal Ellen McClure

Bolich Middle School, Grades 6-8 2630 13th Street, Cuyahoga Falls
Principal Chris McBurney

Roberts Middle School, Grades 6-8 3333 Charles Street, Cuyahoga Falls
Principal Tom Ratcliff

Cuyahoga Falls High School, 2300 4th Street, Cuyahoga Falls
Principal Nick Valentine

Schnee Learning Center, 2222 Issaquah Street, Cuyahoga Falls
Principal Mrs. Cardone

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Stow, Ohio Leaf Pickup

District 1: Areas north of Graham Road and east of Route 91, October 23- 28, November 13- 18

District 2: Areas north of Graham Road and west of Route 91, October 30- November 4, November 20-25

District 3: Areas south of Graham Road, November 6-11, November 27- December 1

* Leaves should be raked out to the edge of the street, not into the street.

* Leaves must be on the curb by 7am on the Monday of your scheduled week

* Leaves containing branches, brush, grass clippings or debris will not be picked up.

* Leaves that are bagged will not be picked up.

Source: Stow Sentry October 15, 2006

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

Stow, Ohio's School Tax

Issue 10 will be on the ballot Nov 07, 2006. If voted in, Stow and Munroe Falls residents could see the tax rate on their earned incomes increase 1/2%. The income tax rates of Stow and Munroe Falls would remain at 2%, but the earned incomes of residents would be taxed an additional 1/2%. For every $10,000 annual salary residents would pay an additional $50. Issue 10 will generate approximately $4.1 million annually for five years beginning in 2007. If passed the increase would take effect January 01, 2007.

School taxes already in place.

* In 2005 residents passed a 5.13 mill renewal levy which will generate approximately $4.6 million per year for five years.

* In 2003 a 7.7 mill renewal levy passed which will generate approximately $7.4 million per year until 2007.

* There is also a 5.4 mill permanent levy which collects $5.21 million per year and does not expire.

* In 1976 residents passed a continuing 11.41 mill levy that will generate approximately $11.54 annually and does not expire.

* In 1977 a continuing 3.18 mill levy was passed which will generate approximately $3.21 million annually.

* In 1983 residents passed a .87 mill bond which is slated to expire at years end, but the district changed the levy into a permanent improvement fund earlier this year so the bond will continue to generate money indefinitely.

* In 1995 residents passed a .53 bond for the Stow-Munroe Falls Library. This levy will generate $453,842 this year and is slated to expire in 2007.

If property values fluctuate these rates could change next year.

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

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Buying a Home, Know Your Mortgages

Buying a home, here are some mortgages the average home buyer should be aware of and avoid.

*Multiple Choice Mortgage- the pay-option adjustable rate mortgage (ARM)
This mortgage offers a low initial interest rate with the choice of four monthly payment options. Borrowers can make a payment on the interest and the principal on a fully amortized loan, or make a payment that doesn't cover all of the interest due on the mortgage. Many average home buyers are attracted to these mortgages because of the lower payment option, but could soon find they owe more than they originally borrowed. This mortgage should be avoided because the home buyer could end up owing more than they borrowed.

*Cash-Out Financing- 103's, 107's and 125's
With this mortgage homeowners take a mortgage for more money than their home is worth. There is also an option of borrowing an extra 3%, 7% or 25% of the properties value which could be used for closing costs, renovations or to payoff credit card debt. The home must appreciate enough to cover the amount of the loan, if not the homeowner will have to come up with extra cash to pay off the mortgage. The interest rate on this mortgage is generally 50% more than normal. This mortgage should be avoided because a home must appreciate in order to build equity.

*Adjustable-Rate Mortgages- 1yr and 3yr fixed rate ARM'S
The borrower locks into a lower than average interest rate for the first 1-3 years. This mortgage readjusts every year in tandem with short-term interest rates which are highly volatile. Since 2004 the 1yr ARM has increased two percentage points from 4% to 6%. The home buyer would be better off to lock into an interest rate on a 30yr fixed-rate mortgage so they won't have to worry about fluctuations in the short term interest rates. This mortgage should be avoided since the monthly payments are variable in just 1 to 3 years.

*Interest Only Payments- 3yr, 5yr, 7yr and 10yr interest only option on an ARM, aka interest only mortgages.
Borrowers only pay the interest on the loan for the first 3, 5, 7 or 10yrs of the loan with no money being applied to the principal. When the interest only period expires, the monthly payments balloon to cover the remaining interest and all of the principal payments on the mortgage. The borrower could then be forced into spending more money to refinance or end up having to sell their house. This mortgage should be avoided because monthly payments could quickly balloon.

*Fixed Rate Loans- 40yr and 50yr fixed-rate mortgages.
This mortgage amortizes over 40 or 50 years. This mortgage entices borrowers because the monthly payment is lowered, which is true. However, the savings are not that significant. An individual with a $300,000 mortgage would reduce the monthly payment approximately $80 with a 40yr mortgage vs a 30yr one. The borrower will end up paying more interest on the loan, the interest rate is generally 1/4 % more than a 30yr mortgage. This mortgage should be avoided because it builds equity slowly.

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

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Ohio Senate Races

Its election time, here are the top Ohio Senate races to watch.

13th Senate District which is Lorain, Huron and a portion of Seneca County. The candidates are Susan Morano (D) from Lorain and Martha Wise (R) from Avon.

27th Senate District which is portions of Summit county, parts of suburban and the city of Akron. The candidates are State Senator Kevin Coughlin (R) from Cuyahoga Falls and Judy Hanna (D) from Akron.

3rd Senate District which is portions of Franklin county and portions of suburban and portions of Columbus. The candidates are State Senator David Goodman (R) from Columbus and Emily Kreider (D) from Columbus.

5th Senate District which includes Miami and portions of Darke and Montgomery counties. The candidates are State Senator Tom Roberts (D) from Dayton and Donald K. McClaurin (R) also from Dayton.

29th Senate District which includes portions of Stark county. The candidates are State Senator
J. Kirk Schuring (R) from Canton and Thomas E. West (D) also from Canton.

Approximately half of the 33 districts of the Ohio senate are up for election.

Source: Stow Sentry, 10-04-2006

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

Selling a home in Stow or Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Selling your home in Stow or Cuyahoga Falls, here are some statistics you should be aware of.

In Cuyahoga Falls for the month of July, 2006, there were 273 homes for sale, 50 sold and they were on the market for 67 days.

In Stow for the month of July, 2006, there were 153 homes for sale, 39 sold and they were on the market for 66 days. Is your realtor giving you the market facts? New market statistics coming soon.

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

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Eminent Domain

Cuyahoga Falls mayor, Don Robart is preparing to begin eminent domain proceedings on the State Road Shopping center. Robart said the current condition of the shopping plaza is non productive for the area. The mayor would like to see the plaza torn down and rebuilt. The eminent domain proceedings are mean't to force GMS Management, the owners of the plaza, to consider selling the plaza. Eminent domain proceedings would allow a third party to establish a market price for the property. Robart would like to see a combination retail and residential apartments for the plaza. The remaining tenants in the plaza agree a change is needed. The mayor has a meeting scheduled with the leasing agent of the property next week which he views as a positive indication that a resolution could be reached in lieu of eminent domain proceedings.

Source: Akron Beacon Journal 09-26-06

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