Real Estate Information Archive

FORGET THE LEADER!

On the playground of any school, and on any day, you can witness examples of children playing "follow the leader." One hops, skips, or jumps, and all the others follow. As adults, however, many of those children play a variation of that game - called "follow the follower."

On the job, they look around, see how someone else is doing their work, and duplicate the effort. What they don't realize is that their fellow employee is also watching someone else. A circular game of "follow the follower" evolves, resulting in a mediocre work force. The same can be true in marriages, education, hobbies, and sports.

Consider the story of a telephone operator in a small town. Every day she received a call from a gentleman asking for the correct time. Finally, one day, she asked the mystery caller who he was and why he called every day. His answer? "I'm the one who blows the whistle at the factory each day at noon. I like to be right on time!" The operator laughed and then responded, "Here at the telephone company, we set our watches and clocks by the noon whistle at the factory!"

Tired of playing follow the follower? Want to rejuvenate your life? Begin acting like the unique person you already are. See what everyone else is doing . . . and do something different. Strike out in the direction of your own imagination instead of theirs.

In the words of Henry David Thoreau, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined."

The 8,000 first time home buyer tax credit has been extended and their is now a credit for buyers who have owned their current home 5 years or more. 

Search of the MLS in the Toledo area. 

The Lohman Team RE/MAX Preferred  would love to help you with the purchase or sale of your next home. We pride ourselves in the ability to market well on the internet and get the most exposure for your home for sale.

We serve the greater Toledo area; including Sylvania, Holland, Perrysburg, Maumee, and Monclova.

 Check out our website at   NancyLohman.com    or  ToledoMLS

 Call us anytime.

Nancy Lohman 419-360-4735     Bob Lohman 419-360-4437

Nancy Stemmle 419-867-3898   Bert Spangenthal 419-346-1458

Consumer confidence falls in June.

I recently saw this article in the Toledo Blade about the slowing real estate market in Toledo, and I am going to quote a few lines from it.

Jun 30, 12:06 PM EDT

Though a housing rebound is far away, the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index of 20 major cities tumbled by 18.1 percent, the third consecutive month the decline was not a record. And yearly losses in 13 metros improved compared to March.

The 20-city index is off almost 33 percent from its peak in the second quarter of 2006, which means home values are now around 2003 levels. The 10-city index fell 18 percent from the year before.

By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO
AP Retail Writer

You can read the entire article by clicking this link.

As many people know this is happening all over Toledo.  It is very hard for home sellers to believe that this is actually happening to their home values.  These are very trying times. In many areas of the country housing values have always had big swings up and down. However, in Toledo, Ohio we have always had a very slow increase in property values. Our lows have never been very low and the highs never very high. This is the first time for our homeowners in Toledo to really feel a decrease in value.  It is a very hard pill to swallow. 

Now the Lucas County Auditors office is about the business of re-evaluating our property values. Here is a portion of an article on their website. 

AUDITOR SETS NEW VALUES FOR 2009

This year, the Auditor's office is required under the law to issue a new value for your property. This process is referred to as a Triennial Update, which occurs three years after a Revaluation (2006). Under the law, we review the market sales that have occurred over the past three years (2006, 2007, and 2008, with emphasis on 2008 sales).

You can read the entire article by clicking this link.

Notices will be sent out to Home Owners in Lucas County. 

The reason I am blogging about this situation is that myself and all the Realtors in the city are living with this everyday.  We talk to people everyday trying to explain why their home is not worth what they think.  So many have taken equity lines of credit against their mortgages and now they are "upside down".  Some are going into Foreclosure and some are able to sell Short of what they owe in a "short sale".

It may take some time before things start to get better.  Right now the area home prices are a moving target.  And right now that target is still moving down.  If you are selling you need to be better than the hundreds of other homes on the market.

If you have to have your home on the market, try to be realistic.  Hopefully you will make up the difference in the possible low price you get on the home you move to.

The Lohman Team ReMax Preferred Associates would be happy to talk to you about your real estate needs.

www.nancylohman.com  website

Nancy Lohman 419-360-4735    Bob Lohman  419-360-4437

Nancy Stemmle 419-867-3898   Bert Spangenthal  419-346-1458

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:

SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE!

Ever notice how those around you sometimes keep their best ideas to themselves? Perhaps it's you who calls for information from a supplier about a hot new prospecting idea . . . and asks that the information be mailed to your home so others in the office won't see it. Even if the shoe fits, you're not alone and won't be condemned for not sharing.

On the other hand, have you noticed how those who are most successful rarely mind sharing and teaching others their best moves? It's like lighting a candle. Those who are comfortable with their own success rarely feel threatened if they light someone else's candle. They know they will lose none of their own shining light by igniting the candle of opportunity for someone else.

How is candle-lighting best accomplished? First, it takes an understanding of your own strengths. Perhaps you're blessed with a beautiful smile and a never-ending supply of good attitude. If so, the candle you light for others may be words of hope and encouragement. Maybe time management and efficiency in your work ethic are your forte. If so, be a teacher and mentor to those who are not so focused.

The list of possibilities is long, but you probably get the point. Give your strength to others with no thought of reward. Do it every day. The simple candle you carry, when shared, may turn another's life into a multi-colored roman candle of health, happiness . . . and success.

The Lohman Team - ReMax Preferred Assoicates - Nancy Lohman  419-360-4735,  Bob Lohman 419-360-4437, Nancy Stemmle 419-867-3898, Bert Spagenthal 419-346-1458  Real Estate agents working together to give you the best possible service. We serve the greater Toledo Area including: Toledo,Sylvania,Holland,Maumee, Monclova,Perrysburg, Waterville, Whitehouse, and Swanton.  Call us today! Unfortunately we are becoming experts at short sales , and forclosures, we can help.