Cincinnati Real Estate Blog » real estate http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:58:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 en hourly 1 Spring has Sprung in Cincinnati Real Estate http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/spring-has-sprung-in-cincinnati-real-estate http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/spring-has-sprung-in-cincinnati-real-estate#comments Sun, 13 Apr 2008 16:58:00 +0000 admin http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/spring-has-sprung-in-cincinnati-real-estate Spring has Sprung in Cincinnati Real Estate
by Matt Clark, Cincinnati Realtor
Cincinnati Real Estate

Although today is a bit chilly, the past week we’ve had beautiful weather here in Cincinnati! The nice weather reminds us of summer and it also reminds us that if you’re going to move this spring or summer you better get out there and start looking! The winter months are normally a bit slower than the rest of the year for Cincinnati real estate, but now the buyers are coming out of hibernation and they are out there in full force. I’ve seen this spring spurt in activity on my own listings, and all of our office listings, as well as with the buyers that I’m working for. Just today as I was putting up balloons for my open house, a car pulled up outside the house and had a list of questions for me. As I spoke with her I could see the dashboard of the car scattered with flyers and information about properties (reminds me of what my car looks like).

Buyers are out and about and reinvigorated by this great spring weather. If you are looking for a home, I would love to help you through the process, just give me a call! You should have a buyer’s agent working for you! The seller pays for it; not you! I’d love to help..(513) 533-5864

Enjoy the weather!

]]> http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/spring-has-sprung-in-cincinnati-real-estate/feed 0 Credit Score. Two IMPORTANT Words for Buying a Home http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/credit-score-two-important-words-for-buying-a-home http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/credit-score-two-important-words-for-buying-a-home#comments Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:02:00 +0000 admin http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/credit-score-two-important-words-for-buying-a-home Credit Score. Two IMPORTANT Words for Buying a Home
by Matt Clark, Cincinnati Realtor
Cincinnati Real Estate

What is your credit score? If you can’t answer this question, clear out the next hour of your life and get serious about your finances.
Your credit score is quite possibly the most important number of your adult life. From your very first job, credit card, bank account, your actions are being watched (and judged) by a credit bureau. This three digit number can be the deciding factor between you being able to buy a home or not. Your score will range from 300-850 with scores over 720 receiving the best interest rates and other perks.

As banks are more reluctant to loan money, credit scores needed to qualify for a mortgage raise. Having a lower score will cost you more money or may even mean you won’t qualify at all.

Moral of the story: GO CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORT. RIGHT NOW.


As a citizen of Ohio you have the ability to order a credit report for FREE once a year from each of the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). This can be done at http://www.annualcreditreport.com/
There are some companies out there that advertise a free credit report if you sign up for some service of theirs, but don’t be fooled into paying for something you don’t want. http://www.annualcreditreport.com/
This is the official website to access your report for free. No strings attached.

Make sure all the info contained in the report is correct and if you find any incorrect items contact the bureaus to remedy them. To see your actual score, you may have to pay an additional charge (usually $10-15), but it is most important that all the information about you and your accounts contained in the report are correct. You can order one free report every year from each of the three bureaus.

Very analytical like I am? Order one report every four months from a different bureau. This equates to one every year from EACH bureau and will be ABSOLUTELY FREE. Put it on your calendar, and DO IT. More on credit to come next week…in the mean time, go order your free report! It takes just a few minutes and could be the difference in getting your dream home or not.

]]> http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/credit-score-two-important-words-for-buying-a-home/feed 0 Ignore the Headlines http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/ignore-the-headlines http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/ignore-the-headlines#comments Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:23:00 +0000 admin http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/ignore-the-headlines Ignore the Headlines
by Matt Clark, Cincinnati Realtor
Cincinnati Real Estate

I recently read a great article written by Dan Kadlec in TIME Magazine titled Ignore the Headlines.

If you were to believe everything you read and heard these days, it might give you good reason to believe that the world might be ending soon. “Sitting on your thumbs” is how Dan Kadlec expresses what many buyers are doing these days.

THIS IS THE TIME TO BUY! BUY EVERYTHING YOU CAN! This is a great real estate market in Cincinnati right now. Home prices are about as low as they’re going to get. Interest rates might be as low as they’re going to get. This article has a great comparison of what you may lose by “waiting to see the bottom” or “sitting on your thumbs.”

When the market actually hits bottom, you’re not going to realize it until it has already started on the upswing. What are you waiting for? Although the 12 inches of snow we’re predicted to get this weekend says it is still winter, as a real estate professional I’m already seeing the spring market peek it’s head out with increased showings on properties and more active buyers and sellers.

Give me a call today, it is a GREAT TIME TO BUY!

]]> http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/ignore-the-headlines/feed 0 FREE Home Warranty http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/free-home-warranty http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/free-home-warranty#comments Sun, 10 Feb 2008 19:25:00 +0000 admin http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/free-home-warranty FREE Home Warranty
by Matt Clark, Cincinnati Realtor
Cincinnati Real Estate

Unfortunately for a seller, home buyers in today’s Cincinnati real estate market expect a seller to throw in some “freebies.” This may take the form of a reduced price, home warranty, closing costs, washer & dryer, etc.

Offering a buyer a home warranty is a great way to not only make a buyer confident in the condition of your home’s systems and appliances, but also offer them a concession, and at a VERY reasonable price for the seller.

A home warranty MUST be part of your marketing plan in this current real estate market to set yourself apart from other homes not offering this guarantee. RIGHT NOW I AM OFFERING TO PAY FOR THIS COVERAGE (normally a cost to the seller) WHEN YOU LIST YOUR HOME WITH ME. THIS WILL SAVE YOU UP TO $400!!

If you’re planning to do some fix ups and list your home this summer, that is great too! I’ll pay for your warranty THEN as long as you call me NOW and let me know about your plans for selling.

Give me a call today or send me a message at www.MattClarkCincinnati.com and mention this blog!

]]> http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/free-home-warranty/feed 0 The market may not be BOOMING, but CINCINNATI still has it good.. http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/the-market-may-not-be-booming-but-cincinnati-still-has-it-good http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/the-market-may-not-be-booming-but-cincinnati-still-has-it-good#comments Wed, 09 Jan 2008 04:29:00 +0000 admin http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/the-market-may-not-be-booming-but-cincinnati-still-has-it-good [January 8, 2008 Press release from the Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors]

November Pending Cincinnati Home Sales Off 8%
Compared to National Slide of 19%

Pending home sales in southwest Ohio and southeast Indiana in November were as follows:
Pending sales Nov. 2007 1,522
Pending sales Nov. 2006 1,656
Local Variance -8.1%
Nationwide Variance -19.2%

Pending sales are contracts written, but not yet closed. Closings typically occur 30-45 days
after contracts are accepted, with the exception of cash transactions, which close faster.
“November and December typically are our slower months,” said Karen Schlosser, president
of the Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors. “Sales then pick up in January and are strongest
from March through August.”
Several factors have affected the market this past year, including subprime mortgage loans
and higher-than-usual housing inventory.
“Smart buyers now have a distinct advantage with the array of homes for their buying
consideration,” said Schlosser. “Add to that attractive prices and low mortgage rates.”

]]> http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/the-market-may-not-be-booming-but-cincinnati-still-has-it-good/feed 0 5 Energy Saving Ideas for the New Year http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/5-energy-saving-ideas-for-the-new-year http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/5-energy-saving-ideas-for-the-new-year#comments Sun, 30 Dec 2007 04:44:00 +0000 admin http://www.mattclarkcincinnati.com/5-energy-saving-ideas-for-the-new-year One of the joys of owning a home in Cincinnati is that you can have the air conditioning on one day and need to turn the heat on the next. Although we can’t change the weather, there are some simple things we can do to reduce energy usage and save money.

Here are 5 EASY energy saving tips that will begin paying for themselves in no time!

  • Change your air filters
    • Cost = $30/year, Savings = $100/year, Skill Level = Amateur
    • Replacement filters cost less than $10 a piece and should be changed quarterly.
  • Install a programmable thermostat
    • Cost = $50, Savings = $100/year, Skill Level = Amateur
    • A smart thermostat will allow you to dial down the temp during hours when you’re sleeping or not home and then bring it back to your desired level throughout your waking hours.
  • Wrap your water heater in a blanket
    • Cost = $20, Savings = $34-54/year, Skill Level = Amateur
    • A water heater that is just a few years old can lose a few degrees per hour. Adding more insulation with a water heater blanket will pay for itself in a matter of a few months.
  • Use a smart power strip
    • Cost = $30, Savings = $30/year, Skill Level = Amateur
    • Can’t believe that a TV or stereo uses just as much energy when it’s turned off than when it’s in use? This blows my mind as well. Why go through the pain of unplugging all your electrical devices when not in use when a smart power strip will cut that energy usage for you.
  • Install compact fluorescent bulbs
    • Cost = $5, Savings = $5/year, Skill Level = Amateur
    • An energy efficient bulb can last ten times as long as a normal incandescent bulb and save almost $50 over the life of the bulb.

Start 2008 off by reducing your energy consumption; it’s good for the environment, and your wallet.

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