Knox County OH Real Estate Update

If you’ve turned on the news or read a newspaper lately, you have certainly heard all of the buzz around the national housing market crisis. Some news media is even referring to it as “Mortgage Meltdown 2007.” In the wake of recent changes in interest rates and credit standards, Realty Trac (an online marketer of foreclosure properties) has announced that the recent influx of foreclosure filings showed now signs of easing as of July 2007.

Foreclosure filings in July 2007 showed a 9 percent rise over those filed in June 2006 and a startling 93 percent increase compared with July 2006.

Read the full article here, and please remember that an experienced Realtor is always your best resource if you think you may be facing foreclosure in the future. We can lay out your options for you and give you a realistic view of the current housing market.

To learn more about the latest in the housing market and Knox County OH real estate, please visit my website or call me today at 740-397-7800.

Tips for Homeowners in Knox County, OH

We have all seen the recent coverage of Hurricane Dean and, hitting very close to home, the flooding in Findlay. If you are not familiar with your homeowners insurance policy coverage, now is a great time for homeowners everywhere to review their policies. Homeowners should take a good look at their policies before a natural disaster strikes so that they can know what to expect if and when you need to file a claim. Here are 5 tips for understanding your Homeowners Insurance:

1. Look for exclusions to coverage. For example, most policies do not cover flood or earthquake damage as a standard item – these coverages must be purchased separately.

2. Look for dollar limitations on claims. Even if you are covered for a risk, there may be a limit on how much the insurer will pay. For example, many policies limit the amount paid for stolen jewelry unless items are insured separately.

3. Understand replacement cost. If your home is destroyed you’ll receive money to replace it only to the maximum of your coverage, so be sure your insurance is sufficient. This means that if your home is insured for $150,000 and it costs $180,000 to replace it, you’ll only receive $150,000.

4. Understand actual cash value. If you choose not to replace your home when it’s destroyed, you’ll receive replacement cost, less depreciation.

5. Understand liability. Generally your homeowners insurance covers you for accidents that happen to other people on your property, including medical care, court costs, and awards by the court. However, there is usually an upper limit to the amount of coverage provided. Be sure that it’s sufficient if you have significant assets.

For more information about owning a home and Knox County OH real estate, please visit my website or call me at 740-397-7800. To learn how to help our neighbors in Findlay, please visit the American Red Cross’s website: http://www.redcross.org/.

How Walk-able is Your Knox County OH Neighborhood?

This week I came across a website that is just so neat, I had to share it. www.WalkScore.com allows you to type in any address, and it will rate the “walk-ability” of that property by calculating its distance to things like the nearest grocery store, movie theater, library, school, park, and pharmacy.

We all know that walking is important for our health and, with all of the hype over “going green” lately, we know that walking instead of driving when possible is one way that we can all help to save the environment. In fact, it is recommended that adults tread 10,000 steps per day to reap the many benefits of walking. Why not consider the walk-ability of a neighborhood the next time you are in the market for a new home? Or, if you’ve recently moved to a new home, check out the walk-ability to various destinations in your new neighborhood.

To learn more about Knox County OH real estate and neighborhoods, please visit my website or call me today at 740-397-7800. I would love to help you find a new neighborhood to explore on foot!

Knox County OH Interest Rate Update

The Real Estate Journal (a subsidiary of the Wall Street Journal Online), reported this week that tightening standards in lending may worsen the housing slump being felt in much of the country.

In the wake of the recent controversy surrounding the sub-prime lending market, more lenders in Knox County are being forced to raise interest rates and stick with loans that are considered less risky than mortgages that were being offered previously. It is no longer those with the weakest credit records who are feeling the sting of the tightening standards when it comes to credit, documented income, and down payment ability.

Read the full article here to learn how this trend may affect you if you are in the market for a mortgage.

If you are in the market for a mortgage in the Knox County OH area, I am glad to refer you to a reputable, knowledgeable and competitive mortgage lender who will take the time to explain your loan options to you. This will allow you to make an educated decision about which home loan is best for you considering the current market conditions. Just give me a call at 740-397-7800 or visit my website. I'm here to help.

Back To School In Knox County OH

The summer is flying by – as it always seems to do – and it is almost time to start thinking about sending kids back to school again!

Whether you are new to the Knox County area or already have kids in school here, now is a good time to take a good look at how the schools are measuring up.

Below is a link to reviews of schools in Knox County OH – does YOUR child’s school make the grade?

Knox County School Reviews

To learn more about moving your family and Knox County OH real estate, please call me at 740-397-7800 or visit www.SamMiller.net.

10 Ways to Make Your House in Knox County OH More Saleable

1. Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.

2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.

3. Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.

4. Get rid of smells! Even if you think you house does not have smells, spring for a good carpet and drape cleaning to eliminate any possible cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Keep the windows open when possible (if road noise is not an issue).

5. Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

6. Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.

7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.

8. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9. Clean your gutters. Remove any debris such as pine straw that has accumulated on the roof.

10. Polish your front doorknob and door numbers. Remember, the door is the first part of the home potential buyers see!

To learn more about buying or selling a home in Knox County, OH please call me at 740-397-7800 or visit my Web site at http://www.sammiller.com/. I would love to help make your home more saleable!

Summer Fun in Knox County, OH - Part 2

In continuing with the theme of curing kids’ summertime boredom, I’ve compiled a list of ways to get your children outdoors and exploring the beautiful natural surroundings of Knox County, OH:

1. Go on a Bug Hunt Equip your child with a baby food jar or bug jar and encourage them to look for natural life around them. Look under leaves & stumps (be sure to turn them back over), on tree trunks & leaves and in flowers. Handle the bugs gently and let them go when you are done. Name your favorite bug according to its colors, the way it moves or something different about it.

2. Listen to the World Around You Have your child sit and listen to the sounds of nature by closing their eyes, and counting on their fingers the different sounds they hear. Compare natural vs. unnatural sounds. Try this in several different habitats such as in a field, near a pond and in a forest and compare the kinds and numbers of sounds heard.

3. Look at Nature Before a visit to a park, have your child decorate two toilet paper rolls. Staple them together to make mini-binoculars. Take them outside for a game of "I Spy" looking for items from nature. Look for things near by, in middle range and far away.

4. Get a New Perspective Have your child lie face upward under a large tree. Have them look into the branches. Can they see the top branch? What patterns can they see. What other things are present? They can pretend to be the roots of the tree in the soil. What do they feel like? What animals can they see moving around in the tree?

5. Use Imagination Choose an area with natural ground coverings such as leaves, cones, wild grass etc. and sit down. Give your child 6 short pieces of straw or toothpicks. Have them pretend to shrink down to the size of an ant with you. Their job is to lead a nature walk for creatures the size of an ant by choosing 6 interesting things along a one meter stretch of ground. Encourage them to use their imagination!

6. Wet Noses Wet the underside of your child's nose with a small wet sponge. This improves their sense of smell just as it does for deer and rabbits. Find familiar smells such as flowers to try, then go on to other things like rubbing a leaf between your fingers and smelling or scratching a pine needle. Also try moss, bark, pitch or grabbing an handful of leafy soil etc.

7. Discover Color in Nature Get 10 old paint swatches of various natural colors from a paint store. Cut them into individual squares and take these and your child to a natural area. One at a time, have your child look for each color in nature. You will be amazed at what colors you can find if you really look!

8. Touching Nature Blindfold your child and lead them to a tree to get to know it by feeling the bark texture, finding branches and any other way to recognize a specific tree without looking at it. Still blind-folded, lead your child back to where you started. Now take off the blindfold and have them try to find their tree using their sense of touch to confirm it. What other senses helped them to locate their tree? (sounds, sense of balance, smells, warmth etc.)

9. A Night time Experience Go with your child to a safe natural place at night. Cover your flashlight with red plastic so you won't startle the animals. Try out some of the ideas above to learn about plants & animals of the night. It takes about 20 minutes for your eyes to fully adjust from bright light to darkness.

10. A Rainy Day Experience Dress to stay dry but with your hands free (no umbrellas) and go out on a rainy day with your child. Peek into puddles. Listen for bird & frog calls. How many kinds of raindrops can you see? Can you find plants with a drip tip? Try to find out where animals go when it is raining.

For more information about real estate and living in Knox County, OH please call me at 740-397-7800 or visit my Web site at http://www.sammiller.com/.

Summer Fun In Knox County, OH - Part 1

Summer is in full swing and as the novelty of being out of school begins to wear off, most parents are bracing themselves for the inevitable “I’m booooored” that is just bound to come out of their children’s mouths soon.

Below are links to several fun things to do with your children this summer to get them outside and enjoying this beautiful time of year in Knox County:

Places to camp in Knox County
Outdoor activities in Knox County (think horses, canoes, etc.)
Cultural activities in Knox County (think museums, tours, and gardens)
Knox County Park District

For more information about real estate and living in Knox County, OH please call me at 740-397-7800 or visit my Web site at www.SamMiller.com. Happy trails, and here’s to an exciting second half of the summer!

60 Minutes Assault On Realtors

I don't know if you saw the 60 Minutes segment last week, Chipping Away At Realtors Six Percent. It was a one sided, erroneous assault on the real estate industry and a far cry from the well-balanced, 'look at all sides of an issue' reporting that 60 Minutes has been known for.

To read the National Association of Realtors' response to the segment, click here.

For all your Knox County real estate information, visit SamMiller.com.

Making Money Buying Knox County Repo Listings

The soft Knox County real estate market is a great time for real estate investors to consider buying repossessed homes. These properties usually need work, but pricing reflects this and presents opportunities for the 'do-it-yourselfer' or the professional to get in at a good price, invest some elbow grease and make money with rents collected.

Can you make money in a soft market by buying, fixing up and reselling? It depends on the numbers, but is more difficult in a soft market when appreciation slows. This is something we need to look at carefully.

I offer a service where you can have repossed properties emailed to you as they hit the market. It is easy to enroll. Just visit my website, click on 'E-mail Repo Listings' and you are done!

Making A Vacant Home More Sellable

Homes show better when they are furnished. Not only are spatial relationships easier to judge, but furniture can hide a multitude of sins. There is a reason for builder's furnishing their models rather than showing them vacant! When vacant, everything shows...the good, the bad and the ugly!

But, there are things you can do to make a vacant house show in a more positive light.

1. Arrange for exterior maintenance.
First impressions count and you don't want to stop maintaining the lawn just because you have vacated the house. Arrange for a neighbor to cut the grass or hire a lawn service. If you have a sprinkler system, keep it working.

If the house is on the market in the fall, arrange for leaf clean up and if selling in the winter, snow removal.
Spruce up beds with fresh mulch and plan annuals for color.

2. Paint of fix up as required
Repair or repaint the exterior as needed. Remember those first impressions.

3. Paint and fix up inside
Go through the house after the furniture has been removed and touch-up or repaint any walls or woodwork that need it.

Make any repairs that are needed. If the little things are maintained, the buyer feels comfortable that the big things have been maintained, also.

4. Neutralize colors
A bold wall color can be dramatic when complimented by furniture and accessories. But in an empty room, bold colors just become sore-thumbs. Neutralize colors as needed.

5. Leave furniture
If possible leave the furniture in the house or rent furniture. Empty rooms appear to be smaller than they actually are.

6. Clean thoroughly
Clean the house from top to bottom and in every knook and cranny. Clean sells!
If the house has been on the market for a couple of months have a cleaning service come in and clean again. Empty houses get dirty.

Leave the security system activated and give instructions to your Realtor on how to turn it on and off.

To some buyers, a vacant housecan be plus because they if they need to move in quickly. Be sure to let prospects know you can close quickly.

For any questions concerning selling a vacant house in Knox County, give me a call at 740-397-7800 or visit my website. You'll be glad you did!

Interest Rates Drop For Knox County Home Buyers

Positive inflation news resulted in a drop in interest rates this week according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey. Interest rates this week for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.17 percent, compared to last week's 6.22 percent. This is the first drop in rates in the last six weeks.

A drop in interest rates is always good news, but it is the icing on the cake when it happens during the spring buying/selling season when inventory is at its peak. Spring is when buyers have the most homes to choose from and now have great rates as a bonus.

Are you thinking of buying Knox County real estate? Visit KnoxCountyMLS.com to have new listings emailed to you as they hit the market. It's fast, easy and hassle-free.

Safe Tax Filing Online

There have been reports in the last few days of scams with online tax filing websites. With 73 percent of returns being filed online, scams are a real problem. MarketWatch.com has informative tips on how to stay safe online and protect your personal information.

To protect yourself against scams when buying a home and have someone looking out for your best interests, give me a call at 740-397-7800 or visit my website, your Knox County real estate resource center.

Prepaid Interest Tax Deduction For Knox County Home Buyers

Tax Day is only a few days away! One of the many benefits of home ownership is that the interest you pay on your home mortgage is tax deductible. Your lender sent you a year-end statement back in January showing the interest you paid for the year. This number should be used on your tax return.

In addition to this, Knox County home buyers can also deduct the pre-paid interest, which was paid at settlement. This pre-paid interest is not reflected on your lender's year-end statement. It is documented on your HUD-1 statement from closing. The HUD-1 is the document that reflects all the monies related to your transaction. Add this figure to the figure your lender provided for a total of all the interest you paid for the year.

More information on home mortgage interest can be found in IRS Publication 936. for more information on Knox County real estate, visit my website or give me a call at 740-397-7800.

Knox County Appraisals Taking Place

The state of Ohio mandates that property be re-examined and re-appraised by the County every 6 years. This re-appraisal process is currently taking place in Knox County.

Listers, or appraisers, will knock on your door to ask about any changes that have been done to the house in the past six years, however, they do not need to inspect inside. If you are not home when the Lister comes to your home, he/she will leave an information card for you to complete and mail in. The Lister will walk the property to perform the exterior inspection.

Listers will be carrying identification cards to confirm their legitimacy.

The county appraisal of your property's value is not always the same as the property's market value. You can learn the market value of your Knox County home by visiting my website or giving me a call at 740-397-7800.

Lower Interest Rates For Knox County Home Buyers

Knox County home buyers experienced lower interest rates this week according to the Primary Mortgage Market Survey conducted by FreddieMac.com. The weekly survey reported the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage to be 6.14% compared to last week's 6.18%.
This is the third week of dropping rates and the lowest rate since the beginning of the year.

Lower interest rates is excellent news for home buyers. Traditionally, rates increase in the spring which is prime buying season for Knox County real estate. Inventory increases in the spring meaning there are more homes to choose from. Add to this lower rates and buyers will have their cake and eat it too.

Are you buying a home this spring? If so, visit my website to view all Knox County real estate listings and give me a call, 740-397-7800. I am at your service!

Buy Now? Or Gamble On A Price Drop?

In a slowing real estate market, many home buyers struggle with the decision whether to buy now while interest rates are low or sit tight and wait for a possible drop in prices. This may come down to the old saying, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

It is always a good time to buy when interest rates are low. Could they go lower? Maybe. But, they could also go higher. Rates in the last year have been fairly stable, inching up or down only slightly. There is no reason right now to expect that this will change dramatically anytime soon.

You can drive yourself crazy waiting for rates to drop another quarter of a point. I know I have done this myself while refinancing a loan. I watched rates daily and never was able to lock in the lowest rate. I was too afraid something better would come along and it never did.

Should you wait for prices to drop? While I can't predict what Knox County home prices will do, I can tell you the the National Association of Realtors is predicting an increasingly stronger market throughout 2007 and into 2008. And spring is coming. Spring is the busiest time for real estate and prices historically increase in the spring. You may not being seeing increasing prices in the coming months.

Have questions about rising interest rates or the Knox County real estate market. Give me a call, 740-397-7800, or visit my website. I'm here to help.

Sam Miller Is Featured Speaker at Realtor Conference

I was a featured speaker at the 19th annual CRS Sell-a-bration® held last week in Las Vegas, NV. The Certified Residential Specialist designation is held by the top 4 percent of Realtors around the world. Sell-a-bration®, held annually, was attended by 1,000 of these top producing agents.

My topic, Taking Your Business To The Next Level, included effective real estate marketing, how to make the real estate process easier for buyers and sellers and new Internet technologies that benefit everyone involved in real estate. I shared useful methods of getting more out of your day by using my time management techniques, home pricing concepts that work in any real estate market to generate serious interest and get homes sold.

It was an honor to be invited to address one of the industry’s most exclusive gatherings. The annual Sell-a-bration® provides a forum for top agents and brokers in residential real estate to interact with and learn from one another. Sell-a-bration® features unparalleled education sessions, top keynote speakers, and social and networking opportunities, which provide attendees with ideas and techniques that will have an immediate impact on their businesses.

Sam Miller am committed to providing outstanding service to his customers and clients. My use of technology for effective communication and service has made added to my unique success.

My clients are continually complimenting me on the service, tools and technology I use to meet their needs. I owe that to my association with the CRS members and to the fact that we share among ourselves so freely. In short, as s Certified Residential Specialist, I am surrounded by the best agents in real estate. I share with them, they share with me, and we all translate our newfound knowledge into increased services for our clients.”

Click here to visit my website, your source for Knox County real estate or give me a call, 740-397-7800. I will help you anyway I can.

Tips To Sell Your Knox County Home In February

Spring is the prime selling season, but buyers who are house hunting in the middle of winter are serious buyers. They may be transferring from out of the area and have a deadline to get settled and on the job or their lease is up and they need to move.

Whatever the reason, there are things sellers can do to make their home more attractive to this group of serious buyers.

1. Keep walks and driveways free of ice and snow. Buyers don't want to navigate treacherous terrain getting to your front door.

2. Don't skimp on the heat. Buyers like a warm and comfortable atmosphere. If your home is cold they will think the heat doesn't work properly.

3. Make your home as light as possible. Keep curtains and blinds open. Use the highest watt age bulbs and have all the lights on during showings. Hose off the outside of your windows to show your house is well cared for.

4. Set the mood. Play soft music and have a plate of fresh baked cookies out for the buyers. There is nothing like the smell of newly baked cookies and buyers get hungry looking at houses.

5. Ask buyers to remove their shoes. This conveys a pride of ownership and keeps the house ready for the next buyer going through.

CNNMoney.com Reports Housing Start Rebound

CNNMoney.com reports the pace of homebuilding rebounded in December, with housing starts jumping to an annual pace of 1.64 million from a revised 1.57 million rate in November. The rebound took place even as single-family home construction remained weak. Read full story...

All forecasts call for 2007 real estate sales to be stronger than 2006, making this a great time to buy Knox County real estate. Visit SamMiller.com to search all Knox County homes for sale.