Front view of 5822 Old Farm in Sylvania

This large, brick ranch at 5822 Old Farm in Sylvania features a walk-out basement, sunroom overlooking ½ acre wooded and ravine lot, eat-in kitchen with island, family room with fireplace, master bedroom with attached bath and 1st floor laundry. Enjoy the beautiful neighborhood setting within walking distance of Highland Elementary and close to Sylvania Library, Pacesetter Park, Fossil Park, Highland Meadows golf course, Plummer pool, Mayberry and expressways! Recently added was a patio and steps between the walk-out basement and sunroom. The beautifully landscaped yard features a sprinkler system in the front and back. At $20,000 less than what the current owner paid for it three years ago, you can’t miss it!

Kitchen view of 5822 Old Farm in Sylvania

For more information on this property or to reach Kendall Gigax, visit www.5822oldfarm.danberry.com.

Art Info’s website http://blogs.artinfo.com/modernartnotes/ has the details (see their August 30^th post), including sour grapes expressed by a number of New York residents who can’t seem to imagine such a jewel hidden in the Midwest.  (Perhaps the same guys who thought we were still fighting Indians in Ohio when I went to school in NY decades ago!).

Among the key findings of the survey: Of the 60% of individuals moving into rentals, 24% were previous homeowners who are renting temporarily while they look for a new home to purchase. Underscoring this finding is the fact that for many of these families, foreclosure was not the reason for moving—in fact, the number of consumers who moved due to foreclosure dropped by 70%.

Furthermore, many of these families stayed in the area (one in three made a short distance move of 100 miles or less), opting to remain in a location where they already know their schools, shopping districts and prime neighborhoods.

“While the housing market continues to flux from month to month, we’re seeing strong, continued interest as consumers looking to move start their research with us,” said Relocation.com Chairman and Founder Sharon Asher. “These findings suggest that more Americans may be poised to re-enter the housing market this year.”

The Relocation.com survey was conducted in early June 2010 and is a continuation of consumer surveys conducted since March 2009 to gauge moving and relocation attitudes and behaviors.

Front View of 2274 Robinwood in the Old West End

This beautifully restored 4-unit apartment, with a possible 5th in the attic, sits in the historic Old West End at 2274 Robinwood. Enjoy this quiet street in the middle of the Old West End community, close to the Toledo Museum of Art, downtown Toledo and the expressway. This apartment building provides an excellent source of cash flow and is low maintenance. The recent updates include hardwood floors, heating system and updated electrical with separate utilities for each unit.

Kitchen in 2274 Robinwood unit

For more information on this property or to reach Rick Popiolek, visit www.2274robinwood.danberry.com.

Front view of 7831 Fir Drive

This full brick traditional ranch home at 7831 Fir Drive in Bedford Twp. is within minutes of Toledo! This home features 2340 square feet of living space on a ½ acre, side-load garage, stamped concrete, two fireplaces, hardwood flooring and solid oak doors and trim. Within the last ten years the roof has been replaced, oak trim, doors and flooring have been added, an auto start generator and windows have been upgraded to Cradco. Enjoy the local parks, excellent school and library systems and a wonderful YMCA facility! The recently reduced price of $179,900 puts this home at a very attractive cost per sq. ft. and places it well under the previous purchase price.

Beautiful wood floors in 7831 Fir Drive

For more information on this property or to reach Al Nissen, visit www.7831firdr.danberry.com.

Not all styles are easily found in our marketplace, but most exist somewhere in the Toledo real estate market. Perhaps our best example is The Old West End where spectacular examples of different architectural styles abound.  Old Orchard, Westmoreland, Beverly, Maumee, Perrysburg – beautiful homes are scattered all over our regional map.

When you drive down local streets, particularly in the more historic neighborhoods, can you spot the various styles?  CLICK HERE for a primer from Realtor Magazine:  http://www.realtor.org/rmoarchitecture_guide/residentialstyles. Click on the name next to each sketch for a photo and more complete descriptions.

TV news in particular deals in sound bites, sometimes airing a few brief words from an “expert” for the sake of credibility.  But the fact that experts find their way onto television shows does not necessarily mean they’ve done their homework.  One perfect example:  last week one of the major network morning shows interviewed their “Financial Contributor” to discuss the mortgage market.  She said, among other things, that “ . . . you MUST have a credit score of 740, while the average American has a 600 credit score, or you will not get a mortgage.  And you MUST have a 20% downpayment. . .”  Hogwash! The most popular mortgage loans right now are FHA loans requiring 3.5% down with credit scores above 600!  Conventional loans may be more restrictive, but the message viewers were left with was that it is nearly hopeless to think you can get approved.

If you know someone in the Toledo real estate market with these misconceptions, please direct them to the “Financing” button above to speak with Ann, Emily or Greg.  They will explain the LOCAL mortgage market to you, and you may be surprised what an incredible time it is to be looking for financing.

Thirty year fixed rates in the mid 4′s make payments much lower than when they were in the 6′s just a few years ago –  it can also give borrowers more purchasing power.

A $100,000 30-year mortgage at a fixed rate of 6.5% (where it was just a few years ago), makes a principle and interest payment $628.

A 30 year fixed rate at 4.5% makes a principle and interest payment $504 per month which is a $123 per month savings!

Another way to look at it is with a rate of 4.5% a borrower could finance $125,000 and have a principle and interest payment of $630. So, in other words, to have the same payment at 6.5% a borrower could afford a loan of $25,000 more to have roughly the same payment.

What this does is completely open up borrowers to a whole new range to look for their dream home!  On top of these historically low rates, FHA financing remains a very strong program with as little at 3.5% down payment and a minimum 600 credit score needed.

While it is true underwriting has changed some over the years, the borrowers that should be buying still are able to with not much change to the underwriting process.

Front view of 4209 Westway in West Toledo

This two story traditional home located at 4209 Westway in West Toledo is close to shopping, expressways and lots of restaurants! The basement is finished into a rec room with gas fireplace. Recent updates to this property include a remodeled kitchen, plumbing and electrical upgrade in 2004 and new furnace, A/C and water heater in 2003. Also enjoy the garden pond in the backyard, making a tranquil environment even in this city neighborhood! All of these updates, plus three bedrooms and two full baths for under $90K! Home is move-in ready and available at closing!

Interior view of 4209 Westway in West Toledo

For more information on this property or to reach Jeff Schaaf, visit www.4209westway.danberry.com.

Front view of 834 Wall in Maumee, Ohio

This traditional ranch home at 834 Wall Street in Maumee, Ohio is situated on a half acre lot and features very low maintenance vinyl siding and an attached two car garage. This home is located in the River Road district in Maumee, which is the district for the newly built Fort Miami elementary school. You are also within minutes of the Anthony Wayne Trail, making commutes easy. Enjoy living within a mile of the Wolcott House, the home of the Maumee Valley Historical Society and a space which houses seven 19th century buildings. To find a half acre lot and an attached two car garage in this price range in Maumee is nearly impossible so come and check it out!

Back view of 834 Wall in Maumee, Ohio

For more information on this property or to reach Melissa Utterback, visit www.834wall.danberry.com.