Madeira Bargain Alert!!

Just wanted to pass along a 'bargain alert' - this is one you would want to take a look at if you are considering a move within or into Madeira. Great potential, quiet and very family friendly neighborhood, GREAT price and walk to park and... downtown Madeira!! See link for more information:

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcincy.rapmls.com%2Fscripts%2Fmgrqispi.dll%3FAPPNAME%3DCincynky%26PRGNAME%3DMLSLogin%26ARGUMENT%3Dk5%252Fq9Wd3yEUSuuoxm%252Fd%252BQ%252B4GIzgnmT%252B0PBXRQ%252FurUpM%253D%26KeyRid%3D1%26Include_Search_Criteria%26CurrentSID%3D191780866&h=kAQGrKgJr

Looking for Leases!!

We have a number of different clients looking for properties to lease, so we thought we would share the details in case you or someone you know has a property that might fit the bill!

Hyde Park or Mt. Lookout - Looking to rent ASAP!
Wyoming - 3+ Bedrooms, Up to $1000/month
Wyoming - Looking for Lease/Purchase Opportunity in the $200k price range.

Contact us at sold@cincyteam.com or (513) 655-7653.

Economic Uncertainty Spells Good News for Home Buyers

The Federal Reserve vowed yesterday to keep interest rates at historically low levels through mid-2013. This means buyers contemplating a new home purchase have a little more time to take advantage of the low interest rates we have been seeing over the past few years.

The announcement to keep rates low for such a long time and for a specific period of time is unprecedented, yet the decision was made presumably to boost consumer spending and keep the US economy out of yet another recession so soon on the heels of the last one that officially ended in June 2009.

For more on the Fed's decision, please visit msnbc.com.

Greater Cincinnati Schools Make the Grade

Newsweek released it's list of the 500 top high schools in the nation last month. Newsweek has been releasing these rankings for over a decade, and this year the methodology for selecting these top schools changed slightly. Their goal was to reflect

"a school's success turning out college-ready (and life-ready) students."

To do this, each school was given a score made up of the following 6 components: graduation rate (25%), college matriculation rate (25%), AP tests taken per graduate (25%), average SAT/ACT scores (10%), average AP/IB/AICE scores (10%) and AP courses offered (5%). Based on this criteria and 'grading', the following local school districts made the cut:

Walnut Hills - 43rd (up from 66th in 2010)

Indian Hill - 54th (up from 193rd in 2010)

Wyoming - 86th (down from 78th in 2010)

Mariemont - 207th*

Anderson - 297th*

Madeira - 330th*

Turpin - 347th*

*School did not make top 500 for 2010

If you would like to read the article, and view the full list, please visit http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/features/2011/americas-best-high-schools.html.

Home Value Prediction for 2011

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-10 Cities Where Home Prices Will Rise in 2011

Predictions based on various economic indicators in various cities across the US. See if your city is predicted to have an increase in home values for 2011.

Prepping to Sell

Putting your home on the market can be overwhelming to some homeowners, especially when it comes to staging, but there are many things that can be done to get your house in tip-top shape without a high price tag. It's never too early to start with these basic (and low cost) improvements if you are considering putting your home on the market.

1. Pay attention to the small stuff. Your home should be sparkling...and all that is required to get it there is elbow grease. Clear clutter, polish floors, clean countertops, dust light fixtures and clean windows. Box up items that aren't needed, and showcase areas you wouldn't normally focus on such as storage closets and laundry rooms.

2. Update worn or out of date flooring. Hardwood floors are at the top of buyers' wish lists these days, so if you are considering replacing any flooring, hardwood is a safe bet. It can be pricey, so other lower cost alternatives (such as bamboo) may be appropriate, but this is highly dependent on your market and house price. If you have hardwoods that are looking rough and beaten-up, you may want to consider having them refinished.

3. Update out of date light fixtures. Avoid brass fixtures and steer more towards brushed nickel, chrome or rubbed bronze. To help your home appear brighter, open curtains and blinds...but be sure the windows they showcase are clean!

4. Paint. The cost of paint can't be beat when it comes to cheap ways to quickly freshen up a house. Steer away from darker or trendier colors on the walls, instead using them in accessories throughout the house. If you want to create a focal point in a room, consider an accent wall. According to BEHR, the most common color picks for accent walls are dark red, green (not lime green, though) and stone gray. You can also use a darker shade of the existing paint color in a room, just go a few shades darker. When painting, don't forget the baseboards and trim. Over the years, it often becomes a dingy shade of white or gray. A simple coat of paint on the trim can really clean up a room!

If you are unsure on where to start, get inspiration from popular home stores...Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and Williams-Sonoma are all mainstream stores that keep up with (and often) set popular trends. Make sure your improvements fit your homes' decor and architecture...a two-story colonial most likely won't support an overly contemporary update such as stainless steel countertops.

If you have any questions, or need guidance as to where to begin the process of preparing your house for sale, we are happy to assist you with determining where your efforts would best be focused. In addition, all of our listings are provided with a staging consultation from one of Cincinnati's leading home stagers, Design to Market.

Need a Landscape Makover?

Desperate Landscapes on the DIY network is looking for homeowners in the Cincinnati area whose front yards need a little help in the 'curb appeal' department! They are looking for candidates that have problem front yards and/or maybe just haven't had the time/imagination/money to get it done.

If you have a property that could use some help in the landscape department, they are looking for homeowners with a good sense of humor and a desperate front yard.

Homeowners must:
- Be willing and able to work with the Desperate Landscapes team to fix up the yard.
- Potentially have neighbors that would be willing to go on TV to poke some good natured fun at your front yard.

They supply the plants, the tools, the paint and all materials needed to make the transformation happen. You simply supply some sweat equity and personality.

If you or anyone you know is interested, send us a description of your landscape troubles along with a few photos of your house and surrounding homes (to info@cincyteam.com), and we'll submit it to the producer. Maybe you'll finally have the landscape you've been dreaming of, but just haven't had the time to do!