Christmas and Holiday Things to do in Cincinnati 2018

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Christmas and Holiday Things to do in Cincinnati 2018If you’re looking for a list of Christmas and Holiday things to do in Cincinnati this holiday season, look no further! From ice skating to parades, and train rides to lights displays, we’ve got you covered!

Ongoing Holiday Events

Ice Skating on Fountain Square – Ice rink open October 27th – February 18th.

Skate with Santa – Every weekend from Thanksgiving until Christmas, Santa will lace up his skates and join families out on the ice for an hour of holiday-filled fun.

North Pole Express – Take a magical train ride with Santa Claus and his elves!

Water Wonderland with Scuba Santa – Meet Scuba Santa and his elves, visit Santa’s post office, enjoy holiday music, and more!

Christmas at EnterTRAINment Junction – Take a journey to the North Pole, where you can can meet Mrs. Claus and Santa himself, and check out their special holiday train displays.

Krohn Conservatory Holiday Show – A Crystal Holiday – Features an interactive train display, beautiful poinsettias, and seasonal plants.

Tree Lighting Ceremonies and Festivals

Olde West Chester Christmas Walk – Shopping, yummy treats, live music, crafts, games, visits with Santa, and more.

Liberty Center’s Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting – Enjoy live music, a holiday parade, a lights show, and visits with Santa.

Holiday Lights at Deerfield Towne Center – There will be an ice skating rink, arts, crafts, carriage rides, pictures with Santa, a tree-lighting ceremony, and more!

Macy’s Light up the Square – Live music, appearance by Santa Claus, ice skating, fireworks, holiday market, and the official tree lighting.

Lebanon Christmas Parade and Festival – Two parades, gift and food vendors, Christmas carolers and other live music, visits with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and much more!

Light Up Fairfield – Holiday market, Santa visits, live music and carols, and tree lighting ceremony.

Light up OTR – Enjoy this community-based holiday party held annually in Washington Park.

Christmas in Loveland – Live music and performances, a special showing of Frozen, visits with Santa, carriage rides, food trucks, ice carving, and much more!

Pioneer Christmas – Sunday, December 10th; 1:00 – 4:00 PM at Keehner Park in West Chester.

Santa-bration – Santa’s coming to Carol Anne’s Carousel! Enjoy winter crafts, photos with Santa, and carousel rides.

Breakfast with Santa

Breakfast with Santa at Maggiano’s – Enjoy a breakfast buffet, visits and pictures with Santa, and games and activity stations.

Santa’s Brunch  at Voice of America Park – A delicious buffet, live piano music and caroling, visits with Santa, and more. Registration is required before December 2nd.

Lights Displays

Holiday Lights on the Hill – A 2 mile drive-through holiday lights display.

Sharon Woods Holiday in Lights – Enjoy a mile long drive with beautiful lights displays. You can also get out of your car to enjoy Santaland with hot cocoa, carolers, visits with Santa, a holiday train display, and more.

Neiderman Family Farm – Due to family health issues the Neiderman’s have made the decision to not put up the Christmas Display in 2018, so that they can spend time as a family. Check back next year!

The Christmas Ranch – Located on 110 acres, it features a walk-thru Christmas lights park with a Christmas village full of shops. There are also train rides, wagon rides, and much more!

Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights – Beautiful lights displays throughout the zoo, lights and music shows at Swan Lake, hot cocoa, snacks, and more.

Christmas Nights of Lights at Coney Island – This family event features a 2-mile car ride through Christmas displays and light shows which are synced to your favorite holiday songs.

Christmas Shows

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – Sunday, December 3rd at the Aronoff Center.

A Christmas Carol – November 21st – December 29th at Playhouse in the Park.

The Nutcracker – December 13th – 24th at the Aronoff Center.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Holiday Show – December 14th at the U.S. Bank Arena.

Holiday Pops – December 7th – 9th at Music Hall.

Holiday Shopping / Markets

Cincideutsch Christkindlmarkt on Fountain Square – Every weekend from November 23rd – December 1st.

City Flea’s Holiday Market – December 15th at Washington Park.

Findlay Market’s Holiday Market – December 1st & 2nd, 9 AM – 3 PM.

Art on Vine Holiday Gift Show – December 16th, Noon – 7 PM at Rhinegeist.

Miscellaneous

Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl – Saturday, December 1st, 12PM – 8PM.

Cincinnati Santacon – The 11th Annual Cincinnati Santacon will be held on Saturday, December 8th.

Hopefully this list of Christmas and holiday things to do in Cincinnati has helped fill your calendar with lots of fun! We here at The Lowry Team wish you a happy, safe, and fun Christmas and holiday season!

You might also be interested in:

Things to do for New Years Eve in Cincinnati

Family Friendly Things do to for New Years Eve

Olde West Chester Christmas Walk

Liberty Center Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting

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Buying a House in the Spring

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What you need to know about buying a house this Spring

Buying a House in the SpringSpring is house hunting season. The months of April, May, and June are generally the busiest in real estate, and account for around 40% of all home sales for the year. If your family is considering buying a house this spring, buying sooner rather than later could lead to significant savings. Here are four things you need to know about buying a house this spring.

Inventory is Low

Currently, housing inventory is extremely low. There is a 1.6 – 2.4 months inventory of homes for sale. A 6 month inventory level is considered a balanced market. Anything under 6 months worth of inventory is considered to be an undersupply, favoring home sellers as opposed to favoring home buyers. Basically, we are experiencing an extreme sellers’ market.

Home Prices Are Rising 

CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index reports that home prices have appreciated by 6.9% over the last 12 months. The same report predicts that prices will continue to increase at a rate of 4.8% over the next year.

Since home prices are on a steady rise and are expected to continue to increase, it no longer makes sense to wait to purchase a home.

In addition, the homes in our area are selling at 98.6% of list price on average. This means that homes are selling very close to list price. Many homes in popular price ranges are actually selling at or above list price. So if you really love the house and don’t want to lose out to other buyers, you must make a very strong offer. Trying to make a low ball offer in this market is not going to work out in your favor.

Homes Are Selling Fast

Not only is there a exceptionally low supply of houses for sale, but buyer demand is very high. You will have a lot of competition for just a few houses, which means the houses are selling very fast. Homes that are in good condition and are priced right, are selling in just days. Many are selling even within just hours! So be prepared to act fast and get an offer submitted if you love the house.

When a new listing comes on the market that interests you, it’s important that you contact your Realtor immediately so that you can go see the home as soon as possible. If you wait a few days to go see it, it likely will have already sold.

Mortgage Rates Are Projected to Rise

This month the average 30-year fixed rate conventional mortgage is at 4.25%. The average on a 15-year fixed rate is at 3.63%. The interest rate on an FHA loan currently sits at 4.34%. A VA loan interest rate right now is 4.0%.

While these are fantastic interest rates, it’s important to realize that they won’t last. In fact, experts at The Mortgage Bankers Association, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac & the National Association of Realtors project that interest rates will rise over the next four quarters by at least a half a percentage point. That increase may not seem like much, but it will significantly impact your monthly mortgage payment.

What You Need To Do

Get Competitive – You need to prepare yourself to be competitive in the housing market. That means you must be prepared to make a strong offer when you find the right house, and get it submitted quickly.

In addition to making a strong offer price, you must also be prepared to provide a pre-approval letter with your offer. A pre-approval letter strengthens your offer because it shows the seller that you have the financial capability to purchase the home. So it’s imperative you choose the right lender and get pre-approved before looking at homes.

Educate Yourself –

Get your copy of this Complete Home Buying Guide. No registration, no solicitation, you just call us when you’re ready.

Schedule a Personal Home Buying Consultation. If you’re ready to discuss your real estate goals, learn about the market, and meet with a local expert to help guide you through the process, call or text us at 513-368-3751

Start Your Search – View full details and photos of all available homes for sale. Our Homes For Sale information is a direct feed from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and is updated several times a day so you will never miss a new listing!

Questions about buying a house in the Spring market?
Contact The Lowry Team today!
Call or text 513-368-3751

Find Your Home's Value Now!

Will we save money if we sell our house without a Realtor?

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Will we save money if we sell our house without a RealtorQ. Will we save money if we sell our house without a Realtor?

A. Studies have shown that if you list your home for sale with a real estate agent you get signficantly more money for your house than if you sell it without a Realtor or “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO). According to U.S. National Association for Realtors, for-sale-by-owner transactions typically result in a considerable cut in price–as much as 28% less than what may have been made by contacting a realtor, Eric Lowry and The Lowry Team for example. Saving a little bit of money on the real estate commission is actually costing thousands on the actual sale price.

In addition, if you list your own house for sale, you may be able to get a few buyers to find your house on the Internet or driving by. However, 88% of buyers are using a real estate agent. This means if you sell FSBO you are missing out on 88% of the potenial home buyers that are out looking. In order to get the best price for your home, you need to make your house available to as many buyers as possible.Will we save money if we sell our house without a Realtor 2

Q. Why do homes listed by real estate agents generate more at sale time?

A. There are several reasons that Realtors are able to get sellers those higher sale prices. One reason is that they have immense access to current data regarding the housing market and accurate appraisal tools for assessing the home’s value. While most homeowners do at least some market research, they aren’t likely to have the access to the scope of information databases that Realtors do. Statistics show that without this information, many homeowners just aren’t asking enough for their property.

On the other hand, the opposite is also true. Many homeowners ask a much higher price for their home than it is worth in the current market. A real estate professional is an expert at advising homeowners about pricing strategies and can help make sure the home is priced right. Asking too much for a FSBO home typically results in the home sitting for a long time on the market and may not sell.6 steps to selling a house

Finally, many Realtors are excellent marketers. They are experts are providing homes with the exposure they need to help generate the highest sale price and quickest possible sale. The yard signs and Craigslist ads that many for-sale-by-owners rely on are just not enough to produce a steady stream of potential buyers. Professional Realtors use a wide variety of means to generate interest in a home. A real estate agent’s day-to-day work with home buyers also provides them with a regular opportunity to show homes listed in their area.

The fact is that most home sellers are happy to pay their Realtor’s commission. Realtors have the tools to effectively market the home and the skill to manage open houses, showings, home inspections, negotiations, and much more. If you are thinking of selling your home yourself, you might want to reconsider and contact Eric Lowry and The Lowry Team. Call/text 513-368-3751.

Find Your Home's Value Now!

The Lowry Team Helps Clients Sell a House in Maineville

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513-368-3751 to Connect with a Top Real Estate Agent in Maineville

Home Values Hassle Free Listing Contact Us
Just Listed in Maineville Under $100,000 Under $200,000
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The Lowry Team Helps Clients
Sell a House in Maineville OH 45039
and Buy a House in Mason OH 45040

The Lowry Team Helps Clients Sell a House in MainevilleEric Lowry, CEO and Listing Specialist for The Lowry Team, helped clients sell a house in Maineville 45039, and buy a house in the Simpson Creek Subdivision of Mason 45040.

The Maineville home located at 7904 Saddleback Place is 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, and features a master suite with an updated bathroom, a finished basement, a three season room, and much more!

The Lowry Team Helps Clients Sell a House in Maineville

This home was on the market just 1 day before Eric Lowry got it under contract for his clients for over 100% of list price. With Eric’s great negotiation skills, the home sold for $241,000 and had been listed for $239,900.

Eric Lowry also helped his clients purchase their next home in Mason 45040. The home located at 8298 Cora Court is a beautiful brick ranch with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It was a very hot property in a popular location, and because of this there were multiple showings all going on at once when Eric showed his clients this property. Knowing it would move fast, Eric helped his clients make an offer right away which was accepted. There had been six other offers on the home at the same time, but due to Eric’s skillful negotiating, his clients won!

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Thinking of buying or selling a house in Cincinnati?
Contact The Lowry Team today!
Call or Text 513-368-3751

Find Your Home's Value Now!

The Lowry Team – Keller Williams Realty is an award winning, full service real estate firm specializing in West Chester, Liberty Township, Mason, Monroe and the Northern Suburbs of Cincinnati. The Lowry Team is “Different By Design”… taking a team approach to home buying and selling. The Lowry Team consists of members that are focused on areas of specialization including Listing Specialists, Buyer Specialists, Transaction/Listing Coordinator, Inside Sales Associate and a Marketing Director.

Don’t Hire an Agent…Hire a Team.  The Lowry Team.

Buyers and Sellers can reach The Lowry Team Keller Williams by calling or texting 513-368-3751.

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After Hours on the Square Union Centre Concerts West Chester

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513-368-3751 to Connect with a Top Real Estate Agent in West Chester

Home Values Hassle Free Listing Contact Us
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After Hours on the Square Union Centre Concerts West Chester

West Chester’s 2016 After Hours on the Square kicks off on Thursday, May 26th. There will be 14 consecutive weeks of free concerts, dancing, and fun! Concerts are 6 to 9 pm every Thursday May 26th through August 25th.

The concert schedule is as follows: After Hours on the Square Union Centre Concerts West Chester

May 26th – Social Crush

June 2nd – Naked Karate Girls

June 9th – Color Blind

June 16th – DV8

June 23rd – Britney’s Lipstick

June 30th – 3 Piece Revival 

July 7th – Amy Sailor Band

July 14th – Zack Attack

July 21st – The Good Hooks

July 28th – Lt. Dan’s New Legs

August 4th – Color Blind

August 11th – Naked Karate Girls

August 18th – Lt. Dan’s New Legs

August 25th – 3 Day Rule

Related: Keehner Park 2016 Concert Series Schedule

West Chester Home Values

Questions about living in the West Chester area?
Contact The Lowry Team today!
Call or text 513-368-3751

Eric Lowry, CEO and Listing Specialist for The Lowry Team, has over 18 years experience selling homes in the Cincinnati area, and his listings sell for around 1% more than the market average – that could mean thousands of dollars more in your pocket.

We, at The Lowry Team, go above and beyond to market your home using all the latest advancements in technology, social media, and publicity strategies to ensure your home reaches the maximum number of potential buyers. In fact, we are 100% confident that NO ONE can expose your home to the masses like we can! We are so confident that we will GUARANTEE the sale of your home.  Your home sold in 88 days, or we’ll sell it for FREE! Call Eric Lowry at 513-368-3751 for more information.

Ten Tips for Selling Your Cincinnati Home

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Thinking of selling? Call 513-368-3751 for a Free Home Value Estimate; or click here for an automated home value estimate.

Ten Tips for Selling Your Cincinnati HomeNo matter if you are selling your first home or your fifth, selling a house can be a time consuming and stressful job. However, there are a few things you can do to make selling your Cincinnati home as painless as possible.

1. Set a realistic price

The fact is, it doesn’t really matter what you think your house is worth. What matters is current market conditions and what the buyer thinks it is worth. If you price it too high, you risk cutting your potential buyer pool significantly; or worst case, it may never sell. Recent Keller Williams research shows that a house priced right at market value sold in just half the time compared to homes priced above market value.  In addition, homes priced at market value ended up selling for almost $4,000 more on average. A good Realtor can help you determine the best list price for your home; which brings us to…

2. Hire a fantastic agent

You want to make sure you are putting your home in the hands of a seasoned professional who will actively work to sell your house. Hiring a great Realtor is the single most important task you have as a seller. Do your research, and don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions. Is the agent full-time or part-time? How much experience do they have? What is their performance history? Do you feel comfortable with them and trust them? etc.

A great agent will discuss your ideal time frame for selling your home, pricing strategies, tips to prepare for the market, as well as the net profit needed from the sale.  Hiring an experienced real estate agent will help protect you and your best interests, and your potential equity in the sale of your home.

3. Reduce the amount of clutter

Start packing up anything you are not currently using.  You are going to have to pack it up eventually anyway, so why not get started.  Remove all clutter from kitchen and bathroom counters, shelves, tables, etc. Have a minimalist mindset with what you leave out. Your house will appear larger, neater, and more organized. You can also make your house look like it has an overabundance of storage by emptying closets and cabinets.

4.  Make it light and bright

Lighting and brightness is very important when staging your home for sale. Replace any burned out bulbs. Move furniture away from the windows. Get rid of cobwebs and be sure to open curtains and blinds. Renew the look of the room by replacing old or dated light fixtures. Also, make sure to wash the windows both inside and out. Neutralize any strong or bright colored paint with neutral tones such as light taupes, beiges, or greys. Light, clean rooms also seem larger and more updated than rooms that are painted strong colors. These small steps will leave your house looking bright, inviting, and spacious to potential buyers.

5. Evaluate your kitchen and bathroomsTen Tips for Selling Your Cincinnati Home

Kitchens and bathrooms tend to be the most important rooms to buyers, and can absolutely make or break a sale. With that being said, you don’t need to gut your kitchen and do a complete renovation. However, you can make a big difference by doing things such as updating cabinet hardware, painting the walls a neutral color, and replacing outdated faucets and light fixtures.

6. Tackle the projects you’ve been putting off

We all have that to-do list of things we’ve been putting off around the house. Before you put your home on the market you’ll want to tackle that list. Start with the small things like fixing a leaky faucet, and work your way up.  Potential buyers want to see that you have been keeping up with home maintenance. Your Realtor will be able to go over your list with you, and advise you on which items need doing and which don’t.

7. Make a great impression online

The listing photos of your home online provide the very first impression buyers will have of your home. You want them to be impressed enough that they want to schedule a showing. If you prepare your house for listing photos, it can definitely help improve the quality of the photos and sell your house faster.  You’ll also want to make sure your listing is complete and optimized for online viewing, especially on phones and tablets. This is why you need a tech-savvy agent with good photography skills. If your home really pops online, you will impress more buyers, and ultimately sell your house faster.

Related: Sell Your House Faster – Prepare Your Home for Listing Photos

8.  Pack away the personal stuff

Before you put your home on the market be sure to remove personal photographs and pack up family heirlooms.  You want buyers to imagine their own photos on display, and they can’t do that if yours are there. Don’t forget to remove your papers and pictures from the refrigerator as well. Also make sure shelves, counters, and tables are clean and uncluttered. Keep a minimalist mindset, and give the buyers a blank canvas so they can envision themselves living in your home.

Ten Tips for Selling Your Cincinnati Home

9. Improve the curb appeal

Your home’s curb appeal provides the first impression to potential buyers, so you definitely want to make it a good one! Improving your home’s curb appeal can be as simple as keeping your lawn cut, trimming the bushes, and planting some colorful flowers. You want the buyers to be so impressed by the outside, that they can’t wait to see the inside!

Related: Sell Your House Faster – Easy Ways to Increase Curb Appeal

10. Always be ready

In a hot market, you will need to be ready for a home showing appointment at a moment’s notice. Make sure you keep your home clean and “show ready” at all times. Homes that are staged sell faster and for money than homes that are not. Keep in mind there is only one chance to make a good first impression on potential buyers.

Follow these ten tips, and your home will sell faster and for more money.

Questions about selling your Cincinnati home?
Contact The Lowry Team today!
Call or text 513-368-3751

Find Your Home's Value Now!

Eric Lowry, CEO and Listing Specialist for The Lowry Team, has over 18 years experience selling homes in the Cincinnati area, and his listings sell for around 1% more than the market average – that could mean thousands of dollars more in your pocket.

We, at The Lowry Team, go above and beyond to market your home using all the latest advancements in technology, social media, and publicity strategies to ensure your home reaches the maximum number of potential buyers. In fact, we are 100% confident that NO ONE can expose your home to the masses like we can! We are so confident that we will GUARANTEE the sale of your home.  Your home sold in 88 days, or we’ll sell it for FREE! Call Eric Lowry at 513-368-3751 for more information.