Top Cincinnati Real Estate Agents Archives -

Do I need a home inspection on a new construction house?

February 28, 2016 by Eric Lowry

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

Home Values	FREE Homebuying Guide	Contact Us
West Chester	Liberty Township	Mason
Monroe	Fairfield Township	Fairfield

Do I need a home inspection on a new construction house?

Many people skip getting a home inspection on their new construction house because they mistakenly think there isn’t anything wrong with it since it’s “brand new”. However, that’s not wise – especially when this is likely the largest purchase most people will ever make!

Surprisingly enough, sometimes the home inspector’s longest reports are on new construction homes. So you should absolutely get a home inspection done on your new home!

Plus a home inspection isn’t just for finding defects, it’s for buyers to learn all about their new home. The inspector will walk you through your home and teach you all about it as they do their inspection. It’s also a great opportunity to ask any specific questions you may have.

All in all, a home inspection is well worth the money and peace of mind!

Need a great home inspector recommendation? The Lowry Team has over 16 years of real estate experience and can confidently refer you to the best! Call or text 513-368-3751

Questions about building a house?
Contact The Lowry Team today!
Call or text 513-368-3751

Cincinnati Homeowners Net Worth 45x Greater Than Renters

February 17, 2016 by Eric Lowry

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

Home Values	Hassle Free Listing	Contact Us
West Chester	Liberty Township	Mason
Monroe	Fairfield Township	Fairfield

Every three years the Federal Reserve conducts a Survey of Consumer Finances in which they collect data across all economic and social groups. The latest survey, which includes data from 2010-2013, reports that a homeowner’s net worth is 36 times greater than that of a renter ($194,500 vs. $5,400).

In a Forbes article the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Chief EconomistLawrence Yun predicts that in 2016 the net worth gap will widen even further to 45 times greater. Cincinnati homeowners net worth will be far greater than those who continue to rent.

The graph below demonstrates the results of the last two Federal Reserve studies and Yun’s prediction:

Put Your Housing Cost to Work For You

Simply put, homeownership is a form of ‘forced savings’. Every time you pay your mortgage you are contributing to your net worth. Every time you pay your rent, you are contributing to your landlord’s net worth.

The latest National Housing Pulse Survey from NAR reveals that 85% of consumers believe that purchasing a home is a good financial decision. Yun comments:

“Though there will always be discussion about whether to buy or rent, or whether the stock market offers a bigger return than real estate, the reality is that homeowners steadily build wealth. The simplest math shouldn’t be overlooked.”

Bottom Line

If you are interested in finding out if you could put your housing cost to work for you by purchasing a home, meet with a real estate professional in your area who can guide you through the process. Contact The Lowry Team today!

Ready to start your home search? Call or text 513-368-3751

Sell Your Home Faster – Easy Ways to Increase Curb Appeal

February 16, 2016 by Eric Lowry

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

Home Values	Hassle Free Listing	Contact Us
West Chester	Liberty Township	Mason
Monroe	Fairfield Township	Fairfield

Easy Ways to Increase Curb Appeal

Your home’s curb appeal provides the first impression to potential buyers, so you definitely want to make it a good one! Here are some easy ways you can greatly improve your home’s curb appeal…

Freshen Up the Paint – Touch up the shutters, trim, garage door, and front door paint.

Power Wash – If your siding is looking dirty, consider giving it a good power washing to brighten it up. Don’t forget to power wash the driveway, front porch steps, etc.

Wash the Windows – Let the light in! Homes that are brighter inside sell faster, and clean windows definitely look better on the street.

Clean Up the Landscaping – Make sure you are keeping the lawn trimmed and edged, and trim the bushes and trees. If it’s fall, make sure the leaves are being raked frequently.

Add a Pop of Color – Plant some brightly colored flowers in the flowerbeds.

Upgrade Your Mailbox – If your mailbox is looking shabby, consider buying a new one. You can even plant some flowers around your mailbox to add a pop of color.

Replace Exterior Light Fixtures – Get rid of any outdated or shabby light fixtures. Replace them with new lights that compliment the style of your home.

Update Door Hardware – If your home still has the original brass door knob and lock, consider upgrading.

Add New House Numbers – If your house numbers aren’t easy to see or if they’re dirty and dingy, replacing them can make a tremendous impact.

Questions about selling your house? Call or text Eric Lowry at 513-368-3751.
Don’t forget to ask about The Lowry Team’s Sale Guarantee…
We’ll sell your home in 88 days, or we’ll sell it for FREE!

Selling a House in Cincinnati – 6 Steps to Selling Your Home

Prepare Your House to Sell – The Ultimate Home Staging Guide Checklist

Why Use a Real Estate Team Instead of a Single Agent

Sell Your House Faster – Stage Your Home With Color!

Sell Your House Faster – Prepare Your Home for Listing Photos

Cincinnati Mortgage Interest Rates Update – February 2016

February 11, 2016 by Eric Lowry

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

Home Values	Free Homebuying Guide	Contact Us
West Chester	Liberty Township	Mason
Fairfield	Fairfield Township	Monroe

What are current mortgage interest rates in Cincinnati?

This week the average 30-year fixed rate conventional mortgage fell from 3.72% to 3.65% which is its lowest point in the last 10 months. The average on a 15-year fixed rate also slid to 2.95%.

The interest rate on an FHA loan currently sits at 3.38%. A VA loan interest rate right now is 3.5%.

These are historically low interest rates, and are not expected to last. The accompanying chart shows the experts’ mortgage rate projects for the next 4 quarters. It’s pretty much unanimous that interest rates are going to start climbing. A 0.5% increase may not seem like much, but it will significantly affect the amount of home you can afford to buy.

Bottom Line: It’s important to stay up to date on interest rates and market trends so that you can made educated decisions on when the time is right for your family to buy a home.

If you’d like more information on current market statistics or Cincinnati mortgage interest rates, get in touch with us at The Lowry Team by calling or texting 513-368-3751.

House Closing Is Delayed? Don’t Panic!

February 11, 2016 by Eric Lowry

Did you get a call to find out your house closing is delayed? Well, don’t panic or stress! Home closing delays are pretty common. In fact, 32% of all home transactions experience delays.

46% of the delays are caused by financing issues.

21% are delayed because of appraisal issues.

14% are delayed because of home inspection issues.

Financing, appraisal, and home inspections are very important aspects to resolve as they are the contingencies of the purchase contract. If a delay is necessary to get the issue resolved, try not to stress out. You’d probably rather have the closing delayed a bit, than the deal fall through completely.

Questions about the home buying or selling process? Contact The Lowry Team today.
Call or text 513-368-3751

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.

Other Articles You May Be Interested In:

Search the entire Cincinnati MLS for Homes For Sale

Find Out The Current Market Value Of Your Home

How much does a Realtor cost when buying a house?

5 Reasons 2016 is the Year to Buy a House

A Complete Guide to Buying a Home

What credit score is needed to buy a house?

How do I choose the right lender?

How much down payment do I need to buy a house?

Where are interest rates headed?

Why Use a Real Estate Team Instead of a Single Agent

Can my real estate agent represent me on new construction?

Connect with us on Facebook

Connect with us on YouTube

Connect with us on Twitter

Selling a House in Cincinnati – Part 4

February 4, 2016 by Eric Lowry

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

Home Values	Hassle Free Listing	Contact Us
West Chester	Liberty Township	Mason
Monroe	Fairfield Township	Fairfield

Step 3 to Selling a House in Cincinnati : Stage Your Home

Preparing your home for sale properly can net you considerably more money at closing. Some rooms in your home are more important than others in the preparation process and some home improvements are a much better investment as you prepare to sell your home. Don’t spend money unnecessarily, contact Eric Lowry, CEO and Listing Specialist for The Lowry Team today to arrange a consultation. In the meantime, here are some general steps that you could start implementing right now.

The first step in staging your home is to maximize the curb appeal. Make sure to trim the bushes and keep the lawn neatly mowed. The curb appeal of your home will provide the first impression to potential buyers. Make it a good one!

Next, you will want to remove any clutter from your house. 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. Your house will appear larger, neater, and more organized.

If you have transformed one (or more) of your bedrooms into something other than a bedroom, such as a sewing room or exercise room, change it back. If you are listing your house as a three bedroom, you want the home buyer to be able to easily visualize the three bedrooms.

Clean up and organize the counters in the bathrooms and kitchen. They should appear, neat, clean and sparkly! Put items that are generally sitting out on the counter tops away out of sight.

After all of the steps are completed, do one last final clean up. Deep clean your house from top to bottom; yes, even the windows! Repair any nicks to the walls and cover them with a fresh coat of neutral paint.

Lastly, add a pop of color. This could be some colorful towels in the half bath or fresh flowers in a vase in the entrance way. Add color outside by planting some annuals. Place a new welcome mat by the front door or add a splash of color with a pillows on a chair.

Houses that are properly staged sell faster and for more money than homes that are not. Contact Eric Lowry, CEO and Listing Specialist for The Lowry Team, to set up a free consultation. Call or text 513-368-3751

Read Selling a House in Cincinnati Part 1 here
Read Selling a House in Cincinnati Part 2 here
Read Selling a House in Cincinnati Part 3 here