The Blade, 5/17/12

The Blade ran this article today.  Wahoo — all that coffee I consume is going to make me live longer!

A study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and AARP has indicated that drinking coffee may increase your chance of living longer. While there is no “direct evidence” that this is true, the study bore out that coffee drinkers were less likely to die from heart or respiratory disease, stroke, diabetes, injuries, accidents or infections.

So, I say, grab that cup of coffee and join me on Monday mornings for Coffee Chat With Lisa!  Text my assistant, Denise Miller, at (419) 704-2441 or email us at vandootinghteam@lvdsold.com with your email address to subscribe. You can also subscribe from my blog, Heart and Homes, in the sidebar and from my website www.lvdsold.com.

Each Monday morning you will receive a (short!) light-hearted, funny or inspirational email (with pictures!) to prepare you for the week ahead. Start out your work week with a little “Lisa” humor! And, who said Monday must be unbearable?  Here’s to java, a little chit chat and friendship!

It’s a great time to buy a home. That’s what we realtors keep telling everyone; and, it really is. Interest rates are at all-time lows. Home prices are seriously down. You can afford so much more home now than you could have just a few years ago. So what’s there to gripe about?

Not much — if you enjoy feeling like you’ve been strip-searched by financiers. Lenders have severely tightened the reins in their lending practices and the scrutiny is painstaking at times for home buyers.  Simply put, Lenders Want To Know Everything. This article documents to some degree just what lenders are seeking before approving loans, even when the candidate is clearly credit-worthy.

Mortgage loan processors find themselves at the mercy of underwriters demanding documentation well-beyond what used to be required to approve a loan. And the demands are generally many and duplicative.  As a Realtor, I take my role very seriously; I always stay very involved in the loan processing phase of my real estate transactions.  I work closely with the mortgage loan processor and the buyer and I find myself consistently running interference between my buyers and the banks just to move things along. The scrutiny is often overwhelming and exhausting for everyone involved.

The result is a protracted loan processing period with much frustration and angst on the part of loan applicants, mortgage processors, realtors, etc.  How can you make your home buying transaction go as smoothly as possible?  Here’s some advice from a local lender, Jennifer Abke, who previously contributed to my blog with her article, Home Buying & Financing.  And, here are Six Simple Things You Can Do To Ensure A Smooth Home Purchase according to FMRealty’s Blog, The Faces of Fonville.

Home buyers are facing serious competition out there, and it is both fierce and unexpected. When looking for homes to buy, home buyers are faced with declining inventory, limited options and multiple bid situations on the same home.

 An article on Monday from Daily Real Estate News in Realtor Magazine, Bidding Wars Catch Buyers Off-Guard, explains why we are facing a competitive buyers’ market.

It’s not just an aberration; it’s becoming the norm now.  And, it’s happening right here in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. I’ve found myself in many competitive-bid situations lately.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that buyers are stunned that they are facing such competition. See Stunned Home Buyers Find the Bidding Wars Are Back. Fueling these bidding battles, in part, is the fact that mortgage interest rates remain low and buyers can afford more home for the money.  And, the cost of renting is at a premium.  People are finding that, in many situations, they can better afford to buy than pay rent.  So, if you are contemplating selling your home, the time is NOW because the buyers are out there.

If you are buying a home, there are many pitfalls that must be avoided in today’s market. Lenders are not-so-quick to hand out money now. It’s a daunting process and buyers are ultimately left feeling as if they’ve been strip-searched by the time it’s all over.  But for people with stable jobs, the American Dream of owning a home is still within reach.

And sellers face their own challenges.  A big one now is the appraisal. We realtors are seeing many deals go south or become complicated because homes simply just aren’t appraising at the price agreed upon in Purchase Contracts.

Right now, it is a little murky for both buyers and sellers. Now, more than ever, it is important to seek the advice of industry professionals to aid you in navigating the muddy waters. It is even more important to find those professionals who will stick with you through the entire process. A sale doesn’t end for sellers once they have a signed Purchase Contract, and buyers need all the guidance they can get when trying to get approved for a mortgage. These days, a signed Purchase Contract is just the beginning of a wild and crazy ride for sellers and buyers to get through the home selling/purchasing maze.

As always, I’m here for you. My clients know that I fight hard for them, whether they are selling or purchasing, and I don’t abandon them when the going gets tough. If you have any questions about the process from the beginning through end in today’s world, please feel free visit my website or contact me.  Call/text (419) 902-7184 or email at lvdsold@gmail.com.

I am thrilled to announce I have made more changes to my blog. I’m now covering NW Ohio and SE Michigan. While the name has changed – It’s now HEART AND HOMES IN NW OHIO & SE MICHIGAN – the great content will remain.  In fact, I have greater capabilities via my blog host and the contact will be even better! I hope you enjoy hanging out here as much as I enjoy creating and updating it.  Oh, by the way, the new URL is shorter and easier to remember - heartandhomes.com.

New listing and I absolutely love this home. You will not find anything better for the money!  Completely remodeled. Quality workmanship.

Check out my two new listings.  If you are looking for a good deal on a home, take a look at these short sales!

3118 Mulberry, Toledo, Ohio 43608

$29,900. Short Sale. This 1 story brick home in North Toledo has a new roof, electric, basement waterproofing, hot water tank, security system & fenced yard. Gas forced air with C/A.  1.5 car detached garage. Full basement. Makes a perfect starter home. For more info, see here.  Call today for a personal tour. (419) 902-7184

   5420 Dorr, Toledo, OH 43615

$69,900. Short Sale. This is a great investment opportunity. On awesome 1.4 acre lot. It has newer plumbing & electric. Updated kitchen & bath. The second floor is gutted and ready to be finished as a master suite or bonus/recreation room. Gas forced air with C/A. 24×48 pole barn built in 2000 is plumbed for a bath.  It has 10 ft ceilings & doors on front & back. More info is available here.  Call me to see this home. (419) 902-7184

IT’S A GREAT DAY FOR REAL ESTATE.

SEE MY WEB SITE AT LVDSOLD.COM FOR MORE GREAT HOMES!

If you aren’t already a fan of pinning, I bet you’ve heard about it.  And no, I’m not referring to sewing or a member’s pinning ceremony!  If you aren’t really sure what pinning is, I’m sure you’ve at least heard about Pinterest.  If not, I know it’s something you will love.

Pinterest is the latest rage that’s taking social media by storm.  Pinterest calls itself a virtual pinboard that allows its members to organize and share things they find on the web. And you can browse other people’s boards. I call it a great way to collect the things I love and want to share with others. And, I absolutely love it.

It’s a fun way to store information that you find that you may want to reference later. Maybe you’ve been looking for a recipe for baked asparagus casserole for the holidays and you happen to find one while surfing the net one day.  You can pin the recipe to your Pinterest board and then go back to retrieve it when you need it.  And, it’s a good chance someone else has been looking for a great baked asparagus recipe, so they will be thrilled to repin the recipe to their board.

And that’s how it goes.  You surf the web & you pin things that catch your eye.  This fellow caught my eye — isn’t he absolutely adorable?

You can repin what other people pin, and others can pin and repin!  It’s unbelievably addicting and loads of fun. You can follow fellow pinners and they can follow you!

If you’re planning a wedding, you can find incredible ideas from dresses, decorations, honeymoon destinations, etc. And you can share them with your friends and they can comment and provide their opinions, ideas & suggestions.  And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg! You can share fashion, home decor, remodeling ideas, recipes, games, and on and on and on.

Be careful, it’s ridiculously easy to lose yourself in Pinterest.  But it’s a great way to get wonderful ideas and express your style whether it be personal, home, art, whatever.

You can check out my Pinterest Boards here.  As of now, you still have to be invited to join (it’s free!)  If you need an invite, email me at vandootinghteam@lvdsold.com and I will be happy to send you a personal invite.

Good luck & happy pinning!

He enjoys true leisure who has time to improve his soul’s estate. - Henry David Thoreau

I recently was introduced to eScapestv and I must tell you that it is fabulous. eScapestv is a hybrid radio/television network that provides 15-minute themed episodes 24/7, featuring scenic video and audio serenity. It is headquartered locally in Monroe, Michigan and is available through many cable and satellite television providers.

eScapestv has produced over 500 episodes with backdrops in the United States including Las Vegas, New York, San Diego, Santa Fe, Seattle, Mackinaw, just to name a few. They even feature exotic international locales in Peru, the Caribbean, Belize, etc.

The video is stunning and the soundtrack is so relaxing. It really does provide for a welcome break from chaotic daily life.

In NW Ohio & SE Michigan, it is available on channel 168 on Buckeye Cable and, I understand it is available on certain satellite stations as well. And, what’s really cool about eScapes is that you can find it on YouTube (search “escapestv”) and even tune into episode podcasts via iTunes for free to view many episodes. I suggest you go online and view the eScapes library to see what is available.

So grab that cup o’ joe in the morning, glass of wine in the evening or whatever floats your boat and tune in for a mini-vacation at home.  Even one 15-minute episode will re-energize your mind and calm your soul.  Good Monday morning & make it a great week!

Blessings,

Lisa
It’s A Great Day For Real Estate
In NWO & SE Michigan!

Lisa Van Dootingh, SFR

Key Realty (Ohio) & Key Realty One (Michigan)
The Van Dootingh Team
Cell:  (419) 902-7184
Email: lvdsold@gmail.com
Website:  www.lvdsold.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/lisavandootingh 
Blog:  heartandhomeinnwo.wordpress.com

“We may be very busy, we may be very efficient, but we will also be truly effective when we begin with the end in mind.” ― Stephen R. Covey 
This story is from Stephen Covey, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Once upon a time there was a very strong woodcutter who asked for a job in a timber merchant. Pleased that he got the job, he was determined to do his best for it offered good pay and work conditions.

His boss gave him an axe and showed him where to start. The woodcutter returned at the end of the day with 18 felled trees. The boss was impressed and said “Congratulations, go on that way!”

Very motivated by the boss’ words, the woodcutter went out the next day and worked even harder. But, he only could cut down 15 trees. Determined to exceed his first day’s offerings, he tried even harder. But, still he only could manage 10 trees. Each day he worked harder, but brought in less and less trees.

The woodcutter thought he was losing his strength. Frustrated, he went to the boss apologetically, saying that he could not understand what was happening. The boss then asked him, “When was the last time you sharpened your axe?” The woodcutter looked at him in amazement. ”Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees…”

What a great reminder that sometimes we have to stop and sharpen our axe if we are to truly be effective and efficient in our efforts. So, sharpen your axe and let’s raise our coffee mugs to the start of a great week.

Lisa

It’s A Great Day For Real Estate
In NWO & SE Michigan!

Lisa Van Dootingh, SFR
Key Realty (Ohio) & Key Realty One (Michigan)
The Van Dootingh Team
Cell:  (419) 902-7184
Email: lvdsold@gmail.com
Website:  www.lvdsold.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/lisavandootingh
Blog:  heartandhomeinnwo.wordpress.com

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