The economy is horrible! Home sales are way down!

The economy is horrible! Home sales are way down! Blah, blah, blah!

That is all the media reports anymore. The truth is, the economy and housing market are on upswings according to the experts. It is predicted that by the end of the year we will be in a seller's market. We have actually had slight appreciation in Montgomery County home values. Now is the BEST time to buy! Interest rates are low and there is a lot of inventory available. If you are thinking of selling, why wait until interest rates are high and there aren't many homes available? Be smart - get while the getting is good and BUY NOW! My husband and I are real estate investors, and now is the perfect time to invest if you haven't already. Whether you are buying in order to rent a property, or buying and flipping there are a lot of great deals out there. Take advantage of short sales! Happy house hunting!

If you aren't familiar with short sales, feel free to contact me at anytime.

Christina Asad Edwards, REALTOR
2006 & 2007 Sales Masters Top Agent
Christina.Asad@RealLiving.com
http://www.teamedwards.info
mobile or text 937-205-4741
office 937-573-0082
fax 937-433-3561
Real Living Realty - #1 in OHIO!
Realty, Mortgage, Title, Relocation

Flooring is the Best Way to Update a Home

I live in Oakwood, Ohio surrounded by 50+ year old colonials and swiss chalets. Many of these 1950's era homes still sport the decor of yesterday, so the homes are priced relatively low making them a great deal for investors willing to put in some elbow work as designers!

In this investors opinion the best way to update a home is flooring (next to updating the kitchen). In older homes hardwood floors can usually be found under carpeting. By simply sanding and varnishing the hardwood flooring can be easily restored. Although it is not traditional, cork flooring is an eco-friendly option. Vinyl flooring is durable. My favorite flooring option is the newest trend - frize carpet. For those of you who don't know, frize carpet is a semi-shag carpet that is heavenly soft. The sellers at my listing located at 6420 Shirecliff Court in Centerville just updated their living room with frize carpet and we've received rave reviews!

What do you think is the best way to update a dated home?

Christina Asad Edwards, REALTOR
2006 & 2007 Sales Masters Top Agent
Christina.AsadEdwards@RealLiving.com
www.teamedwards.info
mobile or text 937-205-4741 office 937-573-0082
Real Living Realty - #1 in OHIO!
Realty, Mortgage, Title, Relocation

Interlocking Concrete Pavers

The concept of interlocking concrete pavers dates back to the Roman Empire. Interlocking concrete pavers are sections of compacted concrete that are used to pave paths, patios, driveways, sidewalks, and steps. They are about the size of a standard brick, but come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and textures and simulate bricks, tiles, cobblestones and granite blocks. Most concrete pavers measure 2-3/8 to 2-1/2 inches thick. The thickness of the paver affects its ability to carry and spread loads to neighboring units when set. The thicker the paver, the greater the load carrying capacity. By following these thickness guidelines, pavers should not bend or crack with regular use. Because of their uniformity, pavers fit together effortlessly and their installation is a frequent do-it-yourself project. The biggest benefit is that they can be easily removed and reinstalled. Concrete pavers are much more tough and solid than concrete blocks so you don’t have to worry about moisture absorption and damage from repetitive freeze/thaw cycles. Interlocking pavers are modular, meaning that they fit together in a variety of geometric patterns. Grass pavers have an open-grid shape for planting grass or other ground cover. Pavers help to make a durable and natural-looking walk, and the turf itself holds them in place.

Christina Asad Edwards, REALTOR
2006 & 2007 Sales Masters Top Agent
Christina.AsadEdwards@RealLiving.com
www.teamedwards.info
mobile or text 937-205-4741 office 937-573-0082
Real Living Realty - #1 in OHIO!
Realty, Mortgage, Title, Relocation

Go Green - Use a Ceiling Fan

Ceiling fans are a great investment, and can even reduce your energy bill. For the best use, make sure the ceiling fan is correctly mounted. It is also important to install the right size ceiling fan for the room. Ceiling fan blades range from size 29" - 56". In large rooms, measuring approximately 15x15, a 52" - 56" ceiling fan should be used. In small rooms, measuring approximately 10x10, a 38" - 48" ceiling fan should be used. Another green tip - if there is a light fixture on your ceiling fan make sure to use an energy efficient light bulb!






Christina Asad Edwards, REALTOR
2006 & 2007 Sales Masters Top Agent
Christina.Asad@RealLiving.com
http://www.teamedwards.info/
mobile or text 937-205-4741
office 937-573-0082
fax 937-433-3561
Real Living Realty - #1 in OHIO!
Realty, Mortgage, Title, Relocation

Best Perennial & Biennial Flowers

ALYSSUM, SAXATILE
AUBRETIA, ROCK CRESS
BALLOON FLOWER, CHINESE BELLFLOWER
BLUE FLAX
BUTTERFLY & HUMMINGBIRD MIX
CARNATION, DWARF FRAGRANCE MIX
COLUMBINE, (DWARF) BIEDERMEIER MIX
COLUMBINE, GIANT MIX
DELPHINIUM, BLUE BUTTERFLY DWARF
DELPHINIUM, PACIFIC GIANT MIX
ECHINACEA, PURPLE CONEFLOWER
ENGLISH DAISY
FOXGLOVE
GAILLARDIA, ARISTATA MIX
GLORIOSA DAISY, RUDBECKIA
GYPSOPHILA, PANICULATA (PERENNIAL)
HOLLYHOCK, CHATERS DOUBLE MIXTURE
HOLLYHOCK, INDIAN SPRING SINGLE MIX
IBERIS (PERENNIAL CANDYTUFT)
DWARF LUPINE, MINARETTE
LUPINE, RUSSELLS MIX
MONEY PLANT
PANSY, SWISS GIANT MIX
PANSY, WINTER PANSIES
PENSTEMON, RAINBOW MIX
PERENNIAL GARDEN MIXTURE
POPPY, ALPINE
POPPY, ICELAND GARTFORD GIANTS
ROCK GARDEN, LOW GROWING MIXTURE
SHADE GARDEN MIXTURE
SHASTA DAISY, ALASKA
SHASTA DAISY, LITTLE PRINCESS
SWEET WILLIAM, TALL SINGLE MIX
WALLFLOWER, ENGLISH

Existing Home Sales Rise In February

Sales of existing homes increased in February and remain within a fairly stable range, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

Existing-home sales – including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – rose 2.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate (1) of 5.03 million units in February from a pace of 4.89 million in January, but remain 23.8 percent below the 6.60 million-unit level in February 2007. The sales pace has been in a fairly narrow range since last September.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the gain is encouraging…“The improvement is another sign that the market is stabilizing,” he said. “Buyers taking advantage of higher loan limits for both FHA and conventional mortgages will unleash some pent-up demand.”

http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2008/existing_home_sales_rise_in_february.html


Christina Asad Edwards, REALTOR
2006 & 2007 Sales Masters Top Agent
Christina.Asad@RealLiving.com
http://www.teamedwards.info/
mobile or text 937-205-4741
office 937-573-0082
fax 937-433-3561
Real Living Realty - #1 in OHIO!
Realty, Mortgage, Title, Relocation

Spring Into Action!

It's official: Spring has arrived. With warmer weather on the horizon, now's the time to spruce up your home for faster sale or simply add value, without spending a bundle. Inexpensive touches like fresh paint, new throw pillows or front-entrance planters filled with colorful flowers can give your home that extra edge.

• Spring into cleaning – Use a little elbow grease to
  make your floors, windows, appliances and light
  fixtures sparkle. Potential buyers feel more comfortable
  when viewing a clean house.
• Minimize clutter – “Less is more” when it comes
  to staging your home for sale. Put anything in storage
  that takes away from a room’s overall impact.
• Organize closets – A well-organized closet will appear
  roomier, which is what buyers want. There are
  a number of affordable closet shelving and storage
  systems that you can install yourself.
• Paint works wonders – Fresh paint can be the
  least expensive way to transform a room. Neutral
  colors work best because a buyer can move in
  now and choose their custom colors later.
• Make a great first impression – Pretend that
  you’re entering your home for the first time. If there
  are cobwebs or peeling paint on your front door,
  that first impression will be negative. Make needed
  repairs and replace an overly-worn welcome mat
  with a new one.
• Add color with containers – Add container plantings
  to your front entrance for a welcoming focal
  point. The following plants are perfect for spring:
  ivy, sweet alyssum, geranium, snapdragon, salvia,
  liriope, and dianthus.
• Fresh cut flowers – Fresh flowers bring the outdoors
  inside, adding color and aroma. If your home
  is painted in neutral tones, choose brightly colored
  flowers. If your home is already full of color, opt for
  lighter hues, such as white or yellow.
• Spring touches – Lighten up your decorating
  with throws and toss pillows that say “Spring”.
  Pack away those heavier quilts and winter accent
  pieces.
• Hot color trends – This Spring, soothing mint and
  bright foliage are two striking variations of this
  season’s signature color: green. Other tones also
  incorporate a hint of green, including light, airy
  blues and deeper gray teals. Honey-hued yellows
  and subtle shaded purples, along with bright white
  round out the season’s palette.

Source: https://www.lowesrealtorbenefits.com/newsletter/2007/march.htm

Christina Asad Edwards, REALTOR
2006 & 2007 Sales Masters Top Agent
Christina.AsadEdwards@RealLiving.com
http://www.teamedwards.info/
mobile or text 937-205-4741
office 937-573-0082
fax 937-433-3561
Real Living Realty - #1 in OHIO!
Realty, Mortgage, Title, Relocation