Cleveland Real Estate And More

This post was written by one of our peers, Bill Gassett. He is one of the nations top producing real estate agents and services short sales in Metrowest Massachusetts. We wanted to share this post with those looking to get more information on Cleveland OH short sales as we feel it is very well written and will provide you with a great foundation regarding a short sale transaction. For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235.

Cleveland OH Real Estate - Relocating To Cleveland: The Complete Guide Part 1

So, you've just found out you are relocating to Cleveland Ohio. Like most people in your situation, you are probably going through a wide range of emotions. You are also beginning to realize how much work you have to do to prepare for your big move. This guide was designed to help alleviate the stress that comes with relocating and to provide sound advice.

WHY ARE WE PROVIDING THIS GUIDE?

We personally relocated to Cleveland almost 15 years ago and know exactly what you are going through. We understand how stressful moving to a new city can be, especially if you don't know a lot of people, and we wanted to provide some help and friendly advice.  So, take a deep breath, try to relax and let us help you put together a successful game plan so you can have a smooth transition when relocating to your new home, Cleveland, Ohio.

ABOUT CLEVELAND

First things first, since you are moving to Cleveland, you should learn a little bit about one of Ohio's largest cities. Overall, Cleveland is known as offering its residents the amenities of a big city but with the feel of a small town. The people here are also very welcoming to outsiders, willing to extend you our Midwestern hospitality. We are confident that in time, once you get to know all the fantastic things Cleveland has to offer, you will become excited to be a part of our community. 

Cleveland has a rich history and has been named an All-America City on several occasions over the past twenty years. It also boasts many historic landmarks and cultural institutions such as Terminal Tower, Cleveland Grays Armory, The West Side Market,  Severance Hall, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Botanical Garden, and the Cleveland Metropolitan Parks System (more commonly known around town as "the Metroparks")  which includes the Cleveland Zoo. Cleveland is also home to 3 major sports teams and numerous minor league teams as well.

There are a ton of things that are great about Cleveland, such as the cost of living, culture, shopping and lack of traffic compared to big cities.  In fact, here is our complete list of our top 10 things that are great about Cleveland.

So now that you have learned a little bit about our town, on to the task at hand, your upcoming relocation to Cleveland. 

STEP 1 - ADDRESS YOUR HOUSING NEEDS

A major step in the relocation process is finding a place to live in Cleveland. Do you want to live on the East side or West side? Are you going to rent or buy? What can you get for your money here in Cleveland? Cleveland has some great housing options, but you'll need someone to guide you through the process.

We highly recommend hiring a real estate agent to help you find suitable housing.  This person, especially if you don't have a lot of contacts in Cleveland, will be relied on for more than just housing too.  They will be your tour guide, friend, and in general, a valuable resource for everything, not just real estate. You may need to find specific information on schools, doctors for your children, places to board your pet, restaurants and shopping, so a good local agent will play a critical part in a successful move. 

When we moved here in the mid 90's, we were very fortunate and grateful to find a fantastic agent to help us with our move. She was so valuable to everything we did and we are still friends with her to this day.

If you are relocating to Cleveland, you will have 2 options when it comes to finding a real estate agent:

1. your company, if assisting in the move, will find you an agent on your behalf.

2. find one on your own

If your company is handling your move, be cautious as relocation companies don't always match relocating clients with an agent who is a great match. Sometimes a company merely assigns an agent based on seniority or production without really giving thought to specific needs of the person being relocated. Even if your company is coordinating everything for you, the choice of which real estate agent to use is still up to you.

If you are on your own to find an agent, do some research and choose wisely. Getting names of agents from friends or family is helpful. You can also find some great information on line. No matter who you hire, it is important to define what you want in an agent and what you expect of their services. This way, when you can contact them, you can be sure to ask the right questions to make sure they are a good fit.

Once you have decided on an agent, it is now time for step 2, Where To Live in Cleveland. This will be made available in a few days, so please keep reading our blog.

Here are a few helpful articles pertaining to relocating to Cleveland OH:

Cleveland Ohio relocation - Important Contact Information

Buying A Home In Cleveland - The Complete Guide 

Cleveland Ohio Private Schools

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman reside on the East side of Cleveland. They specialize in luxury homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

For Ohio and Cleveland OH real estate and homes see Cleveland Oh real estate.

For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235.

SEE ALL CLEVELAND OH AREA HOMES FOR SALE BY CLICKING BELOW:

 CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Cleveland OH Real Estate - Relocating To Cleveland: The Complete Guide Part 1 is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©July2010    

Disclaimer: The Schuman Team practices real estate in Ohio. Since many states have different laws and protocol regarding a real estate transaction, we recommend consulting a qualified local legal professional prior to entering into any written agreement. This blog contains observations and opinions related to our first hand experience working with buyers and sellers in Ohio, but should not be construed as legal advice.  Accuracy is not guaranteed.  

 Cleveland OH Real Estate - Bi-Annual Luxury Home Report 2010

Below are luxury home sales statistics for the first 6 months of 2010 in Cleveland, specifically the Eastern suburbs of Cuyahoga County. We also included figures from the first 6 months of 2009 so a comparison can be made. Commentary to follow.

All Sales           # Of Homes Sold         Ave. Sales Price              

YTD 2010                 66                          $685,707

YTD 2009                 59                          $661,592

*source NEOHREX ( Regional MLS )

High Sale YTD 2010 = $1,600,000

Commentary - Cleveland OH luxury homes have seen an increase in activity compared to the same period of time last year.  Overall sales are up over 10% from last year and the average sales price has increased as well. A majority of sales are in the lower level luxury price range. Here is a break down in terms of price of all sales this year:

Price Range                      # Of Sales

$500,000-749,999                  51

$750,000-999,999                  11

$1,000,000+                           4

While our Cleveland bi-annual luxury market report does show improvement from last year, there is still general concern about the overall real estate market, especially with the large inventory of homes currently on the market.  Right now there are 296 active luxury home listings, and based on 11 sales per month, that gives us over a 2 year supply of luxury homes on Cleveland's east side. Among these listings are 14 homes listed over $2,000,000.

With all due respect to luxury home sellers, this is great news for buyers and some seem to be taking advantage. We currently have 38 luxury homes under contract, many priced over $1,000,000. Also, rates will continue to be low, making the purchase of a luxury home even more attractive.  Moving forward, we anticipate luxury home sales to be slightly higher in 2010 then they were last year.

Below are other articles of interest pertaining to the Cleveland luxury home market:

Why Hiring A Luxury Home Agent Is Important

Defining A Luxury Home In Cleveland

Local Agent Receives Luxury Home Designation

Solon OH Luxury Home Report 2009 

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman reside on the East side of Cleveland. They specialize in luxury homes, working with buyers relocating to Cleveland, and first-time buyers.

For Ohio and Cleveland OH real estate and homes see Cleveland Oh real estate.

For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235.

SEE ALL CLEVELAND OH AREA HOMES FOR SALE BY CLICKING BELOW:

 CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Cleveland OH Real Estate - Bi-Annual Luxury Home Report 2010 is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©July2010    

Disclaimer: The Schuman Team practices real estate in Ohio. Since many states have different laws and protocol regarding a real estate transaction, we recommend consulting a qualified local legal professional prior to entering into any written agreement. This blog contains observations and opinions related to our first hand experience working with buyers and sellers in Ohio, but should not be construed as legal advice.  Accuracy is not guaranteed.   

Cleveland Ohio - Fourth Of July Fireworks 2010

Since we are expecting warm weather with clear skies all weekend, this promises to be a spectacular year  to gather with friends and family to watch fireworks.  Here is a list of upcoming fireworks shows in various cities throughout the area, including the East side suburbs of Solon, Shaker Heights, and Cleveland Heights. Please note, due to budget shortages, many communities across the Cleveland area will not be having their traditional fireworks show.   

Friday, July 2nd:

Hudson: Dusk, Barlow Farm Park

Saturday July 3rd:

Bratenahl: Dusk, Bratenahl Village Park

Mayfield Village: Dusk, Wilson Mills and SOM Center Road

Sunday, July 4th:

Aurora: Dusk, Sunny Lake Park. Rain date July 5.

Avon Lake: Dusk, Miller Road Park

Cleveland: 10pm, in The Flats where the Cuyahoga River meets Lake Erie

Lakewood: Dusk, Lakewood Park

Shaker Heights: 8PM , Shaker Middle School, 20600 Shaker Blvd.; at dusk

Solon - Solon Community Park,6679 SOM Center Road dusk

Westlake: Dusk, Clague Park

There will be NO FIREWORKS this year in the following areas:

Chagrin Falls

Cleveland Heights

Pepper Pike

Rocky River

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About The Authors:

This information is provided compliments of Amy and Dan Schuman, The Schuman Team Keller Williams Realty. The Schumans are residents of Solon OH and have worked with numerous professional athletes, business owners, and executives who are relocating to Cleveland.

If you are looking to buy or sell Cleveland OH real estate, including the surrounding suburbs, please contact the Schuman Team at 216-346-3235. 

SEE ALL CLEVELAND OH AREA HOMES FOR SALE BY CLICKING BELOW:

 CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Cleveland Ohio - Fourth Of July Fireworks 2010 is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©July2010    

Cleveland Ohio Real Estate - What Happens After The Home Inspection

In this article, we will discuss the post-inspection process when buying a home here in Cleveland and give suggestions on how to move forward in a smooth manner in order to get what you want.

At this point in the process, we will assume that you have thoroughly gone over the inspection report and discussed issues of concern directly with the home inspector. While discussion here will be limited to post inspection issues only, you can read about the entire buying process by viewing the link below:

 A Complete Guide To Buying A Home in Cleveland

One of the most stressful parts of the home buying process can be dealing with post-inspection issues. Depending on how you proceed, this next step can lead to round 2 of negotiations. Regardless of how round 1 went, this particular step can be very unpredictable

Emotions on both sides are typically heightened at this point as both parties have time and or money vested into the transaction. The buyer has spent money on an inspection and possibly an appraisal, and the seller has taken their home off the market and possibly spurned other offers in hopes that the transaction will go through.

When buying a home in Cleveland, there are 3 official ways to respond to an inspection based on the wording of our standard purchase agreement:

1. If the inspection came out clean, you can remove the inspection contingency from the contract
2. If a major issue came up, like structural damage to the foundation, you can opt out of the agreement.
3. You can remove the inspection contingency from the contract based on conditions that you want addressed.

 Since #1 and #2 above are pretty clear cut, let's talk about how to handle #3. 

Normal protocol dictates that a seller will most likely address major health and safety issues either by offering to fix the problem or reduce the purchase price by the amount it would take to fix it. These types of things would include mold or radon remediation, electrical code violations, or anything else deemed by the inspector to be related to health and safety.

Many buyers prefer to submit a cost estimate to the sellers and simply have this amount reduced from the purchase price rather than ask the seller to repair something. This gives them control on how it gets fixed and by whom.

Be aware that every situation is different, so don't assume a seller will address any and all of these issues.

Here are some important concepts to understand as you move forward with the post-inspection process:

1.  The home inspection should not be used solely as a way to re-negotiate a better price. A lot of buyers make the mistake of buying a home, feeling that they overpaid for it ( many buyers feel this way after the initial negotiations ), and then using the inspection report to re-negotiate the price. This is not the best way to view the process.

2.  You are purchasing the home in its as is condition and your offer should have reflected this. Your initial offer should have been made based on the current condition of the home and the information you had up front.  Asking the seller to reduce the purchase price by $800 to compensate for a hot water tank that you knew up front was 15 years old would most likely be seen as disingenuous to the negotiating process and may hurt your efforts to get additional concessions.

3.  An inspectors advice about negotiating should be taken with a grain of salt. While most inspectors stick to presenting the facts, some interject their opinions or thoughts. I once had an inspector say to my buyer " if it were me, I would make the sellers do .........."   and none of these were health or safety issues.  Remember, the inspector is not the one making the buying decision and is not aware of the dynamics of the transaction. The inspector may have great technical skills regarding a home, but that doesn't make him is a good negotiator.

4.  Presenting sellers with a lengthy list of items to fix may be a poor strategy for getting what you really want.  A major mistake buyers make is putting together a "laundry list" of things they want the seller to fix, knowing that many of the items are trivial and probably won't be addressed. The mentality here is that if you ask for 10 items, maybe they'll do 5. However, this approach may really tick off the sellers and backfire on you.

5.  Keep your list short and sweet. If there are only a few items that are really important to you, ask for these to be addressed. Is it worth the risk of alienating the sellers by presenting them with a lengthy list of demands? Your agent can communicate that you could have asked for more things, but asked for only the most important, just to be fair. Sellers will typically appreciate and respond better to this approach.

Before deciding on what items you want the seller to fix, think very carefully about your approach during this critical stage of the home buying process. Being fair, reasonable, and most important, courteous toward the seller shouldn't be overlooked.  Sometimes getting what you want is all in the approach and the way you ask. 

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About The Authors:

Dan and Amy Schuman are Solon OH residents. They specialize in Cleveland luxury homes, working with buyers relocating to Solon, and first-time buyers.

For Ohio and Cleveland OH real estate and homes see Cleveland real estate

For a personal consultation or to speak directly to The Schuman Team, call 216-346-3235.

VIEW ALL CLEVELAND OH HOMES FOR SALE BY CLICKING BELOW

CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Cleveland Ohio Real Estate - What Happens After The Home Inspection is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©May,2010  

Cleveland Named one of Best Bicycling Cities

For the first time, Bicycling Magazine has added Cleveland to its list of best cities for bicycling.  This list is based on government and community initiatives that offer more amenities to bicyclers as well as overall efforts of the area to "go green" and provide better conditions for healthy recreation. This is the first time Cleveland has made the list.

Cleveland was officially ranked number 39 on the list and was named a "rising star" by the magazine.  Bicycle enthusiasts are delighted to see our city recognized.  Cleveland currently has eight trails and is planning to add eight more.  We also have one of the biggest Metropark systems in the country, with great trails for biking. In addition, the city is also considering creating a "Bike Station" downtown, a place where there would be lockers and showers, and repairs could also be done.   So get out there, enjoy the city and get some exercise.

Don't have a bike - visit the local bike shops in your neighborhood for expert advice on what you need to join the fun. We also encourage riders to be cautious and practice safety at all times, and that includes wearing a helmet.

For more info - pick up the May issue of Bicycling Magazine.

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About The Authors:

This information is provided compliments of Amy and Dan Schuman, The Schuman Team Keller Williams Realty. The Schumans are residents of Solon OH and have worked with numerous professional athletes, business owners, and executives who are relocating to Cleveland.

If you are looking to buy or sell Cleveland OH real estate, including the surrounding suburbs, please contact the Schuman Team at 216-346-3235. 

SEE ALL CLEVELAND OH AREA HOMES FOR SALE BY CLICKING BELOW:

 CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Cleveland Named One Of Best Bicycling Cities is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©April2010    

Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland To Open Downtown Office

Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland plans to increase their market presence by opening up in downtown Cleveland. Plans call for Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland to open before the end of the year, possibly as early as December 1, 2009.

The new office, located in the historic Warehouse District in the Cloak Factory building at 635 W. Lakeside Ave, will open with over $30,000,000 in inventory and 17 agents, many of whom are some of the areas top producers. The office interior will have a look consistent to many historic offices in downtown Cleveland complete with hardwood floors and exposed beams.

While most local real estate agents don't service the downtown area, deciding to focus on the surrounding suburbs instead, the agents in this new office will be highly experienced with urban dwellings and be able to help consumers who are looking to buy and sell within the city of Cleveland in addition to outside of the area. The downtown Cleveland residential real estate market has relatively few agents and Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland is positioned to greatly increase their market share here.

While Keller Williams Realty International has over 80,000 agents and is the third largest real estate franchise operation in the nation, they have only been in the Cleveland area market for 7 years. However, during this time, they have grown from 9 agents in one office, to approximately 500 agents in 5 offices. In addition to the downtown office, 5 additional offices are planned in the near future.

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About The Authors:

This information is provided compliments of Amy and Dan Schuman, The Schuman Team Keller Williams Realty. The Schumans have worked with numerous professional athletes, business owners, and executives who are relocating to Cleveland. They specialize in the Cleveland Ohio luxury home market and also enjoy working with first-time buyers as well.

If you are looking to buy or sell Cleveland real estate, including the surrounding suburbs, please contact the Schuman Team at 216-346-3235. 

SEE ALL CLEVELAND AREA HOMES FOR SALE BY CLICKING BELOW:

 CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland To Open Downtown Office is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©Nov 2009