Cleveland Real Estate And More

Twinsburg Real Estate - Monthly Home Statistics February 2010

Dan and Amy Schuman,e-Pro,ASP (Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:16:18 -0600

Twinsburg Real Estate - Monthly Home Statistics February 2010

Here is a list of all homes that sold in Twinsburg last month, with commentary to follow:

9264 Gettysburg Dr	$78,101
9065 Gettysburg Dr	$143,500
10214 Brighton	$150,000
1310 Waldo Way	$171,000
2454 Glenwood Dr	$175,000
10179 Luman Ln	$185,000
1680 Jennifer Dr	$202,500
2361 Champion Trl	$237,000

SUMMARY

While there were only 8 sales last month, the market is definitely picking up. January and February sales are an indication of market activity for November and December, which is typically the slowest time of the year. Current activity is best reflected by the number of homes currently under contract, which is 27. Furthermore, of these homes, 6 are priced over $200,000 and 4 over $300,000, so all price points are seeing activity at this point.

Moving forward, the home buyer tax credit ends on April 30th, and with the weather getting warmer, buyers will be out in droves over the next 6 weeks. We personally are working with many people looking to buy a home in Twinsburg and have noticed a surge in activity over the last several weeks.

Below are other articles of interest pertaining to Twinsburg Real Estate:

Twinsburg Real Estate - Year End Marketing Report 2009

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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 service the Eastern suburbs of Cleveland and 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 a home in Twinsburg or surrounding suburbs, please contact the Schuman Team at 216-346-3235.

SEE ALL TWINSBURG HOMES FOR SALE BY CLICKING BELOW:

CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Twinsburg Real Estate - Monthly Home Statistics February 2010 is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©March2010

Child Obesity, What Can We Do?

Dan and Amy Schuman,e-Pro,ASP (Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:28:49 -0600

Child Obesity, What Can We Do?

Keeping in mind the name of our blog is "Cleveland Real Estate and More", today's post has nothing to do with real estate and to me, is "more" important.

It amazes me that the rate of childhood obesity continues to increase. I have seen staggering figures that upwards of 35% of children in America are obese, and it makes me sad.

One of my serious passions in life is health and fitness. I work out 1-2 hours a day doing weights, Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai and anything else I can, just to push myself. I realize that many adults don't like to exercise or eat healthy, and that's certainly their choice. However, when it comes to children, kids only know what they are taught. Therefore, we must do a better job when it comes to teaching them healthy habits, and leading by example. Here is one simple thing we have done that has been successful.

Basically, we require our kids to exercise at least 20 minutes plus eat a certain amount of fruits and vegetables every day in order to earn dessert, no exceptions. I call it a reward for positive behavior rather than taking something away for bad behavior. In my mind, it is pretty minimal, but a good foundation on which to build. This is purely my rule because Amy has a hard time with discipline. The kids think I am mean but I would rather be viewed as a mean parent with healthy kids than a well liked parent with unhealthy children.

While we certainly don't claim to know everything about parenting, we have shared this with some of our friends and they seem to love the idea. The most important thing is to teach kids the concept of moderation, so they can form good habits now and grow up to be healthy productive adults.

We actually go so far as to follow this model ourselves as parents, so we can lead by example. Personally, I have no problem with this as I rarely eat dessert, but I have to watch Amy like a hawk as she has a tendency to want to cheat after putting the kids to bed.

I suppose that we can discuss putting a tax on soft drinks, limit how much TV our kids watch, or attempt to get schools to have gym more than once a week. But in the end, as parents, it is our job to teach our kids how to live a healthy lifestyle and if we don't, they may grow up with health problems that could have been prevented with just a little bit of education and some tough love.

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About The Authors

This information is provided compliments of Dan and Amy Schuman of The Schuman Team, Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Cleveland, please contact the Schuman Team at 216-346-3235.

CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Child Obesity, What Can We Do? is the property of The Schuman Team and may be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©March,2010

Solon Real Estate - Monthly Home Statistics February 2010

Dan and Amy Schuman,e-Pro,ASP (Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:26:43 -0600

Solon Real Estate - Monthly Home Statistics February 2010

Here are all the homes that sold in Solon in February:

5765 Richmond Rd	$66,000
32756 Parkway Boulevard Blvd	$115,000
34500 Jaclyn Dr	$147,000
5595 Janet Blvd	$189,500
37427 Hunters Ridge	$199,000
31525 Farm Dr	$200,000
35725 Sedge Cir	$254,000
6366 Creekside Trl	$270,000
34880 Seminole Way	$432,500
7338 Shelford Dr	$557,500

Summary:

The winter months are typically slower, with only serious buyers and bargain hunters venturing out in the cold and snow. February home transfers are a result of contracts written in November and December, and Januray, not necessarily an indication of current market activity.

While bank owned and distressed properties make up about 30% of the market nationwide, there was only 1 bank owned home that sold in Solon last month. While the inventory of Solon bank owned homes has decreased over the last year, some people believe that there will be another wave of foreclosures in the near future as many adjustable rate loans are due to re-set. Until then, bargain hunters looking for huge deals may want to look elsewhere.

There are currently 35 homes under contract, which shows that there are homes selling and buyers out in the marketplace. This is even more impressive considering last month was one of the snowiest on record. Homes in the mid-level price points may be deemed the most desirable right now as buyers are still looking to take advantage of the home buyer tax credit, which will be expiring on April 30th.

There is really good news for the Solon luxury home market as 3 homes priced over $500,000 went under contract last month, including one priced over $1,000,000. Perhaps consumer confidence is growing and we will see more high priced homes sell this year.

We still anticipate a lot of buyer activity over the next 60 days, as the weather is beginning to improve and the inventory of new homes coming onto the market grows.

Below Are Other Articles Of Interest Relating To the Solon real estate:

Solon Luxury Homes - Year In Review 2009

Solon real estate - year in review 2009

Is the tax credit deadline really April 30th?

Tips when selling your home in the winter

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About The Authors:

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

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Solon or the surrounding Eastern suburbs, please contact the Schuman Team.

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

VIEW ALL SOLON HOMES FOR SALE BY CLICKING BELOW

CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Solon Real Estate - Monthly Home Statistics February 2010 is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©March,2010

What's New In The Solon Restaurant Scene

Dan and Amy Schuman,e-Pro,ASP (Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:15:48 -0600

What's New In The Solon Restaurant Scene

To most people who live here, the only complaint you hear about our wonderful City of Solon is that "we don't have enough good restaurants". Well, it looks like our luck has finally changed.

The hottest restaurant news is that Pacific East has come to Solon and is now open for business! The Schuman Team loves the amazing sushi this restaurant serves up at it's Eton Place location and is thrilled to welcome this restaurant to our fair city. You can find it at 33003 Aurora Rd. (next to Penn Station Subs).

Also new to Solon is Benny's Grill. Benny's Grill offers great casual dining that is great for a business lunch or a family dinner and has become a favorite for many of our local friends. It is located next to Office Max at 33587 Aurora Rd., although it is a little hard to find right now because the only visible signage is a neon martini glass in the window.

Other exciting Solon restaurant news is the grand reopening of Imperial Wok in the former Rockne's location (33825 Aurora Rd - at the corner of Aurora & Rte 91) . After 22 successful years in their old Solon location, it was time to offer more - more space with two dining rooms, more drink choices with expanded bar services, and more choices with the addition of made to order sushi. The atmosphere is great for happy hour or family dining. They also do a great take-out business as well.

And coming soon - the popular Panini's Grill will be opening in the space formerly occupied by Tony Roma's at the corner of Solon Road & Kruse Drive. Many of you already know the "Home of the Famous Overstuffed Sandwich", but for those of you who haven't had the pleasure, they serve up scrumptious hot sandwiches with their signature french fries in the middle. It's a bar style atmosphere with lots of tv's for watching your favorite sports teams.

So, dining in Solon has suddenly gotten better, and the residents couldn't be happier. Check out these locally owned restaurants and experience our new and improved restaurant scene.

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This information is provided compliments of Dan and Amy Schuman of The Schuman Team, Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland. The Schumans are Solon residents and specialize in Solon luxury homes, working with buyers relocating to Solon, and first-time buyers.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Solon or the surrounding Eastern suburbs, please contact the Schuman Team at 216-346-3235.

CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

What's New In The Solon Restaurant Scene is the property of The Schuman Team and may be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©March,2010

We Just Lost A Buyer, But Received Something Unusual In Return

Dan and Amy Schuman,e-Pro,ASP (Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:32:00 -0600

We Just Lost A Buyer, But Received Something Unusual In Return

Anyone who has ever been in sales understands the feeling of losing out on prospective business. It happens to the best of us and never feels good. However, something unique happened to us recently that was quite refreshing: we were treated with some actual common courtesy, a lost art among many consumers.

It never ceases to amaze me how poorly some people can treat those of us in sales, a field of which I've been part of for almost 20 years. We certainly understand that being in a service business requires thick skin. Consumers care only about their needs and do what they feel is necessary to get what they want. It's only business, nothing personal, we get it. Our reaction has always been to be gracious in defeat, smile and move on, although I'll admit, it does get old after a while.

However, yesterday, something unusual happened.

A few month ago, we sat down with a young couple, first time buyers. We gave them our first time buyer handbook and spent some considerable time educating them on the home buying process. We communicated frequently about homes that came on the market, but nothing caught their eye. After a while, they became unresponsive to us and I was curious as to why. I was hoping that at least they would email to let us know their thoughts. Sure enough, I got an email from them, one that sales people typically don't like receiving.

But this one was different. These young buyers took the time to construct a very flattering and well-written email. They expressed their appreciation of our time and efforts, and explained in detail how good they felt about us as real estate professionals. However, they ended up buying a home that they saw before they ever met us. There were no agents involved, so they weren't trying to circumvent us, and everything they said seemed genuine and above board. We wish them well.

Common courtesy happens so infrequently in our business, that when it does occur, it takes you by surprise. Even though rejection is part of life as an agent, it sure is nice to be turned down with some class every once in a while.

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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 service primarily the Eastern suburbs of Cleveland 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

We Just Lost A Buyer, But Received Something Unusual In Return is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©Feb2010

Top 5 Vibes Given Off By Homes For Sale-Which One Brings in the Sale and Money?

Dan and Amy Schuman,e-Pro,ASP (Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:44:51 -0600

Here's a great post written by a top notch agent in Colorado Springs.

Via Kristi DeFazio Colorado Springs Real Estate 719-459-5468 (RE/MAX Advantage):

I have been a buyer's agent in Colorado Springs for awhile now and each time I take a buyer into a home, they usually make a comment within the first 5 seconds of entering the home.

I have a theory that each home has a "Vibe" to it and that vibe is noticed immediately.

The questions is- If your home is for sale, which Vibe do you want to portray?

Here they are from the point of view of the buyer looking at your home.

Vibe #1- Home has been neglected and may be bank owned. This vibe shows through the curb appeal (or lack thereof) with the weeds and trashy yard. When you walk inside this home, you usually see immediate repairs that need to be tended to. Often times the heat and lights are off in this home and it gives off a really bad vibe. This home could also be a divorce situation where they just want OUT. This type of home has one hope for getting sold- PRICE. It must be lower than the comps in the area.

Vibe #2- I like to call this home vibe The Outdated Vibe. When you walk in this home, the first thing the buyer will comment about is the ugly color carpet or the old style fixtures. When you walk around this home, it may be clean, but it could have been built in 1970, 1980 or any other time that you FEEL when walking through the home. It may have window treatments that are nice, but in mauve and baby blue. Also, this home could have some really tacky wallpaper in the kitchen and bathrooms. There is really nothing WRONG with this home except the fact that it is living in a time warp. Some buyers can see past this and picture updates, but only if the PRICE is right. By RIGHT, I mean lower than the comps in the area.

Vibe #3- This home is what I call the "Weird Layout" Vibe. When you walk in this house you feel it immediately. It may even start from outside the home where you have to take a path to the door that is on the side of the house in a weird location. You may see a coat closet in the dining room or a weird shaped kitchen that doesn't allow any space for standing- much less eating. This home could have a huge formal living room and teeny tiny bedrooms. You wonder what the person was thinking who designed this home. The layout is not practical for most of the population. Unfortunately, the ONLY hope for selling this one is PRICE. Again, it must be lower than the comps in the area.

Vibe #4- "Old People" Vibe. Now, I am not being mean here, I promise! I have older parents, and many elderly clients that I dearly love, but buyers have commented to me on this vibe more than some of the others. They say "You can tell that elderly people live here." When you walk around this home it is usually similar to the outdated vibe. Usually you see TONS of pictures on every inch of the walls and on every table imaginable. The grandkids are cute. However, the house smells a bit like Ponds Cream and usually is decorated with lace and doilies. There is some serious oldantique furniture throughout the home. I think this home is usually a very easy fix if you get a stager involved. It is sometimes hard to convince these sellers that you sell a house differently than you live in it. A stager will help these sellers appeal to all types and ages of buyers and possibly get them as much money as Vibe #5.

Vibe #5- "Smiley Face Vibe" When my buyers walk into this type of home I have seen a visceral reaction from them. They fall in love. They make comments like "OOOHHH, AHHHHH, This is SOOOO Nice." Now, this vibe often comes from brand new homes, completely remodeled homes or a home that has been staged to perfection. It is spotless and clutter-free. When I walk in a home and feel this vibe, usually my buyer does, too. This home is the one you see when it is sold that brought the higher price. If I take my buyer to look at 5 homes, guess which one they want to put an offer on usually?

If you are asking yourself, "How do I make sure I give off that special VIBE to buyers?" I have your answer. Hire a Realtor that can help you by either suggesting improvements or pointing you in the right direction with a great stager. If the home needs TLC, it is easier to do it as it needs it, but an experienced Realtor can help before you put it on the market.

It is all about making a great first impression and presenting a winning VIBE!

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If you are looking for Real Estate in Colorado Springs call Kristi DeFazio at 719-459-5468

Kristi helps buyers find their dream home in Colorado Springs with that winning VIBE!

Kristi DeFazio

Realtor

RE/MAX Advantage

More about Kristi

Search for your Dream Home

Taste of Solon 2010

Dan and Amy Schuman,e-Pro,ASP (Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:33:17 -0600

Taste of Solon 2010

The annual taste of Solon is just weeks away. Specifically, it will be held Sunday, March 14th, 2010 from 4-7PM at Signature Country Club.

For those who have never attended, it is a great way to taste food from many different Solon and surrounding area restaurants and socialize with your local friends and business associates. Food will be available from popular local and national restaurants such as:

Glenwillow Grille

Hilton Garden Inn

Jekyll's Kitchen

Panera Bread

Rusty Bucket

Station 43

and many others....

The event will also feature a silent auction, live music, and prizes. Tickets are only $25. Call 440-248-5080 today to make your reservations to attend this fantastic event.

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If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Solon or the surrounding Eastern suburbs, please contact the Schuman Team at 216-346-3235.

CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Taste of Solon 2010 is the property of The Schuman Team and may be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©Feb,2010

Solon Community Park and Playground

Dan and Amy Schuman,e-Pro,ASP (Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:51:30 -0600

Solon Community Park and Playground

While most local residents are familiar with all the great amenities our city has to offer, we would like to highlight one of the real gems of Solon, the Solon Community Park.

People relocating to Solon, especially those that have children, are always curious to learn if we have any local playgrounds, so we wanted to highlight the one that is most well-known.

The Solon playground is located in the heart of the city, across the street from the Solon Public Library. The playground area is actually part of the larger Solon Community Park. The official address is 6679 SOM Center Road, although in addition to the main entrance off SOM, there is another entrance off Portz Parkway. There is plenty of free parking available.

The playground offers 2 updated playground areas, one for toddlers and young children, and a separate area for older children. There is seating along the perimeter so adults can relax while watching their children play. There is also plenty of open grassy area available surrounding the playground. Restrooms and a water fountain are located in close proximity to the playground as well.

The Solon playground, as previously mentioned, is part of the Solon Community Park. In addition to the playground, the park consists of baseball diamonds, a volley ball court, basketball court, skateboard park, and pavilion.

The covered pavilion offers a grilling area and enough seating to host large parties. It is a very popular destination for family reunions and other large social gatherings, especially in the spring and summer, so reservations are a must. We have seen many instances where large parties just show up, and are disappointed to find out they cannot use the pavilion because it was already reserved by another party. To make reservations, we recommend calling the Solon Recreation Department at 440-248-5747 well in advance of your function.

Below are other articles of interest pertaining to Solon:

Money Magazine Ranks Solon Top Places To Live

Newsweek Ranks Solon On Top Schools List

Solon - A Special Community

Solon Schools

Solon Luxury Home Neighborhoods:

Chagrin Highlands of Solon

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About The Authors:

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

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Solon or the surrounding Eastern suburbs, please contact the Schuman Team.

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

VIEW ALL SOLON HOMES FOR SALE BY CLICKING BELOW

CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Solon Community Park and Playgrounds is the property of The Schuman Team and may be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©Feb,2010

Twinsburg Real Estate - 2009 Year End Home Statistics

Dan and Amy Schuman,e-Pro,ASP (Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:44:57 -0600

Twinsburg Real Estate - 2009 Year End Home Statistics

Here is our official 2009 Twinsburg Real Estate year in review. We have added statistics from 2008, so that you can see how we did compared to the previous year. A summary will be provided with commentary about the 2009 year in real estate and our thoughts moving forward to 2010.

All Sales # of homes sold Ave. Sales Price Ave. Days on Market

2009 232 $196,571 104

2008 237 $206,556 93

Highest Sale = $460,000

Lowest Sale = $20,000

SUMMARY

Actual sales of Twinsburg real estate in 2009 were very similar to those of 2008.

While the general real estate market in the Cleveland area has been extremely slow compared to other areas of the country, Twinsburg has responded fairly well despite a sluggish economy. It is impossible to tell when the actual bottom of the market occurs until it has already passed, but it appears we are close based on the numbers.

The main difference in average sales price from 2009 to 2008 can be attributed to sellers having to accept less for their home than anticipated. While there were a similar number of homes that sold in the higher and lower priced points, 2009 saw more sales in the $100,000-$199,999 price point than in 2008.

To put in bluntly, selling a home is a beauty contest and a price war. Nice homes that are priced well will sell, and homes that are dated and need work are being punished in terms of price. The law of supply and demand still favor the buyers at this point, although there are a few price points in the Twinsburg real esate market that are more balanced.

So far this year, we have already had 13 sales and another 25 homes are under contract. The home buyer tax credit should help stimulate the market over the next 90 days. Those considering selling their home in Twinsburg should highly considering taking advantage of the temporary influx of buyers and put their home on the market as soon as possible.

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About The Authors:

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Twinsburg or surrounding suburbs, please contact the Schuman Team at 216-346-3235.

SEE ALL TWINSBURG HOMES FOR SALE BY CLICKING BELOW:

CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Twinsburg Real Estate - 2009 Year End Home Statistics is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©Feb2010

Rotary International Forming Solon Chapter

Dan and Amy Schuman,e-Pro,ASP (Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:21:01 -0600

Rotary International Forming Solon Chapter

The local Rotary district is looking to expand by opening a Solon club. This is an exciting opporunity to become a charter member and part of one of the most well respected organizations in the world.

What Is Rotary?

Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, and has over 1,000,000 members. There are clubs located not only throughout the US but actually 33,000 clubs throughout the world. Rotary club members are those who are willing to give of themselves to help better their local and international community.

Rotary is most famous for being the driving factor for helping to eradicate polio worldwide. Their immunization efforts have been an effective force in reaching out to third world countrys and making sure children are imminized against this horrible disease. Even though Rotary has had much success, help is still needed at all levels of the organization.

Who Should Join?

Rotary is looking for business, professional, and local leaders who are looking to give back to the local Solon community. If you live or work in or near Solon and would like to get involved with this prestigious world-wide organization, becoming a charter member of the Solon club is a great opportunity.

While Rotary is not a networking organization, members do receive numerous benefits. Being able to work with your local peers to help better the local community is rewarding in and of itself. However, members do have a chance to work together both personally and professionally, and also make lifelong friendships. Becoming part of Rotary will ehhance your life.

What Is Expected Of Memebers

The time commitment to be a member of the Solon Rotary Club are minimal, but the rewards are great. The club will meet weekly, at a time and place yet to be determined. Yearly dues are minimal, at approximately $250 a year. There will be other events that occur thoughout the calander year as well. Like any other organization, members will get out what they put into it.

For those that would like more information, feel free to contact me.

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About The Authors:

This information is provided compliments of Amy and Dan Schuman, The Schuman Team Keller Williams Realty. Dan is a former Rotarian, having been a member of the Chagrin Highlands Rotary Club for 5 years.

The Schumans live in Solon and 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.

Video Blog- "Is The FDIC Killing Short Sales?"- A MUST WATCH

Dan and Amy Schuman,e-Pro,ASP (Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:54:44 -0600

This is a must watch video compliments of Bob Hertzog, a real estate broker from Phoenix, AZ.

Via Robert G Hertzog (Summit Home Consultants):

Video Blog- "Is The FDIC Killing Short Sales?"- A MUST WATCH

Many of you read the blog I wrote in September/2009, entitled "Is The FDIC Killing Short Sales?" In the blog, I explained how OneWest Bank, who had received a sweetheart deal from the FDIC called a "shared-loss agreement", was holding my client hostage for a $75,000 promissory note demand.

In the end, once I reminded them of how much money they were getting from the FDIC, they agreed to drop their demand for the promissory note, and the short sale closed 3 weeks later.

Today, they guys at "Think Big Work Small" did a great video blog, describing my case. If this doesn't get your blood boiling, I don't know what will! Take 5 minutes out of your busy day to watch this video. It does a great job of what could be causing your short sales to stall.

Video Blog-"Is The FDIC Killing Short Sales?"- A MUST WATCH

Please Please Please do your part and re-post this blog to everyone you know. The "Think Big Work Small" website gets several thousand hits per day, and this story needs to get out!

Bob Hertzog

Designated Broker-Summit Home Consultants

www.phxshortsalehelp.com

P.S.- "Think Big, Work Small" did a follow-up to the story yesterday. Fast-Forward to the 1:50 mark to view it.

Video Blog-Follow Up

Cleveland Private Schools

Dan and Amy Schuman,e-Pro,ASP (Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:50:35 -0600

Cleveland Private Schools

Working with a great number of people relocating to Cleveland, we are often asked about schools. While most are extremely impressed with our area public schools, some still have an interest in learning more about private schools in the Cleveland area. So, with that in mind, we have decided to compile a fairly comprehensive list of Cleveland area private schools, with links to each one.

The nice thing about this list is that unlike most lists of schools you may find while searching on line, you will not find ads or pop-ups, simply direct links to these schools.

We have divided the list geographically, for your convenience.

East Side Cleveland Private Schools:

Agnon - early childhood, K-8

Beaumont School - Girls only

Benedictine High School

Gilmour Academy - K-12

Hathaway Brown - Girls only K-12, co-ed early childhood

Hawken School - preschool-12, co-ed

Laurel School - Girls only

Ratner School - 20mos.-K, 1-8

Regina High School - Girls only

Ruffing Montessori - toddler-8

St Peter Chanel High School

University School - Boys only, 2 locations, K-8 in Shaker, 9-12 in Hunting Valley

West Side Cleveland Private Schools:

Cleveland Central Catholic - 9-12

Holy Name High School

Lake Ridge Academy - K-12

Lawrence School - co-ed 1-12, for students with learning differences and attention deficits

Magnificat High School - Girls only

Padua Franciscan High School

Saint Ignatius High School

St. Edward High School

Trinity High School

Urban Community School - Elementary

Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School

South Side Cleveland Private Schools:

Walsh Jesuit High School

Western Reserve Academy - boarding and day school, 9-12 in Hudson

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About The Authors:

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

Cleveland Private Schools is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©Feb2010

Solon Real Estate - Monthly Home Statistics January 2010

Dan and Amy Schuman,e-Pro,ASP (Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:19:09 -0600

Solon Real Estate - Monthly Home Statistics January 2010

As most people know, January is typically a slow month in real estate in terms of sales. However, we did see the same number of transfers last month as we did in January 2009.

Here is an unofficial list of homes that sold in Solon last month:

38510 Aurora Rd	$110,000
34955 Solon	$155,500
33342 Warwickshire	$174,900
32852 Brackenbury Dr	$265,000
35925 Pettibone Rd	$319,000
35865 Spatterdock Ln	$339,000
39250 Lochmoor Dr	$395,000
6842 Teasel Ct	$440,000
37655 Windy Hill Ln	$460,250

Summary:

While the winter months traditionally bring out the bargain hunters looking for distressed properties, only one of these homes would be considered in that category as it was a short sale. Otherwise, all the homes that sold last month were normal transactions, a possible good sign that the huge run of Solon bank owned homes is over.

The good news is that there are 31 homes currently under contract, most likely to transfer over the next 60 days. Even better news is that 4 of them are luxury homes, those priced over $500,000. Last year the Solon luxury home market was unusually slow, so perhaps this is in indication of a turnaround.

Moving forward, the home buyer tax credit will be expiring on April 30th. This should mean an increase in activity over the next 90 days. There are a lot of buyers out there sitting and waiting for the perfect house, and still a relatively small inventory of available homes, as is typical this time of the year.

Any Solon home owner considering selling their home should do so now, provided they have a very nice home and price it competitively. This spring will bring a flood of buyers to the market, with unusual demand created by the home buyer tax credit. While there has never been a better time to buy, now is also a great time to sell.

Below Are Other Articles Of Interest Relating To the Solon real estate:

Solon Luxury Homes - Year In Review 2009

Solon real estate - year in review 2009

Is the tax credit deadline really April 30th?

Tips when selling your home in the winter

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About The Authors:

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

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Solon or the surrounding Eastern suburbs, please contact the Schuman Team.

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

VIEW ALL SOLON HOMES FOR SALE BY CLICKING BELOW

CHECK OUT THE SCHUMAN TEAM'S AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE

Solon Real Estate - Monthly Home Statistics January 2010 is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©Feb,2010

Buyers- Open Your Mind And You May Be Surprised What You Find

Dan and Amy Schuman,e-Pro,ASP (Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:10:44 -0600

Whenever we have our initial meeting with our buyers, we always ask them detailed questions about what they are looking for in a home. Included in our list of questions is "what 3-5 things must your next home have?" We then go on to formulate a list of "must haves" and "wants" in an effort to find them the right match.

In our experience, however, at least 50% of buyers end up buying something that did not fit their original parameters. Although buyers may say they absolutely positively need something, they will often fall in love with a home that may not have everything they initially said they wanted.

Here are some examples of what some of our buyers initially said they wanted, and what they ended up buying:

WANTED BOUGHT

4 BR home 3BR home, with an additional office/den

3 car garage perfect home, but had a 2 car garage

older home with charm new construction

home on 1 acre townhouse

home in city X home in city Y

brick colonial vinyl sided ranch

Think about this another way. If you are married or have a significant other, is your spouse exactly like you had imagined he or she would be? In our case, my wife wanted tall, dark, and handsome, and got me instead. In fact, she was hesitant to even go on a date with me when we first met because she didn't think I was "her type." By keeping an open mind, Amy found the man of her dreams ( me ) and 13 years later, we've never been happier.

So, although buyers think they know exactly what they want, we think it's best to communicate with your agent regarding what you want and why and be open to some suggestions from us on homes that you may not have originally considered.

If you keep an open mind to looking at homes that may not fit your exact parameters, you may be surprised at what you end up falling in love with and buying.

Here are some other articles of interest for buyers:

Moving Up In A Down Market Can Make Sense

How Much Can I Get That Home For?

Why Using A Buyer's Agent Is Important

How Long Home Components Should Last

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About The Authors:

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

Buyers- Open Your Mind And You May Be Surprised What You Find is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©Feb2010

Thinking of Selling Your Home – Why Wait, The Buyers Are Out There Now

Dan and Amy Schuman,e-Pro,ASP (Keller Williams Realty Greater Cleveland) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:09:59 -0600

Thinking of Selling Your Home - Why Wait, The Buyers Are Out There Now

First time and move up buyer tax credits set to expire April 30^th and buyers are out in full force looking to take advantage of the $8000 or $6500, courtesy of Uncle Sam. The problem is that much of the current inventory here in Greater Cleveland has been on the market since the fall and there is nothing new or exciting for the buyers to see. Today's buyers are demanding a totally finished product. Most of the homes sitting on the market haven't sold because they either need too much work or are outdated. However, if you offer them what they want, they will buy.

Have you been thinking about selling your home, but were afraid that there may not be interest? Concerned you may not get the price you want because of the slow market? Now may be your golden opportunity, especially if you a have an updated home.

While many sellers like to wait until the spring, this may be a bad move this year. Buyers are out there now, and the longer you wait, the more competition you will face.

This is especially true in some of the areas that we service, such as Solon, Orange, Moreland Hills, Pepper Pike and Beachwood. We recently had over 50 different buyers see one of our listings. Many of them are still out there looking and waiting for something new to come on the market.

If your home is a nice, finished product and you are thinking about a move, you should seriously consider putting it on the market now while demand is high. In fact, many experts predict a temporary sellers market during the month of April, as the tax credit deadline quickly approaches.

You have nothing to lose, so get your home ready and sell it now. The buyers are waiting.

See Other Articles Of Interest

Tips When Selling A Home In The Winter

Solon Luxury Homes - 2009 Year In Review

Solon Real Estate - 2009 Year End Home Statistics

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About The Authors:

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

Thinking of Selling Your Home - Why Wait, The Buyers Are Out There Now is the property of The Schuman Team and may not be duplicated or used without their written consent. ©Feb2010