Here in the Miami Valley we have been blessed with some AMAZING parks and outdoor recreational opportunities. Growing up in this area (born and raised) I took our parks for granted but as a parent - oh my word - I don’t know how I would have survived without our park districts. Needless to say, our metro parks were a HUGE part of our daily lives when the boys were younger. And even today, although our schedules are much more detailed, we will still make it an effort to get out and hike when schedules allow.

I am a huge advocate of getting out in nature.  As a former educator, I have told hundreds of parents that getting outdoors in nature (hiking, trails, biking, creeking etc) is the single best action you can do to have success in the classroom. And you don’t have to be an expert or have to actually “teach” them during this time. Our Five Rivers MetroParks have already done most of the legwork for you. Besides getting fresh air and exercise along safe and cleared trails and natural playgrounds they provide education along the way. While walking along many of the trails you can find plaques that educate about the environment that you are in. 

Not only do children benefit from our metro parks, adults and pets do also. Hiking is a great way to stay in physical, emotional and mental shape.

Our Five Rivers MetroParks have developed a fun way to get more out of our parks - The Five Rivers MetroParks Trails Challenge which runs from 2/1/2021 - 10/31/2021. This challenge offers opportunities to explore a variety of trails — on your own schedule — for a chance to win prizes. Get entered now by visiting the Five Rivers MetroParks Registration and Info page.

Our family goal is to hit up each and every item on this challenge, so maybe we will see you out on the trails also! 

The best part of being a Kettering Realtor is working with great people, just like Sean & Lauren!  I love helping people just like them in pursuing their next dream of homeownership! Both Sean & Lauren are as sharp as they come and have great jobs.  Owning a home instead of renting was the next logical step for them, on their journey of building personal wealth and having their own place to call home!

With the crazy market we are having in the Dayton Ohio area, their journey was not without challenges. During the last 12 months, we have had very low housing inventory and higher than normal demand for homes.  So the market was very competitive.  This mixture created an interesting experience of house buying.  Yet, together we discussed everything that came up, going over all the details, giving my insights and thoughts, then allowing them to decide the next step.

They shared their thoughts on our Google Business profile.

Thank you Sean & Lauren for trusting us with your real estate transaction!  It really was great getting to know you during the process and we look forward to getting together sometime!

If you know someone who is looking to buy a new home or sell their current home, please give Don or Cyndi Shurts of Keller Williams Advantage a call at 937-241-2124 or 937-604-5194

Many homeowners are thinking they would like to sell their current home in 2021.  They are considering downsizing or moving up to a larger home because interest rates are so low!

Yet, reality as seen by the owner makes this option a little scary because of the 2021 real estate market. We are experiencing a strong Sellers Market (a great time to sell) yet are also experiencing a very low inventory of homes available at any given time.

Why is this? Many homeowner who would love to sell are afraid they won't be able to find a place they want to buy because inventory is so low and houses are selling so quickly.

I've heard several homeowner say to me they don't want to sell their home and then be homeless!!

There are several options for homeowners today that take some of the pressure off in this current situation. Some homeowners would be financially capable of purchasing a new home without selling their current home immediately. Another idea for homeowners wanting to buy a home is to secure a blanket or bridge loan from your local mortgage company or lender. This loan product taps into the equity of your current home for down payment money for your new home. There are several moving pieces to this product but I'll leave that to the mortgage professionals. The point is this. You can purchase your new home FIRST, move into the new home, then stage the second home and in the current real estate market, it is very likely to sell very quickly! There you have two ways of selling and buying a home in 2021. Let's talk about your specific situation. Give me a call at 937-241-2124.

Good news for homebuyers out there!  There is free money available to assist you with the purchase of your home.  Every year, the Federal Home Loan Bank sets aside grant money for down payment assistance for homebuyers. The program is called the Welcome Home Program.   Qualifying homebuyers can receive $5000 to put toward their down payment and active duty military or honorably discharged veterans can receive up to $7500 for their down payment.  The beauty of this program is that since it is grant money, the recipient does not have to pay it back!  It is all to help make the dream of homeownership accessible to as many as possible.  

Dayton Realtor Reminders Home Buyers The Down Payment Assistance Is Available!

The first question is:  who qualifies for the program?  There are income restrictions that vary from county to county so it is important for you to speak with a lender who is a Federal Home Loan Bank member in order to determine if you qualify.  You need to have at least $500 of your own money to put toward your down payment or closing costs.  You do not have to be a first-time homebuyer; however, if you have not owned a home in at least the last 3 years, you will be required to complete an online homebuyer class before closing on your house.  In order to apply for the grant money, you must be under contract on a house.  

The second question is:  what qualifies for the program?  The home can be a single-family home, condo, townhome, duplex, or up to 4 multi-unit building.  Some manufactured homes also qualify but be sure to ask your lender to make sure that it does.   This home must be your primary residence; it is not to be used for investments.  The only other requirement is that you must remain in the home for at least 5 years.  This is a legally binding agreement that becomes part of your deed when the home is purchased so if you sell sooner or the property goes into foreclosure, the Federal  Home Loan Bank will be notified.

The third question is:  how do I apply?  Please feel free to reach out to us and we can provide you with the names of a few lenders that are members of the FHLB and can take care of you.  Here is a brief overview of the process.  We will help you to shop for a home and once we find the right home, we will put together a purchase contract for the property.  After the contract has been negotiated and is fully executed, we will send a copy of the purchase contract to your lender.  You will make a mortgage application with the member lender and once it is determined that you qualify for the Welcome Home funds, your lender will submit an online request to reserve the funds for you.  After the Federal Home Loan Bank receives the reservation request, they will review your request and issue an approval letter.  They do advise that it can take up to 4 weeks for a response, so make sure that you give your contract closing date plenty of time in order to get this approval.  Once you receive the approval back and your mortgage loan is approved with your lender, you can schedule your home closing!

One word of advice...don't delay!  The funds that become available on March 1, 2021, are limited and will go fast.  Give us a call and we will help you get the process started so you don't miss out on free money! 

I’m not one who usually pays attention to paint color trends year by year.  Although with my husband being a graphic artist, I do know my way around Pantone colors or at least I pretend to.  We like to play the game of “What Pantone number is that color”? The boys and I love to give him a hard time. But I digress. Last week, Pantone made news by sharing the 2021 colors of the year. If you think we are out of the “grays” think again.  As we have done for the last nine months, we can blame the pandemic for this one also.

Pantone announced the 2021 colors of the year to be Ultimate Gray and Illuminating. Illuminating is a bright lemon yellow that adds some much-needed cheer and life to the ultimate gray that we are used to. According to Pantone these were chosen to exhibit “A MARRIAGE OF COLOR CONVEYING A MESSAGE OF STRENGTH AND HOPEFULNESS THAT IS BOTH ENDURING AND UPLIFTING.”

Not digging the Pantone colors for your next home paint project? Don’t fret, the big names in interior and exterior paint share their trends for 2021 also. There is definitely a commonality between the major paint brands for the year 2021 - think nature, comforting, calming, and inviting shades.  Each major brand’s website that I visited had one or more of those synonyms in their headlines. After all, we survived 2020, I think we can agree that we could all use a space to refresh and nurture peace.

Which room will you be painting in the new year?

Homebuyers, young and old, are attracted to the beautiful architecture and character of homes for sale in the South Park Neighborhood!  This charming two-story home has been updated over the last couple of years.  Originally built in 1880, the home provides ample living space of over 2100 sq ft.  Recent improvements include new electric service, new furnace/AC, new kitchen, baths, and more!

We know our clients will love living in their new home and love living in Dayton, Ohio!  For all your Dayton real estate needs visit our website or give us a call.

If you are looking for a place to relax and take some deep breaths after the year 2020 that we have all had, check out the Cox Arboretum. It is a Metropark located on Springboro Pike in Dayton, Ohio. Whether you enjoy hiking trails, spotting birds and butterflies, or checking out the views from the bird tower, there is no better place to go. 

The Cox Arboretum holds a special place in my heart because it is where my husband proposed. Looking over the scenic views of the bird tower was the best place he could have asked me to marry him. Speaking of marriage, they also hold weddings. Just imagine the beauty of nature surrounding you on a wedding day. How magical. 

Weddings and Proposals are not the only way that you can feel a little bit of magic at the Arboretum. They also have a lot of activities for children. There are a children’s maze and an education center that has a lot of fun information about birds and the wildlife that surrounds the park. 

The best way to start out the New Year is with a little bit of fresh air and appreciation for the world that we live in! So get out there and visit the Cox Arboretum!  If you would like to purchase a Dayton home near a metro park contact Mrs Abigal Slater at 937-256-3974!

Congratulations to our client who bought this beautiful 3 bedroom home in Bellbrook Ohio today!  Sitting on over 8/10th of an acre the home has many awesome features updated kitchen with granite countertops, a renovated master suite, and a back yard to die for!  Yes, the back yard is great for entertaining with an inground pool.  When you are ready to make a splash into homeownership give us a call!  We are ready to help you find your next Dayton area property.

WASHINGTON TWP HOME SALE PENDING!

We had the pleasure of listing a really nice 4 bedroom home in Washington Township this week.  It is located in the Beacon Hill neighborhood off Spring Valley Pike on Normandy Lane.  The home offers over 3100 square feet of living space on a 3/4 acre lot with mature trees.  The bathrooms are stunning!  They are completely remodeled with gorgeous tile work.  One of the best features of the home is the owners' suite featuring 2 walk-in closets, a spa-like bath, a fireplace, and French doors leading out to a private 2nd-floor balcony.  We listed the home at 8:00 am on Monday morning and were under contract by 10:00 pm that evening!   This particular home was actually on the market with another Centerville real estate agent this fall and it did not sell.  Why were we able to succeed where others failed?

Our approach is to create a marketing strategy for each home individually, not just do the same thing that everyone else does.  With this particular home, it was important that the listing look fresh and not look like the previous listing.  Two key components that created a fresh look for the home were staging and professional photography.

Top Realtors In Centerville OH Utilize Home Staging To Sell Homes

We can't stress enough the importance of home staging in the successful sale of a home.  Our stager, Rhonda Smith, does an excellent job in consulting with the homeowners, offering suggestions such as paint colors, furniture placement, and added touches that literally transform spaces.  Staging is more than decorating; it is all about drawing attention to the focal points of the home and creating a warm and welcoming feeling for potential buyers.  

Another important component to presenting the home in it's best possible light is hiring a professional photographer.   A buyers' first impression of the home will be online; if photos are blurry or dark, buyers are going to skip looking at it.  We want to make sure that each home that we list is presented both professionally and artistically.  The photographers that we use understand the importance of lighting and taking multiple photos of each room.  We also utilize drone/aerial photography, 360' technology, and do walkthrough videos of the home so that buyers can visualize the space and layout of the home.

If you plan on selling your Washington Township home in 2021, give Centerville Realtor Don or Cyndi Shurts a call at 937-604-5194 or 937-241-2124!  We would love to meet with you and help create a custom marketing plan for you!