Price Reduction on my Listing

Price Reduced to $227,500
5431 Grand Ridge Drive Galena, OH 43021

Watch the online VIDEO Reel Tour of this property from your computer!



Dan Hamilton
Keller Williams Greater Columbus Realty
www.HamiltonHomesGroup.com

Columbus Area - Market Update

Click on the image below to see the markest snapshot in full size.

Dan Hamilton
Keller Williams Greater Columbus Realty
www.HamiltonHomesGroup.com

Sell Your Home with a Great Laundry Room!?

Providing the "wow factor" to every room possible will help sell your house. One room often overlooked though is the laundry room.

How to Make Over a Laundry Room

An attractive laundry room can make the difference between a house that sits on the market and one that sells, says Sid Davis, author of Home Makeovers that Sell (AMACOM, 2007).“It’s the wow factor that gets you full price for a home,” he says.

Here are some tips that Davis and interior designer Jackie Terrell say work:

- Paint the walls a bright color since laundry rooms often lack natural light.
- Consider popping in a window or installing a door to bring in more light.
- Add warmth to a cold laundry room floor with a large area rug. Install cabinets and useful built-ins such as an ironing board.
- Take advantage of the plumbing already available in the laundry room to add a half-bath — an inexpensive way to lift property value.

Source: Denver Post, Sheba R. Wheeler (03/22/07)

Dan Hamilton
Keller Williams Greater Columbus Realty
www.HamiltonHomesGroup.com

All the way, Buckeyes!

I'm still buzzing after last night's Sweet Sixteen game against Tennessee. If you're like me, by halftime you were probably thinking, "Oh man, we're getting killed. If we can at least only lose by 10 or 15, that would be somewhat respectable." But then... let's just say things turned around!


OSU 85 Tennessee 84

And I know this isn't a post about real estate, but the great city of Columbus loves its Buckeyes!

Dan Hamilton
Keller Williams Greater Columbus Realty
www.HamiltonHomesGroup.com

Cool Real Estate Website

I stumbled upon a really nice real estate website in Canada - for Canada. Check it out.

But if you're interested in finding Columbus and Ohio real estate information, visit www.HamiltonHomesGroup.com, because you won't find it on this Canadian site.

See the site here.

Dan Hamilton
Keller Williams Greater Columbus Realty
www.HamiltonHomesGroup.com

Trouble Paying Your Mortgage? What to do.

Okay, we all know about some of the biggest real estate trends of recent history: 1st floor master bedrooms, outside living areas (in California), energy efficient appliances and devices, etc. But one of the most recent and most popular things happening around the country is.... FORECLOSURES? Oh no!

Yep, and it just isn't in California and Florida. Columbus is one of the nation's leading foreclosure areas. Sad but true. And what's worse; experts say it's going to get much worse before it gets any better.

So, if you're having trouble paying your mortgage payments, what should you do?

Well, there's a couple things you should consider first. (CNN.com)
1) Is your housing stress the result of a short-term problem that could reverse itself soon, such as a layoff or an illness that triggered unwieldy health-care costs? Or does the strain result from a more fundamental problem, such as overoptimism about the real estate market or miscalculation of what you could afford based on your income? The answer will dictate your best strategy (see below).

2)If it's a temporary crunch, the solution may be as simple as rethinking your spending. Some common items to cut: health-club memberships, vacations and gift-giving largesse. Got a tax refund this year? Try reducing your withholding so you'll take home more money in your paycheck each month.

3) When the problem isn't temporary and you've already trimmed your budget thinner than a slice of prosciutto, you may need to consider more drastic moves. Call your lender immediately and ask about a temporary reduced payment schedule, known as forbearance. "The last thing a lender wants is to foreclose; they run the risk of losing money," says Erica Sandberg, a spokeswoman for the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco. Keep in mind that your lender isn't obliged to give you a break. But you have a good shot if you can prove financial need and have a plan to get back on track. And you'll avoid a ding on your credit score.

4) Move on. If you've exhausted all options, it may be time to think about just selling your home and cutting ties. Sometimes this means you lose money. But if you've owned your home for a while, you may still be able to make a profit. Think about it, that would be great; you'd have money in your pocket and you'd be out from under the stress of your debt.

So, if I can offer any advice, if you start having trouble making your mortgage payments, and you're getting a little nervous, CALL ME OR CALL YOUR LENDER! I don't say "Call Me" so I can sell your house. I can give you advice geared towards your specific situation. But, calling your lender would be the best thing for you. They don't want you to foreclose. They'll give you different options to help you out, hopefully.

And furthermore, facing this struggle is nothing to be embarrassed about. Fix it. Don't ignore it and let it get worse because you're pride is getting in the way. This is fixable situation. You just have to do something about it.

If you're in this situation, call your lender, or contact me:

Dan Hamilton
Keller Williams Greater Columbus Realty
(614) 944-5936
dchamilton@kw.com
www.HamiltonHomesGroup.com

Open House Sunday 3/18/07 2-4pm

I'm holding an Open House at 5431 Grand Ridge Drive Galena, OH 43021 this Sunday at the time above. Visit www.5431GrandRidge.com for an online video tour of this property.

I hope to see you there!!!

New Listing

5431 Grand Ridge Drive
Galena, OH 43021

Features:
3 bedrooms
2.5 bath
2-car attached garage
Subdivision: The Retreat at Grand Oak
Property Type: Condo
Style: 2 story
1,953 sq. ft.
hardwood floors
cherry woodwork
stainless steel appliances
berber carpet
loft
dual vanity
skylights
screened porch
den
1st floor master
walk-in closet
great room
partial basement - easy to finish!