We LOVE our Realty Five of Defiance Cheerleaders!

Cheerleaders, kind & supportive friends and family… Realty Five love's them all.

When in business for yourself you are constantly networking, asking for referrals & advertising your services just about any way you can, when someone near and dear to your heart helps you out, it becomes very gratifying to say the least! As I work through the path of Real Estate which I chose to follow 6 years ago I can’t help but feel fortunate to have a big supportive family helping me & rooting for me along the way! YES cheerleaders are great and wonderful people to have in your life… I’m a lucky Real Estate Agent to have so many of them!!!

This Christmas was no exception... a Realty Five SOLD ornament and a HOUSE key chain with my name engraved, my sisters are quit the Santa’s aren’t they? My husband gave me a new Nikon camera so now I can take even more pictures and sell more listings!!! Keep your eyes open for my 2011 blogs and photos, I hope to see you soon & guide you with all your Real Estate needs, questions and concerns, Karol

karol@realtyfive.com

“We choose to give”

www.realtyfive.com

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How does a Christmas ornament reflect pieces of our lives???

This year I un boxed Christmas ornaments that I have not seen in a while, we moved 2 years ago and they remained in there proper storage places until last week... As I unwrapped and un boxed them the memories of who, what and why we had collected each ornament started flooding my head and my heart!

Some of course were from our sons, Jeffery & Steven's childhood and teen age years, a few as cherished gifts from family members who are no longer on this earth with us, cowboy Santa's for Tim and some I hand picked for my "pretty tree" that I put up in our living room each year, my boy's called it "Moms Christmas Tree" My tree so to speak... was decorated with glass angles, humming birds, snowmen and glass pieces of candy then I added silver and green ice cycles with red and white lights!

This year I decided to get a little Christmas crazy & combine them all, kinda fun mixing them all up for a tree filled with touches of history & memories from the entire family! I added a few pictures of our lives reflected through our families ornaments of choice!

Here is a link to the history of Christmas ornaments: http://www.ornamentshop.com/history_story/part2.asp
I found it quit interesting & thought you might too.

Do you have special ornaments that reflect your life and your family? I bet you do... feel free to share your ornaments stories, I'd love to hear them!

Karol
www.realtyfive.com
"We choose to give"
Call text or email if you would like Realty Five to find you a home for your Christmas Tree and the ornaments you love and cherish! Store them safely this year so next year you can unwrap them in a new house...

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Christmas snoopers.... have any at your house?

Christmas snoopers! They come in all shapes, sizes and colors...do you have any at your house?

When my now grown sons were little they had the art of "Christmas Snooping" down pat, apparently it didn't matter where I hid there Santa gifts they found them!!! I worked for several years at Rupp Furniture in Bryan so one year I warped there gifts at the store and put them under the Christmas Tree we had in our big display window, fooled them good that time... my two sons are adults now, my hiding gifts days were finished right? Hmmmm, so I thought~

Today's Christmas Snooper is our 4 legged family member, yap our dog Main Yeager snoops in gift bags, he not only snoops in them he sits in front of and or beside them for a couple hours at a time!!! Main also snoops and sits by packages at his Aunt Kristi's house, he is so funny we laugh every time... I had to show him the presents in those gift bags are for the newest addition to the family, our 3 month old Grandson, Bruce, I suppose he will be the next "Christmas Snooper"

Who is the snooper at your house? Karol

karol@realtyfive.com

"We choose to give"

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Holiday decorating... brings curb appeal?

Christmas decorations bring smiles to many Defiance area residents! Yes Holiday decorating can land you some great curb appeal when your home is listed on the Defiance area Real Estate market.

Curb appeal is the first impression a buyer gets of your home, no matter what season we are in so shovel the sidewalk to your front door & add a little Holiday cheer to the entrance... a little bit of whimsy can go a long way when greeting buyers or friends this winter! You want your home to say "Welcome" come on in!

A few inexpensive ideas: Cut evergreen from your back yard tree, bring out those old ice skates you have in the basement, tie in a red bow or a bow that matches the color of your shutters, use your summer time planters rather than buying new ones, arrange a few poinsettias in them... maybe you have a unique container sitting in the garage? I used my imagination & my little red wagon!

When lisitng your home call Realty Five of Defiance, we will even help you stage your entrance creating a "buyer friendly" first impression. Happy "winter" decorating, Karol

"We choose to give"

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HOME, ready for the festivities?

HOME: the word means alot of different things to alot of different people! Home can be a tiny apartment, the biggest house on the block, a small bungalow or a cottage on the lake~

Home is where you hang your hat!

Your home is your castle!

Home is where back door guest are always best!

Home is where we rejoice and be glad in it...

Home is where your heart is...

Home is where you want to be on Christmas morning!!!

If you are searching for your next home Realty Five of Defiance wants to help, please give us a call, text or email... we want to get busy finding you a HOME!

Karol
"We choose to give"
karol@realtyfive.com

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Got left overs? Thanksgiving left overs YUM!

Got left overs from your Thanksgiving feast? Here are a few ideas from the Food Network on how to best cook, serve and re-heat your left overs!!!  Just click the link and see the yummy ideas they have cooked up for us...

 http://www.foodnetwork.com/thanksgiving-leftovers/package/index.html?affiliate=blocker&omnisource=SEM&c1=FN_Thanksgiving&c2=Google&c3=Leftovers&c4=thanksgiving%20left%20overs&c5=SEM&s_kwcid=TC|17059|thanksgiving%20left%20overs||S||7061928286

Turkey and mayo is my all time favorite! I saw on TV this morning a cook / cheif was using left over Sweet Potatoes in pancakes...

 What is your favorite thing to do with left overs?

My daughter in law is learning the art of Pecan Pie from her Mom, Lucky me :)

Karol

karol@realtyfive.com

"We choose to give"

 

#end

Who is the Home Inspector VS who is the Appraiser for your new home purchase?

The Home Inspector and the Appraiser are two different people with two different jobs and for two very different reasons…

The Appraisers job come first, your banker or lender will hire the appraiser on your behalf to do a Home Appraisal on your new purchase, the Appraisal in a “Opinion of Value” The value of the home needs to meet or exceed the dollar amount you are wanting barrow from your lending institution. Example: If your offer to purchase is $99,000 then the home must appraise for $99,000 or more in order to get your loan. The Appraiser will use comparable sales in the area to determine his or her “Opinion of Value” along with condition and location of the home you want to purchase. As the buyer you will receive a copy of the Appraisal usually at the closing table.

The Home Inspector will not give you a “Value” dollar amount, the home inspector’s job is to take a very close look at your proposed purchase from top to bottom, roof to basement including the foundation and the homes mechanical components. He or she will check inside and outside of the home looking for anything that might cause alarm for current and or future problems. The Home Inspector is a person who see's it all, lots & lots of properties... this is the person to ask your questions to; a good Home Inspector is full of knowledge and willing to share that with the new home owner… Most generally the Home Inspector will give you a complete written report on his or her findings, with that information you will be ready to decide… 1) to happily move forward with your new purchase or 2) bring attention any repair work needed to the seller asking the seller to take care of the repair before you close on the house. Most purchase contracts are written by the buyer’s agent with a Contingency Clause of: Contingent on approved Home Inspection allowing you as the buyer the choice to buy or walk away from the purchase in legal standings.

IF you have any further questions about the buying process… Realty Five of Defiance will gladly answer them for you! We are a professional TEAM of AGENTS ready to work for you… When Realty Five of Defiance represents you as our buyer, we have your best interest in mind and it doesn’t cost you a dime for our Real Estate services!

Call, text, email or Facebook us today!

Karol

"We choose to give"

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National Association of Realtors: 10 Market Facts for Uncertain Times

September 2010

Although the economy is soft and consumer confidence remains low, new data from the National Association of REALTORS® shows positive signs for the future. To help REALTORS® interpret current economic data and address clients’ concerns, here are 10 key facts to understand about today’s market.

1. The economy is growing, though slowly.
2. The private sector is finally creating some jobs.
3. Consumer confidence remains low, though clearly off bottom.
4. The 30-year mortgage rate is at generational lows.

5. The national median-home price is stabilizing.
6. Other home-price measurements also are showing price stabilization.
7. Home price-to-income ratios have returned to fundamentally justifiable levels.
8. Economists expect price increases in upcoming years
9. Delinquencies are high but recent loan originations are performing well.
10. The long-term path to self reliance may be helped from long-term housing-wealth gains.

To see the statistics behind these facts, download the full NAR research report, Market Facts in Uncertain Times > (PPT: 1.39MB)
To share this report, download the PDF > (1.46MB)

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via realtor.org

National Association of Realtors which Realty Five of Defiance is a member, of belives the soft economy is showing signs of improvement! We can hope the improvement reaches Defiance and N.W. Ohio...
Karol
"We choose to give"

Fall back in N.W. Ohio

It's that time of the year again in Defiance, Ohio along with most of the country!

Fall back, turn your clocks back one hour, what will you do with that extra one hour? Sleep longer? Finish reading your book? Spend extra time with your family? Spend a extra hour working on our business?

Maybe selling your home and getting it on the real estate market has been on your list of things to do or possibly house shopping has been on your list? You have a tad extra time so give us a call, text, email or Facebook... Realty Five of Defiance is ready to work with you!

Karol
"We choose to give"

Enjoy fall cooking? a few Defiance area kitchens for you visit!

Fall has arrived in the Defiance area with a defined chill in the air .... a chilly day makes for a great time to be in the kitchen! Recently alot of my Facebook friends have been commenting on fall cooking along with some of there favorite dishes they like to make... the anticipation of a good meal is coming with the smell of a slow cooking soup, a roast in the oven or pumpkin pie baking in the oven makes for a wonderful Sunday afternoon filling the kitchen and the house with fall smells that everyone loves!

Realty Five of Defiance has a few kitchens listed for sale (along with the rest of the house) take a peak and see which one you might like best!!! If you hurry you could be cooking and baking for your family this Christmas in a new kitchen... just think of the Holiday smells that are right around the corner!

If you have a kitchen you would like to sell, give us a call, text or email.... Realty Five of Defiance would love to help get your house on our list of homes for sale! If you are interested in seeing any kitchens and the rest of the homes in the photos of this blog, we will be glad to show them to you!

You can also find fantastic Visual Tours on our web site: www.realtyfive.com

Thanksgiving is coming and oh the yummy smells that brings, Karol

"We choose to give"

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Are the holiday's around the corner at your house? Is your dining room ready?

I’m not a big fan of Halloween so the end of October gets me thinking about Thanksgiving! To me Thanksgiving is a feeling; it is a mood swing that comes over me, one which I love…

When I think about Thanksgiving, I first picture my Grandma’s house specifically her dining room table and side buffet, the room this furniture sat in was huge in her first house, not so much after they downsized and moved… Grandma’s new house was a small ranch with a small dining room where each Thanksgiving we filled every inch of it with family and food!

Oh if dining rooms could talk, the stories they could tell about the families who live there are probably endless!

I put together a few of our homes for sale and their dining rooms, if having a family Thanksgiving in a new dining room is in your thoughts... please give us a call, text or email we would love to help you fill up the house with family this Holiday Season.

If you purchased a home with Realty Five of Defiance this year we are so happy for you, how exciting it must be to know the Holiday's are around the corner and you get to spend them in your new home! ENJOY...

Counting my blessings, Thanksgiving is almost here! Karol

"We choose to give"

karol@realtyfive.com

P.S. If you have a home with a dining room you want to sell, let us know we would love to help you out!

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So... what is a FSBO?

What is a FSBO in the Defiance area Real Estate?

A FSBO is a seller of a home who is trying to sell there property themselves, or as we call it in the Real Estate Industry: For Sale By Owner

There is nothing wrong with trying to sell a property on your own as long as a person knows how to! It would be like asking me to write up an Insurance Claim... me? No I can't do that, but my professional Insurance Representative could!

My top 5 items of importance when selling a home, farm, land or business:

1) Price it right, do your homework to see what the current market is doing, research what buyers are willing to pay for the property, using updated comparable solds is a must!

2) Stage it, properly staged homes sell faster, make sure the property's interior & exterior is completely "buyer ready"

3) Marketing, most people start there shopping on the Internet... market / advertise all over the Internet using photos, videos and good solid information about the home, farm, land or business you are advertising.

4) Prepare property disclosures and lead base paint disclosures to accommodate Ohio Real Estate Laws and procedures...

5) Find buyers!

Call, text or email Karol for additional information about listing & selling your home!

karol@realtfive.com
888.766.8627
"We choose to give"

Summer Home Sales in and around Defiance

Homes sales improved in the Defiance, Ohio area over the summer months of June, July, August and September ... The stats tell us 77 homes were SOLD ranging in price from $14,500 to $525,000. That is a huge price range difference but a very true one!!!

If you are a buyer looking for a home in the Defiance,Ohio area there are currently 261 homes listed for sale with prices ranging from $12,500 to $439,900. Call, text or email Realty Five of Defiance we will be glad to assist you with your next home purchase whether you are purchasing your first home or your one hundred and first home! There are lots to choose from, let's get you introduced to a mortgage lender and go take a look at properties that fit your budget!

When you choose Realty Five of Defiance you also choose to give back, we give 5% of our gross commissions back to the community by letting our buyers and sellers choose a local charity of there choice to receive a donation check from us! To date Realty Five has given a whopping $5250.61 back to our community... to that I say "Whoooo Hoooo" Let's give some more...

Karol

Realty Five of Defiance
"We choose to give"
www.realtyfive.com

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What does a Price War & Beauty Pagent have in common with the Defiance area Real Estate?

So what does a price war and a beauty pageant have to do with the Defiance area Real Estate Market?
Everything!!! If your home is listed in the Defiance area market or any market as far as that goes, it better be the best priced home in town! There is a price war going on and you want to come out a winner right? There is also a beauty pageant going on, lots of pretty houses for sale in and around Defiance... don't you want yours to be the prettiest?

When a buyer is out looking they want the best price and the most beautiful home they can get!!! They look by doing drive byes... curb appeal means alot. They look on the Internet, pictures and video's mean alot. Buyers also want to see homes at there convenience, so having your home "buyer ready" at a moments notice means alot.

Beauty pageant and a price war, you might be saying a little dramatic isn't Karol? Yet it is the way to get your home SOLD rather than "For Sale" in today's competitive real estate market!

Any questions or staging advice call, text or email Karol
Realty Five of Defiance
"We choose to give"

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7 Steps to Sell Your Home

Are you trying to sell your home or are thinking about it?  Here are seven steps privided from FNC imag to consider prior to allowing us to put a sign in your yard. 

1. Clutter


Clutter = equity. Shown clutter eats up space, making your house look smaller. Plus, the act of moving requires you to purge all of your clutter, so it's best to get it out of the way!

2. Dirt

Going to an open house is like going on a first date. You'll notice all of the imperfections. The home should be "Q-Tip Clean," meaning every crevice should be spotless: the bottom of the toilet, the faucets, light switch plates, windowsills, etc.

3. Bills

If a potential buyer sees that you owe $3000, he'll think, "Oh, this person must be desperate to sell!" And this will make the buyer less apt to bid up on your home. Put all personal papers and bills in baskets with lids or in drawers.

4. Photos

Photos are family wallpaper. You don't pay attention to them, but buyers will. And every second they are looking at your pictures, they aren't looking at your house.

5. Smells

If your house smells bad, people will turn around and leave. This should be of particular concern to smokers and people with pets. Make sure to air out your home and light scented candles if necessary.

6. Extreme Temperature

Your house should be cool in the summer and warm in the winter. If a house is too hot or too cold, the potential buyer will want to get out of there as soon as possible.

7. Messy Exterior

You can't sell it if you can't see it! Go across the street and look at your house from your neighbor's home. Is the paint job intact? Are the shutters secure? What does the roof look like? Make sure the lawn is mowed, the trees and bushes are trimmed and put garbage barrels in the garage or out of view. Spray off residual dirt from the side of your house and walkways.

Week-end get a way to near by Indiana

I was recently lucky enough to have a few vacation day's with my sisters, we went to the Angola Indiana area to visit & stay at the Potawatomi Inn located in The Pokagon State Park, I'm by no means a "travel agent" but this trip I would recommend to anyone wanting a close to home get a way!

The Pokagon State Park offers so much to do like walking the trails, sitting on the beach, a boat ride tour of the lake, bird watching or just relaxing on there beautiful lawn & verandah. The Potawatomi Inn has a wonderful lodge like atmosphere along with there restaurant offering a breakfast buffet and evening dinners...

My sisters and I visited the tale end of August when it was still warm and sunny & we loved it there, I bet fall is gorgeous with the earthy colors in full splendor! Hmmm... maybe a second trip needs planed?

Karol
Realty Five of Defiance
"We choose to give"

Karol Yeager
REALTY FIVE of Defiance
"We choose to give"
419-784-4519 Direct

888-766-8628 Fax
Email: karol@realtyfive.com
Web Site: www.realtyfive.com

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