First Time Home Buyers this is an opportunity of a lifetime!

Earlier this year the government enacted legislation for a federal housing tax credit. This credit will help aspiring home owners who find the goal of home ownership just out of reach. 

The credit of up to $7,500 might just be the opportunity of a lifetime.  But like all opportunities this does expire. 

Here are some key points to remember to take advantage of this program:

1)  Only homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009 are eligible

2)  This credit is available for first time home buyers only

3)  The maximum credit amount is $7,500

4)  Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to  $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

5)  The tax credit works like an interest-free loan and must be repaid over a 15-year period.

Frequently asked questions about the Federal Housing tax credit.

If you are ready to take advantage of this credit call Erin Snyder Oakley at 216-410-8221 or email at info@NoPlaceLikeCleveland.com

Homes For Sale Cleveland

Free Market Snap Shot

The other day Forbes released their list for the world's most expensive homes. 

The numbers still have 8 figures, but some of the most expensive listings have dropped off the list.  These homes took  their listings off the market after several years of being there. 

"That means a $125 million Holmby Hills estate, sandwiched between Beverly Hills and Bel Air, rises from No. 2 to first on our list. The property known as Fleur de Lys doesn't disappoint with its 12 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms and Versailles-style accoutrements. It's also a sign of the times; the last time a $125 million home nabbed the top honor was in 2005. "

Forbes’s only included houses that are publicly listed and no houses that have sold in the past year. 

Since the Weiner Real Estate Group are experts in Greater Cleveland Luxury homes, I thought it would be fitting to publish our own most expensive homes list.  Our qualifications are the same.  The houses are publicly listed and do not include anything that has sold this year or anything that is pending. 

Here is the list:

Cleveland's Most Expensive Homes Brought to you by The Weiner Real Estate Group:

1)  2872 Nottingham Lane Hunting Valley.  $7,500,000.  7 Bedrooms, 7 Full Baths

2)  850 Ashford Court Gates Mills.  $6,500,000.  5 Bedrooms, 5 Full Baths

3) 1 Roundwood Manor Hunting Valley.  $6,400,000 11 Bedrooms, 11 Full Baths

4) 31214 Lake Rd. Bay Village. $6,000,000.  9 Bedrooms, 12 Full Baths

5) 35275 S. Woodland Hunting Valley. $5,900,000.  5 Bedrooms, 5 Full Baths

6) 32700 Jackson Rd. Moreland Hills.  $5,590,000 4 Bedrooms, 4 Full Baths

7) 2779 SOM center Rd.  Hunting Valley. $4,250,000.  5 Bedrooms, 4 Baths

8) 9660 Creawood Forest Waite Hill. $4,200,000. 5 Bedrooms, 6 Full Baths

9) 41777 Burton Trail Hunting Valley. $3,995,000. 5 Bedroom, 5 Full Baths

10) (a tie) 7790 Old Mill Rd. Gates Mills.  $3,950,000 4 Bedrooms, 6 Full Baths

    7151 Old Mill Rd. Gates Mills $3,950,000 6 Bedrooms, 4 Full Baths.

For questions on any of these luxury homes, or to sell your Greater Cleveland Luxury home please call Erin Oakley at 216-410-8221 or email at info@NoPlaceLikeCleveland.com

Homes for Sale Cleveland

Free Market Snap Shot

Have you seen the newest tool The Weiner Real Estate Group has to offer? 

Well if you have ever wondered what homes were selling for in your neighborhood, or what the house across the street is listed for, then this report is for you. 

The Market Snapshot is a very easy to read one page colorful report with graphs and charts that will give you a quick "snapshot" of what is going on in the real estate market in your neighborhood and community. It also gives you an idea how much your home would be worth if you were to sell to today.

This is a service from The Weiner Real Estate Group!

This report is great because it tells you in real time what is going on in the market. Reporters and newspapers want you to watch the news or read the paper, so they tend to report only on the negative.  This reports gives you an unbiased, truthful account, of what is going on in your market! 

Check it out. 

If you know someone that might benefit from this report or if you are looking to sell your Greater Cleveland Home, call Erin Snyder Oakley 216-410-8221 or email at info@NoPlaceLikeCleveland.com 

Homes for Sale Cleveland

Free Market Snap Shot

If you aren't from around here you might not know that The Greater Cleveland area is full of luxury neighborhoods.   To give you an idea just how many there are in our area I have put together a Luxury Homes Market Report.  This data is from the Multiple listing Service and includes any home listed over $1,000,000. 

 
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/sinoreport/862673615/)

Here is what I found: 

Active Listings 1 Million and above in Greater Cleveland: 264

Average List price: $1,825,852.

Average Market time:  146 days

Pending Listings over 1 million in Greater Cleveland in the past 90 days: 4

Average List Price: $1,165,924

Average Market Time: 26

Sold Listings over 1 Million in Greater Cleveland in the past 90 days:  9

Average List Price: $1,871,544

Average Sale Price: $1,628,185

Average Market Time: 145

Currently the Highest priced listing on the Cleveland MLS is 2872 Nottingham Lane, Hunting Valley OH 44022.  Listed at $7,500,000 this house has been on the market for  239 days.

If you would like to learn more about the Greater Cleveland Luxury home market please contact Erin Oakley at 216-410-8221 or by email at info@NoPlaceLikeCleveland.com

Homes for Sale Cleveland

How Much is Your Greater Cleveland Home Worth

Greater Cleveland Homes Sellers; you don't have to let the holidays stand in your way.  Here are the top 10 reasons to list your home during the holidays.

Hey, reading this might just save you a small fortune!

10. Transfers: January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs.  Since transferees cannot wait until spring to buy, you need to be on the market during the Holidays to capture that market!

9. Snow Hides Flaws: Houses tend to show better when they are listed during the holidays!

8.  Taxes: Some People have to buy by the end of the year for Tax reasons!

7. Time Off: Buyers have more time to look for a home during the Holidays than during the regular work week!

6. Less Competition: Since the supply of listing will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home! Less demand means less money for you! 

5. Even though your house will be on the market, you still have the option to restrict showings during the six or seven days around the Holidays!

4. Best Realtors: All the part time realtors have gone south for the winter!

3. Happy Mess:  Houses become Homes during the Holidays.  Fresh smells and decorations show buyers how they can make their future house warm and cozy!

2. Positioned to Buy:  By selling now you may have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during the spring, when many more houses are on the market for less money! This will allow you to sell high and buy low!

And the number one reason to Sell your house during the Holidays...

1. People who look for homes during the holidays are more serious buyers!

If you would like more information on how to get your home on the market, contactErin Snyder Oakley at 216-410-8221 or by email at  Erin@NoPlaceLikeCleveland.com.

Homes for Sale Cleveland

How Much is Your Greater Cleveland Home Worth

Announced earlier this week, Howard Hanna has purchased Realty One. Howard Hanna is now the largest real estate company in Northeast Ohio.

What does this sale mean for Buyers and Sellers?

What it means is that the Weiner Real Estate Group can offer Buyers and Sellers many things that Howard Hanna agents cannot.  And now that Realty One is part of Howard Hanna, it is very important for Buyers and Sellers to know the difference between a "traditional real estate company" and Keller Williams Realty.  Here are just a few of them.

Difference 1: Keller Williams Realty is an agent run company.  Every office is independently owned and operated.  In each office there is a group of agents chosen to run the office called the Agent Leadership Council (ALC).  This group is much like the board of directors.  They decide on budget issues and daily offices procedures.  The ALC changes every year to make way for new ideas and leadership. Every decision must be voted on by the group and then taken to the rest of the agents in the office. "Traditional real estate companies" are run by corporate owners.  In the case of Howard Hanna their corporate offices are in Pittsburg. The decisions they make from Pittsburg are passed down to their agents without discussion. 

Difference 2:  Gary Keller, founder of Keller Williams Realty, believes that when a seller lists his or her home with an agent, it is not because of their broker or that their sign is green; it is because of their ability to get the job done.  If the agent is trustworthy, has a proven record and is an expert in the field, Buyers and Sellers will hire them.   Keller Williams Realty is dedicated to training and educating their agents so that they can run their own businesses and bring the highest level of service to their clientele. "Traditional real estate companies" lead their agents to believe that Buyers and Sellers only work with them because of the company name and not because of their reputation as an individual agent.

Difference 3:  Keller Williams Realty is so agent driven that it even shares its profits with its agents.  A real estate company is only as good as its agents.  So Keller Williams encourages their agents to bring other agents into the company. When the office profits their agents also profit.  A “traditional real estate company” does not profit share with their agents.  All profits are for the benefit of the corporation.

If you want to find out even more differences between Keller Williams Realty and “traditional real estate companies” give us a call and we can show you the techniques The Weiner Real Estate Group uses to sell houses.  Call Erin Oakley at 216-410-8221 or email us at  info@NoPlaceLikeCleveland.com

Homes for Sale Cleveland

How much is your Greater Cleveland Home Worth