CincinnatiInPhotos.com

New equipment can be a challenge

My Cannon Power Shot S60 point and shoot camera died. It was 4 years old. Time for newer technology. The one benefit of the S60 was that it came with a 28 mm wide angle lens. I hate to look at house photos on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and all they can fit into the photo is part of a wall and a chair. That is because the photographer (usually the listing agent) is using a standard 40 mm lens.

I searched and researched and found a terrific camera with all the latest stuff. A Panasonic DMC-ZS3. This camera is a 10 mega pixel, 25 - 300 mm wide angle to 12x optical zoom. The real cool thing about this camera is it records HD movies in stereo with an active zoom. This is tremendous for a very small hand held point and shoot. It is so automatic there are very few self settings available. It does everything automatically. And it does it well too.

I call this photo "Fresh Picked Peppers" That is what they are right out of my garden. Boy are they hot. Jalapeno, Habenero, Holy Moley, Cayenne, little Hot Chilies and Hot banana. I love it spicy and hot.

This camera can fit an entire room into a small photo. Watch for my next listing and see how much of a room will fit into my photos.

It's not just about how much content you can fit into a photo, but the lighting and staging has everything to do with a pleasing photo. This basket of peppers is a very pleasing photo. Don't you think it could be framed and hung on the kitchen wall somewhere? I did not use the flash. This is all natural. Nice mixture of colors and different shapes filling the basket just so.

Here is my segway back to a real estate topic... I like my real estate hot too. And the market is really heating up. I am now working with a full complement of buyers. From first timers planing to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit to investors who are looking to take advantage of the buyers market and wholesale a few handyman special rehab style homes for some quick cash.

There is a deal out there for everyone. You need to know where to look and that is where my expertise comes in. I know where to find them. If they are out there I will find them.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Congratulations Kelli

I met Kelli two years ago. Owning a home was but a far reaching lofty dream for her. I suggested she at least talk to a mortgage lender and see what she would qualify for. She did and was quite surprised.

We looked at several homes and she fell in love with this home in Norwood and bought it. This turned out to be the longest pending sale of my career.

As it turned out the mortgage lending qualifications changed drastically in October 2008 and many including Kelli were caught in a catch 22. Her credit scores didn't meet the new minimum requirement just before the closing was to happen.

Kelli was lucky. She was working with understanding, motivated sellers willing to work things out with her. So they let her move into the house as a tenant until she was able to obtain financing.

A couple of months turned into almost an eternity to Kelli. In fact she was ready to give up several times. I had to assure her things were going to work out. I needed some magic about now.

Kelli was a hard worker, responsible, caring and very honest. She also was a very good trumpet player in her spare time. That is where I met her. She sat in with a few members of the West Chester Symphony Orchestra in a small dixieland ensemble for our fundraiser two years ago.

What I did was refer Kelli to Joe Frey of The Credit Store dba TR & Associates Credit Services. Joe is not a fly by night credit fixing ripoff. He is licensed with the State of Ohio Division of Consumer Finance. He will actually find discrepancies on your credit report and take the necessary measures to get the items corrected. Then follow through until your credit scores are at an acceptable number. He took Kelli from 548 to 600 in less than two months. The lender was then able to finance her with a straight FHA loan. Seller had agreed to pay up to 3% in closing costs so we were able to close on this last Friday September 11, 2009. Only a year and a month after the original closing date was negotiated.

Kelli is one happy lady. And I learned a great deal through this ordeal. I'm very glad I joined Tri-State Business Network. That is where I met Joe. And he is a miracle worker to Kelli and in my humble opinion also.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Sunday's Church

When growing up I had a very close friend. We practically did everything together through grade school at St Michael's. We ended up going to the same high school together (Moeller High School). He went on to college at Miami University majoring in music and I went on the road playing professional music.

My best friend Rick Hagee and I played music through high school together. Rick, Ted Donohoue and I put together the now very famous classic Rock-N-Roll band BlueStone Ivory. Ted & I are still playing together in this band.

Rick Hagee on the other hand is the music director at Good Shepherd Catholic Church located on East Kemper Road between Montgomery and Loveland Ohio. I would like to feature this church in my Sunday's Church post this week.

This is a very modern brick and concrete building. The parish was founded in 1973 with a 177 families and masses were held in the chapel at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery until 1977. In 1990 the parish has grown to over 3,000 families after they doubled the size of the church in 1986. In 2002 the 2nd addition was added to accommodate over 4,000 families.

This is a very busy parish that reaches out to anyone who is interested in worshiping with them. I am certain that the music is absolutely the best you will find ...except for my parish St Michael's in Sharonville of course.

If you do ever visit Good Shepherd for services and happen to see Rick Hagee tell him Gary Rossignol says HI! We don't get to see each other much any more. As many high school freindships do, we have grown apart. Although I am blessed with my very large close family and many dear and a several best freinds, I do miss my old friends from high school days.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Train lovers

I had a client that was a train enthusiast. He had a huge working model train set in his basement and his main request to purchasing a home that was near a railroad track. It seemed a strange request but if that is what he wanted we aimed to please.

This isn't the exact train track he bought on...however when I am stopped at a train tracks I usually think about this client that wanted to be live on the railroad tracks. I suppose many people have admiration's about where they want to live.

A lot of buyers are interested in living downtown Cincinnati. There are many condo and townhouse projects continuing to grow in and around the downtown area. There is a lot to be said for living downtown especially if you work downtown.

There are many incentives going on for those who choose to buy downtown. Tax abatement's which means your taxes could be less than half regular rates for up to 10 years. That could save you hundreds of dollars per year. Not needing a car will save you that expense. The car payment, fuel, parking, insurance. That in itself can be a small fortune.

So, if you are a first time buyer there is still time to take advantage of the $8,000.00 tax deduction stimulus program. As long as you close on or before November 30, 2009 and are a first time buyer (not having your name on a home title for a period of 3 years) then you will qualify.

For more information about the first time buyer program or if you would like to buy a home on or near a railroad track call me. I would be happy to assist you.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Let's celebrate with Ice Cream

Wednesday nights after the church meeting I attend several of us like to enjoy a dip of the best ice cream in town. Graeter's is the best in my humble opinion. Many others feel the same. That is why their latest store in Deerfield Township is always crowded.

We usually sit around and talk about current affairs and compare what each of us ordered and have in our dish or cone. My favorite is Peanut butter Chip.

Being a Realtor usually brings the discussion to the condition of the market and I am always asked "How's business?"

I have to respond honestly and positively. That is all I know and all I can share. To be honest...the market is getting better. First time buyers have a tremendous advantage right now. Within the next 6 - 8 weeks, most sellers on the market should be willing to negotiate and if the first time buyer can time the closing before December 1st, 2009 they will qualify for the $8,000 tax benefit.

This is free money. I've have often said there is no free lunch. I've also often said "if it seems to good to be true...it probably is". Well, this time I have to admit this is true and it is free for the asking. IF YOU QUALIFY!

I will say that again...IF YOU QUALIFY!

To qualify you must not have had title to any real estate for the past 36 months and close on the purchase of your next home before midnight of Monday November 30, 2009. You have had most of the year to do this. Now it is down to the final 90 days. It is very possible if you get started now.

I suggest you contact your real estate professional. Someone like me. If you don't have anyone you know and trust then by all means call me. Mary Jo and I are here for you. Always.

We would love to celebrate the purchase of your new home with a big dip of Graeters Ice Cream.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Cat in the Case

Everyone has heard of or read the the Dr Seuss book "Cat in the Hat". I have a strange cat that will climb into anything and loves to lay in my brief case. Hence, Cat in the Case.

As a Realtor I need many tools. I carry my digital room measure as well as my tape measure, my real estate calculator, brochures, pens, markers, business cards, legal pad of paper, working files for the day, business cards, contracts, disclosures, addendum's, maps, my lock box super key as well as several other regular keys (office keys, HUD keys) credit card, my digital wide angle camera, insurance card, check book and many other Realtor things like my Realtor code of ethics and Standard of Practice manual. I also like to carry a real estate dictionary with me...just in case.

It takes a lot of stuff to do my job. I couldn't begin to carry everything it takes to be a good real estate agent. I definitely can't carry my cat around with me. So I let her have her way for a while then have to pick her up out of my brief case and close it up before heading out.

There are many things that cannot be carried in my brief case. Directional and yard signs. My computer and printers, Scanners and fax machines. My coffee maker is an important part of my office. I need my fresh brewed coffee first thing in the morning. Not Starbucks either Yuk! (my own opinion).

These are all things we take for granted in doing our day to day business. If any one of these pieces of equipment were missing or lost or forgotten I wouldn't be able to do my business properly. My digital wide angle camera is going bad. The sensor is shutting down from years of use and I am looking at replacing it. Of course there are better quality cameras with more bells and whistles at a better price today than 4 years ago when I bought this one. So Ebay here I come.

My database is carried on my Blackberry Storm. That is something I have learned I cannot do without. My cell phone is a lot more than a phone. I have my entire schedule, database of names, addresses and phone numbers, email, internet to keep up with Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn throughout the day. It's amazing how we have adapted to the needs of modern technology.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week. I come.

Historic places in Cincinnati Area

Cincinnati has a lot of history and historic places tucked away where you would least expect it. For example this wooden covered bridge.

  

I was out last week knocking on doors trying to meet folks whose homes are scheduled for a sheriff sale. I wanted to discuss helping them with their problem mortgages and try to help them avoid foreclosure.

As I turned off Hamilton Avenue in Mt Healthy I was faced with crossing the creek through this wooden covered bridge.  WOW...it was a sight for soar eyes, as they say. Of course I had my trusty Nikon D70 ready to shoot.

It is called Jediah Hill Covered Bridge and was listed on the National Registry for Historic Places on March 28, 1973.

The Jediah Hill Covered Bridge was constructed in 1850 over the western fork of the Mill Creek. It was named for it's builder and was renovated in 1956 and again in 1981.

I ended up meeting 3 people that afternoon in trouble and one of them didn't have a clue as to what was next for them. I scheduled to sit down with them next Tuesday afternoon to go over their options. As for the other two...they think they have things under control. After asking many questions I figured out that they are convinced they will have their lender do a loan modification for them and cancel the sheriff sale. Lets hope that works for them. We have too many foreclosures happening in today's market.

If you know anyone in danger of or facing a foreclosure have them get in contact with me. I have a solution that can avoid them going to foreclosure.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Sunday's Church

I have several mentors. My blog my mentor is Teresa Boardman author of  St Paul Real Estate Blog. She is absolutely the best. I spoke to her and communicated via email several times while first setting up my blog. She invited me to copy any of her ideas.

One of her ideas I found interesting was her Saturday Church post. So I started a weekly post called Sunday's Church. Theresa was forced to stop her church posts because it became the go to place for people wanting sell or buy churches. She didn't have a commercial Realtor to refer to and Church listings was out of her league as would any primarily residential Realtor.

Well, I don't have that problem ...yet. And Cincinnati has an abundance of beautiful churches of all types, sizes and faiths to highlight.

This week I am featuring St Cecilia Parish Church at 3105 Madison Rd in Oakley.

St Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians and church music because when she was dying she sang to God.

St Cecilia church is a Gothic style of architecture and is built in the shape of a cross. The vaulted ceiling points toward "heaven." The stone material used is Indiana limestone and a German painter created and painted the ceiling symbols. The church building won an award for architecture when it was built in 1928 (the placard is on the wall in the rear of the church).

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

All Aboard!

I love Cincinnati. There are so many little nooks and crannies with small unique shops and restaurants all around, you just have to look for them. This is a real fun spot near the center of greater Cincinnati in Madeira. It's called Choo Choo's. Well named because the railroad tracks run alone side.

      

You can stop by for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They have something for everyone and you will not break the bank to fill up at this fun eatery.

Once inside you will not be board. It is decorated to the hilt with old school memorabilia. On nice days you can choose to sit outside on the patio and watch the goings on downtown Madeira.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Our Family reunion

Fridays are for fun and this post is about the fun I had at our family reunion last Sunday. This really has nothing to do with real estate. It has a lot to do with family values. It is primarily for my family on my wife's side. But you can all follow along if you like. Family values and real estate values can follow some if the same principals..

This past Sunday on August 9th my wife Mary Jo's family the McCarthy clan held the annual family reunion. This was the 2nd year to have it in Blue Ash in the park behind the community center on Cooper Rd just off Reed Hartman Highway. Almost everyone was in attendance including a few favorite boyfriends (Judd & Matt) and a couple of family pets. And most importantly the latest member of the clan...little Alex. 

 Last year I totally forgot to get copies of the family portrait to everyone. So this year lets see who reads my blog. I will still try to make copies and distribute them but this way everyone will have a chance to see it without having to wait a whole year.  Not a bad looking group.

We really have fun at our reunion. Each year a different branch of the family is in charge of entertainment. They are to provide the games to play. Of course we always have the traditional corn hole tournament. Last year however we veered away from tradition and tried Hillbilly golf. We all had plenty of food. Everyone is responsible for their main course and this year everyone brought a dish to put on the share table. That was good.

OK Family...here is the group photo from last years reunion. It's only a year late!

So to make this real simple. Just call me or send me an email with how many of which family photos you would like. I promise sometime before next years reunion to make you copies and send them to you.

Keep reading my blog. I may even post a family album of some of the goings on that happened throughout the day. You know me...I always have my Nikon D70 in hand.

 God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.