Today's Most Expensive Listings

HomeVisit

Yesterday I shared some very affordable listings from my hometown, Anderson Township. But just for fun, let's take a look at the most expensive (and presumably luxurious) Cincinnati area homes for sale! Just so you know, I'm not including new construction -- saving that for another post -- and all of the clickthrough links go to Realtor.com which will provide you with the listing broker information. These are not my listings, so I am available to represent any potential buyers!

• 2555 Handasyde Avenue: This gorgeous 7872 square foot Tudor home on a prestigious Hyde Park street boasts six bedrooms and six and a half bathrooms, three fireplaces, and a four car garage. Listed at $2,200,000.
• 9 Beech Crest Lane: Just down Madison Road from one of my favorite streets, Keys Crescent, is this stunning five bedroom home in Walnut Hills. With six and a half bathrooms, 7277 square feet of living space, and an indoor sauna, this 1917 gem has been recently updated with all the luxury finishes. Asking $2,195,000.
• 1206 Edwards Road: Only 3 blocks from Hyde Park Square, this 7200 square foot home has a heated lap pool and separate swimming pool and a private guest house. The main house has six bedrooms, six full bathrooms and two half bathrooms. Listed for $2,295,000.
• 3815 Erie Avenue: Another Hyde Park stunner, but with its own name: Stone Cliff. This 5+ acre estate has recently been LEED certified and updated, which for a 9500 square foot home is probably a good long-term strategy. Five bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms, encased in gorgeous Tudor styling, can be yours for $3,900,000.
• 1901 William Howard Taft Road: Heard of Zaring Builders? This was the home of Alan Zaring, a custom built 8500+ square foot overlooking the Ohio River and surrounding areas. With five bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms, and a spacious rear terrace with a fountain and rose garden, this Walnut Hills mansion can be yours for $3,250,000.

What $100K Buys You: Forest Hills Schools

Zillow.com

Check out these great homes available for around $100,000 in Forest Hills School District!

• 8333 Cherry Lane: This two bedroom, one bathroom Cape Cod style home has been recently updated. Priced at just $95,900!
• 1224 Beacon Street: Another charming Cape Cod, this one with 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. The owner was transferred out of state but managed to finish nearly all the planned renovations. Asking $99,900!
• 2207 Clough Ridge Drive: This two bedroom condo has two full bathrooms and two half bathrooms, and is located within easy distance to 275 and Columbia Parkway. Also asking $99,900!

If you're looking for a steal in Forest Hills, one of these may be the one! Call, text, or email me to schedule a showing.

What Is TRID, And Why Should I Care?

Betterloanofficers.com

Have you bought or sold a home in the last forty years? Aside from interest rates and loan products, not much has changed in the home-buying process during that time. But some important changes are on their way, thanks to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). They're called the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) - Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) Integrated Disclosure, or TRID for short...because there weren't enough acronyms already.

To download a handy booklet that covers everything a consumer would need to know about TRID, head over to the CFPB website and look for the "Your Home Loan Toolkit" PDF brochure. I'll go over the highlights for you:

• Today, many real estate contracts request a closing date 30 days out. When TRID goes into effect on October 3rd, lenders and title companies are recommending that you allow an extra week or two on the contract to ensure compliance with new government mandated waiting periods that are designed to allow consumers adequate time to review loan information prior to closing.
• As a buyer, you'll probably be asked by your lender to sign documents electronically since that will be the most practical way to comply with the new laws.
• The preapproval process remains unchanged, for the most part. Although lenders are now prohibited from requiring income information to provide a Loan Estimate (LE), a smart buyer should know that the most solid loan preapproval will be based on that income information. So make sure you're being open with your loan officer!
• Sometimes under the current laws, the loan is processed well before the closing date, and you get to close early! That's going to be pretty unlikely under the new rules, because the closing date determines some of the information on the Closing Disclosure (CD) and the lender needs to provide the CD to the borrower no later than 3 days prior to closing (including Saturdays for some lenders, excluding Sundays and federal holidays for all lenders).

While there is a lot more to say about TRID, very little of it will be seen by the average consumer. My advice is to make sure you're ready to act quickly once you've chosen a home: provide all the details to your loan officer, get an estimate on homeowner's insurance, and make sure your Realtor is communicating with the lender and the title company on a regular basis.

Something Will Always Go Wrong

It may be an upside-down electrical outlet, last second title issues, or an incorrect item on your HUD-1 settlement statement, but at some point when you're buying or selling a home there will be a problem. When it happens, even if you're tempted to think that the sky is falling, take a deep breath and remember: if buying and selling a home was easy, no one would ever complain about it.

Preparing your response to the issue that may or may not resemble a wrecking ball to your plans takes some guidance, hopefully from your awesome Realtor. First, determine how important the issue is -- not in principle, but in fact. Is it important enough to walk away from the sale? To delay closing until it's rectified? To aggravate the other party further? If you are considering anything else, such as what your mother will say (if you tell her) or your pride, just stop. That's not helping anyone. You have signed a legal contract. If you're considering doing anything to change the terms of that contract or delay its execution, there can be expensive consequences.

Next, brainstorm possible solutions to the problem that would make you more comfortable with the situation, and consider how the other party might respond to each one. Focus on reasonable and quick solutions that won't 1) send a loan back to underwriting, or 2) alienate the other party to such an extent that they refuse to work with you. Did the seller not fix something that was agreed upon in the contract? Offer to send your own contractor, or have the repair funds held in escrow by the closing agent until the work is done.

Remember, nothing is final until all parties have signed the paperwork. If you have a serious issue in your real estate transaction, talk to your Realtor and a real estate attorney if necessary to understand all the options. There is nearly always a solution, and it's our job to help you find it.