Kathy S Koops

Really- a stress test for greater Cincinnati real estate?

Exactly how does the test work? Load a neighborhood onto a tread mill, hook up the wire and see what happens? If only it were so easy to calculate exactly what's happening in metro Cincinnati real estate. A blog named Real Time Economics from the Wall Street Journal has taken the time and available census data to come up with a Stress Indicator by State. And just like medical stress tests, the indicator calculates housing health based on the following items:

• Households where mortgage spending is over 30% of income
• % of population without health insurance
• % of unemployed population

Based on the factors, housing stress in the greater Cincinnati market measures 70.8%; Columbus 73.4% and Cleveland 79.4%. Not great-but my hometown area of Detroit measures 91%- so in comparison our housing market appears healthy enough to run a marathon. Like many real estate market "predictors" stress in housing is just one indicator of real estate's general health. And like any test-it's open to interpretation- so don't base your decision to buy or sell property in the metro Cincinnati without obtaining all the information.

Potential sellers can lower their real estate stress level by getting a good "physical" done by a certified home inspector, decluttering and staging the property and taking the time to understand the dynamics of the metro Cincinnati real estate market- before putting a for sale sign out front.

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No doubt about it- yesterday's real estate news was a bummer. However instead of focusing on "what's wrong" maybe it's time to find the upside by reaching out to help your friends and neighbors living in our community. One my favorites events is the "Rubber Duck Regatta" where 100,000+ bright yellow ducks soar (actually they are dumped) off the "Purple People Bridge" during downtown Labor Day festivities. This year the ducks are leaping at 3pm on Sunday, September 5th. All the proceeds benefit the Freestore Foodbank who distributes over 12 million pounds of food each year through a dedicated network of over 325 local Member Agencies.

A $5 donationbuys a numbered duck and if your rubber ducky floats across the finish line first- you win a car. If you have a few extra dollars $25 buys 6 ducks. So in addition to helping others- you get the opportunity to cheer on your duck in the race- a win/win. Good luck- I'm pretty sure the winning yellow rubber duck has my name on it!

Confused with the contradicting information about the real estate market?

You're not alone! Read more

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Need more info about real estate in your neighborhood or area call or email.

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Make sure you head to Village Green in Fairfield tomorrow for the Village Green Fine Art Fair.

Saturday from 11-5...lots to do and see. Parking is available all around the Village Green area

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In the June issue of Cincy Magazine the top 50 suburbs in metro Cincinnati are ranked and rated.

The magazine has been rating the burbs for years and while I don't always agree with their findings- the rankings do provide some insight into individual communities and school districts.Maybe one day our/mine/your community will make the top 20 list! Need more info about real estate in your neighborhood or area call or email.