About Hocking County, OH

This now-annual event honors the countless hours of volunteer service provided to the gated resort community of Hide-A-Way Hills (HAH), near southeast Ohio's famous Hocking Hills vacation destination region. For almost 50 years, HAH has stood out among Ohio's many lake communities, offering its members boating, fishing, golf, tennis, stables, lodge-restaurant-microbrewery, playground, park areas, shooting range, beach, docks, airstrip, outdoor chapel (non-denominational), 24/7 security, and more. And even with the tremendous work of the HAH security, maintenance, food service, and management staff, things just couldn't be as unique as the are without the help of hundreds of volunteers each year....

Leaf-peeper or not, Fall's certainly a perfect time to hike the trails at Conkles Hollow Nature Preserve in the Hocking Hills Region.  The Rim Trail is simply spectacular any season, but be advised it's definitely a challenge as well as potentially dangerous...it's a long way down, as they say.  The Gorge Trail is another scenic story, and handicapped accessible most of the way.  Here's an extended Visual Tour of both trails....

For a map and more information about Conkles Hollow, please visit The Friends of the Hocking Hills' Web site.  And while you're at it, consider becoming a "Friend" yourself!

As southeast Ohio's fall finery begins to peak and prompt anyone's creative thoughts, one of The Hocking Hills' favorite bed and breakfast getaways is offering a free weekend stay for two to reward the best description of that perfect bed and breakfast occasion. #2 and #3 entries receive $50 and $25 gift certificates. To enter, put your best creative effort into a paragraph and post it on your Blog or Facebook and include a link to Inn at Cedar Falls (innatcedarfalls.com). Then send an email to info@innatcedarfalls.com that includes your entry paragraph along with your contact information.

Midnight October 30, 2009 is the deadline for entries...winners are to be announced on November 6, 2009.

Fall's colors are headed for their peak, but there's still plenty of time and things to do for leaf-peepers throughout southeast Ohio's famous vacation destination region (event attendance free):

Hocking Hills State Park (740-385-6841 for information):

October 16th - Cedar Falls Stroll with the naturalist - 3pm

October 16th - Rose Lake Excursion with the naturalist & the Hocking Hills Canoe Livery HOCKING HILLS CANOE LIVERY - 6pm, guided trip, approx. 1 hour...must pre-register in person at the camp office; meet at Rose Lake dam.

October 17th - Grandma Gatewood Trail Fall Color Hike - 1pm; join the naturalist at the Old Man's Cave Visitor Center for a 6-mile hike (3-4 hours) from Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls.

October 17 - Johnny Appleseed's Apples - with parks' naturalist and Hocking Hills Orchard for a trip through local apple history. Meet at the cabin behind Old Man's Cave Visitor Center at approximately 4pm.

Lake Hope State Park (740-596-3030 for information):

October 17-30 - Annual Lake Hope State Park Fall Hike - 10am. 3-mile guided hikes, start at shelter house. Bean soup and cornbread served at hike's end, shuttles for return trip.

October 17 - Lake Hope State Park Horsedrawn Wagon Rides - 2pm to 5pm...ongoing 20-minute rides, meet at Nature Center

Also:

October 16th & 17^th, Nelsonville - Ohio Smoked/BBQ Festival - 6pm on Friday to 5pm on Saturday. $10,000 in cash prizes; Community Backyard BBQ Contest Friday evening is open to the general public. Car Show Saturday Noon-5. Information at 740-753-4346 and http://www.nelsonvillefd.org/ohiobbq.htm.

October 18 - Little Cities of Black Diamonds Day, 12-5pm. bRemembering the historic coal mining boom in the Hocking Valley region...in the gorgeous Wayne National Forest. Music, exhibits, quilt show, and comfort foods. Southern Local School Campus, Hemlock, Ohio; information at 866-394-3011.

You can find plenty of articles about how changing appraisal practices have affected how homes are bought, sold, and financed. What you might not learn until you talk things over with an experienced appraiser in an objective setting is how comparable sales information and the recording of it are also making a difference.

Scan your average MLS listing and see whether the listing agent has simply used the maximum character count allowed for the description, and for evidence that suggests hurried data entry selections.

If the listing is suspect along those sorts of lines, how does that facilitate the appraisal process? And if an appraiser calls for additional details after the sale, how forthcoming are we with information regarding things such as quality and finish? Lots of clear photos, and a virtual tour (with lots of copy, please) can also work to everyone's advantage.

And it's all even more problematic in areas that are not typical subdivisions....where things such as acreage, location, geography or topography, outbuildings, and construction tend to make situations unique to say the least.

If you're an agent, redouble your efforts on your own marketing work and encourage your peers to do likewise. If you're a buyer or seller, examine some of your agent's listings and don't be afraid to ask questions...and at the very least, review the listing of your property. Otherwise, we wind up with more under priced listings and frustration on the way to the closing table.