Real Estate Information

 When I first came to AmeriMade Realty nearly four years ago, I knew there was something different about this company.  I had the opportunity to work for two other companies prior to relocating here.  My experiences with those companies were invaluable and I appreciate everything I learned while there.  But I never felt like those were the right fit for me.  I knew I needed something more... I just didn't know at the time what that was.  And then in January of 2009 I interviewed with AmeriMade Realty and I instantly figured out what the missing piece was... it was a sense of family amongst the agents and staff.  I discovered a trust and camaraderie here... a spirit of charity and support... that seemed rare in such an industry.  I knew within moments that I was "home". 

Yes, just like any family we have our moments, but I'm constantly inspired but just how special this group really is.  One of the characteristics of the AmeriMade family that separates us from many other companies is the willingness and desire to "give back" and volunteer.  Throughout the past four years I've been blessed to be witness to and be a part of numerous volunteering and fundraising opportunities that support both local and national causes.  And while we don't do these things for recognition, I just can't help but be proud of my agents and staff for all that they do and thus give them a big shout out for their awesomeness!

Here are a few examples:

Throughout the school year you might find some of our agents volunteering in the classrooms of our local schools, helping students with their math and reading, or volunteering with special events.  We also have agents here who are members of the local Kiwanis chapter (which supports dozens of charities and causes in the Northwest Ohio area).  We have agents who support Christmas for Kids, Boxtops for Education, and "Bear Packs."  They support  numerous sports teams with various events, Junior Achievement, the local YMCA, and some of the area Chambers of Commerce.  But the giving isn't just local!

The love and charity of these agents goes well beyond the confines of Northwest Ohio.  Over the past few years I’ve learned that our agents give both time and money to national and international organizations such Compassion International, Breast Cancer Awareness and the Krohns Colitis Foundation.  We also have agents with a special love for aide to the blind and sight conservation as well as support for the hearing impaired.  One of our newer ventures—one that is growing in hearts– is the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.  We are excited to announce that we will be hosting a team this next year at the annual Relay for Life event in Williams County.   With cancer touching the lives of many of our clients, friends and family members, we’ve found an ever-increasing need and desire to be a part of this great cause.  Again, this isn’t me tooting the AmeriMade Realty horn, but I’ve been so filled with adoration for this group of Realtors and friends that I couldn’t help but tell the world how special they are and why!  We would love it if you joined us in our support of this or any of our beloved charities.  We'll keep you posted on our Facebook page of upcoming events and opportunities. 

And to my hardworking and dedicated team:  "You guys rock!  Thanks for all you do to bring a little love and cheer to the world."

By far one of the greatest things about living in Northwest Ohio (aside from the beautiful changing seasons) is the perfect proximity of our area to numerous other interesting and exciting places and spaces.  Nestled as we are at the base of the great lakes, along the Ohio Turnpike, our family has come to be quite addicted to adventure.  We always look forward to our next opportunity to jump in the car and take a day trip.  And we've found that living here has afforded us some incredible opportunities.  Whether our time frame allows us only a quick trip or sometimes a little bit lengthier one broken up over two days, we've been blessed to be able to make some incredible memories no matter which direction or car pointed.

One Hour Trips

With what seems like never-ending busyness in our house, day trips don't always come by often.  But the ones we seem to take the most are obviously the ones with the least amount of travel involved.  So what a blessing that here in Bryan, Ohio we are just an hour away from both Fort Wayne, Indiana and Toledo, Ohio.  Both offer great shopping malls, fabulous food finds, fun things to do like zoos, laser-tagging, museums, sporting events and entertainment venues.  Zipping off to one of these great cities for some quick shopping, a great dinner, a sporting event or a fun flick has become an almost weekly habit for us.  And with the multiple choices of places to go and things to do between the two cities, we never seem to get bored and we always have time to do so much with only two hours of round-trip driving.

Two Hour Trips  

More than once we've hopped in the car in the spur of the moment and headed east on the turnpike to Sandusky for a day at Cedar Point or towards Cleveland for an Indians game or to see the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  Or we've headed north to Detroit to visit Greektown, or to cheer on the Red Wings or even just to eat at the Rain Forest Cafe.  Within just two hours we can open our opportunities to include an infinite number of exciting adventures for adults, kids or both.  And with a bit of an age spread between our four kids, it isn't always easy to find something they all enjoy.  But we've had some great luck finding concerts, theatrical productions, exhibits and more - all within a four hour round trip.  To many parents that may not seem like a fun experience, but it's actually pretty manageable thanks to iPods, Nintendo DS's, DVD players, etc.

Three to Four Hour Trips  

When we're really feeling ambitious - and yes, we've done this often - we'll get up early, pack up the car, and head out to some of our absolute favorite destinations such as Chicago, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis or Ann Arbor.   We've done all sorts of things like eat at some of the finest restaurants, to catching a OSU v Michigan game at either the Horseshoe or the Big House, to visiting some incredible museums, to canoeing along a winding river.   Sometimes we choose to stay the night, but other times, when money is tight, we opt for a long day and take in all we can before heading home late at night. 

Whatever your interests and hobbies may be, being in Northwest Ohio affords you the opportunity to explore and develop those - all within a reasonable distance.  And no matter what direction you want to head, there is some exciting waiting for you.  So if you think there isn't much fun to Northwest Ohio - think again.  It plants you perfectly in the midst of a world of adventures just waiting for you to dive in!

No matter what your hobbies and interest may include, living in Northwest Ohio affords you the opportunity to have it all within your reach.    So if you've considered making NW Ohio your home, but weren't sure it was for you... expand your horizons just a bit and see the great opportunities all around!

I'm often asked if this is a good time to buy a home. Some clients are concerned that home prices may fall further than they have already. They are assuming that the best course of action is to wait for the bottom in the market and then buy. The problem with this approach is that you don't know where the bottom is until you see it in the rear view mirror, meaning until you've missed it!

Home prices are one factor in determining your cost of ownership, but so are interest rates and financing availability. Even though interest rates have gone up in the last six months, they are still near historic lows. Since your monthly mortgage payment is a combination of paying down your principal and paying the interest owed, if home prices come down a little further but interest rates up, it could cost you even more to service a mortgage on an identical home!

While a home is a major investment, it is also the center of your personal life. It's important to live in a home that reflects your taste and values, yet is within your financial "comfort zone." To that end, it may be more important to lock in today's relatively low interest rates and low home prices, rather than to hope for a further break in prices in the future.

Please give me a call if I can be of any assistance in determining how much home you can afford in today's market.