Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Forbes names Columbus the Number One Up-and-Coming Tech City

In order to have a healthy economy and housing market you need to have job growth and stability. Looking at the science and technology industries, Columbus is growing nicely. Battelle Memorial Institute is leading much of that growth in almost all areas of emerging technology, especially life sciences and energy research. Ohio's largest research center came to Columbus in 1997 with a budget of $1 billion. Now it oversees seven major laboratories for different federal agencies with a budget of $4 billion.

http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurstechnology/2008/03/10/columbus-milwaukee-houston-ent-tech-cx_wp_0310smallbizoutlooktechcity.html

Thursday, May 22, 2008

NAR Chief Economist predicts better economy in the second half of 2008

The National Association of Realtor's Chief Economist Lawrence Yun is predicting a stronger economy in the second half of 2008. He says that the economy is "crawling" now, not in a recession. He thinks that the economy will improve for several reasons. First, the government rebate checks have historically stimulated the economy temporarily. Also, aside from the housing industry, many companies are experiencing high profits. Because of the weak dollar the U.S. is exporting more than usual. There is a pent-up demand for housing, partly because of consumer pessimism, and partly because of the disappearance of the sub-prime market. More buyers are getting FHA loans now and it helps that the government recently increased the upper limits of the loan amounts.

He also predicts that several markets with decreasing home values will soon turn around. Many baby boomers will be retiring over the next few years and retirees tend to move to the "sunshine" states, including those where the housing market has been struggling since the end of subprime loans, like Florida and California. The home values have already been steadily increasing in several states, especially in the Northwest and Mountain states. If you're thinking about buying a home, now is the time to get started!

City Living Network


Coldwell Banker King Thompson has partnered with several local organizations to form the City Living Network. They provide information on affordable housing, first-time homebuyer programs, down payment assistance programs, financial literacy programs, and community development. Take a look at their website at http://www.citylivingnetwork.org/.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

licensed inspectors

When you purchase a home it's a good idea to have the home inspected so you are aware of any problems or maintenance issues that your home may need. However, how do you choose a trustworthy inspector when there are so many people out there who claim they can do the job? Well, the process may become a little easier. A bill requiring inspectors to be licensed has just passed in the Ohio House of Representatives and is on its way to the Senate. Until it's passed, it's a good idea to ask your Realtor or friends or relatives to refer you to a reputable home inspector.