2011: The Year a House Again Becomes a Home

2011: The Year a House Again Becomes a Home

This is Good News for Housing, Not Bad News#more-6609

This is Good News for Housing, Not Bad News#more-6609

Best Time to Buy AND Best Time to Sell?

Best Time to Buy AND Best Time to Sell?

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  Fielding a Lowball Purchase Offer on Your Home

  Consider before you ignore or outright refuse a very low purchase offer for your home. A counteroffer and negotiation could turn that low purchase offer into a sale. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Options for Avoiding Foreclosure

As the headlines tell us, foreclosures continue to plague our communities and our economy at large. If you are one of the many homeowners struggling financially and confronting the possibility of a foreclosure, however, there are viable options you can pursue before relinquishing your home.

There are options worth pursuing for those facing possible foreclosure. Many banks, for example, offer loan modifications or other programs that can give homeowners a little more breathing room and a chance to get back on their feet.

An experienced, professional real estate agent or counselors certified by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) can help you explore available options, including:

Forbearance. A forbearance is a temporary suspension of payments sometimes offered if a borrower has lost a job but has a new one starting soon – or because medical bills or another crisis situation has caused a temporary cash shortage.

Repayment plan. Repayment plans offer a scheduled blueprint for making up missed payments over time.

Loan modification. A loan modification is a change in loan terms for a limited time, as when a subprime interest rate has jumped considerably.

It is critical that financially distressed homeowners to be extremely wary of anyone purporting to offer a “quick-fix” solution. According to the Federal Trade Commission, steer clear of anyone who:

• Guarantees to stop the foreclosure process

• Collects upfront fees

• Asks to be paid by wire or cashier’s check

• Tells you not to contact your lender or lawyer

• Wants you to make mortgage payments directly to him/her

• Suggests you sign over or “share” your property deed or title

• Proposes a lease-and-buyback arrangement

• Offers to fill out paperwork for you

• Pressures you to sign documents you do not fully understand

Unfortunately, there is a growing contingent of foreclosure scam artists preying on vulnerable homeowners. Financially distressed homeowners should consult a real estate professional, accountant or attorney who can point them in the right direction and offer sound guidance on the potential options that can save their home from foreclosure.

Recollections of a Friend Gone too Soon



A Tribute to Our Friend Andy VonStein

It isn’t often that someone storms into your life, corporate or personal with as much gusto as Andy VonStein.

I remember the day as it was yesterday. We merged Andy’s firm, Broker’s Choice Realty in Ravenna into Cutler Real Estate. I traveled to Ravenna to meet Andy and his wonderful staff. From that day I knew we had something special. Andy had built a staff of Realtors that were real pros but he knew he needed to provide more support to them than his time and resources would allow. We had the systems in place that he needed so he looked to us to augment what he had built. It is difficult for a proud company owner to admit that they need help but Andy recognized that and never looked back. It wasn’t just for him that precipitated the merger; it was for his Realtors who he cared so deeply for. Our mantra, “Together We’re Better” could not have been more appropriate.



Andy was a consummate professional. His desire to help people was unmatched. Andy cared for and fought for his customers as he would for his family and his Realtors were his extended family. He was controversial but fair, aggressive but caring and to all of us he was a big lovable Teddy Bear. He adored the ladies in his life, his wife, Laura and daughters Brittany and Brooke.



For years at Cutler we celebrated our top producers’ successes with a cruise together. I vividly remember the times we spent with Andy and Laura. In the late evening if you heard uncontrollable laughter on the ship, you could be sure Andy and Laura were in the middle of it and not far behind was Christie Campbell, our dear Cutler Realtor who passed away shortly after our last cruise together and her husband Troy. They were the life of the party! I often wondered how they could be so chipper at breakfast the next morning.



Others could wax more eloquently about Andy than I. For me I want to conclude my thoughts by saying, Andy thank you for all you did for Cutler Real Estate, for your professionalism, your integrity, your willingness to give to others and the joy you brought to the lives of your Cutler Family. Most of all Andy, thank you for being our friend. May God bless you and keep you and may he watch over and care for your “special ladies”.



To my Cutler Family, please be safe! Think about how you conduct your real estate business and make changes where necessary to guard against a tragedy happening to you. For those of you questioning why this happened to Andy, I will share this thought “Never put a question mark where God put a period”.

Understanding the Risks of Using Unlicensed Workers in Your Home

Who's that working under your roof? Or on top of your roof ... or way, way up in your maple tree pruning branches? If it's an unlicensed worker you are facing unaffordable perils—both personal and financial.

Homeowners are exposing themselves to a wealth of financial and personal safety risk when using unlicensed workers. While using licensed contractors may cost more up-front, it will save you from unnecessary expenses down the road. Plus, you can't place value on peace of mind.

There are several risks involved in using unlicensed workers:

-You are exposing yourself to the risk of an unknown person entering your home. Someone purporting to be Mr. Fixit could, in reality, be casing your home for a later break-in, assault or home invasion. The likelihood of these horrors occurring is far less if you are dealing with a licensed contractor with ties to the community.

-You could lose thousands of dollars if the work is shoddy or incomplete. State licenses require contractors to have trade experience, often requiring performance tests to ensure competency, and they also require contractors to be knowledgeable about local home improvement laws.

-It's illegal! Unlicensed workers who perform work for you are committing a misdemeanor and can be arrested, which means you are out of luck in terms of any deposit you may have put down and may well be liable for any materials bought from stores or sub-contractors by the unlicensed contractor.

-You could be exposed to enormous damages in court if the unlicensed contractor is injured on the job. State courts have found that an unlicensed worker cannot, by definition, be an independent contractor—and if he's not a contractor, he must be your employee. This means he or she can sue you if injured on the job. In one instance in California an unlicensed worker, injured after only a few hours working on a roofing job, successfully won damages claiming he was an employee of the homeowner! In another case in West Virginia, a licensed cable installer won a $1,000,000+ settlement for injuries he sustained from a fall off a power pole attached to a home, claiming that work performed by an unlicensed electrician on the home's circuit breaker box was the cause of his injury.

"These risks are completely avoidable, if you adhere to the following tips for homeowners looking to hire workers for home improvement projects:

1. Ensure your contractor is licensed. The status of a contractor’s license can often be checked through the state’s Licensing Board Website or have the contractor show you a copy of the license.

2. Ask for references from customers and suppliers who have worked with the contractor; and check for complaints on file with your state's contractor office and the Better Business Bureau.

3. Check to make sure a contractor's insurance coverage is complete and up-to-date, and includes worker's comp, property damage and liability.

4. Pay by credit card if possible, or, if paying by check, make it out to a company, never to "cash."

5. Don't pay cash. Don't pay in full in advance. Don't buy "left over supplies". Don't make a final payment until a thorough inspection of the work is complete.

For more information, please contact Jim Bray at JBray@CutlerHomes.com, Cutler Real Estate or 330-491-2700.



Cutler Real Estate, founded in 1947, is a full service real estate company serving Stark, Carroll, Tuscarawas, Summit, Medina, Portage and Wayne counties. Cutler Real Estate is the largest locally owned real estate firm in Northeast Ohio and one of the 100 largest in the country. Cutler provides a one-stop shopping approach to the real estate market, and is one of only a few in the state providing in-house consumer resources including relocation, commercial investment, auction, new homes, insurance and mortgage and title services through affiliates Mortgage One and Title One. For more information visit their website at CutlerHomes.com

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News from the Ohio Association of Realtors Convention

Please join us in some special congratulations from the 100th Anniversary Celebration at the OAR convention in Cincinnati.



Meg Hudson, OAR President Elect from our Kent office was named 2010 Ohio Realtor of the Year. Meg won the award locally from the Portage County Association of Realtors.  Meg begins here term as President of OAR in January, 2011.  We congratulate Meg on her OAR Realtor of the Year Award and wish her well in her position of OAR President.


Sixty-seven of our Cutler Realtors were honored as members of the 2010 OAR President’s Sales Club, Including, Jeff Flickinger of the North Canton office who was honored as the #5 Realtor in the state in the number of closed transaction sides.  Congratulations, Jeff for an outstanding accomplishment.   


Jaime Prenatt, Fairlawn office, represented the Akron Area Board of Realtors as a Tomorrow’s Leader Today.  Jaime also attended her first OAR Convention.  Thanks, Jaime for representing Cutler Real Estate so well.


Congratulations to all the recipients, we’re very proud of you.  Your successes in the face of one of the most challenging real estate markets in history are a testament to your dedication and professionalism

Moving Up in a 'Down' Market - What You Don't Know About Today's Real Estate Market

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, while most Americans struggled, there were some who also amassed vast fortunes. A wealth of opportunity also exists in today's real estate "recession," a time which offers buyers and investors an unprecedented chance to "move up”.


At Cutler Real Estate believe that those who believe that real estate is a tide that moves all boats equally are just plain wrong, The fact is, we may very well be in the single greatest move-up real estate market in decades. Today's market represents a rare opportunity for some to move up to their dream home at virtually unprecedented prices. If you have longed to move to another community, purchase a vacation home or create income through rental property, now might be your best chance to do so.

The following facts rarely appear in media coverage about the real estate market and are, therefore, unknown to most consumers:

• Prices of higher-priced homes have (generally) declined more, as measured in dollars and/or percentage of price, than have prices of lower-priced homes.

• Vacation property prices have also changed based upon their own local economics.

• If the price of your home has moved down less than the price of your ideal home, this may be the time to make your move.

We advise consumers to answer the following questions before considering a move-up home purchase:

1. What price could my home bring if put on the market today?

2. What is the price of my ideal home in today's market?

3. What will the difference in monthly costs be should I decide to move up?

4. What will my net costs be after tax?

5. What is the potential for immediate lifestyle enhancement and for long-term financial gain if I move up?

The answers to these questions are vital to making a more fully informed decision about the opportunities present in today's market. A professional real estate agent, your attorney, financial planner and/or accountant can help guide you through this decision-making process. Please contact one of our Cutler Real Estate market professionals to see how you can maximize the benefits brought on by the present “great” recession.

Your Good Credit Score Might Not be Good Enough Anymore

CANTON, OH, Aug 25, 2010 - There was a time when a 680 credit score yielded great interest rates for consumers. Today, however, according to Bankrate.com, the best rates and mortgage programs go to those consumers with credit scores over 700. According to Jim Bray, President, of Cutler Real Estate, consumers with less than a 700 credit score may see additional fees of 1% or more and increased interest rates as high as 1% over the base rates. These increased fees and interest rates could mean about $3,500 in extra fees and as much as $134 a month in additional monthly mortgage payments for a new home buyer purchasing a $350,000 home.


“Due to the tumultuous landscape of our current economy, many consumers are finding that their credit scores are dropping...even though they‘ve continued to pay all their bills on time, “says Bray. “This is happening unknowingly to millions of consumers across the country who have good to excellent credit. Unfortunately, there are many factors now affecting consumers‘ credit scores that they are unaware of.“

For example, a consumer might have had their oldest and most established credit card closed by a creditor due to non-usage. Second, two other creditors may have dropped the consumer‘s available credit limits, which negatively impacted their credit utilization ratios (i.e., amount spent each month compared to the credit limit). In each case, these changes occurred for no other reason than the creditors‘overall concern for risk in the marketplace.

So what should you do? According to Bray and the credit experts at ApprovalGUARD (www.approvalguard.com), here are three suggestions to keep in mind:

1. Understand how credit works. Although you may think you understand how credit works (i.e., “As long as I pay all of my bills on time, I will have good credit“), there are many misunderstandings. Understanding how credit reports and scores work to create an excellent credit profile is important and becomes the foundation to strong financial self-management.

2. Credit and debt optimization. Take a snapshot of your current debt profile compared to your current income and liquid assets, then look for ways to optimize your debt. Examples could include strategies to reduce credit card balances owed to lower limits that will help you strengthen your credit scores, reduce interest rates and/or create opportunities to move balances to lower interest rate debt alternatives.

3. Know what‘s going on. It‘s important to review your credit at least three or four times per year. By doing so, you can monitor it for changes that may have occurred without your knowledge. It‘s also a great opportunity to self-monitor your profile for errors or suspect activity such as identity theft. The Fair Credit Reporting Act guarantees you access to a free credit report every 12 months. For more information visit the Federal Trade Commission website at http://www.ftc.gov/. Once on this page, click, “Free Credit Reports“ for information on how to obtain your annual credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies free of charge.

“Understanding, building and self-managing your credit is like changing the oil in your car, “says Bray. “If you do it regularly, then the car runs better. If you do it only when the engine has problems, you often find yourself in a challenging situation. “

For more information on today‘s credit climate or to request a free home mortgage pre-approval, please contact Bob Giacomo at Robert.P.Giacomo@mortgageoneohio.com or Cutler Real Estate.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: James Bray 330-491-2700 JBray@CutlerHomes.com How Homeowners Can Increase Their Home's Value in Today's Market CANTON, OH, Aug 20, 2010 - In today’s climate of dwindling home values, many homeowners are wondering if it’s at all possible to increase their home’s value. According to Jim Bray, President of Cutler Real Estate there are steps you can take to build equity despite current market conditions. “To elevate the value of your home, a detailed and specific assessment of your home, and the homes against which it will compete in the market, is necessary,” says Bray. “A professional home inspection-especially for those who are not planning to sell their home soon-can help determine exactly what needs to be done to increase your home’s value and can help you plan for expenses if there is work to be done.” Having your home professionally inspected well before putting it on the market—or when you’re not even planning to put it on the market—has a number of advantages, says Bray: For a relatively minor investment, homeowners will have an opportunity to review an objectively prepared assessment of the condition of their home’s structure, systems and amenities Everything else being equal, the inspection report should be consistent with the report prepared by a buyer’s inspector, virtually eliminating stressful surprises when the home is on the market one day Having an inspection done while their home is not on the market provides owners with an opportunity to decide whether to do the work themselves or to have the work contracted at their convenience and without the pressure of a deadline The greatest value of proactive inspection is that the decision to repair vs. replace will be the homeowner’s alone…not a prospective buyer’s. A buyer may use the replacement of the air conditioner or the roof as a negotiating gambit when a proactive, high-quality repair would have been completely satisfactory. This places homeowners in a much stronger negotiating position in the future “By taking this proactive approach to home inspections, homeowners can increase their home’s value instantly, giving it a strong competitive edge in the market if and when they decide to move,” says Bray. “By addressing major repair/replacement issues now, homeowners diminish competition from newer and better-maintained homes on the market.” For more information on increasing a home’s value, please contact Cutler Real Estate at JBray@CutlerHomes.com, 330-491-2700 or Cutler Real Estate. Cutler Real Estate, founded in 1947, is a full service real estate company serving Stark, Carroll, Tuscarawas, Summit, Medina, Portage and Wayne counties. Cutler Real Estate is the largest locally owned real estate firm in Northeast Ohio and one of the 100 largest in the country. Cutler provides a one-stop shopping approach to the real estate market, and is one of only a few in the state providing in-house consumer resources including relocation, commercial investment, auction, new homes, insurance and mortgage and title services through affiliates Mortgage One and Title One. For more information visit their website at CutlerHomes.com ###

Cutler Real Estate Accepted for Membership in RISMedia's Exclusive Real Estate `Information Network®

New Network identifies leading companies providing leading information to consumers.

NORWALK, CT Aug 09, 2010—Recognizing the need to identify those real estate brokerage firms most committed to serving consumers, RISMedia recently launched its Real Estate Information Network® (RREIN), a network of leading companies providing leading information. Cutler Real Estate is proud to announce its membership in RREIN, signifying the firm’s leading position in Northeast Ohio.

As its name suggests, RISMedia’s Real Estate Information Network® is exclusively reserved for only those real estate firms committed to providing consumers with the critical information necessary to make the best possible real estate-related decisions. As required by RISMedia, which has provided the real estate industry with leading-edge news and business-development strategies for 30 years, each member of RREIN must provide consumers with timely and relevant real estate content, as provided by RISMedia and other information sources.

“Consumers today have an inadequate level of understanding about the process, opportunities and risks facing them in real estate transactions, and they badly need a network of trusted real estate firms they can rely on,” said RISMedia President and CEO John Featherston. “RISMedia’s Real Estate Information Network® is designed to meet this critical need for consumer education and to help consumers identify those real estate companies who can deliver relevant information, a full suite of real estate services, and a sales force of experienced, professional real estate agents.”

RREIN is a formalized network of real estate brokerage firms that have earned elite status within their respective marketplaces. Membership is granted to only those North American real estate firms that demonstrate proven leadership in their respective regions and are committed to providing consumers with relevant real estate-related information.

“Through RISMedia’s Real Estate Information Network®, leading real estate firms can now benefit from the unparalleled information resources of RISMedia, enhancing our value proposition to both consumers and our sales associates,” said Jim Bray, President, Cutler Real Estate. “Through its unique, consumer-facing programs, RISMedia is allowing leading real estate companies and their sales associates to better serve and educate consumers in today’s challenging real estate environment.”

For more information on Cutler Real Estate, please visit Cutler Real Estate.

Cutler Real Estate Named to National “Top 100”

Northeast Ohio real estate company, Cutler Real Estate was honored by REALTOR Magazine with inclusion in its list of the “Top 100” real estate companies in America. Cutler’s ranking was based on closed transaction sides.

“The hard work of approximately 300 trained Realtors consistently enables Cutler Real Estate to rank in the “Top 100” real estate companies in America as reported by REALTOR Magazine. Cutler Realtors ranked in the top 85th percentile of the “Top 100” list based on the number of closed transactions per Realtor per year. Cutler’s world-class education, training and career opportunities enables our Realtors to attain these outstanding results”, said Jim Bray, Cutler Real Estate, president and partner. “We are pleased to be one of only three Ohio based real estate companies to be named to the REALTOR Magazine list”, continued Bray.
“Spotting and seizing new opportunities in the face of market difficulties has paid dividends for our company”, said Bray. “The face of real estate has changed immensely and our ability to adapt and grow has been a huge part of our success. Our award winning website, CutlerHomes.com is responsible for generating a large number of transactions for our Realtors. Our mantra, “Be Where the Buyers Are”, has positioned us to be one of the leading websites in our market, continued Bray”.

CutlerHomes.com Wins Major Award from Leading Real Estate Companies of the World

Cutler Real Estate has earned the exclusive Website Quality Certification (WQC), presented by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® to member companies that have demonstrated excellence in website design, functionality and execution.

Every aspect of the site, CutlerHomes.com, was reviewed to ensure exacting standards were met in eight key areas, ranging from design and content to human interactivity to search engine optimization. The WQC was introduced in 2009 to recognize and encourage superior websites among Leading Real Estate Companies of the World’s 600 member firms. Cutler Real Estate is one of 64 initial applicants to earn the designation and the only company in Northeast Ohio to win this prestigious award.

Cutler earned further distinction by being nominated for a WQC award in the category of Internet Lead Management Process and Response Time. Cutler is the only Ohio Company nominated for any of the 8 individual awards to be presented. The winner will be announced at the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Annual Conference March 10 in Las Vegas.

“A real estate company’s website plays an increasingly significant role with today’s consumers, who often go there first when considering buying or selling a home. It is thus critical to use this Internet medium to attract and engage consumers in a meaningful way,” said Pam O’Connor, president/CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World.

We want to thank Debbie McClymont, Manager of Online Services, Suzi Stepanovich, Internet Lead Coordinator and Delta Media Group for their tireless efforts and passion to make CutlerHomes.com the leading real estate website in Northeast Ohio. Jim, Jay and I are extremely proud to receive this award. The end result of the hard work of Debbie and Suzi is more qualified leads to our Realtors leading to more closed transactions.

For more information about the WQC award and a list of the other winners click on the WQC logo at the bottom of CutlerHomes.com.