CincinnatiInPhotos.com

Goodbye softball...hello swimming lessons

Well, my grand kids are at it again. Playing some terrific ball. This Sunday it was my 9 year old granddaughter Brianna. I was able to witness her last game of the year. My goodness where has the season gone?

Brianna is a natural athlete. She looks the part of a ball player and plays like one too. Notice the smile on her face in the second photo. That is her reaction to tagging the runner out at third base after fielding a solid hit grounder down the third base line.

Brianna plays for a team originally called St. Al's Gators. However needing a few extra players they acquired a few girls from St Catherine's parish. Therefore their new name is the Alley Cats.

Although the score was not in the Alley Cats favor...everyone was a winner.

The 3rd photo is Brianna with her trophy and statue of the Blessed Virgin. Coach Dale is so good to the girls. He made sure that each girl was properly recognized for their individual achievements this year.

It was heartwarming to hear him coach the girls before the game with strong affirmative guidance and direction finishing with a prayer and a cheer. After the game in the 4th photo you can see the team and coach Dale doing the Rhoton dance. Fun stuff all around. Dale and the other coaches make sure the girls have fun. That is their only rule.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Friday Fun

Fridays are for fun, although this is Monday I want to share about the fun I had last Friday. Mary Jo and I  went to my 6 year old grandson Andrews baseball game at St. Antonitus on the West side of town. He plays for St Aloysius in Bridgetown. The teams name is the Gators.

I have to hand it to these coaches. They are very calm and collected and really enjoy teaching these young boys the fundamentals of the game of baseball.  And that is primarily what these games are all about. To learn the fundamentals of the game and to instill in them how to enjoy playing with good sportsmanship attitudes.

The top left photo is Andrew getting ready to bat. He is looking back for encouragement from team mates, family and coaches.

He really looks like a baseball player doesn't he?

The top right photo is Andrew running down the first base line with one of his 3 hits for the day.

The last photo is Andrew playing the catcher position taking instructions from one of the coaches. He really likes catching. His great-grandpa Schmidt would be very proud of Andrew because he was a catcher in his days of baseball playing.

When the game was over they boys were told they tied. Just so happens they tie most of the games. That is to keep everything even and not cause any undo poor competitive practices and keep the boys learning proper techniques and not worry about the score this early in their carreers.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Stay Focused

I was playing racquetball Tuesday night. I was up against a tough opponent. He is a solid B+ player, which means he was very quick, precise and had 3 excellent serves and a super backhand. We played four games and split them between us.

How did I come out on top of two games? He is clearly a much better player than I am. In fact I was surprised when I won the forth game. What I did was stay focused.

I focused on the ball. I focused on his move and focused on my next move before taking it.

I didn't let myself loose focus, even when he was scoring more points against me. I didn't worry about the last move. I didn't worry about the next move. I focused on the move I was making and stayed with it and didn't let up.

Oh, I was getting tired. The blood was rushing through my body at a much higher pace than usual. But that was the point. To get my heart rate moving and the blood circulating quickly. It is called exercise. But with the game of racquetball, you have to concentrate on what you are doing. You have to know how to hit the ball and execute your shot precisely or your opponent will take advantage and nail you on his next shot.

On my way home I thought about how well I played and compared that to how I do my job as a Realtor. How I treat my family. As a dad, husband, brother, son and friend to my friends.

I decided I need to stay focused at all times with whatever I am doing or who ever I am with. If I loose focus my shot will be off and my goal will not be accomplished. So this photo will remind me to stay focused at all times and everything will turn out the way it is suppose to.

If you are buying a home stay focused with your wants and needs in your price range. Don't let all your friends and overzealous family members cause you to sway from your goals no matter how insistent they may be. You know what makes you happy. You are buying the home for you not for them. You should always consult your Realtor and one other person when considering the purchase of a new home. That other person should be someone you know and trust that will be looking out after your best interest.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Buyers like sitting on the fence.

There is good news and bad news! The good news, interest rates are going up. The bad news, interest rates are going up. Why are climbing interest rates good news? I am thoroughly convinced that buyers naturally hesitate to do anything as long as interest rates are fluctuating from good to great.

Hence the reason for the fence.

             

Buyers like to sit on the fence not quite sure if they should buy or wait for the interest rates to drop even lower than great. Even with the super low interest rates of below 5% plus the $8,000.00 first time buyer tax credit, buyers will still take their time and usually wait just a little too long.

I notice when interest rates begin to climb buyers get scared or smart and will jump off the fence and buy a house. That is why climbing interest rates are good news.

The bad news...well, I don't know if there is any bad news. Unless the interest rates climb much higher than 6% - 7%. My opinion is anything below 8% is a good interest rate. Therefore we have been experiencing really great rates. Maybe now it is time to get back to reality. If interest rates climb a little and encourage buyers to jump on the still good rates and buy a house our economy will get better. It will be good for the buyers and good for the sellers.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Sunday's Church

This week I would like to feature St Catharine of Siena Catholic church located 2848 Fischer Place in Westwood of Cincinnati, Ohio.

 

This is a beautiful all stone Gothic architecture building with a slate roof. It sits on the corner and is surrounded by telephone and power lines. This is the best shot I could get of it. I'm sure when it was built in 1923 there weren't all the obstructions there are today. This church is twice the size of the original church that was built 20 years earlier in 1903.

Here is the history of St Catharine of Siena Church.

 God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Fridays are for fun

Fridays are for fun...all I did was work in the office and cut the grass. That wasn't fun and it wasn't not fun. But here is what was fun. Going to Jungle Jim's. That was fun and we went there Wednesday night. I just got this photo produced and that was fun. So here it is.

  

It looks like the zoo or a real live jungle. It isn't. This place is amazing. If you are looking for any kind of specialty food or groceries...go to Jungle Jim's. They are sure to have it. They have sea food from all around the world. Veggies and fruits you can't find anywhere else. Every nationality is represented at Jungle Jim's. It makes grocery shopping fun and the fun is right here in Fairfield, Ohio.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Milford Ohio...has a long history and heritage

I drive through many towns, villages and cities as a realtor. I always have my Nikon D70 ready to shoot. And shoot I do a lot of to share with you. This is a particularly beautiful building. Not sure what it is other than it is found somewhere in Milford.

 

The city of Milford was founded as a Village back in 1802 as a grant and was sold to Philip Gatch for $970.00. Mr Gatch never came here but sold part of his land to Ambrose Ransom who in turn sold part of his land to John Hageman the first settler in Milford. He named it Hageman's Mills in 1806.

                                        Click on The History of Milford for the rest of the story.

 

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Sunday's Church

I was working with a client last week helping her buy a condo in Cold Springs Kentucky. I was talking to a dear friend of mine Jim and he told me he had worked at St Josephs Catholic church back in the 70's just after he graduated from college. I had driven by this church several times in the past week and found it very attractive. So I stopped and shot a few photos of it. Here it is with the history below.

St Joseph Parish was founded in 1870 as a small church built next to St Joseph Orphanage. A one story school building was also constructed that year. In 1882 a 92 X 42 foot church building was built for a total cost of $5,500.00.

In 1884 fire destroyed the orphanage. In 1889 a brand new three story orphanage was built. In 1921 St Joseph celebrated its 50th anniversary.

In 1959 Edward J. Schulte & Associates of Cincinnati were hired as building architect and Building Crafts, Inc. were hired as the General Contractor to build the new (present) church.

1963 Geiman Brothers constructed the Bell Tower. The three bells, "Joseph," "Mary," and "Gabriel" were erected in the tower. Barney Sacksteder and Al Rust transported the statue of St. Joseph at the base of the tower from Old St. Joseph Orphanage.

1993 St Joseph celebrated 150th year anniversary.

In 1995 St. Joseph is the largest Catholic Church in Campbell County and the largest Catholic School in the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky.

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

Bicycle built for none

It's Friday and Fridays are for fun. This is very simple. I was driving down Cornell Road the other day and saw this bicycle in the front yard of someones house.

              

It's that time of year. To start planting flowers in your flower garden, flower pots, or in this case a flower bicycle.

I couldn't pass up the chance to shoot a few pictures of this unusual flower garden. Can you find any other unusual types of flower gardens?

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.

There is good staging, this is funny staging.

I was out with a first time buyer the other day. She was very excited about the homes we were going to see. So excited she had her two best friends, her sisters with her to help guide her in the decision making. This is a big deal and a bigger decision.  Both of her sisters have already purchased their first home so they were the natural choice to come along for moral support.

How do I explain certain odd things that we run into while viewing properties.

We pulled up in the drive way of this home and what do we see. No it isn't Gort from the movie The Day the Earth Stood Still.

I nick-named him the Rusty Knight. That is exactly what it was. An old rusty Knight of Armor.

This seemed to be very clever except it had nothing to do with this style or age of house. I thought it was some type of prank but it was real.

Actually the rest of the house was a little odd. It was what I have been taught to be a raised ranch. The MLS (Multiple Listing Service) sheet described it as a two story. You walk in the front door (actually the back door, because you couldn't get to the front door very easily) and you are on the second floor where all the bedrooms are located. Then you go down stairs to the Kitchen, Living room and storage areas.

My buyer was not impressed. I only wish this home had been listed properly in the MLS so we would have had a clearer understanding before going.

Then we visited another home. The picture was lovely and the home sounded great.

This is the photo they used to lure us into looking at this home. Looks very attractive doesn't it?

Look at this photo that I took after we arrived. This photo was taken from across the street in front of the house. 

 

What do you think this is behind the chain link fence. The sign says "Property of Sanitary District No 1". My guess is it is some kind of local septic system.

How would you like this in your front yard. My next question is ...Was the home built after this system was in place or did the county decide to install this system after the home was built? Either way it is a bit unsightly, don't you think?

God Bless You and pray for all of our troops to come home safe and for our Country leaders to make the right choices to help us get through this turmoil.

Did you know I have my license in both states, Ohio & Kentucky?...So Please call me if you need help around the house or maybe to buy a new home. I will gladly say THANK YOU! Gary Rossignol, the Realtor with integrity. 513-777-2402 email Gary@GaryRossignol.com.

Also, My Video Newsletter is loaded with up to date Real Estate News and Advice. Some of its features include: Current Interest Rates, National Real Estate News, Mortgage Advice, Question & Answers. Plus much more. It is "real time" and changes each week.