CincinnatiInPhotos.com

Give until it feels good!

We have all heard the saying "Give until it hurts"...most of us know that real giving feels good doesn't it? We all have an opportunity right now to help those more unfortunate than most of us in America. If you listen to the radio, watch TV or read the news in the paper or on the internet, we are all aware of the dire need for our help in Haiti. This is an extreme tragedy totally out of anyone’s control. We are all powerless over the destruction that has occurred to the poor people in Haiti.

We can keep them in our prayers and when and if possible send them any financial support possible.

This is so heart warming:
One of my ministries at my parish St Michael in Sharonville is serving as an usher at 11:30 mass each Sunday. As usher I am responsible to help take up the collection. After mass a few of us gather in the sacristy and organize the collection, put it in the assigned packets and then into the safe. Yesterday we had a second collection to be sent to the folks in Haiti through Catholic services. Among all the $20's, $10's, hundreds of $1's & $5's and checks for everything from $10 up to several hundreds surfaced this most heart warming donation.

 
This envelope was full of coins. This child obviously emptied her piggy bank and brought it to church for the second collection. How innocent and giving was this gesture from such a small child. She even wrote a note on the envelope "Sorry about your house". She must have heard they lost their homes.

It is moments like this that makes you think. Makes you want to cry. Makes you want to smile. Makes you want to hug somebody and pray that the hurt goes away.

 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.k

 

Liberty Township History

The Liberty Township Historical Society was founded as a group of citizens interested in restoring the Hughes School.

    
Photo taken by Gary Rossignol of the restored Hughes School, built 1887.

5994 Princeton Rd in Liberty Township, Butler County, Ohio Built in 1887, the building was used for grades 1 through 8 until 1922 when the school system consolidation began. It was used as a residence for the custodian and later as a storage building. It was in dire need of repair or demolition by 1975 when interest was raised in restoration.

I thought I would never admit it but I LOVE HISTORY. Especially about or around my home. Being a resident of West Chester, Ohio and always carrying my Nikon D70 I am ready to shoot beautiful old buildings at a moments notice.

Working as a Realtor allows me to see a lot of houses. One of my most recent first time buyers is ecstatic about looking at homes. Her first time out the other day she found the whole adventure very exciting. At first it seemed like another day at work for me. Then I realized I had to live in the moment and focus my attention to the mood of my client.

I am happy to report after 23 years, the excitement is still there for me. I do love my job and I have my clients and customers to thank for that. They continue to show me how to find the thrill in what I am doing. It's not just looking at houses, it is the whole process of identifying, eliminating, researching, negotiating and closing with the proper time and financial deadlines. My clients trust that with my help everything will fall together properly to have a happy ending.

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.

I need a break from cold weather

I can only take so much cold weather. How about you?

Snow is predicted to come hard and heavy today. There is nothing we can do about that. I'ts Mother Nature right? We can put ourselves in a different place for a few minutes though.

That is why I made this video late this past summer. To share with you on a day like today.

I call it "Playful Insects". Self explanatory but very relaxing. I hope it warms you up just a little today.

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.

Merry Christmas Cincinnati & Friends

It is Christmas Eve. Three days after the shortest day (the first day of Winter) and the longest night of the year. This is the day many of us celebrate the birthday of Jesus. The Rossignol family will be attending midnight mass at our parish St Michaels. It is our tradition each year. Then we all come home and exchange presents.

This year we are going to drink hot chocolate and watch a movie. The gift exchanging will happen tomorrow when everyone is here.

Here are a few photos of neighbor homes decorated for Christmas.

 

 

Click on this LINK for a very special Christmas Card especially for YOU!

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.

 

 

 

Say Thank You to a Veteran today.

Have you ever wanted to say "thank you", but didn't? Next time, say it...

The Bump in the Road

Knowing that I am a Realtor, most people want to know..."How is the market?" or they ask..."What are my predictions for the upcoming year?"

I really don't have much of an answer for either question. We are all experiencing a very strange market in all aspects of day to day life. The times are tough for many Americans.

I am experiencing, on a daily basis, folks about to lose their homes to foreclosure. They could possibly be your next door neighbor, your cousin or aunt and uncle, or someone you see at church each week. It could be just about anyone and you wouldn't know it until it is too late. They are scared, angry and very embarrassed. They more than likely are in denial of the situation. Hoping that it will go away. But it will not unless they take the proper action.

This post is called "THE BUMP IN THE ROAD". When driving up Thornview Drive experiencing these bumps this idea came to me. I pictured this photo on this blog page and me writing about bumps in the road folks are experiencing.

If you know anyone facing foreclosure or simply behind in their mortgage payments. Have them call me for a confidential personal meeting to discuss their options. I have a lot of experience in this field. I have been helping people avoid foreclosure and the feeling is tremendous. To see the weight of the world lifted off their shoulders is a real rush.

Remember: Friends don't let friends go to Foreclosure.

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.

Congratulations Ms. Johnson

Ms. Johnson is one happy lady today. The weight is off her shoulders.

I met Ms. Johnson in mid July of 2009. She came to me with a problem. This home that had been in her family for over 85 years had just became too much for her to take care of any longer. The box gutters and soffits had serious damage due to wood rot. To the extent that she couldn't live in the home any longer. She had moved out over a year ago but still had the mortgage looming down over her. She hadn't been able to make a payment for almost 24 months and was facing foreclosure.

I was able to step in, list her home considering all the work the home needed priced it at $45,000.00 and sold it within 10 days for full price.

The big mistake I made was to let another agent insist on their buyer using the FHA 203K loan. That is an FHA loan the allows the buyer to purchase a distressed property, borrowing the initial financing for the home and the additional funds for the rehab. The limits on an FHA 203K loan is $30,000 above the cost of the home. The paperwork is intense and the risk is very high do to government rules and regulations and the constant changes in todays unsettled market.

It was quite the venture for Mary Jo, Me and LRA, LLC who does all the negotiations for me with the banks. However we stayed with it holding on to the faith that this was the right thing to do.

Everyone hung in there and finally at 3:00 PM yesterday we were at the closing table and everyone left happy. It took exactly two and a half months to negotiate the short sale with this lender.

Yet another notch in my record for saving someone from the horrors of foreclosure.

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.

Apartment Specials

I have been helping a lot of folks that are underwater with their mortgage. What happens is they have been laid off from their job, can't get work and fall three, four and five months behind with their mortgage. The bank wants their money or they threaten to take the house back through foreclosure proceedings.

Here is where my expertise comes in. I will list their home, sell it to a buyer within a couple of weeks and the company I partner with, Loss Reductions Associates, LLC will then negotiate a short payoff. That is where the bank will accept less than what is owed and forgive the rest.

 

   

These folks will then need to find someplace to live for a while and move.

This character is advertising the apartments at McCaulley Crossings apartments. They are offering specials as low as $99.00 first months rent to get you to sign up. However, you may want to do some investigation before you sign up. Some of the reviews are not all that good.

Of course if you can purchase a home that is the best recommendation I can offer. If you are one of the unfortunates that suffered through a short sale and need to rent then do your investigation.

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.

igations first.

 

Congratulations Kelli

I met Kelli two years ago. Owning a home was but a far reaching lofty dream for her. I suggested she at least talk to a mortgage lender and see what she would qualify for. She did and was quite surprised.

We looked at several homes and she fell in love with this home in Norwood and bought it. This turned out to be the longest pending sale of my career.

As it turned out the mortgage lending qualifications changed drastically in October 2008 and many including Kelli were caught in a catch 22. Her credit scores didn't meet the new minimum requirement just before the closing was to happen.

Kelli was lucky. She was working with understanding, motivated sellers willing to work things out with her. So they let her move into the house as a tenant until she was able to obtain financing.

A couple of months turned into almost an eternity to Kelli. In fact she was ready to give up several times. I had to assure her things were going to work out. I needed some magic about now.

Kelli was a hard worker, responsible, caring and very honest. She also was a very good trumpet player in her spare time. That is where I met her. She sat in with a few members of the West Chester Symphony Orchestra in a small dixieland ensemble for our fundraiser two years ago.

What I did was refer Kelli to Joe Frey of The Credit Store dba TR & Associates Credit Services. Joe is not a fly by night credit fixing ripoff. He is licensed with the State of Ohio Division of Consumer Finance. He will actually find discrepancies on your credit report and take the necessary measures to get the items corrected. Then follow through until your credit scores are at an acceptable number. He took Kelli from 548 to 600 in less than two months. The lender was then able to finance her with a straight FHA loan. Seller had agreed to pay up to 3% in closing costs so we were able to close on this last Friday September 11, 2009. Only a year and a month after the original closing date was negotiated.

Kelli is one happy lady. And I learned a great deal through this ordeal. I'm very glad I joined Tri-State Business Network. That is where I met Joe. And he is a miracle worker to Kelli and in my humble opinion also.

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.

Train lovers

I had a client that was a train enthusiast. He had a huge working model train set in his basement and his main request to purchasing a home that was near a railroad track. It seemed a strange request but if that is what he wanted we aimed to please.

This isn't the exact train track he bought on...however when I am stopped at a train tracks I usually think about this client that wanted to be live on the railroad tracks. I suppose many people have admiration's about where they want to live.

A lot of buyers are interested in living downtown Cincinnati. There are many condo and townhouse projects continuing to grow in and around the downtown area. There is a lot to be said for living downtown especially if you work downtown.

There are many incentives going on for those who choose to buy downtown. Tax abatement's which means your taxes could be less than half regular rates for up to 10 years. That could save you hundreds of dollars per year. Not needing a car will save you that expense. The car payment, fuel, parking, insurance. That in itself can be a small fortune.

So, if you are a first time buyer there is still time to take advantage of the $8,000.00 tax deduction stimulus program. As long as you close on or before November 30, 2009 and are a first time buyer (not having your name on a home title for a period of 3 years) then you will qualify.

For more information about the first time buyer program or if you would like to buy a home on or near a railroad track call me. I would be happy to assist you.

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.