Terry Penrod, Real Living HER Realtor, Reaches Charitable Giving Milestone

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Jim Stevenson
Real Living HER
JimStevenson@RealLiving.com
(614) 273-6076

Real Living HER Realtor Terry Penrod Reaches Charitable Giving Milestone

COLUMBUS, Ohio (November 30, 2011) — Real Living HER is proud to congratulate Real Living Mortgage and Realtor Terry Penrod for generating $10,000 in donations to local charities.

Through the Sharing Advantage Program from Real Living Mortgage and Wells Fargo, Terry’s clients were able to support local 501(c) (3) organizations at no cost to them. A select few of the charities have been: Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society, Victorian Village Society, St. John’s High School, Stonewall Columbus, Equality Ohio Education Fund and various local churches. Simply by Terry communicating the program and his clients designating the charity, Real Living Mortgage was able to make a $300 donation at the time of a closing.

“I always look forward to helping people understand the home buying process. There is so much to know and I love helping people find their dream home,” said Terry Penrod. “I have really enjoyed letting people know they can also do good in the community through Sharing Advantage.”

“This is an innovative program that is offered nationwide, but Terry has really embraced it and his clients’ charities have greatly benefited,” said June Zepp, Home Mortgage Consultant, Real Living Mortgage.

If anyone is interested in getting involved with the Sharing Advantage Program please contact Terry Penrod at 614-273-8548, terry.penrod@RealLiving.com or www.terrypenrod.com

About HER Real Living Inc.

Real Living HER, based in Columbus, Ohio, is a full-service real estate company with more than 700 agents and 45 offices throughout Central Ohio. HER Realtors was established in 1956 and has been the dominant full service brokerage throughout the area since 1964. Real Living HER offers its consumers services that include residential & commercial real estate sales, property management and rental services, mortgage, title, warranty, and other home-related, lifestyle services. HER Realtors is a member of the Real Living franchise system, owned by Brookfield Real Estate, a leading provider of real estate services nationally & internationally, including one of the world’s leading global relocation companies. Real Living was named one of the best new franchises by Entrepreneur magazine, winner of the Inman Innovator Award, and most promising new national brand by the Swanepoel TRENDS Report. www.HERRealtors.com. All first mortgage products are provided by Real Living Mortgage, LLC. Real Living Mortgage, LLC may not be available in your area. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ©2011 Real Living Mortgage, LLC. All Rights Reserved. NMLSR ID 484734

 

USA Today: Home prices drop in September, reversing months of gains

The story is here

Home prices drop in September, reversing months of gains

By DEREK KRAVITZ, Associated Press

WASHINGTON – U.S. home prices are falling again in most major cities after posting small gains in the summer and spring. The report suggests the troubled housing market remains weak and won't recover any time soon.

The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index released Tuesday showed prices dropped in September from August in 17 of 20 cities tracked. That was the first decline after five straight months where at least half the cities in the survey showed monthly gains.

A separate index for the July-September quarter shows prices were mostly unchanged from the previous quarter.

Many Americans are reluctant to buy a home more than two years after the recession officially ended. High unemployment, weak job growth and falling home prices have deterred many would-be buyers. Even the lowest mortgage rates in history haven't been enough to lift sales.

David M. Blitzer, chairman of S&P's index committee, said that while the steep price declines seen between 2007 and 2009 appear to be over, home prices are down from the same time last year and do not show signs of easing.

"Any chance for a sustained recovery will probably need a stronger economy," Blitzer said.

The largest monthly price declines were in Atlanta, San Francisco and Tampa. And prices in Atlanta, Las Vegas and Phoenix fell to their lowest points since the housing crisis began four years ago. Blitzer called the new lows reached in those three cities a "bit disturbing."

New York, Portland, Ore., and Washington were the only cities to show monthly price increases in September.

A majority of the cities tracked by the survey posted modest price increases from April through August, the peak buying months. The monthly changes are not adjusted for seasonal factors.

Even with the gains, home prices were down in all but two major cities in September from the same month one year ago.

Sales of previously occupied home sales are on pace to match last year's dismal figures — the worst in 13 years. Sales of new homes are shaping up to be the worst since the government began keeping records a half century ago.

Some people can't qualify for loans or meet higher down payment requirements. Many with good credit and stable jobs are holding off because they fear that home prices will keep falling.

"Despite record high affordability of real estate, the psychology of home buyers is still being weighed down by economic uncertainty, keeping them on the fence when it comes to buying homes," said Stan Humphries, chief economist at Zillow.com, which measures home values.

Atlanta has been especially hard hit in the past year. Prices there dropped nearly 6% in September and have fallen nearly 10% over the past 12 months.

Since the fall of 2008, one out of every four sales in Atlanta has been a foreclosure, an auction or a bank sale.

Many homes there were built during the housing boom. The city has also been confronted by high unemployment. In September, the unemployment rate was 10.3%— more than a point higher than the national average.

The Case Shiller index covers half of all U.S. homes. It measures prices compared with those in January 2000 and creates a three-month moving average. The September data is the latest available.

Prices are certain to fall again once banks resume millions of foreclosures that have been delayed because of a yearlong government investigation into mortgage lending practices.

Home prices had stabilized in coastal cities the past six months, helped by a rush of spring buyers and investors. But this year, home prices in many cities, including Cleveland, Detroit, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Tampa, have reached their lowest points since the housing bust more than four years ago.

Foreclosures and short sales — when a lender accepts less for a home than what is owed on a mortgage — are selling at an average discount of 20%.

Home prices

Metro area	Index Sept. 2011	Chg. from Aug.	Chg. from Sept. 2010
Atlanta	95.99	-5.9%	-9.8%
Boston	154.39	-0.8%	-1.2%
Charlotte	112.43	-0.9%	-2.6%
Chicago	118.49	-0.8%	-5.0%
Cleveland	100.58	-1.2%	-3.1%
Dallas	116.54	-0.6%	-0.8%
Denver	125.44	-0.8%	-1.5%
Detroit	73.17	-0.5%	3.7%
Las Vegas	93.8	-1.4%	-7.3%
L.A.	168	-0.8%	-4.2%
Miami	139.83	-0.7%	-4.0%
Minneapolis	114.65	-0.9%	-7.4%
New York	169.92	0.1%	-2.6%
Phoenix	100.22	-0.2%	-6.5%
Portland	136.1	0.1%	-5.7%
San Diego	153.72	-0.8%	-5.4%
San Fran.	133.22	-1.5%	-5.9%
Seattle	135.59	-1.1%	-6.5%
Tampa	127.37	-1.5%	-6.7%
Washington	188.07	1.2%	1.0%
The indexes have a base value of 100 in January 2000; so an index value of 150 translates to a 50% appreciation since then for a typical home in the market. Source:S&P Indices and Fiserv

Columbus, Ohio Named Gay Destination Of The Year

From Ontopmag

The link is here

Columbus, Ohio has won the NewNowNext Travel Award for gay travel destination of the year.

Ohio's most populous city and home of The Ohio State University was voted the best travel destination from six alternatives by NewNowNext.com readers.

Columbus fended off Baku, Azerbaijan, Cartagena, Colombia, Floriandopolis, Brazil, Istanbul, Turkey and St. Petersburg, Russia to take home the coveted travel title.

In a Meet the Nominees item, NewNowNext editors described Columbus as a thriving metropolis.

“Yes, Baku, Cartagena … Columbus. But really! It's a major and thriving college town, a center to big-time business like Abercrombie & Fitch, it's got a rollicking bar scene, and a burgeoningly hipsteriffic arts and cultural community. Seriously, it's delivering a lot of innovative and welcoming perks that make for a killer weekend. Hello, Columbus!”

Indeed, Columbus is home to one of the largest gay populations per capita. Gay shops, bars and lively restaurants line both sides of High Street between downtown and The Ohio State University – an area called The Short North. German Village is of equal interest to the gay traveler. An estimated 100,000 revelers participate in the city's annual Gay Pride Parade and Festival.

CNN: Barney Frank not seeking re-election in 2012

 

The story is here

Washington (CNN) -- Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank, a prominent 16-term liberal Democrat and arch-enemy of political conservatives nationwide, will announce Monday he does not intend to seek re-election in 2012, according to a statement from Frank's office.

Frank will hold a news conference in his district to discuss the decision at 1 p.m.

Frank, first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, currently serves as the top Democrat on the powerful House Financial Services Committee. Among other things, he co-authored the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial regulatory reform bill. The measure, designed to rein in Wall Street excesses in the wake of the 2008 financial collapse, passed the House without any GOP support.

The veteran congressman made headlines earlier in his career by becoming one of the first openly gay members of Congress. He was formally reprimanded by the House in 1990 for allegations relating to his association with a male prostitute.

Frank's district, centered around the liberal Boston suburbs of Newton and Brookline, is considered safe Democratic political terrain. Frank did, however, receive an unusually strong challenge from Republican Sean Bielat in 2010.

Frank ultimately defeated Bielat, 54% to 43%.

It's Time [For Marriage Equality]

Please share this with friends and loved ones. http://www.getup.org.au/marriagematters

Music: Oliver Tank - Last Night I Heard Everything in Slow Motion

Columbus Underground: Waffle House Coming to OSU Campus Area

 

Good news for breakfast enthusiasts that live near The Ohio State University campus! According to an article in today’s Business First (subscription only), Waffle House is planning on opening a shop at 1712 North High Street, next door to the Newport Music Hall.

More here

Ohio Voter Suppression Bill to Qualify for November 2012 Ballot

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 22, 2011

Voter Suppression Bill to Qualify for November 2012 Ballot

COLUMBUS – Today, petitions containing 166,481 signatures were delivered to Secretary of State Jon Husted’s Office for the effort to repeal the voter suppression bill, House Bill 194.

On September 29, Ohio Democrats and their allies made the first delivery of petitions, which by our count measured 318,460 raw signatures. These signatures were collected in only six weeks. An additional 150,000 signatures were collected in the three weeks following the initial delivery of signatures. Today, a total of 166,481 signatures on remaining petitions were delivered.

“Without a doubt, Ohio voters will have the chance in November 2012 to protect fair and accessible elections in our state by repealing the voter suppression bill,” said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern. “This victory is yet another testament to the strength of volunteers across the state and the momentum they will help carry into 2012.”

231,147 valid signatures are required to qualify for the ballot. A broad coalition of allies including Fair Elections Ohio, the Ohio Democratic Party, Organizing for America and ProgressOhio has now collected and submitted well more than twice that amount.

Greg Schultz, State Director of Obama for America – Ohio, added, “Organizing for America volunteers, along with our Democratic and allied partners, sprung to action early on to put a stop to this voter suppression bill and our volunteer network has continued to demonstrate great momentum and dedication to finishing the job. We have proven today that we have the level of statewide grassroots strength that is required for a referendum campaign like this one because, when we work together, we can make change happen.”

Volunteers from the Ohio Democratic Party, Organizing for America and countless organizations who worked diligently to collect signatures to stop the voter suppression bill were also instrumental in defeating Issue 2, John Kasich's attempt to strip public employees of collective bargaining rights, by a margin of 61-39.

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