First Energy Corp Wants To Help Us Go Green

This from Cleveland.com. Apparently First Energy filed a plan that would allow them to choose green energy suppliers. The only catch is, the prices would fluctuate and that means we could be paying more than we are currently if we chose this plan. Would we be willing to do that?

I ask another question: can we get tax credit (State?) for the difference in the amount we would pay for solar or wind energy suppliers? Or even a flat $100 off every year. Just curious. Peace Out - 3C

Cleveland Magazine's 'Rate The Suburbs' Out for 2007

They examined 76 suburbs and you can read about in on the Cleveland Magazine web pages. This year, Solon was number one. They examine city services too - also on these pages. It's a good read, check it out. PS: I don't think you can read about all 76 of them unless you subscribe.

I couldn't help but check out some of the other articles. There is one written by Erick Trickey who laments the lack of neighborhood kids who will mow for you these days. I have to say I love mowing the lawn but there were two neighbor kids who came by a few times this year to see if I needed help shoveling snow! So the young ones haven't completely disappeared from every neighborhood...at least they are alive and well in mine! Thanks guys! Peace Out - 3C

We Have A 'Love-Hate' Relationship With Credit Cards

So says the Washington Post's Kathleen Day. You Can read here about how many transactions we make daily (way too many). While we love to use them we don't like some of the policies.

For example, did you know your credit card provider might increase your interest rate if you default on a different credit card?

Of course then there is The United States' debt; $148 Trillion, or about $161 k per person. Yikes.

MSN Money had a decent article on controlling your credit card debt. You can read it here.

Apparently Congress is finally getting into the act on getting Card Issuers to cap the amount of charges they will allow to accrue on late payments. Michigan Senator Carl Levin is one of the sponsors of the bill and you can read a speech he made on the topic here.

New On Line Data Base Available to Track Graduation Rates Per School Across the Nation

When I was a student teacher, established teachers were grumbling that schools tended to under report their graduation rates. Teachers are still grumbling about the same thing. Now there is a National Data Base, unveiled by Laura Bush, Education Secretary Spelling and other Educators. You can read today's story in the Washington Post here.

The on line data base is hosted at Education Week's educator.org website. We all know people are constantly trying to put a spin on education results whether they are test results, graduation rates or charter school vs. public school success. According to the Post article, 70 percent of the students across the country are graduating, and that is a lot lower figure than previously reported. Secretary Spelling referred to it as America's Silent Epidemic. I will be interested in learning more about how this new tracking system is set up. But for the time being, check out the site above for any details on a school you would like to track.

Peace Out - 3C

Westlake, Fairview, Shaker Heights, South Euclid Home Sales 2005-2007 Comparison

These again, are Realtor®/Broker sales. I'm comparing 2005, 2006 and 2007 sales averages from January to May 27th. This time it's Westlake, Fairview, Shaker Heights and South Euclid.

Westlake: 2007: 107 Homes and Condos Sold. Average Ask Price was $281,667. The Average Sale Price was $268,986. Average days on the market before selling was 84.

2006: 156 Homes and Condos Sold. Average Ask Price was $ 271,615. The Average Sale Price was $260,677. Days on the market for these homes was an average of 86.

2005: 159 Homes and Condos Sold. Average Ask Price was $274,836. The Average Sale Price was $265,625. Days on the market averaged out at 77.

So a fairly stable housing market in Westlake. The total number of sales is down but the ones that are selling are holding close to sale prices of a few years ago. I'm going to let you all interpret the rest lest I become one of those talking heads I see on television and yell at!

Fairview: 2007: 74 Homes or Condos Sold. Average Ask Price was $159,723. The Average Sale Price was $153,010. Days on the Market: 80.

2006: 87 Homes or Condos Sold. Average Ask Price was $148,983. The Average Sale Price was $144,424. Days on the market: 65.

2005: 86 Homes or Condos Sold. Average Ask Price was 161,833. The Average Sale Price was $156,288. Days on the market: 74.

Shaker Heights: 2007: 96 Homes or Condos Sold. Average Ask Price was $245,801. The Average Sale Price was $230,156. Days on the market: 96.

2006: 121 Homes or Condos Sold. Average Ask Price was $275,251. Average Sale Price was $265,408. Days on the market: 99.

2005: 146 Homes or Condos Sold. Average Ask Price was $251,363. Average Sale Price was $242,613. Days on market: 81.

South Euclid: 2007: 114 Homes or Condos Sold. Average Ask Price was $125,090. The Average Sale Price was $122,154. Days on the market: 92.

2006: 134 Homes or Condos Sold. Average Ask Price was $127,511. Average Sale Price was $123,583. Days on the market: 75.

2005: 136 Homes or Condos Sold. Average Ask Price was $131,812. Average Sale Price was $128,495. Days on the market: 82.

Peace Out-3C

Cuyahoga County Home Sale Stats: 2006 vs. 20007

They are running the Indy 500 this weekend so I thought I'd do a few posts putting 2006 stats against 2007 stats. I'm reporting on brokerage sales - January to May 27 2007 and the same period of time in 2006.

In Lakewood, 2007 sale prices beat 2006 by a few thousand; homes had to stay on the market about twenty days longer to sell. Total sales however? 2006 was higher. Here are the stats:

2007: 121 Total SF sales. Average Ask Price $172,852. Average Sale Price $165,655. On market 92 days.

2006: 132 sales. Average Ask Price $168,053. Average Sale Price $162,227. On market 71 days.


West Side of Cleveland (large area, includes Tremont and OC but also Clark/Metro Area). This area was the opposite, there were more sales in 2006 but the 2007 sale prices were a bit higher. Here are the stats:

2007: 150 Total SF sales. The average Ask Price was $81,133. The average Sale Price was $78,469. Number of days on the market averaged 92.

2006: 185 Total SF sales. The average Ask Price was $74,455. The average Sale Price was $71,442. Days on market averaged 81.

Since there are a lot of condos in 44113, I'm going to break that zip code out of the above figures and just do that zip code. This is for Ohio City and Tremont. First, single family sales;

2007: 30 Total SF homes sold. The average Ask Price was $205,109. The average Sale Price was $204,728. Average days on the market for these homes was 103.

2006: 23 Total SF homes sold. The average Ask Price was $178,628 and the average Sale Price was $173,454. Less days on the market, on average, in 2006: 71 days.

Condos in 44113? Here goes:

2007: 12 Sold Average Ask Price was $259,349. Average Sale Price was $246,175. Look at the days on the market - 205 days.

2006: 19 Sold. Average Ask Price was $224,484 and average Sale Price was $225,038. Fewer average days on the market: 174 days.

Peace Out - 3C

Good Advice From a Fellow Realtor®: Thoughts to Consider While Your Home is Under Contract But Not Quite Sold

Leigh Brown is a Realtor ® in North Carolina but no matter, good advice is good advice. She blogged about a recent story involving a seller, and has good tips for you if you have a contract on your house but it is not quite closed yet (or as I say, the ink is not totally dry on the contract until the Title transfers lol). Check out what Leigh has to say here. Peace Out - 3C