- Real Estate "How To's" from Real Living

I really really do not like to write "how to's" from Real Living...

Really I don't... and Real Living has already "how to'd" it all...  so here are links... I'd like you to contact me rather than finding another agent with Real Living HER but I do want to share this info with you...

Buy or Sell First

Real Estate Glossary

Home Buying Help 

Save Time and Get Pre-Approved - Real Living Mortgage

Neighborhood Considerations

Buyer Frequently Asked Questions

House Tour Checklist

Home Selling Help

Steps to Selling

Negotiating

Seller Frequently Asked Questions

Nov. 11, 2009 - Real Living Growing

Real Living Inc. a Columbus based company grew.  Big growth spurt...

GMAC Real Estate and Real Living are merging.  They will be using the Real Living name, brand, technology.

Real Living  Inc. is a Columbus Ohio company.

Real Living's "expansion unit" (Real Living Network Services)  was bought by a company called Brookfield Residential Property Services.  Real Living just became five times larger...  "expansion unit" comes from the title of a Columbus Business First article.

We (Real Living HER agents)  got an email (with the press release) last night and a voice mail.

I work for Real Living HER.  That is the company formerly known as HER Realtors.  HER Realtors has been a leader in Central Ohio real estate for decades.  Real Living HER is the number one real estate company in Central Ohio.

Real Living formed in 2002 is based in Columbus.  The "expansion unit" part of Real Living is Real Living Network Services.

Matt Burns of Columbus Business First wrote about changes in  Brookfield buys Real Living expansion unit

"The name of Central Ohio’s largest residential real estate brokerage will appear in nearly every state after its Columbus parent sold the division that powered its national expansion."

Brookfield owns GMAC real estate, has for about 9 months... GMAC real estate franchises across the US are the offices that will now have the Real Living name, logo, technology etc.

The Columbus Business First article says: "All of GMAC’s more than 600 offices will take the Real Living name."

Who's who....

Harley Rouda Jr. is the president of the new merged company...

Real Living

Real Living HER = Columbus

Real Living Realty Services - Dayton, Cinci, Louisville (I get this franchise confused with Real Living Network Services, the "expansion unit" of Real Living. )

There are Real Living franchises currently in 20 states, there will soon be the red and white signs in 46 states from what I am reading and hearing.

Brookfield Residential Property Services is a division of Brookfield Asset Management Inc.

GMAC Real Estate

The Columbus Dispatch article this morning: Real Living joins GMAC realty unit in merger written by Jim Weiker says:

"The deal, consummated this month and announced today, merges Real Living's 2,000 agents in 130 offices with approximately 8,000 GMAC Real Estate agents in 470 U.S. offices. It creates a company with $20 billion in annual real-estate transactions. About 8,000 of GMAC's 13,000 agents in the United States and Canada are expected to become part of Real Living."

What's the effect for buyers and sellers in Central Ohio?  Not much, you've already got the good stuff available.

Most of this article was  published on ActiveRain, Localism, Worthington Old and News and Discover Columbus OH.

I'd love to hear from you if you have a comment on the topic. All comments are moderated so you will not see your comment immediately. Thanks. Copyright 2009 Discover Columbus and Maureen McCabe

Oct. 3, 2009 - Real Living HER - October 4, 2009

Real Living HER Open House list for October 4, 2009  says:

"There are 128 Open Houses available

That number is subject to change.  Already did there are 132!

The links below are to a market report for the Columbus suburb (or neighborhood), showing the inventory at the beginning of September.  The links are to my market reports on ActiveRain, a real estate network:

Clintonville homes for sale  - 2 Clintonville open houses priced from $189,000 to $199,900

Dublin homes for sale - 5 Dublin open houses priced from $111,900 to $559,900

Gahanna homes for sale   - 2 Gahanna open houses priced from $119,900 to $194,500

Grandview Heights homes for sale  - NO Grandview open houses 

Hilliard homes for sale  - 10 Hilliard open houses priced from $154,900 to $474,900

Lewis Center homes for sale  - Only 1 Lewis Center open house Sunday 

New Albany homes for sale  - 2 New Albany open houses priced from  $439,900 to $475,000

Powell homes for sale - Only 1 Powell open house Sunday

Upper Arlington homes for sale   - 5 Upper Arlington open houses priced from  $444,000 to $848,100 (6 if you count the one that is listed as "Upper Arlngtn" separate

Westerville homes for sale -4 Westerrville open houses priced from $259,999 to $388,800

Worthington homes for sale  - 4 Worthington  open houses priced from $89,900 to $529,900

Special Affordable Housing Super Sunday Open House - not just Real Living HER, all Columbus Board of REALTORS® could participate.

Homes affordably priced under $125,000

Real Living HER Open House list - real time

*The number of open houses may increase or decrease before Sunday afternoon.  It went up  as I was publishing this.

Last minute opportunities to hold open houses present themselves.  Or the homes sells before the open house... sometimes the seller and agent decide to hold the open house anyway... telling visitors the home has just gone in contract and since the financing or home inspection is not "nailed down" yet they choose to hold the home open.  Other times "Hooray, cancel the Open House" and take the day off.  It's a matter of personal choice....

The Open House list is NOT archived.  The link above will always show the current Real Living HER Open House list on my website, real time! 

If you visit my website (the open house link above is to my website) each home on the Real Living HER Open House list is "Presented by Maureen McCabe."  I am not holding all the houses open this week or any week. The same open house list is on each Real Living HER agent's site.

Each listing on the Real Living HER Open House List tells you who the listing agent and office is, or whom is holding the property open if you need that information.

The image at the top is a Real Living Open House ecard.

This was previously published on ColumbusBestBlog.com, ActiveRain, Localism, Discover Columbus OH, and Worthington Old and News

I'd love to hear from you if you have a comment on the topic. All comments are moderated so you will not see your comment immediately. Thanks. Copyright 2009 Discover Columbus and Maureen McCabe

Aug. 21, 2009 - Real Living HER Open House List - August 23, 2009

Real Living HER Open House List -  August 23, 2009

This Sunday looks light... there are only 128  Real Living HER Open Houses on the list this week.  Click on the link for more details.   This number is subjet to change.  Search the Real Living HER list with  Maureen McCabe

• Clintonville homes for sale  2 open houses priced from  $139,900 to $249,900
• Dublin homes for sale -  6 open hosus priced from $149,900 to $625,000
• Gahanna homes for sale - 3 open houses priced from $189,900 to  $349,900
• Grandview Heights homes for sale - only 1 open house this Sunday
• Hilliard homes for sale - 4 open houses priced from $184,999 to $299,900
• Lewis Center homes for sale - no open houses on the Real Living HER Open House list ...yet
• New Albany homes for sale - only 2 homes open this week priced from  $384,900 to $525,000
• Powell homes for sale - 3 homes open priced  from $315,500 to $659,000
• Upper Arlington homes for sale - 3  homes open Sunday priced from $244,900 to $848,100
• Westerville homes for sale - 4 homes open priced from $223,900 to $599,800
• Worthington homes for sale - only  2 open Sunday priced  from $249,500 to $325,000

Real Living HER Open House List -  Sunday 

If you visit my website ( the open house link above is to my website) each home on the Real Living HER Open House List is "Presented By" Maureen McCabe.  I am not holding all the houses open this week or any week. The same open house list is on each Real Living HER agent's site.

Each listing on the Real Living HER Open House List tells you who the listing agent and office is, or whom is holding the property open if you need that information.

The Real Livingt HER Open House list is NOT archived.  If you look at this post in the future the link will go to the current Real Living HER Open House list, that is a good thing.

Maureen McCabe Real Living HER

I'd love to hear from you if you have a comment on the topic. All comments are moderated so you will not see your comment immediately. Thanks. Copyright 2009 Discover Columbus and Maureen McCabe

May. 30, 2009 - Real Living's Peace of Mind Mortgage Protection

It’s called “Peace of Mind.” (.pdf document from Real Living HER with details, terms)

” The Columbus-based real estate firm Real Living HER announced today that it will cover the mortgage of clients who lose their jobs.

The firm, the largest in central Ohio, says it is the first real-estate company in the area to offer the protection, which some car makers and home builders also offer.”

You have to work with a Real Living HER agent (have I mentioned I am one?)  and get a  Real Living mortgage on the home of your dreams.  The Peace of Mind insurance program is for a limited time. *

I'd love to hear from you if you have a comment on the topic. All comments are moderated so you will not see your comment immediately. Thanks. Copyright 2009 Discover Columbus and Maureen McCabe