KATHLEEN "NANA" LEWIS

Licking County Schools

Study Finds Paint Aisle At Lowe's Best Place To Have Complete Meltdown

According to a study published Monday in the Journal Of Mental Health, the paint department inside a Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse has surpassed the shelving section of Ikea as the location most conducive to having a total psychological breakdown.

The study, which observed a cross-section of 750 average, mentally sound Americans as they shopped at a variety of retail outlets, found that the singularly chaotic qualities of a Lowe's paint aisle, combined with its overwhelming number of product choices, make it the ideal place to completely fall apart.

"Even the most well-adjusted individual can be reduced to a feeble, trembling shell of his or her former self after a half hour of paint shopping at Lowe's," said Dr. Olivia Kang, a behavioral psychologist at the University of Texas and lead author of the study. "The pressure to make a decision between two seemingly identical shades of beige, the glaring fluorescent lights, the frantic patrons on all sides—it's too much for the human psyche to process."

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/study_finds_paint_aisle_at_lowes?utm_source=a-section

Coldwell Banks On Experience To Weather Tough Times

With Americans tightening their belts and home buying less of a priority than it has been anytime in the recent past, Coldwell Banker is still seeking to remind people that it has the experience to help consumers buy and sell their houses -- whenever they're ready to do it.

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=103120

What You Need to Know to Buy a Home Today

IF POSSIBLE - Put down 20 percent on a home. Even if you can get a larger loan, don't risk it. Buy within your means. There are still [people] out there doing no income verification loans. Bottom line—buy what you can afford.

Check your credit. You might find out that there is a mistake or false information on your credit. The sooner you find this out and take care of it the better.

Clean up your credit. If you have a delinquency clean it up. Check your report once it's been cleaned up because sometimes the credit agencies neglect to update your credit report.

Be prepared. Get all your financial records such as two years of tax returns in order and have them handy to make the loan process go smoothly.

Liquidity is key. Don't go buy a car before you plan to purchase a home (even if you can return it). Having cash helps to show you are qualified to buy at the price point you want.

Ready To Take the Home Ownership Leap

Buying a first home is one of the most important decisions a person can make, but it can be a complex process. I can help make that process smooth and successful.

Make sure to follow these 5 crucial steps. 1) Evaluate life & finances, 2) Shop for a loan, 3) Find the right agent, 4) Find a house, 5) CLOSE THE DEAL.

For more information on buying your first home, choosing a lender, and finding the right property... contact me at andrew@guanciale.net or visit www.allaboutlickingcounty.com.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Jill & Drew Key West 2009 Fish Trip

This morning (7:30) Jill and I along with Captain Steve with Almost There Sportfishing Charters headed out to the "back country" and dropped line. We had a blast and caught between 50-60 fish. Grouper, yellow tail, snapper, and more. I am very proud of Jill she had more fun than I expected and reeled in a few big ones! She said she is a real fisherman now cause at the end of the day she had fish blood on her shirt. Captain Steve was a blast and made the trip a memory!

http://www.almostthere.net/

Selling a Home in a Buyer's Market

Although home appreciation has leveled off in some markets, sellers can still get good prices for their homes. The sale may take a bit longer, but a little creativity can help sellers move homes without having to drop the price.

The professionals at Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC offer the following suggestions for sellers who want to speed the process:

Price Your Home According to the Current Market. Just because a house comparable to yours sold for a very high price last year does not mean you will be able to realize the same price when selling your home now. Work with a full-service real estate professional to determine the appropriate, competitive listing price for your home. Remember that in this market, your sales associate may encourage a list price in accordance with others currently on the market, rather than those previously sold. Visit the Home Value Estimator to get a sense of comparative sales prior to meeting with your sales associate.

FOR MORE INFO REGARDING SELLING YOUR HOME IN A BUYER'S MARKET VISIT...

http://www.coldwellbanker.com/servlet/News?action=viewNewsItem&contentId=1065942&customerType=Seller

Tips For Passing a Home Inspection

If you are thinking about selling your home, you may want to start thinking about home inspections. As most inspections thoroughly check the home's infrastructure, foundation and roof, most real estate experts recommend that you look for problems before putting your home on the market. Though older homes might have more concerns, homes of all ages and types should be given a checkup by homeowners prior to entering the market. This article describes the most common problems found by home inspectors and offers some tips on how your home can pass its eventual inspection.

Plumbing
If you know that you will be selling your home, you should try to repair all plumbing leaks as soon as possible. Besides checking for leaks throughout the home's plumbing system, a home inspector will also check the water pressure by running multiple faucets and flushing toilets. In some cases, an inspection may also include a check of the septic system. If you have experienced drainage problems in your home, you may want to consider contacting a professional to check the septic system prior to the home inspection.

Heating and Cooling Systems
As there are many types of heating and cooling systems, there is no standard test for home inspectors. However, regardless of what type of heating and cooling systems your home utilizes, you should try to ensure that everything is working properly prior to the home inspection. You may also want to consider having your heating and cooling units serviced prior to selling your home.

FOR MORE HOME INSPECTION TIPS VISIT...

http://www.coldwellbanker.com/servlet/News?action=viewNewsItem&contentId=14470481&customerType=Seller

Petey the American Pitbull from Little Rascals

Only in Key West will someone take a Sharpie and make their Pit Bull resemble Petey from Little Rascals..

SELLING TIPS!!!

Discover some useful tips that may help you sell your home faster and smarter.

Coldwell Banker King Thompson

Buying basics...

Jim Gillespie, President & CEO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, covers the basics that first time home buyers need when getting ready to buy a home.