CincinnatiInPhotos.com

Icicles, Pretty...scary

2010-02-15T03:14:35-05:00

They are pretty, but nothing to be proud of. These are hanging from a roof near my house. Actually they are everywhere in this weather. They are caused when one part of the room is warmer than another and heat is leaking out through the roof. As pretty as they look they can cause damage. Water can back up and get under the shingles and cause leaks into the house. Usually this problem can be solved by adding more insulation.

I look at a lot of houses. Yes, even in this weather. I usually look at the roof when I pull up the driveway. With all the snow you cannot see the shingles. Well, you are not suppose to anyway. If you do that isn't a good sign. The roof may be fine but chances are the home doesn't have enough insulation. If the roof is covered with snow and there aren't any ice dams or maybe a little ice here and there then chances are the home is insulated. Maybe the roof is covered with snow except for one bare spot. That is an area where there isn't enough insulation and heat is leaking out.

If the roof is covered with snow you need to rely on the residential property disclosure to see if the seller has disclosed any problems, or previous leaks with the roof. I like to open closet doors and look at the ceiling because that seems to be a good place to find water stains. An old stain on a ceiling doesn't mean that the roof needs replacing. I recommend having a professional home inspection done and most of your inspectors will try and make their report subject to a return visit when the snow is melted and they can thoroughly inspect the roof. If time permits.

One more point about icicles. Be careful, they can be dangerous. Several years ago my daughers were knocking them down with a stick. One large icicle flew straight down and hit my youngest on her head causing a large enough cut that required a couple of stitches. Ouch!!!

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.

Now you see it, Now you don't

2010-02-12T03:40:26-05:00

A few weeks ago we got a notice from Farmers Insurance Company that we needed to remove our trampoline or they were forced to cancel our home owners insurance. It was just a matter of a few days we received a check in the mail for $511.78 from the insurance company with the notice of cancellation.

Don't get me wrong. Farmers is a very efficient company and our agent Gary Rasmussen is the best. They just didn't give us enough time to take it down. The instructions were to remove it. Take photos of before with it in the yard and photos of our yard without it.

We decided to be efficient back and made this video. It turns out being a memorial for a great friend that we had for more than 14 years. A lot of fond memories were made from this large yard toy. All three of our daughters, their friends and our friends, our grandkids and many of our relatives have all enjoyed many, many hours on this trampoline. It was bitter sweet having to disassemble and pile it up for the trash heap. It was for the best. The springs were all rusty as were the legs. It had lost its elasticity of many years ago. It was going to break down on its own soon.

Here you go Farmers Insurance. This is absolute proof that the dreaded trampoline is gone for good. Just another sign of many ongoing changes in our society. At least we have the memories.

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.

Sounds simple...but is it?

2010-01-28T18:04:32-05:00

Being a buyer, any buyer (first time, second or third) isn't as easy as it used to be. Most of us know that selling your house in todays market is a real chore. Therefor if you are a buyer it should be a piece of cake. Right?

Finding the house is not a very big problem. They are plentiful in most area's of Greater Cincinnati. Sellers are really willing to negotiate too. They will pay closing costs, negotiate well below the known market value and leave items of personal property not usually included in most sales. Recently one of my buyers asked for the huge screen high definition projection TV and the entire surround sound system and got it on the first round of negotiating. WOW!

This photo looks so simple and serene doesn't it? That is the way some purchase deals look today. You would think if you are coming to the table with a high credit score of lets say 760 or higher, have 10% down payment you wouldn't have a problem getting a loan. Not so...

I have a buyer purchasing a home for $170,000. They have 770 credit score, and putting 10 % down. Their financing is an 80-10-10. 80% first mortgage, 10% second and 10% down. The second mortgage investor rejected their application and denied the loan. They didn't have enough active credit line. Car paid off and no credit card dept. You would think that was a dream buyer. At least I did. As it turns out if they had a car loan and a couple of credit cards with balances they would have gotten the second mortgage without a hitch. Go figure!

It is about knowing the rules of the game and playing within the rules. Call me, I know the rules and I love to play the game.

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.

Give until it feels good!

2010-01-18T16:14:25-05:00

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.

Liberty Township History

2010-01-11T01:02:22-05:00

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.

I need a break from cold weather

2010-01-07T00:44:25-05:00

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.

Merry Christmas Cincinnati & Friends

2009-12-24T16:29:08-05:00

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.

Congratulations Gulira and Family.

2009-12-09T02:14:18-05:00

It was about one year ago I met and began working with Gulira and her family. They are from a very small country south of Russia. Gulira speaks several languages and her husband only one, their native tongue. Their daughters are both in high school and it was important that they stay in the Princeton School district.

My challenge was to find them a home in Sharonville in their price range and in move in condition.

We searched off and on for many months throughout 2009. Then the buyer tax credit appeared and their interest accelerated. Finally they found this home on Mefford Lane in Sharonville. It was left as an estate sale. Sold by the son of the past owner who wanted to turn his fathers home over to a deserving family in very good condition. They had gone in and repainted the entire interior, finished the hardwood floors throughout. Updated the kitchen with new appliances and updated the bathrooms.

Now it is the new home of my very happy buyers. They were afraid I was going to give up on them a few times. But I don't quit. I will never give up on anyone who has the honest desire to buy a home and they always did.

So if you know anyone who is still searching for a home and would like to take advantage of the first time home buyers tax credit, or if you are a move up buyer having lived in your present home for 5 of the past 8 years, you may also qualify for a tax benefit. First timers will receive 10% not to exceed $8,000.00 and the move up buyers will receive $6,500.00 if closing occurs on or before April 30, 2010.

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.

The true meaning of Thanksgiving.

2009-11-26T01:22:44-05:00

This is one of my favorite photos I took last week.
Below is an article I found about Thanksgiving.
And something we can all do to help our troop in Iraq.

In todays technology just about anything you want to know can be found if you just "Google It". So I found the real meaning of Thanksgiving on Google. This is what I found. An article on the WorldNetDaily Exclusive Commentary posted November 22, 2001 by Joseph Farah.
The Real Meaning of Thanksgiving. It starts out a little weird but has a happy & true ending.

This is something else really cool for Thanksgiving.
Lets get together and help our troops in Iraq.

XEROX IS DOING SOMETHING COOL

If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! It is FREE and it only takes a second.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our soldiers over there need to know we are behind them.

This takes just 10 seconds and it's a wonderful way to say thank you. Please take the time and please take the time to pass it on for others to do. We can never say enough thank you's.

Thanks for taking to time to support our military!

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.

Congratulations Ron M.

2009-11-18T09:00:00-05:00

The other day I received a very sweet Thank You card from a buyer client of mine. Ron wrote:

"I wanted to write you a note of THANKS! for assisting me in finding a new living space in such a short period of time. I never expected to get sooo....many items from my "WISH LIST" in a property. I am gratefully for you introducing me to the mortgage company. The team was wonderful in explaining and gathering the required information for a fast and smooth loan approval and closing.

This is the view from Ron's balcony/porch of his new townhouse condo in Liberty Township. Pretty awesome isn't it?

When we first met he wanted Liberty Township. He wanted move-in condition. He wanted a garage. He wanted to spend less than $135,000. Ron got everything he asked for.

We looked at several in this neighborhood. It is amazing the condition we found a few of the condos. Two of them were so close to the highway all you could hear was traffic noise. Another wasn't anywhere near sale ready. It was a mess to say the least.

This unit had real hardwood floors, freshly painted and a new kitchen with granite counter tops.

I am very proud of my team. We used Humphries Mortgage, Roccina Niehaus at Wood & Lamping Title Company for the closing and Wayne Jones of LandAmerica home inspections.

I am proud to say it is always a team effort. Especially in todays market.

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.

CincinnatiInPhotos.com

Icicles, Pretty...scary

Now you see it, Now you don't

Sounds simple...but is it?

Give until it feels good!

Liberty Township History

I need a break from cold weather

Merry Christmas Cincinnati & Friends

Congratulations Gulira and Family.

The true meaning of Thanksgiving.

This is something else really cool for Thanksgiving. Lets get together and help our troops in Iraq.

Congratulations Ron M.

This is something else really cool for Thanksgiving.
Lets get together and help our troops in Iraq.