30 July 2009

NEW Middle Bass Island State Park Marina: Lake Erie Islands


The new Middle Bass Island Ohio State Park Marina is open for business. Check out the virtual tour at: http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?T=1957383

I picked up some info - they still don't have showers, water or electric at the docks, although they expect to have electrical service around Labor Day.

Nightly reservations are accepted on a first come/first serve basis. Call Monday through Thursday from 9am to 2pm at 419-285-0311. They are also monitoring Channel 71.

Some basic rules:

  • No alcoholic beverages permitted off your boat.
  • Swimming in the marina is not permitted.
  • All boats must be registered by checking into the office.
  • Dock Permit: Rate of $1.45/ft w/ electric (none as of July 09); $1.25/ft non-electric, $30 minimum.
  • A flat day rate is available: 10 am to 7 pm. $20 electric/$15 non-electric.
  • Day-Stay: If a registered boater vacates the dock, the dock will be available for re-renting.
  • Over-Night: Registered Boaters have the registered dock for the night. Check-out is 10am.
  • Deposit for Over-Night Reservations: $30/boat.
  • Deposit Refund/Cancellations: Reservations must be cancelled 30 days prior for refund.
  • Pets are required to be on leash when off boat.
  • No open flame fires permitted on boats.
  • Quiet Hours: 11pm to 7am.
  • No "Rafting" off of boats.
  • Boats may not be left unattended for more than 24 hours.

For additional marina information, and for campground information visit http://www.ohiostateparks.org/ or call 1-866-644-6727.

To bring a vehicle to the island call Miller Ferry at 1-800-500-2421.

29 July 2009

Time is Running Out for the First Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit!

There is a time limit for taking advantage of this incredible benefit to first time home buyers! Title transfer must occur by November 30th, 2009. The agreement must be with the lender by October 1st. You can safely assume there will be a rush at the last minute - so don't wait! Contact us today at 440-315-6000 or RealEstate@hiseygroup.com to start searching for your new home! Amazingly low interest rates are still available. Now is the best time to purchase - do not delay - call today.

15 July 2009

Ohio: All Jokes Aside.

For quite some time now, Ohio has been mocked by her 49 brothers and sisters, ridiculed for her apparent remoteness and lack of excitement. But while Ohio may seem like the dull, plain sibling next to the glamorous California, the exotic Hawaii or the traditionally relaxing Florida, upon closer inspection the Buckeye State has a great deal to offer to retirees that can be found nowhere else.

While reading up on what people around the country thought about Ohio, I came across a set of “You Know You’re From Ohio When….” jokes. The odd thing about the discovery was this: While the jokes were meant to be insulting, I saw within them a compilation of all of the things that make Ohio perfect for anyone looking to retire somewhere beautiful, relaxing, diverse and eventful. Here are a few of the highlights:

1.)“You know you’re from Ohio when your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor on the highway.”

Now, this may make us seem a bit humdrum and old fashioned, but tractors mean farms, and farms mean – you got it – fresh food! If living in Ohio has taught me anything, it has taught me the value of eating food directly out of the field, and during harvest season the roadsides are scattered with homegrown food stands selling sweet corn, apples, berries, fresh eggs, zucchini, broccoli, pears, and everything else under the glorious Midwest sun. Retirement is the perfect opportunity to experiment with some of these fresh fruits and vegetables in your cooking – you’ll be amazed by the difference in taste from the produce you buy at the store.

2.)“You know you’re from Ohio when all the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, or grain.”

I’m not going to argue about this one – the Apple Festival, the Strawberry Festival, the Maple Festival, the Banana Split Festival, the Sweet Corn Festival, even the Gourd Festival – we love our food festivals. But what’s wrong with that? I have never personally heard someone complain about an overabundance of festivals. From May through December, there is an innumerable number of festivals across the state to keep you occupied. But that isn’t all there is to do in Ohio! On top of the festival culture, we have world-renowned museums, orchestras, theme parks, state parks, and archaeological sites like Serpent Mound. Living in Ohio, you’ll never be bored for long.

3.)“You know you’re from Ohio if you can tell another Ohioan is from southern, middle or northern Ohio as soon as they open their mouth.”

One of my things about Ohio is its geographic and cultural diversity. Whether the city, the country, or the suburbs are your cup of tea, you can find somewhere to settle down that suits your lifestyle. Having so many distinctly different areas within one state means that you don’t have to look far from your home to have an experience beyond that of your daily life. City dwellers craving a bit of tranquility can drift down to Amish country for some incredible food and shopping, and those living in rural areas can go into the city for a movie, a performance, or a museum tour. Our four distinct seasons mean that the landscape is constantly changing, making living in Ohio a unique and colorful experience.

4.)“You know you’re from Ohio if ‘toward the lake’ means North and ‘toward the river’ means South.”

Water is the essence of life, and being near large bodies of fresh water is extremely comforting. Ohioans are very proud of their aquatic surroundings, as they provide a constant influx of fresh water and endless fun. Ohio’s rivers and Lake Erie are large enough to enjoy the recreational benefits of boating, waterskiing, parasailing, fishing and swimming, without the dangers of hurricanes and tsunamis. Retirement is a time for relaxation, and the prospect of a potential natural disaster can make relaxing difficult, as you worry about your safety and your financial stability in the case of such a disaster.

An important fact of which retirees should be aware is that retiring to Ohio doesn’t necessarily mean living in an area surrounded by land. The lake also allows for Ohio to extend beyond its mainland boundaries. Nestled in Lake Erie are twenty-two islands for you to explore, each one unique. Ferry boats are provided for easy transportation between the mainland and the islands, where you can enjoy fantastic food, beaches, and sunsets while meeting the characteristically warm and friendly people of the Midwest. Plenty of affordable property is available on the islands for those who want something a little different from a typical retirement. And if island living isn’t quite your style, but you still feel drawn to the water, the northern coast is covered in lake front communities with incredible views.

So before you knock Ohio – check into all it has to offer: incredible people, landscape, food and activities!

By Candace Hisey for the Hisey Group w/ Howard Hanna

10 July 2009

My Aunt Irmas: Middle Bass Island, Ohio

2009 Events at My Aunt Irma's

Store Hours - weekends (Fri, Sat, Sun) starting May 16th & 17th : 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
daily starting June 12th: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Fourth of July Weekend - Huge Porch Sale!

Artists on the Porch Weekend - July 18 & 19
Middle Bass Island/Put-in-Bay Charity Auction
Endorsed by the P.I.B. Arts Council
Middle Bass Barstool Charity Auction - 25th - mid-afternoon at My aunt Irma's
Over 40 creatively embellished barstools will be auctioned live, along with numerous items
at a silent auction. We are anticipating a huge success.
All proceeds will be donated to the MBI Fire Department, MBI Town Hall
& Susan Komen Breast CA Org.
Mary Roesch's barstools can be viewed at the Inland Seas Maritime Museum's "
Contemporary Textile Artist Exhibit" and the Main Street Arts Guild of Vermilion,
"April Arts" from April 18-May 15

Barbershop Weekend - Huge Porch Sale August 8 & 9

This is My Aunt Irma's Last Season - Everything Must Go!
Plan your trip and enjoy all the island has to offer.
Questions? Call Mary Roesch at 419-285-0302 or 419-285-2221

08 July 2009

Just Stuff

I heard the fireworks in Lorain were very nice. The Lorain Port Authority has created a fantastic location for concerts and events. Downtown is ripe to become a "Coventry" type district, but with the river and lake in close proximity. Bring in the artists and musicians!! When I ask people why they don't go downtown they say crime, panhandlers, parking and now quick highway access (can't change that one). Affordable labor pool, inexpensive (very) commercial real estate, the lake and the river - opportunity knocks.

A recent Plain Dealer article covered Cleveland's shrinking population. This is a problem many older northern cities are facing. Apparently Cleveland is shrinking more than other larger cities. Number one problem when I talk to people - schools, schools, schools. There also seems to be a demand for affordable, energy efficiency downtown housing, and city homes with lawns larger than a postage stamp that are close to downtown (people want a swing set, vegi garden, picnic table). My wife and I are looking 5 years out at some downtown/near westside options being considered and developed - after the kids are all finished with college.

WCPN had an interesting story on Cleveland's lakefront development this morning.
http://www.wcpn.org/WCPN/soi/26941/

Middle Bass Island: The new marina is booming. Island businesses were packed over the July 4th weekend, and many of those people were heading to Put-In-Bay to spend money and enjoy the shopping, food and entertainment available. When it is completely open the state marina, Middle Bass Campground and Middle Bass Island Yacht Club will be fantastic additions to Ohio's Lake Erie Islands. North Bass Island (Isle St George) will eventually have it's wild areas and beautiful shores open for a limited number of people looking for an undeveloped/very not "touristy" experience - hiking, birdwatching, fishing. Lake Erie has some of the BEST fishing in the world!!

Real Estate transactions/phone calls/interest is increasing in North Central Ohio. We are getting many calls, we've sold multiple properties in the last 2 months, and things are picking up. There is a noticeable improvement in our "Hisey Group" market areas. Part of this is the $8,000 incentive (remember - the deadline to take advantage of this is approaching) and low interest rates, but I think prices in our area have bottomed out and people are realizing that they can get a triple advantage now that didn't exist 5 years ago. This window of opportunity will not last forever!!

Yes we have cold winter weather - nothing is as beautiful as a white Christmas! We also have one of the most valuable resources in the world: Fresh Water, Fresh Water, Fresh Water!!

We are actively looking for new listings. If you have a home you'd like to sell in Western Cuyahoga and Medina Counties, Lorain County, or Northern Erie or Ottawa Counties give us a call!! A member of the Hisey Group would love to meet with you to discuss marketing YOUR property! 1-800-974-5184 RealEstate@HiseyGroup.com.

U.S. Home Prices to Fall Through 2011's First Quarter

I cut and pasted this from a company email from Howard Hanna. I've highlighted the "good" part regarding Cleveland, Ohio. Incidentally, Bloomberg.com is a great site for business news - I refer to them on a regular basis. (click on the title or the credit to go to their site)

U.S. Home Prices to Fall Through 2011’s First Quarter

July 7 (Bloomberg News) -- Home prices may fall in more than half of the largest U.S. cities through the first quarter of 2011 as unemployment and foreclosures rise, mortgage insurer PMI Group Inc. said.

Thirty of the 50 biggest metropolitan areas have at least a 75 percent chance of lower prices through March 31, 2011, Walnut Creek, California-based PMI said in a report today. The decline is likely to spread to “all regions of the nation” from California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona, the states most affected by the housing slump, PMI said.

“The housing market has been hit by a demand shock of high unemployment and a supply shock of distressed foreclosure sales,” LaVaughn Henry, senior economist at PMI, the fourth- largest U.S. mortgage insurer, said in an interview.

Unemployment rose to 9.5 percent in June, bringing the total number of jobs lost to 6.5 million since December 2007, the Labor Department said July 2. Foreclosure filings may hit a record 1.8 million in the first half of the year as more jobless homeowners default on their loans, real estate data service RealtyTrac Inc. said last month.

Home prices in 20 major U.S. metropolitan areas dropped 18.1 percent in April from a year earlier, following an 18.7 decrease in March, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller index. Prices are forecast to fall 41.7 percent from their peak, Deutsche Bank AG analysts led by Karen Weaver wrote in a June 15 report.

Florida Drops Predicted

“Affordability is no longer the driving issue in the housing market, and we believe prices still have a ways to fall in many areas before home prices reach their trough,” the Deutsche Bank analysts wrote.

The 15 areas with the highest probability of lower prices in 2011 each have a 99 percent chance, PMI said. They include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville in Florida; Riverside, Los Angeles, Santa Ana, Sacramento and San Diego in California; Las Vegas; Phoenix; Providence, Rhode Island; and Detroit.

Edison and Newark, in New Jersey, have a 97 percent and 96 percent chance, respectively. Nassau, New York, has a 92 percent chance. New York City showed an 88 percent chance of lower prices, according to PMI.

“The New York area has gone from a moderate level to an elevated level because of the big hit from the financial crisis,” Henry said.

Declines Predicted

Washington showed a 92 percent chance of lower prices; Portland, Oregon, and Baltimore each have 90 percent; Atlanta has 81 percent; Boston has an 80 percent chance; San Jose, California has 78 percent; and Minneapolis has a 75 percent chance, PMI said.

The probability of lower prices is 66 percent in the San Francisco area; 58 percent in Warren, Michigan; 46 percent in Seattle; 45 percent in Milwaukee; 41 percent in Cambridge, Massachusetts; 36 percent in Chicago; and 30 percent in Philadelphia, according to PMI.

The areas with the least chance of lower home prices, each with less than a 6 percent probability, include Cleveland; Pittsburgh; Columbus, Ohio; San Antonio; Houston; Dallas, and Fort Worth, Texas, according to PMI.

The insurer compiles its “market risk” index from income, interest-rate, home-price and affordability data going back to the early 1980s.

07 July 2009

Lorain County Metroparks: 2009 Summer Concert Series

Vermilion River Reservation
Bacon Woods Amphitheater
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Refreshments will be available for a small fee.

July 12th "Hail to the King" Elvis Impersonator
July 19th Ark Band Caribbean/Reggae
July 26th Jim Gill Contemporary Folk
August 2nd Meren Power Salsa & Merengue
August 9th Geezecats 50's Classics
August 16th The Mickeys Celtic
August 23rd Kingbees Blues/Jazz
August 30th G-Force Kid's Pop