A Memorial Day Poem

On this day, we Americans remember and honor those who have fought to protect our contry, some giving their lives to ensure our safety and our right to remain free. I hope you enjoy this poem, written by Michelle Keim, Commander of Royersford, Pennsylvania VFW Post 6341.



"As we stand here looking
At the flags upon these graves
Know these flags represent
A few of the true American brave

They fought for their Country
As man has through all of time
Except that these soldiers lying here
Fought for your country and mine

As we all are gathered here
To pay them our respect
Let's pass this word to others
It's what they would expect

I'm sure that they would do it
If it were me or you
To show we did not die in vein
But for the red, white and blue.

Let's pass on to our children
And to those who never knew
What these soldiers died for
It's the least we can do

Let's not forget their families
Great pain they had to bear
Losing a son, father or husband
They need to know we still care

No matter which war was fought
On the day that they died
I stand here looking at these flags
Filled with American pride.

So as the bugler plays out Taps
With its sweet and eerie sound
Pray for these soldiers lying here
In this sacred, hallowed ground.

Take home with you a sense of pride
You were here Memorial Day.
Celebrating the way Americans should
On this solemnest of days."

Downtown Wadsworth, Ohio's Courtyard Cafe & Farmers Market opens June 3rd

Downtown Wadsworth, Ohio's Courtyard Cafe & Farmers Market opens June 3rd

One of the sure signs that summer has arrived to Wadsworth, Ohio is the opening of the Courtyard Cafe & Farmers Market!

These events are put on by the Wadsworth Older Adults Foundation and take place every Friday afternoon from June 3rd to August 26th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the alley just South of the Center at 138 High St. in Wadsworth.

The Courtyard Cafe runs for all of the scheduled dates.  For a $5.00 donation, diners may enjoy a sandwich, chips, cookie, and drink.  Sandwich offerings vary from week to week, and items are also available a la carte.





The Farmer's Market portion begins later in the summer, once local produce starts coming into season.

Farmers' booths are set up as early as 10:30 a.m. and remain open while supplies last. We all know that buying fresh, farm-grown, locally produced fruits and vegetables are not only a great way to support our community, but it is also the best way to get the highest quality, freshest produce, and reap the greatest dietary benefits! With the diversity our area farmers have in their crops, there is sure to be something deliciously new every week!




Manned by volunteers, all proceeds benefit the Wadsworth Center For Older Adults Foundation, whose mission is "to be proactive in providing supplemental support to the programs and services affiliated with the Wadsworth Center for Older Adults."

During the lunch season of 2010, $4585.00 were raised for the Center For Older Adults, to help put on all of the wonderful programs they offer throughout the year.

Gorgeous weekend for gardening!

At long last, we have a weekend where there's NO RAIN IN OHIO!

(well, so far, anyway!)

Today is busy with some pre-listing work, but I'm hoping to get my hands dirty for a while this evening and spend a good few hours weeding tomorrow. I am a follower of the "square foot gardening" philosophy, so after the weeding is done, I need to re-plot my grid and plan what I'm going to put in each space.

As it currently stands, the strawberry patch is covered in leaves (thanks, kids! *grumble!*) and the strawberries have wandered into 3 other raised beds. The weeds have taken over EVERY bed and the spiders are having a field day.

Needless to say, I REALLY have my work cut out for me!

I'm hoping the before and after pics I'll be taking will reveal a wonderful transformation!

The benefits of a rent to own property for sellers

As the Rental Specialist for Howard Hanna in Wadsworth, Ohio, I am curious as to whether or not other areas are seeing an increase in lease-purchase (AKA "rent to own") clients.

Are your sellers opting to offer this to buyers?

Are your buyers specifically searching for this type of property?

If not, WHY NOT?

The very first deal I had after getting licensed was a lease-purchase - talk about getting broken in the hard way! In today's market, where some buyers are ALMOST able to qualify, but need somewhere to call home NOW, I always make a point to tell my sellers that this as an option they have, particularly when the property is unique and may have difficulties in attracting a buyer. They may not want to offer it, at least in the beginning; but I do want to make them aware of how it works and that it IS something they can do to attract a buyer, if the need arises.

• "So, Rhonda....WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES OF A LEASE-PURCHASE TRANSACTION FOR THE SELLER?", you ask? The answer is easy!

* First and foremost, they've got someone in the home to watch over it in the seller's absence, keeping it from being subject the the horrors that can happen if a home is left vacant for even a short period of time.

Here in Ohio, a vacant home in the wintertime can be a very costly thing - frozen pipes can break in an instant and literally ruin a home if it isn't discovered quickly!

A beautiful but vacant local Italianate century  recently caught fire, sustaining $200,000 in damages. Had it not been for the facts that a neighbor saw the smoke early-on and that the fire department was literally in the home's backyard, the home could well have burnt to the ground, taking the very close-by Victorians on each side with it (see photos for some of the damage!).


* The tenant will be more likely to take good care of the property, since they will eventually OWN it themselves! That, folks, is what we call a "vested interest"!

* Speaking of those tenants taking care of the house, the seller can also set up the rental portion of the agreement to reflect the tenant/buyer's responsibility for performing all maintenance and general upkeep of the property (this should also be stated in the purchase agreement, just so there's no question as to where those responsibilities lie). No muss, no fuss for the seller/landlord!

* If the seller creates the agreement to show that all deposits are non-refundable, the seller will get to keep the deposits, should the tenant/buyer not do what they needed to do to be able to qualify for their loan within the agreed-upon time frame.

* Since the seller is offering a program that is still fairly uncommon in practice, they may be able to fetch a higher price for their home in a lease-purchase arrangement, which is great for sellers who NEED to get a certain amount for their home to pay off outstanding loans on the property. Rents can be set to generate an income for the seller/landlord during the rental period, or part can be used toward what the tenant/buyer owes, lowering the balance in small increments monthly. That's up to the seller to decide (and for the they buyer to agree to)! At the very least, the seller should be able to have the mortgage covered by the rents paid by the tenant/buyer, which can be a real help for sellers who can't carry two mortgages without some sort of assistance.

* The seller still holds the deed until the transaction closes, so the seller maintains all of the tax benefits of owning the property.



Sure, we, the Realtor, might get paid many, many moons later if a property we have listed ends up selling as a lease-purchase transaction.

BUT, isn't that better than losing the listing due to expiration and seller frustration, or - worst case scenario - a seller losing the property in a foreclosure because they can't afford to keep it?

The lease-purchase can be a greatly beneficial tool, so don't be afraid to offer it as an option to your sellers!

Memorial Day Weekend activities in the Wadsworth, Ohio area

Memorial Day Weekend activities in the Wadsworth, Ohio area

Memorial Day Weekend in Wadsworth, Ohio is always filled with activities for the whole family to enjoy and reflect upon.

On Friday, Boy Scout Troop 402 will be at Woodlawn Cemetery at 6:00 p.m. placing flags on the graves of local Veterans.


On Saturday, area Boy Scout troops will venture to Western Reserve National Cemeteryfor a flag placement ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Flags will be added to each grave site in honor of the Veteran's service to our country.











Monday's Annual Memorial Day Parade will take place starting in front of VFW Post 1089 (121 Main St.) and American Legion Post#170 (125 Main St.) building at 10:30 a.m.

The Wadsworth High School Marching Band will lead the way, with many Veterans' Groups, Boy Scout, Girl Scout, and Cub Scout Troops, and local schools following their lead.


The parade route winds through the Historical Downtown square, then heads West on College Street, ending at Woodlawn Cemetery.

A ceremony will be held, with speakers sharing their thoughts on the significance of this National holiday, as well as a placing of wreaths for each American War that has taken place throughout our country's history, and a reading of names of local Veterans who have passed since the last ceremony.

It is a moving experience that many of our town's residents make a point to never miss.

Wordless Wednesday: Pretty Spring Foliage

Pretty leaves fading from a sunshiny white to a deep sage green on this topiary-style bush and the matching flanking shrubbery on Highland Avenue in Wadsworth, Ohio's Highland Park Heights area. 

This pretty brick-paved road features many Victorian and vintage houses.  The yard of this brick four square home was too picturesque NOT to capture in a photograph while Toby the Terrier and I took our morning walk around our neighborhood!

 

Tornado Safety: Important to Know Throughout the USA, All Year Long!

Skies in Wadsworth, Ohio aren't supposed to be particularly menacing today, but there was a possible tornado touchdown just to our North last evening.  The photo to the left shows a possible funnel as seen from Country Acres Campground near Newton Falls, OH.

Forecasters are calling for a nasty string of potentially violet storms in the Southern Plains yet again today.  I hope that all stay safe and sound!




With recent tornado outbreaks bringing unusually high numbers of fatalities, I want to direct all readers to visit the NOAA website for information on how to recognize a potentially life-threatening storm, what to do when a tornado hits, and how to react after the storm has passed.


(Photo at right is a low-hanging, rotating wall cloud over Brunswick, Ohio)


Visit NOAA's storm awareness page at: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html

It is valuable information for anyone in the USA, as tornadoes can hit anywhere and during any month.  Please read and share with your loved ones!

Carlisle says "Yep, it is another rainy day in Wadsworth, Ohio!"

Carlisle the Cat, our resident weather forecaster, likes monitoring the rainfall in our backyard here in Wadsworth, Ohio! 

He was content to peer out at the drizzle descending (and the grass ASCENDING!), until he noticed that I was hoping to snap a photo of him doing it. 

Now, he's moved on to another window that is far away where I'm much less likely to hinder his enjoyment of nature!

Carlisle predicts strong thunderstorms with possible damaging winds and hail this afternoon and evening, and into tomorrow, as well.  He advises that you secure your outdoor furniture and park your cars under shelter for the next two days, and that you plan on NOT being able to mow your yards until probably the weekend!

Wadsworth, Ohio's Galaxy Restaurant Kicks Off Summer-long Theme Nights

The time has arrived for The Galaxy Restaurant in Wadsworth, Ohio to begin holding its theme night events. 
Starting this week, diners and party-goers should start marking their calendars for these can't-miss activities.  Entertainment acts vary from week to week, but the name of the game remains the same!

MONDAYS are "Guys Night", with May 23rd being the kickoff week for this theme.  Enjoy an all-you-can-eat outdoor dinner buffet, a bargain at $12.95!

WEDNESDAYS bring the "Party on the Patio", with live local bands starting at 8:00 p.m.  The musical stylings of The Woovs will set the mood for the evening on May 25th.



THURSDAYS are "Island Nights", with tropical getaway sounds, tastes, and drinks starting at 7:00 p.m.  This Thursday, May 26th, will feature a Hawaiian Luau with roast pig and Steelin Hearts Steel Drum Duo.

FRIDAYS bring to Wadsworth, Ohio even more live music, with live piano music in the dining room starting at 6:00 p.m. and live bands on the patio beginning at 9:30.  May 27th will feature the Hot Wings Band, an "always ready to jam" group, playing rock and pop songs you know and love from the 80's and 90's.



For a full list of activities and entertainment schedules for the summer, check out The Galaxy Restaurant's Special Events page at http://www.galaxyrestaurant.com/special_events.asp

The Galaxy Restaurant
201 Park Center Drive, Wadsworth, OH 44281

Great day for WASA youth soccer in Ohio!

What an amazing weather day for Northeast Ohio - just perfect for WASA Youth Soccer!

Today, were finally able to enjoy a sunny, warm day at the soccer field.

That's my guy in red shorts in the middle!   ----->





So many games and practices have been canceled this season due to soggy, slippery field conditions that I'm not sure they'll ever be able to really complete the season's matches as planned, but I'm hoping the make-up games will be posted soon!

I hope everyone with outdoor plans has the good fortune we did today and enjoys it to the fullest!

~  Rhonda Abbott,  your  HOME GIRL

Rental Specialist

Historic/Vintage Home Specialist

Website:  http://rhondaabbott.howardhanna.com

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services

185 Great Oaks Trail, Wadsworth, OH

Medina, Ohio - 8th Annual Baby Fair this weekend!

On Saturday, May 21`st, 2011, Medina Hospital in Medina County, Ohio will be hosting its 8th annual Baby Fair.

Doors will open at 10:00 am at the Edward A. Hall Conference Center, and the fun continues until 2:00 p.m. 
Visitors are encouraged to use Parking Lot A and enter through Entrance A.

This event is sponsored by Medina Hospital, the Medina Health Department, and Medina County WIC, with support from Child Source.  It is a free family event, at which many vendors, heath care providers, and Breasfeeding Peer Helpers will be on hand to answer questions, teach proper car seat installation, and give general baby care information to new parents.

Medina Hospital
4800 Ledgewood Drive, Medina, OH 44256

~  Rhonda Abbott,  your  HOME GIRL

Rental Specialist

Historic/Vintage Home Specialist

Website:  http://rhondaabbott.howardhanna.com

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services

185 Great Oaks Trail, Wadsworth, OH

Mad Moochie's is the newest restaurant to hit Wadsworth, Ohio!

Mad Moochie's is the newest restaurant to hit Wadsworth, Ohio!

Formerly Longfellow's Tavern, Mad Moochie's Restaurant & Tavern continues the long-time tradition of offering Wadsworth residents a relaxed, casual atmosphere with fun for the whole family.  Added to Longfellow's standard fare are many new menu items and the option to hire Moochie's for catering.

Moochie's is claiming their new-found fame through their Double "D" Burger, Cruisin' Classic Burger, and homemade soups and spaghetti and meatballs.  With $5 lunch specials from 11:00 to 3:00 and dinner specials from 4:00 to 9:00, there's sure to be something available to please each and every palette.

Entertainment will include live DJs, Karaoke nights, and live bands.

The grand opening of Mad Moochie's will be TODAY, Friday, May 20th.  On Saturday, May 21st, they will be hosting a "Moochie's Cares" fundraising event.  Details can be found in the May 15 edition of the Wadsworth Post Newspaper and via Moochie's Face Book page at http://www.facebook.com/people/Mad-Moochies/100002181023302

Mad Moochie's
127 Watrusa Ave.
Wadsworth, OH 44281

~  Rhonda Abbott,  your  HOME GIRL

Rental Specialist

Historic/Vintage Home Specialist

Website:  http://rhondaabbott.howardhanna.com

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services

185 Great Oaks Trail, Wadsworth, OH

Wadsworth, Ohio VFW Post 1089 Swiss Steak Dinner

Wadsworth, Ohio VFW Post 1089 will be holding a family-style Swiss Steak Dinner this Saturday, May 21, 2011.

For a $7.50 donation to VFW Post 1089, diners will receive an all-you-can-eat meal. 

Come enjoy your savory Swiss Steak dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the VFW Post 1089 in Wadsworth, located at 121 Main Street. 

Carryout is available for those who want to pick up a yummy dinner to take home and enjoy!

~  Rhonda Abbott,  your  HOME GIRL

Rental Specialist

Historic/Vintage Home Specialist

Website:  http://rhondaabbott.howardhanna.com

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services

185 Great Oaks Trail, Wadsworth, OH

Rentals, rentals, rentals!

As the new Rental Specialist for our Howard Hanna Wadsworth Office, I'm learning new things every day about what this title entails...but I still have a LONG way to go in having it all down pat!

I'm very surprised by all of the requests that are coming in for rentals within our modestly-sized community.  I didn't expect to be getting calls almost daily from people who need a place to go, but can't afford to make a purchase on a home.  These people need to rent until they can buy, in many cases.
That said, I don't know if this is really just an economy thing, or if this is pretty much a standard volume of rental requests, no matter what the state of the economy may be at any given time.

All I know is that I have four rental units on my "Available Rentals" list, and more than a dozen requests from folks looking for a place to rent....kind of a lopsided scenario!

I look forward to the day when people are once again able to purchase instead of rent, if it is their desire to be a homeowner, as opposed to being a tenant.

Until then, I foresee people becoming much more familiar with the term "Lease-Purchase" as time goes by while we work as a country to get ourselved straightened out once again.  So many people don't understand what a lease-purchase is, both buyers and sellers alike!  It is a GREAT solution for many buyers who will be able to qualify for a loan soon AND for the sellers who desperately need to find someone to be inside the home so that it isn't left vacant!

Want to know more about what a Lease-Purchase is?  Contact me anytime!

~  Rhonda Abbott,  your  HOME GIRL

Rental Specialist

Historic/Vintage Home Specialist

Website:  http://rhondaabbott.howardhanna.com

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services

185 Great Oaks Trail, Wadsworth, OH

Wadsworth Salvation Army announces Kids' Summer Camp

Join the Wadsworth, Ohio Salvation Army in celebrating the Summer of 2011 with an activity-filled Summer Camp!

The Salvation Army Learning Center of Wadsworth, Ohio will be offering a seven-week Academic Day Camp at their 134 College St., Suite B location.  The camp dates are June 27th to August 12th.  Sessions run Monday through Friday, starting at 9:30 in the morning and ending at 3:30 in the afternoon. 

The cost for the camp is $65 per week, which includes the cost of the trips that campers will be going on.  For more information on joining the camp sessions, contact Lindsey at 330-334-3920.

A gorgeous day for a morning walk in Wadsworth, Ohio!

Toby the Terrier and I had a wonderful walk around Wadsworth this morning!  I figured we'd better get one more long traipse around the 'hood in before the rain starts again tomorrow.  We took the East lap of our Highland Park Heights subdivision route, which ends up being about 2 miles round-trip.  We finished it in about 45 minutes - not too bad for us short-legged critters!

This was the first day the white crabapple blossoms were in full, fragrant bloom.  The low-hanging branches along this part of Red Rock Dr. created a cool, floral canopy that was just breathtaking. 

Don't you agree?

Wadsworth, Ohio - 13th Annual Herb and Craft Festival, May 14

It's that time of year again!

Join nearly 100 vendors slated to attend the annual Downtown Wadsworth Herb and Craft Fest event this Saturday, May 14th, 2011!

The fun begins at 9:00 a.m. and wraps up at 4:00.  Expect music, lots of home-spun craft items, and pretty blooms and fragrant herbs to take home and enjoy for many months to come!

For more information, contact Downtown Wadsworth, Inc. with your inquiry at http://www.mswadsworth.org/

                       See you there!


*  Photo by Ed Meyer Photography

~  Rhonda Abbott,  your  HOME GIRL

Rental Specialist

Historic/Vintage Home Specialist

Website:  http://rhondaabbott.howardhanna.com

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services

185 Great Oaks Trail, Wadsworth, OH

Don't you just LOVE a blast from the past?

(This post originally appeared earlier today in my Active Rain blog - it ended up getting selected to be a coveted FEATURE ARTICLE, as determined by nominations from the other 207,000 members.  Such an honor!  Thanks, Sherilyn, for being the inspiration for the piece!)


I'm newer agent, having gotten licensed WAY back in July of 2010.  I make no secret of that little fact.  Actually, I post often on my Face Book page about the new things I'm doing and the fun I'm having TRYING to make money in this business.  Every once in a while, I'll get a random real estate question come my way from someone I know from my PTO group, my Relay For Life volunteer work, or my family as a result of the work-related posts I make nearly daily via social media.


Imagine my surprise to get a Face Book message recently from a gal I was friends with in junior high that I probably haven't sat down and had a conversation with since possibly 1985, way back when I looked like this ----->
(look for the longest name on the page, and that's what I looked like in the fall of 1985)!

"Give me a call - I need some real estate advice!", she FB messages me, pretty much out of the blue!

I called her today and was so pleased to reconnect with her on a one-to-one basis!  It was like the last 25+ years had just melted away. What a wonderful feeling!

Turns out she is thinking of buying a Dutch Colonial century home in our old neighborhood.  I'm looking forward to working with her to help her achieve just that, and am thankful for the opportunity to renew our long-unattended friendship, too!

LESSONS LEARNED:

*  Don't be a "Secret Agent" - no one knows what you do for a living unless you tell them....and they won't remember unless you remind them often!

*  Never underestimate the power of social media when developing your business plan.  It only costs your time, in most cases, and the potential for referrals is PLENTIFUL!

*  Never assume that the totally gross school picture that appeared in your 10th grade yearbook won't show up on the internet for millions to see (well maybe not MILLIONS, in the case of this little blog!).  39 of my dear, old friends just had their adorable mugs featured in this post!!!  :p

~  Rhonda Abbott,  your  HOME GIRL

Rental Specialist

Historic/Vintage Home Specialist

Website:  http://rhondaabbott.howardhanna.com

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services

185 Great Oaks Trail, Wadsworth, OH

Moms Eat FREE This Sunday in Wadsworth, Ohio!

 Wondering where to take Mom for lunch or dinner this Mother's Day? 

Head on over to Beef O'Brady's in Wadsworth Crossings!  All Moms eat for free at the sports pub this Sunday, May 8th, with the purchase of another regular-priced meal. 

The festivities will be starting at 11:00 a.m., so get there early to get your seat!  Menu items include burgers, sandsiches, wraps, salads, and the most amazing batter-dipped fish in the City of Wadsworth.

Bringing the whole family?  Call ahead to book their conference room, where they can easily accomodate 30 folks!

Beef O'Brady's
1090 WIlliams Reserve Blvd.
Wadsworth, OH 44281
330-336-3600
http://www.beefsneo.com/

~  Rhonda Abbott

Rental Specialist

Historic/Vintage Home Specialist

Website:  http://rhondaabbott.howardhanna.com

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services

185 Great Oaks Trail, Wadsworth, OH

What a weekend for open houses!

Results are in from last weekend's big Howard Hanna Real Estate Services Open House event:

3,697 homes were held open and we had nearly 22,000 guests (and still counting!), all as a result of extensive internet marketing, 6 TV interviews, our Sunday Showcase of Homes show, plus teaser ads on 11 TV stations and 50+ newspapers.

And to make it even sweeter to work for such a great company, we got to wear JEANS to our weekly office meeting and tour today!  Don't we look just FAB??!!!

Soggy Soccer in Ohio!

Is it just me, or is this the rainiest springtime we've had in Northeast Ohio since......well, just about ever!?

My son's soccer practices at Muhl Field WASA in Wadsworth, Ohio are cancelled for at least the first half of yet another week, and what was going to be tonight's Wadsworth U10 Blast game is the third to be canceled since the season started 3 weeks ago.  At this rate, they'll be playing make-up matches in July!