-Susan

People keep asking me, what is going on in the market?  Where are the Spring listings?  In our office, we are noticing pretty good activity in the market.  Lots of showings, offers going back and forth, the usual.  But something is missing.  The new listings!  I had more activity in January with new listings than I am seeing now.  I have buyers who would pounce on the right house if it came on the market.  But I think would-be sellers are listening to all of the negative press the real estate market in general is getting and deciding to wait to put their houses up for sale. 

The MODERN market has always kind of been its own thing.  These are very specific homes for very specific buyers.  People who buy modern homes are not going to settle for just anything.  We just need more choices out there!  If a house is priced right, it will sell quickly.  No, we’re not getting the crazy escalating prices that we were seeing a couple of years ago.  But Cincinnati has always had a relatively good housing market.  As a matter of fact,

  Money Magazine Names Cincinnati One of the Six

“Best Places to Buy Home These Days”

Money Magazine released a list of the 6 “best places to buy a home these days.”  The website reports that the list is of “The 6 cities where home prices are likely to rise the most – or fall the least – in the next 12 months.”

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/real_estate/0804/gallery.best_buy_home.moneymag/index.html

Money reports that: “The city’s manufacturing-heavy economy should benefit from the falling dollar. Commercial building is up, and high-end developments are moving in.”

“It is great news considering the national trends.  The ranking confirms the strength of our housing market.  The Cincinnati Area remains a great place to buy a home, which is one of the reasons why we are so attractive for  business investment,” Mayor Mark Mallory said.

If you own a modern home and are looking to sell, call me!  People are looking for cool houses. Now is not only a great time to buy, it’s a great time to sell!

Turns out, there are a lot of ad agencies and publications in Cincy that jumped on the modern bandwagon and use local homes as their backdrops.  It’s 50’s style cool for state of the art products of today.  Go figure!

And today, I did it again.  I pimped my house.  I am sitting downstairs as a photographer, stylist, hair & make-up person and some models are upstairs shooting away.  The fee they pay to use the house (complete with ‘period’ props) goes into my ‘house fund’ for upcoming improvements.  I think a cork floor in the master bedroom is next.

The way I see it, it is a win-win.  Modern houses get exposure and my house gets improved.  I don’t know how long the public’s fixation with MCM will last, but for me it’s just another adventure in the life of a modern homeowner.

Since a Spring Break beach trip was not in the cards for us this year, we wanted to do a little something for a change of scenery.  So a couple of weeks ago we took a day trip to Columbus, Indiana (72 miles from Cincy).  For those of you who don’t know, tiny Columbus, population 39,000, is a hotbed of modern architecture.  The late Irwin Miller, owner of Irwin Union Bank and Cummins Engine was a huge fan of modern architecture.  To enhance his local built environment, Miller started a foundation back in the 1950’s where local Columbus businesses, churches and government agencies could apply for a grant which would pay the architectural fees of a world renowned designer. 

After loading up on our market staples (Krause’s roast beef, Eckerlin’s pepper goetta), we headed over to Country Club gallery to see the Charley Harper exhibit (http://www.countryclubgallery.com/current.html).  For those who haven’t been, Country Club is in the same building as the Carl Solway Gallery, also on Findlay street, but west of the market in the West End.  We were all completely speechless at the beauty of the works, and believe me, it’s not like any Harper exhibit you have seen before. 

These are the original drawings from the Golden Book of Biology and The Animal Kingdom books, illustrated by Harper in the early 1960’s for the Golden Press.  And they are all for sale!  OK, the prices are kind of steep – most in the $2000 – $6000 range – they are a treat to look at nonetheless.  Many have the original crop marks and printer notations. It really makes you wonder about the investment value of these rare original Harper pieces.  I have a feeling that in actually, the prices really aren’t so steep…..

And while you are there oogling over the works, don’t forget to go in the back room and see the video of Todd Oldham, fellow Harper groupie, talking about his friend Charlie on an episode of CBS Sunday Morning.   

The last stop on our ‘downtown tour’ was Park + Vine, Cincinnati’s very own green general store, to check out the cf3 modern architecture exhibit (http://www.parkandvine.com/?page_id=153 ).  Yes, I’ve seen the exhibit before – having worked on it with Chris Magee and Mike Keifling – but I wanted to see how they had it displayed in the store.  I also wanted to check out the store since I hadn’t been before.  The exhibit looked great, prominently displayed along a wall – easy to read and see the photos.  The guy behind the counter even said that Ben Dombar’s family had been down to check it out and take pictures of it the week before.  Very cool!

Of course, while at Park + Vine we  had to do a little shopping – an aluminum water bottle, recycled motherboard keychain, bamboo spoon.  I resisted the urge to buy the “Florence Y’all” t-shirt with a vintage “Carol Brady” photo on it.  AND, we were home in time for my teen agers to go off and do things with their friends.  Ya gotta love Cincinnati!

The store was crowded with Ikea virgins, not quite sure what to make of the whole thing, but if you build it…….  I also spotted a few Ikea veterans, like myself, who heard the call.  I could just tell (OK, and I knew some of them).

I made my first of many pilgrimages to Ikea in 1988 when I was pregnant with my (now 19 year old!) son.  On that trip to the Philadelphia store, we bought porch furniture and a changing table for a the baby.  To the people who say that Ikea is poor quality and disposable, I have this to say:  That furniture is still on our porch (holding its own right next to a classic Saarinen table w/ Bertoia chairs – see photo below) and the changing table has been ‘remodeled’ and is now serving as a desk in our kids’ art studio. 

As I walked around the store, I couldn’t help but be saddened that I will never again feel that particular rush you get from a long road trip and finally spotting the blue and yellow Swedish flag and ginormous blue building (sigh!).  But it’s here, and it’s ours.  And it’s only 10 miles from my house!

While my Ikea finds will no longer seem so special (sigh again!), I can’t imagine having a modern house in the 21st Century without Ikea to fill in the gaps that classic mid century can’t fill.  Be it media storage or accessories for the laundry room, it’s cool factor with a purpose.

Never again will someone have to live in a turn of the (last) century Hyde Park house with tiny closets.  Ikea wardrobes are here!!  Add an entire wall of storage to any room for under $1000.  Re-do a kitchen for $5000.  Now, anything is possible!  I just need to remind myself that we’re incredibly lucky to have our own Ikea and that it will always be cool no matter how used to it we get!

As for the west side modern that I mentioned last month.  The house was completely trashed.  I didn’t know it was possible for a house to go so bad in just two years since I saw it last!  And it sold – for nearly $40,000 less than it sold for two years ago.  Ouch!  How can people let this happen?  I hope the new owner brings it back to life and enjoys living in a modern (Henn, we think) house.

And lastly, I am working on a small book(let) of Cincinnati Modern homes & public buildings with a couple of UC profs – Patrick Snadon and Udo Greinacher.  After I put this project behind me (this week, hopefully), I will get on with blogging and updating my website like I should be.  Thanks for sticking with me!

People are just not as willing as they used to be to see a house that they love, buy it, then try to sell their old house.  To many, it seems too risky to own two houses.  So what I see is people becoming very frustrated.  They find a house they love, but are unprepared to buy.

So here is my suggestion.  Talk to a lender.  Find out exactly what your buying power is – lending guidelines have changed and rates are coming down.  If you are really going to take advantage of increased buying power created by this ‘move-up’ market, then let me evaluate your current home.  Let’s be realistic about what it is worth.  Face it, what your neighbor’s house sold for in 2006 has very little bearing on what your house is worth in today’s market. 

But look at the bright side – even though your house may not be worth what it was a year ago, you are probably going to get your ‘move-up’ house for less, too!  You still come out ahead!

So browse listings online for inspiration, talk to a lender and get pre approved (see my recommended lenders below),  and let’s put your current home on the market.  No sense putting the cart before the horse.  Don’t spend months looking at listings and  fall in love with your dream home only to be heartbroken.  Be prepared and buy your dream!

For no obligation loan pre qualifications, please call:

Michelle McBride @ Huff Mortgage 513.505.0354

Dick Engle @ Summit Home Loans 513.266.3160

This new listing has just come to my attention.  I was in it about 2 years ago when it last sold and it was surprisingly cool.  West Side MCM’s are kind of rare – when I have a west side buyer, the right house is not always on the market.  Believe me, this is the right house for anyone looking for a modest sized modern! It’s on nearly an acre.  And are you ready for this?  It’s only $129,900!!  I’m serious!  PLEASE contact me right away if this is what you are looking for.  I am withholding the listing from my website so other agents don’t poach it for their clients.  It’s happening a lot (sad, but true!).  susan@cincinnatimodern.com or call 513.886.7841

#5 – Interest rates are great (see my ‘it’s a wonderful life’ post from Nov. 15).  It really is  a good time to buy.

#4 – If you see a great house, you better buy it before someone else does and puts in vinyl windows!

#3 – This is perhaps the last time in history that you will be able to buy a MCM home from the original owner.  Original owner homes are absolute gems, often rich with written (blueprints) and verbal history.  Time is running out.  Really……

#2 – You’ll need  a ‘new’ modern house to show off all of your new Ikea stuff (coming this spring!!)

And the #1 reason – Designer clothes are cool – but designer houses are even cooler!

Happy New Year!