Building Better Communities
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How REALTORS® Champion the American Dream
Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS
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Buy a Home
THE SMART WAY Local Realtors and lenders share the key things to remember when starting the home buying process.
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taring down one of the largest purchases in your adult life can be exhilarating, fulfilling and downright daunting. But now is not the time to rely on anecdotal advice from a friend or relative who may have bought a house 5, 10 or 20 years ago. In today’s dynamic seller’s market, you need to come into the home buying process with as much upfront savvy and expert guidance as possible. That’s why we’ve polled leading Realtors and lenders in Northeast Ohio to get their top tips for prospective buyers, whether it’s your first time — or it’s been so long that it feels like your first time — acquiring residential real estate. First things first, says Thom Rankin, SVP
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and chief mortgage officer at First Federal Lakewood: Get educated. “I always encourage prospective buyers to take part in home buyer webinars or online courses to get themselves introduced to this process,” he says. “There are a number of cities that offer home buyer education, free online, and you won’t have to leave your recliner. It’s designed really to minimize your frustration because it separates the fact from fiction.”
DETERMINE WHAT YOU WANT Are you looking for a starter home? A home with land? A house with a renovated kitchen or new baths? Do you want a specific school district or neighborhood? “Be sure to set realistic expectations,” says Beth Rodgers, current president of ACAR and Realtor with Howard Hanna.
“This includes the price of a home, all of its amenities, the monthly payment amount, taxes and insurance. These all go into the home buying, decision-making process.” You never want to fall in love with something you can’t buy, says Seth Task, past president of ACAR, current Ohio REALTORS president and Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Professional Realty. Start by prioritizing your needs and your wants. Consider your short-term and longterm goals with a new home. And make sure you anticipate costs over time so you can not only afford the mortgage and taxes, but also have funds if you need to make unexpected expensive repairs such as replacing the furnace or putting on a new roof. “Is this home a three- to five-year purchase? Is this a 10-year purchase? Or is this a forever home?” Task says. “Because what you
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GET EDUCATED
By Chrissy Kadleck
are willing to pay oftentimes can be determined by that.”
MAKE SURE FINANCES ARE IN ORDER This is a biggie. Before you talk to a lender, you want to ensure that the dollars and cents of this purchase actually make sense given your current finances. Think available down payment funds, credit card balances, outstanding debts and the amount of money coming in every month. For instance, with credit cards, make sure balances are less than 50% of your credit limit or else it starts impacting your credit score. In the case of down payments, that money has to be “seasoned,” says Russ Iona, vice president and branch manager of Ruoff Mortgage. “Most lenders require two months of bank statements,” says Iona, who specializes in working with immigrant populations who often tend to keep large sums of money in their homes instead of banks. “I’m talking some large amounts, like $5,000, $10,000, $15,000. If the money hasn’t been in the bank for 60 days and visible, it has to be documented on where it came from and can slow up loans.” Also, all loans are credit score driven. “If there is erroneous information on your credit report, dispute the issue and correct it,” Rodgers says. “If needed, most lenders can refer buyers to a credit counselor.”
FIND A LENDER Prospective homebuyers should interview loan officers “to see how knowledgeable they are and if that loan officer can bring all that’s available to the table,” says Rankin. “Part of the problem is that you have loan officers who have limited knowledge and are either going to put you in an FHA loan or a conventional loan. They don’t realize there’s other things out there that these borrowers can explore.” Lori Saucier, originating branch manager at Cross Country Mortgage, agrees. “When I stopped being a salesperson and became more of an educator, that’s when my business quadrupled,” she says. “Really my purpose is for you to make the decision, not for me to make the decision, but you need to make it with your eyes wide open. And you can do that if I educate you and I’m proactive and we communicate well.”
GET PRE-APPROVED Always, always, always get pre-approved before you start shopping for a new house. “You’re either a dreamer or a buyer,” says Rodgers. “That’s okay to be a dreamer but it’s a matter of finding out exactly what you qual-
ify for. A lot of buyers try to start the search process without even knowing what they could afford. It’s better to go in head first.” Make sure it’s a pre-approval and not a pre-qualification. “If you tell me you make $36,000 a year and I get your W2 and it only says $34,555, it’s not too far off from $36,000, but it could be enough off that your rate changes or you can’t qualify for one specific program. Or God forbid, it actually does take you from an approval to a denial. I want to ensure that this is a good, speedy, efficient process for my clients.”
FIND A REALTOR Depending on who you ask, this should be the first step in the process: find an experienced agent who is familiar with the market and listens to your needs. “That is a huge asset in this market,” Rodgers says. Think about it, Task says: You’re about to buy an asset that costs thousands of dollars, possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars.
pared to make a quick decision. “If they are prepared in advance through lending, education and setting realistic expectations, they will be ahead of the game,” Rodgers says, adding that it’s important also for buyers to quickly respond through the loan process when a lender requests any documentation to keep the loan moving forward.
BUY NOTHING While there’s the temptation to buy furniture and appliances once your offer has been approved, you shouldn’t buy anything until the entire loan process has been completed and the loan is officially closed. “You have to make an agreement with yourself that during this process you are not going to buy anything and that you’re going to continue to pay everything on time,” Rankin says. Any financial changes to your credit including large purchases such a new vehicle or opening a new line of credit, can halt or complicate the loan process, Rodgers says.
“Be sure to set realistic expectations. This includes the price of a home, all of its amenities, the monthly payment amount, taxes and insurance. These all go into the home buying, decision-making process.” — Beth Rodgers “There are so many other things that go into buying a home that it’s so important to start with having a good advisor,” he says. “You want to have someone who knows what they are doing right alongside you.” Look for referrals from friends and family and interview Realtors who buy and sell in the areas you want to purchase. “Find a Realtor that you [get along] with, that feels good,” Task says. “This is a relationship. It’s a home.”
BE RESPONSIVE AND ENGAGED More so than ever, buyers must be quick to respond when a home is listed and be pre-
DON’T GET FRUSTRATED It’s highly likely buyers may not get the first home that they write an offer on, and while disheartening at first, they need to keep the faith. “Chances are, you’re going to put in 10 offers, 15 offers, maybe 25 offers depending on what price range you’re in,” Saucier says. “You might be in the most popular price range; it’s like looking for a size seven shoe — 90% of the world seems to wear that size.” Right now, there are 20 buyers for every one house on the market. “Do not get discouraged,” Rodgers says. “It’s a fiercely competitive market.” Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS
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DOLLARS & SENSE Learn more about loan programs when buying a home.
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Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS
the mortgage process has changed drastically. “My first loan application was a person who cashed their paychecks at the bank and said that they wanted a loan and it was pretty much a handshake type of scenario that you were able to do then,” he says. “The process has become so regulated over the years that when filling out today’s application, a lot of buyers get intimidated because we’re asking some very specific questions and we’re asking you to provide some very specific documentation.” All of that documentation and questioning is driven by the agencies administering certain loans products. Take Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, federally backed institutions that offer conventional loans that are either fixed interest rates or adjustable-rate mortgages with 30-year, 20-year and 15-year payoff terms. “Conventional financing is the most popular form of mortgage financing. They underwrite more than half of all loans that are written, I believe their total book is probably over $5 trillion,” says Seth Task, past president of ACAR and Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Professional Realty. “If you’ve got very good credit, you can choose the conventional loan with as little as 3% down. It’s the most popular and it’s available to be used on most properties.” But not everyone is conventional. “There’s a game plan for everyone. That’s how I view it. Let’s approve the people that can be approved and counsel the people that need help,” says Lori Saucier, originating branch manager at Cross Country Mortgage. “They might not be able to be approved today, but they could be approved in a month, in six months in two years. We will put them on that path.”
FHA The Federal Housing Administration offers a low down payment loan of 3.5 percent for people with a credit score of 580 or above. Borrowers with a credit score as low as 500 can qualify for an FHA loan with 10 percent down. “Misnomers about FHA are that in the past it has been a very arduous program, things like costs that had to be paid for by the seller and a far more intensive inspection process. It’s not like that anymore,” Task says. “Appraisers do conduct an additional inspection that requires safety and health issues to be remedied. If somebody has got a really nice house that’s been properly cared for, they shouldn’t be afraid of an FHA loan. It’s an extremely good product and it’s great for buyers.” The only downside to an FHA loan is that the mortgage insurance premiums, which are typically applied to any loans with less than 20 percent down, exist for the life of the loan. “It never goes away,” he says. “You’ve got to sell the house or refinance.”
VA Veterans Affairs loans are tailored towards veterans who are presently serving and ones who have served our country. “There are thousands of veterans who qualify and many times they feel that if they used it once they can’t use it again – that’s not true,” says Russ Iona, vice president and branch manager of Ruoff Mortgage. “You can use it multiple times as long as you pay off the previous property.” Benefits of a VA loan include: There is no down payment required, interest rates are lower, and closing costs are extremely reasonable. “Many times I have a situation where they have the income, but don’t have quite the savings pattern. They are often worried
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ehind the coveted wish lists of open concept designs, quartz countertops and expansive primary suites, is the not-so sexy topic of financing. That is, unless you are independently wealthy and can pay cash for your new home. But alas, most of us are not so blessed, and must attend to securing funds to achieve our ultimate dream home, or at least our dream home for the moment. There is a sea of information about home mortgages out there, but we engaged experts from the Northeast Ohio real estate industry — both lenders and Realtors — to help navigate the fiscal waters and chart the right course of action for you. They helped us dissect the most popular loan offerings for a diverse population of home buyers, shattered a few misconceptions, and offered up some new programs that aren’t widely known. Think FHA, VA, USDA, OHFA and Freddie and Fannie. All those acronyms and names really add up to a myriad of low down payments, and, in some cases, zero down payment, options that can turn renters into homeowners or elevate current homeowners to move-up buyers. Beth Rodgers, Realtor with Howard Hanna and current president of the Akron Cleveland Association of Realtors, says she counsels her homebuyers to always comparison shop with lenders, whether it’s traditional institutions or mortgage companies. “I shop for everything by comparison, like most people do, whether it’s cars, clothes, purses or homes,” she says. “Mortgages are no different. They just have more zeros on the end of it.” In the 47 years that Thom Rankin, senior vice president and chief mortgage officer at First Federal Lakewood, has been in banking,
that if they don’t have 20 percent down, they can’t afford the house,” he says. “Actually if the seller contributes anything towards closing cost, they can get into the house for literally a few hundred dollars with a VA loan. It’s an unused program with today’s market.” There are many misconceptions about VA loans, says Saucier, who married into a VA family. She champions the loan product and even teaches classes on the subject. She says more VA loans have been done in the last 5 or 10 years than the first 30 just from lenders asking the right questions and informing veterans of this benefit they rightfully earn from serving our country. A common misconception is that a VA buyer is an inferior buyer because they’re not putting any money down. “When some of our veterans have the highest scores, and this program actually
performs better than conventional loans in the long run.”
OHFA Ohio Housing Finance Agency offers a wide range of down payment assistance programs, including a grant for graduates from accredited Ohio colleges and universities and Homes for Heroes targeted to EMS, firefighters and teachers. If you qualify for an OFHA loan, you will get a preferred rate or a reduced rate and down payment assistance — usually 2.5 or 5 percent in the form of a grant with the caveat that you have to live in the property for 7 years. “They’re promoting home ownership,” Iona says. “If you stay there seven years, you pay nothing back. The program’s designed to stabilize neighborhoods. And this might turn somebody who would normally rent into a buyer.”
INSIDE THE INCENTIVES Homebuyers and homeowners alike shouldn’t miss the available funding through city- and state-funded programs to aid with down payments, repairs and restorations. Here’s a highlight of some of those programs. For a more comprehensive list, visit AkronClevelandRealtors.com or scan the QR code on the last page of this special insert. Always check with the city or organization for any qualifications and application processes.
For Home Buyers: Euclid– Down Payment Assistance. The Euclid Development Corporation (EDCOR) is funded by the City of Euclid to administer a 3% low-interest home improvement loan to income-eligible residents unable to afford conventional loans to upgrade and improve their homes. www.cityofeuclid.com/residents/EDCOR Lakewood – Down Payment Assistance. The Lakewood HOME Program provides one of the best mortgage financing packages available to qualified first time homebuyers interested in purchasing a Lakewood home. A 0% interest, no monthly payment second mortgage is used to assist with both down payment and closing costs. www.lakewoodoh.gov/community-vision/housing/fthb/ Ohio Housing Financing Agency (OHFA). OHFA offers competitive interest rates and mortgage options on 30year, fixed-rate mortgage loans to make it affordable for qualifying buyers to realize the dream of homeownership. www.ohiohome.org/residentiallending.aspx
For Home Owners: Akron–Residential Tax Abatement. The City of Akron exempts 100% of the added property value on any new home construction or home renovation (valued at approximately $5,000 or more), for a period of 15 years. www.akronohio.gov/ cms/ResidentialTaxAbatement/index.html
USDA For someone looking for a rural properties — or even a home in a predominantly rural county — a USDA loan is hands down the best loan there is if you can qualify for it. “Many times people think that you have to buy a farm, but not at all,” Iona says. “The USDA has a great interactive website, and you can literally put in the address and see if you’re eligible for financing.” In fact, as long as the property you’re interested in is in geographic county that has been earmarked as rural in character, you can buy a condo with a USDA loan. This loan requires no down payment and offers the best interest rate and lowest fees. “It’s a great loan if you can qualify for it and if it’s in an area that allows you to use it,” he says. “And as long as you don’t exceed the guidelines which are based on your income and familial size.”
Learn about programs designed to help homebuyers.
Cuyahoga County–The Home Enhancement Loan Program (HELP). This program provides homeowners of occupied or investment properties in eligible Cuyahoga County communities home improvement loans, at three percentage points below normal bank rates, for home repair or remodeling projects. HELP has no restrictions on a borrower’s income and few limitations on what improvements can be made to a property. w w w. c u y a h o g a co u n t y. u s / d e ve l o p m e n t / re s i dents/home-repair-and-remodeling/housing-enhancement-loan-program Portage County–Home Improvement Fund. Designed to benefit owners of single-family dwellings within Portage County, through this program financial institutions provide low-interest rate loans to eligible borrowers for the purpose of home improvements. www.portagecounty-oh.gov/treasurer-brad-cromes-cgfm/ pages/home-improvement-program Summit County Fiscal Office–Fix It Funds. Qualifying homeowners are invited to apply for low interest, fixed rate home improvement loans through Westfield Bank to fund large and small home improvement projects. Loan amounts can range from $5,000 to $50,000 and may be up to 2% below the current borrowing rate for five years. www.fiscaloffice.summitoh.net/index.php/fix-it-fundsloan-program Heritage Home Program. If your home is 50 years old or older and is located in a participating city, you can receive technical assistance and may qualify for a low-interest rehabilitation loan. The loan can be used for numerous interior and exterior projects that make your home more comfortable while preserving architectural character. www.heritagehomeprogram.org/what-we-do/ Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS
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BUILDING DREAMS The Black Homeownership Collaborative leads a plan to increase home ownership by 2030. Expert advice and a choice of financial products are essential to successfully navigate the homebuying process. But it isn’t always enough. Minority homeownership stubbornly lags behind the national rate, with Black Americans facing some of the toughest hurdles to achieving this essential part of the American Dream, according to the National Association of REALTORS. A group of housing and civil rights leaders announced a multi-year initiative to significantly increase the nation’s Black homeownership rate. The Black Homeownership Collaborative, a new coalition of more than 100 organizations and individuals, launched a commitment to creating 3 million net new Black homeowners by 2030 through an ambitious 7- point plan. According to Urban Institute, the Black homeownership rate in the U.S. currently stands at 42.3%. The national homeownership rate is 64.1%, while the rate for whites stands at 72.2%. Left unaddressed, the Black homeownership rate will fall even further by 2040, Urban Institute projects. The Black Homeownership Collaborative identified seven areas requiring attention to make it its goal possible within nine years: 1) homeownership counseling; 2) down payment assistance; 3) housing production; 4) credit and lending; 5) civil and
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consumer rights; 6) homeownership sustainability, and; 7) marketing and outreach. Among the actions called for by the group are increased funding for housing counseling services, a targeted down payment assistance program, and restoration of all legal doctrines and provisions of law that address systemic discriminatory policies. The Black Homeownership Collaborative is led by a steering committee of executives from the Mortgage Bankers Association, NAACP, National Association of REALTORS, National Association of Real Estate Brokers, National Fair Housing Alliance, National Housing Conference, National Urban League, and Urban Institute. “With the current Black homeownership rate being lower than when housing discrimination was legal in our country, a bold and collective effort is needed to rectify this national tragedy,” says David Dworkin, president and CEO of the National Housing Conference. “With homeownership a major driver of intergenerational household wealth and financial stability, the nation cannot achieve true racial and economic justice without addressing the barriers to Black homeownership,” says Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League. “The persistent gap in homeownership rates among Black and white Americans illustrates how racial inequality in our society translates into wealth inequality,” says Bryan Greene, vice president of policy advocacy at the National Association of REALTORS. “NAR is pleased to join this dedicated group of widely-respected organizations in the Black Homeownership Collab-
LYDIA POPE orative to pursue our shared goals. We look forward to continuing our work to secure federal and local-level policies which will raise Black homeownership levels, strengthen communities and improve the American economy.” “The Black Homeownership Collaborative’s 7-point plan mirrors the goals the National Association of Real Estate Brokers has been advancing since our inception in 1947,” says Lydia Pope, president of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, ACAR member and broker with E&D Realty & Investments Co Inc. Expanding sustainable homeownership opportunities for Black Americans by eliminating disparate systemic barriers, increasing housing counseling services and purging biased real estate industry practices represent the elements of a wealth-building strategy destined for achievable success. The “3by30” initiative requires the long-term commitment by Collaborative members, committed government officials, fair-minded real estate professionals and an even-handed financial services industry to close the racial wealth gap that serves to raise the economic futures of Black Americans.”
Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® – REALTOR® Party Champions Jennifer Allen
Joe Aveni
Keller Williams Greater Cleveland Northeast 7950 Fieldstone Court Concord Township, OH 44060 440-796-4833 jennifer.allen@clevelandteam.com ClevelandTeam.com
Howard Hanna 6000 Parkland Blvd. Mayfield Heights, OH 44124 216-447-4477 joeaveni@howardhanna.com howardhanna.com
Jennifer has a passion for the real estate industry from selling as a FT agent and Team Leader and community involvement. This industry encompasses so much more than simply opening doors for clients. She takes pride in educating the public. This is evident in the individual care with each client.
Sara Calo, ABR, CIPS, CRS, ePro Howard Hanna Real Estate Services 8396 Mentor Ave. Mentor, OH 44060 440-974-7233 saracalo@howardhanna.com saracalo.howardhanna.com
I have a belief in the business side of our business. By paying attention to legislative issues in our backyard we can continue to move the housing market and further the American Dream of Homeownership.
Joseph T. Aveni is the Chairman/CEO of First Realty Property Management, Ltd., Former CEO of Realty One, in RPAC Hall of Fame, and past President of the Institute of Real Estate Management. Joe served on the NAR Executive Committee and was a member of the Ohio Realtors DSA. He’s a lifelong Cleveland resident graduating from Arizona State University.
Jim Camp Cutler Real Estate 4618 Dressler Road, NW Canton, OH 44718 330-495-0228 jcamp@cutlerhomes.com cutlerhomes.com
Jim has been licensed with Cutler Real Estate since 1974. Now Partner and Principal Broker he continues to be actively involved in real estate, his church and his community. Jim and his wife, Cincy, continue to support Habitat for Humanity and enjoy time with their children and grandchildren.
Joe Dirk
Judy Gorbett Darwal
RE/MAX Crossroads 1100 Linda Street Rocky River, OH 44116 440-925-1522 joedirk@dirkassociates.com dirkassociates.com
RE/MAX Above & Beyond 7550 Chippewa Drive Brecksville, OH 44141 216-396-1955 judydarwal3@gmail.com beyond2000realty.com
For 18 years, Joe Dirk has been a trusted real estate resource helping over 1,200 clients with their real estate transactions. Joe believes that maintaining relationships is the key to his success. He supports the Children’s Miracle Network by donating a portion of every commission to Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.
I’m proud to be an RPAC Major Investor, to be a member of ACAR and Past President. Cleveland is a great place to live and this year has been quite the challenge for buyers, but if you work with a Realtor you’re likely to find your “Dream Home”.
Cyndi Kane
John Lynch
RE/MAX Crossroads 2040 Front Street Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 330-606-6041 cyndi@cyndikane.com cyndikane.com
Keller Williams Citywide 2001 Crocker Road, Suite 200 Westlake, OH 44145 216-533-7007 jlynch@kw.com OhioRealPros.com
This is my 19th year as a full-time Realtor. Helping buyer’s and seller’s navigate the real estate process has been satisfying work. Advocating for homeownership rights and effecting change in our industry has been integral part of my business.
Selling, leasing, appraising and consulting about real estate is my profession. Actively giving back to my community, government and association is my business. It makes me more knowledgeable about the services I provide to clients and customers. I have averaged over 100 properties sold per year for more than 10 years and work to keep my life balanced with community participation. Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS
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Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® – REALTOR® Party Champions Noreen Marlowe
Ryan Marrie
Keller Williams Greater Cleveland Northwest 7400 Center Street Mentor, OH 44060 440-668-7678 noreenmarlowe@kw.com noreenmarlowe.yourkwagent.com
Ohio Real Title Agency 1213 Prospect Avenue, Ste 200 Cleveland, OH 44115 216-978-5453 ryanmarrie@ohiorealtitle.com ohiorealtitle.com
I have a true passion for the professionalism of this industry that goes beyond education, ethics and my volunteerism on local, state and national levels. In addition, I am an advocate for all that RPAC does for our industry and consumers through our financial donations.
Jo-Ann McFearin
Amanda Pohlman
BHHS Professional Realty 33760 Bainbridge Road Solon, OH 44139 216-701-3552 jo-ann@joannmcfearin.com joannmcfearin.com
Keller Willams Living 32875 Solon Road Solon, OH 44139 216-526-8302 apohlman@kw.com pohlmanteam.com
There is a reason Jo-Ann McFearin is a top selling realtor in NE Ohio — she truly cares about her client’s goals in real estate and in their lives. “Jo-Ann conducts her business with the highest ethical standards and always puts her client’s needs first. If you are looking for a top real estate professional, give Jo-Ann a call,” states David, Mussari Managing Partner, BHHS Professional Realty.
Licensed in 2005, Amanda is now Principal Broker at KW Living and heads up a 10-member top sales team out of Solon, OH. She most loves teaching, training and mentoring agents to build profitable businesses with a special focus on wealth building, passive income & creating a work/life balance
Gary Post
Seth Task
RE/MAX CROSSROADS 1813 Nagel Road, Suite 900 Avon, OH 44011 440-935-0341 gary@garyLpost.com http://www.tptt.info
The Task Team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Professional Realty 2217 East Ninth Street Cleveland, OH 44115 216-276-1626 sethtask@taskhomes.com homesincleveland.com
Gary L. Post is the Team Leader for The Pinnacle Post Team with RE/MAX Crossroads in Avon, OH. TPPT serves Western Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, Erie and Huron counties. Gary and his team provide home-buyers and sellers with professional, responsive and attentive real estate service.
Mary Vedda Keller Williams Greater Cleveland Southeast 32875 Solon Road, Suite 100 Solon, OH 44139 440-336-2796 maryveddahomes@gmail.com maryvedda.kwrealty.com
My goal is to guide sellers and buyers successfully and easily through the contractual, investment and emotional decisions involved in the Real Estate process. Committed to providing superior service and expertise, I have been serving my clients with honesty and integrity for 23 years.
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Ryan Marrie is the President and Co-Owner of Ohio Real Title Agency. With nine offices throughout Ohio, Ryan and his team are proud supporters of the real estate community that has supported ORTA since opening in 2006.
Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS
The Task Team specializes in reduced stress real estate transactions. We never take for granted the life changing effects of buying or selling property. Protecting your interests and communities are equally as important, as evidenced by Seth’s role this year serving as 2021 Ohio Realtors President.
Maureen Wlodarczyk Keller Williams Living 15703 Lorain Ave Cleveland, OH 44111 216-688-0300 mo6wlodarczyk@aol.com kw.com
I love being a Cleveland Realtor! Serving on board of directors for ACAR and OR (Ohio Realtors). Trustee for RPAC. I’m on the Grievance Committee and Legislative Committee, where I interact with legislators to promote homeowner friendly policies #HOMEFORALL. 2020 Realtor of the Year for Northeast Ohio Women’s Council.
Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® – REALTOR® Party Champions
Kristine Burdick
Craig Cantrall
Howard Hanna 330-760-6772 kristineburdick@howardhanna.com kristineburdick.howardhanna.com
Chestnut Hill Realty Inc. 216-249-2021 craig@chr-inc.com chr-inc.com
Tim Damiano
Jim Fox
Russell Real Estate Services 216-215-6589 damisoldit@yahoo.com tdamiano.russellrealty.com
BHHS Stouffer Realty Inc. 216-287-8888 jimfox@stoufferrealty.com jimfox.stoufferrealty.com
Dianna Hosta Cutler Real Estate 440-785-6800 dianna@diannasellshomes.com diannasellshomes.com
Sally Johnson BHHS Stouffer Realty Inc. 330-815-4424 srjohnson@stoufferrealty.com sjohnson.stoufferrealty.com
Jan Kremer
Sandy LoCascio
Kremer Realty 330-697-8797 jkremer@kremerrealty.com jankremer.com
BHHS Stouffer Realty Inc. 330-571-3471 sandylocascio@yahoo.com sandylocascio.stoufferrealty.com
Sandy Naragon
Jessica Presutto
Akron Cleveland Association of Realtors 216-525-4841 snaragon@akronclevelandrealtors.com akronclevelandrealtors.com
RE/MAX Crossroads 440-787-6707 jessicapresutto@remax.net jessicapresutto.remax.com
Beth Rodgers
Jeff Russell
Howard Hanna 330-607-3987 bethrodgers@howardhanna.com bethrodgers.com
Russell Real Estate Services 440-572-3100 jeffrussell@russellrealty.com russellrealty.com
Lori Saucier
Linda Tippel
CrossCountry Mortgage LLC 216-695-0572 lsaucier@myccmortgage.com loangalteam.com
Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realty 330-497-3115 iluvtoads@aol.com cbschmidtohio.com
Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS
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Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® – REALTOR® Party Champions
Mark Vittardi
Ali Whitley
C21 DePiero & Associates Inc. 440-666-3405 mvittardi@vittardigroup.com vittardigroup.com
RE/MAX Crossroads 330-808-4680 ali@aliwhitley.com aliwhitley.com
Jeannet Wright
Joanne Zettl
FASS Management & Real Estate Svc 216-269-3467 jwright@fass-res.com fass-res.com
Elite Sotheby’s International Realty 216-409-1328 joannezettl@gmail.com joannezettl.com
A partner in your community ACAR is a community partner, providing funding and volunteers for a variety of placemaking projects, such as pocket parks, alley activations, pedestrian plazas, road diet demonstrations and more. ACAR has supported placemaking initiatives in Akron (pedestrian plaza at Minson Plaza), Maple Heights (pocket park at Lee & Libby roads), Euclid (alley activation), South Euclid (road diet demonstration/pop-up pocket park along the Mayfield Corridor), and Cleveland (pocket park in Collinwood).
Dave Bissler Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Stouffer Realty 330-819-5619 davebissler.com
Brooke Chervenic Keller Williams Chervenic Realty 330-388-1497 kwcr-training.com
Tony DeLuke
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Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services 330-612-0941 janisbrenneman. howardhanna.com
John Chlebina Commonwealth Properties, Inc 330-666-7773 cwproperties.com
Alex Cruz Anthony Crea Assad & Crea Realty Group 440-888-8181 x202 assadcrea.com
Candice Eberhardt Eberhardt Realty & Management 330-608-1776 ermhomes.com
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Professional Realty 216-309-1515 homesbyalexcruz.com
Sharon Friedman BHHS Professional Realty 216-338-3233 sharonfriedmanhomes.com
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Markley Realty 330-730-3117 tonydelukerealtor.com
Janis Brenneman
Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS® – REALTOR® Party Champions
Drew Gaebelein
Robert Gallmann
Michelle Green
eXp Realty 216-310-3739 clehomeseller.com
The Gallmann Group RE/MAX Haven Realty 440-343-0314 clevelandhomes.com
Akil Hameed
Felicia Hengle
Karen Hillman
FASS Management Real Estate Services 216-926-5644 fass-res.com
Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realty 216-990-2776 cbschmidtohio.com
“HergGroup Living” at Keller Williams Living 440-773-3181 karen.neo.herggroup.com
Chris Kilbane
Linda LaFleur
Howard Lichtig
Russell Real Estate Services 440-572-3100 russellrealty.com
RE/MAX Crossroads 440-396-8889 remaxneo.com
CBRE 216-570-1800 cbre.com
Jamie McMillen
Susan Metallo
HER Realtors 440-342-0269 michellewillsell.com
Elyse Nedrow
Akron Cleveland Association of Realtors 216-901-0130 akronclevelandrealtors.com
Berkshire Hathawy HomeServices Professional Realty 440-477-3465 clevelandgreathomes.com
Kady Overton
Carly Sablotny
Keller Williams Living 330-651-5308 kadyhelpsyouhome.kw.com
Keller Williams Living 440-521-1704 neohomepros.com
Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realty 330-730-1509 coldwellbanker.com/ elsiesayre
Laurie Schrank
Steve Spinelli
Mike Valerino
Keller Williams Chervenic Realty 330-807-3320 laurieschrank.kw.com
Keller Williams Chervenic Realty 330-472-3614 duvespinellirealtors.com
Akron Cleveland Association of Realtors 216-525-4830 akronclevelandrealtors.com
Cheryl Wiegand Schroer
Seth Young
RE/MAX Above & Beyond 440-897-7771 righthomenow.com
Century21 Premiere Properties 216-455-7677 sethyoungc21.com
KW Citywide 440-570-7979 elysenedrow.kw.com
Elsie Sayre
Debbie Zarconi Howard Hanna Real Estate 330-338-3383 debbiezarconi.com
Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS
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Promoting Diversity in Housing and Homeownership in Northeast Ohio ACAR’s #HomeForAll movement: • Advocates to remove the barriers of homeownership • Supports local efforts that support and promote homeownership including education programs, homebuyer incentives, homeowner incentive programs and more! For More Info Contact ACAR at (216) 901-0130
AkronClevelandRealtors.com