Now is the time to buy

Now is the time to buy

EDITOR:

The news is full of stories about the sagging housing market, but what people must understand is that real estate is local. We are not in an area where housing prices double every 10 years. Our figures show prices haven’t fallen dramatically in the last year. We have had a very steady housing business for the last 15 years.

It is widely known that in our area you get “a lot of house” for the money. These homes are quality built.

Most people’s greatest source of wealth when they retire is their home. Remember, you have to pay to live somewhere — it might as well be your own home. When you rent a home, at the end of the year all you have to show is receipts. When you own your home you have three things going for you: equity building, tax advantages and appreciation. These three things combined mean significant money at the end of your mortgage. Owning your home is like opening a bank account. When you are done paying your mortgage, there is money available.

People talk about how bad things are now, but in the late ’70s, we not only lost thousands of jobs, but interest rates were 17 percent. Today’s job market though not great isn’t anything like then. Interest rates have dropped below 6 percent. This, combined with a large supply of homes, makes this winter a great time to buy. If a lender qualifies you for a home purchase, make the move.

Remember also, if you are planning to save your money to have a big down payment before you buy, a half-percent difference on the interest rate on a mortgage of $100,000, can cost you over $11,000 over the 30-year term. You can’t save money fast enough to counter a rise in the interest rate. In addition, home prices generally bump up in the spring and summer months when sellers are typically firmer in their price.

The winter months are really a great time to purchase a home. Sellers may be surprised to get an offer and in some cases are willing to accept $1,000 or more off of their price when the snow is flying.

I am always asked, “When is the best time to buy a home?” My answer is always, “Right now.” Unless you are living rent free with your parents, you might as well start that bank account I spoke of, instead of throwing your money away on rent.

JOE J. ZIDIAN

Youngstown

X The writer is a licensed real estate agent, former president of the Youngstown Columbiana Association of Realtors and Director with the Ohio Association of Realtors.

Fight the fight, Canfield

EDITOR:

I would like to applaud the residents of Canfield for standing up to Wal-Mart. It can be intimidating to face an opponent bigger than yourself but much can be accomplished by standing together. Canfield seems to be doing just fine without a Sprawl-Mart, so why not leave well enough alone?

The residents have some valid points, especially concerning the safety forces and traffic on an already busy Rt. 224. If somebody doesn’t want to fight the traffic going to the Boardman store they can go to the Austintown store, which is being enlarged to a superstore. It is one thing for a fast-food or drug store chain to be in every area but they only occupy one or two business lots as opposed to Sprawl-Marts needing acreage.

The zoning in Canfield — or any other community — is there for a reason and to maintain a certain standard of living. These zoning requirements should not be changed. If Sprawl-Mart doesn’t want the smaller lot already zoned commercial then let them look elsewhere. When they finish their new store in the old Liberty Plaza they will have three stores in the Youngstown area, which should be more than enough.

MICHAEL J. McCLEERY

Austintown

The parole board heard you

EDITOR:

On Jan. 4, the Ohio Parole Board finally reached its decision concerning the release of inmates, Charles Edward Teague and David Earl Jacob’s who kidnapped, raped, robbed and murdered our cousin, Elaine Poullas. We are happy to report, the parole board’s decision was to deny the release of Mr. Teague and Mr. Jacobs and they will not be eligible for another hearing until September 2017.

On behalf of Elaine’s family, we would like to thank everyone who supported us by writing letters to the parole board. We also appreciate your kind words of encouragement and prayers that helped us all through this difficult journey in assisting keeping Elaine’s killers imprisoned.

It’s nice to know that so many people remember Elaine and cared enough to assist us in our fight.

God Bless you,

CAROL DOLAN and JANET KUST

Campbell

Steroids, shmeroids

EDITOR:

Over the last four years there has been much light shed on the steroid epidemic in Major League Baseball.

Recently there has been much speculation on whether the likes of Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens should make the Baseball Hall of Fame. The simple answer is, yes.

There is no scientific proof that steroids cause a player to hit more home runs. Until there is proof, I believe these players should get their due credit.

McGwire’s stat line reads, 583 career home runs and 1,414 runs batted in. Clemens has 354 career victories and Bonds, well, he’s the all time home run champion. With stats like this how can they be left out?

McGwire, however, has been denied twice by the Hall of Fame committee, both last year and this year. Bonds and Clemens, I’m afraid, will face a similar fate when their time comes to be considered for induction.

I by no means condone steroid use, however, all three players have denied ever “knowingly” using steroids or any human growth hormones. Until it is proven otherwise, I am not sold on the constant bashing of the three players.

Most of the blame should be put on commissioner Bud Selig and the rest of the MLB officials for not having a strict testing policy in place years ago.

Everyone needs to take a step back and look at all of the facts and realize that steroids do not help a player hit more home runs, nor is there enough proof that these athletes did steroids.

BRANDON JUDEH

Lake Milton

Why give tax breaks that encourage law-breaking?

EDITOR:

It’s against the law to set off fireworks in Ohio. Why should there be any reason to give Phantom Fireworks a break on their taxes for a building? When you buy fireworks you have to sign a paper that you will take them out of state to set them off.

That means that buyers have to lie if they don’t take them of the state. I think we have enough people like that we should not be adding to the problem.

EARL BAKER

Canfield