Thursday, May 26, 2011
Youngstown No. 1 for cheap housing
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown’s latest inclusion on a list comes from the National Association of Realtors, which ranked the city as the cheapest major housing market.
The median home price is $55,000, nearly $10,000 less than the second-ranked market, Lansing, Mich. ($64,400).
Youngstown was one of four Ohio cities among the 10 most inexpensive. Toledo (third, $64,900), Akron (fifth, $74,900) and Dayton (seventh, $78,000) also were ranked as having some of the nation’s cheapest homes.
Rate freeze extended
COLUMBUS
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio on Wednesday extended the current freeze on FirstEnergy all-electric heating customer rates through March 31, 2013. After the two-year freeze, FirstEnergy will reduce a portion of the discount annually over six years through 2018.
Between Oct. 31 and March 31, 2013, FirstEnergy will adjust the residential generation credit to maintain current discount levels. During this time, electric-heating customers using 3,500 kilowatt hours of electricity per month will owe a monthly bill of about $191 for Cleveland Electric Illuminating, $229 for Ohio Edison and $275 for Toledo Edison.
Networking group plans visitors day
BOARDMAN
The Referrals Unlimited Chapter of BNI Inc. will have a visitors day at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday at Youngstown Sports Grille, 7463 South Ave. BNI is a business and professional networking organization. Those seeking more information can call Pete Roman, secretary/ treasurer, at 330-720-2242.
Sales of homes in foreclosure decline
LOS ANGELES
Sales of homes in some stage of foreclosure declined in the first three months of the year, but they still accounted for 28 percent of all home sales — a share nearly six times higher than what it would be in a healthy housing market.
Foreclosure sales, which include homes purchased after they received a notice of default or were repossessed by lenders, hit the highest share of overall sales in a year during the first quarter, foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac Inc. said today.
Disney withdraws trademark petition
LOS ANGELES
The Walt Disney Co. said Wednesday that it has withdrawn its application to trademark the phrase “SEAL Team 6,” the elite unit that killed Osama bin Laden, after the Navy moved to protect its rights and the entertainment giant endured a wave of criticism and late-night jibes.
Disney sought the trademark rights May 3, two days after U.S. operatives raided a luxury compound in Pakistan and killed the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.
Disney drew flak for not only its rapid filing, but also for a trademark application that included items like Christmas stockings and snow globes.
Staff/wire reports