If you lose your job, HER Real Living (that's me) will pay your mortgage.

clipped from www.dispatch.com Real Living HER, the real-estate company based in Columbus, announced yesterday that it will cover some mortgage payments for clients who lose their jobs. The program is available to those who purchase a home through a Real Living agent and finance the home with Real Living Mortgage. The home must be purchased between June 1 and Aug. 31 and close before Sept. 30. If the buyer is laid off during the first year of ownership, Real Living will pay up to $1,500 a month on a mortgage for a maximum of six months. Buyers are covered for an additional year if the home they purchased was listed with a Real Living agent. Derrow said low interest rates and prices make this a great time to buy a home, but "given the economic uncertainties that exist, we felt … that we needed to provide our potential consumers the added confidence they need to take advantage of the market."

Friday, May 29, 2009, 2:23pm EDT

Real Living sets up protection plan

Business First of Columbus

Taking a page from auto manufacturers, Real Living HER has introduced a payment protection plan for home buyers.

Real Living HER, the Columbus region’s largest residential real estate company, announced Thursday that buyers who go into contract with a company agent between June 1 and Aug. 31 will be eligible for six months of mortgage payment protection if they lose their jobs.

Real Living HER is a division of Columbus-based Real Living Inc.

The mortgage payment protection is part of Real Living’s “Peace of Mind Plan,” which pays up to $1,500 per month of a buyer’s mortgage payment if the person involuntarily becomes unemployed during the first year after buying the home.

Eligibility requires buyers to use a Real Living HER agent, close on their home before Sept. 30 and finance the purchase through Real Living Mortgage, the company’s mortgage brokerage business.

Additionally, Real Living HER says it will extend the eligibility of its plan from one year to two if a buyer purchases a Real Living HER listed property.

The company is also offering the plan to homeowners who refinance through Real Living Mortgage.

“In today’s uncertain economy, Real Living HER is investing in programs like our Peace of Mind Plan to provide reassurance,” said Real Living CEO Harley Rouda Jr. in a released statement. “Our intention is to give home buyers added comfort, and help them achieve the American dream of homeownership.”

Real Living will offer plan details on its Web site, reallivingher.com, starting June 1.

Annual Short North Neighborhood Yard Sale: Saturday, June 6th, 9am-3pm

clipped from www.victorianvillage.org Annual Short North Neighborhood Yard Sale Saturday June 6th - 9 am to 3 pm This year's yard sale will be even bigger and better than before.  The yard sale now includes all the neighborhoods of the Short North including Victorian Village, Harrison West, Italian Village, Dennison Place and The Circles. An exciting feature this year is the ability to register your sale online and have it appear in a listing and on a map that will be viewable by everyone.  This should really help promote your sale.  We will also arrange for pickup service by a local charity for any unsold items you wish to dispose of.  Last year there were over 150 registered sales in what has become the largest neighborhood yard sale in Columbus!  Please visit the link below to register your sale.  Registration Form

Restaurant Updates: Rosendale's, Thom's on Grandview, Handke's Cuisine, Bakery Gingham

Bakery Gingham, at 180 Thurman Ave. in German Village, has added all organic Hartzler Family Dairy ice cream to the product line, making cake and ice cream easier to come by. One easy combo: ice-cream sandwiches called Gingy Bars, which are halved brownies filled with ice cream ($3.50).

Thom's on Grandview Restaurant and Bar, at 1470 Grandview Ave., has closed to all dining except for private parties and events, owner Thom Coffman said.

clipped from www.dispatch.com Handke's Cuisine has opened a restaurant called encore in space above the subterranean Brewery District landmark to attract patrons with smaller appetites, less time or thinner wallets. On Friday, chef Richard Rosendale will complete the $40,000 split of his restaurant at 793 N. High St. into Rosendale's Modern Bistro, where customers have greater control over the meal, and Upstairs at Rosendale's, where the chef prevails. "We're still doing a lot of covers, mainly on weekends," Rosendale said. "But we've seen a shift in the economy and in consumers' interests. It isn't just that customers want to spend less, but the style of dining has changed to something a lot more social." And the menu is mostly new. Appetizers include baked potato poppers ($6.50), bison meatballs ($6.50) and white truffle popcorn ($5). Entrees include a bistro burger ($9), deep-dish pizza ($10) and roasted half chicken ($14).

Free WiFi Available in Goodale Park..Thanks to Victorian Village Society

clipped from www.victorianvillage.org Free public WiFi access in now available in Goodale Park courtesy of Victorian Village Society and The Community Festival.  Access is available from 6 am to 10 pm seven days a week and is limited to 2 hours in any 24 hour period.  Please contact us at wifi@victorianvillage.org if you have any comments or suggestions about this service.

Update: $8,000 fast cash for first-time homebuyers

clipped from money.cnn.com HUD plans to tweak $8,000 tax credit rules so first-time homebuyers can get instant down-payment assistance. NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Home prices are cheap. Affordability is at a record high. And the market is littered with distressed properties looking for a buyer. But there is one big obstacle for many first-time house hunters looking to take advantage of the market: cash for down payments. The typical first-time buyer has only saved enough to cover 4% of the purchase price, according to the National Association of Realtors. As part of the stimulus package, Congress created a refundable first-time homebuyers tax credit in hopes of helping on-the-fence buyers to take the home-purchase plunge. But buyers couldn't collect the $8,000 credit until tax time, rather than at closing time - when it's needed.

Grandview Yard Update: Capitol Square takes a stake

clipped from columbus.bizjournals.com The developer of the Arena District has gained a significant partner in the redevelopment of the industrial core of Grandview Heights. Nationwide Realty Investors Ltd. said Capitol Square Ltd., the real estate investment arm of the Dispatch Printing Co., will take a 20 percent stake in Grandview Yard, the $600 million-plus commercial and residential complex slated for more than 80 acres between Goodale Boulevard and West Third Avenue. Capitol Square also plans to increase its stake in the Arena District from 10 percent to 20 percent. About $750 million has been invested in the area surrounding Nationwide Arena during the last 10 years. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “We are thrilled to be expanding this highly successful partnership,” Nationwide Realty President Brian Ellis said in a news release. “Capitol Square has been a great partner in the Arena District and we look forward to carrying that strong relationship to Grandview Yard.”

Palm Pre phone available June 6 for $199* (See conditions)

clipped from www.palm.com The new Palm® Pre™ phone will be here June 6, starting at $199.99 on the Sprint network (after rebate and service agreement).1 People, events, information that matters. With Palm Pre, it´ll come to you. Forward this email to a friend, or send this link2: www.palm.com/us/emails/pre/so-close.html