Posts By Kathleen Cosner
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2.7KOpinion EditorialsOhio budget proposal penalizes real estate consumers
The Ohio budget proposal seeks to add a five percent tax on services rendered in the state, but Commissioner Testa's testimony failed...
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2.3K7Opinion EditorialsHow Ohio Gov. Kasich’s proposed budget could kill home sales
Governor Kasich recently proposed a new budget for the state of Ohio includes some tax changes that could do a great deal...
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2.8K29Housing NewsRPR generating revenue, unclear how Realtors benefit
RPR launched in recent years with lofty goals in mind, but as a dues paying member at the National Association of Realtors,...
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2.5K7Opinion EditorialsHUD-approved counseling program puts homeowners at risk – opinion
While the federal government advises against any entity advising borrowers stop making payments in order to get a loan modification, one HUD-approved...
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6.3K7Opinion EditorialsRealtor background checks include reputation, character: legal?
Background checks on Realtors and Appraisers are not new, but including DMV records, reputation, and mode of living, is new. Without obtaining...
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3.6K4Housing NewsVeteran threatened with eviction for needing companion dog
Fair Housing Laws have been updated in recent years, making it illegal to discriminate against a renter or buyer based on who...
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2.5K3Opinion EditorialsThe duty most Realtors ignore and why the industry is going to hell
An extremely high standard In Ohio where I practice real estate, all licensed brokers and sales agents are held to an extremely...
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2.3K15Opinion EditorialsWhat two journalists’ mistakes can teach Realtors about ethics
What journalists and Realtors have in common Two things happened recently with wildly different writers for local paper, The Cleveland Plain Dealer. ...
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2.4K16Opinion EditorialsMicrosoft’s ‘avoid the ghetto’ app causes uproar
Microsoft’s patent is now approved Pedestrian Route Production is the description of the patent Microsoft has recently registered with the U.S. Patent...
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Housing News
How Cleveland, Ohio is overcoming it’s six year economic crisis
Cleveland – bankrupt in 1976 Cleveland, my hometown*, is in the news again, thanks to 60 Minutes. We aren’t usually known for...
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4.6K48Opinion EditorialsBad appraisals killing real estate deals – is there a solution?
The tiresome issue of the misunderstood appraisal Raise your hand if you’re tired of hearing about low appraisals in the news. Raise...
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2.4K11Opinion EditorialsOpen letter to Santa asking for wisdom for Realtors and world peace
My Christmas wish In the spirit of, well, Christmas, instead of asking for a ton of glittery, sparkly, furry, and even cool...
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Opinion Editorials
NAR launches Realtor University, offers major discounts for their Masters Degree
Education opportunities available to Realtors We have a lot of education opportunities available to us, through our companies, boards, and online. These opportunities...
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1.7K19Opinion EditorialsBanks severely limit how REO agents phrase MLS listing descriptions – outrageous
Truth in advertising is dead. Thanks, banks. Someone, somewhere, has decided that truth in advertising no longer matters. Many corporate clients, meaning...
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76015Opinion EditorialsNAR housing summit – analyzing the five new recommendations
October housing summit results “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein The...
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72517Opinion EditorialsCould vigilant Realtors have helped curb real estate fraud?
Rising to the challenge Choices are always available to us. We can ignore issues, be complacent, and allow things to remain status...
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1.4K15Opinion EditorialsOccupy Wall Street protesters lack realistic expectations
The Occupy Wall Street movement Some (like the Occupy Wall Street protesters) will disagree, but there have actually been good, if not...
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1.6KResidentialRecycling the concept of home equity insurance in a down market
Revamping an old concept The concept of equity insurance has been around longer than TNT & USA have been showing daylong marathons...
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9.7K3Opinion EditorialsThe evolution of the Broker Price Opinion – harsh words on industry changes
The evolution of broker price opinions Broker Price Opinions- I spend a good portion of the working week completing quite a few...
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Opinion Editorials
Best way to talk to strangers about real estate? Have a medical emergency
No diagnosis for you, but is it a good time to invest? Over the last three weeks I have been in many,...
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Opinion Editorials
Why NAR and the government should stop trying to fix housing
Newest attempt to “fix” housing- a Summit Oh, boy. We know there’s trouble when NAR not only requested, but is now planning...
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Opinion Editorials
Minding Realtor safety may seem paranoid, but losing friends is worse
First anniversary of two lives lost As we approach September, we are being reminded that it will be Realtor Safety month from...
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Opinion Editorials
Mass mortgage principal write-downs based on bad theory raises many questions
A rise in principal write-downs Principal write-downs are not necessarily the flavor of the month for lenders and servicers, but they are...
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Opinion Editorials
NAR amends Code of Ethics to protect LGBT, yet finances anti-LGBT candidates
Code of Ethics amended In January of this year, Article 10 of The Realtor Code of Ethics was amended to include sexual...
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Opinion Editorials
The potentially devastating pitfalls of turning REOs into rentals
A common misconception First, let’s clear up a misconception. Foreclosure is a process, usually involving a court of some kind; the process...
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Opinion Editorials
The outrageous flaws of repealing the mortgage interest deduction
100 year old tax deduction in danger Every few months it seems as though the Mortgage Interest Deduction makes headlines as those...
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Opinion Editorials
A portrait of the dual agency in real estate debate, 2011 style
Back in the day… Back in the day, when interest rates were 18%, and the MLS consisted of a huge 3-ring binder,...
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Opinion Editorials
How to deal with Realtors that throw around the “s” word
Ridiculous verbal altercations about verifiable laws Few things are more irritating in real estate than when someone unjustly brings up the dreaded...
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Opinion Editorials
16% of transactions tank in June, finger pointing going wild
One big industry of professionals Builders, inspectors, lenders, underwriters, lawyers, investors, title reps, appraisers, and of course agents, we are all part...
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Ethics
Realtors, we really need to get over ourselves already
Real estate now vs. 1987 In Real Estate, some things are always changing, like financing, education, laws, rules and technology. The two...
