Kingston Crossing Block Watch

In the summer of 2009, two neighborhoods came together to form the Kingston Crossing/Walnut Bluff Block Watch. The two communities, located in southeast Columbus, cover 19 streets. They are adjacent to each other and consist of the entire subdivision of Kingston Crossing and the portion of Walnut Bluff south of Refugee Road. It is bordered on the north by Refugee Road, on the south by Chatterton Road, the east by Legion Lane, and the west by Falcon Bridge.

The neighborhood of Kingston Crossing is the newer of the two, situated in the area east of Noe Bixby and west of Brice Roads. There are about 630 homes in the combined subdivisions, which is serviced by the Columbus City Schools District.

Block Watch associations are not about spying on their neighbors, nor does it necessarily imply that the neighborhood is riddled with crime. What it really means is that neighbors that have similar interests come together as a “community.” As a society, we will never outgrow our need to connect with one another. It also allows us to have a sense of “belonging.”

The Block Watch has already had a strong impact on the community and has formed alliances with the Far East Policing Station, Brice Road businesses, and other neighboring block watches. Over the summer, the Block Watch took on a beautification project at the entrances of Kingston Crossing, removing trash and debris, overgrown shrubbery, and planting new vegetation.

The Block Watch has also been instrumental in getting catch basins cleaned out that faced Chatterton Road, requesting Columbus City Council to consider a traffic study and alerting residents of crimes on the neighborhood.

In October, it hosted a Halloween party, sponsored by Lowe’s, Half Priced Books, the Columbus Fire Department and other neighborhood businesses. It was an opportunity for neighbors to come together for fun, food and fellowship. The Block watch is looking to expand in 2010 to adjacent communities in the Southeast area.

Home Buyer Tax Credit -- New for 2010

Some people are confused about the changes in the home buyer tax credit for 2010. What are some of the changes in the tax credit and how do they affect the two types of home buyers -- first time home buyers and existing home owners?

First, the first time home buyer tax credit, up to $8,000, which was scheduled to expire Nov. 30, 2009, has been extended through April 30, 2010. The purchase contract must close by June 30, 2010. That's great news for those first time home buyers that were sitting on the fence or waiting to see if congress would increase the credit to $15,000. Well, they didn't get the increase, but they did get more time. So hurry to get into that first home, because the credit is set to expire April 30th.


Now for some more good news. The credit has been extended to homeowners that have owned their current home for five of the last eight years and want to purchase another residence. Current home owners are eligible for up to $6,500 tax credit. To be eligible, the home owner must (1) purchase a home worth less than $800,000, (2) purchase the home as their primary residence (not second homes or investment properties), and (3) have an income of less than $125,000 for single taxpayers and less than $225,000 for couples.

The new home must be their primary residence for at least 3 years following the purchase. If the home is sold or the buyer moves before 3 years, they must repay the full amount of the credit. 


There are exceptions for military, foreign service and intelligence employees with extended service overseas. They will have until April 30, 2011 and June 30, 2011 to purchase a home.


The legislation goes into effect Nov. 7, 2009 and is NOT retroactive. Sorry, but buyers that already own a home and are currently in contract to purchase another one, do not qualify.

Home Maintenance Tips

Fall is always a good time to bring out the old checklist and do some scheduled maintenance around the house. Hopefully, this will be useful information to pass on to your clients.

Change furnace filters monthly. It’s so easy to do and so critical. Clogged filters decrease furnace efficiency and can cause breakdowns.

Drain water heater at least once a year. Sediment will drain out along with the water from the water tank. Removing sediment can prolong the heater’s useful life.

Check electrical circuits. Test performance of the circuit breakers in the electrical circuit box twice a year by flipping them off and back on. If there is a circuit that keeps shutting off with normal daily electrical use, call an electrician. A faulty circuit breaker could indicate a short in the wiring inside walls.

Watch for drips. Check under sinks periodically to look for leaks or water stains that might indicate leaks. Catching a small problem early can prevent water damage. Use a plunger to clean out sinks and tubs whenever water doesn’t drain normally.

Be aware of system life spans. Water heaters, furnaces, roofs, and other key components should be replaced before they fail, based on their average useful lives. Here’s a general ballpark of the life span for key components: exterior house paint: 5-8 years; furnace: 15-30 years; roof: 13-15 years; water heater: 7-15 years.

Keep the wet out. Water is a major enemy. Check each season for signs of water damage. Flashing, the metal pieces used to seal the areas between roofs and chimneys and around doors and windows, are especially vulnerable to damage by wind or age. Loose flashing can let water seep under a roof or inside walls, which can cause mold.

Get to the bottom of things. Check the home’s foundation for cracks or gaps that could let in water or insects. Also look at the ground around the house. As homes age, they often sink slightly below the surrounding ground. This settling lets water puddle against the foundation and possibly damage it. Doing major landscaping work also can cause changes to the ground’s pitch that let water flow towards the house.

Look up. Chimneys take a great deal of weather abuse. Visually inspect them each year for signs of loose mortar or loose or missing bricks. Have the insides of chimneys cleaned every two to three years. Also check the roof for loose shingles or dangling gutters.

The Neighborhood of Preston Trials

Preston Trails is an eight-year old community located in the fast developing city of Pickerington, Ohio. Pickerington is physically situated in Fairfield County, which is about 15 minutes southeast of the state capital, Columbus. It has a country-like setting, but with all the amenities of a large metropolitan area. Pickerington is the 50th largest community in Ohio.

Preston Trails is a beautiful, wooded community and features a 35-acre nature reserve and tranquil bike trail. Preston Trails is located in the desirable Pickerington Local School District, and Diley Middle School is located within the community itself. The Pickerington school system is outstanding in both academics and athletics and has a statewide performance score of over 100%.

There are two lot sizes in Preston Trails – 60 ft. and 70 ft. with a wide variety of homes styles to suit every taste. Homes in Preston Trails range from 1300sq ft. to over 3000 sq ft. These include ranches and two stories with a variety of options. Housing prices are also affordable, with the average home value at approximately $200K. This community features a variety of home sites with many having walkout basements and other distinctive architectural details.

Preston Trails is conveniently situated near major retail shopping, restaurants and business centers on route 256, and is 12 minutes from Easton Town Center and Port Columbus International Airport. It is just minutes away from Pickerington Ponds Metro Park, Blacklick Metro Park, Blacklick Golf Course, Interstate 70 and I-270.

Pickerington is host to such annual event as the Violet Festival and Taste of Pickerington. Pickerington is home to many people who could be described as "urban sophisticates," people who have above average income, employed in professional occupations, and are highly educated. Urban sophisticates support coffee shops, bookstores, quality clothing stores and travel.

Pickerington enjoys a diverse population from a variety of ancestries that include white, African American, German, Irish, English, Italian and Polish.

Preston Trails is located south of Interstate 70E past I-270. Take I-270 to I-70 East. Take the 256 Exit on right and head south on 256 to Diley Road, then turn right onto Diley Road. Preston Trails is 1 1/2 miles on the Left. It can also be reached by taking I-270 to Route 33 east. Then take 33E to Diley Road. Turn left onto Diley Road. Preston Trails in located on the right.

Test Your Credit IQ

In today's economy, many consumers have experienced rough time with their credit, due mostly to layoffs, downsizing, right sizing, or other corporate shrinkage. Many are facing, for the first time in their lives, bankruptcy, foreclosure, or simple financial mismanagement due to their economic situation. All these situations can have a detrimental effect on their credit score.

More than forty percent of U.S. consumers have credit scores below 650. As a result, they typically don't qualify for preferred interest rates and, depending on their overall credit profile, may not qualify for certain loans and credit cards. Most consumers don't understand what affects their credit profile, or what actions they can take to help improve it.

On average, U.S. consumers have about 13 credit obligations on their credit report. These can include installment loans (auto loans, mortgage loans, student loans, etc.) and credit cards (such as department store charge cards, gas cards, or bank cards). As a result of the numerous outstanding credit obligations, combined with the lack of proper knowledge and guidance about what impacts their credit profile, they ends up spending thousands of dollars on unnecessary interest expenses.

With a good understanding and guidance of how credit works, consumers can learn how to effectively manage their personal credit profile. Improvements can be obtained fairly rapidly with a reputable credit coaching service http://www.apprisen.com/ and the proper changes. In these economic times, every responsible consumer should proactively evaluate, optimize and protect their credit before they have a credit need or issue arises.

This short quiz will help test how much you know about your credit profile and how it works.

1. To have the best credit profile impact, what is the maximum amount of your monthly credit line you should use?

a) 70%

b) 30%

c) 50%

2. What is the top contributing factor to what makes a good credit score?

a) Length of credit history

b) Amounts you owe

c) Payment history

3. If you pay 2% each month on your credit card (typical minimum payment), when will you pay off a $3,000 balance at 10% interest?

a) 18 years

b) 6 years
c) 3 years

4. After paying off a high-interest credit card, you should:

a) Continue using it occasionally

b) Close the account

c) Use the full amount of available credit every month

5. Applying for credit cards in order to just receive a free sign-up gift (t-shirts, mugs, etc.) has no impact on my credit profile?

True or False

6. Rewards points on credit cards are a good deal when:

a) I get cash back

b) I get free airline tickets

c) I carry no balance each month

7. To have a credit score, I must have at least one creditor reporting activity on my credit report for:

a) 12 months

b) 8 months

c) 6 months

8. Credit bureaus that manage your personal credit report data and credit scores are a:

a) Government entity

b) Non-profit agency

c) Regular business corporation

9. Banks and credit card companies think you are credit-worthy by how many credit offers you receive by mail?

True or False

10. Credit scores are used by lenders mainly to:
a) Tell how I compare to other consumers

b) Tell if I make my payments on time

c) Predict the likeliness that I will repay my loan on time

Answers: 1 - c, 2 - c, 3 - a, 4 - a, 5 - False, 6 - c, 7 - c, 8 - c, 9 - False, 10 - c

The Village at Minerva Park

The quality of life in Minerva Park can best be described as tranquil and serene. It has narrow, tree-lined streets that give you a true “community” atmosphere and take you back to a time when life moved at a much slower pace. Minerva Park is actually its own village, located northeast of Columbus, Ohio between Columbus and Westerville. The community was named for the Minerva Amusement Park, which operated here from 1895 to 1902 and had up to 25,000 visitors daily during its peak period.

The village of Minerva Park was incorporated in 1940 and has a Mayor’s court, police department, village council, community center, golf club, and swim club. http://www.minervapark.org/. There is also beautiful Minerva Lake situated in the village. The population of Minerva Park in July, 2008 was about 1,205, with 545 households, and 408 families.The median resident age is 46 years, with an estimated median household income in 2007 of $71,597. Ohio’s median household income is just over $46,000. The estimated median house value in 2007 was around $191,000.

The community has special events and programs throughout the year, to include the local Welcome Wagon, Family Fun Night, Wine & Cheese Pool Party, Founders Day (in lieu of Fourth of July) and Annual Garage Sale to name a few. It also has an annual Halloween party and annual Christmas carriage rides with horse-drawn carriages through the village.

The Village of Minerva Park is serviced by Westerville City Schools http://www.westerville.k12.oh.us/ and includes 16 elementary schools, 4 middle schools and three high schools. The Westerville City Schools district is a culturally and economically diverse area of 52 square miles in northeastern Franklin and southern Delaware counties. The student population is approximately 14,250 students and is the 10th-largest district in Ohio. It earned a rating of "Excellent" from the Ohio Department of Education on the most recent State Report Card.

The community’s racial mixture is nearly 97% white with ancestry from Germany (30.7%), England (19.7%), Ireland (18.6%), United States (8.9%), Italian (8.2%), French (4.4%).

Directions to Minerva Lake: From downtown Columbus, take 71north to161, Exit 117 (Dublin Granville Road); exit right onto 161 north; travel about 2 miles to Cleveland Avenue; turn right onto Cleveland Ave; travel about 1 mile to Minerva Lake Road; turn left into the village. From 270, take 270N to 161 Worthington/New Albany exit; exit left to 161; take 161 (Dublin Granville Rd) to Cleveland Ave; turn left onto Cleveland Ave; continue about 1 mile to Minerva Lake Road; turn left into the Village.