Locally owned and operated since 1975, Huff Realty has grown to be one of the areas largest, fastest growing, and most respected real estate brokers. Currently with 14 offices within the Tri-state area, Huff's size, network, history, and reputation ensures that our clients receive first-class representation from all of the knowledge, tools and amenities that should be expected of a large and established broker. However, what attracted me -- and I hope you -- to the Huff Metropolitan Office is the cutting-edge vision that it brings to the Greater Cincinnati market.

When the first building in Downtown Cincinnati was converted to condos in the 1990's, Christine Schoonover was an integral part of the project. She understood urban living when it was almost non-existent here, she knew downtown when most area agents couldn't even find it on a map (and aided by a guide dog), and Schoonover became the foremost expert on the Cincinnati metropolitan real estate market. A few years ago, Jim Huff agreed to back Schoonover in opening the first real estate office in Cincinnati's Downtown Business District. Unlike other real estate offices, Christine picked a handful of agents to staff the Metropolitan Office and created an environment that is incredibly unique in the real estate world. Huff Metro agents work together. We're all still independent contractors, but we have a team mentality that greatly benefits clients represented by Huff Metropolitan agents.


Knowing the Present and Recognizing the Future

Happiness is living a lifestyle that suits who you really are; and some aspects of our lives are easier to control than others. I can't help you with who you fall in love with, children, or profession, but I can help you find a home that is copasetic with the rest of your life. Like most area Realtors, I'm familiar with the suburbs and I'll be happy to represent you in the sale or purchase of a home there. But unlike most area Realtors, I'm part of an office that understands the future of Cincinnati urban living. Of course, downtown isn't for everybody -- but neither is I-75 traffic at rush hour.

Cincinnati has a social focus on neighborhoods. This culture, combined with maze-like road patterns that wind through multiple hills, means that many people live in this area for years without ever entering neighborhoods that they might love -- that they might choose to live in -- if they were provided with the right information. Unfortunately, many people never get exposure to these areas or, worse, hear a barrage of misinformation. Many of this City's neighborhoods are experiencing a renaissance and amazing transformations from areas with historically dangerous reputations to great places to find both interesting and luxurious homes. Whether it is the fantastic value of a historic home in eclectic Northside or Clifton, the Soho-like transformation of Over-the-Rhine, or the upscale luxury of downtown condos with breathtaking views, the importance of working with an agent and an office with an understanding of less-traditional markets and buyers, and a hand on the pulse of a rapidly changing area is crucial to matching buyers and sellers.


Understanding the Power of the Internet

According to recent data from the Realty Alliance, 82% of homebuyers search online before talking to an agent; and a recent survey found that more than two-thirds of homebuyers using the Internet found such features as detailed property information and multiple photos to be extremely valuable. In January 2004, the Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors stopped permitting public access to the Greater Cincinnati Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This means that every broker is responsible for making their agents' listings available to the public, which makes choosing a broker and agent with unparalleled Internet coverage one of the most important decisions to make when deciding who should list your home.

To ensure that our clients enjoy the maximum benefit of Internet advertising, we maximize exposure through the use of multiple sites with different features to reach the broadest possible audience. Unlike the websites of many other local brokers, www.Huff.com provides different search capabilities, making it easier to use for more people. Once buyers find a property online, properties listed with Huff agents benefit from multiple photos, virtual tours, and an Appointment Scheduler that lets potential buyers request showings from the listing agent 24-hours a day. In addition, www.Huff.com is linked with the most popular national site, www.Realtor.com, its affiliates www.WSJ.com, www.MSN.com, www.AOL.com, as well as: www.ReloNationalHomeSearch.com, www.Cincinnati.com, www.LuxuryRealEstate.com, www.Yahoo.com, www.HarmonHomes.com, and of course, www.CincyMLS.net and www.NKMLS.com. Huff.com also provides a site for every agent, and permits links from that site to independently maintained ones -- and your agent's investment in additional sites with additional features can be extremely valuable. In addition, www.DowntownLiving.com contains a list of all of our largest and most exciting projects.


A Full-Service Firm For Sellers

When deciding to sell your home, you have many options. If you have a lot of spare time, patience for dealing with the public, and a firm grasp of real estate laws, you can place it for sale by owner; or you can use a discount broker that provides MLS access and leaves the vast majority of work up to you. Or, you can use a full-service firm like HUFF that not only provides you with professional representation, but also includes the expense of MLS exposure, public Internet advertising, traditional classified print ads, display ads, home books, and a support network to related services. Selling a home may seem simple at first -- and if you are extremely lucky it may even turn out that way -- but it usually becomes complicated. In the end, the decision to use a full-service broker over a discount broker or trying to sell your home yourself is like choosing a plastic surgeon or criminal defense attorney based solely on price -- what you "save" can leave you miserable and mangled. Choosing a full-service professional broker is worth it, and you will not find a better one than Huff, nor a more professional office than Huff Metropolitan.