To Fence:

• An attractive, well-maintained fence can add curb appeal and value to your home.
• A solid boundary between yards can ease tension between neighbors – if they both want a fence.
• Fences can be a selling point for your home in years to come.
• Fences give you some privacy.
• A sturdy fence can keep pets and children safer from strangers and traffic.
• A fence offers some security.
• Fencing in your yard can prevent neighbors and strangers from using it as a shortcut.
• Some pet adoption agencies require a fenced yard before you can adopt or rescue a pet.
• In some cases, such as a backyard pool or water feature, a fence can lower your insurance rate.

Not to Fence:

• A fence is an expensive addition to your home.
  (Ask contractors for estimates for various levels of fencing, some materials may be more affordable)
  (Consult with neighbors to see if any of them want to split the cost of joint fence lines)
• Any fence requires some maintenance and repairs.
  (Ask your contractor to steer you toward lower maintenance options)
• Fences that aren’t wanted by neighbors can be a point of contention.
  (Negotiate a happy compromise when possible)
• Fences can isolate neighbors from one another.
• If your property has a utility right of way, your fence would be in jeopardy if repairs to poles or boxes were needed – at your expense.
  (Consult your contractor about removable fence panels and double gates, or excluding the easement)

Live in coveted Muirfield in a wonderful ranch-style fee simple home in the community of Weybridge where the grounds are maintained for you. The large basement has been professionally finished and provides loads of storage space. The home offers two bedrooms, two baths, updated major mechanicals including furnace, A/C, hot water heater, sump pump, and garage door. The interior and exterior have been freshly painted – so just move in and enjoy the Muirfield amenities including pool, tennis courts and trails!

Restaurants offering special Mother’s Day menus, brunches, and features:

The Blackwell: Mother’s day Brunch. Reservations required.

Buca di Beppo Locations: Join us.

Cameron’s American Bistro: Brunch and Dinner specials, reservations required. Special opening time of 11am.

Cap City DinerLocations: Brunch and Dinner specials, reservations recommended. Special opening time of 10am.

Due Amici: Special Mother’s Day features.

Grand Valley Dale Ballroom: Holiday dinner show with big band music, reservations required

J Gilberts: Mother’s Day Prix Fixe $35, 11am-8pm. Reservations recommended.

Lemongrass Fusion Bistro: Dinner Special

M: Special Brunch, reservations required. Special opening at 11am.

Marcella’s: Special Brunch or Dinner menu. Reservations recommended. Special opening at 11am.

Martini: Mother’s Day Brunch or Dinner Menu, reservations required. Special opening at 11am.

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood: Join us.

Molly Woo’s: Special Mother’s Day dinner. Reservations required, opening 11am.

The River Club: Champagne Brunch, reservations required.

Ruth’s Chris: Lunch or Dinner, Reservations recommended.

Tucci’s California Bistro: Special Buffet and Dinner service.

Z Cucina di Spirito: Mother’s Day Italian feast, reservations required.

Mother’s Day Gifts:

Purchase a $100 gift certificate to Charles Penzone Salons, and get a complimentary candle in a Penzone scent!

Visit Inniswood Gardens and receive a free seed packet for your own garden!

Family Activities for Mom’s Special Day:

Blooms & Butterflies at Franklin Park Conservatory: Adopt a butterfly and release it into the water garden, $5 per butterfly.

Clayspace: Special Mother/Child clay projects, $35 for adult, $25 for child

SPEAK! Women Sharing Voices at the King Arts Complex

Mother’s Day Art, Craft, and LifeStyle Show at Tuttle Mall

Mother’s Day celebration at the Columbus Zoo: Moms get in free with a paid child admission.

Mother’s and Grandmother’s Day at Blendon Woods Metro Park: A presentation on nesting birds, then a gentle walk along the Lake Trail to look for nests.

Wildflower Wonder at Sharon Woods Metro Park: 1 mile on and off trail wildflower search, and informational talk.

Columbus International Gem and Jewelry Show: At Vet’s Memorial

Weybridge is a quiet Dublin community where you can take advantage of all the wonderful Muirfield Village amenities: walking trails, ponds, playgrounds, tennis courts, swimming pools. You’ll have time since the grounds are maintained for you in this two bedroom, two bath, fee simple attached home.

Single family homes are defined as freestanding homes on a piece of property owned entirely by the buyer. Here are some benefits and concerns when deciding to buy a house:

• Independence; you are free to own pets, run a business, and decorate your home
• Privacy
• Greater resale value in most markets, and more stability in price
• Tend to be larger with more storage
• You have to hire experts for maintenance or buy tools and learn the skills to DIY
• More outdoor space, and private outdoor space
• HOAs may require some limits to independent decision making

Condominiums can be a range of physical structures, from apartments to townhouses to duplexes. Here are some benefits and concerns to weigh when deciding to purchase a condo:

• Association fees: (often include snow removal, lawn care, maintenance, sanitation, some utilities, building insurance, etc)
• Association rules
• Often multiple units in a building, meaning shared walls/floors/ceilings
• Communal space available for use, such as party rooms, pools, laundry rooms
• Lesser resale value in some markets, although not all, and are more volatile in price
• Tend to be smaller with less storage space
• Amenities such as pool, fitness center, tennis courts

In the end, the decision to buy a house or a condo rests with you. What would fit your needs better? How much do you enjoy owning and maintaining a home, versus how much would you enjoy the freedom from those responsibilities? There is no right answer. Tour plenty of options of either housing style, talk to an experienced Realtor, and take your time. Housing markets today favor the prepared and prequalified buyer…so know what’s important to you, and happy home-hunting!

HOAs are guided by a Board of Directors, operate under bylaws that govern how the HOA is run, and publish a list of covenants, conditions, and restrictions. Ohio recently passed a law requiring that HOAs register their bylaws with the State, so every HOA must have a copy of their current bylaws on file by March 1, 2011. This may make it easier to get a copy of those bylaws. The CC&Rs are your rules to follow as a homeowner or tenant. Typically for HOAs with large common areas or common buildings, there is a monthly fee, although smaller HOAs sometimes collect fees yearly, instead. HOAs have been treated by courts as small governments, and have upheld and enforced the CC&Rs, fee collection, and penalties. There are usually penalties for non-compliance, up to and including a lien on your home, or a foreclosure. It’s very important to learn about the HOA that governs a neighborhood in which you’d like to purchase a home. It’s equally important to acquire and examine the CC&Rs for that HOA so that you can evaluate whether you’d be happy living within their rules.

For homeowners who enjoy living in a picture perfect neighborhood, or who appreciate common areas such as tennis courts, swimming pools, and the like, a well-run HOA may be a dream come true. Those homeowners who value the unique, who would resent applying for permission to erect a fence, add a solar panel, or change a paint color, may find HOAs to be more of a hindrance than a help. Ask your Realtor to help you obtain a copy of the HOA bylaws and CC&Rs before you buy your home, and read the information carefully. Then take a good look at what you desire most from your home and your neighborhood. Think about what attracts you most to the neighborhoods you like the most. You know your own needs best, and you are the best judge what would be a good fit for you and your family.

In a way, now is a good time to be a baby boomer looking toward retirement. After all, there are so many innovative options for retirement living.

Active adult retirement communities have become standard fare and co-housing and retirement village opportunities are growing.

And niche retirement options have been emerging and you now can find retirement environments that cater to your interests, whether that is art- and education-centered living or something else.

The newest wrinkle in retirement care comes from the recreational vehicle (RV) set. It serves seniors who have enjoyed their golden years on the road.

The Escapees CARE Center is one answer to the question “What happens to full-time RVer’s when they can’t care for themselves because of an illness or because of long-term health needs?” CARE stands for “continuing assistance for retired escapees.”

The unconventional care option in Livingston, Texas, adjacent to an RV park, delivers services to RVer’s who no longer can be on the road and who need assistance. That help can include daily meals and snacks, transportation to medical appointments, access to a nurse, and adult daycare programs.
For more information see, www.escapeescare.org, and watch a video about the community.

More information & map here