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Midwest Living recently published the article  "12 Ways to Maximize Your Office Space". A few of our favorite tips include:

• Go Green: "Studies show that plants in office spaces boost happiness and productivity. Try easy-care varieties such as succulents."
• Get Creative: "​In place of a pinboard, use frames to display art pieces, souvenirs or cards that get you thinking. Swap in new items regularly."
• Be Comfortable: "Ergonomics get a lot of attention, but if your work space is in the corner of a living area, consider splurging on a chair that’s a beautiful piece of furniture, too."​

BCH's Take: Getting into a productive mindset at home can be a challenge at times. Give yourself the best opportunity to focus by balancing comfort with the staples of traditional office efficiency - and make sure your coffee supply is always well stocked. 

WTOL recently published a list of the top 10 most expensive homes currently for sale in the Toledo area - (check out the list here). The homes mentioned in the list cover a wide range of styles, custom amenities, geographic footprints and neighborhoods. This suggests that affluent owners don't want to live in cookie-cutter, model homes but prefer distinct environments with personalized elements that align with their tastes and interests. 

BCH'S TAKE: For buyers looking to build their own distinctive home, finding a partner who can execute on your unique vision is paramount. Look for resources who are  focused on serving you by designing to your vision vs. those looking to take the path of least resistance by pushing a bland floor plan from their  portfolio of homes. 

According to a recent article in The Blade,  housing inventory in Northwest Ohio is now at a multi-year low - "In May, 2015, a total of 3,186 single-family homes were listed for sale in Lucas and northern Wood County. A year later, the May listings were at 2,958, and last May they fell to 2,566 listings."

“The impact of it all is that you have increased competition. When you have more people looking at a house that tends to create a frenzy...When a good house comes on the market, it could have 10 to 15 showings in the first couple of days because buyers know that you just can’t wait. There’s a frenzy upfront to see the house quicker and that leads to a steady increase in market pricing."

BCH's TAKE: Due to a) the reduction of new housing inventory coming online, b) the consolidation and shrinking pool of home builders operating in the area to absorb housing demand since the recession, and c) the surging stock market and tax overhaul providing potential buyers the opportunity to upgrade their lifestyle, we expect the upward trend in housing prices for both new and existing homes to continue to rise over the coming years.