by Tammy Murphy | Mar 31, 2026 | Kettering, Neighbor Chat, Real Estate News
We’re sharing this update with our RH2L community by cross-posting a conversation from our Real-Tea Podcast—so you can quickly understand what’s being discussed locally and decide what it means for you.
A proposed $512 million school levy in Kettering is getting attention—but most homeowners aren’t getting clear, straightforward context on how it could impact them.
Instead of repeating headlines or taking sides, this episode focuses on the questions homeowners are already asking—about cost, timing, and whether there are alternative approaches worth considering.
🎙️ Watch the Full Conversation (This episode is designed to give you clarity—not tell you what to think.)
https://youtu.be/9_BsMeKtudk
Why This Conversation Matters
This isn’t just about schools—it’s about how large-scale decisions like this intersect with:
- Your property taxes
- Overall cost of homeownership
- Long-term financial planning as a homeowner
If you live in Kettering (or are considering it), this is the kind of conversation that directly affects your day-to-day reality.
AND – if one school district can do this – others could follow suit (BTW West Carrollton did it, but they used BOND programs).
❓ The Questions Being Asked Right Now
In the podcast, we explore questions many residents are already thinking about:
- Does everything need to happen all at once?
- Are there more phased or flexible approaches?
- How does this align with what homeowners are currently experiencing financially?
These aren’t political questions—they’re practical homeowner questions.
by Tammy Murphy | Mar 21, 2026 | Buyers, Investor Relations, Market Updates, Neighbor Chat, Networking, Real Estate News, Real Homes to Love
The Dayton housing market saw a slight seasonal slowdown in February, largely influenced by extended cold temperatures and winter weather — but the overall story remains one of stability and continued price growth.
Even with fewer homes coming to market and a small dip in sales activity, home values continued to rise, reinforcing the strength of our local market.
📊 Key Market Highlights
- New Listings: 1,076 (down 3.8%)
- Closed Sales: 906 (down 2.3%)
- Total Sales Volume: $259.9M (up 2.3%)
- Median Sale Price: $252,750 (up 5.4%)
- Average Sale Price: $286,835 (up 4.7%)
- Inventory: 1,926 homes
- Months of Supply: ~2 months
💰 Prices Continue to Lead the Story
While activity slowed slightly, pricing continued to climb.
The median and average sale prices both posted solid year-over-year gains, showing that buyer demand remains strong enough to support appreciation, even during a slower winter month.
🏠 Inventory Remains Tight
At just 2 months of supply, Dayton continues to operate in a seller’s market.
Even though inventory is slightly improved compared to recent years, it remains below the level considered balanced — meaning well-prepared homes are still moving quickly.
❤️ What This Means
This is not a declining market — it’s a seasonally adjusted, stabilizing one.
- Sellers continue to benefit from strong pricing
- Buyers are seeing slightly less competition than peak seasons
- Strategic timing and preparation matter more than ever
📞 Planning Your Next Move?
As we head into the spring market, now is the time to prepare — whether you’re buying, selling, or simply exploring your options.
👉 Let’s connect and create a plan that fits your goals.
by Tammy Murphy | Feb 28, 2026 | Buyers, Neighbor Chat, Real Estate News, Real Homes to Love, Sellers
Timing the Market vs. Preparing for the Market
Trying to perfectly time the real estate market is a bit like trying to time the stock market. The ideal moment rarely announces itself. What we can control is preparation.
Right now we are in that sweet spot:
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Buyers are becoming more active
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Sellers are beginning to prepare homes
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Inventory hasn’t yet reached peak spring levels
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Serious buyers are already watching closely
The early movers often benefit the most.
🏡 For Sellers: Beat the Spring Rush
Spring historically brings more listings — which also means more competition.
Listing just before the full wave hits can offer:
The market doesn’t wait for flowers to bloom. It moves when buyers are ready — and many are ready now.
If your home is show-ready, this transition window can be powerful.
🔑 For Buyers: Opportunity Is Knocking
Longer days mean more showing opportunities, extended open house windows, and renewed inventory growth. But remember — more inventory also brings more buyers into the mix.
Acting early in the season allows you to:
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Shop before peak competition
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Negotiate while inventory is still building
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Lock in a plan before bidding intensity rises
Preparation beats hesitation every time.
by Tammy Murphy | Feb 12, 2026 | BLOG, Buyers, Current Events, Investor Relations, Market Updates, Neighbor Chat, Networking, Real Estate News, Real Homes to Love, Sellers
While National Sales Slowed in January… Dayton Started 2026 Strong
January 2026 housing data is a tale of two markets.
Nationally, the numbers came in softer than expected. Existing-home sales declined 8.4% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.91 million. Month-over-month and year-over-year sales fell across all regions.
Economists pointed to unusually cold temperatures and above-normal precipitation as likely contributors, making it difficult to determine whether January’s dip reflects broader economic forces or simply weather-related delays.
However, there is an important national takeaway: affordability has been improving for several consecutive months, and homeowners continue to build long-term equity and wealth.
So while transaction counts were lower nationally, the fundamentals are stabilizing.
And then there’s Ohio.
Ohio Outperformed — And So Did Dayton
After attending our State Winter Conference and hearing the national economic review firsthand, one statement stood out:
“Ohio outperformed the national average by 6.9% in 2025.”
That strength carried right into January.
According to Dayton-area MLS data, our local market told a very different story:
And it gets even stronger.
Sales Volume
Pricing Strength
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Average sale price: $276,169 (up 2.5%)
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Median sale price: $237,500 (up 3%)
Inventory Growth
And remember — this happened during one of the coldest January stretches in recent years.
What This Means for Buyers & Sellers in Dayton
While national headlines highlight slowing sales, Dayton demonstrated:
✔ Stable demand
✔ Healthy appreciation
✔ Increasing listing activity
✔ Balanced inventory growth
This is not a stagnant market.
This is a steady, functioning, resilient one.
Affordability is gradually improving due to wage growth and slightly lower mortgage rates. Combine that with Ohio’s relative price point, and our region continues to be positioned as a value-driven market with long-term upside.
The Bigger Picture
National media often focuses on slowdown, price corrections, or interest rates.
But real estate is hyper-local.
And locally?
Dayton began 2026 with:
That tells a very different story than the national narrative.
If you’re watching the market — whether as a homeowner, buyer, investor, or simply someone who cares about local economic strength — January shows that our region remains notably strong.
And that’s something worth paying attention to. Want an even more micro-view on your neighborhood activity? Tammy is happy to pull the specific data for you 🙂
by Tammy Murphy | Feb 10, 2026 | Buyers, Current Events, Neighbor Chat, Networking, Real Estate News, Real Homes to Love
🏡 A New Way for Ohio Buyers to Build Their Down Payment Faster
If you’ve been watching the market and thinking, “I’m close… but I need a little more saved,” this new statewide program may be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.
Ohio has launched a savings initiative designed to help residents grow their down payment funds more efficiently through participating banks and credit unions. Instead of a standard savings account earning minimal interest, qualified buyers can take advantage of enhanced earnings while they prepare to purchase.
In today’s environment — where purchase prices and interest rates require thoughtful planning — structured savings can make a real difference.
Why This Is Important for Buyers
One of the biggest hurdles to homeownership isn’t monthly affordability — it’s the upfront cash needed for:
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Down payment
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Closing costs
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Prepaid escrows
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Moving expenses
We regularly meet buyers who are financially responsible, gainfully employed, and fully ready for ownership — but they need more time to strengthen their savings.
This new Ohio program creates:
✔ A disciplined savings pathway
✔ Potential interest advantages
✔ Possible state tax benefits
✔ A defined timeline to move from “thinking about it” to “ready to buy”
And when you combine smart saving with proper pre-approval planning, the buying process becomes much more strategic.
What Buyers Should Know
The program is designed for Ohio residents preparing to purchase a primary residence in Ohio. Funds are intended specifically for down payment and closing cost use.
There are minimum and maximum balance guidelines and a five-year usage window — so this isn’t just a savings account, it’s a goal-oriented one.
Participating financial institutions are already enrolling eligible applicants, and additional banks and credit unions are expected to join.
(We’ve linked directly to the official Ohio Treasurer page here for full details and enrollment information.)
The Bigger Picture
Programs like this signal something important:
Ohio wants to strengthen homeownership.
And that aligns directly with what we believe at RH2L — homeownership builds stability, equity, and long-term opportunity for families and communities.
If you’re:
• Renting but considering ownership
• Planning a move within the next 1–3 years
• Helping a child or grandchild buy their first home
• Or simply unsure what your buying power looks like
Now is a great time to create a strategy.
Let’s Build a Plan — Not Just a Wish
Saving is one part of the journey. Understanding credit, debt-to-income, loan options, and local market trends is the other.
If you’d like a customized homebuyer readiness conversation — no pressure, just information — I’d love to help you map out your next steps.
Because “almost ready” is often closer than you think. ❤️🏡
by Tammy Murphy | Jan 22, 2026 | BLOG, Market Updates, Neighbor Chat, Real Estate News
🏡 December 2025 Market Recap: What Buyers and Sellers Should Know as We Close the Year
As we wrap up 2025, the Dayton-area housing market finishes the year on solid footing. December activity confirmed what many buyers and sellers felt throughout the year: demand remained strong, prices continued to rise, and well-positioned homes still moved quickly.
December brought a noticeable boost in activity compared to the same time last year:
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New listings: 890 homes, up 4%
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Homes sold: 1,195, an increase of nearly 15%
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Total sales volume: $346.9 million, up 22%
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Median sale price: $250,000 (+4%)
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Average sale price: $290,366 (+7%)
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Sale-to-list price ratio: 98.8%, showing sellers are still receiving close to asking price
Even in a seasonally slower month, serious buyers stayed engaged and sellers who priced appropriately were rewarded.
📊 Full-Year 2025: The Bigger Picture
Looking at the full year helps separate short-term noise from real trends:
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Homes listed: 17,811 (+4% year over year)
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Homes sold: 14,626 (+1%)
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Total sales value: $4.29 billion (+6.7%)
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Median sale price: $255,000 (+6.25%)
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Average sale price: $293,404 (+5.7%)
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Sale-to-list price ratio: 99.7%
While inventory improved slightly, the market remained tight with 1.8 months of supply, keeping sellers in a favorable position overall.
What This Means for Buyers
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Competition is still present, but increased listings offer more choice than a year ago
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Pricing growth has been steady rather than explosive — helpful for long-term planning
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Preparation matters: financing readiness and strategic offers continue to make a difference
What This Means for Sellers
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Well-priced homes are still selling quickly and close to asking price
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Buyers remain active year-round, not just in spring and summer
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Pricing and presentation are critical as buyers become more selective
Looking Ahead
As we move into 2026, watch inventory levels, interest-rate adjustments, and early-year buyer activity. The market remains resilient, but strategy matters more than ever. And as always, if you have questions or want specifics for your neighborhood – reach out to Tammy for more details 😉
