Central Ohio Real Estate Market News

Entries categorized as ‘Columbus Ohio’

Joe Testa reinvents the Auditor’s web site … again!

October 30, 2008 · No Comments

It’s been a busy week of meetings at the Board and with clients. One of the Board meetings was the Tech User’s Committee meeting, of which I am Vice-Chair. Tuesday’s meeting featured Joe Testa, the Franklin County Auditor. We invite him once a year to speak to our Committee and it always has the highest attendance since all Columbus Board of Realtors® members are invited to attend.

Because it’s the Tech Users Committee, the presentation is on the fabulous web site that he and his staff have implemented. Every year they improve it and it’s one of the best in the central Ohio area. They’ve worked on improving it even more in the past year, and the new version will go live in the next week or so. He gave our group the beta domain address and asked us to try it out and let them know if we found any bugs.

Joe said that they essentially reviewed the site by asking how they would design it if they were to start over to try to make it even more user friendly. Judging by the demonstration they gave, the site will have often used features more easily accessible with fewer “jumps” to other platforms. I think we’ll find it even easier to use with even more info available for us.

Since Joe’s department handles the property tax assessments, there was much discussion of what adjustments will be made to allow for the effect of foreclosures on a neighborhood’s property values. Per the law that they follow, they view assessments as a 3-year window. They also remove those transactions that didn’t sell as a normal “arms-length” sale. So it’s not likely that assessed property values will decline much, if at all.

Of course, Franklin County citizens can follow the procedures (see Joe’s web site) to appeal their own assessment to try to get it lower … but keep in mind they may determine that the value has increased, and if so, you’ll have to live with it. Oh, whoops!!!

Copyright © 2008. Reproduction of any portion of this blog post or the images is prohibited by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If this post is being viewed on any site other than www.ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com then the material has been stolen without permission. Violators will be reported.

Categories: Central Ohio · Columbus Ohio · Franklin County · Home prices · Homes
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Here’s a primer on being a Buckeye if you’re relocating here

October 23, 2008 · 2 Comments

Let it be known that if you relocate to the Central Ohio area, you WILL be expected to become a BUCKEYE! We’re passionate here about all things Buckeye … especially the football team. So get used to it.

Outsiders may not know what being a Buckeye means, so here’s some things to help you blend in.

The Buckeye tree is our state tree that produces a sorta round brown nut with a cream spot on the top. It obtained its name because it resembles a buck deer’s eye. The nut is supposedly poisonous to eat which is why “that-state-up-north” has some disparaging chants about it being a worthless nut. Never mind what “that-state-up-north” says, we Buckeyes are enterprising and make a delicious candy for game days that looks like the nut, but tastes like Reeses® Peanut Butter Cups.

TBDBITL stands for The Best Damn Band In The Land, and of course, refers to the OSU Marching Band. It’s pronounced “ta-bid’-al”. There’s nothing like being in THE SHOE when the band comes out from the tunnel and 100,000 people stand up to clap and cheer. It’s a spiritual experience and can be known to bring tears to our eyes for the shear magnitude of the response and the pride we feel for our Buckeyes.

THE SHOE is the Ohio Stadium, but it doesn’t look so much like the horseshoe anymore since they closed in the end zone and added on the press box. My fondest memories at The Shoe were the four years I watched Archie play all his home games there. I also went to all the away games that he played at “that-state-up-north”. (I won’t talk about the “yard marker incident” with Woody. Yep, saw THAT, too!)

BRUTUS is the mascot. While I’m sure that the new costume is much easier on the person inside, I have a soft spot in my heart for the original mascot. The original one was a big round fiberglass head with movable fuzzy eyebrows and movable mouth. When times weren’t going so well, that Brutus could frown with a furrowed brow. In the early 70’s, I made my own paper-mache version of that mascot. I had it autographed by Archie & Ray Griffin, Corney Greene, and Anne Hayes when they attended one of our Union County OSU Alumni meetings. It’s one of the few things I own that my daughters intend to fight over after I’m gone.

Shopping For Homes Here: It’s highly likely that you’ll find rec rooms decorated in scarlet & gray with OSU logos and paraphernalia stuck everywhere. You should view these rooms as “adding value” to the home, much like granite counter-tops or hardwood floors. :-)

Copyright © 2008. Reproduction of any portion of this blog post or the images is prohibited by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If this post is being viewed on any site other than www.ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com then the material has been stolen without permission. Violators will be reported.

Categories: Central Ohio · Columbus Ohio · Franklin County · OSU Buckeyes
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Sellers … think buyers will think YOUR home is special?

September 27, 2008 · 2 Comments

With all the economical and financial news this past week, plus, some discussions of the have’s and have not’s, I was curious to see how higher priced homes were faring in sales this year. We know that the lower priced homes are facing more challenges to attracting buyers, but does the same hold true for the upper scale homes where “lack of money” may be less of an issue for potential buyers?

Normally the charts I prepare are for portions of Delaware County and Franklin County. I decided to use the ENTIRE MLS system for this review since some of the more expensive property may be located in outlying areas where ample land can ensure privacy. I also included condos … not just single-family homes … because there are some luxury condos being sold both in Powell as well as downtown Columbus high-rises. I wanted to know how buyers were spending their money regardless whether it was in a regular home or an easy-care condo or patio home.

This graph shows the NUMBER of homes SOLD by price range between Jan to today’s date.

Obviously, there are a lot fewer buyers buying this year than last, and remember this is for ALL the counties surrounding Franklin County where Columbus is located. Strangely the average price within each price range hardly changed from one year to the next. In other words, the average price in the $200-299K range was $241K for both years … there were just 62% fewer buyers.

Now back to the original premise of my purpose in doing this review. What’s happening in the luxury market?  I think the graph shows that upscale people are having the same thoughts as the “common folk”.

If your home is for sale, this should be a wake-up call to make sure your home is in absolute top-notch condition and priced right because your competition is fierce for the much smaller pool of buyers. I could also say that your choice of a Realtor® is very important as well to make sure your home receives the most exposure with the best photos … but then I hope you already know that! :-)

 

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Categories: Buyers · Central Ohio · Columbus Ohio · Delaware County · Franklin County · Home prices · Homes · Homes for sale · Housing stats · Powell Ohio · Sellers
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It’s Time … Let the battles begin!

August 27, 2008 · 2 Comments

This post is dedicated to my Ann Arbor blogging friend, Missy Caulk. It’s that time of year … the season starts Saturday.

So here’s MY video.

GO BUCKS!

 

And just to show that I’m a good sport … here’s one for Missy.

GO BLUE.

Special tribute to the memory of Woody and Bo … the rivalry hasn’t been the same since.

Copyright © 2008. Reproduction of any portion of this blog post or the images is prohibited by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If this post is being viewed on any site other than www.ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com then the material has been stolen without permission. Violators will be reported.

Categories: Central Ohio · Columbus Ohio · Franklin County · OSU Buckeyes
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If you spend $20,000 you can keep your Brutus … a pricey nut!

April 30, 2008 · 3 Comments

Every couple months I receive a magazine called “CityScene - Columbus arts, entertainment & style”. I’m not sure why I started receiving this magazine a year or so ago, but it’s a rather pleasant read. Lots of info on home and home builders, so I assume I get it because I’m a Realtor®.

Anyway, in the issue I received today, there is an article on page 64 about a new public art project that should prove to be fun … at least it will be fun for Columbus Ohio!

By October, there are to be 250 “uniquely decorated” 7-foot Brutus statues around town. Could it be that this project is to be completed just prior to THE GAME IN NOVEMBER?

If you don’t know who Brutus is or what THE GAME is, then you’re not from Central Ohio.

The money generated from the art project will go in part to renovating the William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library. Another small portion will go to a scholarship fund for OSU cheerleaders.

The article recounted some of the rules …

Artists who signed up to create a signature Brutus statue were given plenty of freedom, but couldn’t include designs that were se*ually explicit, corporate or regarding anything about “That Team Up North”.

So far there is a Christopher Columbus, an Elvis, and of course, Woody. We can visit www.BrutusOnParade.com for photos of the new ones as they are displayed around town. It’ll be interesting to see what the other notable 247 statues will represent.

Copyright © 2008. Reproduction of any portion of this blog post or the images is prohibited by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If this post is being viewed on any site other than www.ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com then the material has been stolen without permission. Violators will be reported.

Categories: Central Ohio · Columbus Ohio · Franklin County · OSU Buckeyes
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1st Qtr 2008 >Condo Sales in Columbus metro area

April 7, 2008 · 2 Comments

Most of my housing stats are for single-family homes. It’s time I do the same review for condos. So here are the averages for condos that have sold between January and March this year.

Powell area: 16 condos sold, averaging 2151 sq ft, at an average price of $277,842. The highest priced unit sold for $445,073 - a new build in the Lakes at Golf Village with 2461 sq ft.

New Albany area: 5 condos sold, averaging 1583 sq ft, at an average price of $180,589. The highest priced unit sold for $224,900.

Lewis Center area: 15 condos sold, averaging 1510 sq ft, at an average price of $174,502. The highest priced unit sold for $279,900.

Westerville area: 24 condos sold, averaging 1580 sq ft, at an average price of $153,808. The highest priced unit sold for $510,000 - a new build in Windsor Village with 3596 sq ft.

Dublin area: 45 condos sold, averaging 1314 sq ft, at an average price of $144,661. The highest priced unit sold for $590,000 - a new build in Tartan West.

Hilliard area: 54 condos sold, averaging 1358 sq ft, at an average price of $135,177. The highest priced unit sold for $530,000 - a unit in Ballantrae.

Delaware area: 10 condos sold, averaging 1410 sq ft, at an average price of $117,930. The highest priced unit sold for $185,000..

Worthington area: 24 condos sold, averaging 1242 sq ft, at an average price of $111,543. The highest priced unit sold for $170,000.

So if you’re in the market to buy a condo, you should be able to find one that suits your lifestyle or budget. Call me if you need help.

Copyright © 2008. Reproduction of any portion of this blog post or the images is prohibited by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If this post is being viewed on any site other than www.ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com then the material has been stolen without permission. Violators will be reported.

Categories: Ballantrae · Central Ohio · Columbus Ohio · Condos, patio homes · Delaware County · Delaware Ohio · Dublin Ohio · Franklin County · Golf Village, Kinsale · Golf course communities · Hilliard Ohio · Home prices · Homes · Lewis Center Ohio · Powell Ohio · Worthington Ohio
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Would a luxury condo in downtown Columbus fit your lifestyle?

November 24, 2007 · No Comments

If you prefer to have a luxury condo rather than a single-family home, Columbus currently has 16 luxury condos for sale over $1 million. All are located in downtown Columbus and eastward out Broad St to Bexley. The prices range from $1 million up to $1.995 million.

Five of the condos are located in the upscale Miranova high-rise at the south edge of downtown, overlooking the Scioto River. The units on the north side of the building are popular for viewing the July 3rd Red-White-Boom fireworks parties. The units that are for sale now range from $1.1 million to $1.77 million and offer 2700 sq ft up to over 6500 sq ft.  

Several of the downtown condos are the result of conversions to trendy loft-style homes. Three are available at 8 E Broad St priced slightly over $1 million. Another one is located on E Gay St with another one on E Main St. Just south of downtown, in the German Village area, the Swartz Castle has been renovated with a current unit for sale at $1.650 million with over 5100 sq ft. Another luxury condo is located just north of downtown in Victorian Village for just under $1.3 million.

East of downtown, in Bexley, are two units on Parkview and two units on Dawson. The Parkview units cost $1.290 to $1.570 million. The Dawson units are slightly higher at $1.695 to $1.995 million.

The photos uploaded to the MLS for all these condos are quite interesting. Many are reminiscent of New York artists lofts. Very trendy, open views, high warehouse-style ceilings, some brick walls, and minimalistic furniture.

As with many cities, Columbus is trying to revitalize the downtown area to entice people to stay there after work rather than driving home to the burbs. While it may not be a lifestyle suited to all, for those wanting a convenient, upscale cosmo life, these luxury condos certainly fit the bill.


Copyright © 2007. Reproduction of any portion of this blog post or the images is prohibited by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If this post is being viewed on any site other than www.ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com then the material has been stolen without permission. Violators will be reported.

Categories: Central Ohio · Columbus Ohio · Condos, patio homes · Franklin County · Home prices · Homes

Columbus Ohio goes “zoom-zoom”!

September 18, 2007 · No Comments

Several years ago, I read in a local newspaper that Columbus Ohio was within an 8-hour drive of, I believe, something like 60%-70% of the U.S. population. I tried to find an update to that figure, but was unable to locate a current number. Anyway, “lots” of major cities are only a day’s drive away.

While many may not think of Columbus as a major transportation hub … being in the center of the state … it actually is in a prime location for transportation of goods.

Freeways:

Two major freeways cross in the downtown area. This area is known as 70/71 split and is unfortunately home to many accidents as people “merge” - sometimes merging into other vehicles. I-70 runs east-west between Pittsburgh to Utah, being a direct route to Indianapolis, St Louis and Kansas City. I-71 runs north-south and connects the “3-C’s” - Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. So within 8 hrs a semi-truck can haul goods to Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, St Louis, Atlanta, New York and DC. As an aside, anyone planning to drive to Disney World in Orlando, be aware that you’re only halfway there when you reach Atlanta! 

Rails:

The major rails run north-south headed toward the Lake Erie ports or the Ohio River on its way to the Mississippi River.

Airports:

There are four airports, but Port Columbus is the major one for both people and some freight. The others are Rickenbacker, Bolton Field and Don Scott. Don Scott is owned by Ohio State University and is use by small private jets and planes, frequently owned by local companies.

Skies over Worthington Ohio

Skies:

Judging by the jet trails in the sky when I took this photo, the skies over Columbus are busy as planes from the east coast use our skies to their destination to the west and vice versa.

I remember on 9-11 when the skies were shut down to air traffic, I happened to look out my home’s transom windows and saw the lone plane carrying President Bush back to the Whitehouse after the morning’s tragic events. That was an eerie sight.

Columbus’ transportation benefits is just one of the reasons that make it a good business and employment center. Have diverse major employers that don’t rely on one industry sector is another. As we locals often joke, Columbus is the best little big town to live in. It lives like the big city it is, but it feels like we’re living in a friendly small town. Plus, we’ve got the Buckeyes!

Copyright © 2007. Reproduction of any portion of this blog post or the images is prohibited by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If this post is being viewed on any site other than www.ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate.com then the material has been stolen without permission. Violators will be reported.

Categories: Central Ohio · Columbus Ohio · Franklin County · Transportation

Planes, trains & automobiles - OK, just trains!

July 23, 2007 · 2 Comments

In June, I wrote about being enthralled with a particular railroad crossing that intrigues me as to what adventure the tracks hold along the way.

If you like to read about trains or the proposed high-speed train that would connect Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland, I suggest you read two articles written by Carole Cohen, a Cleveland real estate agent. I “met” Carole via the Active Rain real estate network. She’s a real champion for this train project and includes lots of detailed information on it.Read this article first (on Active Rain) , then come back here to click to this second article on Carole’s blog. She discusses in detail the economic benefit (jobs) that the project would bring to Ohio’s economy.
 

Copyright © 2007. Reproduction of any portion of this blog post or the images is prohibited by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If this post is being viewed on any site other than www.ReesesPiecesOfRealEstate,com then the material has been stolen without permission. Violators will be reported.

Categories: Central Ohio · Columbus Ohio · Franklin County · Transportation
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