Entries categorized as ‘Delaware County’
Are you planning to sell your home in 2010? Check out my recently updated page for Top 5 Real Estate Brokers by school district.
Real Living HER continues to be the #1 real estate broker with their agents selling far more homes than others. In many of the districts, their market share has continued to increase. The 2009 market has been tougher to get homes sold, so no doubt the extra programs that Real Living offers to both buyers and sellers has helped get homes sold.
I know you’re busy with preparations for the upcoming holidays, but don’t forget the two Tax Credits that are currently available for both new buyers and current homeowners who want to sell & buy.
Give me a call and we’ll go to work on getting you a new place to live in 2010.
Categories: Central Ohio · Delaware County · Delaware Ohio · Dublin Ohio · Franklin County · Galena Ohio · Hilliard Ohio · Homes · Housing stats · Lewis Center Ohio · Powell Ohio · Real Living HER · Realtors® · Realtor® selection · Schools · Sellers · Worthington Ohio
Tagged: central ohio real estate market news, Schools, Top 5 real estate brokers
I made a change this week. I will now be operating out of the Real Living HER Powell office, rather than the Worthington office.
I had been considering this move since the new Powell office opened several years ago, because it is half the distance to my home that the Worthington office is. As the years have gone by, the addition of all the stop lights on Rt 23 has doubled the drive time to Worthington. As a result, the Powell office is about 8 minutes away, while the Worthington office is 25-30 minutes, and sometimes longer if there is a fender bender.
The Powell location has easy access to Dublin and Hilliard as well. So it is better suited for my clients as well as myself. (See Google Map)
This change will also benefit my clients because of the synergy of the agents in the Powell office. Since they work throughout Delaware county and beyond, it will mean far better exposure for my listings to agents who have buyers for those listings. They know and understand the Delaware County market. Making this move will be an improvement of service to my clients.
I’ll still be working as a mobile agent, meaning my Blackberry and the WEENR-mobile are really my “office”, but it’s nice knowing that when I meet clients, we can do it at a state-of-art new office in a prime location. By the way, none of my contact info changes. My phone number and email addy remain as they always have been.
If you want to buy or sell a home, give me a call and we’ll meet at my new digs!
Categories: Central Ohio · Delaware County · Elaine's Listings · Homes · Powell Ohio · Real Living HER · Realtors®
Tagged: central ohio real estate market news, Powell OH 43065, Real Living HER
In October, I wrote about the showings by buyers for various zip codes by price range for both single family homes and condos. Here in this post, I’ve updated that chart with the number of showings between Nov 1 thru Dec 10 (today). Similar results but far fewer showings. We’re still seeing little activity in the upper price ranges.
Click to enlarge graph
The lack of activity for the move-up price ranges is why the National Association of Realtors® pushed Congress to do something to help this market. Thus, the Tax Credit stimulus added the $6,500 credit for CURRENT HOMEOWNERS. Read Details.
Many of the upper-priced homes have had their prices reduced to almost ridiculous levels. If you’re a buyer, you may find that these luxury homes cost less per sq ft than lower priced cookie-cutter homes.
I know the holidays are upon us, but if you’re planning to sell and buy, you need to get ready as January is only 3 weeks away.
Copyright © 2009. Elaine Reese, Real Living HER. 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: Buyers · Central Ohio · Delaware County · Delaware Ohio · Dublin Ohio · Franklin County · Galena Ohio · Home prices · Homes · Homes for sale · Housing stats · Lewis Center Ohio · Powell Ohio · Sellers · Worthington Ohio
Tagged: buyer, central ohio real estate market news
I like living in Southern Delaware County. From my home, I am only 6 minutes from Powell, 15 minutes from Dublin or Westerville, and 20 minutes from Worthington. It takes longer to go to Worthington because of all the traffic lights on Rt 23. For the rest of the suburbs, I take the “back roads”.
By driving the “back roads” I get to enjoy the scenery which includes luxury homes, wooded land, farm fields, farm animals, rivers, and yes, these guys.
Because of all the wooded areas along the roads, deer are quite plentiful. Some say they are too plentiful. A couple years ago, I read that Southern Delaware County has more car/deer encounters than any other area around the Columbus metro region. I know I see A LOT of carcasses along the roads, especially along Rt 23 where traffic is heavy and going much faster.
I’ve had several close calls this fall. I had another last night driving home from Powell on Liberty Rd. Africa Rd and Olentangy River Rd are other roads where deer are numerous. One evening I rounded a curve on Big Walnut Rd to suddenly come upon 8-10 deer standing in the middle of the road.
A friend, and fellow agent, who also lives in southern Delaware County, recently had a deer run into her new Prius. The deer won … the Prius not so much. Guess the deer didn’t know or care that the car is designed to help their environment.
Deer can be a problem anytime, but the fall rut is especially troublesome, as the deer bound across the roads chasing a mate. Could be they’re not thinking with their heads. 
If you’re driving after dark or early in the morning, be careful out there.
Categories: Central Ohio · Delaware County · Galena Ohio · Powell Ohio
Tagged: deer car crashes
This is Thanksgiving week. We often find that when family members come into town, if they are considering a move here to be closer to relatives, they make plans to view homes. Sometimes even local buyers plan to shop for their home this weekend when they have vacation days. Friday to Sunday can be “black” days for real estate as well, not just at the retail stores.
If you want to locate in Southern Delaware County, you have plenty of homes to view, no matter the price range. The only segment where there isn’t much is below $100,000 since there are only 7 homes in that range.
There are so many beautiful homes in Southern Delaware County, with many on large lots, wooded lots, on golf courses, whatever suits your fancy. The area includes the suburbs of Powell, Lewis Center and Galena, plus, several townships. Much of it is in Olentangy school district, but also includes portions of Big Walnut and Buckeye Valley districts.
Don’t forget that the $8000 First-Time Home Buyer and $6500 Homeowner Tax Credits are in effect. Plan for it to take a minimum of 45 days from the time you go into contract until closing can occur. (New government regulations have increased the timing.) Read more on the tax credits.
Click to enlarge graph
Copyright © 2009. Elaine Reese, Real Living HER. 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: Buyers · Central Ohio · Delaware County · Galena Ohio · Home prices · Homes · Homes for sale · Lewis Center Ohio · Powell Ohio
Tagged: Big Walnut school district, Buckeye Valley school district, central ohio real estate market news, Olentangy schools
Aside from the joys of owning your own home, there is the responsibility to continue to maintain it. Sometimes it seems we are in a war with critters who choose to make OUR home THEIR home.
Now, I’m not an entomologist, as I tend to categorize all insects into the “BUG” category, but I’m thinking BUGS are beginning to take over the world. I know that they outnumber humans in population. Normally I have a “live and let live” attitude and prefer to not use insecticides, but I’m rethinking that.
I suspect that the billions of bugs are laughing at us unsuspecting humans as they do their work in secret without us realizing it until the damage is done.
Yesterday I was cleaning up my yard, getting it ready for the winter, when I noticed that several rails of my split-rail fence have been ruined by what I believe is the powderpost beetle. As I said, I’m not an entomologist but I had to replace a rail a couple years ago, and the fence guy said that’s what it looked like. Well, this year I have about 6-7 rails that are toast. These beetles eat the wood from the inside until the outside finally collapses.
Since I have 225 ft of fencing with 3 rails between the posts, this can get to be expensive.
Let it be known that I’ve now declared war on these beetles. It’s too late this year to do anything, but they need to find someone else’s fence to destroy next year or THEY will be toast instead of my fence rails.
Copyright © 2009. Elaine Reese, Real Living HER. 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 · Delaware County · Fix-ups · Homes
Tagged: central ohio real estate market news, fence damage, powderpost beetle
Have you noticed it’s that time of year when unwanted guests are trying to move in with us for the winter?
If you live around an area with lots of trees, you’re apt to be plagued by the orange Asian lady beetles. Their official biological name is Coccinella transversalis. They were imported to help farmers with aphids on crops, but as so often happens, they have now become a pest. Plus, they stink and they bite! They’re just not desirable like the little red spotted ladybugs.
I was showing a home one time that had a mass of the Asian beetles in the basement near an incoming pipe.The cluster was about 14″ wide and a couple inches thick. There must have thousands of the beetles in the mass.
I found this other odd looking bug near my back door. I definitely didn’t want it to make its way into my home. Talk about UG-G-L-Y!
It’s a squash bug or also called a leaf-footed bug (coreidae). To me, it looks like a bug in a tuxedo with FlashDance-style leggings. Or else it’s dressed up like Lady GaGa. 
I think I need to spend the next sunny day going around my house to caulk all potential holes.
Copyright © 2009. Elaine Reese, Real Living HER. 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 · Delaware County · Fix-ups · Homes
Tagged: insects, lady beetle, squash bug
It’s the time of year when snowbirds are beginning to make plans for their trek south to warmer climates for the winter. Some go there at the first hint of cold while others wait till the holidays are over. Ohioans seem to favor Florida or Arizona for their winter havens.
Because these empty-nesters are on-the-go, active people they are prime candidates for trading in the “family” home for an easy-care condo. A condo is perfect for people who spend 6-months here and 6-months “there”. That way there are no worries about finding someone to mow lawns or clear snow while they’re gone.
If this lifestyle is appealing to you or if it has been part of your retirement plans, now might be a good time to purchase your northern condo. Since it’s the end of our buying season here, you might be able to get a better deal than if you wait till next spring. Sellers know that their season is ending, so they may be a little more willing to negotiate.
Right now there is a really good selection of condos in all price ranges, especially under $400,000. Here is what is on the market in southern Delaware County as of this morning:
- Under $200,000: In the Powell area there are 40 condos with an average size of 1584 sq ft and an average price of $171,000. In the Lewis Center/northwest Westerville area there are 56 condos with an average size of 1473 sq ft with an average price of $160,000.
- In the $200’s: In the Powell area there are 27 condos with an average size of 2155 sq ft and an average price of $239,000. In the Lewis Center/northwest Westerville area there are 21 condos with an average size of 2196 sq ft with an average price of $250,000.
- In the $300’s: In the Powell area there are 32 condos with an average size of 2658 sq ft and an average price of $348,000. In the Lewis Center/northwest Westerville area there are 7 condos with an average size of 2577 sq ft with an average price of $349,000.
- Over $400,000: In the Powell area there are 7 luxury condos with an average size of 3182 sq ft and an average price of $529,000.
If this lifestyle is in your plans, give me a call to review your next steps and to discuss what the options are that meet 
your specific needs and criteria. There is time to buy and move into your new place before you cast aside your winter coat in favor of those Jimmy Buffet shorts you have in the closet.
Oh-no … my eyes … my eyes!
Copyright © 2009. Elaine Reese, Real Living HER. 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: Buyers · Central Ohio · Condos, patio homes · Delaware County · Golf Village, Kinsale · Golf course communities · Home buying process · Homes · Homes for sale · Lewis Center Ohio · Powell Ohio · Scioto Reserve · Wedgewood
Tagged: central ohio real estate market, luxury condos, winter snowbirds
Elaine Reese
614-825-8860Real Living HER
Help Pet Organizations Help Pets In Need
12/11/2009 · Leave a Comment
Not every dog leads the comfortable life that The Murph does. They don’t have sweaters or coats to keep them warm when they go outside. They may not have a warm bed to sleep in, but may have to sleep on the cold ground. They may have to go to bed with an empty belly and frozen water bowl.
YOU CAN HELP!
With the tough economy, people are being forced to turn their pets into the shelters because they can no longer afford to feed or care for their pet. A local pet day care (Camp Bow Wow) is having a donation day tomorrow to assist the Pet Pantry and Columbus Dog Connection to help needy people with pet food and supplies so those people don’t have to surrender their pets for financial reasons.
Take your donations to Camp Bow Wow, 5100 Nike Dr, Hilliard on Saturday, Dec 12 between 10am-2pm. See their web site at www.campbowwow.com for the list of requested items.
The Columbus Dog Connection web site also has a donation page that lists the needs for other shelters in other counties. If you help with Habitat for Humanity, perhaps you can also help with Habitat for Dogmanity by helping to build dog houses for pets without outside shelter, or to give the materials to build such houses.
You can also check these web sites which have “wish list” requests for their shelter animals: Capital Area Humane Society, Franklin County Animal Shelter, Delaware County Humane Society
If you’re like me, you may have leashes, collars, bowls, beds, sweaters, coats, that were used for pets that are now sadly gone. I know I have such items from my three Dobies that are way too big for The Murph. I think it’s time to give them to other pets.
Categories: Central Ohio · Commentary · Delaware County · Dog Tails · Franklin County
Tagged: dog shelter donations