Golf course communities « Central Ohio Real Estate Market News

Entries categorized as ‘Golf course communities’

Will an appraiser sabotage your mortgage?

October 27, 2008 · 4 Comments

I just received a phone call that really disturbed me. I often get calls from appraisers asking questions about the past homes I’ve sold. They make these calls to listing agents when they are doing comps for a lender who is in the process of approving (or not approving), a mortgage for a buyer. The buyer will be paying the lender for this appraisal and hopes that it is accurate.

This particular appraiser was asking about a luxury condo I recently sold in Golf Village (Powell). I began asking her questions, because I know these appraisals can be flawed. She mentioned that she was unfamiliar with the complex and builder of my sold listing. She said she was also unfamiliar with the builder and the community of the condo for which she was doing the appraisal.

So WHY is she doing the appraisal!

Here are the issues that are are going to impact the quality of her appraisal:

One error dealt with the two builders. Her appraisal was being done for a Bob Webb condo. The Webb family has one of the best local reputations for high quality building construction of their condos, patio homes and single-family homes. Realtors® often use “Webb built” in their MLS remarks section. While my listing was built very well, and was a luxury condo, the Webb name itself can add $$$$ to the price. (”Gee, I didn’t know that!”)
The condo she was appraising is located several miles away from my listing. It’s too many miles to use as a comp. Same school system, but different schools, different city mailing address and different zip code.
The condo being appraised is located in a township whereas mine was in a city with an extra PUD tax assessment and an income tax. So there is a difference to the property tax rate as well as whether an income tax is charged. This could make a big difference to a retiree with no earned income. That can affect the price the retiree is willing to pay. The appraiser had no knowledge of this difference. (”Gee, I didn’t know that!”)
My condo sits on a golf course whereas the condo being appraised is in a more family-oriented neighborhood near a large park. Totally different setting. (”Gee, I didn’t know that!”)

The more I spoke with this appraiser, the more troubled I became. To say she was “clueless” is an understatement. I told her that if she used my sold listing as a comp, that her BPO would be worthless and VERY unfair to the buyer. She said she didn’t know what to do because she couldn’t find other comps.

So why not just explain that to the lender rather doing an error ridden appraisal!

I’ve often wondered how appraisers are able to make an accurate judgement on the price/value of a home a buyer is wanting a mortgage for, because seldom have they been in the homes they are comparing. They have no knowledge how buyers perceive certain features/upgrades in the home because they don’t interact with buyers. This is also a concern for sellers who are refinancing because the same type of appraisal is done as part of that process.

If this appraiser doesn’t change her BPO, there’s a chance that the home being appraised won’t comp out because there could be up to a $100,000 + difference … not exactly chump change. If it doesn’t comp, then the builder or the real estate agent in the transaction will have to spend time disputing the appraiser’s ”findings” and trying to convince the lender to disregard that report or have another appraiser do a 2nd opinion.

Buyers, if your chosen home doesn’t comp out, don’t be afraid to challenge it!

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: Buyers · Central Ohio · Condos, patio homes · Delaware County · Delaware Ohio · Golf Village, Kinsale · Golf course communities · Home buying process · Home prices · Homes · New home builders · Powell Ohio
Tagged: Bob Webb custom homes, North Orange Park, Orange township, Ohio

Is that housing statistic really correct?

July 31, 2008 · 2 Comments

I received a call from a student doing a research project on “homes for sale around golf courses” in Ohio. She was using Real Living HER’s site to search by subdivision and she had some questions, which I tried to answer.

She had some questions regarding Wedgewood (Powell) and Tartan Fields (Dublin). As I was telling her how to search by subdivision on Real Living’s site, I also explained that she would have to sort through the data because there were other subdivisions starting with the Wedgewood name that weren’t located around the Wedgewood golf course, such as Wedgewood Park and Wedgewood Place. There is Tartan Fields which IS around the golf course but Tartan West isn’t. Then in New Albany, the main country club has homes in the MLS system coded as New Albany CC or simply NACC. She probably doesn’t know this and thus, will miss all those homes in her statistics, because the computer will only search for whatever name she puts in the search box.

I’m not sure where she lives, or if she even lives in Ohio, but without knowing all the nuances of the area, her data could be pretty flawed. No doubt she’ll face those same issues with other golf course homes when she does this research for the whole state.

Later after our conversation ended, I couldn’t help but think about what she’ll do with this report. I’m sure she’ll think it’s a pretty accurate report and will probably present it as such. I hope she gets an “A”.

However, what she will be doing with her “findings” is similar to what news reporters or real estate ”experts” do with their research. To quote an NAR ad, “they don’t know what they don’t know“. They gather the data, extrapolate from it, make their analysis, then present the material as FACT.

Something similar is occurring with some dot.com search engines that are trying to compete for $$$$ by capitalizing on the real estate market. The main one is, of course, Realtor.com - the granddaddy formed by the NAR, where buyers can search for homes. Two new upstarts are attempting to take over the prime spot. They are Trulia and Zillow. All three are offering ”estimates” of a home’s value. Zillow was the first to come out with their “Zestimate” which was/is so flawed they were sued. Trulia and Realtor.com have followed suit with their own estimates.

They use computers, algorithms, and other geeky stuff, to determine “value”. Unfortunately, just as with the student’s attempt to gather data, computers don’t know the nuances of the local area. For instance, for my own home, Zillow used a recent sale of a home 6 miles away in another town, in another school district, that has 4BR’s up (mine is a 3BR, 1st floor MBR). No real estate agent would EVER use such a home as a comp when advising sellers on how to price their home.

Real estate agents have a saying that ALL REAL ESTATE IS LOCAL. That’s why we keep advising people to really question what the “experts” are quoting as fact, because we’re in the best position to know how WRONG the data really can be.

Categories: Central Ohio · Delaware County · Dublin Ohio · Franklin County · Golf course communities · Homes · Homes for sale · Internet · Media · Powell Ohio · Realtors® · Wedgewood
Tagged: Realtor.com, Tartan Fields, Trulia, Zillow

Buy a home that Dad DOESN’T have to fix!

June 9, 2008 · 2 Comments

This Sunday is Father’s Day. If your Hubby is one of those that has a bottomless Job Jar - often called the HONEY-DO list - fix him up in one of these homes that he can enjoy from the start. Depending on his likes, needs, or hobbies, one is sure to fit. Then go easy for a while before you start filling up his Honey-Do list again! Click on the titles to see the home that matches Dad’s style.

DAD needs a bigger home office

If his “office” is in your dining room or if you wish you had solid doors to his den rather than glass so guests can’t see the overstuffed desk area or worst of all, maybe he’s relegated to a corner of the basement, then wait till he sees the massive home office wing in THIS home. Note I said WING … it’s huge! He’ll have his own deck to regroup after that stressful phone call and a separate spiral staircase to the outside. He’ll have a nearby alcove with a sink and cabinet for a mini-fridge for a refreshing drink. There’s also a handy half bath close by as well as a guest bedroom. Heck, when you buy this home, you may never actually SEE dear old Dad again! And best of all, your guests will never see this wing when they walk into the foyer! If he’s not the neatest person, this can be a good thing.

Dad’s an avid golfer and just wants to kick-back

Dad can watch others play golf or he can join the Kinsale Golf Club and join in the play when you select this luxury condo in Golf Village. If he’d rather spend time golfing than working on the job jar, then condo life is for him. He only has to worry about caring for the inside since the condo association takes care of the outside. That’s a wonderful thing! This home is even better than others in the complex because it’s on the end with a full view of the tee and fairway, plus, it was designed to maintain that view from the inside … not just from the oversized patio. Come winter, he can move to the large finished lower level to watch the pros on TV to try to figure out what changes he needs to make to his swing or putting style to lower his handicap next spring.

Dad’s knees are creaky and he doesn’t like stairs

OK, so you don’t have to be a Dad to have this problem. This wonderful home has an owner’s bedroom on the first floor including a whirlpool tub - for those creaky knees. It’s in excellent condition so his job jar can stay nearly empty. Another feature he may enjoy is the workbench area off the finished basement. It also has a 3-car garage just in case he has that mid-life “toy” that needs storing. That way YOUR car doesn’t have to sit in the outside elements while THE TOY is completely sheltered.

Dad’s a whiz at grilling and likes to “do” stuff around the house

This home has a huge deck for entertaining with a roll-out awning to keep the sun or rain off Dad’s grill. No more holding the umbrella over him and the grill. If he has talked about wanting a pool-table sized basement that he could finish, this home has that too. Plus, it has a half bath rough-in - something that “might” come in handy once he finishes the basement and his friends come over to watch the “BIG GAME”. After the game, he and his buds can pretend they’re kids again, and play their own version of football in the fenced backyard. NOTE: I’m holding this home open on Father’s Day from 1-4. Tell him to bring his own football or grilling apron to give the backyard a “test drive”.

Categories: Buyers · Central Ohio · Condos, patio homes · Delaware County · Delaware Ohio · Galena Ohio · Golf Village, Kinsale · Homes · Homes for sale · Powell Ohio
Tagged: home office

A Holiday Weekend? Not for Realtors®!

May 26, 2008 · 4 Comments

I had plans for this holiday weekend. Nothing too exciting … just 3 things I hoped to accomplish.

Buy some annual flowers and actually get them planted. Last year I bought them but was not able to find time to plant them so they died.
Go shopping … something I HATE to do … for something to wear to my granddaughter’s wedding in three weeks. I know what I WANT to buy - now it’s just a matter of finding it.
Relax! I haven’t taken a full day off from real estate since New Year’s so I was hoping ….

So far, I haven’t checked off any of the things on my list, but I have had a pretty beneficial weekend.

I started it with a lunch with my older daughter - the “mother of the bride” daughter. It was her birthday but the conversation naturally focused on the upcoming wedding. I think we’ve both reached the age where she is becoming the parent and I’m reluctantly becoming the child. (just kidding!) I know what I’m supposed to “generally” wear … where I’m supposed to sit at the wedding and the reception … and which usher will seat me, among other things. I may need to enter these things into my Voyager phone so I remember to do everything just right.
I spent some time in the Muirfield area. Since it was a few days before Jack’s Memorial Tournament, the landscape companies were hard at work making everything pretty so all looks well for the incoming guests and TV cameras.
I was in the Powell office more than I was my Worthington office. One of the agents there said, “are you back again!” There were several agents in there busy as well with clients and working on contracts. It’s wonderful working for a big broker like Real Living where we can use the computers, copiers, faxes and conference rooms of our “sister offices”. Helps save gas, too!
Showed a brand new listing to a buyer. We’ve been viewing homes for a few weeks now. This new listing was far nicer than anything we had looked at PLUS it was much lower priced. So off to the Powell office to write and submit an offer. Got that home in contract the next day.
Received an offer on one of my listings. We’re still working on this one.
Made a listing presentation to a seller whose home was listed with another broker/agent for the past year.
Got some pruning and weed pulling done in between emailing various pdf files to various agents and various clients. Thank goodness for scanners, email and bluetooth! I can talk on the phone without missing a beat with the pruning shears … that’s unless I need to talk with my hands … which is hard for me to do. Don’t you get tickled watching someone talk via a headset? It’s humorous watching someone seeming to be talking to the air and gesturing with their hands. Murphy gives me THAT LOOK that dogs give us when they think we’ve gone crazy.
I made sure my listings were all well-stocked with outside flyers just in case a drive-by buyer is interested. Took some new outside photos of a couple of them then later uploaded the new photos to several internet sites.
Tried to avoid buying gas at $3.99 this holiday weekend. Think I’m going to have to breakdown today and buy some, however.

Hope YOU’RE having a terrific weekend and have enjoyed the great weather we’ve had so far. Aren’t you glad you’re NOT a Realtor®!!!!

Categories: Buyers · Commentary · Delaware County · Golf course communities · Homes · Homes for sale · Muirfield · Powell Ohio · Real Living HER · Realtors® · Sellers · Technology

Want to buy a condo? Powell has many that are for sale.

April 23, 2008 · No Comments

OK, by now you’ve probably mowed your lawn at least once. And just maybe you’ve noticed the house needs a fresh coat of paint. Oh, and those shingles that blew off during one of the winter storms, need to be fixed.

If you’d rather be spending weekends kicking-back or on the golf course, then perhaps it’s time to consider a lifestyle change to condo living.

But wait you say … we have all this furniture and we still want the kids to come home for holiday events.

Relax! Condos are no longer small converted rental townhouses with paper thin walls. Builders knew the empty-nesters didn’t want to give up their big rooms or decorating luxuries just to avoid exterior maintenance. Now you can buy large condos built specifically to address this consumer market.

Beginning this weekend, April 26, through May 4, the Building Industry Association (BIA) will hold their CondoQuest to showcase participating builder’s new-build condo complexes. Most likely, other currently-owned condos that are for sale will have open houses as well.

The Powell area has many such luxury condos available for sale - both new and resale. They are priced in the $300’s to high $400’s. For the above ground living space, they range from 1900 sqft to 3000 sq ft. Their price may or may not include a finished lower level. This is particularly true for the new-builds.

Here’s a chart that shows the condos that are currently for sale in the Powell area (near Sawmill Pkwy) and what size of home you might expect for the various price ranges:

**Powell Area Condos For Sale**
Price Range	# For Sale	Avg Size	Avg Price	$/sq ft
$100’s	26	1559	$178,094	$116
$200’s	29	1997	$248,833	$127
$300’s	16	2539	$342,563	$139
$400’s	7	2648	$453,720	$175

If you specifically want a large luxury condo with a finished basement for additional entertaining, then you currently have 9 homes to select from in the Powell area. They average around 2800 sq ft at an average price of $432,293. However, I must caution you in that the sq ft provided in the Board’s MLS system sometimes includes the finished basement and sometimes doesn’t.

I have a luxury condo for sale that offers 2750 sq ft above ground and an additional 1000 sq ft in the lower level. It’s priced at $409,900. Sometimes during open houses I’ve had guests mention that they can buy another similar sized condo for much less money. However, as we chat, I learn that it is a new-build where the finished basement ISN’T included in the base price they were quoted. Or we may determine that the sq ft includes the finished basement, meaning that the above ground living space can be quite small - less than 2000 sq ft.

So, it’s important to make sure you compare apples-to-apples, and relying on the MLS data or info on the Internet, is not very accurate. The upgrades included or as options differ quite a bit as well.

This weekend’s CondoQuest will give you a good opportunity to make all those comparisons for yourself. Be sure to include my listing at 7979 Hillingdon in the Village at Kinsale on your tour. It’s located off Sawmill Pkwy, just north of Rutherford Rd. It will be open both Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Categories: Buyers · Central Ohio · Condos, patio homes · Delaware County · Golf Village, Kinsale · Golf course communities · Homes · Homes for sale · New home builders · Powell Ohio
Tagged: BIA, Building Industry Association, central ohio real estate market news, CondoQuest

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.

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
Tagged: central ohio real estate market news

A funny golf story … well, it’s funny NOW!

December 22, 2007 · No Comments

twogolfers Recently an out-of-state person contacted me regarding help with finding a golf Pro for lessons near Worthington. This reminded me of a funny golf story from many, many years ago. It could have NOT been a funny story, but fortunately all ended OK.

I was attending OSU at the time, and taking golf as the required Phys. Ed. class. My then husband and I played golf quite frequently, so getting lessons via the class was an added bonus. And, it really DID help my game!

Near the end of the OSU quarter, we were playing a course in Mt. Vernon (Knox County). I had just hit a really good tee shot with my driver. My husband commented on how much further my drives were going and asked what I was doing differently.

I proceeded to show him the different grip, the different elbow position, etc. He was standing behind me on the tee box, but I thought he was several feet behind me. He, in turn, didn’t think I would be taking a full swing. Well, we both thought wrong and I hit him in the head … not on the backswing but at the end of my forward swing … with the driver! golf cart

He collapsed, but recovered shortly. We immediately went to the ER where it was determined his cheek bone was broken. He was already scheduled to have wisdom teeth removed, so this additional work was scheduled to be done at the same time … at OSU Hospital … coincidentally on the same day as I was to have the final exam for my Phys. Ed. class. Surprisingly, he didn’t get black eyes, nor was it painful for him. That’s why we could joke about it.

He took quite a bit of razzing from his co-workers - “are you sure she didn’t do it on purpose?” Plus, in my class, the instructor decided to take the opportunity to talk about SAFETY! The Dr’s and nurses at the hospital also had a great deal of fun with the story! The only one who didn’t think it was so funny was our 8-yr old daughter who didn’t understand why mommy hit daddy. rifle man

Now, two additional bits of info …

I got an ‘A’ in the class
I signed up for riflery the next quarter

This story has nothing to do with him being my “then” husband …. HONEST … HONEST!!

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: Golf course communities · Humor

Luxury condo for sale in The Village at Kinsale, Golf Village, Powell Ohio

December 13, 2007 · 9 Comments

There comes a time when you’ve earned the right to enjoy a carefree lifestyle and live in luxury. That time is NOW!

If you are ready for the easy life, then you owe it to yourself to view this spectacular, spacious condo on the Kinsale Golf Course. It offers rich upgrades throughout with carefully planned extra features to enhance the home’s enjoyment and entertaining convenience. The owner’s put extra thought into the home’s location and made adjustments to interior walls to open up the fabulous view.

It has THE prime location in the complex with a complete view of the tee, fairway, down to the green. This wonderful view can be seen from the Florida room, the Great Room, the kitchen & casual dining area, and the spacious owner’s suite. Even the standard paver patio was enlarged to better accommodate entertaining with a pleasing view.

Naturally, all the expected finishing-touch upgrades can be found, such as: rich natural cherry floors and cabinetry; granite counters with rounded edge in the kitchen; diagonal ceramic tile backsplash in kitchen; jetted tub surrounded with diagonal ceramic tile; marble walls in the shower; custom closet system in owner’s suite; custom built-in bookcases in Florida room and loft; upgraded carpet throughout; crown molding in several rooms; and upgraded lighting, sound system and more.

If you need plenty of space for large pieces of furniture … no problem. This home is 2750 sq ft, plus, an additional 1000 sq ft in the finished lower level. In addition to the first floor owner’s suite, there are two bedrooms upstairs. The home has 3½ baths. Priced at $364,900, it represents an extreme value for this upscale area.

SOLD FOR $355,000.

Categories: Central Ohio · Condos, patio homes · Delaware County · Golf Village, Kinsale · Golf course communities · Homes · Homes for sale · Powell Ohio

NIMBY is alive and well in southern Delaware County

September 14, 2007 · No Comments

Copyrighted-housing field Southern Delaware County has been a high growth area for the past ten years. The farm fields quickly turned into new housing developments. People moved into these developments in droves. The Olentangy School District has been trying to keep up by building lots of new schools.

Naturally with the attractive income demographics of the area, numerous retailers have wanted to grab their piece of the pie. But therein lies the problem.

Wal-Mart is the most ‘persona non grata’. Currently there are two stores - both located in shopping centers away from homes. They want to close one of the stores and build two new ones. That would mean three mega-sized Wally Worlds within 5-6 miles of each other.

The two new stores abut housing developments. Since Wally Worlds don’t have a good reputation for many issues, including crime and idling trucks, the residents of the nearby homes are putting up a good fight.

The Powell store is still uncertain, being fought aggressively by Liberty Township. Wally World wants to build that store at the corner of Sawmill Pkwy and North Hampton, which is a back entrance into Wedgewood and Campden Lakes - two very upscale communities.

The second new store is planned for the corner of Cheshire Rd and Rt 23 and it seems to be a given. It will be located to the left of this huge Delaware water tower that was also a surprise to the people living neaby (see homes to the bottom right in the photo). That means that the current Delaware store will become vacant, leaving yet another blighted, nearly empty strip shopping center.

The most recent retailer to enter the fray is Target who wants to build near the intersection of Sawmill Pkwy and Home Rd. Per the developer this parcel was planned for such a store when the Golf Village development was platted and zoned. The parcel is outside the boundaries of Golf Village, but those residents would prefer to have a “pedestrian-scale” business.

Also, in discussion is a Kroger store across Home Rd from the proposed Target store. There is already another Kroger store a couple miles south.

Since Sawmill Parkway will eventually be extended northward from Home Rd to the west side of Delaware, there will no doubt be other NIMBY’s as the big box stores want to build in the prime locations along the new road extension.

Categories: Central Ohio · Delaware County · Delaware Ohio · Golf Village, Kinsale · Homes · Powell Ohio · Transportation · Wedgewood

Wedgewood offers a luxury, upscale lifestyle for Powell Ohio

September 12, 2007 · No Comments

Wedgewood is a very attractive upscale development on the west side of Powell. It began in the late 1980’s being the site of the annual Parade of Homes event. Homes are still being built in the community so there is a wide variety of styles, luxury, and ages of homes. There are also quite a few choices for patio homes and condos. Many of the homes reside on wooded and/or ravine lots, with others backing up to the Wedgewood golf course.

Aside from the lovely homes, the main attraction is the Wedgewood Golf Club, which is a private club with a nearly 50,000 sq ft clubhouse. As with most such clubs, there are also tennis courts, pool, dining rooms, banquet facilities and a fitness facility. The golf course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and is quite challenging. The entrance to the Club is very striking with two wide tree-lined avenues leading up to Club’s entrance.

Most of the development is comprised of elegant single-family homes. However, there are many patio homes near or backing up to the course (off Wellington Bl) and several condo complexes on the east side of Fairway Dr opposite the course. This slide show has photos of several of the patio and condo complexes. The photos of the green near the pond is visible from Wellington Blvd. The patio homes along Gleneagle Dr have an excellent view of this green and fairway.

The development is serviced by the Olentangy School District. Access is from Powell Rd (west of Sawmill Parkway) or from Riverside Dr, south of the new Powell Rd realignment south of the Columbus Zoo.

Call me if you would like to know about any homes for sale in Wedgewood.

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 · Condos, patio homes · Delaware County · Golf course communities · Homes · Powell Ohio · Wedgewood

Muirfield Village in Dublin Ohio - the city that Jack built.

August 25, 2007 · No Comments

I confess! Muirfield Village is one of my favorite communities. First and foremost is that it is a controlled community - no worry about a big box store or yet another pharmacy going in on the corner. Plus, the deed restrictions are pretty strict on what can and cannot be done. This has protected the integrity of the huge development for 30-years.

Muirfield Village began as a dream of Jack Nicklaus, our local celebrity golfer. He grew up in Upper Arlington - home of the Golden Bears - hence, Jack’s nickname. He then attended OSU and the rest is history.

In the 70’s, Jack began development of land northwest of the heart of Dublin. At the time, there was much excitement about the pending community and golf courses. Some of our friends purchased lots intending to eventually build homes.

Just south of the entrance to the Village is a statue of Jack coaching a child on the “fine art” of swinging a golf club. I’ve tried for a few months to capture a photo of the statue as it’s in the median of the busy Muirfield Dr. Finally, one afternoon there were no cars in site, (a rarity) so I was able stop my car and take the photo.

The center of the Village is the Tournament golf course - Jack’s pride and joy. The Memorial Tournament is on the PGA Tour, and receives national TV exposure. The well-manicured course and the attached clubhouse are off-limits behind gates except for a chosen few. (A real estate agent driving a WEENR mobile is NOT one of the chosen few, so no photos are included in the slideshow below.)

There is another course called The Club at Muirfield Village that residents can join. The Club also offers fitness, pool, tennis and dining facilities. One must be a member to play, but others can play if invited by a member. I was fortunate to play the course a number of years ago thanks to the corporation I worked for at that time. Thank goodness it was a scramble so we didn’t really track our own score. My clubs haven’t been out of the basement for years, so I would never attempt it now.

There is a very wide variety of single-family home styles in The Village, so whether a buyer wants a traditional or an open floorplan, they are likley to find a home to suit them. There are also quite a few sections with patio homes (large homes, small yards) as well as numerous condo communities.

Naturally, prices increase according to their location if they back up to a fairway on one of the two golf courses. Generally, prices range from the high $200’s (condos) to well over $1 million for homes on the Tournament course. During Tournament week, many of the homes along the tournament course rent their homes out to players or corporations. The owners then stay in a hotel for the week.

The main north-south boulevard is Muirfield Dr. Don’t speed on this road as the Dublin police monitor it closely and they are hard to see when they park next to one of the neighborhood signs. (no, I’ve not gotten a ticket!) The key east-west street is Memorial Dr. The entire Village is quite large being bounded by Brand Rd to the south, Dublin Rd to the east, Avery Rd to the west, and Glick Rd to the north. There is a small part of the Village that exists north of Glick as well. Most of the Village resides within Franklin County but some parts are in Delaware County.

If you think you would enjoy living in Muirfield and would like assistance finding a home there, give me a call.

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 · Condos, patio homes · Dublin Ohio · Franklin County · Golf course communities · Homes · Muirfield
Tagged: Jack Nicklaus

Ballantrae continues Dublin’s Irish theme

August 22, 2007 · No Comments

Ballantrae is a large housing development and golf course south of the western edge of Dublin. The grounds are designed to represent an Irish countryside with stone walls and sea grass lining the roadways and fairways. Large stones, reminiscent of Stonehenge front many of the individual developments.

The most memorable aspect of Ballantrae is the 15-foot sculpture of three dancing hares on a mound at the entrance. The hares were sculpted by Sophie Ryder, (London England). She was intrigued by the spring mating “dance” hares do in which they stand on their hind feet and ‘box’ each other. At the base of the statue is a wading pond with intermittent upward sprays of water that delight the children wading in the pool.

The entire development consists of 640 acres and over 1000 homes, made up of single-family, condominiums and patio/villa style homes. Prices range from $300k and up. It is located within the city of Dublin and is serviced by the Hilliard school district. It is located off of Avery Rd, south of Rt 33 and the Perimeter Mall.

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: Ballantrae · Central Ohio · Condos, patio homes · Dublin Ohio · Franklin County · Golf course communities · Hilliard Ohio · Homes
Tagged: Dancing hares

Golfing in Worthington Ohio

August 8, 2007 · No Comments

Back in January, I wrote an article about Powell being an favorite spot for people who like to live on or near a golf course. Well, Worthington has a couple courses worth noting as well, AND they are favorites for people buying homes. Even though these courses are much older … and the surrounding homes are older … they are still very popular with local residents.

The Worthington Hills community and Worthington Hills country club are located just north of I-270, off Rt 315. ”The Hills”, as it is often referred to, consists of homes built in the late 60’s to early 70’s. The main street, Clubview Blvd, circles the golf course. The actual country club facilities are located back a scenic drive off Clubview Blvd. One exclusive street, called The Circle on the Green is an “island” within the golf course.

The clubhouse style is in keeping with “typical” Worthington architecture. The newly opened fitness facility is an “L” attachment to the main clubhouse.

On the opposite side of the parking area is the swimming pool and daycare facilities, with the tennis courts to the side. After a hot game of tennis, the members can jump in the pool for a cool-down.

Another golf community to the west of Worthington is Brookside Country Club and Golf Course. This course and community is located west of Olentangy River Rd, between Rt 161 and Snouffer Rd. The entrance from Rt 161 is stunning with a serene pond to the left of a bridged drive. Large trees are prevalent along the golf course, no doubt claiming their fair share of errant balls and ruining chances for a par hole.

On the warm summer day that I was there to take these photos, there were many golfers … as if there was some type of club tournament being played. The clubhouse sits in front of the pool facilities and tennis courts.

If you’re interested in buying a home in one of these communities, give me a call.

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: Brookside Village · Central Ohio · Franklin County · Golf course communities · Worthington Hills · Worthington Ohio
Tagged: Brookside Country Club, golf courses, Worthington Hills

Condo Sales in central Ohio for the 2nd Quarter

August 4, 2007 · No Comments

You can live a carefree lifestyle for very reasonable cost in the north/northwest communities around Columbus. Or if you want total luxury, there are many options for you as well.

Condos such as the one to the left, generally cost below $160K depending on the number of bedrooms and the location of the complex. Some of these complexes offer garages, while some only have carports or street parking.

The Epcon Group offers many condo complexes all around the Columbus area. This particular one is one of four such complexes in the Powell area. Depending on the location and number of bedrooms, they generally are priced in the $200K-260K price range. A pool and a party house are included.

These two luxury complexes (below) are located in the Powell area with prices ranging from the high $300K’s to mid $400’s depending on the options and the view.The first complex is Village at Kinsale with many units having a view of the golf course.

The complex on the right is the Lakes at Golf Village. Both these luxury complexes are located at the intersection of Sawmill Parkway and Rutherford Rd.

Just as I did for single-family homes, I compiled the 2^nd quarter sales results (Jan-Jun) for condos in six suburbs north and northwest of Columbus. One caveat to the data below regarding the higher priced units, is that the data does not include sales direct with the builder. It only includes sales recorded in the MLS system which is mostly resale homes. Since most of the upscale units are brand new, or too new to be on the resale market, they aren’t reflected truly in the data below.

Powell area:

· Below $200K: 29 units were sold averaging $163K with 1457 sq ft.

· $200K-$399K: 27 units were sold averaging $281K with 2116 sq ft.

· Over $400K: 1 resale unit was sold at $433K with 2361 sq ft.

· Overall Average: 57 units sold averaging $223K with 2894 sq ft.

Dublin area:

· Below $200K: 166 units were sold averaging $131K with 1232 sq ft.

· $200K-$399K: 27 units were sold averaging $236K with 1955 sq ft.

· Overall Average: 192 units sold averaging $145K with 1335 sq ft.

Lewis Center area:

· Below $200K: 19 units were sold averaging $134K with 1285 sq ft.

· $200K-$399K: 1 unit was sold costing $201K with 2236 sq ft.

· Overall Average: 20 units sold averaging $137K with 1335 sq ft.

Hilliard area:

· Below $200K: 131 units were sold averaging $111K with 1187 sq ft.

· $200K-$399K: 18 units were sold averaging $267K with 2082 sq ft.

· Overall Average: 149 units sold averaging $130K with 1297 sq ft.

Worthington area:

· Below $200K: 110 units were sold averaging $108K with 1168 sq ft.

· $200K-$399K: 6 units were sold averaging $244K with 2274 sq ft.

· Overall Average: 116 units sold averaging $115K with 1225 sq ft.

Delaware area:

· Below $200K: 31 units were sold averaging $99K with 1135 sq ft.

· $200K-$399K: 1 unit was sold costing $203K with 1474 sq ft.

· Overall Average: 32 units sold averaging $102K with 1146 sq ft.

If you’re interested in purchasing a condo, call or email me with your specifications and we’ll start working on getting you into a carefree life.

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.

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