Entries categorized as ‘Condos, patio homes’
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: luxury condos, central ohio real estate market, winter snowbirds
A lot of my articles concern single-family homes. Well, today I’ll write something for you condo buyers. Particularly those wanting to buy in the general area of the Olentangy School District which pretty much covers most of Southern Delaware County. I just checked to see what was currently on the market and the price ranges, so I’ll share my findings with you in case you’re in the market for easy-care living.
The information below is only for attached condo units which may consist of 2-3-4 attached units. Remember, these are the homes that are active listings at the moment I conducted the search today. Count on the data changing, but it should give you a general idea for prices and size of units.
This area essentially extends west from Olentangy River Rd to the Scioto River; from the Delaware County line north to Hyatts Rd.
- Over $400,000, there are 5 listings with an average price in the $450’s. They average a little over 2500 sq ft.
- In the $300’s, there are 13 listings. Their average price is the mid-$300’s for around 2600 sq ft.
- There are more condos are in the $200’s with 27 such homes in this category. These homes are a little
smaller but still averaging 2200 sq ft.
- Last, there are 43 condos priced below $200K. Their average price is $173K with an average size of just under 1600 sq ft.
This area extends east from Rt 23 to the vicinity of Alum Creek Reservoir; from the Delaware County line north to some point past Orange Rd. There are less clear cut definitions of this area. Surprisingly, there are few active listings at this time.
- Over $300,000, there is only one listing priced at $300,000 with 2000 sq ft.
- There are only 2 listings in the $200’s with an average price of $224,900 and average size of a little over 2300 sq ft.
- Under $200K, there are 17 condos with an average price of $150K, sized around 1440 sq ft.
This area extends on either side of Rt 23 from Cheshire Rd on the north to Orange Rd to the south. Essentially there are only two developments in this area. It has a Delaware mailing address but is within the Olentangy school district.
- There are 6 condos priced over $300K with an average price of $376K for over 2400 sq ft. These are located in the North Orange development.
- There are 9 homes priced below $200K. Their average price is $150K with just under 1500 sq ft.
If you’re in the market for low-maintenance, easy-case living, give me a call and we’ll go shopping. With the winter we’ve been having, maybe I should go shopping as well. I’m getting tired of this shoveling thing.
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 · Delaware Ohio · Golf Village, Kinsale · Golf course communities · Home prices · Homes · Homes for sale · Housing stats · Lewis Center Ohio · Powell Ohio · Scioto Reserve
Tagged: central ohio real estate market, luxury condos
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, Ohio, Orange township
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.
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 · 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
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
Tagged: central ohio real estate market news
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.
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 · Elaine's Listings · Golf Village, Kinsale · Golf course communities · Homes · Homes for sale · Powell Ohio
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
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
There are many styles of condos in southern Delaware County so buyers are sure to find a complex that fits their style and price range.
I’ve written on some of the various styles in previous posts, but this new complex offers some nice differences to others.
When new housing developments are planned, it is common to place condos as a “buffer zone” to the single-family homes. Sometimes that means that the condos are closer to roads or commercial buildings. This complex is different in that it is to the BACK of the single-family homes and is secluded away from them. That’s a really nice benefit!
Location – location – location!
This complex also is situated in a wooded ravine portion of land in the southwestern portion of the county that approaches the Olentangy River. Therefore, many of the units have a pleasant view from their Florida rooms or their decks. Walk-out lower levels are also available on many units for extra entertaining space.
As with many condo complexes, there is an outdoor pool and a very nice 2-level clubhouse with gathering room and kitchen. The builder says that prices “start” in the low $300’s, but once options are added the price likely ends up closer to $400K.
I took these photos for a relocating client prior to their trip here. The photos show portions of three different floor plans. There are no bedroom photos because after all, a bedroom is a bedroom is a bedroom. I’ve included a couple of the bath photos but they don’t really illustrate how large these suites are. They include a huge closeted section as well as the bath area.
If you’re interested in more information on this complex, call or email me and I’ll help you.
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: Buyers · Central Ohio · Condos, patio homes · Delaware County · Homes · Homes for sale · New home builders · Powell Ohio
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
Elaine Reese
614-825-8860Real Living HER
