Buyers

According to current and past clients, this section of our site – where we bring together all posts talking about Buying Homes in Columbus and Central Ohio – has been the most educational and appreciated page they’ve seen while looking for a home.

Our goal is to educate our Buyers to the best of our ability. In 2011, Buyers are coming to us armed with fantastic knowledge they’ve gleamed from this and other sites. Knowledgeable and informed Buyers make better clients and smoother transactions.

We hope you find this page to be helpful in your home search and we hope that you ask any questions that remain after looking here for your answers.  To save you time and energy in your home search, sign up for the Delicious Property Organizer — All homes meeting your criteria, live from our local MLS, in one place at one time with email updates and the ability to take notes, schedule showings and keep your favorites together.

Clintonville’s E North Broadway Residents breathe long sigh of relief re Proposed Turn Lane

My experience at what I like to call the ‘longest light in Columbus’ is usually turning right (North) off E North Broadway on my way to show homes in Clintonville or take the kids to Whetstone Park for soccer practice or gymnastics or whatever the kid-thing-du-jour is.  While it takes a while to get through the light, especially at rush hour, it is just as quick as taking a residential street off Indianola.

Coming South from Clintonville on my way home, I can turn left from High or simply wait out the light–no problems. I love the housing stock on E North Broadway. Even my 11-year-old likes it, adding the street to her list of ’streets I’d like to live on’ that she keeps in the car just a few days ago.  While I would have hated to see those big old trees torn down and would have felt bad for the homeowners and their adjusted home values had the street been widened due to a turn lane or traffic circle, I didn’t think it’d ever happen and I’m glad to see that the Mayor let a neighborhood commission make that kind of decision.

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From today’s Dispatch…”Columbus transportation planners say placing a left-turn lane from E. North Broadway to N. High Street in Clintonville would reduce congestion.

Mayor Michael B. Coleman says the turn lane would improve the quality of life in the surrounding neighborhoods by curbing the number of motorists who cut through narrow side streets to head south on High.

But in the end, Coleman punted the issue, deciding to leave it to the Clintonville Area Commission.

In 2009, the commission voted for the turn lane. But in 2010, a commission with new members voted 5-4 against the turn lane.

Opponents of the project, many of whom live on E. North Broadway, feared the turn lane would lead to a widening of the street between High and Indianola Avenue.

So in September 2011, Coleman promised that he would decide the matter.

Yet he wrote in a memo this week: “While I disagree with its position, the (area commission) has chosen on behalf of its residents to live with these traffic conditions. As this is not a health, safety or welfare concern, I will respect its decision.”

D Searcy, a Clintonville Area commissioner who supports the turn lane, said she was surprised that Coleman deferred to the neighborhood group.

“City Council overrides commissions all the time (on zoning issues),” she said. “I’m really disappointed.”
read the rest here.

Columbus Dispatch story by mferenchik@dispatch.com

January Housing Sales Best in Years in Columbus Area

January Housing Sales Best in Years

This 4 bed, 3 bath Clintonville home at 33 Aldrich sold in January for $292,000 after 18 days on the market.

(Feb 22, 2012) Not only were central Ohio housing sales up in January, but they showed the highest

activity for that month since 2008. The 1,125 sales showed a 6.0 percent increase over January of

2011 according to the Columbus Board of REALTORS®.

In addition, 1,845 residential homes and condos were placed in contract – up over 40 percent from the

same time one year ago.

“Sales last month were at the same level as we experienced just prior to the housing boom,” said Jim

Coridan, 2012 President of the Columbus Board of REALTORS®. “It’s a direct result of the increased

activity during the last few weeks of 2011 – and a great way to begin 2012.”

Click here to read the full report.

Short North Homes for Sale and Sold – the Short North Real Estate Update

There are 108 properties for sale in the Greater Short North.

This short north brick Italianate on West First has 3 bed, 1.5 baths, and 2670 sf. It sold $282,000 last month after 154 days on the market and a price drop of $47K from the original list price

13 more are in contract.  Only 30 of those 108 properties, however, are single family homes. Take out the top 2 and bottom 2 of those active homes for sale in the Short North and you’ll find a median price for single a single family home at about $152.50/square foot and an average of around $355,400 for an average 2422 square foot house that has been on the market for an average 124 days.

A couple of my favorites are 25 E 1st for price/size/location (Yes, it only has 1 full bath) and 106 E Lincoln 3,154 sf 3 bed, 2.5 bath with character all over the place.

The six listings in contract, as usual, had an average days on market closer to 30 and as little as 6 days for the 3 bed, 1 bath, needs work 200 West Fourth Street – a 1616 sq ft foreclosure on the market at $174,900 that had multiple offers.

In the last six months, 24 homes have sold in the Short North area which, for recap purposes here, includes Victorian Village, Italian Village, Harrison West and the Circles.  Those sold homes in the Short North averaged about $$273,000 or $137/sq ft. after an average 4 months on the market. Important to note–the average and median sales price/list price was 94%.

Of note, 7 of those homes, more than 1/4 of all the homes, were 2 bedroom homes averaging $147/sf. Remember, the smaller the home, the more it costs/sq ft.  The average 3 bedroom home in the Short North sold for about $150/sf or $282,145 for around 2000 sq ft.

Next up, an update on Short North Condos for sale and sold.

Stuff Realtors Say ….

A couple great Agents in the Atlanta area put this together and it’s a fun look at the kind of crap Realtors say. They could have gone much further with this, but it’s a lot of fun. Nice job Maura and Brian.

Where will mortgage rates go in 2012? Originators chime in.

Some of the best home mortgage originators from across the country answered Dan Green’s call for 2012 mortgage rate predictions, here is his post on the subject but, in a nutshell:

“Predictions for 2012 were remarkably consistent — mortgage rates stay low, housing continues its recovery, and the government adds more grease to the engine. These are ideal conditions for both buyers and sellers, and would seem to benefit would-be refinancers, too.”