Click here to download or open a short PowerPoint presentation from the Auditor’s office about how Franklin County – or really most any county in Ohio – figures out how much your home is worth so that they can then figure out how much tax you should be paying on your home. > caao-yourhomeyourvalue-07-08
The Columbus Board of Realtors released official February numbers today…
(March 22, 2011) Home sales for the first two months of the year are just 1.1 percent behind the same period last year suggesting a strong start for the central Ohio housing market according to the Columbus Board of REALTORS® (CBR).
There were 2,178 homes closed in January and February compared to the 2,202 closings during the first two months of 2010.
February home sales dipped slightly to 1,128, just 1.3 percent less than the 1,143 homes sold during the same month one year ago.
“Why are we pleased at the small decrease in sales this year” asks Rick Benjamin, CBR President? “At this time last year, the first-time home buyer tax credits were significantly impacting our sales volume. To remain at nearly the same level without that incentive is a positive sign of a strengthening market.”
“Additionally, there were 1,812 residential homes put in contract in February which is 18.7 percent more than February of 2010 (1,527). This also bodes well for March closing activity.”
Franklin County saw 658 homes sell last month and 1,637 more listed for sale, while 137 homes sold and 302 homes were listed in Delaware County. The City of Columbus topped the charts with 423 sales and 1,023 new listings. Other cities which saw higher sales and listing activity include Dublin, Hilliard, Westerville, Gahanna and Pickerington.
School districts experiencing higher sales and listing volume in February included Columbus, South-Western, Olentangy, Hilliard, Westerville, and Dublin.
“Although, the actual numbers of sales and listings for these districts were higher, we’re fortunate to have many strong school districts in central Ohio, several of which showed larger activity gains when compared to last year,” adds Benjamin. “Every area is different so it pays to ask a REALTOR® to help you interpret the data.”

For $179,000, this could be your view from a nearly 1000 sf 2 bedroom cabin in Hide-a-Way Hills on Lake Eagle Claw
Isn’t that fantstic?
In 2010, the State of Ohio registered 424,700 watercraft–an increase of over 5,000 over the 2009 year.
As of today, there are 276 homes active in the Central Ohio MLS that are ‘Waterfront’ of one sort or another. 29 of those homes come in asking $1,000,000 or more but they range all the way down to a $56,000 1 bedroom vacation home on the banks on the Muskingum River, 90 minutes from Columbus just outside Stockport.
I’d love to help you find your waterfront property this Spring to enjoy this Summer.
Get out and Go Paddling!
No Single topic seems to haunt the Columbus area home buyer more than Earnest Money. For good reasons too: 1) It’s usually a pretty large chunk of change and no one wants to give away free money, 2) At the same time, no one wants to buy a house they don’t want to buy-for whatever reason.
When combined, these two reasons make earnest money a potentially contentious issue. Home Buyers need to know as much as possible about the topic of earnest money to feel safe and secure during the real estate transaction. Sellers, too, need to know the ins-and outs of how they can be compensated by buyers who waste their time and keep their house off the active market.
Three big points regarding earnest money in Columbus Real Estate transactions. First, it is not a requirement in the State of Ohio for the buyer to put down earnest money. Second, that said, almost every residential real estate transaction in Central Ohio involves earnest money. Third, earnest money must be handled however it stated in the contract to be handled–whatever amount, in whoever’s account, to be distributed as laid out however the mutually agreed upon contract says it should.
2010 saw an eye-popping 43 residential real estate transactions above $1 Million in greater Central Ohio.
The largest real estate transactions of 2010 belongs to 1 New Albany Farms Road in New Albany’s Farms division. Originally listed at $8,950,000 and on the market for a whopping 2111 days, this 17,771 square foot Georgian home with a 6 car garage, 8 fireplaces and a guest home sold for a Franklin County record $5,184,000 on September 1, 2010.
Judging strictly from the measly 8 pictures that were on the Columbus MLS, this home is a stunner. It’s also out the league of my buyers in 2010 or 2009 or 2008 so I didn’t see it but I have no doubt it delivers that WOW factor.
Next up is a 5 acre estate on Hoover Reservoir with 2 homes on the property. Originally listed for all of 2009 beginning at $4,700,000 in December 2008, 4310 Sunbury Road in Galena sold for $3,950,000 in March of this year. The main home has 12,500 square feet and the setting really couldn’t be beat.
Back to Columbus and a more regular City Setting, 246 East Sycamore made an appearance on the top twenty. At 4,400 square feet in a prime location, this former storefront went for $1,495,000 in February.
Another midtown entrant in the top 20 real estate deals of the year 2010 is a 15th floor combined 2 unit condo at North Bank Tower. With 4663 square feet a view to die for and a whopping $497/year tax abated (through 2018) bill, this 3 bedroom home with a (max) $1,657/month condo fee sold for $1,350 in August.
If you’re curious about the rest of the 2010 top twenty real estate deals in Central Ohio, look below for a quick tour.
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