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"As a first-time homebuyer, I was nervous about the entire process. Step by step, Joe made it easy and fun. His expertise in the Columbus real estate market is a tremendous asset. He is highly recommended!" - Nicolette Horan, March 08
"I wanted to say thank you again, so much, for all your hard work. I know that you really put a lot of time into this transaction and I really, really appreciate it. I'm so happy I got the house and it all worked out and I just wanted to say thanks again, you did a great job and i really appreciate it. I will put that on the survey when they send it to me.
If there is ever anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to give me a call. I will refer every single person I know to you. I'm going to go get my dog and we're going to sit on the floor of our new house and have a glass of champaign. Thanks a lot Joe" -- Michael Mamp, Feb 08
New Listing - 742 Oak Street - Historic-Move in Ready-1710 SqFt
May 5th, 2008 categories: Downtown, For Home Buyers, Olde Towne East
Offered at $207,000 or $121/sqft
Exceptional 1,710 square foot historic brick home for sale at the edge of Downtown Columbus and Olde Towne East. This beautiful 2 story is ideally situated minutes from German Village and the Short North with easy access to Interstate 71, 315, 670 and 270.
A former tour home, 742 Oak Street delivers a stunning renovation true to the character of the house with exposed bricks, beautiful wood work, new flooring, original mantles and plaster Moldings, and an upgraded kitchen perfect for entertaining with lots of light and all new stainless steel appliances and range hood.
The list of updates over the last four years is extensive as this home has been lovingly cared for. Picture yourself in the private and very green backyard - an oasis in the midst of urban Columbus. The large and airy upstairs bath, bathed in sunlight from two large skylights, has an oversized soaking tub and separate shower space. The washer and dryer are conveniently housed in a separate 2nd floor utility space. All rooms are high speed cable ready. This house is move-in ready.
Authored by Joe | Discussion: 2 Comments »
Why a Racing Facility at Cooper Stadium would Kill Downtown Neighborhood Home Values
May 2nd, 2008 categories: Columbus News, Downtown
On last night’s news and on page one of today’s Dispatch, there is news about turning the Cooper Stadium site on the near South-West side into a half-mile track facility for cars and possibly a seperate track for drag racing. We’ve all heard of similar plans since the Clippers announced they were moving to a new ball park in the Arena District but I certainly didn’t realize the Franklin County Commissioners were behind this scenario and gearing up for a vote.
I don’t know why all the press is sooo positive on this. I readily admit that I am not a racing fan. I don’t get it. I don’t begrudge anyone their sport of choice but do you realize how LOUD this is going to be? We’re trying to sell the world on what a great neighborhood Downtown Columbus is. Do we need to hear race cars roaring all through the weekend in German village, on Miranova balconies, in my back yard in Olde Towne East? That is the kind of noise that carries unbelievably far. Every Summer I hear the Tractor Pulls at the State Fair. This will be much worse.
Oh, they’ll plant a few trees and put up a sound deadening wall. Well, OK then. I’ve shown homes behind such walls from the Columbus’ highways and I’m thinking more like a super hero-type invisible sound bubble encompassing all of Mid Town Columbus’ neighborhoods. No one asked those in the North Campus or Linden or Milo Grogan areas if it was OK to turn Crew Stadium into an outdoor concert venue and I’m betting no one is asking West Side residents what they think. Remember the brew-ha-ha from the community around Polaris Amphitheater? That was a controllable decibel level fight. I don’t think you can control race car decibels so easily.
I do want to see something positive happen in that spot for the sake of the West side of town. I’m all for jobs, commercial revitalization and money coming into the county. Not a race venue though. Luckily, too many people with too much money care about downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods to allow that kind of noise pollution to muck up a perfectly good metropolitan city. Right? Right?
Authored by Joe | Discussion: 2 Comments »
Patrolling Columbus Streets is a Balancing Act
April 29th, 2008 categories: Columbus News, Downtown
The other day, when I was in Downtown Columbus, I spotted a police officer on a Segway. Who knew? Maybe only parking meter patrols use them because that’s a bunch of blank tickets in his back pocket. I’ve seen our mounted police in and around downtown Columbus and other city neighborhoods but never on a Segway.
There is one gentleman I see going to work downtown coming from the Short North and headed South from time to time who rides a Segway and I’ve seen them here and there when driving through historic Columbus Neighborhoods showing houses, but I’ve always wondered why they haven’t caught on. Any thoughts?
Of Interest: Neighs in the Neighborhood
Is this Columbus Neighborhood Safe? - finally, a convenient answer for home buyers
Driving in Columbus - the 106th Safest City to Drive In
Ride a Bike to Your Favorite Columbus Summer Festival
Authored by Joe | Discussion: 2 Comments »
It’s Back - Downtown Columbus is your Runway
March 21st, 2008 categories: Downtown
Let’s go Modeling.
The local chapter of the Building Industry Association is back with the Let’s Go Modeling campaign in an effort to jumpstart the sleeping downtown Columbus Condo market.
You may know the BIA from Condo Quest, the Parade of Homes or the Showcase of Remodeled Homes. Go Modeling is a collaborative effort to make finding your downtown home easy. After you’ve found it, give me a call and we’ll discuss making downtown your backyard.
Every Sunday through June 15, each of these ten participating properties will be open from 1pm – 4pm. Take advantage of this convenient way to view multiple properties in one day, and know that if you missed one – or want to come back – they’ll be open again, same time, same place, the following week.
Go Modeling. And find your downtown intersection.
Participating Properties
Related: Downtown Columbus Condos - February Update - For Sale-Sold
Downtown Columbus Condos - the 2007 by the numbers look
Find out more about Downtown Columbus
Authored by Joe | Discussion: No Comments »
What it costs - Commercial Real Estate for sale in Midtown Columbus
March 16th, 2008 categories: Downtown, Real Estate News
The first couple months of the year, I have been paying much more attention to commercial real estate than I had been. Part of this was my involvement in a potential move by a local arts organization to a downtown Columbus location but that has yet to materialize and probably won’t for some time. I’ve also taken a keen interest in small office locations throughout midtown. I’ve had would-be clients like photographers and attorneys moving to town call about live-work possibilities and others interested in warehouses in which they could put a new business. I always really enjoy these type of outside-the-residential-box searches.
The public at large sees buildings for sale all the time but they rarely find out what they’re worth. Part of that is because Columbus commercial real estate is marketed to commercial realtors and not advertised to the general public to the extent that residential real estate is. So, because I know you’re curious, here are some buildings that are currently on the market [disclaimer-these are listed with other realtors-these are not my listings and I am not advertising them]. If you’re from out of town, you would probably be surprised by the relative affordability of Midtown Columbus Commercial Property.
17 Brickel St
$1,500,000
7500 sf
East Broad Street
$675,000
8730 sf
456 East Cherry
Dowtown
6,733 sf
$470,000
81 south fifth street
downtown
15,000 sf
$650,000
800 E Broad St
5865 sf
$620,000
64 East Broad
10,250
$1,400,000
1120 North High
8,000 sf
$750,000
Authored by Joe | Discussion: No Comments »
Downtown Columbus Condos - February Update - For Sale-Sold
March 4th, 2008 categories: Downtown
I had to check three times to make sure, but every time I found ONE condo that sold last month in downtown Columbus. Yeah, the market is a little slow.
The honor belongs to a 1700 sf 21st floor Miranova Corner Condo with three walls of glass, nice finishes and fantastic views. The 2 bed, 2 bath unit sold for $429,000, after about 6 months on the market, though it sold for $469,000 18 months ago.
Note to all would-be downtown Columbus Condo Buyers —– Try to stay put for awhile.
You may recall that in January, 7 of the remaining CityView at 3rd two bedrooms sold and three additional downtown condo units did as well.
Those ten homes averaged about $220/sf, not too far from the kind of numbers that have been selling downtown.
As of today, there are 174 units on the MLS listed as active listing with an average list price of $367,200 or $236/sf.
Things have been picking up lately though and there are also 25 downtown Columbus Condos in contract and of those, the 19 condos in Firm Contract average about $270/sf, though they won’t retain that average after they’ve closed. Many of these won’t close for a while yet though because they’re not yet ready for occupancy.
Also of Interest: Downtown Columbus Condos - the 2007 by the numbers look
When does Your Downtown Columbus Condo Tax Abatement Begin?
Is the Downtown Columbus Condo Market a Ticking Timebomb?
Authored by Joe | Discussion: 3 Comments »
Downtown Columbus Condos - the 2007 by the numbers look
January 11th, 2008 categories: Downtown
In the year 2007, 121 properties sold downtown. Yes, that’s an average of 10.2 per month. These downtown Columbus Homes were, on average:
- on the market an average of 209 days
- 1280 square feet
- $262,493
- At $109,900, the least expensive condo in the area was a Yukon Studio.
- The most expensive downtown Columbus area condo was a 4th floor 2 bedroom Buggyworks loft with 2590 sq ft selling for $840,000 in August.
More expensive condos went into -and are currently in Contract– just not yet sold or, possibly, finished. The chart doesn’t mean anything and someday I will compare to past years on number sold and $/sq ft.
Authored by Joe | Discussion: 1 Comment »
Columbus Real Estate Update - Downtown for sale/sold December update
January 2nd, 2008 categories: Downtown
I hope you’re sitting down because FIVE condos sold last month in Downtown Columbus, Ohio. That’s right, five downtown Columbus Condos averaging $223.07/sq ft without the North Bank condo which went for $304.03/sf.
Terraces on Grant, Miranova, City View, and Burnham Square all participated in the year end Columbus Condo sell off.
The only one bedroom in the group was Miranova, surprisingly, but it also had 1433 s.f. – not shabby. It had all the upgrades, travertine in the foyer to granite in the kitchen and marble in the bath. Originally listed a tad under $380K, it sold for $350,000 with a $733/month condo fee.
The CityView unit that went in December was the 2749 st penthouse suite with a terrace which went for $534,409 (?). At $179,000, the 2 bed, 2 bath 1000 sq ft 4th floor Terraces unit looks like a steal with its 75% tax abatement $189/mo condo fee.
Coming Soon – 2007 numbers, charts and graphs
Call me to find your Downtown Columbus Condo for 2008.
Also see: Goodbye Macy’s, Hello . . . ? The Strip of Hip opens to 2-way traffic Is Miranova Dead?
Authored by Joe | Discussion: No Comments »