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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
What Style of Homes can you Find for Sale in Columbus?
July 1st, 2008 categories: About Me?, Bexley, Clintonville, German Village, Grandview, Real Estate News, Short North
As fascinated as I am in home styles, I’m no architect. When I describe the architecture of my listings or homes I am showing, I find it helps buyers appreciate their value. While they both have “old brick homes,” Victorian Village and German Village have very different housing stock. Although I can tell a cupola from a parapet, or an eyebrow window from a palladian, I’m sometimes stumped or unsure and don’t like to throw something out there for the sake of looking like I know what I’m talking about.
July is home styles month here on Columbus Homes Blog and I’ll be reviewing different styles with intermittent posts over the coming weeks. Every house, no matter how plain, has a style. Style comes in part from ornamental details like columns and moldings and in part from structural features, such as the placement of the windows and the pitch of the roof. Yet, identifying that style can be a baffling process. Is it Spanish Colonial or Mediterranean? Italianate or Federal? And, what about the newly constructed home that seems to break all the “rules”?
Most houses do not fit precisely into any one category. Older homes may have gone through many renovations, taking on the features of several different architectural trends. Newer homes often combine ideas from a variety of styles and historic periods. Details help to give homes style, character and romance. In Columbus, you can find many different styles in many different neighborhoods and while there may be more to choose from in Clintonville than Hilliard, even a newer community has homes with character.
More often than not, I find other Realtors, especially suburban Realtors, have no idea what style a home is. Painting a broad stroke here, to tell the style of a home begin by closely observing a few key characteristics. This simple checklist below identifies some main features to look for. Although there are no pat answers, each of these features suggests styles to consider.
1. What shape is the house, overall?
- Rectangular and symmetrical: National, Colonial, Neoclassical, Greek Revival, Italianate
- Square and box-like: American Foursquare
- L-shaped: Folk and National styles
- Complicated and asymmetrical: Queen Anne and other Victorian styles, Chateauesque
- Rounded corners: Pueblo, Art Moderne
- Single story or 1½ story: Cape Cod, Ranch, Craftsman, Cottage styles
2. Does the roof have any of these features?
- Unusually steep pitch: Gothic Revival and other Victorian styles, Tudor
- Unusually low pitch: Craftsman, Prairie, Ranch, Monterey, and Spanish styles
- Flat: Italianate, Beaux Arts, Pueblo, Mediterranean, and Modernistic
- Gambrel: Dutch Colonial
- Mansard: Second Empire and other French-inspired styles
- Hipped: American Foursquare, Colonial styles, Victorian styles
- Salt box: Colonial
- Flared eaves: French styles, Craftsman, Prairie
- Round towers: Queen Anne, Romanesque, Chateauesque, French styles
- Cupolas: Italianate, Greek Revival, Second Empire
- Rounded parapets: Mission
3. Is the house sided with any of these materials?
- Adobe: Pueblo, Monterey, Spanish Colonial Revival
- Stucco: Mission, Tudor, Spanish styles
- Rough stone: Romanesque
- Patterned wood shingles: Victorian styles
- Half-timbering: Tudor, Stick, Queen Anne
- Cedar shingles: Victorian Shingle, Craftsman, Tudor
4. Does the house have any of these window types?
- Multi-paned: Adam, Georgian, Neoclassical
- Diamond-paned: Tudor, Prairie
- Palladian: Adam, Colonial Revival, Neoclassical
- Round or elliptical: Adam, Neoclassical
- Oriel: Tudor, Gothic Revival, Chateauesque
- Casement: Tudor, Craftsman, Dutch Colonial, Spanish styles, modern styles
- Pointed: Gothic Revival
- Rounded with “eyebrow” hoods: Italianate
- Fanlights: Adam, Neoclassical, Colonial Revival
5. Do you notice any of these details?
- Dentil moldings: Georgian, Adam, Colonial styles
- Garlands or floral ornaments: Federal, Adam, Beaux Arts
- Turned spindles: Queen Anne, Carpenter Gothic, Folk Victorian
- Zigzags or chevrons: Art Deco
- Shutters: Cape Cod and other Colonial styles
- Round, fluted columns: Greek Revival, Adam, Neoclassical, Beaux Arts
- Square or trapezoid porch supports: Craftsman, Prairie, Mission, American Foursquare
- Little or no ornamentation: National and Folk styles, Cape Cod, Ranch, Modern styles
*This post has beenn Adapted from an article by BY JACKIE CRAVEN that appears on realtor.org from a post circa January 1, 2004.
Authored by Joe | Discussion: No Comments »
German Village Homes 1st Qtr 2008 Sales Numbers
April 18th, 2008 categories: German Village, Market Updates
Including Schumacher Place, 22 German Village homes sold in the first quarter of 2008.
On the market anywhere from 1 to 552 days, these German Village homes averaged 1,866 square feet and $290,101 ($155/sq ft) while bringing in about 94.1% of the last list price. The average days on market was 113 days which is quite good and, frankly, a little surprising for German Village.
If you take out the 6 six condos that were included, the average sales price increases to $312,745 and while the average days on market doesn’t really change, the median days on market is shrunk to a mere 58 days. In a nutshell, the first quarter saw an interest in German Village area homes, but not for the higher ends. We’re still only talking about 22 properties in the Schumacher Place and German Village areas, but I bet that 2nd quarter sales are around twice that number.
The most expensive German Village area home to sell in the first quarter of 2008 was a 3500 sf Jackson Street (I know, Jackson St homes are usually small) three story brick with 4 beds and 3.5 baths that is updated quite nicely and has a cute yard and garage. It sold in February for $620,000.
Currently, there are 158 active listings in German Village and Schumacher Place at an average of $352,136 and 1,623 sf. That is an average of $216/sf for the active listings and more in tune with what we’ve come to expect for German Village Real Estate over the last few years.
Authored by Joe | Discussion: No Comments »
Columbus Real Estate Update - German Village for sale/sold December update
January 3rd, 2008 categories: German Village
The Village (Don’t you hate it when people call German Village that?) saw only four homes sell within German Village boundaries in December. They averaged:
- 154 days on market
- $258,000
- $151.41/sq ft
- 1704 sf
- 94% of list price
At the high end last month was a 2 bed, 2 bath brick home at 866 City Park with a one car garage going out at $315,000. It is an attractive, 1643 sq ft, mostly remodeled and well situated building that was on the market for 81 days.
2 three bedroom condos sold in German Village last month, averaging about $130/sq ft.
The Brewery District had 2 sales in December, 965 S Wall St is a 2 bed single family 1.5 bath 2 story home that went for a mere $125,000, on the market for 15 days. A fishy cash deal on a 2 bed 1440 sq ft brick home on Front street went $144,200 —– $100,000 less than the asking price.
Merion Village had two sales last month as well, namely 58 Hanford - a nicely updated 3 bed, 1.5 bath 1200 sq ft single family with a 2 car garage for $196,500 on a fenced corner lot.
By now, you know to look under German Village for Merion Village, Schumacher Place and the Brewery District — all important neighborhoods adding value to the urban Columbus Core but, for the purposes of this blog, all lumped in under German Village.
Interested in finding your slice of the near South side? Call Me, my phone number is up above in the header.
see also: German Village Homes For Sale / Sold - November Update
German Village - Schumacher Place –Not so Quiet?
Authored by Joe | Discussion: 1 Comment »
German Village Homes For Sale / Sold - November Update
December 10th, 2007 categories: German Village
And away we go . . . .
- 6 Homes sold in German Village,
- 4 homes sold in Schumacher Place and
- 5 more in Merion Village.
German Village Homes averaged
- 1337 sq ft,
- $202/sq ft and
- $270,066 or 90.7% of list price (not normal)
- 203 days on market
Schumacher Homes sold in November averaged
- 1375 sq ft
- $121.24/sq ft
- $166,700 or 102% of list price (thanks to a bidding war for 469 E Beck St)
- 131 days on the market
Merion Village Homes sold in November averaged
- 1239 sq ft
- $92.48/sq ft
- $114,580 or 96.8% of list
- 113 days on market
The most expensive home in German Village last month was 932 Mohawk which went for $475,000, listed at $500,000, on the market for 174 days. It was a perfectly fine 3 bedroom home and, at 1792 sq ft, went out at $265/sq ft.
Authored by Joe | Discussion: 1 Comment »
Columbus Real Estate - September Update - German Village
October 11th, 2007 categories: German Village
An even Dozen homes sold in the German Village area in September.
463 Stanley takes home the least expensive German Village area sale in the month of September. Yes, this would be Schumacher Place, one house from S. Washington between Kossuth and Whittier for those keeping track at home.
It is an 1128 sq ft 2 bed (used to be 3 bedrooms), 1 bath single family home with an open downstairs and deck that was purchased 3 years ago for $166,200 and sold last month for $137,100. It was corporate owned.
How about a 3,829 sq foot 3 bed, 2.5 bath brick beauty on Beck? From the copper counters to the 3 working fireplaces, the killer master suite to the 2 car garage, this was a very nice home and it tops the German Village area sales at $925,000.
The average price per sq ft in German Village proper for September was
- $189.74 and
- they averaged 1912 square feet,
- $362,785 and
- 226 days on the market.
Authored by Joe | Discussion: No Comments »
Columbus Real Estate - August Update - German Village
September 7th, 2007 categories: German Village
Still a bunch out there on the market. In August, 15 lucky sellers were able to move on with their lives. In the German Village area, which for these purposes also includes Schumacher Place and parts of the Brewery District, 12 Homes and 3 condos sold In August.
The least expensive home was on Bruck, a 2 bedroom, 1 bath home between Columbus and Kossuth. At 986 square feet, this home sold for $146,500. It was a very nice Schumacher Charmer that had first come on the market in April of 2006 at $179,000.
The most expensive home sold in German Village in August was on Deshler, overlooking Schiller Park, you know the one -studio, stainless steel in-ground pool, attached garage, 5200 sq feet– for $1,500,000. This home was on the market only 9 days. Talk about the right place at the right time and they only came down 95K from the original list price.
Aside from two Dakotas pent-homes, the only other Million Dollar plus transactions in Columbus proper have been in German Village. Two on Deshler, One on Macon Alley, and one on Jaeger which was also on the park.
German Village and Schumacher Place by the numbers-August:
- Averaged 1919 square feet
- Averaged $410,000 and sold for 94.2% of list price
- Were on the market for an average of 106 days
- Sold for, on average, $213.65 / sq ft
Authored by Joe | Discussion: 1 Comment »
German Village - Schumacher Place –Not so Quiet?
August 9th, 2007 categories: German Village, Real Estate News
Is German Village / Schumacher Place dead? No, it’s still alive and well thank you. It dawned on me that unless you live there or follow the market, the panache of German Village may seem like it’s given way to the North. While running some comps for a would-be client today, I found that Since May First 56 homes have sold in German Village and Schumacher place.
I know it has been slow going for German Village of late, but the overall picture isn’t so bad. 18.6 homes on average every month the last 3 months— May, June and July. Three 1/2 months of market time on average (not including the previous realtor of course!) and average square feet prices in the $190s.
Granted, German Village isn’t a large area but if you 
consider that there are approximately 180 active listings between Front Street and Parsons, Livingston and Nursery Lane (i.e. Approximately German Village and Schumacher Place combined) that’s means it’d take about 9 1/2 months to sell all the homes currently on the market. Of course that’s assuming nothing else came on the market and I’m not even including homes in contract.
The homes are still fantastic, the location is still phenomenal and the local walkable amenities can’t be beat. German Village will always remain a prized location in Columbus. I’ve had people ask me lately if German Village Residents are fleeing to the burbs to get more house for the money, been crazy about downtown condos and the arena district, moved south to Merion Village (which has fared about as well over this time) or do they just have their list prices too high compared to the rest of the market? The truth is, things aren’t all that different down here in the Village. (I hate when people call German Village “The Village”.
Authored by Joe | Discussion: No Comments »
Another somewhat useless but cool real estate gadget
June 4th, 2007 categories: Bexley, German Village, Olde Towne East, Real Estate News
The folks over at Trulia continue to try to outcool the rest with this product called HindSight. While last week’s google announcement regarding the city streets view was impressive, it isn’t in Ohio yet. Trulia recently received a round of investment cash and it’ll be interesting to see if they, GoogleBase, Zillow or some one else ends up being the new Realtor.com, aka the first or most used real estate web site on the net.
Anyway, this site gives an idea of how Columbus was settled , starting in 1870. Type in your zip code or city and watch the sprawl catch up to you. Of course it’s not perfect. This view of Olde Towne East and Bexley, only received 3% of the 70,004 homes in the area and only had 1269 visible. It’s interesting to see the progression East away from downtown and then a big resurgence in German Village and metro in the late 80s and 90s.
Authored by Joe | Discussion: 2 Comments »