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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
How and Where will Columbus and Central Ohio Grow?
April 21st, 2008 categories: Columbus News
When you hear the term Central Ohio, we’re talking about a 12 county region that, in 20 years, is expected to grow to about 2 million people—an increase of about 440,000 in the next dozen years. Make no mistake, Franklin County and Columbus are at the heart of that 12 county Central Ohio Region, but while we’re not talking about 2 million inhabitants commuting to downtown Columbus every day, the Center City is where many of us hope much of the growth develops.
MORPC, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission on East Main Street downtown, recently unveiled its first State of the Region Report that speaks to, among other topics, how rising fuel costs may help residents spurn the suburbs in favor of the city and proximity to Columbus employment. An influx of new residents to this same region is the sole reason the entire state of Ohio did not lose population over the last year.
Growth is coming, Columbus and our surrounding communities are a destination, but Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Knox, Licking, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Pickaway, Ross and Union counties have 385 local governments, each with its own issues and ideas.
And as the executive director of MORPC pointed out in a recent Dispatch article: “We have a huge opportunity to be defining our tomorrow in ways we’ve not had over the past 30 years.” (what?)
the full MORPC report
the Dispatch Article
Authored by Joe | Discussion: 2 Comments »
100s of H.U.D. Homes will Soon Hit the Columbus Real Estate Market
April 21st, 2008 categories: Mortgage/Finance
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is in charge of disposing of Foreclosed Homes in Columbus. Over the last 18 months or so, they have used 3 different middle man companies and are about to embark on the fourth.
Over the last 6 weeks or so, no new HUD homes have come on the market while the transition happens behind the scenes. Any day now, a new company called National Home Management Solutions will take over the servicing on the Columbus area HUD homes. When they open the flood gates, there will be quite a few homes coming the market. You can search for these homes here when they become available and you can call a Realtor, such as myself, to go and look at any of these homes.
You’ll often see people try to make a buck by charging you for lists of HUD homes in your area but all you have to do is go that web site and look for yourself. They will also be in the MLS and therefore on Realtor.com et al. What most buyers tend to find is that your typical HUD home is need of too much repair and not in the neighborhood they want to live in. A HUD home is simply a home that had an FHA mortgage that was foreclosed on.
While I predict an enormous increase in FHA loans this year and into the future, they haven’t been all that popular for “normal” neighborhoods and “normal” homes over the last few years because conventional loans were so easy to obtain.
If you’re quick on the draw though, you’ll be able to find an occasional HUD home in Columbus that fits all your needs and get it for a nice price. What I like most about the HUD home program is that it gives preference to owner occupants over investors. Smart first time buyers will find buying a HUD home a great way to walk into some home equity and, with a little elbow grease, sell a few years later and come out looking good.
Authored by Joe | Discussion: 1 Comment »
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 »
OUCH
April 16th, 2008 categories: Real Estate News
Did you know that Realtors tend to be on the road quite a bit? Houses don’t exist at the office. Aside from the mountains of paperwork, and blogging of course, you’ve gotta to be out of the office to be doing business. I’m really thinking about a much more fuel efficient vehicle. Since I can’t show houses on a Segway, maybe a Prius?
Authored by Joe | Discussion: 1 Comment »
Olde Towne East homes 1st Quarter Sales
April 11th, 2008 categories: Real Estate News
It’s been a little while since I’ve updated the midtown Columbus statistics. I’ve been waiting for more sales, for the new MLS and now I’m still experiencing growing pains as I try to make the new MLS work for me the way I want it to. There is a bit of a learning curve, but I’m getting there.
In the meantime, here is a pretty map with all the locations of homes that sold in Olde Towne East, Woodland Park, Bronzeville, Franklin Park and Eastgate in the first quarter of 2008.
I’m looking through these listings and I’m getting rid of the bank owned properties, the gutted fixer-uppers and I’m looking to see what homes have been selling for between Main and Mt Vernon, 670 and Nelson Road. I’m working on tweaking the MLS to perform my map based searches with my definitions of Olde Towne East, the Short North and German Village. It can be done now, which is very exciting, but it’s taking me a while to get it down — and I’m what you might call tech savvy to a degree.
Look for 1st quarter sales updates coming next week.
Authored by Joe | Discussion: No Comments »
Spring has sprung in the Columbus Ohio Real Estate Market
April 9th, 2008 categories: Columbus News
Four warm days in a row, the Spring Selling Season is upon us.
Since April 1, 2008, 1,768 properties in Central Ohio have gone in contract while 1,366 new ones have emerged.
Despite this weekend’s forecast for snow, it’s time to get your home on the market if you’re selling and to call me if you’re buying before the end of the summer. Longer days, warmer days, happier days are ahead for the Columbus Real Estate Market. I can feel it.
Authored by Joe | Discussion: No Comments »
Bexley Home Owners’ Property Taxes help fund Highly Visible Bexley Police Force
April 8th, 2008 categories: Bexley
I work in Bexley, on Main Street. I find it uncanny how often I see a Bexley Police cruiser out and about while I am also out and about in Bexley. Whether I’m showing homes, on my way to or from work or home or the kid’s school, I swear to you I see a Bexley Police car patrolling or stopped during that trip — At least one, often two or three.
Not just on Main Street either, Broad Street, Drexel, Fair, Remington, even Gould, it doesn’t matter, they’re everywhere all the time. That kind of presence surely helps enforce that 25 MPH speed limit on Main Street I find so excruciating and it has to make the people of Bexley feel happy, safe and secure knowing that although they pay higher taxes than their Columbus Neighbors, the Bexley Police Department is on the streets instead of hanging out at HQ.
Authored by Joe | Discussion: No Comments »
Is it Possible to Sell an Overly Customized Home in Columbus?
April 7th, 2008 categories: Real Estate News
Let’s say that a while back you found your perfect home. You painstakingly made it your own. I mean Really, Really made it your own.
Maybe you painted the living room ceiling to resemble a Big Top Circus Tent and you used Really Bright Circus colors all over the home because, well, you’ve got a thing for the Circus.
Even if you were wise enough to leave all the gorgeous original wood trim and floors unmolested, kept up the yard and had the house all cleaned up, you may not be able to sell that home.
Even if potential buyers could see past the paint and the life size dinosaur head protruding into the bedroom from behind the painted foliage above the marbleized slate mantel, they can’t see themselves in an overly customized home.
So do the little things. Take down the foil wallpaper, paint over the crazy colors, neutralize, modernize, match and clean. You will do yourself a favor and save thousands while being able to move on with your life.
Authored by Joe | Discussion: 1 Comment »