Real Estate Information Archive

Sitting at the North Carolina beach listening to the surf...

It occurs to me that with today's low interest rates, reasonable prices and the large inventory of vacation homes, it is a great time for Baby Boomers to
purchase their retirement home in a sunny environment. It will be years before
these three positive items for the purchase of a vacation or retirement property
will again be in perfect alignment.

This is also true for single family homes in Columbus whether it be a "move up" or first home. Interest rates are so low right now that the monetary benefits are far better than the incentive credits that were available at the beginning of the year.

If you are thinking about purchasing or selling a home, please call us to
discuss the pluses and minuses and a strategy for the present or future. We can help you here in Ohio or advise you about other states.  We can also find a good agent in any part of the country so that you can be assured of the best real estate advice if you want to buy property in an area you are not familiar with.

We promise, straight talk, sound and honest advice and superior marketing every time we consult with you.

by Jo-Anne LaBuda

I was reading some information from Barbara Corcoran who owned The Corcoran Group (real estate company) in New York City and, in 2001, sold the company for $66M.  She appears regularly on NBC's "Today Show" and is an investor in ABC's "Shark Tank".  (She obviously is a savvy real estate entrepreneur.) Barbara is predicting that the real estate market will make up most of the loss of the last four years in the next 18 months.  I certainly hope she is correct, however I am not as optimistic.  I my experience, real estate prices go down quickly, but tend to go up slowly.

I do agree with her that the absolute best prices for real estate are available today, at least in Columbus, Ohio.  That, in addition to the current 5% interest rates, make it the best time to invest or purchase real estate here. 

Gary Keller, founder of Keller Williams Realty, has been saying for the past few years that the real estate market will begin to return to an upward direction when affordability returns.  I feel that we have affordability in Columbus.  I don't think this has happened yet in Phoenix, Las Vegas and some other high end markets. 

We are also observing a pent-up demand to purchase a move-up property for families hoping to purchase a larger home and also an increase in senior sellers who are looking to downsize.  Hopefully this is a perfect situation for both. 

The good news is this: Columbus, Ohio may not have skyscrapers or Broadway, but it is affordable and, as always, it is a great place to call home.

by Lynn Nadler

I was attending a meeting last night of Realtors and Mortgage people.  There were, of course, discussions of the market, who is busy and why and what is going to happen over the next few months.

The unanimous feeling was that the Real Estate market in Columbus is "heating up" in certain price points.  Homes that first time home buyers can purchase appear to be the hottest, then come the homes in the over-$275,000 price range.  The slowest market is the over-$500,000 market, but there are some great "deals" in this area.

The other point that was made by the mortgage people was that rates WILL go up!!!  They all felt that by mid-summer, rates will begin to rise and level off in the 6-6 1/2% range by the end of the year.

What does this mean for all those looking for a home?  Start now, call a Realtor and a loan specialist and take advantage of the market before it's too late!!

by Jo-Anne LaBuda

The sun is finally out in Columbus, Ohio!!  It's been a gray winter and there probably is a little left after the forsythia bloom but the trees are budding and Spring is just around the corner.
This applies not only to the weather but to the housing market.  There are a lot of great things going on for buyers and sellers in Columbus, OH this year.  Columbus is affordable!  Great homes are available!  Terrific Great Rate Finaincing is available!  There is an $8000.00 credit for first time home buyers!

Columbus didn't have the big "swings" in prices that areas that  Florida, California, Las Vegas did and so we were not "hit" as violently with the bursting bubble as those areas.  It is my feeling that we will see a slight rise in prices this year and a drop in inventory.  If you are a buyer, it is
time to call us and begin looking  for your new home.  We help families and individuals with new builds and re-sales and have a lot of great advice and years of experience to help buyers make the right choice for their future.

Sellers, it's time to call us so we can advise you on how to get your property ready for the spring market (which is here) to get the highest price possible.

Give us a call on our hotline 614-421-9111.  We'll work hard to make you happy!!

by Jo-Anne LaBuda

FORBES magazine lists COLUMBUS, OHIO as the 6th most affordable city in the
U.S.!!

"Forbes" magazine (2/2/09 article by Matt Woolsey) was named as the 6th most affordable city in the U.S. with according to "Forbes", a median home price of $126,500 and median family income of $65,300.  So not only is it a wonderful and fun place to live and loaded with great people but it is also one of best places to purchase a home.  Add that to my personal feeling that Columbus prices are going to rise this year.

Here are the other 9 cities sited by "Forbes":
10. Chattanooga, TN
9.   Knoxville, Tn
8.  Greensboro NC
7.  Pittsburgh, PA
6.  Columbus OH
5.  Louisville KY
4.  Rochester NY
3   Buffalo NY
2   Syracuse NY
1   Binghamton NY

Go to www.forbes.com to read more.

If you are interested in real estate in Columbus, OH, please call us. If you are thinking of buying real estate in any of the above cities or anywhere in U.S. or Canada, we have Realtors who will do an outstanding job helping you find a primary or second home.

by Nicki Cambell

I was reading an article on Forbes.com yesterday that listed the ten most affordable cities in which to retire and -- you're not going to believe this -- Columbus, Ohio was ranked Number One!  Now, many of you might not think of Columbus, Ohio  as a retirement destination, given the cold, gray winters and general lack of glitz.  But, the experts at Forbes.com were looking at some other qualities that make Columbus attractive to retirees.  Here are the ones they mentioned:

• Reasonable housing prices.
• Excellent health care.
• Relatively low cost of living
• Home of Ohio State University.  This offers seniors the opportunity to attend Buckeye football and basketball games and benefit from educational opportunities and arts programs.
• The convenience and accessibility of a smaller city.

As Realtors, we know that Columbus has lots of great housing opportunities for seniors -- condos, patio homes, ranch-style homes and, of course, independent and assisted living facilities.  In Worthington, we have a wonderful Senior Center, the Griswold Center, which offers exercise programs, speakers, day and overnight trips, a winter Farmer's Market and lots of other activities.  I know other towns in the area offer great senior programs, as well.

So if you're thinking of retiring and you don't require a beach or year-round warm weather, but you'd like a friendly town that's easy to get around in and affordable, consider Columbus, Ohio.  With your extra money, you can travel to a sunny destination or take a Carribean cruise!

by Lynn Nadler

Last week-end I had out-of-town buyers who were looking for a home in Columbus.  Unfortunately, it was cold and we had quite a bit of snow on the ground.  I showed them 22 homes in 3 days and, after braving the weather, I have a couple of very important suggestions for home sellers.

PLEASE, if at all possible shovel your driveway and sidewalk.  Not only as a courtesy to the potential buyer, but as a courtesy to your own home.  By the time we would drive into the driveway without getting stuck, tramp through 4 inches of snow and then slide up to the front door, our feet were wet, we were cold and the first impression was not so great.  When we got into the home, our feet covered with snow, we were always concerned about tracking the snow through the house.  We removed our shoes, but still left puddles at the front door, so there was a concern about the sellers floors and carpet.

PLEASE keep the heat set at 65 degrees at least. We found that once we were in the houses, many of them had the heat set so low that it was very uncomfortable to be there.  I realize that if the seller is not living there, he or she is trying to save money, but a cold home is not only uncomfortable for the potential buyer, it's also dangerous to the water pipes. I acctualy showed one where the pipes in the basement had burst and we had to turn off the water to the whole house--what a mess!

As a seller, always remember that you want to make a great first impression, so a clean driveway and comfortable home should be at the top of your list!

Real Estate Auction                                                                                                                           Conducted by Garth's Auctions and Keller Williams Capital Partners Realty.                     Thursday, September 25, 2008                                                                                                                1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.                                                                                                                                  129 S. Main, Mechanicsburg, OH

Passed down through seven generations of the Hunter family, the Hunter House retains much of the original finish work as well as many beautiful decorative elements added during a circa 1895 remodel.  Nestled along the Little Darby Creek on 21 rolling acres, and located approximately 30 minutes from downtown Columbus, it represents a rare and special auction opportunity.

$15,000 deposit due at auction (no personal checks).  Sold as-is.  Close within 45 days after auction.  No contingencies.  Minimum bid: $399,000, or best offer with owner confirmation.  Subject to prior sale.

Come and join the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce for a fun-filled day on Saturday, September 13, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. for the annual Worthington Market Day.  This popular event will take place primarily along High Street between Rte. 161 and South Street and along the Village Green.

This annual event showcases over 250 artisans from around the country.  These artisans display and sell quality hand-crafted goods such as jewelry, pottery, clothing and other works of art.  The variety is exceptional and there is always something for everyone.  It's a perfect time to start working on your holiday gift shopping list.

Along with the booths for the artisans, there will be numerous food vendors along High Street and the Village Green.  The Worthington Historical Society will be holding a Flea Market, the Friends of the Worthington Libraries will be having a book sale and there will be a Farmers' Market, as well.  For the children, there will be an activity area with lots of fun things to do.

Worthington Market Day will take place "rain or shine".  We hope to see you there!

by Nicki Campbell

There can't be anyone out there who isn't aware of the downturn in the housing market.  It's everywhere -- in the papers, on the news, on the morning TV shows, on the evening talk shows, on the radio, in the conversations at the water cooler -- and most of us are pretty tired of hearing about it.  In fact, that's one of the many great things about the Olympics.  For two whole weeks, the focus is on the exciting events in China and off the housing situation!

Of course, all of this has many people scared.  We get questions all the time about whether or not it's possible  - or wise - to sell their home in today's market. 

There's no simple answer to that question.  Yes, the market is slower and the price of most homes has declined a bit, although not as much in Columbus as in other markets.  We have remained fairly stable and not experienced the double digit declines of Florida, California, Las Vegas and Phoenix.  If you don't really need to move and will be content to stay where you are for several years, then it probably is wise for you to stay put for awhile.  But if you have been toying with the idea of moving up to a larger house or downsizing to a smaller one, the conditions are ideal for buying right now, even if you have to sell in this buyer's market.  What you may lose on the seller's side you will make up for on the buyer's side.

If you do decide to sell -- and for some people there is no choice -- please be assured that every day houses are being bought and sold in the Columbus real estate market.  They may be on the market longer than in the past few years and the process may be a bit more frustrating, but they are selling.  And, as we have said so many times before, the houses that are selling in this market are the ones that are priced aggressively, are in top condition and are staged well.

Remember that buyers have a wide choice right now.  Whatever their price range, they will find many homes from which to choose.  And the home they ultimately buy will be the nicest one they find in that price range.   You need to make sure that one is yours!