The Parade of Homes is always a great place to get decorating ideas and to see the newest in design features for homes.  If you are thinking of building a home soon or even in the future, it is a great opportunity to talk to some of the premier builders in Central Ohio.  In addition, there are a number of exhibitors including The Basement Guys, Home Source Interiors, Distrinctive Marble and Granite, Inc. and Ohio Bath Solutions.  These exhibitors and others are a great source of information about updating and improving existing homes.

Hours of operation for the Parade are Monday through Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.  Tickets are $12 at the gate and parking is $2.  The location is off Lewis Center Road just west of South Old State Road.

Home sales and prices are affected by the condition of the homes around them.  Here is a typical example:  123 Main St. is on the market today and is in top condition inside and out.  The neighboring house has a broken garage door, some missing shutters and is in need of paint.  The yard is unkempt, with dandelions all over, and the sidewalk is cracked.

Buyers who are interested in 123 Main St. notice the neighbor's house. Perhaps they pass several neighboring homes that are not well maintained.  Their first impression is that of a "declining neighborhood".  Buyers who originally wanted to tour 123 Main St. may tell their Realtor that they changed their mind about seeing the property.  Even if they do g    o through the house, that first impression of a "declining neighborhood" will still be on their minds.

The result:  123 Main St. will stay on the market and the price will probably keep coming down until buyers will think it is such a "great deal" that they can overlook the condition of nearby properties.  So the property sells for less than it deserves.

Another home in the neighborhood, 456 Elm St., goes on the market 6-12 months later.  The comparative sales, one of which is 123 Main St., are now lower than they should be.  So 456 Elm St., regardless of its condition, is marketed at a lower dollar per square foot.

What can you do about this?  Even if you have no plans to sell your home in the near future, it is to your benefit to keep your curb appeal at the highest level possible.  Paint the trim, shutters and/or siding.  Keep the gutters clear.  Trim the shrubs and edge and mulch the flower and shrub beds. Remove sticks and debris from the yard. Replace your mailbox if it looks shabby.  Keep your cars in the garage -- not in the driveway and on the street.

Your neighbors' homes will sell more quickly at a higher price.   That will positively affect your price when you sell.

It is a win for you, a win for your neighbor and a win for the neighborhood!

(If you have any real estate questions, please call me at 614-431-9343.)

Columbus has some delicious options no matter what your plans are or what you're in the mood for this weekend.  If you're in the mood to celebrate on the town, The Short North is hosting Gallery Hop this Saturday night.  Check into La Fogata (http://www.lafogatagrill.net/index.htm) for dinner and drinks and then walk around and check out the different shops and galleries.

If you're craving some fajitas after a busy day of shopping, why not try Cantina Laredo (around Polaris -- http://www.cantinalaredo.com/) or Abuelos (in Easton -- http://www.abuelos.com/). Both places have extensive menus that are sure to please your whole crowd.

Or, why not take the family to El Vaquero (http://www.vaquerorestaurant.com/locations.htm) --one of everyone's favorite Mexican places in Columbus?  There are several locations, making this a convenient option for your family.

Or, perhaps you're trying to eat healthy.  Or maybe you just don't feel like going out. Either way, try cooking up these vegan (yes, vegan) tacos, taken from the blog http://peasandthankyou.com.  I have made these myself and promise they are so good, you'll forget you're eating a wholesome, healthy meal:

Roasted Chickpeas Tacos

Makes 8 tacos

• 2 t. chili powder
• 1/4 t. garlic powder
• 1/4 t. onion powder
• 1/4 t. dried oregano
• 1 1/2 t. ground cumin
• 1 t. sea salt
• 1 T. lime juice
• 2 T. water
• One 14 oz. can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 8 organic taco shells (i.e. Trader Joe’s brand)
• Taco trimmings: shredded cabbage, tomato, guacamole, non-dairy (i.e. Daiya) or organic cheese, etc.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cumin, salt, lime juice and water.  Add chickpeas and marinate for at least 30 minutes.  Place chickpeas on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray.  Bake for 20-30 minutes, stirring once during cooking, until chickpeas are slightly crispy.  Prepare taco shells according to package directions. Fill with chickpeas and desired toppings.

Happy eating!!

by Nicki Campbell

Dewey's is coming to Worthington and I am so excited!  Every member of my family considers it to be the best pizza restaurant in the world and we can't think of a better spot for it than the corner of High Street and E. New England Ave. in Old Worthington, right across from Graeter's.  This is the spot occupied by the old BP station, which is now closed.

We came to know Dewey's when our daughter and son-in-law moved to St. Louis several years ago.  There are several Dewey's restaurants in the St. Louis area and we always make a point of going there when we visit.  I always assumed the company was based there and was surprised to learn that it's based in Cincinnati.  The founder, Andrew DeWitt, is from Cincinnati and went to Denison University.  He opened his first restaurant in Cincinnati's Oakley community in 1998.  His vision was "to create a neighborhood spot with great micro beers on tap, great pizza and salads, and a group of cool, genuine, like-minded people making the food and providing authentic hospitality to our patrons".

My favorite Dewey's pizza is the "Green Lantern", which has artichokes, goat cheese, pesto and more.  My daughter loves the "Edgar Allan Poe", which has kalamata olives, goat cheese, roasted garlic and fresh tomatoes.  There are a number of other fabulous pizzas and salads or you can create your own.  People rave about the desserts, too, but I have never had room for dessert after overdoing it on the pizzas!

Let's hope everything goes well with the plans and they get it built and opened soon!

These things are true…. to a point.

Flexible hours – Real estate agents work according to the schedules of buyers and sellers which usually are about the same time as most people are home.  Week nights and weekends.  So although you are not working a typical 9-5 workday, you will be, to be successful, putting in 40-60 hours per week at real estate.  40 hours is the ideal – 50-60 hours is closer to the truth.  Some weeks as many as 80.

Working with people is terrific but you have to find people to work with.  The business of real estate is LEAD GENERATION which is something successful real estate agents do for at least 3 hours per day.  Calling past clients, calling your friends and family, calling people you haven’t met and asking for business.  Real estate is no different from any business.  You are looking for referrals to people who are thinking of purchasing or selling a property.  Doesn’t your doctor ask who referred you?  Every business works on referrals.

Yes, the opportunity is there to make a good living.  However, remember that you have automobile, marketing, office space, materials and more to pay for in addition to splits with your Broker.  The business does not come without cost.  As much as 60% of every dollar you earn.

Last but not least – your client – your buyer or your seller – is your boss.  You have a fiduciary obligation to everyone that you work for, to represent them and their interests.  As real estate agents – we really are not part of the equation.  Our interests are ONLY to represent our buyers, sellers and investors.

The good news is that it is one of the last great entrepreneurial opportunities out there.  You meet wonderful people.  You put in a good days work.  You are part of the American Dream!  Wow!!!

Still interested?  I’d love to hear from you. 

Give me a call-Jo-Anne LaBuda, Keller Williams Capital Partners at 614-888-1000.  We’d love to talk with you

Sellers are wondering how their homes can be shown over and over again with no offers when the feedback is, "Your home shows great, is priced right and in a great location". Well, here's this agent's guess...Many buyers think that there is going to be something "better" hitting the market tomorrow. It's spring, and traditionally, this is the time of year where homes become available for sale left and right...however, that does not seem to be holding true this year.

Most Realtors in Columbus, Ohio are indicating a stable amount of listing opportunities today whereas a few weeks ago and even a month ago, many of us were running around meeting with home sellers to "beat" the spring market. Therefore, inventory seems to be highest now not tomorrow.

(Thursday night, March 22)

Sigh...Michigan State lost to Louisville.  I had to leave the room...that's the bad news.  Hopefully good news for our Buckeyes tonight.

More good news is that our central Ohio real estate market continues to heat up...just like our weather.  House prices are stable but, of course, lower than we want when we're selling. 

Buyers seem to think, "I've waited long enough, I'm ready to buy a home".  It makes sense -- what could be a more perfect situation for buyers: low, low interest rates, low, low home prices and a good number of homes to choose from!

Builders are still cautiously optimistic but continue  to take the order before digging the foundation.  If you are thinking of building, give us a call and we'll help you work out your time line.  We also help you make good choices for re-sale.

Back to the tournament...go Bucks!

If you’ve ever bought or sold real estate, you probably know that it’s not easy.  (Of course, I hope you HAVE had blissfully simple real estate transactions … and that’s what our team works tirelessly to provide for you!)  But in actual physical reality (not just reality TV), real estate can be emotional and trying on one’s patience.  I mean, we’re talking about people’s homes — homes that families work hard to own … homes that shelter and provide for their families … and homes people spend their days and nights in.  Homes where lives are created and memories made.

And as a huge emotional and financial investment, there’s a lot that can be trying.  Financing can fall through.  Inspections can reveal major issues.  Timing involved in the transaction can get off track. 

Of course, all of these can spell recipes for real “drama” — which is great for TV ratings!  And that’s why there are so many popular real estate reality shows.  (Full disclosure — I used to watch “House Hunters” regularly.  But then I realized that real life house hunting was far more dramatic than Suzanne Wang, bless her heart.)

And I learned that, as on TV, most great real estate stories have happy endings.  As a matter of fact, I recently found myself right in the middle of one.

My client was an adorable, vivacious girl in law school.  Her parents were purchasing her and her boyfriend their very first home.

After many months of looking, we found the perfect home.  My client was so incredibly excited.  But, as the closing date drew near, her parents told her they didn’t know if they’d be able to close on the home by the date we had set.

My client was a little disappointed, but understood.  Meanwhile, her parents flew in from out of state and closed on the home, unbeknownst to her.

After closing, my client’s parents picked her up and brought her to her new home.  But that wasn’t the only surprise.  Waiting inside their new home was her boyfriend … and an engagement ring.

(She said yes …)

So, happy endings in real estate do exist … both on TV and real life!  And realtors work hard to make everyone’s dreams come true!

(A big shout out to my wonderful clients as you start your new lives together!  You know who you are! Congratulations!!!)

April

African American Heritage Festival, Saturday, April 21 - Saturday, April 28th

May

2012 Country Music Summer Festival, Saturday, May 26 from 10AM-Midnight

Asian Festival, Saturday May 26 & 27

Dragon Boat Races & Festival, May 28 from 8AM to 2PM

Central Ohio Folk Festival, May 4, 5 & 6

Worthington Plant Fest, Date: To Be Announced

June

Banana Split Festival, June 8 & 9

Columbus Arts Festival, June 1-3

Columbus Summer BeerFest!, June 8 & 9

ComFest Community Festival, June 22, 23 & 24

Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival, June 15, 16 & 17

Granville Art Affair & Wine Festival, June 9 & 10

Juneteenth Ohio Festival, June 15-17

London Strawberry Festival, Jube 21-23

Park Street Festival 2012, June 8 & 9

Powell Festival, June 29 & 30

Worthington Arts Festival, June 16 & 17

July

All Ohio Bike Fest, Date: To Be Announced

Jazz and Rib Fest in Columbus, July 20-22

Lancaster Festival, July 19-28

Lazy Daze of Summer Festival, Date: To Be Announced

North Market Food & Ohio Wine Festival, July 13

Serbian Festival, July 18

Pickerington Violet Festival, July 25-28

Westerville Music & Arts Festival, July 14-15

August

18th Annual Egyptian Festival, Date: To Be Announced

All Ohio Balloon Fest, Date: To Be Announced

Canal Winchester Blues & Ribfest, August 3 & 4

Columbus Wine Festival, Date: To Be Announced

Dublin Irish Festival, August 3, 4 & 5

Festival Latino in Columbus, August 11 & 12

Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival, Date: To Be Announced

See, there are some great deals in this market today ... some really great ones.  But you have to know how to look.  Weiker is right -- you have to look past the paint.  If a room is painted in what you'd consider to be funky color -- even if the whole house isn't painted to your liking -- try to remember that it can be fixed.  It might take a weekend ... or more depending on how many rooms you're talking about ... but it's an easy fix.  And can make a whole lot of difference.

Buyers should also not rest their decisions about a home solely on appliances, flooring, and fixtures, according to Weiker.  I understand it's hard to look past things like past the things that are right in front of you when you walk in a home, for sure.  (Sellers, take note!  First impressions can be lasting!)  But buyers should remember that these are changeable things ... when there is so much to look at in a home that is unchangeable.

For example, the layout.  Sure, certain structural changes can be made to ... but not every wall can be knocked out (and not without a price!).  And location -- you can't pick up your house and move it somewhere else, really.

So smart buyers should give second thought to a home that might need some cosmetic updates, but that happens to in a great location with a great floorplan.  With a little paint, you might just have the home of your dreams!

I'm talking about Pinterest.com -- and though it's been around for a couple of years, I'm just discovering it now. Maybe you know all about it. Or maybe you don't! In that case, I'll tell you a little bit about it ... and how it can help you jazz up your home.

Pinterest (www.pinterest.com) is, as one friend of mine put it, a virtual corkboard. On Pinterest, you can create "corkboards" according to your interests (for example, home decorating ideas) and "pin" pictures and ideas that you find online so that youy can refer to them later. You can also browse home decor pictures others have pinned to get ideas. When you see some you like, you can pin them to your own board. So not only do you have access to countless sources of home decorating "inspiration" on one Web site, you can also organize all of your home decor ideas together.

Gone are the days of "dog-earing" pages of Pottery Barn catalogs and magazines ... which only end up cluttering your precious living space. And if all of this sounds complicated to you ... let me say, if my mom can do it, so can you! All you have to do is create a simple login and start looking for style inspiration. You can even "follow" others to stay on top of decorating trends. If you want, you can even check out my home decor trend board -- www.pinterest.com/adedels.

All in all, Pinterest may really help you stay on top of home decorating trends. One caution though: it can be addicting! So have fun "pinning" away!

The Furniture Bank accepts essential furniture items such as:  mattresses, box springs,tables, dressers, sofas, chairs, housewares and appliances.  They also build some items at their warehouse, especially kitchen tables.

For those people who are looking to donate furniture in usable condition:  free of rips, tears, stains and pet hair, there is free pick up.  For more information visit them on line at www.FurnitureBankCOH.org or call for a FREE pick up to 614-272-9544.

Here are a couple of things that all homeowners should be aware of:

1) The deadline to contest your housing value this year is April 2, 2012.  Follow the instructions on the link below if you have data that shows that the county is incorrectly assessing your property value and that you are possibly entitled to a reduction:

http://www.franklincountyauditor.com/real-estate/board-revision

2) Homestead taxes.  Are you 65?  Have you notified the county?  If you or anyone on your home's title is 65 or older you are entitled to a $25,000 property tax exemption.  Take a look at the link below and make sure you take advantage of this if you qualify.

http://www.franklincountyauditor.com/homestead/homestead-info

3) 2.5% Supplemental Property Tax Roll Back.  At closing, the title company should file the appropriate owner-occupant documents with the county to ensure that you are receiving this tax reduction as long as you, the owner of record, are the primary occupant of the home.  Check the on-line county records to make sure that you are receiving this deduction and if you are not, go to the link below to fill out the request.

http://www.franklincountyauditor.com/pdf/forms/dte_105c.pdf

The meeting came at a great time since many homeowners have seen their taxes increase but feel that their actual home value has plateaued or actually decreased.  Mr. Mingo also wanted us to remind our clients/family/friends that the Auditor's office is open to help homeowners, so to call with questions or concerns at (614)525-HOME (4663). 

If you need MLS data to assist in a property re-evaluation, please call our team at (614)431-9111.  We are also here to help!

According to Harris, there is over 600,000 sq ft of commercial space in Worthington, primarily along High St, Wilson Bridge Rd and Huntley Rd.  Lease rates are at an average of $7.36 per sq ft, one of the lowest in the Columbus suburbs.  Currently, approximately  7% of the space is vacant.

The goals of the city for 2012 include: Redevelopment of the Wilson Bridge corridor, proposals for use of the United Methodist Children's Home site and development of a downtown community entertainment district

Plans for the Wilson Bridge corridor include further development of the Shops at Worthington Place, a recreational trail from the tennis courts  to downtown, and plans for redevelopment of the former James Tavern location, Mettler Toledo location and the northwest side of the mall.

The United Methodist Children's Home Site has been appraised at between $8 and $10 million.  This site is crucial to Worthington as it encompasses 38 acres and is in a prime location

As for the Entertainment District--the city is working with local politicians to begin this development.

There are major plans in the works for Worthington and lots of excitement about all these opportunities!

According to Carter:

• The outside of the mall should be completed by June
• There is over 20 acres of area within the mall owned space ready for additional development
• The north end of the mall will soon see a fireplace area with seating and a "Johnny Appleseed"-themed children's park
• New stores that are coming include:  Panera, Everest Gear, Worthington Dental and an athletic footwear store
• The First Watch restaurant is #3 in the chain
• Talbot's is in the top 20 of the chain
• Pendelton's is the only store in Ohio
• Joseph A. Bank's is the largest store in the chain in Ohio
• The Baggerie store is the largest luggage store in Ohio
• Worthington Kroger is among the highest producing stores in Ohio
• Between Kroger and the mall there will be outside seating, opportunities for additional restaurants and great space for the general public to gather.

Carter and the city of Worthington, are very excited about the direction of the mall for 2012!

According to Gibson the libraries:

• Of 7000 libraries in the country, 85 are 5 star libraries--Worthington is one of those
• earned the John Cotton Dana Award for outstanding public relations
• Developed new community partnerships withe the Worthington Food Pantry and the McConnell Arts Center
• had over 7000 participants in the summer reading program
• had 53,396 program attendees for 2011
• 89,000 people have a Worthington Library card
• 3.4 million items were circulated in 2011
• there was a 146% increase in digital book use

The Worthington libraries had a great 2011 and are looking forward to more accomplishments in 2012!

Short Sale. What is a short sale?  A short sale is when a Seller has contacted his mortgage holder(s) and negotiated to be able to sell their home for LESS THAN IS OWED on the property.  So, for example: John & Jane Doe own a home that they paid $300,000.00 for in 2005 and they did 100% financing.  The current market value is dictating that that home will sell at $275,000.00 yet they still owe $295,000.00 on the home plus fees.  The bank will ask for market data from the seller's Realtor and then determine if a short sale is an acceptable avenue for pay-off at a loss.  Then, once a contract from a buyer comes in, it will be negotiated between the buyer and seller and submitted to the mortgage holder for final approval which can take anywhere from 1-10 months from contract to close. 

So, the big question is, are short sales a good deal?  The answer is sometimes.  It is important to have a Realtor who knows the market in which you wish to purchase...Just because you're buying a house for (in this example) $25,000 less than what the previous homeowner paid for it, the neighbor who has lived in his home since 1987 may be able to part with their property at or below what the bank has negotiated with the buyer, which, may in fact, be fair market value.

Foreclosure.  A lot of people want to buy a foreclosure.  However, that word is often misused by the public.  A property is either in foreclosure OR is at sheriff's sale.  The only opportunity to purchase is during the time period in which the home has had all proper paperwork filed and the county will be putting it up for auction or rather, when it IS AT sheriff's sale.  The requirements at sheriff sales are different in every county in Ohio but in Franklin and Delaware County (again, unless otherwise dictated by court order) a buyer must bid on the property on the day and time that the house is up for auction, the minimum bid must be 2/3 of the appraised value, a deposit in the amount of at least 10% of the appraised value that must be submitted once the buyer "wins" AND you must be able to close in 30 days.  Just because these are the basic perameters, it certainly does not mean that the home will sell for only 2/3 of value.  Because the bank has initiated the foreclosure (many months before) it will often end up back in the bank's portfolio because the property is not deemed worth 2/3 of the appraised value by potential buyers and because most of us are just not that financially liquid.  At this point the property becomes an REO.

REO stands for Real Estate Owned.  This means that a bank has retained the house that they foreclosed on and it did not sell at sheriff's sale.  Each bank often has relationships with Realtors in each market with whom they will list the home.  This typically occurs shortly after the foreclosure process has concluded depending on what modifications (paint/landscaping/updates - this all varies according to the financial institution) the bank may need to make the home saleable. 

So the big question is are REO's a good deal?  Again sometimes.  If the bank does all of the right things and prices the home competitively, many buyers may be interested and the sale price will end up being fair.  In some cases, if the bank does nothing to the home and prices it competitively but will entertain low offers, a buyer may have a good opportunity to get a home "below" market value.

So, what's the bottom line.  It may sound obvious because of my profession but, GET A GOOD REALTOR!  It is impossible to know all of the ins and outs of real estate, inventory, sales prices, valuations for just one purchase.  A good agent does this for a living so makes it their job to be knowledgeable on market values, statistics, financing and opportunity.  If you have any questions about any of these terms, please call me any time at 614-316-2294, I'd love to help!

1. The weather is nice and people are more likely to feel like house-hunting

2.  Families usually want to move their children in the summer so they can start the school year in their new school

3.  Houses tend to look better when the weather is warmer, flowers are blooming and the trees are leafy

4.  Everyone else does it, so it must be the right thing to do!

Here are some reasons to take a contrarian approach and try to sell your home in the winater:

1.  Inventory is low, so there is less competition.

2.  You can "get ahead of the market" and be there before the other signs go up.

3.  Winter buyers are more likely to be serious buyers who need or want to find a home quickly (perhaps they are being transferred).

We are working with a larger number of sellers than usual who are getting ready to put their homes on the market in January or February.  We'll see if being the early bird means that they'll catch the worm!

What does this mean for home buyers?  If you are considering a move in 2012, now is a great time to meet with a mortgage banker and determine what you can afford.  Rates cannot contine to stay this low forever!  Make the most of this opportunity and buy your first home, your next home or your dream home! Get started today!  (Call us for a recommendation on a top-notch mortgage broker or lender!)