Quality of schools impact property values

Today is election day and with all of the school levy and bond issues on the ballot in and around Columbus, I thought it would be a good topic to discuss. Real estate values are impacted by many things, not the least of which is the quality of the school system the property in which the property is located. When families with children purchase a home, they want to insure a good education with a full range of activities will be available. The higher the price range of the homes, the higher the expectations. It is important to keep this in mind as you go to vote. If your school system has to make major cuts because the voters reject operating levies, the houses in your neighborhood may not sell as well which will put downward pressure on prices and property values will decline. It might be worth paying those extra taxes during the year to help protect the value of the homes in your area. Worth considering....

City Hop results

The open house event on October 26th was successful and resulted in a number of new contracts on over 700 houses that participated. It will be repeated again on November 9th. Watch for ads in the paper or check the open houses on the website - many are already posted by area. I will hold two listings open on November 9th in Dublin. I would love to see you there!

Open House Event will gauge the market

Sunday, October 26th, Real Living HER is holding over 700 houses open in the Columbus market. These range in price from the 60's to over a million dollars and represent houses in all areas. The promotion includes coupons providing 1% discount toward closing costs by Real Living mortgage and publicizing the $7500 first time home buyer tax credit available through next spring. The Columbus market has cooled somewhat but is still a relatively healthy real estate market. The media and financial markets are affecting attitudes toward buying, but the truth is, there are real opportunities right now to get a great price on a home and interest rates are still around 6%. So, what to expect on Sunday? That remains to be seen. Attendance at the open houses will surely be an indicator of the market and buyer sentiment. Hopefully we will have a great turn out. Come visit my open listings at 384 Monterey Drive in Dublin and 5449 Metzger Crescent in the West Albany.

Unique Listing - Frank Lloyd Wright inspired

Occasionally a very interesting property come on the market that present unique opportunities. I recently listed a house on almost eleven acres on a river that has potential to be awesome. It is a multi-level home with river frontage on Big Walnut Creek. There is a smaller stream that runs under the great room and deck, reminiscent of Falling Water in Pennsylvania. The house needs interior work like paint, wall paper removal, new floor coverings at a minimum and many buyers would probably update the kitchen and baths. The great room has glass on three sides overlooking the woods and the river. The views are fantastic. The stream running under this room is very low right now but at certain times of the year it is much higher and fast moving - but at no time in the 40 years since this house was built has there been any water intrusion into the house. The walk-out lower level is high enough to prevent this. It is hard to describe this house, it really has to be seen. Features such as the floor to ceiling fireplace made from Hawiian lava rock is just one example of the interesting things you will find. Contact me if you are interested in this 4 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath home in Westerville schools. I would love to show it to you.

Open Houses

Open houses are still a common way for buyers to get inside houses of interest on Sunday afternoons. Many agents hold houses open every Sunday but don't always advertise them in advance. In Columbus, the HER Real Living Website (herrealtors.com) is a good place to find open houses listed. You can search by community and it will list every HER open house as long as the agent has added it online. Realtor.com is another place to check for open houses. The Sunday paper lists a few in the Columbus area but not many compared to the past. The paper is just not the place for real estate like it used to be. When a house is open you are encouraged to visit. Remember it is also a way for Realtors to meet potential clients and actually a good way for unattached buyers to be able to meet a number of Realtors in a neutral setting. If you already have an agent, tell the Realtor at the open house and they won't pressure you. If you don't have an agent, feel free to carry on a conversation and get to know them. You will want to work with someone you are comfortable with and if you are seriously thinking of buying, you should have an agent to represent you and your best interests. It doesn't cost you anything - the Seller pays the commission. In this market, having an agent can help you get the best price on the home you want and you will have someone working for you to make sure you are protected and everything goes smoothly.

It's been a while.....

It was a very busy summer and I admit I was negligent in not posting any messages on my blog. Business has been good this year despite what you hear in the media. Hard work and great referrals have provided me with plenty to do. I appreciate meeting some wonderful people this year and look forward to maintaining great relationships going forward.

These are difficult times in the financial world and the news breeds uncertainty. Certainly the number of real estate transactions are fewer than recent years, but there are still buyers and sellers who need or want to make a move. As long as buyers have good credit, they can still get a loan and rates are around 6% currently. Sellers have challenges due to pricing and inventory so they must be sure to make their property look great and price it for the market. Recent CMA's are a must to determine the price - they must be as current as possible.

Be optimistic about the future. Congress is passing a huge financial bailout package. Let's all hope and pray it provides the intended benefits.

In Central Ohio the housing market is active

There is a lot of activity in the Central Ohio housing market. For Buyers, it is a great time to buy. Low interest rates, competitive prices, and plenty of inventory to choose from make it a good time to act if you are thinking of buying your first home. Soon there will be a website with plenty of statistics to review on our local real estate market. The web address will be: www.columbushousingfacts.com. In the meantime, you can contact me and I will provide you all of the pertinent information and facts on the area your area of interest.

Worthington,OH Condo is ready and waiting

Some properties are real gems but don't get noticed. I have a current listing in a great condominium community in Worthington, OH that is updated, neutral, move-in ready but just isn't being noticed. It is a two bedroom condo, however, the master bedroom is a large L shaped room perfect for a bedroom/sitting room combination. The condo boasts beautiful wood floors on the main level, all new carpeting, finished lower level, updates to kitchen and baths, and new slate tiled bay window and fireplace hearth. The complex has a clubhouse, pool, and two tennis courts and is close to everything including the Olentangy bike path. If anyone is looking for a condo in Worthington, they should really take a look at this one. 237 St. Pierre in Villa Charmante Condominiums

Make it look its best when selling

When you are selling your home, it is vitally important to have your home looking its best. One thing that turns buyers off fast is dirty or spotted carpet and rugs. If you are thinking that people will overlook or not notice dirt or spots, beware, you may be losing potential buyers who might otherwise like your home. In a buyer's market, your house has to compete with a high amount of inventory and the ones that look the best get sold. In Central Ohio, I recommend Green Elements Carpet and Rug Care, a "green" process that is dry and does a great job of lifting out spots and dirt. When Green Elements is finished, your carpet and rugs are dry and ready for showings, they smell clean, and spots won't reaapear in a couple of weeks like they do with steam cleaning methods. Give them a try. Their website is www.greenelements.net

What a great time to BUY!

If you have been thinking about buying a house or condo, now just might be the right time to act. Prices have declined over the last year and now interest rates are hovering around 5.5%. What a great combination. Everyday, more properties are coming on the market so there is plenty to choose from. To make sure you get the one you want, work with your agent so he understands your wants and needs and can identify them as they come on the market. I make a point of understanding exactly what my clients want and love to make the phone call....we need to see this property right away, this just might be THE ONE. If you are waiting for the market to hit the bottom before you make a move, you might miss out on the great interest rates and lose money in the long run. Great rates will save you more over time than you might save from one or two more price reductions on the property. If you would like help, please contact me.