Columbus, OH Ranked 5th Best City for 2014 College Graduates!

Apartments.com annually generates  a list of the top 10 cities for recent college graduates to live in based on a series of criteria including employment opportunities, salaries, affordability (including rental rates), and demographics (including age and martial status, favoring young, single populations).

The results:

\
1. Denver, Colorado. 
2. Charlotte, North Carolina
3. Phoenix, Arizona
4. Austin, Texas
5. Columbus, Ohio
6. Cincinnati, Ohio
7. Fort Worth, Texas
8. Indianapolis, Indiana
9. Las Vegas, Nevada
10. Dallas, Texas

Columbus, Ohio is noted for its singles' scene as indicated by the high percentage of male-only and female-only households. It is also praised for its affordable rents and diverse economy, which includes education, government, insurance, fashion, energy, and medial research. Similarly, Cincinnati stands out in terms of affordability and job opportunities. It has the lowest average monthly rent (at $707) and is home to many major companies such as Procter & Gamble and Macy's.

Curious about the other cities on the list? Read the full article here.

Sellers: Turn a "Looker" into a "Buyer"

The best incentive you (as a seller) can offer buyers is a fairly-priced home in great condition. However, there are more creative incentives that may make your listing stick out. Buyers need to be able to picture themselves living in the home you are selling. If you are selling a home or condo on the water, consider including a kayak, jet ski, or fishing equipment in the home's asking price. If your home in on or near a golf course, include a golf cart. These "bonuses" will help stimulate excitement among buyers.

If you are selling a home as a vacation home, consider leaving it furnished or providing a gift card for furniture. A buyer may not have enough furniture to fill a second home. Stocking your home with fresh linens, towels, and kitchenware is also a plus.

If your buyers are concerned about affordability, you can coax them into buying your home in a number of ways. Offer to pay some of their closing costs. If your home requires you to pay HOA fees, offer to pay the first year's worth of HOA fees for your buyer(s). The same goes for homes that are near community country clubs. You can offer to pay initial membership fees, and also monthly fees as you see fit. This will help buyers picture themselves living in your home, because it links them to their new community from the start. You can also offer to pay a year of property taxes and/or mortgage payments. Some sellers allocate money for buyers to use on repairs and rennovation, which helps when buyers are concerned about the condition of the home. 

It comes down to understanding your buyers--what are they looking for most? Some sellers leave behind appliances, televisions, and even cars!  No matter what you end up including in your final offer, be sure to communicate with your real estate agent about prospective buyer feedback, which can help you strategically list and market your home.

Need an agent? Contact me! I work with both buyers and sellers in Central Ohio. Read what my previous clients have to say, here.