Columbus Metro Agent

Client Testimonial

2011-07-15T05:08:00.004-05:00

"Bill Robbins is not your standard real estate resource – he is extraordinary. I didn’t find him through a recommendation either, because I am new to Columbus. But my first contact with Bill (about a listing of his on the internet) developed quickly into a solid partnership, based on all the things you look for but don’t always find. He quickly grasped what we were looking for (without much explaining on our part), watched our pocketbook (didn’t want us to buy a lovely, but over-improved home), was responsive and worked around our schedule – not his, saw us through the buying process including finding and scheduling workmen for improvements before we moved in, and was always light and easy to be around. Bill’s knowledge of the market is deep, he is highly networked, and he works really hard. And then Bill did what really counts – he found the right home for us, one that wasn’t even on the market at the time. A caution: Bill has a big voice (and I say that with great affection) – he’s just so energetic, he can’t be otherwise! Bill Robbins is the realtor we will go back to – like many of his other clients. And in my mind, that’s the best confirmation you can ask, for how good he is." – Karen L., Merion Village buyer, March, 2011

Photos from the Opening of The Scioto Mile

2011-07-14T05:58:00.011-05:00

The Scioto Mile in Downtown Columbus officially opened last week. A ton of attention has been paid to the fountains (photos here and here) but the most appealing part for me to the Scioto Mile is the promenade along the river and it's landscaping, seating areas and fish fountains.

Gazebo's

Under the Gazebo

Pergola's with benches and swings

View of Downtown

Clients Townhome in Marble Cliff

2011-07-07T05:40:00.025-05:00

Clients moving from Chicago were looking for a Townhome in the Downtown Area immediately fell in love with Prescott Place in Marble Cliff right outside Grandview Heights. Since the home was unfinished we had to select all of the finishes on their first visit to avoid making multiple trips back and forth from Chicago. As part of the process, I scheduled weekly trips to the site to document the build out process to send to them and these are some of the photos from those visits.

On their first visit, we sat down and selected every finish for the home

First week, trims were delivered and installed

Wood spindles were included, we opted to custom upgrade to iron

We selected a subtle hand-scraped wood floor for the living areas

Painted Trims

Stained railing and painted trim

Fireplace with limestone mantle and granite surround

Carpet installed

Kitchen cabinets installed

Granite and appliances installed

Cooktop installed

Bath tile and carpet meet in the Owners Bath

This is a page from the purchase contract where we decided in the Owner's Bath to remove the tub they would never use and add custom built in's for additional closet space. What was great about this was that we discussed it, I went home and made the drawing and sent it to them to review on their iPad while during the drive back to Chicago and they were able to sign off on it.

Tub is removed

Custom cabinets are installed

Final result

Owners Bath granite and installed

Top Real Estate Apps

2011-04-24T06:30:00.006-05:00

Information provided by Top App Charts

If you search iTunes for Real Estate Apps for the iPhone, currently there are 180 search results and growing. Based on information compiled by Top App Charts, the information above should update the current top apps for iPhone & iPad. From an earlier post , if you are actively searching for homes, my #1 and highly recommended pick is the Realtor.com App. Realtor.com has the most up to date and reliable information because it is linked directly and updates on a regular basis from the MLS itself. Most other websites syndicate a feed from Brokerage websites and the information can take days to update.

Take Advantage of the Dark

2010-11-09T16:42:00.002-05:00

Good bye Daylight Savings Time, hello completely dark by 6PM! Fall and Winter are actually one of my two favorite times to show off clients homes... think about it, nothing feels more welcoming than a fire in the fireplace, candles lit, lights dimmed and music playing. Think of a showing like an evening of having friends over and making them feel welcome. Add fresh flowers and something to eat like chocolates in a candy dish, baked cookies (it's getting close to the holidays), etc and you've touched on four senses of a buyer. Showing houses is very routine... they are usually dark & cold and then only lights that get turned on are the ones the showing agent can find, a home really stands out when a seller makes an effort to present the home well. It's not always the quantity of showings, it's the quality that will likely make your home sell. If that Buyer isn't the "one" the showing agent may have another buyer that is, so your are appealing to them as well, it's worth the extra effort.

Good Site: Blogging A Home Renovation & Design

2010-10-18T09:23:00.005-05:00

I ran across this site, The Brick House by accident and have spent awhile going thru it's archives. A great idea/ inspiration for anyone renovating a home and a great way to document the process, so much better the just photos. Check it out!

GAP To Recycle Jeans For Home Insulation

2010-10-15T05:36:00.000-05:00

"Recycle Your Blues! From October 6th - 20th, 2010 bring any of your old denim to a GAP store and get 30% off all 1969 jeans. The denim is converted into UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation, and donated to communities in need." - GAP

Sometimes, You Just Have To Get Away...

2010-10-14T05:11:00.008-05:00

Photo Above: Oval Beach on my recent trip to Saugatuck, MI

Recently, I decided to take my first vacation in 5 years. October seemed like perfect timing as it's typically off season and I am not a fan of huge crowds and tourists. The East Coast was ruled out because of Hurricane Season and I wasn't really into driving 11 hours with two dogs I've never traveled that far with before. The suggestion came up of Saugatuck, Michigan which is only 5.5 hours away and it's on Lake Michigan. This blog entry isn't really about my vacation, if you'd like to see my countless photos of pugs on the beach check out my Facebook page, if you'd like to see where I went and what I recommend, check out my Yelp page. What this post is about are the various resources I found and which ones I actually used.

Photo Above: HomeAway's Website

After spending hours online looking for vacation rentals (that accepted pets), there were tons of websites, but I was annoyed how hard it was to actually see the location of the rental and good photos and reviews. HomeAway was the best website I found during my search. Still not all of the rentals showed the location.

Above: HomeAway's iPhone App Search Filter

I saw that HomeAway had an iPhone App and figured I could browse home to rent when I had time more easily on my iPad. Once I did, I really really happy with the search filters and the fact that I could pretty much see on a map (see below) where the rentals were located.

Above: Search Results

Once you clicked on the dot of the location you wanted, you could scroll thru the details and photos of the home. It really doesn't get much easier than that. Once I was there, I would check the App every once and awhile when I found an area I would like to stay when and if I ever came back, and the app was accurate every time. HomeAway's site says they have over 230,000 vacation rentals all over...so, no matter where you are looking to rent a vacation home in my experience this would be a great place to start or end your search.

Above: viewing a listing

HomeAways Demo Video Below:

Good Food: Northstar Cafe

2010-10-13T13:19:00.006-05:00

Photo: outside of Northstar Cafe Short North

Northstar Cafe is by far my favorite place to eat... you can probably find me at one of their locations at least once a week if not more often. They currently have 3 location around Columbus: the original Short North location, the second location in Beechwold (Just North of Clintonville) and now at Easton Town Center. Whenever I have a new client or family visiting from out of town, it's always a place I take them to. Described as "New American cuisine with a healthful emphasis on organic ingredients" - Northstarcafe.com. I've never had anything to eat that I wouldn't order again. They've also opened a newer concept in Grandview called 3rd and Hollywood. Check out what other people have to say about Northstar Cafe on Yelp.

Photo above: Sweet Basil Burrito (no veggies)

Photo above: Chopped Salad

German Village | Walking Home Tour

2010-09-11T10:15:00.010-05:00

(above: Tour Guide)

Here is some of the marketing I've done for our Fall Walking Home Tour which is basically just a different set up for a regular open house to make it a little more formal and try to drive traffic to all of our listings open that afternoon.

(above: Open House Tour Poster)

(above: Open House Tour Poster at Starbucks and other businesses around German Village)

(Tour Book)

Around Town on my iPhone

2010-08-29T07:03:00.013-05:00

Someone has a green thumb (or more likely, a professional landscaper)

Window shopping: Mid Century home w/a pool, needs too much work

Restoration Hardware at Easton, revamped. I'm liking the walls, trim, ceiling, etc all of the same color, but I am not brave enough to try it at home.

Jeni's Ice Cream in the Short North - less is more

Another Jeni's Ice Cream pic - Simple interior (that table would make a great desk for two), great ice cream

Presentation is everything - Rose Bredl in the Short North

I'm liking the new Northstar Cafe at Easton, inside and out

Realtor.com Updates iPhone App

2010-08-24T12:01:00.010-05:00

I've been a huge fan of the Realtor.com App for iPhone since it was released, in my opinion it is one of the best if not the best Real Estate App. I've already mentioned on my blog before, it really the only app where you can find all of the local open houses from all Brokerages. As shown above the app also works with the iPad as well. Within the last few weeks, they've added several new features...

Area Highlighter — Put the fun back in search! Use your finger to draw a search area right on the map
New Search Features — More Lot, Property and Community features to refine your search
Area Scout - A fun new way to find listings ans learn about areas while you're on the move! Grab a co-pilot and get started scouting!
Open House Calendar Integration — Add open house details to your calendar to remind you as the event draws near
Share Listings by SMS — Text the home of your dreams to your family and friends without leaving the app
iOS 4.0 Ready — Tested and optimized for the latest iOS4 features like multi-tasking
Information you can trust - because it's the official listing site of the National Association of REALTORS®

If you have an iPhone or iPad, definitely check it out, it's free...

Terraces on Walhalla Website

2010-08-13T06:03:00.006-05:00

Over the last week, I've been working on creating a new website for Terraces on Walhalla. Above and below are some of the screen captures from the site, it's not 100% complete but it's worth checking out.

Good Food: Plantain Cafe

2010-08-03T05:24:00.007-05:00

Plantain Cafe is located at 77 E Gay Street in Downtown Columbus. Neat little place with authentic Cuban Food. I've been three times and I have enjoyed it each time. The Frita- Cuban Hamburger is amazing and a have a huge side of plantain chips. See what other people think on yelp.

inside the Cafe

Frita - Cuban Hamburger

Schumacher Place 2010 Home & Garden Tour Marketing

2010-07-17T06:42:00.000-05:00

For the past several years, I have been involved in the making of the Schumacher Place Home & Garden Tour Book. This year, my work schedule was crazy so I was running way behind on getting everything done by the deadline. Up until the day before I was to turn the book in, I still did not have an image for the Tour Book cover or the poster. I ended up just taking my camera out to the front yard and eventually in my neighbors yard taking photos of her cone flowers and happened to catch a bee in action doing what bees do. The next morning I ended up with what is now the cover and the poster. After I thought about, it seemed particularly fitting that a bee would be on the cover as bees are a symbol for hardworking, community, teamwork and being social which fits the Schumacher Place neighborhood very well. For more information on the Home and Garden Tour, go to www.schumacherplace.org.

Cover of the Tour Book

Page from the Tour Book

Our Group's Ad in the Tour Book

It All Comes Full Circle

2010-07-17T06:14:00.001-05:00

Way back in 2006...this is the first home I have ever sold. This home has always been one of my favorites and now it's back on the market. It's always interesting to go back and see what the homeowners have done and this home is no exception... not only have the owners invested in the home with smart and beautiful updates but the home has been meticulously maintained and well cared for. UPDATE: SOLD.

Columbus Metro Area Stats

2010-04-19T06:20:00.006-05:00

Average 15 Months On Hand of Inventory Based on Closed Sales January 2009 - March 2010

When looking at the performance of Real Estate, you might think looking at the number of homes sold would give you all of the details you would need to know. Actually, the best indicator of market conditions is Months On Hand (MOH). MOH is the number of homes Active on the market divided by the number of homes that were Sold. I theory, if no new homes wree to come onto the market and homes remained selling at the same rate, in the indicated number of months, homes would sell out.

Downtown Columbus - 63.19 MOH

Worthington - 9.27 MOH

Upper Arlington - 7.91 MOH

Grandview Heights - 10.47 MOH

Clintonville - 7.70 MOH (Lowest)

German Village - 21.63 MOH

Victorian Village - 19.90 MOH

Olde Towne East - 27.06 MOH

Bexley - 11.44 MOH

Average -19.84 MOH

All information is based on MLS areas for the defined neighborhoods and based on active/ sold prices $160,000+.

All reports presented are based on data supplied by the Columbus Board of Realtors MLS. Neither the Association nor their MLSs guarantee or are in anyway responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Association or their MLSs may not reflect all real estate activities in the market. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Columbus Metro Area Trend Graphics January 2009 - March 2010

2010-04-16T05:36:00.012-05:00

Bexley (MLS Area BE)

Single Family & Condo

$160,000+

Clintonville Area (MLS Area 37)

Single Family & Condo

$160,000+

Downtown Columbus (MLS Area 10)

Single Family & Condo

$160,000+

German Village Area (MLS Area 37)

Single Family & Condo

$160,000+

Olde Towne East Area (MLS Area 14)

Single Family & Condo

$160,000+

Upper Arlington Area (MLS Area UA)

Single Family & Condo

$160,000+

Victorian Village Area (MLS Area 11)

Single Family & Condo

$160,000+

Worthington (MLS Area WO)

Single Famil & Condo

$160,000+

*All reports are published Apr. 2010, based on data available at the end of Mar. 2010.
All reports presented are based on data supplied by the Columbus Board of Realtors or their MLS. Neither the Association nor their MLSs guarantee or are in anyway responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Association or their MLSs may not reflect all real estate activities in the market. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Trendgraphix, Inc

Photos of "60 Spring" - Downtown Condos

2010-04-15T15:35:00.012-05:00

Courtyard entrance

I went on a tour of 60 Spring this past weekend and I thought I'd share some photos. I had never been there before and I have always been curious what they look liked on the inside. Some great loft style spaces with industrial features and pretty good views.

View from loft over living area

View of Downtown Columbus from hallway

Kitchen in a 1 bedroom

Painted exposed brick and large windows

Tall ceilings with sky light

Downtown view

Realtor.com: Easy Way to Search for an Open House

2010-04-05T08:43:00.004-05:00

(Pictured: Realtor.com iPhone App)

In honor of the Nationwide Open House, this coming weekend...

One of the easiest and best ways to find an Open House in Columbus, Oh is Realtor.com. It is actually one of the only ways to find all Open Houses by different brokerages. Each individual brokerages websites will list their Open Houses separately. For example, to find an HER Open House, click here, but why limit your options?

To find Open House's on www.Realtor.com, from the home page, under "Find Homes", click on "Advanced Search", on the left hand column of the pop up menu, click on "Display Options" and click the box under "Sort By" for "Open House Date" and you're done. Or, if you have an iPhone, you can download probably the best and easiest Real Estate App to date, the Realtor.com Iphone Real Estate App (and it's free) which will locate Open House from your GPS location or by entering a custom search.

Many Realtors load thier Open House's on Realtor.com but, keep in mind, just like on any other website, the Realtor has to actually enter the Open House manually on Realtor.com. so the tool is as only as good as the people who contribute to it.

Amazing Mid-Century Modern Home Worth Sharing

2010-03-02T18:42:00.017-05:00

If you are looking for a Mid-Century home in Columbus, OH, you definitely need to know the ins and outs of where to look. If you want a home that is the epitome of Mid-Century Modern, they are few and far between... but, you're in luck, I present to you 2645 Fairfax Drive. I've had the privilege of showing this home several times to prospective buyers and seldom do I have the opportunity to experience a buyers anticpation that comes along with viewing this home and it does not disappoint. Nestled atop a private ravine setting in Upper Arlington, this 4 bedroom/ 3.5 bath 4158 sqft home inspires even me to abandon the complicated world of traditional living for a life of simple and luxuriously sleek. I'll be hosting an Open House for this home on Sunday March 7th, 2010 from 1-4PM, stop by and check it out.

For listing photos, click here

Good Food: Basil Short North

2010-03-02T05:53:00.008-05:00

I made a mistake a few weeks ago looking for a local restaurant, Sage and Google's the wrong herb. We ended up at Basil Short North and I am not sorry we did. I'm not a fan of Thai food but, I did enjoy my Lunch Special of Tom Yum Soup, Crab Wonton and Chicken Fried Rice, all for $7.50! Basil Short North is located at 1124 S High Street (next to Surly Girl) and it's worth checking out. I still haven't been to Sage...it's on my list. See more reviews on yelp

Tom Yum Soup and Crab Wontons

Chicken Fried Rice

I liked the wood panelled wall

Great Website - 211 Elizabeth

2010-03-02T05:43:00.004-05:00

Great design, great interiors, great style - 211Elizabeth

Around town on my iPhone

2010-02-13T08:56:00.015-05:00

Lap of luxury in Bexley

Fountain in Downtown Columbus

Easton after the Holidays

Modern bath in Upper Arlington

Amazing original bath in Bexley

Inside clients new home in Upper Arlington

Considerate Seller in German Village

Above and below: High Street Before and After in Clintonville

Expanded First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

2010-01-02T08:23:00.005-05:00

"President Obama signed a measure ... that includes an extension of the $8000 first homebuyer tax credit that was set to expire at the end of November. In addition, the bill creates a $6500 tax credit for homeowners who purchase a new residence.

The $8000 tax credit is open to new homebuyers through April of 2010. To be eligible, first time homebuyers must have an income of not more than $125,000 for individuals and must be acquiring a home for $800,000 or less. The IRS will have increased ability to recognize and stop fraudulent use of the tax credit.

The $6500 tax credit is available to those who would like to acquire a new home after having occupied their current residence for at least five years. This credit could be claimed by those with a closing date of Nov. 6 or later.

The $24 billion bill has substantial momentum due to the inclusion of jobless benefits that extend the amount of time individuals can claim unemployment by up to twenty weeks." - Columbus Board of Realtors

First-time Buyer Amount of Credit
$8000 ($4000 married filing seperate)

First-time Buyer Definition for Eligibility
May not have had interest in a principal residence for 3 years prior to purchase

Current Homeowner Amount of Credit
$6500 ($3250 married filing seperate)

Effective Date
November 5th, 2009

Current Homeowner Definition of Eligibility
Must have used the home sold or being sold as a principal residence

Termination of Credit
Purchases after April 30, 2010

Binding Contract Rule

So long as a written binding contract to purchase is in effect on April 30, 2010, the purchaser will have until July 1, 2010 to close.

Income Limits
$125,000 - single
$225,000 - married
Additional $20,000 phase out

Limitiation on Cost of Purchased Home
$800,000

Anti-fraud Rule
Purchaser must attach documentation of purchase to tax return

For exact information on how you may benefit from the Expanded First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, consult a Tax professional.

Beck Place Photos

2009-07-11T08:19:00.013-05:00

I was invited to a Realtors Open House for Beck Place in German Village this past week and I thought since I hadn't posted in awhile, I would share some photos.

back of units on Grant with multi level terraces

floor tile that I liked from the upgrade selections

one of the loft spaces from the old warehouse

same unit as above

great windows!

old warehouse door

huge terrace

large terrace

more great windows

"ColorSnap" App for iPhone

2009-05-23T06:45:00.008-05:00

(above: the six easy steps I went through to find the right color)

Last night, I downloaded the ColorSnap App to my iPhone. The App is meant to color match what ever color your finger touches on the photo to a corresponding paint color out 1500 colors in the Sherwin Williams pallet. I tried out a few existing photos on my iPhone and I liked the idea of finding inspiration for your home, office, etc from photos. The only problem I see with the App is if I were trying to actually match and existing color in a home, piece of furniture, etc. My home's interior is covered in several colors of Sherwin Williams paint and I tried to match several spots. Unless you can get the color in lighting that actually reads it well which most likely direct sunlight, most of the colors on a camera will not read correctly because of the color temperature from the lighting conditions, so I couldn't get a exact match. That being said, if I already have the paint color in my home, I should know what the color is anyway. Regardless, the App is a great tool and I will use it when trying to pick new colors for my home and the best part is...it's free to download. Once you find the color, it might be fun to play around with before you buy it in Sherwin William's Color Visualizer ,which I have also used before.

No Photo Available Part II

2009-05-22T08:14:00.011-05:00

Back in January 2007, I posted "No Picture Available", which was about listings coming onto the MLS with no photos. One of the ways the MLS works and is vital to how we now buy and sell home, is that an agent enters the MLS listing information into the MLS and within 24 hours, that information is sent to all matching prospects with searches programmed on the MLS with their agent and spread across the web to sites like Realtor.com, Trulia, Zillow, etc. The MLS is also the source to which all of the major Brokerages, HER, Coldwell Banker, etc access home information for their websites. So it would only makes sense that if you were truly trying to perform your duties as a listing agent, who's job it is to market the home for sale, you wouldn't enter the listing until photos of the homes were available to upload, right? Well apparently those that monitor the MLS agree, well, sort of...as of May 1st, fines are now in place for listings that do not have a primary photo within 15 days of being entered in the MLS.

"Based in part on the limited number of members still using the photography services and to help insure photos continue to appear for properties, the following policy changes will be effective May 1, 2009: A photo will be required for all listings. Architectural renderings, plat maps and auditor photos are acceptable to use. ...Listings without photos will be fined and charged for a photo to be taken. Any listing that is found to be without a photo 15 days after entry into CBR Tempo will be assessed a $50 fine and have a photo taken by the service at the above charges.
A glossy photo will be taken and charged only if you also request MLS to take and charge the primary photo for you.
A status change for property entered the same day does not excuse the listing from the requirement of having a photo except for Sold Non MLS. A seller can request that no photo appear in MLS if willing to sign a photo waiver form (to be created prior to the May 1, 2009 implementation date of this new policy.)" - Columbus Board of Realtors

And as a follow up, out of 17 homes that have come onto the market in the last two days 7 of those as of this morning, still did not have photos. These homes were not forclosures, they were $200,000+ homes.

"Scott's Elegant Carriage House"

2009-04-16T06:40:00.004-05:00

UPDATE: Scott made it down to the last 4 in his category... a huge achievement. Apartment Therapy is having their Fifth Annual "Small Cool" contest and Columbus resident Scott has been chosen as a finalist. "Scott's Elegant Carriage House" is finalist #42 in the Tiny division (between 300-600sqft). I think it's actually just over 400 sqft and has soaring vaulted ceilings, but it's not only architecturally stunning, his skill at furnishing the space looks effortless and it feels more like a boutique vacation getaway rather than a rental. If you like it, vote for it. If you don't like it, vote for it anyway...I took the photos.

I'm Quotable!

2009-03-09T06:38:00.006-05:00

I had forgotten that I had received a phone call from a writer for Realtor Magazine about a Blog entry I wrote awhile ago,"Bring Back The "Murphy Bed"!" which was basically my surprise with all of the condos on the market under 100 sqft, that developers were not offering Murphy beds as an option or upgrade (it is basically cabinetry after all).

According to the Realtor.org article, they are making a comeback, read the article here.

First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit - Benefits Unmarried Couples/ Domestic Partnerships & Chlidren

2009-03-05T07:44:00.012-05:00

I received an email from a buyer who is looking at buying a home with her boyfriend. He has owned a home before, but she has not. The question is, if they hold joint ownership in the property, can they still benefit from the First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit...the answer appears to be yes* and would address unmarried couples/ domestic partnerships and children as joint purchasers.

"What is the definition of a first-time home buyer?The law defines "first-time home buyer" as a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase. For married taxpayers, the law tests the homeownership history of both the home buyer and his/her spouse.For example, if you have not owned a home in the past three years but your spouse has owned a principal residence, neither you nor your spouse qualifies for the first-time home buyer tax credit. However, unmarried joint purchasers may allocate the credit amount to any buyer who qualifies as a first-time buyer, such as may occur if a parent jointly purchases a home with a son or daughter. Ownership of a vacation home or rental property not used as a principal residence does not disqualify a buyer as a first-time home buyer."- http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/

*consult a tax professional for more details and to see if you meet the criteria for the tax credit.

January Metro Columbus Area Single Family Home/ Condo Sales

2009-02-25T07:40:00.017-05:00

DISCLAIMER: Although I do not feel January Trends are true indicators of how the market conditions will look over the next several months, as usually January and February's weather directly effects the motivation of those looking to buy and sell, I do feel it is important for Buyers and Sellers to know how the market is currently performing.

When looking at the performance of Real Estate in certain areas of Columbus, you might think looking at the number of homes sold would give you all of the details you would need to know. Actually the best indicator of market conditions is MONTHS ON HAND (MOH). MOH is the number of homes ACTIVE on the market divided by the number of homes that were SOLD. In theory, if no new homes were to come onto the market and homes remained selling at the same rate, in the indicated number of months, homes would sell out.

Sold % Change Jan'08 to Jan '09

Downtown -60%

Victorian Village -30.6%

Old Towne East +41.7%

German Village -8.6%

Clintonville -31.6%

Worthington -75%

Bexley -50%

Upper Arlington -14.3%

Grandview Heights -40%

Active % Change Jan '08 to Jan'09

Downtown -2.2%

Victorian Village -27.3%

Old Towne East -4%

German Village -20.5%

Clintonville -20.5%

Worthington -18.6%

Bexley +16.3%

Upper Arlington -4.8%

Grandview Heights +18.8%

...

To see 2008 Year End Totals, click here.

All reports presented are based on data supplied by the Columbus Board of Realtors MLS. Neither the Association nor their MLSs guarantee or are in anyway responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Association or their MLSs may not reflect all real estate activities in the market. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Breakdown

2009-02-21T16:01:00.006-05:00

FIRST‐TIME HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT
As Modified in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Major Modifications Shaded
February 2009

From Real Living HER, "The recent first-time homebuyer tax credit, as approved through last week’s economic stimulus package, has modified the previous July 2008 credit and provides some great benefits. Here’s a basic breakdown of how the new credit works:

First of all, the tax credit has been raised to $8,000 and doesn’t require a payback—classifying it as a true credit. This tax credit is refundable, which means if you subtract your tax liability from $8,000, you receive a credit. However this is assuming you purchase a home that’s at least $80,000 (since $8,000 is 10% of the purchase price). For example: If you have a tax liability of $3,000, you will receive a $5,000 credit. If you have no tax liability, you receive an $8,000 credit. If you are due a tax refund of $1,000, you’ll receive a $9,000 credit.

Click here to access a chart that breaks down the differences between the 2008 and 2009 tax credit."

Ideas For Finding Home Inspiration

2009-02-05T11:52:00.010-05:00

(Top row: Photos found on www.apartmenttherapy.com of a European Apothecary served as an

inspiration when it came time to selecting colors for my staircase picture on the bottom row.

When coming across articles, items or photos on one of the many websites I read, that I am drawn to but do not have an immediate use for them, I've always had a problem finding them again ... so, recently, I started saving them to a file on my computer just in case. I also find myself, taking photos with my phone of good ideas or things I like when I see them in case I may have a need for them again. When choosing new paint colors or when creating a concept for our new office, a lot of them have become useful and was helpful in conveying an idea or a concept to another person.

Today, while walking through a new listing and giving feedback about changes they may want to make before putting their home on the market, I suggested they search "painted kitchen cabinets" on Flickr and look for colors people had painted their cabinets and look for combinations that may work for them. Since Flickr is used by every day people and professional designers, it enables you to get a wide variety of results in your searches.

(above: a screen capture of Flickr )

So, next time your flipping thru a magazine or browsing online and you come across a photo, item or idea, save it, you might be able to use it later for inspiration. The next time you need inspiration, go online...it's readily available and it's free!

Snow...

2009-01-30T07:13:00.010-05:00

The recent snowfall gave me the opportunity to walk around the neighborhood (since I couldn't get my car out to drive) and take some photos for the Schumacher Place newsletter and website. Here are a few of the photos, enjoy...

More New Office Photos...

2009-01-27T14:27:00.006-05:00

Above: Photo rail of images from our listings and marketing portfolio.

Above: My desk made from a 30 x 60 stainlesss steel commercial prep table cut down and casters added.

Above: Part of our window lettering looking from inside down High Street.

CNN Money: Flood of foreclosures: It's worse than you think

2009-01-25T09:18:00.012-05:00

Typically, I try not to contribute to the "gloom and doom" of the Real Estate Market by repeating news reports (I believe you need to look at market conditions under a more localized microscope), but as interest in foreclosures is growing among Investors and Buyers that I work with, it looks as though things may be looking up for them...

Flood of foreclosures: It's worse than you think

Banks are moving slowly to list repossessed homes for sale, which could mean that housing inventory is even more bloated than current statistics indicate.
By Les Christie, CNNMoney.com staff writer
January 23, 2009: 04:40 PM EST

"NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com)--Housing might be in worse shape than we think. There is probably even more excess housing inventory gumming up the market than current statistics indicate, thanks to a wave of foreclosures that has yet to hit the market.The problem: Many foreclosed homes and other distressed properties that are now owned by banks have yet to be listed for sale. The volume of this so-called 'ghost inventory' could be substantial enough to depress already steeply falling prices when it does go on the market."That's not good news," said Pat Newport, an analyst with IHS Global Insight. "[Excess] inventory is the biggest problem in housing these days, and it leads to lower housing prices, which leads to more foreclosures."

RealtyTrac, the online marketer of foreclosed properties, recently discovered that it has far more foreclosed properties listed in its database, which the company compiles using courthouse records, than there are listed in the multiple listing services (MLS) maintained by real estate agents.RealtyTrac looked at listings in four states, California, Maryland, Florida and Wisconsin, and found that they contained only a third of the foreclosures it has in its database.The scope of the problem isn't clear, but it could be huge considering that RealtyTrac has a total of 1.5 million bank-owned properties on its site.

"Many properties that should be listed on the MLS are not listed on the MLS," said Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR).Underestimating inventory, the National Association of Realtors calculates official housing inventory statistics using data from the multiple listing services. By that measure, there were 4.2 million existing homes for sale in November, an 11.2-month supply at the current sales pace, up from a 10.3-month supply in October." (read the full article)

Around Town with my iPhone...

2009-01-21T16:54:00.012-05:00

Found @ 21 in Downtown Powell is one of my new favorite places visit for home accessories and ideas. It's pretty much not like anything else you have seen in Columbus. They are still working on their website, so if you are in the area, it is definitely worth a look.

I was at Home Depot a ran across these house numbers that look somewhat similar to the "Neutra House Numbers" at Design Within Reach and have the same 3D affect, but at a much more affordable price.

I came across this Knoll Desk on sale for $600 from $1200 at Revue at Grandview Mercantile.

Tina's sink vanity that I suggested she try when she kept complaining how expensive vanities are. We went to SOBO Style in Clintonville where she found this unique piece of furniture that was easily converted to a sink vanity in her guest bath.

We're in...

2009-01-20T13:49:00.004-05:00

We are finally in our new office location which is a satellite office of Real Living HER - German Village. The Gledhill Robbins & Talis Group Office is located at 730 S High Street Columbus, OH 43215 on the corner of S. High Street and E. Frankfort Street. More photos to come...

2008 Metro Columbus Area Single Family Home and Condo Sales

2009-01-12T12:41:00.008-05:00

Above: Clintonville Area (MLS Area 37) Lowest Average Months on Hand at 7.26

Above: Victorian Village Area (MLS Area 11) - Highest Totals of SOLDS at 613

Above: Grandview Heights Area (MLS Area GH) - Lowest Average number of ACTIVES at 63

...

Based on the rule of supply and demand, that would indicate an area with a higher months on hand would be more fairly priced based on market value (sold comparable homes). On the other hand, areas with lower months on hand may be more aggressively priced and may draw multiple interested buyers due to shortage of supply.

It is imperative that all buyers, sellers and existing homeowners know the market value of thier home and it's potential.

It is important to not that these MLS areas can be pretty broad and can contain some surrounding neighborhoods. For more specific information based on price range, feel free to contact me.

2009: New Year, New Name, New Space

2009-01-03T15:15:00.004-05:00

The Gledhill Robbins Group is now the Gledhill Robbins & Talis Group, adding, established agent, Mark Talis. Next week, we will be moving to a new office on the edge of German Village (technically, in the Brewery District) at 730 S High Street. Currently undergoing a slight remodel, the space will be a functional 1 story "loft-like"/ "gallery-type" space and is a perfect way to transition into the new year.

"Village Lights" Photos 2008

2008-12-10T07:20:00.007-05:00

One of my favorite spots in German Village is Frank Fetch Park on E Beck Street. I used to live on Beck Street diagnal from the park and would visit it on a regular basis. I had taken photos of the "Village Lights" there last year, but it had rained and wasn't nearly as attractive. Since it had just snowed and the weather was perfect (but really cold) I headed out and took a few more photos for fun.

"Village Lights" Takes Place Tonight

2008-12-07T08:29:00.004-05:00

Frank Fetch Park on Beck Street at the 2007 Village Lights

Village Lights in German Village

Sunday, December 7, 2008

6PM-10PM

Luminaries, Shops, Restaurants and "Fire on the Water" in Schiller Park.

View more info here.

The "Last Nice Day of 2008"?

2008-11-07T07:44:00.006-05:00

Above: architecturally, one of my favorite homes in Clintonville

I kept hearing over and over again from different people that yesterday was the "last nice day of 2008"... so with the impending dark clouds of the rest of the year quickly approaching and with a little extra free time after walkthing through construction at Terracs on Walhalla, I took a drive (yes, I should have really walked it) through Walhalla Ravine and snapped a few photos (one above and below). So, if you missed it, apparently all you have to look forward to now is gloom and doom until 2009...

Panoramic iPhone pics

2008-11-02T08:39:00.006-05:00

You've got to love technology. Before taking off on a trip last weekend to Chicago, I searched the iPhone Apps store for applications that might be fun to play around with on my trip. This is where I came across a few panoramic applications and after playing around with a few, I chose Pano as the one to use. With Pano, you take a horizontal photo with your iPhone and then once you accept the photo, it creates a shadow of the image for you to align the next image in your series of shots to create a panoramic image. The best part is that allows room for error and the technology will most of the time correct any out of alignment to create a seamless panoramic image. Although it is not the same high quality image that you would get from a digital camera, it serves the purpose well of capturing a moment of time where it is not always practical to have a digital camera with you and share online on a blog or website.

In the past week, I have also started using this app for Real Estate. Below is one of the photos I have recently published on the Terraces on Walhalla Blog of the construction progress (see the series of photos here).

Metro Area Sales YTD Trend Graphics

2008-10-25T07:35:00.004-05:00

What does it all mean?

When looking at the performance of Real Estate in certain areas of Columbus, you might think looking at the number of homes sold would give you all of the details you would need to know. Actually the best indicator of market conditions is MONTHS ON HAND (MOH). MOH is the number of homes ACTIVE on the market divided by the number of homes that were SOLD. In theory, no new homes were to come onto the market and homes remained selling at the same rate, in the indicated number of months, homes would sell out.

Based on the rule of supply and demand, that would indicate an area with a higher months on hand would be more fairly priced based on market value (sold comparable homes). On the other hand, areas with lower months on hand may be more aggressively priced and may draw multiple interested buyers due to shortage of supply. It is imperative all buyers, sellers and existing homeowners to know the market value of their home and it’s potential.

Columbus Architectural Salvage

2008-10-14T12:24:00.007-05:00

looking into a room at Columbus Architectural Salvage

I recently took a trip to Columbus Architectural Salvage, which is located right outside Grandview Heights at 1270-A Edgehill Road. Previously, the only place near a architectural salvage store I had been to in the area was the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store. Architectural salvage appeals to me, not only because I help people buy and sell older homes, but I also own one and when updating and restoring features of a home, it is more appealing for them to look original and historically relevant. Columbus Architectural Salvage has pretty much everything to restore or replace original features in a home...and as a sidenote...it's also considered environmentally friendly as it's recycling. So, if you need doors, mantles, vent covers, trim, moldings, transom windows, light fixtures, door knobs and more, check them out and don't forget to take your measurements with you. Columbus Architetcural Salvage is currently open Saturdays and by appointment.

UPDATE: Columbus Alive just did an article on them, view here.

ROAR Columbus: Redevelop Our Area Responsibly

2008-10-14T08:52:00.005-05:00

Above: Site of proposed motor speedway and some nearby Metro Areas

Community Group Formed in Response to Proposed Cooper Stadium Motor Speedway Development.

Below is the Group's (to which I recently joined) Press Release...

Imagine if someone built a motorsports speedway just blocks from your home. One that featured ear-shattering NASCAR-style racing and high-performance drag races throughout the week and into the evenings on weekends.

Wouldn’t that distress you and your family? The value of your home? The growth of your community?

Amazingly, someone is proposing to do just that in the heart of Franklinton. Just 1.5 miles from German Village, downtown, the Hilltop, Southwest Area and Grandview Heights.

Arshot Investment Corporation/King Holding Company and developer Bill Schottenstein want to build a high-speed motorsports complex on the site of Cooper Stadium.

Already, they’ve made headway. The Franklin County Board of Commissioners agreed to sell them Cooper Stadium for $3.325-million.ROAR Columbus (Redevelop Our Area Responsibly) is a grassroots coalition of Columbus-area citizens and business owners deeply concerned about the Arshot proposal. We believe the extreme noise generated by a motorsports speedway in a high-density residential area like Franklinton has the potential to:

Harm the quality of life for thousands of people in Franklinton and beyond

Lower property values throughout the area

Hurt or ruin businesses in the vicinity of Cooper Stadium

Damage the environment due to noise pollution and petroleum runoff that could flow into the nearby Scioto River

Arshot has said they will commission a noise impact study, however ROAR Columbus believes the issue is too critical to rely solely on the findings of a study paid for by Arshot. To avoid the potential for biased reporting, ROAR Columbus supports conducting an independent noise impact study before moving forward with this project.

To date, numerous organizations have pledged their support of ROAR Columbus and are asking for an independent noise impact study. They include:

German Village Society
Franklinton Area Commission
Downtown Residents Association
Southwest Area Commission
Midtown Area Realtor’s Association
Audubon Ohio
Green Lawn Cemetery
The Waterford Tower condominiums
WeCare Health Facility

To help us pay for an independent noise impact study and legal representation, we’ve also received financial contributions from:

Columbus Board of Realtors
Ohio Association of Realtors
Midtown Area Realtors Association
and many other local business groups and area residents

We invite you to learn more about the proposed speedway as well as ROAR Columbus’ mission to support the redevelopment of Cooper Stadium in a manner that's appropriate to its urban neighborhood location and consistent with the green initiatives proposed by the Columbus Mayor, Columbus City Council and Franklin County Commissioners.

Please visit our website at

www.roarcolumbus.org
Or contact us at info@roarcolumbus.org

As Seen On TV...

2008-09-21T13:13:00.007-05:00

We have recently aquired a listing that is vacant and while planning maintenance of the lanscaping and potted plants, a client had told me that she had seen Aqua Globes at the Andersons and I decided to try them out. Apparently, the come in 2 different sizes and The Anderson seems to carry only the small (which comes in a set of 2). We put them in pots outisde of the listing last week. I checked on them mid week and they still had some water in them and then again today and they were empty. The plants look healthy, so I am going to assume they are working. If they continue to work, it seems like they may be a good solution for watering plants while away on a short trip or maintaining plants for short periods of time.

"Home Finder" for iPhone

2008-09-04T14:17:00.007-05:00

A few weeks ago, I invested in a new phone...OK, not just any phone...an iPhone. I have been playing around trying to figure out what applications are useful and after trying Trulia's iPhone application and deleting it a few minutes later, I was able to find the Home Finder application which does exactly what the Trulia application did not.

Basically, Home Finder is a search tool that you can use when you are away from your computer for immediate listing information on homes in a specific area either by entering an address or using your GPS to locate where you are. You can pull up homes by price range, size (sqft), number of bedrooms, etc and either pull them up in order by price or from the distance from where you are. Once the program pulls up the search results, you can pull up the home's basic information, a photo of the home and the link information for the listing website and a map of where the home is located. Since the listing information is found through different MLS's, sites, etc...the only negative was that sometimes the same address would come up twice one after another.

If you have an iPhone, the Home Finder application is free and available in the iTunes store.

2008 Oktoberfest and Italian Festival...

2008-09-02T16:11:00.006-05:00

Two great events are coming up in the next couple of weeks, if you get a chance, you should definately try to go...

German Village Oktoberfest

Friday, September 5th - 7th.

Genoa Park & Amphitheater, Columbus, Ohio

for more info:

http://www.germanvillage.org/calendar.php

...

Columbus Italian Festival

Friday, October 10th - 12th

corner of Hamlet & Lincoln Streets

for more info:

http://www.columbusitalianfestival.com/

Fall Metro Area Home and Garden Tours

2008-09-02T09:11:00.003-05:00

The Clintonville Homes Tour

Sunday, September 14th, 2008

Noon - 5PM

for more info:

http://www.clintonvillehomestour.com/

...

Victorian Village Tour of Homes & Gardens

Sunday, September 21st, 2008

10AM - 6PM

for more info:

http://www.victorianvillage.org/

Sharing Advantage: $300 to a Non Profit of your Choice

2008-08-26T06:29:00.002-05:00

The Sharing Advantage® Program
Realize Your Dream.Help Your Neighbors. Enrich Your Community

...
Achieve your homeownership goal, and help make a positive difference – right in your own backyard! Our Sharing Advantage® program enables you to support a worthy local cause at no cost to you.When you close a purchase loan with us,we will make a $300 contribution in your name to the faith-based or non-profit organization of your choice.1 With our Sharing Advantage program, charity really does begin at home!

...

for more information:
Tom Dodrill
Branch Sales Manager
77 E Nationwide Blvd
Columbus, OH 43215
6142738547 Phone
www.homeloans.com/thomas-dodrill1
Thomas.E.Dodrill@RealLivingMortgage.com

1. The recipient organization must have status under 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Information is accurate as of the date of printing and is subject to change without notice.

End of Season Landscape Purchasing

2008-08-06T09:11:00.002-05:00

One of the ways to easily make your home more attractive is through landscaping. Often overlooked until the last minute, landscaping can make or break a properties appeal, and the more mature the landscaping the better. If you are planning to sell your home (whether now or in the next year or so) or just looking to make it more attractive, one of the more affordable options is to buy at the end of the season. I stopped in at Oakland Park Nursery two days ago and currently a large assortment of trees and plants were 50% off. A huge Vining Passion Flower (pictured above) was 50% or approx $20. A large hydrangea in full bloom was about $30. So, if you are looking to add appeal to your home...now is the time to start looking for deals at your local nursery or home improvement store.

Jenny's Harrison Park Decor

2008-08-04T08:51:00.009-05:00

One of things that I always want to do, but rarely get the opportunity to find the time to do, is revist past clients homes and see what they have done with it since they moved in. Yesterday, I paid a visit to client turned friend, Jenny's home at Harrison Park. She has been in the home for almost exactly a year and has been utilizing the services of Interior Designer, Scott Sammons who has been working with her since the home was even built. From bathroom grout color to cutsom bookshelves, it's completely done and she couldn't be more thrilled. Enjoy the pics below.

Melanie & Scotty's Phenominal Clintonville Ravine Craftsman

2008-08-01T06:50:00.008-05:00

Every once in awhile I walk into a home that just blows me away. This is one of those homes... I really like Craftsman Bungalows and when Melanie & Scotty (Buyers I was working with) and I walked in to this home, it was clear this was the home for them. Situated on the top of a hill in Overbrook Ravine in Northern Clintonville, it is an extremely private and restful location. Inside has an incredible layout and nicely updated with original character preserved. I suspect living there for them will be like being on vacation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 365 days a year. Melanie & Scotty closed on the home yesterday and will move in next week. Congratulations to them!

Home Improvement: Dining Room Ceiling

2008-07-31T09:55:00.005-05:00

Taken this morning, this is my dining room, which is getting a few improvements starting today. I am having the electric moved to the center for a new light fixture (pictured inset) and the ceiling re drywalled for a flat finish (there is a preexisting rough texture and previous water damage from around the chimney). As usual, I will take pictures to document the progress and post the before and after.

What I am working on...

2008-07-27T12:36:00.009-05:00

I was watching tv and ran across a home show that had a house with a stairway with black railing with white moldings and I thought it looked sharp. Paint is an easy way to update your home so, I have been working on what has turned out to be a time consuming project, which is painting my staircase. (See the evolution of the project above) After the railing was covered with it's first coat of black, I realized I no longer liked the red, so I'll give credit where credit is due and mention that my Dad painted the wall. Where I have run into what seems to be taking forever is painting the spindles on the railing (4 coats of paint to be exact). This is the first time I have used Sherwin Williams' Low Voc and no Voc paints and I am happy with the results and the lack of the paint smell.

Barb, a buyer I was working with, just closed on this home (left) in Merion Village. What is funny about the situation is that the home is exactly what Barb did not want. The home had no garage or even an option for it (which is not unusual for the area) and a garage was an absolute for her. I mistakenly added it to our showing list and she fell in love with immediately and go figure... bought it. It goes to show, you never know what you will find when you open your mind to possibilities.

The exterior rendering of Kossuth Green had it's debut at the July Schumacher Place meeting. There will be some slight adjustments made and the project will be presented at the September 2008 Schumacher Place meeting for variances. I have seen floor plans for the two townhomes and they are very appealing. Tim Welsh, the architect/ developer discussed the possibility of Kossuth Green seeking a LEED Gold Certifictation. More details to come.

Columbus Metro Area Real Estate Statistics YTD

2008-07-21T10:07:00.009-05:00

Average Active Single Family Homes & Condos

Jan-Jun 2008

Downtown Cols Area - 168

Victorian Village Area - 500

Olde Towne East Area - 213

German Village Area - 624

Clintonville Area - 269

Worthington Area - 134

Bexley Area - 111

Upper Arlington Area - 334

Grandview Heights Area - 64 * Lowest

Average - 268

...

Total SOLD Single Family Homes & Condos

Jan-Jun 2008

Downtown Area - 31
Victorian Village Area - 322 * Highest
Olde Towne East Area - 85
German Village Area - 301
Clintonville Area - 253
Worthington Area - 110
Bexley Area - 90
Upper Arlington Area - 226
Grandview Heights Area - 49

Average - 163

...

Average Months on Hand Single Family & Condo based on Closed Sales

Jan-Jun 2008

Downtown Area - 59.37
Victorian Village Area - 9.96
Olde Towne East Area - 16.43
German Village Area - 14.1
Clintonville Area - 7.6 * Lowest
Worthington Area - 8.05
Bexley Area - 8.2
Upper Arlington Area - 9.67
Grandview Heights Area - 8.98

Average - 15.81

Average Days on Market Single Family Home & Condo

Jan-Jun 2008

Downtown Area - 154
Victorian Village Area - 120
Olde Towne East Area - 118
German Village Area - 126
Clintonville Area - 98 * Lowest
Worthington Area - 112
Bexley Area - 128
Upper Arlington Area - 116
Grandview Heights Area - 124

Average - 122

...

Average Sold vs Original List Price Single Family Homes & Condos

Jan-Jun 2008

Downtown Area - 101% * Highest
Victorian Village Area - 97%
Olde Towne East Area - 92%
German Village Area - 94%
Clintonville Area - 95%
Worthington Area - 97%
Bexley Area - 94%
Upper Arlington Area - 95%
Grandview Heights Area - 97%

Average - 96%

All reports presented are based on data supplied by the Columbus Board of Realtors or theirs MLSs.

Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

A visit to American Furnishings

2008-07-16T12:02:00.003-05:00

I took a trip to Clintonville the other day and while I was there I decided to go get my dog's prescription filled, but as usual, I didn't call in enough time to allow for me to just pick it up. So, while I was out killing time, I decided to take a trip to one of my favorite places American Furnishings to browse. It haven't been and your appreciate Mission'ish style furniture or (my favorite) Industrial Vintage, you really should check it out. Their only retail store is located about a mile from 71 North going East on Polaris Parkway (or click here). They seem to sell through the Vintage Industrial (since they are not mass produced) items fairly quickly, so if you like something, you should probably buy it on the spot.

Home Depot to Recycle CFL's!

2008-06-24T13:02:00.006-05:00

"THE HOME DEPOT LAUNCHES NATIONAL
CFL BULB RECYCLING INITIATIVE

Also Implementing In Store Energy Conservation Program

ATLANTA, June 24, 2008 – The Home Depot®, the world's largest home improvement retailer, today expanded its long-term commitment to the environment and sustainability by launching a national in-store, consumer compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb recycling program at all 1,973 The Home Depot locations. This free service is the first such offering made so widely available by a retailer in the United States and offers customers additional options for making environmentally conscious decisions from purchase to disposal. The Home Depot Canada launched a CFL recycling program in November, 2007.

At each The Home Depot store, customers can simply bring in any expired, unbroken CFL bulbs, and give them to the store associate behind the returns desk. The bulbs will then be managed responsibly by an environmental management company who will coordinate CFL packaging, transportation and recycling to maximize safety and ensure environmental compliance.

In addition to the CFL recycling program, The Home Depot has also launched an in store energy conservation program to switch Light Fixture Showrooms in U.S. stores from incandescent bulbs to CFLs by Fall 2008 and save $16 million annually in energy costs." - Home Depot

Read more.

Home Depot's in the immediate Columbus Metro Area:

Grove City #6954

1680 Stringtown Road

Grove City, OH 43123

(614)539-4554

Map & Directions

West Broad #3819

100 South Grener Rd

Columbus, OH 43228

(614)878-9150

Map & Directions

Hilliard #3872

4101 Trueman Blvd

Hilliard, OH 43026

(614)876-5558

Map & Directions

Brice Road #3816

2480 Brice Road

Reynoldsburg, OH

43068

(614)577-1601

Map & Directions

or find a store here.

Snapshot: 199 S Fifth Street

2008-06-14T09:57:00.006-05:00

I just happened to be out yesterday in the early morning to take a photo of a new condo listing downtown, when I happened to go past, architecturally, one of my favorite buildings, 199 S 5th Street. Luckily, I was able to take a photo without all of the construction vehicles that are commonly out front. If you are not familiar with 199 S Fifth Street, it is an (underexposed, in my opinion) condo development with spacious floor plans, huge terraces, concrete floors and iPod docks in the walls. The rooftop has spectacular views and offers penthouses with floor to ceiling windows. I haven't seen the inside recently, I need to take a trip back and see the progress, it is definitely worth the trip. Prices on units range from $272,500 (for a 1000 sqft 1 bedroom 1.5 bath on the 3rd floor) to $750,000 (for a 2119 sqft 3 bedroom 3 bath on the 5th floor).

Google Street View for Columbus

2008-06-11T06:19:00.029-05:00

View Larger Map

Google Street is now live for Columbus, so for those of you looking for something to do at work today feel free to play "where was I that day?". In case your interested, I was at home. I can see this being useful in Real Estate if you're listing or buying a home to look around at the neighbors homes as well. The images seem to be from late spring last year. The only way it could get anymore useful is if it were live and I could see if there was a line at Starbucks (pictured above). .

Info discovered via: www.columbusunderground.com

A Favorite: Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Products

2008-06-07T12:13:00.007-05:00

A box of Mrs Meyer's Clean Day arrived at my doorstep yesterday and it was like Xmas came early this year. Anyone not familiar with Mrs Meyers should try it... not only do they smell great but the packaging is attractive too! (Funny enough, I first tried the hand soap when I bought it for the pacakging when I was staging a bathroom in a home I was selling.) Online, shipping is free on orders $50 or more until June 13th. Otherwise, find a store near you that carries their products on their store locator. Most products are biodegradable and all of the packaging is recyclable. Even the pet shampoo is great!

What I am currently using in my home:

Lemon Verbana - Dish Soap, Countertop Spray, Liquid Hand Soap, Hand Lotion, Hand Soap Refill, Surface Scrub, Automatic Dishwashing Liquid, Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Stainless Steel Spray, Laundry Detergent, Fabric Softener, Candle.

A home worth sharing: Atlanta Modern

2008-06-03T07:53:00.010-05:00

I usually come across articles and photos of amazing homes and do not link them, but homes like this are worth sharing. Metropolitan Home featured this Atlanta home. I am a die hard older home lover, but homes like this make me reconsider...read the article here and view the slide show here.

...

Found via Apartment Therapy.

What I am working on...

2008-05-29T13:41:00.007-05:00

1156 Jaeger Street (above) in German Village, just sold after 32 days on the market.

490 E Whittier Street (left) in Schumacher Place, just sold after coming back at 47 days on the market.

The 2008 Schumacher Place Home and Garden Tour is Saturday, June 14th. This year I am designing the tour book and it is just about to go to the printers.

Tim Welsh ,architect, of Urban Vision, just closed on a piece of land in Schumacher Place. Plans are for 2 LEED silver certified town homes in a modern design. It will be an unprecedented opportunity in Columbus/ Central Ohio to own green living. There is believed to be only one other LEED Silver certified residence in all of Ohio and it is in Cincinnati. When information becomes available, I will post it here.

Terraces on Walhalla has surpassed it's presale goal and well on it's way to breaking ground in what now looks to be (after waiting for a utility line to be relocated) the first week of June.

BIA 2007 Award Winner!

2008-05-18T10:07:00.008-05:00

I am proud to announce I have won a BIA (Building Industry Association) of Central Ohio MAME Award for my Blog for Terraces on Walhalla. The Award which was for Marketing And Merchandising Excellence: Most Creative Website, was announced last Friday, May 9th, 2008.

...

The Terraces on Walhalla Blog is a selling tool I created as a journal to update existing buyers on the sales and construction process, Clintonville sales statistics, our selection process, etc. and to create interest in the project from searches online. Buyers and interested parties are able to subscribe and receive email updates every time the site is updated.

...

After 5 months of active sales, Terraces on Walhalla has 7 out of 20 flats in contract and groundbreaking will take place later this month.

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For information check out the blog at: http://www.terracesonwalhalla.blogspot.com/.

Victorian Village Market April 2008 Update

2008-05-08T10:24:00.003-05:00

Victorian Village Area
Single Family Homes and Condos

April 2008

...
24 SOLD
High SOLD: 4BR/4BTH 3321 sqft - $528,962/ 284.90 sqft
Average SOLD: 2BR/1BTH 1325sqft - $246,529/ $197.33

...
152 Active
High Active: 4BR/4BTH 7414sqft - $1,549,999/ $428.24sqft.
Average Active: 2BR/1BTH 1296 sqft - $298,617/ $192.04sqft.

...

Clintonville Market April 2008 Update

2008-05-08T07:02:00.005-05:00

Clintonville (MLS Area 37)

Single Family Homes and Condos

April 2008

...

40 SOLD

High SOLD:4BR/3BTH 3172 sqft - $419,900/ $186.06 sqft

Average SOLD: 2BR/1BTH 1593 sqft - $197,547/ $126.14 sqft

...

237 Active

High Active: 5BR/3BTH 4500sqft - $549,900/$286.86sqft

Average Active: 2BR/1BTH 1466sqft - $208,135/$142.26sqft

...

German Village Area homes at Sheriff's Sale

2008-05-07T17:24:00.009-05:00

With foreclosures growing at an alarming rate, I guess it is no surprise that there is an a larger than normal number of German Village Area homes at the Sheriff's Sale auction.

...

German Village

536 South 5th Street sold in May 2008.
764 S 6th Street at Auction 5/23/2008 appraised at $174,000 deposit of $116,000.
260 Lansing St at Auction 06/06/2008, appraised at $270,000, deposit of $10,000.

Schumacher Place

791 Beech Street sold in April 2008.
795 Beech Street sold in May 2008.

Merion Village

371 East Whittier Street sold in February 2008 for $90,000.
375 East Whittier Street sold in March 2008.
498 Hanford Street sold in April 2008.
455-463 Hanford Street sold in May 2008.
87 Hanford St at auction 06/06/2008 appraised at $174,000 deposit of $17,400.

Whether bought at auction by a bank or investor, expect to see these homes on the market in the not to distant future.

for more information, click here.

German Village Area Home Sales April 2008

2008-05-07T08:57:00.008-05:00

9 Single Family Homes and Condos Sold in the German Village Area in April 2008.

The Average Sold property was a 2 bedroom 1 bath 1359sqft for $171,637 or 123.24 per sqft.

...

The Highest Priced Sold property was a 3BR/ 2BTH 1824sqft $450,000 home at $246.71 per sqft.

...

Among those sold:

1. 795 Jaeger - $168,500

2. 245 E Beck Street - $245,000

3. 657 S Grant Avenue - $450,000

4. 67 E Morrill Avenue - $36,000

5. 1217 Bruck Street - $185,000

6. 224 Mithoff Street - $204,500

7. 203 E Morrill Avenue - $115,500

8. 838 Beech Street - $185,051

...

Currently Active, there are 244 Single Family Homes and Condos available to purchase ranging in price from 3BR/4BTH 3400 sqft for $1,495,000 to a 900 sqft 1BR/1BTH at $40,000.

Source: the Columbus Board of Realtors MLS. All information is belived to be accurate but not guaranteed.

It Pays To Compare

2008-04-29T17:06:00.005-05:00

Real Living Mortgage is running a promotion, receive a $50 gas card to Speedway when you present a good-faith estimate or pre-approval from another lender and they will provide you with their own complimentary pre-approval so you can compare.

...

For more information:

Carrie Meacham

Branch Manager

Real Living Mortgage

614.273.7916 Office

866.378.5598 Fax

carrie.e.meacham@reallivingmortgage.com

Now Playing...

2008-04-27T12:49:00.021-05:00

On Open House days, you will seldom find me without music. Typically you will find me hauling around my Bose iPod dock and iPod loaded with specific Open House appropriate music. The music allows a buffer of comfort between me and any Open House visitors and allows them to feel free to have conversations without me listening. I usually try to find music that is appropriate to the home and the "buyer" I think may be coming in. I am stuck on a new record that I was given as a birthday gift. Yes, I said record. I was given a USB turntable (pictured on right) as well. It turns vinyl records into mp3 files that I can load onto my computer and iPod. (Why not just by the mp3's off iTunes? I like the scratchy sound of a record.) This week I have The George Shearing quintet with Nancy Wilson on repeat.

Spring Street Scene:

2008-04-25T06:00:00.008-05:00

This is my neighbor's tree in Schumacher Place. If it hasn't yet been desigated a Schumacher Place landmark, I now nominate it.

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Columbus Condo shows small can be stylish

2008-04-25T05:47:00.004-05:00

Suzi's (from Collier West )Yukon Condo gains favorable comments on Apartment Therapy, showing small spaces, 557 sqft to be exact, can be stylish. Read and see more photos here.

Precautions with CFL bulbs

2008-04-24T09:17:00.008-05:00

(Photo: Greatly reducing the risk of a bulb breaking, some IKEA CFL bulbs have plastic covers)

...

People are refusing to use them... haven't you heard? CFL's contain Mercury. "Mercury and most of its compounds are extremely toxic and are generally handled with care; in cases of spills involving mercury (such as from certain thermometers or fluorescent light bulbs) specific cleaning procedures are used to avoid toxic exposure.[34] It can be inhaled and absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes, so containers of mercury are securely sealed to avoid spills and evaporation. Heating of mercury, or compounds of mercury that may decompose when heated, is always carried out with adequate ventilation in order to avoid exposure to mercury vapor. The most toxic forms of mercury are its organic compounds, such as dimethylmercury and methylmercury. Mercury can cause both chronic and acute poisoning." -source And while in history Mercury has been uzed in thermometers, mascara, medicine and hat making (?)...precautions have been taken to remove the Mercury.

However, Mercury is an element that is essential for producing CFL bulbs. So, do we all stop using them even though they greatly reduce green house gas emissions? According to Energy Star, "CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing – an average of 5 milligrams – about the amount that would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. By comparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury. It would take 100 CFLs to equal that amount." Flashback...didn't we use to hold mercury in our bare hands in 5th grade science class? Even though there small amounts of Mercury in the bulbs, there is some common sense to be used in handling CFL's, disposing of them and precuations when cleaning up a bulb if it should break.

"What precautions should I take when using CFLs in my home?
CFLs are made of glass and can break if dropped or roughly handled. Be careful when removing the bulb from its packaging, installing it, or replacing it. Always screw and unscrew the lamp by its base (not the glass), and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket. If a CFL breaks in your home, follow the clean-up recommendations below. Used CFLs should be disposed of properly (see below).
What should I do with a CFL when it burns out?
EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for compact fluorescent light bulbs. EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to expand recycling and disposal options. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.org to identify local recycling options.
If your state permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the bulb in two plastic bags and put it into the outside trash, or other protected outside location, for the next normal trash collection. CFLs should not be disposed of in an incinerator. ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs have a warranty. If the bulb has failed within the warranty period, look at the CFL base to find the manufacturer’s name. Visit the manufacturer’s web site to find the customer service contact information to inquire about a refund or replacement.

How should I clean up a broken fluorescent bulb?
Because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:
1. Before Clean-up: Ventilate the Room
Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the breakage area on their way out.
Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.
2. Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces
Carefully scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the glass jar or plastic bag.
Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.
3. Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug:
Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder.
If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken.
Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.
4. Clean-up Steps for Clothing, Bedding, etc.:
If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be discarded. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage.
You can, however, wash clothing or other materials that have been exposed to the mercury vapor from a broken CFL, such as the clothing you happened to be wearing when you cleaned up the broken CFL, as long as that clothing has not come into direct contact with the materials from the broken bulb.
If shoes come into direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from the bulb, wipe them off with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place the towels or wipes in a glass jar or plastic bag for disposal.
5. Disposal of Clean-up Materials
Immediately place all cleanup materials outdoors in a trash container or protected area for the next normal trash pickup.
Wash your hands after disposing of the jars or plastic bags containing clean-up materials.
Check with your local or state government about disposal requirements in your specific area. Some states prohibit such trash disposal and require that broken and unbroken mercury-containing bulbs be taken to a local recycling center.
6. Future Cleaning of Carpeting or Rug: Ventilate the Room During and After Vacuuming

The next several times you vacuum, shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioningsystem and open a window prior to vacuuming.
Keep the central heating/air conditioning system shut off and the window open for at least 15 minutes after vacuuming is completed." - Energy Star

Snap shot:

2008-04-24T07:14:00.005-05:00

Spring is here and nowhere is it more obvious than in the German Village Area. The street are lined with blooming trees and yards are bursting with color.

Spring home improvement advice

2008-04-23T09:08:00.005-05:00

Spring is here and this is traditionally the most active time for homeowners to sell their homes and for buyers to be actively looking to buy one. Even if you are not ready to sell your home, as the weather becomes nicer you may become inspired to do some home improvements. Before doing any large projects, evaluate any improvements realistically and economically that you should invest in your home.

So, how do you know what your home is worth and what is it’s potential top value? If you bought your home recently, hopefully you were being assisted by a realtor that was able to give you an opinion of the fair market value of what that home is worth and what it’s potential might be. If you have owned your home for awhile, you should find a trusted Realtor in your area an ask them to do a walk through of your home and give you an estimate of it’s value. That is done by finding comparable properties that have sold within the past 6 months to a year around the same size and features as the property you own. The agent will then average out the sales prices, dollar per square feet, etc and that will assist them on determining a price range based on it’s current condition. From the same information, the agent should be able to determine what your home’s market value will be with improvements. During the previously mentioned walk through, ask questions about what improvements you are considering and ask for suggestions of current trends buyers are seeking.

What do you learn from this? You should now have an idea of how much money to invest in improving or updating your home. If you bought a home for let’s say $180,000 and it’s current high end potential is $230,000, you know you shouldn’t be spending $60,000 on updating your kitchen if you plan on selling the home in the next couple of years. What is important to note is that every home has a top market value and it’s based on location size and amenities. As Real Estate trends change, so will the perceived market value of your home and it’s important to be up to date on this information.

It is also important to note based on improvement trends you follow, your kitchen and bath may appear “dated” in as little as 5 to 10 years.

Why is important to update my home? Some day you may want to sell it. Think about how much Real Estate and perceived value has changed in the last two years alone. HGTV is packed full of shows that educate and teach buyers what holds value in a home. From an expensive looking kitchen all the way down to the paint color on the walls, buyers have never been pickier.

Probably the most frustrating thing for me to see is when people live in their homes for years and never get to enjoy it’s potential, instead they wait and do improvements right before they sell their home.

I am not selling my home anytime soon, why would I contact a Realtor for this information? Because Realtors will do it and it’s free. Why will they do it? Because eventually you may need to sell your home and you will remember them. It’s also a lot easier to be proactive than reactive, if you can get advice before you start the improvements, it will save the agent time when you go to sell your home and in the end it may make you money.

What I am reading online...

2008-04-23T05:17:00.005-05:00

Apartment Therapy is a site I check out usually several times a day. With locations of New York, Los Angeles, San Franciso and Chicago (sorry, no Columbus) you get an inside look of what people are doing with thier home interiors and ideas/ products for your home. It's also sometimes fun to read the comments to see what people have to say about each post.

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Columbus Underground is a forum for all news, events and happenings in Columbus. Readers can also post thier own news and events and read the opinions of other readers in the comments section.

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Curbed is all about Real Estate, well New York Real Estate and even though I do not hold my New York Realtors License, it doesn't stop me from enjoying the rendering of new projects, Show Us Your Sales Office, Weekend Open House Roundup and more.

West Elm to open at Easton April 17th!

2008-04-09T06:41:00.003-05:00

West Elm is schedule to open at Easton Town Center in Columbus on Thursday April 17th. I hadn't seen the date anywhere online so I thought I would post it. Those unfamiliar with West Elm... the store is a Division of William Sonoma/ Pottery Barn stores that carries an affordable line of furniture and home accessories, typically of a mid century/ modern/ asian influenced design. The store will be located at 4026 Easton Station (right down the street from the Gap) in a new building that was just built.

Trend Graphics February 2008

2008-03-31T05:47:00.008-05:00

Clintonville Area (MLS Area 37)

Price Range:$140,000- No Limit

Single Family Homes and Condos

...

Victorian Village Area (MLS Area 11)

Price Range:$140,000- No Limit

Single Family Homes and Condos

... Grandview Heights Area (MLS Area GH)

Price Range:$140,000- No Limit

Single Family Homes and Condos

...

German Village Area (MLS Area 17)

Price Range:$140,000- No Limit

Single Family Homes and Condos

...

Downtown Columbus Area (MLS Area 10)

Price Range:$140,000- No Limit

Single Family Homes and Condos

...

Olde Towne East Area (MLS Area 14)

Price Range:$140,000- No Limit

Single Family Homes and Condos

...

For other areas or more specific price range, contact me

...

All reports from TRENDGRAPHICS. All reports presented are based on data supplied by the Columbus Board of Realtors, Northern Ohio Regional MLS, Centralized Real Estate Information Service, Greater Cincinnati MLS and Dayton Area Board of Realtors or theirs MLSs. Neither the Association nor their MLSs guarantee or are in anyway responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Association or their MLSs may not reflect all real estate activities in the market. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Modern Home in a Historic Area

2008-03-27T14:23:00.012-05:00

Update: SOLD. 890 S Washington Avenue, an amazing modern 2 story in an historic area. Clean lines and large open spaces with a 20'ceiling, wood burning fireplace, a lofted sitting area, 800 sqft master bedroom suite with a walk-in closet and sitting area complete with exterior balcony and a huge spa like bath. Attached oversized garage, fenced yard, patio entertaining space and more.

Ikea - Recyling light bulbs, batteries and plastic bags.

2008-03-24T12:57:00.004-05:00

Now that we have an Ikea in the area, this information becomes handy. Ikea will recycle old Compact Fluorescent Lighting, batteries and plastic bags. All things you should not be throwing away on your own. No matter where it's from, Ikea will take - at no charge - and recycle or dispose of it correctly. Also, while you are there, check out thier affordable selection of CFL bulbs and 0% mercury battery selection.

January 2008 Trend Graphics

2008-02-18T09:36:00.011-05:00

Clintonville Area (MLS Area 37)

Price Range:$140,000- No Limit

Single Family Homes and Condos

...

German Village Area (MLS Area 17)

Price Range:$140,000- No Limit

Single Family Homes and Condos

...

Downtown Area (MLS Area 10)

Price Range:$140,000- No Limit

Single Family Homes and Condos

...

Victorian Village Area (MLS Area 11)
Price Range:$140,000- No Limit
Single Family Homes and Condos
...

Grandview Heights Area (MLS Area GH)
Price Range:$140,000- No Limit
Single Family Homes and Condos
...

Olde Towne East Area (MLS Area 14)
Price Range:$140,000- No Limit
Single Family Homes and Condos
...

For other areas or more specific price range, contact me
...
All reports from TRENDGRAPHICS. All reports presented are based on data supplied by the Columbus Board of Realtors, Northern Ohio Regional MLS, Centralized Real Estate Information Service, Greater Cincinnati MLS and Dayton Area Board of Realtors or theirs MLSs. Neither the Association nor their MLSs guarantee or are in anyway responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Association or their MLSs may not reflect all real estate activities in the market. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Buying a House-Series Roundup

2008-01-29T21:49:00.000-05:00

I am posting the following links from a recent Homebuyer I represented (they bought a great house) and he wrote a few articles about the home buying process on his blog.

Buying a House- Getting a Preapproval

Buying a House- The House Hunt

Buying a House- Making an Offer

Buying a House- Acceptance

Buying a House- The Inspection

Buying a House- The Remedy Phase

Buying a House- Closing

Buying a House- Final Thoughts

Buying a House- Backing Out

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2007 Metro Area Single Family and Condos Sales Stats

2008-01-23T08:43:00.000-05:00

The following are Single Family & Condo Home Market Stats from the MLS. The areas calculated are the Downtown Columbus, the Victorian Village Area, the Olde Towne East Area, the German Village Area, the Clintonville Area, the Grandview Heights Area and the Worthington Area.

The Highest Number Sold in 2007:

The Victorian Village Area - 690 Single Familes & Condos

Lowest Everage Days on the Market:

The Clintonville Area - 99.5

Highest Sold vs Original List Price Average:

The Victorian Village Area - 94.83%

For a complete list of all stats, click here.

What I've learned from 2007...

2008-01-08T14:48:00.001-05:00

(pictured: some of my Buyers and Sellers homes sold in 2007)

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From the press the Real Estate market is getting, you'd think the world was coming to an end. Personal experience has taught me, when it comes to Real Estate expect the unexpected. A mild December and January kept the normally hibernating winter buyers out and looking, mid January in the down pouring rain and snow, I had an Open Houses attended by over 50 people! Granted, it was an exceptional home at a very affordable price, but previously, I had topped out Open House attendance at around 25 people. Spring and Summer arrived and things kept rolling... if you priced a house well and marketed it correctly, it would sell. The latter part of the year was slower, maybe buyers were burnt out, maybe they are waiting for this year, who knows... but if you are buying you are sometimes able to get a good house at a great price.

...

Below are some of the things I have learned in 2007

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Buyers- Now is the time to buy, what are you waiting for? I read it all of the time, buyers are waiting for prices to bottom out. Why wait, get pre-approved by a reliable lender and know your buying power now. Get educated, if you are using an agent, they should be able to give you an opinion on the market value of a home, if it's over priced...don't be afraid to offer what you think it's worth. I have had at least 2 transactions this past year where we have submitted on offer on homes that were originally overpriced and sat on the market for over a year, and my buyers were able to get $30,000-$40,000 off of the current asking price! These were not million dollars homes, these were homes in the $200,000-$300,000 price range. This may not be the case for every home, but commit to the highest price you will pay for the home compared to what it's actual market value is and make the offer...you may have to walk away, but you will never know until you try. New Condo developments usually do not apply to this rule as a reduction in pricing will set a precedence for any future asking prices, but ask for credit for upgrades, condo fees, etc.

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Make sure you are buying a home that you can afford, that it is in a desirable area that someday a buyer will want to live when you resell and make sure you do not over improve your home for what you will be able to resell it for.

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Sellers- Have your agent walk through your home a month or more before you intend to list it. A good agent will be able to make suggestion on de-cluttering, moving furniture, repainting and repairs that need to be done...listen to them! Have a planned marketing strategy on how your home will be introduced to the market and make the deadlines. Pick the right agent the first time... go with your gut, if you think an agent is telling you what you want to hear and not telling you the truth, move on, more than likely, that agent will not be able to sell your home. The hardest thing for another agent to do is try to sell a home right after it was listed with another agent. You can have the best house on the street, but if it is overpriced, it will turn the buyers who can afford it off and never reach it's target buyer. Do the proper updating. Buyers have never been this educated, HGTV dedicates approx 24 hours a day informing buyers that the value of the home is seen by having updated kitchens and baths. If you do not have an updated home, your price will need to reflect it.

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There are basically 4 things will more than likely sell your home... price, presentation, location and marketing if one of those pieces is missing, you're in for a harsh wake up call and if you sell the home, it will most likely be for a lot less than it's potential market value.

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e2 energy — Harvesting the Wind podcast

2007-12-22T08:18:00.000-05:00

"e2 is an ongoing PBS series about the economies of being environmentally conscious. Shot in high definition with cinematic lenses, e2 chronicles global efforts to solve pressing ecological challenges. From energy consumption to design efficiency, policy to industry, the series documents the innovators whose work is reducing humans' impact on the environment. Interviews with experts, policymakers and pioneers across a variety of disciplines offer a firsthand account of the complex environmental challenges that we face, as well as the possibility that pragmatic solutions are within reach." - Design e2

November 2007 Home Sales/ Trend Graphics

2007-12-16T11:55:00.000-05:00

Clintonville Area (MLS Area 37)

Price Range:$140,000- No Limit

Single Family Homes and Condos

...

Victorian Village Area (MLS Area 11)

Price Range:$140,000- No Limit

Single Family Homes and Condos

...

Downtown Columbus Area (MLS Area 10)

Price Range:$140,000- No Limit

Single Family Homes and Condos

...German Village Area (MLS Area 17)

Price Range:$140,000- No Limit

Single Family Homes and Condos

...

Olde Towne East Area (MLS Area 14)

Price Range:$140,000- No Limit

Single Family Homes and Condos
...

For other areas or more specific price range, contact me

...

"Village Lights" pictures added

2007-12-10T12:54:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite German Village events took place last night. It may have drizzled a little, but it didn't stop people from coming out and enjoying the "Village Lights". I have added some of my pictures on my Flickr page.

Buying With A Friend

2007-12-06T09:29:00.000-05:00

...Real Estate Expert/ Mogul Barbara Corcoran on the Today Show....

Flickr link added to sidebar

2007-11-29T10:18:00.000-05:00

I get a rare opportunity to see and take a lot of photos of the Columbus Metro Area for Real Estate purposes, so I have organized the photos on a Flickr page. The first batch are of Metro Area condo projects and of Downtown. Enjoy!

Buyers and Sellers Beware

2007-11-27T08:05:00.000-05:00

...Real Estate Expert, Barbara Cocoran on the Today Show...

Clintonville maintains lowest months on hand of inventory

2007-11-17T14:08:00.000-05:00

Clintonville Area (MLS Area 37)
Price Range:$140,000- No Limit
Single Family Homes and Condos

...

Out of all of the major areas in the Metro area, Clintonville maintains the lowest 15 month average of months on hand (based on total number of homes active on the market divided by homes sold) of single family homes and condos.

...

Clintonville Area - 6.92

Grandview Heights Area - 8.26

Victorian Village Area - 9.95

German Village Area - 14.79

Downtown Columbus Area - 25.51

Olde Towne East Area- 27.11

...

In theory, if no more homes to come onto the market at the current rate of sales, Clintonville would zero out in 7 month, where Olde Towne East would zero out in over 2 years and 3 months!

Trend Graphics - October 2007

2007-11-17T13:45:00.000-05:00

Clintonville Area (MLS Area 37)

Price Range:$140,000- No Limit

Single Family Homes and Condos
...

Grandview Heights Area (MLS Area GH)

Price Range:$140,000- No Limit

Single Family Homes and Condos
...

Victorian Village Area (MLS Area 11)
Price Range:$140,000- No Limit
Single Family Homes and Condos
...
German Village Area (MLS Area 17)
Price Range:$140,000- No Limit
Single Family Homes and Condos
...
Downtown Columbus (MLS Area 10)
Price Range:$140,000- No Limit
Single Family Homes and Condos
...
Olde Towne East Area (MLS Area 14)
Price Range:$140,000- No Limit
Single Family Homes and Condos
...
For other areas or more specific price range, contact me
...
All reports from TRENDGRAPHICS. All reports presented are based on data supplied by the Columbus Board of Realtors, Northern Ohio Regional MLS, Centralized Real Estate Information Service, Greater Cincinnati MLS and Dayton Area Board of Realtors or theirs MLSs. Neither the Association nor their MLSs guarantee or are in anyway responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Association or their MLSs may not reflect all real estate activities in the market. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

...

Real Living Mortgage offers second opinion incentive...

2007-11-12T17:36:00.000-05:00

Real Living Mortgage is offering a FREE $50 Lowes Gift Card: "when you present your good faith estimate or pre-approval from another lender and [they'll] provide you with [they're] own complimentary pre-approval so you can compare!" View the flier here.

For more info:
Nate Cooper
Real Living Mortgage
614.273.8547

Amazing light fixtures: School House Electric

2007-11-03T06:45:00.000-05:00

When I come across a great resource, I want to share it, that is the whole point of the blog. After shopping around town for light fixtures for my kitchen and being discouraged, I came across School House Electric a Portland, Oregon based manufacturer of period light fixtures. The use original cast iron moulds found in an old warehouse. Fixtures and globes and interchangeable and their site is pretty easy to use. They even offer fixture that are hardwired for compact fluorescent bulbs (see bulbs). A few months after buying my fixture, I am thumbing thru my latest issue of Dwell and read that School House Electric has a beautiful and updated site and catalog (see catalog pdf) with new Industrial/ Mid Century Modern looking fixtures and globes (see globes pdf). So, when you are looking for ways to update the look of your home, School House Electric is worth a look.

Carlyles Watch: 8 Units Sell at Auction

2007-11-02T14:41:00.000-05:00

"The developer of the seven-story Carlyles Watch condominium building in Columbus got plenty of publicity but only eight sales at its closely watched Oct. 28 auction. It left the marketer of the downtown property wondering how much to ask for the remaining 28 unsold condos."

"The eight units sold brought in combined bids of just less than $2 million, or more than $1 million less than the cumulative list prices on the condos. Developer Urban Loft Ventures I LLC was going to reject the high bids on 21 other condos that were subject to the seller's acceptance by Oct. 31, said Mike Berland, a Chartwell principal and executive vice president. Seven other lower-priced condos never made it onto the auction block because of the bidding trend.

"The sellers were disappointed with the bids," Berland said. "People got incredible deals." "- Columbus Business First

Clintonville developers select Real Living agents

2007-11-01T05:58:00.000-05:00

"Developer Walhalla Development Group LLC has chosen Real Living HER agents William Robbins and Niels Oomkes to market a 20-unit, $4 million condo project in Clintonville.

The four-story Terraces on Walhalla, at Weber Road and North High Street, includes one-bedroom residences beginning at $199,000.

Three-bedroom condominiums in the project will top out at $390,000.

Contractor LCH&R LLC will begin construction of the units in January. The project is expected to be completed by November 2008.

Fifth Third Bank financed the $725,000 site acquisition and will finance the $3.5 million construction project overlooking the Walhalla Ravine.

Architect/developer Tim Welsh of Urban Vision Properties LLC has teamed with Hanno Schickram and J.C. Hanks on the project." - Columbus Business First

Carlyles Watch Auction UPDATE

2007-10-29T15:07:00.000-05:00

The much talked about Carlyles Watch Auction took place this past weekend. Reports are that:

"Gasps were heard throughout the room as units sold at such low sums" source.

Reported prices are:
Penthouse unit: Original $770,000 2 + den/ 2bth 2286 sqft - sold for $410,000*

Other units:
702: original $450,000 2br/2bth 1475sqft - sold for $290,000*
202: original $450,000 2br/2 bth 1475 sqft - sold for $218,000*
403: original $250,000 1br/1bth 811 sqft - sold for $156,500*
705: original $360,000 2br/2bth 1185 sqft - sold for $220,000*

Reportedly, the last 12 units or so on the board were offered at a bid of $133,000 (all contingent on seller approval). About 6 people raised their hands.

*every unit was sold with the 7.5% additional premium

Worth noting are the original sold prices before the auction (pictured on the left, click to enlarge).

View the Auction Availability List here.

View my Auction related post here.

Please note: I did not attend the auction, this information is from several different sources online. Accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

UPDATED: Read the Columbus Dispatch article on the Auction here and 10TV's video here.

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