Reynoldsburg Ohio Speeding Ticket Experience

I recently got a Reynoldsburg speeding ticket and thought I’d share my experience to help warn others about this Graham Road speed trap.

I was going to meet a client to show homes in Reynoldsburg Ohio and made the mistake of traveling down Graham Road.  In case you aren’t familiar with Graham Road, the Reynoldsburg police like to sit in the Church of Christ of Reynoldsburg parking lot and catch people speeding down the road.  I’m sure they realize it’s a good spot to catch people speeding as they’re coming from RT 256 going much faster and may not have realized the speed limit slows down quite a bit and those who don’t slow down quick enough, before getting to the church are an easy target.

I didn’t realize this was a speed trap area and I guess this experience has now encouraged me to try to avoid this area or at least if I have to go to that area to be more careful about how fast I’m going.  So I guess in that respect, the Reynoldsburg Police may have succeeded, if their main goal is to stop people from speeding.

However, I have been a Columbus Ohio Realtor for 10 years now and this is the first time I have received a speeding ticket, while showing homes.  I have also lived in Westerville for about 10 years and have not received a speeding ticket there.  Actually the last time I received a speeding ticket was in Portsmouth Ohio about 5 years ago, which if you know anything about Portsmouth, they thrive on giving speeding tickets.  So I do try to be careful not to speed, but being human, sometimes we do make mistakes.

Anyway, I started wondering if Reynoldsburg might be like Portsmouth Ohio and decided to do some research, which I found interesting.  I received some crime and speeding stats from the Westerville Police Records Department and the Reynoldsburg Police Records Department to compare the number of speeding tickets each community gives.

I was somewhat shocked to learn that the Reynoldsburg Police Department gives out on average, more than twice as many speeding tickets as the Westerville Police Department does each year from 2005-2009 and currently, the Westerville population is slightly larger than Reynoldsburg.  Here’s the stats I received:

Reynoldsburg Ohio population approximately:  35,000+

Westerville Ohio population approximately:  38,000+ (According to Westerville’s Facebook page)

2005 Speeding Tickets in Westerville:  1225
2005 Speeding Tickets in Reynoldsburg:  2279

2006 Speeding Tickets in Westerville:  1489
2006 Speeding Tickets in Reynoldsburg:  2363

2007 Speeding Tickets in Westerville:  1250
2007 Speeding Tickets in Reynoldsburg:  3174

2008 Speeding Tickets in Westerville:  1042
2008 Speeding Tickets in Reynoldsburg:  3197

2009 Speeding Tickets in Westerville:  1106
2009 Speeding Tickets in Reynoldsburg:  2403

Does anyone have any idea why the Reynoldsburg Police Department would have a practice of giving out so many speeding tickets?  I’m betting it has everything to do with the money speeding tickets generate?

One of the first things clients who aren’t familiar with areas in Central Ohio usually ask me is, how safe is an area. So i’ll post the Reynoldsburg and Westerville crime stats on another day.  In the meantime, if you’d like to contact the Reynoldsburg Police Records Department to receive crime stats their number is: 614-866-6622.  The Westerville Police Records Department number is: 614-901-6473.

I do know one thing, the property values for homes in Westerville Ohio is much higher than it is in Reynoldsburg.  So I’m assuming that means Westerville is able to generate more revenue from property taxes than Reynoldsburg does.  We all know the government is going to get their money one way or another.  I guess some cities do it through property taxes, others do it through fees and some do it through speeding tickets and other fines.

Here’s a quick comparison of the real estate sales for Westerville and Reynoldsburg:

Reynoldsburg Ohio Real Estate Sales Values 2005-2009

Includes Homes and condos sold in Reynoldsburg Schools in the following zip codes: 43068, 43004, 43213. While there is a trailer park community in Reynoldsburg, those sales have not been included). TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE REYNOLDSBURG REAL ESTATE MARKET VISIT:  http://www.columbuscastles.com/communities_reynoldsburg

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Westerville Ohio Real Estate Sales Values 2005-2009

(Includes homes and condos sold in Westerville Schools within the city of Westerville, Blendon Township, Genoa Township, Annehurst, Little Turtle, Highland Lakes area, 43081 and 43082 zip codes).  TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WESTERVILLE REAL ESTATE MARKET VISIT:     http://www.columbuscastles.com/communities_westerville

Reynoldsburg Property Values Are Much Lower Than Westerville

As you can see, Reynoldsburg property values are much lower than Westerville property values.  Reynoldsburg has been one of the hardest hit areas, with declining values in the Central Ohio real estate market. I would think the Reynoldsburg Mayor should focus more on how to help the Reynoldsburg real estate market rather than trying to generate revenue through speeding tickets.

While many citizens would prefer to have lower property taxes, lower property values are not always a good thing.  I had a couple who wanted to sell their Reynoldsburg home and move to Gahanna this Spring, but it’s not worth what they paid for it back in 2001, so they can’t afford to sell their home now as a result.

Do You Know of Any Other Reynoldsburg Speed Traps?

If you know of any other “speed traps” in Reynoldsburg, feel free to CONTACT ME and I can post that information here, so others can be spared from getting a speeding ticket.

MY REYNOLDSBURG MAYORS COURT EXPERIENCE:

When the cop handed me the ticket, he explained that I could just pay the ticket by a certain date or if I wished to contest it, I could show up for the Reynoldsburg Mayors Court on a dated posted on the ticket.  A friend, who was a former police officer, encouraged me to go to the Mayors Court to see if I might be able to get a break on this speeding ticket, since I’m not a habitual speeder. So I figured what do I have to lose?

While I haven’t had many speeding tickets, I have never gotten a break on a speeding ticket before.  I was hoping this time I could because in these tough economic times, I certainly have better things to spend my hard earned money on.  At the very least, I hoped the Mayor’s Court would consider amending the ticket to a no points or non-moving violation so that my car insurance rates won’t go up.

However, what the cop who gave me the ticket, failed to tell me is that he was making a note that I was uncooperative or something and that he personally recommended to the Reynoldsburg Mayors Court to not give me any kind of break.

Of course I was upset about the ticket because I didn’t think I was going as fast as his radar thing said and I thought the speed limit was 35.  He never once mentioned that the speed limit was actually only 25 - which I didn’t realize until I saw it on the ticket.  So yes I was upset and I simply expressed my disagreement with him.  I never cussed at him, called him any names, yelled at him or anything like that.  As many know these days our government is doing all it can to suppress our freedom of speech.  Our government feels we don’t have the right to speak out against them.  They believe they are above us, even though we pay their salaries.  They don’t respect wee the people and don’t want to listen to us, but they expect us to respect them.

Anyway, since this cop made a note that he felt I was uncooperative or something, it was basically a waste of my time to even go to court.  Had I known this I probably wouldn’t have wasted my time, but this detail was hidden from me and didn’t surface until after I waited for over a hour and a half, in the Mayors court to talk to one of their prosecutors.  Talk about sneaky and deceptive.  Ironically, Reynoldsburg Calls their town “The City of Respect.”

I ended up speaking with the Reynoldsburg City Attorney, Jed Hood, who actually said with a straight face that he couldn’t understand why so many people speed on Graham Road.  When I heard him say this, it was all I could do to keep a straight face.  I told him it was ironic that the Reynoldsburg Police use the Church of Christ of Reynoldsburg parking lot to operate their speed trap because they are using the House of God to give people speeding tickets.  That should be a sin or something?

I mentioned to Jed Hood, the Reynoldsburg City Attorney, that I had a charity that I was planning to give money to this month and asked if I could get a break so that I could still give them money, because if I had to pay the $120 ticket - it would take away from what I have left to give to this charity.  He said he basically didn’t care because everyone else out there waiting to see a prosecutor has bills to pay too and that is not a good enough reason to give anyone a break.  I hadn’t had a ticket in over 5 years and that wasn’t a good enough reason to get a break either.  So my summation is that Reynoldsburg is hurting for money so much, that the revenue they generate from things like speeding tickets is more important to them than encouraging charitable giving.

If you’re looking for a great deal on Lewis Center Ohio real estate you won’t want to miss this better than new MI home for sale, in the excellent rated Olentangy Schools district.

1030 Sapphire Flame Court, Delaware, Ohio 43015, is a single family home located in the Olentangy Schools District nearby Lewis Center Ohio and the Polaris Mall area.  This home is listed for sale at $229,900, way under what the sellers paid.

This better than new MI Bromley multi level home is located on a cul-de-sac lot and features a charming front porch, which is the ideal place to hang out with the friendly neighbors while watching the kids play on the court.

You’ll enjoy the spacious and open layout offering a large customized loft with wood spindles overlooking the 2 story great room which makes a perfect office space or kids play area.  Plus you will enjoy staying warm and cozy in the family room by the fireplace.  In addition this home features many desirable upgrades including:

• 42 inch bisque white cabinets
• Beautiful hardwood floors
• Neutral ceramic tile floors
• Neutral frieze carpet
• Bisque white woodwork and doors
• Nickel finish lighting and hardware throughout
• Professional landscaping
• Large patio with gas line to make grilling out easier
• Full basement
• 1st floor laundry
• Upgraded black appliances

Cheshire Crossing Kids Go to Olentangy Schools

1030 Sapphire Flame Court is located in the Cheshire Crossing single family homes development and children attend the following Olentangy Schools for the 2009-2010 school year:

Liberty Tree Elementary

Olentangy Hyatts Middle School

Olentangy High School

The newly constructed neighborhood, Cheshire Elementary School will be completed soon and Olentangy Schools elementary students in the Cheshire Crossing area, will attend there in the 2010-2011 school year.

For more details visit the full real estate listing details:  1030 Sapphire Flame Court, Delaware, Ohio 43015 (Lewis Center Ohio Home For Sale in Olentangy Schools with Superb Upgrades)

Feel free to CONTACT Petra Hinterschied, Remax Columbus Ohio Realtor® at 614-746-2115, for more details.

RASCAL UNIT - AFFORDABLE COLUMBUS OHIO VETERINARIAN

If you have a puppy and are looking for affordable veterinarian services in the Columbus Ohio area, you’ll want to take advantage of this extremely low price to spay your puppy.

Rascal Unit Spay Day 2010 - Spotlight: Puppies

On February 23, 2010 (National Spay Day) Rascal Charities and Rascal Unit will celebrate by sterilizing 50-60 puppies. We want to educate pet owners about the benefits of early sterilization and the importance of wellness care and training.  There are still some surgery appointments available for this event. If you have a puppy or know of someone that has a puppy, have them contact us for more information.

We will be scheduling puppies between 3 and 6 months of age. For a cost of $25 per puppy, we will offer:
- Sterilization surgery
- Deworming and heartworm prevention (Interceptor puppy pack)
- 24 Pet Watch Microchip (includes registration)
- Flea treatment if fleas are noted
- Information on training

Pet owners scheduling at the Rascal Unit office must show proof of financial need (see items 2 & 3 on our guidelines page at http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=309645845&u=3454050). To check availability, contact us at event@rascalunit.com.

Our sponsors for this event are the Franklin County Dog Shelter, Pets Without Parents, and the Powell Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). More information about this event and links to our sponsors are available at our website http://ent.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=309645845&u=3454051.

Thank you for your continued support. Together we can do our part to fight pet overpopulation in Ohio.

We have used Rascal Unit to have our dog spayed and for routine preventative veterinary care and have found them to be the most affordable veterinary services in Columbus Ohio.   They are providing a great service for pet owners in the Columbus Ohio area, with much needed savings in these economic times.

Rascal Unit Spay Day 2010 Was A Success

The Rascal Unit and Rascal Charities Sterilized 49 Puppies During Spay Day! On February 23, 2010 both Rascal Unit trucks were full of young dogs presented for surgery. In celebration of National Spay Day, we sterilized 49 puppies at a cost to the owner of $25. The puppies also received an update on vaccines, a dose of heart worm preventive, and a microchip. Our goal was to help spread the word about the importance of early sterilization and proper puppy care.

I’m sharing the RE/MAX article below, because it applies to the Columbus Ohio real estate market.  While there are many distressed properties for sale in the Columbus Ohio area, banks slow response to offers on short sale homes is making it difficult to close these properties within the normal 30-60 day time frame.  I have seen many Central Ohio short sale properties take more than 6 months to close.

I have helped several buyers purchase short sale properties, many get frustrated at the lengthy process and tire of waiting on the bank to respond to their offer.  I just recently sold a home in Worthington Ohio as a short sale through Suntrust Bank and it took over a year to finally get it closed.  I had 4 different buyers make offers on the home and most got tired of waiting on the bank to respond.  Finally by the time I got the 4th offer, the bank had ordered the BPO (broker price opinion) and it still took about 30 days for them to approve this offer and another 30 days to get it closed.   That is simply too long.

Some home buyers don’t want to look at short sale properties because they are afraid they won’t be able to close in time, to take advantage of the home buyer tax credit.  Due to the current market conditions, many home buyers are looking for a bargain and distressed properties can often attract multiple offers.  However, that does no good if banks won’t respond in a timely manner.  Helping home owners avoid foreclosure by selling their home through the short sale process benefits everyone involved, the seller, the bank and the buyer. So banks should really make processing short sales a smoother and quicker process.

More expensive for banks to foreclose than to work out a short sale

Banks incur a lot more maintenance expenses and legal costs when they foreclose on a home rather than working out a short sale.  Typically less damage occurs to a property when a seller voluntarily sells it through a short sale, which means the bank may get more for the home and the buyer will feel more comfortable buying the home.  When a home goes through the foreclosure process, they often sit empty for an extended time without utilities working.  Homes that sit empty without utilities during the winter months often have plumbing pipes that burst causing extensive water damage to a home.  Homes sitting empty during the summer without proper cooling or ventilation can quickly develop mold.  Without electric, basement sump pumps don’t work which often causes water backup and mold issues in basements.

Banks should be especially motivated to process short sales as quickly as possible because it is in their best interests to get the most money out of a home.  So I just don’t understand why they remain so slow at dealing with these distressed sales.  I wish banks would start taking short sales more seriously.  Hopefully real estate professionals and  industry advocates like RE/MAX  who help to educate the public, banks and politicians will eventually make a difference.

RE/MAX Urges Lenders to Release Properties

Record Foreclosure Numbers Need to Be Tackled Head On

(Denver, CO, February 10, 2010) - Dave Liniger, RE/MAX International Chairman and Co-Founder, urged government and economic leaders to push lenders to release foreclosures to help speed the housing recovery. Liniger made his comments as a featured speaker at the Five Star Government Forum in Washington D.C. The Forum brought government and industry leaders together to share ideas for building stability in the nation’s housing market.

“Most of us feel that there is a tsunami of properties out there. I can assure you in the hardest hit areas of the country, there are bidding wars going on,” said Liniger, the only speaker representing a real estate company. ”So, for those lenders who are here listening, now is the time to release properties, because you’ve got the Homebuyer Tax Credit that’s driving buyers into the market, and a limited window of opportunity to get these properties sold before the credit expires this year.”

Liniger explained that in some markets experiencing high foreclosure rates, homes in price ranges that qualify for FHA financing are attracting a lot of attention. In these areas, there are multiple offers from investors and first-time buyers, which indicates there’s a real shortage of available homes.

The Five Star Forum focused on the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), and the challenges facing mortgage lenders in modifying loans under the program. It brought this group of influential leaders together to begin the hard conversation on how better to keep more Americans from losing their homes.

Over the past year, RE/MAX International has led the way on the housing recovery.  Liniger and other RE/MAX representatives met with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, as well as officials with FHA, Fannie Mae, the Treasury Department, and the Homeowner Preservation Office. RE/MAX offered recommendations for streamlining the Short Sale process, some of which the Treasury Department adopted when it announced a new process last November.

In 2009, RE/MAX trained more than 10,000 agents to handle Short Sales. More RE/MAX agents have earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation than agents with any other real estate company. Surveys show that after earning a CDPE designation, agents are twice as likely to be able to keep families in their homes. And, if the best route is a Short Sale, CDPE agents are much more successful at completing the transaction.

“In our industry, we talk about distressed properties, but we’re dealing with distressed sellers, distressed human beings,” said Liniger. “They’re humiliated by their situation, and that’s why 70% of them never pick up the phone to help themselves when they’re faced with a foreclosure. That’s where Short Sales come in. They provide a better way for both the homeowner and the lender.”

While some cities and markets are experiencing a recovery, as both home sales and prices rise, others are not faring as well. Overall, the real estate industry is in a correction, according to Liniger, who sees distressed properties making up the majority of sales for the next three to five years.  And, after that, another housing boom may be on the horizon.

“Once this correction is over, we have a whole new generation of homebuyers waiting to get into the market.  But we have to get through this first, and the best way to do that is to take it head on.”

© 2010 RE/MAX International, Inc. RE/MAX Affiliates may share this article, provided they do not charge for it and this notice is included. All other rights reserved.

This extreme winter weather has put me in the mood for soup.  I have made so many wonderful soup recipes this winter, but this one has got to be my favorite.  It’s so easy and simple, yet so tasty.   We have a teenage exchange student from Germany staying with us for the school year and he has quite the appetite.  If you have some big eaters in your home, you may want to double this recipe.

Creamy White Chicken Chili

1 lb. chicken breast, cut into cubes

1 medium onion, chopped

1 ½ tsp garlic powder

1 Tbsp oil

2 cans (15 oz) great northern beans, rinsed & drained

1 can (14 oz) chicken broth

2 cans (4 oz) green chilies

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp dried oregano

½ tsp pepper

1 tsp chili powder

1 cup whipping cream

In a large saucepan, sauté chicken, onion and garlic powder in oil until chicken is no longer pink.  Add the beans, broth, chilies, and seasonings.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 30 minutes.  Remove from heat; stir in whipping cream.  Serve immediately.

Thanks to my friend Lori for another wonderful recipe!

$100 OHIO FHA HUD Down Payment Program Discontinued

Effective February 12, 2010, any Central Ohio HUD properties listed and or sold with FHA financing are no longer eligible for the $100 down payment incentive.

Also, the sales allowance bonus of $2500 for owner occupant buyers will be discontinued effective February 12, 2010, for all new contracts accepted on or after this date.

HUD will still pay buyer’s closing costs

When buying a HUD home in the Columbus Ohio area, you can still request HUD to pay up to a 3% contribution toward your closing costs.  However, the amount you ask HUD to pay for your closing costs will be factored into your bottom line bid price.  For example if you bid 100,000 on a HUD home and ask for $3,000 in closing costs, HUD will consider your bid to be $97,000.

Many bargain distress sales in the Columbus Ohio area

If you’re looking for a bargain, keep in mind that HUD foreclosure properties are not the only distressed properties for sale in the Columbus Ohio area.  There are many other “distressed” properties such as bank owned foreclosures and short sales including homes and condos for sale throughout Central Ohio. You have to know what to look out for though, because not all foreclosures are a good deal.

Foreclosures Need Work

Most foreclosure homes need a minimum of a good cleaning, paint, carpet and flooring updates.  However, some need so much work that they may not be a good deal by the time you are done making all the repairs, on top of the cosmetic fix ups.  Often there are hidden defects that not even your home inspector will be able to detect and are not discovered until after you live in the home.   So it’s wise to budget for additional repairs beyond what can be seen.

HUD will allow you to finance repairs of less than $5000 when getting an FHA mortgage.   FHA 203k rehab loans offer an alternative for other homes that need more than $5,000 in work and allows you to finance money for repairs into your mortgage.  Keep in mind that FHA 203k loans often have slightly higher interest rates and closing costs than traditional FHA mortgage loans.  I can recommend a local Columbus Ohio mortgage banker who offers FHA 203k loans, if you would like more details on this loan option.

Non-foreclosure homes can be a good deal too

Due to the nature of the current buyer’s market in Central Ohio, I have found many sellers are motivated to sell and there are opportunities to get a good deal on a non-foreclosure home or condo as well.  I’ve seen many sellers list their homes for less than they paid when they bought the home.  Your home buyer’s agent should help you evaluate the property value depending on the home’s condition and current market factors, enabling you to make a wise decision on any home you buy.

Rely on an experienced Columbus Ohio Realtor® and Accredited Buyer Representative

As an experienced Columbus Ohio REALTOR® and Accredited Buyer Representative, I’d be happy to help you find a good deal on your ideal home anywhere in Central Ohio.  Best of all my services are FREE to you.  You pay nothing to have a buyer’s agent represent your best interests when buying a home in Central Ohio.

To learn more about buying a home anywhere in the Columbus Ohio area visit:

ColumbusCastles.com/Buyers or CONTACT PETRA at 614-895-0496 to get started or complete our FREE HOME FINDER SERVICE REQUEST to receive daily email updates of new Columbus Ohio real estate listings in the Central Ohio area.