Columbus Ohio truly is a great place to live!  Columbus has the best real estate market in Ohio and also one of the best job markets around too.  I suppose they both go hand in hand. Columbus real estate offers something for everyone, no matter what your price range.

Columbus Ohio Real Estate Market

You can find homes and condos starting around $50,000 to well over a million dollars built anywhere from the late 1800’s to the present.  Quaint historic neighborhoods with some older mission, tudor and victorian style homes built in the early 1900’s can be found in one of my favorite areas, Clintonville as well as in the Short North, Victorian Village, German Village, Old Town East and Bexley.  You can find newer homes and new home construction in most Central Ohio suburbs and in some areas of Columbus like the popular Easton Town Center area in Northeast Columbus.

Modern upscale condos and lofts can be found, in the Short North and Downtown Columbus. Waterfront properties can be found overlooking the Scioto River in Downtown Columbus, Grandview and Upper Arlington areas, on the Ohio River in Powell and northeast in Westerville there are waterfront homes on the Hoover Resevoir.

Homes on golf course lots and communities abound in just about every area of Columbus and the suburbs with some of the most popular golf course communities being Muirfield in Dublin, Wedgewood in Powell, Highland Lakes Golf Course and Medallion in Westerville, Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City, Columbus Country Club in East Columbus, Heritage Golf Club and  Ballantrae in Hilliard, the Safari Golf Course by the Columbus Zoo and so many others.

The most affordable housing can be found in the city of Columbus and many of the Central Ohio suburbs including: Blacklick, Canal Winchester, Grove City, Groveport, Obetz, Reynoldsburg and few in Gahanna, Hilliard or Westerville.  The higher priced suburbs of Columbus include Hilliard, Dublin, Worthington, Powell, Lewis Center, Westerville, Gahanna and New Albany.

To learn more about Columbus and Central Ohio real estate, schools and community information visit:  ColumbusCastles.com/areainfo

Columbus Ohio Economy and Job Market

In August 2009, US News & World Report ranked Columbus, the Capital of Ohio, one of America’s best places to find a job in 2009. According to Bill LaFayette, Vice President of Economic Analysis for the Columbus Ohio Chamber of Commerce, when comparing  Columbus’s data to national averages, he says Columbus is doing a lot better than average.

Ohio State Capital Building

One thing that helps our economy in Central Ohio is that Columbus, is not only in the middle of Ohio, but also pretty much central to most of the country.  Due to Ohio’s central location, we have a strong transportation and distribution industry, which has grown by a third since 2001.

Central Ohio’s diverse economy also contributes to making our job market resilient.  Health care, hospitality, manufacturing and even the tech industry provide a variety of jobs.   Some of Columbus’s major employers include Ohio State University, Ohio Health, Cardinal Health, Ross Labs, Nationwide Insurance, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Bob Evans, Grange Insurance, Farmers Insurance, Safe Auto Insurance, Riverside Hospital, Ohio State University Hospitals, Verizon, Limited Brands and others. In addition, the City of Columbus, State of Ohio and the US Federal government provide thousands of jobs in Columbus Ohio. LaFayette explains that employment in information technology occupations is significantly higher than in comparably sized regions because “so many of our sectors are voracious consumers of data” and need top-notch IT infrastructure.

I’ve helped a lot of people relocating to Columbus, buy a home in Central Ohio.  While I’m not seeing as many people move to Columbus as I did a few years ago, I do still frequently get calls from buyers looking to move to Columbus Ohio and buy a home here.  I’ve even received inquiries from buyers who plan to move to Columbus, once they find a job.  In the mean time, I can email new real estate listing updates, in their price range, from the Columbus MLS (multiple listing service).  Most buyers find this FREE service a very helpful way to get educated about the Columbus Ohio real estate market and what they can get in their price range.

I also offer an extensive relocation package that I mail out to clients once they are planning to move here.  If you’re planning to move to Columbus Ohio and would like my FREE relocation information package or would like to receive real estate listing updates by email, please either CONTACT ME at 614-895-0496 or complete the form on my Columbus Ohio Relocation Page to get started.  I greatly appreciate the opportunity to help make your move to Columbus Ohio successful.

Get ready Columbus Ohio -  it’s Ohio State Buckeye’s football season. This is the time Buckeye sports fans look forward to all year.  Anyone who lives in Columbus Ohio will tell you, the whole city becomes focused on the Buckeyes, with tales of elaborate tail gate parties and celebrations of all sorts taking place in homes, sports bars and restaurants all around Columbus.

Buckeyemania seems to capture the minds and spirit of not just Ohio State University students, but most everyone young and old alike in Columbus Ohio, on football game days.

I was out showing homes in the Gahanna yesterday and found some really great deals on Gahanna Ohio Real estate.  I have a client relocating to the Columbus Ohio area from Chicago suburbia and they are looking for a newer home with upscale finishes, on a larger lot.  I showed them homes in the Jefferson Township area, which is technically Blacklick Ohio 43004 -  but it’s in the Gahanna Schools District.

Jefferson Township in Blacklick Ohio is a very desirable area to live for many reasons:

• Highly rated Gahanna Schools
• Easton Town Center - shoppers paradise is within 10 minutes
• Port Columbus International Airport is about 15 minutes away
• Convenient freeway access to I-270 and I-670
• Jefferson Country Club offers golfing, swim, tennis and fitness facilities
• Prestigious Columbus Academy K-12 private school nearby

The Jefferson Township area in Blacklick Ohio, offers city conveniences in a country atmosphere.  Jefferson Township is located in Blacklick Ohio, on the Eastern edge of Franklin County in the Gahanna Schools District.  There are some beautiful upscale neighborhoods in Jefferson Township, that offer all the amenities of a typical suburb development, but with larger lots, in a more rural setting.  You’ll find a variety of homes and estates on acreage including horse and llama farms.

Some of the neighborhoods in the Jefferson Township area with Gahanna Schools, that I showed homes in today include:  Jefferson Meadows, Woods at Havens Run, Stepping Stone and the Village at Hannah Farms.

Jefferson Meadows is a beautiful golf course community with a variety of unique, custom built homes ranging in price from around $340,000 to over $1 Million.  You’ll even find some homes that look like mini castles!  New homes construction in Jefferson meadows started in the early 1990’s and is mostly complete,  but a few lots remain with some new homes currently being built.   The Villas at Jefferson Meadows offers newer and spacious upscale condos built around 2000, ranging in price from $250,000 to  around $400,000.   Jefferson Village is a gated community, within the Jefferson Meadows subdivision, offering upscale detached condos built around 2001 to the present with prices ranging from around $350,000 to over $400,000.

Stepping Stone is a very unique Equestrian community nestled in the rolling hillside of Jefferson Township.  This unique community features an equestrian Center to board your horse, miles of bridle paths winding through woods and beautiful heavily treed lots.  Stepping Stone offers a variety of custom built homes including some with French Country style architecture and finishes, walk out basements and waterfront lots. Homes range in price from around $450,000 to well over $500,000.   Homes in Stepping Stone started being built in the late 1990’s and while it is considered an established community, there are still some undeveloped lots available.

The Village at Hannah Farms is a beautiful extensively landscaped new home development in Gahanna Ohio.  Hannah Farms is situated among mature trees and a 31 acre park with up to 60 custom homes being built on larger lots.  Hannah Farms offers plenty of open space with two wetland reserve areas and a leisure path that connects to  Hannah Farms Park.  The Village at Hannah Farms was the site of the 2008 Columbus Ohio Parade of Homes, presented by the Central Ohio BIA (Builders Industry Association), with new home construction starting in 2008.

While the economy has definitely slowed down the rate of new homes being built in Hannah Farms, this community is still pretty well established.  There are still plenty of lots to build on, including some premium treed lots.  Being a Parade of Homes community, the prices really vary in the Village at Hannah Farms.  Homes currently available, range in price from around $400,000 to almost $600,000.  Talk about a great deal  . . . . there’s a home that was originally listed for $638,000 and just sold in January of 2009 for $515,000!  We saw new build inventory spec homes discounted by $70,000 - $80,000.  While this much of a discount isn’t the norm, there are plenty of new build spec or inventory homes offering deep discounts.  Builders are very motivated to sell their homes right now, so if you’re looking for a new build, this is a great time to take advantage of the bargain prices.

The Village at Hannah Farms is located within the Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools System.  The current assigned district schools are listed below:

High Point Elementary: 700 Venetian Way, Gahanna, OH            614-478-5545
Gahanna Middle School East: 730 Clotts Road, Gahanna, OH      614-478-5550
Gahanna Lincoln High School: 140 S. Hamilton Road, Gahanna, OH      614-478-5500

While Jefferson Township and Gahanna is a a very desirable area to live, there are less buyers looking to buy upscale homes in Central Ohio these days.  Consequently, prices have declined greatly.  One of my clients favorite homes was priced just under $500,000, but the sellers originally paid $673,000 in 2006.  That’s almost $200,000 in value lost.  There are several new build inventory homes discounted by more than $50,000.  While this much of a decline isn’t necessarily the norm - it just shows that there are definitely some really good deals to take advantage of right now.  It seems the newer built homes have been the hardest hit with declining values.

The Woods at Havens Run is a luxury new home community in Blacklick Ohio with Gahanna Schools, being developed by Romanelli and Hughes and Truberrry Group Custom Home Builders.  Both Romanelli and Hughes and Truberry Group Home Builders have been in the Columbus new home construction business for many years and have developed an excellent reputation for quality built homes.  Woods at Haven’s Run contains 28 large lots surrounded by nature and provides the perfect setting for single family homes.  Currently there are only a handful of homes built so there are still plenty of great lots to buid on, some backing to woods and mature trees.  We saw three new build inventory spec homes, including 2 model homes for sale, with prices ranging from around $550,000 to just under $600,000.  The builder seems to be very motivated to sell these homes and has aggressively reduced the prices down from $630,000.

As a Realtor® with Remax Connection Realtors in Gahanna, I have sold many homes and condos in the Gahanna area over the years.  So I am quite familiar with the Gahanna real estate market and prices homes are selling for in Gahanna and Blacklick.  My office is located in Olde Gahanna at 130 Mill Street, 43230.

If you are interested in buying or building a home or condo in the Gahanna area, please CONTACT PETRA at 614-895-0496 to get started.  As an Accredited Buyer’s Agent, I have the experience the represent your best interest and negotiate the best deal ALL AT NO COST TO YOU.

To learn more about Gahanna Real Estate, schools and community info visit:  ColumbusCastles.com/Gahanna Real Estate

Petra’s Columbus Ohio MLS Search Now Includes A FREE Foreclosures Search

Do you enjoy searching for Columbus Ohio real estate listings online?  Many of the buyers I work with enjoy using the Columbus Ohio MLS search on this website, to find real estate listings throughout Central Ohio.  I offer one of the best Columbus MLS ( multiple listing service) online searches in the Central Ohio area.

I have had many clients tell me  how user friendly my Columbus MLS search program is and they enjoy searching for listings using the wide variety of search criteria to choose from.  The current buyer’s market in Columbus Ohio, has many buyers interested in buying a HUD home, bank REO, bank owned homes and other foreclosure properties in the Columbus Ohio area.

Starting Wednesday, June 10, 2009,  my Columbus MLS search will now offer an option to search specifically for foreclosures.

The provider that I use for the Columbus MLS, to search for real estate listings on my website, will be updating my search on Wednesday June 10^th, to include foreclosure data and search options. The foreclosure data comes directly from the Columbus Board of Realtors MLS data feed.  As such, you will have access to the most current, accurate foreclosure data on foreclosure properties, in the Columbus Ohio real estate market and throughout Central Ohio.

You will notice A “Foreclosures” search tab will be added to my Columbus MLS search solution.  A “Show Foreclosures Only” option will also be added to the Property Types under the Active Listings tab.  The listing detail pages for foreclosure properties will be updated to include the label “Foreclosure” after Property Type within the Property Details section.

FORECLOSURE BUYERS BEWARE

There are other online services that charge for much less accurate information and I’m offering you the ability to search for Central Ohio foreclosures, using my Columbus MLS Search tools for FREE.  Some services offer you a free trial period and then charge you to continue using their search, YET they’re actually providing inferior information, with very limited details.

Many of the “foreclosure” specific websites don’t even provide up to date listing information.  They post data on any home that has had foreclosure paper work filed.  However, some of those homes never even come available for sale because the foreclosure is canceled or the owner may file bankruptcy, which can greatly delay the eventual foreclosure sale.  I’ve seen some homes take as long as 2 years to go through the whole foreclosure process before they’re actually available for sale.   Why waste your time searching on inferior foreclosure websites, when you can search listings coming directly from the official Columbus Ohio Realtor MLS (multiple listing service)?

I hope you enjoy using the Columbus MLS Search tools on my site, to search for real estate listings throughout Central Ohio.   While this MLS search is the best in Central Ohio, there’s no substitute for the experience I can provide, to make your search for the right home in the Columbus Ohio area easier for you.

SEARCH FOR COLUMBUS OHIO FORECLOSURES AND ALL CENTRAL OHIO REAL ESTATE LISTINGS NOW

Many of the home buyers I help, also enjoy receiving listing updates via email the same day they come on the market.  I can personally email new Columbus Ohio real estate listings that meet your specific criteria, the same day they come on the market.  Plus you’ll receive price reductions and be notified when a property, that meets your criteria, goes into contract.  While the online Columbus MLS search is handy and convenient, it does not contain all the available data and details, nor the market knowledge and experience, that I can personally provide for you.

I would love the opportunity to work as your personal Buyer’s Agent to help you find your ideal home in Central Ohio, negotiate the best price and look out for your best interests throughout the whole home buying, home inspection and closing process. BEST OF ALL YOU DON’T PAY ANYTHING FOR MY SERVICES AS YOUR BUYER’S AGENT.   I can make your home search much easier,  at NO COST TO YOU.  Don’t just take my word for it, SEE WHAT MANY OF MY PAST CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE -  Visit my Columbus Ohio Real Estate Success Stories.

Whether you are looking to buy your first home, last home, condo, investment property or relocating to Central Ohio, you can rely on my expertise to make your search for Columbus Ohio real estate easier.  Contact me at 614-895-0496 anytime from 8am-10pm EST or complete my Columbus Ohio Home Finder Service Form, to get started.

Petra Hinterschied, ABR
Accredited Buyer Representative
Experienced Columbus Ohio Realtor with over $46 Million in Real Estate Sales throughout Central Ohio

One of the first things people relocating to Columbus Ohio often ask me is what’s the weather like in the Columbus Ohio area? People relocating from warmer areas like Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Texas are especially curious about winter weather and snow in Columbus.

I’ve had others who relocate to Columbus Ohio from New York, Boston and Chicago areas who wonder how our weather throughout the year compares to theirs? So I’m sharing information from various sources, to give anyone relocating to Columbus Ohio an idea of what our weather is like, throughout the year.

Columbus Ohio Weather Offers 4 Seasons for Variety

One of the most wonderful features of our weather in Columbus Ohio, is the fact that we have four seasons. While Columbus Ohio winter weather is not normally extreme, since I’m not a cold weather person at all, I most enjoy three out of the four seasons in Central Ohio. Now of course I do enjoy a white Christmas, but other than that, I prefer Spring, Summer and Fall over winter in Columbus Ohio.  My son, Isaac, on the other hand enjoys sledding in the snow and creating various snow creatures, so he looks forward to snowy weather.  I’ll start with my favorite season - Spring.

Spring officially starts on March 20 in Central Ohio.

March weather in Columbus Ohio really varies depending on the year.  Some years winter tries to linger and it’s not unusual to have one final snow storm in March or even rarely in April, before spring can take hold permanently.  As the temperatures are warming up, any snow on the ground is typically gone in a day or two. The last freeze of the year is usually in Mid-April but Mother’s Day usually marks the start of the  planting season for annuals.

Spring is one of the most beautiful times of the year in Central Ohio because everything is so fresh and green from the spring rain.  It’s also my favorite time of the year because there is something so refreshing as you sense the warmth in the air that you know intends to stay for a while.  There’s a certain excitement in the garden in anticipation of seeing what perennials or spring bulbs magically pop out of the ground each day and then finally the tulips and daffodils come into full bloom.  Spring in Central Ohio is such a wonderful experience to savor.

Normal spring temperatures in the Columbus Ohio area
March:  Hi: 51º, Low: 32º, Average: 42º
April:    Hi: 63º, Low: 41º, Average: 52º
May:     Hi: 73º, Low: 52º, Average: 62º

While these are the so called “normal” temperatures, you’ll certainly see some days warmer or cooler than these. I’ve experienced much warmer temperatures, even in the 70’s for April.  The Hi is what you’d see during the day and the low is more night time, as things tend to cool down quite a bit once the sun disappears.  This applies to any season in Central Ohio.

Summer in Columbus Ohio officially starts on June 20

However, warmer weather typically arrives in May.  Swimming pools open Memorial Day weekend and close on Labor Day in September.  June and September offer the ideal weather to me, because it’s less humid and comfortable temperatures so you don’t really need air conditioning. The really hot, humid weather tends to be in July and August and that’s when Isaac and I head to Alum Creek Beach to cool off (Yes we have a beach in Central Ohio). While July and August can experience temperatures into the 90’s, the normal temperatures are supposed to be lower.

Normal summer temperatures in the Columbus Ohio area
June:      Hi: 82º, Low: 61º, Average: 71º
July:       HI: 85º, Low: 65º, Average 75º
August:  HI: 84º, Low: 64º, Average: 74º

Fall officially starts on September 22

Central Ohio’s fall colors typically peak in late October to early November.  The first freeze of the year is usually in Mid-October marking the end of local farmer’s markets.  Fall in Columbus Ohio is such a soothing, peaceful and comforting time of year.  The weather slowly starts cooling down as the beauty of the changing fall leaves explode with color.  The changing landscape offers an opportunity to slow down after the hustle and bustle of summer to reflect on the significance of life.

Of course, Ohio State Buckeye Fans look forward to Fall as the long awaited OSU football season kicks off.  GO BUCKS!!!  (PS - I’ve been trying to teach Buckeye, my African Grey Parrot, to say GO BUCKS, so far he’s loving the sound of hubba bubba Buckeye better.  Maybe someday he’ll get it.)

I’ve seen temperatures in the 70’s in October and 80’s in September, but here’s what the normal temperatures are supposed to be:

September:   Hi: 77º, Low: 56º, Average: 67º
October:       Hi: 66º, Low: 44º, Average: 55º
November:   Hi: 53º, Low: 35º, Average: 44º

Winter in Columbus Ohio officially starts on December 21

Who doesn’t enjoy the magical feeling of a white Christmas?  Yes we get snow in Columbus Ohio in the winter.  The funny thing is, it’s inconsistent enough that if we get more than say 4-6″ at a time, everything shuts down.  Schools are closed, the authorities issue a snow emergency and people forget they know how to drive.  Isaac just loves snow days . . . a chance to stay home and play in the snow all day with Berkeley, our Schnoodle and the neighbor kids.  Columbus is unlike Northern Ohio, where they get Lake effect snow throughout the winter - so they’re used to it.

Average annual snow fall in the Columbus Ohio area is around 28 inches.   Since our temperatures fluctuate a lot in the winter, when we get snow, it typically doesn’t stay on the ground too long.

Normal winter temperatures in the Columbus Ohio area
December:  Hi: 41º, Low: 26º, Average: 34º
January:      Hi: 36º, Low: 20º, Average: 28º
February:    Hi: 40º, Low: 23º, Average: 32º

Natural Disasters in Columbus Ohio

I’ve had several people move to Columbus Ohio from Florida because they are tired of the hurricanes and storms. So they often ask what natural disasters occur in Columbus Ohio?  I’ve lived in the Columbus Ohio area since 1969 and I cannot remember there being a tornado that has caused any damage.  There have been tornadoes in other parts of Ohio and from what I understand they tend to hit more rural areas rather than the city.

Minor flooding has occurred in few isolated areas, but it’s not really a problem all over Central Ohio.  Blizzards are not common, but we have had two that I can remember.  I can remember the Columbus Blizzard of January, 1978 when I was a kid as being the worst.  I guess there was several inches of snow that fell in Columbus Ohio within 24 hours, but it was the blinding winds and below zero temperatures combined that turned this snow storm into a blizzard.  There were lots of power outages and people were stranded in their homes without heat.  I remember the Ohio National Guard rescued our family from the freezing cold and took us to a local recreation center to stay warm for a few days until power could be restored.

Columbus Ohio had another minor blizzard in March of 2008, which didn’t cause major power outages and only caused roads to be closed for a day or two. The Blizzard of March 2008 consisted of a 15.4 inch record snow fall, in a 24 hour period, recorded at Port Columbus Airport and about 20.4 inches of snow piled up altogether.  However, since it was March, it quickly warmed up after the storm and melted the snow.  So this was nothing like the Blizzard of 1978.  Snow storms of this magnitude are quite rare in Columbus Ohio.

Relocating to Columbus Ohio?

If you’re planning to move to the Columbus Ohio area, please CONTACT Petra at 614-895-0496, to receive a custom Columbus Ohio Relocation information package filled with extensive Central Ohio community information, Columbus Ohio Map with suburbs of Central Ohio, CD community tour and more.  As an experienced Columbus Ohio REALTOR®, Petra can make relocating to Columbus Ohio easier!

*Weather statistics have been compiled from various sources like accuweather and NOAA, to give you an idea of what Columbus Ohio weather is like.  Keep in mind, I do not guarantee the accuracy of this information and mother nature has a mind of her own that no one can totally predict.  I have shared this information to help give you an idea of what it’s like to live in Columbus Ohio and what weather to expect throughout the year.