Blacklick, Ohio real estate is looking good – especially when compared with 2009 Blacklick real estate statistics.  According to Trulia.com, a real estate information company, the three week time period from April 7 through April 28 showed increases across the board.  Blacklick Ohio home sales were up over 45% compared with the same three week period from 2009 and the price per square foot was up a small amount too, just over 1%.

While recovery is slated to be slow, the news is positive after a long period of negative data and depressing figures.  It is a great time to get out and look at real estate in Blacklick.  Mortgage rates are still low and it is a buyer’s market out there.

Give us a call today to have access to all homes currently on the market in Blacklick.

If you are looking to buy or sell a property in New Albany, Gahanna, Blacklick, Westerville, or another Central Ohio community, please contact The Raines Group. We offer professional real estate advice and are happy to help you achieve your real estate goals. Please contact us today via our online contact form or by calling The Raines Group at 614-418-7417.

One woman in Blacklick Ohio is making it her mission to give children bikes for Christmas

A woman in Blacklick, Ohio known as “The Bike Lady” has a goal of getting bikes to children in need.  To make her goal even better she wants children in Blacklick and the surrounding areas to wake up on Christmas morning with a brand new bike underneath the tree.  “The Bike Lady” represents the best of what Blacklick represents, a Central Ohio community with a heart.

In 2008 “The Bike Lady” was able to collect enough money to provide bikes and helmets to 125 children in Franklin County.  During the Christmas season stories of people like “the Bike Lady” in Blacklick Ohio warm the heart and ease people in to the spirit of giving. 

For more information on “The Bike Lady” in Blacklick Ohio click here.

The Raines Group is excited to welcome Coach Bob Fitzgerald to their office this week. Bob is a well-known former Top Producer, speaker for Mike Ferry, and Founder of Fitzgerald Real Estate Coaching, Inc. CEO of The Raines Group, Sandy Raines, firmly believes in offering coaching for her team members so they can become the best realtors possible. Bringing Bob Fitzgerald to her team is just another example of how strong The Raines Group is, and why they are the #1 real estate team in Ohio (according to The Wall Street Journal and LORE magazine).

Members of The Raines Group are skilled individuals, ready to help you with your real estate needs. Located in New Albany, The Raines Group serves the Central Ohio area and is a division of Real Living HER, recently named the “Best Residential Real Estate Agency” in the November issue of Columbus C.E.O. magazine’s “Best of Business 2009″ section.

If you are interested in using the services of a realtors who are experienced and passionate, please contact The Raines Group today at 614-418-7417.

Ron Cadieux - Here to Help

The Raines Group is well-known for their knowledge of and ability to sell luxury homes in Central Ohio. Being ranked #1 in the state of Ohio by The Wall Street Journal and LORE magazine is a distinction they enjoy having. Recently, one of the team members, Ron Cadieux, has branched out to another area by becoming a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE). He is offering his services to homeowners who may need them.

Through extensive training, Ron has gained a wealth of knowledge for homeowners facing complex real estate situations, and can illustrate options for foreclosure avoidance. Financial difficulties can be burdensome to any family, but the process of foreclosure can be avoided. It is imperative for homeowners to understand their options, and Ron is available to help determine the best course of action.

Please contact Ron Cadieux if you are interested in using expertise of a professional to avoid foreclosure.  Contact us today via our online contact form or by calling The Raines Group at 614-418-7417.

Visiting the Schrock Road area of Westerville might surprise some people, the signs of a bad economy are not quite there.  Instead Businesses are receiving facelifts and a few new businesses are even opening their doors.  Most notable in the facelift department is Westerville Plaza where Kroger has been undergoing major changes, both inside and out.  Just nearby a new restaurant is getting ready to open, City BBQ.  According to a recent article at SNPonline.com, “the new City BBQ restaurant is nearing completion. City BBQ President and Cofounder Rick Malir said finishing touches are being done on the building’s interior and inspections are pending.”  The restaurant is located on Westerville Square at 600 South State Street.  A new photography studio is also opening because the photographer, Jeanne Arkfeld, is so busy she needs the space.  Westerville is hanging in in tough times and is a good example that the grass is greener in some areas.

If you are interested in looking at real estate in Westerville or any Central Ohio Real Estate, contact the Raines Group today.  The Raines Group has access to all available listings in Columbus and the surrounding areas and are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to real estate in Central Ohio.

If you are looking to buy or sell a property in New Albany, Gahanna, Blacklick, Westerville, or another Central Ohio community, please contact The Raines Group. We offer professional real estate advice and are happy to help you achieve your real estate goals. Please contact us today via our online contact form or by calling The Raines Group at 614-418-7417.

Blacklick Creek

The Ohio EPA has diagnosed part of Blacklick Creek as “sick”.  The part of the creek that has been designated “sick” runs through New Albany and Plain Township.  The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) is taking over and making sure that it does what is necessary to make the stream healthy again.  Many things have impacts on waterways, development often leads to erosion, and contamination by pesticides and sewage leaks through the earth.  According to a recent article in ThisWeek, “the area around New Albany and Plain Township has been deemed “poor” by the Ohio EPA in part because of septic-system bacteria that leaches into the ground, chemical and agricultural runoff and building practices that disrupt soil and cause stream bed erosion.”  MORPC plans to improve the quality of Blacklick Creek, making it a place for fish and plant life to thrive and for people to enjoy.

If you are looking to buy or sell a property in New Albany, Gahanna, Blacklick, Westerville, or another Central Ohio community, please contact The Raines Group. We offer professional real estate advice and are happy to help you achieve your real estate goals. Please contact us today via our online contact form or by calling The Raines Group at 614-418-7417.

5108 Harlem Road, Galena Ohio

Stunning indoor and outdoor living spaces make 5108 Harlem Road in Galena Ohio an irresistible property.  The home was custom designed and built by Troy Miller of Alexandra Custom Homes, the close attention to detail being obvious throughout the house.  The 6 bedroom, 4 1/2 bath home is spread out over 5,700 square feet, with an additional 1,700 square feet in the finished lower level. Amazing features of this home include 5 fireplaces, 2 laundry rooms, 2 full kitchens, a full-house stereo system, and lustrous Cherry cabinetry throughout.

• Rooms on the main level include: a two level entry, a formal dining room, a formal living room, a hearth room, a gourmet kitchen, an office/den, a casual dining area, a family room, a powder room and a laundry room.

• Rooms on the upper level include: an owner’s suite (includes a sitting room, wet bar, and private bathroom), a large bonus room and a laundry room.

• Rooms on the finished lower level include: a full kitchen, a home theater, a recreation/billiards room, a guest suite and a large storage room.

Fabulous landscaping tops off this wonderful Galena home.  For 24-hour recorded information, call 1-800-498-1480 and enter code 1020.

Call the Raines Group today, (614) 418-7417, to look at this home or any other home in the New Albany Ohio area.  Central Ohio real estate is ripe for the picking these days.  Take advantage of a buyer’s market and look at what is available in Galena and nearby areas.

Mortgage rates have been on the decline for the past few months and last week was no exception.  Last week long term mortgage rates were an average of 4.8% for a 30 year fixed rate last week and 4.48% for a 15 year fixed rate.  Surprisingly the long term mortgage rates are lower than short term, the 5 year arm interest rate is currently averaging 4.85.  Short term mortgage rates and adjustable rate mortgages have been consistently lower than long term rates for years. In a recent Realty Times article Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist Frank Nothaft was quoted as saying, “although long-term mortgage rates eased slightly this week, ARM rates remain elevated relative to those fixed-rate mortgages.  For instance, interest rates for 1-year ARMs exceeded those for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages over the last two weeks; this is the first time this has happened since Freddie Mac began collecting data for ARMs in January 1984.”  These are historic times and the housing market continues to get aggressive in order to improve itself.  Signs of improvement are indeed occurring.  The same Realty Times article continues to quote Nothaft, “The housing market is showing further signs of possible improvement. House prices rose for the second consecutive month in February, the first back-to-back increase since April 2007, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Among the nine Census divisions, six experienced positive gains in February, led by a monthly increase of 3.8 percent in the Pacific Division.”  The decrease in mortgage rates appears to be functioning the way it is meant to, enticing real estate buyers off of the sidelines.

If you are looking to buy or sell a property in New Albany, Gahanna, Blacklick, Westerville, or another Central Ohio community, please contact The Raines Group. We offer professional real estate advice and are happy to help you achieve your real estate goals. Please contact us today via our online contact form or by calling The Raines Group at 614-418-7417.

7445 Cummins Court, New Albany Ohio

Have you been looking in New Albany Ohio for a million dollar home without the million dollar price tag?    Look no further.  This is a bank owned property, take a look and make an offer.  7445 Cummins Court, located in The Crescent in New Albany Ohio is not to be overlooked.  This 4 bedroom, 4 full bathroom and 2 half bathroom home is complete with an interior elevator, formal dining room, gourmet kitchen, a spacious great room and a 3 car garage.  The master suite is located on the first floor, offering a comfortable and private bedroom with a walk-in closet, spa-like bathroom, fireplace and access to the screened porch and deck.  Two bedrooms suites are on the second floor.  The finished lower level includes a bedroom with a full bath, a powder room, wet bar and an authentic movie theater with stadium seating for nine, a 100-inch projection screen, and velvet curtains with tasseled rope tiebacks.  The exterior of the home offers spectacular landscape with koi ponds and a built-in irrigation system.  Call the Raines Group today, (614) 418-7417, to look at this home or any other home in the New Albany Ohio area.

For 24-hour recorded information on this home, call 1-800-498-1480 and enter code 2170.

If you are looking to buy or sell a property in New Albany, Gahanna, Blacklick, Westerville, or another Central Ohio community, please contact The Raines Group. We offer professional real estate advice and are happy to help you achieve your real estate goals. Please contact us today via our online contact form or by calling The Raines Group at 614-418-7417.

1641 Oxbow Drive in Blacklick Ohio

1641 Oxbow Drive in Blacklick Ohio is a 7,70 square foot home located on a one acre parcel on the wooded fairway of the Jefferson Golf and Community Club.  French Villa inspired this home has attention to detail and features that only the most discriminating buyer will appreciate.  Golf course views are available from the majority of the home’s windows.  A gourmet kitchen complete with a large center island, two pantries and professional appliances make entertaining a dream.  The first floor owner’s suite offers everything one would want in a master bedroom and more.  It has its own private courtyard, large walk-in closet and magnificent bathroom.  1641 Oxbow Drive has fantastic entertaining and living spaces indoors and out.  With a total of 6 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms and 4 half bathrooms this Blacklick home is a must-see.

For 24-hour recorded information on this Blacklick home, call 1-800-498-1480 and enter code 2770.

If you are looking to buy or sell a property in New Albany, Gahanna, Blacklick, Westerville, or another Central Ohio community, please contact The Raines Group. We offer professional real estate advice and are happy to help you achieve your real estate goals. Please contact us today via our online contact form or by calling The Raines Group at 614-418-7417.