Columbus Ohio is number six on a list of America’s Best Housing Cities put together by Forbes Magazine.  The criteria for a good housing market includes appreciating prices, affordability, and a low number of foreclosures.  Columbus and its surrounding areas may not have home prices on the rise, but they appear to have stabilized and are no longer heading south.

Aspects of Columbus, Ohio that have placed it on the list are the jobs available in its suburbs and the high percentage of middle class families that can afford to buy a home there.  Over 85% of middle class families can afford to buy a home in Columbus and its surrounding suburbs. 

Interested in relocating to Central Ohio?  Contact the brokers at The Raines Group today for an in-depth look at Central Ohio real estate and all that the area has to offer.

Click here for a look at America’s Best Housing Markets.

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.

Columbus Ohio real estate is going against the grain.  Dismal real estate news made headlines across the United States as data shows a decline in sales for the month in January.  In Columbus, Ohio, however, real estate sales volume and prices increased.

Central Ohio real estate is on steadier ground.  The extended and expanded First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, historically low mortgage rates, and low home values are combining to create an ideal buyers market in Central Ohio.

Central Ohio real estate should continue to remain stable.  The government is planning to keep mortgage rates low until the overall economy is on stable ground, which is intended to fuel a recovery led by real estate.  For more information on Central Ohio real estate contact the brokers at The Raines Group today.

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.

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.

REO real estate in Central Ohio is not always a bargain

If you are interested in purchasing REO property in Central Ohio be wary.  An REO property is a bank owned property and can often appear to be quite a bargain on the surface.  However, while an REO property may have an amazing price per square foot compared with other homes in a neighborhood, the reality is that the home may not be in the best condition.  Bank owned properties are sold “as is” and perhaps not what a buyer bargains on. Many times, buyers end up paying more to rectify problems that arise from long-term lack of care.

If you are interested in purchasing Central Ohio real estate, choosing a qualified Realtor is a good first step.  Whether a property is bank-owned, listed for sale, or a possible short sale a qualified broker will have a strong knowledge of the market.  A Central Ohio bargain may look good on paper but the reality could be completely different.

Click here to read a recent article about buying vacant REO property.

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.

It is a buyer's market when it comes to Central Ohio real estate

The time is ripe for buyers when it comes to Central Ohio real estate.  Mortgage rates have remained low, ending last week at just under 5% for 30 year fixed rate mortgages.  Additionally, home prices remain low and inventories are still high, which leaves the Central Ohio real estate buyer in the driver’s seat.

There are a few important things to keep in mind if you are looking at buying real estate in Central Ohio.  Research the area’s amenities, including the proximity to schools, shopping, recreation, etc.  When you decide on a neighborhood, take a good look at what is available.  Which streets in the neighborhood retain property values better?  It is important to choose a home that will give you the best return in the long run.

Choosing the right Realtor can make all the difference.  An experienced Realtor, like those at The Raines Group, will know the Central Ohio neighborhood you are interested in and they will balance your needs with the appropriate listings.  They will do the homework for you!

It is a great time to buy Central Ohio real estate.  Low mortgage rates, tax credits and low home prices signal that it is time to get out there and look.

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.

Central Ohio is full of wonderful communities, and Bexley recently ranked high in a statistical survey, partially due to their excellent education system. The publication titled “America’s Top-Rated Small Towns & Cities” rated Bexley as a five star town, an honor for this Central Ohio community.  331 towns in Ohio were examined and only 40 received 5 stars.

Bexley’s education system and the fact that most of its residents are college educated make it a desirable community to live in.  New Albany is another community in Central Ohio which received a five star rating.

To learn more about the report and the rating of Bexley Ohio click here to read a recent article in Columbus Local News.

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.

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.

Depending on the situation, getting your home ready to sell can be exciting, arduous, or a combination of the two. Sellers can be anxious to list their home, not realizing that if they take the time to prepare the home properly, the property has a better chance of making a great impression. There’s usually a lot of buzz around a new listing in the first couple weeks, so to maximize on that time, make sure your home is ready to make the kind of impression you desire.

Photos are the primary way potential buyers will first view your home. To pique their interest in a positive way, prepare your home for photos and request to list your home after the photos are ready. A few tips to prepare your home include:

     1. Reduce clutter so it doesn’t distract from the space. 
     2. Neutralize your style so others can more easily “see” themselves in the home. This includes removing personal photos as much as possible.
     3. Remove any excess furniture. Too much furniture makes rooms appear smaller.
     4. Repaint rooms to neutral colors, if possible. It may seem drastic, but neutral colors attract a broader range of buyers.
     5. Limit wall hangings and posters, and remove any that may be offensive.

While it may take a few days or even weeks to accomplish these tips, it is worth the wait.

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.

Central Ohio real estate sales volume was up 11% in December

Central Ohio real estate sales bucked the national trend and were up 11% in December!  This news is particularly exciting as news broke that real estate sales dropped 17% nationwide, the biggest drop in 40 years.  There is room to celebrate in Central Ohio as the news there contradicts what is happening elsewhere.

The extended and expanded first time home buyer tax credit is seen as a big player in the increase in sales.  People interested in using the credit need to be under contract by April 30 and closed by June 30.  Central Ohio homes are priced to sell, and combined with low mortgage rates the climate is ripe for buyers.

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.

Using the extended and amended tax credit to purchase Central Ohio real estate can save you some money, but you only have until April 30 to choose your new home

Everyone knows that time flies and if you have been considering using the expanded and extended first time home buyer tax credit toward purchasing Central Ohio real estate, time is running out.  The tax credit is for first time home buyers and home owners who have resided in their primary residence for at least 5 out of the past 8 years.

Current home owners can get up to a $6,500 tax credit and new home buyers can get a credit of up to $8,000.  If you are going to purchase Central Ohio real estate and use the credit, then your new home must be under contract by April 30 and closed by June 30.

If Central Ohio real estate is on your mind for 2010, then now is a great time to start looking.

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.