The Pending Home Sales Index is used by the National Association of Realtors to be indicator of market activity and a snapshot of the overall health of the national housing picture.

This last month saw a tremendous surge in activity with the index rising 7.4% amongst a wave of increase activity bringing the index to its highest level in over  a year! This comes after President Bush signed the $700 billion rescue package, the full effects of the Housing Stimulus bill are being felt as well as the nationalization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Buyers really have bargains out there, they have great mortgage deals as well as an economy on the turn around. Statistics show that house prices are predicted to grow 2-3% next year (2009) alone!

All the indicators are that 2009 brings stability in the economy and the housing markets which can start their normal trend upwards. So now may really be the best time to purchase a property for years!

If you are looking at purchasing a property in New Albany or the other central Ohio communities around the Metropolitan Columbus area then please contact The Raines Group for professional Real Estate advice. You can contact The Raines Group via their online contact form. You can visit their website on: www.therainesgroup.com where you can access a complimentary MLS Search facility

The financial bailout of Wall Street by Congress has been a hotly debated topic of late. However, how will the bailout effect the real estate market nationwide as well as in your area?

 The impact is going to be felt over the coming months as the treasury buys mortgage backed securities - currently at $10 billion allocated this month. This means that the mortgage market and of course, meaning the housing market is pumped up. Bringing this new money should prove to be a great opportunity to buy now before things really take off. Rates should remain relatively low and stable for qualified buyers.

The stability of being backed by the full credit and faith of the United States Government means that stability in the markets should be in the air and more people find themselves able to dip their toe in the real estate pond and start looking at homes again.

Hopefully the new measures enacted and the money from the bail out will stop the rollercoaster ride to foreclosure for some for at least a short time period.

Of course the nation is in this early recovery stage, locally however the economy is going great in Central Ohio and more businesses are relocating to the area.

If you are considering purchasing a home in Columbus, the suburbs or the surrounding metro area communities such as New Albany then please contact The Raines Group for professional real estate advice. You can visit their website on: www.therainesgroup.com where you can access a complimentary MLS Search facility

Home inspections are starting to become more common in real estate transactions these days, however before you even instruct a home inspector we give five key areas in which a keen eye could help avert disaster and save you thousands of dollars. Realty Times has come up with a great article by a home inspection to give you an insiders view:

1. Electrical System - whether an older or brand new home, mistakes can be made. Get this checked by a professional as this is definately something which could cause disaster if any issues are not corrected

2. Foundations - although some cracks in homes are normal, those caused by large trees planted next to a home (creating uneven floors for instance) could signify damaged foundations, this may also be noticable in windows which no longer line up or opencorrectly.

3. Plumbing - Again, another job for the professionals! If this is not configured correctly, again, whether an older or brand new home, this could cause a major headache down the line, not to mention a potential flood hazard.

4. Attic - Your attic is a great bell weather for the health of your home as it shows repairs, the condition of the structure of the roof, this can show the root of other problems. The beams are visable, the roofing can be checked as well as the insulation. Any bad repairs are easily noticable up here.

5.Landscaping - Always keep at least a 12 inch gap between landscaping and your property, not just for foundations, but also for mold and mildew growth. Make sure to adjust your sprinkler system accordingly

Definately some helpful tips for homeowners and home buyers!! Home inspections are a great way of having a professional inspect a home, prepare a report full of all of those issue which you may not notice as an untrained eye! Hiring a home inspector is an important decision - Talk to your Realtor as they have the experience to assist you with making a selection.

If you are considering purchasing a home in Columbus, the suburbs or the surrounding metro area communities such as New Albany then please contact The Raines Group for professional real estate advice. You can visit their website on: www.therainesgroup.com where you can access a complimentary MLS Search facility

Despite being a low crime area in New Albany and Central Ohio, homeowners of course should follow great common sense advice when it comes to protecting their home. The federal government states that one in every six homes will be targeted by burglars and more often than not it only takes them less than 60 seconds to gain entry to a home.

There are of course basic things which you need to keep in mind:

1. Lock all doors and windows and screens - check this daily whether you are in or out from your home. If you make this part of your routing you will be in great shape. Invest in extra locks of a good quality for added protection.

2. Install Curtains or Blinds to cover windows to stop burglars seeing in and install lights outside to make dark areas visable! Motion activated sensors work best!

3, Maintain your property - ensuring that your curb appeal remains constant will make your home less of a target to theives, showing that you are there often and take care of your property.

4. Install an Alarm System - make sure you connect it to the police in case of emergency.

5. When on vacation have someone check your mail and pick up the newspapers from the drive, nothing screams "im out" more than a heap of mail and a pile of yellowing newspapers. In the winter make sure that you have made preparations for the snow!

By following these simple steps and making some of the frequent tasks part of your routine you will help deter burglars and lower your risk. No method is perfect, but every little act helps protect your home.

If you are considering purchasing a home in Columbus, the suburbs or the surrounding metro area communities such as New Albany then please contact The Raines Group for professional real estate advice. You can visit their website on: www.therainesgroup.com where you can access a complimentary MLS Search facility

US Property is extremely attractive for buyers right now, with a large selection of properties available it is no wonder that buyers are snapping up the bargains. However, there are buyers out there who can advantage of an automatic discount due to their strong currency, can obtain financing based on their local credit and are accustomed to putting 20-25% down. Wondering who these mystery investors are? Well, the buyers who fit all these criteria are our friendly northern neighbors, the Canadians, who are coming to the US by the plane load looking to stock up on US Real Estate.

Central Ohio, with its major airport in Columbus, thriving economy and amiable four season climate is attractive to Canadians who are looking for a perfect slice of the American dream.  The Canadian Dollar has rallied against the US Dollar in the last 8 years and is roughly at parity, meaning it is the most attractive time for Canadians to invest in the US for decades!

Eager to invest based on currency, a strong Canadian Stock Market as well as a robust real estate market, eagle eyed investors are staring at the US real estate market and knowing that the market will be stronger in the coming years want to invest now whilst they are benefiting from boom times in Canada.

New Albany makes a perfect city to invest in for Canadians due to its close proximity to Columbus International Airport which is one of the most well served in the country.

If you are considering purchasing a home in Columbus, the suburbs or the surrounding metro area communities such as New Albany then please contact The Raines Group for professional real estate advice. You can visit their website on: www.therainesgroup.com where you can access a complimentary MLS Search facility

Gahanna really is a city on the move - with unprecedented development and growth right now. Currently the council is in negotiations over a tax break deal for NetJets Inc. and if successful, the city could gain 395 jobs, $1.1 million in tax revenue over the next 4 years.

The proposal is to give a tax break to the company on its income whilst making a larger figure from property taxes. The central Ohio company already employs 2,000 people in the area and specializes in fractional ownership in Jets. The job growth would be, in economic terms, extremely quick with around 249 jobs being created over the first 9 months of the four year plan and the rest over the remainder of the period.

The temporary plan would net the city such a great amount of revenue as well as the potential business increase as the company expects business to double in the next 10 years.

The city really is on the grow and is also looking at the developmert of 180 units on Hamilton Road as well as the ongoing construction in the central park area.

If you are considering purchasing a home in Columbus, the suburbs or the surrounding metro area communities such as New Albany then please contact The Raines Group for professional real estate advice. You can visit their website on: www.therainesgroup.com where you can access a complimentary MLS Search facility

Going Green is the way forward and here in New Albany! The Development department has proposed reduced fees in building permits for properties which are to be built in environmentally friendly ways. This intriging idea would benefit developers who used eco-friendly HVAC systems, plumbing, building materials and more! Although the council is yet to ratify the proposal, it is expected to do so due to the current trend in going green which has risen in popularity over recent years.

The proposal is a 20% credit in the reduction of the permit fee and if the construction company is LEED certified then they will receive more - LEED Certification is a federal run program which is costly, although if the developer plans to build numerous projects then the ceritifcation - which as numerous tests which have to be met - would make sense in the long run.

This certainly is exciting news in the villages building future! 

If you are considering purchasing a property in New Albany Ohio or the surrounding Central Ohio communities which are within the Columbus Metro area then please contact The Raines Group for professional Real Estate advice in the region. Visit their website: www.therainesgroup.com for more information as well as a complimentary MLS search.

Reynoldsburg is known across the nation, region and state for its fabulous Tomato Festival and 2008 was no change. Although attracting mixed reviews from critics, this high quality event is always a crowd pleaser.

The five day event culminated on Sunday September 7th with the crowning of a new festival queen, Jalisa Herron. Although this year the event had reduced its parking charge from $7 to $5, revnues were down as were overall numbers. The organizers cite bad weather as a main cause as well as the national economy. Still, it is estimated that around 10,000 people turned out for the events and that people still enjoyed the fun fair activities available as well as the beauty pagents for the young ladies.

All of course showing the great lifestyle that area residents enjoy in Reynoldsburg and the surrounding communities.

If you are considering purchasing a property in Reynoldsburg or any other community in Central Ohio in and around the Columbus Metropolitan area then please contact the Raines Group for professional Real Estate advice. Visit their website: www.therainesgroup.com for comprehensive real estate advice and information on local areas and properties for sale.

If approved the amendment to the Plain Township Master Land Use Plan would create three distinct areas for potential commercial development in what would be one of the biggest shake ups in land use for the community for many years. The areas would fall under the "Select Commercial Development District" and would encompass potential sites as follows: 33 acres on Warner Road, 95 acres west of state Route 60 and 170 acres east of U.S. Route 62.

With the trustees already having discussed the issue on September 3rd, it is expected that the move will be popular as each of the areas is naturally poised for commercial development. This is very much in line with the areas general development moves in trying to attract commercial enterprise to the villages, townships and cities to boost tax revenue and move the focus away from residential development. (City of Hilliard Plans on Annexing 500 acres in Darby Plain: The largest annexation for six years!)

If you are considering purchasing a property in Plain Township or any other community in Central Ohio in and around the Columbus Metropolitan area then please contact the Raines Group for professional Real Estate advice. Visit their website: www.therainesgroup.com for comprehensive real estate advice and information on local areas and properties for sale.

Hilliard Ohio which is going through a boom at the moment and taking advantage of attracting commercial investors to the city has just announced that it plans to annex some 500 acres of Darby Plain.

This annexation - the largest in franklin county for six years, is under a close watchful eye as of the 493.6 acres slated for annexation, part of the land contains Big Darby Creek and there are concerns about the environmental impact of construction on the river ecosystem.

Although there are no immediate plans for development the long term plan is for a subdivision, high school and a host of other amenities. Any development would have to be conscious of the creek and plan for effective water management in terms of storm run off from subdivisions. A recommendation that only one home be built per acre in the annexation area in keeping housing density low. There are also plans for a small commercial airstrip!

All of this development is most exciting and residents in the metro area will surely follow it with interest as the plans unfold in the coming months!

If you are considering purchasing property in Hilliard then please contact The Raines Group for professional Real Estate advice in Hilliard and the other surrounding central Ohio communities.