Susanne’s Blog
Helping you find the perfect home
Top 5 Reasons Why Pending Contracts Fail
You probably heard that new listings get multiple purchase offers within days. Did you know that many of these contracts fail? Contract terminations are common. They are very unnerving for the seller. The house has to be relisted and future buyers will ask why the...
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How to Win When You Have to Compete Against Other Buyers
The Columbus housing market is very competitive. Quality listings attract droves of buyers. Most of the time you will have to compete against other offers. Every week my agents tell stories of frustrated buyers who just lost another bidding war. What does it take to...
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Unique Home Loans: Zero Down or Zero Monthly Payments
If you are holding off buying a home because you don't have much of a down payment you need to continue reading. There are numerous loan programs that don't require any down payment at all. Then there are specialty loans to help you with construction and renovation...
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How Staging Impacts the Sale of your Home
Today's home buyers are looking for more than a move-in ready home. They want to be wowed. Furthermore, they are willing to pay for it, which is why you need to know the ins and outs of home staging! That's why staging your home benefits you in many ways when you...
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This Will Most Likely Happen … When You List Your Home
Selling your home is a very emotional experience. You are not just selling a piece of real estate. You are selling your memories. Not surprisingly homeowners are easily irritated with picky buyers and seemingly unreasonable requests by their agents. Because the sale...
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How I Sold a House another Agent Could Not Sell
Last November I received a call from a desperate homeowner. They had fired their listing agent, after their home was on the market for more than a month with no activity. Their new-built home was getting ready by the end of the year. They had to sell! These homeowners...
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New Neighborhood Spotlight: Belmont Place
This new Delaware County neighborhood is just minutes away from the Polaris Fashion Mall, popular grocery stores like Meijer, Kroger and Giant Eagle. There are also many gorgeous Metro Parks within the area, two of which are; High Banks Metro Park, Alum Creek State...
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New Neighborhood Spotlight: Ballantrae Woods
Ballantrae Woods is a 49.6-acre residential development that is a new phase that will add on to the already huge Ballantrae Neighborhood. The entrance to the community embraces you with The Giant Dancing Rabbits sculpture at Ballantrae Park. Though the homes...
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New Neighborhood Spotlight: Orchid Hill in Jerome Village
Orchid Hill is one of the newest neighborhoods in Jerome Village. The fact that the top-rated Dublin School District is within walking distance, draws a lot of attention. The city has actually approved of two new Dublin Schools to be developed within the Jerome...
read moreMaking sense of the Numbers
April Market Update: Median Sale Price Skyrockets by 12.4%
In a somewhat surprising twist, the Columbus housing market bounced back in April. This month's home sales stats are almost a complete opposite of March's. Median Sale Price Skyrockets by 12.4% In April the Median Sales Price of existing homes increased to $213,600...
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March Market Update: Home Sales Slump by 8.7%
Don't be fooled by a report claiming that Columbus is the Hottest Housing Market in the country or by a news release that states home sales were up by 24.7% in March. Both claims are misleading. Keep reading to find out what's really going on ... Closed Sales, New...
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Market Update: Fewer New Listings – More Closed Sales
The latest Housing Report was just released by the Columbus Association of Realtors. It clearly shows that the market is heating up again. Lots of buyers are looking for homes below $400,000, but there are not enough listings. The inventory increased by 7% in February...
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How Your Nanny Cam Could Make You a Felon when you Sell
We have a Ring doorbell camera on our house to see who's knocking, even if we are not at home. It makes us feel safer. Probably, it deters bad guys from stealing packages or breaking into our home. Many parents use cameras inside their house, so-called nanny cams, to...
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Downsizing is Out – Here’s What Empty Nesters Do Instead
When your kids are off to college you no longer need a 4-bedroom suburban house with a large yard in a great school district. You may be thinking about "downsizing". Truth is, most empty nesters don't want to "downsize". They want to adjust their lifestyle, and move...
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Will Solar Panels Increase the Value of Your Home?
Last week a good friend asked me by how much the value of his home may have increased since he installed solar panels? He had solar panels for more than a year and added a "power wall" of batteries to store the extra energy he's collecting. His electric bill is...
read moreEvents in and around Dublin
Best New Subdivisions Along Bike Trails
Last week I attended a real estate seminar in Chicago. It was the perfect opportunity to visit two of our sons. As millennials they know the best new restaurants and cocktail bars. Our first breakfast - fresh bread, butter & sardines! When it comes to creative...
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Can You Still Find Good Investment Properties?
A few weeks ago, this article caught my eye: Home Flipping Investors Abandon Columbus. It's based on a survey by Realtor.com that shows that Columbus experienced an 18.8% drop in home flipping last summer. That's a steeper decline than in any other large metro area in...
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Reflections on a Great Year
As I reflect on this past year, I feel very blessed to have you as a reader of this weekly newsletter. I am grateful for your support and feedback as I am trying to share my insights and stories on the housing market. I hope this is helpful for you and even saved you...
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