Susanne’s Blog
Helping you find the perfect home
How Much Risk Should You Take to Win a Bidding War?
A few days ago, this article on the front page of the Wall Street Journal caught my attention. All over the US homes have been selling quickly. In many cases it took less than a week from list to contract. It has become increasingly difficult to compete in this hot...
Are Builder’s Incentives Coming Back?
I spoke with a few builder's reps in the past couple of weeks and was surprised to find that they are offering incentives again. Incentives are limited to select subdivisions and not publicized on their web pages. They probably won't last. However, now is the best...
Scary Hidden Costs that could Double Your Monthly Mortgage Payments
Unexpected expenses and costs are scary. This makes it the perfect topic for today on Halloween Sunday. I want to alert you of hidden charges and costs that could substantially increase your monthly payments when you buy a new house. When real estate websites show...
Get top dollar when you sell your home
Should You Sell Your Home to an iBuyer?
You probably heard about iBuyers - instant buyers. They are a new breed of cash buyers - funded by Wall Street - who use online technology to buy your house without you listing it with an agent. iBuyers promise instant cash offers for your house. They buy your...
What Does a Sharp Rise in Foreclosures Mean for Your Home’s Value?
Many homeowners are wondering if property values will decline and whether inexpensive, bank-owned properties will flood the market after the foreclosure moratorium expired June 30, 2021. We've seen reports of a "significant increase in foreclosure filings". So, let's...
How I Prepare my Sellers to a Stress-Free Home Sale
It happens all the time in this low inventory market. I schedule a showing for my buyers as soon as a new listing hits the MLS, and an hour later the listing agent calls and cancels. "We accepted an offer. The homeowner was too overwhelmed from the rush of showings....
Learn about Columbus Neighborhoods
Helping You Find New Residential Developments
Commercial real estate was somewhat depressed due to the pandemic. Residential construction on the other hand has been booming. We saw a 27% increase in single and multi-family construction in 2020 over the previous year. That's the most activity since 2010. New built...
Can You Still Find Acreage Close to the City?
Many home buyers dream of living in the country. They are looking for acreage to enjoy tranquility and open spaces. Typically, suburban lots are only a quarter acre or less. There's not much room between houses. You will see into your neighbor's kitchen, hear their...
Patio Home or Condo – Which One’s Right for You?
Patio Homes have become super popular with baby boomers in the past few years. They are the perfect place to retire and enjoy "maintenance free" living. Sounds just like condos. But there's a difference. Let me explain ... Patio Homes Patio Homes are single-family...
Making sense of the Numbers
Market Update: Closed Sales & Pendings on the Rise While Inventory Falls
The Columbus housing market was buzzing during the month of October. Home sales were up by 5% and pending contracts were 11.6% higher than a year ago. Buyers who missed out during the spring selling season are taking advantage of less competition while interest rates...
Market Update: Inventory Takes a Tumble as Fewer Owners List in Suburbs
Home sales scored another record in September and prices were up by double digits. There was an unexpected drop in inventory (compared to August) which was partially due to a sharp decline in new listings in some major suburbs. New Listings Plummet in Popular Suburbs...
Market Update: Inventory Grows as Price Gain Slows
The Columbus housing market continued to boom in August as 9.3% more transactions closed than a year ago. Prices kept climbing and a large number of listings fetched more than list price. New Listings Drop but Inventory Climbs After New Listings had increased by 21%...
Find out what’s cool now
Are Builder’s Incentives Coming Back?
I spoke with a few builder's reps in the past couple of weeks and was surprised to find that they are offering incentives again. Incentives are limited to select subdivisions and not publicized on their web pages. They probably won't last. However, now is the best...
2 Free Tools to Determine Climate Risk and Air Quality for Your Home
I just came back from a week-long vacation in the mountains around Salt Lake City. While Utah has not suffered from wildfires like California, the Salt Lake Valley is known for its low air quality. Luckily, the air we breathe in Columbus has been relatively clean and...
Should You Buy a Short-Term Rental?
A growing number of millennials are buying short-term rentals to generate additional income and to build wealth. According to the Wall Street Journal short-term rental owners under 30 doubled in the past 2 years. Should you join their ranks and become a real estate...
Events in and around Dublin
RE/MAX 24/7 is #1 in Charitable Donations and Volunteering
Every year Business First publishes the Corporate Citizenship List. It ranks "The Most Generous Central Ohio Companies" based on cash donations to charitable organizations and volunteer hours served by employees. I am very proud of what our small brokerage has...
Would You Buy a Haunted House for a Discount?
Halloween may be over, but some homeowners think they live in haunted houses all year round. The annual HAUNTED Report (compliments of realtor.com) found that 13% of Americans believe that the home they live in is haunted. Where Are the Most Haunted Houses? When it...
How Miracle Homes Help Sick and Injured Children
This past Sunday was the first of Advent, the true beginning of the Christmas Season. It happens to fall between Thanksgiving Thursday and Giving Tuesday, so it's appropriate to talk about giving back and being thankful. One way I am giving back is the Miracle Homes...
