Susanne’s Blog
Helping you find the perfect home
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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Does the Huge Drop in Interest Rates Increase Affordability?
Last week the average interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage dropped to 4.06%. A year ago, it was around 4.40%. According to CNBC this is the largest decline in 10 years. The drop-in interest rates was somewhat surprising. Most experts have predicted rates above...
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New Home Prices Skyrocket – Where to find Deals
A few weeks ago, I read an article in Business First stating that Columbus "is not even coming close" to meeting housing needs. They are quoting a report commissioned by the Building Industry Association (BIA) which shows how new construction lacks far behind its peak...
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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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Housing Stats Comparison: Aspen vs. Dublin
We just returned to Columbus from a "business trip" to Aspen, Colorado. We were very lucky our flight was able to land at Port Columbus around midnight after circling for half an hour. And the road conditions driving home were much worse than this morning. When real...
read moreLearn about Columbus Neighborhoods
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
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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January 2019 Market Update: Home Sales Down while Inventory Grows by 12%
The housing market is changing. Both inventory and new listings have increased by more than 10% in January, while closings are down from a year ago. The original list price to sale price ratio dropped to 94.8%. Sellers have accepted larger discounts than any time in...
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Market Update: What to Expect in 2019 After a Dismal December
I had a strong December with 3 new listings and 4 closings before the end of the year. That's why I was really surprised when I read the December housing report from the Columbus Realtors Association. With the exception of the average sales price, which increased in...
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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...
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5 Reasons Why Homesnap is the Best Real Estate App
Today I would like to introduce you to the Top-Rated Real Estate App: Homesnap. It gives you real time access to the MLS, as well as property tax records, census data, parcel boundaries, school districts, and more. The Columbus Association of Realtors connected our...
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Homeowners are 48 Times “Richer” than Renters
Do you remember the New Albany Condo I advertised in last week's email? I had 20 buyers visit my open house, we received 3 offers above list price, and 2 agents called me with eager buyers after a contract was signed. There's a lot of demand for affordable homes and...
read moreEvents in and around Dublin
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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Builder Incentives are Back
Fall is here with a vengeance with temperatures dropping from the 90's to the 30's in a couple of days. What happened to our beautiful Ohio autumns? Temperatures are not the only things falling. Builders are substantially dropping prices of market ready homes and...
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