Susanne’s Blog
Helping you find the perfect home
4 Unique Benefits of Buying a New Home this Fall
October may not seem to be the best time to buy a new house. Most people start looking in March and April, hoping to move in summer and be ready for the next school year at the end of August. Sadly, many buyers use this exact same strategy. It leads to competition and...
VA Loans: Low Interest Rates & No Down Payment Required
Interest rates are the lowest ever and sellers are motivated to accept lower offers as the market cools this fall. That's why now is the perfect time to buy a home, especially if you are moving up. Worried about the down payment? If you served in the armed forces of...
How Title Fees Affect Your Bottom Line
I always strive to deliver an exceptional customer experience when I list your property or help you find a new home. An important part of my service involves looking out for your bottom line. Many different players are involved in each transaction, and everyone wants...
Get top dollar when you sell your home
How Remodeling Projects Impact your Return when You Sell
According to a new study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) 35% of homeowners would rather move than remodel their current home. Although remodeling a home can be overwhelming, trying to sell without any upgrades will result in fewer showings and lower...
How to Avoid Paying Taxes When You Sell Your Property
Today's topic is about taxes you may have to pay when you sell real estate. I am not a tax adviser, accountant or attorney, and this is not financial or legal advice. You should consult with one of these professionals before you make any financial decisions. What's...
The 5 Types of Costs You’ll Incur When You Buy or Sell
Buying or selling your home is a team effort. Various service providers contribute to a successful transaction. That includes your mortgage lender, a title company, attorneys, inspectors, appraisers, and, of course, your favorite real estate agent. They all want to...
Learn about Columbus Neighborhoods
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...
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...
Making sense of the Numbers
Market Update: New Listings Plummet in Suburbs
Fall is the time of the year when fewer homes are listed for sale. It is a time when sellers are more motivated to accept lower offers, which opens the door for buyers to find better deals and face less competition. This chart proves my point ... The chart shows the...
Market Update: Spike in Condo Sales Makes July Best Ever
July saw a 3.9% increase in home sales. It's mostly due to a sharp rise in condominium sales while single family homes were stagnant. A lack of new listings kept the inventory at its lowest level ever for the month of July, while home values keep rising. Trends We...
Market Update: Building Permits Slump by 21%
June used to be the best month for home sales. Not this year. Home sales were down by 3.6% as compared to a year ago. While other metros are reporting more listings and longer days on market, Central Ohio is stubbornly fighting a lack of inventory. Who's the culprit?...
Find out what’s cool now
Try Co-Living to Eliminate Your Housing Costs
The Short North and Victorian Village have become two of the trendiest neighborhoods in Columbus. With cocktail bars and new restaurants galore, they attract both millennials and baby boomers looking for a walkable neighborhood and daily entertainment. There's only...
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...
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...
Events in and around Dublin
Very Proud of this Ranking & Other Accomplishments
The first half of 2019 is over. Time to take inventory of what we've accomplished and to be grateful for the opportunities I had to be of service to my clients. 2019 has been a very good year so far. This map shows my personal production over the past 6 months....
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...
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...