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By Chris Harpster on August 24, 2010

Posted: 8/24/2010
Columbus Board of REALTORS®
Although the first half of 2010 saw home sales increase up to 39 percent over 2009, July saw a decrease of 28.6 percent in sales.
“The expiration of the homebuyer tax credits created incredible activity last spring,” said Sue Lusk-Gleich, President of the Columbus Board of REALTORS®, “so we’re not surprised by [...]

By Larry Schottenstein on August 3, 2010

If you are a home buyer and end up buying a home directly from the listing agent you won’t have anyone on your side. Simply put you are using the agent the seller hired to get the best price and terms for them.  A listing agent is hired by the seller to sell the house. How can they possibly try [...]

By Chris Harpster on July 28, 2010

I expect to see lagging home sale stats for the next month or two, mainly due to the expiration of the tax credit and lack of consumer confidence. Moving forward, I would expect a slow and steady recovery.

By Larry Schottenstein on July 16, 2010

I have a buyer making an offer on a home listed at $650,000 in Blacklick Ohio. It was built 10 years ago for $687,000. The listing agent has hinted we could probably negotiate a quick deal at $600,000.  Looking at comps and homes for sale the home is a good deal under $620,000. At $600,000 it [...]

By Larry Schottenstein on July 16, 2010

There are different ways home buyers approach home buying. 
Group #1. This group knows it all, they don’t trust agents and want to basically be left on their own.
Group #2. They start shopping around on line, go an open house or two and basically ends up with an agent by stumbling upon someone.
Group #3. The last group takes control of the [...]

By Michelle Hogan on July 1, 2010

The Senate approaved the Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act (H.R. 5623) giving home buyers who were under contract on a home purchased by April 30th until September 30th to close and claim the tax credit. Without this extension approximately 180,000 homebuyers who had signed purchase agreements would have missed the deadline.

By Michelle Hogan on July 1, 2010

For those who wanted to take advantage of the tax credit but missed the opportunity, it may have paid to wait. Reports have shown that with fewer buyers since the expiration, sellers have had to lower their prices to entice them. Although it depends on your price point, some of the decreases in the sales [...]

By Larry Schottenstein on June 24, 2010

Locally the real estate activity for May was up significantly, 33% over May of 2009. Certainly the tax credit program had a great deal to do with this.  The average sales price is now 5% higher then a year ago. The real issue is what this means and what will happen in the future. Last [...]

By Michelle Hogan on June 11, 2010

While setting up a showing for a condo, the listing agent was giving me some information about the property. At the end of this conversation he said “The seller is M-O-T-I-V-A-T-E-D. Make an offer, no matter what it is, just make it, even if you think it’s really low.”
I was a little suprised that he [...]