Central Ohio Home Source

 
The 2010 BIA Parade of Homes, which most people refer to as the “Columbus Parade of Homes” kicked off last weekend in New Albany, in a subdivision called Ackerley Park.  We must still be in a recession, since there are only 8 homes in the Parade this year.  I think this is probably a smart number of [...]

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Job prospects for new grads in Columbus and all of Central Ohio are poor: “There’s no jobs out there” , according to a local employment expert… Okay, not really an expert. It was actually a new college graduate that I was sitting next to at a wedding reception last weekend.  So, after not really searching for a job in her field [...]

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When I was a child, I used to read and collect comic books.  I read them for fun and enjoyment when I was in elementary school, but when I reached 12 years old or so, I fancied myself to be a serious comic book collector in the making.  I purchased the ”Official” comic book value guide, and made my purchases [...]

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It is just about a week until the $8000 first time homebuyer credit and the $6500 move-up buyer credit expires.  We have heard a mixed bag of predictions from “experts” and industry folks as to what this will mean for the Columbus and Central Ohio Real estate market.  Since this is my blog, you will [...]

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The US Census bureau reported vacancy statistics this week, and the numbers are not good, in spite of some of the administrations efforts to improve homeownership.  There are a total of 130.6 million households in the United States, and of that, 18.9 million are currently vacant.  Those numbers are a bit higher than at the [...]

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If we have learned anything from the housing crisis of the last 2 years, it is that the notion that we “deserve” a certain home or a certain lifestyle is ill conceived.  It only takes talking to an elderly relative that lived through the depression and World War II to realize that we probably have [...]

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It has been a wild couple of years, hasn’t it?  I am not going to say I predicted it, by any means, but it seemed a little odd to me back in 2005 when an acquaintance with a 500-ish credit score and very modest income was able to qualify for a brand new $130,000 home.  [...]

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A great resolution for the new year is to READ MORE BOOKS and WATCH LESS TV.  It’s on my family’s list, to be sure.  A great book to start off with is Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin.  I read this one a few years ago, and it totally changed my [...]

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I just recently saw this funny video that pokes fun at the frustrating process buyers are having in trying to take advantage of the bank owned foreclosure “deals” that are out there.  Obviously, the producer of this short film exaggerates some of the frustrating factors, but most are based on reality. 
The guys that made the [...]

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Well, the final days of opportunity for the $8000 first time homebuyer tax credit are upon us.  If someone wants to close by 11/30, then he or she (or they)  must be ready to rock and roll right NOW…  Most importantly, have that loan officer on speed dial, and make sure that he or she has all the [...]

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