Columbus Ohio real estate

The good news there are open houses in Central Ohio, this Sunday July 5, 2009.... if you really, really want to spend your weekend that way.... but not a lot of them. 

The Real Living HER Open House List has 69 scheduled open houses as of late on the third.

Nothing is open Sunday in Worthington, nothing in Clintonville....  no homes for sale in many of the northern Columbus neighborhoods I usually highlight are open, or very few.

Last week there were over 200 open houses on the real Living HER Open House List.... 

Anytime you visit my website each home on the Real Living HER Open House List is "Presented By" ME.   I am not holding all the houses open. This week I am not holding an open house at all!   The same open house list is on each Real Living HER agent's website. 

Each listing on the list of open houses tells you who the listing agent and office is, or whom is holding the property open if you need that information.  The open house list is NOT archived.  If you look at this post in the future the link will go to the current Real Living HER Open House list.

For all home buyers

The Real Living Peace of Mind program started on June 1, 2009 for Central Ohio home buyers.  Real Living will pay your mortgage if you lose your job.*  One year insurance protection for buyers who buy through a Real Living agent and finance the mortgage through Real Living Mortgage.  Buy a Real Living listing and you get a second year free, limited time, restrictions apply 

FREE... Peace of Mind Mortgage Protection

MyRealLiving.com is for you Central Ohio

Buying a home in Central Ohio should not be scary 

Central Ohio Open House Advice from Real Living

For first time buyers

First Time Home Buyer Credit - income limits

The First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

Have a wonderful safe holiday weekend!

Maureen McCabe Real Living HER Worthington

The image at the top is a Real Living 4th of July ecard.  Happy 4th of July... have a happy 5th of July too!

Will I see you at Red, White & Boom... probably not even if you go huh? We may go down early this year... we used to go to Front Street but we have been on Spring St. near North Bank Park looking at the Columbus skyline the past couple of years.

What's on your agenda for this weekend? 

Red, White & Boom on Friday?

A parade on Saturday?  Dublin? Gahanna? Hilliard? Upper Arlington? Westerville? Or the Doo Dah Parade in the Short North?

Need help finding fireworks near by for your family?   Also has celebrations, festivals, and parades listed... except my favorite parade, which is not really for kids:

Fireworks throughout Central Ohio - KidsLink.com "Find out when and where your Community Celebrates the 4th of July"

Red, White & Boom 2008

Red, White & Boom 2007

Population has continued to increase in Central Ohio unlike other Ohio cities but Columbus dropped from the 15th largest city in the US to the 16th.

Columbus dropped from 15th to 16th thanks to Austin Texas growing faster...

Not just the City of Columbus is growing though... Central Ohio as a region has grown, according to the  Columbus Dispatch article about the census.  Where is Central Ohio growing?  Lithopolis (Fairfield County, not my market area), Powell,  New Albany are growing in addition to the City of Columbus...  The article in The Columbus Dispatch written by Erin Dostal   Census; Central Ohio keeps growing and this newspaper article is not about putting on weight in separate breaking yesterday Columbus is the 10th most obese city?  Or maybe it is merely overweight not obese....we moved up from 17th to 10th in a year?   That may be City of Columbus and the suburbs. Back to growth of the Central Ohio cities not their citizens...

Dostal wrote quoting Nancy Reger, a demographer for the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.

"Natural population growth is likely the reason for the numbers in Lithopolis, Powell and New Albany, because people there tend to start families, she said.

Columbus, on the other hand, grows by attracting people from elsewhere. And unlike Ohio's other large cities, which either flat-lined or lost population in the past year, Columbus added people. The Census Bureau said the city had 754,885 residents through July 1, 2008, about 1 percent more than the year before."

Reger says people move to Columbus for jobs.  People in Powell, New Albany have babies... Generalization?  I know  people who have moved to Powell and New Albany from outside the region for jobs and people who live in the City of Columbus who have had babies....

People are moving to the region for jobs.

Maureen McCabe Real Living HER Worthington

Home Inspection

"The American Society of Home Inspectors" is a professional organization for home inspectors... it is sometimes referred to as ASHI.

I have information on the home inspection page on my website about home inspectors who are ASHI. I also have info on  NAHI and NIBI (other home inspector professional organizations) as well as a local company which is not affiliated with any inspection organization.... one of my favorite local home inspection companies...  

The Inspection  page on my website.  

Here is some home inspection advice from Real Living:

"Real Living suggests that buyers select an inspector who can provide proof of membership in the American Society of Home Inspectors. Home inspection is presently a comparatively unregulated industry in many states, and ASHI-certified inspectors meet stringent requirements and abide by a sturdy Code of Ethics."

Enough small talk, (there's  is at least one clue above) and this is of course an open book and Internet quiz... or puzzle

Home Inspection Puzzle

Across

4.   The home inspector may tell you if your water _________ is low   

6.   The home inspector will look at the homes downspouts and gutters, the roofs ________ system

9.   If the kitchen _______ are staying the inspector should check the oven, the stoves burners, run the dishwasher, etc.

12.  The home inspector will open the _________ service panel and look at the wiring for you.  ***DANGER*** DO NOT DO THIS YOURSELF!

14.  An ________ clause allows you to have professional(s) look at the physical condition of the home you have a purchase contract on 

16.  Radon _________ is when the level of radon is reduced to a safe level in the home.

17.  The home inspector inspects the homes structural components including the __________ and framing.

18.  ASHI is a home inspection professional organization, others are NIBI and NAHI.  ASHI stands for _______ Society Home Inspectors

19.  Home inspectors are not ________ in the state of Ohio

24.  The inspection clause in your purchase contract is a __________, because there is language like "contingent on home inspection"

25.  A pest inspector can look for signs of subterranean ______ eating the wood parts of your future home

Down

1.  If the house was built before 1978 the seller will do a ______ paint disclosure, and you may test for it's presence, during the home inspection period per your contract

2.  _____ is an odorless naturally occurring gas that you may want to test for during your home inspection period

3. Mold grows because there is ___________

4.  When the home inspector looks at the pipes that is the _________ system

5.  The pipes in your home may include copper, PVC, ____________ and more.

7. The home inspection is a ______ inspection of the home and it's systems. 

8. Your home inspector will be looking for components and systems within the house that need repair or ____________

10. Your home inspector may suggest you get a mold inspection based on water _________

11.  Some home inspectors are __________

13.   In the winter months, often your home inspector is unable to test the air ________ unit for you because it is too cold 

15. An ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) member follows the ASHI  ________ of Practice and Code of Ehtics

18. __________ ants or bees might be discovered by your pest inspector, the insects have hammers and wear an itty apron with pockets <---- just a pest joke... your pest inspector can tell you how they know 'em when they see 'em
 
19. The wiring in the home and the electrical service to the property may be _______ or copper

20. Your home inspector is going to look at the ________ and tell you whether there are defects and if it is going to keep you toasty warm in the winter

23. Your home inspector is not doing a ______ inspection, that is done by a municipal inspector on new construction or remodeling

Home Inspection

Ohio House Bill 257  Failed

I like Home Inspectors with small shoulders

Here Flashing, Flashing, Flashing....

Maureen McCabe Real Living HER Worthington

This is a Re-Blog of Jay Markanich's post...   if you bought new construction in Central Ohio in the past 11 months you may want to get an "IR inspection"  of the home. 

Jay's recommendation:

"My recommendation:  If you can get an IR inspection on a house, do it before the one year warranty walk through."

I Re-Blogged Jay's post about missing flashing on a home he inspected:  Here Flashing, Flashing, Flashing too.

Jay's infrared photos in this post are of another home in the same neighborhood with water stains and "hot and cold" spots in the bedroom....  not good. 

You don't need infrared photos in Central Ohio in the winter to see where the home builder did NOT insulate... Icicles...   In the summer you may.... need something like an "IR inspection" to see where insulation was not installed in your home or where insulation  is no longer in place to keep the hot or cold out...

Can I see what Jay sees?

Personally  looking at the infrared photos is like looking at a baby ultra sound (sonagram)... for me.    Sometimes I just can't find the baby... in these colorful "IR exam photos"  I am not looking for a head, the baby sucking it's thumb or "parts"...but in the first one I just could not see the bed in Jay's picture at first... but it is there and worth looking for and noting that just above the headboard in this bedroom is 130°  that's hot....

Infrared Inspection

Did you buy a new home in Central Ohio within the past year?  Did you get all the insulation you paid for?  Did you get all the flashing that was necessary?  I can recommend local home inspectors who can do an Infrared Inspection of your Central Ohio home, if you need one to be sure you got what you paid for.

The BIA Parade of Homes has a blog!  Maybe they did last year too...  Where was the Parade of Homes last year?

2009 BIA Parade of Homes at Tartan Ridge in Dublin, the blog 

• Compass Homes
• Gossing Construction
• Coppertree Homes
• Dani Homes
• Duffy Homes
• New England & Garth's
• Kevin Knight & Company
• Lakewood Builders
• M/I Homes
• Stafford Group
• Romanelli & Hughes

Do you go to the Parade of Homes every year? Is this year different? It's billed as "Hundreds of Rooms. Thousands of Ideas"

The 2009 BIA Parade of Homes runs July 11th to the 26th.

Website: BIA Parade of Homes 2009

Finding Tartan Ridge it is just east of Glacier Ridge Metro Park B. is the address from the BIA site, 7175 Glacier Ridge Blvd. Dublin 43017. A is my office, just click to get directions from your home or office. Tartan Ridge is bordered by Brock Road to the north, Jerome Road on the east, McKitrick Road on the south on Hyland-Croy on the west.

*Actually the BIA Parade of Homes blog was started for the 2008 Parade of Homes which was in Gahanna at the Village at Hannah Farms, not the easiest thing to find on the Parade of Homes blog or website. 

Columbus and Central Ohio have a pretty Jazzy July coming up....

July 1 -Try to find a friend at the Condo at  Northbank Park Day - for the view for Red, White & Boom

July 3 -  Red, White & Boom - Downtown

July 4 -The Doo Dah Parade -  Short North and Victorian Village

The Upper Arlington Parade and Celebration The theme: "UA...There's No Place Like Home"  Grand Marshall Cameron Mitchell

Worthington Family Picnic - Worthington Calendar of Events

COSI Spider Man Appearance

Fireworks throughout Central Ohio - from KidsLink.com "Find out when and where your Community Celebrates the 4th of July" 

Gallery Hop - Short North

July 5 -  Worthington Ice Cream Social  and Music - Worthington Calendar  - The Village Green

July 11-26 - BIA Parade of Homes 2009 - Tartan Ridge in Dublin

July 13  to July 17 - Restaurant Week Columbus  Throughout Columbus

July 17 - Wex Drive-In: American Graffiti

July 18 to  July 25 -  Franklin County Fair Franklin County Fairgrounds - "The Best Family Fare Ever"

July 24 - JazZoo: Jazz Party at the Zoo

July 24 to July 26 - Jazz & Rib Fest   Arena District/North Bank Park

July 25 - LaNavidad Christmas at the Santa Maria

July 25 - The Grandview Hop

July 26 - Downtown Powell Street Market

July 29 to August 9 - Ohio State Fair Ohio Expo Center

July 31- Motown JazZoo: Memories at the Zoo

July 31 to August 2 - Dublin Irish Festival

Central Ohio Events  Throughout the Month of July 2009

July 2 to August 2-   Actors' Theatre Company: The Tempest

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium events including JazZoo

COSI events including Spiderman on July 4th, the Egypt in Columbus Exhibit (through September 7)

Columbus Clippers Schedule  I think I am going finally in July....

Columbus Landmarks Foundation -  2009 Village Walking Tour Series Continues

Columbus Metro Parks

Columbus Symphony - Picnic with the Pops and Popcorn Pops

For more detail and additional events visit Experience Columbus' Calendar of Events

If Wimpy came to town where would you suggest he go for the best burger in Columbus?  Would you direct Popeye's friend....who will "gladly pay Tuesday" for a hambuger today?  To one of Columbus suburbs?  Downtown?  German Village?

I saw a food forum where someone suggested some of the great places for steak in Columbus, including the Claremont, a comment on the forum about the Claremont:

The comment above about the Claremont, "not the best neighborhood"?  always struck me because the commenters opinion about the neighborhood The Claremont is in German Village.. Then the commenter recommends a restaurant in German Village, Max and Erma's.  

Or is The Claremont Restaurant in the Brewery District rather than German Village? The Claremont is at  684 S High Street,  Columbus, Ohio 43215. The Claremont Restaurant's site plays music volume control is at the bottom.  Their site says there in German Village and have been since 1947.

I love the Claremont.  To be fair I believe the comment was written in 2006 and some exterior updating to the 50+ year old restaurant was done in 2006 or  2007... I think in time for their 60th anniversary.   I've never had a burger at Claremont... I live and work way, way up in the Worthington area when I go to the Claremont I want prime rib or steak... especially if someone else is paying for it... and the last three times I have been there someone else paid for dinner....

The post on the food forum as I recall was suggesting going to steak places for the best burgers in town.  Best Columbus Neighborhood if you are looking for burgers.... might well be German Village...

Columbus Best Burgers Map

There's the original Max and Erma's that this person thought had terrible service..... 739 S 3rd St. Columbus, Ohio  43206.

There's the Thurman Cafe.... 183 Thurman Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43206

According to the writer in the food forum there's the Clarmont that the writer had recommended... 684 S High Street,  Columbus, Ohio 43215.

German Village is NOT where I sell homes but I am glad it is a place I enjoy going out to eat occasionally, go to plays in Schiller Park and sometimes just walking around to enjoy the beauty of the historic neighborhood. 

Tomorrow is a big day in German Village, the 50th Haus und Garten Tour, in a great Columbus neighborhood.

More posts about Columbus:

Where's the best beef in Columbus?

The Brewery District Columbus Ohio

Crime How Safe is the Columbus Neighborhood?

Downtown Columbus is a nice place to visit

Home inspector Jay Markanich is in Virginia but his advice in the second to last paragraph "Always have a home inspection before the final walk through of a new home."  is valid in Central Ohio. Not only old roofs leak....

Did I mention it is FREE?

FREE, no cost to you or the seller.....

Real Living's Peace of Mind Mortgage Payment Protection Plan  is free to you and to the seller.

The Peace of Mind Mortgage Payment Protection Plan  (.pdf with more details) is FREE to you and the seller....

Effective June 1, 2009 Real Living HER and Real Living Mortgage offered a one year mortgage payment protection plan to Central Ohio buyers.

For first time home buyers:

8000 reasons get your butt in gear deadline for first time homebuyer tax credit looms

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

For all home buyers:

Real Living will pay your mortgage if you lose your job.* 

No time to waste on short sales buy something you can close in 30 days

Buying a home in Central Ohio should not be scary

Maureen McCabe Real Living HER Worthington