CondoQuest is a special spring and fall promotion sponsored by the BIA

58 Central Ohio Condominium communities
Showcased by the Building Industry Association
Visitors tour newly constructed condo communities

Condos are for everyone the CondoQuest slogan

First time buyers, empty nesters, busy professionals
No need for ladders, lawn mowers or snow shovels
Lock your front door and leave for a couple of months no need to worry about outside maintenance

Many floor plans to choose from

Ranches and town homes
First-floor owner’s suites
Twin singles and detached patio homes
Prices start at $99,000
Some selling for more than $1,000,000

Great amenities

Great room open-living layouts less formal living spaces
Many communities offer walking trails, bike paths, fitness centers, swimming pools and tennis courts

Spring and fall CondoQuest

Sponsored by the BIA for the past 6 years
Missed the spring promotion, there will be a good selection again in the fall

Karen’s Condo-Quest

Cute town home and 1st floor owner’s suite
The Pros and Cons of Condos

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Johnnycake Corners Spring Carnival was a huge success

I recently received a thank you letter from the JCES PTO sponsorship committee for my American Girl Doll contribution to the carnival. The spring carnival was held on April 5, 2008; this fund raiser was organized by the PTO.

Fun, Food and Games

At this wonderful family event children purchased tickets to play games and enjoy their favorite treats such as cotton candy and hot dogs. Many beautiful baskets were donated for the silent auction.

A Great Tradition Has Begun

The PTO extended a huge thank you to all those who gave of their time and talents which made the carnival such a success. Generous contributions provided a nice $11,746 profit for the PTO. The proceeds from this first carnival will go to enriching the Johnnycake Corners Elementary School environment as well as providing additional resources for the classrooms.

So Many Friends and Families

Such a nice opportunity to support the Olentangy School district along with enjoying a day with friends from the Harbor Pointe, Meadows at Cheshire and Summerwood communities. Many children from these communities attend the Johnnycake Corners Elementary School a new school which just opened in September 2007.

Wondering about the name Johnnycake Corners

The school was named after a one-room schoolhouse that was once located on Johnnycake Road which is now known as the 3B’s and K Road the main access road to the school.

Click on this link to learn more about the Olentangy School district.

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Welcome to Green-High Meadows-Foxridge, Sycamore Meadows, Powell Ohio 43065. These lovely communities are situated in the Central Ohio area known as Southern Delaware County. One of the earliest communities constructed in Southern Delaware County just before its growth explosion, for the past 8 years this county has been ranked as the fastest growing in Ohio.  

Tree line streets, ravines and spacious green spaces

The beauty of the land attracted residents to purchase their homes in this area some are situated on half-acre lots while others back to treed green spaces and ravines.  Area construction began in 1984 with the last homes being built in 1992. The developer was the M/I Schottenstein Company which built about 75% of the homes along with a combination of other known Ohio builders such as Dominion, Virginia Homes and Homewood.

There is a good selection of home styles

Mostly two-stories are prevalent with a few single stories, split and bi-levels which add to the mix. None are smaller than 1,200 square feet with the largest homes being no more than 2,600 square feet. Selling prices range from $140,000 for an entry-level home with larger selling for about $240,000; there are over 500 single family residences in this community area.    

The best community party of the year is the 4th of July parade and picnic

For the past 20 years area residents have so fun and enjoy friendship at this event. The children love to march in the parade and the parents enjoy visiting with their neighbors at the picnic.

 Olentangy Schools

The school age children attend Olentangy schools; the district offers a fantastic curriculum and the students consistently score high on the Ohio proficiency test.

Close proximity to parks

Nature lovers can take advantage of the Highbanks Metro Park; there is easy walking access from the Highmeadows Village Dr. crosswalk into the park. North Orange Park offers a wonderful swimming pool facility, awesome playground area, soccer fields and more.  Minutes to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Zoombezi Bay water park and the Olentangy Indian Caverns.

Shopping and freeways

The Polaris shopping and dining district is just a short distance away. Many antique stores are located in the City of Powell historic shopping area . There is easy access to Routes 315, 23, 270, 71

Green-High Meadows, Foxridge, Sycamore Meadows

Is a very friendly community
The mailing address is Powell Ohio 43065
Located in Southern Delaware County
Orange Township
Olentangy Schools

Have I peaked your interest in the area?  Take a look at a few homes that have recently sold.

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• Have you noticed the badge shown in this post? Most Central Ohio real estate agents will be wearing the badge to promote the real facts about today’s Central Ohio housing market.

The Columbus Board of Realtors® has a wonderful website ColumbusHousingFacts.com which you can visit for all the real facts about the real estate housing market. On April 15, 2008 the Columbus Board of Realtors® launched a campaign to inform residents that “The Grass is Greener Here” in Central Ohio. Realtors® are getting the word out …..

For most buyers it’s a great time to buy

It’s a great time for first time buyers and move up buyers to purchase a home; so much to choose from at such competitive prices. Long term investors - you couldn’t ask for a better market.

Interest rates are still low which is keeping the housing market strong

 Lower interest rates help first time buyers to afford a home, a move up buyer can afford a more expensive home

Don’t wait too long

Good deals will not last forever, no one knows when interest rates will go up, or if that house that meets all your needs will be there for you to purchase tomorrow. Yesterday’s prices could be history tomorrow because the real estate market could heat up as it always does.

The Central Ohio housing market is healthy and stable

 According to Forbes.com Columbus is the 9th most affordable place to live well and the 3rd most stable housing market, Central Ohio average sale price of homes is considerably lower than the national median price.

What Columbus and Central Ohio has to offer

• In 2007 Franklin County grew by 9,040 residents and six surrounding Central Ohio counties grew by 10,428 residents
• Delaware County is the 13th fastest growing county in the U.S.
• Columbus is among the top 10 lowest cost real estate markets in the country, according to Conway Data. According to the National Association of Realtors, the median house price in Columbus of $153,900 is 31% less than the national average
• 20 colleges and universities are currently attended by 110,000 students
• A thriving metropolitan area with a population of 1.7 million in eight counties – Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Pickaway, and Union – the Columbus Region is a launching pad for corporations and inventions known worldwide
• The Columbus Region is home to the headquarters of 15 Fortune 1000 companies, six of whom are Fortune 500 companies.

Now’s the time to take advantage of the Central Ohio affordable housing market

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Welcome to the Harbor Pointe Community - Galena Ohio 43021 located about 20 miles from downtown Columbus, Ohio and 6 miles from the Polaris shopping district Lewis Center, Ohio.  A splendid entry with a beautifully landscaped pond welcomes residents to their community located in southern Delaware County, Berlin Township. Harbor Pointe is such a gorgeous community, surrounded by Alum Creek parklands, ravines and walking trails.

Residents reside in elegant custom homes built by CV Perry Homes, Duffy Homes and Showcase Homes. Ranch, two story and 5-multi level homes are popular home styles. In this community the first homes were constructed in 2002 and still are being built today. It’s a mid sized community; when construction is completed there will be about 200 homes.  The price of homes range from $375,900 to $650,000. No homes are smaller than 2,800 square feet with the largest ones being over 4,500 square feet.  Homes are constructed with many quality materials such as stone, brick, stucco and Hardy Plank exteriors; knee walls are also popular.  Many beautiful interior amenities are found in the homes located in Harbor Pointe such as dramatic 2 story entries and great rooms, huge gourmet kitchens with granite counter tops, custom cabinetry and double ovens, extra wide crown moldings, ceramic tile and hardwood floors, master suites with deluxe master baths with whirlpool tubs and huge showers with steam and multiple shower heads, Jack-n- Jill baths, family rooms with wet-bars and fantastic finished basements. 

Harbor Pointe is not just a community of homes built of sticks and mortar there is a real community presence of friendship; a community were residents gather together not only socially but also provide a helping hand to neighbors in need.  Many volunteers put in countless hours throughout the year to make the Harbor Pointe community a fun place to live. The Easter egg hunt and community garage sale kicks off the spring events. A huge summer block party includes a potluck picnic, games for the kids and a live band, a wonderful community event that provides fun for kids of all ages. The two spectacular fall events are the costume party, haunted trail and cookout. The Harbor Pointe children enjoyed decorating gingerbread houses at the holiday season. There is also a progressive holiday dinner party. The word is out the Harbor Pointe community is a wonderful place to live.

The Harbor Pointe children attend Olentangy Schools. The elementary school age children attend a brand new school Johnnycake Corners opened in the fall of 2007.

If you love to boat, swim and hike the Alum Creek State Park is just across from the Harbor Pointe community entrance.

If you currently live in Central Ohio or are moving into town and are looking to purchase a home near Alum Creek State Park you should drive thru the Harbor Pointe Community.  Such a friendly community with a rural feel but not too far from shopping and freeways.

Please enjoy the slide show of the Harbor Pointe Community

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Yes there are buyers in the Central Ohio market area looking for that perfect house that will fit their needs and wants.

Sunday April 6, 2008 was the most beautiful day of the year. So many people were out and about, mom’s walking their babies, dads washing their cars, kids riding bikes, dogs having a fun day at the park and buyers looking at open houses. It’s been a harsh winter in Central Ohio; everyone I talked with today was thrilled that we were blessed with such a beautiful day. Now that I have given you the weather report, I wanted everyone in Central Ohio to know that there were many visitors at my open house Sunday April 6. Sometimes when there is a break in the weather open houses are less than successful because everyone wants to take advantage of the great weather to do outdoor fun activities or chores.

Well to my surprise there were more than 23 visitors that toured today’s open house and most were serious buyers. I checked all various websites for web view stats. The house that was open today was just listed last week. Wow! The Real Living Website had 903 web page views; I would dare to say that buyers are becoming confident that now is a very good time to make a home purchase. Interest rates are still low, so many homes to choose from at such great prices.

Now couldn’t be a better time to buy a home in Central Ohio. Forbes.com has rated Columbus Ohio as one of the most affordable places to live well. Central Ohio buyers, don’t wait too long to take advantage of today’s market opportunities. No one knows when the market will change and all those good deals will be gone. Buyers no matter if its going to be your 1st home or 5th home purchase sharpen your pencils, it’s time to make an offer - your dream home is within your reach.

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Step Two
Getting your home ready to sell
Inspect your home from top to bottom

Roof
Replace all damaged and missing shingles.
Professional companies can remove most roof stains.
Clear roof of all debris.

Gutters and down spouts
All gutters and down spouts should be attached.
Clean all the leaves and debris out of the gutters.
All down spouts should be connected to the perimeter drains, if separation exists add extensions.

Grading
Ground settlement and erosion can compromise exterior grading.
Poor grading could allow water to penetrate basement walls.
Correct poor grading by adding additional dirt around the foundation.

Paint touch-up
Inspect all wood trim, fascia boards, doors and mailbox for peeling paint. Sand affected areas and repaint. A fresh coat of exterior paint really makes the home stand out. Faded and peeling paint screams poor maintenance and upkeep.
 

Siding
Attach all loose siding materials. Replace all siding that might be damaged. Clean dirty siding with a garden hose and a mild detergent. A power washer could cause damage to the siding.

Windows
Replace torn window screens.
Replace all windows that are broken or cracked.
Replace all double pane windows that have broken vacuum seals.

Exterior light fixtures
Outdated external lighting fixtures should be replaced.
All lighting fixtures should be operational.
Replace all burned out light bulbs.

Garage Door
All hinges, bolts, cables and springs should be properly attached. The garage door opener should be in good operating condition.

Driveways
Asphalt driveways - reseal.
Power wash all concrete driveways and walkways

Decks and patios
Power wash deck and re-stain. Patios-power wash and re-set all uneven pavers.

Next week I will discuss step three
Interior fix-up – all completed maintenance will add value and make your home more salable. For step one click on curb appeal

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• Help me get my home ready to sell 
• Step One Curb Appeal
• I can now see the house

A prospective seller called me to preview his home and give him suggestions on how to get his house ready to sell.

When I arrived at the prospective seller’s home I felt that the large overgrown bushes almost 20 years worth of growth did an injustice to the home, it was hard to get a good photo. I suggested that all the overgrown bushes be removed so that a buyer could see the house. The seller took my advice; all the overgrown bushes were removed at an economical price.

The buyer’s first impression of a home is from the curb; it’s called curb appeal! In central Ohio improving your curb appeal depends on the time of year that your home is listed. If there is snow on the ground then the curb appeal improvement will have to wait until there are a few warmer days. If your bushes can’t be trimmed and are overgrown then remove them. Improve your landscaping beds with new bushes and new mulch. Giving the exterior of your home a new fresh look is like giving your home a face-lift; it makes your home look newer. When the threat of frost is gone add a splash of color with flowers such as vining petunias. Make sure your house numbers are visible; it’s important that buyers can identify your home so they can feel confident that they are at the correct address.

Next week I will discuss more important exterior improvements that will give the buyer the impression that your home has been well maintained

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Galena Ohio 43021 is a quiet little village nestled between the Big and Little Walnut Creeks with close proximity to Hoover and Alum Creek Reservoirs. Galena was established in 1809 under the name of Zoar. The creeks created a water power source for a sawmill. When the residents applied for a Post Office in 1834 the name of Zoar was disqualified due to the existence of another community with that name. There is no history as to how the town’s name of Galena was derived. The village green is still visible today with a few vintage buildings from the past. Most of the old buildings were destroyed by fire or demolished to make way for Hoover Reservoir which was constructed in 1950

One sunny spring day I took a walk around the village green. I stopped in to see what was cooking at Jule’s Java & Grill. Such a cute place, they were busy, the bacon and eggs sure did smell good. Jule’s is open Monday thru Friday 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Friday nights 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Now the coolest building that I walked thru was the post office. The interior of the post office was a walk back in time, such beautiful woodwork and all those old fashion post boxes. The postal clerk gave me permission to take the photo that is visible in this post.
A World War II Tribute is the focal point of the village green. I walked over the bridge to view the Big and Little Walnut Creeks; the morning was just beautiful, the sun was shimmering on the creeks and there were a few fellows in the water fishing.

The Galena zip code 43021 includes home sites in both rural and newly developed communities with a short commute to either the Hoover or Alum Creek Reservoirs and Parklands. Community residents that love to boat, fish and hike don’t have far to go to enjoy those outdoor activities.

Listed below are most of the communities located within the Galena zip code 43021. The homes and condos in these communities are within either the Olentangy or Big Walnut schools district boundary area. In future posts I will highlight the communities listed below. The map and slideshow will give you a snapshot of the communities located within the Galena Ohio zip code.  Arbors at Cheshire, Cheshire Woods, Crystal Valley, Galena Pointe, Retreat at Grand Oaks, Harbor Pointe, Heathermere, Hickory Woods, Hidden Creek Estates, Hoover Woods, Keller Pines Estates, Lake of the Woods, Mansard Estates, Meadows at Cheshire, Retreat at Grand Oak, Sage Creek, Sheffield Park, Sherman Lakes, Stone’s Throw, Summerwood, Walnut Creek, Walnut Grove, Walnut Woods, Vinmar Farms, Windale Farms, Woodhaven Estates.

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So many prospective buyers now have the internet on their cell phones; they have iPhones, BlackBerrys, Treos & more.

Real Living HER being a very tech savvy real estate company has just introduced a new tech tool; all Real Living HER listings are issued a designated URL.

What is a URL anyway; from an internet search for a definition this is what I found: a URL stands for Universal Resource Locator. An Internet World Wide Web Address.

Each Real Living HER listing is assigned a special URL address so when a buyer is driving past a listing they are now able to pull up the listing URL on their cell phone, now how cool is that…

This is an example of a Real Living HER - URL for my listing located at 5757 Cali Glen Lane - 5757CaliGlenLn.RealLiving.com

So if you fall in love with a listed home with a designated URL you can now easily view that listing on your cell phone to share with your family and friends.

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