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Ohio’s Best Hometowns? Here they are…
January 9th, 2012 categories: Real Estate News
Well, these are Ohio Magazine’s Picks for the best towns in Ohio. Hilliard, Represent!
Best of the Best Hometowns
NELSONVILLE
<< Music Festival
Each May, some of the biggest names in music head to theNelsonville Music Festival for one of the summer festival season’s most unique weekends. With past performers including Willie Nelson, the Flaming Lips, Loretta Lynn, Neko Case, George Jones, Wanda Jackson and more, Nelsonville’s event (this year May 18–20) is one of Ohio’s most eclectic. The fest takes place on the campus of Hocking College at Robbins Crossing and is hosted by Stuart’s Opera House. 3301 Hocking Pkwy., Nelsonville 45764, 740/753-1924. nelsonvillefest.org
Degree Program for the Outdoorsy
Hocking College’s Wildlife Resources Management programcouldn’t be taught in a better location than southeast Ohio’s Wayne National Forest near Nelsonville. Students gain strong ecology, conservation and botany knowledge. Data collection, population sampling and map reading also give graduates an edge in the wildlife-management job hunt. hocking.edu
A Hocking Valley Scenic Railway Foliage Train ride takes passengers on a 22-mile journey through the reds, oranges and yellows of autumn, while providing a narrative about Hocking Valley history as the train glides past historic landmarks such as canal locks and former industrial sites. The 1920s train cars travel just over two hours roundtrip to Logan or Haydenville and stop at Robbins Crossing, the living-history village at Hocking College, providing a leisurely weekend activity each October. 33 W. Canal St., Nelsonville 45764, 740/753-9531. hvsry.org
Historic Sandwich Shop
Nestled in a corner of the 1830 Dew House hotel, the one-room FullBrooks Café’s small size doesn’t match its big sandwich appeal. Freshly made bread-and-meat creations offer a variety of toppings such as hummus and pesto. With a street view of historic shops lining Nelsonville’s square, the lunch stop offers more than a quick bite. 6 Public Square, Nelsonville 45764, 740/753-3391. athensohio.com
Visitor Center
An ideal spot for hiking, Wayne National Forest has 300 miles of trails to explore. The Wayne National Forest Welcome Center ensures visitors get the most out of the 834,000-acre lands sprawling across 12 counties. Places not to miss in Athens County include the Shawnee Tower Lookout, the only remaining 1930s lookout point in Ohio, and the rock shelter of Tinkers Cave. Day trips can be spent hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing and observing wildlife. 13700 U.S. Rte. 33, Nelsonville 45764, 740/753-0101. fs.usda.gov
HILLIARD
<< Restaurant to Taste Ripe Plantains
Reason to Appreciate Modern Voting Booths
The voting wagon displayed at Historical Village at Weaver Park in Hilliard is typical of the mobile polls that were pulled by horse or tractor from 1880 to 1940. Old wagons were often retired to back yards. Many homeowners thought they just had an old tin shed on their property until they discovered four wheels, sunk long ago into the ground. franklincountyohiohistory.org
Place to See TV Dinosaurs
The years 1928 to 1955 may not all be the Golden Age of Television, but it was certainly a time of important broadcast innovations. Visitors to the Early Television Museum see sets primarily from those years, including mechanical televisions (those without picture tubes), itty bitty screens and the first color offerings. Hundreds of televisions are on display, including do-it-yourself kit TVs that were housed in homemade cabinets. The TVs come from across the globe and, according to museum attendant Larry McIntyre, many still work. 5396 Franklin St., Hilliard 43206, 614/771-0510. earlytelevision.org
Religious Outreach
Only about 30 percent of the activities at the Noor Islamic Cultural Center are strictly or officially “religious.” Completed in 2006, the center also serves as a community gathering place, educational facility, art gallery, sanctuary and a beautiful setting for weddings. Under the guidance of Khaled A. Farag, the director of outreach programs and one of the center’s founders, activities reflect more than 40 different cultures in the region. Wishing for transparency in both the physical and political senses, the center’s huge windows encourage sunlight and observations from the local community. 5001 Wilcox Rd., Hilliard 43016, 614/527-7777.
Community That Loves Its Police Dogs
When the City of Hilliard’s Division of Police recently retired Brix, its beloved police dog, with full honors, the city was without a K-9 unit. The division went to residents and businesses to raise the $11,000 it needed for a trained police dog and equipment. According to Chief of Police J. Douglas Francis, about $34,000 was collected in less than eight weeks. That generosity allowed for the purchase of three Belgian Malinois shepherd dogs named Erko, Eros and Oz, along with maybe a few dog bones.
Authored by Joe Peffer | Discussion: No Comments »
What to do with 6,200+ vacant Columbus homes and $50 million in federal neighborhood-stabilization money?
January 7th, 2012 categories: Columbus News, For Home Buyers, Real Estate News
Long overdue Demolition of a Vacant Columbus Home on Long Street in Jan. 2012
The fact of the matter is that no one know what to do with our city’s vacant structures, Columbus has torn down 139 of them so far but you can’t demolish your way out of this problem.
The other day Columbus City Council met with area residents to discuss the issue and while it’s my opinion we need more action and less talk, solutions need to be brainstormed before they can be implemented.
One interesting idea came from City Attorney Richard Pfeiffer who suggested a ‘restoration partnership’ outlined in the Columbus Dispatch article from yesterday and excerpted here:
Vacant houses swamping city
Official suggests neighborhood leaders help find new owners
By Mark Ferenchik
The Columbus Dispatch
Friday January 6, 2012 7:38 AM
The message that Columbus officials gave last night on the crisis of vacant and abandoned homes plaguing city neighborhoods was clear: We don’t have enough money to solve this mess ourselves.
So they’re asking neighborhoods for help.
During the Columbus City Council hearing on how to deal with the spreading problem, City Attorney Richard C. Pfeiffer Jr. made a suggestion.
Area commissions and civic groups could help identify residents who would be interested in buying and fixing up tax-delinquent properties. The city then would acquire those homes through foreclosures and Read the rest of this entry »
Authored by Joe Peffer | Discussion: No Comments »
2012 Home Sales: Positives on Many Fronts including pending sales figures
January 5th, 2012 categories: Real Estate News
NAR released its latest pending home sales index figure last week and for the second month in a row the index is up. But more than that, the index has broken 100. This is significant because the only time since the housing boom collapsed that the index has broken 100 is when the home owner tax credit was in effect. The fact that the index has returned to that level a year since the credit has been in effect means the housing market is strengthening completely on its own, without any stimulus.
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun is upbeat about 2012 because in a number of areas indicators are pointing upward. Not only are home sales up but housing starts are up and home prices are stabilizing in many markets and heading up in some. In areas where they’re still down, the declines aren’t that great. More fundamentally, broader U.S. economic signs are looking positive, including the all-important jobs picture. About 100,000 job are being created a month, and that could rise to 150,000—still not a quick enough pace to get us back to where we were before the downturn but the headwinds are in the right direction.
In the video, Yun talks about what the latest figures mean.
Posted via email from Sights and Sounds of Columbus, Ohio Real Estate
Authored by Joe Peffer | Discussion: No Comments »
Happy New Year Columbus
January 2nd, 2012 categories: Real Estate News
2011 was a fantastic year for my family and I personally and professionally. I’m looking forward to a better 2012 in many respects.
Thanks for coming here, reading this and allowing me to do what I wake up every day eager to pursue. I’m hoping to make the time to write more often this year…about my clients, our real estate markets here in Columbus and first ring suburbs and my day to day. More misc. thoughts, more photo and video captures of being a realtor in Columbus, Ohio and more knowledge and advice shared from me to you so that you and your friends can make better, more informed decisions.
Happy New Year to you and yours.
Authored by Joe Peffer | Discussion: No Comments »
2011 Gingerbread House Contest Winners from This Old House
December 21st, 2011 categories: Real Estate News
Posted via email from Sights and Sounds of Columbus, Ohio Real Estate
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A few Christmas trees from last night’s showings with first time buyers
December 9th, 2011 categories: Real Estate News
Joe Peffer
Real Estate Broker
Re/Max Town Center
Delicious Real Estate Group
614-940-9100
Posted via email from Sights and Sounds of Columbus, Ohio Real Estate
Authored by Joe Peffer | Discussion: No Comments »
Ahhh…the holidays. Decorating this year’s gingerbread house entry
December 2nd, 2011 categories: Real Estate News
Joe Peffer
Real Estate Broker
Re/Max Town Center
Delicious Real Estate Group
614-940-9100
Posted via email from Sights and Sounds of Columbus, Ohio Real Estate
Authored by Joe Peffer | Discussion: No Comments »
Quite possibly the last mustachioed pic of me
December 2nd, 2011 categories: Real Estate News
Joe Peffer
Real Estate Broker
Re/Max Town Center
Delicious Real Estate Group
614-940-9100
Posted via email from Sights and Sounds of Columbus, Ohio Real Estate
Authored by Joe Peffer | Discussion: No Comments »
Columbus Ohio area Home Sales up 8.6% in October
November 21st, 2011 categories: For Home Buyers, For Home Sellers, Market Updates
I’m finding that the market continues to be relatively active, more so than past years at this 4th quarter time of the year. More listings, more showings, more buyer actively looking and even beginning their searches late in the year.
Here is what the Board had to say about last month’s numbers. Note the bold orange quote from the Board President about contract failures…
“Home sales in central Ohio home have exceeded 2010 for the last four months according to the Columbus Board of REALTORS®. The 1,543 homes sold in October marks an 8.6 percent increase over the 1,421 homes sold in October of 2010. Home sales in September were up 16.6 percent compared to the year before.
Year-to-date, home sales (January through October 2011) are only 2.1 percent behind 2010 and closing the gap. Homes put in contract last month (1,379) were up 46 percent from a year ago making October the sixth straight month of increased contracts.
“The number of homes put into contract have been up for the last several months,” said Rick Benjamin,2011 President of the Columbus Board of REALTORS®. “However, contract failures – cancellations caused largely by declined mortgage applications or failures in loan underwriting from appraised values coming in below the negotiated price continue to be a problem for central Ohio buyers.”
Total housing inventory at the end of October fell 23.3 percent to 13,827 existing homes available for sale, which represents an 8.1-month supply at the current sales pace, up from an 8.7-month supply in September.
The average sale price for single family homes and condominiums year to date is $157,327, down 2.4 percent from homes sold January through October 2010.
“Affordability conditions this year have been the most favorable on record since 1970,” said Benjamin. “As mortgage interest rates continue to remain low, more first time home buyers, investors and move up buyers are being drawn into the housing market.”
Click here to view the October sortable housing market report by area.”
Click here to view the entire central Ohio Local Market Update.
The Columbus Board of REALTORS® Multiple Listing Service (MLS) serves all of Franklin, Delaware,
Fayette, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Pickaway and Union Counties and parts of Athens, Champaign,
Clark, Clinton, Fairfield, Hocking, Knox, Logan, Marion, Muskingum, Perry and Ross Counties.
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