Columbest Year In Review - Happy Holidays!

The Columbus market is finishing the 2016 year strong and "is proving to be one of the best years ever for the Central Ohio real estate market" said 2016 Columbus REALTORS® President John Royer. 

“We continue to have record numbers of home sales each month and the demand for homes continues to be exceedingly strong.”

— Columbus REALTORS®

There were 2,227 central Ohio homes and condos sold during the month of November, a 15.8% increase over the previous year, according to the Columbus REALTORS® Multiple Listing Service. Year to date (January through November), home sales are up to 29,196 which is 7.1% above the same period in 2015. 

As the cold weather and holiday frenzy sets in, inventory naturally decreases. 2016 was dominated by a seller's market due to low inventory and low interest rates for buyers. Even though interest rates are starting to come up they are still historically low making it a great time to purchase! For all of my sellers out there, 2017 will be a great time to list with all the buyers the new year will bring and the buyers that were unable to find their dream home last year and are still hunting. 

Real estate offers flexibility, financial freedom and the ability to work as hard as you want to achieve your goals! There are no limits to your success and many different ways you can work and run your business. If anyone has questions about the industry as a client or potential job please reach out so we can talk and I'll help in any way that I can. Keller Williams is a fantastic brokerage and I've been very happy with the support, training, technology and events that are available to me. In addition to residential I am pursuing my KW Commercial designation to be mentored and learn more to better serve all of my clients. I have also joined the Keller Williams Young Professionals and helped them officially launch their Columbus Chapter! 

2016 has been a great year full of learning, open houses, happy hours and helping buyers find their dream homes! Here are some fun highlights below. From my family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

To keep up with the exciting things happening in 2017 follow @columbesthomes

Columbest Summer Events

Mark your calendars for the Columbest Summer of 2016

Living in such a great city makes my job as your local, lifestyle, REALTOR® great. There are many diverse and unique areas within Greater Columbus that all have something special to offer. The best part is that no matter where you live, you can experience highlights of each area, different cultures, music, art, food and more through these summer festivals! I encourage you to go to a festival you've never been to or explore an area of the city you're less familiar with this summer. Engage, explore and enjoy!

• The Memorial Tournament – May 30 through June 5
• Easton Sounds on the Town Concert Series – Wednesdays, June 1 through August 31
• FFOCOL – Film Festival of Columbus – June 2 through 11
• Nelsonville Music Festival – June 2 through 5
• Food & Funk Fest – June 4
• 31st Annual Music on the Lawn in Grandview – Tuesdays, June 7 through July 26
• Grove City Summer Sizzle Concert Series - Most Fridays June 3 through August 26
• Summer Fridays at the Statehouse – Fridays, June 3 through August 26, except July 3
• Rhythm on the River, Bicentennial Park – Most Fridays, June 3 through September 2
• Summer in the 614, Worthington – June 4
• Short North/Victorian Village Yard Sale – June 4
• Hubbard Mastery School Bazaar & Shoe Drive – June 4
• Tour of Franklinton Cycling Race – June 5
• North Market Peddler’s Picnic – Sundays June 5 through October 30, except July 10 and October 16
• Stop and Smell the Roses – no official event this year, peak blooms mid-June
• DAC Sundays at Scioto summer concert series – Sunday evenings from June 5 through July 31 and August 14
• Ohio Peace Festival – June 6 through 14
• Fountainside at Scioto Mile – Wednesdays, June 8 through August 17
• Sommerfest I – June 10
• CAPA Summer Movie Series – June 10 through August 7
• Park Street Festival – June 10 and 11
• Big Local Art Tent at the Columbus Arts Festival – June 10, 11, 12
• Columbus Arts Festival - June 10, 11, 12
• Olde Towne East – Trash to Treasures Yard Sale – June 11
• Pickerington Teen Book Festival – June 11
• The Moonlight Market on Gay Street – June 11
• World Naked Bike Ride – June 11
• ZombieWalk – June 11
• Grandview Digfest – June 11
• Old Oaks Boulevard Blast – NEW! – June 11
• Midwest Haunters Convention – June 11 and 12
• Origins Game Fair – June 15 through 19
• Gallery of Echoes, The Columbus Public Art Project – June 15 through 19
• Wex Drive-In, Moonrise Kingdom – June 16
• Indianola Stroll – June 17
• Tour de Grandview – June 17
• Plein Air at the Ohio Statehouse, June 17
• Celtic Fest at Ohio Renaissance Festival grounds –NEW! June 17 through June 19
• Zoofari – June 18
• Washboard Music Festival – June 17 through 19
• Picnic with the Pops – June 17 through July 30
• Columbus PRIDE Festival – June 17, 18 and 19
• Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival – June 17, 18 and 19
• Buckeye Country Superfest – June 18 and 19
• Worthington Arts Festival – June 18 and 19
• Juneteenth Ohio Festival – in Genoa Park – June 18 and 19
• Grove City Wine and Arts Festival – June 18
• Sunlight Market on Gay Street - June 19
• Schmeckfest VII – June 19
• Best Bites BBQ – June 23
• London Cobra Auto Show – June 23 through 26
• Powell Festival – June 24 and 25
• Easton Art Affair – June 24, 25, and 26
• Comfest – June 24, 25, and 26
• Main Library Opening Day Celebration – June 25
• Hilltop Bean Dinner – June 25
• Bus Tours, Columbus Historical Society – June 25
• Grandview Hop – June 25

• Red White & Boom – July 1
• BoomFest – July 1
• Red White & Brats – July 1
• National Pokémon Championship – July 1, 2, 3
• Olentangy Summer Bash – July 2
• Doo Dah Parade – July 4
• The Heritage Concert Series, Mayme Moore Park - July 7 through August 18 on Thursdays
• Downtown Live, Columbus Commons, Thursdays July 7, 14, 21, 28
• North Market Ohio Wine Festival – July 8, 9, 10
• AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days – July 8, 9, 10
• Westerville Music and Arts Festival – July 8, 9, 10
• 4th & 4th Fest – July 9
• The Moonlight Market on Gay Street – July 9
• Opening Day Pirate Island, Zoo – July 9 and 10
• Mayor’s Twilight Ride – TBD 2016
• Pickerington Violet Festival – July 13 through 16
• Young Writers Short Play Festival, MadLab Theatre – July 15 through 30
• Taste of Worthington – July 15
• Indianola Stroll – July 15
• PromoWest Fest – NEW! July 15, 16, 17
• Ohio Brew Week – July 15 through 23
• TrotCon – July 15, 16, 17
• Summer Jam Westgate – July 16
• Chess Picnic at the Park of Roses – July 16
• 10th Annual Gardening & Arts Festival, Scioto Gardens, Delaware – July 16
• Art Crawl in German Village – July 16
• Franklin County Fair – July 16 through 23
• Sunlight Market on Gay Street - July 17
• Lancaster Festival – July 20 through 30
• Wex Drive-In, Psycho – July 21
• World Bazaar, Westerville – July 22
• Sommerfest II – July 22
• Jazz and Ribs Fest – new location! July 22, 23, 24
• 2X2 Hip-Hop Festival – July 23
• Bus Tours, Columbus Historical Society – July 23
• Lazy Daze of Summer Festival – July 23
• Columbus Conscious: A Community and Music Festival – NEW! July 23 and 24
• Union County Fair – July 24 through July 30
• Ohio State Fair – July 27 through August 7
• Canal Winchester Blues and Ribfest – July 29 and 30
• Gahanna’s Great Outdoors “Throw Back” Parks & Rec Party – July 30
• Whitehall Food Truck & Fun Fest – July 30
• Powell Street Market – July 31
• Lobster Days, Hills Market Worthington – Saturdays, July 30 through August 27
• Grandview Hop – July 30
• FeMME Fest - July/August (unconfirmed)

• The Werk Out Music and Arts Festival, Thornville – August 4, 5, 6
• Hot Rod Hula Hop, a tiki themed event – August 5 and 6
• Columbus Summer Beerfest – August 5 and 6
• Pelotonia – August 5, 6, 7
• Dublin Irish Festival – August 5, 6, 7
• Gardens by Candlelight, Frank Fetch Park start – August 6
• All Ohio Balloon Festival – August 11, 12, 13
• ProMusica Summer Series – new location in Topiary Park – August 11, 13, 14
• Columbus Food Truck Festival - August 12 and 13
• The Moonlight Market on Gay Street – August 13
• Bourbon Tasting, Grove City – August 13
• Festival Latino – August 13 and 14
• North Market Farmers’ Festival – August 13
• Sangria Festival – August 13
• Taste the Future - August 16
• Wex Drive-In, Unstoppable – August 18
• Farm on Fire – August 18, 19, 20
• Indianola Stroll – August 19
• Fête en Blanc - August 19
• Sommerfest III – August 19
• MatsuriCon – August 19, 20, 21
• Egyptian Festival – August 19, 20, 21
• Cruise the Ville – August 20
• African Village Arts Festival – August 20
• TEA 43206 – August 20
• India Festival – August 20
• Ganther’s Place Harvest and Jazz Festival – August 20
• CrestFest – August 20
• EcoFest, Grove City – August 20
• WAG! Dog Festival – August 20
• Sunlight Market on Gay Street - August 21
• Arch City Comedy Festival – August 25, 26, 27
• Craft Brew at the Zoo – August 26
• Breakaway Music Festival, Ohio State Fairgrounds – August 26 and 27
• Easton Ohio Proud Summer Fest – August 27
• Grandview Hop – August 27
• Bus Tours, Columbus Historical Society – August 27
• Urban Scrawl – August 27 and 28
• Merion Village Festival – August 28

• The Garden Tour, Old Oaks Historic District – June 4
• Bexley Women’s Club House & Garden Tour – June 5
• Westgate Home & Garden Tour – June 11
• Haus und Garten Tour, German Village – June 26
• Summer Tour of Historic Homes, Olde Towne East – July 10
• Merion Village Garden Tour – July 12
• WesterFlora Garden Tour – July 17
• Ganther’s Place Garden Tour – July 24
• Clintonville Homes Tour – TBA
• Short North Tour of Homes – September 18 (unconfirmed)

Hope everyone has a great summer in Columbus! If you or anyone you know is looking to rent, buy, sell or invest in real estate please let me know at pfjohnson@kw.com or 614-638-5817 

I also highly recommend this Columbus Summer Checklist from Morgan at Columbus Living Blog! Thanks to Columbus Underground, Experience Columbus and more for aggregating all of the wonderful things happening this summer.

My Philosophy for Buyers

When I work with buyers my goal is to provide a well rounded high quality experience. Whether you are renting, purchasing a home for the first time or are a savvy real estate client with experience, I will provide a personalized approach to make the process as easy and fun for you as possible. Moving is said to be the 3rd most stressful life event and normally it coincides with many other stressful life events - a wedding, divorce, death of a loved one, relocation, etc. Whatever the reason for your move, you should be focused on choosing the place that suits you, your budget and your needs. My job is to do all of the research, the appointment setting, have the difficult conversations, fight for your best interests, maintain all of the paperwork, deadlines and keep you up to date in a concise manner every step of the way so you don't have to be stressed.

I firmly believe that what type of home you live in and where that home is located directly affects your lifestyle. There are a lot of factors when it comes to choosing a home and there are practical, functional, and aspirational aspects that need to be prioritized. A great real estate agent can tell you whether or not you can find what you're looking for in your price range. Sometimes a small bump in price range can make a huge difference. However, a lot of buyers are pre-approved for a lot more than they need to spend to be happy and that extra money a month has an impact on their lifestyle. If you love to travel and eat out frequently or require a babysitter often the home you choose shouldn't limit those aspects of your life, where you live should enhance your lifestyle. 

Why do you need a REALTOR?

As a licensed real estate professional I provide much more than the service of helping you find your ideal home.  Realtors are expert negotiators with other agents, seasoned financial advisors with clients, and superb navigators around the local neighborhood.  They are members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and must abide by a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice enforced by the NAR.  A professional Realtor is your best resource when buying your home.

Let me be your guide!

As a knowledgeable Realtor I...

•Can save you endless amounts of time, money, and frustration.

•Know the housing market inside and out and can help you avoid the “wild goose chase.”

•Can help you with any home, even if it is listed elsewhere or if it is being sold directly by the owner.

•Know the best lenders in the area and can help you understand the importance of being pre-approved for a mortgage. I can also discuss  and negotiate down payments, closing costs, and monthly payment options that suit you.

•Am an excellent source for both general and specific information about the community such as schools, churches, shopping, and transportation --plus tips on home inspections and pricing.

•Am experienced at presenting your offer to the homeowner and can help you through the process of negotiating the best price. We bring objectivity to the buying transaction, and we can point out the advantages and the disadvantages of a particular property.

•AM FREE! The best thing about me as your Realtor is that all this help will not cost you a cent.  The Seller pays my commission to my Brokerage so there is no reason not to be represented by someone with your best interest in mind. 

1. Contact me so that I can connect you with a mortgage agent to get pre-approved and find out what you can afford to spend before we start the search process.
2. We'll meet and discuss your budget, housing needs and dreams (Pinterest is a BIG help here) to create a profile of what you're looking for. I will set you up on a listing search through the MLS that only agents have access to so you will receive an email every time a home that matches your criteria comes on the market. Getting these listings through an agent before they pop up on the third party sites (zillow, realtor.com, trulia, etc.) is KEY to gain a competitive advantage for negotiations. 
3. Once the right property is found, an offer to purchase is written up, presented and negotiated. If accepted, I will prepare a timeline with responsibilities for all parties involved and you are officially in contract!
4. While you are in contract you will need to fulfill any contingencies like financing and inspection, but don't worry I'll guide you through the entire process to get you to the closing table.
5. On closing day you will sign lots of paperwork, transfer funds, get your keys and start the next chapter of your life (with a special closing gift from yours truly)!

To learn more about the home buying process or for help finding the perfect rental for you in the least stressful way, get in touch with me! You can email me at pfjohnson@kw.com or call/text me at 614.638.5817 so we can meet for coffee or a drink and get to know each other. I specialize in urban neighborhoods but can help anywhere in greater Columbus! Keep in mind that my commission is paid for by the seller of the home so there is no reason not to have me doing all the dirty work for you and fighting to get you the best deal on your dream home!

Home Buying Happy Hour

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Join me at The Pint House in the Short North to find out everything you need to know about purchasing a home while enjoying a complimentary drink and appetizers!

You will receive expert insight from Lisa Billings, a VP of Mortgage Lending and myself, a local real estate agent who would be happy to answer all of your specific questions. Regardless of what stage you are at in the home buying process we feel confident we can provide helpful information from improving your credit score and deciding on your budget to how to find the best home for you in the right area!

THE PINT HOUSE I  THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH  I  5:30PM - 7:30PM

Please RSVP for this free event by clicking here as space is limited. We hope to see you there!!

A Great Time to Buy

Today’s market is great for homebuyers. If you’ve been thinking about purchasing a home, now is an excellent time to buy.

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If you've been debating purchasing a home, here are three reasons to consider regarding timing:

Current lending rates are historically low and down payment requirements are as low 3.5% for FHA loans. Interest rates aren't just important for the monthly payment amount, but also because when the interest is lower the bulk of your payment is going towards your principal which is your equity and helps pay off the house faster.

The national median home price for November is $221,900 with the average interest rate at 3.79%. If you purchase a home for $221,900 with 3.5% down at the 3.79% interest rate your monthly payment of principal and interest would be $996!

If you aren't ready to purchase yet but are thinking you will in the next year or more, it is a great idea to talk to a lender and see if they have any suggestions of things you can do while you're waiting to help you get the best loan possible. Obviously increasing your income and reducing your debt is good, but credit is so important. You should have a credit card and use it, but never let a balance of more than 30% of your limit sit. If you are self employed or receive commission, typically lenders will need two years history of that to incorporate that income when considering you for a loan. For tips like this and more give me a call and I will set you up with a lender that I trust!

Once you speak with a lender and find out what purchase price you qualify for let me know and we can start looking at what kind of house that number gives you in different areas of Columbus! You can always browse listings on my site sorted by community to give you an idea as well: