Are you a New Albany home owner who recently relocated to the area? Are you interested in finding something fun and cheap to do during your free time?

Then you’ve come to the right New Albany real estate website!

Below, we’ve compiled a list of just some of the fun community events that you and your family may enjoy during the month of April.

Hope to see you at one of these community events soon!

Check Out These Upcoming Community Events in Central Ohio

Capitol Steps: This politically-aware group of performs take newspaper headlines from recent weeks and morph them song parodies and outrageous skits. This is sure to be appealing to anyone with a finger on the pulse of what’s going on in Washington!

• When: 8 p.m. on April 13
• Where: Jeanne B. McCoy Center for the Arts, 100 W. Dublin-Granville Road in New Albany
• Admission: $20 to $30
• More Info: Call 614-6545-0642

Symphony Performance: The New Albany Symphony will share a performance with the public titled “The New World.” Those residents who arrive early to the performance will have a chance to participate in a silent auction!

• When: 7 p.m. on April 15
• Where: Jeanne B. McCoy Center for the Arts, 100 W. Dublin-Granville Road in New Albany
• Admission: $12 to $20
• More Info: Call 614-323-1237

Paws in the Plaza: Come bring your best four-legged friend to this outdoor festival, which will feature river walks, pet-friendly shops and visiting pet vendors! Other exhibits that are likely to be there include free nail trimmings, caricature artists, giveaways, rescues, and more!

• When: 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays from April 5 to November 1
• Where: Mill Street and Creekside Plaza, 123 Mill Street in Gahanna
• Admission: FREE
• More Info: Call 614-418-9114

Homemade Crafts: Come learn how to make homemade soap during this Make & Take Craft event at the Ohio Herb Education Center. During the class, participants will mix essential oils and other simple ingredients to create a home cleanser.

• When: April 4 to 28; times vary
• Where: Ohio Herb Education Center, 110 Mill Street in Gahanna
• Admission: $5
• More Info: Call 614-342-4380

Your New Albany, OH Real Estate Experts

We hope you and your family are able to find the time to attend one of these interesting community events going on in Central Ohio in April.

If you do, let us know what you thought of it!

For more ideas on fun events going on in the area, check back in to our New Albany real estate blog.

And if you’re considering buying or selling a New Albany property any time soon, be sure to contact us, Kate & Tony Thomas!

Until next time,

Kate & Tony

Are you an interested New Albany home buyer who’s ready to start searching the Central Ohio real estate market for your dream home?

If so, then you’ve come to the right place!

Today, we’re going to tell you about the important questions that you as a home buyer should ask throughout the New Albany real estate transaction process.

Continue reading for these invaluable home buying tips! (more…)

When it comes to buying a New Albany home for sale, we can’t stress enough the importance of knowing what you’re looking for before you ever enter the market.

By knowing your non-negotiables when it comes to your dream home, you’ll quickly weed out the homes for sale that don’t match your criteria.

This will ultimately save you both time and money as you navigate the New Albany real estate market.

Continue reading to discover various criteria that you should consider when looking for your dream home.

New Albany Properties for Sale

Here are some common home buying parameters that will help find the New Albany home of your dream more quickly.

Location: Cul-de-sac versus corner lot

• Pros of owning a Cul-de-sac lot: It’s an excellent choice for young families with small children.
• Cons: Many home buyers perceive that cul-de-sacs mean there’s less privacy amongst neighbors.
• Pros of owning a corner lot: Typically corner lots are larger and they have fewer neighbors
• Cons: There’s more traffic noise. Plus, the chances of someone accidentally driving on your grass are higher.

Home type: Single-family home versus condo/town home

• Pros of owning a single-family home: Your home will likely enjoy great appreciation. In addition, single-family homes are more private and quieter.
• Cons: Typically they’re more expensive both upfront and in terms of maintenance costs.
• Pros of owning a condominium or town home: They’re generally less expensive. In addition, they’re lower maintenance than a single-family home.
• Cons: There’s less privacy and you don’t have as much noise control. Plus, you sometimes don’t get a private yard or balcony with these home types.

Story Height: Single vs. multiple story home

• Pros of owning a single-story home: It’s the preferred style for those who need wheelchair access. Also, it’s easier to clean.
• Cons: Some home owners feel safer if their bedroom is located on a second-story. Also, a greater portion of the lot is occupied by the one-story home, which generally has a ranch style.  Ranch style homes tend to cost more because it has a larger footprint than a 2 story home.
• Pros of owning a multiple-story home: Home owners have more living space. Residents can have bedrooms on the second floor.
• Cons: Residents will have to use the stairs to access part of their home, which may not be good for people with bad knees or other health ailments. Also, room temperatures may be inconsistent throughout the house unless the home owner invests in dual heating and cooling units.

Miscellaneous factors to consider

• Number of bedrooms/bathrooms: Depending on your needs as a family, you may want anywhere from 2 bedrooms to upwards of 5; most home buyers prefer a minimum of 2.5 baths.  Location of bedrooms is a personal choice – lower level bedrooms are less desirable than above grade but are a great way to expand the sleeping quarters in a home.
• Square footage: How much space does your family need to live comfortably? When considering that question, remember that cost-per-square-footage is less on larger homes than smaller ones. Also, consider whether the home’s layout effectively uses the home’s square footage or not.

Your New Albany, Ohio REALTORS

We hope you found the above information helpful as a New Albany home buyer.

As you can see, there are a lot of factors you should consider before you even begin looking for your dream New Albany home!

For more helpful tips on how to effectively navigate the New Albany real estate market as a home buyer, contact us, Kate & Tony Thomas, today!

Until next time,

Kate & Tony

Central Ohio home buyers often ask us, what are the benefits to working with a New Albany agent like you versus doing a For Sale By Owner?

From marketing expertise to knowledge about the ins and outs of the housing market, there are plenty of reasons to work with a REALTOR when searching for your dream home.

Continue reading to discover some of the top reasons why so many New Albany home buyers turn to us, Kate & Tony Thomas, for help.

New Albany, Ohio Real Estate Experts

Here are just some of the benefits that you as a home buyer will enjoy when you work with New Albany real estate experts like us, Kate & Tony Thomas:

• Real Estate Experience. While it’s true you can learn a lot about the real estate transaction process from the Internet and books, you’re not likely to learn everything that we have during our many years of working on the New Albany real estate market. That expert knowledge can prove invaluable as you comb through the New Albany real estate market searching for a great deal on your next dream home.

• Knowledge About New Albany Neighborhoods. Although real estate agents are prohibited by law to disclose information on schools, crime and demographics, we can tell you about where you can find that information as a prospective home buyer. Plus, we can provide you with a comprehensive report on what homes are selling for in a neighborhood. This will ensure that you’re in a reasonable price range when you make an offer on a home in that neighborhood.

• Knowledge About New Albany Market Conditions. Every month, I provide home buyers with a full report on New Albany housing market conditions, including the average list price as well as the median sales price on area homes. This information governs what your offer price will be on your dream New Albany home.

• Professional Network: From home inspectors to interior decorators, we have built a network over the years with professionals who often work with new home owners. When you work with us, we’ll be able to put you in contact with these preferred vendors, who have built a reputation for quality and efficiency.

• Closing Experience: As New Albany REALTORS, we have extensive experience negotiating for a great sales price for our home buyers. We know the ins and outs of the housing market and will use that to your advantage in order to get you the best deal on your New Albany home.

• We Make Home Buying Hassle Free: Home buying can be a tedious process, especially given all the paperwork that it involves. As your New Albany real estate experts, we’ll make the home buying process as easy for you as possible by explaining the various legal forms to you and answering any questions you may have. We’ll also make sure these forms and documents get where they need to go for you!

Investing in a New Albany Home for Sale

If you’re thinking about investing in a New Albany home and would like the expert guidance that only a REALTOR can provide, then contact us, Kate & Tony Thomas, today!

We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have, let you know about available listings and provide you with a number of home buying resources, including:

• Planning your move
• Moving with kids
• Request a relocation guide

Until next time,

Kate & Tony

Last time, we shared with you some of the advantages and disadvantages of owning a new construction New Albany home.

Today, we’ll continue the series by telling you about the pros and cons of owning a resale home on the New Albany real estate market.

Investing in New Albany, Ohio Real Estate

Although it may seem that buying a new construction home would be the superior investment, there are actually plenty of reasons why home buyers choose resale homes instead.

Here are some of the advantages of buying a resale home:

• You’ll be able to enjoy a yard with lush landscaping and established trees immediately.  When you buy a new construction home, you’ll likely have to invest in the initial landscaping yourself.  Not only can that be costly, but it can also be years before you can fully enjoy the fruits of your investment.  If you prefer to live somewhere that already has a canopy of trees overhead and lush landscaping, resale homes are the way to go.

• You may inherit some appliances and window treatments from the previous owner.  Often times, home buyers successfully bargain with sellers to throw in the fridge or washer and dryer with the purchase of the home.  You may not have that bargaining option with a new construction home.

 New Albany Resale Properties

Yet, home buyers should be aware that there are also some drawbacks to buying an existing property.

Here are some of the disadvantages that you should know about before entering the New Albany real estate market:

• You may be investing in an outdated floor plan. Like anything else, the trends that dictate the housing industry change over time.  Dated floor plans may prove to be less convenient or efficient than more modern layouts.

• You’ll have to pay to get your home inspected. Because you aren’t the only person who has ever lived in the home, you’ll want to invest in getting your home inspected for mold, plumbing and wiring issues and more at some point.

• Eventually you’ll have to buy all-new appliances.  While it’s great that sellers will often throw in their appliances with the purchase of the home, those appliances will eventually get to old to use.  That means that at some point down the road, you’ll have to foot the bill for all-new appliances.

Your New Albany REALTORS

We hope that you have found our series on new construction versus resale homes helpful as a home buyer.

After all, the sooner you can narrow down the search for your dream New Albany home, the more time and money you’re likely to save in the process.

When you’re ready to take that next step toward investing in New Albany real estate, contact us, Kate & Tony Thomas.

As your Central Ohio real estate experts, we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have and offer you such invaluable home buying tools as:

• Making an offer
• The closing process
• Relocation resources

Until next time

Kate & Tony

CNN Money recently published its Top 10 Home Buyer Checklist.

Since we found the list quite helpful and relevant, we wanted to share it with you.

If you’re a New Albany home buyer, continue reading to discover what every home buyer should know before entering the Central Ohio real estate market.

Investing in New Albany Real Estate

Here are some of the facts that CNN Money said every home buyer should know before investing in a New Albany home:

• Plan to Stay in Your New Home for at least a Couple of Years.  Given the cost of buying and selling a home, it may not be cost effective to own New Albany real estate if you just plan on leaving after a year or so.  Thus, plan on living there for at least a few years to get the most out of your investment.

• Make Sure Your Credit is in Good Standing.  Unless you’re independently wealthy, you’ll likely have to take out a mortgage to buy your next home.  You want your credit to be good to ensure you get the best rates possible.  Consider requesting a copy of your credit report a few months before you enter the housing market to make sure all the information is accurate.

• Start Looking in the Right Price Range from the Get Go.  By being realistic about the price range you can afford early on, you’ll ultimately save yourself a lot of time and heartache.  One general rule of home buying is to only look at homes that are 2.5 times your annual salary or less.

• Even if you can’t put 20 percent down, you may still qualify for a loan.  Many public and private lenders out there will offer low-interest mortgages for down payments as small as 3 percent.

• Consider Which Schools Your Neighborhood is Zoned For.  Even if you don’t have children, it’s important to pay attention to the schools for which your home is zoned.  That’s because this will help determine how easy it is for you to resale your home down the road.  In addition, quality schools in the area help to increase home values.  Check out which New Albany School information by checking out our New Albany School Report Card.

Your New Albany REALTORS

Join us next time as we reveal the second half of CNN Money’s Top 10 List of Things Every Home Buyer Should Know.

For more tips on how to effectively navigate the New Albany real estate market, make sure to contact us, Kate & Tony Thomas.

As your New Albany REALTORS, we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have as well as offer you our expert real estate advice.

Ready to start searching for your dream New Albany home today? Check out some of our user-friendly search options:

• Search New Albany homes under $200,000
• Search homes between $200,000 and $400,000
• Search homes between $400,000 and $600,000
• Search homes between $600,000 and $800,000
• And more!

Until next time,

Kate & Tony Thomas

The New Albany, Ohio real estate market saw a lot of changes during the last couple of months, according to the most recent data from the real estate website Trulia.

Evidently, both home sales and home sales prices have been on the rise lately.

Continue reading to learn more about the latest trends on the New Albany housing market, and how they may affect you as a New Albany home buyer.

New Albany Homes for Sale

Here’s an overview of the current state of the New Albany real estate market based on recent market data:

• Currently there are 286 homes for sale.
• Between August and October 2011, the median sales price for a New Albany home was $305,000, which represents an 18.4 percent increase when compared to the same period last year.
• Last year, the median sales price was $257,500.
• During the week ending on November 2, the average price per square foot for a New Albany property was $157, which represents a 33.1 percent increase when compared to last year.
• During that same week, the average listing price for homes was $394,553, which is a 1.8 percent decrease when compared to the week before.
• Here’s how nearby markets stacked up in terms of average listing prices during that same week:

- Gahanna, Ohio: $195,597
-Westerville, Ohio: $246,323
-Pataskala, Ohio: $188,683
-Whitehall, Ohio: $109,092
-Reynoldsburg, Ohio: $138,261

This recent market data suggests that now is a great time to be a New Albany home buyer.  As the number of home sales continues to rise, so will sales prices.

Thus, if you’re looking to get a great deal on a New Albany property for sale, then we recommend you enter the market soon.

Investing in Real Estate

As your New Albany real estate experts, we believe that knowledge is power.  That’s why we work hard to provide interested home buyers with the most up-to-date market information each month.

That way you have a realistic and comprehensive view of the current state of the market, which will ultimately make you a savvier home buyer.

If you’d like to learn more about how we make navigating the market easier for New Albany home buyers every day, contact us, Kate and Tony Thomas, today.

We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have as well as provide you with such helpful real estate tools as:

• New Albany home finder
• Relocation resources
• Buying a home
• And more!

Until next time,

Kate & Tony

Winter is a great time to live in New Albany, Ohio.  That’s because this community oriented community always has a ton of holiday events going on during this time of year.

If you’ve been thinking about relocating to central Ohio, I recommend you check out some of these family-friendly activities.  It will give you a good idea of why so many people consider New Albany such a special place to live.

Enjoy These Family-Friendly Activities This Month in New Albany

Here is just a sampling of some of the holiday-themed events that you and your family could enjoy as New Albany residents this year:

Holiday Spectacular: Enjoy this annual holiday concert featuring the New Albany Symphony Orchestra and the Columbus Children’s Choir. Arrive early for your chance to purchase a Gift Box and to enjoy some pre-concert activities with the kids. You can even bring a canned food item to support the Mid-Ohio Food Bank.

•  When:  3 to 5 p.m. on December 18
• Where: Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts
• Admission: $11 to $22
• More Info: Call 614-245-4701

Holiday Lights Show: Enjoy the magic of the holiday season at this holiday light show in Gahanna.  During this annual holiday event, visitors enjoy a holiday parade, the holiday tree lighting and even a visit with Santa Claus!

• When: November 12 to January 2
• Where: Olde Gahanna and Creekside, 123 Mill Street in Gahanna
• Admission: FREE
• More Info: Call 614-418-9114

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas:  On the 45th anniversary of the holiday classic, visitors can view 44 original production cells, animation sketches and even behind-the-scenes photos from this film.

• When: Now through January 4
• Where: Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, 1777 E. Broad Street in Columbus
• Admission: Adults $11. Seniors and students $9. Children $6. Children under 2 free.
• More Info: Call 614-645-8733

The Nutcracker:  Many people connect the holiday season with this classic ballet, which tells the story of young Clara and her Nutcracker Prince.  Now you and your family can enjoy this enchanting ballet in person at the Ohio Theatre, which will have performances of The Nutcracker throughout the month.

• When: Now through December 23; Times vary
• Where: 39 E. State Street in Columbus
• Admission: Prices vary
• More Info:  Call 800-745-3000 or 614-469-0939

 Investing in New Albany, Ohio Real Estate

Stay tuned next week when we’ll tell you about even more holiday activities going on in the New Albany, Ohio area.

If you get a chance to attend one of the events I mentioned above, please let me know what you thought of it!

New Albany is a wonderful place to live – not just during the holiday season, but all year-round.  If you’re ready to take the next step toward making New Albany your permanent home, then contact us, Kate & Tony Thomas, today.

We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have and let you know about available listings in the area.

Until next time,

Kate & Tony

 The New Albany Country Club is a stunning residential community made up of several unique neighborhoods, all of which are connected by a nature trail system.

There are seventeen distinctive communities that comprise the New Albany Country Club, all of which provide residents with incredible views of the 27-hold Jack Nicklaus golf course.

These neighborhoods showcase a wide range of prices and square footage and include:

• Alban Mews $500,000 – $750,000; 2,750 – 4,000 sq. ft.
• Ashton Grove $400,000 – $650,000; 2,750 – 4,000 sq. ft.
• Clivdon $750,000 – $2,000,000; 3,500 – 7,000 sq. ft.
• Fenway $500,000 – $1,750,000; 3,500 – 7,000 sq. ft.
• Hawksmoor $1,000,000 – $2,000,000; 3,500 – 7,000 sq. ft.
• Planters Grove $400,000 – $750,000; 2,750 – 4,500 sq. ft.
• Richmond Square $350,000 – $500,000; 2,250 – 2,500 sq. ft.
• The Reserve $500,000 – $1,000,000; 3,000 – 4,500 sq. ft.
• Upper Fenway $400,000 – $800,000; 3,000 – 4,000 sq. ft.
• Waterston $800,000 – $1,500,000; 3,500 – 6,000 sq. ft.
• Wiveliscombe $900,000 – $1,500,000; 4,000 – 6,000 sq. ft.
• And others!

However, these price ranges are just an average.  To see how much these homes are currently selling for, continue reading to learn more!

New Albany Country Club Properties for Sale

Here’s an overview of real estate market activity in the New Albany Country Club, based on the most recent data from real estate website Trulia.

• Right now there are 56 resale and new homes on the market, including 5 homes in the pre-foreclosure, auction or bank-owned stages.
• Between August and October, the median sales price for a New Albany Country Club home was $730,100, which represents less than a 1 percent decrease when compared to last year.
• Last year, the median sales price was $736,500.
• During that same period, the average price per square footage in this Ohio neighborhood was $162, which is equal to last year.
• During the week ending on Nov. 2, the average listing price for a New Albany Country Club home was $922.800.
• Comparatively, during that same week, the average listing price for all New Albany homes was $394,553.

Find Your Dream New Albany Home Today!

I hope you found the above information helpful as a New Albany home buyer.  If you’d like further assistance in analyzing the numbers and figuring out how it affects you, then contact us, Kate and Tony Thomas, today.

We’ll be happy to help you navigate the New Albany real estate market by providing you with expert advice as well as an array of helpful home buying tools.

We even have a state-of-the-art home search feature that allows you to search homes in specific price ranges:

• New Albany homes for sale under $200,000
• New Albany homes for sale between $200k – $400k
• New Albany homes for sale between $200k and $600k
• NewAlbany homes for sale between $600k and $800k
• New Albany homes for sale between $800k and $1 million
• New Albany homes over $1 million

Until next time,

Kate & Tony

New Albany Country Club Homes Prices Hold

Sale prices of homes in the New Albany Country Club community seem to have leveled out.  2012 prices remain equal to 2009 and 2010.  One of the gauges we use to evaluate sales trends is $ per Square Foot.  If you look at the past 3 years, the average sales price for real estate in the New Albany Country Club area has been ~$162/square foot.  While this is significantly less than the peak of $197/sq foot that we saw in 2006, it’s encouraging that we appear to be bouncing along what I believe is the bottom of the market.

Historical Look at New Albany Country Club Sales in $/Square Foot

The graph below illustrates why many real estate experts refer to the time between 2000 – 2010 as the “Lost Decade”.  Home prices in the New Albany Country Club community are actually slightly below the prices we saw in 2000.

 Is Now A Good Time To Sell?

Prices show no sign of going either up or down right now.  When they start to head back up, it’s unlikely that they will take a giant leap.  With few exceptions, in an average year, the Greater Columbus real estate market goes up 3%.  At 3% a year, it will take almost 7 years before we see 2006 prices once prices do begin to rebound.   If now is the time for you to upsize, down size, or just move because you don’t want to redecorate the home you are in, then you should do it.    Homes ARE selling and mortgage rates are at 60 year lows.  Let us know if you’d like Tony or I to assist you with your decision.  We offer confidential and complementary market evaluations of your home to enable you to make the best decision for you and your family.  Call or email us today.

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