Exclusive Buyer's Broker Archives - Columbus Ohio Real Estate | Buyer's Resource Realty Services

Columbus Economy Continues to Draw Home Buyers

RealSupport — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 04:55:28 +0000

Home buyers are finding an economic haven in Central Ohio, according to a recent article in the New York Post. During 2025, Columbus was among the few U.S. metros seeing population growth, while two-thirds of major metros saw population declines. The Post called this home buying trend a search for “recession proof” cities, but we found more to the story.

The home buying data comes from the Bank of America Institute, which studies consumer spending patterns and financial behavior. Overall, their analysis shows that Americans have been moving less since 2021. When Americans do move, most are trading one nearby city for another, typically staying in the same Census region.

For example, Columbus attracts home buyers from Chicago and Pittsburgh, while also attracting buyers from other areas of Ohio. Today’s relocation decisions are being driven by economic opportunity and housing affordability – and by proximity to familiar areas. The sweet spot for relocating home buyers seems to be 1 to 3 hours from their current residence.

When it comes to collecting new residents, two Midwestern cities are leading the pack: Indianapolis and Columbus. Both cities experienced steady population growth during two consecutive quarters in 2025. The cities are somewhat similar in metro population, climate, and culture. However, Columbus has the edge in technology investment and job growth. And this is where the road forks: Columbus has a higher median income than Indianapolis, and higher housing costs. Still, the Columbus median home price remains below the national average.

When it comes to economic strength and job prospects, the Columbus Metro is hard to beat! If you are considering a move, contact us for expert home buying advice. We will also help you explore Columbus neighborhoods and Central Ohio communities!

Get started with our free e-book, “How to Buy a Home Like a Pro!” Download it today from our website, without any obligation.

As Exclusive Buyer’s Brokers, we serve your best interests at all times! Unlike real estate agents and brokerages who represent sellers, as an Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, we only represent you, the buyer, getting you the best price and terms with no conflict of interest, at all times.

Understanding this distinction could literally save you thousands of dollars not only on the purchase price and terms, but also on seller concessions and home inspection issues, whether you are a first-time homebuyer or an experienced homeowner!

Andrew Show
Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, CEBA-M, MCNE, CSP, PSA,e-PRO, CREM, ABRM, AHWD
Buyer’s Resource Realty Services www.BuyersHome.com
Serving Metro Columbus, Ohio with Exclusive Buyer’s Agents
7100 North High Street, Suite 204, Worthington, Ohio 43085
614-888-4110 | 888-888-4110 Toll Free | 614-839-4110 Fax

The post Columbus Economy Continues to Draw Home Buyers appeared first on Columbus Ohio Real Estate | Buyer's Resource Realty Services.

Winter Offers Advantages for Columbus Area Home Buyers

RealSupport — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 07:14:43 +0000

The weather outside is frightful, but winter home buying can be delightful! Here’s why Columbus area buyers should continue their home search during winter.

1. Less competition from other home buyers improves your negotiating power. With fewer buyers in the market during cold weather, sellers are more likely to negotiate on price, repairs and/or closing costs.

2. Motivated sellers need to move on! Sellers who have homes on the market during winter aren’t testing the waters; they need to sell. This gives buyers more clout in purchase negotiations.

3. Asking prices are less ambitious. Home prices in the Columbus area are typically lower during the winter months, because sellers are motivated, and they hope to attract serious buyers as quickly as possible.

4. Mortgage lenders, title companies, home inspectors and appraisers are less busy during winter. This means faster turnaround times and fewer chances of closing delays.

5. Homes take a little longer to sell during winter, reducing pressure on home buyers. (However, the nicest homes with the best prices sell first – always be prepared to make an offer!)

6. You will see how homes handle winter conditions. For example, are there large icicles hanging from the roof? Do some rooms feel colder than others? Are there any obvious drafts? Are all the heat vents working?

7. You will see how neighborhoods handle winter conditions! Are the sidewalks and streets reasonably clear after a snowfall? What are the street parking regulations? Is there sufficient winter parking to accommodate visitors for the holidays?

We hope this has given you inspiration for your winter home search! Whenever you are ready to explore the home buying process, we are here to help you.

The post Winter Offers Advantages for Columbus Area Home Buyers appeared first on Columbus Ohio Real Estate | Buyer's Resource Realty Services.

Finding a Starter Home in Central Ohio: Tips for First-Time Home Buyers

RealSupport — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 22:57:13 +0000

Starter homes are an entry point in the market for first-time home buyers. The ideal Central Ohio starter home should be affordable, practical, well-built, well-maintained, and be located in an area with access to public amenities and daily necessities. When you choose your starter home wisely, it should appreciate in value over time. This helps you build equity, and gives you the chance to “trade up” to a larger or newer home in the future!

Starter homes are being rediscovered by today’s first-time buyers, after years of buyers purchasing large, newer homes right out of the gate. But the days of 3% interest rates are over, and years of rising home prices have put starter homes back in discussion. Here are tips for finding a good starter home in Central Ohio!

Look for a home that is:

Smaller in size (often 2–3 bedrooms)

Priced lower than the broader market average

Located in an established, stable neighborhood with local amenities – grocery stores, medical services, parks, good schools, etc.

Located on a street that is not too busy or noisy

Older, but well-built and maintained. No problems with the foundation, mechanical systems, etc. Be sure to write your offer with home inspection contingencies, and if condition issues are found, call in a contractor for estimates. How you write your offer is extremely important; see our free e-book, “How to Buy a Home like a Pro,” for examples!

Needs some updating, but doesn’t require immediate, big-ticket repairs. This is in the eye of the beholder. If you are willing to replace the roof, or install new windows, consider your budget and the return on investment when looking at a diamond in the rough. (Make sure it’s a diamond, first!)

Note: lead-based paint wasn’t abolished until about 1978. Homes that were built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint, and the older the home is, the more likely it has it. Lead plumbing pipes are also a concern. When you are considering an unrenovated, pre-1980 home, use contingencies to cover any specific testing or specialized inspections.

This is a broad guideline. For expert guidance and unbiased home buying advice, turn to an Exclusive Buyer’s Broker! As Exclusive Buyer’s Brokers, we serve your best interests at all times! Unlike real estate agents and brokerages who represent sellers, as an Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, we only represent you, the buyer, getting you the best price and terms with no conflict of interest, at all times.

The post Finding a Starter Home in Central Ohio: Tips for First-Time Home Buyers appeared first on Columbus Ohio Real Estate | Buyer's Resource Realty Services.

Central Ohio Home Inventory Reaches 9-Year High

RealSupport — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 14:38:59 +0000

The inventory of homes for sale in Central Ohio reached the highest level in nine years during August 2025, according to data from Columbus REALTORS^©. On a year-over-year basis, home inventory has improved by 25%, with 5,736 residential properties listed for sale.

Improved inventory gave Columbus area home buyers some breathing room, but sales remain brisk. Homes spent an average of 29 days on market during August 2025, compared to 22 days on market August 2024.

Despite gains in the number of homes for sale, Central Ohio home prices are moving higher. The average home sales price reached $388,708 during August, an increase of 4.4% from a year ago. However, most home sellers are open to negotiation. Sellers received about 97.2% of their original asking price during August, which is a slight drop from the 98% average from August 2024.

A key indicator of housing demand is the rate of absorption. In other words, how long it would take to sell all the homes on the market, assuming no new listings joined the group. Currently, Central Ohio home inventory stands at 2.3 months of supply – meaning it would take just over 2 months to sell all the homes available on the market.

Historically, a “balanced’ market would stand at 5 to 6 months of supply, and we remain well below this. This is a fancy way of saying that home demand in Central Ohio is still outpacing the number of homes for sale, which is why home prices continue to rise.

All considered, recent reductions in mortgage interest rates, coupled with the improvement in Central Ohio home inventory, offers buyers the best market conditions we’ve seen in some time. We are still in a “seller’s market,” but there are good opportunities for buyers! And because we only represent buyers, we are 100% focused on your interests, helping you get the best home buying value for your budget.

The post Central Ohio Home Inventory Reaches 9-Year High appeared first on Columbus Ohio Real Estate | Buyer's Resource Realty Services.

Exclusive Buyer Brokers put Home Buyers First!

RealSupport — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 14:25:20 +0000

No matter where you live in Central Ohio, you see marketing by local real estate agents. Typically, these agents work for home sellers, but they advertise “services” to home buyers in the same breath. Home buyers seldom realize that when they use an agent who represents both buyers and sellers, they are placing themselves at a serious disadvantage.

Most real estate brokerages practice “dual agency,” meaning they are transaction focused. When an agent works for a brokerage that has listings to sell, their #1 job is to sell those listings – for the highest possible price! As a home buyer, your objective is to purchase a home for the lowest possible price. These conflicting goals create agents who are transaction facilitators. By the nature of dual agency, they are unable to provide specific advice to buyers that could compromise the seller’s interests.

Yet this same type of agent can pass along information about the buyer to the home seller, which weakens the buyer’s negotiating power. And because traditional agents are motivated to sell their own brokerage’s listings, you may have less exposure to other properties on the market. You could also end up overpaying for a home, and/or buying a home that isn’t a good fit for your needs.

There is such a significant difference between traditional agents and Exclusive Buyer Brokers and Agents that we wrote an e-book about it: “How to Buy a Home Like a Pro.” You can download it free from our website, without any obligation. It provides expert home buying insights that you won’t find anywhere else!

In the meantime, here’s a quick way to understand what makes Exclusive Buyer Brokers different: we provide a fiduciary level of service to home buyers, 100% of the time, with no conflict of interests. We never represent sellers or accept listings. We focus exclusively on your needs as the home buyer, getting you the best possible price and terms.

We can also show you any home on the market – including For Sale by Owner (FSBO) or for sale by home builder, or for sale by an agency through the Columbus Regional Multiple Listing Service. Since we do not hold listings of our own, we have no vested interest in any particular home on the market.

We also help you evaluate your mortgage offers, helping you find the best financing for your needs. And when you tour homes with us, we will give you honest, objective advice about the price and quality of the home. When you’re ready to make an offer, we will walk you through the contractual language and the protections we provide.

As Exclusive Buyer’s Brokers, we serve your best interests at all times! Unlike real estate agents and brokerages who represent sellers, Exclusive Buyer’s Brokers only represent you, the buyer, getting you the best price and terms with no conflict of interest, at all times.

The post Exclusive Buyer Brokers put Home Buyers First! appeared first on Columbus Ohio Real Estate | Buyer's Resource Realty Services.

More Central Ohio Homes Hit the Market Mid-Summer

RealSupport — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 23:04:16 +0000

Central Ohio home buyers have the best home selection in years, according to the latest data by Columbus REALTORS^©! Home inventory increased over 20% on a year-over-year basis as of July 2025. Currently, Central Ohio is sitting on the highest housing inventory since 2016, providing home buyers much-needed breathing room.

Home demand has kept the pace of sales brisk. On average, Central Ohio homes spent 27 days on market before going under contract, which is 5 days longer than a year ago. However, the inventory of Central Ohio homes for sale remains below historical norms, standing at 2.3 months of supply. Sellers still have the upper hand, but in certain areas, the grip has loosened a bit!

The median sales price of a Central Ohio home was $342,000 as of July 2025, which is an increase of 4.6% from the prior year. Columbus REALTORS^© report that median sales prices exceed $600,000 in the communities of Dublin, Powell, New Albany, Grandview and Bexley, with Bexley also noted as a Top 10 “Hottest” market by Realtor.com.

For home buyers looking for value, there are several Central Ohio markets offering median sale prices below $300,000. They include:

Columbus City School District $269,950
Groveport Madison LSD $255,500
Lancaster CSD $275,000
London CSD $290,000
Marion CSD $193,000
Newark CSD $230,000

As of August 28, 2025, the average interest rate on a Conventional fixed mortgage was 6.56%. This is the lowest rate average in 10 months, which has provided some incentive to sidelined home buyers. There is the possibility of softening mortgage rates in the months ahead. We will have more guidance after the next Federal Reserve meeting in mid-September, when overall economic conditions are reviewed.

Be prepared for all market conditions with an Exclusive Buyer’s Broker! As Exclusive Buyer’s Brokers, we serve your best interests at all times! Unlike real estate agents and brokerages who represent sellers, as an Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, we only represent you, the buyer, getting you the best price and terms with no conflict of interest, at all times.

The post More Central Ohio Homes Hit the Market Mid-Summer appeared first on Columbus Ohio Real Estate | Buyer's Resource Realty Services.

Boomers Are Top Home Buyers in Latest NAR Study

RealSupport — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 09:34:30 +0000

The Boomer generation remains very active in the housing market, taking over the top home buyer spot from Millennials. According to the latest generational trends report from the National Association of REALTORS©, Baby Boomers accounted for 42% of all home purchases from June 2023 through June 2024. Millennials made 29% of all home purchases, and Gen X buyers outpaced Gen Z for the remainder.

Millennials represent the largest demographic in the U.S. by population, but the Boomer generation has an advantage in the market. Namely, cash! While higher mortgage interest rates and rising home prices curtailed the purchase power of younger generations, homeowner Boomers were able to sell their properties and benefit from years of value appreciation. In turn, many Boomers were able to purchase their new homes with all-cash offers.

It’s no surprise, then, that 53% of all home sellers during the same year-over-year period were Boomers. According to the NAR survey, most Boomers moved to be closer to family, or to downsize.

Here in the Columbus area, Millennial and Gen Z home buyers have more affordable conditions than other major metropolitan areas. About 51% of Millennial residents in the Columbus Metro are homeowners, according to a report by AXIOS. About 41% of Gen Z residents own homes. Buyers who are financially prepared, and educated about the market, can find opportunities in Columbus!

Get expert home buying strategies and insights with our free e-book, “How to Buy a Home like a Pro!” It’s yours immediately without any obligation, and the download is right from our own website.

As Exclusive Buyer’s Brokers, we serve your best interests at all times! Unlike real estate agents and brokerages who represent sellers, as an Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, we only represent you, the buyer, getting you the best price and terms with no conflict of interests.

The post Boomers Are Top Home Buyers in Latest NAR Study appeared first on Columbus Ohio Real Estate | Buyer's Resource Realty Services.

Home Buying Considerations for Extreme Weather Events in Central Ohio

RealSupport — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 07:59:12 +0000

The Central Ohio area is ranked among the most desirable places to live to avoid major climate disasters, according to the 2024 Realtor.com Housing and Climate Risk Report. But no area of the U.S. is immune from extreme weather, and insurance policies are becoming more expensive. For these reasons, Central Ohio home buyers should consider a home’s weather resilience when evaluating properties. Here’s a few things to look for!

1. Flood and drainage protection. Check FEMA flood maps to see if the property is in a flood-prone area. Risk factors vary widely from one Central Ohio location to another.

The topography of a residential parcel should be considered against neighboring properties. Storms can produce water runoff from nearby highways or paved developments. Inspecting the home’s basement or crawlspace can reveal prior water issues. Homes with elevated foundations, sump pumps and proper drainage are better protected from flood risks.

If a home is not located in a FEMA flood zone, you still have the option of purchasing flood insurance. Flood damage is not included in standard home insurance coverage!

2. Heat Resilience. In the past decade, Central Ohio has experienced more summer days with temperatures above 90°F. Warming trends are expected to continue in the years ahead. Look for homes with good insulation, good attic ventilation, light-colored exteriors and roofs, healthy shade trees, and energy-efficient cooling systems. Low-maintenance landscaping that reduces water use is another plus.

3. Storm-Resistant Features. Rough weather wears down roofing over time. Homes with old roofing can mean higher insurance premiums, reduced coverage, or both! Homes that have newer roofing, high-quality windows and steel doors are better equipped against storms. Impact-resistant roofing and windows should be considered if you make upgrades to the home.

Basements provide important shelter from tornadoes, but basements with an egress window are even better! Egress windows provide an emergency escape if the stairs become blocked.

We have many more suggestions for finding well-built, quality homes! Find out more with our free e-book, “How to Buy a Home like a Pro!“

The post Home Buying Considerations for Extreme Weather Events in Central Ohio appeared first on Columbus Ohio Real Estate | Buyer's Resource Realty Services.

Home Sales Update for Central Ohio Buyers

RealSupport — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 07:54:03 +0000

December 2024 was a busy month for Central Ohio home buyers, who closed 2,169 home purchases during the month. Overall, 2024 was another strong year for Central Ohio real estate, with home purchase activity up 4.2%. Central Ohio communities with the strongest sales activity included the South-Western City School District, Grove City, and Marysville.

Central Ohio home inventory improved during 2024, but the uptick in available homes was met with robust buyer demand. Consequently, home prices increased 8.5% on a year-over-year basis, reaching a median sales price of $320,000.

There are a couple of bright spots for Central Ohio home buyers in the statistics:

Homes are taking a few days longer to sell.
Sellers are getting about 98.5% of their asking price, on average, meaning that sellers are willing to negotiate to some degree.

Based on 2024’s year-end data, home buyers in Central Ohio may see these trends in 2025:

1. More listings. These are expected from pent-up sellers who are ready to capitalize on their equity, and from new construction projects that are slated to be completed during 2025. However, home demand will still outpace supply, assuming stable economic conditions.

2. Increased home prices. Until home inventory matches, or exceeds, home demand, prices are still going up. But continued improvement in home inventory will keep prices from overheating.

3. More flexibility from home sellers. An improvement in home inventory, coupled with homes spending more time on the market, will motivate home sellers to consider reasonable offers, rather than expect bidding wars.

4. Variable market conditions from one community to another. Trendy neighborhoods and newer homes are likely to see faster sales, and firmer prices.

All real estate is local, and home buyers should work closely with an Exclusive Buyer’s Broker to obtain the best possible value for their home buying budget!

The post Home Sales Update for Central Ohio Buyers appeared first on Columbus Ohio Real Estate | Buyer's Resource Realty Services.

How to Avoid Fraud During Your Columbus Area Home Purchase

RealSupport — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 08:25:12 +0000

Wire fraud is actively targeting Columbus home buyers and buyers around the country. If you are buying a home anywhere, you are at risk! Through sophisticated email phishing schemes, and the impersonation of legitimate parties, criminals have stolen millions of dollars in down payment funds.

Here are tips from title companies to protect your down payment from theft!

Be suspicious about ANY email changing the instructions for your down payment. Never accept “new” wire instructions that come through email. The more urgent and high-pressure the email sounds, the more suspicious you must be!

Call the title company’s closing officer to verify wiring instructions before you send any money – but do NOT use a phone number from an email. Be sure to have a business card from the title company officer who will handle your closing. When in doubt, reach out to your mortgage lender and real estate agent.

Have your bank confirm the account number associated with your wiring instructions, along with the name on that account. Be sure this information perfectly matches. Never assume that a discrepancy is a mere typo or human error.

You can test the wiring instructions you have by sending a small amount first. Call your title agent to verify receipt of the test wire, before sending the rest of the funds.

Always feel welcome to communicate via telephone with the people involved in your home purchase!

The post How to Avoid Fraud During Your Columbus Area Home Purchase appeared first on Columbus Ohio Real Estate | Buyer's Resource Realty Services.