State of the Market Archives - Columbus Ohio Real Estate | Buyer's Resource Realty Services

Columbus Area Home Inventory Builds as Home Price Rise

RealSupport — Tue, 12 May 2026 08:00:11 +0000

Despite rising inventory, the median price of a Central Ohio home in April 2026 increased 8.3% compared to April 2025. According to data from the Columbus & Central Ohio Regional MLS, April’s median home price was $346,500.

When the sales prices are calculated as an average, home prices were up 5.9% from a year ago, averaging $396,480.

April gave Central Ohio home buyers the best inventory seen in years. The number of homes listed for sale through the Columbus & Central Ohio Regional MLS increased 13.4% compared to April 2025. Home supply, which considers the rate of absorption of available homes, stood at 2 months.

Improved supply helped slow down the pace of sales. On average, homes spent about 39 days on the market before going under contract. This is a slowdown of about 7 days compared to April 2025.

While this is not a “slow” market by any means, the gradual trend of longer days on market and rising inventory should eventually ease home price appreciation. This does not mean buyers should expect home prices to fall below their current thresholds. Instead, the data points to home prices rising more slowly, and by smaller increments, as the number of new listings reach their seasonal peak.

All real estate is local, however, and some Central Ohio markets might ignore that script. Home sales have been robust in the Olentangy Local School District, the Grove City Corporation, the Westerville City School District and the Lancaster City School District. Home prices vary widely by district, with Olentangy Local School District posting the highest median of this group at $581,703.

For Central Ohio home buyers, the spring and early summer market will offer the best selection of homes that we’ve seen in years. And if you work with us, your selection is enhanced by our ability to show you any home on the market, including homes for sale by owner (FSBO) and new construction for sale by home builders, in addition to homes listed through the MLS.

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

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Millennial Generation Leads First-Time Home Buyers

RealSupport — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:51:26 +0000

There is good news and less-than-good news in the latest home buyer survey from the National Association of REALTORS©. In the 2026 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report from NAR, a generational divide is evident among home buying activity, with Baby Boomer adults commanding the lion’s share of the market.

When home buying activity as a whole is examined, Baby Boomers accounted for 42% of the market. This is unchanged from the prior report. Baby Boomers also account for the majority of home sellers at 55%.

Millennials were runner-ups in the home buying race, accounting for 26% of purchase transactions. They were followed by Gen X at 25%, Gen Z at 4%, and the Silent Generation at 4%.

When home buying is examined through the lens of first-time buyers only, the results are more nuanced. This is where Millennials have the greatest market share, followed by Gen X buyers, with Boomers a distant third. However, over the past year, the percentage of purchase transactions belonging to first-time buyers has dropped to 21%. This is the smallest market share for first-time buyers since NAR began tracking it in 1981.

Last year, first-time buyers accounted for 24% of all home purchases. This too, was a low percentage compared to historic norms.

Rising home prices have contributed to the drop in first-time buyers. The median price of a Columbus area home, for example, was $315,000 as of February 2026. Travel back in time to 2020, and you would see a median home price of $200,000 to $232,000. This is quite a price jump in the span of six years, and mortgage interest rates are higher now as well.

For Columbus area home buyers, there is a bright spot – our median home prices are lower than many other major cities, and our employment outlooks are promising. Conditions for first-time buyers will hopefully improve as more home inventory comes to market, and mortgage interest rates decline. Consumer sentiment, economic conditions and interest rate trends could bump the table, but home demand in Central Ohio has been very consistent.

In the meantime, future home buyers should prepare for success! Get started with out free e-book, “How to Buy a Home like a Pro.” The tips and strategies will help you save money and avoid common pitfalls in the home buying process!

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Central Ohio Home Sales Warm Up in January

RealSupport — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 07:11:00 +0000

Central Ohio’s 2026 real estate market opened on a promising note for home buyers! 1,506 home sales were logged during January, essentially matching last year’s pace. New listings followed suit with 2,226 homes hitting the market, a slight uptick of 0.4% from January 2025.

Overall, January home inventory in Central Ohio is up 7.2% compared to the prior year. Homes are taking a bit longer to sell, with a median of 48 days on market. This is by no means a “slow” market, but buyers are not as rushed today as they were a year ago.

Housing demand in our area remains strong, and Central Ohio home prices are still ticking higher. New listings carried a median list price of $325,000 during January, while the median sale price rose 6.7% to $319,900.

January 2026 pending home sales are up 5.5% compared to last January.

As always, it should be noted that statistics provide a broad overview, but local communities have their own sales dynamics. For example, Hilliard City School District roared out of the gate in January with a 62% increase in home sales compared to the prior year. An increase in home inventory helped fuel the boom.

Going forward, Central Ohio home buyers have favorable conditions on two fronts: home inventory is improving, and mortgage interest rates have been inching lower. As of mid-February, 30-year fixed Conventional mortgages averaged a rate of 6.01%.

If you’re planning to buy a Central Ohio home, get expert insights with our free e-book, “How to Buy a Home Like a Pro!” We share tips and strategies you won’t find anywhere else, potentially saving you thousands of dollars!

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Columbus Home Inventory Climbs as 2025 Winds Down

RealSupport — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 07:22:48 +0000

Improved home inventory has been the Columbus area real estate story for 2025! That trend continues with the latest home sales data from Columbus REALTORS©. Here is a summary of November’s market reports, along with our thoughts!

The number of homes for sale in the Columbus Metro was 19.5% higher in November 2025 than November 2024. However, this is primarily due to homes spending more time on the market as new listings trickle in. For example, homes took an average of 40 days to go under contract during November, compared to about 28 days in November 2024.

The percentage of new listings coming to market increased marginally, rising 0.6% compared to last year.

On a year-over-year basis, home prices increased in November, reaching a median of $325,000 compared to $315,000 in November 2024. On a month-to-month basis, median home prices remained flat from October 2025 to November 2025.

On average, sellers are getting about 95% of their original asking price. Overall, this data does not suggest any significant slowdown in the market. Yet there is a particular statistic that bears watching: the number of homes under contract. This is down about 6% compared to November 2024.

The lengthening days on market, combined with lower contract activity, suggests that the Columbus real estate market is slowing as we end 2025. But we have yet to see home prices heading lower; in fact, asking prices are 5% higher than they were a year ago. Home inventory still remains below normal, and this is supporting home prices.

As the New Year gets underway, we have a real estate market approaching balance with gradual increases in home inventory, followed by lengthening days on market. In other words, 2026 could look much like 2025 for Columbus area home buyers! The wild card rests in mortgage interest rates. If we see a meaningful drop in borrowing costs in the year ahead, market activity will pick up steam.

If you’re planning to buy a home in 2026, prepare for success 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, always getting you the best price and terms with no conflict of interest.

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Central Ohio Homes Offer Value for Buyers

RealSupport — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 21:11:24 +0000

Quick! Name somewhere in the USA where you can buy a quality home under $400,000 in a major metropolitan area with ample job opportunities, including a growing tech sector. If you said Central Ohio, you’d be right! The latest data from Columbus REALTORS© shows that while home prices in Central Ohio are rising, our market continues to offer better value than many other locations in the country.

The newest statistics show that the national median home price stood at $415,200 as of October 2025. The median home price in Central Ohio was $325,000, reflecting a 3.2% increase on a year-over-year basis. Here’s a snapshot of some of the most active, and affordable, real estate markets in Central Ohio:

Hilliard City School District: median home price $387,000

Grove City South-Western City School District: median home price $306,000

Further from Columbus, the communities of Lancaster, Newark and Marion are being discovered by home buyers. As of October 2025, the median home sale prices in these markets ranged from $182,500 to $265,000.

The pace of Central Ohio home sales has slowed somewhat, with homes spending an average of 34 days on the market before going under contract. A year ago, homes spent an average of 28 days on the market. The slight slowdown in sales pace is due to the expansion of home inventory, which has improved throughout 2025.

Home inventory is measured by the time it would take for buyers to purchase everything that is currently available on the market, assuming no new listings popped up. Inventory stood at 2.4 months of supply in October 2025. In other words, even though new listings grew by 9% on a year-over-year basis, the pace of sales didn’t slow that much. This speaks to the healthy home demand in Central Ohio, and the need for home buyers to have their own expert representation in the market!

You will achieve the best home buying value with the help of an Exclusive Buyer’s Broker! Learn how with our free e-book, “How to Buy a Home Like a Pro!” Download it today from our website, without any obligation.

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Breathing Room for Buyers as Central Ohio Home Inventory Grows

RealSupport — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 05:34:23 +0000

Central Ohio home buyers have some breathing room in the market as home inventories grow. Here is the latest market report from Columbus REALTORS©, along with our own insights!

The inventory of Central Ohio homes for sale during September 2025 was 21% higher than it was in September 2024. The improvement in home inventory helped slow down the speed of sales, which gave buyers more time to explore their options. During September, homes spent an average of 30 days on the market before going under contract, which is 5 days longer than September 2024.

With more homes on the market, price appreciation has slowed. The median sale price of a Central Ohio home was $325,000 in September, up just 0.3% from September 2024. However, median prices are much higher in certain Central Ohio communities, such as Upper Arlington, Powell, Bexley, New Albany and Dublin, to name a few.

We are seeing some price adjustments in the market. On average, sellers received 96.5% of their original asking price during September. This is a 1% drop from September 2024, when sellers received 97.5% of their asking price.

Improved market conditions for buyers boosted home sale activity. Closed home sales in Central Ohio are up 7.9% on a year-over-year basis.

But as of October, Ohio’s real estate market faces a potentially different landscape. The shutdown of the Federal government became effective October 1, 2025. There are roughly 8,312 Federal workers in Franklin County who may be affected by the budget stalemate to some degree.

However, if the shutdown lingers, wider impacts may be felt. Home buyers using FHA or VA-backed mortgages may experience delays in mortgage underwriting and approval. Also, the National Flood Insurance Program will not be issuing new policies during the shutdown.

For buyers who are not affected by these matters, the remaining weeks of 2025 could offer the best home buying opportunities of the year! Conventional mortgage interest rates have been on a downward trend. And if more inventory comes to market, buyers will have additional home choices and more time to view them. Buyers will have some leverage with motivated sellers who seek a deal before year-end.

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Home Foreclosure Rates Creep Up in Ohio

RealSupport — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 03:18:00 +0000

In every real estate market, there is some degree of foreclosure activity. An unexpected crisis can befall any homeowner and cause a mortgage to go unpaid. Historically, the rate of foreclosure is modest, averaging at, or below, 1% of residential mortgages nationwide.

But foreclosure rates swelled during the Great Recession, affecting roughly 3.8 million homes between 2007 and 2010. The perfect storm that created those filings is unlikely to be repeated today, due to regulatory changes, updated mortgage underwriting, and a significant drop in speculative home building.

With the lessons of history in mind, Ohio’s current foreclosure rate is not cause for alarm. According to ATTOM Data Solutions, roughly 1 in every 3,114 Ohio homes is in foreclosure, which is within long-term historical norms.

But analysts point out that Ohio foreclosures have increased 9.16% between September 2024 and September 2025. This puts Ohio in the top ten states for foreclosure filings as of September 2025. The states with the highest foreclosure activity include:

Florida
Delaware
Nevada
Indiana
South Carolina
Illinois
Utah
Ohio
Iowa
Texas

In the past, homeowners were more likely to experience foreclosure due to a job loss, or divorce, or a death in the family, or other personal crisis. Today, there is another cause of foreclosures: escalating costs of living, including the costs associated with home ownership.

These financial pressures are not unique to Ohio. Nationally, about 1 in every 3,997 properties had a foreclosure filing as of September 2025. A year ago, it was 1 in every 4,750 properties.

The rise in foreclosure activity is expected level off as inflation cools and interest rates come down. In the meantime, home buying budgets should include the long-term costs of ownership, such as property taxes, insurance premiums and maintenance. These expenses can increase over time, and household budgets need wiggle room to accommodate rising costs.

Learn more with our free e-book, “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!

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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.

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Busy Summer for Central Ohio Home Sales

RealSupport — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 08:51:46 +0000

Central Ohio home buyers found more listings to choose from during June 2025, with the number of homes for sale up by nearly 33% compared to the prior year. Home inventory expanded to 2.1 months of supply during June, up 31% from a year ago.

We must mention that a “balanced” real estate market would have 6 months of supply, and this is why buyers still face challenges in Central Ohio. However, the improvement in inventory has moderated home price growth. The average sales price for a Central Ohio home was $398,891 during June, an increase of 3.6% from June 2024.

Looking at the numbers another way, the median sales price for a Central Ohio home was $350,000 during June, which is a gain of 4.5% from the median sales price in June 2024. (“Median” means half of the homes sold for more than that amount, and half of the homes sold for less.)

Central Ohio homes are spending about 25 days on the market before going under contract, which is 3 days longer than it took in June 2024. The slight slowdown in pace is helpful to home buyers, but this remains a very brisk market.

Fortunately, the market has shed just enough steam to allow buyers some wiggle room. On average, sellers received 98.5% of their original asking price during June 2025. Yet many homes are selling for more than the list price, and highly competitive markets still exist in Central Ohio. Buyers need to be well-prepared and well represented!

Learn how to negotiate the best possible price and terms with our free e-book, “How to Buy a Home like a Pro!” It’s yours without any obligation.

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Real Estate Investors Love Columbus Homes

RealSupport — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 08:39:51 +0000

Institutional real estate investors currently own about 7,000 Columbus area homes. As reported previously in the Columbus Dispatch, approximately 7% of all homes sold during the first quarter of 2025 were purchased by investors.

To understand how we’ve arrived at Wall Street ownership of single-family homes, we must recall the Great Recession of 2007-2009 and its aftermath. An estimated 9 million U.S. homes went into foreclosure, creating a backlog of bank-owned real estate. These properties were usually in poor condition. The longer they stood vacant, the more they lost value. It was detrimental to the banks – and to the communities where these homes were located.

To solve the problem, banks welcomed institutional investors. Instead of selling homes one and two at a time, banks sold properties by the dozens, or even the hundreds, to investment companies who purchased them sight-unseen. It was a win-win; banks cut their losses quickly, and investors found profit in repairing, renting and reselling the foreclosed homes.

It worked so well for investors that single-family home acquisitions became a permanent business strategy. Today, the Columbus area remains a sweet spot for institutional investors, who purchased over 600 homes in a recent 3-month period.

Columbus home buyers will be competing with investors for the foreseeable future. The good news: a well-written, well-presented offer can still beat an investor’s cash offer. Investors seek to purchase homes using below-market offers, with a “fast closing” as the incentive to sellers. Not every seller finds this trade-off acceptable. Those who do may have homes requiring significant repairs.

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