Columbus Ohio Real Estate | Buyer’s Resource Realty Services

Avoiding Foreclosure: Tips for Ohio Homeowners and Home Buyers

RealSupport — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:24:08 +0000

Foreclosures have quietly crept higher across the U.S., according to information from ATTOM data services. As of January 2026, home foreclosures nationwide increased 26% compared to January 2025.

Ohio currently has the 12th-hightest foreclosure rate in the nation, with one filing for every 3,099 homes. (Nationally, the ratio is one foreclosure in every 3,547 homes.) This is far lower than the levels seen during the Great Recession, but it still bears watching.

Certain areas of Ohio have long struggled with foreclosures. During 2025, about 10% of the foreclosures in Cuyahoga County were attributed to vacant homes. It’s hard to imagine someone abandoning a property with today’s home values, but it happens. Sometimes a home needs more repair than what the market value supports, or what the homeowner can afford.

Other reasons for foreclosure include job loss, divorce, serious health issues, and the death of the homeowner or co-owner. This is why a percentage of foreclosure activity is normal, no matter how “good” the local real estate market might be.

How can foreclosure be avoided?

Never skip a mortgage payment. Once a mortgage payment is 30 days past due, the default clause may be triggered, allowing the lender to seek foreclosure. Typically the process does not start for 90 days. Still, it is very difficult for most people to recover after the first domino falls.

A lender may allow a structured repayment plan, but this means an even higher monthly payment for a set period of time. If you’re already struggling financially, it’s hard to honor the deal. Also, you must manage any increases to your escrow account payments relating to property taxes and homeowner’s insurance.

If you have a temporary income loss, calling your lender or mortgage servicer before you fall behind in your mortgage is the first step. Hardship programs vary by lender and mortgage type, but there may be options to avoid default. For example, you may be able to defer a payment, and have it added to the end of the term.

If you are facing a permanent income loss, and you cannot afford your mortgage payment, selling your home beats losing it to foreclosure.

If your home has negative equity, the lender may approve a short sale, and accept the current market value of the home to settle the outstanding mortgage balance. This can help you avoid a foreclosure on your credit report, and avoid the stress of the foreclosure process.

A mortgage company may allow a loan modification to make the payments more affordable. This can include a rate reduction, and/or an extension of the loan term. You must qualify for this option with a process that is similar to a loan application.

Cooperating with your mortgage lender, and remaining in contact with them, is important in all cases. Reaching out to housing agencies like Save the Dream Ohio can help!

Buy wisely with the help of an Exclusive Buyer Broker!

The best way to avoid a future risk of foreclosure, is to buy a home well within your means. Avoid “stretching” to obtain a more expensive home, even if your lender says you qualify. Consider too, that while your mortgage may have a fixed interest rate, expenses like property taxes, homeowner’s insurance and energy bills increase over time. Home repairs and maintenance costs should be budgeted as well.

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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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 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.

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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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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.

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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.

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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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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.

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