After the yard sale...

Columbus Ohio - Yard Sale...

After the Yard Sale...What to do with all of your left over “stuff.”

It’s so important that we do not add to land fills with things that can be reused, recycled or re-purposed.

Please don’t call “Bulk Pick Up” to take items that can be donated.
Stay Green!


recycle.northwestcolumbus.com

Donate your unsold items:
Salvation Army 1-800-SA-TRUCK
or visit their web site

Donate building materials to Habitat for Humanity ReStore
For more information or to schedule a pick-up,
call (614) RESTORE (737-8673)
E-mail the store: restore@habitat-columbus.org

Donate computers to Ohio Computer Recycling
Ohio Computer Recycling
980 Claycraft Rd. Suite C
Gahanna, OH 43230
(614) 856-3204
mailto:info@ohiodropoff.com

Goodwill of Columbus
1331 Edgehill Road
Columbus, OH 43212-3163
Phone: 614.294.5181
TTY: 614.583.0293
Fax: 614.294.6895

Cell Phone donations
911 Cell Phone Bank
4551 NW 44th Ave
Ocala, FL 34482
Phone: (866) 290 -7864

Waste Not Centers drop off locations to donate small household items.
Worthington Location (more locations on their web site)

Third-Hand Bicycle Recycling
Third Hand Bicycle Co-op
174 East Fifth Ave
Columbus, OH 43201
614-299-2984

Furniture Bank of Central Ohio

118 South Yale Avenue
Columbus, OH 43222-1369
(614) 272-9544 PH
(614) 272-9566 FAX

5 Reasons to Buy a Home This Year.

Affordability returns to housing, and buyers have loads of negotiating power.
Source: MSN Real Estate

"If you're qualified to buy a home now, and the purchase makes sense for your situation, and you're prepared to live in that home for at least five years, there are five reasons you may be headed for a great deal."


This was a great article. There is so much new information every day about the housing market, it's tough for even lenders and real estate professionals to absorb it all! I'm grateful that I don't have to take my focus off of real estate to work another job right now. I spend a few hours a week just reading and talking to lenders to keep up on current trends.

According to an article on MSN Real Estate, one of the five reasons to buy a home is to "buy for quality of life." I agree that if you have the credit score, down payment and income to support the payments - it can be a very satisfying experience to be a home owner.

The bottom line is that there is no one answer for all buyers. Not all sellers are desperate. I believe that the key to being an educated buyer is finding an agent who understands and can explain financing. It's all about the financing that is negotiated in the sale. The terms that the lender gives you on the pre-approval would be the starting point. The financing terms that you can negotiate with a seller would be another way to lower your payment. A seller may be set at a certain price, but willing to pay down your interest rate, or contribute up to the maximum amount on closing costs.

Just be wary of information and articles that say that the market is one or the other. It's just not that black and white. To watch the real estate market and get monthly updates, go to my website and subscribe to Market Insider.

Here is the link to the full article from MSN Real Estate. There is also an article with 5 reasons NOT to buy a home this year. Also very good information. Home ownership is not for everyone.

New Book about the history of Clintonville!

Shirley Hyatt - Author of an Images of America book from Arcadia Publishing Paperback is complete.

I have been reading her blog about the history of Clintonville and Beechwold with the anticipation of her new book coming soon. Since I grew up in Clintonville (photo of my house on Tibet Road) this book is especially nice to have for my own collection.

Clintonville has it's own unique character. Well worth writing about! The web site will continue even though her book is finished.

You can purchase the book on line.
http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/9780738561462/Clintonville-and-Beechwold

To view homes for sale in Clintonville, click this link to see properties for sale in 43202 and 43214 zip codes.

Is a “short sale” a bargain? | Rain City Guide

Here is a great blog about Short Sale properties. I often get requests to send a potential home buyer some "foreclosure" and "short sale" listings because they want to get a steal of a bargain. Unfortunately, on a short sale, often the bank will not settle for less than a certain amount to cover as much as possible of the current mortgage balance. The mortgage balance could be much higher than the current property value. Every situation is different. The bank has no emotional attachment to the property, therefore, will not be as flexible with a potential buyer.

I would say that the best "deals" are those where the seller is very motivated to sell for various reasons (job change, family, etc) other than being strapped with monthly payments that they can no longer make.

Although this bog is regarding the Seattle area, it still applies to real estate in Columbus, Ohio.



Is a “short sale” a bargain? Rain City Guide

Check back for more information about buying short sale and foreclosure properties in Columbus, Ohio.

Here is a link to the current active, in contract and SOLD short sale properties in Central Ohio.

EPA Seeks Help Nabbing Dumper - Crime - nbc4i.com -

Here is a news story from NBC4i regarding dumping of paint in Clintonville.

I think that if this Illegal Dumper is caught, they will wish that they would have followed some simple procedures that are far less expense than paying fines!

EPA Seeks Help Nabbing Dumper - Crime - nbc4i.com -


Here is a website that explains the procedure for dumping in and around Columbus, Ohio.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see specifics for Latex Paint!

Solution to the housing crisis is simple.

If you take the stock market crisis out of the housing picture, remove the predatory loan defaults, what is left over is an opportunity for new home buyers to help correct the market.

History shows that real estate values go up and down. There has to be an adjustment period at some point. This adjustment period has alot more outside factors contributing to this particular market condition, but you can "FIX IT."

If you want to buy a house, you have good credit, you have down payment money (either enough for an FHA loan or you have 10-20%) it's OK to buy a home!

New listing total numbers are down. More homes are going in to contract. The market seems to be in the beginning stages of leveling off. If more people start to buy homes, the prices will eventually start to inch upward. Interest rates will remain low for a while. You will own a home.

It really is that simple. Supply and Demand.

For more information on the process of buying or selling a home in Columbus, Ohio please contact me today!

How is the housing market in Columbus, Ohio?

That is the most frequently asked question asked by potential home buyers and sellers in Columbus, Ohio.



The truth is, there is no "one answer" for everyone in this market. If you owe close to what the market will bring for your home, but you are managing your payments, then maybe you should hold out on that move.


If you have to move for a job, family situation, etc., then you may lose out on some of what I like to call "ghost equity" that everyone was accumulating until recently.

The good news is that you have an opportunity to get a reasonable price on the new home, not to mention a low interest rate on the new mortgage.

Columbus Realtors Statistics.



A lot of people (Real Estate Agents and non-agents) feel pretty good about the Columbus, Ohio market, for now. The numbers seem to show that we are back to the average sales prices of around 2003 and 2004.

The BEST source for Fall Color locations in Ohio...

The BEST source for Fall Color locations in Ohio...

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We all need to ponder this for a bit...

“No man knows what the future holds in any particular set of events, but every thoughtful person recognizes the probability that we shall live the remainder of our lives in turmoil…

Instead of pining for easier days, the way of wisdom lies in learning to live realistically in times of strain.

“All experience the storm, but not all experience it in the same way. Though the storm may be beyond our powers, the response is not.”

- Elton Trueblood

"The Life We Prize"

As recited by Keynote speaker, Dr. Stephen Douglas for

 Corporate Passport to Success Event, Oct 2008