Mike Pramick
The Columbus Dispatch
Jan. 25, 2008
Local home sales declined for the second straight year in 2007, further evidence that the national real-estate crisis has touched central Ohio.
What's going to happen in 2008? It depends on whether you believe in statistics or optimism.
The Columbus Board of Realtors said yesterday that sales of single-family homes and condominiums in central Ohio dropped by 6.9 percent last year to 24,445. The properties sold for an average of $172,531, down 1.2 percent from the previous year...
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Best and Worst Places to Buy a Home
Best and Worst Places to Buy a House
by Danielle BabbThursday, January 24, 2008
provided by Entrepeneur.com
Whether you're looking for an investment property or a place to live, here's a look at the cities you should seek out and avoid in 2008.
The housing crunch and the excessive inventory -- exceeding 10 months on resale homes -- continues to take its toll on housing prices. But over the long term, housing is still a good investment. In fact, it's more than an investment; it's a home. Plus, you're not really saving anything by renting, as the costs of renting and owning are about equal (well, owning may be a little more). The tax benefits of home ownership far outweigh renting, too. With good housing prices in many great areas, this may indeed be the time to buy.
So now that I've convinced you this is a good time to buy a home, the next question is, Where do you buy one? No matter where you look, you should check out some basic economic fundamentals before buying. Is job growth stable in the area? Is income keeping up with inflation? Is crime above the national average? Is there a higher-than-average rate of foreclosures? These issues and others play a factor when deciding where to buy a house.
More from Entrepreneur.com: • Checking Out Online Investment Advice • Taking Your Annual Financial Pulse • Taking the Emotions Out of Investing
As a real estate investor and analyst, it's my job to provide buyers with qualified information on where to buy -- and where to stay away from. Here are my thoughts for 2008 based on the indicators noted above.
(click link to continue)
by Danielle BabbThursday, January 24, 2008
provided by Entrepeneur.com
Whether you're looking for an investment property or a place to live, here's a look at the cities you should seek out and avoid in 2008.
The housing crunch and the excessive inventory -- exceeding 10 months on resale homes -- continues to take its toll on housing prices. But over the long term, housing is still a good investment. In fact, it's more than an investment; it's a home. Plus, you're not really saving anything by renting, as the costs of renting and owning are about equal (well, owning may be a little more). The tax benefits of home ownership far outweigh renting, too. With good housing prices in many great areas, this may indeed be the time to buy.
So now that I've convinced you this is a good time to buy a home, the next question is, Where do you buy one? No matter where you look, you should check out some basic economic fundamentals before buying. Is job growth stable in the area? Is income keeping up with inflation? Is crime above the national average? Is there a higher-than-average rate of foreclosures? These issues and others play a factor when deciding where to buy a house.
More from Entrepreneur.com: • Checking Out Online Investment Advice • Taking Your Annual Financial Pulse • Taking the Emotions Out of Investing
As a real estate investor and analyst, it's my job to provide buyers with qualified information on where to buy -- and where to stay away from. Here are my thoughts for 2008 based on the indicators noted above.
(click link to continue)
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