Terry Penrod, Realtor and Founding Partner, HER Realtors

Demand for homes high in central Ohio

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 18:14:00 +0000

Demand for homes high in central Ohio

(June 23, 2014 Columbus, OH) – There were 3,935 central Ohio homes and condos listed for sale in May 2014, 7.1 percent lower than the previous year, but up 6.2 percent from April.

With an inventory level of 8,766, the number of homes on the market is 12.9 percent lower than May 2013 according to the Columbus REALTORS® Multiple Listing System (MLS).

“We’re averaging over 125 homes listed for sale daily, but the demand continues to outpace the supply,” said Milt Lustnauer, 2014 president of Columbus REALTORS®. “Home sales continue to rise as we move into summer, so it’s a great time to sell your home with buyer interest so high right now.”

There were 2,569 central Ohio homes and condos sold in May 2014, up 17 percent from the 2195 homes sold the previous month

The average sale price was $184,474, which was up 4.9 percent than last year and up 4.7 percent from April.

“Sales prices in central Ohio continue to climb, as they have since the beginning of the year,” Lustnauer said. “Unlike during the housing boom, home price increases are reasonable and sustainable so we anticipate prices continuing to rise at this type of pace throughout the year.”

According to the latest Housing Market Confidence Index (by the Ohio Association of REALTORS®) 100 percent of central Ohio REALTORS® describe the current housing market as moderate to strong and expect it to remain so over the next six months. Ninety-four percent of central Ohio REALTORS® also expect housing prices to rise over the course of the next year.

Given current market conditions, 39 percent of sellers in central Ohio are becoming more realistic when anticipating the value of their home to put on the market. But 42 percent seem less realistic about the value of their home.

Current housing report – May 2014
All housing reports

Columbus Ohio April 2014 Report: Prices up; inventory low

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Thu, 22 May 2014 14:57:00 +0000

(May 22, 2014 Columbus, OH) – The median sale price of a home in April 2014 was $151,900 which was 10.3 percent higher than the previous year and also up 10.3 percent from the previous month. The average sale price was $176,801, which was up 8.1 percent than last year and up 2.8 percent from March.

The average price is the total volume divided by the number of homes sold. The median is the midpoint -- half the homes sell for less, while half sell for more.

“Sales prices have consistently been up for the last few months, fortunately for sellers,” said Milt Lustnauer, 2014 president of Columbus REALTORS®. “If you’re considering listing your home, right now is a great time to do it. There are still more buyers than sellers in the central Ohio market and sales prices continue to increase.”

There were 2,127 central Ohio homes sold in April of 2014, 15.2 percent lower than April 2013, but up 18.4 percent from the previous month.

There were 3,697 central Ohio homes and condos listed for sale in April 2014. Although down 7.4 percent from inventory one year ago, this is up 7.8 percent from the 3,428 added the previous month according to the Columbus REALTORS® Multiple Listing System (MLS).

With an inventory level of 8,279, the number of homes on the market is 16.7 percent lower than April 2013.

“Inventory in central Ohio is unfortunately still below what we expected it to be, particularly since there are a significant number of motivated buyers,” Lustnauer said. “However, as temperatures rise, the number of homes coming on the market are increasing as well.”

According to the latest Housing Market Confidence Index (by the Ohio Association of REALTORS®) 95 percent of central Ohio REALTORS® describe the current housing market as moderate to strong 95 percent expect home prices to increase over the next year.

Although mortgage interest rates have risen slightly and are expected to continue increasing throughout the year, 39 percent of respondents think that home sales will increase regardless of higher interest rates.

Additionally, 34 percent are seeing higher than normal early spring activity.

Current housing report – March 2014

All housing reports

Columbus REALTORS® is comprised of over 6,000 real estate professionals engaged in residential sales and leasing, commercial sales and leasing, property management, appraisal, consultation, real estate syndication, land development and more.

The Columbus REALTORS® Multiple Listing Service (MLS) serves all of Franklin, Delaware, Fayette, Licking, Madison, Morrow, Pickaway and Union Counties and parts of Athens, Champaign, Clark, Clinton, Fairfield, Hocking, Knox, Logan, Marion, Muskingum, Perry and Ross Counties.

To view commercial properties for sale or lease in central Ohio, visit www.COCIE.org.

To view residential properties for sale, visit www.terrrypenrod.com.

Central Ohio Home Inventory Rising With The Temperatures

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 17:34:00 +0000

Home inventory rising with the temperatures

(Apr. 20, 2014 Columbus, OH) – There were 3,428 central Ohio homes and condos listed for sale in March 2014. Although down 2.1 percent from inventory one year ago, this is up 48.3 percent from the 2,310 added the previous month according to the Columbus REALTORS® Multiple Listing System (MLS).

“After one of the coldest winters on record, many sellers were waiting to put their home on the market,” said Milt Lustnauer, 2014 president of the Columbus REALTORS®. “It’s a great time to sell a home due to the lack of inventory available.”

“But it’s also a great time to buy a home as interest rates are likely going to increase. Buyers can undoubtedly get more home for their money today than they will be able totomorrow.”

The sale price of a home sold in March 2014 was $172,019, which was 6.6 percent higher than the previous year. The median sale price of $143,500 was up 6.3 percent compared to March 2013.

There were 1,796 central Ohio homes sold in March of 2014, 10.5 percent lower than March 2013, but up over 24 percent from the previous month.

With an inventory level of 8,066, the number of homes on the market is 13.9 percent lower than March 2013.

“Inventory levels are still lagging in central Ohio, much to the chagrin of a significant number of motivated buyers right now,” said Lustnauer. “With temperatures on the rise, we expect inventory to continue in that direction as well in the coming months.”

According to the latest Housing Market Confidence Index (by the Ohio Association of REALTORS®) 95 percent of central Ohio REALTORS® describe the current housing market as moderate to strong and 98 percent expect the market to be moderate to strong over the next six months. As for housing prices, 95 percent expect housing prices to rise over the next year. Additionally, since the weather has started to improve, 34 percent of respondents have seen higher than normal early spring activity.

Current housing report – March 2014

All housing reports

To view properties for sale, visit www.terrypenrod.com

Full report

Zoning board OKs controversial Olde Towne East apartments | The Columbus Dispatch

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 03:52:00 +0000

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/03/26/zoning-board-oks-controversial-olde-towne-east-apartments.html

Realtors: Low inventory and frigid temperatures kept Feb. homes sales flat in Central Ohio

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 18:45:00 +0000

Low inventory and frigid temperatures kept Feb. homes sales flat

(Mar. 20, 2014 Columbus, OH) – February home sales were only slightly off pace from the same time last year, when home sales saw their highest numbers since the boom. There were 1,444 central Ohio homes sold in February of 2014, 6.2% lower than February 2013 (1,539), according to the Columbus REALTORS® Multiple Listing System (MLS).

“Inventory is still down in central Ohio, which is hindering the potential of our already strong housing market,” said Milt Lustnauer, 2014 president of the Columbus REALTORS®. “Given the low inventory and abysmal weather, we’re only a few steps behind what turned out to be a record breaking year, last year.”

The sale price of a home sold in February 2014 was $164,595, which was 9.2 percent higher than last year. The median sale price of $135,000 was up 10.4 percent compared to February 2013.

The average price is the total volume divided by the number of homes sold. The median is the midpoint -- half the homes sell for less, while half sell for more.

At an inventory level of 8,066, the number of homes on the market is 10.7 percent lower than February 2013. However there were 2,310 homes listed for sale in February, up slightly from the 2,120 added the previous month.

“Many sellers were waiting out one of the worst winters on record,” added Lustnauer. “Now that the weather is warming up, we hope to see inventory levels jump back up.”

Full report

Dining spot emerges in young arts complex in Franklinton

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 15:10:00 +0000

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2014/02/11/dining-spot-emerges-in-young-arts-complex.html

Panera Opens German Village / Brewery District Location « Columbus Underground

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 15:04:00 +0000

http://www.columbusunderground.com/panera-bread-opens-german-village-brewery-district-location

Housing rebound lifts neighborhoods across central Ohio | The Columbus Dispatch

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 14:53:00 +0000

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2014/01/23/2013-home-sales-central-ohio.html

2013 Central Ohio Home Sales Second Highest on Record

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 16:24:00 +0000

2013 Central Ohio home sales second highest on record

The second-highest sales year on record ended with the strongest December since the housing boom in central Ohio. December home sales came in at 1,735, 2.5 percent higher than December 2012 and the most sales on record since the peak of the boom in 2005 (1,829) according to the Columbus REALTORS® Multiple Listing System (MLS).

In total, there were 27,033 closed sales in 2013 which was 17.1 percent more than 2012 (23,082).

The sale price of a home in 2013 was $174,336, an increase of 4.2 percent over 2012. The average sale price of a home in December was $176, 217, 11.6 percent higher than December 2012.

“2013 has been an amazing year for real estate in central Ohio,” says Milt Lustnauer, 2014 president of Columbus REALTORS®. “These December numbers are not surprising. Real estate isn’t a seasonal game anymore, today’s buyer is ready to act rain, shine - or snow.”

The inventory of homes at the end of the year was down to 8,732, the lowest for the month of December since 2000. As such, 2013 closed with a months supply of 3.9 percent, the lowest on record for central Ohio.

The months supply is defined as the number of properties for sale divided by the average number of monthly sales for the last twelve months.

According to the latest Housing Market Confidence Index (by the Ohio Association of REALTORS®), 94 percent of central Ohio REALTORS® describe the current housing market as moderate to strong and 95 percent expect the housing market to be moderate to strong over the next six months. As for home prices, 89 percent expect home prices to rise over the next year.

“Inventory levels are down, which is driving up the sales price,” says Lustnauer. “If sellers are thinking about waiting until the spring to list, I would suggest otherwise. With interest rates still low, buyers can still get a great rate while the seller can get a good price for the home.”

View the current Central Ohio Local Market Update.
View the current Housing Market Report by area.

Columbus REALTORS® is comprised of over 6,200 real estate professionals engaged in residential sales and leasing, commercial sales and leasing, property management, appraisal, consultation, real estate syndication, land development and more.

The monthly housing reports can be found at ColumbusRealtors.com/stats. The reports include breakouts for 18 central Ohio counties and 53 local municipalities and school districts.

To view commercial properties for sale or lease in central Ohio, visit COCIE.org.
To view residential properties for sale, visit www.terrypenrod.com

Bodega to Close for a Month in February for a Facelift and Relaunch

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 15:13:00 +0000

http://www.columbusunderground.com/bodega-to-close-for-a-month-in-february-for-a-facelift-and-relaunch-aw1

History Lesson: Celebrating the history of the Jai Lai restaurant « Columbus Underground

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Sat, 18 Jan 2014 19:28:00 +0000

http://www.columbusunderground.com/history-lesson-celebrating-the-history-of-the-jai-lai-restaurant-dm1

North Market Welcomes New Vendor Katzinger’s Deli

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 18:39:00 +0000

http://www.columbusunderground.com/north-market-welcomes-new-vendor-katzingers-deli-aw1

The Top 5 Most Fashion Forward Cities in the United States – Fashion Up Events

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 15:08:00 +0000

http://www.fashionupevents.com/the-top-5-most-fashion-forward-cities-in-the-united-states/

5 Underrated Coffee Cities - Sprudge.com

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 01:00:00 +0000

http://sprudge.com/5-underrated-coffee-cities.html

Studio Movie Grill Offers New Dining Option for The Arena District — ColumbusUnderground.com

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 00:59:00 +0000

http://www.columbusunderground.com/studio-movie-grill-opens-in-arena-district-aw1

Raising speed limits in Victorian Village, Harrison West might be temporary | The Columbus Dispatch

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 00:56:00 +0000

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/01/14/Raising_speed_limits_might_be_temporary.html

Columbus Neighborhoods: Clintonville Trailer » Columbus Neighborhoods

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 00:54:00 +0000

http://columbusneighborhoods.org/showcase-features/columbus-neighborhoods-clintonville-trailer/

2013 Best-Performing Cities » large-cities-compare

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 00:49:00 +0000

http://www.best-cities.org/bestcities.taf?rankyear=2013&type=large-cities-compare#.UtcsV0ms3MY.gmail

HuffPost: Columbus, Here I Come..!

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 19:40:00 +0000

The story is here

I just returned from a short trip to a city that, to be honest, I knew very little about. So why did I bother? Out of the blue, I received an invitation for the opening of a new private museum of contemporary art. Checking out the artwork on the museum's website, I got intrigued. So, after a long flight with a layover, I arrived in the city, which turned out to be full of surprises.

If someone were to blindfold and drop me in the charming historic district of this city -the meticulously maintained German Village with its Victorian architecture and lush gardens -I would believe I was someplace in Europe. But no ma'am! I'm walking the streets of Columbus, Ohio, pinching myself in disbelief. The artistic hub of the city, known as Short North, is bursting with hundreds of restaurants, cafes and galleries. My hosts made sure that I visited several dozen of them.

And still, the main reason for my trip was attending the opening of the Pizzuti Collection in a renovated historic building, with its display of contemporary artwork assembled by major Columbus art collectors Ron and Ann Pizzuti. Several large-scale sculptures that greet visitors in front of the building set a tone for the whole collection, which is anything but ordinary. Take a look at the photos at KCRW.com/arttalk. The bronze sculpture by acclaimed LA based artist Thomas Houseago makes you think about menacing ghosts from horror movies. The stainless steel figure of a pissing boy by Tom Friedman is both amusing and impressive; first you giggle, then you admire the texture and fluidity of its form. However, my favorite was the larger than life bronze sculpture of a young boy on crutches by Enrique Martínez Celaya, a well-known American Cuban artist currently living in Miami.

In over 40 years of collecting the work of established as well as emerging artists from around the world, Ron and Ann Pizzuti particularly fell for Cuban artists. And that's why their museum opened with an exhibition titled Cuban Forever featuring works by young, mostly native Cuban artists. I was not surprised to see so many excellent photographic works in this exhibition as photography, in my opinion, is one of the most interesting and original aspects of contemporary Cuban art.

The rest of the diverse collection, occupying two other museum floors, is an impressive variety of major works by John Chamberlain, Louise Nevelson, Frank Stella, Jean Dubuffet and the rest of who's who in modern and contemporary art. The morning after the opening, I attended a panel discussion with three visiting Cuban artists, who turned out to be exceptions to the British rule saying that "children should be seen but not heard," which is how I feel about many artists -even those I admire greatly. But, these three Cuban artists turned out to be great conversationalists with good stories to tell.

Another high point of my visit to Columbus was a chance to see the Wexner Center for the Arts, with its edgy, unnerving architecture by Peter Eisenman, a big star in the 1980s. Since then, his light has dimmed considerably, and now this ambitious cultural center on the university campus looks rather dated. However, it doesn't stop the Center's stream of high profile exhibitions, one of which, Blues for Smoke, is scheduled to open on September 21st. You may remember this excellent exhibition, which originated here in LA at MOCA last year.

One day, late at night, I joined a group of journalists to see the sprawling Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, with its surprising display of contemporary art -both indoors and outdoors. I trust that you've already seen the amazing exhibition of James Turrell, either here in LACMA, at the Guggenheim Museum in NY, or at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. And still, you will be surprised and seduced by the magic of Turrell's colorful, slowly changing light emanating through the glass roof and dome of the Conservatory.

This magic spell was not broken when I returned back to my hotel room at midnight and turned on the TV to find President Barack Obama speaking to journalists while attending a G20 summit in my home city of St. Petersburg, Russia. And I'm listening to him while still here, in Columbus, OH, where the large sculpture by Enrique Martínez Celaya now proudly stands in front of the Pizzuti Museum. What does it have to do with Russian, American and Cuban interaction? Believe it or not, last year, another cast of this same sculpture was on display in the courtyard of my beloved Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Go figure...

Edward Goldman is an art critic and the host of Art Talk, a program on art and culture for NPR affiliate KCRW 89.9 FM. To listen to the complete show and hear Edward's charming Russian accent, click here.

April home sales in Central Ohio set record high

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:49:00 +0000

April home sales set record high

(May 22, 2013) Central Ohio home sales last month (2,390) showed an increase of 30 percent in the market from one year ago (1,834). According to the Columbus Board of REALTORS®, April saw the highest number of home sales on record, followed by the 2,286 homes sold in April of 2004.

In addition to the increases in sales, home prices continue to rise also. While the average sale price has increased every month in 2013 from $149,477 in January to $163,084 in April, the average sale price year-to-date ($156,386) is up almost one and a half percent from 2012.

“Even with more homes being sold and sale prices up, the average time on the market continues to fall: down over 20 percent from a year ago”, said Chris Pedon, 2013 president of the Columbus Board of REALTORS®. “With such excellent market conditions, we’re seeing inventory move quickly.”

There were 3,965 new listings added to the market in April, up 8.9 percent from April of 2012. New listings also saw increases from one year ago, and have been rising every month this year.

“Central Ohio continues to see improvement in nearly every aspect of the market,” Pedon continued. “We have not seen the number of new listings this high in any month since April 2010.”

Full report

Italian Village - Street Sweeping Is Tomorrow, Don't Get Towed!

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:51:00 +0000

Street Sweeping is tomorrow!

Italian Villagers,

The first street sweeping of the season will be tomorrow, Wednesday, May 15 on the south and west sides of some of our streets. Please pay attention to signage when you park on the street tonight because vehicles must be moved by 8AM tomorrow in street sweeping areas or you will either get a ticket or your car will be towed.

Sign up for text message reminders at http://www.italianvillage.org/dontgettowed.html!

10TV Video - Realtor Warns of New Real Estate Scam

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:18:00 +0000

The link to the story is here

The link to help renters mentioned in the story is here

A new real estate scam is targeting would-be tenants and their hard-earned cash.

It surprised even an experienced realtor, and nearly cost a young couple big.

Brian Barker and Jaime DeBois spent Wednesday night packing up their Grandview apartment, preparing for a move to the Short North.

"It was a big weight off our shoulders to finally find a place," says Barker.

Especially after the bullet they dodged during their search. While apartment shopping online, they thought they'd found a perfect place in an Italian Village rental on 2nd street. So they responded to the ad.

"We started to correspond," Barker says, "and the emails were a little strange, so I just decided to drive past the house one day. And I saw that it had the 'for sale' sign, so I decided to give the realtor a call."

Terry Penrod was that realtor. "I got a couple of phone calls asking me if the unit was for sale or for rent. And I said 'no, this unit is definitely for sale.' And they said, 'well, it's on the internet for rent,' which raised my eyebrows very quickly."

Penrod says someone swiped his online listing, even using the photo he'd posted.

But they listed it for rent, at a too-good-to-be-true price.

"For $800 a month, this would be a huge buy," says Penrod. "Someone's scamming the system and trying to get people to send in an application fee or first month's rent."

"And that's how we kind of obviously found out that whoever I was corresponding with wasn't the owner," says Barker.

Penrod says in 20 years in real estate, he's seen a lot of scams, but this is a new one.

Brian and Jaime happily didn't fall victim, but fear someone else might.

"I always thought I was doing pretty good due diligence in weeding out the scams versus what's actually real," says Barker, "but it shows you that even on a legitimate website where there are legitimate people on there posting houses for sale, people can sneak these things in."

Penrod contacted police, but says he was told since money didn't actually change hands, there wasn't much they could do.

Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for the latest.

7 Tips for Staging Your Home

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:20:00 +0000

Make your home warm and inviting to boost your home’s value and speed up the sale process.

The first step to getting buyers to make an offer on your home is to impress them with its appearance so they begin to envision themselves living there. Here are seven tips for making your home look bigger, brighter, and more desirable.

1. Start with a clean slate

Before you can worry about where to place furniture and which wall hanging should go where, each room in your home must be spotless. Do a thorough cleaning right down to the nitpicky details like wiping down light switch covers. Deep clean and deodorize carpets and window coverings.

2. Stow away your clutter

It’s harder for buyers to picture themselves in your home when they’re looking at your family photos, collectibles, and knickknacks. Pack up all your personal decorations. However, don’t make spaces like mantles and coffee and end tables barren. Leave three items of varying heights on each surface, suggests Barb Schwarz of www.StagedHomes.com in Concord, Pa. For example, place a lamp, a small plant, and a book on an end table.

3. Scale back on your furniture

When a room is packed with furniture, it looks smaller, which will make buyers think your home is less valuable than it is. Make sure buyers appreciate the size of each room by removing one or two pieces of furniture. If you have an eat-in dining area, using a small table and chair set makes the area seem bigger.

4. Rethink your furniture placement

Highlight the flow of your rooms by arranging the furniture to guide buyers from one room to another. In each room, create a focal point on the farthest wall from the doorway and arrange the other pieces of furniture in a triangle around the focal point, advises Schwarz. In the bedroom, the bed should be the focal point. In the living room, it may be the fireplace, and your couch and sofa can form the triangle in front of it.

5. Add color to brighten your rooms

Brush on a fresh coat of warm, neutral-color paint in each room. Ask your real estate agent for help choosing the right shade. Then accessorize. Adding a vibrant afghan, throw, or accent pillows for the couch will jazz up a muted living room, as will a healthy plant or a bright vase on your mantle. High-wattage bulbs in your light fixtures will also brighten up rooms and basements.

6. Set the scene

Lay logs in the fireplace, and set your dining room table with dishes and a centerpiece of fresh fruit or flowers. Create other vignettes throughout the home—such as a chess game in progress—to help buyers envision living there. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light.

Make your bathrooms feel luxurious by adding a new shower curtain, towels, and fancy guest soaps (after you put all your personal toiletry items are out of sight). Judiciously add subtle potpourri, scented candles, or boil water with a bit of vanilla mixed in. If you have pets, clean bedding frequently and spray an odor remover before each showing.

7. Make the entrance grand

Mow your lawn and trim your hedges, and turn on the sprinklers for 30 minutes before showings to make your lawn sparkle. If flowers or plants don’t surround your home’s entrance, add a pot of bright flowers. Top it all off by buying a new doormat and adding a seasonal wreath to your front door.

The story is here

More from HouseLogic

Spring cleaning guide

Green cleaning products for the bathroom
Green cleaning products for the kitchen

Other web resources

How to make a small room look larger

How to arrange bedrooms

NBC: Columbus Named Most Intelligent City In America

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:16:00 +0000

Story is here

If you are feeling brainy it could be because you are part of the smartest workforce in America. The Intelligent Communities Forum has named Columbus in the top seven most intelligent cities in the world, and it is the only American city to make the cut.

ICF founder Robert Bell came to Columbus to present an award marking the achievement, and to also judge the city for signs of intelligence that could lead to the city being named the most intelligent city in the world for 2013.

Bell said that more than 400 cities around the world vie for the intelligence designation. An international team of academic leaders whittles the list down to about two dozen and eventually the final seven are named. Each city goes through a rigorous process of identifying the factors that set it apart, then an international panel of judges – from business and academia – will determine the overall smartest city.

Bell is spending three days gathering information, and making sure Columbus lives up to the claims it made about technology and collaboration. He is looking at a number of criteria, and likes what he sees in Columbus.

"Is what's taught in your universities and your technical schools informed by the needs of business? Is government at the table trying to shape the outcomes for the good of all the citizens not just the top-tier citizens? Columbus has those things in abundance. While I've been here I've heard two words over and over again, you want to be open and want to be smart, and those are great advantages in the 21st century," Bell said.

City business and government leaders are taking Bell on a whirlwind tour of research, education and technology centers. Bell visited Battelle, Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University, the OSU Super Computer, the Columbus Metropolitan Library and TechColumbus.

But, he said, "technology is just a tool. It's an enabler. The magic happens when people all up and down the income ladder, all up and down the education ladder, of many cultures come together and use it to create something new and exciting."

ICF will name the overall most intelligent city in the world at a conference in June.

NBC News - First-time buyers struggle as home prices rise

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Penrod, Realtor) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 03:34:00 +0000

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

First-time buyers struggle as home prices rise

Terry Penrod, Realtor and Founding Partner, HER Realtors

Demand for homes high in central Ohio

Demand for homes high in central Ohio

Columbus Ohio April 2014 Report: Prices up; inventory low

Central Ohio Home Inventory Rising With The Temperatures

Home inventory rising with the temperatures

Zoning board OKs controversial Olde Towne East apartments | The Columbus Dispatch

Realtors: Low inventory and frigid temperatures kept Feb. homes sales flat in Central Ohio

Low inventory and frigid temperatures kept Feb. homes sales flat

Dining spot emerges in young arts complex in Franklinton

Panera Opens German Village / Brewery District Location « Columbus Underground

Housing rebound lifts neighborhoods across central Ohio | The Columbus Dispatch

2013 Central Ohio Home Sales Second Highest on Record

Bodega to Close for a Month in February for a Facelift and Relaunch

History Lesson: Celebrating the history of the Jai Lai restaurant « Columbus Underground

North Market Welcomes New Vendor Katzinger’s Deli

The Top 5 Most Fashion Forward Cities in the United States – Fashion Up Events

5 Underrated Coffee Cities - Sprudge.com

Studio Movie Grill Offers New Dining Option for The Arena District — ColumbusUnderground.com

Raising speed limits in Victorian Village, Harrison West might be temporary | The Columbus Dispatch

Columbus Neighborhoods: Clintonville Trailer » Columbus Neighborhoods

2013 Best-Performing Cities » large-cities-compare

HuffPost: Columbus, Here I Come..!

April home sales in Central Ohio set record high

Italian Village - Street Sweeping Is Tomorrow, Don't Get Towed!

Street Sweeping is tomorrow!

Italian Villagers,

10TV Video - Realtor Warns of New Real Estate Scam

7 Tips for Staging Your Home

1. Start with a clean slate

2. Stow away your clutter

3. Scale back on your furniture

4. Rethink your furniture placement

5. Add color to brighten your rooms

6. Set the scene

7. Make the entrance grand

The story is here

More from HouseLogic

Other web resources

NBC: Columbus Named Most Intelligent City In America

NBC News - First-time buyers struggle as home prices rise

First-time buyers struggle as home prices rise

Home prices are rising at the fastest pace since 2006, making it difficult for the first-time buyer to close a deal. NBC’s Diana Olick reports.