Gahanna is one of the most favored suburbs of Columbus. This small town in central Ohio is recognized as one of the best “hometowns” in Ohio and the herb capital of Ohio. It really is a fun and great place to settle into for those looking for that small-town comfortable living feel.

For those who live in Gahanna, they will instantly tell you it is THE best place to live in Ohio. There are so many reasons why people love living in Gahanna. Here are just a few of the most favorite spots in this small and best hometown in the state.

About the Herb Capital Nickname

It may sound funny and quirky, and a nickname you would expect from a small town with not much to do, but being the herb capital of Ohio is a pretty big and awesome deal. Gahanna is home to a large garden, education center, and several local shops that offer every herb you could ever imagine and more that you did not know existed.

The Geroux Herb Garden is large and amazing and beautiful and full of nothing but herbs. Within the garden there are specific smaller sections focusing on different types of herbs. There’s a section for medicinal herbs, another for culinary herbs, another section for scented herbs, and several more sections for different types of herbs of expected and surprising uses.

For the 21 and over crowd, the town of Gahanna has a unique offering in its Gahanna Herbal Cocktail Trail. Those wishing to utilize the trail will need to pick up what is called a passport at the town’s visitor center. As you visit places along the trail, you’ll find that the destinations are a mix of breweries, restaurants, and other businesses of the same nature that...

The demand for homes in Ohio has shown no signs of slowing down. Homes are selling faster than ever and there are more buyers looking in the market than sellers. Buyers are pressured more than ever to offer well above the asking price. The average home sells in about 11 days after hitting the market.

Housing inventory is actually at an all-time historic low in Ohio. Many have thought to wait this out until the market cools down but as time goes by it just goes to show that the market is not cooling off and you may be waiting a while, especially if you are a first-time buyer. The average sale price of a home in 2021 has been up 15% compared to the same time last year. This has affected all of the Ohio metropolitan areas and the remote parts of Ohio as well.

The Columbus real estate area is known to have the most expensive housing and its average home sale price is currently around $300,000. Cincinnati is the second largest area and it has an average home sale price around $280,000. There were more homes purchased in 2021 so far than in 2020, even with the low inventory on the market. Sales are up 10% from last year. While there aren't any signs that the market will cool off, there are some signs that it might stabilize. It is predicted that home prices will not drop even as things move back to a normal state.

Much of this hot market has to do with the low mortgage rates as well as families looking to move out of higher-taxed...

Dublin Ohio has some of the most amazing and gorgeous public parks in all of central Ohio. Here are just four of the most amazing parks you can find and visit for free in Dublin.

Bubbling Ballantrae

Ballantrae is one of Dublin’s most popular parks, and for good reason. The park features green sloping hills, impressive boulder rock walls, treed areas, and 32-acres of outdoor space. This park serves as the entrance to the Ballantrae residential community. This is one of the most popular residential areas of Dublin with around 1000 homes. The park features a 3.5-acre fishing pond and gorgeous waterfalls along with a public play fountain with water toys. One of the most iconic features of the park is the large statue of three dancing hares (rabbits), a work of art by internationally known artist Sophie Ryder. This park is home to the Dublin Municipal Pool that has waterslides, toys, diving boards, and a large leisure pool.

Coffman Park

At the town center, you’ll find Coffman Park. This park spans 105 acres and is home to the Dublin City Hall as well as an impressive historic cabin built in the 19th century, an outdoor amphitheater, a recreation center, escape park, two playgrounds, several shelter houses, two basketball courts, and five tennis courts. Being that this park is right in the center of Dublin it is host to several of the fun community festivals all through the year including the Kiwanis Frog Jump and the Halloween Spooktacular, as well as the Sherm Sheldon Fishing Derby, and the Dublin Irish Festival...

Are you ready for your first or even second investment property? Are you interested in investing in Ohio? With the current climate of the United States, there are several investment opportunities and Ohio is one of them. Is Cleveland a good city to invest in? Yes! Here is why. The Ohio housing market is hot. Ohio is the seventh-most populous state in the country.

Ohio is Booming

It is also rated as one of the best states for business with a low cost of living, great schools, and a lot of recreational activities. The housing market has taken off because of population growth, job market growth, and affordable housing. These are some of the top indicators you want to see when you are looking to invest. Over the last ten years, about 11 million people are said to reside in Ohio.

Cleveland was known as a has-been market but that has had some turnaround. It is now known to have several opportunities for residents and investors. This market is having a huge rebound. It is known right now as one of the top U.S. markets for new listings. The median home price in Cleveland is $113K and it's trending at 3.7% year over year. The median price per square foot is $68. The median sale price is $123.5K. Homes are selling at asking prices and sell on an average for 56 days.

When you're looking to invest you want to know the rental forecast as well. Cleveland is mixed between owners and renters. The average rent for a 1 bedroom is around $1,300 and this is a 12% increase from the prior year. The average rent for a studio in Cleveland is around $925. The average rent for a 2 bedroom apartment is around $1,500.

The most expensive neighborhoods in Cleveland are Glenville,...

Weather is a main topic of concern when looking to move somewhere and specifically the wintertime, depending on if you like the cold or the heat. Ohio has many incredible qualities and unique offerings to those who wish to live there.

What can be puzzling is the vast difference in weather, specifically the winter between northeast Ohio and Southwest Ohio. Northern Ohio would be the Cleveland skyline and Cincinnati would represent southern Ohio. The weather is drastically different for these areas and this is mostly because of Lake Erie and its size.

Northern Ohio has the arctic air from Canada that drops into this area and this brings wind chills. This air is blown over the lake and gains the moisture that dumps the rain and snow all over Northeast Ohio. This rainfall is usually a heavy downpour with larger raindrops because of the clouds expanding higher in the atmosphere which creates strong storms. Not only does the lake affect the winter but it also affects the spring and summer. In the summer the lake stays cooler than the air because of convection and in turn, it chills the air above, which is why it is such a hot spot to visit in the summer. These temperature differences have to do with the fact that northern Ohio is further away from the equator which makes it cooler. Any place that is further from the equator will be cooler in temperature.

Southern Ohio has more temporal weather. It is known to be more stable in its temperatures. This area is not affected by Lake Erie but it is affected by Lake Michigan. Southern Ohio does not get the heavy snowfall but it does get some snowfall, however, they do get a similar weather effect from Lake Michigan and northern Ohio does from Lake Erie.

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Delaware is one of the largest cities of Central Ohio and if you’re an art lover, then Delaware is the place to be. Delaware is full of museums, music, several classes, and a whole community of people focused on the importance of art in our lives. Delaware really is a cool place to live or even just to visit.

Here are some of Delaware’s favorite art hotspots

The Ross Art Museum

This museum is on campus at Ohio Wesleyan University on Sandusky Street and is free and open to the public. The museum has been recently renovated with three display areas that feature rotating exhibits almost every season. This museum is home to collections of more than 2500 works by artists including Picasso, Frank Stella, Alfred Stieglitz and more with a main focus on providing educational assets for our students, faculty, scholars, and all community members that are art enthusiasts.

The Arts Castle

This architecturally gorgeous mini-castle is home to several classes and summer camps for people of all ages. Some of the classes include dance, jewelry and metalwork, music, photography, and ceramics. You can sign up for a day class to spend some time with your children or have a fun and unique night out with friends. For those not interested in a class, but simply wanting to take in art, the castle is home to several exhibits as well as Gallery 22. Taking a class at the Arts Castle could be a great way to meet new people in Delaware for every member of the family.

Central Ohio Symphony

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There are so many great things to find in Sunberry Ohio and one of them is a great slice of pizza. If you have just moved in or near to Sunberry Ohio or are looking to move there, you will want to know where some of the best spots to get your favorite comfort food are located. Here are some of Sunbury’s best pizza spots.

Donatos

This is a famous pizza chain that has recently come to the town of Sunbury located on 101 West Cherry St. If you love pepperoni pizza this is the place to pick one up, as Donatos is famous for piling on pepperoni from edge to edge. In addition to their famous signature pepperoni pizza, you can find dry rub chicken rings and the Big Don Italian Sub, or you can create your very own favorite pizza. A perk to Donatos is everything is made fresh every single day, nothing is frozen.

Jet’s Pizza

This pizza shop is located at 167 State Route 3. This is the best place to get a deep-dish pizza full of fluffy yet crispy crusty goodness. Jet’s Pizza is known for its Detroit-style pizza deep dish crust. They also serve up New York-style pizza, delicious thin-crust pizza, and seasoned cauliflower crust pizza as well as a gluten-free option.

The Other Guy Pizza

This pizza place is located at 15910 E. State Route 37. Some people say this is the best pizza place in the area and it is a must stop. The Other Guy Pizza is popular for its selection of pizza flavors, great subs, and beer selection....

While it is still officially summer, fall is fast approaching. The central Ohio area is full of amazing great farms that open up to the public for the season. Visiting a farm is an iconic family fun activity to do in the fall and there is no better place to do it than on the farms in Central Ohio. From enjoying local festivals to picking out the perfect pumpkin you could visit one for every farm in the area to have a great fall adventure by yourself or with your family and friends.

Here are 11 awesome farms located in central Ohio

Lynd’s Fruit Farm

This family-owned farm has been around for many generations and offers homegrown produce sold in the market at the farm. Produce available in the market is dependent upon the seasonal schedule. In the fall you can find a large variety of different pumpkins and squash as well as great fresh apples if you visit in late September you may be able to pick up some peaches or nectarines. Activities on the farm include a fun petting zoo, corn maze, hayride, and live music events. Lynd’s is located at 9399 Morse Rd. SW. in Pataskala.

Pigeon Roost Farm

This farm is at 4413 National Rd. SW. in Hebron. It is just 30 minutes outside of Columbus. At Pigeon Roost Farm you can find activities such as hayrides, face painting, pumpkin picking, jack-o’-lantern carving, and more.

Leeds Farm

Pick...

Clintonville is a popular neighborhood located in Columbus Ohio just south of Worthington and north of Ohio State University District. It is on the north side of Columbus and has been known for several years as one of the hottest hipster neighborhoods in the United States. It is well-loved by many to both live and visit.

Here are just some of the fun things to do and reasons why people love being in Clintonville

Studio 35 Theater

Studio 35 is a single-screen independent theater that is also a draft house, making it perfect for those wanting a fun but a relaxed night out. There are 40 draft beers available for enjoyment while you watch movies outside of the mainstream movie theater atmosphere. Studio 35 is also host to several fun themed events including bad movie night.

The Park of Roses

Park of Roses is a small portion of Wetstone Park and is a popular destination for weddings and professional photography. Park of Roses is full of large rose gardens archways and rose-lined paths. The roses of course are the main attraction but the Olentangy Trail is popular for biking and jogging as well. It is also a great place to catch a Fourth of July fireworks display.

Farmers Market

This has been a neighborhood staple for several years where you can purchase several great handmade and locally grown organic products from bison and sausage, to organic fruits and vegetables, and everything in between. Clintonville’s producers are mostly food-based with a few craft vendors sprinkled in. The market runs from April to November every year.

Hike the Ravines...

Waterfalls are one of the most beautiful natural wonders. There’s just something about the beauty of the water falling down the rocks and the gentle rush and sound of the water. To some, sitting and watching a waterfall is a therapeutic experience that brings a sense of calm happiness and peace. Did you know there are four beautiful waterfalls hidden right in the center of Ohio. Some are smack in the middle of Columbus.

Here are four beautiful waterfalls hidden in central Ohio you may have never known about:

Hayden Falls

Hayden Falls is located in the Dublin area within a park and has yet to be discovered by many central Ohio and Columbus residents. From the parking lot in the park all you need to do is take a walk up a flight of stairs and across the boardwalk and you are there. The distance from the parking lot to the waterfall is fairly short making it easy for anyone to get to it, especially if you just need a short couple of hours break from your daily routine. Parking lot is located at 4326 Hayden Run Rd., Columbus, OH.

Glen Echo Park

This beautiful and unique waterfall is tucked away into the neighborhood of Clintonville, a popular spot in the city of Columbus. So many people love the area of Clintonville. Very few realize that Glen Echo Park has a waterfall in one of its ravines. Glen Echo Park...

If you are ready to sell your house you may be left with a long list of questions, one of the more popular being what you will actually end up profiting off of the sale and how much you will have to pay in order to get your home on the market and then close the deal. There is no set amount of costs associated with a Real Estate sale, however, there are a few fees and percentages that you can generally follow as a good rule of thumb.

Agent Commissions

The commissions that will be paid out to the agents are where you will see the largest price tag. This is generally 6% of the sale price and that amount is then divided between your agent as well as the buyer's agent. For example:

• Sale Price: $400,000
• 6% of Sale Price: $400,000 x 6% = $24,000
• Total Commission Paid = $24,000

Closing Costs

In some cases, buyers and sellers can come to an agreement to split closing costs or assign them to one party or the other, however it is always recommended planning to pay them as the seller so that you don’t run into a hurdle during the selling process. Closing costs will generally cost 3% of the sale price. For example:

• Sale Price: $400,000
• 3% of Sale Price: $400,000 x 3% = $12,000
• Total Closing Costs Paid = $12,000

Other minor costs may be required in order to sell, such as a home inspection or needed repairs and upgrades throughout the house. The average home inspection currently costs $350 on average, and while it may be different pending on each company and your specific location, you can expect to pay somewhere around the $350 price.

In conclusion, when selling your home, you should plan to pay the following in fees...

It is always a good idea to find out as much about a place as possible before deciding to purchase a home there. The most important things to learn are the lesser-known or little things about a town to really get a feel for what it would be like to live there. Here are some interesting and little-known facts about Westerville Ohio to help you get a feel for what it would be like to live there.

Westerville was once named America's Best suburb

In 2013 the site Movato named Westerville the best suburb in the entire country to live in. They released a list of top 10 suburbs after doing extensive research of what it would be like to live in each area, and Westerville came out as number one on the top of the list of America’s best suburbs.

Westerville has a great visitor’s website to glean much information

Not all cities offer a website that is full of great information functional for those looking to get a feel of what is inside the city, but Westerville does provide this. Westerville has a great functioning official visitor’s website written toward those who plan to travel to the city, but it is full of useful information for anyone planning to make a move to Westerville Ohio.

Westerville is home to a famous television show

Do you remember that show about a high school club full of nerds that enjoyed singing? The show is called ...

Browsing online Real Estate listings and house hunting is easily one of the more stressful experiences that you may face throughout life. While working with the right agent can indeed help eliminate a large majority of the stress associated with both selling or buying a home, it is important to ensure you fully understand listings as well as the contingencies that they may hold prior to placing an offer.

While it may not be overly common, in some cases you may find a house you love, however within the listing it states that the sale of the property is “contingent.” This could be for a handful of different reasons, however, there are two main reasons that a seller may have moved their listing status to contingent from available or put within the description that the property sale as a whole is contingent per the seller’s request.

Many people believe that the only contingencies within the Real Estate world lie with the buyers, and while in most scenarios it is more common to see a contingency within an offer to purchase, it is just as important to understand the contingencies that may be put in place by the sellers as well.

#1. Contingent on Finding a New Home

In this scenario, a seller may be listing their home in an effort to purchase a new home. Should the seller not be able to find a home that is suitable for their needs they then have the right to pull their listing off of the market and thus, you may not be able to follow through...

Buckeye Lake is a small town of Central Ohio that is experiencing revitalization. Many who come to visit Buckeye Lake find it very special and end up purchasing real estate to come back frequently or live full-time. The town of Buckeye Lake and surrounding areas near the large actual lake offer year-round opportunities for boating, fishing, a large variety of water sports, some of the best duck hunting spots in the state, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and ice racing with motorcycles and ATVs.

The large Buckeye Lake of course is the main draw to the town of Buckeye Lake in addition to all of the great things to do in Buckeye Lake and on the ice of Buckeye Lake in the winter. There are also several amazing entertainment venues all around the lake’s shores. Entertainment venues around the lake offer lakefront dining, live music, and lakeside golf.

Buckeye Lake is a prime spot for those who love to fish. On Buckeye Lake, it is not uncommon to catch perch, bluegill, crappy, muskellunge, largemouth bass, channel catfish, and bullhead catfish.

In the summer many people from all around come to the town of Buckeye Lake for the Independence Day fireworks over the lake. It is one of the best Fourth of July festivals in all of Central Ohio.

Buckeye Lake is home to cranberry bog a state nature preserve and national natural landmark. Most of the island of cranberry bog is an open moss meadow with an abundance of cranberries and pitcher plants making for one of the most beautiful sites you’ve ever seen.

Some of Buckeye Lake’s most beloved attractions

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Worthington Ohio is one of the most charming towns in America. It is a very popular spot with families that several people instantly fall in love with. If you love a quaint and charming historic town full of beauty and character you will also fall in love with Worthington Ohio very quickly. Come and visit for the day and you will see why so many never want to leave.

Here are some amazing sites to see in Worthington for a great day trip

Old Worthington

As we have mentioned Worthington is a place full of rich history and many amazing and charmingly preserved historic buildings. The best place to check out the history of the area is in Old Worthington where many of the buildings are historic some even date back for nearly 2 centuries. These buildings have been lovingly preserved and well-kept by local residents that love and care for the community. ( A town full of people with community pride is one great reason to move in.) Perhaps the most notable building in the Old Worthington area is the 185-year-old Worthington Inn. The streets of Old Worthington are framed in with brick-lined sidewalks and lamp posts with hanging floral baskets. It is somewhat like a postcard. This portion of the town is filled with several favorite local businesses including restaurants, shops, florists, and more.

The Library

The ...

Blacklick Ohio is a very small town that not many people have heard of. While it may not be known by a large majority around the globe it is known and loved to the residents that live there. Blacklick is small enough to enjoy a slower pace of life while still being within a short distance from the large cities of Ohio including Cleveland and Columbus. Though Blacklick may be small it is a town full of community pride and great hidden gems including some very beloved local restaurants.

Here are some of the best restaurants in Blacklick Ohio

Lantern Chinese Restaurant

This restaurant is located at 7163 E. Broad St. in Blacklick. It receives the highest online ratings of any restaurant in the town and is open from 11 AM to 10 PM. Here you will find great Chinese, Asian, and some American dishes. The restaurant offers takeout as well as in-person dining. Lantern Chinese Restaurant is noted for its amazing customer service, nice atmosphere, and tasty sesame chicken.

Stadz Pizzeria

This is a great local restaurant that offers you a chance to get to know some of your neighbors as they host an open mic night. This local staple is located at 6755 Taylor Road....

When it comes to buying a house in Ohio it is no secret that you are looking for the perfect place to call home to fit your lifestyle and needs. Problem is that today’s seller’s market leaves very little inventory to choose from, even around Central Ohio. Right now the housing inventory is hovering near record lows and the buyer demand is not decreasing. This has made multiple offer scenarios much more normal on every home that hits the market all across the nation.

Here are five things that buyers in Central Ohio should keep in mind when they are ready to make an offer on a home.

Know the numbers

Having a complete and thorough understanding of your budget and exactly how much you can afford on a home is crucial. It is very easy to fall in love with a home and wants to outbid another buyer to win the home and make it yours, but it can be very easy to go over an affordable budget by doing so. The best way to make sure you stay within your affordable budget is to get preapproval on a home loan before you begin your home search. Taking this step will allow you to see how much you are eligible to borrow and it will help to communicate the seriousness of your offer to the homeowner when you do find a home you would like to purchase. Including your preapproval letter shows that you are much more likely to be approved for your home loan and that you are ready to take the next step when you make your offer. It just may give you a little bit of an edge above the competition as well.

Be prepared for a much faster pace

Today’s home sales are much more fast-paced than they were just a year ago. According...

Closing cost is expensed over and above the seller's property cost before completing a real estate transaction. Examples of typical closing costs include fees related to the origination, underwriting of mortgage, real estate commission, insurance, and record filing. A big question that has been chiefly asked is, "Why should sellers pay for buyers' closing costs?"

Before we dive deep into why sellers should pay closing costs, we can give a simple explanation. You as a seller should pay the closing costs because it will translate to selling your home faster and even putting in more money to your account. If that does not sink deep, here is a full explanation from the genesis so that you can understand why home sellers have to pay closing costs. Nevertheless, before that, below are situations when you will be pushed to pay for buyers closing costs. 

• If you reside in a hot area whereby prices are upscaling, inventory is low, and competition is raging.
• When your property has overstayed in the market due to poor condition or higher prices quoted.
• When you want to list and sell your home faster.
• Helping the cash strapped who find it hard to raise down payment and close on closing costs at a go.
• When you are in a buyers' market, and competition is stiff.

Sellers incur few expenses, but they spend a lot during closing. They deliver a real estate commission of 6% of the total purchase to buyers and sellers' agents. They also pay buyers title insurance policy. Apart...

6 Tips to Increase Your Home Value with Upgrades and Updates

 When it comes to selling Columbus, Ohio homes, we’ve found that a few strategically planned upgrades and updates can help to increase the value of a house.

Are you planning to sell your home soon and searching for updates you can complete to demand a higher price? Or maybe you want to build equity in it? Either way, you can use the tips we’re sharing below to improve your home and increase its value. 

6 Ways to Improve the Value of Columbus, Ohio Homes

Let’s explore possible renovations and updates to your home by “walking through your home” with the eyes of a buyer.

1.      Invest in Landscaping

Check out your curb appeal by looking at what you already have. Do your bushes or trees need trimming? Does the garden require weeding?

If you have bare areas, opt for established plants that will continue to come back every year. Another way to make your yard look like less of a responsibility to possible buyers is to opt for native trees that require little attention.

 2.      Complete Imminent Repairs 

Unless they’re buying a house with plans to renovate, no one wants their new home to come with a to-do list. If the roof, water heater, or air conditioning unit is coming due for replacement soon, handle it before placing the house on the market.

A fresh coat of exterior paint is an affordable aesthetic improvement that you can take care of too. A new buyer will feel more comfortable knowing that it won’t need to be done again for a few years. 

3.      Add More Space

Open up the floor plan by removing non-load bearing walls that can make the home feel confined. You could also finish your Columbus, Ohio home’s basement or attic, or...