Home sales statistics for central Ohio in 2010 showed marked improvements compared to previous years according to the Columbus Board of REALTORS. "Our market saw average sale price increases for eight of the 12 months of 2010," says CBR President Rick Benjamin. "As we have experienced annual decreases in our average sale price since 2005, we see ending the year just half a point lower than 2009 as a positive for central Ohio homeowners."

10 Reasons To Buy a Home: In this article that appeared in Time magazine, author Brett Arends explains why owning a home is a good thing. He tells readers, "Enough with the doom and gloom about homeownership."

The tax deductibility of interest paid on mortgages is a powerful incentive for home ownership and has been one of the simplest provisions in the federal tax code for more than 80 years. For those reasons, the National Association of REALTORS is aligning its 1.1 million members across the nation to ensure that the government does not make any attempt to reduce this important benefit for people of all economic sectors.

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People who use a REALTOR^® to help with buying or selling real estate are putting a professional on their side. With nearly 200 steps involved in a single home purchase, this process isn't something most people want to tackle alone.

If you are a seller, a REALTOR^® frees you from handling the many details of selling a home, from conducting the necessary research that will help you set the listing price to advertising your home and setting appointments for showings, home inspections and the closing. REALTORS^® help with negotiating when buyers make an offer, and they make sure the new buyers follow-through on their "to do" list all the way to closing.

If you are a buyer, a REALTOR^® becomes an invaluable ally during the search process. Your agent will refine your search list so you are touring only the homes that fit your criteria and price range, then he or she will schedule showings with the sellers' agents. As you visit homes, your REALTOR^® will provide objective advice on the condition and price of each property. When it comes time to make an offer and close on the house, your agent will be the one who makes sure the contracts are well-written, disclosures are made, inspections are scheduled, and the sellers follow through on their end of the transaction.
 
Purchasing a home is usually the biggest financial investment most people make in a lifetime, with most transactions exceeding $150,000.  If you had a $150,000 income tax problem, would you tackle it without the help of a CPA?  If you had a $150,000 legal question, would you deal with it without the help of an attorney? Surely not.

The good news is that central Ohio has more than 7,000 real estate agents serving all areas of the region. Interview several REALTORS^® who specialize in the area where you want to buy, and feel free to interview more than one. You will be working closely with this professional, so make sure your personalities match and you choose someone you can trust.

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