Columbus Homes:Style vs Location Can I find both? (Westerville: for sale, houses)

[Elk59]

My wife and I have been preparing to move to Columbus for the last 9 months. We have narrowed our search to a few houses ($200K - $250) in Westerville, Gahanna and two specific neighborhoods on the east side of the city, Laurel Canyon and Green Brier. My wife and I like the varied styles and large acre lots of the homes in LC & GB much better than the cookie cutter, quarter acre, homes in Westerville and Gahanna. We worry that the homes in LC & GB won't have a comparable resale value to the surburban homes of the same price and that there aren't many families with young children in Laurel Canyon & Green Brier. Do all of you knowledgeable C-Bus residents feel that Gahanna and Westerville are that much better than even the nicest areas of east columbus? Are there any other parts of Columbus where we can find a unique looking home with a good school district?

[jmargaret]

Cookie cutter homes are the dominant style in Columbus. But you might find something with character and in a good school district in Upper Arlington, although not for $250K. Maybe the old section of Westerville--but then you would not have a large lot. Greenbrier is Columbus school district, I believe, which may or may not be good depending on your priorities. I would say that most suburbs on the east side are similar in terms of resale.

[floridaorbust]

consider Delaware Oh too. Around the Alum Creek state park area has some nice homes. Not a cookie cutter. More custom made. With acerage. But, not at the $250 price range.

[2006Buckeye]

Originally Posted by Elk59

My wife and I have been preparing to move to Columbus for the last 9 months. We have narrowed our search to a few houses ($200K - $250) in Westerville, Gahanna and two specific neighborhoods on the east side of the city, Laurel Canyon and Green Brier. My wife and I like the varied styles and large acre lots of the homes in LC & GB much better than the cookie cutter, quarter acre, homes in Westerville and Gahanna. We worry that the homes in LC & GB won't have a comparable resale value to the surburban homes of the same price and that there aren't many families with young children in Laurel Canyon & Green Brier. Do all of you knowledgeable C-Bus residents feel that Gahanna and Westerville are that much better than even the nicest areas of east columbus? Are there any other parts of Columbus where we can find a unique looking home with a good school district?

IMO Gahanna and Westerville are nicer than any areas in east Columbus (excluding Berwick). As far as burbs east of Columbus, you would probably get more acreage (and house) for your money in Pickerington or Pataskala, but the homes are primarily cookie-cutter.

How unique would you like your home to be? I mean, homes consist of kitchen, bath, bedrooms, living and dining rooms, so maybe you could give some specifics of what would make a home "unique." I am assuming you don't want a home with the same floor plan as all the neighbors, but are you looking for specific architecture? For example, do you prefer mid-century modern?

You could probably find a small home in UA within your budget, but it would need updating and would not have acreage.

[Elk59]

Thanks for the help everyone! We love the homes in Upper Arlington. That is where we would love to buy. However we are around $250K short in terms of price. We have been looking for the same types of home as Upper Arlington but for half the price. That's when our realtor took us to Green Brier and Laurel Canyon (just off Noe-Bixby north of Main ST). What I should ask you is do you think the areas on the eastside have any hope of being revitalized in the next 5 to 10 years? Are there any new businesses coming to that part of town? Good grocery stores close by? Magnet schools? Because, we would rather live in a 3500 square foot mide-century cape cod, ranch, spanish home with "character" than the 2000 square foot 10-year old A-frame home in "Stepford". But if we have to drive to Gahanna/Westerville/Blacklick to eat out, shop, and send the kids to school....then Stepford it is. Thanks again for the help!

[2006Buckeye]

Originally Posted by Elk59

Thanks for the help everyone! We love the homes in Upper Arlington. That is where we would love to buy. However we are around $250K short in terms of price. We have been looking for the same types of home as Upper Arlington but for half the price. That's when our realtor took us to Green Brier and Laurel Canyon (just off Noe-Bixby north of Main ST). What I should ask you is do you think the areas on the eastside have any hope of being revitalized in the next 5 to 10 years? Are there any new businesses coming to that part of town? Good grocery stores close by? Magnet schools? Because, we would rather live in a 3500 square foot mide-century cape cod, ranch, spanish home with "character" than the 2000 square foot 10-year old A-frame home in "Stepford". But if we have to drive to Gahanna/Westerville/Blacklick to eat out, shop, and send the kids to school....then Stepford it is. Thanks again for the help!

This is just my opinion, and I don't mean to offend anyone, but I would not live in that area. I have been in one of the developments in that area (not sure which development), and though the houses seem very nice - large, varied and with nice settings (trees, large yards), the overall location stinks. Did your realtor drive you up Main Street? It can be rough. IMO there is not going to be a revitalization of the area. It has gotten worse, not better, with businesses on Main Street closing. There is a reason why you can get a lot more house for your money. I am not aware of any new businesses...but if new business is coming, it probably would not go to that area.

Do you have time to check out the grocery stores? That can give you a very good indication of what the area residents are like.

Overall, Columbus Public Schools in the NW area are very good. Other areas, not so much. There is open enrollment, but it depends on a lottery. There are some good high schools, but again, lottery will determine where you go Streetcreed is the CD CPS expert - search his posts...although he is little biased in favor of Columbus schools.

I did a quick search of zip code 43235 on the HER website - 3 bed/2 bath and .5 acre b/w $200-$250. Below are a few results to give you an idea.

Worthington schools are good...here is a home with Columbus taxes and Worthington schools on .5 acre. It's not nearly as big as you'd like, but it's not cookie cutter. Buy a home. Sell your house. Find an agent and a mortgage.

Here's another with Worthington schools: Buy a home. Sell your house. Find an agent and a mortgage.

And one with Dublin schools (Dublin schools are also very good) and Columbus taxes: Buy a home. Sell your house. Find an agent and a mortgage.

[BuckeyeMom1]

I have to agree with Buckeye2006. Your home search depends on what is priority:schools or house. Your choices are either an older, larger, custom, bigger lot home that may not be in the most desirable school zone or a smaller, cookie cutter, smaller lot home in a more desirable school zone. I have friends that have children in Cols. Public Schls. and they are happy. However, many worry about middle and high school selections because the better ones are lottery schools. So there is no guarantee.

Another area that was not mentioned that you should check out is New Albany. There are a few neighborhoods that have Cols. taxes, but are zoned for New Albany Schools: Preserve, Chestnut Hill, and Albany Park.

We lived in New Albany and decided to purchase based on schools. I can honestly say that it was worth it for our family having a smaller home in order to get the quality schools. We recently relocated and the kids have adjusted very well and I know some of that is because of what they were exposed to while being in a great district.

We also currently have our home for sale if you would like to take a look. Check out the link:
http://www.therainesgroup.com/8061parsonspass.php

Here is link to school report cards to see test results for the different districts and schools:

Default County Report Card Home Page

Hope this helps.