The German Village Blog

German Village, along with the rest of the city, recently received property taxes for 2008, payable in 2009. For many, taxes went up considerably on the backs of higher rates and new assessment values.

The Franklin County Auditor bases real estate taxes on a valuation assessment that is meant to mirror the fair market value of a given home. But what happens when the housing market goes down and "fair market value" becomes harder to pin than the tail on the donkey? Fortunately, there is recourse for any residents who feel they are being unfairly taxed, but you'll want to act quickly.

Residents who wish to appeal their tax amount based on what they feel is an unfair valuation of their property may fill out a formal complaint via the Franklin County Auditor's office. The form can be found at this link here, and must be properly filled out and turned in by March 31st, 2009.

Since the auditor's office bases their valuations on current market value, you may be able to bolster your argument by providing recent sales surrounding your home. The auditor's website (linked above) has an excellent search tool you can use to find the most recent selling price of a property. So, if you had noticed some of your neighbors' homes selling this past year, look up their addresses and see if you can put some facts in front of you. If you have a strong argument, the county may re-evaluate your home, and you could end up saving a lot of money.

Have you ever gone though the complaint process? Let us know your story and any tips or lessons you learned in the comments section.

Just saw a Bald Eagle flying over the Scioto River at the Greenlawn bridge by German Village. Every time you drive west over this bridge, take a (safe) glance over towards the dam and you will usually see a large contingent of ducks and geese feeding in the shallows. Looking out I knew exactly what it was, even though I've only seen a handful of eagles before. The enormous wingspan and power behind each wingbeat tell you immediately that this is no Turkey Vulture. As it flew towards the bridge the striking white head and tail made this great bird unmistakeable.

For many people (I'm looking at you, Lake Erie residents) a Bald Eagle is no big deal, as their numbers have risen steadily since the DDT ban, but it's still a pretty rare and special treat here in Columbus. Schiller Park and German Village are home year-round to many great species of bird, so it shouldn't be too much of a surprise that the river and surrounding areas will ocassionally draw such a special visitor.

Always keep your eyes open!

The real estate market's recent fall isn't news to anyone, but it does little good those of us in Columbus to hear about the surburban crashes of California or all the vacant vacation homes in Florida. What does our local market look like today, and how how does it compare to last year? Let's take a look.

In December, a paltry three homes were sold in German Village. Sales for the year were a stagnant 65 homes, down 38% from 2007. Right now there are 109 homes for sale in the Village, a glut of inventory. Here's some stats for all you math lovers:


As you can see, the median list price and sold price has remained steady, albeit with no real appreciation to speak of. It's a tough road for high-end listings. The difference between the highest listing last year and this year may be savvy sellers willing to hold out until that part of the market rebounds. Franklin county as a whole has seen very few million dollar homes sold this year.

For the rest of us proles, though, the listings in the median have a little more meat of interest. Median sale prices for 2008 were 6.6% (repeating, of course) below their respective asking prices. In normal markets, Realtors don't want to see their listing prices more than 2-3% off the final sold price, and never over 5%. That nearly 7% difference is a testament to how strong this buyer's market truly is. Of course, this is still German Village. Don't expect to lowball a seller 25% under the asking price and get a set of keys and a gift basket back with your signed offer, but 7% off still means thousands and thousands of dollars in savings, and that's just a starting point.

And don't forget - a single dollar of appreciation is still moving in the right direction, and so far German Village is holding strongly to its historic value.

So that's 2008. I hope you kept your health, because chances are everyone lost at least a little bit of something else. The good news is that every coin has two sides, and this incredible buyer's market is going to present fantastic opportunities throughout 2009. There is unlikely to be a better time to get into German Village and join this great community. If you have any interest on any of those 109 listings just waiting to be toured, give Ned Merkle a call at (614) 443-9768. Shameless plug aside, we wish you a great 2009 and hope to see you around the Village soon!

The annual Village Christmas tree will be lit in Frank Fetch Park this Friday night at 7:00 PM. Santa and Mrs. Claus (with the help of Ned & Josie Merkle) will be making an appearance, so join the celebration as the holiday season kicks into full gear!

For more information contact Linda Casale, Events & Development Coordinator at the German Village Society at 614-221-8888 ext. 10. Frank Fetch Memorial Park is located north off of Livingston Avenue between Grant and Parsons.

Columbus has an eclectic mix of neighborhoods, each with their own unique character and charms. What draws so many to German Village?

Location:

German Village is a true downtown neighborhood, just minutes from the heart of Columbus. On the east side it meets High Street, the meridian of the downtown (and the rest of the city) and on the north sits Livingston Avenue, with numerous connectors to highways 70 and 71, along with easy route to state highway 315 and US 33. This prime location means easy commutes to such large employers as Nationwide Insurance, The Ohio State University, The Children's Hospital and many more.



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Shopping:

Looking for an eclectic piece of furniture for your home? Or handcrafted stained-glass? How about a custom piece of jewelry? Ceramic and earthenware pieces? German Village has it all, from art galleries to a 32-room bookstore. Window-shop your way to classic antiques, local and historic art and photography, fine wines and microbrews and much, much more.

With dozens of neighbor-owned shops to choose from, great shopping is always within walking distance when you're in the Village. Check out a list of German Village businesses here for more information.

Restaurants:

If you're going to be walking and window-shopping, you're going to need a full belly to do it on. Fortunately, the choices on where to eat in German Village are just as varied as where to shop. Grab a breakfast pastry at Juergen's Bakery or a bagel at the Brown Bag. Of course, Starbuck's and Cup O' Joe are there to fill your caffeine fix, then onto lunch at any number of delis and bistros. Of course, you'll have to save one night of dinner plans for Schmidt's Restaurant und Sausage Haus - a tradition known through not just Columbus, but across the country.

You can see more restaurant options in the Village by visiting the business directory again here, and also check out this foodie blog with pieces on many Columbus eateries. Bon appetit!

Recreation:

Columbus Monthly recently named Schiller Park the city's favorite greenspace for the third time in a row, and it's no surprise why. With over 23 acres of gardens, ponds, walkways and playgrounds, Schiller Park is a favorite spot for many German Village residents - and their dogs! Enjoy theatre in the summer and other activities all year round at the recreation center.

North of Schiller Park you'll find Frank Fetch Park, a small tract in the German bier garten tradition, complete with brick walls, benches and picnic tables and a wide horticultural variety. The park is maintained by fellow residents under the care of the German Village Garten Club.


German Village is also home to several annual festivals and traditions, including the famed Oktoberfest celebration and the summer Home und Garten Tour, which gives citizens a chance to showcase the neighborhood's finest home and garden restorations.

Of course for many, the amenities of living in the Village pale in comparison to the feeling you get when you first turn off of High Street. Cobblestone roads, gas-lit porch lamps, wrought-iron gates wrapping up tiny brick-laden gardens and the brick cottages and Italianate and Victorian homes that look down upon them all gather together to give the Village a transcendent property. Come visit and see where it takes you!

Welcome to the German Village Blog, a community blog about stories and events pertaining to Columbus' best neighborhood. A service of Ned Merkle & Co. Realtors, look for updates to our blog every week with pieces on German Village history, the people and businesses that breathe life into our community and the events and issues that will shape its future.

If you have any suggestions for a story or idea you'd like to see on our blog, please email us at the address at mschelle@nedmerkle.com. We look forward to hearing from you!