Columbus Ohio April 2014 Report: Prices up; inventory low

(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.

Watch Live - Harvey Milk Stamp Unveiling Ceremony Thursday, May 22 at 3 pm ET

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Watch Live: Harvey Milk Stamp Unveiling Ceremony This Thursday, May 22, the White House Office of Public Engagement, the United States Postal Service and the Harvey Milk Foundation will host a first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony for the Harvey Milk Forever Stamp at the White House. The event will feature remarks by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senator Tammy Baldwin, Representative John Lewis, Deputy Postmaster General Ronald A. Stroman, and other distinguished guests including the Co-Founders of the Harvey Milk Foundation, Stuart Milk and Anne Kronenberg. Watch live starting at 3:00 p.m. EST at www.whitehouse.gov/live. If you're following on social media, the hashtag is #HarveyMilkStamp. (by United States Postal Service) Harvey Milk was a visionary leader who became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S. when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. Milk's achievements gave hope and confidence to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community in the United States and elsewhere at a time when the community was encountering widespread hostility and discrimination. Milk believed that government should represent all citizens, ensuring equality and providing needed services. Tragically, his political career was cut short less than a year after he took office in California when he and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were assassinated on November 27, 1978. In 2009, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Harvey Milk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. And in 2013, the White House Office of Public Engagement honored ten openly LGBT elected and appointed officials as "Harvey Milk Champions of Change." See more information on the Harvey Milk Forever Stamp.

Since Historic Supreme Court Rulings, Not a Single State Marriage Ban Has Survived a Federal Court Challenge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 20, 2014
Charles Joughin 

Since Historic Supreme Court Rulings, Not a Single State Marriage Ban Has Survived a Federal Court Challenge

Today Pennsylvania became the tenth state where a federal judge has struck down a marriage ban since historic U.S. Supreme Court decisions last year

WASHINGTON - As national polling continues to show Americans moving inexorably in the direction of supporting equality for same-sex couples, there are at least 70 court cases challenging discriminatory marriage bans across the country.  44 of these cases are currently pending in federal courts while 27 are pending in state courts, all in 29 states plus Puerto Rico. 

Same-sex couples can legally marry in eighteen states and the District of Columbia, while 32 states have a law or constitutional amendment restricting marriage to the union of one man and one woman.  Only two states – North Dakota and South Dakota – have bans on marriage equality but no current court cases challenging their constitutionality.  

Since the U.S. Supreme court ruled in two historic marriage cases last summer, not a single state marriage ban has survived a court challenge. 

So far five federal appeals courts are presiding over ten marriage equality cases over the coming weeks and months.  These cases include:

• Kitchen v. Herbert of Utah [Oral argument at the Tenth Circuit was held April 10, 2014]
• Bishop v. United States out of Oklahoma [Oral argument at the Tenth Circuit was held April 17, 2014]
• Bostic v. Rainey of Virginia, [Oral argument at the Fourth Circuit was held May 13, 2014]
• Sevcik v. Sandoval of Nevada, Ninth Circuit
• Latta v. Otter of Idaho, Ninth Circuit
• Tanco v. Haslam of Tennessee, Sixth Circuit
• Bourke vs. Beshear of Kentucky, Sixth Circuit
• Obergefell v. Kasich of Ohio, Sixth Circuit
• DeBoer v. Snyder of Michigan, Sixth Circuit
• DeLeon v. Perry out of Texas, Fifth Circuit

The Sixth Circuit holds the distinction of being the only federal appeals court to date that will consider marriage cases from all states within its jurisdiction.

Of the ten federal district judges who have struck down marriage bans in the last year, seven were appointed by Democrats and three were appointed by Republicans, including Judge John Jones who issued today’s ruling in Pennsylvania. In fact, former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum referred to Judge Jones as “highly qualified to assume the important role of Judge and the duty of protecting the Constitution and ensuring the effective operation of our judicial system,” when announcing his support for the judge’s confirmation by the Senate.

Today 40 percent of Americans live in states with marriage equality.  If PA Gov. Corbett does not appeal today’s decision and the ruling stands, that number will jump to 44 percent of Americans living in a jurisdiction where same-sex couples can legally marry.

According to a March 2014 Washington Post/ABC News poll, 59 percent of Americans support marriage rights for committed and loving gay and lesbian couples.  That same month, Pew released poll results showing 61 percent of Republicans and Republican leaners under 30 favor marriage equality.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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Columbus HRC is proud to award its 2014 Equality Award to Mayor Michael B. Coleman and the Columbus City Council

2014 Columbus Human Rights Campaign Gala

“The Next 30 Years”

http://www.hrccolumbusdinner.com/

For Immediate Release:

Columbus Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is proud to award its 2014 Equality Award to Mayor Michael B. Coleman and the Columbus City Council. The HRC Equality Award recognizes the outstanding efforts of those who dedicate the energy, spirit, and whole-hearted commitment to better the lives of LGBT people. This award is given to allies inside and outside the LGBT community who stand up on behalf of equality for all Americans. Recipients have shown a commitment to making America a place where LGBT people can be open, honest, and safe at home, at work, in the community, and in the media.

Under the leadership of Mayor Coleman and City Council, the city of Columbus achieved a score of 100%, the highest score possible, on the Municipal Equality Index (MEI) compiled by HRC and the Equality Federation Institute. As explained by HRC, “the Municipal Equality Index (MEI) examines the laws, policies, and services of municipalities and rates them on the basis of their inclusivity of LGBT people who live and work there.” Of the 291 municipalities surveyed in 2013, Columbus was one of 25 to receive a perfect score.

The award will be presented to Mayor Coleman and City Council at the annual Columbus HRC Gala on May 31, 2014.

About the Event:

The Gala is Columbus Human Rights Campaign (HRC)’s biggest event of the year. It’s attended by corporate partners, activists, and community members who wish to support the work HRC provides the community. Last year over 600 guests celebrated Columbus HRC’s 30th Anniversary, and the organization looks forward to another outpouring of support as it prepares for the next 30 years.

Details:

May 31, 2014

Ohio Union – Archie Griffin Ballroom

1739 North High St.

Columbus OH, 43210

Receptions begin at 6:00pm with dinner to follow

Central Ohio Home Inventory Rising With The Temperatures

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

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 properties for sale, visit www.terrypenrod.com

Full report

HRC - Significant Changes on Tax Day for Same-Sex Couples After Marriage Equality Victories at the Supreme Court

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 9, 2014
Paul Guequierre

Significant Changes on Tax Day for Same-Sex Couples After Marriage Equality Victories at the Supreme Court

WASHINGTON – With historic victories for marriage equality at the Supreme Court of the United States last year, including the striking down of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in the Windsor case, tax day will change for thousands of married LGBT couples.  In an effort to clear the confusion around filing income taxes, the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, has created an online guide to filing taxes at www.hrc.org/taxes.     

“The LGBT community continues to make gains in the fight for full equality, and with those gains come the rights and responsibilities of marriage including tax filing at the federal level.  Because some states continue to ignore marriages, many couples will be required to jump through extra hoops” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow.  “As tax day approaches next week, thousands of legally married same-sex couples are scrambling to figure out what they need to do to file their taxes and we are proud to offer online resources to help.”

Prior to this year, legally married same-sex couples who lived in marriage states were required to file jointly in their state, but separately on the federal returns.  This year, the challenges shift to legally married same-sex couples in non-marriage equality states.  The Supreme Court’s decision in U.S. v. Windsor struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which excluded same-sex married couples from all federal marriage benefits and programs—including federal income tax. In a revenue ruling issued this summer, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that legally married same-sex couples would be recognized for all federal income tax purposes, regardless of where they live. Under this ruling, the IRS will recognize married same-sex couples for the purposes of income tax, estate and gift taxes, and payroll taxes associated with many employee spousal benefits.

However, this ruling does not affect whether the state in which a same-sex couples lives recognizes their marriage, meaning a couple may be recognized as married by the federal government but still considered single by the state government.  In some cases, the state may instruct a same-sex couple to use their federal filing status (e.g. “single,” “married filing jointly,” etc.) when preparing their state tax return. With the IRS’s ruling, this could create conflicting requirements based on state residency, and navigating them can be complicated and confusing.

HRC is proud to offer an overview of state income tax requirements and guidance provided by state revenue agencies for married same-sex couples at www.hrc.org/taxes.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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HRC- Federal Judge Announces He Will Strike Down Ohio Ban on Recognition of Same-Sex Marriages

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 4, 2014
Charles Joughin 

Federal Judge Announces He Will Strike Down Ohio Ban on Recognition of Same-Sex Marriages

Judge Timothy Black will issue ruling April 14 prohibiting state from enforcing ban

WASHINGTON  - Today a federal judge announced he will strike down Ohio’s constitutional amendment banning the state from recognizing same-sex marriages performed in states where they are legal.  The case Henry V. Wymyslo, was brought by legally married same-sex couples living in Ohio who wish to be listed as married on their children’s’ birth certificates.

“For the second time Judge Black has affirmed that the marriages of committed and loving same-sex couples must be recognized by the state of Ohio,” said Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin.  “Since the Supreme Court’s landmark marriage equality rulings last June, not a single state marriage ban has survived a federal court challenge.  It’s only a matter of time before marriage equality is the law of the land in not just Ohio, but every corner of America.”

This is one of at least 55 marriage equality court cases working their way through the judicial system across the country.  These cases have been filed in 28 states plus Puerto Rico and account for nearly 250 plaintiffs taking on state marriage bans.  Same-sex couples can legally marry in seventeen states and the District of Columbia, while 33 states have a law or constitutional amendment restricting marriage to the union of one man and one woman.

Another case out of Ohio, Obergefell v. Kasich, has been appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit after Judge Black ruled the state’s marriage ban is unconstitutional in prohibiting the state from including the names of surviving same-sex spouses on death certificates.

For more information on this and other marriage equality court cases across the country, visit www.americansformarriageequality.org

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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