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Columbus Ohio Real Estate Market 2019: Make a Move Now and Invest

by Eman HamedFeb 10, 2019December 11, 2023

Affordability and profitability – this is what you’ll enjoy as a real estate investor in the Columbus Ohio Real Estate Market 2019!

Columbus might not have crossed your mind when you were looking for the best cities for investing in real estate. However, our statistics and research show that the Columbus real estate market is actually a hot one for investors in 2019. Last year, Realtor.com named it the 4^th hottest housing market and Forbes also reported that Columbus is “a rare Midwest success story.”

The Columbus Ohio real estate market has truly transformed itself and has begun growing again in recent years. This blog post dives into the different trends and factors that are making Columbus one of the best cities to buy an investment property in 2019. We also list the best neighborhoods in the city where real estate investors will find investment opportunities with high returns according to Mashvisor’s Investment Property Calculator.

Columbus Home Prices Are a Bargain

Columbus has to compete with the other surrounding cities in the Midwest housing market. However, one point in its favor is the lower cost of living. The main trend characterizing the Columbus Ohio real estate market 2019 is its very affordable housing. According to Zillow, the median price of Columbus homes for sale is currently $165,900 which is so cheap relative to the US national average of $275,000!

For a real estate investor, this makes Columbus a great housing market which offers opportunities to buy rental properties in cash instead of financing the purchase with a mortgage loan. Savvy property investors know that buying investment properties in cash could earn them higher returns. This is because they take the interest rates and mortgage payments out of the costs and expenses they need to cover.

Therefore, you can buy a rental property in Columbus and start generating rental income for positive cash flow. Based on our data and real estate analytics, the traditional monthly rental income in the Columbus Ohio real estate market 2019 is $1,270. When spent wisely, this should yield a decent rate of return on the rental property for a real estate investor.

Real Estate in Columbus Is Appreciating

Buying an investment property in Columbus, OH is a good strategy not only for generating positive cash flow but also for real estate appreciation. According to data from NeighborhoodScout, appreciation rates for homes in Columbus have been above the national average for the last ten years (a cumulative appreciation rate of 27.34%). Their data also shows that during the last 12 months, the Columbus housing market’s appreciation rate was 6.6%. Furthermore, Zillow predicts a 5% growth in home value in the Columbus Ohio real estate market 2019. All of this hints to the city’s near-future real estate investment strength!

Wondering why the city is enjoying high real estate appreciation rates? Well, there are many reasons, first of which is the high demand for homes in established neighborhoods. This is also accompanied by the growing population (we explore this in detail in the next point). The limited supply of homes in the market in these neighborhoods with high demand is driving up their prices.

Another reason for high appreciation is the ongoing redevelopment activities in the Columbus Ohio real estate market. The city is in the top 10 markets for development/redevelopment opportunities in the PwC’s Emerging Trends in Real Estate Report for 2019. There are at least ten major redevelopment projects planned around the city, each of which will lead to an increased demand for homes. If you own rental properties in these areas, they’ll definitely be worth more!

Do you have a free Mashvisor account? Use our Property Finder to find lucrative investment properties in Columbus, OH that match your criteria in a matter of minutes!

The Growing Population Is Increasing Rental Demand

Columbus is the 14th largest city in the US and is home to almost 900,000 people. This year, the city is projected to see population growth rates that exceed the national rate! First of all, the market is benefiting from positive levels of net migration as people are moving to Columbus from other smaller cities and counties in Ohio. As mentioned, the lower cost of living is the main factor attracting people to relocate to the Columbus real estate market. The high population growth rate explains why 50% of the Emerging Trends Report’s respondents advised real estate investors to buy multifamily property in Columbus, OH.

Moreover, another factor benefiting Columbus real estate investors is the city’s diverse demographics. First of all, families are attracted to the city for schools and job opportunities which, in turn, present the opportunity to invest in single-family homes. Columbus is also one of the top cities for retirees, meaning you can invest in senior housing.

College students also choose Columbus for its variety of colleges (there are nearly 40 colleges within fifty miles of Columbus!). This means real estate investors can rent out to college students as well. It’s also expected that this generation will stay for work and start their own families, fueling demand for rental properties in the Columbus Ohio real estate market 2019!

Columbus Is Landlord and Airbnb-Friendly

Our final reason for why you should consider buying a rental property in Columbus, OH is the fact that it’s a friendly market to landlords. As a matter of fact, Ohio is much more landlord-friendly than the neighboring Midwestern states. For example, there are no laws regarding pets, payment grace periods or re-keying. In addition, there is no limit on late fees but they must be “reasonable.”

Another point in favor of the Columbus Ohio real estate market is that short-term rentals like Airbnb are allowed throughout the city. The city did approve new Airbnb laws back in July that took effect at the beginning of this year. However, these regulations are not very strict compared to those of other major cities across the US.

For example, short-term rental hosts have to apply for a permit. However, there is no cap on the number of days you can rent your property out on Airbnb in a year. Short-term rental hosts are also required to collect the city’s 5.1% hotel/motel tax from guests and pass the revenue on to the city. Nonetheless, the Airbnb rental income in Columbus is high enough to make a profitable Airbnb investment. According to Airbnb, Columbus is actually the #1 market in Ohio. So, it comes as no surprise that Now Is the Time to Invest in Airbnb Columbus, Ohio.

Click here to start and end your search for the best Airbnb rental property in Columbus, OH.

Where to Invest in the Columbus Ohio Real Estate Market 2019

Are you thinking of investing in real estate in Columbus? If you are, these are the best neighborhoods to buy Columbus investment properties, according to Mashvisor’s Investment Property Calculator.

To get access to our real estate investment tools, sign up for a 7-day free trial of Mashvisor today, followed by 15% off for life.

Edgewood

Median Property Price: $100,925
Price Per Sq/Ft: $86
Traditional Rental Income: $1,050
Airbnb Rental Income: $2,754
Traditional Cash on Cash Return: 5%
Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 14%
Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 55%

Reeb-Hosack

Median Property Price: $95,780
Price Per Sq/Ft: $63
Traditional Rental Income: $1,050
Airbnb Rental Income: $2,529
Traditional Cash on Cash Return: 5%
Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 12%
Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 54%

South Linden

Median Property Price: $80,378
Price Per Sq/Ft: $77
Traditional Rental Income: $953
Airbnb Rental Income: $2,131
Traditional Cash on Cash Return: 5%
Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 11%
Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 55%

Southern Orchards

Median Property Price: $177,672
Price Per Sq/Ft: $116
Traditional Rental Income: $1,248
Airbnb Rental Income: $2,986
Traditional Cash on Cash Return: 3%
Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 9%
Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 59%

Near Southside

Median Property Price: $113,327
Price Per Sq/Ft: $86
Traditional Rental Income: $1,042
Airbnb Rental Income: $1,647
Traditional Cash on Cash Return: 4%
Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 7%
Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 47%

South Side

Median Property Price: $157,820
Price Per Sq/Ft: $102
Traditional Rental Income: $1,091
Airbnb Rental Income: $2,825
Traditional Cash on Cash Return: 3%
Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 9%
Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 62%

Franklinton

Median Property Price: $159,508
Price Per Sq/Ft: $99
Traditional Rental Income: $1,025
Airbnb Rental Income: $2,454
Traditional Cash on Cash Return: 3%
Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 8%
Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 52%

South of Main

Median Property Price: $140,622
Price Per Sq/Ft: $94
Traditional Rental Income: $1,027
Airbnb Rental Income: $1,945
Traditional Cash on Cash Return: 3%
Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 8%
Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 46%

Glen Echo

Median Property Price: $147,413
Price Per Sq/Ft: $116
Traditional Rental Income: $1,099
Airbnb Rental Income: $2,176
Traditional Cash on Cash Return: 3%
Airbnb Cash on Cash Return: 7%
Airbnb Occupancy Rate: 53%

The Bottom Line

In short, the Columbus Ohio real estate market 2019 is doing as well as any big city in the country. The city mixes new redevelopment, good quality of life, and growth to create a stable housing market that has profitable investment opportunities to offer. To start looking for and analyzing the best investment properties in your neighborhood of choice, click here.

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