The Northeast Ohio Housing Rundown – March Edition 2024 Recap

The Northeast Ohio Housing Rundown – March Edition
(AKA: "Is This the Month You Finally Move, or Nah?") 🏡✨

Hey Northeast Ohioans! It’s your favorite real estate guru, James Duncan, here to break down the latest housing trends in our little slice of the Midwest. Pour yourself a cup of coffee (or something stronger—no judgment here) ☕🍸 and let’s get into it.

Home Prices: Up, Down, and All Around 📈📉

• The median home value in Summit County is sitting at $251K, up 4.3% in the last year. Not too shabby! 😎

• Cuyahoga County is a bit more unpredictable—median values are at $249K, but they jumped 6.9% in the last 12 months. That’s like watching your gas prices fluctuate at the pump. ⛽😅

• Portage County is flexing with $291K, a solid 8.6% increase—if your home was a stock, you’d be feeling pretty good right now. 📊💰

• Meanwhile, Geauga County is out here acting like a luxury listing at $390K, rising 5.7% in value. Must be all that fresh country air! 🌳🐄

Buying vs. Renting: Should You Keep Paying Your Landlord’s Mortgage? 🏠💸

• Summit and Cuyahoga Counties: 67% of people own their homes, while 33% still rent. Not bad, but let’s bump those numbers up, people! 📢

• Portage County: 71% ownership. Overachievers. 🤓

• Geauga County: A whopping 87% of people own. Either that, or no one’s building apartment complexes out there. 🚜

New Construction? Don’t Hold Your Breath. 🚧🚜

• The number of building permits in Summit County dropped 39%, and their value plummeted 60%. Ouch. 😬

• Cuyahoga’s doing slightly better—permit values only dropped 3%, but still, not great.

• Portage and Geauga Counties aren’t exactly booming either, but hey, at least your neighborhood isn’t getting bulldozed anytime soon. 🤷‍♂️

Economic Pulse Check – Are We Broke Yet? 💰🤔

• The median household income in Summit County is $68,360—which means if you’re trying to buy a house, you might want to start packing your lunch instead of hitting Chipotle three times a week. 🌯🚫

• Cuyahoga is lagging a bit at $60,074, but their unemployment rate is lower than the national average, so there’s that. 📉

• Portage County folks are doing alright at $69,796, while Geauga County is basically a gated community at this point with a median household income of $97,162. 💎

Weather Report (For Those Who Haven’t Looked Out a Window) ❄️🌧️

• We get about 43-66 inches of snow a year, depending on where you live. If you thought you could get through a winter without a shovel, let this be a reality check. ⛄🚗

• Sunshine? A whopping 67 days per year. We love our gray skies here, don’t we? 🌫️😂

• Travel time to work? Average is 23-28 minutes. So yes, you’ll still need that extra-large coffee. ☕⏳

Neighborhood Livability Scores – How Do We Stack Up? 🏡📊

The AARP Livability Index rates NE Ohio counties between 50-57/100, meaning we’re officially above average. That’s right—we’re winning at mediocrity! 🏆😆

• Housing Affordability: 57 (You may afford a house, but can you afford furniture?) 🛋️💸

• Transportation: 63 (If you like potholes, you’ll love our roads!) 🚙💥

• Health & Wellness: 52 (We have hospitals, but also a lot of fast-food joints.) 🍔🏥

• Civic Engagement: 63 (Apparently, we like to vote and complain.) 🗳️🤷‍♂️

Upcoming Events in Northeast Ohio – March 2025 🎉📅

Looking for something to do this month? Here are some events that might pique your interest:

• Ice Wine Festival: Indulge in the unique flavors of ice wine at local wineries. This annual event offers tastings, tours, and entertainment for the whole family. Check with participating wineries for dates and details. 🍷🎶

• 2025 MAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments: From March 12–15, Rocket Arena in Cleveland will host the Mid-American Conference basketball tournaments. Catch exciting college basketball action as teams compete for the championship title. 🏀🔥

• Ohio Statehood Day: Celebrate Ohio's 222nd birthday on March 1 with various events and activities highlighting the state's rich history and contributions. 🎂🇺🇸

Sports Update – March 2025 🏀🏈⚾

• Cleveland Cavaliers: The Cavs are currently 1st in the Eastern Conference and battling through the NBA season with a mix of highs and lows. Fans are hopeful for a strong finish as the team aims for a playoff spot. 🏀💪

• Cleveland Browns: Holding the No. 2 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, the Browns are evaluating top prospects, including defensive end Abdul Carter and quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. With quarterback uncertainty due to Deshaun Watson's Achilles surgery, the team is weighing its options. 🏈🤔

• Cleveland Guardians: As the defending AL Central champions, the Guardians have made notable roster changes, trading key players like Andrés Giménez and Josh Naylor. However, with star José Ramírez and a promising young pitching staff, the team remains optimistic about the upcoming season. ⚾🔥

Final Thoughts: Buy, Sell, or Just Keep Scrolling? 🤔📲

If you’re selling, prices are still climbing, so now might be the time to cash in. If you’re buying, interest rates and home values are creeping up—waiting could mean paying more later. And if you’re just here for the sarcasm and stats, thanks for reading! 🎉

Need real estate advice? Visit soldwithduncan.com before Zillow convinces you your house is worth a million bucks. 💻🏡

Until next time—stay warm, stay informed, and for the love of all things Ohio, check the basement before you buy. 🏚️🔦

Cheers,
James Duncan 😎