Columbus Board of Realtors®
April Announcements
Is the home in a Flood Plain?
Building Department now does the gas pipe inspection
HUD study reports Americans still don't grasp Fair Housing Laws
Furniture warehouse seeking donations
CBR Foundation Fund Request for Volunteers
Is the home in a Flood Plain?
Flood plain information for Franklin County properties can now be found on the Web. With the help of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), County Auditor Joe Testa's web site (www.co.franklin.oh.us/auditor) now displays flood plains through its GIS mapping program.
To access, just select the ‘property maps' button on the homepage, then enter a property and click ‘select item', which allows you to customize your map by selecting from a variety of features, including flood plains.
Building Department now does the gas pipe inspection
On November 5, 2001, the City of Columbus issued a policy memo on how the code required gas inspections would be performed. Upon review, questions arose and revisions have been adopted, effective April 1, 2002.
Realtors® working with new construction should understand that there has to be a gas pipe inspection by the city building department in order to get the certificate of occupancy.
Previously the gas company would do the final inspection. But now the testing is done by the building department.
If you have questions, contact Cheryl Roahrig at (614) 645-3270 or the Columbia Gas Company at (800) 440-6111.
HUD study reports Americans still don't grasp Fair Housing Laws
Most Americans support the concept behind the Fair Housing Act, the law that prohibits many types of housing discrimination, but many do not fully grasp which activities are legal and which are not, according to a report prepared by the Urban Institute and released in late April by HUD.
67% — said they support existing laws that prohibit home owners from refusing to sell based on a buyer's race, religion or nationality
38% — were aware that it is illegal to refuse to rent to a family because they have children
81% — thought it was illegal to restrict the sale of a home to white buyers
78% — thought it was illegal to refuse to rent to a person with a different religion
Furniture warehouse seeking donations
Material Assistance Providers (MAP) is a centralized clearinghouse for new, high quality, and used furniture, appliances and household goods. MAP provides these goods free of charge to individuals and families referred by area churches and social service agencies.
In 2001, MAP served 2,090 families (7,165 individuals). Thus far in 2002, MAP has served 585 families (1,895 individuals). In order to meet these needs, MAP is looking for furniture, appliances or household goods you could donate.
Items can be dropped off at their warehouse, 4040 Fisher Road, or MAP will pick them up. If you have something you could donate, please call 276-5048.
CBR Foundation Fund Request for Volunteers
Barbara Lach and Bruce Massa, 2002 Co-Chairs of CBR's Foundation Fund Advisory Board extend their invitation to all members who may be interested in helping achieve some special projects on this year's agenda. These projects include the: development of scholarships programs; identification of housing-related projects in the area needing CBR's support; development of materials to help promote the Foundation Fund; and, fundraising.
Anyone interested in joining a sub-committee of the CBR Foundation Fund should contact Stan Collins at CBR (614) 475-4000 ext. 235.
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