Realtors urge Cleveland Heights to shorten exterior-inspection cycle, expand outreach and rethink point-of-sale escrow

REALTORS AND CITY OFFICIALS MET: Members of the Cleveland Heights City Council Housing and Building Committee heard a presentation from local real estate professionals on Jan. 26 that outlined ways to keep the city—s older housing stock in good condition and to make homebuying easier for first-time and moderate-income buyers.

The presenters, led by Helen Hertz, a Cleveland Heights resident and retired RE/MAX broker, urged shortening the city—s systematic exterior-inspection cycle from five years to three, improving distribution of information about repair programs and considering elimination of the owner-occupied point-of-sale escrow requirement while maintaining stricter inspections for investor-owned properties. "We have to take care of what we've got and keep it strong and safe," Hertz said.

Why it matters: Committee members were told the city—s housing stock is old (presenters cited a median house age of about 91 years) and that exterior deterioration can depress neighboring property conditions and affect buyers— decisions. Presenters said clearer outreach and easier access to repair financing could help owners fix violations and help buyers close transactions in Cleveland Heights rather than look outside the city.

What presenters proposed and discussed: Helen Hertz and other real estate professionals described several recommendations: reduce the systematic exterior-inspection interval from five years…