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Columbus Realtors presents housing data to Reynoldsburg; warns of predatory 'wholesaling' and offers infill housing guide
Summary
At its Sept. 8 meeting, Reynoldsburg City Council heard a presentation from Columbus Realtors showing higher local housing inventory and urging caution about 'wholesaling'—a practice the presenter described as sometimes predatory toward older, distressed homeowners—and introduced a voluntary infill housing pattern book for municipalities.
Kiana Jones, government affairs chair of Columbus Realtors, told the Reynoldsburg City Council on Sept. 8 that Central Ohio housing inventory has risen sharply and outlined two local priorities: educating residents about predatory two-step property transactions known as "wholesaling" and encouraging infill housing using a new pattern book.
Jones said Central Ohio listings were up about 20% year over year and 8.7% over the prior month, citing MLS activity and a July listing tally of roughly 5,638 single-family homes and condominiums. She said the median sales price in much of Central Ohio remains lower than some national comparators and that Reynoldsburg’s median home value—presented in the slide deck as about $302,000—helps keep the city relatively affordable.
"Wholesaling is a real estate practice involving the assignment of contracts," Jones said. "It can be predatory, targeting lower-income, financially distressed or elderly individuals. In Columbus, a July 1 registry requires wholesalers to register, with penalties for noncompliance ranging from fines and suspension to misdemeanor charges for repeat violators." She described the Columbus approach as combining registration, disclosure requirements and a consumer-education campaign.
During Q&A, President Strickland asked whether wholesaling has been a local problem. A council member said they receive frequent solicitations by phone and text; Jones recommended the council review Columbus’ registry and consider local education efforts. Councilmember Baker asked whether the practice applies to ordinary for-sale-by-owner scenarios. Jones distinguished a homeowner selling independently from a wholesaler who contracts for a sale with an intent to assign it onward for an assignment fee, saying the latter often results in homeowners receiving less than full market value.
Jones also introduced a voluntary "pattern book" developed with the Greater Ohio Policy Center to support infill housing. The packet includes predesigned plans for single-family and duplex models, suggested zoning adjustments and a preapproved program guide to streamline permitting. "These tools are designed to reduce architectural costs and speed approval without forcing a one-size-fits-all approach," she said, and offered to share digital and printed copies with council.
Why it matters: Council members framed the issue as one that could affect older residents and households in transition, and they asked staff to review Columbus’ regulatory approach and accept the pattern-book materials for distribution. The presentation tied broader market indicators to local policy tools that could affect housing supply, neighborhood character and homeowner protections.
