Whether you're headed for a daytrip to Old Man's Cave, renting or staying at a cabin in the Hocking Hills area or Hide-A-Way Hills, there's always lots more to do and see than you might think. Sorry for the after-the-fact posting here, but here's a special annual Hocking Hills Region event you should consider for your 2009 planning calendar....the Sweetheart Hike to Ash Cave. Close to 200 hikers turned out for a naturalist-guided tour along the soft-and-easy walk from the Rt. 56 parking lot to the cave and falls area. The traditional chocolate rose awards went to those teling the warmest sweetheart stories....including a couple who told of getting married in Ash Cave. You'll also find refreshments at the end of the journey, courtesy of the park volunteers from the Friends of the Hocking Hills State Park....for more info, visit http://www.friendsofhockinghills.org/.
©2008, Doug Parker, ikarensell Enterprises Inc. http://www.ikarensell.com
If you're at all intererested in or passionate about our state park system and state-managed recreation areas, please note that the parks are scrambling to determine how to cut budgets by about $4-million prior to the end of their fiscal year....leaving just a few months to make major budget adjustments for this year, under orders from Governor Strickland. So it's not just the schools that have been told that there's no money for any state funding increases, and decreases will be the new order of business.
The parks will have to likewise for 2009, but they'll at least a bit more time to figure out where and how to get along with significantly less. In the case of the Hocking Hills Region parks, this news arrives as visitor registrations continue to rise...by approximately 20% from 2005-06, with a healthy jump expected from 2006-07 (final figures to be announced at the Hocking Hills Tourism Association's Annual Meeting, later this month). The Hocking Hills parks greet over 2-million visitors per year these days, and there are now over 700 rental cabins available in the area....and spreading beyond just Hocking County.
Park officials tell us that the Ohio State Parks themselves have never had a dedicated source of funding, so there's no continuing stream from any sort of licensing (such as watercraft as fishing). For the future, it appears that "Friends" groups, as they are known, are likely to wind up serving as such primary sources of cash for both operating and capital needs. You might have noticed the "pipe safes" for donations in certain areas of the parks....that's "The Friends" at work. The size, impact and acceptance of the various parks' Friends organizations across the state vary....a very important point to note. Less-visited parks in very rural areas might find themselves more in jeopardy, given the current funding situation. Those nearer to sizeable population centers have more to draw on for volunteers and financial support.
Although not uncommon in other states' parks, it's doubtful that we'll see admission or user fees in Ohio's 72 State Parks anytime soon. The longtime thinking here concerns insurance and liability claims....when admission fees are charged, the more successful liability/injury claims are seen.
There will be a general symposium of statewide Friends groups on April 5, at Mohican State Park. Although the groups have a common general goal, their ability to reach it for their respective parks can differ dramaticaly. If you'd like more information about the Friends of the Hocking Hills State Park, please pay a visit to our site.
©2008, Doug Parker, ikarensell Enterprises Inc. http://www.ikarensell.com
As a current member of Hilliard Schools' volunteer Citizen's Finance Committee, a former member of the school district's Board of Education, and a founding member of the political action committee CAGH (formed to foster voter approval of the new Bradley High School), I believe the upcoming March 4 operating levy vote is certainly as important as any in my memory, and perhaps more so in light of current economic news and ongoing conflict over state funding. We've lived and worked in the Hilliard area since we moved to Ohio in 1988, and have seen first-hand the growth of the district from about 4,000 to the current 15,000 students. While the district is no longer the fastest-growing in the state(as it was in the 1990's), the notion that the city and district (and they are very different things, as elsewhere in Ohio) are no longer growing is off the mark. Add at least a couple hundred new students per year, and you can project real needs for the next few years, especially in light of reduced state contributions to local district budgets (such as the loss of the tangible personal property tax).
Unfortunately, the current picture is a bit clouded by the continuing negotiations, currently in an arbitration stage, between the teachers and the school board over a new contract. I'll emphasize "unfortunately" because any lack of an agreement (and certainly hints of antagonism) can be fairly expected to dampen enthusiasm for that critical "yes" vote. While I am not privy to details of the negotiations, of course, it's probably no secret that the impasse points greatly to diverging views on money and benefits. As voter response relates to both areas, consider the "average" person who contrasts their private sector job (and benefits) against those of the teachers. In fairness, as a former teacher myself, I will attest to the long hours (much longer than conventional wisdom would have it) that justify the salaries of truly committed and effective educators.
But the fact is that the general voter's perception of benefits beyond pure salary is greatly affected by changes across the corporate world in recent years....most notably, health insurance and retirement plans. While it's understandable that no one is naturally inclined to "give back" things they have previously won, a dose of realism (and a close look at overall school funding expectations) is indeed much more essential in the year 2008.
And what's at stake? The district cutbacks (required by law to achieve balanced budgeting) necessitated by a loss at the polls in March will affect what does or doesn't happen in the classroom....yes, "It's The Kids, ____________" more so than the economy. And property values will be affected, without doubt; best case scenario is that it will negatively add to the current "buyers' market" when it comes to purchase prices. If overall home values decrease, there will be a substntial learning curve before they rebound....as they say, only time will tell. The view from here is that the decrease in one's home value will far exceed the increased taxes.
Voters have a right to expect teachers to understand the general public's work reality and point of view, and to openly acknowledge and justify how they are compensated. The fact that they are unionized does not shield them from such obligations. There simply needs to be more forthright discussions about the value of total compensation, by the district and the teachers. Without that, the levy is in jeopardy; voters will always gravitate to the easiest reason to vote "no." At the risk of cliche and crudity, ultimately the teachers risk fostering the feeling that they are holding citizens' feet to the proverbial fire, with kids as hostages.
©2008, Doug Parker, ikarensell Enterprises Inc. http://www.ikarensell.com
Because of the significant variety of homes in the community, built by many builders across a few decades, sale prices have tended to vary by year and across all price ranges. It's probably true that emotion plays an even greater role than usual in a home purchase in "The Hills." Moreover, Hide-A-Way Hills Club (that's the legal name....commonly referred to as Hideaway Hills, HAH, or just "The Hills") contains both primary and vacation homes for members, and the potential market for each type can certainly vary according to the outside economy....for example, if buyers are enjoying solid returns on other financial investments they might be more apt to consider a second home. Or perhaps the vacation "market" might encourage people to stay closer to home....given the cost of gasoline and ease of travel, for instance. These influences can also be perceived or real, of course.
The majority of homes in HAH can be fairly considered as primary residences, although a number of those member owners might elect to spend a good portion of the year in warmer winter climates. Remember that HAH began its life as a vacation resort community in 1961, with many original buyers from the central Ohio area looking for a weekend getaway. As the years progressed, members retired and sold their primary homes in order to make HAH their primary residence....while also opting to maintain vacation homes in another area of the country. It's not at all unusual to find long-time HAH members who have owned more than a couple of homes in the community.
We sense a bit of a change in membership these days, as more potential members consider buying vacation property closer to home; this is true across the Hocking Hills Region, as well as in Hide-A-Way Hills. Although it may not appear dramatic, the change seems to be tending toward more "part-time" residence members. So "The Hills" might well be coming full circle, whereby more members are looking at it as a good choice for a vacation home. The Club does offer a good amount of water, and the 24-hour security can certainly be a major attraction for those who aren't living in their homes year-round. At the same time, the general spirit of community will always appeal to many people looking for primary homes....and, after all, HAH is very much a "small town" when all is said and done.
Looking at home sales under $300,000, and prices-per-square foot, the past few years have been relatively stable and positive overall. The average number annual sales of homes in this range has been in the low 30's, using information from the Columbus Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service and assuming some additional transaction not handled by Realtors. The actual numbers below are taken only from the Columbus MLS, and are thus approximate:
2007 - $ 97/sq ft (27 solds)
2006 - $ 83/sq ft (31 solds)
2005 - $ 94/sq ft (29 solds)
2004 - $ 93/sq ft (30 solds)
2003 - $ 79/sq ft (34 solds)
2002 - $ 79/sq ft (44 solds) (*2004-07 saw an increase in the number of $300,000+ sales)
Please note that these figures will also be approximate as a result of occasional incorrect or unavailable information regarding square footage in MLS listings and/or public records. It's also worth noting that, because of the primary/vacation home reality, along with the age of the community itself, that many homes will see significant improvements or additions after purchase.
While the overall picture brightened significantly in 2007 (along with sales in the overall Hocking Hills Region), 2006 appeared to have been a off year for property sales in Hide-A-Way Hills:
50-100,000 100-150,000 150-200,000 200-250,000 250-300,000 300,000+
2007 $ 84.21 (4) $ 93.22 (14) $ 100.48 (4) $ 86.89 (3) $122.35 (2) $129.43 (3)
2006 66.69 (10) 82.16 (7) 82.62 (4) 78.93 (6) 106.07 (4) 134.53 (5)
2005 67.11 (7) 109.82 (12) 96.26 (5) 107.10 (5) -0- 133.70 (5)
*source: Columbus Board of Realtors Multiple Listings Service (MLS)...total sales in parentheses)
Across the board, sold prices-per-square foot decreased. Various reasons can be cited to explain this, including owners' needs for a quick sale (for financial or family reasons), or the need for significant repairs....along with what was probably the start of a declining market which hadn't yet seen the full impact of the opening of the Lancaster bypass for Route 33. Anyone who has owned property in HAH for more than 2-3 years can tell you horror stories about traffic and stop lights prior to the bypass. If you doubt the impact of the bypass, consider that visitor registrations in the Hocking Hills welcome centers were up over 20% from 2005 to 2006...and the Hocking Hills Tourism marketing budget was increased by two-thirds in 2007, largely funded by additional monies from the county's bed tax. Overnight lodging in Hocking Hills cabin rentals was also up by about 18%.
That does suggest an important point to note about Hide-A-Way Hills Club deed restrictions. Short-term rentals (less than 30 days) are prohibited, as the members have elected to limit the impact of "weekend renters" with an eye toward the impact on amenities and upkeep, as well as the overall environment. While there are still a handful of cabins/homes in HAH that can be rented on a short-term basis, recent legal agreement prevents them from being used as such once they are resold.....under the terms of the agreement, the small number of existing rental units at the time were "grandfathered" only until such time as the properties were acquired by a new owner. How this Club rule affects resale value depends very much on your plans and needs, and "investment" perspective. But while a member can certainly allow friends and family to make use of a vacation home, it cannot be used as a short-term rental cabin.
For those looking for major isolation and acreage, HAH might not do. Legally a private club, but in lifestyle a small town, it offers a self-contained yet "hideaway" atmosphere certainly well suited for those looking to live and work a bit more "communally" than normal. For those looking to live, either full or part-time, amidst the beauty of southeastern Ohio, there are definite points and counterpoints regarding privacy, security and amenities, area by area, parcel by parcel.
We've also learned a good amount of misinformation about Hide-A-Way Hills through our years as members, from prospective members who've "heard" from agents or others about how various things do or don't work in the community. Also worth noting is that marketing and selling (as well as buying) in HAH is certainly beyong the ordinary, and likely at least a bit more time consuming....there's simple much more to see, do, and consider before making a decision.
We tell prospective members that they can elect to be as social or as private as they prefer in Hide-A-Way Hills, although you do have to get used to seeing your neighbors....and having them at least wave at you or say hello. The Club is owned and operated by the members, so volunteerism has long been an essential hallmark of day-to-day living. The amenities are overseen by volunteer committees, and only members can serve on the Board of Trustees; there is no "company" or business entity that either owns or determines what happens in the Club. In 2007, members voted to approve annual monthly assessment increases for the next five years, to be based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI)....with an annual cap of no more than 5%. (69% of votes cast "for" the plan). Members also approved a one-time assessment for dam repairs required by the state, with that work to begin in 2008.
A comprehensive review and explanation of the story behind the story of Hide-A-Way Hills requires much more than a couple of pages of words and numbers, and we welcome any questions you might have...and will gladly provide you with copies of the various Club legal documents that are essential reading prior to buying property and becoming a member. Please call us for a no-obligation and up-close personal tour of the community....by far the best and fairest way to begin your process.
(If you're interested in visual evidence of the increased interest in the overall Hocking Hills Region, please take a look at our video of the Hocking Hills Winter Hike (1/19/08), or its companion Visual Tour. We found a cast of thousands, and on a quite cold winter morning!
©2008, Doug Parker, ikarensell Enterprises Inc. http://www.ikarensell.com
Local school districts face painful decisions as voters vent their frustration over rising property taxes. While voters reel over the ultimate effect of yo-yoing energy costs, for example, how are they most likely to respond in the ballot booths?
The upcoming operating levy for the Hilliard (Ohio) City School District will be an important case in point for 2008 and beyond, as the district has been relatively fortunate through the past 15-20 years in passing various levies and bond issues. Opening a third high school in 2009 takes us back to 1997 and the addition of the district's second high school....as a formerly "rural" or outlying district found things changing quickly, with many longtime residents wondering what (and who) was responsible. That scenario has been repeated across central Ohio, and other districts have found it much more difficult to get voters to say yes....Canal Winchester appears to be in one of those "close but only almost" cycles that others have struggled with. There's no doubt that a successful campaign will be more difficult to achieve amidst the bad economic blues news that now surrounds us.
Are schools wandering spendthrift paths, and should they be more fiscally and educationally accountable? The first answer is probably a matter of perception, and which news sources one relies upon. The second is a simple yes, but complicated at that.
What´s been referred to as a national property tax revolt is easily understood from either side of the tax billing. Local governments are asked to do more with less, and population growth stretches things further. At the same time, our expectations tend to be higher3;we´re less willing to accept what used to be considered adequate services. This, too, is a not unexpected result of a consumer-based economy.
Governing bodies read the same headlines as the general public. Housing prices have risen dramatically3;.and, of course, have continued to fuel the economy. The bearers of the tax codes simply decide that if property assessments more closely reflect actual market values, then all is fair. But what about those who have no near-term intention of capitalizing on the increased value of their property?
It´s been noted that ever-increasing property taxes are unfair because they are taxes on unrealized gains. But "unrealized" here is purely an accounting term, and applicable only if gains cannot be accessed. In the case of increased home values, legions of homeowners have tapped their rising equity to acquire other things they need3;or simply want. During the recent economic slowdown, it wasn´t business that supplied most of the fuel for the economy3;it was individuals, taking the "profits" from their homes.
And it´s also important to consider just what it was that drove up home values. Any number of factors can be cited, but ultimately it´s a matter of supply and demand, right, and that old cliché "location, location, location"3;.? Yes, but in many if not most communities it´s primarily a matter of schools. Good schools at the very least prop up the value of community real estate.
What about senior citizens, or those on fixed incomes? Aren´t they being blindsided and driven from their homes and neighborhoods? Again, the answer appears simple but the changing nature of our economy requires more thought and research. Reverse mortgages allow anyone to tap into the increased equity in their homes; it´s a topic you can find often in publications directed at seniors, not just something the local banker peddles.
When school levies and bond issues fail, there´s no shortage of rhetoric on the editorial pages. Certainly in Ohio, the biggest target is state funding. Does the overall formula need to be revised? No doubt. Is there a magic one-size-fits-all answer?
Let students be satisfied with less, we often respond. Why should taxpayers be forced to pay for extracurricular activities? OK, good question, and it begs another3;.why should taxpayers have been forced to pay for the extracurricular activities we adults enjoyed through our school years? Each generation owes the next a boost of vision, opportunities and confidence. The things we benefited from in school were likely better than those our parents and grandparents had.
In the interest of full disclosure, it should be noted that I served on the Hilliard (Ohio) City School District Board of Education during the mid-late 1990´s, when Hilliard was the state´s fastest-growing school district, and also currently serve on the volunteer Financial Advisory Committee. I´ve also taught both high school and college, and readily empathize with those who teach and those who administrate. We ask more and more of them as days progress, and their average or median salaries tend to lag behind what they often could earn outside of education. Those who do the job well also carry it home with them nightly; consider trying to fall asleep to thoughts of any number of students´ needs, performance and oh-so-varying personal and family situations.
Should we expect them to be the best they can be? Yes, that´s a valid expectation, but it´s only with the community´s true encouragement that it´s likely to be fulfilled. Too often today, we allow simple complaining and agenda-driver criticism to masquerade as interest and support.
©2008, Doug Parker, ikarensell Enterprises Inc. http://www.ikarensell.com
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We Kare'n Sell ('n Live!) primary & vacation homes, log homes, land, Hilliard to The Hocking Hills & Hide-a-way Hills. Hilliard Chamber of Commerce,Hocking Hills Tourism Assn, Friends of Hocking Hills.
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