Axios Columbus
October 07, 2026
1 big thing: 🏡 More homes for sale, but pricier
More Columbus homes are on the market, but it keeps getting harder to afford one.
Why it matters: Things aren't getting any easier for homebuyers with mortgage rates spiking to their highest level in nearly three years.
State of play: Columbus' home prices and asking rents both rose in August from a year ago, per Freddie Mac and Zillow data. Other latest takeaways:
🏡 More homes are available. Central Ohio had 6,124 homes in inventory in August, up 6.8% from the previous year, according to Columbus Realtors.
- Sales fell 2.5% year-over-year, while the median sale price rose 2.2%, to $345,500.
😬 Meanwhile, borrowing is more expensive. The average 30-year mortgage rate has climbed to 7.28%, its highest level since late 2023.
💵 We're still comparatively cheaper. The national median home price was $83,600 higher than ours in August.
The big picture: It remains cheaper to rent in Columbus than to pay for a mortgage, though renters are getting little relief either.
- Columbus renters pay about $1,521 per month, per Zillow, up 2.6% year over year.
- And construction of apartments is expected to fall significantly this year compared with last, Colliers recently estimated.
The last word: "Central Ohio continues to offer a price advantage compared with much of the country," Columbus Realtors president Alonso Cannon said in a news release.
- "With inventory growing and year-to-date sales remaining positive, buyers and sellers still have opportunities."
2. 🎨 Next big colors in home design
Sherwin-Williams recently named its pick for the next big hue in home design.
Zoom in: The Cleveland-based company chose Celery, a pale green that looks like, well, the vegetable.
Zoom out: Paint companies Behr and Valspar also made their picks.
- Behr chose Grounded, a "mossy olive," as its 2027 color of the year, while Valsar went with Cottage Door, a comforting gray-blue.
What they're saying: "Homeowners are gravitating toward warmth, color and personality," Kayla Kratz, Behr's senior director of color and design strategy, tells Axios.
- "Grounded reflects where we see home design heading: toward richer, earthier color with character and a sense of ease."
Meanwhile, celery is moving from the plate to the walls. Sherwin-Williams says the shade taps into a growing appetite for wellness spaces.
- Its broader forecast includes bold jewel tones, sunbaked clays, deep blues and nature-inspired neutrals.
Reality check: Neutrals still dominate many American homes, even as paint companies forecast a more colorful future.
- Playing it safe is deeply ingrained: A 2025 survey found 84% of real estate agents recommended painting interiors white, gray or beige before selling.
3. 🌰 Nutshells: Your local news roundup
4. 🎃 Spooky season at the conservatory
Franklin Park Conservatory gets spooky again starting today with the return of Pumpkins Aglow, its annual after-dark Halloween display.
What's inside: The conservatory reopens in the evenings to show off its grounds filled with "pirates, spooky pumpkins, under-the-sea mermaids, and performing skeletons."
- You'll also find a the pumpkin house, singing pumpkin patch and a light-up dance floor.
The intrigue: Pumpkins Aglow nights aren't just about jack-o-lanterns.
- There's a monthly calendar of changing live entertainment, food vendors, activities and crafts, private igloo rentals and a bar.
- Plus: Special studio classes and members-only events.
Fun fact: Some pumpkins on display have been carved by conservatory members.
- Each week, members can drop off their own pumpkins and receive a free Pumpkins Aglow ticket.
🎟️ If you go: 5-9pm Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 5-10pm Friday and Saturday through Nov. 1.
- Tickets start at $28 for adults, $24 for seniors and $17 for kids. Children 2 and under free.
Pro tip: The conservatory is already warning that "many dates will sell out," so book those prime weekend dates early.
Axios Columbus
