The Central Ohio housing market is shifting away from the city, with sales moving to the suburbs as prices continue to increase.

Why it matters: After a harsh winter, the spring housing market is heating up.

• The market's adjusting to pent-up demand and the reality of high interest rates and low inventory.

Driving the news: Columbus Realtors recently released its February housing report, which finds flat demand and slowly increasing inventory in the region.

• Sales dropped in Franklin County but increased in most surrounding counties.

By the numbers: Across Central Ohio, the number of homes sold in January and February was nearly identical to 2025, but the average and median sales prices increased around 5%.

• Average time spent on the market is up 14% year-over-year to 49 days.
• Inventory is up 7.6%, but new listings are down 1.8%.

The intrigue: Compared to last February, Franklin County closings are down 4.6%, and houses are spending nearly 19% longer on the market.

• That's while sales are up in surrounding counties: Delaware (13%), Fairfield (20.2%), Licking (3.4%) and Madison (21.2%).

Between the lines: The region is growing, and there's not enough Franklin County housing stock to accommodate it.

What they're saying: Columbus Realtors president Gloria Alonso Cannon isn't surprised by those widening figures.

• "We have so many people moving into Central Ohio from other areas, and they're not concerned with drive times," she tells Axios. "What would have been considered our outskirts are now prime locations for people to look. Hot markets are everywhere."

The big picture: Cannon says Central Ohio remains slightly a seller's market — one where buyers can afford to be slightly choosier than in previous years and where sellers need to "make sure it looks nice" before they sell a house.

• "That's healthier for everybody," she says.

What we're hearing: While data may not be picking it up just yet, Cannon says she's seeing an increase in homes receiving multiple offers, another sign of a healthy market.

• It's not the "20 or 30" offers that houses were getting during the pandemic-era peak, but "things are starting to go over list [price] and go quickly again."

What we're watching: Will those anecdotes start to translate into a typical spring sales uptick? The answer will say a lot about the future of the market.

• "I'm going to be very curious," Cannon says.

The cost of buying a home is still increasing, but Columbus is one of many U.S. metro areas where rent has declined.

By the numbers: Central Ohio rent is down 0.6% from this time in 2025, according to new data from Apartment List.

• That's something of an outlier in the Midwest, where cities like Chicago (4%), Cincinnati (1.3%), Minneapolis (2.6%), Pittsburgh (2.5%) and St. Louis (3.2%) saw increasing rent prices.

Reality check: Housing is unaffordable for many. Although the median U.S. rent for new leases is down 1.5% from a year ago, it's still roughly 20% above pre-pandemic levels.

Between the lines: High building costs and a glut of supply in places like the Sun Belt have made developers cautious about starting new projects.

• When new units do arrive, they're mostly luxury apartments.

What we're watching: Fewer people move in the colder months.

• Expect rents to climb as the peak summer season nears.

🔍 Proposed bipartisan legislation would establish new oversight for JobsOhio as the private economic development corporation faces scrutiny over its role in the Ted Carter scandal. (Ohio Capital Journal)

🏒 The Blue Jackets jumped into second place in the Metropolitan Division and remain in playoff position with 11 games left. They visit Montreal tonight. (Dispatch)

🫴 Haslam Sports Group, owner of the Crew and Browns, asked Columbus and Franklin County for $50 million to build a training facility and upgrade ScottsMiracle-Gro Field as part of its National Women's Soccer League aspirations. (WOSU)

🧂 Take a look inside Whiskey Island salt mine, a massive subterranean work site underneath Lake Erie that supplies road salt across the region. (AP)

"Next year" has arrived, Ohio baseball fans.

State of play ball: It's Major League Baseball's Opening Day, with the Guardians in Seattle (10:10pm) and the Reds hosting Boston (4:10pm).

• Both teams' playoff dreams fizzled in the first round last season, but they should stay competitive in 2026.

Zoom in: Cleveland is leaning heavily on a wave of young talent and hopes a few prospects will energize its offense, reports Axios Cleveland.

• Cincinnati brought back slugger Eugenio Suárez to do the same, though the health of the pitching staff remains questionable, reports Casey Weldon of the soon-to-launch Axios Cincinnati newsletter.

1 big change: MLB debuts its new Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System this season.

• Clippers fans should recognize the technology-assisted balls and strikes review system, as it's been tested in the minor leagues since 2022.

How to watch: Buy CleGuardians.TV or Reds.TV (new this year) for $20 a month or $100 a season.

• Cable and satellite options are still TBD.

What's next: The Clippers open their home schedule Tuesday with a Dime-a-Dog Night.

Organizers have planned more than 3,000 events Saturday, including across Ohio, for No Kings Day of Nonviolent Action.

The big picture: Progressive political groups, labor unions and human and civil rights organizations expect Saturday's nationwide demonstrations to surpass last year's rallies in June and October.

• Minnesota's Twin Cities will serve as the flagship event, according to organizers, with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Joan Baez, Maggie Rogers, Jane Fonda and Bruce Springsteen scheduled to perform or speak in St. Paul.

📍 Zoom in: In addition to downtown Columbus, local protests are planned in Bexley, Clintonville, Easton, German Village, Grove City, Hilliard, New Albany, Pickerington, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington and Worthington.

• No Kings has mapped thousands of events nationwide.