With just 24 homes on the market in Strongsville, Howard Hanna real estate agent Melanie Bowen says now might be the time to cash in
By Laura Briedis
Nicknamed the “Crossroads of the Nation,” Strongsville has always been touted as the perfect location, dating back to the time when it was at the intersection between the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Southwestern Electric Line that connected Cleveland to Wooster. After the railroads ceased operation in the early 1930s, the city’s motto now reflects the modern-day intersection of Interstate 71 and the Ohio Turnpike.
“Strongsville is a wonderful place live,” says Melanie Bowen, a real estate agent who lives and works in the city. “It is centrally located and takes only 30 minutes to get downtown and to the east side and west side.”
As a top producer in the Howard Hanna Strongsville office, she knows this market well. A recipient of the Howard Hanna President’s Circle Award, Melanie ranks in the top five percent nationwide for home sales and always has a pulse on the local market.
“It is a strong market for sellers because there is a low inventory of homes and high demand, so we are receiving multiple offers on homes,” Melanie says. “In my 30-plus years working in real estate, last month was the lowest inventory of homes I have ever seen in Strongsville, with only 24 homes for sale in a community of 46,000 people. There used to be days with over 450 homes for sale. So, if you are thinking of selling, now is a good time to get top dollar.”
With decades of experience in real estate, she has seen it all. From record-high 18 percent mortgage rates in the early 1980s to the new home construction boom in Strongsville in the 1990s, she has been in the middle of it all.
And from experience comes wisdom. Melanie is well versed in working with buyers and sellers and is a relocation specialist who specializes in the west side suburbs. “I work with all types of clients, from first-time homebuyers to those looking for high-end luxury homes,” says Melanie, who has a degree in psychology from Baldwin Wallace University.
Though the two may seem like unrelated career paths, Melanie has parlayed her skills of being a broker and a psychologist to best help others.
“There is so much more to real estate than just showing homes,” she says. “I can relate to each client and each situation and navigate clients through the many emotions and challenges of buying and selling a home.”
New Home Construction Boom in Columbia Station
While Strongsville is all built out, the neighboring community of Columbia Station has dozens of new home communities currently under construction.
“Columbia Station has the charm of a countryside but with all the amenities close by,” says Melanie Bowen. “New neighborhoods tailored for young families are sprouting up around town, as is cluster home living for those looking to downsize. You can build a home now and get in at a great price in this up-and-coming city. Columbia Station is the next Avon.”
When you build or buy in an up-and-coming area, you get in at a lower price point, get more house for your money, and it is a better investment. And that is why Columbia Station is the place to be right now.
Melanie has trusted relationships with all the builders, including Pulte Homes and Drees Homes, so she can guide you through the home-building process.
“I like working with homeowners who are building and giving them ideas they may not have thought about while guiding them through the entire process,” she says. “I encourage those looking to build a new home to contact me as I can help with all the details, all at no cost.”
Melanie Bowen works in the Howard Hanna offices at 12333 Pearl Road in Strongsville. For more information, call 440-667-6589 or visit HowardHanna.com.