Buy, Sell & Invest in Columbus Real Estate with Confidence

New Albany’s median sale price reached $580,000 in recent local market data, and Intel’s $20 billion Ohio One campus is reshaping who is buying and why. Sellers who understand the contractor and tech-hire demand cycle can price more precisely and avoid the costly mistake of sitting on the market too long.

Columbus has more than a dozen distinct suburbs, each with a different tradeoff between commute time, walkability, and amenities. Median sale prices across the region range from the high $200s to $400,000-plus, and how long you’ll spend in the car every day varies just as much as the price tag.

Intel’s $20 billion Ohio One semiconductor campus is already reshaping New Albany’s real estate market, pushing the median sale price to $600,000 and keeping inventory razor-thin, well before full chip production arrives around 2030–2032. Here’s what buyers, sellers, and investors need to know about the long-term demand story unfolding in Central Ohio’s most-watched submarket.

Central Ohio’s regional median sale price sits roughly 31% below the national median in 2026, and July inventory is at its highest level in over a decade. For investors who know where to look, neighborhoods like Franklinton, Groveport, Pataskala, and Union County still offer below-median entry points in a market that continues to appreciate. Here’s how to spot the real opportunities.

Columbus real estate is still appreciating in 2026, with median prices up roughly 3–4% year over year and inventory at its highest July level in over a decade. The market has cooled from its pandemic-era frenzy, which actually creates a better entry point for investors who want more selection, proper due diligence time, and a strong long-term employment base underneath their investment.

Buying new construction in Columbus means navigating builder contracts, design-center decisions, and a closing process that differs meaningfully from resale. With new starts projected to slow significantly through 2026, understanding the process now puts you ahead of the curve. Here’s what to expect from contract to move-in.