Portage County Realtor and Aurora Real Estate

I've known and worked with Melissa (A Realtor with YouShouldOwn.com) and Howard Hanna for years. Melissa is one of the finest agents I know hence the reason she helps our buyers and sellers in Portage County and cities such as Ravenna, Mantua, Aurora, Hiram, Garrettsville, Twinsburg and Hudson. She works with all types of buyers and sellers from rural property to upscale homes in Barrington Golf Community. I recently interviewed her on her city and area of Ohio that she specializes in so we can share the information with you. You can learn more about Melissa by checking out her Realtor Profile.


What are some of the benefits to moving or living in Aurora Ohio and Portage County? Portage County has so many rural towns. If a buyer is looking to get away from the hustle of "big city" life , they might want to consider buying a home in Portage County. A buyer can choose a property with acreage to have a farm or a property in a development in Portage County. The sky is the limit for the kind of properties for sale in Portage County. Aurora Ohio, where my office is located, is a quaint community that is not too far of a commute to the Cleveland/Akron areas. Aurora is about 40 miles to downtown Cleveland Ohio. People are surprised when they find out that is all the distance it is.

Is the current housing market in Portage County stable, declining or improving? Overall Portage County is very stable compared to other counties in Ohio I sell in. There are still several improving areas as well. It just depends on how much competition is on the market in the area is what I am seeing.

Are there any improvements or new developments that buyers should know about? There are several newer housing developments in Portage County. I know of several newer developments in Hiram, Garrettsville, Mantua, Ravenna Ohio. The land size, price ranges and housing sizes are all different. It just depends on what a buyer is looking for. In these developments, you can use their builder or bring your own builder for new construction in Portage County.

What are you hearing the most from home sellers and home buyers in the Ravenna/Aurora area? Sellers seem to be realizing it's currently a buyer's market with how much inventory is on the market. Most buyer's are looking for a "deal" or an investment currently. I have been working with a lot of relocation buyers this year transferring from jobs either locally or relocating to Ohio from out of state.

Are there any home buying perks in Aurora that a buyer should know about? City assistance, etc.? Buying a home in Aurora Ohio will most likely bring you to a well-kept neighborhood some of them with lake privileges. The Chamber of Commerce is always putting on events for the public. Aurora Ohio has Fourth of July parades, Easter Egg Hunts, Pictures with Santa and Pumpkin Festivals. There is always something going on in Aurora Ohio.

What's the buzz on Barrington Golf Course and community of homes in Barrington? Barrington is an upscale , gated community. People that buy property in Barrington are buying a lifestyle. It's a great golf community with a pro shop. Price range is anywhere from 300k to millions. A lot of these homes in Barrington have been featured on "Movie And A Mansion" on Fox 8 news.

If someone were to relocate to Aurora, Barrington or Portage County, where would you suggest they go or what should they look for/consider? It depends on the price range they are in. Aurora has homes and developments from $100,000 to million dollar homes. Overall , Portage County is very diverse in properties. As I stated before, the sky is the limit and there are so many unique properties in Portage County.

What does Aurora offer as far as amenities, features and things to do? Aurora has a park called Sunny Lake Park. There are hike and bike trails, a lake, cookout facilities and playground area within Sunny Lake park. Just a fun place to go and relax for the day. There are several other parks in the area. There is also lots of shopping within Aurora, featuring Aurora Farms Premium Outlets. To name a few, Saxes Fifth Ave, Nike, Osh Kosh, Gap, Malley's Chocolate, Bass Shoes, there are lots of other outlets as well. Mario's Spa's are in Aurora for a day of relaxation. The are lots of restaurants from Christopher's Fine Dining to Wendy's. Aurora really has it all. Some other stores include Home Depot, Walmart, Linen's & Things, Petsmart, Micheal's and Target. Some of the developments as Four Seasons and Aurora Shores have lake privilege for a nominal fee per year.

What are the main five cities you sell homes in? Only 5? Being in a rural area, I really service alot of counties in Ohio. If I had to pick 5, I would say Hiram, Garrettsville, Aurora, Twinsburg, & Mantua Ohio.

Anything else you can add about homes or moving to Aurora? Anyone that makes the choice to relocate to Aurora or Portage County, I think will be very happy with their decision. There is just so much to enjoy, see and do. It's a more laid back kind of lifestyle. It's nice to take a ride through "the country" in the Autumn to look at all the beautiful fall foliage as the trees change colors. I have lived in Portage County Ohio for many years and would not change that.

To find all homes for sale in Portage County, search the Ohio MLS. If you need to sell a home, contact us anytime to discuss your home's value and the selling process with Howard Hanna Smythe Cramer and Ohio's largest real estate website, YouShouldOwn.