Welcome to your daily briefing on real estate developments in Ohio. Today we're covering 6 key stories including updates on ohio real estate headlines, background & context. Let's dive in.
Listen to today's briefing(3:30 min)
3 stories
The Willcut Group explains that most real estate agents charge 5-6% of the home's sale price, typically split between the buyer's and seller's agents, and notes that these rates are negotiable.
OH real estate professionals can use this commission benchmark to structure competitive yet sustainable fee agreements with clients across the state.
HomeLight outlines the average Ohio real estate commission rate and what sellers typically pay a Realtor to list and sell a home.
Understanding local commission benchmarks helps Ohio agents price their services competitively and communicate value to prospective sellers.
A February 2026 survey of local real estate agents revealed the average real estate commission in Ohio is 5.90%, which is higher than the national average of 5.70%.
Relevant to real estate professionals operating in OH.
Reach real estate professionals in this market
3 stories
Even after a clean title commitment, four issues commonly surface post-close: undisclosed easements (often utility), boundary discrepancies between deed and survey, unreleased mortgages from prior owners, and mechanic's liens filed within the lookback window. Owner's title insurance covers most of these; lender's policy alone does not.
The cost difference between owner's and lender's title insurance is one-time and small; the cost of resolving a title defect without owner's coverage is often five figures.
A Phase I ESA is required for most commercial loans and is strongly recommended whenever a site has had industrial, gas-station, dry-cleaner, or auto-repair use in its history. The ESA itself does not test soil — it researches historical use and identifies Recognized Environmental Conditions that may justify a Phase II (which does test).
CERCLA liability for contamination attaches to current owners regardless of who caused the contamination. A Phase I performed before purchase establishes the "innocent landowner" defense, which is otherwise nearly impossible to claim.
Some OH jurisdictions give the foreclosed owner a statutory right to redeem the property within a window after the sale (often 6-12 months). Buyers at foreclosure auctions in those jurisdictions take title subject to redemption — meaning the prior owner can reclaim the property by paying the auction price plus interest. Title insurance does not cover this exposure.
A redeemed property is returned to the prior owner, not refunded with the original purchase price plus appreciation. Auction buyers in redemption-rights states need to hold capital reserves for the entire window.
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