Central Ohio Real Estate Insights from the 2025 OH Futuring Panel
Date: June 12, 2025
Time: 8:30 AM–1:00 PM
Location: Columbus State Community College Conference Center
Hosted by: MBA Research & Curriculum Center
Preparing for Ohio’s Future – One Market at a Time
The 2025 OH Real Estate Futuring Panel convened a dynamic mix of real estate professionals, educators, and economic developers to discuss emerging trends, educational priorities, and what the next decade could look like for Ohio’s economy. The event was part of an ongoing initiative by the MBA Research & Curriculum Center to connect industry insights with high school and college curriculum design—preparing students for careers in real estate, finance, entrepreneurship, and economic development.
Each panelist brought regional insights on commercial, residential, and financial real estate—helping shape how students are prepared for career paths that don’t yet have a clear academic roadmap.
Panelists included:
Andy Patton, CBO and Partner, Roth Real Estate Group [@rothrealestategroup]
Jay Zollars, Executive Vice President, RZ Realty [@rzrealty]
Shad Phipps, Controller, Phipps Realty Advisors [@phippsrealtyadvisors]
Bob Long, Director of Finance, Vision One Real Estate Advisors [@visiononerealty]
Zach Williams, Managing Partner/Director, State Bank [@yourstatebank]
Central Ohio Market Trends – What’s Changing?
Real estate in Central Ohio is shifting rapidly. During the discussion, panelists shared up-to-date perspectives on current activity and future direction. As Andy Patton observed:
“The session was very interesting. I heard some good market updates from the other real estate professionals in attendance. Trends in the Central Ohio area include retail is up. Multi-family is still in demand. Office is still slow. Residential is approaching the unaffordable status.”
These observations mirrored key discussion points from the agenda, which also touched on topics like valuation, development, compliance, zoning, and land investment.
Key Takeaways:
· Retail is gaining traction – especially in walkable, service-driven corridors
·Multi-family remains in demand – investors see stable returns and occupancy
· Office is still sluggish – hybrid work continues to impact absorption rates
· Residential single-family home prices rising rapidly and reaching unaffordable levels – putting pressure on buyers and policymakers alike
Building Real-World Readiness Into Education
Beyond current market shifts, the panel also explored how these dynamics can be translated into real-world learning experiences for students across Ohio. A unique aspect of this event was its impact beyond industry—it’s influencing curriculum.
MBA Research is using these insights to adapt business and marketing education standards in Ohio’s high schools and community colleges. The goal is to better equip students for jobs in:
Brokerage and appraisal
Real estate finance and investment
Property development and valuation
Commercial, residential, and industrial sectors
The discussion also touched on ethics, governance, agency law, and environmental impact—building blocks for future professionals who may not have access to formal real estate degree programs.
Toward the close of the session, panelists emphasized how these education-to-career pathways can create a stronger, more prepared workforce for tomorrow’s development challenges.
A Curriculum Built for Market Relevance
What makes the MBA Research & Curriculum Center’s initiative so powerful is how it brings business fundamentals directly into classrooms. The panel’s insights are already influencing coursework across:
Appraisal and Valuation
Property Ownership & Transfer
Investment & Development
Commercial/Industrial Real Estate
Ethics & Agency
Governance, Technology & Regulation
For those hiring, mentoring, or training future professionals, this alignment ensures students understand real-world conditions the moment they graduate.
As the real estate industry continues to evolve, so too must the way we prepare future professionals. Conversations like these help bridge that gap.