The city of Columbus has been expanding throughout Franklin County since the first population boom in the early 1900’s. This has resulted in a confusion of neighborhoods, townships and subdivisions with no clear boundaries drawn, and locals trying to simplify directions by using the city’s downtown as a point of reference. Neighborhoods west and north of the skyline are typically Caucasian, while African Americans tend to live to the east and south of downtown. Europeans also settled in the suburbs to the south, which includes the historic township of German Village.

and the fact that a number of the university’s graduates choose to stay in the area to further their careers and education is seen as a positive sign for the future of the city. One surprising statistic is that almost 50 percent of the population has never been married, but this also means that the city has an extremely low divorce rate.

The recent financial problems that were a result of the housing market crash did have a negative impact on the city’s overall credit score, which is listed at 667 according to Experian. While this is typically considered a fair to good credit score, it is not the same for all residents. Those with lower scores are often left with very few options when they are ready to apply for an auto loan. In these cases one of the Buy Here Pay Here lots can be an option that residents cannot afford to overlook.

The cost of living in Columbus is 4.7 percent below the national average, which is good news for the city’s estimated 1,997,200 residents. Even though it can cost less to live in the city, this is balanced out by an average annual household income of $55,837. When it costs around $151,400 for a new home, and monthly utilities, groceries and other necessities are added in it is easy to see how residents can find themselves in financial trouble. This is true whether you live in the suburbs, the university district or even downtown.

Utilities are 5.7 percent below the national average, but in some cases this is not enough of a break even if you are lucky enough to hold more than one job. One advantage to living in Columbus is the low price of gas, which as of 2015 was 16.6 percent below the average cost in other major cities. This is helping to make it possible for some residents to afford to own a vehicle, especially when the cost of maintenance is also estimated to be 18.8 percent lower than the national average.

Missed mortgage payments during the recession, along with lost jobs and a reduced annual income are all making it difficult for many residents to be approved for an auto loan from a traditional lender. In these cases a Buy Here Pay Here lot is often the only option, and while the interest rates might be higher it can help residents slowly begin to build a strong credit history.

http://www.areavibes.com/columbus-oh/demographics/

The number of bankruptcy filings increased across the country, following the financial crisis in 2008. Banks were lending heavily to unqualified borrowers in order to help the city continue to grow. Once the housing market bubble crashed development stopped in many neighborhoods, and another unfortunate side effect was the resulting financial crisis on Wall Street. With stocks plummeting many investors lost everything, including their homes and vehicles.

With more houses standing empty in subdivisions that were never completed, Columbus residents who could still make their mortgage payments found that their property values were decreasing. This lead to another problem with many mortgages higher than the actual value of the home. Since home owners couldn’t afford to sell, many of them decided declaring bankruptcy was their only option.

Even though declaring bankruptcy at the time did help residents out of tough financial times, it did come at a cost to their credit history. In 2011 the state of Ohio ranked 13^th in the country for its high number of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings, with a total of 360 per every 100,000 residents. This means that a large number of Columbus natives are now dealing with poor credit reports that are making it difficult for them to be approved for a loan. It is this high number of bankruptcies that has led to the large concentration of Buy Here Pay Here lots, since these car dealerships are often the only option left to residents still recovering financially.

http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/highest-personal-bankruptcy-rates-in-the-us-by-state.html

Columbus only has a “C” rating when it comes to employment, according to a national survey. This is slightly surprising to some people considering the city is home to Battelle Memorial Institute and The Ohio State University, both of which employee several thousand local residents.

This is in addition to an annual household income that is typically 17 percent lower than the rest of the country. When you combine these factors it can be extremely difficult for residents to make all of their bill payments on time and this always has a negative effect on anyone’s credit score.

With the job growth rate slowly rising to 2.3 percent as of 2014, many residents who are unemployed are starting to get back on their feet financially. This also means that more people are looking for affordable loan options, and with poor credit histories many are choosing to purchase a vehicle from a Buy Here Pay Here lot. Even though interest rates will be higher, the relatively low cost of gas and vehicle maintenance will help to offset this.

http://www.forbes.com/places/oh/columbus/

In 2013 the Los Angeles Times reported that the number of vehicles repossessed nationally had dropped 0.43 percent from just twelve months ago. This is good news for residents in Ohio who are considering purchasing a vehicle. According to Experian Automotive, the division of the credit reporting company that tracks vehicle repossession rates, this number is comparable to those in 2006. This means that it is now even easier for residents with a poor or bad credit to be approved for a car loan.

With Columbus’s rapid growth out towards Gahanna and Grove City, it can be even harder for residents to get to work without a dependable vehicle. Now that car and truck repossession rates are falling, and fewer borrowers are delinquent on their payments residents are finding that they can get approval for a car loan even if they have black marks on their credit. While the improving repossession rates are still not enough for many traditional lending institutions to approve most auto loans for high risk applicants, the majority of Buy Here Pay Here lots are willing to help residents get the financing they need to purchase a reliable vehicle.

As the state’s capital Columbus has a rich history that dates back over 200 hundred years. What started as a small settlement on the western edges of the United States has become a major center for research and technology. The presence of The Ohio State University and several other highly ranked academic institutions, along with top employers like Battelle have helped the city grow and prosper. Beginning in the 1980’s, the city saw a boom in population that also resulted in the development of more subdivisions and neighborhoods.

When the housing market collapsed in 2008, all of this changed. Construction companies, which are only now making a comeback and starting to reemploy residents, went under and many neighborhoods were never fully completed. This also resulted in a rise in crime, especially in those neighborhoods.

The financial collapse did not only affect developers and investors, but also many of the city’s residents. The jobless rate rose, along with the number of repossessions and foreclosures, and it is only in the last two to three years that the city’s economy is starting to rebound. Jobs are returning, and though many might still only be employed part time there are signs that Columbus is starting to rebound.

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/12/27/faster-growth-in-u-s–ohio-has-several-causes.html

Residents talk about the downtown area when they are planning on shopping or touring one on the many museums, and the business district when they are discussing finance and employment. In reality these two areas are actually the same, and many of the city’s financial institutions and offices building can be found on historic Broad Street and along S 4^th street.

The university district is just north of downtown, and along with campus bars and restaurants, it is also one of the largest employers in the city. In between The Ohio State University and downtown business district is the electric area known as the Short North. Even though it is not a traditional business district, it is home to several independent companies that are slowly starting to make a name for themselves. There are also several art galleries in the Short North which not only gives local artists a chance to display their work, it is also drawing new talent to the area.

Some of the city’s problems with public transportation stem from its rapid expansion to outlying neighborhoods that include Westerville, Dublin, Grove City and Gahanna. Located over 20 miles away from downtown, it can be almost impossible for these residents to get to work if they do not own a vehicle.

This has earned Columbus a transportation score of 31, and while it is not the worst in the country it does indicate that this is not a city where you can easily get around without an automobile. There are public buses that service the downtown, university and Short North areas, along with the nearby arena and brewery districts. Managed and operated by COTA, residents in these areas do have the option of taking the bus instead of driving themselves. Unfortunately the areas serviced are limited, and the bus system does not cover the majority of the city’s neighborhoods.

As the largest city in Ohio, and its capital, one would think that it would have a higher walkability score than 40. It has a relatively flat terrain which is generally easy to walk and there are several state and city parks in the various neighborhoods, which includes Sharon Woods and Hoover Dam. Both of these parks have trail systems that even include paved paths over and around the dam.

While residents can get out and get some exercise by walking or jogging in their neighborhoods, it is difficult to run errands or get to work on foot. Even though there are convenience stores in almost any neighborhood, grocery stores and banks can be spread a little further out. Some of this is due to poor community planning, in addition to development never being completed in some newer subdivisions.

https://www.walkscore.com/OH/Columbus

There are 263 schools in the Columbus City School District, and some of the outlying suburbs like Westerville and Grove City have their own. Overall, city schools are ranked in the mid-range with the lowest to the south and east of the downtown area. The Columbus Preparatory Academy has a ranking of 10 and Clinton Elementary School is rated at 9. The Columbus Alternative High School is also well ranked at 8.

Alpine Elementary and Centennial High School are both ranked at 6 with an average or 17 to 20 students per teacher. Parents can also choose to send their children to one of the unrated charter schools in the area, which include Buckeye United School District and the Road to Success Academy.

One of the reasons the majority of the city’s public schools are closely ranked is due to shared funding. This means that residents’ tax dollars are not only spent on the schools in their immediate area, but are spread throughout the district. Even though this means that the majority of the elementary and high schools are ranked between 6-8, most residents agree this is better than only having a few that are top rated. This helps to ensure that all students, regardless of family income have the same chance to receive a quality education.

http://www.zillow.com/columbus-oh/schools/

As the city and its residents spring back from its recent economic crisis there is still a wide spread need for public assistance in Columbus. Thankfully there are several programs available that are designed to help improve struggling residents’ quality of life, and help them become more financially stable.

There is assistance for single mothers, along with programs that will help with rent and utility bills. Food and clothing assistance is also available, along with groups that will help residents find suitable employment. One of the most important tools provided by the city are the credit counseling programs which will work closely with participants to help them manage their finances and avoid or recover from missed payments and repossessions. The goal of these financial counseling groups is to help residents improve the credit scores so they can eventually be approved for a car loan, even if it is from a Buy Here Pay Here lot. This way they will have the reliable transportation they need to safely make it to and from work.

Some of the numbers for these programs include,

Energy Assistance: (800) 686-1557

Franklin County Ohio Works First: (614) 233-2000

Women, Infants, and Children: (703) 305-2062

http://www.singlemomassistance.org/city/oh-columbus

http://www.helpbycity.com/states/public_assistance/public_assistance_programs_ohio_columbus.htm

One of the main causes of financial hardships for residents is due to rising medical costs. Lengthy hospital stays are not only expensive, it can also result in lost wages and jobs. Failure to pay medical bills will have a negative effect on credit reports, which can make it difficult to be approved for any type of home or car loan. According to Experian these missed or late payments can stay on your credit record for up to seven years.

The federal, state and local governments do have programs available that can help residents afford their necessary health care. There is assistance for prescription costs, doctor visits, in home care, and even for lengthy hospital stays. Some of the information residents might need regarding these and other programs can be found at the following phone numbers.

Americans with Disabilities Act: (800) 514-0301

Hospital Care Assistance: (614) 456-0060

There is almost always something going on in Columbus and if you want to be able to get to the Butterfly Festival in May or the Ohio State Fair, which is also one of the largest in the country, you will need an automobile.

The Short North district frequently holds exhibits and gallery showings, which can draw visitors in from around the country. The downtown is home to COSI, which can make science fun for everyone. One attraction that Columbus is famous for is its large zoo, located a half an hour outside of the downtown area it is filled with beautiful natural habits and a wide assortment of animals. The arena district is the perfect place to catch a concert or show, and in the fall it is time for Oktoberfest.

Columbus is a vibrant city that is still growing, and with its relatively low cost of living it is starting to draw in new residents from across the country. New jobs are opening up and with plenty of public assistance to fall back on residents are finding that it is getting easier to make ends meet.

This means that residents need to pay close attention to their credit, and ask themselves if they are living within or above their means. Without a strong credit history it will be difficult to get an affordable car loan, even if you do choose to go through a Buy Here Pay Here lot.