Columbus Realty Source

What Columbus Realty Source does

Columbus Realty Source is a privately held real estate brokerage and property management firm headquartered at 3886 N High Street in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1998 by Scott Wheeler, a Columbus native and Ohio State University Fisher College of Business graduate, the company operates as an LLC with a small team of approximately 1-10 employees, including four named realtors. The firm serves individual consumers and small-to-mid-market property investors across the Columbus metropolitan area, covering sub-markets such as Clintonville, the OSU campus area, Upper Arlington, Grand View, and surrounding suburbs.

The company's service portfolio is organized around four core offerings: professional property management (tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance coordination, marketing), buyer representation (MLS search, financing guidance, contract negotiation), seller representation (competitive market analysis, professional photography, digital marketing, MLS listing), and rental property listings. These services are delivered through an AppFolio-powered technology stack that provides online tenant and owner portals with mobile app access for iOS and Android, enabling digital rent payments, maintenance request submission, and owner financial reporting.

Columbus Realty Source generates revenue through three primary streams: recurring property management fees charged to property owners, transaction-based commissions on buyer and seller representation, and rental income from managed residential properties priced between $850 and $3,499 per month. The company holds BBB accreditation, was recognized by Expertise.com as a Top Real Estate Agent and Top Property Management Company in Columbus in 2022, and operates without disclosed external funding or institutional ownership.

Name

Columbus Realty Source

Legal name

Columbus Realty Source, LLC

Website

https://columbusrealtysource.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Columbus Realty Source is a Columbus, Ohio-based real estate brokerage and property management firm founded in 1998, serving individual renters, property owners, home buyers, and home sellers across the Columbus metro with AppFolio-powered online portals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Property Management and Real Estate Brokerage

NAICS

Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (53121), Residential Property Managers (531311)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Traditional Residential Brokerage (Existing Homes) (BPAJAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Lease Administration & Tenant Services (BPAJAFAL), Residential Investment Property Brokerage (SFR/Small Multifamily) (BPAJAAAE), Residential Real Estate Asset Management (BPAJAMAA)

Keywords

• Residential property management
• Real estate brokerage
• Rental property services
• Tenant placement
• Buyer seller representation

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Property Management Services: Property management fees charged to property owners for services including marketing, maintenance, rent collection, tenant screening, and lease management. The company manages residential properties throughout the Columbus area.
2. Real Estate Buyer Representation: Commission-based buyer representation services including property search, financing assistance, contract negotiations, home inspections, and closing table accompaniment.
3. Real Estate Seller Services: Commission-based seller representation including competitive market analysis, professional photography, digital marketing, MLS listing, and negotiation services.
4. Residential Property Rentals: Rental income from company-owned or managed residential properties including apartments, houses, and townhomes in Columbus area. Properties range from $850 to $3,499/month with application fees of $35-$50 and security deposits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Columbus Realty Source is a real estate agency and property management firm serving the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area. The company manages residential rental properties on behalf of owners (handling tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance, and marketing) and provides buyer and seller real estate representation services including MLS search, financing guidance, contract negotiation, and closing support. The firm also maintains a database of available rental properties (apartments, houses, and townhomes) for prospective tenants, supported by AppFolio-powered online tenant and owner portals for self-service rent payments, maintenance requests, and financial reporting.

Product overview

Columbus Realty Source offers a unified property management and real estate services platform centered around its core Professional Property Management Services for the Columbus, Ohio area. The platform is built on AppFolio's property management infrastructure and provides integrated Tenant and Owner Portals for self-service rent payments, maintenance requests, and financial reporting. The company also provides real estate buying and selling representation services, a rental property listings database, MLS search functionality, and showing scheduling. The Tenant Portal and Owner Portal are accessible via web and mobile apps for iOS and Android.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AppFoliocoreTechnology or IntegrationAppFolio provides the cloud-based property management platform powering Columbus Realty Source's online tenant portal, owner portal, online rent payments, maintenance request submissions, and rental listing management. The partnership enables modern digital convenience for tenants and property owners while streamlining company operations. Mobile apps available for iOS and Android devices.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• AppFolio: Cloud-based property management software platform that powers Columbus Realty Source's tenant and owner portals. Enabling technology vendor — relevant as a strategic dependency and as an ecosystem participant whose broader customer base represents indirect competitors.

Emerging players

• Compass: Tech-forward national residential brokerage expanding into Ohio. Competes with traditional brokerages like Columbus Realty Source through proprietary technology platform and agent-friendly economics.
• Redfin: Tech-enabled discount brokerage with active Columbus presence. Competes on lower commission structure and digital-first customer experience — a structural threat to traditional small brokerages.
• eXp Realty: Cloud-based, agent-centric brokerage model with no traditional brick-and-mortar footprint. Attracts independent agents in the Columbus market who might otherwise join small local firms like Columbus Realty Source.

Direct peers

• Real Property Management: National franchise system for residential property management with franchisees operating in the Columbus metro. Directly comparable on the property management side, with brand, systems, and lead-gen support that an independent operator lacks.
• HER Realtors: Largest independent residential real estate company headquartered in Ohio, with deep Columbus market presence offering the same combination of buyer/seller brokerage and property management services. Most directly comparable competitor in the same metro.
• Howard Hanna Real Estate Services: Family-owned Midwest regional brokerage with strong Ohio footprint (including Columbus), offering residential sales alongside ancillary services. Comparable as a similarly founder-led, relationship-driven firm operating in the same Ohio/Midwest residential market.

Broad incumbents

• Coldwell Banker Realty: National residential brokerage franchise with active Columbus-area agents offering buying, selling, and relocation services. Comparable on the brokerage side, with far greater scale, brand recognition, and corporate support.
• Keller Williams Realty: Largest US real estate franchise by agent count with multiple Columbus-area market centers. Overlaps on residential brokerage and agent-driven service model but operates at vastly greater scale.
• Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices: National residential brokerage brand operating in the Columbus metro, offering buy/sell representation similar to Columbus Realty Source. Comparable on transaction brokerage, differentiated by national brand and luxury positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/columbusrealtysource
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/columbus-realty-source-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Columbus Realty Source