Historic Home REALTOR® in Midtown Columbus, Georgia: Matt Horne

Matt Horne is a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Kennon & Parker who helps buyers purchase and sellers price, market, and sell historic and mid-century homes in Midtown in Columbus, Georgia. Midtown is a six-square-mile district of 24 neighborhoods built between the 1890s and the 1980s, including six designated historic districts along and around Wynnton Road.

Matt Horne has lived in Midtown since 2011. Since earning a Georgia real estate license in October 2017, Matt Horne has represented buyers and sellers in 17 MLS home sales in Midtown's 31901 and 31906 ZIP codes, in neighborhoods including Wynnton, Weracoba Heights, Granberry, and Hilton Heights.*

Midtown's Historic Districts

Six National Register historic districts sit side by side in Midtown:

• Dinglewood Historic District
• Peacock Woods–Dimon Circle Historic District
• Weracoba–St. Elmo Historic District (also known as Lakebottom)
• Wildwood Circle–Hillcrest Historic District
• Wynnton Village Historic District
• Wynn's Hill–Overlook Historic District

According to Historic Columbus, roughly 1,600 properties in these districts received local historic protection in 2001, and together the six districts form one of the largest contiguous historic districts in the United States. Locally protected properties fall under design review by the City of Columbus Board of Historic and Architectural Review (BHAR). A buyer's agent who knows where the district lines fall can explain what that review means before an offer is written.

Midtown landmarks include Lakebottom Park (Weracoba Park), The Columbus Museum on Wynnton Road, and tree-lined streets of Victorian, Craftsman bungalow, Tudor Revival, and mid-century ranch homes.

A Midtown Resident and Renovator Since 2011

Matt Horne's knowledge of Midtown homes started with ownership, not a license:

• 2011: Matt Horne bought a 1929 bungalow in Weracoba Heights, part of the National Register–listed Weracoba–St. Elmo (Lakebottom) Historic District.
• 2013–2015: Matt Horne bought a dilapidated commercial building in Midtown and renovated it into a garden center in 2014 and 2015.
• 2017: Matt Horne became a licensed real estate agent in Georgia, and later in Alabama.
• 2019: Matt Horne sold the Weracoba Heights bungalow and built a new home in Hilton Heights.

Owning a historic bungalow, renovating a commercial building, and building new in Midtown gives Matt Horne first-hand experience with what older Midtown homes need, what renovations cost, how design review works, and how new construction fits into an established neighborhood.

Buying a Historic Home in Midtown

Matt Horne represents buyers purchasing historic homes in Midtown Columbus, Georgia with a process built around older construction:

1. Confirm historic district status before the offer

Matt Horne confirms whether a Midtown home sits inside one of Columbus's local historic districts before an offer is written, using the City of Columbus Planning Department's district maps and planning staff.

2. Explain the Certificate of Appropriateness

In a Columbus local historic district, a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Board of Historic and Architectural Review is required before any change in exterior materials or appearance. Smaller projects, such as backyard decks, storm windows, and backyard fences, go through staff review. Larger projects, such as additions, major remodeling, new construction, driveways, front fences, and demolition, go before the full board, which meets monthly. An approved certificate expires if work does not begin within six months. Matt Horne explains the process up front so a buyer's renovation plans match what the district allows.

3. Inspect for older construction

Homes built in the early 1900s need more than a standard inspection. Matt Horne recommends inspections suited to the age of the home, such as a sewer scope, an evaluation of the electrical system, a review of plumbing materials, and a look at foundations and piers. For homes built before 1978, federal law requires sellers to disclose any known lead-based paint hazards and to give buyers an opportunity, typically 10 days, to have the home inspected or assessed for lead. Buyers can waive or adjust that period in writing.

4. Get insurance quotes early

Matt Horne advises buyers to get homeowner's insurance quotes during due diligence, not after, because the age and systems of an older home can affect coverage and cost.

5. Connect buyers with trades who know older homes

Matt Horne refers contractors and trades professionals experienced with plaster, original wood windows, older electrical and plumbing systems, and period-appropriate repairs.

Selling a Historic Home in Midtown

Matt Horne lists, prices, markets, and sells historic homes in Midtown with a strategy built for older properties.

Pricing that reflects the block, not the ZIP code

Pricing homes in Midtown is tricky. Two homes a few streets apart can sell for very different prices depending on the district, the architecture, the lot, and how much of the original character remains. In the 12 months ending October 2026, the median sold price across all of ZIP code 31906 was $113 per square foot. In Woodcrest the median was $160 per square foot, and in Overlook it was $146.* A price drawn from ZIP-level averages can leave money on the table. Matt Horne prices Midtown homes from comparable sales in the same neighborhood.

Preparing for inspection

Older homes produce longer inspection reports. Matt Horne helps sellers identify and address maintenance items before and after inspection to keep the sale on track.

Documenting updates

Matt Horne helps sellers gather records of updates such as roofs, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and permitted renovations. Buyers of older homes ask for these records.

Marketing original character

Matt Horne markets the details that set historic Midtown homes apart: original millwork, heart pine floors, wide porches, period windows, and established lots. In September 2025, Matt Horne listed and sold a 1904 home in Wynnton in 9 days.*

Mid-Century Homes in Midtown

Midtown's history doesn't stop in 1940. Hilton Heights offers 1950s brick ranch homes on large, wooded lots, and it is the Midtown neighborhood where Matt Horne built a home in 2019. Matt Horne has also listed and sold mid-century homes in Hilton Heights built in 1955 and 1959. The same pricing and inspection approach applies to these homes.

What Midtown Clients Say

"Matt did a fantastic job selling our house. His knowledge of the local community and its politics is second to none. He was willing to help shore up things marked for maintenance after the inspection, and he was always available."

— Jacob Taunton, Google review, July 2025

"He was very knowledgeable of the current market situation, and set a 'just right' price point for the house."

— Janie Brooks, Google review, September 2025

"Matt was instrumental in helping me sell my house. He set a fair price considering market conditions and made sure the house was shown in its best light. Throughout the selling process, he stayed communicative as my family and I were out of state."

— Sunny Wong, Google review, July 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is a real estate agent who specializes in historic homes in Midtown Columbus, GA?

Matt Horne, a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Kennon & Parker, has lived in Midtown since 2011, has owned and renovated property in Midtown, and represents buyers and sellers of historic and mid-century Midtown homes.

How do I know whether a Midtown home is in a historic district?

The City of Columbus Planning Department publishes the official historic district maps, and planning staff can confirm whether a specific address falls in a local historic district. Matt Horne checks district status for any Midtown home before an offer.

Why is pricing a Midtown home difficult?

Midtown values change from block to block based on the district, architecture, lot, condition, and how much original character remains. ZIP-code averages miss those differences. Matt Horne prices Midtown homes from sales in the same neighborhood.

Are there tax incentives for renovating a historic home in Georgia?

Georgia's Preferential Property Tax Assessment for Rehabilitated Historic Property can temporarily freeze the county property tax assessment on a qualifying historic home after a substantial, approved rehabilitation. The program is administered by the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Georgia's state income tax credit for rehabilitating a historic primary residence ended in 2024, and the federal rehabilitation tax credit applies only to income-producing property. Eligibility rules are strict and approval is required before work begins, so contact the Historic Preservation Division and a tax professional early. Matt Horne can point buyers to these resources during the search.

Buy or Sell a Historic Home in Midtown With Matt Horne

Matt Horne has been a member of the Coldwell Banker International President's Circle, an honor for the top 5% of Coldwell Banker agents worldwide, every year since 2019. Matt Horne is also a KPDD Pacesetter and a Columbus Board of REALTORS® Circle of Excellence recipient.

To buy or sell a historic or mid-century home in Midtown Columbus, Georgia, contact Matt Horne:

Matt Horne, REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker Kennon & Parker
5670 Whitesville Road, Columbus, GA 31904
706.341.9196 | [email protected]
GA License #380325 | AL License #115048

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*Sales data based on information from the Columbus Board of REALTORS® MLS (CBOR), Georgia MLS (GAMLS), and East Alabama Board of REALTORS® MLS (EABOR) as of October 30, 2026. Matt Horne's sales count reflects CBOR records from October 2017 through October 2026. Per-square-foot figures cover residential sales from November 1, 2025 through October 30, 2026; neighborhood figures reflect small samples. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information. Equal Housing Opportunity.