Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. ~Oprah Winfrey

Happy Holidays to everyone! Hope you all got to spend some good times with your family and friends. With a new year coming soon, it is natural to think about your goals and resolutions for 2009. One of the things on my 'to-do list' is to get myself more organized at home.

Better Homes & Gardens has some great information on simple DIY projects for organization. I really do feel that if your environment is neat and organized, you will be able to think much more clearly as well. Even now, I'm having a hard time writing eloquently because my desk is a little messy at the moment (sure blame it on the desk...).

Also, Good Housekeeping has this great article about 3 different websites to help you keep organized, all with different tools and tricks of keeping up a happy household. I'm really interested in having some sort of chart or spread sheet in my iPhone to keep me straight. Technology always makes things a little more interesting for me! Well anyway, here's to a great 2009!

One kind word can warm three winter months. ~Japanese Proverb

This morning I woke up to the first real snow that we've had here in Indianapolis. This prompted me to add a project this week for my to-do list- purchase and install a programmable thermostat. I constantly talk to my clients about how great they are for saving money on utilities, but I don't even have on in my own home! (Shame on me, I'm always recommending things for my clients to do to their home, things I have not done yet. Hey, it's like a doctor who smokes or doesn't exercise). This is a great thing to do if you have an older home, with an outdated thermostat because you can have pre-programmed settings for the temperature in your home. The Energy Star website has some extra info about this and suggestions on how to program them.

Anyway, I found this handy do-it-yourself video from This Old House's website. Now I just need to narrow down which one I would like to purchase. My house is smaller, a little over 1400 sq ft, so I don't need anything fancy. My work schedule usually is seven days a week, with Saturday and Sunday being a little lighter. So, I'm interested in the 5+2 day models (programmable for weekday and weekend). It seems like these are ranging between $30-$40. The small price of that (plus asking nicely for my dad to come over and help with installation) will be well worth the potential savings this coming winter... especially since I have older windows that will eventually need to be replaced (that's a whole nother post).

My true love gave to me...

All the recent talk of the 'down economy' isn't just talk anymore. Everyone from low to high income families are feeling it now. The guy sitting next to you just got laid off and college kids home for the holidays are having problems finding part time jobs. Maybe you're not going out to eat as much or now you're going to a beauty school to get your hair cut. No matter who you are, we all should try and find ways to save money. Funny thing is this is how it "used to be" and we have recently just become a materialistic society, putting everything on credit.

Anyway, I digress. The real point of this post is to talk about some fun, FREE things you can do with your family this winter. Indy.org put together this great list of the Twelve Free Days of Christmas. This is a list of 12 fun and free activities you can do together with your family before the Christmas season. There is everything in here from free admission to the Indy Motor Hall of Fame to even free admission to the Children's Museum.

There is nothing that gives more assurance than a mask. ~Colette

With all of the "economic crisis" talk going on, we could all use a laugh:

"Marilyn Monroe is now showing her underwear, so apparently there are no standards anymore."

Many of the older realtors enjoy telling the younger generations what selling houses used to be like. Before the online mls system, offices had HUGE books filled with the current listings. Agents used to have to go to another realtor's home to drop off the information about a house. People used to drive through neighborhoods to decide where they wanted to live and before they compiled a list of possibilities (this was also probably when gas was like 10cents a gallon... an urban myth). Negotiations were more often verbal and with a hand shake, the paperwork came later. You waited until you had at least 20% for a down payment before you even thought of buying a house, so you would not get in over your head.

Fast forward to the buyer of today- access to several websites where you can find the all of the information on a house you need, including aerial shots to see its placement in the neighborhood. Websites like Trulia allow a consumer to come up with an idea of "what a house is worth" (it is pretty inaccurate, but that is for another post). Room dimensions, floor plans, virtual tours with music, photo-shopped pictures and more are at your finger tips. Who needs to drive around when you can find out crime statistics of the area and pictures of the last neighborhood party on your computer?

The company that I work for has implemented an exciting new FREE tool that brings together the best of both worlds- the traditional way of house hunting, by driving through neighborhoods, and also quick access to information with the convenience of technology.

Instant Info is a new, convenient, and quick way to get information about any virtually any listing (including residential, multi-family, and vacant lots) by just making a phone call. It is important to me that all of my clients are satisfied and receive the best customer service, technology and information from me. At my expense, I am offering this completely free service to all of my past, present, and future clients.


Here are a few instances where “Instant Info” would be handy:

• Driving through a neighborhood, you see a house and are curious about the price.
  



• You are casually looking, not ready for buy for a year or so, but want to see how much homes in an area are going for.
  



• A new listing has come up in your neighborhood! Curious about the price?
  



• Rebecca was not available when I called, but I really want to get more information to see if this fits my requirements.
  

For your convenience, I can register you as my client to give you quick access to listing information 24/7! This works for ANY listing in the greater Indianapolis area, not just Century 21 listings!

From your mobile or home phone, you can just dial 317-814-5555 to get the property information quickly. After dialing the number, the automated operator will ask for you to enter in the property address and then press the pound key. If there are multiple listings with the same house number, the system will ask you for the street name, to narrow it down.

For example, if you would like the listing information about a house at 123 Elm Street, just dial 317-814-5555 and then 123# (the house #). Another convenient feature of this system is that you don’t have to write down all of the information while you are driving, you will receive an email with the information about the property you inquired about right away.

If you have changed phone numbers or would like me to add other numbers associated with you, please forward those to me. It is important to register the phone number for your privacy and convenience.

If you know of any family members or friends who would like to be signed up for this as well, feel free to send me an email (rebecca.upton@century21.com) or give me a call. Please let me know if you have any other questions on this new mobile search technology.

Tax Credit Confusion

The past couple of weeks, many of my buyers have been scrambling to find a house to make an offer on. This past Friday was the last day that sellers could offer down payment assistance (DPA) to FHA or other first time homebuyers. Now that that is gone, many have started asking questions about the First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit.

I think many people are confused, some do not understand that it actually isn't a credit, but more of an interest- free loan. Below are some great references about the tax credit. It does sound like a good thing to take advantage of if you are a first time homebuyer (or have recently purchased for the first time) but it is important to educate yourself on all of the facts first.

Quick Chart

FAQs

Federal Housing Tax Credit

First time homebuyers have many expenses, from inspection costs, moving expenses, etc. The DPA programs were a great help when they were available. Unfortunately, there's not really a way right now to use this tax credit as a "down payment". Unless someone perhaps borrowed some gifts funds from a relative (although that's not really a gift then) and repaid them, first time homebuyers are not still needing to come with 3% for down payment now. There is one program that some will qualify for- Indiana Housing Program, that will help with grants for the DPA. However, there are many restrictions, including income, credit score, type of housing, and the whole process can get dragged out a while. However, it is definitely worth looking into if this is your only option. There are some great programs for police & fire dept workers, teachers, sanitation workers, etc. Feel free to contact me with questions!

Indianapolis is Nation's Most Affordable Housing Market!

RISMEDIA, August 21, 2008-Indianapolis, Indiana maintained its standing as the most affordable major U.S. housing market for
the 12th consecutive time in the second quarter of 2008, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo
Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) released this week.
Nationwide, homes became more affordable for the third consecutive quarter, with the HOI rising to and almost matching the
highest level since the second quarter of 2004.
“Today’s HOI reading shows that 55 percent of all new and existing homes that were sold during the second quarter were
affordable to families earning the national median income of $61,500,” said NAHB President Sandy Dunn, a builder from Point
Pleasant, W.Va. “Several factors combined to increase housing affordability nationwide. There was a marginal rise in mortgage
rates, which still remain near the historically low levels of a few years ago, family income nationwide held steady and lower
house prices.”
In the nation’s most affordable major housing market of Indianapolis, 91.6% of homes sold in the second quarter were affordable
to families earning the area’s median household income of $65,100. Also near the top of the list for affordable major metros this
time around were Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-Pa.; Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, Mich.; Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills,
Mich.; and Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Mich., in that order.


One smaller metro market (fewer than 500,000 people) outranked all others in terms of housing affordability
during the second quarter of 2008. This was Canton-Massillon, Ohio, where 96.7% of all homes
sold in the period were affordable to families earning that area’s median household income of $54,600.
New York-White Plains-Wayne, N.Y.-N.J. was the nation’s least affordable major housing market. This
was the first time a major housing market outside of California was designated the least affordable since
the HOI’s inception in 1991. In the New York market, 11.4% of new and existing homes sold during the
second quarter were affordable to those earning the area’s median family income of $63,000.
Other major metros at the bottom of the housing affordability chart included San Francisco-San Mateo-
Redwood City, Calif.; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif., Miami-Miami Beach- Kendall, Fla.;
and Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y., in that order.
Among metro areas smaller than 500,000 people, the five markets at the bottom of the affordability chart
were San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, Calif.; Ocean City, N.J.; Napa, Calif.; Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Calif.;
and Salinas, Calif., respectively.

New Housing Bill Passed by Congress

Unwrapped, Housing Tax 'Credit' Is Really a Loan

Washington Post, By Michelle Singletary

July 31, 2008

There's been a lot of discussion about how much the new housing bill passed by Congress will help individuals facing foreclosure.
Some will be able to keep their homes, to be sure. But there's a different provision of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act that I want to focus on -- the much-trumpeted tax credit for first-time homebuyers.
A tax credit is much more valuable than a deduction. A credit reduces dollar for dollar the amount of tax you owe. A deduction merely reduces the amount of your income that is taxable.
Under the new law, certain homeowners will be eligible for a tax credit equal to 10 percent of the purchase price of a home, up to a maximum of $7,500. The credit is $3,750 for married couples filing separately. Unmarried people who jointly purchase a home will be able to divide the $7,500 credit.
When I saw the $7,500 amount, I thought, not a bad tax credit. But there are all kinds of catches. Before you rush to take advantage of this, be aware it's a loan cloaked as a credit. "Essentially this is a loan administered through the tax code," said Gerald Prante, an economist with the nonprofit Tax Foundation. "I question whether the tax code is the best way to do this."
Financially, the loan has about the best rate and term you can get. It's interest-free. Homebuyers would be required to repay the government over 15 years in equal installments for any amount received.
So let's say you qualify for the maximum credit of $7,500. Considering the price of housing, just about every first-time buyer would qualify. The terms would mean a yearly loan payment of $500 for 15 years, or about $41.67 a month.
You have to begin repaying the credit in the second tax year after you purchase the home. If you sell the house before you pay off the credit, the entire amount becomes immediately due.
However, if you sell and the gain is less than the credit, then you only have to repay up to the amount of the gain. If the homeowner dies before the credit/loan is repaid, any outstanding amount is forgiven.
The new law defines a first-time homeowner as an individual who has had no ownership interest in a principal residence for a three-year period ending on the date of the current home purchase.
Also, there's a small window to this opportunity. The credit applies only to homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008, and before July 1, 2009.
Another catch: High-income homebuyers won't qualify for the credit. You can claim less of the credit amount the more you earn. The phaseout starts for single filers with adjusted income of more than $75,000 and $150,000 for joint filers. It completely phases out at $95,000 for singles; $170,000 for married couples filing jointly.
The credit is also not available to nonresident aliens or those who qualify for a similar tax credit in the District of Columbia. And you can't take this credit if your home is financed by the proceeds of a qualified tax-exempt mortgage bond.
There is one other tax-friendly provision. The bill would provide homeowners who claim the standard deduction with an additional standard deduction for state and local real property taxes.
The maximum amount that may be claimed under this provision is $500 ($1,000 for joint filers), according to a summary provided by the Senate Finance Committee.
This particular provision will be helpful to taxpayers who don't itemize. For example, a family with taxable income of $65,100 to $131,450 could deduct $1,000 of property taxes and pay up to $250 less in federal taxes, according to Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson (D), who issued a release praising the deduction.
Previously, only taxpayers who itemize were able to take advantage of the property tax deduction. About 35 percent of tax returns include itemized deductions, according to Prante.
Ah, but there's a catch to this deduction, too. It applies only for the 2008 tax year. Nonetheless, at least for one year, the property tax deduction will help people who are close to paying off their mortgages and thus don't have a lot of mortgage interest to deduct. It will also help low- to moderate-income homeowners and people in areas with no or low state taxes but who have high property taxes, Prante said.
Weighing these two tax provisions of the new law, I believe the state and property tax deduction will be the most helpful even though it is available just for one year.
I'm not crazy about the tax credit. This loan masked as a credit increases a homebuyer's debt. Yes, it will let some people reduce their tax burden, but the benefit is only temporary.

Staged Homes Do Sell

To me, presentation is a critical factor whether you are eating at a restaurant, shopping online, or even trying to sell your home. I have seen many a dull new build boring floor plan homes be transformed by the magic of staging. Staging is a great way to help prepare your home for sale, by decluttering, redecorating, cleaning, to be able to present your home, a "product" , in the best light possible. However, there are always a few things we tend to overlook in our own home, just because we live there, so you may need to constul some professional help. About a year ago I decided to go ahead and take the class. I am now an Accredited Staging Professional (ASP for short). When going on listing presentations with my boss, this is a big help for clients, just so they can get some quick consulting on what would be best. The thing is, this stuff actually works! I myself was a skeptic at first, afterall, a house is a house, right? Well, not always. Unfortunately it is hard for most people to look past the granny style wallpaper, cute kids photos, and kitty litter box. It is never a personal thing, we all have our own tastes. However, the way we live is different from the way we stage a home to sell. Here is one of the homes I staged, on a very tight budget.

A cute little bungalow in Broad Ripple. We first had to get new carpet in the bedrooms and new paint in the kitchen. Paint is the least expensive way to give a room a makeover. Also the bedrooms in Broad Ripple are tiny, so I decided not put in in beds but just add an accent piece in the corner. This was done on a very tight budget. Anyone can do it with a little effort and good guidance!

Living Room- Before & After

Dining Room- Before & After

Kitchen- Before & After

Bedrooms After (I wasn't able to find any before pics online)

Make sure your Realtor knows how to take good pictures or hires a professional. It is critical that the pictures look good because most people see the house online first. You won't believe how many terrible pictures I have seen. Lighting is important as well. Make sure your Realtor understands the value of presentation, because it could save you time and money in the long run!

Fishers Makes Top 10

Recently, I have had several clients interested in moving to the Fishers area or at least learning more about it. Fishers, a suburb on the northeast side of Indianapolis, is rapidly growing, in size and the economy. There are plans for a new rail line in the next few years which will also draw more people. The homes are inexpensive, the schools are four stars, and the Saxony development (mixed used of residences, retail, offices, and more) is well under way.

Because of all of these things, it is no surprise that Fishers made the Top 10 Places to Live in the U.S. by Money Magazine.

Courtesy: Town of Fishers
Population: 61,800
Miles from Indianapolis: 15
Economic development spending: $700 million from 2008 to 2010
Transit: New rail line in the next five years
Pros: Public transportation, growing economy
Con: Minimal downtown

Fishers is growing fast, attracting residents who are young (median age: 30) and smart (over 60% have a bachelor’s degree or more). It has the range of pluses common among our top 10, including a strong economy (lots of life-science companies are moving in), low home prices ($149,700 for the typical house) and good schools (they get high rankings in the state). Though a walkable downtown is still in the planning stages, transportation is already here: Fishers started a commuter bus service to downtown Indianapolis and plans rapid transit via rail in the next two to five years. When it comes to smart planning and sheer livability, other places could learn a lot from this little city in the Midwest.

The age old question, which is better... to rent or to buy?

66 cities where buying makes sense
Falling prices make homeownership increasingly realistic in some areas. Just don't expect to make a fast buck. By Marilyn Lewis, MSN Real Estate
More on MSN Real Estate

2008 MSN Real Estate best bargain markets
Your home buyer's checklist
Tell us: Which is better — buying or renting?
With house prices falling around the country, many renters are wondering if this is the time to jump in and score a deal.
The answer, of course, depends on where you live. In much of the U.S., you're better off buying despite falling home values, say new data compiled by the National Low Income Housing Coalition and the Center for Economic and Policy Research.
Of the 100 most populous metro areas, 57 have average three-bedroom rental costs higher than the cost of a 6% loan for a typical low-priced house, including Little Rock, Ark., and Akron, Ohio. (The study's authors defined low-priced as 75% of the area's median.) Those renting two-bedroom apartments would be better off buying a low-priced home at a loan rate of 6% in 24 of the 100 largest metro areas.
Of course, a crucial component for renters looking to make the leap is credit history. A prospective buyer with credit worthy of a 6% mortgage will pay a third less in monthly payments than someone who qualifies for an 8% loan – in many cities that can be a difference of hundreds of dollars and push them over the line to where renting actually makes more sense. (For more on the costs of renting versus buying, see "34 cities where it’s still better to rent.")
Even more interesting to potential homebuyers is the chance to build equity. Here, too, there's good news for many major metros. In 66 of the top 100 markets, you'd be in the black in four years should you buy a low-priced home today.

You'd do best in McAllen and El Paso, Texas, where you could build roughly $90,437 in equity with a 6% loan, and just shy of that with a 7% loan. In Syracuse or Buffalo, N.Y., you'd stand to make close to $80,000. In these slow-growing, smaller cities, prices never got run up to the sky. Now, homes are still affordable. And most importantly, the prices aren't likely to come crashing down.
It’s a home, not a get-rich-quick schemeSafe doesn't mean profitable, however. With prices falling in many markets, housing is too risky these days to expect you'll make money on a house deal, experts caution. The object now is to avoid losing money.
"Don't expect these markets to take off," says Danilo Pelletiere, research director for the National Low Income Housing Coalition and co-author of the study, "Ownership, Rental Costs and the Prospects of Building Home Equity."
"The housing boom passed them by because, in many cases, not much is happening in these towns."
Buyers should look at the purchase as a conservative investment that's unlikely to pay off like an oil-patch scheme and may even lose value, Pelletiere, says. Base the decision on more than profit, on intangibles like the chance to build stability, to join a community, to enjoy a neighborhood or love living in a particular home.
"I wouldn't want anybody to interpret this data as saying here's where you should put your money," Pelletiere says. "What I am saying is, if you want to put your money into a home, these are the cities where owning makes sense."

Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind.
$49,520 - 6%
$48,330 - 7%
$47,300 - 8%

Click here for the rest of the table.

This Realtor's Dream House

A good realtor will narrow down the houses to look at with their clients. Not only will it waste gas and time for both parties involved, but buyers will become exhausted, frustrated and won't remember any of the homes they saw!

I have seen some beautiful houses- small cute bungalows in Broad Ripple, awesome lofts on Mass Ave, and stunning mansions in Carmel. Recently, I found one house that I could actually picture myself living in. You would be surprised to see how many realtors live in dumps or don't take care of their homes as much as they should (I'm guilty of this!). However, one of my new listings just really gets me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. If I had more money, and were perhaps married (it is a big house after all) I would buy it in a heartbeart.

No, it is not one of the downtown condos with two story ceilings, or the cute house that's just a quick walk to the strip. It is a very nice house in Washington Township, near Nora. It is listed at $279,900 with 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Completely updated, beautiful half acre lot, and finished basement. It is a nice french style tri-level that reminds me very much of the house my parents live in (maybe that is why I am so fond of it). Anyway, though I cannot afford it at this stage in my life, maybe when the lucky buyers go to sell, I'll be next in line. Open house this Sunday 2-5pm!

Virtual Tour

"Money can't buy love, but it improves your bargaining position." ~ Christopher Marlowe

I have had several buyers with "odd" requests when purchasing a home. They want to know if the seller can throw in a fish tank, a Civil War Rifle, a Mustang and more. Sellers often think by throwing in the flat screen, patio furniture, etc, that this will entice buyers. Here is an odd article about just that.

Single Mom Selling Heart, Florida Home On Internet


Woman Turns To eBay, Craiglist To Solve 2 Desires With 1 ClickPALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) ― She's tried night clubs and online dating sites, but now a 42-year-old single mother is looking for love where everyone else's heart is breaking - the real estate market.After a year of trying to sell her four-bedroom home and eight years of singledom, Deven Trabosh is offering her South Florida home and a shot at marrying her on the Internet."I figured let's combine the ad because I'm looking for love and I'm looking to sell the house," said Trabosh, a Barbie-esque blonde who teeters around the nearly 2,000 square-foot house in patent leather heels."Marry a Princess Lost in America," Trabosh wrote in the ads she posted on eBay and Craigslist last week. She describes a life of romance and travel and a home decorated with vaulted ceilings, upgraded tile and a soaking tub in a gated community with a pool and tennis courts.Trabosh, a licensed real estate agent who hasn't practiced in years, knew she would struggle to sell the home in the troubled real estate market, but insists her fairytale ad isn't just a sales gimmick."I'm struggling...I don't want to lose my house and I want to find somebody," said Trabosh, who changed her name in the ad to Traboscia to keep people from finding her in the phone book. "So I came up with this dream plan because I've always dreamt about being a fairytale princess."She listed the home for $340,000 on a sell-it-yourself web site, but upped the price, adding a $500,000 shipping fee to include her companionship on eBay.Trabosh says eBay removed her ad, though she planned to change the wording and repost it. Under the site's prohibited services policy, eBay does not allow the sale of human beings, body parts or relationships, spokeswoman Catherine England said Friday.Trabosh hasn't received any serious offers, but says she's had nearly 500 responses, mostly positive, including one from Ottie of Surrey, England, who e-mailed to say, "You are offering the perfect life with the perfect American princess."She whips out her laptop to show off a picture of Claudio, a handsome Italian wine and cheese taster, who she's been corresponding with since he responded to the ad. Seated on a white leather love seat in her living room, she giggles almost girlishly about him. They're hoping to meet in Miami in a few weeks.She's gotten criticism too. Her 21-year-old daughter Haley says she just wants her mom to find love, but her 14-year-old daughter says her mother is embarrassing her. Other have e-mailed to say she's selling herself short."I'm not selling myself. I'm selling love...to meet that true love," Trabosh says. "Of course, it's gonna take more chemistry and connection. It's not going to be instantaneous that I'm just going to be automatically for sale...it's a package deal for true love."Trabosh isn't the first to use the Internet to hawk the unconventional. A heartbroken Australian man recently tried to sell his life online, including his house, job and friends. Others have sold body space, promising to display advertisements for the highest bidder."There is a plethora of quirky ads on craigslist that pop up on craigslist every day, and this appears to be one of them," spokeswoman Susan MacTavish Best said in an e-mail. "Scads of couples have met and, thus, married through craigslist over the last twelve years sometimes marrying the person who bought their tired couch."Ideally, Trabosh hopes a European man will close the deal and says she's willing to move overseas."I know I'm putting myself out there. I'm sincere. I believe in true love," she says. "I want to get married again."

(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Renaissance Bay Condominiums

Some of you who drive down Keystone Avenue every day may be wondering about the new condo developments, north of the Wal-Mart near Keystone at the Crossing. The old Landings Apartment complex was torn down to make way for the Renaissance Bay community- townhomes and flats. This private waterfront community is minutes away from everything- Broad Ripple, Nora, Castleton, Keystone at the Crossing, a quick route to downtown as well! I had the pleasure of attending the private grand opening for Realtors and was impressed with the unique features of these townhomes. They were made to have a resort style feel- like the Carolinas.

Below is some more information about the townhomes. If you have any other questions or would like a tour of the properties, please feel free to contact me with any questions!

Renaissance BayA Development of Sun Shiel Properties II, LLC Renaissance Bay...waterfront condominium living with Carolina inspired architecture comes to 78th and Keystone Avenue in Indianapolis. This private, gated, condominium community is bounded by the White River with condominium residences wrapped around a 12 acre lake. The community features concrete boulevards, beautifully illuminated community pathways and nature trails that venture into the preservation areas. Located minutes from shopping, dining, commerce and the interstate and with features including a clubhouse, pool with pool house and fitness center. Renaissance Bay will include two distinct floorplan types. Renaissance Bay has two distinct floorplan types; the three-story townhomes and the single floor stacked flats. The six townhome floorplans range in interior square footage from 2,616 to 3,028 sq. ft, and include unique patios and balconies adding square footage up to 1,035 square feet. The two car attached garages and private entrances distinguish the three story townhome floorplans. The stacked flats are open, one-story floorplans located in four distinct building types with elevator service, and reserved parking on the lower level. The nine stacked flats floorplans range in square footage from 1,470 to 3,279 square feet, and include unique decks and balconies adding square footage up to 1,255 square feet. All condominiums include such standard features as granite countertops, hardwood flooring, and much more. Additional upgrade and custom options are also available.

100 Years

The National Association of Realtors is celebrating their centennial this year. Originally formed in 1908, NAR started not only to bring together Realtors® together but also to uphold a code of ethics to better serve clients who have real estate needs. The main principles behind the code of ethics is: loyalty to clients, fiduciary (legal) duto to clients, cooperation with competitors, truthfulness in statements and advertising, etc. There is a really great timeline of events on the NAR website, which pinpoints major events in real estate throughout these hundred years. There is a big difference between a Realtor® and someone who just has their real estate license. Make sure when buying or selling your home, that you use a Realtor®. If you don't know of one in your area, contact me and I will help you get in touch with a great professional in your area!

You can never go home again, but the truth is you can never leave home, so it's all right. ~Angelou

Hello! I am a young realtor from Indianapolis. This is going to be the first of hopefully many entries about anything concerning real estate, buying or selling a home, and about living! I have noticed that there really aren't very many websites or blogs to help educate someone about the process of buying or selling a home. I know that most people my age do not even have a clue of where to start! I hope that some people will be able to gain something from reading this. It won't be stuffy all the time- I will try to also post some decorating or fix-it tips! Feel free to let me know if there's a particular topic you would like to hear about.