"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.