NorthWest Indiana Real Estate Blog: January 2010

Located between  Rogers Lakewood Park and Bicentennial Park in Valparaiso, IN is a small development of Townhome Duplexes called The Cottages.  (Click on map link below the photo slide show).

This convenient location conducive to nature trails and yet just a few miles from major roads makes this new listing desirable location + affordable for those who can see the opportunity and have patience. Located close enough for commute to Chicago by I 90 Toll-road or I 94 Expressway or South Shore Train or Local BUS, this may be worth your careful consideration.

The sale of this property is subject to the lenders approval of a short sale.

To read More about Short Sales Check out these previous BLOGS about our previous experiences in getting them done and then give us a call with your questions or to schedule a private showing with advance notice please.

Short Sales are Not a Game.

Some Short Sales in Northwest Indiana Real Estate Are Getting Done Quicker & Easier !

 
Indiana HomeOwner's facing Short Sale - A New Law that may help!

Short Sale tips that Helped us.

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Since Valpo is a college town, Valparaiso University under grad or law school students are always look for housing options nearby.

This 4 unit 2 story located at the corner of Chicago St and Elmhurst is near downtown restaurants, coffee shops, banks, businesses, town hall, the courthouse square & more.....not to mention just a few miles from VU.

Worth careful consideration, this Income Producing Property has 4 units (all apartments are leased) and it has been well-maintained and updated.

Enjoy the photo slide show, click on the links for more info and map, call with any questions or for a private viewing appointment with advance notice please 219-405-1232.

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Sorry it's SOLD already Talk To Tucker for more Valpo Investment properties for sale- Corner 4 Unit Walk to Downtown Valpo!

Overview Maps Photos Features Description Neighborhood

$179,999 Multi Family For Sale Main Features 5 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 4 Units Interior: 3276 sqft Lot: 00 sqft Location 758 Chicago Street Valparaiso, IN 46385

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Jeff & Grace Safrin F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate (219) 309-9930 safrin@jorsm.com http://www.safrin.net Listed by: Jeff Safrin of F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate

Our recent listings Corner 4 Unit Walk to Downtown Valpo! Look No More - This Bungalow will surprise you! Subject to Short Sale Approval Best Value in Autumn Creek + Seller Assists w/Closing Costs! Affordable Newer Home in Town Location Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Valparaiso, IN real estate for sale

This week we spent a few hours exploring Cabela's in Hammond, Indiana.

If you are like me and been around Hammond IN for awhile ( I am a Bishop Noll High School Graduate ), you will know that Cabela's sit on the property that once was the Woodmar Golf Course ( google maps hasn't changed yet - so thie link above confirms this :)

We enjoyed exploring this HUGE facility, shopping for some out wear, & learning alot also. The museum like education displays on fish and animals were incredible. We had fun in the arcades. Jeff even tried a Buffalo Burger for lunch at their restaurant and I bought some FRESH Homemade Fudge from their General store!

From Fishing to Camping to Hunting To anything Outdoors-> i.e. mens & womens clothing, equipment, FOOD, Cabelas  just about Has it all!

I can tell you that we will be back again to check out the deals in their Bargain Cave! 

Here is Cabelas Main website for stores nationwide! A great place to shop for all ages :)

The Town of Schererville is located in Northwest Indiana's Lake County - a convenient commute to the big city of Chicago !

Recently, we Just Listed for sale an affordable Home in Move-in Condition in a great neighborhood !

Enjoy the photo slide show, click on the additional links for a map and description and more info...

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Best Value in Autumn Creek + Seller Assists w/Closing Costs!

Overview Maps Photos Features Description Market Stats

$249,999 Single Family Home For Sale Main Features 4 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 1 Unit Interior: 2359 sqft Lot: 0.25 acre(s) Location 7408 Jeffrey Schererville, IN 46375

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Jeff & Grace Safrin F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate (219) 309-9930 safrin@jorsm.com http://www.safrin.net Listed by: Jeff Safrin of F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate

Our recent listings Best Value in Autumn Creek + Seller Assists w/Closing Costs! Affordable Newer Home in Town Location Immaculate & Affordable Condo - great In Town VALPO location! Ideal for Related Living or Big Family-> Cozy Cape Cod Lovingly update & Move in Ready! Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Schererville, IN real estate for sale

Looking for an affordable Home For Sale in NW Indiana's Lake County?  This 858 SF Ranch is $69,000.

Why Pay Rent?

Freshly Painted Inside - Neutral Colors!

Perched on a 80 x 75 Corner Lot = 3 bedroom Ranch Home w/Fenced Yard & Detached 1.5 Car Garage + 8 ft. Shed makes great starter home or may be the one for those looking to downsize + have the ease of one level living!

Country Kitchen w/Pergo Wood Floor, Wood cabinets, Double Stainless Sink & Stove/Gas Range included. Utility Room off Kitchen is Well insulated, washer & dryer hookups. Living Room off Kitchen w/Pergo Floor and Crown Moldings. Hallway to BR's/bathroom w/Pergo Floor also. Attic Access from hall for added storage.

Windows & Gas Furnace replaced approx. 11 years ago. Hot Water Heater approx 9 years ago. Roof (tear off) done in 2004. Vinyl Siding. Landscape Beds w/solar lights. Sensor Lights on Garage.

Quiet Location-Gibson woods nearby. Convenient to Commute. Hammond Residents children may qualify for College Bound Scholarship Program.

1st Time Buyers or Downsizing Buyers May qualify for Tax credit w/accepted by 4/30/10.

Possession Day of Closing. Call Today!

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Typically, we take a vacation around the winter season in NW Indiana because activity on listing and selling real estate USED TO slow down somewhat.

Not anymore:) 

Over the past couple weeks we've been blessed to assign relocation clients to each one of our experienced agents!

Even while taking a few days R & R in Florida, our corporate office called us with more potential client referrals looking to either buy or sell a home in Northwest Indiana.

Relocation referrals are a benefit of being a F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate agent, and they are distributed in sequence one by one right down the list of agents on board with us (unless an agent is requested by name).

The volume of referrals comes from being a member of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World

If you are an experienced professional REALTOR looking for a change in 2010 and enjoy relocation clients, call Jeff or Grace for a confidential interview to see if our Virtual Real Estate Brokerage Model  is something that would interest you.

Hasty and Sweeping Generalizations about Short Sales are illogical.

We are Listing and Selling them in reasonable time frames.

With cash deals, some Short sales are closing even quicker than regular listed properties!

  Just depends on the lender, cooperation of the seller, qualification of the buyer, and on the experience, knowledge and tenacity of the REALTORS handling the transaction:)

Below are several Homes For Sale in Northwest Indiana that are subject to lenders approval of a Short Sale.

To read More about Short Sales Check out these previous BLOGS about our experiences in getting them done and then give us a call.

Short Sales are Not a Game.

Some Short Sales in Northwest Indiana Real Estate Are Getting Done Quicker & Easier !

 
Indiana HomeOwner's facing Short Sale - A New Law that may help!

Short Sale tips that Helped us.

Porter County, Indiana -Valparaiso, IN 46383 Home For Sale - Offer Subject to Lenders Approval of a Short Sale

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La Porte, Indiana - LaPorte, IN 46350 Home For Sale - Offer Subject to Lenders Approval of a Short Sale

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Starke County, Indiana - Bass Lake Area Home For Sale - Offer Subject To Lenders Approval of a Short Sale

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Knox, Indiana 46534 - Fixer Upper Home for Sale - Offer Subject to Lenders Approval of a Short Sale.

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We Listed a Home For Sale in Northwest Indiana's Lake County (Cedar Lake, 46303) back in late December that was Subject to Lenders Approval of a Short Sale.

Since the Seller was Cooperative and the Buyer Qualified, the Approval process was quick with a Cooperative Lender.

Even though obstacles surfaced, Jeff's experience in Short Sales, BPO's, and working with Banks (REO properties) helped get the approval done in 13 days from the date the offer to purchase was written.

All in all - this one is our quickest turn around time - only 26 days from the date we took the listing till closing!

We could not have done this with acknowledging the cooperativeness and collaborative efforts of all parties working together to do their part : the Seller, the Buyer, the Co-Op Agent, the Loss Mitigation department of the Lender.

Something in my gut wrenches when I read "Short Sales Are a Game".

They involve people's lives, families, difficult circumstances & situations, & loss of one of the most basic Human needs.

You don't "successfully PLAY" a short sale ...it is collaborative, not competitive, WORK.

Hopefully, with a compassionate attitude to all parties involved. 

Yes, even empathy for the Loss Mitigator who may be overworked with a huge pile of files on their desk. I will gladly NOT switch places with them for even a day :)

The Indiana Association of Realtors Online has re-printed a statement:

" You have no Business doing a short sale unless...

(reprinted from James J. Tsighis from the Tennessee Association of REALTORS Forum), that disscusses some key points & ethics to consider behind the decision making of even doing these type of Real Estate Transactions.

We've been doing Short Sales for several years now, and just closed our 1st short sale real estate transaction for 2010 in only 26 days from the date of taking the listing till today's signing documents at Closing!

We were not the 1st REALTORS to list this property and there were many obstacles to this short sale which I will not go into.....

What matters, is the thanks we got from the Seller, Buyers, Co-Operative Agent and yes, even the Lender:)

editorial Opinion by Jeff Safrin - Real Estate Broker/Owner F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate serving NW Indiana

With the 1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit  deadline for accepted Real Estate Purchase Contracts being 4/30/10, NOW is a good time to buy a home in Northwest Indiana!

Here are NW Indiana Homes For Sale that offer Seller Assisted Financing - Seller will pay Buyers Closing Costs or pre-paids allowable by lender with a full price accepted offer*

Lake County Indiana Home For Sale in Griffith, 46319 - Seller helps with  Buyers Closing Costs ->

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Porter County, Indiana Home For Sale in Portage, 46368 - Seller helps pay Buyers Closing Costs ->

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La Porte County, Indiana Home For Sale, 46350 - Seller helps pay Buyers Closing Costs ->

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For an appointment to see any of these properties - don't hesitate to give us or one of our experienced professionals @ F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate a call.

What a Game on New Years Eve - Valparaiso University Crusaders Win in Final Seconds 55-54

over University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers !

Ok, so the scoreboard photo is blurry (hey, this game was a nail-biter :) but it shows that with 3.8 seconds, Valparaiso University Crusaders trailed by 1 &  Milwaukee Panthers coach took a time out to set up a play to inbound the ball which is stolen away (intercepted) by Valpo Senior Brandon McPherson who takes it to the basket himself for the W !

Click link below to watch video recap of this exciting games top moments including the loud ending->

Highlights & final awesome play from the Horizon Network TV

or read a written recap of the game from VU's website->

12/31/2009 - Men's Basketball
McPherson Steal and Layup Gives Valpo One-Point Win in Final Second Over Milwaukee

My voice is still horse from last night :) but it was a great way to bring in the new year for our home-town team!

Next Home game at the ARC Saturday, January 2nd, tip-off 7:05 pm

Valparaiso University Crusaders Vs. GreenBay Phoenix