NorthWest Indiana Real Estate Blog: December 2010

We listed a Ranch Home For Sale in Valparaiso, IN 46385 a couple months ago and put up for sale signs, marketed it actively, and low and behold -> closing on this property 70 days from date of the listing!

Now Real Estate Markets are a Local Business, and every area is different, however, NW Indiana has plenty of properties on the market to chose from and the winter season does affect the buyer pool somewhat....

A well priced Home, updated and staged to sell in move in condition, does bring ready, willing and able buyers to make offers in our market year round-so don't delay if you are thinking about selling...

Interest rates are LOW and won't stay that way forever!

Experienced Professional REALTORS know that the real work in selling a home begins after the negotiated purchase agreement is signed.

Transaction management requires constant communication with many parties to work towards completing the requirements of various conditions prior to settlement.

It's refreshing nowadays to have a clear to close a week prior to the set date, documents for client review 48 hours prior, and a closing/funding with all parties present take less than 30 minutes!

If you are considering selling your home or property in Northwest Indiana, give us a call for a free market analysis.

Our happy clients serve as our best references!

Repeat Clients called us to List their Home For sale in Chesterton, Indiana 46304 and we received 2 offers to purchase on day 89 on the market...so now it's SOLD!

Thinking about selling your Northwest Indiana property?

Talk To Tucker - Indiana's Largest Real Estate Company, established in 1918.

I set up & manage a few social media platforms for our church this year as Evangelism chair i.e. Twitter, Facebook, You Tube, Blog  ... so a member recently sent me an email with this video saying:

"Being the social media guru that you are, I thought you might get a kick out of this."

LOL, I do not consider myself a guru, However, I did find this video funny and wanted to share it ...

 Wishing a very Merry & Blessed Christmas to ya'll!

and Enjoy->

xxxx

Yesterday, We attended an in service held by one of our local Title Companies on the roll-out of their new Transaction Management System online in January.

B.Y.P.A.S.S. an acronym for

Bring Your Purchasers And Sellers to Settlement

looks like a system that will bring Buyers Agents, Lenders, Closers, Selling Agents, Attorneys much needed information access on the go - as it is password accessible from your smart phone as well as computer!

Buyers AND Sellers have online resources as well, during the presentation a great informational link was revealed that needs to be shared.

The site called Home Closing 101 describes in detail the closing process, why you need title insurance, description of closing costs, real estate terms etc... It is a wonderful adjunct for REALTORS or Lenders to share as a reinforcement of our explanations of these processes.

Click the graphic below to enter Home Closing 101 - protecting your American Dream

1 to 2 more feet of snow expected tonight in Porter County,  Northwest Indiana

We live in Valparaiso, IN and it's hard to see our neighbors homes right across the street!

Police Scanner calls are non-stop, with white out blizzards conditions, blowing and drifting snow, cars off the road or stuck, accidents with injuries, ambulance calls and more.

If you live in the Blizzard of 2010 path like we do, feel free to share your photos by posting them in the comments.

Stay Safe!

Home Owners in Lake County and Porter County in Northwest Indiana!

The deadline for filing your Property Tax Exemptions is fast approaching -> December 30th, 2010.

If you purchased a home this year in a city or town in Lake County, or Porter County in NW Indiana please verify that your homestead and mortgage exemptions have been properly filed with the county.

As experienced Professional REALTORS serving NW Indiana, we always send reminders to our clients via phone call or email and verify that the closing agent at the Title company includes a written reminder with instructions on how and where to file property tax exemptions as a new homeowner.

It has been our experience of late, that when we prepare for a listing appointment, we are finding many home owners have forgetten or overlooked filing these exemptions, resulting in their property taxes going up significantly!

Sometimes, we find that the exemptions were never filed, and for many years Home Owners pay an increased percentage in property taxes as compared to their neighbors due to this oversight. The exemptions cannot be retro-dated for any type of credit, so this is money you could have spent elsewhere!

Higher Real Estate Taxes on a Home impact the affordablity of any Buyer of your property. Taxes and insurance are calculated into the monthly payment. For example, taxes that are 30 % higher than a similar home down the block may just be enough to cause the sale of your neighbors home before yours!

So even if a property with no exemptions is affordable to you, it is a factor that a buyers lender uses in calculating what the buyer can afford payment wise!

If you are an Indiana Home Owner and want to verify if your property has a HOMESTEAD Exemption on file click here.

To Look up your Property's Parcel Number:

Lake County residents, click here.

Porter County residents, click here.

Even if you have filed your exemptions in the past be sure to guarantee they have been processed.

For More Information on Indiana Property Tax Exemption Benefits Click here!

The deadline to file your exemption is December 30th. You can do so at your local government center. Note: Per HEA 1344-2009 requires taxpayers who receive the homestead standard deduction to verify that they are eligible to receive the benefit and to provide additional identifying information necessary to allow county government to better monitor homestead filings.

Home For Sale in Valparaiso, IN 46385 - 709 Galway Drive in Shamrock - Ranch with Finished Basement on Wooded Cul De Sac Lot & Pond View

Well maintained by Original Owners, this Ranch Home in Valparaiso, Indiana's Shamrock Neighborhood (Center Township Location) with a finished basement and attached finished garage is worth your careful consideration.

Gleaming Hardwood Floors in the Great Room, Kitchen and Dining areas.

Volume Vaulted Ceiling in the Entry Foyer and Great Room, Tray ceiling in the Master Suite.

Picturesque 1/4 Acre wooded Lot backs up to a Pond and wildlife abounds right in your own backyard!

Enjoy the ease of one level living.

Whether you are a 1st time home buyer,

(Returning Veterans still qualify for the $8,000 1st time Home Buyer tax credit Until April of 2011)

or, just wanting to downsize, this home may be the one!

Enjoy the Music Slide Show of this Lovely Porter County Indiana Property For Sale and give us a call to schedule an appointment for your own private showing before it's SOLD!

xxxx

Scan this Home's QR Code with the Bar Code App of your smart phone for more info right at your fingertips!