NorthWest Indiana Real Estate Blog: Indiana: Chesterton

This year, we have personally experienced less number of short sale listings and closings compared to 2010 when 25 % of our closed transactions were subject to a lenders approval of a short sale. 

We've blogged about short sales many times before. The length of time involved in completing a short sale transaction can vary from lender to lender and be slow (months) or quick (days).

Whenever we have a short sale transaction that goes relatively smoothly, we feel blessed:)

This was the case with a property we listed in Northwest Indiana that closed in only 53 days after an accepted offer to purchase!

It was our 1st short sale since the new MARS Law went into effect a few months ago.

Indiana Short Sales are impacted by HB 1359, which, in many cases, helps expedite the transaction.

Northwest Indiana Home For Sale Listed by F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate Subject to Short Sale SOLD & Closed in 53 days after accepted offer to purchase!

If you are considering the sale of your property subject to your lenders approval of a short sale, give us a call.

Important Notice:

F. C. Tucker 1^st Team Real Estate is not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender.

Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.

If you stop paying your mortgage, you could lose your home and damage your credit.

When we get a call from a prospective seller in NW Indiana, we always ask -> How did you find us? Tracking the origin of our business is important to us.

Most new clients come from referral of family, friends or neighbors of previous customers that we've served. Other referrals happen from being a part of the Leading Real Estate Companies of The World and from being one of many F.C.Tucker's offices (Indiana's largest Real Estate Company).

This time, when potential sellers called to interview us and we asked this question, the answer was :

We came across homes for sale in our town on the Internet and liked the way you marketed them.

Yesterday, after the closing, we thanked our client for the opportunity to represent them in the sale of their Porter County Property.

Chesterton, Indiana 46304 Real Estate For Sale by F.C.Tucker 1st Team Just SOLD

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If you are thinking about selling your Northwest Indiana Home soon- Talk To Tucker!

This week we were chosen out of multiple Northwest Indiana REALTORS interviewed to list a home in the

Chestnut Hills neighborhood of Chesterton, IN 46304 ( Porter County, IN )

that is Subject to Lenders Approval of a Short Sale.

We've blogged about living in Chesterton, Indiana before.....it's close proximity to the

beautiful Indiana Dunes National lakeshore along with it's world renowned annual

Wizard of Oz festival make it a scenic small town!

Award winning Duneland school system (this home is very close to Chesterton High School) and convenient access

to Chicago by IN tollroad, I 94 Expressway or South Shore Train make it a consideration for those living in Illinois

to transplant over the state border and take advantage of less taxes & more home for your $.

With recent news of State Income Tax increases by 66% in Illinois, NW Indiana maybe more of a consideration of a place to live & $ave money by some folks who may be "Illinoyed" with this recent development:)

With many Updates, this affordable property is worth careful consideration.

Enjoy the Music Video and call to schedule a private showing with advance notice please.

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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.

Third Time's The Charm - Another Short Sale Property Listed By F.C. Tucker 1st Team Real Estate in NW Indiana and CLOSED.

 Back in mid April we listed a Property in Porter County, IN subject to lenders approval of a short sale.

Short Sales are Not a Game.

First, you need a sale-able property in good condition and a cooperative seller. The short sale process is MUCH more involved than a traditional real estate transaction.

Next, you have to hope for a negotiator from the lenders loss mitigation department assigned to the file who is adept at the process and at communicating in a timely fashion.

WE were very fortunate = we HAD BOTH OF THE ABOVE !

However finding a READY, WILLING and ABLE buyer was a journey of 5 months.

We had an offer within 7 days of listing the home on the MLS which fell about 25 days later due to Buyer unwillingness to wait for a short sale approval.

Now in Indiana, we have a newer law = IN HB 1359, so the time frame for approvals is to acknowledge the offer within 10 business days and to accept/counter or reject the offer within 30 business days. 

Sure enough, we got the approval a week after the buyer had requested mutual release. 

Meanwhile, we were having showings on the property. Even with an accepted offer we encourage all our sellers to continued the show the home - Sale Pending Does Not mean SOLD these days! Backup offers are always welcome on our listings.

A few weeks later another accepted offer was submitted, and another processor assigned. Starting all over again, we resubmitted everything and about 45 days later....

Bingo! we get a short sale approval (the second time).

In the meantime, a 3rd offer (Backup offer) was in place. (There were even more offers submitted on this property, however they were so low, and asking for even more, that our seller did not accept them).

All along, we informed the Buyers agent that there is not alot of time to wait to accomplish agreed upon contract erms of due diligence(i.e. inspections, appraisals, surveys, underwriting, etc..) once the short sale is approved.

Alas, the contract expiration date came and went with no mutual extension for time granted.

The backup offer became the primary offer.  For the third time, we resubmitted the new paperwork for the file (by this time Jeff and the loss mitigation processor were on a 1st name basis:)

We received an approval even quicker than the 1st or 2nd time and closed within 31 days of submitting the offer to purchase to the lender!

Lessons learned =>

'Tis a lesson you should heed, Try, try again. If at first you don't succeed, Try, try again.

Short Sales are NOT for every Buyer

•  You should be willing to wait for an approval. The experienced listing agent will have a good idea of this time frame as they have already started submitting the short sale package and talked to the lender about applicable state laws verses company policy time frames. Some special circumstances may take longer.
• You should be willing to do your due diligence according to the terms and conditions you agreed to in the purchase agreement. This means risk that you, the Buyer must be willing to accept. (i.e. the cost of doing any inspections, appraisal, etc.
• The lender of a short sale property DOES NOT have to accept your offer. A short sale is NOT a fire sale:) they have done a BPO and their investor has a bottom line on what they are willing to accept.
• Backup Offers can move to the primary position once the expiration date of the purchase contract has passed and there is no written extension of time in place agreed upon by all parties. Being a backup offer in a short sale may be worth it.

We have closed many short sales in Northwest Indiana over the last few years.

If you are considering buying or selling a home subject to lenders approval of a short sale - work with a  REALTOR experienced (SFR) in this process.

Our references & client testimonials are available.

First Time Offered - Custom 2 Story Home for Sale in Duneland Cove - Chesterton, IN 46304

The Duneland Cove Community has an awesome

park with

tennis courts,

playground

and basketball court!

Recently we listed a 2 story home - 1st time offered by original owners - this custom built home does not have your typical floor plan and offers spacious room sizes, many built-ins and quality woodwork & trim.

Enjoy the Hi-Res. music video below and then give us a call to schedule a private showing with advance notice please 219-405-1232.

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Thinking of RELOCATING to Chesterton, Indiana?

did you know? ...

If you are planning a move to Chesterton, Indiana located in Northwest Indiana's County of Porter, did you know you will live about an hour from Chicago by Train ( South Shore Stop map ) or IN Toll road.

Chesterton is home to the world famous Wizard of Oz Festival held annually! We've blogged about the Town of Chesterton before.

With the scenic Indiana Dunes and Lake Michigan nearby, there is a wide range of housing options available from affordable to mid priced homes to gated Golf Communities/Country Club Settings!

We just listed a move in ready home with amenities galore in the award winning Dune-land School District.

Lower taxes, Affordable Homes, scenic recreation spots, yet big city culture nearby! Enjoy the best of both worlds by living here!

If you are planning a move to Chesterton, Indiana located in Northwest Indiana's County of Porter, did you know you will live about an hour from Chicago by Train ( South Shore Stop map ) or IN Toll road.

Chesterton is home to the world famous Wizard of Oz Festival held annually! We've blogged about the Town of Chesterton before.

With the scenic Indiana Dunes and Lake Michigan nearby, there is a wide range of housing options available from affordable to mid priced homes to gated Golf Communities/Country Club Settings!

We just listed a move in ready home with amenities galore in the award winning Dune-land School District.

Lower taxes, Affordable Homes, scenic recreation spots, yet big city culture nearby! Enjoy the best of both worlds by living here!

Check out the hi res music video below and give us a call if you are considering making Chesterton, IN your home sweet home!

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Recently, we took an afternoon off for some R & R.

We needed to put up a sign up on a new listing in Porter Cove, which has a fun Northwest Indiana Golf Course - The Brassie Golf Club - Chesterton, IN 46304 practically in this subdivisons backyard!

Here are a few photos of the course/clubhouse.

If you enjoy golf and are in the market for an affordable move in ready home, why not opt for the best of both worlds - see map below.

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For Sale $399,000. Address : 280 East 1366 North, Chesterton, IN 46304

Perched on 9.83 Acres of Land, in the town of Chesterton, Indiana a Dune land  Community in Porter County, Northwest Indiana - This Westchester Township Location is a commutable distance to Chicago by South Shore Train or I 94 & IN Toll-road.

Spacious & well maintained Bi-Level Home offers 4 to 5 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms , 2 Car attached Garage. The Home has a wood-burning Fireplace and 400 amp electric.

This parcel of land is big enough to add on or build on!

There are 3 Barns on this Property! 

....1200 SF Pole Barn for parking/storage perfect if you have an RV, Boat, Camper, or Car collection (separate 100 amp electric)

.....A large Workshop for the hobbyist or mechanic,  those who need a space to work from home. (Separate 60 amp electric)

....Animal Barn -with fenced grazing area + acres to roam or ride - bring the Horses or Farm animals.

Part of the acreage is wooded..... Enjoy the Woods Year Round = Nice Trail to ride your ATV or just enjoy Nature. Hunt Deer, Pheasant & Wild Turkey from the Tree stand.

There's even a Stocked Pond on the property!

In season, enjoy fishing for Blue Gill, Bass, Catfish & Crappie without leaving Home! 

Home is located on a dead end road w/many vacant acres next to it. 200 recently planted trees at front of property line.

Enjoy 18 x3 6 Inground Pool w/Slide & Diving Board (newer liner & heater) or the 6 Person Hot Tub!

Big shed for pool equipment storage,

No Restrictive Covenants. - You can park a semi truck here! And with nearby I 94 for ease of commute - the location is convenient.

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If we can help you find a home or land in NW Indiana, give us a call @ 219-405-1232 - we are Full Time Full Service Real Estate Brokers and Valparaiso, IN residents serving Lake, Porter, La Porte, Jasper & Newton Counties.

Jeff& GraceSafrin " Spouses Selling Houses" TM Real Estate Broker Associates  with  F.C. Tucker -

Indiana's Largest Real Estate Company

 On  Facebook  ?...... be-friend us - look up Jeff Safrin  : )    

 Linked in ??.....  link to us... look up Grace Safrin  : )

TWITTER?? ...Follow....  SAFRIN

 Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of Jeff and Grace Safrin of F.C. Tucker Advantage Realty. Jeff and Grace Safrin and F.C. Tucker Advantage Realty are not responsible for the accuracy or content provided.   

With No Restrictive Covenants and Horses allowed, this desirable Jackson Township Location in Porter County offers award winning schools, easy expressway access and close proximity to South Shore Train Stop for commute to Chicagoland.

There are over 50 photos of this lovely property in the slide show below.  We felt that alternating the homeowner's summer photo collection with the current winter photos we took would give you a better idea of what to expect as spring is just around the corner :)

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To schedule a private showing of this Lovely property or

If we can help you achieve your real estate goals in 2009, give us a call

@ 219-405-1232.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

We are Full Time, Full Service, Real Estate Brokers serving Lake, Porter, La Porte, Jasper, Newton & Starke Counties in NW IN.  

Click below to read / subscribe to our email newsletter with valuable Relocation Information.

Talk To  Jeff& GraceSafrin "Spouses Selling Houses' TM

Real Estate Brokers serving Lake, Porter, La Porte, Jasper & Newton Counties in NW IN. 

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of Jeff and Grace Safrin of F.C. Tucker Advantage Realty. Jeff and Grace Safrin and F.C. Tucker Advantage Realty are not responsible for the accuracy or content provided.        

 Ok, so there's not much weather for outdoor Golf in NW Indiana in the Winter unless you go to Rio's Indoor Golf Experience (which I do) or take chipping/putting lessons with the Women's Golf Pro at the indoor range (which I plan to do:)

So the Ladies Golf League I belong to started meeting every week for lunch followed by a couple hours of sheer

BRAIN EXERCISE playing the ancient Chinese game of Mahjong (those of you who remember learning how to play know exactly what I'm talking about here).

 Upon Hearing I played this difficult game of skill, strategy and luck..... Jeff's Grandmother (who lives in Florida) informed me that she played Mahjong back in the 1940's!!!... and it is still very popular worldwide -she even started playing again this year!

My first game recount= I encountered alittle beginners luck:) I rolled the dice to be EAST (and had the privilege to start) - but it wasn't an advantage for me to have the extra tile because I didn't really know what I was doing LOL. The tiles I selected in the first draw revealed 3 jokers (wild cards) ( wow the ladies said - that's really lucky) and then I picked another Joker in the draw!!!  I was 2 tiles away from a winning combination - but alas - luck does not replace lack of knowledge of all the rules and quick strategy thinking needed to be successful at this game that originated 500 years before Christianity (WOW) ...

 I learned a few important strategies during this 1st game....

• Don't set  your tiles out with a partial sequence (Exposed Hand) if it has a Joker if you don't have to (it allows your opponents to swap out a matching tile and take that Joker to help their hand :)
• Be alert for what tile you need at all times to complete a hand.If your opponent happens to discard the tile you need, be quick to claim it or else it is dead for future use (if you realize it late after another player has completed their turn)!

I had a blast and can't wait till next week to learn more.  I took the game rules and 2007 winning round combinations home to study as I I did not lay eyes on them prior to playing my first game!

I survived the experience with encouraging coaching and 'as you go' instructions from friends:)

Any tips for this beginner ?.....from seasoned Mahjong players out there?      LOL

Sincerely,

Grace Safrin

Jeff & Grace Safrin

"Spouses Selling Houses"TM

F.C.Tucker Advantage Realty

Serving Lake, Porter, La Porte, Jasper & Newton Counties in NW Indiana

Visit our Website @ http://www.safrin.net/ or click our BLOG link below for community and property info in NW IN.

photo courtesy of wikepedia

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by The ActiveRain Networkand it's members and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of Jeff and Grace Safrin of F.C. Tucker Advantage Realty. Jeff and Grace Safrin and F.C. Tucker Advantage Realty are not responsible for the accuracy or content provided by The Active Rain Community