Monday, May 5, 2014

614 Cora Lane Fremont, IN 46737

Just Listed!!

Check out this Virtual Tour Below and let me know what you think :)

http://idx.imprev.net/03782F07/34/74734/2220975/

Friday, May 2, 2014

2114 Del Norte Dr. Kendallville, IN 46755

Check out this Brand New Listing!!

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http://instatour.propertypanorama.com/instaview/irmls/201415539

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

NAR: Obama's on the Right Track

NAR: Obama's on the Right Track

The National Association of REALTORS® praised President Barack Obama's forceful speech on Monday reiterating that the economy remains his primary concern going forward.
Obama took the fifth anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers as an opportunity to remind the country that his administration has taken bold steps to stabilize the economy. Chief among them are measures to help the housing market recover from disaster.
NAR’s 2013 President Gary Thomas, CEO Dale Stinton, and 2013 President-Elect Steve Brown were invited to be at the White House with other members of the NAR Leadership Team as Obama remarked on the housing market’s steady return to normalcy.
"Most Americans who’ve known economic hardship these past several years, they don’t think about the collapse of Lehman Brothers when they think about the recession," Obama said. "Instead, they recall the day they got the gut punch of a pink slip or the day that a bank took away their home." Obama then ticked down a list of actions he has taken to build the economy back up, naming the Home Affordable Modification Program as a top measure that has helped struggling home owners.
After Obama's speech, Thomas said REALTORS®' support was critical in helping the Obama administration's efforts to stabilize the housing market and extend an olive branch to home owners on the brink of losing their homes.
"With NAR’s support, the administration enacted key policies to stabilize the market, recover home values, ensure access to affordable credit, and most importantly, renew faith in the value of homeownership," Thomas said. "REALTORS® supported efforts to help more than 7 million underwater homeowners refinance their homes or modify their mortgages."
But the hard work isn't over, he cautioned.
"To protect future home buyers from unscrupulous lending practices, NAR continues our work with the administration and Congress to develop new lending standards that create opportunities for private capital to re-establish itself as part of a robust and competitive mortgage market," Thomas said.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

What Ranks High with Luxury Homebuyers

What Ranks High with Luxury Homebuyers

Luxury home owners and buyers place a high value on real estate, according to a new survey conducted by Better Homes and Gardens of 500 luxury home buyers.
In fact, the survey finds that 75 percent of luxury home buyers believe home ownership is a sounder investment than the stock market. What’s more, 57 percent of luxury home owners say home ownership is a bigger indicator of success than their job or title.
“The luxury consumer is considered a trendsetter in most industries, and to see the strong connection this consumer has with ‘home’ is very significant as we look at the real estate market as a whole,” says Sherry Chris, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. “The luxury home buyer has high standards and invests the money, the time, and the commitment to making their home fit their needs and reflect who they are. It’s remarkable that they do this so well that nearly all -- 93 percent -- believe their house is the best one on their block.”
The survey revealed some of the following insights into the luxury home buyer and owner:
  • They desire multiple homes: Fifty-three percent say they prefer owning multiple “lifestyle” homes to support their lifestyle activities, such as skiing or attending the theatre. Fifty-eight percent of the luxury home buyers surveyed say they already owned multiple homes to support their lifestyle activities. 
  • They’re willing to sacrifice square footage for luxurious amenities: Sixty-percent of luxury home buyers surveyed said they would rather have as many upgrades as they can afford in their home rather than greater square footage. Ninety-four percent of those surveyed would be willing to give up 1,000 square feet of living space in their next home in order to get the amenities they most desire, such as living in a better neighborhood, living in a house with “character,” more land, access to dining and entertainment, and a shorter commute. 
  • They want a high-tech home. Sixty-six percent expressed a stronger desire for having a “smart” home than a “green” home. Eighty-seven percent said they would not even consider purchasing a home that wasn’t tech-friendly. 
  • They also value their outdoor spaces. Luxury homebuyers also placed a high value on outdoor amenities as must-have essentials in a home. For example, they expressed a big interest in having a garden oasis, outdoor fireplace or firepit, and a separate guest house outside of the main home. 
  • They turn to their real estate agent for guidance and greater insights. The luxury home buyer is looking for their real estate agent to provide them insight into the neighborhood lifestyle (65%), advance new listing notices (64%), advice on housing trends (55%), and support at a personal level throughout the buying process (53%), the survey finds. 
Source: “Luxury Home Owners Believe Home Ownership is a More Sound Investment Than the Stock Market, Survey,” RISMedia (Sept. 10, 2013)

 

Friday, August 30, 2013

Report: Singles Make Up Quarter of All Buyers

Report: Singles Make Up Quarter of All Buyers

More Americans are opting to live alone, with single buyers making up a quarter of all home purchases last year, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. In the U.S., there are 33 million one-person households, and living solo is becoming an international trend, MSN Real Estate reports.
Why are so many living alone? People are marrying later, divorcing more, and living longer, sociologists say.
Eric Klinenberg, a sociologist and author of "Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone," says that young adults ages 18 to 34 are the fastest-growing group of people living alone. Solo households are also mostly women: 18 million women live alone versus 14 million men. The majority of solo households are in cities and metro areas.
Purchasing a home can be a means of self-expression for singles, says Jennifer De Vivo, a real estate professional in Orlando, Fla.
"It's a way for singles to express their lifestyles and values,” she says. “They are able to focus on the exact communities, home styles, and features that cater to their individuality with much less compromise."
One-person households may be drawn to more low-maintenance homes, but for resale reasons, they still place a high value on being in a highly rated school district, agents say.
Being a single buyer can pose challenges, particularly in a post-recession market. Qualifying for a mortgage may be the biggest obstacle for single buyers, since they don’t have the advantages of dual incomes or shared responsibly that a two-person household does.
Source: “Alone, Not Lonely: The Growth of Solo Households,” MSN Real Estate (Aug. 26, 2013) and “Solo Homebuyer? You’re Not Alone,” MSN Real Estate (Aug. 29, 2013)

Friday, August 23, 2013

5 Inspection Problems Buyers Shouldn’t Ignore

5 Inspection Problems Buyers Shouldn’t Ignore

Home buyers need to be extra vigilant about inspections in the early stages of a purchase because if problems are discovered too late in the process, it can "dash home owners' dreams and budgets," writes Yahoo! Finance in a recent article.
One home buyer in Long Island, N.Y., explains in the story that she didn't discover the fixer-upper she bought needed $225,000 in repairs until after she purchased it.
Jonathan and Drew Scott, who educate viewers about transforming fixer-uppers on HGTV's "Property Brothers," offers up a checklist of five things buyers should look for to ensure they don’t buy a lemon.
  • Mold: Buyers should note any musty smells in the home and be on the lookout for any mold. Mold can be caused by improper air circulation as well as water leaks. 
  • Pests: Termite damage can be widespread and costly to repair.  
  • Outdated fixtures and wiring: Electrical problems in a home can cause fire hazards. Buyers should take note of any indication of faulty wiring, such as cable coming out of drywall. 
  • Poor DIY jobs: Buyers should make sure that the previous home owner's do-it-yourself projects were done correctly and are up to code. For example, poorly done flooring and painted-over wallpaper can be time-consuming and costly to fix. 
  • Drainage problems: Sloping sod can cause flooding problems in a backyard, and a slow-draining sink could be an indication of a bigger problem. Buyers should test sinks and flush toilets to test for any potential problems. 
Source: “Property Brothers: Don’t Buy a House Without Checking These 5 Things,” Yahoo! Finance (Aug. 19, 2013)