Michelle Morris's Indianapolis Real Estate Blog

Your West Side Indianapolis Realtor

Indy Connect plans to bring mass transit to Hendricks County March 8, 2010

Filed under: Events, Hendricks County, Indianapolis — Michelle Morris @ 11:19 am
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Indianapolis is the 14th largest city in the United States, yet it is seriously lacking in its public transpotation system. Indy Connect, an initiative for better transportation in Central Indana hopes to change that soon.

Currently, Indy Connect is in the “listening” phase, they are holding about 30 public hearings around central Indiana to gather the public’s comments and ideas. The next meeting in Hendricks County is 7pm on March 16th at Avon Town Hall. If you want your voice to be heard, you should go!

Some ideas being considered are toll lanes in the city’s most congested areas, significantly expanded bus service, light rail and commuter rail and of course more bike lanes and walking trails.

If you’d like more info about Indy Connect, I suggest visiting their website, and watching their video! http://www.indyconnect.org/

What would you like to see happen with Central Indiana transportation? What are your biggest concerns and biggest wishes? I want to hear them!

 

Buyers who wait have a lot to lose! March 6, 2010

Filed under: Buyers, Economy, House & Home — Michelle Morris @ 11:02 am
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You know how I keep trying to tell you that NOW is the time to buy? I’m not making that up!

Buy now, and you can get tax credits! Up to $8,000 for first-time buyers, and $6,500 for people who have previously owned homes. Wait until after April 30th, and you will miss out.

Buy now, and you will have a LOW interest rate on your mortgage! Right now, interest rates are historically low. Mortgage interest rates are hovering right around 5% right now, and have been for some time. Soon that will change. The Federal Reseve has said that it will stop buying mortgage-backed securities at the end of March, and if that happens it will most likely cause rates to increase.

Buy now, and you will probably get a better price on the home you purchase. Accordin to the National Association of Realtors, 30% of markets are already experiencing price increases.  Home prices in the Indianapolis Metropolitan area fell during every month in 2009, except December. In December, we saw something strange, prices went up. Just a little, but still, UP! You know what? The same thing happened in January. And February too. I’m seeing a trend here.

If you would like to discuss your options, give me a call.

 

TAG– You’re it!! March 4, 2010

Filed under: Buyers, Events, Real Estate News, Sellers — Michelle Morris @ 9:43 am
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Carpenter Realtors is taking a big, bold step into the world of tech this week. We have a few cool new tools, including a new website (rolling out very soon!), some great new agent website designs, a fabulous contact management system for the agents, and best of all, a brand new marketing tool that YOU will love!

TAG IT!

Carpenter has partnered with Microsoft to be the ONLY Real Estate company East of the Mississippi to use this new technology company-wide. We are only the SECOND in the United States to use this. You will soon be seeing our TAG IT! program on our flyers, yard signs, business cards, brochures, TV show and pretty much everything Carpenter does.

So what the heck is that thing?? What you see to the left is a tag. We can use tags to direct people to a website, a virtual tour, a video, or to give them our vCard info, or tell their phone to call us! This particular tag will bring you to this blog.

HOW?? All you need to do is go to http://gettag.mobi on your smartphone (this will work on MOST phones, but not all…yet. My friend Michael is still waiting for it to work on his Palm Prē). The site will direct you to download the app. Once you have it loaded and set up on your phone, open the app and point your phone at the tag. Click “Snap” and the phone will take a picture of the tag. Microsoft’s Tag Reader will decode the tag and open up my blog right on your phone, automagically!

Read about our new TAG IT! program on the Indiana Business Journal website: http://www.ibj.com/newstalk/2010/03/02/tag-readers-come-to-real-estate/PARAMS/post/18426

When I list your house, I will create a tag for your home’s virtual tour or website and put it on the Take-One flyers we use, and probably on the yard sign too. The Mircosoft site will allow me to view reports that track how many people click the tag and when. Go ahead and try it out!

Comments? Questions? I want them!! I would also love to hear your crazy, creative ideas on how I can use this!

 

Hendricks County January 2010 Statistics February 27, 2010

Filed under: Avon, Brownsburg, Danville, Economy, Hendricks County, House & Home, Plainfield, Real Estate News — Michelle Morris @ 11:03 am
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Curious about what the market is doing in Hendricks County? Here you go!

Hendricks County Jan 10 Stats

 

Open House, Sunday, Feb 28th February 26, 2010

Filed under: Avon, Buyers, Hendricks County — Michelle Morris @ 2:58 pm
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I’m having an open house this weekend at my new listing! Please come by and check it out!

Sunday, February 28th from noon-2pm.

Click here for details about 6078 Pine Bluff Drive!

Directions: From 465, follow US 36 WEST through Avon to County Road 625 E (look for the ball fields) Turn SOUTH on 625, follow for about 1.5 miles to Whispering Pines on the Right. Take the first right on LongLeaf, and follow around to home. (Long Leaf turns into Pine Bluff)

 

Avon to offer full time Kindergarten in 2010-2011 School Year February 18, 2010

Filed under: Avon, Hendricks County — Michelle Morris @ 1:11 pm
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From the Avon School Corporation website:

Avon Schools to Offer Full-Day Kindergarten

Avon Community School Corporation plans to offer a tuition-based full-day kindergarten

at each of its elementary schools beginning Fall 2010. In addition, mid-day busing

routes will be discontinued for kindergarteners. ACSC Superintendent, Dr. Timothy Ogle

explains, “These changes in our kindergarten model are part of our overall strategic plan.

Although we can’t make any promises, we want to provide our kindergarten parents the options

they’ve requested. By eliminating our mid-day busing routes, parents will be able to

specify their preference of morning, afternoon, or full-day kindergarten.” Final placement

will be determined by lottery.

Full-day kindergarten tuition (not including lunch and textbooks) will be $2150/year (approximately

$12/day). As before, there is no charge for the half-day kindergarten program.

Director of Elementary Education, Maryanne McMahon, says “For the last three years

ACSC has provided a full-day program from students who benefitted from an academic

boost. This program will continue as usual.”

Kindergarten Registration packets will be available beginning April 12, 2010 at all Avon

elementary schools as well as the Administration Center. The Kindergarten Registration and

Assessment Session is scheduled for Friday, May 14, 2010. Please see www.avon-schools.org

under Elementary Redistricting to review the elementary boundaries. Additional information

regarding 2010-2011 Kindergarten will be available soon on each schools’ website.

 

Avon School Corporation Snow Make-Up Days February 17, 2010

Filed under: Avon, Hendricks County — Michelle Morris @ 12:49 pm
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Discovery Education's Clip Art Gallery created by Mark A. Hicks, illustrator

Well, last week with all the snow, the kids really enjoyed the snow days they got! Tuesday and Wednesday they were able to sleep in, relax, play outside in the snow, come to my office with me, and play a lot of video games.

The only problem? Those days need to be made up! Avon schools has announced that school will be in session on Friday, April 30 and Thursday, May 27, to make up for the missed days.

http://www.avon.k12.in.us/

 

New Listing! 6078 Pine Bluff Drive– $349,900 February 17, 2010

Filed under: Avon, Buyers, Hendricks County, House & Home — Michelle Morris @ 10:31 am
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Call me for your tour!

Welcome to 6078 Pine Bluff Drive, in Avon, Indiana! This Estridge home is located in Whispering Pines, and is only 3.5 years old. They chose the best lot in the neighborhood to build on, and now it can be yours.

 
The multi-level wood deck can be accessed from the kitchen sliding doors, or from the finished walk-out basement. From the deck, you can admire the wooded lot, which slopes down to a neighborhood pond, and NO other houses behind you!
 
This house is gorgeous. When you walk into the front door, you are in a welcoming foyer, on the left is the formal living room, which the sellers have chosen to use as an office. If you added curtains to the french doors, you could even use it as a guest bedroom. On your right is the dining room, perfect for entertaining or enjoying family meals. The foyer and kitchen have gleaming hardwood flooring.
 
Once in the kitchen, you will enjoy the stainless steel appliances, which stay with the house. The open floorplan means you can be in the kitchen or breakfast room, and still be involved with the rest of your family in the family room! They might be enjoying a book in front of the fireplace or watching tv, or even finishing up some homework at the kitchen table. The open floorplan is perfect for everyday living!
 
Upstairs, the master suite awaits. It is a huge room, with an oversized walk-in closet, and fabulous master bathroom. You can relax after a long day in the garden tub. Three more spacious bedrooms are found upstairs, and best of all, the laundry room is upstairs too so you won’t have to haul laundry up and down the stairs.
 
In the finished basement, there is another fireplace. A large storage room is ready for all of your extra things, but still easily accessible. The garage can actually fit 3 cars, with a stacked bay. If you only need room for 2 cars, this would be perfect to fit the lawnmower, motorcycle, or a workshop area!
 
Call me today, I can’t wait to show you this gorgeous home!! Click here for more details and more photos!
 

10 Home Features Buyers Want February 14, 2010

Filed under: Buyers, Homeowners, House & Home, Sellers — Michelle Morris @ 4:47 pm
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Thank you to Realtor Magazine:

10 Home Features Buyers Want
Home designers and builders speaking at the recent International Builders Show in Las Vegas say that buyers are seeking cost-effective features and rejecting things that don’t have lasting value.

“It’s all about family togetherness – casual living, entertaining and flexible spaces,” says Carol Lavender, president of the Lavender Design Group in San Antonio.

Paul Cardis, CEO of Avid Ratings, which conducts an annual survey of buyer preferences, identified these must-haves in new homes:

1. Large kitchens with islands
2. Energy efficiency, including energy-efficient appliances, super insulation, and high-efficiency windows.
3. Home offices
4. Main-floor master suite
5. Outdoor living space
6. Ceiling fans
7. Soaking tub in the master suite and/or an oversize shower with a seating area
8. Stone and brick exteriors rather than stucco or vinyl
9. Community walking paths and playgrounds
10. Two-car garages, but three-car garages are even more desirable

Source: MarketWatch, Steve Kerch (01/30/2010)

 

How to lose your real estate license! February 11, 2010

Filed under: Real Estate News — Michelle Morris @ 12:42 pm
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I just found this on YouTube, and I am in shock that this happens.