Michelle Sells Indy

Your West Side Indianapolis Realtor

The Great Pink Paper Panic May 5, 2010

Filed under: Homeowners,House & Home,Real Estate News — Michelle Morris @ 12:32 pm
Tags: ,

OK, Hoosiers, in your property tax bill, there was a pink form that you need to fill out and return to be sure you do NOT lose your Homestead Property Tax Exemption!!! Sounds ominous, right?

Well, yes, it is true, you need to get that paper turned in to verify that you still qualify for the exemption. It IS a big deal, and losing that exemption WILL cost you money.

HOWEVER, you have until January 1, 2013 to get that paper filed. While it is certainly best to get it done now, you don’t have to panic if the paper has already been lost, shredded, thrown away or whatever. Just whatever you do, don’t forget about it over the next few years, saying you’ll do it later and then never actually getting it taken care of!

I’ll remind you.

Here’s more info for you!

 

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

Filed under: Buyers,Economy,House & Home — Michelle Morris @ 11:02 am
Tags:

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.

 

Hendricks County January 2010 Statistics February 27, 2010

Curious about what the market is doing in Hendricks County? Here you go!

Hendricks County Jan 10 Stats

 

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

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
Tags:

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)

 

Apartment hunting February 10, 2010

Filed under: Buyers,Economy,House & Home — Michelle Morris @ 11:02 am
Tags: , ,

Josh Says: February 9, 2010 at 9:07 pm 

Hmm.. I sure would like to find an apartment for next school year.. I go to Butler. Any suggestions on how/where I could find one at a decent price ? Thanks!

Hi Josh!!

I wish I could be more help, but I am really in the business of helping buy and sell properties. People very rarely list rentals with realtors, although it does happen sometimes. I often get this question from people who are interested in renting a house. What tends to happen in this situation is that I go out to show a renter house after house, only to have them rent an apartment. If I do find them a house that is listed by a realtor, I stand to make about $50, after commission splits, and I can hope that when they are ready to buy a house they will call me.

Beacause of this, it really is best for renters to use tools like Craigslist, local newspaper classified ads, and websites that specifically advertise rentals. What other rental sites are available? Can anyone leave comments about that?

 

Want to win?? February 9, 2010

We all want to be winners. Here you go:

I am giving away a lottery ticket to the first 25 people who leave comments here on my blog. Extra special attention will go to people who leave a meangingful comment that actually spurs conversation

 

Million Dollar Mansion January 18, 2010

Filed under: Buyers,House & Home — Michelle Morris @ 11:30 am
Tags: , , ,

Check out this gorgeous Carpenter listing in Carmel! This stately home was just built in 2006, and features over 6,900 square feet of luxury. There are 5 bedrooms, and 6 full baths. Custom wood doors, granite countertops and a gorgeous winding stairwell are some of the details that you will find inside.

There is a finished walk-out basement, which leads to the half basketball court and in-ground pool. All of the appliances stay in the home for the new buyer, INCLUDING 2 65inch televisions! There are no covenents or restrictions in this neighborhood and no HOA dues. The eco-friendly geothermal HVAC will save you money and help the environment. The seller would prefer that we schedule our showing at least 12 hours in advance, so call me right away to see this house!

 

Buy a new Heating or Cooling system, get a rebate! January 12, 2010

No, this isn’t just a sales pitch from the HVAC vendors, it’s true! If you buy a new, energy efficient furnace, air conditioner or ventillation system, you can get a rebate from the government. The rebate can be up to $1000, if you purchase a geothermal system. Then, you can also qualify for an additional property tax deduction as well!

The program is set to begin on February 1, 2010, and is part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

Many utility companies also offer rebates to customers who replace appliances with Energy-Star models, so that would be an additional bonus to you.

To get your rebate, you will need to have documentation of purchase and installation, and that it is actually an Energy Star rated product. You must purchase the product on Feb. 1 or later, as the program is not retroactive.

For more information, check out http://www.energystar.gov

 

When is the highest offer not the best? January 10, 2010

Filed under: House & Home,Sellers — Michelle Morris @ 2:26 pm
Tags: , ,

OK Mr. and Mrs. Seller, pop quiz:

You have 2 offers on your house, 1 for 100% of asking price, 1 for 94%

What do you do?? What do you do??

It is extremely important to look at all the facts of the contract when considering what offer to take. Most sellers are just so excited to hear what the price is, they forget about all the other terms of the contract. Perhaps the one with the higher price is also asking for a closing 2 months out- which could cost you thousands extra. Maybe they want you to pay all of their closing costs. One thing I have often seen is that they will be more adamant that the house be in perfect condition, and all inspection items are repaired. After all, they are paying full price. Not only that, but they have a house they still need to sell.

Maybe the buyers with the lower offer are actually offering the better deal. Their suggested closing date fits your timeline perfectly. They agree to take the house as-is. They don’t ask you to pay their closing costs. They already have their own house sold. While their purchase price may be lower, these added benefits may more than make up for it.

You never know where the best offer will come from, or what it will look like. It is important to take a close look at any offer that comes to you, and weigh the pros and cons.

P.S.: My apologies to the hit movie of 1994, Speed: Howard Payne: “Pop quiz, hotshot. There’s a bomb on a bus. Once the bus goes 50 miles an hour, the bomb is armed. If it drops below 50, it blows up. What do you do? What do you do?”