Real Estate Information

Want to know what happens in a closing? What's involved in title work? Etc?

Check out this site:

http://www.homeclosing101.org/

Check out what's happening in our market. Click here: http://michianarealtor.housingtrendsenewsletter.com/

If you have time, you've got to make your way to Nappanee and see this National Award Winning Zero Energy Home. According to their website, a net zero building or zero energy building, is a building that produces as much energy and power as it uses.

Stop by the open house in Nappanee on March 5, 6 & 12, 13 (Fri & Sat) from 1 pm -8 pm to see it for yourself!

806 E. Market St., Nappanee, IN

You can learn more about this project by visiting this website.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

According to a real estate interview Jan. 5 on NBC-TV's Today Show, South Bend is the best city in the nation to find value, stability and rising prices in a home while living in a community with anticipated job growth.

Barbara Corcoran, a real-estate contributor to the Today Show and CNBC, ranked South Bend first among the “Top 10 Cities for Bargain Homes.”

In South Bend, Corcoran told interviewer Ann Curry, the median “price is just $89,000, and prices have been rising steadily for almost a full year now.

“Still, the median price is only half of what it is in the rest of the nation,” she said. “That’s an enormous difference -- a lot of house for the dollars.” 

If the availability of housing values weren’t enough to put South Bend atop her list, “the cost of living is a whopping 29 percent lower than anywhere else.”

Here is Corcoran’s ranking of cities as appeared on the Today Show:

1)      South Bend, Ind.

2)      Akron, Ohio

3)      Topeka, Kan.

4)      New Haven, Conn.

5)      Tucson, Ariz.

6)      Minneapolis

7)      Portland, Maine

8)      Miami

9)      Kingston, N.Y.

10)    Trenton, N.J.

To see the whole story, click here.

Let me be the first to tell you that a short sale is anything but short. The word 'short' stands for a shortage on the total amount owed. It has nothing to do with a time period, in fact, it's quite the contrary.

If you're a patient buyer, or would like to work on this aspect of your character, a short sale is a wonderful thing! Along with saving a seller from the embarrasment and pain of foreclosure or further collection activity, you can oftentimes buy a home with "instant equity." That is, you can buy at or below current market value. 

The issue: They're very, very time consuming... sold as-is... and many Realtors (unfortunately) don't want to "deal" with them.

In an ideal world, short sales would take 30-60 days (similar to a traditional transaction.) Truthfully, many are taking 90-120 days, if not longer. I'm still waiting to hear back from the bank on a contract one of my sellers accepted October 30th. (Did someone say less than 2 weeks until Christmas?)

Rumor has it that the federal government is working on something to seriously expedite these transactions. As the next wave of foreclosures stares us in the eyes, short sales can help to save the day.

There's a lot more to these beasts we call "short sales." But, I'll leave you to chew on this for a bit.

Wow. Some lucky-duck is going to get a deal! This beautiful Osceola home was a builder "Panorama" home in 2003, and now it's a short sale. It sits in a beautiful new neighborhood and has all the bells and whistles. The listed 1,658 square feet does not include the finished basement with tray ceilings, egress windows, a 1/2 bath, kitchenette and ample storage. The sellers must sell, so the price will continue to drop until someone walks away with a steal.

The price was just reduced to $185,000. That's just under $55,000 LESS than it was listed for back in February '09. And, almost $42,000 LESS than it was listed for in September '06. Talk about instant equity!

For more information click here, call Stacy at 574-210-9595 or email stacygrove@cressyeverett.com.

Another ranch home in Granger for under $200,000! This 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom split bedroom home is in the Penn Harris Madison school corporation. It's in mint-condition and sits on a great cul-de-sac lot. Did I mention the price was just reduced to $199,000? The basement is clean as a whistle and ready to be finished. Other features include a den, volume ceilings and closets galore. For more information click here, call Stacy at 574-210-9595 or email stacygrove@cressyeverett.com.

This great article was written yesterday in BusinessWeek. If you're wondering whether or not now is the time to buy, this might help you make up your mind.

Again, click here to review it.

Enjoy. And, thanks Steve Harney, for bringing it to my attention!

Looking for a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom ranch in the Penn Harris Madison school corporation? This home is awesome, and the price was just reduced to $150,000. Along with the enormous amount of updating that has been done, it has a 4th bedroom/den/craft room in the basment (with egress window.) The basement is also plumbed for a half bath. Other features include a new furnace, side-loading garage, large deck, woodburning fireplace and 1st floor laundry. For more information click here, call Stacy at 574-210-9595 or email stacygrove@cressyeverett.com.

As we finalized the trimmings for our lovely Thanksgiving lunch yesterday, we realized we had no whipped cream to go with our Pumpkin Pie. (*Gasp!*) My gracious and willing husband hopped right into his car, only to return about 20 minutes later with devastating news... no luck. (This after trying Martin's- not open, Walgreens- didn't have any, and Target- not open.) 

My mother-in-law happened to be on the phone with my sister-in-law and her hubby who were on their way from Plymouth, and they decided to see if they find some. (We just COULDN'T have Pumpkin Pie without whipped cream!) First stop: Meijer- all out of stock; 2nd attempt: Gas station- didn't have any. On a last-ditch-effort, they decided to swing into Starbucks. Surely THEY have whipped cream, right?

Starbucks employee: "Welcome to Starbucks. Would you like to try a triple venti Peppermint Mocha with whip?"

Bro-in-law: "Actually, I'd just like two venti cups full of whipped cream."

SE: "Umm... okay... I think I can do that. However, I'm not really sure how to ring it up?"

BIL: "Just charge me for two venti coffees. We need whipped cream for our Pumpkin Pie and you're our last resort."

SE: "That's so awesome you thought of us. I'm not even going to charge you."

I'm sure that no-where in the Starbucks Employee Handbook does it say what to do when asked to fill two venti cups with whipped cream, but I'm positive it says (something along the lines of) serve the customer graciously. Would every employee at Starbucks respond the way that guy did? Probably not. But, because one guy was willing to be creative and enjoy a good laugh, 11 people around one dinner table talked about how Starbucks came to the rescue... and admired the two large famous-looking cups as a centerpiece.

And, we're thankful that he did. The Pumpkin Pie was delish.