Join in the Celebration!

The 4ht of July is almost upon us and many communities are having their celebrations this weekend.  Check out this list for more information on time and place of some of the celebrations around Central Indiana.

This Weekend's Celebrations 

Avon
The Hendricks County Rib-Fest takes place on June 29. Events start at 5 p.m. followed by fireworks at dusk. More information here.

Fishers Freedom Festival is this weekend, June 29-30. Events include a 5k, live bands and fireworks. Fireworks are on June 30 at dusk.  

Greenwood
The Greenwood Freedom Festival is taking place Saturday, June 29. Events include a street fair, parade and fireworks at 9:45 p.m.

Celebrations on the 4th

Brownsburg
The Brownsburg Lions Club will hold its annual 4th of July Extravaganza from July 2-6. Fireworks are on July 4 at approximately 10 p.m. More info here.

Carmel
CarmelFest 2013 is happening July 3-4. Fireworks start around 9:45 p.m. on July 4. Details here.  

Cicero
Lights Over Morse Lake will take place from July 4-6. Fireworks are scheduled for 10 p.m. on July 4. Check out all the events.

Danville
The Family 4th Fest is taking place on July 4 from 6-10:30 p.m. at the Danville Community High School football field.

Fishers
Symphony on the Prarie will host the Star Spangled Symphony from July 3-5 each evening starting at 8.

Indianapolis ~ Enjoy ice cream at the 38th Annual 4th of July Ice Cream Social held at the President Benjamin Harrison Home. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 4. $17 adults; $6 ages 5-11; Free for 4 and under

~ 4th of July Concert for Cancer takes places on Georgia St. from 2-10 p.m. The music festival benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Saint Francis Hospital Patient Assistance Fund

~ The 12th Annual Rooftop 4th of July Celebration will be held at the Fountain Square Theatre Building. Enjoy dinner and fireworks from the roof. The event runs from 7-10:30 p.m. Tickets are $70. The event is for adults 21 and older only.

~ The Indianapolis Indians take on the Louisville Bats at 6:05 p.m. on July 4. Fireworks follow the game. Tickets range from $11-16.

~ The Regions Bank Freedom Blast fireworks show will take place on July 4 at 9:45 p.m. The building is located at 1 Indiana Square.

Lawrence
The 4th of July festival will take place from July 3-4. Fireworks are on July 4 at 10 p.m. Check out the schedule of other events here.

Noblesville
The Noblesville Fourth of July Festival, Parade and Car Show is taking place on July 4 starting at 5 p.m. Fireworks begin at 10 p.m. Find the schedule of events here.

Westfield
The fourth annual Westfield Rocks the 4th is taking place on July 4 from 4-10 p.m. Get all the details here.

Zionsville
The All-American July 4th Celebration will take place on July 4 in Lions Park. Events start at 5 p.m. Fireworks will begin at dusk.

The Latest Numbers Are In!

The Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors (MIBOR) has just released it's figures for the month of May. 

New listings for the area increased 15.6 percent in May and were up 5.6 percent for the quarter ending in May.  Pending sales up 18.9 percent for the three month period and closed sales increased 23.7 percent.  However, this caused a decrease in inventory levels by 16.5 percent over the same period. 

We did see prices increase along with the increase in sales.  The Median Sales Price increased 2.3 percent to $132,500 for the 2nd quarter while the supply of inventory decreased 30.4 percent to 5.6 months.

Interest rates have begun to tick upward but still remain at extremely low levels keeping home ownership attainable.  

Specifically for the month, pending sales were up 24.1 percent over last year with closed sales up 30.6 percent.  The average sales price has increased by 4.5 percent over 2012.

Home inventory has decreased by 15.9 percent which has lowered the months of home inventory from 8.1 months to 5.6 months.

If you would like more specific information about the market in your county or neighborhood, please let me know.

Tips For Buyers In A Seller’s Market

The real estate market in Central Indiana has settled firmly into seller’s market territory.
 

The newest report from the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of REALTORS notes the increased activity on the housing market is creating somewhat of a frenzy, with “buyers eager for available properties compet(ing) like they haven’t in years.”

For sellers, this is a great thing.

But for buyers, it might take a bit more effort than in the previous few years to land the home you’re longing for. Here are a few tips to help buyers compete in this seller’s market:

1. Know What You’re Looking For. Determine your needs and your wants in a potential home, all before you’ve even started looking. This way, the moment new homes come on the market, you (and your agent) will know which ones are up for consideration and which ones aren’t worth pursuing, all based on your predetermined parameters.
2. Get Financing Squared Away. Plain and simple: Unless you plan to pay with cash, get preapproved for a loan. Otherwise, you’ll get left in the dust by buyers who have proof that they have the means to purchase the home in question, all while you’re still working to get finances squared away. Money talks; give sellers your word with a loan preapproval.
3. Prepare Yourself For A Bidding War. Be prepared to be outbid by other buyers competing for the same home. You can combat this issue by shopping for homes below your price range; in the case that a bidding war ensues, you’ll be able to up your offer and still stay within your budget. Note that if you’re only shopping for homes at the top of your price range, you’ll need to mentally prepare yourself for disappointment if you can’t keep up with higher offers from competing buyers.
4. Be Prepared To Make Decisions Quickly. In this market, homes change hands in short order. If you’re serious about a particular property, be ready to make decisions regarding purchase quickly. Tarry, and the home will likely get picked up by someone else in no time.

If you or someone you know is planning to buy or put their home on the market, contact me today, so I can get you started on this process.  Homes are moving fast and it's a great time to be a seller. 

How Do Some People Sleep At Night?

From time to time we hear of local real estate scams going cropping up. Most of the time they are of the nature of something to do with repairs to homes, especially when summer storms roll through.  More often than not, the victims are unassuming elderly individuals who have been convinced that the services are needed. When I hear of such reports I wonder how these individuals can sleep at night? 

The following alert was sent out by the office of Attorney General Greg Zoeller.  Apparently there have been numerous complaints regarding this.  While this "service" is not illegal it is highly unethical.  

If you ever have questions regarding anything to do with property you own please feel free to contact me.  I am your trusted resource for all matters Real Estate!

"Watch out for mailings offering copies of deeds"

News reports and consumer calls confirm that the “Property Deed Scam” is still hitting

home with Hoosiers.  The mailing is often from a private company, with a government-

like name, offering certified copies of your land deed for an excessive fee – up to $87.

Property deeds are public records and your county recorder can provide you a copy for free or at a nominal cost, often times a $1 per page.  Attorney General Greg Zoeller said that while the property deed service is not necessarily illegal, the solicitation can often mislead consumers into believing they need a copy. Homeowners are not required to have copies even when they sell a property.

Zoeller asks consumers to disregard the mailings and help warn family and friends –

especially senior citizens. If you have any doubts about a mailing offering a government-provided service, contact the entity directly to confirm the solicitation’s

legitimacy. If you have paid for this service, but did not receive your deed copy you can

file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office by visiting www.IndianaConsumer.com or requesting a complaint form be mailed to you by calling

1.800.382.5516.

Keeping Your Cool!

The official start to summer is just a few days away and with that comes the heat and humidity that’s part of living in the Midwest.

This can be an extremely busy time of year with spring cleaning, yard work, vacation planning and schools on summer break. One of the things that is too often pushed off or forgotten is your air conditioner tune-up. It may be working fine right now but after the excessive heat last summer, a little preventative maintenance would be a great idea.

If you’ve ever had an air conditioner go out during a heat wave you know that it can make your home feel miserable and hit you with the unexpected cost of a repair or replacement.

Many common problems can be detected during a tune-up. One of the most common is low refrigerant due to a leak or larger problem in the refrigerant system.  Other possible issues include a malfunctioning outside fan, a dirty filter and faulty wiring.

You can save money and the hassle of a breakdown by having a little preventative maintenance on your unit now. Click here for a deals from a few providers that can help ensure your family will keep cool this summer.
Wishing you and your family a happy and safe start to the summer!

Please visit my Saving Site for additional summer savings!