December's Season of Celebrations & Sharing Contest:   Saturday, December 3, 2011 Storytelling Fundraiser   St. Jude House and Grant Fitch present:    A Harry Potter Christmas     United Methodist Church, corner of South St. and Main St., Crown Point, Indiana Doors open at 6:15 pm - storytelling at 7:00 pm Admission is $8.00 For more information call:  662-7066 x15   St. Jude House is located in Crown Point, Indiana.  St. Jude House has served as a safe shelter for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and their dependent children for over 16 years.  Since their opening in 1995 more than 400 adults and children have come to St. Jude House every year. 12/02/2011

Last week we closed on one of our short sale listings in Northwest Indiana, Lake County, Crown Point 46307. Total market time was 115 days. Day 60 we received an offer and after counter, on day 64 we submitted the  offer/package to the lenders short sale department and received an approval letter within 30 days per Indiana law. 19 days later we closed. Crown Point, IN Short Sale SOLD - Only 49 days from Accepted Offer to lender Approval to Closing Table!   Not all short sales are the same.  With unemployment and financial hardships, many look for a REALTOR who is experienced in successfully listing and closing short sale properties.     List with Tucker. There is a significant difference. Sales Force–  Over  1000 sales associates statewide. Information– TalkToTucker.com, the premier sit... 11/22/2011

Only 47 days on the Market and No For Sale sign in the Yard! Northwest Indiana Homes For Sale that are priced right and in good condition are getting offers despite the national news reports! Like this JUST SOLD Home Listed by F.C. Tucker 1st Team Real Estate in Crown Point, Indiana, 46307. Repeat Clients remembered we got the job done once before! Talk To Tucker to market your home to sell too!   11/01/2011

Better than new - and everything is done for you! Click here for the virtual tour: 323 W 127 Avenue. This HD tour should be seen full screen! Click on the "Full Screen" button at the right end of the gray menu bar. Out and about? See the tour on your smart phone or tablet. Four Seasons Virtual Tours, in partnership with Real Tour Vision (RTV), provides the best virtual tours and slide shows in Northwest Indiana. Location is the name of the game in real estate, and the important location in today's market is the internet. Large or small, all homes need a virtual tour. See our sample tours at Four Seasons Virtual Tour Sample Page. We can also help you increase your search engine presence with our Internet Optimizer Package. 10/31/2011

The most painless way ever to save money on your N W Indiana mortgage!! If I told you I had a fool proof way to save you major money on your N W Indiana mortgage payment each year would you believe me?  Well I do and it is the easiest way possible.  You just have to take your once a month payment and split it into two payments each month.  That's right no pain just one extra step each month and you will save big money over the life of your mortgage.     Here are a couple of charts from my McColly web site to illustrate the point.       Biweekly Mortgage Calculation - How much would your loan cost if you made payments every two weeks? Bi-weekly Mortgage Calculation Change the below fields as desired: Principal Loan Balance:  100,000.00   Annual Interest Rate (%):  5%  ... 08/05/2011

  The City of Crown Point is the county seat of Lake County, Northwest Indiana near the Illinois border and approx. 44 miles from downtown Chicago. The History of Crown Point is interesting and Hollywood has even filmed a movie on site here :) With close proximity to the Windy City, award winning schools, and a more affordable cost of living (less sales and property taxes than the bordering neighbor state), many of those who are employed in IL, chose to commute by car or train and pick Crown Point as their Home Sweet Home. We listed a Beautiful, Newer, Sprawling Ranch Home For Sale in Crown Point, IN 46307 on 2.8 Acres.A private country like setting, this home's location is close to the Hospital, Fairgrounds and Town Square! On the way to our appointment, we had dinner on the square at ... 07/05/2011

Just listed a wonderful home in a well established neighborhood, close to center of town. Home has been well maintained and owned by the original home owner.  Has four nice size bedrooms,  2.5 baths, family room on lower level in this  tri-level, 2 car side entry garage home.  Basement has a finished room ready for your touches.  Walk into the main formal living area of home and then into the large seperate dining room which steps into the kitchen.  KItchen has lots of counter space and cabinets overlooking large back yard. Over 2500 square feet of living area and priced at $250,000 03/26/2011

January 2011 Market Report for Lake of the Four Seasons, Crown Point, Indiana   During the month of January there were 90 homes on the market in Lake of the Four Seasons.  Of these 84 were active, 2 were pending and 4 sold.  The chart below shows the minimum, average, median and maximum data for the properties.    The total sales value was $727,900.00. While the average days on the market was 110. Active: 84  Pending: 2  Sold: 4  Other: 0  Total: 90    Bedrooms  Bathrooms  Square Feet  List Price  Selling Price  DOM/CDOM  Minimum  2   1.00   1,000   $64,900   $90,000   2/6   Average  3   2.37   2,116   $200,706   $181,975   110/177   Median  3   2.00   1,922   $174,900   $144,000   75/119   Maximum  5   4.00   5,000   $594,997   $349,900   586/772   Total Dollar Value           $727,900... 02/27/2011

  Last Quarter Market Report 2010 for Ellendale Farm Subdivision in Crown Point, Indiana     Homes for sale and sold during the time period between October 1st and December 31st, 2010.   Active Listings Existing homes Price Days On Market Date Listed 511 O Hagen Drive 235,900 105/105 10/13/10 1148 Donegal Lane 254,900 532/532 08/12/09 838 Kildare Drive 264,483 105/105 10/13/10 1162 Donegal Lane 294,900 306/306 03/26/10 874 Huey 339,900 565/1040 07/10/09 626 O Hagen Drive 349,900 451/451 11/01/09 803 Will Court 375,900 10/207 01/16/11 809 Mary Ellen Dr 450,000 183/183 07/27/10 1170 Mary Ellen Ct 464,323 22/179 01/04/11 821 Mary Ellen Dr 499,900 236/604 06/04/10 Pending Listings Asking Price Days on Market Date U/Contract None       Sold Listings Sold Price Days On Market Date Sold 1115 A... 02/09/2011

Short Sale-what the heck is it anyway? A client in Crown Point, Indiana asked me today what is a short sale and I thought I would give you my take on the issue.   In today's economy many people are finding themselves up side down in their mortgages and this means they are heading for foreclosure.  Being upside down means that the house is worth less on today's market than the seller owes to the lender. In order to avoid foreclosure they elect to try something slightly less damaging and that is where the short sale comes in.  In a nut shell the home owner is asking the bank who owns their mortgage to accept less in repayment than they owe on the home.  In some cases they are asking the bank to forgive the difference in what their home sells for and what is still owed on the loan, in some... 02/08/2011

The Gathering of Quilters 2011 to be hosted by Heritage Quilters of Crown Point, Indiana    In my life before I became a full time Real Estate Agent I was an avid quilter. I'm still a quilter unfortunately I no long have the time to allow quilting to be the full time obsession it once was.  However I am happy to keep in touch with my quilter friends and keep track of what is going on by reading the Heritage Quilt Guild's Web Site and hanging out at their Facebook page.  I'd like to use my blog to invite everyone I know to join Heritage and all of the quilters of NW Indiana and their guest from across the Mid West to come together and celebrate the Gathering of Quilters 2011.   I remember sitting at a quilt show chatting with other ladies about what a good idea it would be to have a once... 02/01/2011

Penn Oak is a community of approximately 75 to 100 Single Family Homes. The homes have 3 to 5 bedrooms and average 2000 square feet of living space. Fourteen of these homes were sold in 2010 and the average selling price was $250,000. Penn Oak is located in the Southeastern portion of the downtown area of Crown Point, Indiana between East St Road 231, W 113th Ave. and Broadway. The emphasis on this neighborhood is family with curving streets, sidewalks for easy walking and play grounds for the children.   Penn Oak's location is also excellent with shopping close by at the growing shopping district at Broadway and 109th. The new interchange of I-65 and 109th make getting everywhere a breeze.   If you think you might like to live in Penn Oak give me a call.   View Larger Map View Larger ... 01/26/2011

Pine Hill Subdivision Market Watch Last Quarter 2010 Crown Point, Indiana Active Listings-Existing Homes         Price      DOM          Date Listed ____________________________________________________________________   12465 Pennsylvania St.                                            $259,000           144                   09/03/10 12613  Washington St.                                             $285,900           119                   09/28/10 285 E 123rd Pl                                                          $358,000           203                   07/06/10   261 E 125TH Ave                                                      $385,000             57                   11/29/10 280 E 124th Pl                                                          $389,000           168       ... 01/25/2011

 Why would I pay the buyers closing cost?  Do you feel this is what the buyer will expect?  A seller's question in Crown Point, Indiana                                                 Most first time buyers don't have the cash for both the down payment and closing cost.  It has become common practice for the buyers to ask the seller to pay this fee.  It is a way of getting the sale done in a difficult market.  Buyers can no longer ask the sellers for both down payment and closing cost as was common practice just a few years ago.  Now a buyer must bring at least some of his or her own money into the purchase of a home.    FHA offers a loan with 3.5% down and on a $100,000 home that is $3500.00.  Closing cost can vary from 3% to 6% of the purchase price, adding another $3000 to $6000 in c... 01/17/2011

Buying a HUD home in Crown Point Indiana      I had the opportunity to show two townhomes that happen to be HUD properties.  They where both very nice and extreme bargains when compared to other townhomes in the same complex of the same style.  My client asked me, "how do you buy a HUD home?" So, I thought I would do a brief description of the process for other buyers who have wondered about this unique buying opportunity.     First of all, a HUD home is a home that was financed with FHA backing and has gone into foreclosure and now belongs to HUD. Buying a HUD home requires the same financial qualification that any other home buying does.  You need to be pre-approved for a loan or have proof of cash funds if you intend to pay with cash. Once the funding is secure and you have found a H... 01/15/2011

08/26/2010

Fourth of July and Old Glory In NW Indiana                                   Around Memorial day I began to notice the American Flags here in NW Indiana.  Calumet Park Cemetary   http://calumetparkfuneralchapel.com/   I was sitting in Gary waiting for a client and over the 2 foot tall grass of an abandoned home I noticed our flag flying high and proud in the next perfectly manicured yard.  Something about the spirit of that flag and the  determination of the folks here, struck me as remarkable.      Karen-passing through from NYC and stopping by the Taco Bell on 61st St.  tacobell.com I'm not a native Regioner-I've been here 26 years and I still find it surprising the melting pot effect of this part of the USA.  People are proud of their native heritage and yet are so American.  I love ... 07/03/2010

Just to paraphrase an email we received today from our local board-> The Greater Northwest Indiana Association of REALTORS... Reminder of a Public Hearing that will take place Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 7:00 PM, Crown Point High School auditorium, 1500 S. Main Street in Crown Point. On the Proposed Illiana Expressway - a Tollroad  that would connect I 65 in Northwest Indiana with I 55 near Joliet, IL. There have been pro's and con's to this for several years to the point it is now a topic indexed on WIKEPEDIA Here's a link to the Final feasability Study with maps of the Area that would be affected. More Roads and better infrastructure & therefore connectivity with our neighbors to the West in IL is needed to relieve congestion and support the expansion and growth our counties in NW ... 02/16/2010

Building a new home in the Pine Hill subdivision offers a next step up from a starter home, as it offers so many benefits. Its location to highways for commuters to Chicago and its convenience to the downtown area for visitors/shoppers are desirable.  Situated within the widely accredited Crown Point school district is a major plus for growing families.  Plus, its tranquil setting is ideal. It all adds up to good sense and a great value in building a new home. For more information about building in Pine Hill, we'd love to help you out - Pine Hill, Crown Point 11/04/2009

It's difficult to find one-acre plus lots any more, but that's what makes the Galleries such a rare find. Plenty of room to grow, its schools are premiere, its location next to a country club is a golfer's dream and its fairly easy access to I-65 is ideal. For more information on building in The Galleries, we'd love to help you out - The Galleries, Crown Point 11/04/2009