Special offer

Fort Wayne, IN Real Estate News

By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Northwest Allen County Real Estate Monthly Market Report.  Homes Sold In NWAC Fort Wayne in May of 2013.  Here is a look at what happened last month in NWAC. Homes Sold:  84 Average List Price:  $189,515 Average Sales Price:  $184,874(98% of list price) Median Sales Price:  $168,500 Lowest Sales Price:  $61,000                                                                Highest Sales Price:  $463,500 Average Days On Market:  66 So what does this report tell us about the Northwest Allen County School District real estate market last month?  It was very strong.  Home sales held steady between April and May.  That's awesome!  The average sales price is at 98% of list price...  awesome again!  It's a great time to sell your home in Northwest Allen County!!!   Here is a look at current AC...
Comments 1
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Southwest Allen County Real Estate Monthly Market Report.  Homes Sold In SWAC Fort Wayne in May of 2013.  Here is a look at what happened last month in SWAC. Homes Sold:  82 Average List Price:  $189,491 Average Sales Price:  $183,224(95% of list price) Median Sales Price:  $148,950 Lowest Sales Price:  $82,251 Highest Sales Price:  $700,000 Average Days On Market:  57 So what does this report tell us about the Southwest Allen County School District real estate market last month?  It was fantastic!  Sales price at 95% of list price is also very good.  57 days on market really shows that the real estate market in Fort Wayne (especially SW) is HOT!  It's a great time for sellers in this market! Here is a look at current ACTIVE listings in Southwest Allen Country School District. Homes Cur...
Comments 0
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
I (Jared) had a full day today.  I showed homes, had a closing, then showed more homes.  Amanda was busy fielding an offer and catching up on all of her deals. I pulled in at around 8:30 pm, loved on our dogs a little bit, and then came upstairs to my office to take a breath. I logged on to Facebook and saw a post from "Teri."   Teri was a client that I showed homes to for four years.   Her family had a unique situation and needed the PERFECT home. Well, the problem was that while this PERFECT home did exist, it just wasn't for sale...  YET. She waited patiently.   She waited for four years!   Finally, the perfect home came on the market.  She called me almost yelling with excitement and we set up the appointment to see it.   It was love at first sight.   We wrote the offer and negotia...
Comments 19
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
The 46804 zip code is in the southwest part of Fort Wayne.  It extends north near Illinois Road, west over to Homestead Road, south to US 24, and east to Ardmore Road. Most of the 46804 zip code is in award winningSouthwest Allen County School District. How was the real estate market in the 46804 zip code last month?  Let's take a quick look! Homes sold:  35 Average List Price:  $220,590 Average Sales Price:  $209,786 (95% of list price) Median Sales Price:  $209,786 Average Days on Market:  44 Sales prices range from a low of $41,600 to a high of $1,335,000.   How does this compare to April of 2012?  Let's take a look!   April 2012 Homes sold:  42 Average List Price:  $146,199 Average Sales Price:  $141,085 (97% of list price) Median Sales Price:  $127,700 Average Days on Market:  77 S...
Comments 1
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
One of my new team members asked me this question yesterday.  She was surprised when I answered  No.  Just because you offer full price on that foreclosure doesn't mean the bank has to accept your offer. It's a bank.  They don't "have" to do anything. Same thing goes for any seller in the area.  They don't "have" to take your offer, even if it's a good one.   I did go on to tell her how to increase the chances of the bank taking her client's offer: 1.  Make if a full price offer.  2.  Make it a cash offer. 3.  Have your buyer pay their own closing costs. 4.  Write it to close in two weeks (if cash).   5.  Don't ask for any contingencies.   6.  Obviously provide proof of funds with the offer.    Thankfully her buyer was prepared to do all of these things, and after my team member had a c...
Comments 4
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
A few years ago I met a guy named Jarrod.  Even though he spelled it wrong (in MY opinion!), he was a nice enough guy and we became friends. He found me on Facebook and guess what?  We have the same name!   I spell mine Jared Christiansen.  <~~~  The PROPER way to spell it.  :) He spells his Jarrod Christensen.   We had a good laugh about it and decided to have a little Facebook fun with some of our friends.  I won't bore you with the details, but it got even more fun and confusing to people when my son, Jared Christiansen II, chimed in.    Not long after we met Jarrod called me and said that he and his wife wanted Amanda and I to come out and list their home and help them find another.   No problemo! Well, at least not for us.     I remember having many conversations with our assistant...
Comments 19
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
  My mom taught me to always say "thank you." She taught me to always be compassionate towards others. She taught me to be considerate and respectful. She taught me how to listen.   She taught me to be kind to animals. She always told me before a match/game that if I didn't win, don't bother coming home.  Then when I went out and lost, she welcomed me home with open arms.     I'll never forget the day that my friend Tony and I were playing tennis.  He want to adjust the net, and the crank came back and hit him square on the head and cracked his skull.  He ended up having surgery and they thought he may have had some brain damage.  He ended up okay, but I stayed up all night with my mom re-living that moment over and over over.  I must have talked for 3 straight hours.  Mom just sat the...
Comments 13
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Yesterday we had a big sales meeting to announce a change to our mobile website for home searching.  We also went over the top selling individuals and teams (our team was #3!!!), our broker talked about motivation and where we find it, and then had a very nice salad bar spread for lunch.   As I was piling up my salad I overheard two agents talking about motivation.  One of them said that they really need sales meetings and training classes to get motivated.  The other moaned and said that sometimes she needs motivated to get out of bed, let alone get out there and "SELL SELL SELL." It got me thinking... If you aren't motivated, why are you in THIS business?  You are helping people with one of the largest investments they are making in their lives.   You are guiding a young couple throug...
Comments 76
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
  Do you remember how excited you were the first time you got an offer accepted for a buyer?   I do.   I was jumping up and down and quite possibly high fiving myself.   I was PUMPED!   Do you remember the first time a deal fell apart?   I do.   I was crushed.  I was down in the dumps all day.  I felt TERRIBLE for my seller.  There was some anger towards the listing agent and the seller as well.     Those two examples were in the first few months of my (Jared) real estate career.  I was an emotional wreck.  A roller coaster.  Up.  Down.  Happy.  Sad.  Ecstatic.  Angry.  I took everything personal and wore my emotions on my sleeve.   Over the years I realized that while there are ups and down in the real estate world, I needed to stay right in the middle.   Am I still happy when I get t...
Comments 10
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
I signed us up for ActiveRain way back in late 2008.  I knew that we needed to be a part of a real estate community somewhere, so when I googled that phrase ActiveRain popped up, so I signed up and updated our account.  At first I didn't really "get it."  I wasn't consistent at all, and my blog topics ranged from asking newbie questions to getting attacked by a dog at an open house.   Hey, at least I entertained myself with those posts! After a few years I started to be more consistent with my blogging efforts and my story telling. My posts started to make more sense, and I started to blog to both prospective clients and to other ActiveRainers.   Then it happened... I started getting calls from clients that were reading my blog.  They liked my attitude, my sense of humor (go figure), an...
Comments 12
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
  A few months ago I was showing homes to a brand new client over in Watersong Subdivision.  This area has many new construction homes.   New construction = New carpet. As we approached the first new construction home, we saw a note on the front door.   PLEASE REMOVE SHOES.  THANK YOU. One of my clients (who shall remain nameless) got a worried look on his face. I said "Hey Mr. Client.  You okay over there?" He laughed and said "Well...  we may have a situation here.  I worked 3rd shift at the hospital last night.  I didn't have a chance to shower before we met you out here this morning.  I'm afraid that my socks may smell.  Oh.  And my left one has a giant hole in it and my big toe is sticking out." Of course I let out a huge laugh and assured him that I had no judgment about his dirt...
Comments 7
By Brian Kuhns, Fort Wayne Real Estate by Brian Kuhns
(Coldwell Banker Roth Wehrly Graber)
        The first quarter 2013 residential Real Estate market for Northwest Allen county saw slightly lower average and median sales prices than the same time one year ago. Activity remained steady and the amount of time taken to sell homes improved while inventory continues at low levels. For the purposes of this study data is compiled for all sales of single family, common interest detached (villas), and common interest attached (condo's/townhomes) homes within Perry, Eel River, and Lake townships and sold between January 1st and March 31st of 2013 and data from other 2012 quarters for comparison purposes.  This study does not include the sale of land,lots,multifamily homes or commercial properties.     Number of Homes Sold in the 1st Quarter of 2012 in Northwest Allen County: 119 Num...
Comments 0
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Wow!  What a crazy run we've had.   The Fort Wayne real estate market is NUTS.   Low inventory.   Buyers coming out of the woodwork. Listings FLYING off the shelves.   Investors losing out on foreclosures because of the lack of them (right now) and the large amount of buyers out there.   I'M TIRED!!   Finally, after weeks and weeks and weeks of running like mad, this afternoon is empty. I've got 5 showings this morning and will be shooting another offer out there, but that's it. Might meet up with my son for a nice mid afternoon snack, and then back home to chill on the deck with my lovely bride.   Phones off.  Facebook off.  Interwebs off.     Hope you enjoy your Sunday!  :)    
Comments 8
By Brian Kuhns, Fort Wayne Real Estate by Brian Kuhns
(Coldwell Banker Roth Wehrly Graber)
    Congratulations to the Sellers of this beautiful Southwest Allen county home who were able to sell their home in 28 days!! By using professional photography, consulting with my interior design consultant and making a few cosmetic changes, making sure the home was ready for each and every showing (and we had 12 in 28 days), and pushing the website we designed to promote their home, they were able to find a buyer in 60% less time than the market average.      Contact me to get started on selling your Southwest Allen county home for the best price in less time.         
Comments 2
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
As I look through MLS listings for our buyers I like to save some of the classics that I see.  Here are a few of my recent favorites with my own little captions on them.  :) Where is the front door?   Happy Days are here again!     No further commentary needed.     So much going on in this picture...     Creepy...     Good agent!     At least it wasn't the agent in the mirror.     And of course, we had to include one picture of a Realtor (or their head) in the mirror. Hope you enjoyed a good laugh.  :)  HERE is a link to round 1.    
Comments 64
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Amanda and I are big time dog lovers.  BIG TIME.  We volunteer at the SPCA and at the SPCA events.  We take the dogs out of their kennels and either walk them or take them out back into the yard to play.  It helps get their energy out and helps their overall mood. We also have two dogs that we rescued from shelters.  Dexter is our border collie mix and River is our cute little regal beagle.   Aren't they sweet? Here is what would happen if we had our home listed and we left these two in kennels in the kitchen:  Dexter would whine hysterically and have a heart attack from waving his tail so fast. He just wants some love.  River, on the other hand, would use her deep, loud, and surprisingly intimidating bark to scare of these intruders.  Especially if they are male. So...  when we list ou...
Comments 3
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Today I was showing homes to my buyers.  They have a home to sell in another state that is going on the market in about a week.  Normally I would wait until their home is listed before physically taking them out to view homes, but since they are from another state, their trips here are limited.  We need to make the most of their visits to Fort Wayne. The last home we viewed that day was PERFECT for them.  It had every single thing they wanted.  I feared this would happen... This particular home JUST came on the market and in one short week of being active had nine showings and one offer on the table. The look of anguish on the face of my buyers was gut wrenching.   The husband asked me my thoughts on writing a contingent offer.  I told him that if they had their home listed, maybe.  Sin...
Comments 4
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
  Hi Jared.  We found you through your ActiveRain blog and would like for you to be our Realtor.  Are you up for the challenge?  Yes?  Great! Here is what we are looking for:   3 bedrooms with a basement OR a 4 bedroom without a basement.   3 car garage with no out building or 2 car garage with a shed. Something in the country would be nice, unless the home is REALLY nice, then a neighborhood would be okay.   We don't want to live in a neighborhood at all. We want country. Unless the house is nice, then a neighborhood is okay. We want a two story home, or a ranch on a basement, or a two story home on a basement next to a ranch in a neighborhood, but only if it's in the country. We also want a pond, but a home without a pond would be fine too.   But we definitely want a pond.   In a cul...
Comments 66
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Growing up as a kid I used to make fun of my Grandpa's reading glasses.  I would put them on my face and pretend I was a little old man trying to read something.   As an adult I often made fun of both of my parents and their reading glasses.  I called them "old geezers" many times.   Over the last six months or so I realized that I was having a harder and harder time reading contracts, reading the computer screen, and LAWD HELP ME if I needed to read the ingredients of something.   I'm sure you know where this is going... After fighting with my wife about it and being 1,000,000% resistant for months, I finally made the purchase today. As soon as I put them on it was like a new world to me.  I CAN READ CONTRACTS EASILY!  I CAN READ THE INTERWEBS SO MUCH BETTER!  I CAN READ INGREDIENTS!!!...
Comments 14
By Brian Kuhns, Fort Wayne Real Estate by Brian Kuhns
(Coldwell Banker Roth Wehrly Graber)
     The Northwest Allen County community of Chapel Creek is 127 single family and Villa style homes developed in 3 sections from 1994-1998. Chapel Creek is located on the North Side of Union Chapel road between Coldwater and Old Auburn Roads in the 46845 zip code and have an average sales price typically in the low $200k's  Chapel Creek is served by the Northwest Allen County school system, 3 miles to the new Parkview Regional Medical Center, and close to shopping,dining,entertainment and the Fort Wayne Trails.        Number of Homes Sold in Chapel Creek in 2011:  5 Number of Homes Sold in Chapel Creek in 2012:  3   Avg Days on Market for Homes Sold in 2011:  59 Avg Days on Market for Homes Sold in 2012:  138 Average Sales Price in Chapel Creek for 2011:  $197,690 Average Sales Price i...
Comments 1
Explore Fort Wayne, IN