I was just made aware of a newer scam by my friend and local county recorder of the latest type of identity fraud known as property fraud. The following is a repost of comments made by Allen County Indiana County Recorder John McGauley.... "Property fraud is really the next generation of identity theft. The thieves involved here are preying on the fact that property transactions for a hundred years have been a very open, public process," explains McGauley. After falsifying a new deed, having it notarized, and filing it... the crooks can then appear to be the landowner. They then can head to the bank for a loan. "Worst case scenario we've heard of people include people waking up in the middle of a foreclosure proceeding because they were not aware that somebody had taken out a mortgag... 04/08/2009

Today, the City of Fort Wayne formally launched the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP)!  The program is designed to stabilize neighborhoods in the area that has been designated as the Area of Greatest Need.  7.2 million has been set aside to help qualified homeowners secure a home, pay a developer to renovate it to the buyer's specifications, and still have the buyer pay only the appraised value. WOW! Hey this is great for buyers, this is great for developers and service providers, and this is great for communities that need to be stabilized.  It is a complete WIN WIN for everyone. I have viewed close to 100 properties in the Area of Greatest Need.  Some of them are diamonds in the rough.  Others are complete tear downs.  Many of them are located in historic districts and have cha... 04/08/2009

I have read some other blogs from agent's on here that don't enjoy open houses and I can definitely understand why.  I think there has been only one weekend that I haven't had an open house this year.  Some have been good and some have been... well...  pretty crappy.  My thinking has been that the nicer the day, the more people will come by.  That makes sense doesn't it?  Yeah, not so much.  Last month there was a Sunday that it was in the 60's and sunny... 1 person showed up.  Today it is 45 and a steady downpour of rain.  I didn't even want to do one today when I saw the forecast.  Guess what? 5 groups showed up.  Out of those 5 only 1 was working with an agent already.  Out of the 4 that weren't ALL 4 said they were interested in working with me.  2 are building next year, 2 want to ... 04/05/2009

Come check out Fort Wayne's newest attraction before opening day !! The Fort Wayne TinCaps will be opening Parkview Field on Saturday, April 4th for the general public to get a look at all that Parkview Field has to offer.  The Parkview Field Open House will start at 10:00am and end at 4:00pm. The only entrance available on Saturday will be the South entrance, located on the corner of Brackenridge and Ewing Streets. The North entrance, at the intersection of Jefferson Blvd and Webster Street will be closed due to the final stages of construction on the centerfield concourse.While in the ballpark, fans will be allowed to walk Parkview Field's spacious concourse and take in the wide variety of seating options available. Continuous tours will also be available of Parkview Field's behind th... 04/03/2009

New construction at it's finest!  Jeff Godfrey and Carriage Place Homes knock it out of the ballpark with this beautiful home.  It features an open, modern, and functionaly designed floor plan for the way we live.   The ceilings in the main floor are all 9 feet high except for the 2 story foyer and 12 feet ceilings in the great room.   The kitchen is open and spacious with an island and a raised bar, custom made cabinets, plenty of counter space and a walk in pantry!  The master bathroom is out of this world.  It features two seperate vanties, a raised soaker tub, a ceramic tile walk in shower AND a HUGE walk in closet!!  The house is 2558 square feet with an additional 1274 square feet in the finished basement that features 9 foot ceilings!  It also has a 33 X 22 square foot 3 car gara... 03/26/2009

Auctions seem to be everywhere -- and I love to attend.  I am talking about the old furniture and nik knack kind of auction.  Tons of treasures buried in the midst of all of that stuff. But tonight I attended a different kind of auction.  Four foreclosed homes from the Fort Wayne area were being sold to the highest bidder.  The rules:  $2,500. cashiers check; had to close in 45 days; cash basis only!  Agents could not sign up for the auction unless their clients were present. Four homes were on the auction block. About 35 people were in the room. Free coffee, soft drinks and pretzels. The auction company said that it would take 6 minutes to auction off the four homes.  They asked the audience to throw out the first bid.  $5,000.    $10,000.   $15,000 then $20,000.  The house I had come ... 03/25/2009

Here is a list of reasons why it is a great time to buy a home NOW!! 1. There is an abundance of homes on the Fort Wayne market right now.  What does that mean to you?  Lower prices, bigger selection. 2. Mortgage rates are LOW!!  5.09% today on a 30 year fixed mortgage.  That’s LOW!!!  For any of your mortgage questions and needs check out Metro Mortgage. 3. A tax credit of up to $8,000 is now available for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. Unlike the tax credit enacted in 2008, the new credit does not have to be repaid!!  Read more about that HERE!! So what are you waiting on?  Let’s go get that house! Fort Wayne Realtor Jared Christiansen RE/Max Home Connection Fort Wayne Homes For Sale 03/25/2009

Sarah, a realtor from Indianapolis, called me today about the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).  Her client knew about it -- but she did not.  Hurrah for an agent who is doing her homework and wants to serve her clients with extraordinary service. The concept of the program is to provide money for buyers/developers to buy up foreclosed properties in designated "hard hit" areas. Neighborhood Stabilization in Fort Wayne has received over $7 million.  Developers can spend up to $75,000. to fix up these homes and the buyers only pay the appraised value for that area.  In layman's terms, a developer can buy the house, fix it up and spend perhaps $105K (for securing property and renovating it) but if the appraised value is only $70K -- that is what the buyer pays. I have been working ... 03/24/2009

   Come enjoy two of Ft Wayne's finest artistic groups as the Philharmonic and the Ballet join together in presenting the work of Mendelssohn's Midsummer Nights Dream.  This is a fully staged ballet with shows on Saturday March 28th at 2:30 and 8 p.m. and additionally on Sunday the 29th at 2:30 03/23/2009

The average temperature for the month of March here in Fort Wayne, IN is around 45-50 degrees.  When my wife and I heard the news that it was going to be in the low 70's and sunny we decided it was time to take a day off and enjoy the weather!  After some lounging in the morning we decided to go to Fox Island for a hike. Fox Island is a 605 acre park owned by the people of Allen County (Indiana) and operated by the Allen County Park and Recreation Board. The park contains the largest contiguous forest in the county, and 270 acres of the park are dedicated and protected as part of the Indiana State Nature Preserve System. Six miles of marked trails through the preserve enable visitors to enjoy the beauty of the park.  Sounds fun doesn't it?  As we walked I felt that feeling that has esca... 03/18/2009

If you know great meat, you know Kobe Beef.  And no one does it better than Joseph Decuis.  So on Friday, March 20th (the first day of Spring and my birthday), Joseph Decuis of Roanoke is celebrating with the Emporium Kobe Cookout.  Dig in from 11am until 6pm. The Eschelmans, proprieters of Joseph Decuis, raise their own beef on a farm 6 miles from Roanoke.  The meet is American Wagyu, a cross between Black Angus and Japanese Wagyu cattle, commonly known as Kobe beef.  It is legendary for its taste, tenderness and health benefits.  One bite and you will be hooked --it is incredible! So no matter what the weather, enjoy the following: Kobe Burger, ($5.50) 1/4 pound burger topped with cave aged cheddar Kobe Smoke Sausages, ($5,50) topped with sauteed onions and peppers Sliced Kobe Roast B... 03/17/2009

For years now, I have made it my business to search out the best DIVE eateries in Fort Wayne.  So if you live here or visit sometime soon, I wanted to share some of the "dive wealth" with you.  Sorry that these businesses don't happen to have websites. You should know that Websters defines DIVE as "a dingy or disreputable bar or nightclub."  But my definition is much more flattering -- a place to eat that you wouldn't walk into unless you knew someone else who had eaten there -- and lived to tell about it.  So here goes: Saigon House on Calhoun:  the best Vietnamese hangout in town.  Good sign is that it is usually packed with Vietnamese patrons.  My favority item on the menu is CHICKEN FRESH NOODLE.  Tell Ashley that I sent you. Seoul House/Korean on Coliseum:  The young kids in town l... 03/16/2009

Neighborhood Stabilization is arriving in Fort Wayne and other Indiana cities on March 31, 2009.  The idea behind this program is great:  To provide up to $75,000 to renovate foreclosed homes in "the area of greatest need" in the city center of Fort Wayne.  The total funds available in Fort Wayne for Neighborhood Stabilization are over $7 million. It is a brand new, never tested, never tried program which is baffling government officials at ALL levels as well as the rest of us in the housing industry.  As a former policy wonk with The Senate, The White House, and The House AND a realtor, it has been my privilege to walk through the initial steps with the City Planners.  There have been meetings with builders/developers, title companies, mortgage companies and realtors.  It has been an a... 03/15/2009

Your Fort Wayne Homes Realtor   I've often heard people describe Fort Wayne as a great place to raise a family and it is, but there is much more to this city than going to work and sending your kids off to school and wondering what to do on the weekends.  I live and work in the city's Northwest side so I'm biased about all the great things happening around here.  Below is a beginners guide to all that this city has to offer, take some time to visit some of these websites if you are considering a move into the area or if you already live in the area maybe you'll find something that you'd forgotten this city offers.  Then when you've decided to buy or sell your home in Fort Wayne give me a call..I look forward to hearing from you. Some of Fort Wayne's professional athletic events Fort Way... 03/12/2009

Renaissance Pointe WILL bring back the City Center of Fort Wayne.  Perhaps the area has homes that appraise below area market value.  Perhaps the Pointe is surrounded by apartments that are the centers of criminal activity.  Perhaps the locals move out when they "make it."  But I believe that Ren Pointe will turn around the neighborhood. The Journal Gazette on Sunday March 8th, 2009 had a two page spread in the living section on the progress of Ren Pointe.  The City has spent $5.8 and only six homes have been sold.  But have YOU seen Ren Pointe?  It is only a block long BUT it is lovely.  And as each home is completed and a new family takes the keys of homeownership -- there is an extreme sense of pride. Maybe it is because I have seen what an individual with a vision can accomplish.  I... 03/12/2009

On February 27, 2009, the News Sentinel and WANE TV featured our realtor/staging crew totally turning around a home on Columbia Avenue in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  The before/after photos were amazing.  This home will sell quickly and for more money because the homeowners cared enough to prepare their home for the market.  So with a little paint (stagers don't like PINK and PURPLE) and a few accessories and lots of reorganizing, this place was turned around on its head.  But I could go on and on -- I'd rather just show you the money.  ALL those photos were taken from the exact same angle.  03/11/2009

Last week was a bad week.  We had a huge deal falll through that we were really counting on...  So here is what I did first:                         Then I did this:                       Once I got the emotions out I decided to regroup and focus on what I have instead of what I don't have, and what I am thankful for.  Here are a few things that I came up with:                           My son Mike and my wife Amanda.  My two favorite people in the world!!                     My partner in life and business.  Yes, it's my wife Amanda again.  She is also a Realtor with RE/Max Home Connection and the best thing that has ever happened to me.   I am thankful for the company I work for, RE/Max Home Connection, and my awesome Broker Mary Sherer.  She is first class all the way!!! I am also th... 03/09/2009

FUN THINGS TO DO IN FORT WAYNE!     The Fort Wayne Komets are a semi professional hockey team and a part of the IHL.  Fort Wayne Komets Homepage           The Fort Wayne Tin Caps (fomerly the Fort Wayne Wizards) are the single A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.  Fort Wayne Tin Caps Homepage       The Fort Wayne Mad Ants are a part of the NBA's D League, and are associated with the Detroit Pistons, Milwakee Bucks, and the Indiana Pacers. Fort Wayne Mad Ants Homepage         Fort Wayne Children's Zoo Homepage       Science Central's Homepage       A few of the many other great attractions in Fort Wayne: Fort Wayne Philharmonic Fort Wayne Museum of Arts Fort Wayne Ballet Search for Fort Wayne Restaurants Fort Wayne Premier Even Center Memorial Coliseum Check out a movie at one of the ma... 03/09/2009

   So my weekend starts on Friday by dropping off the kids to their mothers house and then the plan is to do the usual rehearsal/concert thing on Friday and Saturday (I also play Bass in the Fort Wayne Philharmonic in addition to being an Agent) and have plans to take my Yukon to the mechanic late Friday evening..but wait I wouldn't go the whole weekend without a car would I? So my stepson much too agreeably loans me his car for the weekend.  I get home Friday night after rehearsal and dropping off my car around 11 p.m, hmm I'd better check my loaner for the weekend because he said it needed gas and the brakes were "acting" up....not even enough gas in it to start it, yea it needs gas alright...So here's Hillbilly Brian riding his bike to the gas station on a Friday night at 11:30 pm to... 03/08/2009

The Fort Wayne News Sentinel and WANE TV recently caught our staging crew in the act of transforming one of my listings from WAY WAY TOO MUCH to JUST RIGHT!  Over the next several days, I will be featuring various rooms that were transformed.  Can you believe that this is the same room -- we uncovered a great window with lots of sunshine just waiting to pour in?  I could tell you all that we did, but thought that I should just SHOW YOU THE MONEY!  Eager to see how quickly this home sells now.  03/01/2009