Broad Ripple Village Real Estate Market Report Following is the market report for the area known as Broad Ripple Village as of January 5th 2011. Can you believe we are officially into the year 2011?  Time flies, that's for sure... There was a significant decrease in the number of active listings between November and December.  This was largely because 17 listings expired in the month of December, in addition to, an increase in the number of pending listings.  Sales in 2010 were half the number of sales in the same month 2009; however, the average sales price was significantly higher. In the end, 2009 was not a record-breaking year for the Broad Ripple Real Estate Market, but it held up quite well compared to other parts of the Indianapolis market plagued with foreclosures and declining... 01/05/2011

Home for Sale in Indianapolis, Offered by The Hoagland Group -- 6642 Trail Ridge Way, Indianapolis, IN 46259 Prior offer fell through due to buyer's loss of employment. Home has been inspected and appraised. This property is ready for an accelerated closing! Overview Maps Photos Description $685,000 Single Family Home Main Features 5 Bedrooms5 Bathrooms1 Partial Bathroom Location 6642 Trail Ridge WayIndianapolis, IN 46259USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Tonda & Steve Hoagland Keller Williams(317) 340-4575tonda@perfectplaceforyou.comhttp://www.PerfectPlaceForYou.com Listed by: The Hoagland Group at Keller Williams Our recent listings 7142 Bel Moore Cir, Indianapolis 46259 - offered for sale by The Hoagland GroupHomes ... 01/05/2011

But tonight I did.  Have you been in business long enough to know, sight unseen, there is a 99% chance the showing will turn into a purchase.? I had such an ESP moment.  I received a call from a young man late afternoon yesterday.  He was calling about one of my bank foreclosures.  A big old painted red brick house in a small town about 40 miles east of my home.  Over the phone he told me that he worked for the local county sheriffs office for 23 years.  He used to live in this small town, and he was moving back to his hometown.  The tone of his voice and his attitude told me that he was the buyer.  I admit to realizing that it could have gone the other way, but, I just knew.............. Writing this blog, reminds me of better days, when I always told my buyers, that I would know which... 01/04/2011

  Just days before closing on his new Indianapolis home, a client was being asked by his mortgage lender to provide documentation for money he’d recently transferred from one account to another in preparation for the closing. He was, understandably, a bit frustrated by the extra hassle. Why, he wondered, does anyone care where the money came from? If I have the money can’t I do whatever I want with it? Fair questions. Yes, it’s your money and you can spend it as you please. But when you’re preparing to buy a home you can’t just move money around without eliciting questions and requests for more paperwork from your lender. Thanks to the USA Patriot Act, signed into law by President Bush after 9/11, mortgage lenders are required by law to source the money used to purchase homes. That mean... 01/04/2011

It was my husband’s comment that he kept repeating that caused me to reflect on New Years past.  William said, “I guess they think we are too old to want to go out and celebrate on NewYear’s Eve, so they ask us to babysit while they go out.” Our first New Year’s Eve together, 20 years ago, was full of champagne, confetti and noisemakers.  We had just started dating and I bought the most outrageous dress I could find for the occasion---low cut black velvet on top and a red satin, full skirt complete with taffeta on the bottom.  It was a dress you could never wear anywhere but out to a New Year’s Eve celebration.  I wish I had a picture to share with you, but I don’t.  We danced the night away without a care in the world. That was the last time we ever went out to celebrate New Year’s.  W... 01/03/2011

7142 Bel Moore Cir, Indianapolis 46259 - offered for sale by The Hoagland Group Overview Maps Photos Description Neighborhood $167,500 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms2 Bathrooms1 Partial BathroomInterior: 1958 sqftLot: 0.24 acre(s) Location 7142 Bel Morre CircleIndianapolis, IN 46259USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Tonda & Steve Hoagland Keller Williams(317) 340-4575tonda@perfectplaceforyou.comhttp://www.PerfectPlaceForYou.com Listed by: The Hoagland Group at Keller Williams Indy Metro South Our recent listings 7142 Bel Moore Cir, Indianapolis 46259 - offered for sale by The Hoagland GroupHomes for sale in Trafalgar -- offered by the Hoagland Group -- 112 Carnation Ct, 46181Homes for Sale in Indianapolis ... 01/03/2011

A local small town acquired a water tower from another town.  The water tower said "look up to Jesus".  But do not fear, the new owner of the water tower, have plans to remove it.  I couldn't find a water tower in Iclipart this morning.  So I think this will suffice.  I am so irked.  Why do I see so many other symbols of religion?  That is ok with me.  BUT why can't they leave mine alone.  Maybe they were afraid if someone looked up they would have had an accident.  But what happens if they look "down"  ooooooo.  That is a part of our religion too.  We need to ban all the devils at Halloween.  I couldn't decide which would get the most traffic on my blog.  Look up to Jesus or Look down to Satan.  01/02/2011

If you live in Windsong, Feather Cove 3 or the Admirals, you have a new bakery to walk to!  The Bakery at Geist opened on November 8th.  Ron Woods, the Chef, says he picked that area because bikes and walkers as well as automobiles have easy access to great baked goods.  Did you know that Chef Ron has a degree in Chemistry!  There is no question the ingredients are measured perfectly to create the best tasting baked goods! You can find lots of freshed baked breads including Focaccia, Baguettes, and Raisin Bread among others.  A trip to their display case shows cookies and pastries and yummy pies and cakes.  The Bakery at Geist menu is mouth watering and the smells are fabulous! The Bakery at Geist can also create your wedding or birthday cake and also has European styled pastries in the... 01/01/2011

What do gently used wreaths, nursing homes and a quest for wreath door hangers have in common…well today, they have ME in common. The hardest part of this excursion was finding the door hangers…you’d think they would be everywhere (Dollar Store, CVS, Walgreens) but no…not at this time of the year.  So after about six trips I finally had the five I needed. There is a nursing home I drive by almost daily; often in the summer time residents are outside getting some fresh air.  We joke in my family about our daughters putting us in a fine home one day (one has a great job with a great salary, one plans to live locally forever and the other is a very caring soul…so the combination bodes well for us in old age!). My friend who has a “Wreath a Month” business (she will ship anywhere in the cou... 12/23/2010

  When the weather outside is FRIGHTFUL, remember that the Indianapolis Children’s Museum is an absolutely DELIGHTFUL place for indoor family fun! Kids, grown-ups and, yes, even teens, are sure to find something that captures their interest in the nation’s largest children’s museum, whether it’s digging for fossils in the Dinosphere, a walk through the world of Barbie, or a ride on an old-fashioned carousel. The Power of Children: Making a Difference is a new display that chronicles the trials and triumphs of young heroes Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges and Ryan White. It’s one history lesson no one will mind studying! The Children’s Museum is also home to one of my favorite pieces of Indianapolis art – a towering structure created from hundreds of tentacles of blown glass. Be sure to look dow... 12/22/2010

Last evening, my husband and I passed the Mexican restaurant  on our way to the post office.  Passing by prompted us to try another new restaurant.  This time Italian.  Again it was an old abandoned Pizza Hut building.  We like supporting our local owners, more so than the chain restaurants.  When we arrived at 5pm, the parking lot was empty, and we immediately thought it would be another struggling "boss".  We were greatly surprised when we entered.  Tables were prepared, tablecloths, plates, napkins, glasses and the works.  The surrounding walls were colorful and trendy in typical Italian decor.  We were greeted by a pleasant young man and escorted to our table.  Keep in mind, we were the only ones there.  So far, although empty of patrons, the experience was pleasant.  We chatted wit... 12/22/2010

This just in! Indianapolis nabbed the No. 5 spot on the Forbes magazine first-ever list of Best Shopping Cities. While I'm often suspect of the rankings doled out by Forbes, this one doesn't surprise me. Without blinking an eye I can name three indoor malls, two outdoor malls, three large retail spaces and four Target stores within a 15 minute drive of my Indianapolis home. Plus a partridge in a pear tree somewhere out there. It’s the advantage of living in a place where city and suburbs blend seamlessly together, I guess. It's shopping sensory overload for visitors who come to Indianapolis from other less retail-enhanced locations, such as Alaska where I know from firsthand experience that there aren't more than three malls -- IN THE ENTIRE STATE! How do they manage? The 25 Best Shoppi... 12/17/2010

While the boating is finished for the season, there is still plenty to do in the Geist area during this holiday season.  It's always a happening place!  This Friday you can see Rick Mattillo at the Casler's Bar on Olio and 116th (SE corner) from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.  Rick plays acoustic music and the food is fabulous. Gregg Bacon will be at Bella Vita on Thursday, December 16th playing cool jazz with his saxophone! Ready to take a run or walk, the 5K of Christmas is Saturday, December 18th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. beginning at the NCAA Hall of Champions.  The race benefits the Indianapolis Animal and Care Control. Planning your New Year's Eve, Living Proof will be at the Fishers Hospitality Center at 9775 North by Northeast Blvd.  Complimentary appetizers and full open bar.  Looking fo... 12/14/2010

Indianapolis reclaimed the top spot as the most affordable major housing market in the United States.  Per the National Association of Home Builders / Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index, Indianapolis reclaimed the top spot it held for five years before Syracuse earned it last quarter.  "In Indianapolis, 93.3 percent of all homes sold were affordable to households earning the area's median family income of $68,700."NAHB Chairman Bob Jones, a home builder from Michigan cited interest rates and low housing prices as reasons for housing affordability. "With interest rates remaining at historically low levels, and house prices starting to stabilize, homeownership is within reach of more households than it has been for almost 20 years.  12/09/2010

QR codes-the coming thing.  W H A T?  So now my listings on Realbird have automaticQRcodes.  I Can have my ownQRcode.  I understand what they are, I understand how they work.  But I cannot get my Android phone to read the QR codes.  I am most certainly not going to print or buy stickers and publish QR codes if I do not what they say........ So I went to my local ATT store to find out what software to get so my Android will ReadQR codes.  You see, i want to be on the cutting edge.  It must be the coming thing because it is on my social security check.  At least I recognized it. I asked about the Iphone, Ipad, and how much to upgrade, etc.  And, by the way I need a QR code reader for my Android phone.  Do you know about QR codes........NOPE.  While they were looking it up....... for me to... 12/09/2010

Broad Ripple Village Real Estate Market Report Following is the market report for the area known as Broad Ripple Village as of December 6th 2010. There are a few things I'd like to note in this month's market report: 1. I recently changed companies on November 15th, 2010.  Please bear with me while I get all of my websites, blogs, etc. updated to reflect my new company info.  I am happy to be part of the Keller Williams family. 2. I changed the boundaries in my BLC (MLS) search to more accurately reflect data specific to Broad Ripple.  While the boundaries for Broad Ripple are Meridian Street to the West and Kessler Blvd. to the South...There were homes on both of these streets being captured in the market report that aren't actually considered Broad Ripple properties.  If you follow t... 12/06/2010

I was recently contacted by the owner of this property and he agreed to let me post his awesome home on this blog.  It is rare to find a contemporary home in our Geist Waterfront area, but this is stunning.   This home is located in Admirals Bay in the Geist Real Estate area.  It has nearly 3,500 sq ft (main/upper) and an additional 2,000 sq ft finished walkout basement. With its asymmetrical exterior, hardwood floors in most of the main floor living space, 26′ soaring ceilings, and massive windows overlooking the Geist Reservoir, it is breath taking.  Add to that the 16 x 32 inground pool, dock with lift and access to the water and you will find yourself living in a dream. The master measures 20 x 14 and the other three bedrooms are 17 x 15; 15 x 12; and 13 x 13.  So great sizes! The k... 12/05/2010

I NEED TO SHARE WITH YOU OUR CHRISTMAS TRADITION.  I MUST FIRST EXPLAIN THAT WE HAVE NO GRAND CHILDREN, ALTHOUGH WE RAISED 3 LOVELY DAUGHTERS.  EACH FOR THEIR OWN REASONS. PRESENTS.......PRESENTS..............PRESENTS................WHAT DO YOU BUY FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.  YEARS PAST PRESENTS UNDER THE TREE, PRESENTS EVERYWHERE.  ALL OF US TRYING TO SHOW HOW MUCH WE LOVED EACH OTHER.  CERTAINLY NOT TO OUTDO THE OTHER, BUT JUST WHEN IS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.  WE ALSO HAD SPOUSE FAMILIES TO CONSIDER IN THE EQUATION.  SOME IN THE FAMILY REFUSED TO GIVE MONEY, SOME DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE GIFTS.  WE ARE NOT A BIG FAMILY, BUT H0W DO WE SOLVE ALL THESE ISSUES AND SATISFY EVERYONE.  HERE IS OUR WONDERFUL SOLUTION:  ON A DESIGNATED EVENING, NOT NECESSARILY CHRISTMAS EVE, WE HAVE OUR GET-TOGETHER.... 12/02/2010

  Be sure to include a visit to the Indianapolis Soldiers and Sailors Monument on your list of fun things to do this holiday season. Beginning the day after Thanksgiving, the monument in the city’s Circle Center transforms into a giant Christmas tree strung with nearly 5,000 lights and innumerable strands of garland. The evening’s festivities include performances by local talents, and culminate with a visit from Santa, the official tree lighting, and fireworks!   Indianapolis Soldiers and Sailors Monument: The Indianapolis Soldiers and Sailors Monument is the largest monument in the United States to be dedicated to the common soldier. It stands in the center of the city in Monument Circle. At 284.5 feet tall, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument is just 15 feet shorter than the Statue of L... 12/02/2010

  The mind moves in the direction of our currently dominant thoughts. - Earl Nightingale     Real Estate can be challenging right now, whether you are an agent, a seller, a buyer, a lender, etc.  We have to keep our thoughts positive and keep pushing forward! 11/29/2010