Saturday evening was Fun! For those of you who've  followed our Blog for the past few years, you know we are season ticket holders for our  hometown University (VU) Men's basketball ->what better way to keep the peace in a house divided Purdue vs IU Grad marriage :) The Valparaiso University Crusaders Men's basketball team held their season exhibition opener at the ARC against the Tigers of Olivet Nazarene University. There is LOTS of NEW at VU this year! Prior to the game Valpo's shinny NEW basketball court (Jeff says it remainds him of the court at Boston Gardens) named after coach HOMER DREW was dedicated in a wonderful ceremony! His enitre family was present including his son's Bryce Drew (assistant head coach at VU) and Scott Drew (Head Coach at Baylor University in Texas. Former V... 11/01/2010

This is our philosophy of Real Estate Practice->   WYSIWYG = What you see is what you get. .No secretaries. No assistants. No UNLICENSED persons handling your transaction file. Primary Care Real Estate. Especially when it comes to Short Sales. We disclose publicly on our MLS and in other marketing avenues which of our listings are short sales, therefore the public is aware ahead of time. l Lately this disclosure has been noticed by 3rd parties who bypass us (the listing agents with an exclusive right to sell contract in place) and attempt to contact the seller directly with "offers" of help to expedite their short sale. Sellers-> Beware of 3rd party offers to help your short sale situation! In the past weeks, these offers have included: asking the seller to sign over the deed to them, s... 10/18/2010

Where a slowdown is created in the REO or foreclosure market, opportunities may be enhanced for buyers and sellers of distressed properties. As lenders with assets headed toward foreclosure consider slowing the process, bank asset managers may be more inclined to negotiate short payoffs in coming months.  A short sale is where the lienholders (or mortgage holders) of a property will take a payoff from sale that is less than the principal, interest, and fees owned to the lienholder on that property. This shortage in some cases will be forgiven by the lender, and the seller or property owner can avoid foreclosure.  This keeps the home (bank asset) from deteriorating and losing value in the foreclosure process, creating a sale of the property prior to foreclosure. Many things can affect th... 10/15/2010

Month's supply of inventory in single family housing went up nearly across the board versus July figures as fall approached the region in Northwest Indiana.  Only the $300K-$400K and $750K-$1M categories saw a slight decrease in inventories in Valparaiso, while Porter County's numbers only improved in the $750-$1M range.    In Porter County, home sales in August one month solds dropped from 99 to 94, while home sales in Valparaiso actually increased from 51 to 56 single family units.  The difference in Valpo was that single family home supply vs. July figures went up from 615 homes to 709 homes.  Total inventory also climbed in Porter County  With interest rates at historic lows, buyers are still exercising some caution while looking for great deals when purchasing a home.  Market senti... 10/04/2010

Speechless Sunday In NW Indiana - Waking Up to Deer in Your Own Backyard! 09/26/2010

Discover God's truths for yourself at our Ladies Precept Bible Study in Valparaiso, Indiana.  Join us as we study Matthew inductively starting on Tuesday, September 14, 2010.  The class is 8 weeks long and will take place each Tuesday at Faith Evangelical Bible Church at 9:15 AM and also 6:30 PM.  Both sessions will cover the same material.  Feel free to come at either time or both if you desire!  Faith Evangelical Bible Church is located at 305 East 400 North in Valparaiso, Indiana.  Find us on Facebook at Precept Ministries in Valparaiso, Indiana.  08/18/2010

Northwest Indiana Home Owners Testimonial endorsing F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate Services Recently, we Listed a home in Valparaiso, IN 46383 that SOLD quickly and here is what our sellers had to say:      We can't thank Jeff and Grace enough! We had already found the house we wanted to move to before calling them to put our house on the market. They gave us some staging suggestions to get our home ready to sell. We followed their expert advice and thanks to that, plus their excellent marketing, we had two offers in a week!      The Safrin's used their experience and expertise to help sell our home in no time. We highly recommend them to anyone looking for REALTORS that work for you and with you to make buying or selling your home a great experience. Chris & Erin Schmidgall Valparaiso... 08/09/2010

Just SOLD - Valparaiso, Indiana Expired Listing sells when Marketed by F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate Sometimes, we list homes that had been on the market previously with other REALTORS and did not sell. At the closing table last week, the buyers remarked to Jeff that our detailed marketing and many photos and descriptions about the various amenities of the home was what "sold them" to come out and view the property. Location, Price, Condition, and Marketing are all factors that influence buyers to make an appointment to see a property. As Professionals, it is our job to give you suggestions and implement a specific marketing plan based on known data so your home has the best chance of a successful closed sale.   If you are in the market to sell your Northwest Indiana Home, read what o... 08/04/2010

Wild Rose Neighborhood in Valparaiso, IN offers Low Maintenance Home ownership Lifestyle for busy professionals, snowbirds, or those wanting to downsize and just enjoy life! If you are looking to simplify your life and enjoy a Low Maintenance Home in a scenic setting, then the  Wild Rose neighborhood on Valparaiso's north side may be worth your careful consideration. The HOA dues includes lawn mowing and trim, fertilization, snow removal, garbage pickup! There is a private park for residents to enjoy with a playground, basketball court, picnic tables, grills, and even a neighborhood gazebo overlooking a private lake where you can fish or take out a small boat and enjoy! The town of VALPO and all it's attractions/events is nearby, not to mention the South Shore train Stop is minutes away... 07/27/2010

NW Indiana Ladies, ever want to join a bible study? Here is your chance-New Topic  'Praying the names of God" for the Tuesday Evening Ladies Bible Study at Christ Lutheran Church Valparaiso, IN   Announcement: The Ladies Tuesday Evening Bible Study Group at CLCValpo is starting a NEW Study! Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler ->  A 26 week study exploring the Hebrew names of God revealed in scripture. Each week we will study a different name - so come when you are able! Enjoy fellowship, prayer time and learn that the names of God given us in Scripture aren't just ornamental, accidental or even historical...they are given us to confirm attributes of God that address our "very time of need". Our 1st session will begin Tuesday evening 8/24/10 @ 7:15pm -8:45 in room 120. The 1st name ... 07/25/2010

 Real Estate Sales continue at a healthy pace in NW Indiana IF your home is priced right for the neighborhood and staged to sell ( tip top shape).  It does not matter that the 1st Time Home Buyer tax credit is over - Homes listed in June and July are getting offers and closing! This Valparaiso, IN  46383 Home Sold when listed by F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate and had more than one offer in just 2 weeks on the market and closed a few weeks after that! Move-up Buyers, those with Job Relocations, Investors and those downsizing/retiring still need to buy or sell properties to get on with their goals in life! Give us a call today should you need Professional services to market your home to sell too! 07/24/2010

We've blogged about the recreational community we call home named Shorewood Forest located in Valparaiso, Indiana 46385 (Porter County, NW Indiana). Here are some recent photos we took on a sunset boat ride on lake Louise! If you are looking to live in a recreational community which is within commuting distance to the big city of Chicago, Shorewood Forest should be a careful consideration.                                       07/21/2010

We decided that we would take a look at moving within the area and see if we were able to find a newer home.  We loved the home we were in and would move only if we could find a good deal that allowed us to not spend the money required to update our 22 year old home.  We had several constraints that would make the overall success of the move very difficult.  Any offer we made would need to be contingent on the closing of our home, we needed to remain in the same school district, and we needed to be under contract within 5 weeks and the sale of our home and closing on a new home must be at the same time. We had many requirements of a new home including a certain kitchen style, four bedrooms, private backyard, 3 car garage, pool, etc.  Basically we loved the home we were in and would move... 07/20/2010

The market for homes in the Northwest Indiana town of Valparaiso is showing signs of balance at some prices.  Based on the single family stats thru June 2010 on the GNIAR MLS, and based on inventory as of July 6, the months supply of inventory under $100,000 is just 4.4 months, and from $100,000 to $200,000 the range in months supply falls between 7.0 and 7.6 months.  A truly balanced market, where supply and demand is most equal is 6 months supply of inventory.  For the year long period ending June 30, 2010, single family house sales in Valpo were at 844 units total, with 724 homes on the market, for an average months supply of inventory across all price bands of 10.3 months.  The market as a whole is still a buyer's market, so good deals are still very apparent.  Bad news for the mark... 07/06/2010

Another Valparaiso, IN 46383 Home SOLD when listed by F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate. Sometimes, the best source for future business is at the closing table! Back in springtime, we were at a closing with our 1st Time Home Buyer when they mentioned that a friend of theirs who had moved out of town had a home to sell. So we listed the Home and today it closed in just 84 days on the market! As always, we appreciate our clients referring their family and friends! 06/30/2010

What could be better than a scoop of cold, yummy gelato on a hot, muggy, summer day?  Well a scoop of FREE Gelato at Evelyn Bay Coffee Company!  Yes, you read that right.  On Friday, June 25, you can treat yourself to a FREE scoop of Gelato with the purchase of any beverage at Evelyn Bay Coffee Company, located at 3800 N Calumet in Valparaiso, Indiana.  Now I highly recommend that you try one of their baked entrees before the gelato.  Choose from: Vegetarian Lasagna with roasted eggplant, bell pepper, garlic, onion and ricotta served with a side salad Au Gratin Casserole- Potatoes layered with prosciutto, crushed pistachio, in a parmesan-peppercorn cream served with t side salad Baked Mac & Cheese- Four cheese blend, prosciutto, roasted garlic, herbed breadcrumb-parmesan crust served wi... 06/15/2010

Don't miss out on some finger licking good chicken and ribs at the Victory Christian Academy Fundraiser.  Nelson's Port-a-Pit Chicken will be selling their fabulous tasting chicken, ribs, and pit-tatoes on Friday, June 4, 2010 in the K-Mart parking lot in Valparaiso, Indiana - corner of Roosevelt and Calumet Ave.  Don't miss out on some really good food that will leave you wanting more.  Funds raised will help Victory Christian Academy located in Valparaiso, Indiana.  Victory Christian Academy is an accredited school that teaches students from Pre-K through 12th grade.  This year, VCA is even offering a recreational program during the summer - Fun in the Son!  There is an all day camp offered from 9 AM to 6 PM or an afternoon camp from 4 PM - 6 PM,  Don't forget to pick up lunch or dinn... 06/02/2010

Garage Sale in Valparaiso, Indiana on Saturday, June 12 from 9 AM - 1 PM. Who doesn't like a multi-family garage sale?  And I do mean MULTI-family!  In fact, this is a churchwide garage sale with things brought in from church family members of all ages, shapes, sizes, and interests.  This can only mean great buys for those willing to spend some time looking.  Faith Evangelical Bible Church is hosting a garage sale on Saturday, June 12 from 9 -1.  Funds raised will go toward helping our missions committee help, of course, missions!  At last year's garage sale we had clothes, tools, honey, baked goods, and so much more.  Drop by and spend some time visiting with us because you just never know what you might find that you did not realize you needed.  One man's junk is another man's treasur... 06/01/2010

Recently, we Listed and SOLD a home in Valparaiso, IN and received 3 offers to purchase out of  a dozen showing appointments in the 1st 19 days the home was on the Market! Many times, when we take a listing in NW Indiana (we service Lake, Porter & La Porte Counties), we are asked by our clients when will they get feedback from any showings? We always answer the same way : The Best Showing Reports Are Offers! When you schedule an appointment with us to Tour Your Home for a 1st hand view of it's condition, as Professional Real Estate Brokers with combined designations of CRS (Grace Safrin) and SFR (Jeff Safrin) , we do our homework beforehand and pull neighborhood Active and Sold com parables and an MLS Fannie Mae Market Condition Report. So the price range we suggest is based on fact an... 05/31/2010

Central Park Plaza is Even Better!  How is it possible to make Central Park better?  Well, by having even more activities for the entire family to enjoy.  And that is exactly what is being done at Central Park Plaza in downtown Valparaiso, Indiana. June 1, 2010 marks the opening of the Central Park Plaza Market.  The Valparaiso Downtown Dining Association will feature a different restaurant each week at the market on 2 days each week.  Starting June 1 you can taste treats on Tuesday from 8 AM to 5 PM and Saturdays at 8 AM until 2 PM.  Many of the restaurants that I've told you so much about already will be there such as Don Quijote Spanish Restaurante, Bistro 157, Old World Market, and many more.  By the way, these are the same days that the Farmer's Market will also be open at Central ... 05/13/2010