The United States is a big country and we are reminded this time of year of our Independence as a Country.  Among our many rights as American's is our Freedom to Choose where we want to live.  If you have choosen Elkhart Indiana, there are homes for sale in every price range and in every corner of the County.  We offer great schools, work environments, churches and shopping venues.  Don't forget about the great parks we have...

If you are new to the area, or are in need of an Elkhart Real Estate Agent to help you find your next home, call Evelyn Johnston with Prudential One Realty at 574-304-7148.

Are you a FIRST TIME HOME BUYER?  There is a TAX CREDIT of up to $8,000 if neither you nor your spouse has owned a home in the previous 3 years, and your income meets the guidelines.  Pick up the phone and call today to see if you qualify!

Does living in a Subdivision appeal to you?  Have you always wanted to live around like minded folks who care about their homes, their neighborhood and the better good for all who live within it's boundries?  I am talking about Orchard Ridge Subdivision and the neighbors and friends who all watch out for each other's property value.  What am I talking about?  Well, not one home that I have seen in Orchard Ridge Subdivision has been in need of repair or neglected.  And this observation has been many times as I have visisted my listing at 23191 Orchard Ridge Drive.  This 4 Bedroom, 3 Bath home for sale is no exception.  The lawn has always been freshly mowed, shrubbery is well trimmed and plantings have been changed and freshened as the season requires.  Here is a look at your neighbors, should you decide to move into this lovely home...

Does a nice neat well maintained neighborhood meet with your goals and desires?  Are you ready willing and able to make a move into such a home?  Then consider this:  Orchard Ridge Subdivision is conveniently located near major shopping venues, US 33, SR 15, SR 17, Indiana Toll Road and the US 20 Bypass are all within minutes of leaving the subdivision.  Sports facilites, schools, popular restaurants and even car dealerships are a hop skip and a jump away.  Don't forget about Concord Township's many parks either.  Just down the road for your enjoyment.

Are you a FIRST TIME HOME OWNER?  The $8,000 TAX CREDIT is still available, but you must act soon as it will go away on December 1, 2009.  Do YOU qualify?  Call Elkhart Real Estate Expert Evelyn Johnston with Prudential One Realty to find out.  Call now, while it is still on your mind, 574-304-7148.

Here I go again, singing the praises of Indiana's #1 FHA Mortgage Dude!  Two weeks.  Yep, that's 14   days. From Start to Finish.  Closed. Did I mention it was FHA?  Does your FHA specialist compare?  Perhaps you ought to give David Woodson a try.  He can be reached at 219-608-9790, let him prove to you his worth...

How in the world does Dave Woodson, the Mad Mortgage Machine do it?  Let me tell you...he surrounds himself with nothing but the best, like Chris Blaszczyk, another Mortgage Loan Officer and processor, oh I am sorry, that sould be Processor with a capitol P.  Did they stay on top of it?  You betcha!  Were they in constant contact with me --the REALTOR-- and my Client?  Absolutely!  Did I know what was going on all along? Uh-Huh!  When paperwork did not get returned to them in a timely fashion, guess who they called?  ME! The REALTOR!  They keep saying that I get it-the relationship between a Mortgage Professional and a REALTOR, but I think they are the ones that get it---the REALTOR can help!

Now, maybe I am making to much of this, after all, I am a fairly new agent, a little over 2 years under my belt, my favorite Mortgage Loan Officer in the whole world got married and is not currently in the lending field.  I have tried a couple of other Lender's, some better than others, but these guy, Dave Woodson and Chris Blaszczyk has them beat by lightening rods!  I can hardly wait for another buyer to see if they can be 3 for 3!

Thanks Dave and Chris, you are amazing men who do the impossible and make them miracles. 

Are you looking to move up into a mid size home?  This 4 Bedroom, 4 Bath home for sale in Concord Schools just may be what you are looking for!  Layout of this home is "togetherness", whether that means sitting down in either the living room or family room and chatting, making dinner together in the kitchen or deck or all sleeping on the same floor.  Oh, and don't forget the finished basement!  There is enough room for the whole family or a bunch of friends who just want to hand out...

Would you rather be outdoors?  This large corner lot has enough room for even the soccer or football lovers to move around!  Plenty big for summer salts and cartwheels as well.  And located at the mouth of a cul-de-sac ensures little car traffic to be concerned about.

If this sounds like the type of home you are looking for, call Elkhart Real Estate Expert Evelyn Johnston with Prudential One Realty for your private showing at 574-304-7148.  Don't know much about Orchard Ridge Subdivision?  Take a look here at what the neighborhood looks like...

 

About 10 homes make up Woodsbrook Acres Subdivision which is located on CR 20 just east of CR 29 in Jefferson Township and one of them is my newest listing, a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home for sale for a modest price of $125,900.  1298 square feet of living space on the main level and half that amount in the family room in the basement.  This is what your neighbors homes would look like...

If you lived here you would have a home in the Jefferson School System.  Orchard View Heritage Elementary School, and Northridge Middle and High School educate the children.  Jefferson Schools are highly rated by parents in the area.

If this is the price range you have been approved for and would like to see the inside of the home, call Elkhart Real Estate Expert Evelyn Johnston with Prudential One Realty at 574-304-7148.

Sitting atop a hill in a beautifull park like setting is this 4 bedroom, 5 bath luxury home for sale...landscaped by the professionals at Linton's Enchanted Garden's on CR 17 in Elkhart, this 16 acre home will delight you.  Roses, evergreens, hydrangia's and lillies and so much more, abound in every nook and cranny!

Summer is here and the in-ground pool awaits your pleasure.  Surrounded by a hand layed brick patio and more of Linton's golden touch.  The pool house boasts of a wet bar, sitting area, 2 baths much more.

The Home Owners are represented exclusively by Evelyn Johnston and Scott Klein of Prudential One Realty. They can be reached at 574-293-1010.

Goshen Indiana, is located just south and southeast of Elkhart  and is situated both in town and out in the country.  This newest 3 bedroom, 2 bath home for sale is out in the country just of CR 20 and in a very small subdivision called Woodsbrook Acres.

Woodsbrook Acres was established in 1989 and comprises of one Cul-de-Sac.  Car traffic is just about limited to the other Home Owners and Mail Delivery.  If that appeals to you, this could be a perfect home for you! And this home was built by well-known Wes Culver Homes.

This 3 bedroom, 2 bath home for sale is set on a large lot of 110 x 235 and the back yard is almost completely fenced in.  Connections between the home and the side yard on both sides is all that remains to be completed.

A Rocking Porch in the front welcomes you home or gives you a nice place to sit and read or relax. The back yard has both a wooden deck and a concrete patio in which grill out and to eat alfresco.  The back yard has plenty of room for an above ground pool and outdoor activities like an impromptu game of volleyball, football or chasing the family dog!

This home also qualifies for the full First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit of $8,000.  Do YOU qualify?  If you have not owned a home for the past 3 years, your income is $75,000 or less for a single person, $150,000 or less for a married person then you do qualify!  The Tax Credit can be used this year as an amendment to your 2008 Tax Return. This program ends December 1, 2009, so time is of the essence!  Start your home search now!

For an appointment to see this, or any other home listed in Elkhart County, Indiana, call your Elkhart Real Estate Expert Evelyn Johnston with Prudential One Realty at 574-304-7148.

 

 

You've made the decision to sell your home in Elkhart Indiana. Even if you've sold a house before, this process can be daunting because it is a major financial transaction that involves many steps from selecting a sales professional and marketing the home, to negotiating with buyers and finally receiving funds at the closing. Yet, the home-selling process doesn't have to be intimidating if you know what to expect. The process can be divided in nine steps.

Step 1: List your property with a real estate professional. Select someone who is knowledgeable, listens carefully, and with whom you feel comfortable. Interview at least three Elkhart County real estate professionals. Use their listing presentations to compare their preparation and professionalism. Don't base your selection solely on selling price or commission. It's probably best to avoid working with someone who promises you the moon-in this case, an unrealistically high price-then has to make price reductions until the property sells. Instead, focus on marketing plans, service and past results.

Step 2: Establish price and time frame. Determining a fair asking price is crucial in this market. Price the property too high and it could languish on the market. Of course you could always decrease the price later, yet you've lost potential buyers. Your real estate professional can help you determine true market value based on a comparable market analysis, which will include recent home sale transactions as well as homes currently on the market. Supply and demand, craftsmanship, amenities, condition and any special circumstances can also impact price. For instance, a relocation move might necessitate a quick sale.

Step 3: Develop and implement a marketing strategy. To get the most exposure for your home, you should have a marketing plan with clear objectives and an outline of specific resources to be used. Your plan should include a mixture of conventional and online marketing to optimize your reach to potential buyers.

Step 4: Get Your Home in Show Condition. Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression. So make sure your home is in tip-top shape inside and out. Eliminate clutter and remove personal items. Refresh the paint, clean the carpets and make minor repairs. Keep the grass trimmed and add color to your landscape. You may also want to consider hiring a professional to stage your home. A home in move-in condition is much more attractive to buyers in a competitive market.

Step 5: An offer is submitted. Once your home is on the market, a buyer will make an offer through his/her real estate sales professional. The buyer's sales professional will present the offer to your representative, who will promptly relay it to you and help you evaluate the offer.

Step 6: The negotiation process begins and eventually an offer is accepted. One of the most critical roles played by your real estate professional is in the negotiation phase. Negotiations over the terms of a home-purchase contract can be extremely sensitive. The process of offer and counter-offer may go on until parties arrive at an acceptable contract, which can go very quickly or take days, even weeks. 

Step 7: Buyers submit a loan application and home inspections are scheduled. Most often, the loan approval is contingent upon a satisfactory appraisal and various inspections.

Step 8: The loan is approved and the closing process begins. Once the buyer's home loan has been approved, preparations begin for the closing. The closing, also referred to as settlement or close of escrow, is the final step toward completing the sales transaction between the buyer and seller. During this process, your sales professional will funnel all the necessary closing documents to the escrow agent. This may include the deed, mortgage, tax receipts, a Certificate of Occupancy and other documents. A final walk-through will also be scheduled. Once the escrow agent receives the paperwork and the funds pertaining to the sale of the property, the escrow is closed.

Step 9: Time to move!

Of course this is a simplification of what is otherwise a complex transaction. As you are going through each stage of the process, look to your real estate professional to provide guidance so that you feel comfortable every step of the way. 

Elkhart Indiana Real Estate Expert Evelyn Johnston with Prudential One Realty can be reached at 574-304-7148. Prudential One Realty is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Are you price conscious?  Are you looking for the most your money can buy yet stay true to your goals for a dream home?  Will 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathsbe enough for all your needs?  How about all the bedrooms on the same level for your piece of mind?  This home has it all!

Orchard Ridge Subdivisionbegan construction in 1997 and has a relatively low number of homes for resale.  What does that tell you?  The folks who call Orchard Ridge Subdivision home, stay put.  Except for the rare job transfer or growing family, the Home Owner's have grown comfortable and don't want to move...

What would make you want to stay put if you lived here?  Well, it could be easy access to CR 17, Indiana Toll Road or the US 20 Bypass.  Travel would be a breeze from here.

How about Schools? Are they important to you?  Concord Schoolsare highly rated and desirable.  Eastside Elementary is within walking distance.  Ivy Tech and IU are both close for higher education learning.

Shopping?  The largest Department Stores in the Country are within easy reach, Wal-Mart, Meijer's, JC Penney's, Target, Michael's Art and Craft, Hobby Lobby and many more are a few miles down the road.

Dining Out?  Applebee's, Indigo, Bob Evans, Wings, and all the fast food you could want, right there!

Sports?  Soccer, basketball, soft ball, baseball, hiking, county parks all within a short drive.

With all this to offer you, Why Would You Not Want To Live Here in this 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home for sale? 

Did I mention this home qualifies for the full First Time Home Owners Tax Credit of $8,000?Yep, it does! If neither you nor or spouse has owned a home within the last 3 years, and your income as a married couple is $150,000 or less, or $75,000 or less as a single person, you can claim this prize!  But hurry!  There is a deadline to this offer.  Don't miss out...Pick up the phone and call your Elkhart County Real Estate Expert Evelyn Johnston with Prudential One Realty at 574-304-7148 for your chance to see this fabulous home before someone else snatches it up!

If you are looking for a 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home for sale in Elkhart Indiana and in the Orchard Ridge Subdivision in Concord Township, this home is the best deal, dollar for dollar...as compared to other homes now on the market within the subdivision.

More than 2700 square feel of living space from the completely finished basement to the second story!  Up-to-date paint choices and lighting fixtures will welcome you home from work, school or play!  Orchard Ridge Subdivision is conveniently located near shopping, whether it be shoes, clothing, food or groceries, it's all nearby.  Do Sports interest you?  Baseball, basketball, softball and soccer are within a few minutes drive.

Are you a aware of the First Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit of $8,000?  This home also qualifies for the full $8,000 if you qualify.  Call Evelyn Johnston, Prudential One Realty at 574-304-7148 to see if you can claim this tax credit.  Hurry though, you have to close by November 30, 2009.  Pick up the phone and call today, 574-304-7148.