Indianapolis area tops housing affordability index - 02/21/10 04:15 AM
The National Association of Homebuilders and Wells Fargo released their latest Housing Opportunity Index survey.  The Indianapolis-Carmel Indiana area ranked number one nationally in housing affordabilty for market areas with a population of 500,000 or more.  According to the survey 95.7 of homes on the market were affordable to households with a median income in that market area.
When taking into account markets with a smaller population, nearby Kokomo, Indiana was tops in the nation in affordability.  In the Kokomo market area 98% of new and existing homes were affordable to a household with the area's median income.
The two least … (0 comments)

Why new home buyers should consider using an agent - 02/20/10 11:00 AM
Many new home buyers decide to go it alone, without the benefit of an agent.  Perhaps they think there might be a financial advantage of doing that.  But in most cases, the builder has a certain percentage built into their price for marketing.  If you weren't introduced to the builder by an agent, then they figure it was all their billboards and large ads in the newspaper.  So in most cases, there is no price advantage in not using an agent.
But here are several factors that a buyer should consider when looking at new homes.
The friendly sales person working … (2 comments)

Closer to tax credit deadline than you might think - 02/20/10 03:26 AM
I know what you're thinking.  The tax credit is differnt this time.  April 30 is the deadline to be under contract.  We have until the end of June to actually close.  That is true.  But if you are purchasing a new home, you probably don't want one that can be built contract to start to finish to closing in only two months.  Most builders need 3-4 months (or more) to build a home.  So if contruction takes 3 months you need to be under contract before April 1st.  Remember, the builder needs to get building permits, etc.  If you add another … (3 comments)

Basement, crawl space or slab? - 02/18/10 09:06 PM
As an agent who works with buyers, the question almost always comes up: do you want a basement?  And yes, most buyers would prefer a basement.  For the benefit of buyers who are making this decision, here are some factors you might wish to consider.
First of all, I work in the Indianapolis area and Central Indiana.  In many cases there is a high water table.  So if you are considering a basement, a sump pump is a must.  What happens when the sump pump stops working, the float gets stuck, or the power is out?  There is always the possibility … (7 comments)