Did you see a PINK form in with your property tax statement? DO NOT THROW IT AWAY OR FILE IT AWAY!

PLEASE PAY ATTENTION: EVERY INDIVIDUAL OR MARRIED COUPLE CURRENTLY CLAIMING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ON THEIR PROPERTY TAXES MUST COMPLETE THE FORM AND RETURN IT TO THE COUNTY PER THE INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED ON THE FORM!

If you are like most homeowners, your property taxes are paid by your mortgage company and you usually open the statement and file it away like I do.

Who: Every individual or married couple currently claiming the homestead deduction will receive the form. (Some counties may choose to mail the form to every taxpayer, even those not claiming the homestead deduction.)

What: The pink form included with tax bills When: The homestead verification form will be mailed with 2010, 2011, and 2012 tax bills and MUST be completed at least once by January 1, 2013.

Where: Follow the instructions included on the form.

Why: If you are claiming the deduction you must complete the pink form to verify eligibility and to provide identification numbers (the last five digits of both driver’s license and social security numbers of both spouses), which will be used to populate a secure homestead database and prevent homestead fraud. Beginning in 2010, House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1344-2009 requires the tax statement to include a form that allows taxpayers to verify their residency and eligibility for the homestead deduction.

Each individual (and his or her spouse, if any) claiming the homestead deduction also is required to provide the last five digits of his or her social security number and driver’s license number. This information will be used to populate a secure homestead database, which will be used by county auditors to track homesteads statewide and prevent fraud. This will help reduce taxes for all ensuring that everyone shares equally in the property tax burden. For more information click here.

If you no longer use this home as your primary residence, please complete the Certified Statement to remove the homestead exemption from your property.

Individuals and married couples are limited to one homestead exemption. It is imperative that you do this by January 1, 2013!! If you do not, you will miss out on the benefits of the homestead exemption which reduces the taxable assessed value of the homestead portion of a property by the lesser of 60 percent or $45,000 . In addition, those receiving the standard deduction, automatically receive the supplemental homestead deduction, the 1 percent circuit breaker cap and any state or local homestead credits. For additional information regarding the homestead exemption and other property tax deductions, click here.

I have now joined Century 21 Scheetz in Indianapolis!!!

I have decided that it is time to go on my own and not be on a team so I have come back home to Century 21 Scheetz in Indianapolis!  I worked out of this office when it was Century 21 At The Crossing and feel at home with a lot of the same agents and staff still there.

I will continue to give you the same great service and will be able to utilize the innovative tools at my fingertips to make your home buying/selling as easy as possible!!  I look forward to working for you!

Well the Geist waterfront market showed signs of improvement in the 3rd quarter with 8 sales, 5 of those being over 1 million dollars, but there were also 19 new listings or re-lists that hit the market.  We still have an abundant supply of waterfront homes on the market going in to the winter months.

There are currently 54 active waterfront listings, of which 1 is a possible short sale and 6 are bank owned!

If you are looking to purchase a Geist waterfront home, now might be the time.  With the inventory being at a high, 6 properties being either short sales or bank owned, you can probably get a good deal and be ready for the boating season next Spring.

Lawrence Township

Actives

There are 28  active listings with 12 being over $1,000,000 and 10 being new or re-listed in the 3rd quarter.

The highest list price is $3,200,000 - 9873 Hampton Cove

Pendings

There are 4 pending sales.

Solds

There were 3 sales in the third quarter.

The highest sale was $1,650,000 - 9332 Treasure Point Drive

Fall Creek Township

Actives

There are 26  active listings with 14 being over $1,000,000 and 9 being new or re-listed in the 3rd quarter.

The highest list price is $3,740,000 - 10247 Portview Lane

Pendings

There are 2 pending sales.

One over 1 million - 12958 Shoreline

Solds

There were 5 sales in the third quarter.

The highest sale was $2,625,000 - 190 Breakwater Drive

Curious about the list price of a home that just hit the market in your neighborhood?  Now you can stay on top of this with one easy "Click".  This is a unique tool brought to you by The Marchant Team at Keller Williams.  You can bookmark this link for future reference.  If I have omitted your neighborhood from the list, just send me an e-mail and I will add it for you.

I have inserted the table below but you can also book mark Fisher Neighborhood Search or Geist/Lawrence Neighborhood Search for future reference.

This information is updated real time so you will always have the most up to date information on the Fisher/Geist homes for sale.  If you want to know how much a home sold for, simply send me an e-mail and I will send that information to you, I can not link to sold information.

You call also subscribe to our "One Call Gets it All"  By giving me your phone numbers and e-mail address, you can call one number and get recorded information about any home in the Indianapolis area, regardless of whose listing it is.  You will not receive return calls from several agents, just have instant info.  If you are interested, send me an e-mail at sold@kimsellsindy.com or call/text me at 317-509-4000.

I hope you enjoy these tools!  We at the Marchant Team always strive to deliver our real estate service with the newest and proven tools to assist you with your real estate needs!  I love making dreams come true, one home at a time!

Kim Carpenter “Kimsellsindy.com” - Geist/Indianapolis Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Geist/Indianapolis IN Real Estate Website

sold@kimsellsindy.com
317-509-4000

<

The Marchant Team was treated to “Lunch and Learn” today by Cori Drudge of Stonegate Mortgage!!

Stonegate Mortgage recently hosted a seminars hosted by Indiana Housing and USDA for their loan officers and Cori Drudge came in today to pass along the info he learned.  There are many great programs available for buyers to take advantage of.

Indiana Housing Programs:

• MCC (Mortgage Credit Certificate)
• MSP (Market Stabilization Program – $15,000 Grant ) The MSP program is a federally funded program offering money for downpayment, closing cost, and or Rehabilitation on foreclosed homes only.
• First Home/First Home Plus Program
• To see if a home qualifies visit Indiana Housing Now

USDA Loan Program

• Rural Housing Direct Loans are loans that are directly funded by the Government.   These loans are available for low- and very low-income households to obtain homeownership.  Applicants may obtain 100% financing to purchase an existing dwelling, purchase a site and construct a dwelling, or purchase newly constructed dwellings located in rural areas.  Mortgage payments are based on the household’s adjusted income.  These loans are commonly referred to as Section 502 Direct Loans.
• Loan amounts are based upon the appraised value, NOT purchase price.  NO money down, No PMI, Repair escrows are allowed

The above programs do have specific qualifications:

• Minimum credit score of 620
• Income limit restrictions which vary by state

If are interested in learning more about any of these unique programs, please contact myself, Kim Carpenter at 317-509-4000 or sold@kimsellsindy.com

or contact Cori Drudge at 317-439-4495 or cdrudge@stonegatemtg.com

We at the Marchant Team strive to always be ahead of the curve and provide you with the most innovative tools to assist you with your real estate needs!  Whether searching the Geist/Indianapolis area, Fishers area, Carmel area or Noblesville area, we have you covered. Some of the services we offer are “One Call Get’s it All” and “Smarter Agent“, feel free to give them a try, they will make your homebuying process a lot less stressful.  Just call, e-mail or text me to get set up!!!

If you are interested in attending a “1st Time Homebuyer Class“, complete the form at this link and submit.  We will contact you with additional information.  We look forward to seeing you there and making your “Dreams Come True, One Home at a Time”.

I hope you enjoy these tools!   I love making dreams come true, one home at a time!

Kim Carpenter “Kimsellsindy.com” – Geist/Indianapolis Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Geist/Indianapolis IN Real Estate Website

sold@kimsellsindy.com
317-509-4000

Sep 22nd, 2009 by hamptons

I spent the day showing  Beckman Coulter employees, who are considering relocating to the Indy area, around town today!!  While driving them around, I rediscovered why I love this great city!!!!

We have a lot to offer:

• A clean downtown area with a vast variety of restraunts, shopping and sporting events featuring our Pacers, Colts, Fever and Indians and the great venues the play in!!!
• The Indiana State Fair – packed with 17 days packed with animals, food and fun!!!  Who can resist a fried oreo or snickers bar?
• White River State Park featuring the Indianapolis Zoo, Victory Field (Home to the Indianapolis Indians), Eiteljorg Museum, Indiana State Museum, IMAX Theater, NCAA Hall of Champions, Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial, Wheel Fun Rentals (Pedal powered recreational cycles and boats) and the Segway Tours.
• A number of award winning hospitals, including Riley Hospital for Children.
• A number of colleges to pursue your career – IUPUI, Butler, Ivy Tech, University of Indianapolis to name a few
• Many music venues:  Indianapolis Symphony, Murat Theater, Verizon Wireless Center, Symphony on the Prairie
• Several museums:  Children’s Museum, Indiana Museum of Art and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum
• Three reservoirs for your boating/fishing enjoyment:  Geist, Morse and Eagle Creek Reservoirs
• Numerous recreational sports, including soccer, baseball, softball, gymnastics and diving

We have so much to offer, why would you not want to live here?

All of this and affordable housing too!!!!

Considering a move to the Indy area?  Call the realtor who knows the area and would love to show it to you!!!

We at the Marchant Team strive to always be ahead of the curve and provide you with the most innovative tools to assist you in your home search.  Whether searching the Geist/Indianapolis area, Fishers area, Carmel area or Noblesville area, we have you covered. Some of the services we offer are “One Call Get’s it All” and “Smarter Agent“, feel free to give them a try, they will make your homebuying process a lot less stressful.  Just call, e-mail or text me to get set up!!!

I look forward to making your “Dreams Come True, One Home at a Time”.

Kim Carpenter “Kimsellsindy.com” – Geist/Indianapolis Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Geist/Indianapolis IN Real Estate Website

sold@kimsellsindy.com
317-509-4000

Everyday we here a reminder about the $8000 First time homebuyer credit but don’t overlook other tax benefits for owning/buying a home!!

Buying a home:

• $8000 Tax Credit – This is a true tax credit that can be taken by First time homebuyers as well as buyer’s that have not owned a home in the last 3 years.  It applies to primary residences only, has income limitations and does not have to be paid back.  You must close by November 30, 2009 in order to take the credit.
• Points - Points paid at closing are usually deductible as interest if you had enough down payment to cover the points.
  
• Private Mortgage Insurance premiums (PMI) - Buyer’s who put less than 20% down, usually pay PMI and PMI  can usually be included in your interest deduction.
• Relocation/Moving Expenses – If you  moved due to a job change  you may be able to deduct the cost of moving. In order to take the deduction, you must move within one year of starting the new job, work full-time at least 39 weeks during the first 12 months at the new location, and your new job must be at least 50 miles further than the old residence was from the old job. Qualified moving expenses include your out-of-pocket cost of moving yourself, your family, and belongings to the new location.

Owning a home:

Once you purchase a home, you will most likely begin to itemize deductions on your tax return, if you are not already doing so:

• Mortgage Interest - This is usually your biggest deduction, you can also deduct interst on a home equity loan, provided it is secured to the property.
• Real Estate Taxes - Property taxes paid on your home, whether paid directly or paid through your mortgage company are deductible.
• Home Improvements and Energy Credits - The Recovery Act gives incentives to homeowners making improvements and energy-efficient upgrades to their homes. Taxpayers can get credits for 30% of the cost of qualifying doors, windows, HVAC, water heaters, roofing and insulation, up to a maximum credit of $1,500. Solar energy and wind energy systems are each 30% of cost with no maximum.

Selling a home:

Sellers don’t have to pay taxes on a profit up to $250,000 for single filers and $500,000 for joint filers. Homeowners must have lived in the home for at least two of the past five years to claim this exclusion.

Taxpayers whose homes were foreclosed may be able to exclude the mortgage debt that was forgiven in connection with the foreclosure. This provision applies to debt forgiven in calendar years 2007 through 2012, of up to $2 million is eligible for this exclusion ($1 million if married filing separately).

Always consult with your tax adviser before taking any deduction!!!

If you are considering buying or selling a home, we at the Marchant Team strive to always be ahead of the curve and provide you with the most innovative tools to assist you. Whether searching the Geist/Indianapolis area, Fishers area, Carmel area or Noblesville area, we have you covered. Some of the services we offer are “One Call Get’s it All” and “Smarter Agent“, feel free to give them a try, they will make your homebuying process a lot less stressful.

Search Geist Lawrence homes for sale by neighborhood!

Search Fishers homes for sale by neighborhood!

Kim Carpenter “Kimsellsindy.com” – Geist/Indianapolis Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Geist/Indianapolis IN Real Estate Website

sold@kimsellsindy.com
317-509-4000

• Thinking about selling your home?
• Had your home on the market and it has not sold?
• Wondering why other homes are selling and yours is not?
• How does staging affect the saleability of your home?
  
• What does pricing your home right affect the sale of your home?
  

Call the realtor that gets RESULTS!!! My 2009 statistics speak for themselves:

6407 Bayside S. Drive $128,500 - Offer accepted within 11 days

10255 Plantana Drive$149,900 - Offer accepted within 16 days

12102 Aldenham Blvd $160,000 - Offer accepted with 1st showing

8450 New London Ct. $259,900 - Offer accepted with 1st showing (2nd offer received within the first 24 hours)

9706 Hampton Circle North $259,900 - Not even listed, I approached the seller and SOLD it!

1831 Valley Brook Drive $190,000 - Offer accepted with the 1st showing

9702 Iroquois Ct. $385,000 - Offer accepted with the 1st showing

I can not stress enough the importance of staging and pricing your home right!!

We at the Marchant Team strive to always be ahead of the curve and provide you with the most innovative tools to assist you in your home search or the sale of your home!  Whether searching the Geist/Indianapolis area, Fishers area, Carmel area or Noblesville area, we have you covered. Some of the services we offer are “One Call Get’s it All” and “Smarter Agent“, feel free to give them a try, they will make your homebuying process a lot less stressful.  Just call, e-mail or text me to get set up!!!

If you are interested in attending a “1st Time Homebuyer Class“, complete the form at this link and submit.  We will contact you with additional information.  We look forward to seeing you there and making your “Dreams Come True, One Home at a Time”.

Kim Carpenter “Kimsellsindy.com” – Geist/Indianapolis Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Geist/Indianapolis IN Real Estate Website

sold@kimsellsindy.com
317-509-4000

I have exciting news!!!

We, at the Marchant Team at Keller Williams, strive to deliver the latest tools available to make the search for your dream home a reality!!  Our latest tool is "One Call Get's it All"!!!  By dialing a local number, typing in the house number of any home for sale in the Indianapolis market, you get the price, square footage, # of bedrooms, etc.  Yes, that is right, any listing, it does not have to be my listing or a Keller Williams listing!!!

To get started, simply give me a call or text me at 317-509-4000 with your cell phone number, name and e-mail address.  I will get you registered, give you the access number and your search begins.  No more waiting for me to call you back with information about a home you saw or trying to find it on the computer yourself, now you will get the information instantly!  You can then choose to be connected to me to see the property!!  What a time saver?

You will not receive calls from any other agent or have to call multiple numbers to get information, One Call Get's it All !!!!!

Let me get you registered!!!

Search Geist Lawrence homes for sale by neighborhood!

Search Fishers homes for sale by neighborhood!

Kim Carpenter “Kimsellsindy.com” - Geist/Indianapolis Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Geist/Indianapolis IN Real Estate Website

sold@kimsellsindy.com
317-509-4000

We at the Marchant Team strive to always be ahead of the curve and provide with the most innovative tools to assist you in your home search!  Whether searching the Geist/Indianapolis area, Fishers area, Carmel area or Noblesville area, we have you covered.

Now cell phones can be turned into the ultimate house-hunting tool.  Kim Carpenter with Keller Williams is providing consumers with a mobile application called Homes for Sale that makes it possible to search all local property listings from your phone, regardless of whether it is Kim's listing or another broker/agent.  Homes for Sale can be downloaded to cell phones, iPhones and Blackberry devices by visiting the Marchant Team website.

With this program, consumers can be in any neighborhood and view detailed listing information at the touch of a button.  The GPS technology in the mobile phone locates users and pulls up addresses and information on property listings in their immediate area of where they are standing or sitting in their cars!  List price, square footage, tax information, beds/baths, interior and exterior features and pictures become available instantly in the palm of your hand. You can not however access information on listings that are pending or sold.

Consumers can also search by city, zip code, address, or community name when GPS is not available, or if they want to search for real estate in a particular area other than their current location.

The "Call to See" feature within the application will connect users to The Marchant Team, so that the consumer may get additional information or schedule a tour of the property.

Simply go to the Marchant Team website, click on the "Cell Phone Icon" to the right of the home page and follow the instructions, ie.. cell phone carrier, make/model of your phone and your cell phone number.  The application is then sent instantly to your cell phone.

This application is available across every carrier in a fully downloadable application or mobile web (WAP) version.  The fully downloadable version is live on hundreds of cell phone models on AT & T, Sprint, and T-Mobile.  If you carrier or cell phone mobel is not listed on the downloader tool, simply select "Other" and download the mobile web (WAP) version.  Smarter Agent is also available on Blackberry devices as well as the iPhone.  They are adding additional models over the coming months.  Fees may apply so please check with your carrier before downloading the application.

Kim Carpenter "Kimsellsindy.com" - Geist/Indianapolis Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Geist/Indianapolis IN Real Estate Website

sold@kimsellsindy.com
317-509-4000

As an agent with Keller Williams Realty, I spend my days, "Making dreams happen, one home at a time" in my community.  That is why, we, The Marchant Team are so passionate about giving where we live.  We CAN make a difference and help those that need it most!

This Thursday, May 14th,  will be the first time more than 74,000 Keller Williams associates nationwide will pull together and give back to their communities.  RED (Renew, Energize and Donate) Day is a new Keller Williams Realty service initiative dedicated to improving their local communities.

The vision for this day is that all Keller Williams associates will actively engage in a coordinated effort to improve their local community.  Activities throughout the U. S. will include rehabbing a home, cleaning up a local trail, providing food for the homeless, or any other service related activity that may be needed in their communities.

Locally over 300 Keller Williams associates have committed to donate their time to help the City of Indianapolis Parks Department.  There are more than 50 Indy parks that are in desperate need of clean up and revitalization and our Fishers/Geist market center has been assigned the Indy Park at 16th and Fall Creek.    In addition to donating their time to the Indy Parks, the FISHERS/GEIST market center will support "Third Phase" of Hamilton County.  This Center helps over 1000 individuals a month, but with the current economy this Center is in need of help to keep their shelves stocked so it can continue to support individuals and families in need.  All items collected will be delivered to Third Phase on Saturday, May 16th.  Individual food and donations can be dropped off at the Keller Williams Fishers/Geist office located at 11800 Exit 5 Parkway, Suite 102, Fishers, IN  46037.  For questions, call our office at 317-863-4300.

FEEL FREE TO JOIN US, TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!