home builder: How to choose a home builder - 04/12/10 09:25 AM
I am writing a new series at our Green Pointe Homes blog entitled:How to build a new home in Northwest IndianaCheck it out and let us know if you have additional comments or questions.
 
As an aside - for those that are wondering and thinking about building a home.  The past two years have been difficult in construction, ver difficult.  That means that pricing for construction is also a bit lower than it was in the big days of 2004.  As inventories on existing homes level off, interest rates are hovering around 5.5% for now, and values begin to increase … (1 comments)

home builder: Northwest Indiana Mortgage Announcement December 1st - 11/30/09 01:16 PM
This is a reprint from my outside mortgage blog, but thought I'd post here too for those that are more active in the rain.  Announcement - Joining Sierra Pacific Mortgage On December 1, 2009 I officially start as Senior Mortgage Banker for Northwest Indiana with Sierra Pacific Mortgage (local Indiana affiliate Residential Mortgage Group). Many of you know I have been providing assistance to small businesses in Northwest Indiana, especially those affiliated with mortgage lending and home building. Let's be honest if you've read this blog more than once you know that I am passionate about home ownership.
First time new … (3 comments)

home builder: Home Builders Speaking Out - Defy the Trends Campaign - 04/22/08 12:25 AM
I love this story, and posted on my home building blog:
Home Builders Defying the Negative News
I don't really post for points anymore, so really not gonna spend time and energy typing a bunch extra, just head over to my post and comment liberally.
There's a link to their Facebook Cause page there too.
… (6 comments)

home builder: Top 25 Home Building Bloggers - Week 5 - 11/05/07 01:48 PM
I'm trying to make a committment to post this list once a week, thus the reason for the Week 5, my fifth in a year.
If you know of some great home builder bloggers, not featured here, toss the links to me!  The scores listed below relate to Active Rain points, but I'd love to start ranking using other methods.
… (0 comments)

home builder: 400Th Builder Member! - 10/27/07 04:38 AM
The newest builder-contractor member on Active Rain makes 400, finally.
Come on contractor and builders, it's high time we got a bit more involved in Web 2.0 before it's old news!
If you know a contractor or home builder, or a new home salesperson, get those invitations sent today.
Now the bigger problem is getting home builders and new home sales specialists more involved, networking, helping one another get SEO traffic for websites.  If you are a home builder, or new home sales expert, give me a shout (http://www.twitter.com/daltonsbriefs) or go to http://synergyhomes.blogspot.com and leave me a comment.  It's time to change your marketing … (5 comments)

home builder: How to choose a home builder - Part Two of a Series - 06/17/07 02:43 AM
In late April I started a series on choosing your new home builder.  How do I choose a New Home Builder? First in a series.  We had some fun discussing questions that a consumer can ask to try and differentiate between the trustworthy home builders and those that fall into possible problems.
Today I move to QUALITY of CONSTRUCTION. 
First let me say that some of the best posts over at Home Builders of America (Active Rain Group) have been by member David Britt.  He has posted numerous times on specific quality of construction issues: Wood, Metal or Vinyl?  and Building a … (6 comments)

home builder: Home Builder of America May Features - 05/22/07 11:30 PM
Though a relatively small portion of Active Rain's membership, home building is a key component of all our success, here are the current featured posts for May 2007 in the Home Builders of America Group.
 Posts:
 
… (3 comments)

home builder: RENT TO OWN - Is it for you? - 04/26/07 02:53 AM
A lot of the articles and links I post over at Synergy Thoughts are generic in nature, but today a much more specific article that I think affects a lot of you looking for a new home in Northwest Indiana. RENT TO OWN is proclaimed in advertisements and on websites and on signs hung from telephone poles. What exactly is this and when is it a good idea?If you are a decent individual who has suffered some credit set-backs, RENT TO OWN may be a good idea for you. If you have a morally challenged view of credit, one that suggests you … (8 comments)

home builder: Tripped Into (Not stumbled) Today - 04/23/07 03:33 PM
Albert Switzer Understands Sales Management - Myers Barnes
Ok, this one hurt.  Myers suggests that the crackberry needs to stay holstered during training meetings.
Sellsius Blogger Meet-Up in Laguna Beach This Friday
Have you noticed that Web 2.0 connections and community are turning into face to face meetings?  I noticed a group from here on Active Rain in Florida met for drinks last weekend too.
A Fair Warning About Christianrealestateagents.com Uh Oh, another scam taking advatage of people online
Beware Of Deed Solicitation Another company charging alot for basically free information. 
Does your website get home buyers to respond? My new daily read, new home sales specific blogger, … (2 comments)

home builder: Home Builders of America - Dalton's Review II - 04/15/07 05:23 PM

New Home Marketing
Tips and Articles for the Real Estate Industry - New Home Construction - Sales and Marketing with Internet Search Engines, Email and More.
http://newhomemarketing.blogspot.com/
Have You Thanked Your Builder Today? Myers Barnes
 
Why your builder should love the internet  
… (3 comments)

home builder: Porter County Builders Association Blueprint March 2007 - 04/07/07 06:10 PM
… (2 comments)

home builder: Porter County Indiana Home Builders - 04/07/07 05:47 PM
I've been working on a couple lists on my blogs, one was Northwest Indiana links to blogs, another Active Rain Home Builder blogs (or at least blogs about home building), now for my first attempt at a list of home builders that build in Porter County Indiana.  Obviously go to Synergy Homes for more specific information, or Synergy Thoughts to see today's blog posts.
These builders are members of the Porter County Builder's Association, of course I will have to update the list in a couple months as new builders join every month.  You can also go straight to the PCBA Locate … (2 comments)

home builder: Neighborhood Synergy - Eagle Ridge Valparaiso Indiana - 03/26/07 12:10 AM
Today I start my new series, Neighborhood Synergy, with an eye on neighborhoods that are interesting for new home buyers.  In Northwest Indiana they are approximately 400 new home developments, could take me a while to focus on each one individually ... but it's worth a try.
Eagle Ridge was developed in 2005 by Strathmore Developments.  This community features 112 homesites and my current estimate is that about 80 of those homesites are sold. 
Homes in Eagle Ridge, includiing the Synergy Homes model at the main entrance, range from $200,000 to $300,000.  One customer told me that they had to drive "very … (4 comments)

home builder: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - 03/14/07 02:08 AM
No, this post isn't really about theater or greek comedy, it's about our real estate market in 2007.
On the way (to the Forum) or actually on the way to a recovery in housing, we encountered some bumps in the road.  The media a screaming "sub-prime meltdown" and "home builders say it sucks" ... frankly I'm just a bit tired of the whole thing.
Saturday night we ventured out with 400 of our closest friends, bit of bravado there, and raised a whole bunch of money for Porter Starke Services.  This agency works in our local area to aid those with mental health … (6 comments)

home builder: The angry new home buyers club - House Rabies - 02/10/07 09:39 AM
I was hopping around the web today, generally looking for some new blogging ideas for my local real estate and new homes site for our area (Synergy Thoughts) and on low and behold I bumped into some pretty angry new home buyers and attorneys and writers.
The first guy who hosts site Toll Brothers Truth got mad and decided to get even.   Now an interesting side thought occured to me, he's making money pushing Google Ads and Clickbank ads, how genuine is this Toll Brothers attack?  His story is that a sprinkler soaked the house and they wanted out of the contract.  … (11 comments)

home builder: Home Builder says Go Away to Agent - 02/06/07 03:45 PM
KB Homes issues cease and desist to agent in Florida.
Now here's some of the details, I guess Carlos Rodriquez a real estate professional in Florida, posts on his Orlando Weblog information pertaining to builders and specs ... he's offering himself as an expert who may be able to help a buyer find the right home.
The telling quote:
"If you are interested in a KB Home community, I am still willing to provide you with information and sell you one of their properties if this is absolutely what you want.  However, there are plenty of properties to pick and choose from other great … (7 comments)

home builder: February Indiana's Sunrise - 02/03/07 03:46 PM
This picture doesn't do the scene justice, I'm more a poet than a photographer.   I sat "warm" albeit in the lobby of the Indianapolis Convention Center this morning, and watched the sun come up over downtown Indy, day before the Super Bowl.
I wrote an internal blog post to my sales staff, reproduced here with some minor revisions for propreitary information.
The point?  Sunrise for real estate in Indiana is upon us.  Time to gird for action!
 ***** I am sitting warm with my Starbucks peering out at downtown Indianapolis, the sun is rising slowly between St Anthony's and the Indiana Sports Corporation building … (17 comments)

home builder: Briefly - 5 things to mull and consider this week - 01/25/07 10:21 AM
I've been doing a little weekly survey of blogs and ideas, looking for creative and "out of the box" ideas and philosophies that can challenge me to grow:
Cold Calling Philosophy V. Real Estate is not a numbers Game - I think rookies have to cold call, even though a long term business plan should phase it out in favor of Sphere of Influence selling.
You mean I have to work again? Great list that helped me get my priorities straight right off.  Do I schedule to do things that matter, or just stay busy?
I got People - Social networking - I have actually used that … (4 comments)

home builder: Delta Airlines - 01/18/07 07:35 AM
A reprint from MY OTHER BLOG (Synergy Thoughts)
I was able to post a mini-rant by way of email the other day, but tonite I have a bit of time to finish that thought.On New Years Eve, my wife and kids and I went to South Bend Regional Airport. We were pretty excited to pick up a puppy that we ordered for the kids as a Christmas present. We had the dog shipped by airliner from the Texas breeder by way of Dela Airlines. When the breeder showed up at the airport at 5:30 a.m. they were told that the flight they … (0 comments)

home builder: Action Plan - Active Rain Ideas - 01/15/07 12:35 AM
Last Monday I skimmed through AR and picked up five ideas to implement or brainstorm.  I thought it might be a good idea to keep that rolling again today.  This kinda functions like my own little Carnival of Ideas for the day or week.
Off with their Heads - I think I'll review all my listings today.  We have probably 16 specs listed right now and I have a funny feeling I won't be happy to see what our listings are saying to the outside world.  Can't believe I didn't think of this until I read this post.Lots of site updates on … (6 comments)