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 i... 06/29/2009

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 ... 06/27/2009

 Elkhart County, Indiana is made up of 16 Townships and of course each Township has it's own set of Subdivisions.  I have reviewed the sales, per subdivision for the years of 2007 and 2008.  I was quite surprised.  Here are the results for 2007-2008 Subdivision Sales for Concord Townhip. Concord Township Elkhart County Subdivisions   Homes Sold 2007 Sq Feet Price    Homes Sold 2008 Sq Feet Price                   Arbor Kove   1 1330 169,900         Bakers Pleasant View   1 840 89,900         Bent Oak   1 1761 167,900   2 3044-3496 142,100-250,000 Briarwood   3 1724-2360 119,900-164,000         Briggsdale   1 1147 61,900   1 992 77,900 Bunker Hill   1 975 66,000         Candlewood    1 1291 142,000   3 1284-2040 125-140,000 Chesqua Heights   1 902 59,366         Concord Valley    2 1008-... 01/14/2009

Elkhart County, Indiana is made up of 16 Townships and of course each Township has it's own set of Subdivisions.  I have reviewed the sales, per subdivision for the years of 2007 and 2008.  I was quite surprised.  Here are the results for 2007-2008 Subdivision Sales for Baugo Townhip.   Elkhart County Subdivisions Homes Sq Feet Price    Homes Sq Feet Price Baugo Township   2007 Sales      2008 Sales Barnes         1 2176 65,000 Baugo Acres 1 1043 115,900   1 1300 90,000 Baugo Valley Estates 0       1 2408 186,000 Bon-Air Park          1 1164 79,000 Cedar Woods Replat of Cedar Bluffs 1 1540 171,000         Chandonnet Place  1 1506 147,000   1 1176 144,100 Country Corner          1 2423 138,000 Dunhill Crossing 4 962-2202 115,500-145,000   4 1332-2692 111-158,000 El Paco Manor 6 864-1416 ... 01/13/2009

My first Client Grand Baby was born November 29th, 2008. She and her Mommy and Daddy are all doing well and proudly taking photos of the precious young lady!  I am as proud as I can be.  Welcome Jo Anna Marie to our world.  I met your Mom and Dad when you were just a wee one, conceived just a little over a month and we have talked about you, dreamed about you and were anxious to meet you.  Mom and Dad have lots and lots of plans for you.  And then there are the Boys, they can hardly wait to meet you, someone their own size.  No doubt they will protect you and watch over you from now on. We promise to love you and cherish you!  Thanks Mom and Dad for including me in the family!  Sigh and Big Sigh... My own children have blessed me with 4 grandchildren and now I am a Gramma by Client! 11/21/2008

This home is lovely and well decorated inside.  I was able to take new photos and wanted to share them with the world.  I will be holding an open house in the near future and will update Elkhart when it is scheduled.  Max is the puppy in the cage and he is a character, as is the Tomcat... To preview this or any other home, please call Elkhart Indiana Real Estate Expert Evelyn Johnston with Prudential One Realty at 574-304-7148. 11/09/2008

Evelyn Johnston, Elkhart, Indiana Real Estate Agent with Prudential One Realty has enrolled in a progarm to further her education and become a Broker.  Statistics show that less than 10% of Real Estate Salespeople return for higher education.  There are more opportunities for income as there are certain Real Estate Transactions that only a Broker may perform.  Evelyn already holds the titles of Certified Short Sale Specialist, e-Realty Certification, Relocation Specialist, Referral Agent and sometimes Listing Leader in her office. 10/24/2008

Elkhart, Indiana Board of Realtors manages our local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and maintains the activity of the local Elkhart Real Estate Homes for Sale.  They do a good job of tracking sales so that the REALTORS (r) can effectively provide feedback to Sellers on how to price their home in today's market.  Even with current statistics we often times cannot predict what a property will sell for. Just yesterday one of my properties listed as a short sale had a Broker Price Opinion (BPO) done by a local Broker that has a lot of experience.  That price was very different from my seller's price. Today's market changes on a daily basis and when your REALTOR (r) asks for a price change it reflects how the market has changed and increases your chances of selling sooner, ask enough questio... 10/22/2008

President Bush signed the Hope Now initiative in December to slow the flow of defaulted subprime mortgage defaults.  The non-profit HUD-approved Homeownership Preservation Foundation should have by now approximately 550 to 600 counselors staffing the phone to talk to concerned conusmers. The number is 888-995-4673.  They estimate receiving around 2500 calls a day, so expect to be on the phone for a while.  The counselor will ask for information about your financial situation and make a determination, including eligibility to participate in the initiative.  So before calling gather your mortgage papers, income verification and monthly expenses together so you will be prepared to answer their questions. Elkhart, Indiana Home Owners are eligible if: They are current and expect to stay curr... 10/05/2008

Every prospective homeowner would like to buy the best property in Elkhart , Indiana and their favorite neighborhood at the lowest price.  That's the ideal situation, but in most cases, it's not easy to do.  Usually, buyers have three property choices in an area --the sharpest, a mid-range or the "bottom of the line." So which one would you buy and why? Obviously, the sharpest property usually carries the highest price tag.  But buyers don't have to purchase the best-looking property in Elkhart in order to generate maximum appreciation.  In fact, many times the best approach is to stay away from the sharpest properties.  Although these homes have an excellent appearance, percentage-wise they may not appreciate as much as a mid-or lower-priced home. At the same time, stay away from the r... 10/05/2008

Radon is a radioactive gas.  it comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils, even in Elkhart, Indiana.  It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.  Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up.  Any home may have a radon problem.  This means new and old homes, well sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements. Radon from soil gas is the main cause of radon problems.  Sometimes radon enters the home through well water.  In a small number of homes, the building materials can give off radon, too.  However, building materials rarely cause radon problems by themselves. Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have elevated radon l... 10/05/2008

Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas.  You can't see radon.  And you can't smell it or taste it.  But it may be a problem in your home in Elkhart, Indiana. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year.  That's because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the united States today.  Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.  If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high. Radon can be found all over the United States. Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you  breathe. Radon can be found all over the U.S.  It can get into an... 10/05/2008

Short Sales and Foreclosures in Elkhart, Indiana are on the rise, as a matter of fact short sales in Elkhart County,Indiana and foreclosure filings have sky rocketed.  You have probably seen them in the newspaper, page after page after page. Are you behind in your mortgage payments and do not know what your options are? I do!  I have helped lots of folks in the same situation that you are in, move on or work out a plan with the bank so they can stay. Have you been served with a foreclosure complaint? Call me today and I will explain what is going on and to start your loss mitigation process at 574-304-7148. The sooner you take appropriate action and call your local Elkhart County Real Estate Expert and Certified Short Sale Specialist,  the sooner you can move beyond this and on with you... 10/05/2008

Although it may seem that having several REALTOR's working for you increases your chances of finding the right property, it doesn't.  In fact, having more than one Real Estate Agent working for you usually works the opposite way. The reason is simple.  Real Estate Agents earn money through sales.  If a Real Estate Agent knows that he or she is "sharing" a buyer with several other associates, they will devote less time to that buyer than to another consumer they represents exclusively.  And for good reason.  Real Estate Agent's invest a lot of time locating suitable homes for buyers.  They do market research, take buyers around, contact other real estate agents in search of properties, and even help with financing.  Thus, their first loyalty when a hot new listing becomes available is to... 10/05/2008

Is real estate in Elkhart Indiana a wise investment?  In the long run, there are fewer investments that have shown a better return. However, the key to investing wisely in Elkhart Indiana Real Estate is understanding how the industry differs from others.  For example, when the defense industry dips, it usually shows a national decline, and the stock prices of defense-oriented firms drop across the board.  The same is true of most industries.  They are impacted nationally. That is not the case with Elkhart Indiana Real Estate, which is driven by local conditions.  One community may suddenly lose a manufacturing facility, and almost overnight the market is flooded with properties for sale.  An excellent example is Southern California.  Several years ago, the defense cutbacks began and an ... 10/05/2008

Elkhart County's, Prudential One Realty can do more to meet your homebuying needs, here are the top five reasons: Reputation: For more than 125 years, Prudential has developed a Rock Solid reputation for building and preserving individual security. Commitment to Customer Service:  The needs of Home Buyers and Home Sellers come first.  Because the Prudential One Real Estate Network is part of the Prudential family of companies, Prudential Real Estate Network members can help provide customers throughout the United States with a lifetime of financial services, ranging from insurance to securities to retirement planning. Advanced Technology:  The Prudential One Real Estate Network has pioneereed the most advanced tools in the industry to create solutions to customers' homebuying and home s... 09/28/2008

Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas.  You can't see radon.  And you can't smell it or taste it.  But it may be a problem in your Elkhart home. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year.  That's because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the united States today.  Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.  If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high. Radon can be found all over the United States, even here in Elkhart, Indiana. Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you  breathe. Radon can be found all over the U.S. ... 09/28/2008

It is popularly believed that Elkhart was named for a local island in the shape of an elk's heart.  It is more likely that the community, county, Elkhart River and Elkhart Prairie were named for the Shawnee Indian Chief Elkhart, a cousin of the famous Chief Tecumseh. Dr. Havilah Beardsley, who arrived in the area in 1830, laid out the first lots of the Village of Elkhart in 1832.  The village became a town in 1858 and a city in 1875. During this time, the railroad's presence was growing.  By 1900, a fourth of the population was employed by the railroads. I still have family members and friends who work for the railroad today.  Early in this century, industrial growth began in the area, with a focus on automobile manufacturing. The former Miles Laboratories was founded in Elkhart and was... 09/28/2008

With so much information readily available online,  Elkhart, Indiana clients often ask me, "why should we hire a real estate agent" They wonder, and rightfully so, if they couldn't buy or sell a home through the internet or through regular marketing and advertising channels without representation, without a local Elkhart County Real Estate Expert. Some do ok, many don't. According to the National Association of Realtors, 7 out of 10 For Sale By Owners end up listing with a REALTOR (r), or they don't sell and change their plans to move. So, if you've wondered the same thing, here are 10 reasons why you might want to consider hiring a professional real estate agent. Education and Training-You don't need to know everything about buying and selling real estate if you hire a real estate prof... 09/28/2008

Oakbrook Springs Subdivision is located on Ash Road, just south of CR 6, in Cleveland Township, in Elkhart County, Indiana.$87,500 is the price paid in 2001 for a home in Oakbrook Springs Subdivision for a 912 square foot ranch. Nearly 5 years later in November 2006 a home with comparable square footage sold for $118,00.The next larger sized home in Oakbrook Springs Subdivision has 1008 square feet and in 2004 there was a sale for $104,00 and in 2007 one sold for $126,000.2007 saw a sale of a 1254 square foot home for $154,500.Today there is one home for sale for $152,900 for 1,698 square feet, a two story home. If Oakbrook Springs Subdivision is the place you would like to call home, call your local Elkhart County Real Estate Expert and Certified Short Sale Specialist, Evelyn Johnston,... 09/27/2008