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Fort Wayne, IN Real Estate News

By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Our Century 21 Bradley office in Fort Wayne has 130 + active agents.  That means that there are HUNDREDS of listings in our office.  That means that the office phone is always ringing with prospective buyers wanting more information about a particular home they see.   That also means that we get plenty of calls from people asking about homes for rent as well.   The other day I was in the office and overheard an agent tell somebody on the phone that he doesn't do rentals, and instructed this person to go ahead and call the listing agent on the rental sign.   I asked him why he didn't work with renters.  He simply said "There's no money in it."  The average commission on a rental property in Fort Wayne is around $75, so he was right about that. He went on to say that he isn't going to sp...
Comments 11
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Arlington Park Subdivision is one of the larger subdivisions in Fort Wayne.  It's located between St. Joe Center Rd and Stellhorn Rd off of Wheelock Rd.  It's close to shopping and restaurants over by Maysville Rd, and it's just minutes from the Maplecrest Exit on Interstate 469. The price range of homes in Arlington Park Subdivision ranges from HUDs and foreclosures in the $75,000 range, and there are some homes that have sold in the $500,000 range.  That's quite a range! There are single family homes, condos, and villas as well. There are two association pools, tennis courts, playgrounds, lighted walking paths, lakes, nature regions, and Arlington Park Golf Course.    Here is a quick look at the real estate market in Arlington Park from January - July 30, 2013.   Homes Sold:  30 Aver...
Comments 2
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
This is another question that Amanda and I get asked a lot: How long do we have to do the home inspection? The answer?   It's negotiable. Normally, when we write an offer on a home, we ask that the sellers give us up to 15 days after the acceptance of the offer to have the home inspection done.  That gives us plenty of time to schedule it and have it done, and then write up an inspection response if we want to ask the sellers to repair/replace anything. It's rare that a seller will counter on this, but every once in a while they will want in done quicker than 15 days from acceptance of offer.   We also ask for an additional 10 days if anything is found during the initial inspection that would require a specialist to come in and further evaluate. Some of these things would be mold, foun...
Comments 6
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Century 21 Bradley in Fort Wayne has a weekly television show called Home Connection that is on every Sunday at 9:30 am on the local ABC channel.  The show has a featured listing and agent, and then runs through 15-20 of the office's other listings.   It's a good way to get more eyes on the office, our listings, and the agents.   Amanda and I switched over to Century 21 Bradley in May of 2012, and we hadn't had a chance to be on the show yet.  Well, we just listed an amazing home near Southwest Fort Wayne.  We thought it would be a perfect home to spotlight on the Home Connection show.  We got it scheduled, and away we went! Here is Amanda with our Managing Broker Vickee Harding filming in the living room... And here I am with the owner of our office Jim Bradley shooting our scene out b...
Comments 12
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Allen County Single Family Home Residential Real Estate Market Report for July 2013. How was the real estate market for the Allen County last month?  Let's take a quick look! Based on price range of $75,000 to $400,000 Homes sold:  376 Average List Price:  $155,843 Average Sales Price:  $151,675 (97% of list price) Median Sales Price:  $130,000 Average Days on Market:  59 Sales prices ranged from a low of $75,000 to a high of $392,500.    Overall the real estate market in Allen County is good.  Average days on market continues to improve.  It's still a good time to sell a home in the Allen County area.  There are currently 1,387 active listings with a price range of $75,000 all the way up to $400,000.  If you are considering buying or selling a home in Allen County we would love the opp...
Comments 4
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Fort Wayne Indiana Single Family Home Residential Real Estate Market Report for July 2013. How was the real estate market for the City of Fort Wayne last month?  Let's take a quick look! Based on price range of $75,000 to $400,000 Homes sold:  328 Average List Price:  $154,391 Average Sales Price:  $150,269 (97% of list price) Median Sales Price:  $128,250 Average Days on Market:  56 Sales prices ranged from a low of $75,000 to a high of $392,500.    Overall the real estate market in the City of Fort Wayne is good.  Average days on market continues to improve.  It's still a good time to sell a home in the Fort Wayne area.  There are currently 1,160 active listings with a price range of $75,000 all the way up to $399,950.  If you are considering buying or selling a home in the City of Fo...
Comments 0
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
One of my newer agents called me tonight.  He was a little upset because his buyer told him that she was going to use him AND another Realtor to help her find her dream home.  She said "Whoever finds me the right home first wins!" He wasn't sure what to do.  He said that he explained to her that if he was going to work for her, she needed to be loyal to him.  He wasn't going to put in the effort and long hours it took if she was going to go and use somebody else. She fired back saying that she thinks the more agents she has working for her, the better her chances are of finding her dream home.  If he didn't like it, tough. He asked me what to do.   HA!  This is an easy one!  Fire her on the spot! He did.   If you are a buyer reading this, let me explain to you how it works.   When we co...
Comments 17
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Southwest Allen County School District Real Estate Monthly Market Report. Homes Sold In SWAC Fort Wayne in July of 2013.  Here is a look at what happened last month in SWAC. Statistics based on home value range of $75,000 to $400,000 Homes Sold:  76 Average List Price:  $206,377 Average Sales Price:  $200,565 (97% of list price) Median Sales Price:  $173,750 Lowest Sales Price:  $76,500  Highest Sales Price:  $380,000 Average Days On Market:  47 So what does this report tell us about the Southwest Allen County School District real estate market last month?  It was very strong. Home sales were great at 97% of list price.  Days on Market continue to get better and better. Forty seven days....wow!  Great Progress! It's a great time to sell your home in Southwest Allen County!!!   Here is a...
Comments 4
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Northwest Allen County School District Real Estate Monthly Market Report. Homes Sold In NWAC Fort Wayne in July of 2013.  Here is a look at what happened last month in NWAC. Statistics based on home value range of $75,000 to $400,000 Homes Sold:  75 Average List Price:  $191,649 Average Sales Price:  $187,316 (98% of list price) Median Sales Price:  $167,500 Lowest Sales Price:  $78,000  Highest Sales Price:  $392,500 Average Days On Market:  59 So what does this report tell us about the Northwest Allen County School District real estate market last month?  It was very strong.  Home sales held steady between June and July.  That's awesome!  The average sales price is at 98% of list price...  awesome again!  Days on Market right at just 2 months.  Great Progress! It's a great time to sel...
Comments 0
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
This is a question that we get asked frequently by our sellers.  Should we leave home during showings?  Our answer?   YES!!!!! 100% yes.  There are many reasons.   It's awkward to have sellers home during the showings.  What if the buyer hates it and tells you that your taste in decor is bad?  Awkward. What if you come across as desperate and pushy?  Awkward. Most importantly, what if you accidentally say something you shouldn't and give away your motivation for selling?   Story time...   I had a buyer that was looking for a home that would fit her family's needs.  We aren't talking a simple ranch on a slab in a cul-de-sac.  We're talking unique.  She wanted land, she wanted space, she wanted a basement, she wanted a large deck, and she wanted it to be in a very small area of Allen Coun...
Comments 40
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
  Historically, the weather in Fort Wayne in August is less than desirable.  It's usually hot and muggy.  A few Augusts ago my father in law and his wife came up to Indiana from their condo in Miami.  We went to a family cookout on a day that was disgustingly humid, and the air was stagnant.  No breeze whatsoever. After a few minutes my father in law looks at me with sweat dripping down his face and says "It's disgusting up here!  How do you guys do it??" The short term forecast is amazing, especially for August!  75 and sunny today (we might to go see the Fort Wayne Tin Caps play today.  Perfect day for baseball!), 73 and sunny tomorrow, then low 80's the rest of the week with a slight chance of rain.   I'LL TAKE IT! If you need me, I'll be hanging out outside.  Kind of like THIS litt...
Comments 4
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
I've had the pleasure of training two new agents over the last year.  One of them used to be an agent way back in the gun slingin days of real estate.  She got out when the market tanked, and decided to jump back in recently. The other agent was brand new to the business, and was a good friend of mine from way back in our 20s.   While both of them had their ups and downs over the year, they are both now out of the nest (cause I KICKED EM OUT!) and on their own.   Of course I am always here if they need answers to a question, etc., but my "hands on" work is done. At least with them. I just agreed to take on and train another brand new agent that is joining our real estate team with Century 21 Fort Wayne.   What is wrong with me??  Amanda and I are both very busy with these things we call...
Comments 9
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Last year I was out at a new listing installing a Century 21 Bradley sign in the front yard.  We met with the sellers the night before and signed all the paperwork, so I was delivering the sign, lock box, and flier box that day. As I was putting the sign in the yard, the neighbor lady motioned to me and slowly made her way over. She was probably in her mid 80s, and was as sweet as can be.   She shook my hand, smiled, and asked me about my family.  I told her about my beautiful wife, my handsome son, and my two (cute as can be) dogs.   Then I asked her about her family.   It was the nicest thing!  She went on for 45 minutes talking about her kids and her many grand kids, and a few great grand kids. By the end of the conversation I felt like I knew them all.  The pride in her eyes was ama...
Comments 17
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
I love the idea of helping people find their dream home...  but there's got to be more to it!  It just seems TOO EASY! That is a direct quote from a past client of mine that has it in his head that he wants to get his real estate license and become a successful Realtor like us. First off, I take it as a compliment that Amanda and I make this job look easy.  I used to get offended by statements like this, but not anymore.  It is truly a compliment. That said, being a sucessful Realtor is NOT easy.  Not even close. We don't just open doors and collect paychecks like a lot of people believe.  Here's a short list of the things we get to deal with: Knowledge of the market.  It's always changing.  When we go to list a home or write an offer, we need to know the neighborhoods and the trends.  ...
Comments 17
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Here is a brief snapshot of the Fort Wayne Area for the second quarter (April, May, June) of 2013.  This market report includes all single family homes and all foreclosures and short sales with  a $65,000 to $300,000 price range.   Homes sold:  975 Average Days on Market:  59 Average List Price:  $141,110 Average Sales Price:  $137,294 (97% of list price) Median Sales Price:  $124,900   What does this information tell us about the market for the second quarter?  It's doing well.  Homes selling for 97% of list price on average is very good.  Days on market at just under two months is great.  The price range for these homes start at $65,000 and goes up to $292,000.   Here is a look at current homes for sale in the Fort Wayne Area.   Active Listings:  1,181 Average Days on Market:  81 Aver...
Comments 0
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Here is a brief snapshot of the Fort Wayne Community School District for the second quarter (April, May, June) of 2013.  This market report includes all single family homes and all foreclosures and short sales with  a $65,000 to $300,000 price range.   Homes sold:  559 Average Days on Market:  64 Average List Price:  $120,744 Average Sales Price:  $117,504 (97% of list price) Median Sales Price:  $105,900   What does this information tell us about the market for the second quarter?  It's doing well.  Homes selling for 97% of list price on average is very good.  Days on market at just over two months is great.  The price range for these homes start at $65,000 and goes up to $292,000.   Here is a look at current homes for sale in the Fort Wayne Community School District.   Active Listings...
Comments 4
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Here is a brief snapshot of the Southwest Allen County District for the second quarter (April, May, June) of 2013.  This market report includes all single family homes and all foreclosures and short sales with  a $65,000 to $300,000 price range.   Homes sold:  201 Average Days on Market:  51 Average List Price:  $171,417 Average Sales Price:  $166,426 (97% of list price) Median Sales Price:  $154,000   What does this information tell us about the market for the second quarter?  It's doing well.  Homes selling for 97% of list price on average is very good.  Days on market at just under two months is excellent.  The price range for these homes start at $82,251 and goes up to $300,000.   Here is a look at current homes for sale in the Southwest Allen County School District.   Active Listin...
Comments 0
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
Here is a brief snapshot of the Northwest Allen County District for the second quarter (April, May, June) of 2013.  This market report includes all single family homes and all foreclosures and short sales with  a $65,000 to $300,000 price range.   Homes sold:  221 Average Days on Market:  62 Average List Price:  $172,065 Average Sales Price:  $167,959 (98% of list price) Median Sales Price:  $159,900   What does this information tell us about the market for the second quarter?  It's it doing well.  Homes selling for 98% of list price on average is very good.  Days on market at just over two months is very encouraging.  The price range for these homes start at $66,900 and goes up to $299,900.   Here is a look at current homes for sale in the Northwest Allen County School District.   Acti...
Comments 0
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
I read and commented on a featured blog this morning that talked about a buyer (who is also a Realtor) that bought a home listed by another Realtor, and then after closing put HIS sign up in the yard.  He also put up another sign marketing him as the neighborhood expert.   The question was whether or not this unethical or just plain sleazy.  HERE is a link to that blog if you care to comment on that topic. While I think it's deceiving and could border on unethical, there are worse things.   I do think it was a very good question and a great topic for discussion. I thought I would bring up another topic concerning listings and Realtor signs.     Do you think it's okay to promote yourself on your real estate signs that are sitting in your client's front yards? I do.  Here's why.   When we...
Comments 58
By Amanda Christiansen, Christiansen Group Realty
(Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843)
The home was a 7 year old home in Bridgewater Subdivision in Southwest Fort Wayne. This home was a luxury home and had well over 5,000 square feet of finished living space.   The kitchen was grand with cherry wood cabinets and granite countertops.   All of the floors on the main level were high end wood floors and all the bathrooms were marble. The lot was spacious and backed up to a pond for a great view.   To say that my buyers were excited was an understatement. The price tag on this home was around $500,000.  Believe it or not, that's pretty lofty for the Fort Wayne real estate market. I set the appointment and met my buyers at the home.   As we walked in the front door, we were blasted with a strong pet urine odor that was so strong, that we could almost taste it.  Yes.  It was THA...
Comments 51
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