I closed a deal last week where the other agent was in his mid 20's, and at closing he showed up to closing in a suit and tie.   He looked sharp.   I joked that I felt underdressed (I didn't really) and asked him how often we wore a suit and tie.     "Every day!  You have to look the part!  You have to look like a professional in this business, or nobody will take you seriously" was his reply.  He also added that at his age he felt it necessary to dress like this to get respect from older agents.     I got where he was coming from and didn't disagree.  I was wearing dress pants and a nice buttom up dress shirt, but I don't dress up every day.     A seasoned and very good agent and I were talking about odd homes that we've recently showed.  I brought up a home I showed my dentist client ... 08/29/2014

  Denton Hill Drive in Hawthorne Park (Northwest Allen County).   This beautiful home features 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, 2,493 square feet above ground, a 2,500 square feet full finished walk out basement, is 10 years old, and actually has guest quarters.  It sold for $359,900, was originally listed for $359,900, and was on the market for 4 days before going pending.             Marlin Cove in Bridgewater (Southwest Allen County). This incredible home features 4 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms, 3,794 square feet above ground, is on a slab, is brand new construction, and has a bonus room over the garage and a security system.  It sold for $408,574 and was a custom build job.             Marlin Cove in Bridgewater (Southwest Allen County). This custom built home features 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathr... 08/28/2014

Yesterday Amanda called me into her office to look at something very interesting.   She pulled up our new listing at 938 Powers Street in New Haven, Indiana on Zillow.com.   Here is the listing.   All of the pictures look good.  No complaints there.   The description is obviously spot on since it comes directly from our local MLS (multiple listing service).   The zestimate?  It's inaccurate.  Big surprise there, but that's another topic for another blog that I may or may not write.   What grabbed her attention was the street view.  You can find that under the main picture on the lower right hand side.   If you click on it, you see the front of our listing and you see the neighboring house to the left.   The house you see looks like junk.  The siding badly needs replaced, and it's just a... 08/26/2014

A few months ago I was working with a young first time home buyer.  He was a really fun client to work with.  He was appreciative of my time, my efforts, and my knowledge. Or so I thought. This year the Fort Wayne real estate market has been more of a seller's market than a buyer's market.  I explained that to my buyer, educated him, and told him that when we find the right home, we're probably going to have to write a strong offer.   We found a home that afternoon that he fell in love with.   It was a two story with a basement in Southwest Allen County School District.  It had been on the market for two days, and the listing agent told me they had a ton of showings on it and she was expecting multiple offers.   I drafted the purchase agreement and left the price blank.   The home was p... 08/25/2014

Here's what happened last week in the luxury home real estate market in Fort Wayne and Allen County.  We consider the luxury market to be homes that are $300,000 and up.     Homes sold:  5 Average list price:  $448,740 Average sales price:  $430,780 - 96% of list price. Median sales price:  $366,000 Average days on market:  99 Lowest and highest days on market:  28 and 288 Lowest sales price:  $308,000 - This is a 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath, 3,208 square feet with full walk out basement in Westchester Glens.  This home was on the market for 28 days and was originally listed for $309,900. Highest sales price:  $660,000 - 5 bedroom, 4.5 bathroom, 5,527 square feet with full finished basement on 7 acres in the country .  This home was on the market for 71 days and was originally listed for $699,9... 08/24/2014

Here's what happened last month in the luxury home real estate market in Fort Wayne and Allen County.  We consider the luxury market to be homes that are $300,000 and up.     Homes sold:  28 Average list price:  $406,566 Average sales price:  $398,823 - 98% of list price. Median sales price:  $358,000 Average days on market:  61 Lowest and highest days on market:  0 and 294 Lowest sales price:  $310,000 - This is a 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath, 2,630 square feet with full walk out basement in Pine Valley Country Club.  This home was on the market for 35 days and was originally listed for $319,500. Highest sales price:  $650,000 - 5 bedroom, 7 bathroom, 4,887 square feet with full walk out basement in Canyons of North Pointe in Northeast Fort Wayne.  This home was on the market for 498 and was or... 08/24/2014

Here's a quick peek at what happened last week in the Allen County and Fort Wayne real estate market.     Home sold:  118 Average list price:  $135,683 Average sales price:  $131,693  (97% of list price) Average days on market:  58 Lowest and highest days on market:  0 and 305 Median sales price:  $102,450 Lowest sales price:  $4,500 (2 bedroom foreclosure near downtown Fort Wayne) Highest sales price:  $660,000 (5,500 square foot home on 7 acres on Bethel Road)   Out of the 118 homes sold in Allen County and Fort Wayne last week, 40 of them were sold by our Century 21 Bradley office.  That's 34% of the market that was SOLD by our office.  Why wouldn't you use a Century 21 Bradley agent to sell your home?     The average days on market last week is pretty low at 58, and the sales price ... 08/23/2014

Here's a quick peek at what happened last week in the Southwest Allen County School District real estate market.     Home sold:  17 Average list price:  $211,032 Average sales price:  $206,481  (98% of list price) Average days on market:  43 Lowest and highest days on market:  0 and 268 Median sales price:  $185,000 Lowest sales price:  $104,200 (3 bedroom ranch in Copper Hill) Highest sales price:  $366,000 (3,500 square foot home with a full daylight basement in The Fountain at Covington)   Out of the 17 homes sold in SWAC last week, 7 of them were sold by our Century 21 Bradley office.  That means we know the area WELL.     The average days on market last week is fantastic at 43, and the sales price coming in at 98% of list price is more than promising for sellers in the area.     If... 08/23/2014

Here's a quick peek at what happened last week in the Northwest Allen County School District real estate market.     Home sold:  14 Average list price:  $256,292 Average sales price:  $248,976  (97% of list price) Average days on market:  63 Lowest and highest days on market:  2 and 288 Median sales price:  $217,000 Lowest sales price:  $88,900 (3 bedroom ranch in Huntertown) Highest sales price:  $660,000 (5,500 square foot home on 7 acres on Bethel Rd)   Out of the 14 homes sold in NWAC last week, 11 of them were sold by our Century 21 Bradley office.  That means we know the area WELL.     The average days on market last week was a little high at 63, but the sales price coming in at 97% of list price is more than promising for sellers in the area.     If you're considering buying or s... 08/23/2014

As our team's primary buyer's agent here in Fort Wayne, Indiana, I get asked these questions A LOT.   Why do you think they're selling?  What's their motivation?  What do you think they'll take for the home?     My answer to each question is usually the same:  It's hard to say.     Each situation is different.  Each seller is different.     Amanda is our primary listing agent, and she would (almost) never give our seller's motivation away.  There have been a few times where our sellers were desperate to sell and asked us to let everybody know how motivated they were.  How did we do that?     We priced the home under market value and it sold that day.     That's a rare situation.  Most sellers don't want you to give their motivation and reason for moving away.  They want to get top dolla... 08/22/2014

We probably get 3-5 inquiries every month from people that are renting a home and want our help.   There's been plenty of folks that were disappointed to hear us say that we don't work with renters and we don't know the rental market at all.     "But I thought you were a Realtor and you helped people find homes?"   We are, and we do.     But here's the thing...   Unlike commercial leases/rentals, residential rentals offer Realtors a VERY low commission (on average) of around $50.   I've seen a few that offered $75, and maybe one or two that offered $100.     That should be easy money, right?     Wrong.   Most of the inquiries on rentals send over multiple rental homes that they want to see, and most of them aren't even on the MLS (Multiple listing service).   So...  that means that I ge... 08/14/2014

The other day I was driving down one of the busiest roads in Fort Wayne when something caught my eye...     From 6 blocks away!   It was the biggest real estate sign I've ever seen that wasn't on the side of a building or on a billboard.     If I had to guess, I would say it was six feet tall and ten feet wide.   It had your normal stuff on there including the company name, contact information, and a giant head shot of the agent.     It's all about branding!   We see real estate marketing everywhere including bus huts, billboards, vehicle magnets, etc.     We're obviously branding ourselves in as many places as we can.     That said, how much is too much and how big is too big?     When we list a home on a corner, we put our Century 21 Bradley real estate sign in both the front and side... 08/11/2014

  FORT WAYNE REAL ESTATE MARKET HOMES SOLD IN JULY 2014  $251,000 and Up Fort Wayne Community Schools   JULY 2014                                                                     JULY 2013 Homes Sold:                       7                                                              10 Average List Price:            $362,071                                      $331,495 Average Sales Price:          $350,542 - 97% of List Price         $321,350 - 97% of List Price Median Sales Price:           $289,900                                      $306,250 Average Days on Market:  62                                               91 Sales Price Low:                $267,000                                     $254,600 Sales Price High:               $650,000                                   ... 08/11/2014

 FORT WAYNE REAL ESTATE MARKET HOMES SOLD IN JULY 2014  $101,000 - $250,000 Price Range Fort Wayne Community Schools     JULY 2014                                                                     JULY 2013 Homes Sold:                       120                                                         100 Average List Price:            $140,150                                      $137,450 Average Sales Price:          $137,056 - 98% of List Price         $133,835- 97% of List Price Median Sales Price:            $126,750                                      $125,500 Average Days on Market:  41                                                62 Sales Price Low:                $101,000                                       $101,,000 Sales Price High:               $228,000                ... 08/10/2014

         FORT WAYNE REAL ESTATE MARKET HOMES SOLD IN JULY 2014  $65,000 - $100,000 Price Range Fort Wayne Community Schools    JULY 2014                                                                     JULY 2013 Homes Sold:                       99                                                          106 Average List Price:            $86,134                                      $85,761 Average Sales Price:          $83,279 - 97% of List Price         $83,304 - 97% of List Price Median Sales Price:           $83,000                                      $83,450 Average Days on Market:  61                                             63 Sales Price Low:                $65,000                                      $65,000 Sales Price High:               $100,000                       ... 08/06/2014

"We just wrote an offer on a house!  I hope it get's accepted!!"  -  She writes. "Yes!  Good luck!  What house is it?"  -  Her friend writes. "1234 Main St in Fort Wayne!  OMG we LOVE this house!  It's got a pool, a basement with a finished bar, and a yard to die for!  I hope we get it!  Even if they don't counter we'll take it for where it's priced!!  It's our dream home!"   -  She writes.   "What?  I know that house!  One of my friends own it.  I hope you get it!"  -  Her friend writes.     "Missy.  Do me a favor please.  Take down your status about the offer.  You're giving away your hand.  Your friend knows the owner.  What if she shares your status about how much you love it and how you'd pay full price?  You are not helping yourself one bit.  I know you're excited, but how about h... 08/06/2014

SOUTHWEST ALLEN COUNTY REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORT FOR MONTH OF JULY 2014    JULY 2014                                                                     JULY 2013 Homes Sold:                       86                                                          85 Average List Price:            $232,932                                   $240,991 Average Sales Price:          $225,918- 97% of List Price      $233,582- 97% of List Price Median Sales Price:           $182,950                                   $184,00 Average Days on Market: 48                                             44 Sales Price Low:                $109,000                                   $112,500 Sales Price High:               $699,750                                   $670,000     CURRENT ACTIVE LISTINGS AS OF AUGUST... 08/04/2014

  NORTHWEST ALLEN COUNTY REAL ESTATE MONTHLYMARKET REPORT FOR JULY 2014     JULY 2014                                                                 JULY 2013 Homes Sold:                       88                                                     85 Average List Price:            $198,915                                 $206,879 Average Sales Price:          $195,135- 98% of List Price     $201,510- 97% of List Price Median Sales Price:           $171,500                                 $170,000 Average Days on Market: 40                                            58 Sales Price Low:                $82,500                                  $37,799 Sales Price High:               $477,800                                 $575,000     CURRENT ACTIVE LISTINGS AS OF AUGUST 1, 2014 (List Pri... 08/04/2014

Over 95% of home buyers start their home search online.  When they see a home that Amanda and I have listed, here's what they see:     *  Professional Photography - This is incredibly important.  Quality pictures are key to showcasing your home in the best and most accurate light.     Here are a few examples of our professional photography.       * Professional video tours - No.  We aren't talking cheesy elevator music with sliding pictures.  We're talking about videos that we host and have professionally edited.  We are also using drones for aerial views.     Here's an example of our professional home video tours.     This cutting edge technology will set your home apart from all of the others.  If you add our knowledge of the Fort Wayne real estate market, our award winning customer s... 08/01/2014

       FORT WAYNE REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 21ST THRU 26TH   Fort Wayne Community Schools District   Homes Sold:                                46 Average List Price:                 $124,810 Average Sales Price:              $121,311     97% of List Price  Median Sales Price:                     $102,500 Average Days on Market:    52 Sales Price:      Low:               $50,000                                High:            $345,000   The above weekly statistics are for the Fort Wayne Community Schools area.  Currently there are 884 Active Listings starting at $65,000 and above.  Average List Price is $118,527 and Median List Price is $96,500. Current Active Listing Days on Market is 89. The Market continues to do reasonbly well.       07/29/2014