Be sure to include a visit to the Indianapolis Soldiers and Sailors Monument on your list of fun things to do this holiday season. Beginning the day after Thanksgiving, the monument in the city’s Circle Center transforms into a giant Christmas tree strung with nearly 5,000 lights and innumerable strands of garland. The evening’s festivities include performances by local talents, and culminate with a visit from Santa, the official tree lighting, and fireworks!   Indianapolis Soldiers and Sailors Monument: The Indianapolis Soldiers and Sailors Monument is the largest monument in the United States to be dedicated to the common soldier. It stands in the center of the city in Monument Circle. At 284.5 feet tall, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument is just 15 feet shorter than the Statue of L... 12/02/2010

  The mind moves in the direction of our currently dominant thoughts. - Earl Nightingale     Real Estate can be challenging right now, whether you are an agent, a seller, a buyer, a lender, etc.  We have to keep our thoughts positive and keep pushing forward! 11/29/2010

    There are currently 58 Active Greenwood IN Short Sales.  They range in price from $27,000 to $499,888. There are currently 3 Pending Greenwood IN Short Sales.  There are 9 successfully closed Greenwood IN Short Sales in the last 90 days. Some of these are listed with experienced Short Sale agents, and some are not. A short sale is very risky to do with an inexperienced agent.  They have the fresh start to your life in their hands.  Are they making the necessary phone calls to push on your short sale?  Do they know how to make those calls?     There are 93 Sold Indianapolis IN Short Sales in the last 90 days, 71 Pending Indianapolis Short Sales, and 746 Active Indianapolis Short Sales. Before you agree to list your home with an Indianapolis IN Short Sale agent, ask them how many Shor... 11/28/2010

If you were to Google Geist Realtor today, you would get a lot of choices.  If you have lived here awhile, you probably either know Realtors® or could ask a friend for a referral.  How do you know which Realtor® is the best one for the job of selling your Geist home? Here are a few questions that are easy to discern the agent's expertise and ability to sell YOUR home: 1) How long have you been selling Real Estate; experience matters. Also ask them where they sell most of their homes, knowing the area matters.  My answer is 10 years and I live in Geist. 2) What is your marketing plan; if they throw magazines at you...next!  Everyone knows buyers search for homes on the Internet now.  Their marketing plan should be centered around the Internet.  Ask them to show you their stats.  If they ... 11/27/2010

Click here for a Visual Tour    http://www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?SK=13&T=2347431 Just last Thursday, for the 25th consecutive year, Carpenter's Northeast office (formerly "Castleton") held a Thanksgiving luncheon and raffle to raise money for the Larue D. Carter Children's Hospital.   Clint Williams (office manager, ret.) gets credit for starting this tradition. At Larue Carter, they care for 42 underprivileged children with mental disabilities. Only 42? With only 159 beds, the hospital has a cap on beds and its ability to treat children. The hospital is described as an intensive specialized treatment, training, and research center for the State of Indiana Division of Mental Health system. A lot of words for a simple goal - to make people better.    The challenge is that these 42 c... 11/25/2010

THE CIRCLE OF LIGHTS IS AN ANNUAL EVENT IN INDIANAPOLIS.  IT IS ALWAYS ON FRIDAY, THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING.  EACH YEAR IT IS SPONSORED BY A FEW BUSINESSES.  THIS YEAR IT IS THE CONTRACTORS OF QUALITY CONNECTION AND LOCAL ELECTRIC WORKERS OF THE IBEW 481.  LIVE ENTERTAINMENT APPEAR ON STAGE AT THE BASE OF MONUMENT CIRCLE.  MONUMENT CIRCLE IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MONUMENT . ENTERTAINMENT THIS YEAR WILL BE FROM 6 TO 8 PM.  THE ACTS WERE CHOOSEN FROM HUNDREDS OF ENTERTAINERS.  THIS YEAR,S  SPECIAL GUEST INCLUDES INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA'S YULETIDE CELEBRATION'S HOST SANDI PATTY.  THE ACTUAL MONUMENT LIGHT UP IS AROUND 7:50 PM.  FOR MANY THIS WILL BE A BIG EVENT AND WILL BE TELEVISED BY OUR LOCAL TV STATION.  MONUMENT CIRCLE SITS IN THE MIDDLE OF INDIANAPOLIS, AND ... 11/24/2010

TO PARAPHRASE WHAT THE BLOG SEZ:  WE TELL WHITE LIES TO KEEP FROM HURTING SOMEONES FEELINGS. WE TELL THE OTHER PERSON WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR, OTHERWISE WE WOULD HURT THEIR FEELINGS. SOME IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY ARE GUILTING OF TELLING LITTLE WHITE LIES TO THE SELLERS TO AVOID HURTING THEIR FEELINGS.  IN THE LONG RUN, THE SELLERS GET HURT, BECAUSE THEIR HOME WILL NOT SELL FOR WHAT THEY THINK IT IS WORTH.                                                                       TIMES HAVE CHANGED IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS, A LITTLE WHITE LIE, WOULD NOT HARM THE SELLER NEARLY AS MUCH.  PRICES ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE WELL WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS OF LIST PRICE.                                                                    NOT SO IN TODAYS MARKET I SPOKE WITH AN ELDERLY COUPLE YESTERDAY.  T... 11/22/2010

Calling Lawrence Township home is easy.  It has reasonable housing prices, mature trees, winding road, Geist Reservoir and lots of events to attend. I do call it home, I have lived here for 20 years! On November 20th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. the Sterrett Center will be transformed into Artique!  It is the Winter Arts Fair hosted by the Partnerships for Lawrence Township. It would be great if you can be one of the first 100 people; they will get a gift bag! Be prepared to be wowed by glass blowing, jewelry, floral arrangements, photography, oil paintings, ceramics, wood arts and more.  Many artists will be demonstrating their crafts. There will be entertainment as well with Tim Grimm (singer/songwriter) performing at 10:30 and 11:30 as well as other local talent. And there will be fo... 11/19/2010

November 17th, 2010 Just last Thursday, for the 25th consecutive year, Carpenter's Northeast office (formerly "Castleton") held a Thanksgiving luncheon and raffle to raise money for the Larue D. Carter Children's Hospital.   Clint Williams (office manager, ret.) gets credit for starting this tradition. At Larue Carter, they care for 42 underprivileged children with mental disabilities. Only 42? With only 159 beds, the hospital has a cap on beds and its ability to treat children. The hospital is described as an intensive specialized treatment, training, and research center for the State of Indiana Division of Mental Health system. A lot of words for a simple goal - to make people better.    The challenge is that these 42 children have little or no Christmas to look forward to. The office... 11/19/2010

Some are arguing that now is not the time to sell; but here are a few things to think about as you contemplate the decision on your Geist Waterfront Home: 1) Last year between 11/15 and 2/15, there were 25 homes on the water that closed.  Homes in the Admirals, Intercoastal, Bridgewater, Masthead, Springs of Cambridge and other popular neighborhoods in the Geist Waterfront Real Estate area. 2) These homes typically look their best decorated for Christmas. 3) January is a popular time for relocation (which is nearly 50% of the Marchant Team clientele).  These families/people search for homes during December. 4) More people have time off enabling them to focus on house hunting. 5) The demand for homes will greatly increase on February 1st; wouldn't it be great to sell before the increase!... 11/12/2010

I SOLD A YOUNG MAN(AND THEY ARE ALL YOUNG TO ME) :o A HOME IN MID SUMMER THIS YEAR.  WE FREQUENTLY EMAILED EACH OTHER DURING THE BUYING PROCESS: HIS EMAIL TO ME:      Hi Shirley--thank you for all of the info.  I would like to hold off with a decision until Saturday--I am still very torn; mostly emotional kinds of things and the commitment of a house right now...I am just not sure I am up for all for sure.  I am sorry to bother with all this, I very much appreciate all your work and help. MY EMAIL TO HIM:     The easiest decision is "no"  I will stay with you until you decide.  The other decision is to move to an apartment or single family home to rent, to be closer to your desired situation.  In summing up, you are in an apartment where you are uncomfortable.  If you move to another ap... 11/10/2010

It's that time of year to set your clocks back one hour. Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night November 6, 2010.     11/05/2010

It seems as though everyone was waiting for the elections. We as Realtors, Buyers and Sellers would love to have another Stimulus package.  But it's probably not in the cards.  Buyers want some assurance that they are fairly secure when they make their move. I am hearing rumors that the Federal Reserve is planning to buy mortgage backed securities to lower the rate even more.  With all this manipulation going on, I am wondering why we saw interest rates up to 21% before the government stepped in at that time,  Sellers are faced with the value of their home down as much as half in many areas of our city.  W O W! As Realtors, we need to educate buyers and sellers to the new values, outside their own home.  We need to show them how a new home could fit into their financial future.  It may ... 11/05/2010

Life isn't always the way we plan it and while you are happily living in your Geist Waterfront home, something could happen where you need to sell it quickly.  We are entering that time of the year where homes for sale in Geist may be sitting a little bit longer.  There typically are not as many buyers as in the Spring, but the good news is almost all of them are serious buyers! So if you are not currently thinking about selling, here are a few tips to do "just in case". Take pictures of your backyard and front yard now with the beautiful Fall colors as a backdrop against the water.  Finding out that you have to sell in January makes getting an appealing picture to put on the internet challenging. Do maintenance on your home now.  For example, November is a great month to think about ge... 11/05/2010

SOME OF YOU MAY NOT REMEMBER WHEN INDIANAPOLIS WAS CALLED "NAPTOWN" AND "INDIANOPLACE"    MY HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED.  WE HAVE ATTAINED 2 MAJOR LEAGUE TEAMS, THE COLTS AND THE PACERS, AND A MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM. OUR FAMOUS MONUMENT CIRCLE IS THE MARKER FROM WHERE WE START.  MONUMENT CIRCLE IS THE VERY CENTER OF MARION COUNTY .  MARION COUNTY IS IN THE CENTER OF THE STATE.  NOW AS YOU TRAVEL NORTH, SOUTH, EAST OR WEST FROM MONUMENT CIRCLE THE NUMBERS OF OUR STREETS GO HIGHER.  SO IF YOU ARE GOING NORTH, IT IS VERY EASY, BECAUSE WE ARE NUMBERED 10TH STREET, 16TH STREET, 21ST STREET AND SO ON UNTIL YOU EASE INTO ANOTHER COUNTY.  THE SAME FOR THE OTHER SIDES OF TOWN, BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET NAME.  MARION COUNTY IS 10 MILE SQUARE.  AND ALL THE OTHER... 11/02/2010

Looking for a way to feel good about all that yummy food you know you'll consume on Thanksgiving Day? The 2010 Broad Ripple Drumstick Dash can help in more ways than one. Participate in the 4.5 mile run/walk and you're sure to burn enough calories to eat a guilt-free piece of pumpkin pie later in the day. And you'll feel even better knowing that proceeds from the event will help feed the hungry in Indianapolis through Wheeler Mission Ministries. Broad Ripple Drumstick Dash participants can expect chilly weather, an energetic crowd, and plenty of fanfare along the way. The fun begins at 9 a.m. on a relatively flat course that weaves through the charming streets of Broad Ripple. Don't feel quite up to 4.5 miles? No worries. There's a 2.6 mile option just for you! There's also a family reg... 10/31/2010

Homes for Sale in Indianapolis IN - REDUCED 6642 Trail Ridge - offered by The Hoagland Group Announcing a price reduction on 6642 Trail Ridge Way, a 7,170 sq. ft., 5 bath, 5 bdrm 2 story "Contemporary Tudor". Now MLS® $685,000 - Excellent Value!. This stunning contemporary English Tudor in the exclusive Indianapolis gated community of Diamond Ridge is understatedly elegant, yet comfortable & inviting - perfect for family & entertaining. Unmatched richness, details & luxurious finishes throughout such as teak, slate & travertine floors, granite counters, walnut cabinetry, extensive trim work, wrought iron railing & arched doorways...just to name a few!The open floor plan adds to the sense of spaciousness. The expansive dining room opens to the soaring foyer & two story great room overlo... 10/30/2010

As HUD has transitioned to a new system, there are still some homes remaining from the old system.  HMBI placed their last homes in Indiana on the market during the weekend of Sept. 10.  Since then, hundreds of homes have been sold.  There are now 175 HUD Homes remaining.  Bids can be placed from both owner-occupants and investors until Wednesday at 11;59 pm.  For homes where there is no acceptable bid, those will then be marketed by one of the recently named asset managers. To get in on this last chance at one of these 175 Indiana HUD Homes, contact me right away. For information about Indianapolis foreclosures and HUD Homes, visit my website or contact me on my direct number: 317-709-2537.   10/26/2010

Home buying and selling still remains an important segment of our economy.  The housing sector has the unique power to revitalize the economy during challenging time.  WITH HISTORICALLY LOW Mortgage rates, buyers and sellers continue to have opportunity to : TRADE UP...................TRADE DOWN....................RELOCATE.................PURCHASE A 2ND HOME.  First time home buyers make up 47% of the market.  Sellers take note!  There are buyers out there looking everyday.  Pricing your home is the key to selling .  Move ON with your life.  Do not try to hold onto hyper inflated EQUITY , that we did not have in the first place. Those who have purchased high........sell anyway........next time ..............Buy low. All this advice is pretty nil, unless we let go of the fear.  Can you f... 10/26/2010

  Many years ago, when I was a sweet, naïve 21 year old woman, I worked for a very mean man.  Bob loved to ridicule his employees in public.  His favorite thing was to ask, “When you assume things, do you know what you do?  You make an ass out of u and me.”  After only one year, I simply could no longer watch this man abuse his employees so I quit. Years later, I realize that there was some wisdom in what Bob had to say even if his tactics were mean and abusive. A few years ago, I worked with a millionaire investor.  He traveled from California to Indiana to buy an apartment building.  It quickly became obvious to me as to why the man was a multi-millionaire.  He refused to get a hotel room—but rather got permission to sleep on the floor of one of the empty apartments.  He refused to re... 10/25/2010