Buying a lifestyle, not a just a home

When we moved to Noblesville, we purchased a house that offered a certain lifestyle.  Mike and I enjoy golf - the peacefulness of being on the course, the beauty, the friendships, the competition, the respect, the integrity.....it is more than just a game.  Buying a home on a golf course gave us the opportunity to live and breath what we love.  We hear the clanging clubs as golfers pass by, we see the beautful course (and watch someone else cut the grass) 24/7, the kids sometimes sneak out and run on the open fairway, we waive to friends as they pass by and while out playing our house is a convenient pit stop when nature calls.   A little slice of heaven....each and every day!

Knowing how much we enjoy our lifestyle, it only makes sense to help future homeowners find their dream lifestyle.  My passion is showing golf course homes and neighborhoods near and around the clubs.  There is something for everyone - price ranges that meet the individual budgets.   Find family homes, retirement homes, 2nd homes, homes on near the tee box, on the fairway, near the green, overlooking a pond - you tell me what you are looking for and I can help you find it. 

Considering a move?  Ask yourself what are you buying - a home or a lifestyle?  

Stony Creek Golf Course - 2013 Indiana Course of the Year

One of Noblesville's fine public golf courses was named 2013 Indiana Course of the Year - Stony Creek Golf Club.  Offering beginner, youth and junior programs, summer golf camps, a par 3 course as well as a full 18 hole course, Stony Creek is an affordable and enjoyable course.  They also host the Hamiton Southeaster Girls Golf team. 

To read more about Stony Creek, just click the link below. 

http://www.stonycreekgolfclub.com/

Cost vs. Price Explained in simple terms

I am a little bit of a chart/numbers junky so the link below really pumped me up.  It is a great visual that explains how just .5% jump in interest rates can impact your monthly payment. 

Cost vs. Price Explained  

BUY NOW....while the rates are low!!!

Benefits of having a Buyer's Agent represent you

No need to make buying a house harder than it has to be.  Don't think you have to track down every agent for every listing that you want to see.  You may waste a lot of time trying to reach agents.  Find an agent that you like, an agent that you trust, and then partner with them.

Every buyer could use a good Realtor partner.  And like any good relationship, commitment only makes it stronger.  Be honest about what you want, trust that the Realtor is working for you and will keep your best interest at heart, and ask questions.  Your agent can help you track down homes, set up showings, give you information about neighborhoods and market values.  A good Realtor will work with you and only enhance the buying process.  

If building is an option, take your Realtor along.  Did you ever consider that the person sitting in the model home is working for the builder?  They absoluetly are working for the builder.  That doesn't mean they won't work with buyers, too, but it does mean their loyalty is to the builder.  It doesn't cost a buyer ONE CENT to have representation.   So if it doesn't cost you anything, why not have a licensed agent represent you?    (Builders will not, and can not, charge buyers with representation more or offer discounts to buyers that don't have an agent.  So don't think you might get a better price if you negotiate on your own.)

So if you are just thinking about buying a house, start looking for a business partner.  Interview agents, check out their web presence - you can learn a lot about a person via the internet, find someone you are comfortable working with.  Make it a fun experience!

Radon - What is it and why test for it?

More and more homeowners are considering radon detection a "must" - and with good reason. Health officials have warned that exposure to unsafe levels of radon can cause an increased risk of cancer. In fact radon is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in North America, yet it is easily preventable. The Environmental Protection Agency has dubbed January "Radon Awareness Month." Read below to learn more about testing radon levels in your home and protecting your family.


WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF RADON?

Radon is a naturally occurring odorless, colorless, radioactive gas that is formed by the ongoing decay of uranium in soil, rocks, sediments, and even well or ground water. While radon that escapes into the atmosphere is not harmful, dangerously high concentrations can build up indoors, exposing residents to possible health risks.


HOW RADON ENTERS THE HOME

Radon gas can migrate into the home in several ways. Openings or cracks in basement walls or floors are common avenues. Sumps, basement drains, and spaces around gas or water fittings can also allow radon into the structure.


HOW CAN MY CLIENTS FIND OUT ABOUT RADON IN A HOME THEY ARE CONSIDERING FOR PURCHASE?

Radon can be measured using several different types of devices. Talk to your home inspector to find out what device they use and how accurate it is.

REDUCING THE LEVELS OF RADON IN THE HOME

Radon mitigation methods can include sealing likely entry points, improving ventilation, and a process called soil depressurization, which vents air from the house back into the surrounding soil, reducing the level of radon that can enter the home. Professional mitigation services are recommended to provide recommendations for a home's specific conditions.

Noblesville 2011 Holiday Parade

The annual holiday parade in Noblesville was yesterday.  It was a rainy, dreary day, but that didn't stop many from attending the parade - including the Noblesville Carpenter office!  It was a first for our office, being in the parade, and we worked hard to put it together.  From ordering candy to pass out, organizing logo apparel, and decorating the awesome cardboard house, it took a group effort.  At the end of the day, we were a wet bunch of Realtors with a collapsed house (dah, cardboard doesn't hold up in the rain), but we all had a terrific time.  Noblesville is such a great town - and rain or shine, the towns people will show up to support a local parade.

Holiday Parade Photos

An offer doesn't always mean a sale

"We got an offer? Terrific!". My sellers were so excited!!! It was a low offer, but in today's environment that isn't uncommon. It also is pretty normal to counter, sometimes several times. So they did. They made a good counter, showed willingness to negotiate and expected a counter in return.

The buyer walked. No counter. No reason. They just rejected the counter.

What????

One month later, another offer. Awesome! This time the sellers were more aggressive with their counter offer. They didn't want to lose another buyer. The buyer countered, a slight movement indicating hard negotiations or possibly their unwillingness to move much on the offer price. So the seller countered again, conceding more.

And the buyer walked. No counter. No reason. They just rejected the counter.

Not again!!!!

The reality is it is a buyer's market. To have two counter offers rejected before indicating an impasse is tough to swallow. There was no indication of 'a final offer', no communication about 'the house is over-priced'. In fact the agent indicated that the buyer wanted to get this together. Obviously they changed their mind.

The moral of the story? The obvious one - get a contract signed as quickly as possible. But the true lesson is to negotiate in good faith, don't play games and hold out to save a thousand dollars. Be aggressive and remember it is a buyer's market!

In case you wondered - my sellers did negotiate aggressively and they gave it all they could. They controlled what they could but unfortunately, the buyers didn't think it was enough. I did talk with both agents, attempting to understand the motivation and rationale behind the buyer's logic and neither could offer much. Both indicated the decision surprised them, too. The buyers apparently just changed their minds.

Now they hope that the third time is a charm!