Northwest Indiana Real Estate News from Matt Evans

Since the middle of 2011, home sales numbers in the Greater Northwest Indiana region have continued to show increases of anywhere from 7% to 25% in unit sales.  April of 2012 provided a 7.2% increase in units sold and 3.7% increase in median house price over April 2011. The region was again led b...

This week marked the start of a new experience as I leave Keller Williams Realty where I've been for half a decade.  After an intense interview process, evaluation phase, and ultimate decision, I decided to join RE/MAX Affiliates in Valparaiso, Indiana. My new real estate office has a wonderful b...

A bright light in the housing market, Porter County Indiana realized a 46% increase in home sales this September 2011 over September 2010 numbers. Closed home sales grew from 109 units to 160 units in this Northwest Indiana county according to the Indiana Association of REALTORS. The 51 unit incr...

As an incentive to stimulate home building and add jobs, the Valparaiso City Council voted Monday, April 25th to waive three building permit fees thru October 2012. The waived fees include the permit fee, sewer connection charge, and park impact fees.  The waiver is an effort to lower the cost of...

Qualified buyers should act fast to purchase their favorite home. The FHA is making an upward adjustment to the Mortgage Insurance Premium percentage monthly fee. Currently MI is at .90%. However on April 18th, 2011, MI is rising to 1.15%.  This means that for a loan amount of $200,000, where the...

As Illinois put higher personal and corporate income taxes into effect in order to balance the budget, Indiana has begun to receive a windfall in those seeking to relocate.  Near Chicago, in Northwest Indiana, business leaders, government officials, and REALTORs are reporting increasing inquiries...

Distressed home sales make up a fair share of the home sales market in Northwest Indiana, but not nearly the number in other markets around the country.  While exact figures are hard to uncover due to listing classification differences, a little over 11% of homes sold in Valparaiso (91 homes tota...

Valparaiso residential home sales in 2010 remained relatively stable in year-over-year comparisons versus 2009 figures.  GNIAR MLS data shows that while unit sales were slightly down from 815 units to 809 units, median sales price remained identical to 2009 at $174,900.  Average days on market st...

Where a slowdown is created in the REO or foreclosure market, opportunities may be enhanced for buyers and sellers of distressed properties. As lenders with assets headed toward foreclosure consider slowing the process, bank asset managers may be more inclined to negotiate short payoffs in coming...

The Matt Evans Team put two great homes under contract this past week in LaPorte and Valparaiso, Indiana.  3428 Kama Drive in LaPorte is a NASB REO/foreclosure that will close within the next 7 days. It is a fantastic all brick two story home in golf course community and great deal to first time ...