Family fun outings can stimulate some great intellectual conversations. Here's an example from a recent outing to the Indianapolis Zoo: Family Fun Planner: Baboons are really ugly.Insightful Teen:  The babies are cute, though.Family Fun Planner: I guess.Insightful Teen:  All babies are cute. Try to think of one that isn't cute.Family Fun Planner: Thinking....Insightful Teen:  Well, except human babies. They're not cute at all. She has a point. Most animal babies are adorable. (At risk of offending anyone, I won't comment on the human babies situation.) And the Indianapolis Zoo on a Friday evening was the perfect place and time to view cute animal babies as well as their adult counterparts. We pulled into the zoo parking lot at about 4:30 pm, just as everyone else was heading home. It wa... 06/28/2010

Surrounding Geist Reservoir are the Admirals neighborhoods including Admirals Bay, Admirals Pointe, Admirals Sound, Admirals Woods, and Admirals Landing. There are currently 51 homes for sale in the Admirals today.  The most expensive home is in the Admirals Sound at $2,500,000 located at 9080 Bay Breeze Court with over 10,000 sq ft, 6 bedrooms and 8 full baths!  It also has an inground 50 x 20 Gunnite pool and a five car garage. Today I am highlighting just Admirals Sound in Geist located on the west side of Oaklandon Road from Fox Road.  There are 333 homes in the Admirals Sound neighborhood built in the early 1990s.  Many of them are water front homes with access to a deeded boat dock and the lake. Currently there are 19 listed actively for sale in Admirals Sound ranging from $350,00... 06/25/2010

If you are interested in obtaining a VA Home Loan, Here are 4 key steps to obtaining VA Home Loans in Indianapolis, IN If you are a member of the military, it's important to know you can obtain a Veterans Affairs (VA) guaranteed home loan. Obtaining this type of loan offers a few advantages: Your interest rate is typically lower than the rate you would obtain without the VA guaranty You can obtain a loan with little or no down payment The amount required for closing costs will be less than if you obtain a loan without a VA guaranty Following is a brief overview of the steps involved in applying for a VA backed loan Step 1: Find out if you qualify.  Obviously you must be a member of the military or have a certain relationship with military personnel to qualify.  You'll need to complete V... 06/22/2010

Not too long ago I was contacted by a client who was in desperate need of help organizing some spaces in her home. She explained to me that the clutter and stuff had gotten so bad that she hated coming home. That she didn't feel comfortable inviting her family and friends over for dinner. It had come to the point where she was completely overwhelmed. Clutter brings chaos to our lives. It has a way of piling up and piling up until we feel it closing in on us. The tough part is once it gets so bad most people don't know how to begin the process of purging. I set off to help my client organize her family room, dining room and her daughter's bedroom. When I arrived at my client's home, I had no clue how bad it really was. As I started to look around her home it came to me that there was an ... 06/19/2010

    Helpful Tips for Staging the Bathroom When you decide to put your home on the market you have to change the way that you view your home. You see your home is no longer a home at all; it is now a product for sell. Knowing that you are now selling a product you must put your home on display in sort of the same way that a department store displays their items for sell. Your focus should be on making sure that your home is clutter free, painted the right colors that all necessary repairs have been made and that the home is q-tip clean. Buyers have many choices and options in today's market that means that you have to make sure that you set yourself apart for all of the other homes for sale in your area. You also want to have a fair chance against your Staged competition. When buyers tou... 06/18/2010

Geist is hosting the Blast from the Bridge again this year; fireworks over Geist Reservoir.  There probably isn't a better place to see the fireworks this year; assuming the weather cooperates.  If you are unfamiliar with this part of town, I have linked to a Geist Map. The bridge will close to "car" traffic at 5:30 and open to "pedestrians at 6:00.  It will reopen to "car" traffic at 11:00 p.m. on the 4th.  Fireworks will begin at dusk (approximately 10:00 p.m.) and will last for 30 minutes.  There is free parking at Holy Spirit, but not until about 6:15 due to Mass. In addition to the fireworks there will also be a boat parade.  The theme this year is a Patriotic Salute to the 70's.  It will make the whole event very festive! Tom Britt is very active in the Geist Community with the At... 06/17/2010

The Hoagland Group just SOLD 421 Narcissus Drive, Indianapolis IN  46227 Beautiful home in the popular Perry Township neighborhood of Hill Valley. If you happen to live in Hill Valley, stop by and say "hi" to your new neighbor!  This one is sold, but there are may other lovely Hill Valley homes for sale.  Click on the slide show below to see similar Perry Township properties.   Originally posted by Steve & Tonda Hoagland on Active Rain Blog, www.Indychats.com 06/17/2010

Buyers are often wary of pursuing distressed properties. And, let's face it, so are many agents! The time and uncertainty involved with these transactions can seem daunting. However, in our Indianapolis housing market, where no neighborhood is immune to short sales and foreclosures, distressed properties are almost impossible to ignore.  As scary as they might seem, distressed properties can offer buyers the deal of a lifetime. And according to research conducted by Keller Williams Realty, many of the myths and misconceptions associated with distressed properties are just that: myths and misconceptions. Here are the findings of the KW research, based on the responses of more than 2,500 KW associates who have worked with distressed properties: Buyer Concern: It will take forever to find ... 06/16/2010

Home is Where Your Heart Is.   We've all heard that expression but its still so true today.  It is the place where you spend the most time.  Its where your personal memories become attached to family and friends.  Its no wonder that finding just the right Home is so important to Home Buyers.  The Phrase "Home Sweet Home" is what describes what Home Buyers are Looking For in the feeling of Home ownership.    A sanctuary where no one enters without you personally allowing entry.  What is Home? A roof to keep out the rain. Four walls to keep out the wind. Floors to keep out the cold. Yes, but home is more than that. It is the laugh of a baby, the song of a mother, the strength of a father. Warmth of living hearts, light from happy eyes, kindness, loyalty, comradeship. Home is first school ... 06/15/2010

Broad Ripple is located just north of downtown Indianapolis in Marion County.  It offers many fun things including bars, top restaraunts ranging from fast food to high-end steakhouses.   As growing up on the Northside, the most popular thing to do was the nightlife in Broad Ripple.  Once it gets dark, the Broad Ripple strip lights up with 100's of people crowding the streets and all the bars.  There are many bar options including sports bars, casual bars, dance clubs, and low key small bars off the strip.   There are many outdoor activities to do during the day as well including boating on the white river, walking/running on the Monon Trail which runs from downtown Indianapolis right through the heart of Broad Ripple up to the suburbs.  The great thing about Broad Ripple too is that it ... 06/12/2010

The Meridian Kessler Home and Garden Tour is right around the corner! The focus for the 37th Annual Meridian-Kessler Home Tour is "Green by Design" There will be two times for tours each day:   Home & Garden Day TourSaturday & Sunday, June 19-20, 2010 Noon - 5:00pmView List of Homes Twilight Tour & Silent AuctionFriday, June 18, 20106:30pm - 11:00pm4550 N. Central, property of Northwood Christian Church (corner of 46th & Central) I am looking forward to attending this year. If you are interested in homes in the Meridian-Kessler area, give us a call today to schedule a showing.   Heather Fitzgerald-317-885-8858 06/11/2010

Trash Collection in Indianapolis is changing... If you are a homeowner in Indianapolis, you may or may not be aware of recent changes for many Indianapolis residents, 120,000 to be exact.  The Indianapolis Department of Public Works was given the task of "improving customer service" (my guess is it's an initiative to save money overall) by Mayor Ballard.   Many of you will be receiving (if you haven't already) a 96 gallon trash bin that allows the trucks to pick up the bin without the trash collector picking up bags and cans themselves.  The good thing about this initiative is that residents won't have to pay for these new bins.  The one downside (for elderly or individuals with certain disabilities) to these new MONSTER bins is their size.  My mom had one of these at her last residence... 06/09/2010

Wonder what there is to love about Indianapolis Indiana? Plenty! Here are the Haddad Team's top picks, in no particular order!  1.  Manageable TrafficThe average commute time for Indianapolis is only 21 minutes, according to US Census statistics.  Although that’s only 3 minutes less than the nation’s average commute time of 24 minutes, it all adds up! 2.  Reasonably Priced HousingIndianapolis is consistently named to the Forbes.com list of Most Affordable U.S. Real Estate Markets, and 2009 was no exception, when the Circle City landed the No. 12 spot for affordability on the Forbes.com list of America's Best Bang-For-The-Buck Cities. 3. Indianapolis Greenways and ParksMore than 188 parks and seven major bike/pedestrian trails are located in Marion County alone. The Monon Trail starts do... 06/07/2010

Curb appeal is important!  Its what first attracts Buyers to your home.  Buyers have to want to walk through the front door to be interested in whats on the inside.  So Presentation is everything.  Try to Make it Welcoming and warm.  Take some pictures of the Front of your home and then compare it to other like properties in your neighborhood. They say a picture can say a thousand words and its so true.  Clean the walk way, front porch, windows, Get rid of any clutter that might be around.  Paint trim around your windows and doors perhaps to pronounce and accent your home.  Plant bushes and flowers, trim hedges and remove everything that doesn't belong.  Don't forget Mulch in your flower beds it will add important appeal. Everything extra you do on the exterior will help to make those a... 06/06/2010

We closed on this Indianapolis Short Sale yesterday and our clients have never been more relieved!   New Price on Indianapolis Short Sale   10632 INSPIRATION DR, Indianapolis,  Listed for $139,000           Tasteful & Elegant 3 Bedroom home. This warm and inviting home has a lot of room with a game loft, a spacious kitchen and huge lot on pond.  It is in Move in condition.   About the Author: The above info regarding Indianapolis Short Sales was provided by: Heather Fitzgerald, who has over 15 years of experience in real estate, title insurance, and lending that can be put to work for you. Heather can be reached by phone at 317-885-8858. Thinking of selling your home or buying your next home? We can help you with this. I service the following areas: Greenwood IN Real Estate, Indianapoli... 06/03/2010

Open House 738 S Biltmore Indianapolis Indiana 46241 Sunday June 6 11-1. Wayne Township House for Sale. Cozy Adorable bungalow 2 Beroom 1 bath 2 Car Separate Garage with Storage and Working space.  Nice Living Room with Large Picture window.  Kitchen has lots of cabinet space and Cute Breakfast nook.  This a must see and Close to Downtown Indy, IUPUI, Ivy Tech.  Low Utilities, Low Taxes and Low Payment.  Indianapolis Open House BLC # 21028750 For More Information Check out my Web Site:  SThomasRealEstate.com Indy Home For Sale! Located in Wayne Township Schools   06/03/2010

Broad Ripple Village Real Estate Market Report Following is the market report for the area known as Broad Ripple Village as of June 1st 2010. Interesting trend for the Month of May...The number of closed transactions (sales) skyrocketed!  Can you guess why?  My money is on the expiration of the tax credit and the requirement to close by July 1st. Outside of the large number of sales for the month, the numbers were mixed in regards to listings vs. price.  The listings were down with prices either being up or down depending on which state of a transaction (active, sold, pending) you're looking at. REMINDER: The extension of the Tax Credit for New Home Buyers (or those that haven't owned in 3 years) requires you close on your home before July 1st.  You should already have a fully executed... 06/02/2010

Broad Ripple Village Real Estate Market Report Following is the market report for the area known as Broad Ripple Village as of May 10th 2010. April was an interesting month...While it didn't pack quite the same punch as March, it did display an obvious indicator about the tax credit.  Pending listings saw a 55% increase over March which would indicate quite a few people jumped in on a home purchase before the expiration of the tax credit.  REMINDER: The extension of the Tax Credit for New Home Buyers (or those that haven't owned in 3 years) requires you close on your home before July 1st.  You should already have a fully executed Purchase agreement at this point in time.  If you don't, you will not be eligible to claim the credit.  If you're interested in purchasing or selling your Broa... 06/02/2010

Broad Ripple The town of Broad Ripple was established on the banks of the White River in 1836, about six miles north of Downtown Indianapolis. One year later construction of the Indiana Central Canal began and the town of Wellington was platted on its south side. In 1884 Wellington became part of Broad Ripple and in 1922 the town of Broad Ripple was annexed into Indianapolis. Today, Broad Ripple one of six areas designated as cultural districts in Indianapolis, offering many of Indianapolis' premier upscale restaurants, art galleries, and the popular Monon Trail. It also has a reputation for being socially, economically and ethnically diverse. The diverse and unique venues for eating and entertainment offer a wide variety, including Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Mediterranean, Middle Easter... 06/01/2010

Downtown Indianapolis                                                                             DowntownIndianapolis has an amazing amount to offer.  There are restaurants, events, shopping, theatre, and much much more.  Downtown Indianapolis Real Estate offers an electic mix of history, luxury, condos, apartments and residential homes.  Here are just some of the fun things to do in Downtown Indianapolis:   Community Tuesday at the Indianapolis Zoo, June 1st, visit www.indianapoliszoo.com. Chef's Table-June 3rd at the Nourish Cafe- www.imamuseum.org Target Free Family Night at the Children's Museum, June 3rd, 2010 from 4-8- www.childrensmuseum.org The Italian Street Festival, June 11 & 12, from 5-11- www.holyrosaryindy.org Home Winemaking Class, June 12th-8:30-noon, 636-4516-  www.eas... 05/30/2010