Greenwood, IN

From time to time we have people call or write in with specific home inspection questions that we may not always have the answer to. When that happens, we turn those questions over to our resident expert, Jim Schwarz of Center Grove Real Estate Inspections. Here's what Jim had to say in answer to this particular question:<!--more--> I may have seen the actual home or at least one like it. The laminate flooring was installed with a pad underneath. In order to avoid a difference in height at the bath entrance, which would have created a trip hazard and appearance issue, the installer held the pad back about a foot to create an easy transition into the bathroom. Under these circumstances, it was probably the best decision.
*This information was originally published on my outside blog at www.iShopGreenwood.com Click Here To View!

Can you believe the 80 degree weather we were enjoying just last week has so quickly left us? Wow! I even had to turn on my furnace for the first time. Well, as summer changes to fall it means it's time for us to start getting our homes ready so they're properly protected for the change of seasons. Keep reading for a great list of Fall Maintenance Tips For Your Home.<!--more-->

• Have a qualified professional service your heating system every year
• Have a certifed chimney sweep inspect for any damage, clean the flues, and check your fireplace damper
• Close any shutoffs to exterior hose connections to prevent possible freezing and or pipe breaks
• Replace batteries and inspect all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
• Check the caulking around windows and doors to help prevent heat loss
• Check the attic for proper insulation
• Make sure the sump pump is working properly
• Check around the home for any water leaks
• Keep gutters free from debris
• Trim back any trees and shrubs that are too close to the home

These helpful reminders have been provided for us by Cornerstone Inspection Services...thanks guys! *This information was originally published on my outside blog at www.iShopGreenwood.com Click Here To View!

Wow! What great advice! And it comes from none other than Mr. Warren Buffet! Yes, Mr. Buffet says that now is the time to buy your piece of the American pie. Sure, there's a crisis going on and many are not going to be able to get a mortgage right now. But for those of you that have been good with your money and have protected your credit, now is your time to take advantage of this crazy situation we've found ourselves in. No matter what you're looking at to buy right now, whether it be clothes, or a car or what have you, good deals are all around us. But when we bring it specifically to the world of real estate, the deals that can be had right now are on a much grander scale.<!--more--> If you're a "Move Up Buyer" and looking to get into "that" neighborhood....now is the time to do it! Go ahead, take a hit on the sale of your home, but take advantage of the hit that the seller of "that" home is having to take. For example, if you're taking a 10% hit on the sale of your home, how does that help you buy another one? Well, a $100,000 home minus 10% is now going to sell for $90,000. Ouch! That doesn't feel good! But look, a 10% hit on a $200,000 home means you can now buy your next home for $180,000. You lose $10,000 on the sale of your current home, but gain $20,000 on the purchase of your next home. At the end of the day, that still puts you ahead by $10,000! Or...maybe you don't have any desire to move right now. Fine. Stay in your current home, but take advantage of this mortgage crisis and buy bargain homes and hold on to them as rental properties. Because people are going to have a harder time getting approved for mortgages right now, it means that the rental market is going to be in even greater demand. Bottom line - if you've been good with your money and have protected your credit along the way, now is the time to reward yourself...Go For It! *This information was originally published on my outside blog at www.iShopGreenwood.com Click Here To View!

Between last Friday and the time of this writing, there have been 33 new homes come on the market within the "Greenwood" and "Center Grove" areas. Out of these 33, I've found three that I think are "Best Buys". I found the first one yesterday and the address is 584 Oakwood Drive and it's priced for $99,900. This property is located in The Oaks neighborhood, has 1,472 square feet, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Full Bathrooms, a Fireplace and separate Living Room and Family Room. In a neighborhood of higher selling homes, this one is assessed at $132,500 and seems like a really great deal. The next one is pictured below at 1348 W. Smith Valley Road. I've driven by this home thousands of times and always thought it had nice curb appeal and couldn't believe it last night when I drove by and saw a For Sale sign in the yard. What was even more surprising was the price I found on it this morning...$86,500!!! Oh my gosh!!! Certainly this can't last long at this price. Although it looks like the previous owner paid too much for it in 2005 when they bought it for $141,500. But heck, even the county has it assessed at $113,100 so at $86,500 it's definitely a great deal any way you look at it. The third and final pick of the week is 1234 Sherman Drive. Priced at an unbelievable $39,900 I think this price is absolutely amazing!!! We don't have any record of what it was previously purchased for. But I can tell you that Johnson County has it's assessed value as $107,500. Now there is a disclaimer that there is evidence of possible mold. But still, at this price the mold can be taken care of and this home could easily be rented for positive cash flow or flipped for a profit. Are you getting out and looking at what's available right now? If you're out driving around and want more information on a specific house or... you find something online that you'd like to take a look at inside, by all means give us a call. We'd be more than happy to shop with you! 317.893.1636

Here is what happened on the Greenwood Indiana real estate market in September 2008 for homes under $500,000:

	2007	2008	% Change
Active	N/A	725
Homes Sold	94	75	-20%
Average Selling Price	$156,425	$150,222	-4%
Days on Market	82	74	-10%
Price Per Square Foot	$82	$76	-7%

Pretty much the same trends but with an improvement in the average sales price for this month. The number of homes sold is still down pretty significantly over last year with a 20% decrease. The average selling price is down, but only 4% as compared to last year. The good news is that it appears homes are actually selling quicker this year as compared to last taking 10% or 8 days less to sell a home this year. There are 725 homes currently on the market and 1066 have sold in the past 12 months; this means there is currently an 8.16 months supply of homes on the market. While this is not terrible, others areas markets in Indy like Carmel real estate and Fishers Indiana homes are showing a lower supply of homes on the market.

If you are considering purchasing a home in the Greenwood area, please visit our Indianapolis Homes website to search for all available homes for sale.