Matt Evans

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 broker and features an atmosphere of success with blended with professional humility. We have many proven agents with years of experience who've seen many different markets, and have great support from RE/MAX OF INDIANA as well as a huge national referral network of over 87,000 agents at last count.

It is the national power of the brand that sets RE/MAX apart. The company was the 2011 recipient of the prestigous J.D. Power and Associates award as the top-rated Real Estate company for customer satisfaction. According to another study by REALTrends 500, RE/MAX agents are the most productive agents in the country, averaging more sides than any other competitor. Locally in Porter County and Valparaiso, our offices are in the top 5 in gross sales with an established sales force. The company offers a fair and rewarding commission structure, and the technical tools I desire to grow my business. And furthermore, the company's preferred charities include Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and the Susan G. Komen Foundation to which I can lend support.

Joining a proven market leader offers me the ability to expand my service, reach my potential, and pursue the long-term opportunity in this strong franchise. I'm very thankful for all I've learned and achieved at Keller Williams Realty, but very excited to journey into the future with RE/MAX.

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 increase was the largest of all counties in Indiana. Other bright trends include a decrease in listing inventory, a decrease in months supply of inventory, and an increase in the sales price vs. original list price percentage difference.

Porter Co., Indiana is at the southern end of Lake Michigan about 1 hour from Chicago, Illinois. Valparaiso, Chesterton, Porter, Portage, Kouts, and Hebron are all located in Porter County. The county has seen good relocation numbers possibly associated with a good and varied economy, lower property taxes than neighboring counties and states, several regional universities within it's boundaries, as well as the construction of a new Porter Hospital.

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 home ownership and move some of the approximatley 1,100 vacant buildable lots within the city. Only 32 building permits were pulled by builders in the year 2010.

The move should come as good news to many affected in the challenging economy including new home buyers, area developers, builders, subcontractors, and building supply stores. It should help to reduce the barriers to entry, and lower the ultimate cost of home ownership. The City of Valparaiso reportedly has a strong financial position, and feels the incentive is important for job creation while maintaining relatively low tax rates for residents.

--Matt Evans, Keller Williams Realty www.themattevansteam.com

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 monthly MI charge is $150 per month, the new monthly charge will be $191.67 per month, or $41.67 more.

This increase also acts to decrease the purchasers buying power as they will qualify for less loan because of the additional monthly expense load. In order to cover the $41.67 per month, the buyer's loan amount would need to be reduced by $7,000.

So homebuyers utilizing low downpayment FHA loans who are currently prequalified should work closely with their real estate agents to identify and pursue their next home now.

Matt Evans--Keller Williams Realty, Northwest Indiana and Northern Colorado

Special thanks to Mike Forrest of Real Estate Resource Home Loans in Northwest Indiana for providing the data used in this article.

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 from Illinois residents looking to escape the higher taxes and maintain a reasonable commute to downtown Chicago.

The higher taxes have compounded a problem of an already high cost of living for Chicago area residents. From high property taxes to high sales taxes, residents were ready to seek relief. Property taxes in Northwest Indiana are quite a bit lower than in the adjoining Illinois counties. While Lake County Indiana costs a bit more, Porter County property taxes can be 1/2 to even 2/3 less than the Illinois counties charge.

In most areas, median house prices are less as well. In the Porter County Seat of Valparaiso, the 2010 median price for a single family home was just under $175,000, and has remained stable for at least three years. In contrast, median home prices Illinois suburbs are much higher. Orland Park has a median price approaching $250,000, and in prime locations like Naperville, the median price has gone above the $300,000 mark.

This week alone, the Matt Evans Team fielded inquiries from a few people looking to sell their homes in Illinois and relocate to Indiana. Some are even sales people and small business owners who are considering a business relocation if possible. The team expects the trend to continue throughout the year, with a peak in the summer Lake Michigan Beach tourism season when many Illinois residents visit Portage, Chesterton, Michigan City, and other Northwest Indiana and Southwestern Michigan towns.

This article is submitted by Matt Evans, Broker Associate with Keller Williams Realty of Northwest Indiana. For more information on this and other real estate topics, visit www.TheMattEvansTeam.com.