Pat Haddad, ABR,CRS,e-PRO,GRI Indianapolis

A quest to perform a good deed turned into a lesson in humility when I recently volunteered my services at Third Phase food pantry and shelter in Noblesville Indiana.

I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t the ramshackle house with a distinct odor of age and in desperate need of paint. Nor was it the lack of fanfare for a new volunteer. And it certainly wasn’t the suspicious stares that greeted me as I was introduced to some of the residents. I’m embarrassed to say that I think what I was expecting might have been gratitude, which is certainly not in the spirit of volunteerism!

Anyway, I was put straight to work – not in the safe confines of the office as I’d requested, but lining shelves in the food pantry. If it was a test I think I at least passed and perhaps surpassed expectations, which I’m sure weren’t very high anyway.

I actually enjoyed the challenge of neatly applying decades-old shelf liner to warped and uneven boards. But the bigger surprise turned out to be how much I enjoyed the stories of my workmates.

Lydia, 20ish, cleared up a lot of things when she asked if I was there for community service or to volunteer. I’m guessing everyone else I passed in the hallways was wondering the same thing! I probably disappointed and confused her by confessing that I was there of my own free will, but she was still nice enough to answer all my questions. She was there as part of the 40 hours of community service she’d been ordered to perform. She was so young and cute I couldn’t imagine what she’d done to earn the sentence, and quite frankly I didn’t want to know…so I didn’t ask. What I did learn about Lydia is that she was turned down by a half dozen churches before Third Phase agreed to let her serve her time there. They just didn’t need volunteers, those other places told her. A church that doesn’t need volunteers? Really? Maybe at that point I should have inquired about the nature of her offense, but I didn’t. I also learned that she and her boyfriend are saving money to move to Santa Barbara and that she’s never seen the ocean. Never seen the ocean? Have I ever met anyone who’s never seen the ocean?

Tim, 40ish, lives near the ocean. He just can’t get home. His vehicle conked out on the way home from a trip to visit family in Fort Wayne and since he doesn’t believe in owing anyone anything (Have I ever met anyone who doesn’t believe in owing anyone anything?) he’s taking refuge at Third Phase until he can land enough handyman jobs to have his vehicle repaired and return to Florida. In the meantime, he’s lending his talents to the shelter overseeing much-needed improvement projects and ridiculous volunteers. He painted the pink hotel in St. Petersburg, FL, that my family has visited many times, and he has excellent taste in classic rock.

I went to my volunteer session hoping to feel better about myself afterward, and I actually did. I don’t think it had much to do with my efforts, though. It was more about meeting people who I didn’t – and still don’t – have much in common with but who were gracious and interesting and who have been on my mind since I left.

I’m really hoping Lydia and Tim both make it to the ocean.

Third Phase is Hamilton County’s largest shelter and food and clothing pantry. It is located at 15755 Allisonville Road. Visit www.thirdphase.org or call 317-773-5100 for more information. Donations are always needed!

For more information on Hamilton County Indiana or Hamilton County real estate, contact your Indianapolis real estate expert:

Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI
Haddad Team
317-840-7555
pat@haddadteam.com

Looking for ways to feel festive this holiday season? Try taking in one of the many live holiday shows and performances coming to Indianapolis Indiana!

Broadway Across America presents two shows during the holidays. The Tony Award-winning musical Chicago plays Nov. 20-22 at the Murat Theatre. Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple runs Dec. 29-Jan. 3 at Clowes Hall. Tickets for these shows and the rest of the Broadway Across America line-up go on sale Oct. 16. Visit www.broadwayacrossamerica.com/indianapolis.

The Indianapolis School of Ballet performs the holiday classic The Nutcracker during the month of December at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Showtimes are Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 19 and 20 at 3 p.m. Tickets go on sale Oct. 15. Visit www.indyballet.org.

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre celebrates the season with a musical adaptation of the holiday favorite A Christmas Carol Dec. 5-21. You'll love the delicious food as much as the entertainment! For tickets and information visit www.beefandboards.com.

While you're out and about don't forget to drive through the lovely Indianapolis Indiana real estate decorated for the holidays and take a peek at the holiday lights displays at Circle Center and the Indianapolis Zoo!

For more information on Indianapolis real estate contact:

Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI

Haddad Team, Keller Williams Realty

317-840-7555

pat@haddadteam.com

Visit us at www.HaddadTeam.com!

ZooBoo Promises Evenings of Frightful Fun at the Indianapolis Indiana Zoo!
Oct. 16-18, 22-25 and 29-30
2-7 PM

It’s no trick. Halloween ZooBoo days are a treat at the Indianapolis Indiana Zoo! Extended hours mean more timeto take in all the special entertainment including the Halloween Dolphin Show and the Elephant Pumpkin Smash! Caretakers will be on hand to answer questions about all your favorite animals! Mazes, trick or treat stations, a Halloween train ride and much more are sure to cast a spell of fun over visitors! Costumes are encouraged!

For more information visit www.indianapoliszoo.com.

For information on Indianapolis IN real estate visit www.HaddadTeam.com.

Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI

Your Indianapolis REALTOR!

317-840-7555

Pat@HaddadTeam.com

Tucked in between 96th Street and Lantern Road on the southern edge of Fishers Indiana, this Estridge-built neighborhood offers one of the most convenient-to-everything locations you'll find in Fishers. Winding streets, beautiful wooded lots, a neighborhood pool and tennis courts plus quick and easy access to I69, I465 and all shopping makes this 200-home enclave hard to beat. Charm, convenience and affordability (prices range from the $180s to the mid-$300s ) are just a few reasons why these homes typically sell quickly! Almost all Covington Estates homes are 2-story, and many of the homes on wooded lots feature coveted walk-out basements! Students in this popular Fishers Indiana neighborhood currently attend Lantern Road Elementary School, Riverside Middle School and Hamilton Southeastern High School.

If the price of the Indianapolis home for sale you've fallen in love with seems too good to be true, it may be because the seller is trying to negotiate a short sale. A short sale is a pre-emptive action against foreclosure, and occurs when the homeowner's lender agrees to take a payoff that is less than what is owed on the home.

Financial hardship, declining market values, and overextended credit are forcing many homeowners to list their Indianapolis real estate as a short sale. These properties can be a great deal for the right buyer, but they are also complicated and risky. A short sale can take several weeks or even months to close, the property is usually sold "as-is", and the lender can change the terms of the contract even after it's been negotiated. Knowledgable buyers who are determined to pursue a short sale should have:

--Plenty of patience. Short sales are a waiting game, and definitely aren't for the buyer who needs a place to live quickly. The contract must first be negotiated between the buyer and seller, then submitted to the lender along with a mountain of paperwork the seller must complete explaining their hardship. The bank can take weeks or even months to respond to an offer, and the answer may be "no" if the lender thinks they can get more money by letting the home go into foreclosure.

--Nothing to sell. Lenders don't like contingencies such as a home you must sell before you can close or a specific date on which you must close. The more flexible you are, the more likely it is that your offer will be accepted.

--A savvy Indianapolis real estate agent. A short sale is no time to consider going it on your own. You need the assistance of an experienced real estate agent to help negotiate the purchase. Look for a realtor who has already closed a few short sales and who understands the process.

Short sales aren't for everyone, but for the determined buyer they can mean the home of your dreams at a dreamy price!

For more information on short sales and other Indianapolis Indiana real estate transactions, contact:

Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, GRI, e-Pro

Haddad Team

317-840-7555

Pat@HaddadTeam.com