HOME SALES DATA FROM NAR RELEASED:

While home sales in January slowed, home sales are still way above January 2009 levels!

Nationwide existing home sales dropped 7.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate1 of 5.05 million units in January from a revised 5.44 million in December, but remain 11.5% above the 4.53 million-unit level in January 2009.

As expected it is the delay between shopping for a home and closing on a home that has caused the slight drop.

However, more excitingly again is the news that the level of inventory fell again, this time by 0.5% to 3.27 million existing homes for sale which represents a 7.8 month supply at the current sales pace. Raw unsold inventory is 9.6% below a year ago and is the lowest since March 2006!

The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $164,700 in January, unchanged from a year earlier. Distressed homes, which accounted for 38 percent of sales last month, continue to downwardly distort the median price because they typically are discounted in comparison with traditional homes in the same area. Also, it was noted that first time homebuyers represented 40% of home sales in January while investors accounted for 17% of sales. Buyers shopping for homes also increased 9.4%. Regionally, here in the midwest home sales only declined 6.9% but are 8% higher than January 2009.

Here is a breakdown of Lake and Porter counties:

Lake County existing single-family home sales

January 2010: 188

January 2009: 203

Change: down 7.4 percent

Porter County existing single-family home sales

January 2010: 60

January 2009: 63

With rates still around the 5% range it is no surprise that an increase in home sales is expected!

Thinking of relocating to the Northwest Indiana area? You can use our moving truck for FREE!

As one of the top producing teams of experts in our field both locally and Nationally, our full service team strives hard to make sure your real estate transaction is a truly rewarding experience.

Finding your dream home or finding a buyer is only part of the challenge of a successful transaction. Click here to search Northwest Indiana Real Estate using our complimentary Northwest Indiana Real Estate MLS Search service. Alternatively please contact Jana Caudill and the team if you need more specific assistance in your Northwest Indiana Real Estate needs. You can call the office on: 219-661-1256 or email us on: jana@janacaudillteam.com

We believe you win in life by helping others. Thank you for this opportunity. We would love to help you too!

Are you buying or selling a home here in Northwest Indiana? Or as a matter of fact, anywhere!

Then you need to think carefully about any offer you make or receive - it is important to focus NOT JUST ON PRICING!

It is all about negotiation. Too many potential buyers fixate on price. However, it is important not to – if you are selling your home, would you prefer the cash buyer who can move quickly or someone who needs to obtain financing?

Pricing is not the only part of the contract, there are several other componants which make up the offer which should be considered before making an offer (if you are a buyer) or accepting an offer (if you are a seller):

1. Closing Date -  How soon do you need to move? How soon does the seller need to move – if your answers are way off then perhaps this would not work out for both parties.

2. Inclusions and Exclusions – is the property furnished or unfurnished? Furniture costs money to replace, as do ovens, refrigerators and other appliances. Make an offer with or without these things.

3.  Terms and Conditions – What if you are not happy? Well, then you need to make sure that if either party is not happy that you could adhere to some terms and conditions to allow you to exit the deal or take it further.

Ultimately pricing is important, but there are other factors at play which are often ignored! Contact us for professional advice in Northwest Indiana.

Thinking of relocating to the Northwest Indiana area? You can use our moving truck for FREE!

As one of the top producing teams of experts in our field both locally and Nationally, our full service team strives hard to make sure your real estate transaction is a truly rewarding experience.

Finding your dream home or finding a buyer is only part of the challenge of a successful transaction. Click here to search Northwest Indiana Real Estate using our complimentary Northwest Indiana Real Estate MLS Search service. Alternatively please contact Jana Caudill and the team if you need more specific assistance in your Northwest Indiana Real Estate needs. You can call the office on: 219-661-1256 or email us on: jana@janacaudillteam.com

We believe you win in life by helping others. Thank you for this opportunity. We would love to help you too!

There are several ways in which you can improve your springtime curb appeal.

Ok, we know it is stil winter, which can be a problem! Snow, ice, dead leaves etc. But really you can make your home cleaner and at the same time taking care of a few small projects to spruce up your homes curb appeal, which will help it show better when selling.

1. Driveway and Sidewalks.

Stain/pressure wash your driveway and walkways. Fix cracks and make sure that everything is neat and tidy – this is the first impression a buyer gets of a property.

2. Consider accenting your front door.

Use a constrasting color to make your home stand out! Just some paint will do this – perhaps experiment with a few different colors to see what you like.

3. Landscaping

Ensure that all your trees and bushes are trimmed. Also, consider some early spring plants, this will add some color to your yard.

4. Inside Cleaning

Dust, dust and dust some more! Clean all windows and skylights, make sure to keep the insides of cabinet and drawers tidy – buyers love to snoop! Also, ensure that bathrooms are clean and that all baseboards are clean – perhaps give them a new coat of pain for good measure.

All in all when you have done this you should have a home which is show ready which took little effort and money to prepare.

Thinking of relocating to the Northwest Indiana area? You can use our moving truck for FREE!

As one of the top producing teams of experts in our field both locally and Nationally, our full service team strives hard to make sure your real estate transaction is a truly rewarding experience.

Finding your dream home or finding a buyer is only part of the challenge of a successful transaction. Click here to search Northwest Indiana Real Estate using our complimentary Northwest Indiana Real Estate MLS Search service. Alternatively please contact Jana Caudill and the team if you need more specific assistance in your Northwest Indiana Real Estate needs. You can call the office on: 219-661-1256 or email us on: jana@janacaudillteam.com

We believe you win in life by helping others. Thank you for this opportunity. We would love to help you too!

Due to the large number of entries to choose from, we decided to expand our finalists to 15 pets. It was so hard to pick and we left a lot of cute critters out. Now it’s your turn to decide who is the Cutest Pet in Northwest Indiana. Just click on the animal’s name to cast your vote. The contest ends on March 1st and the winning pet will receive a $50 gift card to PetSmart!

This winter has been a particularly chilly one for the whole country! However in areas which get all four seasons, like Northwest Indiana it is important to winterize your home. Ideally you should start before winter, but if you are a late comer, no worries!

Here are some tips for you:

1. Have your furnace inspected
2. Get the fireplace ready – have it cleaned!
3. Check seals on all doors and windows
4. Inspect roof and gutters – clear out blockages and repair roof tiles.
5. Service outdoor equipment – Lawnmowers, blowers etc.
6. Check foundations – seal any cracks and check your crawlspace for nests if you have one.
7. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors – important as you will have the heat on alot.
8. Prevent plumbing freezes – drain hoses, insulte pipes and more!
9. Prepare your yard and driveway. Trim trees and bushes.
10. Prepare and emergency kit for snow days!

All of these things may sound obvious, however they can really help save you money, time and in the case of the emergency kit, perhaps your life!

Not long and we can all start planning for the spring!

Thinking of relocating to the Northwest Indiana area? You can use our moving truck for FREE!

As one of the top producing teams of experts in our field both locally and Nationally, our full service team strives hard to make sure your real estate transaction is a truly rewarding experience.

Finding your dream home or finding a buyer is only part of the challenge of a successful transaction. Click here to search Northwest Indiana Real Estate using our complimentary Northwest Indiana Real Estate MLS Search service. Alternatively please contact Jana Caudill and the team if you need more specific assistance in your Northwest Indiana Real Estate needs. You can call the office on: 219-661-1256 or email us on: jana@janacaudillteam.com

We believe you win in life by helping others. Thank you for this opportunity. We would love to help you too!

Are you a homeowner in Northwest Indiana? Have you thought about refinancing? Despite the crawl out from the recession, now could be a great time to refinance your mortgage.

Right now there are a ton of federal programs that you could miss out on if you choose not to refinance now! They could save you money and help in the economic recovery. Federal mortgage refinance programs have given more than 2 million homeowners refinance their home loans to help them save money on their mortgage payment and stay in their homes.

In fact, around 2.2 million homeowners have saved an average of $120 a month on their payment. a 10.5% reduction from their previous payment. Refinance activity will result in $2.3 BILLION in mortgage payment savings for borrowers who refinanced in the first half of 2009. Over the next five years those savings for 2009 will grow to $11.5 BILLION! This is not small change.

Also, now homeowners do not need to look just to their existing lender/servicer for refinance options. Since Oct. 1, 2009, homeowners got the option to shop around and refinance through any Fannie or Freddie lender. This is great news and part of many changes this year.

In addition to lowering your monthly payment, a refinanced mortgage can move you to a fixed or adjustable rate, shorten the term of your home loan, or let you tap home equity – with a lender’s approval.

Having low rates means that now is the best chance to buy a home before rates rise and prices go up again! Now could be the best chance to take advantage of the market as the recovery continues. Also, right now, rates are stable as well as low! Hovering around the 5% mark.

Thinking of relocating to the Northwest Indiana area? You can use our moving truck for FREE!

As one of the top producing teams of experts in our field both locally and Nationally, our full service team strives hard to make sure your real estate transaction is a truly rewarding experience.

Finding your dream home or finding a buyer is only part of the challenge of a successful transaction. Click here to search Northwest Indiana Real Estate using our complimentary Northwest Indiana Real Estate MLS Search service. Alternatively please contact Jana Caudill and the team if you need more specific assistance in your Northwest Indiana Real Estate needs. You can call the office on: 219-661-1256 or email us on: jana@janacaudillteam.com

We believe you win in life by helping others. Thank you for this opportunity. We would love to help you too!

Buyers are generally getting older – as the baby boomer generation ages, its housing needs change.

This group is looking for single story, lower maintenance properties which are accessible to the community and which cater for active lifestyles. If you are a seller this means there is an opportunity for you to adapt your home and market it to baby boomers.

Also, Generation Y is making the news – this youthful, tech savvy 68 million strong crowd makes up a group larger than the baby boomers – this group however has different housing needs – they are looking for more green real estate, trendy walking communities and are definitely not looking to move to suburbia. As we have mentioned before – Buyers want green homes here in Northwest Indiana and Nationwide!

It is expected, taking into account this information that the level of homeownership will fall slightly in future years.

However, this information aside, Northwest Indiana offers it all for both Generation Y as well as Baby Boomers as well as other housing trends.

Thinking of relocating to the Northwest Indiana area? You can use our moving truck for FREE!

As one of the top producing teams of experts in our field both locally and Nationally, our full service team strives hard to make sure your real estate transaction is a truly rewarding experience.

Finding your dream home or finding a buyer is only part of the challenge of a successful transaction. Click here to search Northwest Indiana Real Estate using our complimentary Northwest Indiana Real Estate MLS Search service. Alternatively please contact Jana Caudill and the team if you need more specific assistance in your Northwest Indiana Real Estate needs. You can call the office on: 219-661-1256 or email us on: jana@janacaudillteam.com

We believe you win in life by helping others. Thank you for this opportunity. We would love to help you too!

Just north of Crown Point, St John, Schererville and Valparaiso is Indiana’s South Shore - located east of Chicago, this beautiful area along the shores of Lake Michigan is not just a fun filled place for the weekend it is also a great place to host your corporate event.

Being located just 30 minutes from Chicago the area has changed dramatically from its beginnings in the steel industry. It’s slogan “built by steel – changed by tourism” is very true. The video above is created by the South Shore CVA which was formed to promote the area. This video is a great snippet of what you can do in the region and is from their youtube channel.

The area is fast developing along with the rest of the region thanks to a robust local economy, desirable locations to live and general growth that is improving the quality of life for all.

If you are an outdoors enthusiast you can enjoy the South Shore’s golf courses, miles of beaches, hiking and cross-country skiing. Don’t worry, you won’t be hungry during your visit; there are hundreds of restaurant choices throughout the area to satisfy any craving for all tastes!

The area is a mix of big city fun and small-town friendliness. You will find what your looking for here in Lake County, Indiana. There are four lakefront casino boats right on that gorgeous beach!

Our county’s 19 communities offer a rich blend of culture and diversity. If you are thinking about relocating to the area to take advantage of its delights permenantly then please contact us today.

Thinking of relocating to the Northwest Indiana area? You can use our moving truck for FREE!

As one of the top producing teams of experts in our field both locally and Nationally, our full service team strives hard to make sure your real estate transaction is a truly rewarding experience.

Finding your dream home or finding a buyer is only part of the challenge of a successful transaction. Click here to search Northwest Indiana Real Estate using our complimentary Northwest Indiana Real Estate MLS Search service. Alternatively please contact Jana Caudill and the team if you need more specific assistance in your Northwest Indiana Real Estate needs. You can call the office on: 219-661-1256 or email us on: jana@janacaudillteam.com

We believe you win in life by helping others. Thank you for this opportunity. We would love to help you too!