Posted on May 27th, 2010 by Richard. Categories: For Home Buyers, For Home Sellers, Real Estate Perspective
Later today, a customer will be closing on the sale of their home. So this is on my mind right now. They call it a final closing because all facets of the transaction come together and the transfer of title and sale is completed. But if you see the faces of the Buyer and Seller, and get a sense of what is really going on, the true impact of this event is anything but a closing. It’s more of an opening. You can see and feel the pages turning in their lives to the next chapter, and a doorway opening to their future.
I coined a phrase a long time ago that I still use when talking about the importance of one’s home. “A home is where lives are shaped and memories are made.” Helping to effect and being a part of that momentous change in someones life when they move to their new home. This is what continues to drive and inspire me as a real estate agent.
I can hardly wait till the closing later on today. It’s so much fun. Knowing what happens after that, to the lives of the buyer and seller, is the most rewarding thing I do as a real estate agent.
Posted on May 22nd, 2010 by Richard. Categories: Nature
Standing on the deck of a home overlooking Geist Lake, a large grayish bird with enormous wingspan drew my attention as it descended slowly, crossing left to right. It took only a second for me to realize it was a Blue Heron. Nothing else looks quite like that. It came in to land softly near the shore, and stood craning it’s neck and gazing at the water. There are quite a few Blue Herons that inhabit the areas near Geist and not uncommon to spot them wading in the shallows near shore or flying about. But still, every time, it’s impressive to see them. Graceful and majestic birds.
Posted on May 18th, 2010 by Richard. Categories: Just for Fun
Motor sports activities all over the country are starting to pick up now with the warmer weather, including our own Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s an expensive sport if you are a participant, and teams live or die because of their support from sponsors. So some interesting alliances are formed with sponsors who want the racing crowd to notice them. It might just be me but some sponsors seem appropriate to be linked with auto racing like automobile companies, auto-parts or tire manufacturers…while others seem like odd combinations. Cars and drivers show up with decals and emblems on them with everything from laundry detergent to candy bars on them.
I’ve been saving this photo. I guess it just struck me as a funny. Inside Lucas Oil Stadium is this neon sign near the concession area. The Lucas Oil/racing connection seemed OK, but somehow it made me visualize a driver with a glass of bourbon on the rocks weaving back and forth down the straightaway at 240mph.
Posted on May 17th, 2010 by Richard. Categories: Downtown, Public Buildings & Sites
So, I’m driving north on Illinois Street, moving slowly at the “noon rush hour”. Stop and go, and slowly I’m approaching the Artsgarden, one of my favorite structures. So I picked up the camera resting on the passenger seat. It’s always nearby, someplace. I switched on the camera’s back LED screen instead of looking in the viewfinder, so I could drive and watch what I was shooting at the same time. Sometimes my behind-the-wheel multi-tasking reaches incedible levels. Really, you don’t want to know.
So here is the Artsgarden above (over) just before I go beneath it on Illinois Street (under). Oh good…a green light!
Posted on May 13th, 2010 by Richard. Categories: Market Conditions, Market Watch
Just like driving a car, one of the ways to get perspective on where you are now is to look in the rear-view mirror. Market Watch does just that, providing a look back at the previous months activity. To say that April was active is, well, an understatement. Lots of people in the marketplace looking, purchasing, listing, selling. Over 3,000 homes sold in the nine county, central Indiana area that makes up the greater metropolitan Indianapolis market. That’s over a 33% increase compared to this same time period a year ago. Average prices rose as well. For more commentary and in-depth analysis including statistics, charts and graphs, take a look at my latest Market Watch Newsletter.
The pent-up demand for homes that has been building for the last few years, coupled with continuing low interest rates and tax incentives from the government, all contributed to the activity. There is an excitement returning in the market that I haven’t seen for a while. A confidence in what the future will bring. It will be interesting to see if and how that sustains itself now that the tax incentives have expired. Next month’s Market Watch will provide some answers!
Not your typical road marker, the famous Dancing Girls provide a friendly welcoming committee to the Massachusetts Avenue corridor. Snow, sleet, rain or shine they never stop movin and swayin to the ever-present Mass Ave beat. Sometime I probably should add a video rather than a still photo so you can see the whole performance. When you see this it makes you feel like there probably is fun to be had nearby. And there is actually. The 
