Indianapolis School District Start Dates 2011/2012 School Year Many Indianapolis School Districts are doing what they can to help conserve money these days due to the many budget cuts they've had to endure over the last few years.  As you all know, many schools are starting classes earlier this school year.  In addition, one district (Franklin Township) has even changed their bus service to a "pay service" for students.  Below you'll find each district's start dates: Marion County School Calendar Indianapolis Public Schools: Monday, August 4th Pike Township Schools:      Continuous Calendar First Day - Tuesday, August 9th      Traditional Calendar First Day - Tuesday, August 16th Wayne Township: Wednesday, August 10th Speedway Schools: Wednesday, August 10th Decatur Township Schools: T... 08/10/2011

Less than three years after opening in 2008, the new Indianapolis International Airport was named by J.D. Power and Associates as a 2011 Customer Service Champion. It also earned recognition from Airports Council International as the Best Regional Airport in North America for Airport Service Quality. If you’ve never traveled to or through IND, you may be thinking to yourself, Indianapolis? Really? The answer to that bit of skepticism is, Indianapolis! Really! Whether you're a frequent flier lucky enough to be considering an Indianapolis relocation, or just the occasional passenger, you'll appreciate the spacious, modern terminal, ridiculously short and efficient security lines, and quiet, calm atmosphere. Design elements throughout the terminal are sure to capture your attention, too! ... 08/08/2011

Originally posted at My Indy Waterfront Blog There are currently 15 homes for sale on Geist Reservoir that are over one million dollars. Five of those are in Lawrence Township, 9 are in Hamilton Southeastern area and one is in the Mt Vernon area. There are a few popular neighborhoods in Geist that typically have homes on the water for sale.  They include Masthead, Springs of Cambridge, and Feather Cove.  Occassionally you can also find  them in the Admirals or Canal Place. Waterfront views are so beautiful not only in the summertime but in the Fall and Winter too.  They create a peaceful feeling after a stressful day at work.  Most of these will have docks and often sellers will sell their boats too! All but one also has an inground pool and cabana’s; truly homes to entertain in and en... 08/05/2011

GPS Home Search - Using a Smart Phone!!!!   Buyers can use their smart phone to search for homes for sale nearest where they are now. Let's say you're in a neighborhood that you love, and you want to find more homes for sale nearby. At callcarpenter.com, you can search for homes for sale and they will be sorted by the nearest home within a mile of your location. Drive to a different neighborhood, and your search results will change. You can be in front of a home and download all of the info about that house right to your phone. "We're thrilled to be the first real estate firm in metro Indianapolis to offer a GPS search option on our mobile website," said David Caveness, Senior VP of Carpenter Realtors®. "Home buyers will find this extremely helpful, convenient and fun when they're drivi... 08/02/2011

Anyone know what type of flowers these are?   I planted a little patch of flowers (bag said Hummingbird/Butterfly mix) about 6 weeks ago, and boy did they grow like weeds!  I don't really know what flowers in this patch the hummies would like, but I'm hoping to attract some butterflies.  Last year we had tons of butterflies, this year...not so much...wonder why...Even a keeper at a local butterfly garden on the news said there have not been as many butterflies as usual...Wonder if it's because of the extreme heat we've been having so far this summer... OK OK, I'm done rambling...I never can seem to make my "Speechless Sunday" posts speechless.  :) 07/24/2011

So you need to sell your Indianapolis home?  Here's some advice for you.   Historically we've had slow appreciation here in the corn belt.  Prior to the crash, we weren't seeing price rise too rapidly.  The fact that we don't have any geographical boundaries to our city allowed for great suburban sprawl.  New home builders built many new neighborhoods probably above the demand curve.  When the crash happened, we in Indianapolis were also affected.  Home builders stopped building because of our oversupply of inventory of homes.  Also credit (mortgages) were more difficult to get.  This has presented a historic buying opportunity for buyers. Distressed homes in Indianapolis flooded in  the market in 2008-2010 making great deals available.  But this has hurt prospects for retail home selle... 07/20/2011

If you are thinking about selling your Geist waterfront home; you might be curious about what the current market is showing. I've compared the last six months of 2011 to the same time period in 2010 (January-June) and found that the exact same number of residential homes have sold that are on Geist  Reservoir.  There were 12 both years.  The good news is the homes on the water are selling faster; 101 days on the market this year compared with 132 days a year ago.  And the price per square foot is also increasing about 15%! This year, there were 5 homes over $1,000,000 that sold compared with only one last year. The market is somewhat saturated currently with 49 waterfront homes on the market.  The one I would pick if I could...would be Tomas Scheckter's home.  It is absolutely stunning ... 07/13/2011

  The Indianapolis historic homes of Meridian Kessler are sure to impress even the most skeptical of tourists or newcomers. A bland mid-Western city? Indy is anything but! A leisurely drive down Meridian Street between the neighborhood's north and south borders of Kessler Boulevard and 38th Street yields glimpses of stately homes built in the 1920s and set along tree-lined streets that are just minutes from downtown, Butler University, Broad Ripple, and many more Indy attractions. Once the equivalent of an Indianapolis suburb, Meridian Kessler homes are still among Indy's most prestigious real estate. Many of these vintage homes have been beautifully restored and renovated. Want a closer look? The annual Meridian-Kessler Home and Garden Tour, sponsored each spring by the Meridian-Kessle... 07/12/2011

GPS Home Search - Using a Smart Phone!!!! Buyers can use their smart phone to search for homes for sale nearest where they are now. Let's say you're in a neighborhood that you love, and you want to find more homes for sale nearby. At callcarpenter.com, you can search for homes for sale and they will be sorted by the nearest home within a mile of your location. Drive to a different neighborhood, and your search results will change. You can be in front of a home and download all of the info about that house right to your phone. "We're thrilled to be the first real estate firm in metro Indianapolis to offer a GPS search option on our mobile website," said David Caveness, Senior VP of Carpenter Realtors®. "Home buyers will find this extremely helpful, convenient and fun when they're driving... 07/08/2011

Originally posted at My Indy Waterfront Blog As a REALTOR in Geist, I have my pulse on great vendors to use for repairs or improvements.  Here are my Top 5 Picks: Irrigation Systems will be top of mind as we head into a dryer season; I like Follmar Irrigation at 765-631-0638.  They do residential and commercial; if you want to see any of their work, check out Sunblest Apartments in Fishers. Staging/Landscaping/Redesign is Teresa Lorton with ReDesign24; she can be reached at 317-345-6384.  She is an absolute delight to work with and a great bargain shopper too! Need some carpentry work done; Ted Morrett is the best at what he does.  He did my master bath and it is amazing.  He can be reached at 317-3388-8890. Maybe something a little lighter; how about a house cleaning for you or someone... 07/08/2011

Thanks for all of you following from www.facebook.com/indypropertysource and twitter handle of @indypropsource! I read an interesting article today from the National Association of REALTORS about home ownership expectations. As a real estate professional, I advocate responsible home ownership. I want to lead with that. I certainly think that owning a home is a great thing. While its part of the American Dream, I don't believe its all of it. Its certainly attainable by everyone but each person's situation varies. It is a great responsibility too so I feel that potential homeowners should be educated. Where else better to do that than with their local REALTOR. We as real estate professionals must advocate that potential buyers are ready for this big decision and help them get there. We ca... 07/07/2011

I took this picture when I was visiting my Aunt and Uncle in Seattle...Since it was my first trip out to the West Coast (other than California), they wanted me to see as much of the northwest as possible so we drove through Oregon.  This is a picture that was taken in one of the National forests in Oregon.  I actually ended up having it printed on canvas, framed it, and gave it to my mother for Christmas. 07/06/2011

A visit to Niagara Falls is an obvious reason to take a road trip from Indy to Buffalo, NY. And while you're there, be sure to visit Central Wharf in downtown Buffalo, where you can stroll along the Eerie Canal Harbor, watch boaters come and go, and visit the Buffalo and Eerie County Naval & Military Park. During summer months, you might even catch a concert or two! The Pride of Baltimore II, a 19th century replica clipper ship, was docked at Central Wharf for the July 4th weekend. Imagine the view from that crow's nest! If you go... Driving distance from Indianapolis to Buffalo = 500 miles Approximate driving time = 9 hours Something to remember = Even in the middle of summer, Buffalo weather sometimes be chilly, so bring a sweatshirt or two!   Indianapolis information   07/06/2011

GPS Home Search - Using a Smart Phone!!!! Buyers can use their smart phone to search for homes for sale nearest where they are now. Let's say you're in a neighborhood that you love, and you want to find more homes for sale nearby. At callcarpenter.com, you can search for homes for sale and they will be sorted by the nearest home within a mile of your location. Drive to a different neighborhood, and your search results will change. You can be in front of a home and download all of the info about that house right to your phone. "We're thrilled to be the first real estate firm in metro Indianapolis to offer a GPS search option on our mobile website," said David Caveness, Senior VP of Carpenter Realtors®. "Home buyers will find this extremely helpful, convenient and fun when they're driving... 07/02/2011

Originally posted at My Indy Waterfront Blog Are you ready to rumble on the bridge?  That is going to be one of the best spots in Central Indiana to watch the fireworks...the Blast on the Bridge! This is an annual event where Geist and surrounding communities gather on the Bridge over Geist to watch the fireworks.  There will be a parade, but not your usual parade...this one is with boats! The boat parade begins at 5:30 and will arrive at the Fall Creek Road bridge where they will be judged at approixmately 6:30.  There will be music of course as well as great food from many of the local restaurants such as Casler's Kitchen and Moe's Southwest Grill.  The fireworks will begin around 9:45 - 10:00 pm.  Be sure to bring blankets and lawn chairs.  You can park at Holy Spirit or some of the ... 06/29/2011

$100 Down Program For HUD Homes in Indiana is Still in Effect! If you are looking for a home in Indiana, HUD's $100 down program may be a great option for you.  If you'd like to know what types of properties are available feel free to take a look at the HUDhomestore website.  If you purchase a HUD property right now...not only can you take advantage of the $100 down program, you can also ask for up to 3% in closing costs/prepaids assistance! If you'd like more information about the HUD bidding process, feel free to take a look at my previous post about the HUD Bidding Process or Contact Me via phone or email. 06/27/2011

I don't have human kids but thought I'd post some pics of my furry little girls. :)  I took this picture earlier this spring on a day when the weather was fantabulous!  And yes I really did need to cut the grass because some of the pictures I took that day made it look as if they were in a field somewhere, LOL! 06/26/2011

Originally posted at My Indy Waterfront Blog While many people who live in Geist buy their home for the water; there are many others who love to play golf!  So where are the homes on golf courses in Geist? The most obvious choice is The Hawthornes; with its 275 acres of woods and wetlands.  This is a private club and does offer private lessons.  I currently have a home for sale on the Hawthornes on the 16th hole; the home sits on 1.25 acres. Another popular course is Ironwood Golf Club.  This course has 27 challenging and scenic holes surrounded by some great Fishers Real Estate such as Gray Eagle, Lake Stonebrige and Windermere. A little deeper into the Geist area is Old Oakland Golf Club.  The 27 holes cover over 220 acres.  Neighborhoods near this golf course include Oakland Hills. T... 06/22/2011

The Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Course from Stagedhomes.com (www.Stagedhomes.com) - the industry leader in Home Staging Training - is coming to INDIANAPOLIS, AUGUST 2-4, 2011.   This class is being offered for both Realtors and Home Stagers that would like to earn both a professional Accreditation and Designation for Home Staging.  Realtors attend the first 2 days and learn about Home Staging as a listing and marketing tool, as well as things they can do to help their own clients prepare their houses for sale.  They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professioanls (IAHSP) - the only professional association that serves only Home Stagers and the Home Staging industry, and has standards of membership that begin with education.  No other association h... 06/14/2011

Originally posted at My Indy Waterfront Blog If you are one of the lucky ones in the Geist Reservoir area to sell your home...hold on...you have a few more barriers to overcome before you are at the closing table.  They include your buyer's financing, appraisals and of course, the inspection.  For more on inspections...take a look at this video. If you would like to consult with a Geist Real Estate Agent about the value of your home, please contac me directly! Search homes with YOUR phone Search Indianapolis Waterfront Homes Read other Northside Blogs (Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville)        Cindy "in Indy" Marchant - Geist Real Estate AgentKeller Williams Realty Indy Metro NEGeist IN Real Estate Website317-290-7775 06/12/2011