Indy Realtor's Blog: All Categories

I realized the other day as I was reviewing a HUD-1 or Settlement Statement with a client of mine, that while I take the ability to scan one of these for inaccuracies, errant charges, or omissions, that many intelligent people don’t know how to read one.  I have set out to go through it line by line in simple English so people know what they are looking at. 

This article will cover the seller’s side of the transaction and I will follow up with another article for the buyer’s side.  Okay, let gets to it.

I think it makes more sense to start on the second page and then go to the first.  The entire second page is where they are detailing the fees you will be incurring for the sale of your house.

Page 2

Section 700

• Line 700: This…

Read Full Post

In a bold move to fight the town of Fishers annexing them, Geist residents have filed 273 petitions with Hamilton County to become the towns of East and West Geist.  If this measure gets approved, the two new towns could be incorporated as early as November 2007.

Although I think one Geist would be better than two, earlier this year the town of Fishers annexed the lake bottom of Geist reservoir and forced Geist residents to incorporate into the two separate towns.  Geist residents estimate that they will be able to save as much as 20% in property taxes with no loss of services.   

If you would like to voice your concern or show your support for this measure, you should attend the County Commissioners meeting on 9/24 at 2PM the Judicial Building in…

Read Full Post

The Town of Fishers sweetened the pot in its attempt to annex 22 Geist area neighborhoods.  The letter was sent out Tuesday and was really just putting on paper what they had already talked about with the area’s homeowners.  The town is currently pursuing a voluntary “unification” with Fishers and the Geist area, but they need 51% of the homeowners to want to be annexed. 

The town is currently offering tax abatements and interest free loans for 30 years for those that would need to add water and sewer connections to their home.  However, most Geist area residents are fighting mad about the significant tax increase.  In an effort to alleviate the tax increase of 16 - 22%, the city is offering to ease the homeowners into the new taxes over a three…

Read Full Post

The good news:  Westfield real estate owners will pay a lower tax rate in 2008.

The bad news:  Because the assessed value in Westfield has gone up, most residents will not see a big change in their tax bill.

In an almost unheard of move these days, Westfield actually lowered the property tax rate.  This could actually be a turning point for Westfield.  Westfield has typically had a very high tax rate compared to some of its other Hamilton County neighbors.  The growth and appreciation of Westfield’s residential and commercial sectors are turning Westfield into a vibrant city not just the city north of Carmel with cheaper houses.  Westfield has been quietly and continually growing due to its affordable home prices, good Hamilton County location and…

Read Full Post

 

     

 

Walker Farms is a Beazer Homes community located in Whitestown off of 650N just south of downtown Whitestown.

     

  Walker Farms is a large community with 600+ home sites in the first phase and a potential 400 – 500 more in the second phase.  Beazer offers four different “lines” of homes in Walker Farms that range in price from $109,900 - $202,900.  The four different lines cater to different buyers and offer separate included features in the base price of the home. 

This large community gives its residents access to community amenities such as: 2…

Read Full Post

 

     

 

Eagles Nest is a new home community located in Zionsville on Lafayette Road/ Indianapolis Road just south of SR 334.

     

  Eagles Nest features two of the area’s largest home builders, Beazer Homes and Ryland Homes.  The community will have 500+ homes in all with the distribution being about half and half for Beazer and Ryland. 

The community features many amenities that are common for a development of this size.  Some of the features include: pool, playground, basketball, tennis, walking trails, several “ponds”, and common areas.  The annual …

Read Full Post

If you planning on purchasing an Indianapolis home in Marion County in the next 10 months you need to be careful about the current property tax situation or you could end up paying dearly.  For those not familiar with what is going on I will provide a way oversimplified explanation of what has happened:

1)      The entire state re-assessed residential real estate and property taxes went through the roof for a variety of reasons.

2)      People went crazy and protested when they got their tax bills.

3)      It came to light that commercial property was way undervalued in comparison to residential real estate.

4)      The Governor ordered Marion County (and a few others outside of Indianapolis) to re-assess both commercial and residential real…

Read Full Post

A new batch of 300 Indianapolis condos will soon be available on Indianapolis’ far north side.  Sun Shiel Properties Group is developing a project called Renaissance Bay off of Keystone Avenue just south of 78th Street.  Renaissance Bay is projected to have a mix of 300 one story flats and 3 story town homes and prices are expected to range from $360,000 - $750,000. 

 

The single story flats in Renaissance Bay will be in four and five story buildings, range in square footage from 1580 – 3200, and prices are projected to be $360,000 - $750,000.  The 3-story town homes will range in price from $480,000 - $550,000 and will have an average of 2400 square feet.
 
Renaissance Bay will be located along the White River and will feature river views and…

Read Full Post