How long have you been in residential real estate? Is it your full-time job?
Like most professions, experience is no guarantee of skill. But much of real estate is learned on the job.

Do you have any designations or certifications?
Real estate professionals have to take additional specialized training in order to obtain these distinctions. Designations and certifications help define the special skills that an agent can apply to your particular real estate needs. One designation buyers should look for is the ABR®, or Accredited Buyer’s Representative.

What’s your business philosophy?
While there’s no right answer to this question, the response will help you assess what’s important to the agent and determine how closely the agent’s goals and business emphasis mesh with your own.

How many buyers did you and your real estate brokerage represent last year?
This will tell you how much experience they have and how up-to-date they are on the local market.

What’s the average variation between your initial offers and final sales price?
This is one indication of a REALTOR®’s pricing and negotiating skills.

Will you represent me exclusively, or might you choose to represent the seller as well?
While it’s usually legal to represent both parties in a transaction, your REALTOR® should be able to explain his or her philosophy on client obligations and agency relationships. 

Can you recommend service providers who can help me obtain a mortgage, make home repairs, and so on?
Practitioners should be able to recommend more than one provider and let you know if they have any special relationship with any of the providers.

How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction?
The best answer here is a question. A real estate agent who pays close attention to the way you prefer to communicate and responds accordingly will make for the smoothest transaction.

Could you please give me the contact information of your three most recent clients?
Ask their former customers if they would use the agent again in the future.

Reprinted from REALTOR Magazine

Just Listed! 13192 Dumbarton Street, Carmel, IN 46032

Large home on a nice private lot with a pool in popular Village of West Clay neighborhood! Dual Staircases, Upstairs features bedrooms with Jack and Jill bath, Master bedroom with his and hers walk in closets, and guest room with on suite bath. Main level features double sided fireplace, office, formal living and dining room and a large kitchen with granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and double ovens. Basement is finished and has a bar, a bedroom plus bonus room and a full bath. Backyard is private and backs a wooded area and has a deck and private pool. Walk to Village of West Clay shops and restaurants or concerts in the park in the summer!

Sales prices continue to grow while pended sales decline for the first time in two years
 
INDIANAPOLIS – Monthly real estate stats from F.C. Tucker Company indicate that the housing market is taking a slight dip. February 2018 pended sales decreased 0.7 percent compared to February 2017 while the average year-to-date home price for the 15-county Central Indiana region increased 5.3 percent to $193,890.
 
As the number of homes for sale continues to dwindle, fewer buyers purchased homes for the first time in two years. Pended sales went from 2,497 Central Indiana homes purchased in February 2017 to 2,480 in February 2018, a small decrease of 17 homes. Specifically:

• Morgan County showed the most growth in homes sold with a 20 percent increase in February 2018 compared to February 2017, bouncing back after last month’s 27.9 percent decrease.

• Jennings County pended sales, in contrast, decreased a significant 40.9 percent compared to February 2017.

 
Despite fewer pended sales, on average homes sold much faster and for more money in February, signaling that it’s still a seller’s market.

• Of the 15 counties F.C. Tucker tracks, only Boone County showed a decrease in average year-to-date home prices at 5.1 percent.  
• Hamilton County continues to rank highest in average home prices at $304,235.  Madison County experienced the highest price increase from February 2017 to February 2018 at 19.2 percent.

• Homes sold only 47 days on average, a noteworthy 31 days and 39.7 percent faster than in January and February last year. Jennings County’s homes are the fastest-selling in the market at 56 days with Marion County close behind at only 57 days.

 
Listings continue to drop, hitting a decrease of 22.9 percent. In February 2018, inventory stood at 5,779 homes, a decrease of 1,721 compared to 7,500 homes in February 2017.

• Brown County’s inventory dropped the most at 35.8 percent, representing 48 fewer listings compared to February 2017.
• While no counties experienced an increase in inventory, Putnam County reduced the least at 7.3 percent.

 
“The continued decrease of listings hinted at an eventual decrease in pended sales in Central Indiana,” said Jim Litten, CEO of F.C. Tucker Company. “The National Association of REALTORS® reports pending home sales are decreasing around the country, but home sales should bounce back thanks to job and wage growth.”
 
Of the pended home sales in the region last month, one was priced $2,000,000 or higher; 17 were priced $1,000,000 to $1,999,999; 97 were priced $500,000 to $999,999; 314 were priced $300,000 to $499,999; 525 were priced $200,000 to $299,999; 1,047 were priced $100,000 to $199,999; and 479 were priced at $99,999 or less.
 
Editor’s Notes:

• All statistics were compiled by F.C. Tucker Company from a report drawn from BLC® statistics on March 15, 2018. Because of delayed processing through other agencies or boards, these numbers are subject to change.
• “Active Listings – Inventory” is a snapshot frozen in time at the end of the stated month. Active listings include “Active with Contingency Status” filings, which includes homes listed as Pending First Right of Refusal and/or Backup Pendings due to Contract, Financing, Inspection or Other.
• “Pending” means the sales contract has been signed, but the transaction has not closed. According to the NAR, pending sales typically are finalized within a month or two of signing.
• For this report, F.C. Tucker tracks the following counties: Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Decatur, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Jennings, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Montgomery, Morgan, Putnam and Shelby.

​REALTORS® aren’t just agents. They’re professional members of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict code of ethics. This is the REALTOR® difference for home buyers:

1. Ethical treatment. Every REALTOR® must adhere to a strict code of ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public. As a REALTOR®’s client, you can expect honest and ethical treatment in all transaction-related matters. The first obligation is to you, the client.
2. An expert guide. Buying a home usually requires dozens of forms, reports, disclosures, and other technical documents. A knowledgeable expert will help you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes. Also, there’s a lot of jargon involved, so you want to work with a professional who can speak the language.
3. Objective information and opinions. REALTORS® can provide local information on utilities, zoning, schools, and more. They also have objective information about each property. REALTORs® can use that data to help you determine if the property has what you need. By understanding both your needs and search area, they can also point out neighborhoods you don’t know much about but that might suit your needs better than you’d thought.
4. Expanded search power. Sometimes properties are available but not actively advertised. A REALTOR® can help you find opportunities not listed on home search sites and can help you avoid out-of-date listings that might be showing up as available online but are no longer on the market.
5. Negotiation knowledge. There are many factors up for discussion in a deal. A REALTOR® will look at every angle from your perspective, including crafting a purchase agreement that allows enough time for you to complete inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase.
6. Up-to-date experience. Most people buy only a few homes in their lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. Even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change. REALTORS® handle hundreds of transactions over the course of their career.
7. Your rock during emotional moments. A home is so much more than four walls and a roof. And for most people, property represents the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on the issues most important to you.

Reprinted from REALTOR Magazine

Another big week for Team Schuster! Congrats to Daniel and Katherine on the purchase of their Carmel home. ​

1.     Tax benefits.
The U.S. Tax Code lets you deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage, your property taxes, and some of the costs involved in buying a home.
2.     Appreciation.
Historically, real estate has had a long-term, stable growth in value. In fact, median single-family existing-home sale prices have increased on average 5.2 percent each year from 1972 through 2014, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.  The recent housing crisis has caused some to question the long-term value of real estate, but even in the most recent 10 years, which included quite a few very bad years for housing, values are still up 7.0 percent on a cumulative basis. In addition, the number of U.S. households is expected to rise 10 to15 percent over the next decade, creating continued high demand for housing.
3.     Equity.
Money paid for rent is money that you’ll never see again, but mortgage payments let you build equity ownership interest in your home.
4.     Savings.
Building equity in your home is a ready-made savings plan. And when you sell, you can generally take up to $250,000 ($500,000 for a married couple) as gain without owing any federal income tax.
5.     Predictability.
Unlike rent, your fixed-rate mortgage payments don’t rise over the years so your housing costs may actually decline as you own the home longer. However, keep in mind that property taxes and insurance costs will likely increase.
6.     Freedom.
The home is yours. You can decorate any way you want and choose the types of upgrades and new amenities that appeal to your lifestyle.
7.     Stability.
Remaining in one neighborhood for several years allows you and your family time to build long-lasting relationships within the community. It also offers children the benefit of educational and social continuity.

Reprinted from REALTOR Magazine

Just sold in Zionsville! Thanks Joel and Lisa for letting us help you sell your home. ​

3032 Stilton Drive, Cicero, IN 46034

Move-in ready 3BR/2BA ranch in great Cicero neighborhood close to downtown Cicero and downtown Noblesville. New carpet throughout (Jan 2018). Fresh paint in bedrooms and bathrooms. Spacious Great Room opens into eat-in kitchen with large windows overlooking tree-lined backyard. Kitchen boasts new stainless appliances (Jan 2018), lots of cabinets and counters, plus a pantry. Master bedroom offers 2 closets, crown molding, large window, private bath with garden tub/shower and updated fixtures. Water heater (2017). New patio, covered front porch and home warranty.
 
Entry

• Hooks on inside of closet door (2014)
• Coat hook on the wall (2014)
• Paint (2015)

 
Living Room

• Paint (2016)
• Carpet (Jan 2018)
• Chain on ceiling fan light (February 2018)

 
Kitchen

• Paint (2016)
• Appliances (Jan 2018)

 
Laundry Room

• Paint (2017)

 
Master Bedroom and Bathroom

• Paint (2017)
• Carpet
• Toilet Seat (November 2017)
• Towel hooks (2015)
• Hand towel holder (2015)
• Necklace holder (2017)
• Hooks on closet door (2014)

 
Other Bedrooms

• Carpet
• Paint (February 2018)
• Closet door handles (February 2018)

 
Guest Bathroom

• Small hand towel bar (2014)
• Faucet (2014)
• Paint (2017)
• Towel bar (2017)
• Toilet insides (February 2018)

 
Exterior/Mechanicals

• Hot water heater (2017)
• Storm door
• New landscaping (2017)
• Drainage away from garage (2017)
• Replaced patio (2017)
• Mulch and landscaping – tree line (2017) and around the patio (February 2018)
• Painted door and shutters (February 2018)
• Lights on garage (February 2018)

 
I love the location of this home. I chose it because it backs up to the retirement neighborhood and the lot directly behind me is empty and has been the entire time I have lived here. It has a beautiful tree line and it is very peaceful and quiet. This was a great place for the kids during our chapter here and we are going to miss it!