Mar
12
Finding the Best Real Estate Agent in Carmel Indiana
Posted by searchcarmelhomes under For Sellers, General Information, Selling a Home
There are thousands of agents to choose to represent you when you are ready to sell your Carmel home. How do you find the right one? I recently wrote a post about the Top 5 Questions to think about when selling your Carmel home. Let’s focus on the 2nd one; What distinquishes one realtor from another?
For starters, you ask the agent a lot of questions. Every agent will have a presentation for you and it will include the usual suspects of “About Them”, “Marketing” and “What is your home worth”. There are basic questions you should ask such as:
- What are your average days on market for your listings?
- What is your list price to sale price percentage?
- How often do you communicate and what do you communicate with your clients?
- Take me through your process from the time I list with you through receiving an offer
- What is your strategy around price adjustments?
But there are other indicators as well that you should consider in making your decision to hire the best real estate agent in Carmel for you.
My biggest pet peeve is agents who do not take pictures of your home when they list it or they take a picture with snow and it is now 70 degrees out and you still have a snow picture for your first impression on the websites! Pictures are worth a thousand words and it is very true with real estate. Be sure your realtor uses a tour company that feeds additional search engines such as Trulia or Zillow.
Ask your Carmel Realtor ® for references. I have several from clients that I include in my listing package so that it is clear I walk my talk. (Be sure to scroll to the bottom of that link to see the references from my clients.
What is the social media presence of your Realtor ®? Exposure of your home is paramount to getting it sold. The more connected the Real Estate Agent is, the more people that will see your home.
Selling real estate in Carmel or the surrounding area is not for the weak at heart. It is serious business and the agent you choose should have a lot of experience to know what works and what doesn’t. Putting a sign in the yard, loading it on to MIBOR and filling a flyer box isn’t going to do it in most cases.
I hope when the time comes for you to sell your home or for someone you know, you will contact this Carmel Real Estate Agent and let me show you why people choose our team for selling their homes.
Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Carmel Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Carmel IN Real Estate Website
317-290-7775
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Mar
9
Carmel Indiana Real Estate Top 5 Questions
Posted by searchcarmelhomes under Buying a Home, For Buyers, General Information
Whether you are looking for a home in Carmel Indiana or elsewhere, there are always questions on a buyer’s mind. I recently wrote about the Top 5 Questions in Home Buying and will be answering Question 2 today which is “I’ve done this before; why do I need a Realtor ® ?”
The first reason you want to use a Realtor ® is because it is a free service to the buyer. In our Indianapolis Real Estate area, seller’s pay the fees for the Realtor ®.
The second reason is that we can analyze the other homes in the area to give you the best competitive information about the Carmel Home you are looking at for purchase. In many cases, we will have been in many of them and know either about the motivation a seller has on the home or the length of time the home has been on the market. All of those things will help you as a buyer determine the best price to offer.
The third reason is we can show you new construction that might fit your criteria. There are many builders in Carmel and the surrounding areas. Many realtors knew about CP Morgan exiting the Indiana market prior to their exit; we are often in the know about breaking real estate news. We are aware of current promotional deals with builders and also have experience with each of their service, building and design center satisfaction levels.
A fourth reason is that this Carmel Realtor looks at homes differently than a buyer might. I look at the ceilings for water damage, the oven for the cleanliness of the owner, the grading outside, the upgrades to determine pricing, baseboards for wear and tear, and other things beyond functionality and flow. I represent you, the buyer, in the transaction and it is my job to protect you.
A fifth reason is we can give you information about the first time buyer’s $8,000 tax credit and also provide you with the form to file for this credit on your 2008 or your 2009 taxes. If you are a move up buyer, we can help you sell your current residence quickly to help you get into your new home and if you are relocating, we have a great relocation binder to help you in your transition to the Carmel Real Estate area.
There are many other reasons to use a Realtor ® to help you buy your home in the Carmel area. These are just a few that are top of mind. A Carmel Real Estate agent can protect you, guide you and educate you on neighborhoods, resale, appreciation and pricing and again, we are free to you. Call us!
For more great information about buying real estate in Carmel, Fishers or Noblesville, check out our other blogs.
Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Carmel Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Carmel IN Real Estate Website
317-290-7775
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Mar
5
Carmel Indiana Real Estate Market Report for February 2009
Posted by searchcarmelhomes under Carmel, For Buyers, For Sellers, Marketing Reports
The Carmel Real Estate Market for February 2009 shows the highest priced home selling at $775,000 after 229 days on the market in Bellewood. The statistics for homes in Carmel are:
Active Single Family Homes Listed in February 133
Single Family Homes Currently Active 633
Single Family Homes Sold in the month of February 41
Average Sale Price $295,000
Average Days on Market 108
There were 15 homes of the 133 Carmel Homes listed in February that were in the Village of West Clay! That is the most for any neighborhood in a single month I have ever seen. The absorption rate for this neighborhood is 18 months; there is an 18 month supply of homes in the Village of West Clay. The Marchant Team has a great listing on Kickapoo in Delaware Trace.
It is interesting to note that we are seeing almost the same pattern as the Fishers Real Estate Market in terms of prior year analysis. For the month of February in 2008, 62 homes sold which is 34% more than this February at 41.
If you own a home in Carmel, Indiana and have questions about the average selling price, the days on market, the current activity or the appreciation of your neighborhood; be sure to contact your Carmel Real Estate Agent.
Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Carmel Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Carmel IN Real Estate Website
317-290-7775
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Mar
1
Top 5 Questions for Selling your Carmel Indiana Real Estate
Posted by searchcarmelhomes under For Sellers, General Information, Selling a Home
Whether you own a home in Carmel Indiana or are thinking of buying a home; there are always many questions. I hear some of them frequently and thought I’d take some time to answer them. Today we will focus on the selling side of the equation.
- How do you determine a price when listing a home?
- What distinquishes you from other Realtors ®?
- What is your strategy around price reductions when you have a listing?
- Do you think print advertising or internet advertising works best?
- How long will it take to sell my home?
Let’s start with #1 and answer the pricing question.
The first thing I do is pull the tax record for that particular real estate in Carmel and look at the subdivision and square footage and lot size. While I am there I also double check to be sure the client has filed their appropriate exemptions (saving them approximately 30% in their property tax bills!). You’d be surprised how many people refinance their homes and forget to refile their exemptions!
Then I pull comparable homes in the Carmel subdivision or area to include active, pends and solds for the last six months. This is quite different than we did years ago. We used to just pull the solds and for one year. But with this changing market, only the last six months is relevant and often the actives tell a picture too.
I don’t make my final determination until I go through the home. I am interested in the way the home presents itself in terms of location, landscaping, upkeep and upgrades. Unfortunately things like a new roof will not increase the value of a home, nor a new HVAC system. These are considered maintenance items. However, remodeling a kitchen or bath or finishing a basement definitely will impact the sell price. I have a remodeling calculator you can use to determine the resale value of your project.
With these three items in hand I can usually accurately predict the value of your home. I often hear, “I need to get this much for my home”; but the market won’t care what you need so while I want to deliver the price that gets you what you need, I can’t price the house based on that. I also hear, I have a second I need to cover. If you used the second to remodel, it will most likely be at least partially covered. If you used the money for college or something unrelated to the home, it will not. There have been some neighborhoods that have appreciated over the last few years in Carmel and some that have not; it varies that much in our area. If you’d like to know the value of your home, please email me and I’ll prepare a CMA for you.
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Cindy œin Indy Marchant – Carmel Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Carmel IN Real Estate Website
317-290-7775
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Feb
25
Top 5 Questions for Buying a Home in Carmel Indiana
Posted by searchcarmelhomes under Buying a Home, For Buyers, General Information
If you live in Carmel Indiana, and whether you are buying your first home, moving up or downsizing there are many questions we are frequently asked. I thought it would be good to go over the Top 5 and in another post I’ll go over the Top 5 Selling Questions.
- When is the best time to buy a home in Carmel?
- Why do I need a Realtor ® to help me, I’ve done this before.
- How can I find a great deal; there are a lot of foreclosures out there right now.
- What is the process to buy, how much does it cost?
- How will I know what the right price is for the home?
Let’s start with “When is the Best Time to Buy a Home in Carmel, Indiana?”
Now! If you are a first time buyer, that is definitely true. With the passage of the Economic Stimulus package and the $8,000 that will be given to first time home buyers, it is the very best time to buy. I hold a first time home buyers class every month on the last Saturday of the month. If you are thinking about buying a home, this is an excellent time to spend 90 minutes with me, a home inspector, a lender and a home decorator to learn.
Even if you are not a first time home buyer, chances are it will affect you. The first time home buyers will come into the market and buy homes of move up or downsizing sellers and then those people will in turn buy new homes.
If we look at the days on market over the last year for Real Estate in Carmel; we can see the average length of time a home stays on the market is less than 90 days. Only in the first quarter when it is very cold do we see numbers over 90 days. This graph is from February 08 through January 09.
So in summary, the best time to buy a home in Carmel is now. The interest rates are still very low, the inventory is high, sellers are motivated and we will start to see movement with the Economic Stimulus benefit for first time home buyers.
Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Carmel Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Carmel IN Real Estate Website
317-290-7775
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Feb
21
Carmel Real Estate residents enjoy the Monon Trail
Posted by searchcarmelhomes under For Buyers, For Sellers, General Information, Hot Spots
As Spring approaches, many Carmel Real Estate residents will begin to get out and enjoy the Monon Trail. Whether they are training for the Mini 500 or just out as the weather turns warmer, the Monon Trail is a great venue to visit. The Monon trail starts at 146th street in Carmel (it is called the Greenway in Carmel) and run 5 miles through Carmel and then another 10.5 miles from 96th into Downtown Indy and cultural districts.
It was a grassroots citizen effort back in the 80s; the first section from Nora to Broad Ripple opened in 1996. The Carmel portion was opened around 2002. The costs was approximately $5.5 Million to create.
The trail uses a portion of the Chicago-Indianaplis main line of the former Monon Railroad which was abandoned in the 1980′s. The word Monon was derived from the Potowatomi Indian word monong, meaning “swift running.” “The Hoosier Line,” as it became known, carried troops, ammunition, food, fuel and medicine to Union forces during the Civil War. Throughout its history, the Monon provided continuous service to the Indiana limestone industry. The former Carmel depot on the Monon line is now home to the Carmel Clay Historical Society and Museum.
You can walk it, bike it, run it, roller blade it and even cross country ski it! It is asphalt and approximately 10 to 15 feet wide. It is tree lined in many places and there are local shops, ice cream and restrooms along the way. It is one of the many reasons to visit or live in Carmel Indiana.
If you would like information about your neighborhood or about purchasing a home in Woodfield, please contact your Carmel Real Estate Agent.
Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Carmel Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Carmel IN Real Estate Website
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Feb
17
Carmel Real Estate Agent Talks about Carmel High School
Posted by searchcarmelhomes under For Buyers, For Sellers, General Information, School Information
Carmel High School is located at 520 East Main Street; on 131st between Keystone and Rangeline Road. It is the only high school serving Carmel Real Estate residents. It feeds from three Middle Schools (Clay, Carmel and Creekside) which feed from 11 Elementary Schools. If you are curious about which Carmel school your neighborhood attends, Carmel has a boundry map that will help. The schools sits on 55 acres of land; the most recent renovation was the addition of the Freshman Center.
Carmel High School has approximately 4,000 students in grades 9-12 with a graduation rate of 91.7%. In the 2007/2008 school year the average SAT score was 1126 compared to 1004 for the State and 1061 for the 95th percentile. The Carmel school system is one of the many reasons people want to live in Carmel.
The ratio of students per teacher for 2008/2009 school year is 18.2. The teaching experience averages 14.2 years. Carmel High School uses the eight block schedule with four 90 minute classes that alternate days. They start their day at 7:50 and end at 3:05. There is one SRT (Student Resource Time) every other day.
The mission statement for Carmel High School is “to create a positive environment in which all are challenged and inspired to achieve their potentials”.
If you are looking to buy real estate in Carmel Indiana, please be sure to use our Quick Search Carmel buttons for ease or contact your Carmel Real Estate agent to help you find the right home!
Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Carmel Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Carmel IN Real Estate Website
317-290-7775
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Feb
13
Carmel Real Estate Agent highlights Woodfield Neighborhood
Posted by searchcarmelhomes under For Buyers, For Sellers, General Information, Neighborhoods
Looking for a great neighborhood to call home in Carmel, Indiana? Woodfield is located just south of 146th and borders Gray Road on the west side of the neighborhood. They are custom homes and most were built in the 80s and 90s. When the developer/builder constructed the homes, he tried to keep as many trees as possible which gives this neighborhood an edge over most. There is a nature preserve that abuts the north side with deer, coyote, red fox and wildlife. 
It is a smaller neighborhood with only 192 homes and it is one of the few neighborhoods in Carmel that has appreciated from 2006 to 2008. There are currently six active homes as of February 12, 2009. There were seven homes that sold in calendar year 2008; almost all of them on the main drag of Woodfield Drive. The average price per sq ft was $135 and average days on the market were 83. Most of the homes in Woodfield have five bedrooms and most have basements. Of the seven that sold; six had five bedrooms and all of them had basements. Pricing is usually in the $450,000 to $550,000 range.
It is a neighborhood with a voluntary fee of $100 per year; there is not a playground or pool. However, many residents join adjoining neighborhood pools. The covenants are minimal in the neighborhood. They are an active neighborhood with summer picnics, book club, Halloween and 4th of July parties. It is conveniently located near Meridian for easy access downtown and also near the Carmel Clay Terrace Shopping. Another added benefit of owning a home in Carmel is the addition of the Monon Center in Carmel. It has a pool, lazy river, gym and other great features. If you live in Carmel the fees are discounted substantially.
If you would like information about your neighborhood or about purchasing a home in Woodfield, please contact your Carmel Real Estate Agent.
Search Active Homes in Woodfield
Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Carmel Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Carmel IN Real Estate Website
317-290-7775
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Feb
9
Carmel Indiana Real Estate Market Report for January 2009
Posted by searchcarmelhomes under Carmel, For Buyers, For Sellers, Marketing Reports
Before we analyze the January 2009 market report for Carmel Indiana Real Estate, I thought it would be good to summarize some of the findings in the Indianapolis Star published on Sunday 2/8/09. For Carmel Indiana, they show a population of 64,500 and 97% of those people have a high school diploma and 62% have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Their median household income is $94,000
I wrote a post last week that showed the Carmel Real Estate market for 2008 compared to 2006 and it is definitely worth a quick read. Today I want to look at just January 2009 compared to January 2008.
Active Single Family Homes Listed in January 2009 166
Current Total Single Family Homes Active 641
Active Single Family Homes Sold in January 2009 37
Average Days on Market (DOM) 97
Average Selling Price $309,850
Neighborhoods with Most Sold Saddle Creek and Village of West Clay
The highest priced home sold in Carmel Indiana for January was $755,000 in Westchase, the lowest was for $77,000 in Auman’s. Comparing last January 2008, there were 54 homes sold or 32% more than in 2009 and the avearage selling price was $372,875 or 17% higher than in 2009.
To learn more about the neighborhoods you live in or the Carmel Real Estate Market, contact your Carmel Real Estate Agent.
Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Carmel Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Carmel IN Real Estate Website
317-290-7775
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Feb
5
Carmel Real Estate Agent talks about Home Values in Carmel 2008 to 2006
Posted by searchcarmelhomes under Carmel, For Buyers, For Sellers, Neighborhoods, Regional News
There is quite a bit of depressing news regarding the housing industry; however it is almost always on a National Level. I’d like to look at the Carmel Indiana Real Estate Market and point out some of the more popular neighborhoods and what is happening. If we go back to 2006 when the market was “thriving” and compare to 2008, we can see there are neighborhoods that have had their problems.
Summerlakes had the largest decline at nearly 21%. It is a gated community with a fairly high HOA Fee. It is a fairly small neighborhood with just over 100 homes built in the late 80s and early 90s averaging in price easily over $500,000. The other two neighborhoods with large negative appreciation are Brookshire and Crooked Stick, both older neighborhoods and as more new build occurs in Carmel they will be harder to sell without updating.
On the positive appreciation we have Springmill Ponds with a very accessible location to the interstates and downtown. There are approximately 230 homes and nearly all have basements. There are typically 10-15 homes a year that are for sale. They are showing a 3.7% appreciation rate. Springmill Crossing in the same area has a 5.4% appreciation rate.
If you would like to have your home or neighborhood evaluated, please contact your Carmel Real Estate agent and we can provide that information to you.
Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Carmel Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Carmel IN Real Estate Website
317-290-7775
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Carmel Indiana Real Estate and Homes for Sale is authored by Cynthia Marchant
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