Well, it’s official. Punxsutawney Phil spotted his shadow today and scampered back to his cozy digs. Which, if you take stock in the premonitions of a rodent, leaves us with six more weeks of winter. The grim prediction shouldn’t surprise Indianapolis residents. Even if Phil’s shadow were absent, would anyone really believe spring is just around the corner? Three sunny days in a row can’t fool us! And just to prove it, winter’s dreary skies are back in action today.
Maybe PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is onto something when they suggest replacing Punxsutawney Phil with a robotic prognosticator. Not only would the living, breathing Phil be freed from the guilt of dashing Spring Fever hopes across the country, but the robotic version could, presumably, be programmed to always predict the early onset of spring. While we’d intellectually know that couldn’t be true, psychologically it might help out!
What’s another six weeks of winter, anyway?!
For information on Indianapolis IN and Indianapolis real estate, contact your Indianapolis REALTOR®:
Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI
Haddad Team, Keller Williams Realty
317.840.7555
Pat@HaddadTeam.com

Football’s over until Super Bowl weekend, the weather is, well…frightful, and last I checked no blockbuster movies are set to premiere this weekend. Think there’s nothing to look forward to? Think again! The 2010 Indianapolis Home Show opens Friday, Jan. 29 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and runs through Sunday, Feb. 7. Whether you’re considering a remodeling project, in the market for a new home, or just looking for somewhere warm to go, there will be plenty there to capture your attention. Prepare to dream big as you tour the 2,600-square-foot centerpiece home that’s fully landscaped and decorated, or chat with one of the numerous professionals on hand to offer advice on home improvement and decorating projects. Home and garden celebrities such as Paul DiMeo of HGTV’s Extreme Home Makeover will give special presentations throughout the show. Tickets are $12 ($9 if purchased online) for those 13 and older; $5 for children 6-12. For more information, visit www.indianapolishomeshow.com.
For information on Indianapolis real estate and Indianapolis homes for sale, contact your Indianapolis REALTOR:
Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI
Haddad Team, Keller Williams Realty
317.840.7555
Pat@HaddadTeam.com

In what many consider a long overdue move, the FAccording to the FHA, temporarily eliminating the “flipping” rule for buyers will allow the agency to more quickly dispose of its huge inventory of single family REO properties. This move is also predicted to stabilize property values and benefit neighborhoods and communities particularly hard hit by foreclosure.
Restrictions to the waiver do apply.
–There can be no prior agreement or collusion between the buyer and seller.
– If the sale price is greater than the purchase price by more than 20%, additional appraisal requirements will be required to justify the price increase.
More information on the FHA “flipping” waiver and other mortgage-related questions.HA has implemented a one-year waiver to its policy of requiring sellers to hold title for 90 days prior to entering into a sales contract with buyers seeking FHA financing.

For information on Indianapolis real estate, contact your Indianapolis REALTOR:
Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI
Haddad Team, Keller Williams Realty
317.578.1317
Pat@HaddadTeam.com

Buyers and real estate agents alike should note changes implemented this week in the Federal Housing Authority’s mortgage loan program. In short, those changes include increasing the mortgage insurance premium, updating the combination of FICO scores and down payments for new borrowers, reducing the amount of allowable seller concessions, and significantly increasing lender enforcement.

Mortgage insurance premium
– Increase in initial insurance premium from 1.75 of the loan value to 2.25 percent of the loan value.

Downpayment and credit score requirements
–Buyers with a FICO of 579 or lower will be required to have at least a 10% downpayment.
–Buyers with a FICO of 580 or above will be required to have at least a 3.5 % downpayment.

Allowable seller concessions
–Reduced from 6% to 3% of the property value.

Lender enforcement
–Lender performance rankings publicly reported.

What HASN”T changed
–FHA mortgages are available to more that just first-time homebuyers.
– Sellers may still contribute up to 6% of the purchase price for closing costs and prepaid expenses (taxes, insurance and interest).

“We have known for a while that FHA would be tightening up their guidelines due to the higher percentage of defaults of FHA borrowers with lower credit scores,” said William Haddad, president of Capital Mortgage Solutions in Indianapolis. “These FHA adjustments will make it tougher for borrowers with lower scores to get the higher “Loan-To-Value” loans, and will increase the FHA requirements to be more in line with conventional guidelines that penalize lower scores.”

Haddad adds that REALTOR®S should urge their “on-the-fence” FHA buyers to move forward before these changes become effective in a few weeks.

For more information on FHA and other mortgage loans, contact:

Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI
Haddad Team, Keller Williams Realty
317.840.7555
Pat@HaddadTeam.com

Indianapolis real estate

Recently, I offered some tips on starting the new year off right by decluttering your home. Today, I’m suggesting a worthy recipient of those gently-used household items you simply don’t know what to do with!
 
Second Starts is a Carmel Indiana-based non-profit organization whose mission is to supply previously homeless families and individuals with basic new and gently used household goods—providing them with a new start at independent living!
 
All it takes is a phone call! Second Starts will pick up your donation, then sort and organize the items in their storage facility until they are notified of a need. When a housing assistance agency informs them that a client is moving into a home, they pull the necessary items from storage and deliver them to their new owner. The most-needed items include kitchen items, dishes, towels, bed linens and other household items. Second Starts delivers an average of 12 orders every week.
 
For more information or to make a donation, visit www.secondstarts.org, or call 317-569-0089.
 
For information on Carmel Indiana real estate contact your Carmel REALTOR®
 
Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI
Haddad Team, Keller Williams Realty
Direct: 317.840.7555
VM: 317.216.8792
Pat@HaddadTeam.com
 
Carmel Indiana homes
Indianapolis real estate for sale

Searching for Noblesville Indiana homes? Don’t miss this one! Well maintained 3 bed/2 full bath ranch with finished partial basement and tons of storage!  Large great room or livingroom/dining room combo with cathedral ceilings and fireplace.  Huge master bath with soaking tub, separate shower and double sinks.  New paver patio and fully fenced back yard– all on a quiet cul-de-sac lot.  Just minutes from Morse Reservoir boat launch, park & beach! 

20008 Tahoe Circle
Noblesville IN 46062
3 bedroom, 2 bath
1873 square feet
$145,000

For information on Noblesville IN homes for sale and Hamilton County real estate contact:
Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI
Haddad Team, Keller Williams Realty
317.840.7555
Pat@HaddadTeam.com

If the start of the new year has you looking around your house and wondering, Where did I get all this stuff, and WHY?, it might be time to add PURGING to your 2010 resolutions. While that might sound like a daunting task, it doesn’t have to be. Just follow these simple steps and your Indianapolis real estate will be a zen-like retreat in no time!

• Set the bar low. Don’t try to tackle your entire house at once. Chances are the only thing you’ll achieve is frustration. Pick a room (your favorite, the one that needs the least help, the smallest room in your house, whatever…) and give it the once over, getting rid of anything that’s obviously unnecessary. Once that’s done, dig deeper, opening drawers and closets for a more thorough purging. Three times around a room should ensure that you’ve done all you can! Uncertain about whether you should actually get rid of something, apply the following standard….
• Haven’t used it? Lose it. If you haven’t picked it up, worn it, or even looked at it in six months or longer ask yourself what the odds are that you ever will. Better yet, don’t even ask. Just get rid of it. Having trouble letting go? Try this…
• A little help from friends. One good and trusted friend is really all you need. While they’ll understand what’s important to you, they’ll also have a more impartial, rational view of your “treasures.” And speaking of treasures, remember that….
• One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Unless, of course, it really is just trash, in which case you should send it directly to the dumpster. Consider donating anything that’s in good and working condition. Sure, you could save it for a yard sale, but is the hassle really worth the $2 you’ll get for your $50 lamp? NO! Donating can be a good tax write off, and it you’ll feel good knowing your stuff is benefiting someone else. Many charitable organizations such as AmVets, Goodwill and Second Starts will even pick up your donated items! How easy is that? There’s only one thing left to do…
• Just say NO!  Unless you correct your bad habits and stop bringing more things into your home than you need, all your hard work will be for naught. Adopt a strict Do Not Enter policy. If you can’t immediately think of a place to put an object, a legitimate need for an item of clothing or a reason to replace a gadget, leave it at the store. Your bank account and your home will be happier for it!
   
  For information on Indianapolis real estate, contact your Indianapolis REALTOR:
   
  Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI
  Haddad Team, Keller Williams Realty
  317.840.7555
  Pat@HaddadTeam.com
   
  Indianapolis homes for sale!

In what appears to be some welcome good news for the Indianapolis housing market, units sold and units pended (both increased by 16 percent in the three months ending in November 2009 compared to the same time period for 2008, according to data released by the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of REALTOR®s.  Average sales price and median sales price also both showed an increase compared to 2008.
                                                                3 month period ending November 30
                                                                2008                       2009                       Percent change
Units Sold                                            5845                       6807                       16%
Units pended                                     5388                       6241                         16%
New listings                                       10,829                   10,317                      -5%
Average sales price                        $136,640               $139,652                 2%
Median sales price                         $112,000               $116,000                 4%

The Haddad Team is hosting some great open houses this weekend in Noblesville Indiana! 1141 North Street and18538 Piers End Drive will both be open Sunday, Dec. 20 from 1-3 pm. You’ll love the North Street location–it’s within walking distance of historic downtown Noblesville! If you’re looking for maintenance-free living without sacrificing space, you’ll want to check out Piers End Drive!

Contact your Indianapolis REALTOR for more information on Noblesville IN Real Estate and Noblesville Indiana homes for sale!

Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI
Haddad Team, Keller Williams Realty
317.840.7555
Pat@HaddadTeam.com
Indianapolis homes for sale and Indianapolis real estate!

Baby it’s cold outside, and for many of the animals at the Indianapolis Zoo, that’s just the way they like it! The winter months may not seem optimal for a zoo visit, but for some of the cold weather creatures, including polar bears, sea lions and walruses, it’s their favorite time of year and the best time to see them in action!

And if the thrill of watching seals cavort through the water isn’t enough to lure you outside, consider that there are plenty of other exciting events going on during Christmas at the Zoo. Santa’s Village, carolers, Holiday Train rides and the Holiday Dolphin Show are just a sample of the fun that’s in store for zoo visitors!

If you need to warm up for a few minutes, take in The Polar Express 4D Experience, a simulated adventure based on the award-winning children’s book, or stroll through Woodland Wonderland at the White River Gardens, Hilbert Conservatory, where you’ll revel in nature’s holiday decorations and wildlife. Get there before Dec. 23 and you’ll even meet some real reindeer!

For zoo hours and admission visit www.indianapoliszoo.com.

For information on Indianapolis homes for sale and Hamilton County real estate contact your Indianapolis REALTOR:

Pat Haddad, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, GRI
Haddad Team, Keller Williams Realty
317.840.7555
Pat@HaddadTeam.com
Visit our Haddad Team site for more on Indianapolis and Hamilton County!