Home Values
Highland Indiana Real Estate Market Summary, June 24, 2011
June 24, 2011 by Steve Cardwell · 1 Comment
The Highland Indiana real estate market continues to trade in a narrow range this month. Although the market did experience a recent dip and a rebound, the pattern is not solid enough to point to a clear trend in market change.
Prices have been trending gradually lower since their peak in October of 2010. Currently prices are down 8.3% from that point. This week’s Median List Price is$154,900, a stable equilibrium for Highland prices. That mid-$150K level has been hit several times, both on up-side as well as down since the recession began in 2007.
Seasonal patterns often show a spike up at the end of the traditional summer buying season, and we may still see one this year. We might also see this curve continuing to simply flatten out, with all the weak economic news nationally in employment and housing starts affecting existing home sales. Looking back several years, the average range for Highland Indiana homes has “traditionally” been in the mid-150′s, so we may see prices return to these levels as a new baseline.
The MLS shows 15 single family homes listed as PENDING with prices from $69,000 to $254,000. Altogether there are 103 for sale; it takes 135 days on-market to sell the average Highland area home.
There are 3 condo’s and 6 duplex town-homes on the PENDING list in Highland Indiana. These are located in Porte de Leau, Georgetowne, Park Place, and Whispering Oaks developments, plus a few free-standing duplex units. There are 36 condo’s on the ACTIVE list, seeking new owners, and 23 town-homes. Median asking prices are just under $130,000 and price-per-square foot is currently $102. Actual selling prices will be slightly less.
All these fundamentals indicate that it is still a strong BUYERS market, with interest rates remaining low and prices low as well. If you know someone looking for a Highland area home or condo, make sure they know about my premium service for finding and selecting from ALL the available market inventory.
2011 NWI Home Builders Association Parade of Homes
June 18, 2011 by WelcomeHomeNWI · Leave a Comment
Looking for something to do this Father’s Day weekend? Take dad out and tour 50 homes scattered throughout Northwest Indiana in Lake County and Porter County.
Unlike years past, the price of admission to tour the 2011 Home Builders Association of Northwest Indiana Parade of Homes is free. You can pick up a guide to all the parade homes in Northwest Indiana from any of the following grocery stores:
This years parade of homes is a scattered site parade.
What does it mean? Think of 2011 NWI Home Builders Association Parade of Homes as a scavenger hunt. By touring and visiting at least 10 of the 50 parade homes, you could be eligible to win a nice price.
Simply pick up a stamp card at any parade home and have it stamped at any of the parade homes that you visit. Once you have at minimum 10 verified visits, drop it off at any of the 2011 NWI Home Builders Association Parade Homes to be entered to win of the following prizes:
51″ Samsung Flat Screen Plasma TV courtesy of Hometown Appliance & Electronics
HGTV Green Queen Mattress by Serta courtesy of Maruszczak Appliances
Although the 2011 NWI Home Builders Association Parade of Homes began June 11th, it still continues through Father’s Day on Sunday June 19th. The parade homes will be open from 1 PM – 6 PM so make sure you plan your home tour accordingly. Just remember to have fun on your house hunting adventure.
If you tour a 2011 NWI Home Builders Association Parade of Homes that meets your housing needs, contact one of the qualified Realtors partnered with WelcomeHomeNWI to get proper home buyers representation.
Chesterton Indiana Real Estate Recap June 16, 2011
June 16, 2011 by Jim Sims · Leave a Comment
Buying a home or selling a home in the Chesterton Indiana real estate market? One of the things to look at is the price per square feet of other comparable homes in your market.
The current price per square foot in Chesterton Indiana is $115.00. With this information buyers in the Chesterton Indiana real estate market can determine what size home they can afford.
For example, for those looking at a 3 bedroom home with 2 bathrooms, you can determine the approximate square footage based on the size of the rooms you are looking at. If the bedrooms are larger size then the square footage of the home may be larger as well.
If we look at the median square footage of 1940 and accompany this with the median price per square foot of $115.00, we can determine that the approximate price of the home would be in the range of $223,100.
At this week’s median price of $214,900 you can expect:
- 3 Bedrooms
- 2.5 Bathrooms
- .25 – .50 acres
- 1,940 square footage
Chesterton Indiana Real Estate Week At A Glance:
- 14 New Listings
- 5 Sold Listings
- 233 Homes Listed
- 213 Average Days on Market
This is Chesterton Real Estate Recap June 16, 2011
Do you or someone you know want to buy a home and/or sell a home in Chesterton Indiana?
Call or text 219-649-1296 or email me (jim@jimsimshomes.com) to help you get started!
Chesterton Indiana Real Estate Recap May 2011
The month of May proved to be successful in the Chesterton Indiana real estate market. With the increasing median price over the previous months of $205,000 to $214,600 in May.
Along with the higher median price for listed homes for sale in Chesterton Indiana real estate market, the number of days a home is listed for sale before selling has decreased from February’s average days on market of 255 to May’s 226 days.
This is a good indication for those selling homes in the Chesterton Indiana real estate that they will be able to sell their home faster for closer to their listed price than in previous months.
Buyers in the Chesterton Indiana real estate market can continue to review the median prices along with the average days on market to determine what position they will be in within the market when they become the seller in the coming years.
At this month’s median price of $214,600 you can expect:
- 3 Bedrooms
- 2 Bathrooms
- .25 – .50 acres
- 1,973 square footage
Chesterton Indiana Real Estate Month At A Glance:
- 44 New Listings
- 32 Sold Listings
- 224 Homes Listed
- 226 Average Days on Market
Do you or someone you know want to buy a home and/or sell a home in Chesterton Indiana?
Call or text 219-649-1296 or email me (jim@jimsimshomes.com) to help you get started!
Levees Protect Munster, Highland Real Estate Values
June 4, 2011 by Steve Cardwell · 1 Comment
For more than 20 years controversy has swirled around annual flooding of the Little Calumet river. At the junction point where Hart Ditch meets the Little Cal, there has been an annual recurring crisis along the river. At the old Woodmar Golf Club, now Cabella’s property, and in Wicker Park, unplanned water hazards to the golf play was an annual rite-of-Spring. In some years, unincorporated Calumet Township, and areas of Gary around IUN flooded as well.
As far as Munster Indiana homeowners were concerned, the problems were usually contained inside the watershed and the parks. But in 2008 a major flood resulted from the failure of an old levee. This time it was a catastrophe as several thousand homes were affected and there was hundreds of millions in property damage. In 2009 the I-94 expressway was closed for several days as water filled the Kennedy Avenue exit and underpass. Some of Munster’s most stately neighborhoods were written off as unlivable, in the minds of many observers.
Fast forward to today. The Little Calumet River Basin Commission partnered with the US Army Corps of Engineers to re mediate the flood plain with a series of levees, sea walls, retention ponds and wetland zones. Now that this massive project is nearly complete, and 20 years in the making, it is starting to pay off for residents. Wheels of government roll slowly, and for such a large undertaking it was not going to happen over night. The process involved over 20 miles of seawalls and levees, lift stations and control gates, and of course, engineering studies, and extensive infrastructure work, not to mention budgeting the funding for such a massive project. In the end, it was broken down into 8 separate phases, with the final stages wrapping up in 2011.
And if you are an amateur meteorologist, the Little Cal Basin Commission has their floodwater monitoring system online so you can follow along with the science team as they watch the river levels along the protected stretch.
Here are some recreational spots to explore around the 2,000 acre Little Calumet watershed:
- Homestead Park
- Riverside Park
- River Drive (several different sections)
- Northcote Ave.
- Cabella’s grounds to the South of the store
- Wicker Memorial Park
- Interstate Plaza Dr.
- Corrine Drive
- Nature Trail behind the Convention Visitor’s Bureau
The political work of the Little Calumet Basin Commission still has one major hurdle to overcome. The Indiana legislature was unable to reach a consensus on how to fund the necessary maintenance budget for the levee system. After more than $65 million of State and Federal funds for design and construction, several funding ideas were put forward to keep the new protection in top form. However, with the austerity-mindset in Indianapolis, there seems little will to keep the system in like-new condition. Some might suggest that with all the distractions of dismantling labor unions and providing grants to private schools, Governor Daniels and the House have lost sight of their vision and responsibilities to pay the upkeep.
For now, all the residents of Hammond, Highland, and Munster should appreciate the work and dedication that went into turning this liability into a fantastic natural asset for all of us to enjoy. Success in the first season has shown us the vision was realized. Once the value proposition is understood and word gets around, maybe our government will follow through with the funds the Commission needs to insure these new structures will continue to protect our homes.
If you would like to know more about real estate values in Munster Indiana, Highland Indiana, or Hammond Indiana, let me show you around the neighborhoods and find the perfect house for your family to call home.
Portage Indiana Real Estate Recap May 19, 2011
May 19, 2011 by Jim Sims · Leave a Comment
What price should a buyer in the Portage Indiana real estate market pay for a new home?
What price should a seller in the Portage Indiana real estate market sell their home at?
Both buyers and sellers in the Portage Indiana real estate market should be looking at the median listing price for these answers. The market is broken down into 4 quadrants which is broken down by the price accompanied with number of bedroom, bathrooms, square footage, etc.
For those selling a home or buying a home in the Portage Indiana real estate market, you will see the median list price of $150,900 comes with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and around 1780 square feet.
As you can see in the chart, the house you are looking to purchase will increase in price by the amount of square feet it has along with the bedrooms and bathrooms offered.
At this week’s median price of $150,900 you can expect:
- 3 Bedrooms
- 2 Bathrooms
- .25 – .50 acres
- 1,780 square footage
Portage Indiana Real Estate Week At A Glance:
- 12 New Listings
- 11 Sold Listings
- 229 Homes Listed
- 224 Average Days on Market
This is Portage Indiana Real Estate Recap May 19 2011
Do you or someone you know want to buy a home and/or sell a home in Portage Indiana?
Call or text 219-649-1296 or email me (jim@jimsimshomes.com) to help you get started!
Chesterton Indiana Real Estate Recap May 18, 2011
May 18, 2011 by Jim Sims · Leave a Comment
Buying a home or selling a home in the Chesterton Indiana real estate market? One of the things to look at is the price per square feet of other comparable homes in your market.
The current price per square foot in Chesterton Indiana is $116.00. With this information buyers in the Chesterton Indiana real estate market can determine what size home they can afford.
For example, for those looking at a 3 bedroom home with 2 bathrooms, you can determine the approximate square footage based on the size of the rooms you are looking at. If the bedrooms are larger size then the square footage of the home may be larger as well.
If we look at the median square footage of 1976 and accompany this with the median price per square foot of $116.00, we can determine that the approximate price of the home would be in the range of $229,216.
At this week’s median price of $214,999 you can expect:
- 3 Bedrooms
- 2 Bathrooms
- .25 – .50 acres
- 1,976 square footage
Chesterton Indiana Real Estate Week At A Glance:
- 10 New Listings
- 6 Sold Listings
- 213 Homes Listed
- 234 Average Days on Market
This is Chesterton Real Estate Recap May 18, 2011
Do you or someone you know want to buy a home and/or sell a home in Chesterton Indiana?
Call or text 219-649-1296 or email me (jim@jimsimshomes.com) to help you get started!
Portage Indiana Real Estate Recap May 12 2011
May 12, 2011 by Jim Sims · Leave a Comment
Buying a home or selling a home in the Portage Indiana real estate market? One of the things to look at is the price per square feet of other comparable homes in your market.
The current price per square foot in Portage Indiana is $92.00. With this information buyers in the Portage Indiana real estate market can determine what size home they can afford.
For example, for those looking at a 3 bedroom home with 2 bathrooms, you can determine the approximate square footage based on the size of the rooms you are looking at. If the bedrooms are larger size then the square footage of the home may be larger as well.
If we look at the median square footage of 1778 and accompany this with the median price per square foot of $92.00, we can determine that the approximate price of the home would be in the range of $163,576.
At this week’s median price of $151,900 you can expect:
- 3 Bedrooms
- 2 Bathrooms
- .25 – .50 acres
- 1,778 square footage
Portage Indiana Real Estate Week At A Glance:
- 9 New Listings
- 12 Sold Listings
- 228 Homes Listed
- 220 Average Days on Market
This is Portage Indiana Real Estate Recap May 12 2011
Do you or someone you know want to buy a home and/or sell a home in Portage Indiana?
Call or text 219-649-1296 or email me (jim@jimsimshomes.com) to help you get started!
Chesterton Indiana Real Estate Recap May 11 2011
May 11, 2011 by Jim Sims · Leave a Comment
What price should a buyer in the Chesterton Indiana real estate market pay for a new home?
What price should a seller in the Chesterton Indiana real estate market sell their home at?
Both buyers and sellers in the Chesterton Indiana real estate market should be looking at the median listing price for these answers. The market is broken down into 4 quadrants which is broken down by the price accompanied with number of bedroom, bathrooms, square footage, etc.
For those selling a home or buying a home in the Chesterton Indiana real estate market, you will see the median list price of $214,999 comes with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and around 1980 square feet.
As you can see in the chart, the house you are looking to purchase will increase in price by the amount of square feet it has along with the bedrooms and bathrooms offered.
At this week’s median price of $214,999 you can expect:
- 3 Bedrooms
- 2 Bathrooms
- .25 – .50 acres
- 1,980 square footage
Chesterton Indiana Real Estate Week At A Glance:
- 7 New Listings
- 10 Sold Listings
- 209 Homes Listed
- 229 Average Days on Market
This is Chesterton Indiana Real Estate Recap May 11 2011
Do you or someone you know want to buy a home and/or sell a home in Chesterton Indiana?
Call or text 219-649-1296 or email me (jim@jimsimshomes.com) to help you get started!
