Random Thoughts

Porter County Indiana – Home to 54 Nature Trails And More

Get ready to trek the wilds of Porter County Indiana. Finally in one location, there is a booklet of all the best nature trails and points of interest for the amateur nature lover in your family. And with 54 nature trails to choose from, you can visit one a week for an entire year before visiting the same place twice.

In case you missed it Chesterton Indiana’s old Porter County Convention Recreation and Tourism Bureau has been renamed and re-branded. The new name is now Indiana Dunes Tourism, reflecting the emphasis on the lakeshore, the State and National Parks, and a new appreciation for the unique biodiversity, bird migration, nature habitats, and Lake Michigan. Eco-tourism comes to Northwest Indiana.

Indiana Dunes Tourism even hired noted nature photographer Ted Eubanks to assist them in producing some high quality campaigns and support materials. And one of the results is a 44 page booklet called “Beyond The Beach: Discovery Trail Guide” where you can locate and plan your weekend excursions across the rural vistas of Porter County Indiana.

The free booklet is organized into three topographical categories: Dunes, for the lakefront and oak forests; Moraine, referring to the highlands around Valparaiso Indiana where the ancient glaciers came to rest; and finally the Kankakee Region for the rich agricultural and wetlands in the Southern portion of the county around the Kankakee and Yellow river basins.

There are activities for bicyclists, bird-watchers, kayakers, hikers, railroad and history buff’s, just to name a few. If you don’t make it to every physical location in Porter County the booklet also offers plenty of tantalizing photos to bring you back again. You can obtain a free copy of  “Beyond The Beach: Discovery Trail Guide” at the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center in Chesterton Indiana. There is an extensive collection of tourism brochures from across the region, as well as a gift shop and bookstore with an assortment of memorabilia and nature guides.

Come enjoy one of 54 nature trails throughout Porter County Indiana and learn why so many nature lovers have come to call Porter County Indiana home. When Mother Nature calls you to come home to Porter County Indiana, call upon me to help you unearth your dream home in Porter County Indiana.

Have We Hit The Bottom Yet in Portage Indiana Real Estate

People across Portage Indiana have been asking me lately about real estate prices. “Do we see light in the tunnel?” they ask.  Since real estate markets move in up and down cycles, economists and homeowners alike all want to know when market trends are entering a new phase. Can they time their move to be positioned ahead of the next wave? 

Whether you are talking about the stock market, real estate, or gold bars, timing the market is not so easy to predict. And in real estate, it depends on where you live.

This week we have had economists from the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Home Builders both giving generally negative views about the real estate market. This suggests to many homeowners and armchair Realtors that the market for Portage Indiana is headed for even more price declines.

It’s not that simple. When analyzing home sales data from other nearby communities, we see the real estate market has acted differently, depending on the location.

And don’t forget about those first 3 rules of real estate: Location, Location, Location.

Since the recession began in 2007 Portage Indiana real estate market has had a roller coaster ride as median home prices have dipped 3 separate times with rallies in between. Your community may be different. For example, median home prices in Crown Point Indiana crashed about 15% way back in 2008 and they have skidded around at roughly the same median home price ever since.

Consider that, overall,  real estate has been in the current down cycle for over 3 years now. We also know that it is the lack of jobs that is holding back the overall economy.

So we do not really need the help of technical books and investment seminars to know that, in general, as long as you have a decent job, this is a terrific time to buy a home in Portage Indiana. Home affordability is at an all time high with interest rates at historic lows and depressed home prices all around. 

Will home prices go down further? Maybe yes. Maybe no. If you wait too long for home prices to hit rock bottom in Portage Indiana, you may find yourself getting in after the real estate market has already gone up.  Or if interest rates have clicked up another notch, your delay in taking action will affect your payment even more.

My advice? Do what is best for your family and your situation. Your house is shelter first; an investment second. If you are trading up, don’t stress out about how much your current home was worth in 2005. Rather, focus on the great deal you are getting on a better home which you might not have been able to afford back then.

Change will always come. Experienced Realtors are here to provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions in any market. If you’re ready to learn more about the Portage Indiana real estate market and what steps you need achieve home ownership, contact me to help get you moved.

*Photo: Market Timing for Dummies by Joe Duarte MD – BN.com

This Weekend–Fun Events Around Portage Indiana

Portage Indiana is the hub for a wide range of family friendly activities. If you are looking for something to do this weekend consider starting your search with these.  In addition to a long list of year-round leisure activities, here are a few special events to consider for this weekend only.

Farmers Markets

Portage Farmer’s Market,  Founder’s Square Park, Portage Indiana

Sundays 11-4pm,  ongoing through September

Chesterton European Market, Broadway & 3rd, Downtown Chesterton Indiana.

Saturdays 8am-2pm, ongoing through October

Amusement Fair & Expo

Taste of Porter County runs Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday all day. You will soon appreciate all that Porter has to offer when you tour this large venue and see all that our local community has to offer.  Plus, it is FREE admission to this event with a wide variety of family activities, music, cars & bikes, and vendors showcasing food and fun. Located at the Porter County Expo Center, Hwy 49, Valparaiso Indiana.

Boat Show

Michigan City kicks off the annual In-Water Boat Show, with a variety of yachts, sailboats, and runabouts on display from area boat dealers. The show runs Thursday through Sunday, 11am until dusk, in Washington Park, Michigan City Indiana.

Art Festival

Enjoy a Two-Fer in Michigan City Indiana with the Lubeznik Center for the Arts is  hosting their Lakefront Art Festival corresponding with the Boat Show. Both events are within walking distance of each other. Artists will have work on display to view and purchase. There are food vendors and hands-on art demonstrations. The Lubeznik Center is located North of Rte. 12 at the corner of Pine and 2nd St.

Baseball

Gary Railcats

This weekend it’s a pair of home games against the Rockford Riverhawks, Friday at 6p and Saturday at 2pm. Friday’s game features a post-game fireworks show.  On Wednesday a group of 25 dedicated fans from Ogden Dunes Indiana cheered on the Cats to defeat the Schaumburg Flyers at the Steelyard Stadium, Gary Indiana. Check their site for the complete schedule of upcoming games.

Check with these links to verify the schedules. Some events have admission and parking fees. And if you are visiting from outside Porter County, picture yourself living in one of these unique coastal communities. I can help you find out more.

Summer’s End in Crown Point Indiana

August 19th..

The big day for all school age children in Crown Point, Indiana.  It is like the night before Christmas as all the children in Crown Point, Indiana are going to bed all eager, excited, and ready  to see what the next day will bring.  The first day of school in Crown Point, Indiana. Preparing for the big day in Crown Point, Indiana; laying out their new clothes, loading the book bags, and getting to bed early is all part of getting ready for the first day of school in Crown Point, Indiana.

Crown Point, Indiana  home of  The Bulldogs!  Soon it will be Friday night football games and the homecoming parade around the square.

What’s Happening in Crown Point Indiana: August 12th

The buzz around the McColly office and with my clients in Crown Point Indiana has been how hot the weather has been this past week. I’m a fan of hot summer days and consequently I’ve been loving the weather as of recent.

If you’re like me, we all hate to see summer end and you know it is about to come to an end when you begin to see the the hoards of visitors attending the Lake County Fair. Held at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point Indiana since 1852 the Fair has become more than just a showcase for agriculture.

There will be plenty of exhibits, entertainment and contests to satisfy every member of the family young or old. This is one of the largest festivals of the entire year for the city of Crown Point Indiana and it shows by the mass attendance of local residents. The Lake County Fair is one of the many attractions that make Crown Point Indiana such a fantastic place to live and desirable place to call home.

Traditionally, the Lake County Fair occurs during the second week of August. This year it started on August 6th and will end on Sunday, August 15th. Just like the hot real estate deals in Crown Point Indiana, the Lake County Fair will not be around long.

If you need an extra incentive to come visit the place I call home, the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority will be giving away an Apple iPad. Get details at their tour mobile at the Lake County Fairgrounds.

Come visit Crown Point Indiana and enjoy all that the Lake County Fair has to offer. Admission is $4.00 for adults, $2.00 for children ages 9-12 and free for kids 8 and under. See you in the cotton candy line.

Could You See Yourself In A Home Under 600 Square Feet

The rise in popularity of green building standards and smaller footprint homes in real estate has finally made it’s way to the heartland of America.

In case you missed it there has been lots of real estate media buzz over the Small Homes movement.

The best known advocate is Resources For Life. They are a green/sustainable advocacy group who is at the core of this new community. Their site describes developments across the US where the principles of sustainable resources for living are implemented.

Then there is Jay Shafer from Tumbleweed Tiny House Company. He has published a book on how to build your own tiny home. He even offers floor plans. Most notable is a model home that is just 70 square feet.

According to a survey by National Association of Home Builders, most Americans still prefer a home size averaging 2,070 square feet. The same survey also revealed that Americans WANT to downsize their yard work, prompting a home buying trend toward more compact lots. Consequently, more two-story homes and split level homes are replaicing ranch style homes since homes need to go up in height to build on a smaller size footprint.

Wait a second. You maybe asking yourself what does the small homes movement have to do with homeowners here in Portage Indiana?

You might be surprised that small homes is not a new phenomena here in Portage Indiana. Pictured above is one of the smallest homes in Portage Indiana. This home offers an expansive space of only 780 square feet and was built in 1943.

Believe it or not, tiny homes is just a remnant of our storied past.

Can you see yourself living in a “Tiny House” in Portage Indiana?

What’s the Buzz in Crown Point Real Estate: August 6th

The media is having a field day highlighting the poor economic news and the slumping real estate market. When I look around Crown Point Indiana, I see something to the contrary. Take a look at the graph below and tell me what you see. By the way, it’s not a disgruntled smile.

Can you see what I see? I see home prices stabilizing in Crown Point Indiana for the quartile of homes that typifies the first-time home buyer in Crown Point Indiana. Why isn’t everyone talking about this news?

It might be true that house values and home prices are still collapsing in the sand belt states. But here in Crown Point Indiana that is not the case. This is the kind of real estate information that every home seller and every home buyer needs to know.

Home sellers in Crown Point Indiana please pay attention. Home prices are NOT appreciating by double-digits so do not price above the market. You could get away with that in 2006, but that’s history.

Home buyers in Crown Point Indiana can also benefit by knowing the real estate trends. Home prices are NOT falling to the point that you can ask for 10% – 30% discounts from list price. Be rationale and reasonable in your assessment of a good deal.

This is my first blog post of many to come in a series I will call “What’s the Buzz in Crown Point Real Estate”. Stay tuned and don’t hesitate to leave your comments.

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Miracle Treat Day

Guess what today has in store for you and other ice cream loving locals throughout Northwest Indiana?

It’s the annual Dairy Queen Miracle Treat Day!

Since 1984, Dairy Queen has been a proud sponsor of the Children’s Miracle Network and has raised over $81 million through their fund raising effort known as Miracle Treat Day. One dollar of every Blizzard sale is donated.

In case you don’t know why you should care about the children’s charity that Marie Osmond founded, the purpose of the Children’s Miracle Network is simple…

1. Help as many children as possible by raising funds for children’s hospitals.
2. Keep funds in the community in which they were raised to help local children.

So how can you help this great charity. Watch the DQ Something Miraculous promo video.

What are you waiting for? Get to your local DQ right now and treat yourself to your favorite Blizzard treat. All proceeds from Miracle Treat Day in Northwest Indiana will benefit the Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

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