Jan
15
How do you find the right Fishers Real Estate Agent
Posted by marchantteam under Ask a REALTOR, Buyer Information, Fishers, For Buyers
Sure, everybody knows a REALTOR; but how do you find the right REALTOR for you.
Maybe you already know a lot about the Fishers Real Estate market and you just need someone to negotiate for you. Or maybe you aren’t sure what you can even afford and need to start at the beginning with a REALTOR. Here are some things to ponder as you start the process of searching for a home for sale in Fishers.
The Metropolitan Board of REALTORS has 5,800 members. There were 75% of those agents that did less than 10 transactions last year. And of the remaining, only 250 agents wrote more than 30 transactions last year. That says that there is a small pool of experienced agents and in this business experience is priceless.
It is so much more than sitting down and listening to what you want; it is asking why those things are important to you, it is watching you in the homes and listening to your emotion and the questions you ask, it is shaking the etch a sketch sometimes to find a house that is perfect for you that you hadn’t thought of.
It is so much more than opening the door; it is the way we look at the home, the analytics we do with the history of the home and comparables in the neighborhood, it is the way that we negotiate and the way that we troubleshoot the issues on the way to the closing table that makes the experience one that is successful for you the buyer.
If you are a first time buyer, come visit our first time home buyers clinic that we hold each month; registration is required. But we have a Real Estate agent, a lender and a home inspector go through the process (45 minutes) and then have a Q & A. We give you some great handouts to take with you too.
I am one of the 250 agents that wrote more than 30 transactions last year; and I’ve had some interesting hurdles this year that a rookie agent might have handled differently with a negative outcome. The best REALTORS can make the transaction look easy; but that’s a skill developed over time. Every transaction will typically have a least one blip…find an experienced agent you can trust.
Cindy in Indy Marchant – Fishers Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Fishers IN Real Estate Website
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Aug
1
Hamilton County Housing Report – Good News
Posted by marchantteam under Buyer Information, For Buyers, For Sellers, General Information, Sellers Corner
Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the negative National housing news…but the Hamilton County housing report is good news!
The June report shows 482 homes sold; or a 4.6% increase over June of 2010. This is important because June of 2010 was a big month as all of the first time buyers scurried to be sure they closed by the 6/30/10 deadline. So June of 2010 was a big number and we beat it in 2011!
The median sale price also from $207,500 to $215,500 or a 3.9% increase comparing June to June. Even for the YTD the number was up 1.3% from a year ago.
There continues to be a high amount of inventory available for sale with 800 homes entering the market in June compared with 851 homes a year ago. Typically within those 800 newly listed homes each month…20% are under $150,000.
Be sure to check back next week when the Fishers Market Report will be released; I suspect it will have very good news!
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Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Fishers Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Fishers IN Real Estate Website
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Jul
6
Top 5 Considerations for finding the Best Real Estate Agent in Fishers
Posted by marchantteam under Buyer Information, For Buyers, For Sellers, General Information, Sellers Corner
So you are ready to sell your home or buy a home and you’ve received numerous recommendations on which REALTOR to use…but how do you know which one is the best real estate agent for you?
Here are some considerations:
- How well do they know the area you are looking to buy or sell? For example, I had a call yesterday and the person is thinking about selling. I asked her where her neighborhood was and she said, Sweet Briar. I could immediately tell her how quickly her home was likely to sell because I know nea
rly every Fishers neighborhood. I had a buyer last weekend that was from out of town; over the course of being with them I could tell them about commute times, schools and resale values. All valuable in the buying process. - How available are they is another consideration. I have had two instances in June where I was able to secure the home for my buyers because I got them into the home the moment they came on the market and was available to write the offer within the hour. Both homes had offers received after ours was accepted. You snooze you can lose in this business; despite what the media tells you, houses are selling in Fishers.
- How responsive are they to your inquiries? Are you having to leave voicemails for your REALTOR and then wait 24 hours for a call back. Much to my husbands chagrin, I am often a 24/7 kind of person. You will most likely get me when you call and if not; you will get a call back often within the hour. Sellers love that about working with me.
- As you think about the REALTOR you want to work with; ask them if they are a good negotiator. I am an Accountant by background and the numbers flow freely in my head; I can typically do circles around another REALTOR in discussing pricing/net/closing costs/$ mortgaged at an interest rate/etc. I have often wanted to go back in for my clients one more time more than they want and gotten the best deal for them.
- Do you like them? This is important. You will be spending some intense time with this person. You need to be able to trust them. You need to be able to ask them all kinds of questions. You need to feel comfortable sharing personal information about your financial situation. You need to know that they will represent your best interest. You need to at the end of the day feel good about the house you bought or sold.
These Top 5 Things to Consider in Choosing your Next REALTOR are important. Be sure to interview with these thoughts in mind. Be sure to do some research on the individual you choose; if you can’t find them, how are people going to find your house. And when you are ready to buy or sell in Fishers, I hope you know I could be the one for you!
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Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Fishers Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Fishers IN Real Estate Website
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May
16
First Time Home Buyer in Fishers
Posted by marchantteam under Buyer Information, For Buyers, General Information
You live in Fishers and are ready to buy your first home; what do you do?
My best advice is to attend a free First Time Home Buying Class. We hold them on the last Thursday of every month. Speakers include not only a REALTOR, but also a lender and a home inspector. Registration is required.
But let me give you a quick idea of what the process is to help you start your search for a new home in Fishers.
Trying to figure out how much house you can afford is the first thing you want to know. There is no point falling in love with something you can’t really afford. You might know that $1,000 a month is a comfortable payment, but you need that translated into purchase price. I have great lenders for you that can help you with that process.
Next you want to talk to a Realtor in Fishers about what you want in a home. Do you want a ranch or a two story, do you want a new home or an old home, do you want to be East or West of SR37, etc. I can find homes that fit your criteria and if one comes on the market tomorrow; you’ll know right away with our automated search tool. It is fast and easy to use and keeps you up to date on the newest listings.
Visiting the homes is what a Fishers Real Estate agent can also help you do. I will schedule the homes for a tour with you. The sellers will leave and allow us to spend some time in the home. You will look for function and flow and I’ll be checking the insides of oven to see how they live and looking up at the ceiling for water stains, etc. Said more simply, you will look at them to see if you can live in it and I will look at it to see if I can sell it again.
Then comes the negotiations when you find the home you want to buy…and that is another post!
Stay tuned!
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Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Fishers Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Fishers IN Real Estate Website
317-290-7775
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Apr
18
Top 5 Tips about Low Ball Offers
Posted by marchantteam under Buyer Information, For Buyers, General Information
After viewing 47 homes, you’ve found the one of your dreams. It’s been on the market 7 days for $200,000 and is in perfect condition. You ask your agent to write an offer for $150,000 with $3,000 of closing costs. That my readers, is a low ball offer. 
I know the Fishers Real Estate market is soft; ask any seller! But here are my Top 5 Tidbits about Low Ball Offers:
- A low ball offer is considered to be anything under 90% of list price. If you have a home that is $100,000 and you bid $92,000 with $3,000 of closing costs…it’s a low ball offer because the net to the seller is $89,000.
- If a home is fairly priced (use a Fishers Real Estate Agent to help you determine that); then MIBOR, after running thousands of homes through an analysis, tells us that the home will sell for between 95 and 97% of list price.
- If a home is in great condition and just came on the market and is fully furnished with lots of food in the refrigerator; the sellers aren’t going to entertain a low ball offer.
- Just because a home is a bank owned or short sale DOES NOT mean it is going to take a low ball offer; often they are priced to sell. And my experience is that this is where you see highest and best asked for because they are priced to sell.
- Sellers are people and low ball offers can and will offend them; if you truly want the home…don’t go there.
Am I saying they never work; no. But know the market, know the listing history, know the motivation, use a Fishers Real Estate agent to navigate those waters. As your Buyers Agent, I want you to be thrilled with the price you pay for the home. I am an Accountant by background and negotiating on behalf of my client is what I do best. So I can make it happen for you. Just know the parameters and know that it won’t work in many cases.
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Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Fishers Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Fishers IN Real Estate Website
317-290-7775
One Response to “Top 5 Tips about Low Ball Offers”
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Cindy, this is terrific! Here in California it is a little different (we look at 95% of list as the lower limit) but your concepts are the same. Low ball offers are often a waste of everyone’s time. A wel-documented and constructed offer – now that’s another story!
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Mar
28
Searching for a Condo in Fishers
Posted by marchantteam under Buyer Information, For Buyers, For Sellers, General Information, Neighborhoods
There are 112 condo’s for sale in Fishers today! This is a great option for a first time buyer or someone who is down sizing and no longer wants yardwork and exterior mainteance to dos.
Of the 112 condo’s for sale in Fishers, prices range from $49,900 in the Cedar Cove area at 96th and Allisonville to the most expensive at $569,000 at Watersedge. That seems really pricey given its close proximity to Olio and road noise. The other high priced one is at Marina Village for $484,000 with 3,000 sq ft and water views.
Overall the condo’s are priced well below $250,000 (at least 108 of them). Here are the areas that have an abundance of choices:
- Avalon (at Olio and 126th) 4
- Cedar Cove 8
- Conner Creek (at 116th and Allisonville) 5
- Highpoint Ridge (at 116th and Cumberland) 12
- Limestone Springs (at 136th and Marilyn) 16
- Middleton Place (126th and SR37) 12
- Princeton Woods (131st and Hague) 7
- Watercolors (Olio and 96th) 5
- Whispering Woods (126th and Promise) 4
There are 5 with just one bedroom and 1 1/2 bath…all at Limestone and all around $90,000.
There are 68 with two bedrooms and 39 with three bedrooms so wide variety of choices and locations and prices.
The one in the picture is my listing at Middelton for $109,000 with three bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. It is in a great location and parking is easy (which is often the issue with condo communities).
One thing to keep in mind if you are looking for a condo to purchase; the monthly maintenance fees will be considered in determining your loan amount. The monthly maintenance fee on my Middleton unit is $199/month which is almost like $30,000 in mortgage amount. So be sure to understand those monthly fees as you search for the right one for you.
Need help finding the right one, I’m here to help you figure out the Fishers Condo Real Estate market!
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Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Fishers Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Fishers IN Real Estate Website
317-290-7775
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Mar
21
Stories from a Fishers Real Estate Agent
Posted by marchantteam under Buyer Information, For Buyers, For Sellers, General Information, Sellers Corner
Choosing the right Fishers Real Estate Agent to help you buy or sell a home can be a daunting task. You might ask a friend if they know a REALTOR, which is a great way to know what you are getting. You can also do the reseach on the internet and read about the top agents in the area.
You might find me being recommended by a friend or on the internet. And hopefully it will lead you to this blog post. I wanted to take today to share some real life stories about how I work with clients.
Yesterday, I met a buyer at the home in Fishers they just purchased. They live out of state and will not be actually moving here for several months. We just happened to find the home of their dreams when they were here a month ago…and so we’ve closed. I met them to get a key and garage door opener because I will be checking on the home each week. I am not a collect the check, see ya bye kind of REALTOR. I want to always deliver service before, during and after the transaction.
I have another buyer that is from another State and has started to look on the internet. Every so often he has a question about one of the houses he sees. For example…there aren’t very many pictures of the yard, or there isn’t a picture of the laundry room, or not enough detail about the bathrooms. I take my handy dandy video camera and shoot a few videos for him, load them up to YouTube and send them to him. I want my out of town buyers to have all the information they need as they sort through their decision process.
I have sellers who have a dog and do not live particularly far from me so if we get a showing and I need to take the dog for a walk or turn on/turn off lights; I’m happy to do that. I want to sell their house almost as much as they do!
So when you are looking for the right Fishers Real Estate Agent; I hope you will give me a call. I am more than a REALTOR; I am your eyes if you are out of town, I am your legs when you can’t get to your home for a showing and I am your peace of mind when you need information.
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Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Fishers Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Fishers IN Real Estate Website
317-290-7775
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Feb
28
I’m being Relocated to Fishers Indiana
Posted by marchantteam under Buyer Information, For Buyers, General Information
You just got the call that you are being relocated to Fishers Indiana; let me be the first to welcome you! There are so many reasons to be excited about your upcoming move including the award winning Fishers schools, the awesome shopping, great Fishers neighborhoods, low property taxes and so much to do in the Indianapolis area.
This video shows some of the many sights and sounds of the Indy area:
In addition it is always great to know that you will be working with the best Real Estate Agent in Fishers and that she and her team specialize in relocation! Our team will can send you one of our relocation books to help get you acquainted with the city and on your first trip can take you on a tour showing you neighborhoods in Fishers, popular hot spots, and the schools. Moving your family can be daunting so we are here to help you with that process.
A couple of other tidbits to give you comfort about your move. Fishers, Indiana has recently received many accolades including œmost affordable suburb in America in Business Week- March 2010; œbest place to raise a family in Bloomberg, also in 2010 and in CNN Money, Fishers was named in the Top 10 places to live based on schools, low crime, good health care, low property taxes (1% of assessed value each year) and job opportunities (unemployment at 5%).
You will love it here!
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Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Fishers Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Fishers IN Real Estate Website
317-290-7775
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Feb
14
First Time Home Buyers Class in Fishers
Posted by marchantteam under Buyer Information, Fisher Events, For Buyers, General Information
First Time Home Buyers have lots of great questions and we answer many of them in our First Time Home Buyers class in Fishers. We have a lender, a home inspector and myself all speak for about 15 minutes and then answer questions from the group. It is very low key, snacks are served and we try very hard to honor the one hour commitment. We answer questions like:
- How much house can I afford
- How much money do I need to have down
- What are closing costs
- What are common items found in an inspection report
- What’s a pre approval letter
- What does my credit score need to be
- Is there room to negotiate on the price of the home
- How long does it take to find a home and close on the home
- How much house can I get for the money
- What is the process to buy a house
These are some of the more common questions but we get all kinds. It is an opportunity to meet with all the key people in the process in one room and get your questions answered. We will have example forms such as the Purchase Agreement, Inspection Report and Good Faith Estimate for you to take with you. We will also have a copy of an MLS Sheet from one of the many homes for sale in Fishers and go over that so you are comfortable looking at them. We will introduce you to some cool tools to help in your search for a home including the One Call gets it All phone number, that allows you to call on any house that is for sale in the Indy area and get the price with no one knowing you called! It’s a great feature and free to those attending the class!
Buying your first home is a daunting event; let us help educate and lessen the anxiety that sometimes goes along with that. Registration for the First Time Home Buyer class in Fishers is required. We look forward to meeting you!
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Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Fishers Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Fishers IN Real Estate Website
317-290-7775
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Jan
31
Indianapolis Home Show 2011 and Fischer Homes
Posted by marchantteam under Buyer Information, For Buyers, For Sellers, General Information, Happenings
I went to the Home S
how at the Fairgrounds this weekend and it is one of the best ones I have been to in recent years.
There are more vendors and interactive booths and of course the home that is built inside the fairgrounds. This year, there is an inground pool by Thursday Pools within the landscaping of the home…in fact, I was more impressed with the landscaping than the home this year.
The floor plan that Fischer Homes has built is very functional home for today’s living. It is the Keller model and has angled walls and open living spaces. There were some really nice touches and finishes; the home decked out was approximately $450,000; base price was $360,000.
If you wait in line (which we did) to get inside the home, you will notice a Greek godess statue in the yard…look closely…she’s real! It was fun watching everyone do a double take when she would change her pose.
Ticket prices are $13.00, but you can get $2.00 off if you buy them online. The show runs from now through February 6th. If you go Monday-Thursday this week, you can also get $3.00 off coupons from Marsh Supermarkets.
It’s a great place to go to see what the latest trends are and meet some vendors for future projects you may want to tackle. If you are curious about renovation costs and payback returns, be sure to visit the renovations post at the Geist Blog. And if you want a professional opinion about what changes will make your Fishers home sell faster and for more dollars, contact me for details.
Let me know what you think, especially if you are able to identify all four movie themes decorated throughout the home…hint the first one I saw was Marley and Me!
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Cindy œin Indy Marchant - Fishers Real Estate Agent
Keller Williams Realty Indy Metro NE
Fishers IN Real Estate Website
317-290-7775
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Indianapolis/Fishers Real Estate is authored by Cindy Marchant
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Being great with numbers shows that you have lot more to offer than many agents. I agree with all of the abilities and qualities you’ve mentioned to find the "best" agent. That goes beyond a "good" agent, who answers the phone, makes sure to add multiple pictures to their listings, and markets the client’s property to a satisfactory level. We both know that there are agents who don’t do any of that, so finding a great agent is vital to smoothest transaction possible.