Real Estate Information

Better TV, Wireless Blenders, Smart Appliances...this is what we gather from CES 2013

I grew up with a gigantic box with a screen in the middle, and we called it a television.  I'm not sure if even my childhood television would be recognized by my 7 year old daughter.  The evolution of the television has been quite an interesting venture.  No more rabbit ears, no gigantic boxes on the floor.  Instead, we can now hang our televisions on the wall - some are even hidden behind framed art above a mantle. 

CES 2013 has revealed a bigger and yet even better television concept.  If HD didn't satisfy the crowd, we've now moved into Ultra HD TV which is said to have four times the resolution of the current 1080p high definition TVs.  Crisper content.  That's what this is all about.

Samsung is offering the S9 UHD.  As being shown on an 85" inch screen it's being said that the picture looks like its floating in it's frame.  The blacks look even darker.  The audio is top notch.  The S9 will be available in the second half of the year, and for an 84" TV from Sony, the price tag is $25,000 (whew).

In addition to the impressive Ultra HD TV concept, Samsung launched quite a few LED and OLED TVs at the show.  This includes the Smart Hub, which brings apps to the TV screen.  Features include the possibility of waving your hand to communicate with the TV or use voice to find content or change the channel.  No more need to sweat about losing the remote, once again.

Jumping on the Facebook bandwagon, Samsung has included an improved S-Recommendation engine which lets you communicate with your TV about what you like, by selecting a thumbs up or "like" button for the TV. 

Other new technology that deserves an honorable mention include: 

In Wall Speakers - No wires to hide, No bulky speakers hanging above.

LG's Smart Thing - the ability to communicate with your home appliances, including the stove, refrigerator, washing machine

Nest - Smart Thermostat - essentially a TiVO for your home - it sees how often you adjust the temperature on your home, learns  your habits over time and adjusts to conserve energy and keep you comfortable - and, of course, it can be controlled using smart devices.  Another product called Eversense can adjust the temperature based on when people are home and how many individuals it detects.

Switch Lighting - "Best Innovations honoree for Eco-Design" winner, this is the first 25/50/75 watt equivalent 3-way bulb.  It emits warm light virtually indistinguishable from traditional CFL bulbs with low power and long lasting benefits of LED.  Marvel has designed a new chip specifically for wireless networking capabilities to LED fixtures, allowing you to control lighting wirelessly.  Using an IPad or IPhone, it will adjust light sensors based on colors of photos on your phone.

Wireless Blender - Magnets to power your cooking gadgets?  Yes. By installing a power transmitter (induction coil) in your kitchen counter top, you can place a wireless blender on top of the coil and blend away!

Exciting innovations to enhance the way we live!

Google

Emerald Green is officially the color trend of 2013, according to http://www.zillow.com. 

Balance, harmony, emotional positivity, spring, renewal, rebirth make up the qualities of the color green - its a happy color to incorporate in your home.  Its fresh and restorative, relaxing and confident. 

If you're worried that a trip to the hardware store for a paint purchase might be too drastic, here are a few subtle ways to incorporate this beautiful color in your home:

Tinted glass bottles add nice color to a table.

 A pure white room with a bright emerald colored chair gives this room a bit of personality.

Neutral colors paired with an outstanding colored drape.

One wall painted a nice bright color and the colored bottles add delicious personality to this room.

Try it out in a room or two...you can keep it simple, or lavish the room in this bejeweled color!

Residence. Flat. House. Investment. Dwelling. Abode.

Home.

If this is your first time purchasing, find below a few good tips to give some clarity to this memorable and exciting next step in your journey.

1.  Decide what you want.

What kind of home?

Do you prefer a 2 story? How about the basement? How many bedrooms do you need?  Do you want to mow a large yard or a small yard? Do you have a romance for an old house, or do you want a contemporary new home?

Where?

Do you like the North side - maybe Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville?  Do you want a more urban feel with a place downtown? How about something in the middle, maybe Broad Ripple?

When considering the "when", be sure you think about the commute to work, schools (for children you have, or those you may have in a new home), and amenities such as community pool, convenience to town, etc.

When?

When are you going to be ready to move?  Have you given enough thought to this that you are ready now, as in yesterday, or do you need more time to prepare?

 2.  Get Your Financial House In Order.

What can you afford? 

What can you bring for a down payment? How about taxes and closing costs? What is the monthly budget amount that is in your comfort zone?

3.  Get Pre-Approved.

According to the National Association of Realtors, 9 out of 10 buyers finance theirs homes.  Talk to lenders.  Find one you are comfortable with, that is offering you the best arrangement.

Obtain a pre-approval letter, have this on-hand when you make an offer on a home so that the seller knows you are prepared.

4.  Find a Realtor.

Meet Realtors, interview them.  Sometimes you can do this by attending open houses in the areas you like, browse profiles, or read recommendations from lenders.  Most importantly, talk to your friends.  They can assist you in who they may have used in their experiences and offer invaluable suggestions.

5.  Find a Home.

Finally.  The fun part.  You know where you want to be, what kind of house you are looking to find, you know what you can spend and you have your approval letter in hand.  Now...get to shopping. 

At any given time, there are homes going on and off of the market.  Inventory of choices is altered on a minute-by-minute basis.  The best part of shopping for a home in today's market is that you can do the work yourself by peeking around Zillow, Mibor, Trulia, and so many other websites, or you can give your honey-do list to your Realtor and they can do the finding for you. 

When you arrive at a showing, think critically about the home.  If you like the curb appeal as you drive up, that's a good start - but, even if the landscaping is nothing to get excited about...is there something you can work with to make it your own? When you walk through the front door, is the layout suitable for your needs?  Some things can be changed inside of a home, but are you looking for a fixer-upper or a move-in ready?  Are the bedrooms large enough? How about the yard? 

6.  Understand Mortgage Options.

So, you've found something that you love and you're ready to crunch numbers.  Note that financing will be more than the purchase price of the home.  As discussed above, there will be closing costs, taxes and other fees.  Be prepared. Now is also the time to consider what amount of money you will put down on your home.  If you put less than 20% down, lenders will want the mortgage guaranteed by an outside 3rd party such as VA (Veterans Administration), the FHA (Federal Housing Administration), or a private mortgage insurer (PMI) to protect against mortgage defaults. 

Financing is available through mortgage bankers, mortgage brokers, savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks, and credit unions.

7.  Make an Offer

Your choices on the offer-making process are to 1. accept list price 2. make a counter-offer with different pricing and/or terms of sale.  Be sure that you are prepared to confer back and forth with the home owner to reach an agreement that is acceptable to all parties. 

Once an offer is accepted, a few things can happen next.  Structural inspections of the home, appraisals and surveys to determine boundaries and values for lenders, and title reviews.

8.  Insurance and Warranties

Title insurance will be suggested at closing for a one-time fee.  This will protect you in case the title is invalid.

Homeowner's insurance will aid in protecting your new investment.  It covers fire, theft, liability, etc.  Be sure you know beforehand if you will need flood insurance. 

Home Warranties will depend on whether the home is new or existing.  Talk to your realtor about the specifics of a home warranty and what will be covered.

9.  Close on Your Home

Closing is the finality of your home searching experience!  There will be a lot of paperwork signing and the title will be transferred as well.  Be sure that the utilities are paid up and switched over as needed. 

10.  Tie Up Loose Ends

Consider changing the locks to your new home, just to caution on the side of safety.  Two weeks following closing, contact the local property records office and confirm that the deed was recorded. 

Good Luck!

Enjoy Thanksgiving 2013 here.

This exceptional Rex Brown custom home located in the Woods at Gray Eagle in Fishers boasts:

• 5 bedrooms
• 4 1/2 bathrooms
• 4,871 square feet
• .43 acre lot 

2 Story Grand Entry  ~ Spindle Staircase ~ Generous Windows ~ Cathedral Ceilings ~ Wainscoting ~ Jack and Jill Bathroom

Tiled Backsplash ~ Bay Windows ~ Built In Bookshelves ~ Master Suite with true Spa-like Master Bath

Unique Trey Ceilings ~ Wet Bar ~ Home Theatre ~ Lower Level Guest Room with Bathroom

Well...not much of a Cottage.

And...not in OUR Carmel.

You can find this home in Carmel, CA.

However...WOW what a listing!

A home is always a very big deal when it has it's own name.  This home is called Maison de Tranquillite.  It's on Spindrift Road in Carmel Highlands.  For those of us (including myself) that may be unfamiliar with luxury real estate in California, Carmel Highlands is kind of a big deal.  It is a small, exclusive community that spans across the Pacific Coast line and showcases ocean front estates with incredibly dramatic views.  Maison de Tranquillite is located in a secluded bluff just South of China Cove.  The home is a Tudor Revival design that was personally conceptualized by it's owner.  Here's the specifics:

8,200 square feet ~ 6 bedrooms ~ 6 bathrooms ~ Basket Weaved Slate Roof ~ 1.78 acres Decorated in Cypress Trees, Beautiful Statues, Waterfalls

Listing Price:  $18.5 million

The difference is in the detail.

Built in b0okcases, trey ceilings, glass block walls in the master bath, the family-friendly

open floor plan and summertime-ready patio make this home a great buy.

Paired with a well established neighborhood in Noblesville, this truly is a must-see.

Villas, Waterfront Properties, Seaside Escapes, Equestrian Ranches.

These are the elements of exciting and interesting real estate. 

Some of the most outstanding listings represented by Sotheby's International Realty can be found below, for your viewing pleasure. 

Bridgehampton, New York ~ $25,750,000 ~ 3 Story Summer Cottage designed by the Carnegie Hall designer, William Tuthill, 1891

French Riviera ~ $60,000,000 ~ former home of Nobel Prize Winner Maurice Maeterlinck and wife Renee Dahon

Sorrento Villa, Tritone, Italy ~ $45,850,000 ~ Seafront Property

Montecito Coast Valley, California ~ $21,500,000 ~ Panoramic views over Santa Barbara Coastline

Newport Beach, CA ~ $22,000,000 ~ Waterfront Property,More Than a 1/2 acre Looking Over the Widest Expanse

Miami Beach, FL ~ $39,400,000 ~ Palladian Villa on Indian Creek Island of Less Than 40 Residents

Port Royal, FL ~ $42,000,000 ~ On The Gulf of Mexico, surrounded by 200 ft of Beachfront

Upper East Side, New York ~ $26,750,000 ~ Views of Central Park, 14 Room Apartment

Absolutely perfect home in Sandstone Woods! 

You won't find a better offer in Fishers with all of the following attributes:

Best Lot.  Wooded Mature Treeline.  Cul-de-Sac.  One-Owner Home.  3 1/2 Car Heated Garage with Epoxy Floors. 

Updated Light Fixtures, Door Hardware, Bath Hardware, Shelving, Master Bath.  Custom Window Treatments.

$334,999

The winter season can be a perfect time to sell your home, if you give it the right atmosphere. We tend to stay in quite a bit more in the cold months - this is ideal for the buyer coming in to your home, meanwhile, getting out from the cold.  Set the tone, let them feel like they are already home.  During a showing, the more time they spend in from out of the cold, the more chances you have of them writing an offer. Think like a visitor of your home.  Prepare as if you are having guests.  Let your house tell the story for all of the reasons why it should be the buyer's next purchase.  

Tip #1:  Be sure that the driveway and walkways are clear of any snow and ice.  

Tip #2:  If you are showing during the day, let the natural light in. Open the blinds and drapes - but be sure you have dusted and cleaned them as necessary. For an evening showing, draw the blinds and drapes and have soft lights on throughout your home - nothing too overpowering.

Tip #3:  Adorn the front door.  A nice fresh winter wreath, a dried flower arrangement is the idea.  Don't assume that you can forget the exterior due to the cold weather - a nice looking front door proves that your home's appearance matters to you.

Tip #4:  Consider offering booties to cover up snowy shoes.  This will show that you have pride in the home that you are selling.  Visitors will appreciate you protecting your (and possibly their) investment.

Tip #4:  Soft classical music playing lightly in the background during a showing will give the buyer an inviting ambiance throughout the home. 

Tip #5:  A living room that looks unlived in will keep buyers from feeling comfortable. Toss a nice looking throw on the sofa.

Tip #6:  When you have guests...where do they all collect?  The kitchen, of course.  This is an important room.  Some say, the heart of the home.  Take the time to bake a plate of cookies and be sure the guests know that they are welcome to them.  Offer chilled water, perhaps warm cider in the crock pot.  These little things tell the buyer that you have put much thought into their visit, as well as making your home smell nice (see Tip #7).

Tip #7:  The scent of a home can set quite an example. Winter time beckons winter scents.  Nothing overpowering.  Vanilla, cinnamon, cookies, bread, apple pie....that's what we need in a winter showing.  A crock pot of cinnamon and cider can be a nice gesture as a beverage during a showing, or it can be used solely for the senses.  Either way, it will create a comfortable and familiar setting for guests.  If your home is quite large, you may want to consider a few of the candle warmers in separate rooms, all with similar or the same scents.  

Tip #8:  Fold back the comforter on your beds.  This gives off a less stuffy, hotel feeling, and a more home-like impression. 

Tip #9:  Consider lighting a fire if you have a fireplace.  This will of course need attention, so work with your realtor on who will watch the fire in between showings, but the payoff will be worth it.  When paired with all of the above suggestions, a warm fireplace on a cold afternoon/evening poses a perfect combination for your home to feel like somewhere worth staying. 

Tip #10:  Remember the little things - not too  many personal photos, declutter if a room or closet feels tight.  The lower level and the closets will be scrutinized - be sure they are tidy, keep pets crated during the showing, check the carpet on the stairs - if there are stains, they will be noticed immediately, and most importantly, highlight those elements of  your home that you fell in love with.  A quirky built-in-bookcase?  A fun cubbyhole?  Let potential buyers see these too. 

Happy Winter Selling!    

Beautiful Rex Brown custom home in Fishers!

5 bedrooms ~ 4.5 bathrooms ~ Fully Finished Lower Level ~ Home Theatre