Let's Talk About It

Doing the job I do, I have a chance to speak to many people on a daily basis. The majority of these individuals I speak whith are very professional and personable but I have a complaint.

There is a service that I use on a regular basis and I contact them by telephone. Most of the CSR's are very polite and efficient, however I occasionally run across someone who needs help with grammar. Yesterday I spoke to a young lady that could use a lesson in geography. I found out yesterday that I now work and live in "Indy Apple Lis".

The last couple of weeks have seen mortgage interest rates rise 1/2 to 3/4 of a point. There are several reasons for this and you can stay up to date with the latest news by checking this page of my web site. This page is updated daily to reflect market conditions and financial news that affect the bond markets, the stock markets and ultimately, mortgage rates.

If you are considering purchasing a new home for your family or are thinking about selling and moving up, it is still a good time to do either. It is hard to tell what interest rates are going to do in the future, but I don't see major changes from where we are right now.

If you are looking to invest in real estate or would like to buy a true "fixer", I have some pictures to download of homes that I have shown recently.

Don't hesitate to call, email me or post on my blog any questions about real estate and the current market. 

I live on Indy's east side and have been interested in the redevelopment and revitalization of the area for a long time. The area is rich in history and has long been a destination for the blue collar worker in this area. Here is a link to a good article that appeared in the "Indy Star".

In recent years, the area has witnessed a major decline in population and many of the properties are not generating any tax monies; they sit boarded and abandoned. Washington Street, a major thoroughfare for this area has experienced businesses closing their doors and moving to the strip malls.

With the announcement of the 2012 Super Bowl coming to Indianapolis and the planned practice facility at Tech High School comes renewed hope that the neighborhoods east of downtown will once again be a place that offers safe and affordable housing.

It is going to take more than improving the area's infrastructure to bring this area back; it is going to take a massive effort from our IMPD to rid the area of the mostly drug related crime that has ravaged the area. It is going to take investors and private citizens to have a vision for what the area once was and can become again. It is going to take businesses to want to move back to the area to give the area residents a reason to stay and spend their money. It is going to take a visionary to develop Sherman Park (the old RCA plant) to attract commercial / industrial business back to the area to give the residents a place to work. 

Count me as being on-board for the neighborhoods.

As a Realtor®, I have a strict Code of Ethics that I must follow. Among the many Articles are these two.

Article 12
REALTORS® shall be honest and truthful in their real estate
communications and shall present a true picture in their advertising,
marketing, and other representations.

and

Article 15
REALTORS® shall not knowingly or recklessly make false or misleading
statements about competitors, their businesses, or their business
practices.

I see and hear so many TV and radio commercials that make my skin crawl that I just had to make a few statements.

"If you buy a home with me today, I can save you THOUSANDS Mohr than you can anywhere else". Or how about "We used Gary's services as a Realtor® and we saved $7,000". Maybe you would like a "Unique way to save 30% on your utility bills...just buy a house with me today only". I could always state that "Oops, we listed twice too many houses and we must get them sold by this weekend before the boss finds out".

There are all kinds of ads that get your attention, but most people will admit to hating them. Bob Rohrrrrrrrman, Halo Kahlo, Cheeeaaapter 13, they all get your attention and you remember them; that is good marketing. What gets my gall is not a single one of them are "...honest and (completely) truthful...in their communications..."

It's hot out there, you need a new home today.

I spent part of Father's Day sitting under a shade tree in my back yard just thinking. What was I thinking about, you ask? Well, part of my thoughts were about my Son, his Cajun-to-the-bone wife (I love her for her spunk), and my beautiful Granddaughter.

Part of the thought time was consumed however with the darned tree that was providing me shade. You see, every time the wind blows, it sheds a ton of leaves on me and more importantly, in my gutters. The tree is dying from the ground up and I will be glad when it sheds its last leaves, but in the meantime, I regularly bring the ladder up from the basement and do the gutter cleaning thing. I am just glad I own a one story home.

Some of my afternoon was spent contemplating slime mold. I spread mulch around some of my shrubs and was proud of the way the yard was looking...until a few days ago and this gross patch of "stuff" appeared in the mulch. I kicked it around and buried it (I thought) in the mulch. It wasn't any more than an hour later the patch was back. Now, a few days later, I have a healthy crop of slime mold that refuses to go away.

Hope all the Fathers out there had as much of a thought provoking day as I did.

I am thankful that I have not been personally affected by the recent Midwest tornados and flooding but my thoughts and prayers go out to all that have been affected by these devastating events. They can forever impact lives and families.

If you feel led, please help these disaster victims by donating to the American Red Cross or another organization that will funnel the money to where it is needed.