New Year's Resolutions for Your Home

I feel somehow un-American or un-Hoosier by not posting on the Super Bowl this week.  BUT - I have placed a link to www.indianapolissuperbowl.com right here.

I am not a sports fan - but I am TOTALLY excited about the Super Bowl events and what it brings to not only Indianapolis - but our entire state!

I love my hometown and can't wait to share it with the world.

BUT - since I have posted several times on the Super Bowl, and because we have offices throughout the state, I wanted to share an interesting list I came across.  Many of us make New Years Resolutions in order to improve ourselves throughout the upcoming year.  By now, many of us have given up on most if not all.  This following list is a very do-able list of Resolutions that have to do with housing.

Cue David Lettermen......Top Ten New Year's Resolutions for Your Home

10.  Be less stressed - in other words, use more maintenance free materials when you are improving or remodeling.

9.  Get fit - dive into those remodeling projects yourself.  Tote that barge, haul that bale....

8.  Spend more time with family - include the whole family in an improvement project.  That not only helps fufill this resolution, but also #9

7.  Drink less - turn the water off while brushing your teeth, take shorter showers, cut back on lawn watering

6.  Volunteer - support your community projects.  When your community improves - it increases the value of your own home

5.  Get organized - clean out those closets, donate, have a garage sale, remove clutter (less to dust!)

4.  Learn something new - take a class on home finance or a DIY home project

3.  Get out of debt - learn how to budget for your home and improvements

2.  Quit smoking - change your filter furnaces, install an air purifier

1.  Lose weight - cut back on energy usage.  Turn off lights if you're not in the room, turn off computers, unplug items you're not using, get more efficient light bulbs, make sure your windows and doors are caulked.

 

The Numbers Game in Real Estate

Here are some Real Estate Numbers that don't get much press.....

11 - The percentage of the median down payment on a house nationwide

12 - The number of weeks for a typical home search

12 - The average number of homes each buyer visits

66.9% - Homeownership rate (down 3 full points from 5 years ago)

50%+ - Percentage of people who consider buying a foreclosure but don't

53 - The average age of a typical home seller

30 - The median age of a first time homebuyer

18 billion - The amount of money spent by federal government on housing bailouts

82 billion - Amount of residential sales nationwide to international buyers from 4/1/10-3/31/11 (up from $66 billion the previous year)

 

You can get a lot more information and detail at www.retrends.com

Evansville, Indiana - Our Newest Prudential Indiana Realty Location

They were already a Prudential office operating as Prudential Prime Properties - but they have now joined our alliance and have rebranded as Prudential Indiana Realty.
Same great office, same great agents (cue the Batman music). They are located at:
4111 Washington Avenue, Evansville 47714 and can be reached at 812-474-7000
You can find all their agents and other information on our company website at:
www.PrudentialIndiana.com
Evansville is located in SW Indiana right on the Ohio River. A mecca of activity and opportunity. We welcome them to the family and look forward to an awesome future together.
Here's a little video view of Evansville.....

Super Bowl 2012 Countdown

Be in the Know!

IU basketball is making a comeback, The Denver Broncos are beating all the odds, The Pacers are having their best season in years........ Indiana is all about sports - no matter what shape or size the equipment, the venue or the player.

We have the unique opportunity to showcase our State in less than 30 days when the Superbowl comes to Indianapolis.  Events are scheduled from January 27th - February 5th.  Get all the details by clicking HERE or going to www.indianapolissuperbowl.com

Traffic, Parking, Merchandise, Restaurants, Events, Attractions  - the where, when, how much.

8,000+ volunteers all trained with Hoosier Hospitality will make it a SUPER event.

Community Videos!!!!

Now we have community videos available on our website - thanks to Relocate.org!!!!

Have a Happy and SAFE New Years! Arrive Alive in 2012.....

NO excuses, folks. Don't drink and drive- and don't ride with anybody who does.Tipsy Tow offered by AAA: You don't have to be a AAA member, from 6pm-6am on New Year's Eve/Day they will take you and your car home for FREE. Save this number... 1-800-222-4357. 

Commercial Preview for our Indianapolis, Fishers, Westfield and Zionsville offices

AND don't forget we have offices in Lafayette, Lebanon, Muncie, Anderson, Greenfield, Greenwood, Avon, Bloomington, Evansville, Columbus and Newburgh!

BUT - don't let this list define us - we have a network throughout the United States and Canada - no matter where you live or where you are going - we have you covered!

Wander Indiana in 2012

A message from our Lieutenant Governor, Becky Skillman:

Welcome to the Hoosier state! In Indiana, you’ll get the same reception in our small towns as
you will in our big cities—nothing but warm Hoosier hospitality.
Spend a long weekend at one of our festivals, go antique
shopping in any of our charming Indiana towns, or enjoy a
wealth of artwork at our world-class museums.

Now more than ever, you have great travel information at your fingertips thanks to
VisitIndiana.com and social media. Keep up with Indiana’s happenings on Facebook,
Twitter and the Indiana Insider Blog.
Sign up for monthly email featuring trip
ideas, discounts and events. And, if
you love to share photos, join the Visit
Indiana group on Flickr to share your
favorite Indiana destinations.

For the online PDF of the Indiana Travel Guide click HERE
http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/files/2012_Indiana_Travel_Guide.pdf

For the online PDF of the Indiana Festival Guide click HERE
http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/files/2012_Indiana_Festival_Guide.pdf

These links are also listed on the right side of our website under "Entertainment Links" at www.indianaresourcecenter.com

Be in the Know - Mass Transit & Right To Work

A couple things to pay attention to in 2012 and beyond;

First - the Central indiana Transit Task Force revealed a plan to meet the public transportation needs for Indianapolis and the surrounding counties. The first phase would be completed by 2021 and include:

Double the amount of local bus service in Marion County and add service in Hamilton County

Four bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors featuring hybrid or electric vehicles with dedicated lanes

Five express bus routes with limited stops and quick access 

Frequent bus circulator service in downtown Indy

Multiple transfer hubs throughout region

Rail service in NE rail corridor from Indianapolis to Noblesville

The proposal is in the hands of the Indiana General Assembly and bears watching.  The price tag is estimated at $1.3 billion.  The task force is proposing a .3% increase in county option income tax in Marion and Hamilton counties.

Benefits are stated as:

Time savings, improved traffic flow, affordable transportation options, access to public services, vehicle operation savings for travelers, reduced pollution, increased property values near transit stations, reduction in accidents.

 

Second  -  Right to Work Legislation

House Speaker Brian Bosma and Senate President Pro Tem David Long have both labeled it their top priority this session and the Governor is saying it would make the state more economically competitive.  

This is not the venue to do anything except draw your attention to the fact that it will be up for debate and to get the facts from both sides and make your own informed decision.

 

No one can Can-Can like Straight No Chaser

This season would not be complete without Indiana's own Straight No Chaser doing another Holiday Parady.
Please enjoy their Christmas Can-Can.
My you have a blessed Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa or whatever you may be celebrating. 

Indiana Snow History - make your bets and buy your shovels

I remember Bob Gregory used to predict how many days it would snow.....and never got it right.  Remember - it's Indiana.  There's always a week somewhere in the midst of winter that it breaks 50-60 degrees and the motorcycles hit the street.  Then the next week we are shoveling just to get out of our driveways.  Here's some historical data to draw from......

The snowfall totals are annual averages based on weather data collected from 1981 to 2010 for the NOAA National Climatic Data Center.
Northern Indiana
Average annual snowfall

Days	Place	Inches	Centimetres
23.8	Angola	36.7	93.2
32.5	Fort Wayne	33.5	85.1
25.9	Indiana Dunes Lakeshore	40.3	102.4
12.5	Rochester	31.5	80.0
44.9	South Bend	66.6	169.2
19.5	Valparaiso	39.5	100.3

Central Indiana

Yearly snow averages

Days	Place	Inches	Centimetres
11.4	Anderson	19.6	49.8
23.5	Indianapolis	25.9	65.8
25.4	Kokomo	37.8	96.0
13.3	Lafayette	19.9	50.5
14.5	Marion	24.6	62.5
18.4	Muncie	25.4	64.5
12.9	Richmond	15.6	39.6

Southern Indiana

Average total snowfall for a year

Days	Place	Inches	Centimetres
10.1	Bloomington	15.8	40.1
10.6	Brookville	15.5	39.4
9.5	Columbus	16.3	41.4
7.5	Evansville	10.6	26.9
6.5	Paoli	11.9	30.2
2.5	Tell City	4.4	11.2

For more detailed information click HERE or go to:
http://www.currentresults.com/Weather/Indiana/annual-snowfall.php
I happened to be a student at IU during the blizzard of 1978 and they cancelled classes for the first time in 50 years!  I've lived through ice storms and other weather phenomenon....and have never had to make a mad rush to the grocery for milk and eggs.  Embrace it and enjoy!

Santa Claus, Indiana - World Class Destination

Forbes magaine has declared Santa Claus, Indiana as one of the "World's Top Christmas
Destinations".  Did you hear that New York?  Chicago? Paris?  Yep - Southern Indiana is right there with you!

They gave them this honor based on the fact that "they enthusiastically embrace the role, with a wide array of Santa-themed shops and attractions".  These attractions incluse Holiday World & Splashin Safari, Santa Claus Museum, Santa's Candy Castle and the Santa Claus Post Office.
We join ranks with New York City, Amsterdam (Netherlands), Cologne (Germany), Boston, Napapiiri (Finland), Rome (Italy), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Aspen and Paris (France).  Not bad company!
Some of the annual events in Santa Claus, IN include a traditional Christmas Dinner with Santa, Santa Clau Land of Lights, 1.2 mile driving journey through Lake Rudolph Campgound, Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire and much more.
For more info and schedule of events click HERE or go to www.santaclausin.org/special-events
You can also call 888-444-9252