Tag Archives: National Association of Realtors

Okay…so let’s FLOAT!

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Have you ever heard of “float therapy”  Indy got it’s first float therapy center on the Westside in November and I understand that Irvington will be getting one early in 2015.  As a resident of Irvington, I’m excited and intrigued by this new business!

What is it you ask?  Well…the Better Being Float Center offers the experience of near-total sensory deprivation and from what I’ve read, once you’ve done it, nothing compares.  Shiny white fiberglass Float Pods are filled with approximately 10 inches of water and about 900 pounds of dissolved Epsom salts, the saltwater environment makes it difficult for germs to live in the water, but the tanks and water are cleaned and sanitized in between uses with hydrogen peroxide, UV, ozone, and filters.

Before you get into the float pod, a shower is required, and it’s recommended to apply petroleum jelly (provided) to any cuts or scrapes because salt can sting. For that same reason, it’s recommended to not shave prior to a float. Earplugs are provided to prevent water from entering the ears and an iPod dock is available to pipe music through speakers inside the pod. There are also controls to adjust sound and the light inside. The lights outside the pod are on a motion sensor, turning off shortly after one settles in the pod and back on upon exiting.

What does one wear to a “float” ?  Sure you can wear a swimsuit, but since the room is completely private and locked, why not go au natural!

Again, I haven’t experienced this…yet, but I hear that getting into the tank is like getting into a shallow bathtub and the temperature of the water adjusts, along with the air inside the tank, to match your body’s internal temperature. You simply step into the tub, pull the lid closed, lay down and, well, float.

I’m a little concerned about claustrophobia and I would guess that I’m not the only one!  If it’s an issue, you can leave the lid open or open it whenever you want!  The pods are designed to make a smooth and pleasant experience. They also recommend avoiding caffeine, nicotine and heavy meals prior to a float session.

The sessions are 90 minutes and $59, in addition to the relaxation for mind and body that floatation therapy offers, there are reported physical benefits including recovery from workouts and injuries, and provides relief from Fibromyalgia, arthritis, joint and back pain.

Try it and decide you like it?  Float tanks are sold for residential use. Royal Spa sells commercial and residential float tanks, including economy tanks and float rooms made in Indiana. Prices start at $6,950 for an economy tank and range up to $11,000 for a custom float room set-up.  Want to try it?  Visit the Better Being Float Center at 3065 Salt Lake Road on Indy’s Westside and watch for news of a location in Irvington early next year!

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Vicki Reed

How Thanksgiving came to be a National Holiday…

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I know, you believe that Thanksgiving came to be because of the Pilgrims and the Indians, however, President Abraham Lincoln set forth the Proclamation of Thanksgiving which set the precedent for America’s Thanksgiving.  The following is from the Abraham Lincoln online site:

Proclamation of Thanksgiving

This is the proclamation which set the precedent for America’s national day of Thanksgiving. During his administration, President Lincoln issued many orders similar to this. For example, on November 28, 1861, he ordered government departments closed for a local day of thanksgiving.

Sarah Josepha Hale, a 74-year-old magazine editor, wrote a letter to Lincoln on September 28, 1863, urging him to have the “day of our annual Thanksgiving made a National and fixed Union Festival.” She explained, “You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and authoritive fixation, only, to become permanently, an American custom and institution.”

Prior to this, each state scheduled its own Thanksgiving holiday at different times, mainly in New England and other Northern states. President Lincoln responded to Mrs. Hale’s request immediately, unlike several of his predecessors, who ignored her petitions altogether. In her letter to Lincoln she mentioned that she had been advocating a national thanksgiving date for 15 years as the editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book. George Washington was the first president to proclaim a day of thanksgiving, issuing his request on October 3, 1789, exactly 74 years before Lincoln’s.

The document below sets apart the last Thursday of November “as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise.” According to an April 1, 1864, letter from John Nicolay, one of President Lincoln’s secretaries, this document was written by Secretary of State William Seward, and the original was in his handwriting. On October 3, 1863, fellow Cabinet member Gideon Welles recorded in his diary how he complimented Seward on his work. A year later the manuscript was sold to benefit Union troops.

Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

So tell me…what are you thankful for?  Me?  Well…I’m thankful for

  1. having known my Grandparents – all 4 of them – as an adult,
  2. for my parents and the family values and work ethic they instilled in myself and my sisters. I couldn’t do what I do without their support, love and guidance,
  3. for my sisters…mostly for having their daughters…got me off the hook for providing grandchildren!
  4. for the “girls”…my 5 beautiful nieces and 1 great niece…they are the light of my life,
  5. THE GROUP…my insane, loving support system that I could not survive without,
  6. my friends,
  7. my Keller Williams family, I have found such a home with this group,
  8. my clients, without you I would be back in the corporate world and miserable, I’m so grateful for your trust in helping you sell and buy your homes and am so pleased that many of you are friends.

The list could go on, but this post is so long now that many will have stopped reading before the end…so let me just say…

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Vicki Reed

 

Wow…just Wow…

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Yes, as they say in the real estate industry, I drank the Keller Williams kool-aid.  While we are a fantastic company, with lots of great training and opportunities for mentorship and coaching, that’s not why I chose this company…no, the events of today just prove to me what an amazing company and group of people I work with and I couldn’t be prouder to be associated with them!

Today was our City Wide Thanksgiving luncheon, a giant pitch in for all our local offices and always a lot of fun.  During the luncheon, the orchestra from Hamilton Southeastern High School entertained and a representative for the St. Mary’s Child Center spoke about their mission and the needs of many of the children they serve.

For the last several years, our office has supported 2 children for Christmas, yesterday our MCA opened the wish to support 10 children this year…at $100 a child and then the most amazing thing happened…the agents from our office Keller Williams IndyMetro Northeast office started the challenge – real estate teams pledging money to support 1 child and it kept moving from there!  Wallets and checkbooks came out and by the time the lunch was over…35 kids are going to have Christmas, thanks to this amazing group of agents!  The money is still coming in and we look forward more money coming in before Wednesday next week!

To share even more about how this touched everyone in the room, the HSE orchestra gave the donation we had given them to entertain…to the cause!  What a great generous heart from the young people, recognizing what they can do for others.

Tell me…do you work with such generous people?  What are do doing to support those less fortunate than you this year?

thanksgiving

Vicki Reed

In the market for a new home…got $25 mil to spare?

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From the Indy Star last week…amazing, the property taxes annually are more than most people’s first home price!

Asherwood, the lavish Carmel estate where Mel and Bren Simon and their family lived for many years, is for sale for $25 million.

The seven-bedroom, 51,000-square-foot house sits on 106 acres that includes two swimming pools, tennis courts and a private 18-hole golf course, according to www.mibor.com.

Like to be outside? The lot also includes a clubhouse, greenhouse, pool house, and guest house among other maintenance buildings.

Prefer the indoors? There’s one indoor pool, an expansive workout room, home theater and caterer-ready professional kitchen in the home where presidents have been wined and dined.

The property tax on the estate is $54,654 semi-annually, according to the website of the listing Realtor Natasha Radovich with Carpenter.

The home also includes six fireplaces, eight full bathrooms and 16 half-baths.

It is the most expensive residential property on the market here in recent years, said Claire Belby, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors, or MIBOR.

INDYSTAR

Since 2000, 72 properties have been listed for $10 million or more. But only four of those have been residential; the majority were for commercial land or agricultural properties.

Simon and his first wife, Bess, bought the Asherwood home and property in 1973. Automotive engineer Louis H. Schwitzer built the original estate.

Over time, Simon and his second wife, Bren, expanded the home, adding on a 10,000-square-foot addition that included a 4,000-square-foot master bedroom wing.

But in 1998 they had to rebuild after a fire, thought to have started when a candle lit fabric-covered walls in one of the bedrooms, left much of the house uninhabitable.

Mel Simon, co-owner of the Pacers and co-founder of Simon Property Group, died in 2009.

INDYSTAR

The sale of Asherwood comes after the end of three years’ of litigation over his $1 billion estate, which ultimately was settled out-of-court.

Deborah Simon had alleged her stepmother coerced her father into changing his will so that Bren Simon received a much larger portion of the estate.

Mel and Bren Simon had multiple homes. She sold a New York condo soon after his death. In 2010, she listed their 20,000-square-foot mansion in Los Angeles’s Bel-Air neighborhood for $50 million.

The price was steep even for Bel-Air. She lowered the listing to $29 million in 2012 and delisted the property in 2013.

Estate properties can be a hard sell. Lucas Oil co-founder Forrest Lucas bought Stephen Hilbert’s estate at auction for $3 million in 2010 after it languished for five 5 years on the market.

Built for $35 million, the 25,000-square-foot house with its 15,000-square-foot sports pavilion, swimming pools and infinity waterfall, pool house and opulent grounds, originally was listed for $20 million. The property listing dropped to under $10 million over time, but finally went to auction when no buyers stepped forward.

Don’t feel like you can spend $25 mil?  Let’s talk about your budget and see what we can find that’s a little more reasonable!

Vicki Reed

 

Happy Labor day…do you know why today is a holiday????

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From the U.S. Department of Labor Website:

LABOR DAY: WHAT IT MEANS

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

LABOR DAY LEGISLATION

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From these, a movement developed to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

FOUNDER OF LABOR DAY

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those “who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.”More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

But Peter McGuire’s place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

THE FIRST LABOR DAY

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a “workingmen’s holiday” on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

A NATIONWIDE HOLIDAY

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

So what are your plans for this holiday?

labor day

Vicki Reed

 

Think you are ready to buy a house?

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Buying a home is an emotional decision for most people, this is where you will likely spend the next 5 to 7 years of your life, more if you buy right and love the area.  Do your research!  Think about these things and when you are ready…CALL ME!

Researching the neighborhood: Is this some place you really want to live? What amenities are nearby? How is the school district? What does the traffic and street activity look like when you drive by it at different times of day, like Sunday morning and Monday evening rush hour?

Get an inspection: This is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make, and you’ll be living with it for years to come. Don’t pinch pennies — shell out $400 for an inspection. Make sure you know exactly what you’re signing up for.

Remember, you can paint!  Don’t buy or not based on decor: Paint color can be changed. Tiles and cabinets can be changed. What you want to look at are the bones of the house. Will it meet your needs? Does it flow well? Does it have enough space?

Don’t buy the most expensive home on the block: Hate to break it to you, but the most expensive home on the block isn’t a good deal. It will only depreciate over time, and you could have trouble selling it when buyers can see plenty of more reasonably priced options in the same neighborhood.

Be realistic with your budget: There are 2 numbers to look at when you are buying a home, just because your lender says you qualify for a $250,000 mortgage, that doesn’t mean you can afford it, especially when you factor in the other costs that come with homeownership. Be real and only look at houses you can realistically afford.

Be realistic about your DIY abilities: Will you really tear down that wall to make a master suite or gut the entire kitchen to make it work for you? Don’t let too much HGTV and delusions of grandeur drive you to buy an ongoing project you’ll regret taking on.

Have money for a down payment:  FHA financing requires 3.5% down, Insured Conventional 5 or 10%, Conventional 20%.  Anything less than 20% down and you’ll pay private mortgage insurance (aka PMI) payments and a higher monthly mortgage payment overall. It may be worth saving up for an extra year or two to reduce your long-term costs.  VA and USDA are 100% down programs, but make certain that’s how you want to go.

Make sure you are ready: Are you financially ready?  Are you ready emotionally? Are you sure you want to stay in this area for years? Does your income feel stable? Are you prepared to take on all that yard work and the repairs you avoided as a renter?

Think you are ready?  Time to call in the experts and find a realtor!  Call or text me at 317-919-7931 or email at vlrrealestate@gmail.com…I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Buying a house

Vicki Reed

 

 

NCAA Coaches live where???

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Ever wonder where some of the NCAA coaches call home?  Think they live like we do?  Not really!  Early out in the NCAA offers them an opportunity to head to one of these great homes – MSN shares this slide show by Neal J. Leitereg of realtor.com:

March Madness mansions: Homes of college-hoops coaches

By Neal J. Leitereg of realtor.com

With its mix of powerhouse programs and Cinderella schools, March Madness energizes sports in a way that’s not quite like most events. At realtor.com, we’re pumped up from looking at the homes of some of NCAA basketball’s top coaches.

Take a look through the slide show below and tell us in the comments which coach’s home you would rank No. 1.

NOTE: All descriptive information comes from listings on realtor.com. Properties were on the market and listed as available at the time of publication in March 2014 unless noted otherwise.

Most people I know are likely most interested in Rick Pitino, Tom Izzo and Steve Alford’s homes, but I find the pricetags astounding!  And the square footage – who really needs 10,000 square feet!  Click through the slideshow to find out!

Meanwhile back in the state of Indiana…yes, I know, none of our teams made it to the dance this year, the spring market is really heating up, despite the fact we are in for a cold week ahead.  If you are thinking of buying or selling this spring, call, text or email me.

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Vicki Reed

Homes for Heroes®

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Do you know about Homes for Heroes®?  Their mission is to provide extraordinary savings to local heroes who provide extraordinary services to our community every day.

Homes for Heroes® is a company that affiliates with Realtors® (like me!), lenders and other real estate-related service providers who offer substantial rebates and discounts to the Heroes who serve our nation and its communities every day. Our Heroes include military personnel, firefighters, law enforcement officers and others who make our communities a better place to live.

This program was created after the tragic events of 9/11 as a “Thank you” to the men and women who have given so much. Heroes across the country register on the website every day looking for the savings. They are matched with Homes for Heroes® Affiliates in their area. Homes for Heroes® is now expanding its discounts beyond the home buying and selling process with the Friends of Heroes® program.

Thanks to Don Shanley and The Shanley Team at Inlanta Mortgage, this program is available in the Indianapolis area and I am so proud to one of the Realtor® Affiliates available to help our Heros achieve their dreams!

So how does the program work?  The key to the program is that there is NO COST TO THE HERO!  Here’s an example of how the program is working with Inlanta Mortgage:

Buy a $125,000 Home:
Average Realtor Commission (3.5%)*  = $4,375.00
Realtor (again…that would be me!) credits 25% BACK TO HERO AT CLOSING = $1,094.00
CREDITED TO YOU FROM INLANTA MORTGAGE = $1,350.00
TOTAL CREDITS AT CLOSING = $2,444.00
*Based on a 3.5% Commission. Credit is off actual commission paid to the Buying or Selling Agent

It’s a lot of information to take in, stop by the Indiana State Fair and meet me and The Shanley Team to talk about what we are doing for our local Hero’s as well as what we can do for YOU!

homes for heros logo

Vicki Reed

Think you are ready to sell?

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When selling your house, remember when you put it on the market, it is no longer your home, there are certain improvements that pay and others that don’t.

Check out this seller secret to understand why making costly improvements isn’t always your best bet.

Turning Your Dream into an Address

Want to know which updates will make your property most marketable?  Call me today to set up your free consultation.

Vicki Reed

Ready to List your home FOR SALE???? NOW is the time…

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Are you someone who believes Spring is the “buying season”?  Many homeowners wait until Spring to list their homes for sale. Here are five reasons why NOW is the time:

1.) Demand Is High

Homes are selling at a pace not seen since 2007. The most recent Existing Home Sales Report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) showed that annual sales in 2012 increased 9.2% over 2011. There are buyers out there right now and they are ready to BUY your home!

2.) Supply Is Low

The monthly supply of houses for sale is at its lowest point (4.4 months) since May of 2005. The current month’s supply is down 21.6% from the same time last year. Historically, inventory increases dramatically in the spring, increasing your competition. Selling now when demand is high and supply is low may help you get your best price.

3.) New Construction Neighborhoods are popping up EVERYWHERE!

For the last several years, homeowners selling their home did not have to compete with a new construction projects in their area. As the market is recovering, more and more builders are jumping back in. These ‘shiny’ new homes will again become competition as they are an attractive alternative to many BUYERS.

4.) Interest Rates Are Projected to Increase Slightly

The Mortgage Bankers’ Association has projected mortgage interest rates will inch up approximately one full point in 2013. Whether you are moving up or moving down, your housing expense will be more a year from now if a mortgage is necessary to purchase your next home.

5.) Timelines Will Be Shorter

The dramatic increase in transactions caused many challenges to the process of buying or selling a home in 2012. We waited for inspections, dealt with last minute appraisals and prayed that the bank didn’t ask for ‘just one more piece of paper’ before issuing the mortgage. There are fewer transactions this time of year. That means that timetables on each component of the home buying process will be friendlier for those involved over the next 90 days.

NOW is the time to contact me to list your home!  It is a great time to make the move!  Not sure you can get another mortgage?  Visit my website and complete a FREE, NO OBLIGATION Pre-Qualification from The Shanley Team at Inlanta Mortgage.  Not in the Indy area?  I can help you with that too!  We have great Keller Williams Realtors EVERYWHERE, let me make an introduction for you!

Home-Sales

Vicki Reed