East Carmel FEBRUARY Housing Blog Coming 2.23

We'll be posting housing data for all of east Carmel Thursday February 23 that will give you the current list of sold homes for the month and the newest listing information by neighborhood.  Check back after the noon hour on Wednesday for all of the information! 
Carmel Indiana real estate blog, Greg Cooper, Carmel Indiana homes for sale,

A Little Early

For those of us who are not Winter's biggest fans, this year the colder season has been a relief and or joy.  Still it doesn't look good for this early arriving Spring flower group which are starting to pop up in beds all over east Carmel.   While many of us are thinking it feels like late March and early April with the number of days we've had in the 50's, the calendar still screams February.  That probably doesn't bode well for this greenery or others like it.  Still, I won't be complaining this week as the temps get near 60!  
Carmel Indiana real estate blog, Greg Cooper, Carmel Indiana homes for sale,

First Walk Of The New Year.....

Good thing we're allowed a glass of the grape during our gallery walks through the Arts & Design District.  We may need a bit of liquid warmth Saturday night for the IU North Carmel Arts and Design District Gallery Walk.  It's the first of 2012 and our first opportunity to see the new works in our gallery district.  Come early, dress warm....and if all else fails @CarmelBruce will treat everyone to a glass of Chardonnay to help raise our temps. Ok...we're kidding about that last part....sort of.  

Humbling.....

Believe it or not there are good outcomes in the housing market these days.  When they happen we're always appreciative for the people we've had the privilege to represent and the thoughts they share about the process:

"We have moved a number of times over the years, as a result of jobs and relocations.  Greg Cooper is by far the best realtor we have ever worked with.  He was absolutely fantastic.  What made him stand out from the rest were things like his knowledge of the market, thoughtfulness in his interactions with us (he didn't assume we knew this or that, but he presented the issue in a way that allowed us to ask questions), he was thorough, he followed up, when our house was under agreement to be sold, he walked us through each step of the process.  Buyer inspections in particular were new to us and he was a big help to us with getting quotes from reputable contractors to get the necessary repairs done, quickly and professionally.  He was just great.  Many times during this process, my wife and I would comment on just how much better he was than any other realtor we've used.  And in today's world, with all the legal documents, we were glad to have such an expert at our side helping us through  this unfamilar maze of documents."  

We would recommend him to anyone looking for a home in the Carmel area.

Sincerely

George and Lisa

Mr. Obvious

I suppose they have to say it. The grounds crew at Northview probably still needs to let softball players know that the season is over to keep them from making the condition worse before next Spring.  None the less, seeing the sign seems a bit ridiculous.  As if on a day like this in the cold, pouring rain we'll thinking of playing a few innings.  


Greg Cooper, east Carmel Indiana homes for sale, real estate blog

Sights of the Season....

Halloween is on full display in east Carmel with countless displays like this one on Maplecrest Drive in Cool Creek Estates.  With just over a week to go this is the weekend to get out and enjoy these because as we all know, come Tuesday November 1, the Norelco Santa will hit our TV's as will the entire Christmas season.  In the East Of Keystone home offices, we're going to take in the sights over the next couple of days and try to enjoy one of Fall's great traditions.  

How NOT To Market A Home

There are a number of nice homes that back up to this area along Gray Road that gets wet 
when we receive several inches of rain.  As most east Carmel residents know this water disappears very quickly after it gathers, usually it's totally gone within 24 hours.  What doesn't help this homeowner's cause is that they have a sign where the water actually accumulates that does not shall we say 'accentuate the positive.'   For Sale needs to invite people in...not send them looking for the canoe.  #badhomemarketing

School's Out....

I suspect that most Forest Dale students did not need to be told Fall Break meant no school but it never hurts to spell it out.  As an FYI the date on Wacky Hair Day is wrong.  WHD is TODAY, Thursday the 20th in east Carmel judging by the Nor'easter that has been rolling through. 

Possessed

This home along the 11500 block of Hazel Dell Parkway certainly has the right swarm, cloud, colony, flock, brood or gaggle of ghosts prepared to meet it's guests in two short weeks.  In the daytime it looks tame enough but it certainly catches the corner of your eye as your headlights break across them in the dark. 

In Transition

From a Summer afternoon of tossing a frisbee to a line of foilage moving from Fall to Winter, the seasons are on full display in east Carmel right now.  This wide open field along Northview Church captures both and soon will be the spot for a winter's afternoon of sledding and tubing (bite my tongue).  

Tuesday's 'Where Is It In East Carmel?'

While it's true most of us have not stood above this spot and had the chance to learn of the Liberty Tree, this location has had some recent publicity.  Over the past month Jeff Worrell wrote a great piece in the Current in Carmel about this plaque's significance and location in the east part of our city.  Here's the hint:  It's in a public place and one that only recently was available to all of us...somewhere along the Parkway.  OK....where is it in east Carmel?

Also Closed.

Hard to believe in less than a month we could go from aquatic relief to this in our area pools.  To be fair this is the way most of them look before final winter prep takes place in east Carmel.  That doesn't change the fact that this does not make us eagerly look forward to the opening of pools next Memorial Day weekend.  As soon as the first snow flys we'll all agree that day cannot come soon enough.

Bargain Days

Several 
locales in east Carmel are putting out their goods this weekend with garage sales going on in both Mohawk Crossing and Cool Creek Estates.  The CCE garage sale will be along 126th just east of Keystone Parkway and off of Main Street just east of the Parkway.   Mohawk Crossing's signs are hidden only from those who have virtually no vision as exampled by the drive along Gray north of 126th.  Cool Creek Estates is finishing the weekend with a Chili Cookoff, a nice idea given the cool temps heading our way Friday and Saturday. 

Before and After - WOW!

As the housing market has changed there have been more and more overhauls of existing properties like this one at 1001 E. Main, just east of the Keystone roundabout on the south side of the street.  The new owners of this home have done a marvelous job and are nearing completion after several years of work.   All it needs are people shouting 'move that bus!'  

In Agreement

It's not easy, even for the owners and managers of east Carmel's pools to let go of the season as evidenced by the billboard in front of the Smokey Row Family Swim Club.  Look at the bright side....just 254 days until this pool will reopen to elated kids ready to burn off the winter's rust.  Oh and parents will look forward as well...to a few moments of not hearing 'Mom, Dad, I'm bored!.'  

Not For Long.....

At least for a few more days the Dad's Club sprinklers will continue to provide that much needed respite from our Summerlike temps.  The coming change in seasons is further magnified here by the soccer and football leagues in full swing versus the early Summer sports.  It won't be long before mother nature will be adding he own irrigation and painting those trees in the distance with Fall's color palate.  

A Chill In The Air

A cold mist, an open swing and a hint of color in the distant tree are the tell tale signs that the season is fading.  Gray Road Park, which has been busy even with the start of school was more than a little quiet today.  We had our run of the swings, slides and hanging bars with no one to disturb us except the surprised deer near the baseball field.  We do appreciate the the CPD officer ignoring the grown ups utilizing the play ground equipment on a cool Fall day. 

Dry Dock #2

First it's back to school.  Then you celebrate Labor Day weekend. After that you begin to see scenes like this appearing across east Carmel as the harbingers of Fall.  Let's face it, we're not known for being a boating mecca but there are those who live in the 033 that do love the water.  Post Labor Day usually means that watercraft spend a short time getting prepped for shrink wrap and the winter ahead. Last week it was in the parking lot of Plum Creek Golf Course and this week it's on Aquamarine Drive in Emerald Crest off of east Main Street.  Could Thanksgiving be far behind?  

Ten Days And Counting.....

It's still hard to believe that the ten year anniversary of 9/11 is upon us.  For those of us who lived here then, the images of that day still stand.  It was a sparkling clear, cool September morning. I remember listening to the early accounts on my car radio as I sat at the stoplight at 126th and Keystone.  Seeing the towers fall on TV as I walked into my office near Carraba's. Wondering if we should try to go get our kids out of Mohawk Trails (not as crazy then as it sounds today).  Outraged at the gas station on Rangeline that jacked it's prices to $5.00 a gallon for a brief period that afternoon.  A day of rememberance has been planned all over Carmel with civic ceremonies at the Palladium planned for the 11th as well as individual services set at churches in east Carmel.  That day and perhaps this 9/11 for a brief moment we'll all be of the same mind both here and across the U.S.A. 

The East Carmel Housing Blog/Virtual Open House for 8.23-8.30.11

If you're new to our virtual open house, here's how it works.  Just point, click and tour all of the new MLS/BLC homes on the market.  I know...ranks right up there with brain surgery, doesn't it?  If you have questions, just call us at 848.4734 or you can email us anytime and we'll get back to you right away!  (eastofkeystone@gmail.com)

Sixteen new homes have come on the market and seven have accepted contracts like this Prudential home on Kiawah in Plum Creek which is now accepting back up offers. 

Other new properties on the market include a great waterfront home in Bayhill,  also Delaware Trace, a private, wooded lot in Windpointe, Woodfield, Avian Glen (check out the aerial view), Brookshire (updated kitchen), Plum Creek, Woodland Green,
Brookshire Village, Lake Forest, Haverstick, Shadybrook,  Brookshire, Haverstick,   Lake Forest and Haverstick #3. 

SALES this week were in Delaware Trace, Moffit Farm, Avian Glen, Brookshire Pines, Haverstick and Briar Lane Estates.

In terms of units of homes sold 2011 is virtually a dead heat with 2010 with 345 homes under contract this year with 347 during the same period last year.  Again to emphasize this is a very positive number given the federal stimulus in the market in '10.  The average sales price is up in 2011 in the 46033 to $325,748, nearly $14,000 higher than a year ago. 

We're happy to send you the full MLS/BLC information on any of these homes if you simply drop us an email to eastofkeystone@gmail.com. 

Have a great Labor Day Weekend everyone and enjoy your last dip in our neighborhood pools!