City Utility Rates Changing

Noticed your Carmel utilities bill lately?  Rates have gone up in the first quarter for much needed improvements and capacity/service issues.  NOBODY likes to see increases for any of our municipal services but our water/sewer rates have changed very little over the past couple of decades.  For all of the information about the current rate structure you can visit the city site HERE.  Just as an FYI....here are the new average monthly rates compared with surrounding communities:  

COMPARISONS:

Carmel $25.53; Fishers $38.70; Indianapolis $38.70; Noblesville (IN American) $50.29; Westfield $30.46; Zionsville (Citizens Water) $38.70


Carmel Indiana real estate blog, Greg Cooper, Carmel Indiana 46033 homes for sale 

Sprung

We'd like to think these early arrivals will last until mid March but as they've come out in February it may be tough.   We've seen a number of neighborhoods with flowers making an appearance. This location is the entrance to Timber Crest Bend on 126th Street across from Bayhill.   Anyone willing to bet we're done with the snow yet?  We can only hope.....
Carmel Indiana real estate blog, Greg Cooper, Carmel Indiana homes for sale,

A Gray Morning.....

So we all needed a little more time to get to work or school in the 46033 today.  Around 3:30 A.M. a northbound passenger car lost control on Gray near the south entrance of Kingswood (11200 block).  After striking a huge power pole on the west side of Gray in front of the Morgan Estate, the vehicle careened across the road and came to rest on top of a Bradford pear on the east side of Gray.  The actual damage to the power poles was caused by the force of the car creating a whip affect between the two poles when it hit the southern most tower. The driver (UPDATE - driver lives in Bayhill and was returning home from Boad Ripple) suffered minor injuries despite the major damage to the car.  Duke energy officials on site told EAST OF KEYSTONE that it would be at least 3:00 this afternoon and possibly longer before the pole and line replacement was complete and Gray Road was reopened.  Thanks to Marcus from the Kingswood HOA for helping out on the details. (If you cannot see the slide show click HERE). Carmel Indiana real estate blog, Greg Cooper, Carmel Indiana homes for sale,

Serenity Now.....

It's almost a rarity this winter. A gentle dusting of snow fell on the 46033 this morning and despite the calendar telling us it's February we still don't have ice on Lake Waterstone.  That was just fine for these two geese who were enjoying the open water just fine early Wednesday, thanks very much.  Is it possible we'll escape with out a major snow or ice storm in east Carmel in the Winter of 2012?  After us asking the question out loud, probably not. 

"....and then.....depression set in"

Those immortal words from Bill Murray in the movie Stripes seems to have hit for many on the Monday after the Super Bowl.  While downtown Indy was the major beneficiary of the infusion of visitors and cash, Carmel felt it as well.  There were several restaurants of note that were closed altogether Saturday night for private parties (not exactly inexpensive) and a lot of out of town license plates roaming both the 46032 and 46033 last week.  The impact on Carmel and all of central Indiana will be scrutinized for some time to come but it was certainly a source of pride for all of us who live here.  

106th Construction Marches On....

From the Carmel Street Department: 


106^th Street is still closed to traffic between Haverstick Road and Stratford Place.  This isolated closure is for the construction of a new drainage culvert to replace the deteriorating existing culvert that crosses 106^th Street and also to relocate an existing Citizens Energy Group water main. This closure will last until roughly February 13th and is weather dependant.  Local traffic can utilize alternate routes and detour routes will be posted at 106^th and Gray Road to 116^th to Keystone and back to 106^th and vice versa.  106^th Place will be accessible for local traffic from the west via 106^th Street to Stratford Place and then east on Barrington Drive to 106^th Place. 
Carmel Indiana real estate blog, Greg Cooper, Carmel Indiana homes for sale,

Remember This? One Year Ago Today......

Ahhh.....fond memories.  Early February of 2011 and the ice storm hit dumping multiple inches of the frozen stuff on driveways and walkways.  Shovels, picks, sledge hammers all failed in their task at clearing space.  So on that following Saturday morning I went to Runyon Tool rentals and along with about 20 other weekend warriors learned how to flame throw our driveways.  It worked...sort of.  Let's hope all of this warm weather isn't going to pay us back too intensely before the winter's over!  

Happy 1 Year Anniversary - New East Carmel Residents 1/25/11 to 2/10/11

Deer East Of Keystone

The morning snow brought hungry visitors today behind the East Of Keystone home offices.  While they're not quite ready to eat out of our hand, they still are pretty friendly.  This mother and doe spent about 20 minutes gobbling up the Deer Corn (from Tractor Supply $9.99 a bag) before departing.  The snow was not overly difficult today and considering we're 66 days until Spring, it was a beautiful change of pace.  
Carmel Indiana real estate blog, Greg Cooper, Carmel Indiana homes for sale,

Four Easy Green Tips For Your East Carmel Home In 2012

Yes, we know, it gets overwhelming sometimes.  Trying to incorporate more energy efficient ways of conducting our lives can be complicated.  Here's four easy tips you can use and keep in mind as you go through 2012 that will help you save energy.  First, get on board with the compact flourescent bulbs.  The average east Carmel home based on square footage can save over $100/year and use 75% less energy for making the switch.  Second as you replace appliances, make certain they're Energy Star qualified (and some are not).  The EPA estimates that if one in ten homes used all Energy Star qualified appliances the impact would be the same as if 1.7 million million acres of new trees were planted.  Third, look at your bathroom water usage.  It's true, some of us shudder at the sound of 'low flow,' right Kramer?  That doesn't change the fact that 60% of an average home's water usage is in the bathroom. Low flow appliances are things everyone can used to over time and in addition to dripping faucets can save you thousands of gallons of water each year.  Finally, get your sweatshirts out because turning down the thermostat at this time of year one degree can cut your heating consumption by up to 8% and your bill as well.  Do some of us get fatigued by the constant bombardment of 'going green' information?  Of course....but if we just focus in on a couple of things we an all do, eventually it will have a major impact.  
Carmel Indiana real estate blog, Greg Cooper, Carmel Indiana homes for sale,

East Carmel Housing - 2011 Year In Review

2011 was a year of improvement in east Carmel and all of Clay Township for real estate.  While many areas of the country continued to decline in values, the 46033 turned the corner and began to move in a positive direction.  


First, in terms of units of sold homes, in 2010 there were 444 residences that went under contract versus 486 homes in 2011 for an increase of just over 9%.  Compared to the high point of 2005 where we had 521 homes sold we still have a way to go but we are seeing improvement.  


Homes were on the market 94 days in 2011 and averaged 95.82% of their list price in a sales price.  They sold for $111 a square foot and were roughly 2760 square feet above grade.  The average age of an east Carmel home was 11 years and roughly 42% reported having updated the most important room in their home, the kitchen.  The average kitchen renovation in Indiana costs $48,650 and returns 84.6% of the costs spent immediately.  


The most important statistic is in value and in 2011 we saw improvements there as well.  In both 2010 and 2011 the average list price of an east Carmel home coming on the market was essentially the same at just over $326,000.  The best news of last year was that the average sales price did edge upwards in '11 from $312,602 to over $317,000 which is a key indicator in the real overall value of homes.  


The crystal ball tells us that in a Presidential election year, early in the year is better.  We expect with home mortgage rates to stay very low and that, coupled with a slightly more positive consumer outlook in the first half of the year will mean more units of homes sold and again a slightly better value base.  Things will get challenging by mid Summer, however.  As the political conventions draw near we will see a slowdown in the housing market in likelihood due to the negative consumer sentiment that always occurs in a national election year as the election gets close.  The lesson for east Carmel homeowners is clear.  Things are getting better and will continue to do so for the next few months.  If you're going to make a move in 2012, now is the time to be planning ahead. 
Carmel Indiana real estate blog, Greg Cooper, Carmel Indiana homes for sale,

Wanted: One White SUV

Yes, it's a bit silly to think this SUV was behind the recent home break ins in several east Carmel neighborhoods but CPD is looking for a white SUV that was seen in each vicinity.  To top that off there was a car jacking in the Marsh parking lot on 116th overnight Wednesday into Thursday.  Neither of the two women were hurt and the car was found on Carmel Drive a short time later but still, a car jacking....at the Marsh?  For whatever reason we have had a small rash of this lately and it's still important for all of us to stay vigilant and let CPD know as we see suspicous activity in any of our neighborhoods.  Can anyone get a hold of Al Cowlings?  
Carmel Indiana real estate blog, Greg Cooper, Carmel Indiana homes for sale,

Welcome to Valdosta, Georgia!

All right, so we're still in Hamilton County, Indiana and not Lowndes County Georgia but it sure feels like we're south of the Mason Dixon line.  For those of you who have ever made that trek down I 75 towards Florida, you've undoubtedly been taken in by the Valdosta Stuckey's and the area's Spring like temps averaging 50 degrees on January 9.  Closer to home, these family members enjoy the trails near Founder's Park off of Hazel Dell yesterday and there will no doubt be more doing the same over the next couple of days with mild temps predicted.   Please accept my apologies in advance for mentioning the weather. There will no doubt be an ice storm on the way now that we've weather gloated in public.
Carmel Indiana real estate blog, Greg Cooper, Carmel Indiana homes for sale,

Shattered

While CPD tells us overall crime is down in east Carmel, there still have been several disturbing incidents over the past month.  There was a Bayhill daytime break in two weeks ago and this week this door was punched through in The Lakes At Hazel Dell.  This homeowner had a safety bar installed and the culprits simply broke the window and removed the bar.  A laptop and other valuables were taken.  Please keep in mind the mode of operation seems to be daytime burglaries when the thieves know the homeowners are gone. One safety expert tells us leaving a talk radio station or a television on can help create the illusion someone's home. It's more important than ever in east Carmel to keep our eyes and ears open for our neighbors during these times!  Please report any suspicious activity to the Carmel Police Department at 571-2500 or if it's urgent you can always call 911.  
Carmel Indiana real estate blog, Greg Cooper, Carmel Indiana homes for sale,

Virtual Open House/East Carmel Housing Blog 12.15 to 12.31.2011

It's been a great first year for the East Of Keystone virtual open house and housing blog.  Over 10,000 people have visited our site in just seven months. Each week we've posted the latest housing data for the 46033 and through the promotion of EOK.com we've also been able to give our client's homes the most exposure they could get anywhere on the web.  If you're going to sell in 2012, it would be our privilege to represent you and give your property more exposure than it would get through MIBOR, Realtor.com and any number of other sites.  Now, on with the Virtual Open House for the end of December.  Just point, click and go to see the homes that went on the market during the last two weeks of the year.

New construction, a rarity in Today's New World Of Real Estate, starts off this virtual open house in Stafford Place.   Other homes now available in east Carmel include homes in Kingswood, Worthington Estates, Waterford, Plum Creek Ridge, Haverstick,  Wood Creek and on Gray Road. 

Sold homes during the last two weeks of the year were in Delaware Trace (2 homes), The Maples Of Carmel, Stafford Place, Cherry Creek Estates, Plum Creek North, Brookshire (2 homes), Briar Creek and Haverstick.  As you know we don't openly publish the web links to the homes under contract out of respect for the buyers and sellers in the process.  If you are interested in any of the full MLS/BLC sheets for these homes please email us at eastofkeystone@gmail.com! 

Finally, early next week we'll be publishing the full housing market review of 2012 for east Carmel.  It was a year of recovery and positive things happening and we'll share all of that with you from average sales prices to units sold to days on the market.  Be sure and check back on the 10th to see all of that information. 

Have a great weekend everyone....enjoy the south Georgia weather here in east Carmel! 

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

Haircut

With the mild weather, street and tree crews have been working in east Carmel this week including trim backs along Gray Road.  This Spruce's family will hardly recognize him after this cut in the 11900 block. While we know it's a necessary evil we still hate to see our greenery cut away this far from utilities.  Any chance our Mayor will pause roundabout construction to bury some utility lines?  Probably not.  For the record we still the love the roundabouts Mayor Brainard.  
Carmel Indiana real estate blog, Greg Cooper, Carmel Indiana homes for sale,

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like January

We really could have used a bit of this before Christmas.  A post New Year's snow fall added some beauty to the east Carmel landscape making driving a bit tricky at least for a few hours.  While most of us enjoy some of the white stuff during the holidays, the East Of Keystone editorial staff feels now that we're beyond Christmas we'd like to proceed immediately to Spring.  
Carmel Indiana real estate blog, Greg Cooper, Carmel Indiana homes for sale,

Mice....It's What's For Lunch

I'm going to spare you the picture of this Barred Owl with his catch but suffice it to say he has had his fill of small critters as the cold weather and snow has arrived.  Frankly if it keeps the little pests from invading the East Of Keystone home offices lunch room we're all for him coming back to visit anytime.  Over the past few hours we've had four deer, a Red Fox, A Red Tailed Hawk and now this Barred Owl come to visit.  Fortunately there have been no Coyote sightings in the past few weeks which the house cat is very grateful for.  

Where Was This Last Week?

As for those parents who were already hearing 'Mom I'm bored,' there was a reprieve Tuesday.  The Northview Church baseball field provided the afternoon break for parents and about 40 children  as well as one 40ish Dad who did not look pleased after his saucer hit that first bump (I'm with you Mike...ouch).  They all had to work at it however, with less than 3 inches of snow falling in the 46033.  By Wednesday afternoon this hill should be bare enough to look at least a little bit like Spring.  

Game On

There are few endangered species in east Carmel but we actually spotted one just south of 126th Street and east of Hazel Dell today. Usually invisible in December, there was a winter sighting of rarely seen Golferious Maximus. Oh he was crafty, using a push cart and hustling up and down the edge of the fairways along with a couple of dozen of his gaggle. Just for the record, as I right this it's 53 degrees in Destin, Florida this December 26th.  Yet here we are, the day after Christmas and Plum Creek Golf Course is hopping.  There were actually 19 cars in the parking lot just after lunchtime. Just in case you get the bug this afternoon, you can reserve your time HERE.  I know the snow is coming but for today let's just all do a little daydreaming and know that Spring is just 86 days away....and the tee times will become a lot harder to get.