Searching for a Home in Indianapolis? There's an App for that!

I love technology. Someone once described me as “gadget-y,” and I can’t argue with that descriptor. And while there’s a tendency for that aspect of my personality to be drawn into gigantic time-sucking distractions, I am also aware of how some hardware and software tools can be enormously time-saving.

One of the most common questions I’m asked is, “Where’s the best place to go online to find available homes?” My clients want to be able to access the most current information available about homes that might suit their needs. More often than not, the common theme is this: how can I – while I’m out driving in neighborhoods – get more information about a house that I happen to drive by?

Thanks to a terrific FREE iPhone app by REALTOR.com®, this task has been reduced to the ridiculously simple. AND IT WORKS ON BOTH THE iPAD and iPHONE!

(There is also a Droid version available HERE.)

Not only does this app permit you to enter MLS number data to search from anywhere, it also uses the iPhone’s built-in geo-locating capabilities to figure out where you are and what houses near you are for sale.

So the next time you’re out driving around looking in neighborhoods, simply launch the app, do a search, and find what you’re looking for. You can even send the listing to me if it’s a property that you’re interested in knowing more about or seeing in person.

Here's a quick tutorial on using the app.

Head to the iTunes App Store

Or, choose the App Store on your iPhone. Enter “realtor.com” as a search term and look for the app. Or, click on the button above to take you directly to the app from your browser.

Register the App by clicking on the "Gear" icon in the lower right of the screen.

You'll then get this screen:

Create a new, free account.

This is a really important step. Use an email address that you check regularly. You’ll then be able to get listing updates, share properties with your family, friends and agent.

Add the email address of your real estate agent. If I’m acting as your agent, enter joe@macduffrealty.com in the first spot of the sharing shortcuts.

You can also add other folks who you want to keep in the loop. Add up to two other email addresses here of the folks you want to be able to send interesting listings to. Your BFF, your S.O., your mom...you pick.

You're done with the registration. Now it's time to search for a home.

The main screen give you several options for performing a search.

When you arrive at a neighborhood or house you're interested in, you can choose the "Homes For Sale" button. You’ll be able to view listings close to where you are currently parked (you did park before performing the search, right?!?) as a list, with a street map view, or from a satellite view.

One of my favorite features is being able to "draw" a search area using the "Area Highlighter" view, and you can also view by satellite of map view in this mode. Super cool!

Find a home you want to share?

Click on the "Send" button in the property view and send it to me and a friend! You can also "Save this listing."

The app also gives you the ability to "Share" the listing on Twitter, Facebook or by text message.

Have fun, and I look forward to being of service!

Tax Credits, Interest rates... and my new iPad!

This week's thoughts on the soon-to-expire tax credits, rising interest rates... and my new iPad.

Here's a link to info on the Tax credits.

Here's a link to a New York Times story on rising interest rates.

New Listing - 9010 Kiser Pt.

Superb move-in-ready condo in a great Northeast side location. Gobs of updates, including lighting, faucets, brand new stove, microwave and fridge, wood-burning fireplace, vaulted ceiling in Great Room, high ceiling in master bedroom, double vanities in Master Bath, sparkling clean, gorgeous pond view. Priced to sell quickly.

READING BETWEEN THE (HEAD) LINES.

(This is a repost from May, 2009. I am reposting because we have similarly conflicting sales data published this week. I think it deserves a rehash)

There have been a lot of headlines in the last couple of days regarding real estate sales, prices and so on. Much of what’s been published, unfortunately, is national numbers.

How relevant are the national existing home sales statistics which are being spit out from our national trade organization, the National Association of REALTORS®?

I mean...REALLY?!? Come on!

What in the name of all things holy do national numbers regarding existing home sales have to do with existing home sales for Devonshire or Forest Hills or Arden or one of a thousand other pocket neighborhoods in the Greater Indianapolis region?

My answer: not a flippin’ thing.

You’ve probably heard the saying that all politics is local. Well... all real estate is local. And in my not-so-humble opinion, all real estate is MICRO local.

That is to say, trends and sales from block to block and from neighborhood to neighborhood change - sometimes significantly - depending on where the specific property you’re concerned with is located.

Numbers go up. Numbers go down. Numbers go sideways.

In Marion County alone, where there are nine townships and numerous little incorporated villages and towns, we’ll find two side-by-side neighborhoods with dramatically different sales statistics.

One neighborhood’s sales may be up for two years runing, and the one right next door might be down for ten consecutive years.

What’s going on - saleswise - at 54th & Kessler North Drive has NO BEARING WHATSOEVER on what might happen in Southport or Speedway or Crooked Creek

The statistics really don’t mean a thing...unless you know how to interpret them.

So here’s the deal:

Are you wondering what your house is worth? Has the value gone up? Has the value gone down? Has it remained flat?

Talk to your REALTOR®. Call him or her. Ask, “What’s going on in my neighborhood?”

Your REALTOR® will pull data from a representative set of recent sales to help determine the current market value of your home.

It’s pretty simple, really. Enjoy the headlines.

Just don’t believe everything you read.

I DON'T SELL ANYTHING.

No, really.

It is true that I have a real estate salesperson’s license issued by the State of Indiana. And yes, I do assist my clients in their real estate transactions, whether they’re buying, selling, leasing or building.

The reality, though, is that I don’t “sell” anything.

When I represent a client with a property to sell, my primary role is as a “Marketing Director.” I assist my client in assessing the property’s value based upon recent sales data for properties which are similar to their home. And I make recommendations about improvements they could make which might help make the property more attractive to a broader base of the buying public.

That’s where my real work starts: marketing the property using a variety of methods and media. That’s really all I have control over.

The homeowner sets the price and controls the condition of the property. I handle the marketing. And the rest is out of our hands.

We can’t control the price the neighbor sets for their property. We can’t control the stock market. We can’t control interest rates, world events, picky buyers, hail storms...

I partner with my clients and use the information we gather from showing feedback to make adjustments to our marketing. If the feedback is consistently indicating that the carpet needs replaced, my client can make that choice. Or they might reduce their price accordingly. If the feedback indicates that the property is not located on a favorable lot, there’s really only one option - lower the price. We obviously can’t move the house.

Eventually - and hopefully quickly - we’re able to combine our best marketing practices with changes and improvements based on feedback to get a solid offer on the table.

On the other hand, when I’m representing a Buyer client I assist them in setting their budget parameters, determining their wants and needs lists, help them adjust their expectations based upon their budget and location requirements and point them in the direction of pertinent data sources which might help them in their decision process. Things like crime statistics, school performance data, etc.

From there, we head out to look at properties that fit their needs. I don’t particularly care which house they like or don’t like. For me, it’s about helping my client make a fully-informed purchase decision about the house that best suits their requirements.

And I do my best to answer questions like: How’s the market trending in that neighborhood? What might happen in the cornfield just behind the house? How will a new commercial development just up the road affect their neighborhood traffic?

So if you’re thinking of buying, selling, leasing or renting a property, it would be my pleasure to partner with you during your process in order to help you make solid, informed choices.

Just don't expect me to whip out my "salesman" hat any time soon.