Columbus Indiana Real Estate Homes for Sale, Community News & Photos
Columbus Indiana Real Estate, Community News and Architectural Photo Galleries
No one really thought interest rates could go even lower! Several months ago, we were told that rates would likely increase. But now, much to our surprise, interest rates are better than ever – maybe the best they have ever been. (While we have not yet researched this, it would seem based on memory alone, that this may in fact be true.)
This would be a very good time to consider Buying a Home. There are some remarkable Homes for Sale at the present time in all price range.
BUT, this could also trigger activity, making NOW a very good time to Sell Your Home!
Our Real Estate Agents would be happy to discuss your options as you consider Buying a Home or Selling your Home. You might also want to investigate Mortgage Interest Rates by going on line to view current rates.
As you consider either Buying a Home, Selling a Home or refinancing the home you now own, there are many free resources available to you without cost or obligation. The choices are many! You can start by contacting a real estate agent or go online for mortgage information or contact a loan officer to find out more about a particular type of loan. These are some links to our real estate agents and several mortgage websites:
A beautiful weekend in Columbus, Indiana offered a variety of activities – some of those activities taking advantage of the beautiful weather. Among the activities that were offered: Farmers’ Market, Hot Rod and Antique Car Show, outside dining at several downtown restaurants and an evening concert by the splendid Columbus Philharmonic. NOTE: To view the picture in a full-page size, double click on the icon in the bar under the picture on the far right side.
We wanted to share some of the outside pictures from these activities.
1951 Founded in 1951 by Rex Breeden and Earl Butler, a business partner who would retire in 1954.
1958 Development of Everroad Park West begins, with home selection, marketing and sales by Breeden.
1959 Development of Parkside Addition, the first development in Columbus to require approval of building plans by an Architectural Control Committee.
1962 Development starts on the “Jolinda Community” which would include Hiker Trace, Edgewood, Edgewood South, Sandy Hook and Sandy Hook North. Indian Hills is developed with estate-sized lots.
1963 Breeden, Inc. announces plans to develop highway oriented businesses at I-65 and State Road 46, west of Columbus.
1969 Clifty Farms, the first rural sub-division for truly rural living is started.
1971 The “Ladybug” joins Breeden as “Mascot.”
1972 Development of Flatrock Park North begins.
1972 Monterey Plaza, 25th Street and Taylor Road, is constructed.
1973 The owner of Oak Meadow Golf Course and Country Club in Evansville hires Breeden, Inc. to develop a residential area around the golf course.
1974 Commerce Park, a light industrial park along U.S. 31 North, is developed.
1975 North Park subdivision, developed for commercial and multi-family use, begins along Central Avenue, just north of Rocky Ford Road.
1976 Greasy Creek Junction, a commercial development in Nashville, Indiana, begins.
1979 Working with the Economic Development Director of Columbus, Breeden brings together a group of investors, and acquires land and develops a site south of Columbus along I-65 which is called Woodside Business Center.
1979 The development of Washington Place, a residential community, begins.
1984 Development of Longview Addition begins.
1985 Mark Pratt and Jan Hexamer-Gardner become partners and in 1995 become Co-Owners of Breeden.
1986 A luxury housing development in Shelbyville, “The Overlook,” is started.
1988 Development of High Vista 2 begins.
1990 Progress Park, a light industrial park, is developed.
1992 Development of Broadmoor.
1994 Woodfield Place, a large home residential community on Rocky Ford Road, is developed.
1995 Breeden, Inc. moves into their new office building at 7th and Washington Street.
1995 McCulloughs Run and Talley Square subdivisions are developed on the northeast side of Columbus.
1996 Westwood, commercial sites on the west side of I-65, are developed.
1998 Development of Broadmoor North, Heathfield and Middle Road Office Park.
2002 InfoTech Park, at Columbus Municipal Airport, to provide hi-tech infrastructure in a campus setting, is developed.
2003 Chestnut Crossing (former Gary Davis Music location) is being developed as an office retail center.
2004 McCullough’s Run Park - with building lots on the north perimeter, McCullough’s Run Park features an educational nature trail, a natural wetlands system and connects to the Columbus People Trail.
2004 Century 21 franchise is purchased by Breeden co-owners Jan Hexamer-Gardner and Mark Pratt.
2008 Dean Doughty joins Century 21 Breeden Realtors as Sales Manager
2011 Breeden Realtors celebrates 60th Anniversary
We wish to acknowledge the contribution of Rickey Berkey photography.
We recently discovered a remarkable website where costs for a variety of remodeling projects are compared to the value added – showing the percent of the investment recovered. Because neither cost nor value are constant throughout the country, this study is done using various locations throughout the country including the Indianapolis area (this would be applicable for Columbus and Bartholomew County).
When considering remodeling projects, it is a good idea to check to see what sort of return there could be on the cost of the project. Rarely, are there projects where there is a profit – value is greater than cost. More often, cost is greater than value!
However, I believe there should be an enjoyment value factored into the mix. Although a remodeling project might be a poor investment in terms of payback in increased value, the enjoyment derived from the new and improved feature may more than justify the expense.
The actual website is http://www.CostvsValue.com.
Value of our area: http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2010/costvsvalue/division/east-north-central/city/indianapolis–in.aspx
There are many excellent resource for real estate, investment and financial information that is published on a regular basis – current information being key in the volatile market we have witnessed. As information is gathered and decisions made, we believe the broader the knowledge base, the better the decision. These are some of the places where you may find the kind of information you require.
| Link | ||
| Pending Sales | http://www.realtor.org/research/research/phsdata | |
| Return on Investment (Prices) | http://www.standardandpoors.com/home/en/us | |
| Return on Investment (Stocks) | http://money.msn.com/ | |
| Mortgage Rates | http://www.freddiemac.com/pmms/ | |
| Long Term Interest Rates | http://www.ehow.com/about_5576484_history-mortgage-interest-rates.html | |
| Long Term Interest Rates | http://www.freddiemac.com/pmms/ | |
| Net Worth | http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/oss/oss2/scfindex.html | |
| QRM | http://www.realtor.org/wps/wcm/connect/3eb05180477a4140892babaa3b85ca9a/questionaire_with_results.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=3eb05180477a4140892babaa3b85ca9a | |
| QRM | http://communitymb.com/resources/2011/QRM%20White%20Paper%204-13-2011%20.pdf | |
| QRM | http://www.housingwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/GAO.pdf | |
| QRM | http://www.dsnews.com/articles/dbrs-dissects-prime-mortgage-requirements-then-vs-now-2011-07-15 |
We wish to acknowledge the source for this information as KCM.
We at Century 21 Breeden try to extend our role of Real Estate Agent beyond the closing of a real estate transaction for both Buyers and Sellers. The role we choose to play is provider of information before and after the process. Often we are a source at tax time for closing statements to check on closings costs which may be deductible on income tax returns.
There have been many times when a former client or possible future client asks for advice about Home Improvements. To Improve a home by Remodeling or perhaps even an Addition onto the existing home sometimes requires information on a home’s value as it relates to the other houses in the neighborhood. Owners are fearful that “Over Improvement” sometimes means little return on an investment in the existing home.
Although it takes some time to do the analysis necessary to provide worthwhile information, our Real Estate Agents are very willing to help. In a very competitive area where so many agents try to perform the same listing/selling tasks, the quality of the service rendered becomes of paramount importance. As our Agents enter the business, they understand that Century 21 Breeden is known for professionalism and extraordinary service and choose this affiliation because the philosophy is one they share with the company. In a word-of-mouth business, a helping attitude means everything.
We are always looking for ways to improve the job we do. So, we welcome calls for help – in fact, we are eager for those requests.
We want to be your Realtor for Life!
We have just completed our Economic Report for Bartholomew County and South Central Indiana, based on data from January 1 – June 30, from 2007 – 2011. If you have interest in receiving the full report including additional information about real estate in the area, both active, pending and sold, please complete the form shown below.
Please contact us if you would like more information and a copy of the entire report.
The report is based on information compiled from MLS data supplied by the Columbus Board of Realtors through South Central Indiana Listing Exchange.
We are very proud of our Residential Real Estate Team for they have once again earned the distinction of being the leader in South Central Indiana real estate sales, earning the rank of #1 in Real Estate Sales. With the number of Homes for Sale being sold through the Columbus Indiana MLS, these Real Estate Agents have worked tirelessly to assist both Buyers and Sellers, leading the market in both Listing and Selling Production.
If you have an interest in Homes for Sale or just finding out more about the process of buying or selling a home, these agents would be happy to furnish information to you, answering any questions you might have. These Century 21 Real Estate Agents are interested in exceeding expectations and are knowledgeable and professional. They are also genuinely nice people who are anxious to help.
We invite you are to contact this Residential Sales Team:
The statistical information represented in the graph shown above is supplied by the South Central Indiana Listing Exchange for residential properties closed through this MLS for Bartholomew County Indiana for the period 1-1-11 – 6-30-11.
We are excited about the prospect of Selling Homes in Columbus Indiana. Columbus Indiana Real Estate is experiencing a change in supply and demand with definitely greater demand. Our Real Estate Agents are showing homes in greater numbers than in the recent past. Several homes this week have actually sold in less than one week – a very rare occurrence during 2009 and 2010. This is the good part!
Here is the not so good: The appraisal process has become a problem in many transactions. While buyers want to buy, feeling more confident than before, and sellers want to sell, the appraisal process has been an issue. The appraisal is based on historical data – a comparison of homes now selling in an improved market in Columbus to properties sold in the past when the market was not nearly as good. With the improved present market being compared to the unimproved past, appraisals keep prices from soaring no matter what the demand.
Economically speaking, Columbus is decidedly better off than many other areas of the country and even the State of Indiana. In fact, Indiana is considered a depressed market and a problem frequently occurs when Indiana appraisers from outside this area are asked to appraise within this area.
While the real estate market will improve, there are many factors to be considered for its total recovery.
Very recently, our Century 21 Breeden team celebrated the 40th Anniversary of Century 21 by creating Century 21 cakes, judging the cakes and then eating those cakes. Although the cakes were delicious, interesting and beautiful, our Residential and Commercial Real Estate Agents decided they were going to stick to selling real estate. We are going to share some pictures from our event. The winning cake judged for its taste, design and presentation was created by the Nancy Pugh team of chefs!
You’ve heard the term. But what exactly is FICO? FICO stands for The Fair Issac Company that developed a methodology to help companies understand a person’s credit risk based on a set criteria. This is one of the main standards used by the three credit reporting agencies; TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. Your FICO score is your credit score.
How is your FICO score determined?
There are several factors used to determine your FICO score. Each is important for you to know and to know how to preserve.
Ways to Improve Your FICO Score
Start with the basics. Pay all of your bills on time. Remember payment history represents the biggest factor in your score. Then reduce your overall total debt. Try to bring your debt down to 25% of your total available credit.
Centra Credit Union is always available to answer questions you may have about mortgages and other types of loans and credit cards.
Let us know if we can help with any mortgage questions you might have.
Kevin Johnson Dave Hodapp
VP Real Estate Lending AVP Consumer Lending
Centra Credit Union Centra Credit Union
812-314-0242 812-314-0556
https://www.centra.org/mortgages.php
Each year, sewer and drain backups cause millions of dollars in damage to homeowners. Prevention is the best solution to avoid the out-of-pocket expenses and the inconvenience of a major clean up. Here are a few ways to avoid sewer and drainage back up:
Make Sure Your Drainage System Is Working Properly
· Gutter downspouts should extend at least 10 feet away from the foundation of the house so
water is carried away from the basement walls.
· Clear the gutters at least twice a year to prevent them from overflowing.
· Your yard should be graded to slope away from the house so surface water is drained away.
· If your gutters connect to storm sewers, keep the drain lines clear.
Anti-Backflow Devices Reduce the Chance of Basement Flooding.
Several types of devises with manual and automatic operations are available:
· Check-valve devices allow water and sewage to flow away from the drain, preventing water
and sewage from backing up into the drain.
· Gate-valve devices operate like a gate, closing and shutting off the water flow.
Sump Pump Systems Assist in Keeping Out Unwanted Water
There are several types of pumps, including single pump and dual-level systems. A battery generator can be used to power the pump in case of a power failure. Remember to test your system monthly. It’s important is make sure your sump pump outlet is not connected to your home’s main plumbing system.
Sometimes Water Still Gets In
Items stored in basement areas should be on shelves or kept off the floor. The furniture should be on casters or shims and arranged away from the floor drains. Consult with a building code official or professional plumber for more steps you can take to reduce the chance of water damage to your home.
Speak with an insurance professional about appropriate coverage in your homeowner’s policy.
For more information on this and other safety issues related to your home and family, please contact an insurance agent or visit www.statefarm.com.
Dave Dailey
State Farm Agent®
State Farm Insurance
2330 N. National Road
Columbus, IN
812-372-3376
We have created a chart illustrating most of the major steps involved in the Home-Buyer Process. All of these steps are directed by the Real Estate Agent, some handled totally by the Real Estate Agent and some handled by the Buyer with the help of the Real Estate Agent. While the benefits to the first-time Buyer are certainly obvious, there are so many benefits to even the most seasoned of Home Buyers, those who have bought and sold several times, that going through the process without assistance just doesn’t make sense!
These are some of the major benefits of the Agent/Buyer relationship. Added to these are many items of convenience making the experience more pleasant, the time spent more effective and the advice given about the steps of the process very worthwhile.
“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more you know, the more places you’ll go.” Dr. Seuss
Book Buddies End-of-the Year Report June 2011
Pictured above: The “Literacy Blooms Tea” held on Saturday, May 7th was a great success! The Terrace Room looked beautiful and the music, food, Garden of Verse and volunteers were all wonderful: Many thanks to our Leadership Team: Samantha Harpring, Laura Burbrink and Shama Padalkar, along with committee members, Anna Barnett, Yuying Chu, Ashleigh Wentworth Fischer (chef), Sandy Andriaccio (flowers) and to all of the other donors and volunteers.
Thanks also to those of your who attended the tea or bought a ticket for the drawing. With you help, we were able to raise approximately $4,500 for Book Buddies! This money will be used to purchase books, supplies, training materials and other needed items for the Book Buddy Program during the upcoming school year.
From classroom teachers –
“The students LOVE the one-on-one attention and the daily practice is vital.”
“Students are building good relationships with caring adults. This helps them with their social skills we well.”
Thanks for another wonderful year of Book Buddies! Because of your patience and dedication, our students have moved forward in their reading skills. These are students who were reading anywhere from 6-12 months behind when the program began.
Book Buddies students are those who might otherwise fall through the cracks and not receive the personal attention you are able to provide. The staff-led reading programs that are in place at all of our elementary schools focus on helping students who are more severely behind in their reading and need work on very basic skills. Book Buddies, however, targets the children who have the basic skills in place but need a “coach” to encourage them and help them fine-tune their decoding skills, fluency and comprehension.
You are that coach! With limited funding, budget cuts for remediation and a new test for 3rd graders, your role is more important than ever. Again, we thank you for the gift of your time. You are the reason Book Buddies is successful and has grown to be the largest volunteer organization in Bartholomew County.
º Book Buddies By the numbers: 89% of students were reading on
º 200 students grade level by the end of the
º 450 volunteers program based on book level and
º 100 days of tutoring STAR score.
º 10,000 hours of tutoring
Average book level increase:
7.8 levels
Average beginning book level:
6.2
Average ending book level:
13.9
Survey Results
We recently gave surveys to volunteers, teachers and Book Buddy
families. Here is what we learned:
º 100% of volunteers and teachers reported noticing a positive difference in Book
Buddies students; reading progress.
º 91% of volunteers saw their students’ attitudes toward reading improve.
º 93% of families said they would recommend Book Buddies to other families.
º 100% of families told us their children talk about Book Buddies at home.
Comments:
From Book Buddy Volunteers –
“Book Buddies is the highlight of my week!”
“I, personally, feel so rewarded when a child of mine reaches another level in reading.”
From classroom teachers –
“The students LOVE the one-on-one attention and the daily practice is vital.”
“Students are building good relationships with caring adults. This helps them with their social skills we well.”
From a Book Buddy Parent-
“She has become a more confident reader and wants to read all by herself. Prior to Book Buddies, it was like pulling teeth to get her to practice her reading.”
From a Book Buddy Student-
“My favorite part is when my Buddy and I play games.”
º Approximately 960 students have benefited from Book Buddies since it began in 2006.
º This year Book Buddies included some 3rd grade students who needed extra support. Next year, we hope to include even more 3rd graders.
º Children not reading on grade level by 3rd grade have a 1 in 8 chance of ever catching up.
º Having children read a lot is one of the crucial components of becoming a good reader. The only way to get good, is to practice.
Book Buddies for the 2011-2012 school year will begin on Tuesday, September 6th. If you are a returning volunteer, you will be contacted mid-late August by your site supervisor.
Book Buddy Volunteer
Appreciation Movie Night
A wonderful evening was held at the YES Cinema in appreciation of our Book Buddy Volunteers. On Monday, May 16th, over 100 volunteers and guests, were treated to the Academy Award nominated movie, True Grit (2010). Our guests watched a Book Buddy presentation, and Ms. Karen Garrity, Director of Elementary Education, began the evening by welcoming everyone. Volunteers also received a free drink in a Book Buddy cup (sponsored by First Financial Bank).
I-READ Test for 3rd graders
Next spring, all Indiana 3rd grade students will be required to take a new assessment test called I-READ. Students who do not pass this test will not be promoted to 4th grade. This is a concern for parents, teachers and our students.
The Book Buddies program is an important part of helping our 2nd and 3rd grade students read at grade level by the end of the school year. We are hoping to GROW the Book Buddies program to help even more students achieve this goal, but we need MORE VOLUNTEERS to make this happen! Please share your Book Buddy experience with a friend and encourage them to give “One Hour a Week to Change a Life Forever!”
Book Buddy Contact Information
The Book Buddy Office will be closed from July 1st- August 1st. If you have a question, please call 812-376-4461 and leave a message. Someone will get back to you as soon as possible. You can also email Book Buddies at: bookbuddies@bcsc.k12.in.us.
Book Buddies is on Facebook. Find us at Bartholomew County Book Buddies and stay updated on Book Buddy happenings!
Here are some helpful hints as you begin, what will hopefully be, a strong credit history. Using credit wisely will help you secure future loans and mortgages. However, being careless with credit or not paying attention to your debt load can lead you into trouble.
Obtain Your Credit Report (https://www.annualcreditreport.com/) You are entitled to a free credit report each year from each of the three reporting agencies. However, your credit score is not free and is not included in your credit report. You’ll need to purchase your score.
Your credit score is a three-digit number, ranging from the low 300s to the highest, 850, that rates your financial history.
The Great Credit Card Search
Compare credit cards online by your credit score, the type of card and rewards, and details such as interest rates and annual fees. An excellent source of information is http://www.creditcardconnection.org/. Here you’ll find a list of fair and ethical credit card companies.
Things to Consider
Read the Fine Print
Using Your Card Smartly
Credit cards allow you to make purchases on credit, up to your limit, and pay off those purchases in a timely fashion.
Pay close attention to your credit card statement every month. Watch for increases in your APR or decreases in your credit limit. Also watch for items that do not look familiar. If you question a charge, speak with your credit card company.
Centra Credit Union is always available to answer questions you may have about mortgages and other types of loans and credit cards.
Let us know if we can help with any mortgage questions you might have.
Kevin Johnson Dave Hodapp
VP Real Estate Lending AVP Consumer Lending
Centra Credit Union Centra Credit Union
812-314-0242 812-314-0556
https://www.centra.org/mortgages.php
https://www.centra.org/mortgages.php https://www.centra.org/loans_credit.php
There are two big myths about renters insurance. One is that it’s too expensive and the other is that it’s not needed.
Not having renters insurance is a pretty big gamble, considering that without it you face the cost of replacing your personal belongings after an event such as fire or theft. What’s more, you could face the prospect of defending yourself in a lawsuit because of some accident for which you might be held legally responsible, whether it happened where you live or elsewhere.
In many cases, for less than a couple hundred dollars a year, you can protect your valuables, like your furniture and clothes, from loss by fire, theft, wind and water damage or other covered hazards. But many renters still don’t believe they need such insurance. A survey conducted by Cambridge Reports, Inc. for the Insurance Information Institute found that fewer than three out of every 10 renters purchase renters insurance.
Many renters mistakenly believe their landlord’s insurance will cover their own belongings. In fact, it would be extremely rare for a landlord’s policy to extend to tenants’ property.
To determine how much insurance coverage you’ll need, take a complete inventory of your personal items. An insurance agent can help with this by estimating the total value of your
property. You’ll also need to decide whether to opt for depreciated or limited replacement cost coverage. Depreciated coverage is the cost to repair or replace your belongings minus depreciation. Let’s say you bought a quality sofa with an expected useful life of 10 years. If it’s now five years old and would cost about $1,000 to replace, you could expect to receive about $500 (less deductible) if your sofa was destroyed by fire. You would pay slightly more for limited replacement cost coverage, but you could expect to receive $1,000 for your sofa minus your deductible.
You should also keep in mind that insurance coverage for some types of personal property is limited in terms of dollars. Renters insurance also gives you personal legal liability coverage and medical payments to others who are accidentally injured while in your home, apartment or elsewhere if the injuries are caused by your actions. And, if you are forced to live elsewhere because of damage to your residence due to a covered loss, renters insurance covers additional living expenses.
Remember, you may not own the building in which you live, but you still need to have insurance to protect your property in the case of fire, theft or other hazards. Talk with your insurance agent for more information.
For more information on this and other safety issues related to your home and family, please contact an insurance agent or visit www.statefarm.com.
By: David C. Dailey, CLU
State Farm Agent
RENTERS INSURANCE: WHY YOU NEED IT
By David Dailey, CLU 2330 N National Rd. Columbus, IN
812.372.3376 www.DDailey.com
State Farm Agent®
We are very proud of our Century 21 Breeden Team. They offer outstanding service and have been responsible for the outstanding reputation we have enjoyed during our 60 Years in Columbus Real Estate. These Agents have represented both Home Buyers and Home Sellers, being diligent in their efforts to always exceed expectations.
A few of the services we offer to Buyers are shown below. These services benefit those with Homes for Sale in Columbus, Indiana as greater numbers of Home Buyers are attracted by the personal touch and professionalism offered by this #1 Real Estate Team in Columbus, Indiana.
Our Century 21 Breeden Team would like to offer our services to you. Please feel free to contact our agents for more information on buying a homes, selling a homes or questions you might have regarding real estate.
We are so very proud of the Architecture of Columbus and all of the benefits, events, amenities and amazing opportunities this spectacular city offers. As we introduce this city to those moving to Columbus, or considering a move to Columbus, we are delighted to share all that is so special about Columbus, Indiana and the “Quality of Life” that is available in this small Indiana city – a city like no other city.
Gallup Poll
