Get ready to tour: Visit 8 Homes during the HBA Parade of Homes & Win!

New construction allows you to visualize how a home can meet your needs today . . . and well into the future. That’s because the best new homebuilders are in-tune with the different features you’ll enjoy now, as well as those that can make life easier down the road.

Brand new and ready to welcome you home

During the height of the housing boom, builders were putting up as many speculative (spec) homes as time and money permitted. After all, a steady stream of buyers meant homes were selling easily.

Real Estate is Back to Business

On the heels of a first quarter built on positive momentum, April real estate numbers bring more good news for housing. Throughout the state of Indiana, home prices and market activity improved from the same month of last year, according to the Indiana Real Estate Markets Report released by …

Skylights transform any room

With natural light streaming in from above, skylights can significantly change the entire feel of your home, making it warmer and brighter without compromising privacy. Since they deliver more light than traditional windows, skylights also reduce the need for artificial lighting and save energy.

Moving in the right direction

The fact that buyer demand remains strong as more homes come on the market from a combination of existing stock and new housing starts are all strong indicators that both buyers and sellers are continuing to respond to the extreme affordability low mortgage interest rates provide for them to…

Need to sell before you buy? 101 reasons to call a Realtor today

Far from just driving buyers around or simply placing for sale signs in yards, the daily routine of a real estate agent involves a great many interactions with current and prospective clients, other agents and brokers, appraisers, attorneys, home inspectors, lenders, title companies and more…

IU Northwest offers flexibility for adult learners

Typically, the thought of college life evokes images of young people, ivy-covered buildings, dormitory life, football tailgates and basketball’s “final four.”

Smart sprinkler controllers

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that more than 3 billion gallons of landscape-irrigation water are wasted every year. With more than 13.5 million landscape irrigation systems currently in use across the US, upgrading them to include properly installed and programmed Wa…

Quality of space trumps quality

Can you believe the average size home in the 1950s was 983-sq-ft?

Raising the energy efficiency bar

Honored as being part of the “energy-efficiency elite” during the 2011 International Builders Show, energy bills for heating and cooling the 1,650-sq-ft “Gem,” a transitional home by Treasure Homes in the Village in Burns Harbor, were estimated to average $50 a month.

Indoor air quality: One of the EPA's top 5 environmental risks to public health

When it comes to air sealing and ventilating, new residential building codes are now in place to ensure energy efficiency as well as the comfort of the homeowner. In many existing homes, there can be a number of uncontrolled air leaks that add up to the equivalent of leaving a window open 24/7.

Growing a bright future

Homes are located in neighborhoods, which are part of a larger community. Our homes happen to be located in the shadow of the country’s third largest city, along the southern shores of the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume.

Strengthening our local economy

There’s nothing like a recession to hammer home the importance of real estate in our local, state and national economies. A healthy real estate industry is vital to a prosperous US economy and represents a significant annual contribution to local and state economies.

Remote control cellular shades

Press a button and up they go. Press another button and down they come.

What's your preference?

Builders are building again, and many have available homes ready right now.

5 common myths about solar energy for the home

Solar panels have come along way in recent years. Just ask renewable energy expert Kevin Moore, president of Midwest Wind and Solar.

The return of buyers

That’s really been the story in real state for about the last year.

Steelworker for the Future: ArcelorMittal partnership develops next generation

The backbone of machinery and tools, bridges, skyscrapers, railroads, automobiles and appliances, steel is also at the core of the world’s green economy, where economic growth and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.

Groundbreaking USB charger

Drop zones with benches, lockers and cubbies providing storage and reducing clutter at the most common entry point in homes are getting a new addition – charging stations. Often equipped with Leviton’s USB charging receptacles, some plans include mini desks while others feature tall countertops.

Look Up: Ceiling height can be as important as square footage in any room

From a design point of view, ceiling height is all about how the proportions of a given room are created, how light (natural and artificial) will be used and, most importantly, how the space is intended to function.

The future looks bright for green homes

Construction and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released their first survey on the green homes market.

What’s Your Dream? Dream homes can come in all shapes and sizes.

Whether you envision a tranquil place where you can take refuge after a long day, a place where friends and family are always welcome, a yard that’s perfect for endless hours of playing catch or simply relaxing in the shade, there is one thing that’s the same no matter who is dreaming – in t…

Dream of homeownership alive and well

Most people in the US want to continue to own or plan on buying a house, according to Gallup’s annual Economy and Personal Finance survey conducted earlier this month.

Reducing NWI's dependence on foreign oil

Logging the equivalent of 9,128,381 gallons of gas in annual petroleum savings plus 70,566 less tons of carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions, the US Department of Energy recognized South Shore Clean Cities for having the top overall improvement in petroleum savings in 2012.

ReStore celebrates anniversary and renovation

With the recent move of the Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana administrative offices to the organization’s beautiful new model home at the same location, the ReStore has some new room to spread out.

Three simple steps to finding the right home for you

Years ago, when I was at that stage of life where I read books to my children every night at bedtime, one of our favorites was The Very Best Home for Me.

Cleaner, greener communities every day

When Keep America Beautiful first aired the well-known TV commercial with a Native American shedding a single tear at the sight of litter being dropped on the road, I was eight years old. To this day, whenever I see someone litter I think about the “crying Indian” ad and its message, “People…

Strack and Van Til Day jumpstarts Habitat remodel

When it comes to making a positive, tangible contribution to the community, volunteering to help Habitat for Humanity create simple, decent and affordable homes for partner families is a great way to invest your time and energy.

Saving energy with tankless water heaters

As interest in building homes that are energy efficient and economic to operate continues to grow, many people are giving thoughtful consideration to the type of water heater they want.

Blue balloons signify fourth annual nationwide open house

More than 200 blue balloons will be displayed outside homes across the region this weekend, inviting you inside to take a look and discuss the local housing market with an industry expert. Joining thousands of REALTORS® across the country, members of the Greater Northwest Indiana Association…

Home Builders Association Embarks on New Chapter

When the Lake County and Porter County Builders Associations merged in 2011, the goal was to come together and forge a stronger future for all. Now the Home Builders Association of Northwest Indiana (HBA), a nonprofit trade association of builders and associated industry professionals dedica…

A change of pace at the housing industry leadership panel and luncheon

A combined group of more than 70 people from the Home Builders Association of Northwest Indiana (HBA), the Indiana Mortgage Bankers Association (IMBA) and the Greater Northwest Indiana Association of REALTORS® gathered at Innsbrook Country Club in Merrillville earlier this month for the annu…

Notable new faucets

We’ve all experienced touchless technology – faucets and/or soap dispensers that automatically turn on when they sense the presence of our hands – in public restrooms, however it’s still kind of evolving in our homes.

Iconic mid-century lamp collection returns

Blenko hand-blown glass table lamps debuted in 1951 and were widely embraced by a new generation of homeowners looking to make glamour fun and functional. The vibrant colors and bold shapes of the popular lamp line were based on the company’s dramatic decanters with unique stoppers that made…

Finding Your Shade of “Green”

“Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory.”

Peoples Bank restarts construction loan seminars

While their highly informative first-time homebuyer seminars have remained fairly steady over the last several years, Peoples Bank hasn’t held a construction loan seminar for quite some time.

Helping People Achieve the Dream of Homeownership

Our homes help define who we are. Everything in and about our homes – from the colors on the walls to the knick knacks on the shelves – is an expression of our families and our selves.

How Do You View Aging?

Abraham Lincoln may have said it best, “And in the end, it is not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.”

Ireland’s Top Trends

Nest Labs co-founder Tony Fadell's newest gadget has been called the iPod of thermostats.

How Do You View Aging?

HECM for Purchase: Little Known and Often Misunderstood

A term used exclusively for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured reverse mortgage program, HECM stands for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage.

High Tech Group Goes Green

Nest Labs co-founder Tony Fadell's newest gadget has been called the iPod of thermostats.

Building Communities

The son of Robert B. and Florence Coolman, Robert V. Coolman got his start in the residential land development and homebuilding business growing up in Valparaiso.

Form & Function in Homebuilding

With the number of specific selections you need to make when building a new home or remodeling, look to this space for the very latest innovations in design and materials, plus new products for kitchens, baths, great rooms, bedrooms, suites, entryways, outdoor living and more.

Start Prepping Now to Make Spring Buyers Fall in Love with Your Home

Ask any local real estate professional – from sales agents to lenders, appraisers, inspectors, title processors and even builders (people who buy new construction often have a home to sell before they can seal the deal) – homes that are priced right are selling, and they are often selling ve…

Signs of Strength in the Home Building Market

When the housing boom went from its peak in July 2006 to the lowest lows of the bust in 2011, new home sales set record lows. Then, with single-family building permits on the rise in 2012, builders started hammering away again. New pre-sold and speculative (spec) homes were taking shape acro…

Heart Health Heroes

When it comes to heart care, specialized doctors evaluate and treat people who have heart disease, which is often also called cardiovascular disease.

Why Professional Designation “Alphabet Soup” Matters

How many times have you seen a group of capitol letters after someone’s name and actually understood what they stand for? For example, while most people know CPA is certified public accountant, you probably won’t recognize CGB is certified graduate builder, CRB is certified real estate broke…

Pillars of the Community: Dedicate New Play Yard

United Way’s annual Day of Caring celebrates volunteerism. Bringing together teams from local businesses, municipalities, churches and civic groups on the third Friday in August, the day provides an inside look at the great work nonprofits accomplish.

Desirable Properties are Selling Quickly

The monthly Indiana Real Estate Markets Report released by the state’s REALTORS® last week shows that 2012 was a strong turnaround year for Indiana housing markets.