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…

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…

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…

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.

Turning the Corner

Real estate analysts anticipate that in years to come, 2012 will be considered the year the real estate market turned the corner after a five tumultuous years, and local year-end real estate market data for single-family existing homes in Lake and Porter Counties supports this notion, accord…

It’s Time to Get Serious!

Over the past year, mortgage interest rates remained at record lows and home prices bottomed out. As a result, demand is starting to catch up with supply, generating some measurable momentum in the housing industry.

Building Wealth: Two Couples Make the Move from Renters to Homeowners

Forgoing the latest “get rich scheme,” most people know there is no single right answer for building wealth. In fact, when you Google “wealth building,” you’ll find ten rules, nine lessons, three simple steps, seven strategies, four pillars and more to help you manage your money.

Volunteers Get the Job Done at Habitat ReStore

Married 48 years, Habitat for Humanity ReStore volunteers Stan and Pat Henard are enjoying their retirement years.

Agents Continue Long-Established Tradition

Holiday traditions build lifelong memories. They help us bond and reconnect with loved ones, friends and neighbors.

Phillippe Builders, Local Property Managers Earn Industry Accolades

When shopping for just about everything, from new kitchen appliances to cars and even hotel rooms, the Internet has become a great place to do your homework. Not only can you check local availability and competitive prices, you can also gain valuable insight from other consumers like yoursel…

President Obama Answers #MY2k Question on Deductions for Home Owners

With Congress reviewing various measures to deal with the so-called fiscal cliff by the end of the month, one that some members are backing – and the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles Committee recommends – is the loss or reduction of mortgage interest tax deductions.

Home Energy Efficiency is Good for the Environment and Your Wallet

There’s no doubt that the choices we make and the products we buy test our commitment to maintain a healthy planet. When it comes to our homes, we burn fossil fuels for heating, cooling and lighting.

The Window of Opportunity is Wide Open

By year-end, Fannie Mae economists expect home sales to increase approximately 9% from last year’s levels, reaching an estimated 4.98 million units.

Life Changes and Affordability

There’s no doubt that more and more people who were waiting for just the right time are ready to buy a home.

Establishing Roots

For the majority of us, owning a home is much more than investing in property – it’s about investing in our selves, our families and our communities.

More Home for Your Money

History demonstrates that housing recovery = economic recovery. You can’t have one without the other, and that’s precisely why numbers are constantly being reported and analyzed.

Local Business Collaboration Earns National Recognition

As long as he can remember, Michael Belzowski has had a passion for woodworking.

Making a Difference One Home at a Time

Since building the Gem, the first National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) Emerald-Certified House in the state, Treasure Homes Inc. continues to be a green building leader in northwest Indiana.

ReStore Stocks Up with Generous Schilling Donation

Following a new home dedication on Thursday, Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Indiana is hosting their annual “Building Hope One Step at a Time” 5K Walk/Run at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point today.

Homeownership Makes a Comeback

According to the Associated Press, a new snapshot of census data released Thursday further supports what economic indicators were already suggesting - that the nation is in a tentative, fragile recovery.

Sealing the Deal on the Home of Your Dreams

My mother had a busy summer. She found a new home she wanted to purchase, listed her existing house for sale and sold it to the first people who walked through the door.

Celebrating 93 Years of Tradition in Lowell

First organized in 1919 by the American Legion as a welcome home tribute for World War I veterans, the Lowell Labor Day Parade honors the American work ethic.

New Mindset for Buyers and Sellers as Seasons Change

For those of us with school-age children and young adults, summer came to a screeching halt over the course of the last couple weeks.

Zillow Names 3 NWI Communities as Top Sellers’ Markets in Chicagoland

When it comes to gathering information on real estate, there are dozens of resources on the internet. In fact, if you type in your own address, you may just learn a few things about your personal property. . . and then take a peek at your neighbors, a few friends and relatives, some co-worke…

Simple home improvements are easy on your budget

In keeping with the growing post-recession trend of doing more with less, homeowners are on the lookout for fresh, low-cost alternatives when it comes to revitalizing their homes.

Reports on Housing Market Upbeat

Like the temperatures outside this summer, the housing market has been heating up.

Honoring History, Whiting has an Eye on the Future

From the hilarity that ensues during the International Polka Parade with a precision lawn-mower drill team, twirling babushka brigade and the reigning Pierogi queen to a cast of walking, talking pastries (Mr. Pierogi, Ms. Paczki, the Halupki guy), singing, dancing dumplings (the Pieroguettes…

Annual Air Show Leads the Way for Positive Change in Gary

As one of the nation’s top over-water shows, Gary’s 13th Annual South Shore Air Show wowed an estimated 600,000 spectators who traveled from near and far to enjoy the view from Marquette Park overlooking Lake Michigan and Chicago’s skyline.

WARNING! Scammers Using Homes for Sale to Rip Off Renters

A quick search of the internet confirms that what’s happening in northwest Indiana now has been going on around the country for quite some time.

Understanding Reverse Mortgages Key to Unlocking Financial Benefits

Last week the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a detailed a report on the growing market for reverse mortgages.

Living the Dream

How are you planning to celebrate the anniversary of the day our country’s founding fathers declared independence with the hope of a brighter and more prosperous future for all Americans?

Moving Beyond Energy Efficiency to Sustainability

For more than a decade, the green-building movement has been gaining momentum based on one simple fact – when you reduce the consumption of energy in your home, you save money.

Crown Point Rolls Out the Red Carpet

New this year, the Crossroads Regional Chamber of Commerce is hosting “Hometown Festival Days” in downtown Crown Point featuring a fun-filled mix of special events along with a few new twists!

The Value of a Local Expert

No matter what business you’re in, prompt, friendly service that’s honest and thorough is the best way to consistently achieve great results.

A Green Future Starts at Home

Buying a home involves a number of important decisions. For many people, the biggest decision of all, the one with the most impact on the entire process, is the choice between an existing home and one built from the ground up.

Front and Center, Indiana REALTORS® Answer the Call

Last week 13,800 REALTORS® from across the country created a sea of blue in Washington, DC as they donned blue t-shirts for a rally to protect the American dream of home ownership. By the luck of a draw, Indiana was dead center, right in front of the stage.