Important breaking news coming soon

Watch here and our Facebook page for news in the next few weeks! 

Twitter List Research - Home Builders

I am trying to build a twitter list for home builders and home building related entities (feel free to follow that list too), if you are a home builder or related entity please leave your twitter profile in the comments here or send me an @ reply to either @daltonsbriefs my primary profile or @greenpointe for Green Pointe Homes.

The list will top out at 500, since that's all twitter will let you list, and then I'll have to start a second one like I've done for realestate and northwest indiana.

One last question for those that happen across this post, is there a single hashtag being used for home builder related posts these days?

How to build a home Part One

This begins a series I've postponed a couple time, but really need to get started. I'm sure comments and additional thoughts will cause some revisions along the way.

How to build a home Part One - Location, Location, Location

It seems so cliched to say, and yet from the perspective of building a new home, in any part of the country, but especially here in Northwest Indiana the key is where? You may already be disagreeing with me and wanting to talk budget or investments or financing first. But alas I'm writing the series and I can tell you that LOCATION is KING!

What school system
What kind of neighborhood
Sidewalks or rural roads
Manicured lawns or Acres and Privacy
Neighbors for that next block party or perhaps trees so you can't see anyone
In the city with utilities
In the county with well and septic

These are key questions that predate budget or financing truthfully. All of them have corresponding pluses and minuses that have to do with who you are, and how your family lives now and wants to live the future. Perhaps you can drive the streets of your area and choose that perfect spot easily ... or is it a bit more difficult and you need another set of eyes? I have often done the "DRIVING and DREAMING" Tour with potential homebuyers and it can be extremely revealing.

This brings then to center stage the need for good maps and driving directions and background information on all those communities in your area that have available homesites. And that is our project right here on this site for this month. We will be posting one at a time maps and detailed information on each community in Lake, LaPorte and Porter County that we know of that have available lots. We'll even be available to help if you want ideas.

Steve
Green Pointe Homes

What mortgage rate can I get today?

An update from First Financial Trust Mortgage

Valparaiso Mortgage Rates

I had a customer ask me to post an update on where the mortgage rates are priced right now, so here is that post:

Going into last week mortgage interest rates were rocking up and down between 5% and 5.25% for 30 year fixed rate mortgages, best to state in Indiana since some companies price higher in Illinois and Michigan. Indiana property values have leveled off and we get better pricing than surrounding states. That's good news!

In the middle of last week mortgage rates began a climb upwards toward and over 5.5% for 30 years fixed. Some experts are even suggesting rates will go higher tomorrow after the Federal Reserve stops buying mortgage bonds in support of pricing as they have done for the last 16 months.

When should I cut my yard this year?

If you have this kind of question, and so do I, I've been checking out Life and Lawn tips.

We will be putting in the yard at our model in Keystone Commons in Valparaiso in about a month, unless Allyn tells me to hold off until May ... we'd love to show you through the model if you're interested in building.

Give me a call anytime 219-465-8352.

We pay real estate agents

For years home builders and real estate agents have had a love/hate relationship, perhaps even more hate than love. Here's our written policy on paying real estate agents:

• You must be licensed in the State of Indiana
• You must register your client with us, email or fax or even tweet, but let us know who you are working with to eliminate confusion
• We will pay you 3% for introducing us to a customer that buys a home within one year of the introduction. You introduce, and are welcome to join as many meetings as you want during the process, but are not required to do any more than register.

For active real estate professionals and online marketers we also have the Green Pointe VIP Program:

• Increased commissions for licensed agents who introduce us to multiple clients
• Cross marketing opportunities using our online resources in collaboration with yours
• Training and coaching opportunities for social media, new media synergies
• For those with real estate licenses in escrow, we have a legal referral program as well
• For licensed mortgage bankers, brokers, insurance agents, financial planners we also build custom referral programs that work for your clients and meet requirement of the State of Indiana.
  

Call Steve Dalton, 219-465-8352 or feel free to Email Steve

How to choose a listing agent

Northwest Indiana Mortgages - FHA VA and Conventional loans: Real Estate Pros in NW Indiana