1385 Trescott Drive

Westfield, IN 46074

Price: $349,900
www.tourfactory.com/480334

Estridge Community: Centennial in Westfield – decorated model located off of Ditch Road, north of 146^th Street.

Learn more about Irvington Collection homes in Centennial

View the 941 Irvington Collection home design

Featured Estridge Home Highlights:

• 4 bedrooms, 3 baths + private office
• Finished lower level includes full bath and 2 bedrooms
• Lots of light with 10’ ceilings and oversized windows
• Gorgeous kitchen – designer staggered cabinets, stainless steel appliances, granite island
• Open great room features fireplace with custom crafted mantel
• Skylights in entry and dining room
• Luxurious master with tray ceiling, garden bath and spacious organized walk-in closet
• Screened porch off breakfast nook
• Incredible neighborhood amenities: bark park, community garden, miles of walking trails, swimming pool, tennis and volleyball courts, sledding hill and much more!

View Photo Tour of this luxury new home





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1275 Balsam Fir Pass
Avon, IN 46123

$315,000

BLC#2905108
www.tourfactory.com/471710

Estridge Community: Whispering Pines in Avon, located off of CR625, 2 miles south of Rockville Road.

Featured Estridge Home Highlights:

• 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths + loft
• Finished lower level with 9’ ceilings
• Over 3700 square feet of finished living space
• Designer kitchen with staggered height cabinets and solid surface countertops
• Open great room features fireplace with custom crafted mantel
• Hardwood flooring
• Luxurious master suite with cathedral ceiling and garden bath
• 3-car tandem garage
• Large treated wood deck provides great outdoor living space! 

Learn more about this Estridge 627 Whispering Pines Collection home design

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New 2-story Estridge Home in Anderson Hall

13714 Heatherfield Drive

Fishers, Indiana 46038

$315,000

BLC: 2903048

www.tourfactory.com/477981

New Estridge Orchard Collection Home Features:

-          4 bedrooms, 2 baths, unfinished lower level

-          Gorgeous brick front home with pillars and two dormers

-          Open main level with large harvest room, generous great room with distinctive stone fireplace and arched opening

-          Designer kitchen features stainless steel appliances, solid surface countertops, walk-in pantry, breakfast bar island

-          Organized family foyer with storage cubes, boot bench, coat hooks and PDA Pantry

-          Tray ceiling highlights luxurious master suite

-          Computer niche and built-in bookshelves on upper level landing

-          Unfinished lower level has 9’ ceilings and bath rough-in

View Ramsey home design and floorplan.

View photo tour of this home

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1326 Middlebury Drive

Westfield, IN 46074

Price: $189,900

BLC: 2869167
www.tourfactory.com/409258

Estridge Community: Centennial in Westfield – decorated model located off of Ditch Road, south of 156^th Street.

View Photo Tour of this luxury new home

Learn more about Lockerbie Townhomes at Centennial

Featured Estridge Townhome Highlights:

• 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
• Elegant 2-story entry
• Private back patio off of family room
• Large dining room
• Gas fireplace in living room
• Upper level laundry
• 9’ ceilings on both levels
• Oversized windows
• Incredible neighborhood amenities: bark park, community garden, miles of walking trails, swimming pool, tennis and volleyball courts, sledding hill and much more!

View all Indianapolis Townhome designs by Estridge

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Professionally Decorated Estridge Custom Galleries Home

The Bridgewater Club

15610 Bethpage Trail

Carmel, IN 46033

BLC: 2861581

$695,000

www.tourfactory.com/477832

• Estridge Custom Galleries model home in The Bridgewater Parks
• Low Maintenance Living
• Main level master custom home design
• English cottage exterior style
• 4 bedrooms, 4 baths
• 3-car Garage
• Main level guest bedroom
• Gorgeous kitchen with granite countertops and stainless KitchenAid® appliances
• Finished lower level with billiard area, wet bar, wine chiller, and full bath

View photo tour of this luxury home

Featured Estridge Available Home - Jan. 14, 2009

8518 Seafield Drive

Brownsburg, IN 46112

Price: $289,900

BLC: 2864266
www.tourfactory.com/403643

Estridge Community: Highland Green in Brownsburg, located off of SR267, 2 miles north of I-74.

View Photo Tour of this luxury new home

Learn more about Highland Green Collection homes

Featured Estridge Home Highlights:

• 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
• Over 2600 square feet of finished living space + unfinished lower level
• Private homesite with mature trees
• Gorgeous kitchen with granite countertops, hardwood floors and quality Whirlpool® appliances
• Breakfast nook opens to sunny family room with fireplace
• Elegant formal living and dining rooms with arched entries and detailed columns
• Luxurious master suite with garden tub, separate shower and walk-in closet organized with laminate wood shelving
• 2-story foyer welcomes guests

View More Photos of this luxury home: http://www.tourfactory.com/403643

Learn more about Highland Green

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Optimism about the Indianapolis Real Estate industry is spreading throughout the media. Below is an article from wthr.com that further details the current sentiment in the real estate industry discussed in yesterday's Estridge blog post, Predictions prove positive for Indianapolis Real Estate in 2009.

Updated: Jan 9, 2009 09:29 AM EST

Lynsay Clutter/ Eyewitness News

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?s=9644610

Indianapolis- The housing market is hurting across the country, but there is hope here in Indiana, with signs of improvement.

Foreclosure rates began to plateau at the end of the third quarter, and housing inventory is starting to decrease, leading local realtors to believe the market is on its way to correcting itself.

It is a hopeful sign, but it's going to be a long road.

In the 9 Counties of Central Indiana, Colliers Turley Martin Tucker's reports, home closings fell 11% in 2008, the average home price fell 5% and building permits fell 37%.

Foreclosures helped contribute to the problem by flooding the market with inventory. Indiana ranked 6th highest in the nation with 30,800 mortgages in foreclosure.

The Indiana Builders Association says high home inventory and falling home values are at the core of the current economic crisis.

With no demand in the market, at least two local builders, Gunstra and Davis Homes, recently closed their doors.

"Home builders create a lot of jobs going to and from the job every day, and also the ripple effect. Someone who buys a new home, buys furniture at the furniture stores, appliances and the appliance stores, and draperies, and everything that goes into a new house. That all helps stimulate the economy and create jobs for folks around the state of Indiana," said Rick Wadja, Indiana Home Builders Association.

Wadja was in Washington DC Wednesday asking Indiana's local delegation for help. Builders want a package of subsidies included in Obama's Economic Stimulus that would bring mortgage rates to just under 3% for the first half of the year.

Optimism is the overwhelming attribute you’ll find when speaking with anyone in Indianapolis Real Estate. At Estridge, a strong finish to 2008 with increased activity in December from both future homeowners and real estate partners has led to lots of excitement and activity in our neighborhoods. We are beginning 2009 starting a lot of luxury home building around Indianapolis and that activity is breeding even more.

Incredible interest rates are helping build consumer confidence and a steady decrease in Central Indiana housing inventory throughout 2008 suggests a correction of local housing. While Indiana’s market was never affected as severely as most of the nation’s, all of the excitement is creating a stronger optimistic outlook throughout the industry than was experienced at the beginning of 2008.

In the FC Tucker 2008 market analysis, James Litten, president of F.C. Tucker Company’s Residential Real Estate Services Division stated, “I believe efforts to reform the nation’s lending practices will strengthen consumer confidence in 2009. Moreover, Central Indiana continues to have a strong economic base of business activity and one of the steadiest real estate markets in the nation. I am optimistic that we’ll see improvement in 2009.”

According to panelists from Indiana University’s annual business outlook, Indianapolis should see more positive numbers for Indianapolis in the fourth quarter. Our market could rebound more quickly than other U.S. cities, primarily due to our nationally recognized affordability.

We are definitely looking forward to 2009 – how about you? What have you experienced lately?

Read more from the 2008 market analysis.

View all Estridge homes for sale on Estridge.com.

3785 Stonington PL
Zionsville, IN 46077
Price: $435,000
BLC: 2822907
www.tourfactory.com/443688

Estridge Community: Reserve at Rock Bridge in Zionsville, located off of CR400, west of CR875.

View Photo Tour of this luxury new home

Learn more about this Estridge 735 Meridian Collection home design

Featured Estridge Home Highlights:

• 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths + bonus room
• Large finished lower level
• Extensive custom detailing throughout lower level
• Designer kitchen with gas cooktop, double ovens and granite countertops
• Hardwood flooring
• Dual-sided fireplace with built-in shelving surrounding
• Luxurious master suite with garden tub, ceramic tile and spacious, organized walk-in closet
• Elegant brick home with arched front windows
• 3-car side-load garage 

View More Photos of this new Estridge home in Zionsville.

View all new Zionsville Real Estate by Estridge - Home Builders in Indiana.

View all Estridge homes on Estridge.com.

1015 Palomar Drive
Westfield, IN 46074
$495,000
BLC: 2863942

Estridge Community: Centennial at 146^th Street, model located off of 146^th Street east of Ditch Road

View Photo Tour of this luxury ranch home design

Learn more about this Estridge 760 Meridian Collection home design

Feature Home Highlights:

• Gorgeous pond homesite
• 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath ranch new home
• Stunning kitchen with cherry cabinets, granite countertops, and a double oven
• Dual-sided fireplace between hearth room and great room
• 10’ ceilings throughout
• Luxurious master suite with 2 large walk-in closets and a feature garden tub
• Separate dining room and study
• Large deck and professional landscaping overlook the pond
• 3-car side-load garage
• Basement 

View all new Indianapolis Real Estate by Estridge.

Below is an excellent blog post from IDEA ONE MEDIA. While the post is speaking directly to new home consultants, it is entirely relevant to anyone employed by residential builders or involved in the Indianapolis Real Estate market.

2009 Housing Market: Reasons for Optimisim

December 4, 2008

I have been asked at several developer meetings lately if I am optimistic about the housing market in 2009. I tell them I am. They look at me with disbelief. “Why?”

Here’s why: because I choose to be.

I choose to be because being pessimistic has never put more money in my pocket.

I choose to because being positive about anything adds years to my life and being pessimistic takes years away.

I am because it takes too much energy to feel fear, worry, stress and defeat.

I am because I believe there is more within our control than we are actually taking responsibility for.

Being optimistic is not the same as being naive, or walking through the world with my head in the clouds. It’s a choice. But it’s rooted in something else as well: in 2008 we were liberated as an industry.

Read the complete article

11487 Golden Willow Circle

Zionsville, Indiana 46077

$669,900

BLC: 2816474

Estridge Community: The Willows in Zionsville, model located off of 146^th Street, west of Michigan Road

View Photo Tour of this custom home design

Learn more about the Renaissance Gallery of Custom Home Designs by Estridge Custom Galleries

Feature Luxury New Home Highlights:

• 4br, 3.5 baths, full finished lower level, 3-car side-entry garage
• Incredible Homesite overlooking Eagle Lake!
• Covered porch walks out to aggregate patio on lakefront homesite
• Generous windows throughout create incredible natural light
• Main level master suite
• Soft white designer cabinets and granite countertops, plus KitchenAid appliances create a beautiful kitchen
• Open living area with built-in shelving and fireplace
• Formal dining room
• Finished lower level with wet bar, home theatre room and rec room

Learn more about Estridge Custom Galleries, Luxury Home Builders in Indiana since 1967

With such a stream of disappointing news from the media, it is exciting to see reporting on opportunity and positive growth within the real estate industry. 
 

The recent article from the Associated Press, Number of first-time home buyers is increasing, details a growing market for Indiana home builders and real estate professionals. According to the article, the number of first time home buyers rose to 2% to 41% of all 2007 real estate transactions. Low interest rates, expanded choice and the flexibility of first time home buyers create a great market opportunity for Indianapolis townhomes and Indianapolis real estate in general.

Strengthening the confidence and knowledge of first-time home buyers, especially during a time when the media is creating doubt abouttheir investment decision, while providing outstanding service, will help develop a long term relationship with these new homeowners.

Read the full article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27631021/

Number of first-time home buyers is increasing

Survey shows they are taking advantage of falling prices, interest rates

The Associated Press

updated 2:36 p.m. ET, Sun., Nov. 9, 2008

MyEstridgeHome.com gives every new Estridge homeowner their own personal website that they can use to share their building experience with friends and family. People considering a new Estridge home can also search homeowner photos to find ideas and see the behind-the-scenes quality of every Estridge home.

Carmel, IN October 27, 2008 – The Estridge Companies creates MyEstridgeHome.com to make it easier for homeowners to show their new home to friends and family. Each Estridge homeowner gets their own website where they can upload and share pictures of their home during construction. As photos are added the site is automatically updated to show the home’s progress. Their friends and family simply need to visit their website to see the new pictures.

“Homeowners visit the construction sites every day to watch the progress of their new home. We wanted to give them a tool to share this with their friends and family. It’s also a great tool for the Estridge team to show progress of the home construction to homeowners who are moving from out of town.” – Scott Comer, Vice President of Internal Operations

In addition to individual homeowner websites, MyEstridgeHome.com also provides the ability to search and view photos uploaded by Estridge and Estridge homeowners. This gives visitors the opportunity to see many different Estridge homes and designs, as well as see homes under construction, which isn’t often available to the public.

“MyEstridgeHome is a great tool for our homeowners, as well as those looking for a new home or even decorating ideas. With so many homebuyers beginning their search online, our goal is provide as much information as possible. Often homeowners don’t have a lot of exposure to new homes under construction, except in the neighborhoods. Our website gives them the opportunity to see the home designs at all stages – from construction to complete and fully decorated.” – Mary Catharine Grau, Director of Marketing

On MyEstridgeHome.com, web users can find over 700 pictures of Estridge model homes, homes under construction and homes available now, and more photos are added for every home that is built.

For additional information about Estridge Homes or MyEstridgeHome.com, contact Mary Catharine Grau or visit Estridge.com.

About Estridge:

The Estridge Companies is comprised of a family of companies with the sole focus of building the finest homes and neighborhoods in the Indianapolis area. Estridge was started in 1967 as a custom home builder and has built over 7,000 homes in the past 40 years. Estridge currently

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- InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report

- Source: F.C. Tucker Co.

Article Highlights:

-          18,393 homes for sale in Indianapolis – September 2008

-          20,943 homes for sale in Indianapolis – September 2007

-          Overall, September 2008 home sales nearly equal to September 2007.

-          Year to date sales are 11% lower than 2007

-          Six Counties with Positive Growth over 2007

1.       Boone County: 41.9% increase in single family homes and condos

2.       Shelby County: 15% increase

3.       Morgan County: 12.3% increase

4.       Johnson County: 7.9% increase

5.       Hamilton County: 2.5% increase

6.       Marion County: 2.0% increase

-          Days to sell a home:

o        Hamilton County leads with 83 days

o        Average days on the market is 93, 6.9% increase over 2007

Read the full article:

http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=32019

The Estridge Companies recently partnered with URBaCS to create unique photo sharing websites for all new Estridge homeowners. This program provides each homeowner with a customized url, such as www.MyEstridgeHome.com/clarkfamily, and allow the homeowner and the Estridge team to chronicle the building of their new home through photography - from signing, to selections at HOMExperience, to framing and well beyond when the new homeowner moves in. The website also displays the Estridge home design and Estridge community of that homeowner, so friends and family can see where they will live.

URBaCS also formed a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to create a referral program for Estridge homeowners. Through their personal website, homeowners can invite friends and family to visit an Estridge neighborhood. When they do so, $10 will be contributed to Habitat on behalf of that family. What a great way to do some good and promote referrals!

Learn more about the URBaCS and Estridge partnership.

Visit www.MyEstridgeHome.com and find a gallery full of decorated Estridge models, new home designs, Estridge neighborhoods, home décor and furnishings and more.

Below is an interesting article about general real estate and home design trends for 2008. The post was written for the Northern Virginia Real Estate Market, but much of it is relevant to Indianapolis Real Estate as well.

What real estate trends have you seen this year?

Real Estate Trends of 2008

- Published by Julia, Keller Williams Realty

Real Estate Trends for the American market in the year 2008 are being influenced by factors such as individual income levels and location from work places. The market is expected to perform moderately well than 2007 or 2006 in activity with several slow downs expected now and then in the course of the year.

Financial institutions are expected to offer attractive home ownership incentives to capitalize on the expected demand for owner-occupier homes in their lending terms such as fixed rate mortgages, low or affordable and stable interest rates, etc.

Existing real estate costs are not expected to change significantly in 2008 in either way, up or down. But prices will vary from place to place putting into consideration other informing relevant factors. Rates for fixed mortgages are expected at around 6.6%.

For new home owners, emphasis is on appearance, quality, convenience, nearness to work places and entertainment centers, etc. The emerging trend is that Americans want more automated or smart homes with the smartest appliances for the home to boot.

Preference is for remotely operated consoles and less bulky house items. Large space, more ambience and elegance in home decor and furnishings is the preference.

The actual real estate trends in terms of distance from work dictate that due to the rising costs of oil and fuel that impact on other costs, the working class would increasingly prefer to live nearer their working places or downtown areas to reduce the commute distances.

Americans have taken the “green environment bug” concern seriously, since many more home owners are demanding for homes that are built with eco-friendly materials. Urban areas are expected to sustain their attractiveness for new real estate but due to higher purchase costs of property and land in these areas, the trend by contractors is to move further away from these established places and construct new homes that are more affordable.

Another interesting real estate trend refers to the large baby boomer generation which is increasingly moving back to the cities. This is after they realize that they don’t need as large spaces as before when their children were still living with them. They would rather live in smaller spaces in the cities with more conveniences.

The real estate trend in terms of “property search and find” seems to be going more and more online for both buyers and sellers. Thus the use of brokerage firms and agents is expected to reduce more into the future.

http://www.northern-virginia-real-estate-guide.com/blog/2008/09/06/real-estate-trends-of-2008/

View all Estridge LIVE free homes at www.YouLiveFree.info.
 

14178 Murphy Circle

Carmel, Indiana 46032

$479,000

BLC: 28437973

Estridge Community: Lincolnshire, model located off of 141^st Street, east of Towne Road

View Photo Tour of this Townhome

Learn more about this Estridge home design

Feature Luxury New Home Highlights:

• 4br, 3 full ba, 2 half ba, full finished lower level, 3-car side-entry garage
• Gorgeous kitchen with ceramic backsplash and microwave / wall oven combination
• Hardwood flooring
• 2-story fireplace with stone hearth
• Extra large 2-story family room
• Separate dining and living rooms, plus den with custome home features like trim detailing
• Luxurious master suite with huge bath and organized walk-in closet
• Maintenance-free deck overlooks fully sodded homesite
• Completed Neighborhood Amenities: swimming pool, playground and picnic area
  
  
  

Photo Gallery of 14178 Murphy Circle:









  

View all new Indianapolis Real Estate by Estridge.

Learn more about Estridge, Indiana Home Builders.

Below is an article from adotas.com, an internet advertising news website, discussing the trend in the real estate market towards finding a new home online.

Estridge has experienced a significant increase in homeowners who do a great deal of research about Indianapolis Home Builders and even find their new home online before visiting it in person. Tools such as excellent photography, detailed information about the home and area, good maps, and a variety of home buying resources assist homeowners are among the most popular on Estridge.com. What do your clients find most helpful for their online home buying research?

http://www.adotas.com/2008/08/online-real-estate-market-increases-15-fold/

Online Real-Estate Market Increases 15-Fold

August 13 2008, By Kathleen

ADOTAS – Home buyers are turning to the Internet to find the homes they eventually bought, according to a study from ForSaleByOwner.com.

From 1997-2007, the real estate marketplace has seen a 15-fold increase in buyers who found the home they purchased on the Internet. During the same period, there has been a 32% drop in buyers who found the home they purchased because a real estate agent told them about the property.

“With millions of online real estate searches done monthly, it’s no surprise that the Internet is so effective at helping people find their ideal home, condo or vacation property,” said Greg Healy, VP of operations. “This data, which comes from the National Association of Realtors, provides more evidence that real estate consumers are very successful in finding homes on their own.”

From Inside Indiana Business, 8/13/08

A new report from F.C. Tucker Company shows Madison and Boone counties posted increased home sales for July 2008. Madison County recorded an 11.8 percent jump, while Boone County sales increased six percent, compared to the same month last year. F.C. Tucker says overall home sales in Central Indiana's nine county area are down 8.9 percent compared to July 2007 and 13.1 percent year to date.

Housing inventory in central Indiana continued to drop in July with 19,335 homes on the market in the nine-county region, 1,534 fewer homes than in July 2007 – a 7.4 percent decrease overall in inventory. Madison County’s inventory led the monthly decline with a 12.4 percent decline. Marion County’s inventory also declined in double digits with a 10.7 decrease this month.

The nine-county average sales price was $146,572, overall 5 percent lower compared to the same time last year. However, two counties, Boone and Hamilton, are within one percent of the same average sales price as last year, and three other counties, Madison, Morgan and Shelby, are within two percent of the average sales price from the same time last year.

“While the central Indiana real estate market continues to stabilize and even improve in a couple of submarkets, home buyers are still in a good position to find an affordably priced house throughout the Indianapolis area,” said H. James Litten, president of F.C. Tucker Company’s Residential Real Estate Services Division. “Sellers, too, should be encouraged by the fact that central Indiana homes are maintaining their value, and buyers are paying on average 95 percent of the sellers’ asking prices in central Indiana.”

Overall, home sales in the nine-county area are down 8.9 percent compared to July 2007, and 13.1 percent for the year to date.

Litten said, “The recent passage of the housing stimulus bill should help with our real estate market recovery and greatly benefit first-time home buyers with the $7,500 tax credit.”

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) predicts 2.5 million first-time buyers in the market because of the tax credit, which could increase home sales nationally by 7 percent.

View all Indianapolis Real Estate by Estridge