Real-Estate Investing: the Best and Worst Markets

Aug. 21, 2010- Looking to snap up some investment properties on the cheap? You may want to consider Durham, N.C., Indianapolis and Huntsville, Ala. They are among the best places to invest now, according to a new report that ranks the best and worst markets for conservative residential-real-estate investors. Hard-hit Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla., are among the riskiest.

Local Market Monitor Inc., a Cary, N.C., firm that analyzes real-estate trends for lenders, builders and investors, compiled its first Investor Suitability Report using economic data through July 31 for 315 U.S. markets. The firm is best known for its housing-market forecasts, which use "equilibrium" home prices: what home values should be in relation to incomes, job growth and population. In its new report, it uses similar data to rank communities by their investment prospects, focusing on single-family homes.

Regions that rank highly for investment suitability are those where there is a low probability that home prices will fall further, says Local Market Monitor President Ingo Winzer. They are places where income is growing moderately; where employment is relatively stable because of a large percentage of jobs in health care, education or government; and where a relatively small share of jobs is in construction or financial services, which have been volatile. (Job losses in government and education tend to come later in an economic cycle, so some areas could be hit harder in coming months.)

The report, which excludes towns with fewer than 200,000 residents, focuses on price-appreciation potential instead of rental income, since falling home prices usually result in higher vacancy rates in apartment buildings and lower rents overall, Mr. Winzer says.

Good markets for conservative investors are those that already have stabilized and should yield average returns, Mr. Winzer says. Dangerous markets probably will see further price declines and have little potential for a turnaround because of poor local economies.

So-called speculative markets, by contrast, are those where prices could fall further, but which also have potential for greater appreciation of 3% to 5% annually after bottoming out—making them more suitable for investors with stronger stomachs. Local Market Monitor identifies Hagerstown, Md.; Jacksonville and Port St. Lucie, Fla.; Modesto, Calif.; and Myrtle Beach, S.C. as speculative areas.

In the best markets, home prices already are stabilizing. Durham, N.C., for instance, is home to Duke University and is near the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Big companies like International Business Machines Corp., GlaxoSmithKline PLC and Nortel Networks Corp., as well as numerous biotech start-ups, have facilities at the nearby Research Triangle Corporate Park. About 40% of area jobs are in health, education or government, according to Local Market Monitor.

Haywood Davis, owner of a Century 21 real-estate brokerage in Durham, says home-sales volume in the area increased 13% last month over July 2009, though prices rose only slightly.

Some other metro areas with large percentages of relatively stable jobs and moderate growth include Knoxville, Tenn.; Lexington, Ky.; and Indianapolis.

Jason Moore, a 34-year-old auto-sales manager in Baltimore, took advantage of plunging home prices in his hometown of Indianapolis to snap up an investment property there—a brand-new four-bedroom, two-bath home—for $56,000 late in 2008.

Prices in Indianapolis were falling because of foreclosures and rising unemployment. Disappointed with their stock-market investments, Mr. Moore and his wife, Keisha, 32, decided to buy an investment property to add to their portfolio. The Indiana house is generating a positive cash flow of about $300 a month in rent after mortgage, insurance, taxes and fees, he says.

"It has been adding income, and the tax benefit has been helpful," Mr. Moore says. Read the entire article here. 

Learn more about Estridge, the hometown homebuilder since 1967, here.

In this story from IBJ.com's Norm Heikens, high-end homes are rebounding in the Indianapolis area, good news for central Indiana homeowners looking to build a new high-end home. Learn more about Estridge Custom Galleries, founded in 1994 to provide custom designed homes in distinct neighborhoods from around $500,000 to over $1 million, here.

High-end home market hits foreclosure lull - Norm Heikens for IBJ.com

July 24, 2010 - Until this year, Indiana’s foreclosure epidemic knew no demographic boundaries. Über-expensive homes, those priced at $1 million or more, skidded into foreclosure right alongside starter houses in the most notorious vinyl villages.

But suddenly that’s changed. Since March, not a single foreclosure on a house priced at $1 million or more has been filed in the Indianapolis area—a possible sign of better times ahead in a niche where selling prices are down 20 percent or more from their peak in 2005 and 2006.

The pullback follows more than 60 filings in the segment in the past two years, according to RealtyTrac, an Irvine, Calif., firm that tracks default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions.

Overall, foreclosure filings are on the upswing in the Indianapolis area, rising 22 percent, to nearly 20,000, in the 12 months that ended in May.

Just about everyone but prospective buyers wishes the blight would go away.

Many of the million-dollar homes ending up in foreclosure were owned by executives who found themselves unable to pay mortgages after losing jobs or businesses, or going through a divorce or suffering health problems.

Others were owned by contractors who built on speculation and then saw demand for mansions vanish almost overnight as the economy skidded into recession. Read Norm Heikens' entire IBJ.com article here.

Learn more about Estridge, central Indiana's premiere custom homebuilder, here. Learn more about Estridge Custom Galleries, founded in 1994 to provide custom designed homes in distinct neighborhoods from around $500,000 to over $1 million, here.

Check out BuilderOnline's take on Symphony, one of the largest developments ever in Indiana, an Estridge project currently in the zoning phase with the city of Westfield, Ind. Read a portion below, or the entire article here.

Estridge Moves Forward With $1.2 Billion TND; With 1,400 acres and more than 3,800 homes, Symphony is one of the largest developments ever in Indiana. - Alison Rice

July 22, 2010 - The housing downturn hasn’t curtailed the Estridge Company’s ambitions. This fall, the Carmel, Ind.,-based company plans to start breaking ground for Symphony, a traditional neighborhood development (TND) north of Indianapolis. At 1,400 acres and 3,860 homes, it will be one of the largest new-home developments ever in Indiana.

But Symphony will be notable for more than its significant size. Composed of a handful of “villages” linked by trails and roads, the $1.2 billion project in Westfield, Ind., will offer buyers and residents the chance to live in a community designed to bring together multiple generations: singles seeking urban density in suburban locations, sports-crazed families with minivans and soccer cleats; and aging seniors in need of continuing care.

“We want to model what new neighborhoods should be,” says Paul Estridge Jr., president of the Estridge Company.

Symphony seeks to accomplish that through an “intergenerational approach” that mixes housing types and prices across the development, rather than the customary “silo-ing” in many new-home developments, where the product offered only appeals to one market segment. Under that model, when housing needs change, buyers must move elsewhere, no matter how much they might love their community.

In the works since 2002, Symphony’s plans have evolved during the downturn. “It’s a blessing, because if we hadn’t have done this during a recession, we would have done [Symphony] on a quicker time frame,” Estridge says. “We would have missed the realization that we needed to be on a different track than we were on.”

“That’s the lesson of the recession,” says Brian Canin of Orlando, Fla., planning firm Canin Associates, which designed Symphony. “Before the recession, you could say, ‘I have the luxury of targeting just the $500,000 to $2 million market. Now we have to cater to the very broad spectrum of everyone who needs a house and put the money where it really works.” Read Alison Rice's entire article via BuilderOnline here.

Learn more about Estridge, central Indiana's premiere homebuilder since 1967, here.

In this report from IndyStar.com, the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers has been named to Money magazine's list of best places to live. This Hamilton County Town, which includes the Estridge neighborhoods of Anderson Hall (picture) and Somerset Woods, came in eight on this year's list, good news for homeowners looking to build or buy a home in Fishers.

Fishers ranks 8th in Money's Best Places to Live - Reported by IndyStar.com

July 12, 2010 - Indianapolis' suburb Fishers has been named a second time in the top 10 on Money magazine's list of Best Places to Live.

The Hamilton County town of 69,000 residents came in eighth on this year's list, after being 10th in 2008. The latest list is published in the August issue.

"This Indiana town offers a winning combination of low-cost houses (you can snag a three-bedroom for less than $150,000), easy access to the big city, and good schools," said the magazine's website. "Plus, Fishers is booming. Development abounds and fully 1,600 jobs were created here last year; major employers include Sallie Mae and medical device firm Roche Diagnostics."

The magazine ranked 746 towns with populations between 50,000 and 300,000, narrowing the list based on criteria such as housing prices, schools, safety, health care and diversity. Economic factors, the website said, carried the most sway.

The town's unemployment rate was put at 6.2 percent by the magazine, far below the state and national averages. And Fishers' job growth rate during the past decade, at nearly 41 percent, outpaced the "Best Places" average of 15.71 percent.

"Whether it's as a homeowner or a business, it's a safe place to invest," Fishers town council president Scott Faultless said.

Faultless credited Fishers' economic resilience to a combination of public safety, schools, parks and low taxes.

Fishers also has recently appeared on America's 25 Best Places to Move rankings by Forbes magazine in 2009 and the Best Affordable Suburbs in America list in BusinessWeek magazine in 2010.

"To me, it's a pretty good indicator that the core fundamentals are there for our community," Faultless said. Read the full article from IndyStar.com here.

Learn more about Estridge, central Indiana's premiere builder of custom homes since 1967, here.

The question seems simple: "How do I choose the right homebuilder for my family?"

• Custom Builders
• Production Builders
• Semi-custom Builders
   

In this article from IBJ.com, Scott Olsen reports Estridge Cos. received an infusion of capital, $10M to be exact, which is unusual on two fronts: one, the ability for a homebuilder to raise capital in these tough economic times and two, the source of the investment: Estridge subcontractors.  

Subcontractors come to Estridge's aid with $10M investment - Reported by Scott Olsen for IBJ.com

June 26, 2010 - One of the Indianapolis area’s most formidable homebuilders has received a $10 million investment to help it weather the severe housing downturn.

The infusion into The Estridge Cos. is unusual on two fronts. Few companies in the out-of-favor homebuilding industry are able to raise capital these days. And the source of the Estridge funds wasn’t traditional investors—it was subcontractors that have a long-standing relationship with the custom builder.

Owner Paul Estridge, 52, said the company is in no danger of becoming the latest casualty of the meltdown. Yet he acknowledged the difficulties of securing traditional bank financing at a time many have restricted lending.

“How are you going to raise capital?” he asked. “We’re not a public company; the banks are shut down. What do you do? You go to the people you’ve done business with.”

About 25 investors agreed to chip in from $25,000 to $500,000 in exchange for ownership stakes. Collectively, the subcontractors will own 35 percent of the company.

Estridge, the area’s largest custom builder based on homes constructed, expects to build 250 homes this year ranging in price from $300,000 to more than $1 million.

The launch of its most ambitious project, the proposed Symphony development in Westfield, hinged on the investment, Estridge said.

The public got its chance June 21 to weigh in on the builder’s plans for the nearly $1 billion mixed-use development, which could include a 5,000-seat multipurpose stadium, as well as 3,000 homes, condominiums and apartments. The builder is asking the city to put $70 million into the project to fund roads and sewers, as well as the stadium.

Friday, June 18, HOMExperience by Estridge will host the fourth in a five-series of Friday Night ARTIST Spotlight events. The events, hosted by HOMExperience in Clay Terrace in Carmel, feature local artists and musicians, both performing live throughout the evening. Guests and attendees are encouraged to browse the artwork of the featured artists, while enjoying complimentary cheese, wine, live painting and live music. These events are FREE to the public.

This Friday Night ARTIST Spotlight on June 18 will feature the music of Frank Bradford (www.frankbradfordmusic.com) and painters Beth Forst (www.bethforst.com), Rita Spalding (www.ritaspalding.com) & Donna Shortt (www.dshortt.com).

ABOUT BETH FORST:
Impressionist painter Beth Forst loves the ability to use color as an exciting show stopper. "Pears become more than just fruit," Forst says. "They are allowed to be poetry for the eyes." 

Forst's strong focus on oil painting has opened new doors to her expressions. A gradute of Wayne State College in 1983 with a bachelor of science in Art, Forst creates rich colors of oil, painting melodies for your eyes to enjoy. "Familiar countrysides, trees and flowers that don't fade are poetically rethought through my finesse," Forst says.

Forst works can be enjoyed in Noblesville at Deb's Originals, in Indianapolis at The Hoosier Salon and in Louisville at the Edenside Gallery. She has won numerous awards across the state, including the 2006 Hoosier Salon Merit Award, oil; the 2005 T.C. Steele Great American Paintout, 1st Place oils; and the 2004 Indiana State Fair, 3rd Place and honorable mention, oils.

Learn more about Beth Forst, via her website, here. 

Mark your calendars for these evenings of FREE entertainment:

Friday Night ARTIST Spotlight Schedule:

Friday, June 18
Music: Frank Bradford; Artists: Beth Forst, Rita Spalding & Donna Shortt

Friday, June 25
Music: Frank Bradford; Artists: Rita Spalding, Constance Scopelitis, Laura Appleby & Corrine Hull.

Check back to learn more or become a FAN of HOMExperience on Facebook for updates.

Working with a few hundred new central Indiana homeowners annually, the Design Consultants at the Estridge Design Studio in HOMExperience are often asked about the most popular design features for new Estridge homeowners. This month Tina Dahl, Design Consultant with HOMExperience, focuses on a recently popular design feature: The Simplice Pull Down Faucet.  

This month, the most popular custom design feature amongst Estridge homeowners is the Simplice Pull Down Kitchen Faucet. 

The high arch design of this popular kitchen faucet by Kohler compliments many home decor styles with availability in Polished Chrome, Vibrant Brushed Nickel and Matte Blackas well as provide great functionality in the kitchen. Estridge homeowners appreciate the choice between a spray, an aerated flow and a pause function. Plus, The quiet hose with Kohler ProMotion technology allows 360-degree rotation. As with all Kohler faucets, the Simplice finishes resist corrosion and tarnishing.  

- Tina Dahl, Design Consultant, HOMExperience.

April Estridge Design Studio Feature: Distressed or Scraped Hardwood Flooring
May Estridge Design Studio Feature: Dual HVAC Systems

Thinking about updating your Indianapolis home or building a new home with all new design features? Visit HOMExperience and explore more than 24,000 design features to personalize your new home or gather ideas to update your existing home. For more information on HOMExperience, click here.

• A shock to the wallet: Cracks, discolorations and signs of warping in electrical outlets and cords are bad signs. Look to replace them. Be sure you hire an electrician if you find an outlet that no longer holds a plug. Improperly working outlets, fixtures or light switches can shock hundreds of dollars out of your wallet.
   
• Care for your air: Be sure you regularly change your air filters. Dirty filters cause more than 60 percent of all service calls. Look to change your air filters every month, particularly if shedding pets or kids are present in the home. Kids and pets can be dirty!
   
• Do you feel that draft: Windows and doors are the two biggest losers of cool air in the summer. To prevent this look to weatherproof both your windows and doors. You’ll find a benefit in your bills during both cold and hot weather. Check the seal quality of your doors and windows with a digital thermometer. Be sure to inspect caulking for cracks or distortions.
   
• Leaky toilets and faucets leak money: Fix that drip – it could save hundreds of dollars annually on your utility statement. Call a plumber if you find you’re up a leaky creek without a paddle.
   
• Be bold concerning mold: Make sure the caulking in your bathroom is secure and not cracked or damaged. Water penetration, which leads to mold and other issues, can be prevented if the subsurface, typically drywall, remains dry. Additionally, you can avoid replacement of fixtures if the surface, typically tile, is kept watertight.
   
• Leaky roofs lead to lighter wallets: Just because you have a leak doesn’t mean you have to replace the whole roof. But you should avoid a bucket -- a small leak can cause dozens of issues, turning into a major and expensive fiasco. Call a roofer and be crystal clear you are looking to repair the single leak, not replace the entire roof.
   
• Juice up that pump: Be sure you monitor your sump pump. Charge or change the batteries regularly. You may need to update the pump itself every few years. Water in the basement can cause thousands of dollars in damages, plus destroy any personal items in storage.

This coming Friday, June 11, HOMExperience by Estridge will host the third in their five-series of Friday Night ARTIST Spotlight events. The events, hosted in Clay Terrace in Carmel, feature local central Indiana artists and musicians, both performing live throughout the evening. Guests and attendees are encouraged to browse the artwork of the featured artists, while enjoying complimentary cheese, wine, live painting and live music. Each event is FREE to the public.

This Friday Night ARTIST Spotlight on June 11 will feature artists Forrest Formsma (www.forrestformsma.com) and Susan Mauck, along with the music of Shane Rodimel (www.shanerodimel.com).

About Forrest Formsma:

Creating art has been Forrest Formsma's passion his entire life. After completing his BFA and MA at Miami University of Ohio, Forrest taught all genres of art at the high school level. But he always knew he would turn to creating art as his carreer.

Now a dedicated full-time artist, Forrest's style ranges from varying degrees of realism to abstraction. Relying on his intuition and emotion, Forrest uses rich color and texture to capture energy in his oil paintings. A member of both the Hoosier Art Salon and Indiana Plein Air Painters' Association, Forrest paints outside across the great state of Indiana.

Forrest and his paintings can typically be found at his gallery, Forrest Formsma Fine Art, located in the 54th & the Monon Shops or at the Stutz Building, where he shares a space. Forrest has received numerous awards and his works have been collected by public and corporate collections, the Indiana Governor's Mansion in Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Public Library Foundation. Learn more about Forrest and his work here.    

Mark your calendars now for these evenings of FREE entertainment.

Friday Night ARTIST Spotlight Schedule:

Friday, June 11
Music: Shane Rhodimel, www.shanerodimel.com
Artists: Forrest Formsma, Constance Scopelitis

Friday, June 1
Music: Frank Bradford, www.frankbradfordmusic.com
Artists: John Reynolds, Rita Spalding

Friday, June 25
Music: Frank Bradford, www.frankbradfordmusic.com
Artists: Jerry Points, Constance Scopelitis

Check back to learn more or become a Fan of HOMExperience on Facebook for updates. 

HomeLife's Helpful Homeowner Hints for June

Spring and summer present a danger to central Indiana homeowners that often goes overlooked: lightning strikes. Lightning protection systems, or grounding systems, provide direct paths to the ground to help avoid fire and other damage caused by lightning. HomeLife's Helpful Homeowner Hints for May will help you prepare your home for potentially damaging spring weather:

• If lightning is nearby, avoid open areas like fields, isolated trees, water and high ground.
• During a storm, avoid using your home's telephone, unless there's an emergency.
• Consider purchasing a Surge Protector Device (SPD), which diverts any electrical surge to the ground surrounding your home.
• Be sure your surge protector is UL Standard 1449.
• Make sure your protector will protect ALL of the equipment in your home it's meant to protect.
• Don't forget other utility lines leading to your home, such as phone lines or coaxial cable lines for your TV cable or satellite, need to be included in protection.
• Buy a SPD with a warning alarm or light that indicates when it needs to be replaced.
• Look for a SPD with a manufacturer's warranty.
• Invest in an Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) which can detect dangerous arching conditions that could occur in your home's fuse box during a lightning storm. 

Estridge is Indianapolis' hometown builder of premiere homes and neighborhoods. For more information on Estridge, click here.
 
For more information on Estridge's HomeLife Maintenance & Reliability Program, a three-year inspection program designed to identify a check-list of items requiring maintenance, touch-up and repair, click here.

Friday, May 28, HOMExperience by Estridge will host the first in the 5-evening series of Friday Night ARTIST Spotlight events. The events, hosted in Clay Terrace in Carmel, feature local artists and musicians, both performing live throughout the evening. Guests and attendees are encouraged to browse the artwork of the featured artists, while enjoying complimentary cheese, wine, live painting and live music. This is a FREE event to the public.

May 28, the first Friday Night ARTIST Spotlight, will feature musician Eric Baker (bluedorianjazz.com) and painters Rita Spalding (ritaspalding.com) and Diane Lyon (dianelyon.com).

ABOUT RITA SPALDING
Rita Spalding’s paintings have been shown in solo and group exhibitions in galleries and museums around the country, including Indianapolis, Carmel and Zionsville Indiana; Palm Desert, California, Denver, Colorado; Jacksonville and Vero Beach, Florida; Beaufort, South Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina and many more. While her studio is located at Stutz Business Center in Indianapolis, she has traveled the world painting on location. Rita is the recipient of numerous awards and honors from prestigious associations, such as The Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society, Indiana Heritage Arts, the Indiana State Fair Fine Arts Professional Division, and The Hoosier Salon.

Of her painting, Rita states, “My approach to painting is fairly traditional, but not purely representational.  I combine very realistic elements with an abstracted, softened view of reality.  While sometimes dramatic, I generally strive for peaceful, calming beauty in my work.  My love is creating quiet, poetic paintings with deep, rich colors, compelling subject matter, and concise, elegant compositions.”


Mark your calendars now for these evenings of free art and music:

Friday Night ARTIST Spotlight Schedule:
Friday, May 28
Music: Eric Baker; Artist: Diane Lyon, Rita Spalding

Friday, June 4

Music: Blue Dorian Jazz Trio; Artists: Rita Spalding, Constance Scopelitis

Friday, June 11

Music: Shane Rhodimel; Artists: Forrest Formsma, Susan Mauck

Friday, June 18

Music: Frank Bradshaw; Artists: Beth Forma, Rita Spalding, Donna Short

Friday, June 25

Music: Frank Bradshaw; Artists: Rita Spalding, Constance Scopelitis, Laura Appleby, Corrine Hull

Check back to learn more or become a FAN of HOMExperience on Facebook for updates.

Region posts April jump of 25% in existing home sales - reported by The Indianapolis Star on May 25, 2010

Existing home sales in the Indianapolis area continued an upward trend, rising 25 percent in April.

Statewide sales also rose 28 percent in April compared with last year, said the Indiana Association of Realtors, which released the sale numbers Monday afternoon. Median prices saw an increase of 13.7 percent.

This is the seventh consecutive month that there has been an increase in median prices over the previous year.

“April showed continuation of an expected spring surge due to the federal tax credit,” said Karl Berron, chief executive officer, in a statement. “While the increase in sales is positive, the best news is that inventory is trending down and there seems to be a broad stabilization in home prices, demonstrating that the tax credit did its job to preserve housing wealth."

In the eight-county metro area, 2,140 homes were sold in April, compared with 1,711 in the same month last year...

Read the entire Indianapolis Star article here.

Learn more about Estridge, the premiere builder of custom homes in central Indiana, since 1967, here.

At Estridge, we've witnessed a distinctive movement to emphasis on true outdoor living and entertaining areas built in Indianapolis homes. From outdoor fireplaces to covered lanais to built-in grills to gorgeous landscaping and more, hoemeowners are putting time, energy and investment into their outdoor living. Below is an article from our community design and development partners, Canin Associates providing tips on how to create this in central Indiana homes.


Inside Out - Trends that Bring the Outdoors In
PRINT THIS ARTICLE

Among the many new trends in home design, blending the outdoors with the indoors is high on several home buyer preference lists.
 
In a recent Better Homes & Gardens online survey, 68% of future homebuyers preferred outdoor grilling and living areas in their new home. But that's not all. Outdoor living areas also rank high on return for investment and they improve a home's resale value.

Popular trends in floor plan design actually happen outside the walls- fantastic outdoor spaces that are both useful and appealing, especially when they create pleasing scenery when you look out of your windows. Plan your outdoor living spaces for your enjoyment - but be sure to plan them well.

Not Just a Leftover Slab: Consider your outdoor living space as an extension of your family room or kitchen, and design it as you would any other room in your home.


Food Network: At get-togethers, everyone seems to flock to where the food and the drink coolers are. Outdoor kitchens and detached cabanas - some complete with a gas grill, bar top and refrigerator- are still very popular. (Enjoy grilling recipes from our HOMExperience cooking class)

Live & Laugh: Enhance your outdoor environment with the right landscape to stir the senses. Add elements that you can see, smell and hear. Popular new outdoor features include gas fire tables for you to enjoy the warmth and glow of a fire while being with company.

For more trends and to view the full article in its entirety, please click here.

Visit the Estridge Design Studio at Clay Terrace to learn about creating an enjoyable outdoor living space in your new Estridge home.

Friday, May 28, HOMExperience by Estridge will host the first in the 5-evening series of Friday Night ARTIST Spotlight events. The events, hosted in Clay Terrace in Carmel, feature local artists and musicians, both performing live throughout the evening. Guests and attendees are encouraged to browse the artwork of the featured artists, while enjoying complimentary cheese, wine, live painting and live music. This is a FREE event to the public.

The first Friday Night ARTIST Spotlight on May 28 will feature musician Eric Baker (www.bluedorianjazz.com) and painters Diane Lyon (www.DianeLyon.com) and Rita Spalding (www.ritaspalding.com).

ABOUT DIANE LYON
Diane Lyon paints exclusively in oil in an impressionistic style. Her subject matter includes figurative, landscape, still life and portraiture. With a master's degree in dramatic arts, she has found paint to be the perfect medium for expression. She enjoys painting on location as well as in her studio in Indianapolis.

Lyon has traveled and painted all over the world, including California, Munich, the Italian seacoast, Bangkok, and Toronto. She has made Indianapolis her home for the past twenty years. Recent travels have taken her to France, followed by a trip to Portugal and northern Spain. She just returned from China, where she painted in small villages across the country, as well as the major cities of Beijing and Shanghai.

Lyon's painting has been influenced by studies with CW Mundy, Kevin Macpherson, Dan Gerhartz, Caroline Anderson, David Leffel, and Quang Ho. She has received numerous awards at juried exhibitions in Indiana and nationally. She is a signature member of the American Impressionist Society and an associate member of Oil Painters of America. Her works are held in corporate and private collections around the world.

Mark your calendars now for these evenings of free entertainment:

Friday Night ARTIST Spotlight Schedule:
Friday, May 28
Music: Eric Baker; Artist: Diane Lyon, Rita Spalding

Friday, June 4

Music: Blue Dorian Jazz Trio; Artists: Rita Spalding, Constance Scopelitis

Friday, June 11

Music: Shane Rhodimel; Artists: Forrest Formsma, Susan Mauck

Friday, June 18

Music: Frank Bradshaw; Artists: Beth Forma, Rita Spalding, Donna Short

Friday, June 25

Music: Frank Bradshaw; Artists: Rita Spalding, Constance Scopelitis, Laura Appleby, Corrine Hull