HOMExperience in Clay Terrace allows you to explore more than 24,000 design features to truly personalize your new home or update your existing home. Thinking about updating your central Indiana home or building a new home with all new design features? In this month's HOMExperience Home Décor Hint, Candace Crooks, Designer with HOMExperience, discusses decorating ideas, ideas and... ideas!

Decorating your first home or apartment? Updating an older home? Or looking for a few home decorating ideas?

Ideas for the Bedroom: Avoid "overdoing it" with flower patterns. These patterns convey life and color, mix and match well, but need to be edited carefully by adding other elements. Striped pillows provide a bit of a contrast and a cool color on the walls quiets things down and keeps the flower-pattern look from being too much. Remember having less furniture puts a spotlight on other things in the room. Since these pieces will have a greater impact, choose them carefully.

Ideas for the Living Room: Make a non-working fireplace the focal point of the room by adding elements of fire with a large candelabra. Go a step further and add some texture with stacked split-logs. Also, avoid the white-out effect and cover large, plain walls with sculptural artwork, mirrors or removable decals.

Ideas for the Kitchen or Dining Room: For townhomes or apartments where space is at a real premium, a mix of materials and colors highlight the eclectic feel of these types of housing. For homes with space, try opaque shades for Kitchen Islands in order to prevent the glaring reflection in the granite countertop that clear shades would not prevent.

Ideas for the Bathroom: Valances above the tub area let in as much natural light as possible, but can lack in privacy. Roller shades can be installed underneath to help this problem. If you’re looking for a spot of color in that boring white-walled loo, consider a wallpaper border, also a great idea for a child’s bathroom that you might want to update easily when they grow up.

- Candace Crooks, Designer, HOMExperience

View the Estridge E-Lifestyle Blog for other tips and hints here. Check back for regular updates or become a FAN of HOMExperience on Facebook for regular updates. Learn more about Estridge, the hometown homebuilder since 1967, here.


Did you miss last month's Home Décor Hint?
Read the July Hint here.
Read the June Hint here.
Read the May Hint here.
Read the April Hint here.

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 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 NAR (National Association of Realtors) releases existing-home sales for every month. March was a good month for home sales, indicating a favorable real estate market. The existing-home sales for April will be released May 24, 2010. Here's the press release on March existing-home sales: 

Existing-Home Sales Rise on Home Buyer Tax Credit and Favorable Market Conditions - National Association of Realtors
Press Release; April 22, 2010

Buyers responding to the homebuyer tax credit and favorable affordability conditions boosted existing-home sales in March, marking the beginning of an expected spring surge, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

Existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, rose 6.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.35 million units in March from 5.01 million in February, and are 16.1 percent above the 4.61 million-unit level in March 2009.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said it is encouraging to see a broad home sales recovery in nearly every part of the country, with two important underlying trends. “Sales have been above year-ago levels for nine straight months, and inventory has trended down from year-ago levels for 20 months running,” he said. 

Read the entire press release here.

Learn more about Estridge, Indianapolis' hometown builder of premiere homes and neighborhoods since 1967, here.

Neighborhood Open House
Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28
Noon to 5pm
Irvington Decorated Model Home at
1388 Somerville Drive, Westfield, IN
Call 317.669.7089 for questions or visit www.estridge.com for directions.

Enjoy refreshments, catch up on the happenings at Centennial and tour six homes & townhomes under construction.

Plus, bring this registration form and receive a certificate for a free home decor gift at HOMExperience and enter to win a $100 gift certificate to Wood Wind Golf Club in Westfield.

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Why else should you visit Centennial this weekend?

Because it’s already a busy Spring at Centennial at 146^th Street in Westfield!

Over 8,000 neighborhood trees are budding, the neighbors are starting the Community Garden, the Bark Park is full of puppies ready to play, landscaping is beginning to take shape, and, most importantly, dirt is moving, and new Estridge homes are being built! View a photo tour of Centennial.

There are eight ranch and 2-story new homes and five 2-story Lockerbie Townhomes under construction at Centennial, Estridge's Westfield neighborhood!  

Stop in this weekend during the Neighborhood Open House and see what all of the excitement is about!  Plus, tour eight different Estridge luxury home designs in Westfield and witness Estridge quality throughout many different new home construction stages.

-          941A Irvington Ranch Home Decorated Model

-          Columbia Townhome Decorated Model

-          Getty 2-story Home Available for Immediate Move-in (Tax Credit Ready!)

-          Hanover Home Design at Drywall

-          Duke Townhome Under Construction

-          Columbia Townhome Under Construction

-          Amherst Townhome Under Construction

-          Emory Townhome Under Construction

The Estridge Companies is proud that almost 50% of new Estridge homeowners are referred by their friends and family. To us, this is the ultimate testament of our homeowners’ trust in Estridge as a builder and satisfaction with their Estridge homes and service. To share our appreciation for our homeowners’ continued trust and confidence, Estridge introduces the Build Your Neighborhood Referral Program.  The Build Your Neighborhood Program provides both you and your referrals with an appreciation gift when your friends and family choose to move to an Estridge neighborhood.

Estridge homeowners are invited to build their Estridge neighborhood by referring friends and family thinking about moving. It’s a simple process. Estridge homeowners invite their friends and family to bring the completed Build Your Neighborhood Form on their first visit to an Estridge model home. hen they begin building a new Estridge home before the end of 2009, our homeowner and their referral will receive their desired Build Your Neighborhood Appreciation Gift following home closing.

Build Your Neighborhood Appreciation Gifts

Big Night Out. 

Enjoy a night (or four) on the town at Indy’s finest dining establishments. Select four $125 gift cards from Mitchell’s Fish Market, Kincaid’s, Eddie Merlot, and Ruth Chris Steakhouse. 

Finish Your Furnishings.

Finish your home with unique home decor and furnishings with a $500 gift card to HOMExperience by Estridge.

Golf and Gift.

Improve your golf game with professionals from Wood Wind Golf Academy, new clubs or apparel, or simply play a few rounds with a $500 gift card to Wood Wind Golf Club.

Primp and Pamper.

Select your ultimate royal treatments at David & Mary Spa & Salon with a $500 gift card.   

Shop ‘til You Drop.

Be practical. Be frivolous. Or be both with a $500 Simon Gift Card.

PRINT the Build Your Neighborhood Referral Form

VIEW a map of Estridge Neighborhood Locations

VISIT www.Estridge.com

Browse new photos of Lincolnshire, located at 141^st Street and Towne Road, to see the beautiful fall colors worn by the numerous trees throughout this premiere Estridge new home neighborhood in Carmel, Indiana.

Or stop by the decorated model at 14135 Murphy Circle West, 46074, and take a tour of the intimate 82-homesite neighborhood with gorgeous, custom-like new homes, 2-story and ranch homes complete with gorgeous kitchens featuring granite countertops and stainless steel sinks, as well as finished lower levels and architectural details throughout the luxury home designs.

View Photos of this Carmel neighborhood

Learn more about Lincolnshire by Estridge

*Photos by Erin Hession Photography

Homeowners across the state of Indiana will enjoy lower property taxes as the state has lowered residential taxes and increased commercial taxes. A large deduction for owners of Indianapolis townhomes and homes allows the tax reduction, although Indiana homeowner taxes have actually increased.

According to the City of Carmel newsletter:

·          A Carmel home valued at $190,200 in 2009 will pay $1,481 in property taxes, a $643 decrease over the past 10 years.

·          A Fishers home valued at $190,000 in 2009 will pay $1,645 in property taxes, a $910 decrease over the past 10 years.

 

Learn more about how residential taxes of Carmel homeowners and other homeowners around Indiana are decreasing.
 

New Photo Tours for Centennial Townhomes

1356 Middlebury Drive, Westfield, IN 46074, $209,900

-          www.tourfactory.com/480330

1352 Middlebury Drive, Westfield, IN 46074, $224,900

-          www.tourfactory.com/477979

1354 Middlebury Drive, Westfield, IN 46074, $227,000

-          www.tourfactory.com/477978

New Estridge Ranch Home Photo Tour

1385 Trescott Drive, Westfield, IN 46074, $349,900

-          www.tourfactory.com/480334

-          in Centennial at 146^th Street

View all Estridge townhomes for sale on Estridge.com.

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

Learn more about Estridge

View all Indianapolis Real Estate by Estridge 

January HOMExperience Home Decor Hint: Go natural on your windows. 
 

Natural window treatments by Lafayette Interiors in a Centennial Lockerbie Townhome model by Estridge.

Natural woven shades made from bamboo and other grasses beautifully compliment kitchens, breakfast rooms and other rooms in your home where filtering natural light is desired. They are reasonably priced, made from renewable resources and available in dozens of colors and styles.

Visit HOMExperience by Estridge for a complimentary design consultation with the Estridge Interiors team.

View past home décor and furnishing hints from the Estridge Interiors team at HOMExperience:

December - Holiday Décor Hint

November – Natural Entertainment Décor Hint

October – Perfectly Proportioned Rugs

September - Create the Right Study Space

Wood Wind Golf Club and Estridge are proud to introduce the Wood Wind Golf Academy – the newest change at Wood Wind Golf Club. This great facility is the newest on the list of improvements since Estridge began managing Wood Wind at the end of 2007.

Whether you are a first-time golfer or have been playing for many years, you can learn to play better golf with help from the Academy. After evaluating your current skill level and your improvement goals, the Academy team will create a personalized plan for you to play better golf, through a customized combination of:

INSTRUCTION ~ CLUB FITTING ~ GOLF FITNESS ~ CLUB REPAIR

Academy Grand Opening Open House
Saturday & Sunday, January 10-11
9am to 4pm
at Wood Wind Golf Club,
161st Street and Towne Road in Westfield, Indiana.

Attend the Wood Wind Golf Academy Open House and meet the PGA Professionals that make up the Academy team. Test the latest golf equipment and try TrackMan, the latest in golf technology and one of only three in the Midwest. Plus, enjoy a taste of Kelties, the in-house caterer at Wood Wind.

Check out the Wood Wind Golf Academy photo gallery.

Become a Wood Wind Fan on Facebook.

Most reports regarding shopping for real estate state that between 70% to 85% of home buyers start their search on the internet or do online research at some point throughout their new home shopping. We also know that every home buyer shops differently and uses different resources. That’s why we’ve tried to develop many different places for you to find Estridge on the web.

Where can you learn about Estridge homes and neighborhoods? All over.

-   www.Estridge.com – Estridge Collections’ official website with information on Estridge history, companies, homes, neighborhoods, Estridge Design Studio at HOMExperience, lifestyle tips, photo tours of neighborhoods and homes, view home designs, learn about the surrounding communities and more. Plus, Ask Angie, the Estridge Online Concierge for assistance in finding information, relocating, scheduling appointments and more.

-   www.EstridgeCustomGalleries.com – Estridge Custom’s official website with information on Estridge Custom Galleries homes and neighborhoods, Paul E. Estridge homes, building your custom home on your own homesite, custom homes available now, and a wide library of photos to view. Use the Online Concierge chat to quickly answer all of your questions about building an Indiana custom home.

-   Blog.estridge.com – The Estridge blog –information about Indianapolis homes, Indianapolis real estate, tips on living in your home, featured Estridge homes available now, HOMExperience cooking class recipes and much more.

-   www.MyEstridgeHome.com –Extensive photo library with over 900 photos of Estridge homes, neighborhoods and HOMExperience. View photos of Estridge homes being built, custom design features and much more. MyEstridgeHome.com is also where new homeowners can create their very own Estridge home website.

-   www.TourFactory.com – View photo tours of Estridge homes available now and neighborhoods.

-   www.Facebook.com – Become a fan of The Estridge Companies on Facebook. View photo galleries and information only found on Facebook.

-   http://www.youtube.com/estridgehomes – Estridge has a YouTube channel with informational videos from the Estridge Building a Better Life DVD and photo tours of our new homes around Indianapolis.

-   Estridge Homes Available Now and neighborhoods are also found in other Indianapolis homes and home builder outlets: www.Trulia.com, www.Mibor.com, www.Homes.com, www.google.com, www.Yahoo.com, www.HomeDebut.com, www.Zillow.com, www.CraigsList.com, and more

Other Estridge Companies websites:

-   www.WoodWindGolf.com – Wood Wind Golf Club at 161^st Street and Towne Road.

-   www.FirstSourceCap.com – FirstSource Capital is Estirdge’s inhouse mortgage lender

-   www.FirstMileUSA.com – First Mile is Estridge’s technology company that serves many Estridge neighborhoods and businesses around the greater Indianapolis area with internet, phone, cable, and security services.

Looking for a new home for the holidays or gathering decorating ideas as you move into the new year? View a variety of new home designs from Estridge, as well as luxury Indianapolis Homes during the Estridge Holiday Open House – this weekend, December 6&7 at EVERY Estridge Neighborhood. See townhomes, 2-story and ranch homes, as well as Indiana custom homes from Estridge and Estridge Custom Galleries.

EstridgeHoliday Open House
Saturday December 6 & Sunday December 7
Noon to 6pm
Estridge Collections and Estridge Custom Homes Available Now

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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