On Friday July 3rd two new events will join the growing schedule of activities in Topeka. There will be a softball tournament and a chalk walk.
On Saturday July 4th events include a pancake breakfast at Tiffany's, basketball tournaments, pony pulls, tractor pulls, buggy races, big wheel races, pedal car races, a parade, and the country rock band Shilo.
There will be plenty to eat including pork burgers and BBQ chicken.
Fireworks are on Saturday!
You can find details for the events, photos from past events, and a full schedule of activities on the Town of Topeka's Website
Adams Lake is a ski lake in Wolcottville. LaGrange County is in Northeast Indiana. Like most of our local lakes in LaGrange County, there is a lake association that plans get-togethers for the residents. Adams Lake has their meetings and card games upstairs at the Adams Lake Pub and there are events on the lake as well. Off the lakes, the different sides of the lake have mini-neighborhoods (sometimes just a street) of full timers and part timers who come on weekends or for the Summer.
The local elementary school is Wolcott Mills in Wolcottville. And students attend Lakeland Junior High and Lakeland High School in LaGrange. All are part of the Lakeland School Corporation.
Adams Lake in Wolcottville is a 308 acre all sports lake. This lake gives everyone a chance to participate in their favorite activities. You'll find "beach like" swimming areas, or you can take your boat and anchor at the sandbar. In the evenings, there are campfires by the water. For those who like to go fishing, the locals are catching yellow perch, occasional largemouth bass, and bluegill year round if you enjoy ice fishing.
If you prefer speed, the lake allows skiing, tubing, and jet-skis. You can cruise the lake in your pontoon or take the speedboat.
If you like quieter activities, like kayaking, or a paddleboat ride, you'll find places for that too.
Adams Lake has speed restrictions from 6 pm to 10 am every day. This gives everyone a chance to enjoy their favorite activities safely and without interfering with others. There is a public access on Adams Lake with room to park around 8 rigs, so access is limited. The average depth of the lake is 25 feet and the deepest point is 93 feet.
Their are plenty of options when it comes to housing. On Adams Lake you will find places ranging from "that old cottage your grandparents had when you were a kid" to brand new modern homes. If you're ready to find your place on the lake, contact me today.
When I saw the News Sun Saturday morning with a headline proclaiming sales were up in our county, I wasn't suprised. I know the number of sales has been improving. We've been busy. The number of homes that sold in June 2009 (12) was higher than the number of homes that sold in June 2008 (8). Not a big difference by any means. So, the headline is true because 4 more homes sold this June than last June.
Then the article goes on to state that the median home price for June 2009 ($147,250) was 35.7% higher than the median home price for June 2008 ($108,500). If you don't work in our market every day and aren't familiar with how the statistics are compiled, that sounds like great news for the housing market in LaGrange County.
But lets take a look at the rest of the numbers and the sales that are represented in those figures. In 2008, 3 of the 8 homes that sold were lake properties. In 2009, 7 of the 12 homes that sold were lake properties. Lake properties generally have higher sales prices. And when you are calculating the median sales price, you're taking the number in the middle. That means 1/2 sold for more and 1/2 sold for less. In 2009, the median price was a lake home. In 2008, it wasn't.
When dealing with such a small number of transactions, it's more accurate to use longer periods and more data to establish a trend. Why don't we take a look at what has happened through the end of June this year and compare that to last year? I think that gives us a better idea of what is happening here in the county.
*The Median Sales Price through the end of June in 2008 was $110,000 and in 2009 it was $98,500. 11.2% decrease in Median Sales Price
The Number of Homes Sold through the end of June in 2008 was 48 and in 2009 it was 68. 41.7% increase in the Number of Homes Sold
When we use a longer period of data, we get what I'm seeing in today's market. There are more transactions. The number of home sales are up in LaGrange County this year versus last year. But, median prices aren't higher, they have dropped 11.2% when compared to last year for the same time period. And when you compute this for just the lake properties, we've seen a similar decline.
Another important item is how many properties are listed for sale. As of today, there are 317 single family homes listed for sale in LaGrange County, and with an average of 12 sales a month, it is going to take awhile to bring the inventory down.
Taken out of context, the published numbers may have misled those who just read the headline or those who aren't currently involved in the buying or selling process. Part of my job as a real estate agent is to provide accurate market information to my clients. My sellers are well aware that the median house price in LaGrange County hasn't increased 35.7% since last year.
You can read historical and current data about our local market on my website.
*These figures are based on data supplied by the Northeastern Indiana Association of REALTORS® Multiple Listing Service for the period starting 01/01/2008 to present and include only single family or modular homes.
So you're ready to buy your first home. Why not? It really is a great time to buy in our area, if you are planning on staying put for awhile. There are plenty of homes on the market, prices have come down to make them affordable, and interest rates are still historically low. The government is also offering you up to $8,000 to buy a home, IF you buy soon. Most of the first-time homebuyers I meet have plenty of questions as I guide them through the process of making the biggest purchase of their lives. And one of the popular topics is the First-Time Homebuyer's Tax Credit. I have seen alot of outdated information, and some that is just plain wrong. So I thought I would share the answers to some of the questions I've had.
What is a first-time homebuyer? Someone who hasn't owned a home for three of the last five years. The home has to be your primary residence.
How much is the credit? The credit is for 10% of the purchase price up to $8,000.
Do I make too much money? The income limit is $75,000 for single and $150,000 for married buyers for the full credit. But there is also a partial credit for single buyers who make up to $95,000 and married buyers who make up to $170,000.
Do I have to repay the credit? The credit does not need to be repaid unless you sell your home or don't maintain it as your primary residence for three years.
What if I don't owe any income taxes? You still get the credit.
How do I get the credit? You file your taxes as you normally would and include an IRS form 5405.
Can I use the credit as my down payment? The credit can only be used for additional down payment after you have contributed the minimum down payment required for your loan type. Conventional loans require 20% down and FHA loans require 3.5% down. In some cases your down payment can be a gift from a family member. And Rural Development and Veteran's Loans don't require a down payment.
The question I am rarely asked and one that is very important is how soon you need to act. The answer is, get started right away. You must close before December 1, 2009 to claim the credit. You need time to find the right home. Once you find that home, it can take 30-45 days to close on the purchase.
If you're ready to get started, contact me today. Even if you're just thinking about it and have questions, let's sit down together and talk about buying your first home!
I am a real estate agent, not an attorney or tax professional. I am offering basic information that I found on the IRS Website. If you have specific questions you should consult an attorney or tax professional.
This lake house is the place to spend your summers!
There will be something for everyone in Rome City this weekend.
The fireworks over Sylvan Lake are always spectacular!This year right before the fireworks on Saturday night, the RE/MAX hot air balloon will fly over carrying the winner of our drawing for a ride- Barb Hinkle.
Two Days of Fun Scheduled at Taylor Park in Wolcottville
Friday July 3rd-
Johnson Township Fire Department will be selling porkburgers and pop.
You can also find elephant ears, sloppy joes, walking tacos, and nachos!
The Twin-Six 1/2 Pint Baseball Team takes on the Wolcottville Coaching Staff at 7:00
There will be music from 6- 10 and then the fireworks start!
Saturday July 4th
Get up early for Johnson Township Fire Department's Pancake and Sausage Breakfast at the park.
Baseball games are scheduled starting at 10:00
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Opinions expressed here are my own personal opinions. They do not reflect the opinions of my employer, the brokerage.
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