It's easy to love a home a little more during summer. There's something about open windows, hanging flower pots, and decorated decks that make a home's personality really come alive. This is also a time when a home's potential can come alive! In fact, it's a great idea to start doing some home projects now that will prepare your home for the summer whether you plan to stay or sell. 

Inspect and Perfect Your Patio, Walkways, and Driveway

Summertime usually means more visitors. That's why you'll want to make sure all of the walking paths, brick areas, and concrete spaces around your home are in top condition. Winter weather can create cracks and breaks that result in broken or uneven surfaces. Make sure you're getting everything smoothed over or filled in to create even, beautified surfaces that will make your yard a safe and inviting space!

Get Your Baseboards in Shape

Have you looked around at the baseboards inside your home lately? Dragging in salt and dirt from winter streets and sidewalks on your shoes for months can cause baseboards to look dirty. This is especially true if you have white baseboards inside your home. A damp cloth is usually all that's needed to get white baseboards looking sparkling and new. However, you may want to consider slapping on a new coat of white paint if your baseboards look particularly damaged.

Refresh Your Garbage Disposal

It's time to make sure your garbage disposal is fresh. After all, the summer heat can bring out smells that were hidden during the winter. Simply run a little hot water after adding vinegar or lemon juice to your disposal to get everything smelling very fresh!

Indianapolis is the capital of the state of Indiana known for its sports and annual car racing competition. However, it is also home to electric art displays, cultural trails, underground ruins, and delicious barbeque. Let's explore the main 7 hidden gems in Indianapolis that we are desperately missing, so you can plan a truly memorable trip.

Indiana War Memorial Museum

It is a free museum displaying the military history of Indiana. It displays chronologically American military history from starting from the Revolutionary War to the present day, by focusing on the special role of the state of Indiana in the nations' conflicts. It is also home to the unique military collection of memorabilia from the Batlle of Tippecanoe to date. 

City Market Catacombs

Spooky catacombs are one of those interesting places in Indianapolis that most tourists do not know about. The catacombs are the remains of Tomlinson Hall of the 19th century that was burned down. They are located under the City Market known as the place of local merchants, artisans, and food growers. You can explore the catacombs yourself or get a tour on the first or third Saturday of every month. 

Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens 

Garfield Park, situated in the south of Indianapolis, features a conservatory and a 3-acre park. There are a lot of things to do and entertain yourself, such as exploring the conservatory, learning about edible plants and herbs, enjoying the orchid show, attending summer events, or going on a master gardener guided tour. 

Indianapolis Moon Tree

This tree spent time on...

When it comes to family attractions in Indianapolis, there are so many things to do. From zip-lining in the forest to participating in a bike tour, to watching the Indy 500, this beautiful city offers it all. 

It’s these types of activities and events that have us operating out of nostalgia. As we sit at home and practice social distancing, there’s’ never been a better time to plan and budget for some fun activities you can do in the future.

Check out The 9 Things We Can’t-Wait To Do Again in Indianapolis.

Fastimes Indoor Carting

Almost every “big kid” will enjoy a day spent at this exciting indoor race track. While wearing a full driving suit complete with protective gear, family members can gain a thrill racing a go-kart up to 40 miles an hour. During the racing fun, make sure to grab a bite to eat at the onsite restaurant. The restaurant offers delicious pizza and subs every day. Before bringing your “big kids” to Fastimes Indoor Carting, make sure that you sign the parental waiver.

Zip City Indy

Whether you have a teenager or a toddler, Zip City Indy is the place to be for a wide variety of families. The company prides itself on offering several exciting indoor attractions such as soccer, laser tag, ropes course, trampoline, skydive, and a rock wall. Smaller kids can have fun too. The facility features a “Toddler Town,” a play area filled with toys for children less than 3 years old. A 70,000-acre facility, there’s a good chance that your kids won’t get bored at Zip City Indy and neither should you. Parents can sit comfortably in the sky lounge to watch their kids play or enjoy a sports game on a big television screen. ...

It's no secret that Coronavirus is a serious cause for concern, one that is sweeping all around the world. Your kids are more connected to the world than ever before. This is due to having instant access to breaking news via their cell phones. It's only natural that they, too, will have concerns.

Here are some of the best ways that you can help your children understand the anxiety that comes with the Coronavirus.

Let Your Kids Know That the Coronavirus is Almost Never Fatal

The very first thing that you should make clear to your children is that the virus is almost never fatal. In most cases, even if you catch this virus, the effects will be no worse than a very bad cold or the average flu. In other words, you'll need plenty of fluids and bed rest. But you won't be at major risk.

It has been estimated by many medical experts that almost all people will catch some form of virus at some point in their lives. It may have already happened to you or your children without any of you even being aware of it. You may have simply thought you had a bad cold and treated it with over the counter medication. 

This is not to underestimate the potential deadly effects of the virus. It can be deadly to the very elderly as well as those whose immune system is compromised. But for the average healthy person, adult and child alike, it will be survivable.

Let Your Kids Know How to Stay Safe from the Virus

The next thing you need to do is teach your kids...

With the threat of the Coronavirus spreading across the world, you may have opted for the safest--and wisest--choice of self-quarantining. Unfortunately, you may realize just how bored you're going to be if the virus doesn't end any time soon. Thankfully, you have a subscription to Hulu, Netflix, and Disney +. With so much entertainment at your fingertips, what shows are actually worth watching? Here's a list of some of the best binge-worthy shows to catch while you're self-quarantined. 

1. Altered Carbon

How about a world where death doesn't always mean the end? Netflix's Altered Carbon offers a sci-fi world rich in lore and action. Season two was just released, so you have plenty of episodes to binge through. Follow the story of Takeshi Kovacs, an elite warrior who is deeply in love with the leader of a resistance movement. 

With their consciousness, memories, and perhaps even their souls, backed up on a device called a stack, they're able to be placed inside of whatever body is at hand. As you might imagine, being deathless comes with its share of problems. 

This show is great for those who love sci-fi, action, cyberpunk, and some incredible lore. 

2. Space Jam

Also on Netflix is Space Jam, the old Michael Jordan and Looney Tunes mix-up movie. Millennials will likely remember watching this movie often when they were a kid and sick. Why not watch it now as a sick adult? Looney Tunes still has the jokes, as you'll quickly remember.

Nothing can make you feel better than good old-fashioned nostalgia. 

3. What We Do in the Shadows

Since you're going to be hiding in your house with the threat of Coronavirus looming outside, you may start to feel like you're a vampire. What better show to binge than a comedy featuring vampires? What We Do in the...

On Sunday, March 15, 2020, the federal government cut the federal interest rates down to zero percent. This is the second federal rate cut in response to the Coronavirus crisis. Mortgage rates are not directly tied to the federal interest rates. However, the mortgage interest rates will be affected by moves that investors make and other factors.

Federal Rates Cuts and Other Economic Stimulation Activity

The government is fearful that the economy will fall into a deep recession if they don't make moves to stimulate it. That's why they lowered the federal interest rates to zero. There is more economic stimulation legislation that should help during this COVID-19 crisis, as well.

Bonds and Other Safe Assets

Many investors have been buying bonds and other safe assets as a result of the federal interest rates cut. The 10-year Treasury note has been pushed to new lows. 

Quantitative Easing Program

The government has also initiated a $700 billion program to help ease some of the economic hardship that Americans are facing. Part of this program, the federal government's Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, states that all adults will receive $1,200 and an additional $500 for each child. They are currently finalizing the details on how to distribute this money to the American people. 

Emergency Lending

They have also cut emergency lending rates to .25 and have extended loan terms to 90 days. This will help in an emergency.

...

Understanding How The Virus Spreads

When illness threatens the general population, there is a lot of fear. However, by understanding how the virus works and spreads, you can prepare in an effective way and stem the panic. Coronavirus acts similarly to SARS and MERS.

It is spread through respiratory droplets. This can be transferred via spit and sweat. It has been suggested that the virus can remain on surfaces that the infected touch. It is, as of yet, unknown how long the virus can live on a surface. The general estimate is from a few hours to a few days.

The best way to avoid catching Coronavirus is to avoid people. Whether through coughing, sneezing, touching sweat, kissing, or touching an infected surface, you can receive the virus.

In order to stay protected at home, you’ll want to disinfect the area and kill the virus. Here’s how.

1. Clean First

Cleaning is different from disinfecting. When you want to clean, you’re basically getting rid of dust, dirt, and dead skin cells. Anything that rests on a surface is essentially something that can be cleaned. Disinfecting means you are using cleaners to kill germs and bacteria.

Before you can disinfect, you should clean the house.

Take a wet cloth and dust the area that you intend to disinfect. A wet cloth will collect dust better than a dry cloth. It will also help prevent the dust from simply flying off the surface to settle elsewhere.

You’ll also want to sweep hard floors like wood, tile, and vinyl.

Finally, carpets should be thoroughly vacuumed. You may even consider deep-cleaning them with a carpet cleaner.

2. Disinfecting Hard Surfaces

When it comes to disinfecting, the first step is to wear disposable gloves. You’re going to be working with a lot of...

Real Estate 2018: What to Expect

As we head into a new year, the most common question we receive is, “What’s the outlook for real estate in 2018?”

It’s not just potential buyers and sellers who are curious; homeowners also want reassurance their home’s value is going up. The good news is that a strong U.S. economy, coupled with low unemployment rates, is expected to drive continued real estate growth in 2018. However, changes on the horizon could significantly impact you if you plan to buy, sell or refinance this year.

HOME VALUES WILL CONTINUE TO RISE

 HOME VALUES WILL CONTINUE TO RISE:

Get ready for another strong year! U.S. home values and sales volume will continue to rise in 2018.

Experts agree that home prices will increase in 2018, but predict a slower rate of appreciation than 2017, which clocked in at nearly 7 percent nationwide. National Association of Realtors (NAR) Chief Economist Lawrence Yun predicts a growth rate this year of 5.5 percent,¹ while Freddie Mac’s September Outlook Report forecasts a rate of 4.9 percent. Either way, all indicators point towards continued growth in 2018.²

What does it mean for you? If you’re a current homeowner, congratulations! Real estate proves once again to be a solid investment over the long term. And if you’re considering selling this year, there’s never been a better time. Contact us to request a free Comparative Market Analysis...