Market Snapshot for December 2010

Indy-Carmel among ten best cities to move to

According to an article that I have just read in Yahoo Real Estate entitled, “Best Cities to Move in America”, Indianapolis and Carmel have been named among the ten best cities in the U.S. to move to.

Most rankings of good places to relocate consider things like good schools and crime rates. This ranking of the top ten cities in the U.S. for relocation was done by Sperling’s Best Places and takes into account cost of living, crime rates, number of colleges, population health, entertainment venues and stability.

Though Indianapolis ranked well on all of the factors considered in this ranking, Indy ranked especially well on stability and affordability. Currently, the average cost of a single-family detached home in Indianapolis $120,200, considerably lower than the national average; and the cost of living is currently 17.8 percent below the national average.

Please click the following link to read this article in its entirety at Yahoo Real Estate.

Market Snapshot for October 2010

Halloween and fall events in Hamilton County

Have you decided what you will be doing this Halloween yet? If not, I recommend that you check out an article in IndyStar.com entitled, “Halloween happenings in Hamilton County”. This article lists all of the fall and Halloween events going on this month in Fishers and Noblesville.

Sure, many Hamilton County residents will take their kids trick or treating, but there are a bunch of things to do from now until Halloween. From pumpkin carving contests and costume contests, to Halloween parties, haunted houses and hayrides, you will be sure to find something scary to do with family or friends. So don’t wait until Halloween to celebrate, there are some great Halloween and fall events going on all this month, all you need now is your costume.

If you would like to see a list of all Halloween and fall activities scheduled to take place this month in Fishers and Noblesville, please here.

Market Snapshot for September 2010

Hamilton County bans open fires

According to an article that I have just read in IndyStar.com, Hamilton County has issued a county-wide open fire ban. This means that effective immediately, all open fires in Hamilton County are banned, regardless of whether they are for recreational, agricultural or other purposes. This new ban comes as a result of the dry conditions that Hamilton County has endured as of late. This open fire ban was issued in a news release from the Hamilton County Emergency management Agency. The ban will stay in effect until weather conditions improve.

According to the national Weather Service, there have only been five days of measurable rain at the Indianapolis Airport since the start of August. That’s only .54 inches of rainfall in more than 40 days.

Indiana state law prohibits burning trash fires already, but certain burning such as fires set by farmers has been permitted. However, since this open fire ban has gone into effect, these fires will no longer be tolerated either.

This article also warns smokers to watch where they throw their lit cigarette butts. This means not using dry mulch beds as ashtrays because dry mulch can easily catch fire in very dry conditions. According to Ron Lipps, the public information officer for the Fishers Fire Department, the Fishers Fire Department has already had to put out several fires that were started as a result of someone throwing a lit cigarette butt in a bed of mulch.

Motorists should also be careful when parking their vehicles. Do not park your vehicle in grassy fields because the heat from a vehicle’s exhaust systems and catalytic converters can potentially ignite dry grass.

Please click the following link to read this article in its entirety.

The Hamilton County Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic

Do you or someone you know need to have your animal spayed or neutered? If so, then I would suggest going to the Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic’s website at www.lowcostclininc.org. The Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic offers a variety of services ranging from spaying and neutering canines and felines, to heartworm tests, heartworm preventatives, deworming, vaccines, flea treatments and even nail trimming. The Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic can also install a microchip in your pet to help you in the event that he or she should wander off and get lost.

If you have a pet and have not yet had it spayed or neutered, I would strongly recommend considering doing it. According to some of the statistics provided on the Hamilton County Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic, one single female cat and her offspring can theoretically produce 420,000 cats in just seven years and one female dog and her offspring could theoretically produce 67,000 dogs in as few as six years. Sure, these figures only offer a theoretical glimpse into the reproductive potential of cats and dogs, but I am sure that most folks would understand why it is a good idea to spay or neuter our pets.

The Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic is located at 1721A Pleasant Street in Noblesville. The vaccine clinic is open from 3:30 to 5 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; and from 8 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The vaccine clinic works on a first come, first served basis. Surgeries are done by appointment only from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

For a complete list of prices for all of the services offered at the Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic, please click the following link.

Please click the following link to visit the Hamilton County low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic for more information  as well as how you can donate or volunteer.

Market Snapshot for August 2010

Hamilton County among top 25 Best Places for Jobs

When the economy is going through a slump, jobs become increasingly important. Living in an area where there are plentiful jobs helps to make it easier to keep going when the economy becomes sluggish. According to an article that I have just read in Yahoo Real Estate entitled “Where the jobs are”, Hamilton County is among the top 25 best counties for jobs in the US.

Hamilton County is one of the more affluent areas of Virginia and is actively working on many projects to attract and retain a qualified and diversified workforce. Among several projects in the works, there is a $300 million complex that will house sports, retail, office, performance and recreational spaces. This complex is expected to be completed in 2010. Hamilton County is also improving its transportation infrastructure by adding more roundabouts and the county is also working on upgrading its fiber optics network for improved communications.

It’s good to see that while other areas are being hard hit by the current dip in our national economy, Hamilton County is doing well and working towards creating more local jobs for the future.

Please click the following link to read this article in its entirety at yahoo Real Estate.

Noblesville among Top 5 Best Places to Retire

According to an article that I have just read in IndyStar.com entitled, “Noblesville rated as one of Top Five Best Places to Retire”, Noblesville is one of five best US cities in which to retire.

What do you imagine when you think of nice places to retire? If you said affordable homes, a robust and thriving economy, access to good healthcare and an array of leisure and entertainment options, then you will understand why Noblesville has been voted among the top 5 best places to retire by MSN Money. Aside from these fundamental amenities for seniors, Noblesville also offers numerous senior housing and assisted living facilities.

The other four cities that made the top 5 include, Rogers, Arkansas; Moon Township, Pennsylvania; Gainsville, Florida and Mount Vernon Washington.

Plaese click to read this article at IndyStar.com.