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Recently, we had the enjoyable opportunity to play a round of golf at the beautiful Long Beach Country Club in Northwest Indiana's scenic La Porte County.

Now we've blogged about La Porte County attractions in the past and the fabulous sunsets along Lake Michigan beaches and the local wineries nearby.

The Long Beach Community is a great place for a second home or even year round lake living.

Homes for Sale in Long Beach along the Lake Michigan Shoreline or even a short walk away- or - on the Golf Course as pictured in the Map below.

Give us a call @ 219-405-1232 if you are considering making Long Beach Indiana your next Home Sweet Home or if you are in the market to sell your Long Beach Property.

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Recently, we took an afternoon off for some R & R.

We needed to put up a sign up on a new listing in Porter Cove, which has a fun Northwest Indiana Golf Course - The Brassie Golf Club – Chesterton, IN 46304 practically in this subdivisons backyard!

Here are a few photos of the course/clubhouse.

If you enjoy golf and are in the market for an affordable move in ready home, why not opt for the best of both worlds – see map below.

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It's been all over the news the last few days - many US Troops are coming home from IRAQ.

We are very thankful for their service during this long war!

Veterans Returning From IRAQ this Year still qualify for the $8000. 1st time Home Buyer Tax Credit

according to REALTOR.org

"Military Personnel Overseas May Still Be Eligible for Tax Credit"

"As part of the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit passed on November 6, 2006, military personnel and certain federal employees serving outside the United States may still be eligible for a tax credit of up to $8,000. Although the Home Buyer Tax The credit is being made available to eligible military personnel and federal employees who:

• purchases or enters into a binding contract to purchase, a principal residence on or before April 30, 2011; and closes on or before June 30, 2011. "
• For additional information about obtaining this credit, please consult the IRS's new release on the Home Buyer Tax Credit for Military Personnel. 

Welcome Home Veterans!

If we can help you find a home in Northwest Indiana, give us a call

Northwest Indiana Home Owners Testimonial endorsing F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate Services

Recently, we Listed a home in Valparaiso, IN 46383 that SOLD quickly and here is what our sellers had to say:

     We can’t thank Jeff and Grace enough! We had already found the house we wanted to move to before calling them to put our house on the market. They gave us some staging suggestions to get our home ready to sell. We followed their expert advice and thanks to that, plus their excellent marketing, we had two offers in a week!

     The Safrin’s used their experience and expertise to help sell our home in no time. We highly recommend them to anyone looking for REALTORS that work for you and with you to make buying or selling your home a great experience.

Chris & Erin Schmidgall

Valparaiso, IN

 Gino’s Steakhouse in Merrillville, IN 46410 – Northwest Indiana’s best of the Region Award winner is also a personal Favorite of Ours!

 Many times clients relocating to NW Indiana ask us, Where is a good place to eat?

Although there are many good restaurants in Northwest Indiana, our favorite steakhouse is Gino’s in Merrillville, IN 

Conveniently located off I65 and US 30 interchange, right near the Star Plaza Theatre and a short drive from a day of shopping at Westfield Southlake Mall. Gino’s location is convenient for either a special occasion or a quick last minute quality lunch or dinner.

Click here for Google Map and Street View->Located at : 
600 E. 81st Ave.
Merrillville, IN 46410
Gino's is open daily at 11 am and have great lunch specials-> give them a call to make reservations:
                       
Phone: (219) 769-4466
Or stop in for a drink and some appetizers:) Bon Ape-tit!

Just SOLD – Valparaiso, Indiana Expired Listing sells when Marketed by F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate

Sometimes, we list homes that had been on the market previously with other REALTORS and did not sell.

At the closing table last week, the buyers remarked to Jeff that our detailed marketing and many photos and descriptions about the various amenities of the home was what “sold them” to come out and view the property.

Location, Price, Condition, and Marketing are all factors that influence buyers to make an appointment to see a property.

As Professionals, it is our job to give you suggestions and implement a specific marketing plan based on known data so your home has the best chance of a successful closed sale. 

 If you are in the market to sell your Northwest Indiana Home, read what our past clients have to say and then give us a call to schedule an appointment @ 219-309-9930. 

 Recently we SOLD a home In Porter County, IN  that we listed subject to lenders approval of a short sale.

Short sales are not a game.

There were back up offers on the property.

The Buyers with the 1st offer submitted were savvy enough to do ALL of their due diligence according to the contract terms and conditions mutually agreed upon BEFORE the short sale was approved.

Short sales are bittersweet.

We have become much more select at which sellers we will work with to list an Indiana  short sale property and which buyers we will work with to show a Northwest Indiana short sale property.

Extensive interviewing goes into the decision process so we have the best chances of getting deals done! 

Uncooperative sellers or fickle buyers only make for experiences which will be passed along to friends and relatives who become “experts” in their own mind, because of “stories”  they have heard

Hasty and sweeping generalizations about short sales are, by definition, illogical.

We glady accept back-up offers on our Short sale listings -> Sale pending does not mean SOLD.

If you are considering buying a short sale, give us a call to discuss at lenght the risks of this non traditional type of Real estae transaction. Some Short sale Buyers are Missing the Boat so to speak. Or,  if you are behind on your mortgage payments give us a call to see if selling your home with your lenders approval of a short sale is an option to consider?

 SFR certified and have closed short sale listings in NW IndianaHAFA or not, EQUATOR system or not.

Here are some Northwest Indiana Short sale properties we have SOLD as well as some of our insights to working to get short sale deals done:

please click on the link to read the story behind each of these successes.

 http://activerain.com/blogsview/206925/sold-by-the-safrin-s-successful-short-sale-2262-vermillion-st-lake-station-in-46405-northwest-in-priced-to-sell-with-alittle-tlc-spacious-corner-home-big-fenced-yard

 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1420474/lake-county-indiana-short-sale-sold-in-26-days-from-for-sale-sign-up-to-signing-the-closing-documents

 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1296437/some-short-sales-in-northwest-indiana-real-estate-are-getting-done-quicker-easier

 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1722094/just-sold-la-pore-county-in-short-sale-closed-before-the-june-3oth-1st-time-home-buyer-tax-credit-deadline-whew-

  http://activerain.com/blogsview/239193/Short-Sale-Tips-that-Helped-Us

 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1504566/some-nw-indiana-short-sales-are-closing-sooner-than-traditional-real-estate-transactions-

 http://activerain.com/blogsview/861999/happy-new-year-for-indiana-homeowners-facing-short-sale-new-law-that-may-help

  http://activerain.com/blogsview/588362/13-weeks-to-Complete

 http://activerain.com/blogsview/475656/Valparaiso-IN-Opportunity-Knock

 http://activerain.com/blogsview/1593093/back-up-offer-closed-in-this-real-estate-market-anything-can-happen-we-encourage-our-sellers-to-keep-showing-their-property-

 http://activerain.com/blogsview/520985/indiana-realtors-take-note-2008-legislation-you-should-be-aware-of-

  http://activerain.com/blogsview/1349045/our-listings-of-reo-or-bank-owned-properties-for-sale-are-selling-quickly-in-nw-indiana-once-priced-right-and-ready-for-ma

Wild Rose Neighborhood in Valparaiso, IN offers Low Maintenance Home ownership Lifestyle for busy professionals, snowbirds, or those wanting to downsize and just enjoy life!

If you are looking to simplify your life and enjoy a Low Maintenance Home in a scenic setting, then the  Wild Rose neighborhood on Valparaiso’s north side may be worth your careful consideration.

The HOA dues includes lawn mowing and trim, fertilization, snow removal, garbage pickup!

There is a private park for residents to enjoy with a playground, basketball court, picnic tables, grills, and even a neighborhood gazebo overlooking a private lake where you can fish or take out a small boat and enjoy!

The town of VALPO and all it’s attractions/events is nearby, not to mention the South Shore train Stop is minutes away for an easier commute to the big City of Chicago (or the IN toll road/sky-way is a driving option with the exit minutes away from this development as well.

Recreation nearby??  - one of the country’s remaining outdoor theatre’s the 49-er drive in is family fun for all ages

Recently we listed an Immaculate home For sale in Wild Rose - affordable priced and in move in condition!

Enjoy the neighborhood photos and check out the hi res. music video if you are looking for a new home sweet home!

entrance to Wild Rose off of Edgewater Beach Road	residents enjoy this pivate park and lake
basketball anyone?	enjoy fishing or boating
neighborhood gazebo	barbeque grills and picnic tables

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The F.C.Tucker Company is listed as #number 48 in the July/August issue of REALTOR Magazine, for the number of closed transaction sides in 2009. It is also the Top Indiana Company in SOLD volume (#59).

There is no other Real Estate Company in Indiana ranked higher in either category!

 With over 1,500 agents statewide and over $2 billion in sales, The F.C. Tucker Company is the largest independent real estate firm in Indiana, and is ranked among the largest independent real estate firms in the nation. Its family of businesses includes a full range of real estate services – mortgages, title insurance, a full line of insurance products, auctioning, homeowner warranty products, and relocation services. Started in Indianapolis 90 years ago, Tucker has 35 affiliate offices in Indiana and Kentucky, in addition to its 16 Indianapolis-area offices. Less than one percent of all real estate firms in America enjoy a continuing history as long as F.C. Tucker Company, Inc.

Recently we attended a Chicago White Sox Game that had a brief Summer Rain during play and if you look closely at the left upper side of the scoreboard there is a rainbow that appeared for a few brief moments! It was Beach Towel Night Giveaway and these freebies  sure came in handy during the storm

They certainly are on a winning streak nowadays and it’s getting exciting!

Fun night at the ball park – Chicago attractions are close enough to enjoy for us NW Indiana folks

Could there be another celebratory poster like this one we stood in front of at US Cellular Field in Chicago in the White Sox Future this year? we sure hope so