Archive for the ‘News and Announcements’ Category

Over the years, Jeff & I have been blessed to come to know many fine officers on the Valparaiso, Indiana Police Department in helping them buy or sell homes in town. Below is an announcement about an opportunity for citizens to learn just how much they do in the service of protecting our community. We are thankful for each and every one of them and occasionally, when I hear some of the calls dispatched on our scanner at home I sometimes say a silent prayer of protection:) They are local hero’s!

N E W S

FROM THE
VALPARAISO POLICE
DEPARTMENT

Citizens Police Academy Information

Applications Being Accepted for the Citizens Police Academy

The Valparaiso Police Department is searching for community members that would like to learn more about the police department. The department’s annual Citizens Police Academy is currently accepting applications.

The Citizens Police Academy is designed for community members to meet officers, learn what officers do on a daily basis and become involved in their community. Topics featured in the academy include; investigations, Indiana law, daily traffic laws and enforcement, crash investigations and patrol division duties including many specialties within the patrol unit such as, K-9 presentations, bicycle team, taser usage and firearms scenarios.

The academy class will meet on every Tuesday, beginning on April 13th and will meet for 10 weeks. Classes start at 6:30pm each day. Applications for the academy are available at the Valparaiso Police Department located at 355 S Washington St or online at www.valparaisopolice.org. Applications must be returned to the department by Wednesday March 31st.

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the shot valpo buzzer beater

It’s March. and anything can happen….March Madness they call it

Especially if you live in Indiana and are a college basketball fan!

We’ve blogged about  the fun attending local area basketball events in the winter season each year – family fun for all ages!

Our hometown of VALPO is know for a famous shot during march madness that got them to the sweet 16 once!

“The Shot” is seen each year on CBS during “March Madness” and is considered one of the top moments in NCAA history.

Come out and see the game tomorrow – buy tickets online here or at the door!

When Indiana’s largest Real Estate Company puts on an event – It’s 1st class !

At least that has been our experience over the last 9 years, being affiliated with F.C.Tucker Co…..1st as Sales Associates and now as Broker/Owners of one of their 45 offices in Indiana (ours being the northwest office in Valparaiso, IN which services Lake, Porter & La Porte Counties).

The Venue was spectacular! The beautiful landmark in Downtown Indianapolis – The Scottish Rite Cathedral cost over $3 MILLION DOLLARS way back in 1927 to complete!

It’s ornate architecture with craftsmanship details and stained glass windows was certainly something to be taken in and appreciated!

The Awards ceremony took place in the Theater.

Jim Litten (co-owner) gave a re-cap of events in 2009 that affected Real Estate. He referred to 09 as “A Year of Anxiety” with reminders of Bank Failures, Bailouts, economists use of words like recession and even depression. He pointed out that 4 states account for 50% of the stressed markets (CA,AZ,NV,FL) and reminded us that ALL REAL ESTATE IS LOCAL.

That being said, he reported very positive news=> that F.C.Tucker Company did over 2.2 BILLION dollars in sales in 2009 in Indiana – up from the previous total sales year of 2008. October of 2009 was the companies 2nd best month ever in Real Estate Sales history!

Fred Tucker III, then presented hundreds of awards to honor the achievements of REALTORS around the state who persevered and prospered during these challenging times despite the negative press.

One award in particular brought tears to my eyes. The Special Volunteer of the Year Award – Honoring Above and Beyond Service to Mankind went to an F.C.Tucker Agent, who gave her kidney to a complete stranger as a Samaritan Donor in the Fall of 2009. God Bless her!

F.C. Tucker is so much more than a Real Estate Company – it’s the PEOPLE who make it special

Like the final award for the evening:

The Bud Tucker Volunteer of the Year Award, an annual award honoring an individual in his/her commitment to community service, or, as Fred’s father Bud once put it …Civic Duty- “The rent you pay back for the space you occupy”. Recapping the countless past winners and sharing the current vitae of this years recipient brought tears to Fred Tucker’s eyes as he brought up this years winner, with his wife and 2 sons appearing on stage to surprise him and share the moment!

The Banquet following the Awards presentation was filled with Food & Dance & Fun!  Gourmet Food Serving Stations with eclectic presentations i.e. pasta in martini glasses, stir fry in take out boxes, and lavish chocolate desserts! PLUS, a live band made up of TUCKERS own talented musicians and singers to rock the night away Mingling and networking galore with agents from all around the state for several more hours into the night!  FUN is an understated adjective to describe the evening.

I tell Jeff every year this gets better & better  – they out do themselves ?!  You just have to experience this event for yourself 1st hand...If you are considering a change in Real Estate Firms in Indiana - Talk To Tucker, so we can see you at next years celebration:)

Once a relocating client asked us what there was to do once the weather got cold in Indiana? We both answered simultaneously with a grim - BASKETBALL - college basketball that is

Here is a pictorial recap of just the past few weeks FUN.

#1 Notre Dame Vs. Central Florida(ok, so we also wanted to see Marcus Jordan play and to witness 1st hand the shoe choice he made but, his famous fatherMJ sat incognito somewhere in the Joyce Center/Purcell pavillion, so we didn’t get a glimpse of him

Although the game was tied 41-41 at half-time,The Local Favorite Notre Dame played a strong half to win 90-72!

Notre Dame Basketball in South Bend, Indiana	NW Indiana’s own Luke Harrangody(#44) from Schererville & Andrean High School !

#2 Purdue University Boilermakersvs. Valparasio University Crusaders @ Mackey Arena!

It is no secret we are a HOUSE Divided (Jeff went to IU and the girls Purdue)…so we took our youngest out to dinner in West Lafayette, IN(she’s a senior:) and experienced Mackey Arena LOUDNESS for the 1st time as # 4 ranked Purdue coach Matt Painter was classy enough to pull out all the starters with over 5 minutes left to play in the game.

The Northwest Indiana Locals-> Robbie Hummel (Valparaiso, IN) and E’twaun Morre (East Chicago, IN) were something to watch and Jeff’s prediction is that this team will play in the final 4 ( which is in Indy

Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN	See you at the Game! Family Fun in Indiana

# 3 Valparaiso University Crusadersvs. Toledo @ the ARC

We enjoy our Home Town Team Games and seeing past, present and future clients we serve in the community in which we live! VU games are fun for everyone and there is always an interesting half time show!

VU wins at Home against Toledo – this is OUR house	VU Student Super Fans always dress to surprise !
Catch the cash Halftime contest – one lucky winner collected $385. dollars from the basketball floor in seconds !!!	This AMAZING 66 year old grandfather shot FIFTY 3 pointers at halftime!!

This week some of our Experienced REALTORS of F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate got together for several events!

One was Virtual REBar Camp – some attended online from the comfort of their home, while a few of us went to our local Board of REALTORS in Merrillville, IN ( GNIAR ) and watched the informative break out sessions hosted there!

The information shared at this event was awesome. We all learned much to implement into business building that will benefit our clients! I am refreshed by the willingness of our TEAM to learn, grow and change with the times and embrace the new social media avenues!

The very next day we held our monthly F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate Round Table Event locally in the conference room @ Evelyn Bay Coffee Co. in Valpo. This is an event we look forward to montly as everyone brings something of value to the table!

If you remember last month – we all got LinkedIn feel free to link to us!

This month beside discussing the many of the latest REal Estate Topics i.e. The Local Market Statistics in Lake, Porter and La Porte Counties in NW Indiana, The Expanded and Extended Home Buyer Tax credits and local development issues and much more, – we also each wanted to share our Facebook Pages – so feel free to befriend us - just click on the name below to go to their Facebook Page!

pictured here :

Olga Kwolek

Ty Gammon - Your Neighborhood Matchmaker

Linda Littlejohn

F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate Serving NW Indiana

Not Pictured

Jeff Safrin

Irene Tron

Jess Tron

Jeff Safrin is a fan of

F.C.Tucker 1st Team Team Real Estate serving NW Indiana

Create your Fan Badge

If you follow our Blog, you know we are Local Fans of Valpo Crusader’s Basketball.

This week the 1st regular season home game is on Thursday, November 19th at the ARC – tip off 7:05 pm.

With alot of new team members on the Roster, this should be an interesting year!

It’s already off to an exciting start as the Valparaiso University Crusaders men’s Basketball Team came within 11 points of the ranked #6 University of North Carolina@ Chapel Hill Tar -Heels team this past weekend in a pre-season game!!!

so….

Come out and Be BOLD – wear GOLD – support your local college basketball team and bring your family and friends!

Tickets start @ just $7.00 and children under 2 are free.

Thanks for stopping by and reading our Blog about Life in NW Indiana, The Housing Market, Communities, Local Sports, Events, attractions & more @ NorthWestIndianaRealEstateBlog.com

 Sincerely,

Jeff & Grace Safrin,  Broker / Owners

F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate – Independently Owned & Operated

13 Lincolnway Suite # 203,  Valparaiso, IN 46383          Office # 219-309-9930

With the NEW Tax credit for existing home owners (of 5 years) who plan to sell and move up or downsize (up to $6,500).
PLUS
The extension of the 1st Time Home Buyer tax Credit (up to $8K)….
The Next 5 months window of opportunity is best captured when partnered with experienced Professional REALTORS.
Call us to represent you in your next property transaction. 219.405.1232.
Jeff Safrin – Real Estate Broker/Owner
Grace Safrin – Certified Residential Specialist
F.C. Tucker 1st Team Real Estate serving NW Indiana
“Spouses Selling Houses” TM

Thanks for stopping by and reading our Blog about Life in NW Indiana, The Housing Market, Communities, Local Sports, Events, attractions & more @ NorthWestIndianaRealEstateBlog.com

 Sincerely,

Jeff & Grace Safrin,  Broker / Owners

F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate – Independently Owned & Operated

13 Lincolnway Suite # 203,  Valparaiso, IN 46383          Office # 219-309-9930

Northwest Indiana has a great outdoor Mall near the Lake in Michigan City called Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets that is worth careful consideration for visiting if you are in the area!

With over 120 Stores of Brand names For Less, we rarely pay retail anymore without checking here first.

Labor Day weekend is their annual sidewalk sale where clearance prices are even more drastically reduced… ( i.e. last summer I found a Burberry Ladies sleveless cotton shirt in my size for THREE DOLLARS ).

Click Here For Driving Directions

This week we visited the outlet to do some shopping and although the weather was cloudy, the Mall was busy even on a weekday!

Should you visit this Mall – Stop off First at their welcome center (pictured at top) for a map and directory of all the shops and also visit their website to sign up online to receive notice of special events and coupons!

Happy Shopping

If we can help you relocate to NW Indiana,

give us a call @ 219-405-1232

Please feel free to click below to read / subscribe to our email newsletter with valuable Relocation Information.

NW INDIANA remains a Great REAL ESTATE MARKET check our past—> SOLD HOMES

Thanks for Visiting our Blog! To read more about local NW Indiana events, sports, and more, click our blog link below. For more homes for sale view our Other Listings @ www.safrin.net and client testimonials!

We are Your Local Experts for NW Indiana Real Estate.

Call or email us for a RELOCATION Package Today

Thanks for stopping by and reading our Blog about Life in NW Indiana, The Housing Market, Communities, Local Sports, Events, attractions & more @ NorthWestIndianaRealEstateBlog.com

 Sincerely,

Jeff & Grace Safrin,  Broker / Owners

F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate – Independently Owned & Operated

13 Lincolnway Suite # 203,  Valparaiso, IN 46383          Office # 219-309-9930

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