Opening Titles and Closing Remarks

We just finished compiling our monthly statistical package for September. A recent network upgrade put us behind the curve for a week or so, but we're caught up now.

Our property records data base shows that through September, the sale market in Monroe County continues steady and is off about 20% from a year ago. 

Total deed recordings in September were 165, compared to 210 in September 2007. For the year to date period, there were 1821 deed recordings compared to 2293 in 2007. Only deeds judged to represent a residential, commercial or vacant land sale transaction are included. Quit-Claim Deeds, deeds between related parties and Sheriff's Deeds, for example, are not counted.

Judging from media reports, we're faring much better than some other parts of the country. Actually, has anyone ever fared worse than media reports about anything? I don't think so.

Here's a chart that shows the last four years of so. If you like to receive our complimentary monthly statistical package, send an email to Tammy Walker , our Vice President of Sales.

For a city our size, Bloom® is a magazine of remarkable quality. Bloom® is the passion of editor and publisher Malcolm Abrams. Malcolm, a quintessential New Yorker with years of publishing experience, visited Bloomington a few years ago, fell in love with our city, relocated and decided to publish a city magazine.

For the most recent issue of Bloom®, Malcolm asked his readers several months ago to "take pictures of whatever caught their fancy on one day, Saturday, August 23."If you're from Bloomington or have visited here, you'll find the collection captures the quality of life that we would all miss if we left. If you've not been to Bloomington, you'll get a glimpse of what makes our city such a special place.

There's a link to Bloom® down the right side of this page. Take a few minutes to check it out. You will not be disappointed.

My favorite picture is the one Malcolm chose for the magazine cover; the Chocolate Moose by Domingo "Ding" Prud'homme. The Chocolate Moose is just down the street from my office and has achieved legendary status in the eyes of our employees; especially when one of them has a birthday. The picture captures the timelessness of the "Moose." It would be the same even if taken 30 years ago.

This issue of Bloom® also marked my debut as the author of a short column about the local housing market. If you have the opportunity to pick up a copy of the magazine (the column is not available in the online magazine) please check it out and let me know what you think.

You're going to hear this from me a number of times between now and year-end. If you purchased or are purchasing a new primary residence in Indiana this year, you need to go to the County Auditor's office (after closing) and file for or confirm your Homestead Tax exemption. You may also be eligible for other tax credits as well. You have until December 31^st to do this. Don't wait!

We get a few calls every year when (if?) tax bills come out, about tax bills that do not contain the Homestead credit. The difference in tax bills with and without is startling. Given Indiana's politicizing of the whole real estate tax process and the shoot from the hip approach to reform, next year the difference only stands to be greater.

You may have closed after July 1, 2008 and applied for the credit on the new sales disclosure form. This is only an application and does not guaranty that you will receive the credit. Follow up with the County Auditor and make certain that the credit is reflected in the Auditor's records. Only you can do this. Not the title company, not your Realtor®, and not your lender.

The County Auditor has no authority to retroactively apply a credit unless you can prove you applied and are entitled. Do it now, and save your receipt. You may need it. The burden of proof is on you in these situations.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.