Type:  Traditional

Age:   Built in 1995

Location:   Near US 31 and State Road 32

Neighborhood:   Willow Creek

Square footage:  4058 including 1428 square feet in the unfinished basement

Rooms:   This four-bedroom home has a large kitchen, two-story entry, family room, formal dining room, separate living room, sunroom, and master suite with vaulted ceilings, private bath and an expansive walk-in closet.

Strengths:  This home has a spacious wood paneled sunroom, large fully fenced backyard, back deck, and a desirable cul-de-sac lot.  The basement could be finished for a reasonable price to add 1400 more square feet of living space.

Challenges:  This home is the largest and arguably one of the nicest in the subdivision. The upstairs carpet color in some rooms is not neutral and may not appeal to the average buyer.

WHAT’S IT WORTH?    $235,000

Type:  Ranch

Age:   Built in 2002

Location:   Near State Road 32 and Springmill Road

Neighborhood:   Quail Ridge offers residents well maintained common areas, ponds, and a community playground.

Square footage:  1440 square feet

Rooms:   This three bedroom ranch has two full baths, an open floor plan, large great room, dining area, kitchen with quality oak cabinets, and a master suite with a walk-in closet.

Strengths:  This home has a private backyard that backs up to a wooded area.  There is a brand new sprinkler park within walking distance from this home.  This home is in good condition and has great curb appeal.  

Challenges:  According to the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors, the average days on the market for a home in the $100-150K price range in this area is just shy of three months.

WHAT’S IT WORTH?    $130,000

Conventional mortgage money has tightened up recently as a result of the increasing amount of foreclosures. Basically, rates are linked to credit ratings and the bar is set much higher now than in the past.  For example, someone with a 720 credit score, typically considered great buyer, has no issues with interest rates on conventional financing and 5% down-payment.  However, as you move to the mid-600 credit scores (considered reasonable in the past) expect the interest rate to jump up 1.5- 2% higher than the previous norm while the down-payment may be 20%. 

Most lenders are favoring FHA loans (government backed) for these cases where rates are not tied as tightly to credit ratings.

The difference between success and failure in sports may be a fraction of a second.  The difference in business success and failure doesn’t seem to be as close at first glance, but it is.  Making it, and not making it, can be due to the smallest of margins.  The slightest edge can propel you from the back of the pack to the front.  The edge is having written goals.  It is easy to go into the office or the shop and put out fires.  To keep busy doing aimless activities that seem important at the time.  I heard recently from Brian Buffini, professional business coach, ”Many of us aim for nothing and hit it with amazing accuracy!”  Where is your focus without a target?  We rely on the gut feeling to direct our lives.  Wouldn’t you prefer to have the control of making decisions based upon what you really want instead of a knee-jerk reaction when the pressure is on?  Write on your calendar a block of time that is dedicated to breaking down what you want, why you want it, and what steps you will do to get there. 

Business is only one of five interlinked categories that you should evaluate to make your life more effective and fulfilling.  Reflect on your Spiritual Goals, Family Goals, Business Goals, Financial Goals, and Personal Goals.

Spiritual Goals— I wouldn’t leave this blank unless you feel that you may be the first human to live forever.

Family Goals—Visualize the big picture and then weekly activities and block time for them.

Business Goals- These should be specific and measurable.  For example, my real estate business is largely by referral and my goal is to receive 200 referrals for home sellers and buyers this year.  I am committed to these referred clients and ensure that they are the highest priority, treated like royalty, and the person who referred them is acknowledged as the key to my business success.

Financial goals—In addition to revenue from business, consider other sources of investment income, reflect on what motivates you, and take action to get the funds.

Personal goals—Think about what makes you happy.  Do you want to get fit?  Get more educated about a subject?  Have more time off?  Feel the desire to help others in need?  Start with the end in mind and work backward to establish daily tasks.

When written goals in these five areas of your life are your priorities, you can’t help but be more effective and fulfilled.  It is time for you to use “The Edge”.