Dow AgroSciences–Dow AgroSciences, based in northwest Indianapolis, is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company and is focused on boosting agricultural productivity around the world. Career paths include research and development, sales and marketing, finance, human resources, law, and operations. Learn about careers at Dow AgroSciences.

Eli Lilly and Company—Lilly arguably is Indianapolis’ most well known corporate headquarters and is highly visible in the city through support of the arts, education and other endeavors. Of course, career opportunities with the global pharmaceutical company center on science and medicine, but great career paths in marketing, engineering, sales, human resources and public policy are to be had.  With more than $21.8 billion in sales in 2011, Lilly employs 37,000 people globally, with more than 10,000 employees in the Indianapolis area. Learn more about careers at Lilly.

Government—As the capitol of Indiana and the largest city in the state, Indianapolis employs a wide variety of city, state and federal workers. Learn about careers in Indianapolis government, Indiana government and federal government.

Healthcare—For a city its size, Indianapolis has a competitive hospital market, with major players Indiana University Health, St. Vincent Health, Community Health Network and Franciscan St. Francis Health. This translates to lots and lots of jobs in a very stable industry. Indianapolis also supports the state’s only medical school—the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Higher education—For those seeking jobs in higher education, Indianapolis is home to several universities, small and large. Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) is one of the nation’s largest and most vibrant commuter campuses and houses Indiana University’s schools of medicine, dentistry, law and nursing. It also includes Purdue’s engineering and business schools. Butler University, the University of Indianapolis, Marian University and Martin University are well-established Indianapolis institutions, and Indiana University, Purdue University and Ball State University are all within an hour’s drive of the city.

Interactive Intelligence—An industry leader, Interactive Intelligence Group, Inc. provides contact center automation, unified communications, and business process automation software and services for mid-size to large organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Interactive Intelligence has been named one of Indiana’s “Best Places to Work” for several years running (including 2012). Career paths include engineering, IT, sales and marketing, education and training and accounting and finance. Learn more about careers at Interactive Intelligence.

Roche Diagnostics—Roche Diagnostics’ U.S. headquarters in Indianapolis employees more than 4,000. Indianapolis employees oversee the company’s U.S. research & development, sales, commercial operations, laboratory, manufacturing, distribution, IT and corporate operations in support of five diagnostics business areas. Roche has played a prominent role in Indianapolis’ life sciences initiative. Learn more about careers at Roche.

Rolls-Royce—Calling engineers! Did you know that Rolls-Royce, the major jet engine manufacturer, has a facility in Indianapolis? With more than 4,000 employees, it’s the largest Rolls-Royce operation outside of the UK. Employees here design, develop and manufacture products for the civil and defense aerospace markets, including engines for corporate and regional aircraft, and helicopter and defense products. Learn more about careers at Rolls-Royce.

WellPoint—Listed among the Fortune 100, WellPoint is a major player in health insurance and headquartered in downtown Indianapolis. Career paths include actuarial, IT, business development, marketing and communications, finance and underwriting. Learn more about careers at WellPoint.

And, if you are a company considering Indiana for your headquarters, here are 100 reasons why our state TOPS the list when it comes to business-friendly turf!

Indianapolis Indians Baseball: Monday, May 7 through Thursday, May 31—Take me out to the ball game! The Indians have 14 home games scheduled for the month of May, so you shouldn’t have any problem getting your dose of American’s favorite pastime. Details >>

Opening Day for the 2012 Indianapolis 500: Saturday, May 12—Opening Day features the Celebration of Automobiles Vintage and Historic Car Show for car buffs, the pace car presentation and practice for the drivers. Details >>

Indianapolis 500 Kids’ Day: Saturday, May 12—New this year, kids can ride a 70-foot Ferris wheel, race remote-controlled cars and test their skills in a race car simulator. The fun-filled day also includes the 500 Festival Rookie Run for kids ages 3-12, more than 10,000 prizes, race-themed arts and crafts, games, face painting, tons of entertainment, food and so much more! It’s fun for the whole family and absolutely FREE! Details >>

National Bike to Work Day: Friday, May 18—Take advantage of Indy’s new bike lanes and other great biking paths, like the Monon Trail, and ride to work on two wheels. All bicycling commuters are invited to stop first at the Indianapolis City Market, where they will be treated to FREE bicycle parking, breakfast, giveaways and information about bicycling. Details >>

500 Festival Breakfast at the Brickyard: Saturday, May 19—Legendary “spin and win” Indianapolis 500 champion Danny Sullivan is the guest speaker for  the 2012 Breakfast. Guests will enjoy a hearty Hoosier breakfast, take a lap around the famed oval in their own vehicle, tour the garages and experience Pole Day Qualifying immediately following the event. The 2012 500 Festival Queen will also be crowned. Details >>

Pole Day Qualifications for the 2012 Indianapolis 500: Saturday, May 19—Who will earn the coveted pole position for the race? Come out to the track and see! Details >>

Broad Ripple Art Fair: Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20—One of my favorite events of the year and a sure sign that summer is here! This year’s fair will feature more than 225 artists from the U.S. and Canada, booths from local cultural organizations, a children’s creative area, gourmet food courts, a beer and wine garden and live entertainment on four stages. All proceeds from the Art Fair directly benefit Art Center programs. Details >>

Indianapolis 500 Community Day: Wednesday, May 23—Ever want to take a lap around the 500 track? Now you can! Experience the oval in your own car before the real race cars hit the track just four days later! Details >>

Indianapolis 500 Memorial Service: Friday, May 25—A wreath-laying ceremony dedicated to the memory of all Hoosiers in all wars and conflicts who sacrificed their lives in defense of the nation will take place while the names of those Indiana servicemen and women who have fallen within the past year will be read aloud. Details >>

Carb Day featuring Lynyrd Skynyrd: Friday, May 25—Legendary Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd rocks the track, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Details >>

Indianapolis 500 Parade: Saturday, May 26—Join 300,000 other race fans in downtown Indianapolis for this slice of Americana! The Indianapolis 500 Parade will also be broadcast locally on WISH-TV and nationally on NBC Sports Network. Details>>

Snakepit Ball: Saturday, May 26—Dress in your black-tie attire and come out to see the stars at the Indiana Roof Ballroom! Rick Springfield performs! Details >>

Indianapolis 500: Sunday, May 27—Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! It’s Race Day! It’s been an amazing month of fun and celebration. Cheer your favorite driver and enjoy! Details >>

The show takes place in 1965, so Mrs. Olsen’s reaction may seem quite old-fashioned when viewed through the lens of today’s “anything goes” culture. But was Peggy’s mom on to something?

A recent must-read column in the New York Times suggests that she was. According to the article, while two-thirds of 20-somethings say that moving in together is a good way to test the waters before marriage, and therefore avoid divorce, research shows that couples who live together before marriage (and especially before an engagement or an otherwise clear commitment) “tend to be less satisfied with their marriages — and more likely to divorce — than couples who do not.”

Why is this? Meg Jay, a clinical psychologist and author of the column, describes a phenomenon called “sliding before deciding.” You’re together all the time, you sleep over frequently and then voila—you’re living together, more for reasons of convenience and finance than real commitment. And once this arrangement begins, it’s hard to get out of, especially if you buy furniture, a pet or even a home together. Jay compares it to opting in for a credit card with zero percent interest for the first year. After 12 months, the interest shoots up to 23 percent; you haven’t paid off the balance and, whoa—you’re locked in.

I do tend to be of the conservative persuasion, like Mrs. Olsen. In addition to the social implications of the living-together-before-marriage trend, which I find fascinating, I of course am interested in the real estate implications. After all, nearly 40 percent of all closings that I attend are for non-traditional buyers, and statistics show that more than eight percent of all owner-occupied homes in the U.S. are owned by unmarried couples.

Before you get into what could turn out to be a bad situation (some say a breakup between two unmarried people who own property together can be worse than a divorce), here are some big issues you should take into consideration:

• What if you buy a house together and you eventually break up? This is a significant consideration given that almost half of unmarried couples break up within five years, and unmarried couples do not have the benefit of legal protections that married couples enjoy. To protect yourself, it’s of utmost importance to put the answer to this question in writing. Work with an attorney to draw up a Home Sharing Agreement, which will spell out your individual rights and responsibilities with respect to the property as you purchase your new home and on an ongoing basis.
• What if one of us doesn’t want to sell the home after a break up? If there is no Home Sharing Agreement and you break up, you can mutually decide what happens to the home. If the house has no mortgage, then one party can simply sign a quit-claim deed and remove all rights to the home. This makes sense if the home has little or no equity. However, if there is a mortgage on the property in both names, you cannot simply quit-claim your interest and walk away. That mortgage and debt impact will influence your credit (and buying potential) until the home is eventually sold or refinanced. Therefore, it’s critical that if a partner is keeping the house, he MUST refinance the loan into just his name. If the remaining partner cannot get approved for the loan solo, then the property must be sold to protect the displaced mate’s credit and financial responsibility for the home.
• What if you move in to a home that your partner already owns and you then break up? It doesn’t matter how much money you put toward maintenance, improvements and other expenses. The home is in your partner’s name, which means you will have no legal recourse should you break up.
• What if one person owns the house and there is a death? Because of this possibility, it’s important to write the deed in both of the couple’s names with “rights of survivorship,” even if only one person is financially responsible on the mortgage.  If the title is NOT set up this way, the house will go to the next of kin of the “owner.”

Although many unmarried couples slip into their living arrangements because of convenience, living together brings up all kinds of legal considerations, especially when an unmarried couple buys a home together.  Although you may think that you don’t need a piece of paper to prove your love, you should at the very least have a home sharing agreement to protect your interests. Marriage shouldn’t be entered into lightly, and neither should living together. To echo Peggy’s mom, don’t sell yourself short.

This is the number-one question I get as a Realtor today, and the answer is always YES—in this market, to sell your home, you have to make updates. In short, your home must be in PERFECT condition to compete.

Here’s why:

It’s a fact: Your home needs to be updated and immaculate to compete in this market!

Current buyers have no CASH to make updates and modifications after closing. Move-up buyers are choosing homes that are perfect so they can finance in all the updates into their low-interest loans.

Here is a breakdown of their scenario:

During the housing boom of 5-7 years ago, thousands of buyers in the Indianapolis area purchased their very first home, mostly in the $100,000-$200,000 range. Now those buyers, who make up the bulk of buyers currently in the market for a new home, are looking to upgrade by purchasing a newer, larger home. The thing is, lending was loose when these buyers purchased, and most buyers did “zero down” during those boom times. Fast forward to today and the now sellers owe almost as much on their mortgage as they did when they purchased their home, and unfortunately, their homes are barely worth the original top-of-the-maret purchase prices. Then to add more difficulty, in today’s tightened lending climate, lenders require a minimum of 5% down on conventional mortgages and 3.5% on FHA mortgages. On top of that, closing costs and fees gobble up 8-10% of a home’s selling price.

Check out the math in this real scenario:

A homeowner sells her starter home:

Home purchased 6 years ago with $0 down: $144,000

Mortgage balance: $136,000

Negative equity after selling expenses: ($6,000) – cash seller needs to bring in order to sell

That homeowner then purchases a larger home:

New home purchase price: $310,000

Closing costs for purchase:  $3,000

Unless these home sellers have a lot of money in their bank account, it’s easy to see that they will have little money to spend updating their new home. Money isn’t the only thing today’s buyers have in short supply. Most of today’s home buyers lack both time and DIY skills.  As a result, today’s buyers seek out homes that are in perfect condition—“cream puff” homes, as I like to call them. A Realtor may show a buyer 20 houses, and the buyer will snatch up the one in the best condition. To compete in this buyers’ market, homes need to have updated appliances, newer flooring, perfect paint, updated light fixtures and nice curb appeal. And it goes without saying, homes on the market need to be eat-off-the-floor clean and clutter-free.

So while my news that you have to make some updates to compete in this buyers’ market may be hard to take (I don’t sugar-coat things), remember that I’m your real estate consultant, and I’m looking out for your best interests as a seller. I’ve sold dozens of homes in this down market, and I know what it takes to sell homes quickly. Just check out my past clients’ reviews on Angie’s List to see what they have to say about my results. Remember: The sooner you sell your home, the sooner you can get into your new home with great interest rates! I just refinanced at 2.75% WOW!

Wanting a change of pace from our usual frantic routine, we strolled leisurely along the historic Indianapolis Central Canal, taking in the budding greenness and public art all around us as rollerbladers and cyclists whizzed by. It seems that most of Indy’s population had the same idea that we did! As a Realtor, I of course couldn’t help noting all of the great condo buildings lining the canal as we walked. What a fantastic place to call home in Indianapolis! AJ and I eventually stopped our wandering, bought some lemonade from a stand and spread a blanket on the grass to soak in the early spring sun and people-watch. Really, could a Sunday afternoon in Indianapolis be more perfect?

While we kept it simple, there is so much to do and see in White River State Park, Indiana’s only urban state park. In addition to welcoming green spaces, the park, situated on 250 acres, is home to some of Indianapolis’ most popular and treasured cultural attractions including the Indianapolis Zoo, the Eiteljorg Museum, the Indiana State Museum, the NCAA Hall of Champions, Victory Field (home of the Indianapolis Indians), the Lawn at White River State Park (a fun outdoor concert venue) and the state’s largest IMAX theater.

On our next trip to White River, I want to tour the park on rented Segways and maybe even take a pedal-boat ride. Dessert at Creation Café on the north end of the canal would be the icing on the cake (yum).

Here are some don’t miss events this season:

March 27-31 – Pinewood Derby
April 14 – Komen Race for the Cure
April 28 – Earth Day Indiana Festival
May 4 – Rise Against concert on The Lawn
June 8 – Zoobilation
June 23-24 – 20th Annual Eiteljorg Indian Market & Festival
July 29 – Florence + The Machine concert on The Lawn
August 6-10 – Elephant Awareness Week at the Indianapolis Zoo
September 16 – Hispanic Heritage Fiesta

Check the White River State Park events calendar for much more, including ongoing exhibits and awareness runs.

So Naptown started out as a hip reference to one of the great jazz centers of the ’20s, only to devolve later in the century into a derogatory term referring to a boring, sleepy town. But, like so many fashions, what was out is in again! Over the past decade or so, Naptown has become a term of endearment for our city. It’s been adopted by everyone from the Naptown Roller Girls to Naptown Stomp (a swing dance group) to various businesses around Indianapolis (Crossfit Naptown, Naptown Records, Naptown Chickens, even). Rappers use the nickname in their music, and denizens of Indianapolis and Annapolis, Maryland, argue in online forums over which city has dibs on the designation Naptown.

What do you think? Should Indianapolis embrace the term Naptown? Does it represent a unique branding opportunity for our city, as this blogger suggests? Or do you prefer “Indy” or “Circle City”? Let me know in the comments!

In today’s challenging market, it’s not surprising. According to a 2010 survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors, FSBO homes accounted for nine percent of all homes on the market, compared to 11 percent in the 2009 survey. This is down significantly from 1997’s peak of 18 percent. The survey further indicated that unrepresented sellers had the most difficulty getting the right price, preparing the home for sale, understanding and performing paperwork, and selling within the planned length of time.

Sellers are realizing that the commission paid to professional REALTORS is worth the money for the services and value they bring to the transaction, especially in today’s market. As conventional wisdom says, oftentimes you have to spend money to make money.

These are the services a good agent (like our Indy Homes Team) will render for sellers:

• To sell a home, it needs the broadest exposure possible to attract the right buyer. Realtors have access to the Broker Listing Cooperative, a huge database where they can advertise their homes for sale to attract interest. Buyers agents use the BLC to search out appropriate homes to show their clients, and buyers themselves often access the BLC (like the version we offer on indyhomes.com) when doing their own online research.
• REALTORS market homes in other ways—through ads, direct mail, broker-to-broker communications and online, for example—and pay for this marketing out of their own pocket.
• Realtors can often devote more time to showing a home than the owner can.
• Realtors screen potential buyers to ensure that they are prequalified for a mortgage and therefore can afford the home. No wasting time with unqualified leads.
• According to the NAR survey, homes sellers represented by agents sell their homes more quickly. This is because REALTORS have valuable experience correctly pricing homes and know how to prepare and stage a home for sale.
• A good REALTOR is adept at negotiating for the best deal and will ensure that your sale stays on track.

Are you trying to sell your home yourself or are you considering it? Let me show you how I can help you. Contact me—I’ll prepare a free comparable market analysis and schedule an appointment to meet with you.

“Super Bowl XLVI’s Real Winner? Indianapolis!” – Forbes.com

“Super Bowl 2012 Erases Indianapolis Image As Naptown” – Huffington Post

“Hate to admit it, but Indianapolis has been best Super Bowl site ever” – Baltimore sportscaster Nestor Aparicio

And the kudos go on and on—for our walkable downtown with its great restaurants and bars, for the incredibly fun and festive Super Bowl Village and, of course, for our storied Hoosier Hospitality.

With my husband at the Rolling Stone party

My Super Bowl week consisted of a flurry of activity—starting with coordinating rental agreements for 15 clients’ homes and renting out my own home (I had sooo hoped that Madonna would rent it—I even tweeted her some pics!). Throughout the week, I also took in several of the outdoor concerts at the Super Bowl Village, did the NFL experience, shopped at The Huddle and attended the Jeff Saturday fundraiser/dance party at the Skyline Club. Time seemed to fly by at Saturday’s Rolling Stone party with its Miami-like scene. LMFAO, Cobra Starship and Gym Class Heroes performed, and it was so awesome to rub elbows with so many sports and Hollywood celebrities!

What incredible memories! I was so proud to see my adopted hometown put its best foot
forward and for others to recognize its unsung charms. Now the rest of the country knows
what makes our city so SUPER!

Check out the Indianapolis Star‘s cool time-lapse video of some of the week’s action:

Two hours later… ding-dong at my door. WOW! This neighborhood Girl Scout was on it, but she had to be. This girl’s goal was to sell 1,000 boxes! That’s $3,500 worth of cookies and a huge lesson in managing money.

Two days later, I received an articulate email from a SECOND GRADER asking me to buy cookies. She also sent this great video:

Are you surprised that so many successful business and career women got their start selling Girl Scout cookies? For many girls, including me, selling Girl Scout cookies is their first taste of entrepreneurship.

Why Girl Scout cookies?

According to the Girl Scouts, the activity of selling cookies is directly related to the organization’s purpose of helping all girls realize their full potential and become strong, confident, and resourceful citizens. As a strong, successful female entrepreneur, I’m thrilled that so many girls get this opportunity.

Specifically, through the Girl Scout cookie program  girls develop five essential skills:

• Goal setting
• Decision making
• Money management
• People skills
• Business ethics

So where does the $700 million that the Girl Scout cookie program generates go? Back to the girls’ communities.  Girls set cookie goals to support their chosen activities for the year, to fund community service and leadership projects, to attend summer camp, to travel to destinations near and far and to provide events for girls in their community.
As the Girl Scouts say, “Every cookie has a mission: To help girls do great things.”

Support your local Girl Scouts by buying a few boxes of Thin Mints, Trefoils or Samoas. (Find the Girl Scout cookie booth nearest you.) By doing so, you’re helping to develop a new generation of female leaders!

Share your Girl Scout cookie sale memories in the comments, and tell me what your favorite Girl Scout cookie is! (Mine is Samoa… yum!)

Forget cooking for two weeks. Instead, belly up to a delectable nightly meal in one of downtown’s hottest restaurants.  Hightail it over to Indianapolis’ biggest showcase of food and drink with Devour Downtown Winter Jan. 9 – 22.

Be sure to let me know when you will be heading out. Dining is always fun with friends, and we would love to gather and meet you out one night! See you then.

Wintertime icicles may look charming, but they usually signal a serious — and  potentially costly — problem. Often lurking behind that thick ridge of ice on  your roof is a pool of melted water, hence the term ice dam. That accumulated  water can work its way under roof shingles and into the home, causing  significant damage to ceilings, walls, and floors. Additionally, the sheer  weight of the ice dam often causes gutters and downspouts to pull away from the  house, sometimes bringing the fascia boards with them. Preventing ice dams helps avoid damage and costly repairs.

According to several psychologists, when you share your goals outloud, you get the psychological satisfaction of accomplishing the goal without having to actually do the work. In other words, talking becomes a substitute for doing.

In studying the research of several psychologists, including Kurt Lewin, Wera Mahler, and Peter Gollwitzer, you find data that goes against conventional goal-setting wisdom.

So, what do you think? Should you go public with your goals or not?

At the Indy Homes Team, we are setting goals — both professional and personal — for each team member. We believe that being balanced in all areas of life leads to greater success.

As you’re setting the course for your finances, career growth, family, and health, don’t forget to plan a few vacations and trips to keep you feeling refreshed and, therefore, more productive when you’re in your normal routine.

Let us know what you are doing regarding 2012 goals in the comments below.

When I planned my New York City Fall girls trip, I knew my one goal was to not only go to The Today Show, but somehow get a photo with Matt Lauer. When I found out that Coldplay was in concert on The Plaza while in NYC, I thought that would be the perfect day to meet Matt plus see one of my favorite bands play.

That Friday morning, we woke up at 4 a.m. and were at Rockefeller Center by 4:45 a.m. At that time, there were already THREE blocks of people in line (they began lining up at 1 a.m.) and well over 1,000 people waiting to see Chris Martin and the band.

Oh my. I was immediately crushed. How could I possibly get close enough to see the concert, let alone meet Matt Lauer?

It didn’t happen.

So, on Tuesday morning, I woke up early and tried again. When I arrived at The Plaza at 4:45 a.m. the second time, I WAS FIRST IN LINE. Yahoo! Even had fun meeting new friends during the long wait until 7 a.m. when the show began. I had a great front row spot and worked my magic to get on TV four times. Plus I met Matt and got this awesome picture!

The trip was perfect and great memories were made by all.

“Cause I can’t stop the war
Shelter the homeless, feed the poor
Can’t walk on water, I can’t save your sons and daughters
I can’t change the world to make things fair
The least that I can do is care”

I understand that these are rough times for so many, and we’re probably all a bit jaded by war, the bad economy and the hijinks of our politicians, but we don’t have to be have the selflessness of Mother Theresa or Oprah’s money to make a difference in the world. Caring is a good first step, but ANYONE can make a difference in the lives of others.

Consider Alex Scott, the 4-year-old cancer patient who started her own lemonade to raise money for pediatric cancer research, and raised more than $1 million by the time she passed away at the age of 8. Today, kids and adults around the world carry on her legacy by hosting their own lemonade stands to raise funds for the foundation created by Alex’s parents.

Or Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS Shoes, who recognized the crucial need for shoes for children in third-world countries after traveling in Argentina. He founded TOMS with the simple premise of giving a pair of shoes to needy children for every pair of shoes he sold. Today, his company has given away more than one million pairs of shoes.

These examples show how ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference in the world. But taking the initiative to help others doesn’t have to result in something as significant as a social movement or a business. Small acts of kindness can make an incredible impact too. For example, I was having a bad day recently when a total stranger smiled at me as I passed her in a busy store. She’ll never know how much her bright smile

lifted my spirits. It was a simple reminder that our actions, big and small, impact everyone around us. Sure, as individuals, we can’t end the injustices of the world. But we can choose to do good, and small acts can ripple farther out then we might imagine. All it takes is caring, followed by action.

So the next time you hear these lyrics from Kid Rock, “I hear screaming on the left, yelling on the right; I’m sitting in the middle trying to live my life,” know that you can do so much more by taking small action steps than sitting still “in the middle.”

For ideas on spreading kindness and generosity in the world, check these out:

50 Simple Ways to Pay It Forward

Helpothers.org

RandomActsofKindness.org

KindnessMovement.org