A former Employment Review's"best place to live and work," Indianapolis has only added to its luster with more accolades.
"Employment Review also cited the city's diverse economic base, with industries ranging from retail to manufacturing, that have led to steady growth," says Realtor Pam Reeves. "Indianapolis ranked fifth on Entrepreneur magazine's 1996 list of the 30 best cities for small business. Among the strategies the magazine cited for ensuring small-business success in Indianapolis are nurturing strong public-private collaborations, encouraging small firms to enter the global arena, and creating a competitive banking climate that has led to a growing trend of downsized executives purchasing small manufacturing firms in the area.
"Indianapolis was also named one of the top 10 metropolitan areas in the country for offering residents the opportunity for financial security," says Reeves. "ReliaStar Financial Corp. in Minneapolis mentioned the high participation of Indianapolis residents in retirement savings plans, Indianapolis' high average household income of $61,459, and its low housing costs. Indianapolis was cited as one of the top 10 metropolitan areas in the nation for business success, by Cognetics, a research firm in Cambridge, Mass. Cognetics used a formula that took into account how many new businesses were started and what percentage of them have grown significantly in the past four years. Among the characteristics that business hot spots have in common: proximity to universities and hub airports, a skilled labor pool, a pleasant climate, and recreational opportunities."
"Right now in Central Indiana it is an awesome market but many of the homes need a longer marketing period to sale," says Realtor Shari Mills. "The average buyer has the opportunity to tour an average of 10-12 homes before making a decision, and then negotiating the best price and terms."
She advises, "As a buyer there are three things you can do to ensure you get the home you really want: know what you need in a home; get your full loan approval before going home shopping, and; get the market value comparables from your agent then offer what it is worth, you do not want to lose your dream home because you wanted to deal!"
"My best advise to sellers is set your price competitively the first time. Then review it every 30 days till it has an offer to purchase. Get rid of clutter. Offer to assist with closing costs up front. Create the best curb appeal that you can. Let the natural light in.Focus on your walls. And, be flexible."
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Published: July 20, 2004
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