Articles Tagged "South Bend"

After a turbulent 2020, we're looking forward to a fresh start, and if you're anything like our real estate agents, you need ways to add color to your life. Each year, paint giants and color pros single out shades that perfectly capture the current moment. For 2021, the needle seems to be moving in a more subdued direction. The color choices are inspired by nature and the sense of calm, comfort, and wellness we've been craving the past year. Here are some of the colors you can incorporate into your home decor in 2021.

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Birdwatchers are known for maintaining a "life list" of birds they see. If you're a novice birdwatcher, you'll want to begin keeping your own life list, most likely starting with backyard birds — after you settle into your home of choice among South Bend homes for sale or other homes in nearby Berrien County. You may want to try feeding birds (seed, suet, and fresh water will attract many species) so you can learn common backyard birds. An app like the one the Audubon Society offers can help you with identification. 

Next, explore some nearby birding hotspots in Berrien County.

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There are many things to love about living in the Michiana area, including the incredible variety of dining options. If you love to eat out, you're not alone. Our real estate agents are constantly exploring local restaurants so they can offer recommendations to new residents. 

Since there are so many great Asian restaurants here, we were excited to learn that National Tempura Day is coming up on January 7th. Here are a few of the best local places for you to get your tempura fix. 

1. Woochi Japanese Fusion & Bar: 119 N. Michigan St., South Bend, IN 46601
   One of the top 10 fine dining destinations in the greater South Bend region, Woochi Japanese Fusion & Bar offers incredible sushi and Japanese dishes in a unique, upscale environment. If you're been looking at South Bend homes for sale, you'll definitely want to familiarize yourself with this incredible restaurant! They're known for their incredibly fresh seafood and a full bar that serves up some of the best martinis in the area. Start your evening off with some shrimp or vegetable tempura, then enjoy a hibachi entree, sushi platter, Asian fusion entree, or a rice or noodle dish.

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Winter is upon us in Michiana, the little corner of northern Indiana and southwestern Michigan centered around South Bend. Our real estate agents are excited to finally be able to get outside and enjoy some of our favorite winter sports.

The colder months have a lot to offer in the South Bend area, from skiing and snowboarding to sledding and winter hiking. Be sure to check out these fun winter hot spots this season!

• St. Patrick's County Park - 50651 Laurel Rd, South Bend, IN 46637
  St. Patrick's County Park is one of the most popular spots in the South Bend area for cross-country skiing. The park is home to many miles of trails, arranged in loops that give skiers plenty of options. The landscape of forests, meadows, ponds, and picturesque river frontage always provide interesting scenery. St. Patrick's County Park is minutes away from many South Bend homes for sale and is also a popular destination to spot bald eagles in the area.

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The COVID-19 pandemic, and the social distancing requirements that came with it, initially created a lot of chaos and inconvenience. However, as time goes on, we've all found creative ways to adapt. Some of the changes that were born out of necessity have now made life much easier.

The real estate industry is one place where going virtual has made a real difference. Our real estate agents love how much more convenient the buying process is for their clients. Here are a few of the ways social distancing has changed things for the better.

• Virtual Tours
  Virtual tours are the first option most buyers will explore when looking at South Bend homes for sale. These are short videos that show off the best features of homes listed on the market. While this is certainly nothing new, many buyers use them to narrow down their choices before going further.

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Video courtesy of Monica Murhpy, WNDU-16

The year 2020 has looked very different for all of us, and it is especially profound during the holiday season when people are not gathering as much as usual. Cressy & Everett Real Estate usually hosts annual holiday gatherings for their REALTORS and staff throughout the footprint of our 12 office locations in southwestern Michigan and northern Indiana. With the current events and commitment to respect the safety guidelines, the leadership team had to think outside of the box. They wanted to create the feeling and experience of bringing everyone together, but somehow do it safely. So something special was crafted and strategically executed. 

This year, Cressy & Everett ordered about 200 take-home family meals from South Bend's LaSalle Grill restaurant, the recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award for 25 straight years, and known for expertly crafted fresh, local, sustainable food. The meals were distributed to agents and staff over the course of 3 days at different locations convenient for pick up, and the meals fed agents and staff and their families in their homes but also provided a good measure of local support.

"2020 has been a difficult year for so many people, personally as well as in business. So, when we have a chance to give back to others, and when we have a chance to bring our agents and staff together, and have them share a moment like they are sharing this weekend with these meals, that's really special to us." said President John De Souza.

Each family meal box contained a house salad, entrees choices, multiple sides and a dessert. Company branded swag was also provided in a bag including some drinking tumblers, some food serving tongs, and a card from the partners thanking each person for his or her contribution to the company.

An opportunity like this not only feeds employees and their families, it helped support a local business as well. Cressy & Everett prides itself on having a presence and demonstrating what it means to be a good corporate citizen, with proactive volunteer, public service and real help in the communities where we live, work and raise our families. With "Giving Back" as one of our most important core values, it was great to see some employees choosing to pay-it-forward with their meal in sharing or giving away, or in their donation of their meal box to families in need or groups of front-line workers such as local hospital healthcare workers.

So, you're looking at South Bend homes for sale, and you see many different types of properties with different square footage and features. Should you buy a house? Or should you buy a condo? Each has its benefits and drawbacks. One has a pool and is close to downtown. The other has a fenced-in yard and is in the suburbs. Since homeownership and condo living are two different experiences, what you decide to buy will come down to your needs, preferences, and overall financial picture.

How Are Condos and Houses Different?

A condominium is a private residential unit within a larger building or complex. Condos are more like apartments, so they're a denser form of housing. Condo owners have full control over what happens inside their home, but the exterior of the building and common areas are owned and maintained by a condo board or homeowners association (HOA). Condos are usually found in more urban areas and are very popular with investors, downsizers, and first-time buyers.

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Thanksgiving dinner may look a bit different this year for most of us, so why not try something different for dessert? If you've been looking at South Bend homes for sale this fall, you'll probably also want to simplify your meal prep and perhaps skip the homemade pie. The good news? There are scores of fantastic recipes out there that prove Thanksgiving dessert doesn't have to be pie. 

Here are some new riffs on Thanksgiving dessert: 

1. Pumpkin Truffles
   Need that pumpkin fix? Pumpkin Truffles should do the trick. Plus, what's better than bite-size so that your guest can keep the sampling size down and try several different desserts? The ingredients are cream cheese and graham crackers, which hold everything together, plus confectioners' sugar, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and pumpkin puree. Include chocolate for dippings. The type of chocolate is up to you.
   
   This recipe takes some prep time, so be forewarned. The dough must be chilled for 3 hours; after the dough balls are formed, they must be refrigerated; and then the chocolate must be melted for dipping. The truffles are made of cream cheese, so this dessert should be chilled until served.

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When you move to a new community, there is a certain excitement that can be found in discovering a new restaurant, strolling through an art gallery, and cheering on the home team.  When you visit our city to tour South Bend homes for sale, you'll find plenty of dining, entertainment, art, and culture choices to enjoy with someone special

Our real estate agents live, work, and play in the local area. We invite you to stay in town after the sun goes down. To guide your date night adventure, we've created a list of 10 Things to Do in South Bend on Date Night.  

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Historic South Bend is Something Special to See

If you're an architecture aficionado in South Bend, Indiana, you're in luck. While the Windy City gets all the glory for its architecture tours, you don't have to drive all the way to Chicago to experience Art Deco office buildings from the 1920's or Classical Revival hotels from the 1890's. Right here in South Bend, we have more than 20 well-preserved buildings that show off the best of American and European architectural styles from the past 130 years. And on the first Friday of every month, a local history expert leads a downtown walking tour that highlights them.

"Then & Now: A Downtown South Bend Architecture Walking Tour" leaves at 5:30 from the American Trust Co. clock, and its route varies according to the season. Whether you're a history buff, an art student, or just a South Bend resident who's curious about the city you call home, this monthly walking tour is a great opportunity to learn more about our historic downtown area.

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Great photos are the reason one of our listings was singled out by the Trulia PR department and featured on the national morning show, Fox & Friends on August 9, 2013.  The home is located at 115 Hawthorne in South Bend, listed by Julie Owens from our Ironwood office.  Julie always hires a professional photographer to take the interior and exterior photos of her homes, and this time it really paid off.  

Trulia called Cressy & Everett's marketing director to ask permission to feature the home on today's morning segment named "Open Houses Key for Homebuyers?" and the importance of visiting open houses to get the feel of the neighborhood and the area.  The PR department told us this home was choosen because it was priced under $200,000, it was open this weekend and the photos were "gorgeous and stunning."   

"We are thrilled for our agent Julie Owens for the added exposure she is receiving for this home, and most importantly for the home seller." said Sherri Reiner, Director of Marketing.  "It's because Julie's attention to detail and hiring a professional photographer that this home is being aggressively marketed.  The home is being featured on Cressy & Everett's Home Show this weekend, and Julie is holding an open house on Sunday.  I am hopeful she will find a buyer very soon."

Special thanks to Trulia,  Fox & Friends and Michael Corbett to make this happen.  

(South Bend, IN– May 10, 2013)  Steve Deane, president of Cressy & Everett Real Estate, and Sue Cox, Vice President of Sales are pleased to announce that Quinn Thurin has accepted the position of Managing Broker of the Ironwood office located at 332 N. Ironwood Drive, South Bend, effective July 1, 2013.   In addition, he has been named a partner in the company. 

Quinn currently serves as President of the Greater South Bend / Mishawaka Board of REALTORS as well as serving on the Board of Directors for the Indiana Association of REALTORS.  "Quinn has earned a reputation of professionalism, honesty, high integrity, and a passionate commitment for service - all traits that as a company we hold in high regard." said Steve Deane, president.

Quinn, a South Bend native, and graduate of Notre Dame, joined Cressy & Everett in 1995.  He has been a consistent multi-million dollar producer, always in the top 10% of the St. Joseph County MLS, and a recipient of Cressy & Everett's Founders' Award.  

He is married and has two boys - 12 and 13.  He serves on a number of community groups such South Bend Rotary, Boy Scouts Troop 111, and has recently served as a board member of Northern Indiana Artists.