March is the time of year when basketball fans get ready to see their favorite team go deep into the tournament. Especially this year for the women’s basketball programs of Indiana University & Notre Dame, as well as the Men’s programs of Indiana & Purdue.

So, how does this relate to our upcoming Spring Selling Season? It’s March and both the Indiana housing market and Indiana basketball teams are getting noticed and highly ranked within the US.

Did you know, that the housing market of Indiana is beating the national averages for home appreciation?

In my 20 year career as a real estate professional this has never happened. Over the past 5 years, home appreciation across the country has come in at 60%. This means that if you have owned a home for 5 years or more, your home has seen a 60% bump in value. In the state of Indiana, we’ve seen home prices jump at a rate of 65% over this same time period. You may be thinking this isn’t a huge difference, but considering that us Hoosiers are used to seeing very low gains in our housing appreciation, this is huge for us. As it relates to housing, the pandemic has taught us that a person’s home is more than bedrooms and bathrooms. It’s our kids school, it’s our office, maybe even multiple offices… it’s our workout, it’s our entertainment, it’s our garden, it’s our culinary pastime. A home is so much more than it used to be. With remote and flexible work, people are flocking to affordable markets where they can feel home and have some breathing room in their budget.

Enter Indiana

A place that is now getting national attention. Fort Wayne was recently named by the Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com as the “#2 Emerging Mid-Market” in the country. What does this mean for you? A recent study shows Americans have more equity than ever before. Almost 50% of mortgaged homes have 50% equity. This news is great for homeowners, and even better for Hoosiers.

Most people move because of a lifestyle decision. Perhaps moving closer to family, beginning a family, becoming empty-nesters, desiring more square footage, or post-pandemic housing needs such as; offices, home gyms, and outdoor living spaces. As equity is at an all time high, the opportunity for homeowners to grab a piece of that and use it for their next purchase makes sense. Even with higher interest rates. As long as the payment works into your lifestyle, there’s never been a better time to make this work for you.

Indiana basketball fans know that March Madness means the college basketball post season is here. This year we have teams that could take home a National Championship. We also learned that Indiana is beating the national average when it comes to the equity we’ve gained in our homes. This is a winning combination! Maybe this is your “One Shining Moment.” What’s the plan with your home’s Equity?