New Post Finally

How can two weeks go by sooo quickly? I was really enjoying the blogging and then got caught up in the hum drum of life and haven't been back in the saddle for two weeks.

I did write an ariticle about new homes in Indiana, and really the article applies to homes in every place. It's important to note that all areas have a Commissioner or Councilman like we do that actually says things like "I don't want those kind of people living in my community." Yes it's patently racist and probably fascist, but it's accepatable in a culture that says if you're afraid you're allowed to say horrible things.

New Home Blueprint #1 (I'll be writing a series of articles over the next 20 weeks)
Why all the battles between home builders and politicians lately?

There is a battle at hand … and that battle is for the heart of our economy. You may think that a reference to the steel industry or manufacturing comes next … NO!

The heart and soul of Porter County’s economy is construction. More specifically construction of new homes. While other industries have fallen or left, construction has continued at a break-neck pace heretofore unmatched in the history of this region. With interest rates at 30 year lows and population growth rates expected to double in the future, that demand will continue. Mark this comment for posterity, people want new homes. Some politicians may be “against” new homes, some politicians may even try to take options away from the people … but people create a demand for new homes not the much degraded and downtrodden home builder.

While Northwest Indiana continues to see continuous growth in the home building industry, we raise the question – when will housing for regular people be ended? Are those days gone we ask? Possibly…and how unfortunate and how foolish that would be. If our economy is to grow, regular families with good jobs and strong commitments to community will need places to live. Some county politicos may not want “those people” living close … but I sure do. Now it’s one thing to take pot-shots at politicos, but the question we all need to ask is: what can we really do about maintaining housing for porter county’s workers?

Some action steps:
1. Inform your county commissioners and councilmen that you are firmly for economic development and the creation of jobs for real working people. Real people that have to have a place to live. Real people who should have the option of buying a new home if they so choose.

2. If you own your home, take a serious look at the home buying options in the market today. A scare tactic is sophomoric but it is true that we won’t maintain 30 year lows on long term interest rates for ever. You may want to buy a home now … they only go up in price.

3. If you are a renter. STOP RENTING. Did you know that when the county council passes the small income tax increase that is required to become part of the RDA, a terrific economic development vehicle, that about half that income tax will go to reducing the property tax on “owner occupied” homes? If you rent you’ll never see that benefit.

If you rent, you’re losing out on the federal tax benefit of a mortgage interest deduction.

If you rent, you’re losing out on the chance to ride the appreciation wave that only housing seems able to maintain. We’ve increased housing values every year since 1981. That’s a pretty accurate gauge of investment potential

4. If you are a business owner looking to grow in Porter County, make sure you are loud and clear in your support for access to housing for working people. Your employees need to have homes, homes that are safe, homes that will appreciate, homes that they can be proud to own.

5. If you are a politician. Woe to you that attack the “preponderance” of new homes overtaking out county. Such small minded scare tactics will merely banish you from constructive talk about quality of life in our great county. Your constituents want new homes. You have no right to take their options away from them. Worse, you could be helping local companies make the decision to eliminate workers or even outsource overseas just to make your neighborhood “upper class.” Can you afford to alienate the entire middle income population of Porter County? Can you afford to have the next outsource laid at your feet?


Why the angst, you may question? Ah, the culmination of the point … the dénouement they call it in literature.

A new home in Porter County can no longer be built for less than $100,000! Not with local agencies pocketing thousands for “tapping” into sewers … Mind you the actual cost of a “tap” is only about $200 total they just grab more. Not with the county’s foolish Open Space Ordinance written specifically to keep “those people” out and only allow big estate homes on multi acre lots. Not with the current mind-set among politicians that the home builder, once a prized profession, is the enemy of society or worse the “easy” guy to tax. One Porter County city, even suggested raising their permit fees 200% … why you ask … because they had more people doing the same job and therefore deserved more money.

It’s high time we rekindled our commitment to workers in Porter County and home buying options aplenty for all our citizens.

Steve Dalton
Synergy Homes


Next: New Homes Blueprint #2 How do I choose a new home builder, there’s so many!