January Single-Family Building Permits Off to Accelerated Start
Indianapolis, IN – The Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI) announced that in the Greater Indianapolis nine-county area, single-family building permits are up 45% from January last year with 772 permits compared to 534 in January 2020, which had already seen an 18% uptick over the start to the previous year. “The demand for new […]
Bagi Scholarships: Building The Future Of Our Industry
Now more than ever, we need people entering the skilled trades to assist with housing efforts. To help build up our industry, BAGI is committed to enhancing career opportunities and addressing the labor shortage through educational initiatives, workforce training and our annual scholarship program.
2020 Home-A-Rama Virtual Experience – now free and available to all
January 21, 2021: This year, First Internet Bank Home-A-Rama debuted an all NEW Virtual Experience. This allowed many out-of-town guests, relocating customers, and home-bound attendees the chance to still fully experience everything Home-A-Rama has to offer! The 2020 Home-A-Rama Virtual Experience is now free and available to all! Explore each of our eleven […]
Single-Family Building Permits Close the Year with Confidence
Indianapolis, IN – The Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI) announced that in the Greater Indianapolis nine-county area, single-family building permits closed out 2020 with an impressive 82% increase, with 788 permits compared to 433 in December of 2019. Year over year, 8,669 permits were filed in 2020, rising 24% compared to last year at […]
Single-Family Building Permits Continue to Climb in November
The Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI) announced that in the Greater Indianapolis nine-county area, single-family building permits saw yet another 47% increase this past month, pulling 694 permits compared to 472 in November 2019, with only Marion County posting a deficit. Year over year, 2020 permits continue to climb and are up 21% over […]
October Single-Family Building Permits See Continued Increase
Indianapolis, IN – The Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI) announced that in the Greater Indianapolis nine-county area, single-family building permits saw a 47% increase last month with 904 permits compared to 615 in October 2019, the largest increase yet this year. Year over year, 2020 permits are up 18% over last year at this […]
September Spike in Single-Family Building Permits
Indianapolis, IN – The Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI) announced that in the Greater Indianapolis nine-county area, single-family building permits saw a 45% increase last month with 819 permits compared to 565 in September 2019. Year over year, 2020 permits remain robust at a 15% increase over last year at this time. “The market […]
Builders Association Announces People’s Choice Award Winner for Home-A-Rama
Zionsville, IN – At a presentation to the show builders this morning at Holliday Farms, the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI) announced the winner of the First Internet Bank Home-A-Rama People’s Choice Award. The winning home was built by Wedgewood Building Company – house number two in the luxury home tour, their second consecutive […]
Don’t Miss First Internet Bank Home-A-Rama!
This luxury home tour features 11 incredible homes in the stunning new community of Holliday Farms, a custom home community and Pete Dye designed golf course located in the heart of Zionsville, Indiana. Tickets are on sale now for the remaining two weekends! Join us September 24-27 & October 1-4 or get tickets for the […]
Single-Family Building Permits Hold Strong in July
Indianapolis, IN – The Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI) announced that in the Greater Indianapolis nine-county area, single-family building permits were up 12% last month with 775 permits compared to 695 in July 2019. Year over year, 2020 permits continue to hold strong at a 12% increase over last year at this time. […]
One-Stop Source for Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates
From housing updates to guidance on preparing your workplace, we’ve gathered a wide variety of COVID-19 news and resources to keep you up to date during the coronavirus pandemic.
Single-Family Building Permits Show Dip in May
Indianapolis, IN – The Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI) announced that in the Greater Indianapolis nine-county area, single-family building permits dip 12% with 654 permits compared to 740 in May 2019. 2020 permits for the year remain up 11% over last year at this time. “Permit numbers tend to be a lagging indicator of […]
BAGI Announces 2020 Scholarship Recipients
Six Students Awarded Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis Scholarships The Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI) announced the winners of its annual scholarship competition. This year, BAGI awarded six recipients in order to encourage students to pursue careers in the home building industry in the Central Indiana area. Since 1989, the program has awarded $384,350 […]
Governor Holcomb Announces Re-Opening in Stages
In his address on May 1st, Governor Holcomb announced a 5 Stage re-opening approach to getting Indiana “Back on Track.” He discussed the following four guiding principles that will determine if those proposed stages to reopen various sectors of the economy are able to move forward. What’s Open and What’s Closed? Learn more about the […]
BAGI Virtual Indy Rama 2020
Indy Rama Still Celebrates Downtown Living Introducing: Indy Rama Virtual Tours! There isn’t an organization or industry that hasn’t been affected by the coronavirus pandemic by now, and BAGI is no different. But our community is a resilient bunch. They’ve faced financial crises and economic uncertainty in the market before, fighting through and bouncing back. […]
PRESS RELEASE: Strength in March Single-Family Building Permits
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 15, 2020 Strength in March Single-Family Building Permits Indianapolis, IN – The Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI) announced that in the Greater Indianapolis nine-county area, single-family building permits are up 20% with 680 permits compared to 566 in March 2019. Thus far in 2020, permits have increased by 24% over […]
CANCELED – Indy Rama Celebrates Downtown Living
It is with heavy hearts that we unfortunately must cancel First Internet Bank Indy Rama. Rest assured, our members are still working away to invest in our communities and provide shelters for you that you will be proud to call home. Be sure to check out BAGI’s Find A Home, Find A Builder, Find A […]
Builders and buyers footing the bill from U.S. tariffs
As Building Partners of Central Indiana (BPCI) members — along with homebuilders, remodelers and consumers nationwide — are well aware, costs are climbing higher. Rising labor costs, land prices and permit fees have been contributing to escalating home prices for years, but international tariffs imposed throughout the past year and a half have added an additional burden to the industry.
Choosing to Build A New Home
Used homes don’t feature many of the things most desired by today’s homebuyers. New homes are constantly being redesigned and tweaked to reflect what today’s homebuyers are looking for, including things like open kitchens and large walk-in closets!
Building Process
Finding the right builder is just as important as finding the right floor plan, since it is their expertise that will be responsible for constructing your new home. Your satisfaction will depend on their experience, skills, and commitment to customer service.
Housing The Region’s Future Workforce
What is the link between housing availability & Regional Economic Growth? An insufficient supply of housing has slowed economic growth nationally. Housing production across the US and in the Indianapolis Region has not kept up with demand. Commuting patterns are not expected to change. While Marion and Hamilton Counties are expected to capture the largest […]
New Home Construction Articles
Before You Move In to Your New Home Before you go to settlement on your purchase of a newly constructed home, you and your builder will do a walk-through to conduct a final inspection. This walk-through provides an opportunity to spot items which may need to be corrected or adjusted, learn about the way your […]
Choosing to Remodel
Sooner or later, you may join the millions of people who remodel their homes each year. Perhaps it was that moment when you realized that avocado green and harvest gold are no longer the “in” colors for today’s trendy kitchens. Or maybe you had an epiphany one day as you stood in line to use […]
Green Building/Energy Tips
Green Building Green practices in home building, remodeling, and land development have marked a shift in the way we live today. Thanks to more durable roof coverings, insulated windows, increased insulation, and high-efficiency heating, cooling, and water heating equipment, homes built today are 100% more energy-efficient than homes built in the 1970s. In the long-term, […]
2019 New Home Design Trends, Part 2
Whether your looking for inspiration for your next home renovation or you’re ready to start browsing for a new home, here are a few of the top design trends you’ll see in 2019 – many of which you can see in person at First Internet Bank Home-A-Rama this fall! BLACK WINDOW FRAMES Do you prefer […]
Remodelers’ Confidence Falls Three Points in First Quarter
NAHB’s Remodeling Market Index (RMI) posted a reading of 54 in the first quarter of 2019, falling three points from the previous quarter. The RMI has been consistently above 50 — indicating that more remodelers report market activity is higher compared to the prior quarter than report it is lower — since the second quarter […]
Home Building Employment Across States and Congressional Districts
A new NAHB study presents the most recent and comprehensive estimates of home building employment, including self-employed workers, by state and congressional district. NAHB Economics estimates that out of 10.3 million people working in construction in 2017, more than 4 million people worked in residential construction, accounting for 2.6% of the US employed civilian labor […]
NAHB Podcast Offers New Insights on Housing Economics
On this week’s episode of Housing Developments, NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz shares his 2019 economic forecast for the industry and what the recent change in the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index means for builders. Dietz also discusses how the skilled labor shortage is affecting housing supply. NAHB CEO Jerry Howard and guest host Paul […]
Housing Starts Decline in March
Total housing starts fell 0.3% in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.14 million units from a downwardly revised reading in February, according to a report from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development and Commerce Department. The report was delayed due to the partial government shutdown earlier this year. The March reading of […]
How to Communicate the Benefits of Green Homes
Although Earth Day only comes once a year, consumers are thinking green year-round. For home buyers, it’s a matter of how the conversation is framed to ensure they understand the value of investing in green building practices. For example, in the latest version of What Home Buyers Really Want, NAHB asked prospective and recent home […]
No. 1 Communication Key to Keep Your Clients Cool and Content
Clint Lovette is the NAHB Remodeler of the Month for April. Allowing a client’s phone call, email or text to go unanswered “is like going to bed being angry at your spouse,” said Clint Lovette, CGR, CAPS, president of Lovette Design+Build in Birmingham, Ala. “It only makes it worse in the morning.” Since getting into […]
Lower Interest Rates Help Boost March New Home Sales
Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 692,000 units in March after a slightly revised February report, according to newly released data by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the highest sales pace since November 2017. “These numbers indicate […]
Workforce Housing Project Revitalizes Urban Neighborhood
The mission of Oxford Mills — a $38 million historic rehabilitation in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood — was to create a vibrant, synergistic, education-based community of teacher housing and nonprofit organizations. Comprising two former industrial buildings, this high-density housing project includes 114 apartments that provide much-needed workforce housing and 38,000 square feet of commercial/office space for […]
How to Enhance Your Customer Experience to Boost Profits: Generating Leads
This is a two-part series that will cover the initial marketing process, followed by the integration of sales and internal operations to maximize success. For today’s home buyers, the customer experience does not always start in the sales center. In fact, many customers have likely already researched your company online before they visit you in […]
How Much Are Buyers Willing to Pay for Energy Efficiency?
By Carmel Ford on April 12, 2019 • On average, home buyers are willing to pay an additional $8,728 upfront on a home in order to save $1,000 a year in utility bills, according to NAHB’s recently released study, What Home Buyers Really Want (2019 Edition) (Figure 1). The study is based on a survey […]
Single-Family Permit Decline in February
Over the first two months of 2019, the total number of single-family permits issued year-to-date (YTD) nationwide reached 116,189. On a year-over-year basis, this is a 6.2% decline over the February 2018 level of 123,871.Year-to-date ending in February, single-family permits reported growth only in the Northeast region of the country. The South, Midwest, and the […]
Builder Confidence Edges Higher in April
By Robert Dietz on April 16, 2019 • Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes rose one point to 63 in April, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. Sentiment levels have held in the low 60s for the past three months.Builders report solid […]
Home Building Employment Across States and Congressional Districts
A new NAHB study presents the most recent and comprehensive estimates of home building employment, including self-employed workers, by state and congressional district. NAHB Economics estimates that out of 10.3 million people working in construction in 2017, more than 4 million people worked in residential construction, accounting for 2.6% of the US employed civilian labor […]
Remodelers’ Confidence Falls Three Points in First Quarter
By Carmel Ford on April 18, 2019 • The Remodeling Market Index (RMI) fell three points to 54 in the first quarter of 2019, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Despite the drop, the RMI is still over the index break-even point of 50, which indicates that more remodelers report that market activity […]
Housing Construction Weakness Continued in March
By Robert Dietz on April 19, 2019 • According to a estimates from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development and Commerce Department, single-family starts continued to show weakness in March, despite the recent stabilization in the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). After downward revisions made to the February data, single-family starts were down 0.4% […]
Existing Home Sales Declined in March
After a strong gain in February, existing home sales, released by the National Association of Realtors, fell back in March despite lower interest rates and a strong labor market. Total existing home sales, including single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, declined 4.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.21 million in March. On a […]
New Home Sales Rise in March with Lower Rates
By Robert Dietz on April 23, 2019 • Contracts for new, single-family home sales increased almost 5% on a monthly basis to a 692,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate according to estimates from the joint release of HUD and the Census Bureau. The months’ supply number improved to 6.0, which indicates the market is stabilizing after […]
Conventional Mortgages Outpace Government Mortgages for Purchase
By Litic Murali on April 24, 2019 • The latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Application Survey for the week ending on April 19 show a decrease in purchasing and refinancing activities, with refinancing decreasing for the third consecutive week. On a seasonally adjusted basis, refinancing activity decreased by 11%. March showed a […]
FHA-Backed Mortgages Finance Increasing Share of New Home Sales
NAHB analysis of the most recent Quarterly Sales by Price and Financing published by the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that conventional loans accounted for 71.3% of new home sales in the first quarter of 2019, a 3.3-percentage point decrease from Q4 2018 (revised). The decline comes despite lower mortgage rates, continuing a post-2012 pattern in […]
Seven Reasons to Build a New Home
1. Customization: The ability to customize your home means YOU make the home uniquely yours. You have the ability to design the home to your specific needs and desires. You can find the perfect floor plan or design your own. 2. Warranty: A home is typically the largest purchase you’ll ever make. Don’t you want […]
Finding the Right Builder for You
Finding the right homebuilder is just as important as finding the right floor plan. It’s your builder’s expertise that will be responsible for constructing your new home and your satisfaction will depend on their experience, skills and commitment to customer service. It’s important that the builder you choose has these qualifications and is able to […]
Financing: Pre-Qualified vs. Pre-Approved
The advantage of getting pre-qualified and pre-approved for financing before beginning to build a new home is you’ll know in advance how much you can afford. Many people think if a lender pre-qualifies them for a mortgage then they have been pre-approved for a new home loan. BUT there is a difference between being pre-qualified […]
Where to Begin? Decisions to Consider When Remodeling
Sooner or later, you may join the millions of people who remodel their homes each year. Perhaps it was the moment you realized avocado green and harvest gold are no longer the “in” colors for today’s trendy kitchens. Or maybe you had an epiphany one day as you stood in line to use your own […]
10 Steps to a Successful Home Remodel
Remodeling your home can be an exciting and rewarding process. Whether you are making modest changes in one or two rooms or transforming the entire house, the process can be pleasant and smooth — IF you take the time to plan your project carefully. BAGI remodeling members suggest homeowners follow these 10 steps to help […]