The Roots Blog

The Indianapolis real estate blog, from people who invest here.

Guides, market notes, and how-tos on buying, selling, and investing in Indianapolis real estate, from a team built on investment principles.

219 articles

Home Buying

Meet Amanda Henriott: From the Front Desk to MIBOR Committee Chair

Amanda Henriott left 20 years in retail management for a brokerage front desk. Today she chairs a MIBOR committee and volunteers across Central Indiana.

4 min read

Bar chart of the most a rental owner should owe in Indiana property tax a year at the 2% cap: $3,000 on $150,000 of assessed value, $4,000 on $200,000 and $5,000 on $250,000, with the fall installment at half

Investing

Marion County Property Taxes on Rentals: What Investors Need to Know

Marion County's fall installment is due November 10. Here is why rental tax bills rose, how Indiana's 2% cap works, and how to check your bill.

3 min read

Roots Realty graphic of central Indiana September 2026 home market figures: 2,549 closed sales, down 3.5%; $320,000 median sale price, up 1.3%; 47 average days on market

Selling

How to Price Your Indianapolis Home When Sales Slow

Central Indiana closed sales fell 3.5% in September while the median price rose 1.3%. Here is how to price your Indianapolis home this fall and when a rate buydown beats a price cut.

3 min read

Bar chart of monthly principal and interest on $250,000, $320,000 and $400,000 Indianapolis homes with 3.5% down at 6.27% and 7.40%, such as $1,905 versus $2,138 on the $320,000 home

Home Buying

What Today's Mortgage Rates Cost on an Indianapolis Home

The 30-year rate averaged 7.40% in mid-October, up from 6.27% a year ago. Here is what that adds to the monthly payment on a typical Indianapolis home and five ways to bring it down.

4 min read

Ian DeFelice, a Roots Realty Co. agent at @properties who works with first-time buyers, standing in a downtown Indianapolis park with city buildings behind him

Home Buying

What to Expect at a First-Time Home Buyer Consultation in Indianapolis

A first-time buyer consultation is an informational first conversation. Here is what an Indianapolis meeting covers, what to bring, and what happens next.

6 min read

Bar chart of the estimated monthly payment on a $325,000 Indianapolis house with 5% down at six mortgage rates from 6.00% to 7.50%, rising from $2,541 to $2,848, with the 7.28% bar at $2,802 highlighted

Home Buying

Mortgage Payment on a $325K House in Indianapolis (7.28%)

At 7.28%, a $325,000 Indianapolis house costs about $2,250 a month with 20% down and $2,800 with 5% down. Here is the payment at every rate, and what a buydown, a price cut or waiting really changes.

12 min read

Corner view of the brick Fountain Square Theatre building on Shelby Street in Indianapolis, with ground-floor restaurant signs, a small fountain and a street intersection in the foreground

Home Buying

Buying a Home Near New Development: A Buyer Checklist

Westfield, Nora and Fountain Square all have projects in the news. Here is how to check approval status, road closures and the seller disclosure before you buy nearby.

Westfield · 6 min read

The Indiana Statehouse dome at the end of Market Street in downtown Indianapolis, with a horse-drawn carriage on the brick street

Strategy & ROI

Indiana's Homestead Property Tax Swap, Explained

Three legislators pitched ending property tax on owner-occupied homes and replacing it with local income tax. Here is the law today and the math for owners, renters and landlords.

6 min read

Panorama of downtown Indianapolis from the southwest, with Victory Field baseball stadium and the JW Marriott tower on the left and Convention Center roofs in the foreground

Market Trends

Indy Real Estate and Development News: What Matters Now

What is happening in Indianapolis real estate and development right now, what each item means for buyers, sellers and investors, and the August MIBOR numbers. Updated Oct. 1, 2026.

Westfield · 6 min read

The Bona Thompson Memorial Center, a historic former library building in Irvington on the east side of Indianapolis

Neighborhood Guides

Irvington's new DORA district: what it means for home values on the east side

Indianapolis's first DORA went live in Irvington on Sept. 3, 2026. Here's where it runs, what it allows, and what it realistically means for home values nearby.

Irvington · 4 min read

Roots Realty cover card reading: DSCR loans. Qualify on the property's rental income, not your W-2.

Investing

DSCR Loans in Indianapolis: What Investors Should Know

DSCR loans qualify you on rent, not your W-2. The 2026 math on a $250K Indy rental, what four lenders actually require, and the traps to check first.

6 min read

Roots Realty cover card reading: Permit-ready plans. Indianapolis is funding a free catalog of pre-approved blueprints.

Investing

Indianapolis Permit-Ready Housing Plans for Infill Investors

Indianapolis is building a free catalog of permit-ready plans for single-family homes, duplexes and ADUs. What's confirmed, what it saves, and what to watch.

6 min read

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