Joe Hornaday
Greensburg Daily News
May 20, 2008 06:02 pm
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A generous donation of $1,000 to Habitat for Humanity and a discussion of the housing market in Decatur County were the focuses of the bi-monthly meeting of the Board of Realtors on Tuesday.
The Board of Realtors is an organization made up of individuals with ties to the real estate business who meet six times a year to share their thoughts with one another.
“This lets us get together to exchange ideas,” board president Larry Moore explained. “The idea is, as Realtors, we have to live by a code of ethics.”
As the meeting got underway, Moore thanked all in attendance and immediately called upon Habitat for Humanity, represented by Kaywin Lindsay and Steve Barth, to accept the check for $1,000. Barth and Lindsay were touched by the munificent donation, and Barth noted that it would help Decatur County Habitat for Humanity reach its goal of $60,000 by the end of the year.
Discussing Habitat’s march towards its monetary goal, Barth made sure to make his audience aware of the golf outing on July 20 at the Greensburg Country Club.
With the good news, there also came some bad. Barth informed the board members that the Habitat for Humanity organization in Rush County would be dismantling, but the group did offer its old tools and other items to Decatur County’s organization. Now, Barth is hoping to find a suitable warehouse and a lot with access to sewer and water so Habitat for Humanity can continue its mission in the county.
Also in attendance at the meeting was Doug Lambert of Lambert Abstract Company and Economic Development Corporation (EDC) representatives Vicki Kellerman and Steve Freeman.
Lambert filled the Realtors in on the changes the American Land Title Association had recently announced, while Freeman and Kellerman discussed the state of the housing market in Decatur County.
“I know what you’re going through,” Freeman told the Realtors.
With the current state of the subprime mortgage crisis and the increasing rates of home foreclosures, the housing industry is finding it difficult to succeed and expand.
Kellerman understood the Realtors’ plight, but did note that the city of Greensburg is growing, with several projects currently happening with potentially several more on the way. She juxtaposed the city’s growth with the housing situation, and positively compared the impact it may have on the housing market.
“We are actively marketing Decatur County,” she said.
Kellerman went on to explain that much of the industry in the county is automotive related, and she would like to see some diversification of businesses in the future.
Kellerman also offered one bit of positive news to the Realtors. With the high price of gas, those coming to work in Greensburg would likely want to live close to their place of employment. With businesses and employers opening their doors all over the county, the Realtors should expect a serious increase in the demand for Greensburg homes.
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Greensburg Daily News