We buy houses in St. John, IN for cash, as-is. You get a written offer and choose your closing date. But St. John is still growing, and new subdivisions are still going up. That’s good news if you’re buying. If you’re selling an older house, it changes the math.
Your house vs. the model home down the road
Subdivisions like the Gates of St. John and The Preserve have kept adding new homes, and The Preserve still lists homes under construction. A buyer touring St. John may see a brand-new house and yours on the same weekend.
That buyer compares. A new kitchen, new roof and new furnace for somewhat more money can make an older house look expensive, even if it’s well built. So older homes here usually have three paths:
- Update it, then list. Best if you have the time, money and patience.
- List it as-is at a price that reflects the work. Fine if you can wait for the right buyer and handle their inspection requests.
- Sell it as-is to a cash buyer. Faster and more certain, but for less than full retail.
We’re the third option. If your home is already updated, the first two will likely net you more, and we’ll tell you so.
If you list an older home, a few tips
- Price against resales, not new builds. Ask your agent for recent sales of homes of similar age nearby, not the builder’s price sheet.
- Consider a pre-listing inspection. Knowing about the roof or the panel up front beats learning about it from a buyer’s inspector two weeks before closing.
- Fix safety items first. Missing handrails, dead smoke alarms and exposed wiring can scare off buyers out of proportion to what they cost.
- Keep your receipts. Records of a newer furnace, water heater or roof help an older house hold its value.
Older St. John: big lots, brick ranches, sometimes a well
Before the subdivisions, St. John was a small town that took its name from St. John’s church. Some of its oldest homes are 1950s and 1960s brick ranches on half-acre and larger lots, often with full basements. In Lake Hills, some lots slope enough for walk-out basements.
These are solid houses. But some still have original electrical panels, older plumbing, original windows and basements that need attention. A buyer’s inspector will list all of it.
Wells and town water
Some St. John lots were built with private wells. In 1996, the town began requiring developers to bring water service to every lot in a new subdivision. A 2001 resolution of the town’s Board of Waterworks then made connecting an older well lot to town water the owner’s job, and the owner’s cost.
If your house is on a well, a financed buyer may need a water test or lender paperwork. That’s one more hurdle in a traditional sale. We buy houses on wells as they are.
Three townships and three school districts
St. John spans St. John, Hanover and Center townships. Depending on the address, homes are served by the Lake Central, Hanover Community or Crown Point Community school corporations.
For family buyers, the district can matter as much as the house. Before you list or accept any offer, confirm which district your address is in. It belongs in your listing, and it affects who’s shopping.
Flooding is less common here, but it happens
Lake County’s 2010 hazard mitigation plan noted that much of St. John sits on high ground and is less prone to flooding than other parts of the county. It also noted some areas are vulnerable to flash and river flooding, and that many residents reported flood damage in 2003.
If your basement has ever taken on water, Indiana’s disclosure form will ask about it. Our guide to selling a house as-is in Indiana explains what still has to be disclosed when you sell without repairs.
We buy houses in St. John, IN when one of these is true
- A divorce where neither person wants to manage repairs, showings and a long listing. See selling during a divorce.
- Downsizing from a large house you no longer need, without a months-long cleanout. See downsizing.
- A house that needs real work: roof, foundation, sewer line or a full update. See houses that need repairs.
- A job move with a start date that won’t wait. See relocating.
When you should list instead
If your St. John home was built or fully updated in the last 15 or so years, is in good shape, and you have a few months, list it. That’s the honest answer.
Thinking about nearby towns too? See our pages for Cedar Lake and Schererville.
