Wainscott Real Estate at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northern Indiana, 1650 South Bend Avenue #100, South Bend, IN (2026)

09/08/2026

🏡 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐰?
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 & 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 2024 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴

If you haven't bought or sold a home since 2024, you may notice that conversations about real estate agent compensation look a little different today.

You've probably also encountered headlines suggesting that the rules surrounding real estate commissions were completely rewritten.

So, what actually changed?

Perhaps the most important thing to understand is this:

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒂 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅, 𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒑𝒐𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒈𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅.

For buyers and sellers in South Bend, Mishawaka, and throughout Indiana, understanding those differences can make the process considerably less confusing.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚?

Indiana made its own change beginning 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰.

Under Indiana law, licensed real estate brokers representing sellers and buyers are required to establish those agency relationships through written representation agreements. Those agreements must also include a definite expiration date.

The law was enacted through House Enrolled Act 1068-2024 and applies to both seller/listing and buyer representation agreements.

For buyers, that means the relationship with the professional representing you is now formally established in writing rather than potentially beginning with a more informal understanding.

Indiana's law requires the written agreement, but it does not specify that a buyer must sign it before touring a home. That timing requirement comes from separate industry rules discussed below.

But another major change followed nationally just a few weeks later.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲?

On 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, practice changes resulting from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) settlement of litigation involving broker commissions took effect.

These were industry practice changes affecting NAR members and Multiple Listing Service (MLS) participants—not a new federal law.

Two of the most noticeable changes were:

𝟏. 𝑶𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒖𝒚𝒆𝒓-𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒏𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒂𝒏 𝑴𝑳𝑺.

Before the change, an offer of compensation to a broker representing the buyer could appear in the MLS listing of a home.

That information was removed from the MLS under the new rules.

Importantly, however, 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐞𝐫-𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. They may still be negotiated and communicated outside the MLS.

𝟐. 𝑩𝒖𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑴𝑳𝑺 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆.

That agreement identifies the services the real estate professional will provide and addresses how that professional will be compensated. The compensation must be objectively ascertainable rather than open-ended, and the agreement must state that broker compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable.

These industry requirements overlap somewhat with Indiana's requirements, which is one reason consumers may hear all of them described simply as "the 2024 commission changes."

They're actually separate developments.

𝐒𝐨... 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐲𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭?

Here's where some of the confusion begins.

There is 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫.

Depending on the agreements involved and the terms negotiated in a particular transaction, buyer-broker compensation can come from different sources.

For example, compensation could be paid directly by the buyer. A seller may agree to pay some or all of the buyer's contractual compensation obligation to their broker. Compensation could also come through the listing broker when properly agreed upon.

Indiana REALTORS® specifically explains that a buyer may request through the purchase agreement that a seller satisfy some or all of the buyer's contractual compensation obligation to their broker—similar to negotiating other costs within a real estate transaction.

In other words:

𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐞𝐫-𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

What changed is how these arrangements are communicated, documented, and negotiated.

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐝 & 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐮𝐲𝐞𝐫-𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

We wondered the same thing.

And this is where we'd rather tell you what we don't know than give you a statistic we can't substantiate.

We looked for reliable public data showing whether sellers in the South Bend/Mishawaka area have contributed toward buyer-broker compensation more or less frequently since the 2024 changes.

𝐖𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐝/𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐞𝐫-𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬.

Individual transactions document their own financial arrangements, but that isn't the same thing as having aggregated market data showing what's happening across St. Joseph County.

So we're not going to guess.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞?

This may be the most important part for consumers.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐰.

Broker compensation remains negotiable. The amount and structure should be discussed between consumers and their real estate professionals and documented in the appropriate agreements. NAR's current rules expressly require disclosure that broker compensation is fully negotiable.

That means buyers and sellers should feel comfortable asking questions before signing an agreement.

And those questions don't have to begin with:

"What's the normal commission?"

There is no such thing, and there are better questions.

💬 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝?

Ask your agent to walk you through exactly how compensation works under your agreement, including what you could be responsible for paying.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐝?

Understanding what you're receiving is just as important as understanding what you're paying.

𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

Depending on the transaction, that may be something that can be negotiated.

𝐈𝐟 𝐈'𝐦 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐲𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

Yes. That can still be part of a buyer's offer and the resulting negotiation.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞?

Understanding that possibility before you're negotiating a purchase or sale can prevent surprises later.

More Negotiable Doesn't Always Mean More Understandable

The real estate transaction already involves contracts, inspections, financing, appraisals, disclosures, title work, and negotiations.

The changes surrounding broker compensation added another conversation that buyers and sellers need to understand.

That's not necessarily a bad thing.

Greater clarity about who represents you, what services they're providing, and how they're compensated can help you make a more informed decision.

But you shouldn't be afraid to ask questions.

A good real estate professional should be able to explain your agreement in understandable terms, discuss the options available to you, and help you understand how different decisions could affect your particular transaction.

Because ultimately, the most important question isn't simply:

"𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧?"

It's:

"𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐦 𝐈 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐦 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬?"

At 𝐖𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞, we believe informed clients make better decisions.

Whether you're considering buying your first home, selling a longtime family property, or simply trying to understand how today's real estate process works, we're happy to start with a conversation.

https://wainscottrealestateservice.bhhsnorthernindianarealestate.com

𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳.

SOURCES:

Indiana Professional Licensing Agency / Indiana Real Estate Commission — Indiana State Law Requires Written Listing and Buyer Agency Agreements. This is our strongest primary source for the July 1, 2024 Indiana requirements. Indiana Professional Licensing Agency notice (https://www.in.gov/pla/files/IPLA-Press-Release-Indiana-State-Law-Requires-Written-Listing-and-Buyer-Agency-Agreements.pdf?utm.com)

National Association of REALTORS® — Summary of 2024 MLS Changes. Particularly useful for the precise requirements involving compensation disclosures, negotiability, and written buyer agreements. NAR Summary of 2024 MLS Changes (https://www.nar.realtor/about-nar/policies/summary-of-2024-mls-changes?utm.com)

National Association of REALTORS® — August 17 Practice Change Implementation. Confirms the prohibition on communicating compensation offers through an MLS while explaining that off-MLS offers remain possible. NAR August 2024 practice-change announcement (https://www.nar.realtor/news/real-estate-news/nar-practice-changes-to-take-effect-august-17)

Indiana REALTORS® — Buyer Broker Compensation. Particularly useful because it addresses how an Indiana buyer may negotiate a request for a seller to satisfy some or all of the buyer's contractual compensation obligation. Indiana REALTORS buyer-broker compensation guidance (https://indianarealtors.com/legal-resource/buyer-broker-compensation/?utm.com)

National Association of REALTORS® — Consumer Guide to Written Buyer Agreements. A consumer-oriented explanation of written agreements and the negotiability of compensation. NAR Consumer Guide to Written Buyer Agreements (https://www.nar.realtor/the-facts/consumer-guide-to-written-buyer-agreements?utm.com)

09/04/2026

🌳 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓: 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊
Then. Now. Always a Mishawaka Treasure.
Some places become part of your story long before you realize how much they mean to you.

For us, Battell Park is one of those places.

Back in the 1990s, Battell Park was one of our favorite places to hang out. We'd make our way down toward the St. Joseph River to what we simply called “The Big Tree”—a huge old tree that grew sideways over the river, creating the perfect place to sit, talk, laugh, and watch the water move beneath us.

We even dug out a few photographs from 1997 of us sitting there. ❤️

At the time, Battell Park looked very different.

It was beautiful in its own wild way, but it was also pretty run-down. There wasn't running water, many of the amenities weren't maintained the way they are today, and you certainly didn't see the number of families and children enjoying the park that you do now.

For a bunch of teenagers looking for someplace to disappear for an afternoon, though?

It was perfect. 😂

🌿 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐚 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲
Our memories are just one tiny chapter in a story that stretches back generations.

Battell Park is one of Mishawaka's historic public spaces, with roots reaching back to the late 1800s. Today, the park is part of the Battell Park Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The park has long been connected to the St. Joseph River and to the generations of Mishawaka residents who have gathered here.

But what we especially love is seeing what has happened to it in more recent years.

❤️ 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞
Mishawaka has invested heavily in its parks, riverfront, and public spaces, and Battell Park today is almost unrecognizable from the park we remember as teenagers.

The landscaping is beautiful. The historic features have been restored and cared for. The walkways are inviting. The grounds feel safe and welcoming.

And now there are families everywhere.

Kids playing. Parents walking. People sitting on benches. Couples strolling along the river. Neighbors simply enjoying being outside.

Seeing that transformation is genuinely special when you remember what this place looked like thirty years ago.

And somehow, underneath all those improvements, it still feels like Battell Park.

The river is still there.

Those enormous old trees are still there, except for "The Big Tree", which fell down years ago.

And somewhere beneath all the landscaping, restoration, and improvements are decades upon decades of memories belonging to people all over Mishawaka.

Ours just happen to include a few teenagers sitting in a tree in 1997. ❤️

🏡 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫
When we talk about real estate, it's easy to focus entirely on houses—square footage, bedrooms, interest rates, and property values.

But a house isn't the only thing you're choosing when you choose where to live.

You're choosing your neighborhood.

Your parks.

Your river.

The places you'll walk your dog, take your children, meet your friends, and eventually look back on and realize:

That's where part of my life happened.

That's what makes continued investment in places like Battell Park so important. Beautiful, well-maintained public spaces don't just improve the appearance of a neighborhood. They help create communities where people actually want to live.

Thirty years ago, Battell Park belonged to us rebellious teenagers.

Today, watching parents bring their kids here makes us pretty happy to give it back. 😉❤️

Same river. Same Big Tree. A whole new generation of memories.

Ali Seldin
Real Estate Agent
[email protected]
(619) 964-1375

📍 Battell Park | Mishawaka, Indiana
301 W Mishawaka Ave, Mishawaka, IN 46545
(https://share.google/B9c4p483QF8gQPGju)

Community Spotlight presented by Wainscott Real Estate Service at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northern Indiana Real Estate.

09/03/2026

🌳 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓: 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊

Then. Now. Always a Mishawaka Treasure.
Some places become part of your story long before you realize how much they mean to you.

For us, Battell Park is one of those places.

Back in the 1990s, Battell Park was one of our favorite places to hang out. We'd make our way down toward the St. Joseph River to what we simply called “The Big Tree”—a huge old tree that grew sideways over the river, creating the perfect place to sit, talk, laugh, and watch the water move beneath us.

We even dug out a few photographs from 1997 of us sitting there. ❤️

At the time, Battell Park looked very different.

It was beautiful in its own wild way, but it was also pretty run-down. There wasn't running water, many of the amenities weren't maintained the way they are today, and you certainly didn't see the number of families and children enjoying the park that you do now.

For a bunch of teenagers looking for someplace to disappear for an afternoon, though?

It was perfect. 😂

🌿 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐚 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲
Our memories are just one tiny chapter in a story that stretches back generations.

Battell Park is one of Mishawaka's historic public spaces, with roots reaching back to the late 1800s. Today, the park is part of the Battell Park Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The park has long been connected to the St. Joseph River and to the generations of Mishawaka residents who have gathered here.

But what we especially love is seeing what has happened to it in more recent years.

❤️ 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞
Mishawaka has invested heavily in its parks, riverfront, and public spaces, and Battell Park today is almost unrecognizable from the park we remember as teenagers.

The landscaping is beautiful. The historic features have been restored and cared for. The walkways are inviting. The grounds feel safe and welcoming.

And now there are families everywhere.

Kids playing. Parents walking. People sitting on benches. Couples strolling along the river. Neighbors simply enjoying being outside.

Seeing that transformation is genuinely special when you remember what this place looked like thirty years ago.

And somehow, underneath all those improvements, it still feels like Battell Park.

The river is still there.

Those enormous old trees are still there, except for "The Big Tree", which fell down years ago.

And somewhere beneath all the landscaping, restoration, and improvements are decades upon decades of memories belonging to people all over Mishawaka.

Ours just happen to include a few teenagers sitting in a tree in 1997. ❤️

🏡 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫
When we talk about real estate, it's easy to focus entirely on houses—square footage, bedrooms, interest rates, and property values.

But a house isn't the only thing you're choosing when you choose where to live.

You're choosing your neighborhood.

Your parks.

Your river.

The places you'll walk your dog, take your children, meet your friends, and eventually look back on and realize:

That's where part of my life happened.

That's what makes continued investment in places like Battell Park so important. Beautiful, well-maintained public spaces don't just improve the appearance of a neighborhood. They help create communities where people actually want to live.

Thirty years ago, Battell Park belonged to us rebellious teenagers.

Today, watching parents bring their kids here makes us pretty happy to give it back. 😉❤️

Same river. Same Big Tree. A whole new generation of memories.

Ali Seldin
Real Estate Agent
[email protected]
(619) 964-1375

📍 Battell Park | Mishawaka, Indiana
301 W Mishawaka Ave, Mishawaka, IN 46545
(https://share.google/B9c4p483QF8gQPGju)

Community Spotlight presented by Wainscott Real Estate Service at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northern Indiana Real Estate.

09/02/2026

More homes are hitting the market. Buyers have more choices. And that means your selling strategy may matter more than it did just a year ago.
If you've thought about selling your home in South Bend or St. Joseph County, you may have heard two very different versions of today's housing market.

“Homes are still selling quickly.”

“The market is slowing down.”

Surprisingly, there's some truth to both.

The latest housing data for St. Joseph County shows a market that is still moving—but it's also giving buyers something they haven't had nearly as much of in recent years:

More choices.

LEARN MORE...
https://wainscottrealestateservice.bhhsgreatlakes.com/blog/33/Thinking+About+Selling+The+South+Bend+Market+Is+Changing+%E2%80%94+Here%E2%80%99s+What+Homeowners+Need+to+Know

08/21/2026

☕ 𝕃𝕠𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕊𝕡𝕠𝕥𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥

❤️ 𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙒𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙒𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙫𝙚: 𝐈𝐧𝐑𝐮𝐠𝐂𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 & 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩
One of our favorite things about living in Mishawaka is having places nearby that you simply can't find everywhere else.

Places with personality. Places with history. Places where you can stop in just to look around and somehow leave with something you had absolutely no intention of buying. 😊

InRugCo Studio & Gift Shop is one of those places for us.

Located on Mishawaka Avenue across from Central Park and just steps from the Riverwalk, InRugCo has become one of our favorite places to stop when we're looking for a unique gift, something fun for the house—or sometimes just an excuse to wander around and see what's new.

🧶 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐓𝐰𝐨-𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞
What makes the story even better is that InRugCo didn't begin as the store you see today.

Indiana Rug Company traces its roots back to the 1980s, when the family business began in a two-stall garage producing custom rugs. Over the years, the business expanded into textiles and eventually evolved into today's InRugCo Studio & Gift Shop. Today, it's a second-generation family business with decades of history in Michiana. And while the name might make you think “rug store,” that's only the beginning.

🛍️ 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐑𝐮𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞
Part of the fun of InRugCo is that it's difficult to describe in one sentence.
You'll find home décor, gifts, locally inspired merchandise, clothing and accessories, candles, artwork, textiles, and plenty of things that fall into the category of:

“I don't need this...but I really need this.” 😂
And, of course, the company's custom rug and textile roots are still very much part of the story. It's a shop that feels distinctly local rather than something designed to look exactly the same in every city.

🍦 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐈𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦, 𝐓𝐨𝐨!

As if we needed another reason to stop by, InRugCo recently added something pretty sweet to the neighborhood.

Right next door, you'll find Talking Horse Ice Cream, a locally owned walk-up ice cream stand that opened in September 2025. It’s another great addition to this little stretch of Mishawaka—especially when you combine it with an afternoon at Central Park or a walk along the Riverwalk.

Talking Horse serves locally made Crystal Springs Creamery ice cream, along with shakes, floats, sundaes, smoothies, and a signature Campfire Roll—a hand-rolled pastry cone that can be filled with ice cream, fresh fruit, whipped cream, or a combination of all three. They've even added açai bowls for 2026.

We love seeing a longtime local business continue to grow and find new ways to add something special to the neighborhood.

Shop a little. Grab an ice cream. Walk the Riverwalk. Spend some time at Central Park.

That's a pretty good Mishawaka afternoon if you ask us. ❤️

🌳 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝...
This is one of the things we especially love about InRugCo.
You can browse the store, grab something to eat or drink nearby, walk along the river, spend some time in the park, and make an afternoon of it in an area that has become one of Mishawaka's most enjoyable places to spend time.

And from a real estate perspective, that matters.

🏡 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞?
When we talk about real estate, it's easy to focus entirely on the house.
How many bedrooms?
How many bathrooms?
What's the square footage?
What's the asking price?
Those things matter, of course.
But they're not the whole story.
People also choose a home because of what's outside the front door.
Parks.
Trails.
Restaurants.
Coffee shops.
Small businesses.
Places you can walk to.

And those wonderfully quirky local spots you start referring to as “our place.”
Those are the things that give a neighborhood its personality.
And they're difficult to capture in a real estate listing.

❤️ 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚
That's one of the reasons we wanted to start sharing more of our favorite local businesses.

We don't just work in South Bend and Mishawaka.

We live here, too.

And we believe being a local real estate professional means knowing more than property values and comparable sales. It means understanding the neighborhoods, businesses, and people that make someone want to call this community home.
InRugCo has been part of the Michiana business community for decades, and we're pretty lucky to have places like it right in our backyard.

So if you've never stopped in—or haven't been there in a while—put it on your list.
Just don't blame us when you walk out carrying something you didn't know you needed. 😉

📍 InRugCo Studio & Gift Shop�220 E. Mishawaka Ave.
(Across from Central Park)
Learn more about InRugCo:
Indiana Rug Co. / InRugCo Studio & Gift Shop (https://indianarugco.com/)

📍Talking Horse Ice Cream Stand (https://indianarugco.com/pages/talking-horse-ice-cream-stand)
226 Mishawaka Ave.
(Right next door)

Wainscott Real Estate Service�
Powered by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northern Indiana Real Estate

Local Experts. Trusted Advisors.

08/19/2026

🏡 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 — 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬?

If you've lived in the South Bend area for a while, you've probably noticed something:

Our community is changing.

Vacant lots are becoming homes. Older properties are being rehabilitated. New apartments are being built. Downtown continues to grow, and investment is reaching neighborhoods throughout the city.

For homeowners, buyers and sellers, these changes are worth paying attention to—because what's happening around your home can become an important part of its real estate story.

New Homes Are Filling Old Gaps.

One of the more interesting trends we're watching is infill development—building new homes on vacant lots within existing neighborhoods instead of continually expanding outward.

South Bend's New Neighborhood Homes Initiative was specifically created to encourage new residential construction on vacant land and increase the marketability of existing neighborhoods.

The City has partnered with organizations including 466 Works Community Development Corporation, Allen Edwin Homes, Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County and South Bend Heritage Foundation on new infill housing. A recent round of funding is supporting 29 additional units, including housing intended for low-income and workforce households.

That's something homeowners should watch.

When a vacant or neglected property becomes a maintained home, it can change the appearance and character of an entire block.

🏗️ 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐈𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐓𝐨𝐨

The changes aren't limited to single-family homes.

The Madison Lifestyle District near downtown and Memorial Hospital is moving forward with a major mixed-use development. Its first phase includes 190 market-rate apartments, a 119-room hotel, and retail development.

On Western Avenue, redevelopment of the former Rabbi Shulman Apartments site is creating a mixed-income residential development. And the Beacon Heights Apartments are undergoing a major rehabilitation intended to improve existing housing while preserving affordability for residents.

Taken individually, these may look like unrelated projects.

Put them together, though, and they tell a larger story:

South Bend is adding and reinvesting in housing at several different levels.

💰 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞?

Because real estate isn't just about the house.

It's also about the neighborhood surrounding it.

Buyers pay attention to things like:

• Nearby homes and property conditions
• New businesses and restaurants
• Parks and trails
• Vacant properties
• New construction
• Schools and community amenities
• Access to employment and downtown areas

None of these things guarantees that a particular home's value will increase. Property values depend on many factors, including condition, location, comparable sales, inventory, and buyer demand.

But neighborhood investment can influence how buyers perceive an area—and buyer perception matters in real estate.

🌱 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞

There's another side of this conversation that's just as important.

Growth is great, but maintaining a variety of housing options matters, too.

Some current projects are specifically attempting to balance new investment with affordability. For example, the planned Western Avenue development includes 156 units, with a combination of income-restricted and market-rate housing.

Beacon Heights is another example. Rather than replacing the existing residents as the property is improved, the redevelopment is planned as a renovation in place, allowing residents to remain during construction.

That's an important part of healthy neighborhood growth:

Improving communities while continuing to make room for the people who already call them home.

📍 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲?

That's the question we'll be exploring in a new series we're calling:

MICHIANA DEVELOPMENT WATCH

We'll be following significant housing, redevelopment, and community investment projects throughout South Bend and Mishawaka, breaking them down from a real estate perspective.

Not politics.

Not predictions.

Just a simple question:

What's changing in our community—and what could it mean for your home?

Understanding your property's value isn't just about looking at what your neighbor's house sold for.

Sometimes you need to look at what's happening down the street.

Wainscott Real Estate Service
Powered by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northern Indiana Real Estate

Read Mayor James Mueller's 2026 State of the City remarks: (https://southbendin.gov/newneighborhoodhousing)

Read WVPE: (https://www.wvpe.org/wvpe-news/2026-06-25/agreement-starts-construction-on-dtsb-apartments-hotel-retail)

Read WNDU: (https://www.wndu.com/2026/01/22/demolition-rabbi-shulman-building-marks-start-multi-phase-housing-development-project/)

Download: INDIANA HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (https://www.in.gov/ihcda/files/2026A-B-Awarded-Projects-List-February-2026.pdf)

08/17/2026

🏡 𝐈𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲?

Understanding Your Options in Today's South Bend & Mishawaka Market
When most people think about selling a home, they picture a traditional "For Sale" sign in the yard. But did you know that an auction can sometimes be the best strategy—not just for personal property, but for real estate as well?

At Wainscott Real Estate Service, powered by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northern Indiana Real Estate, we believe every property—and every homeowner's situation—is unique. That's why we help our clients understand all of their options before deciding on the best path forward.

𝐀 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬
The South Bend and Mishawaka area continues to be one of Northern Indiana's most desirable places to call home. From historic neighborhoods and thriving downtown districts to growing universities, expanding employers, and affordable housing, our region continues to attract first-time buyers, growing families, retirees, and investors alike.

As our local market has grown, so have the ways buyers and sellers connect. While traditional real estate remains the right choice for many properties, real estate auctions have become an increasingly valuable option for certain situations.

𝐒𝐨... 𝐈𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮?
The answer depends entirely on your goals.
Real estate auctions aren't just for foreclosures or distressed properties. In fact, many homeowners choose an auction because it offers a transparent, competitive selling environment that can help determine true market value.

Auctions may be an excellent option when:
✔ You're settling an estate.
✔ Multiple heirs are involved.
✔ The property is unique or difficult to price.
✔ You want a clearly defined sale timeline.
✔ You're looking to create competitive buyer interest.

Every situation is different—which is why understanding your options is so important.

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?
One of the questions we hear most often is:
"Which method will help me achieve the best result?"
Sometimes the answer is a traditional listing.
Sometimes it's an auction.
Sometimes it's a combination of both.

Rather than recommending the same approach for every property, we take the time to understand your goals, timeline, and circumstances before helping you choose the strategy that makes the most sense.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞
One of the things that makes our approach unique is our ability to coordinate both licensed real estate services and professional auction expertise when appropriate.
While Wainscott Real Estate Service and Wainscott Auction Service are separate businesses, working together allows us to help clients navigate everything from selling a family home to managing an estate or liquidating personal property.
Instead of coordinating multiple companies on your own, we'll help you understand your options and connect you with the right professionals for your situation.

𝐈𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Every successful sale begins with understanding your goals—not with choosing a selling method.

Whether you're thinking about selling your home, downsizing, settling an estate, or simply wondering what your property might be worth, we're here to help you explore your options with honest advice and no pressure.
Because the right selling strategy isn't the same for every property.
It's the one that's right for yours.

📍 Wainscott Real Estate Service
Powered by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northern Indiana Real Estate

📞 Contact us today for a complimentary market analysis and a conversation about the selling strategy that best fits your property, timeline, and goals.

Wainscott Real Estate at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northern Indiana

09/08/2026

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08/17/2026

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