𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐫 Ashleigh Barnes

09/25/2026

💥 PSA: Friendly reminder for anyone thinking about buying a home! 💥

After receiving yet another inquiry about touring a home without a buyer-agency agreement, I thought this would be a good time for a friendly reminder. 😊

Per the NAR settlement dated 2024, buyers must have a signed buyer-agency agreement with their Realtor® prior to touring homes.

Per NAR:

“Written buyer agreements became a nationwide requirement for many real estate professionals as a part of the National Association of REALTORS®’ proposed settlement of litigation related to broker commissions. The requirement went into effect on August 17, 2024.

You will be asked to enter into a written buyer agreement with your real estate professional before ‘touring’ a home with them, either in-person or virtually. If you are simply visiting an open house on your own or asking a real estate professional about their services, you do not need to sign a written buyer agreement.”

This is not something I have personally chosen to implement. It is a requirement.

If you're in the market for a new home, I'd love to sit down with you, have a conversation, get to know each other, answer your questions, and explain exactly how the process works. If, after that conversation, you decide you'd like to work with me, we'll go over the agency agreement together and get it signed before we start touring homes.

My goal isn't to make the process more complicated. It's to make sure you understand what you're signing, what I will do for you, and how our working relationship will work from the very beginning.

And just to clarify: you do NOT need a buyer-agency agreement just to attend an open house on your own or to talk with a Realtor® about their services.

So if you're thinking about buying, please don't feel like you need to have everything figured out before reaching out. Let's talk first. ❤️

📲 Ashleigh Barnes, Realtor®
McKinnies Realty
574-210-7472

09/23/2026

🏡 Thinking about buying, but waiting for rates to come down?

I totally get it. I’ve had quite a few conversations with people who are interested in buying, but are hesitant to start looking because they’re waiting for mortgage rates to drop.

But here’s something to keep in mind...

rates can go up just as easily as they can go down.

According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed rate went from 6.76% to 6.95% in just one week.

That may not sound like a huge change, but let’s put it into real numbers.

On a $400,000 mortgage:

💰 At 6.76%: about $2,597/month
💰 At 6.95%: about $2,648/month

That’s about $51 more per month for the exact same loan amount.

Now, I’m not saying you should go buy a house just because rates might change. And I’m definitely not saying you should stretch your budget to make a purchase work.

What I am saying is that if buying a home is something you’ve been thinking about, it might be worth looking at your options now instead of automatically putting everything on hold until rates reach a certain number.

There are a lot of pieces to consider besides the interest rate: the price of the home, inventory, seller concessions, your down payment, your monthly budget, and what you’re actually comfortable paying.

And if rates come down later, you can always revisit your financing options at that point.

If you’ve been thinking about buying but aren’t sure if now makes sense, let’s have a conversation. We can look at some numbers and see what your options actually look like. No pressure to buy. Sometimes it just helps to know what’s possible. 😊🏡

574-210-7472
[email protected]

09/22/2026

This closing was a little extra special. 🥹

My clients were first-time homebuyers, and in just a couple of weeks, they’ll be getting married! They’re not only becoming homeowners, they’re starting this next chapter of their lives together, and I’m beyond grateful they chose me to be part of that journey.

But they surprised me with something that honestly meant SO much to me.

At some point during the process, I had mentioned that I love bees and steampunk. They remembered… and they took the time to MAKE me a gift!

They welded a beautiful flower made from gears, complete with little bee bolts.

And I absolutely love it.

Not just because it’s such a cool and unique gift, but because they made it themselves, specifically for me. They remembered something I had casually mentioned, put thought into it, spent their time and effort creating it, and then gave it to me as a thank-you.

That means more to me than they probably realize.

Helping people buy a house is one thing. Getting to be a small part of such a huge moment in someone’s life is something entirely different.

Congratulations to these two on their first home, their upcoming wedding, and this exciting new chapter they’re beginning together!

And thank you for the most thoughtful, completely *me* gift. 🐝⚙️❤️

09/16/2026

09/10/2026

📣 Price improvement and open house this Sunday 11:00 am - 1:00 pm!

09/03/2026

Open house #2 on Saturday! Conveniently located near the airport, bypass, and toll road, this could be exactly what you’ve been looking for. Don’t let this one slip by. Come see me from 1-3 Saturday and let’s put an end to your home search 😃

MLS #202626857 located at 26670 Durness Woods Drive South Bend, IN 46628 is a Residential listing in South Bend, IN for $329,900

09/03/2026

Open House #1 on Saturday! Come check out this gem in Elkhart. Newer build with all the things. AND it just had a price improvement. Can’t wait to see you there!

MLS #202625940 located at 50784 Maple Isle Drive Elkhart, IN 46514 is a Residential listing in Elkhart, IN for $319,900

08/27/2026

Beyond excited for my buyers! They have a lot of great things coming their way. Can't wait to see where this next chapter takes them!

08/18/2026

Ever dreamt of living close to Notre Dame? 🏈💚💛 Or maybe you’ve been looking for an investment property that could help you invest in your future?

Located just 10 minutes from the heart of campus, this well-kept home could check all the boxes! It features some recent updates, including a new roof over the garage and sunroom and updated flooring, while still leaving plenty of room for you to add your own personal touch.

Whether you’re looking for a place to call home or an investment opportunity, this one is worth a look!

🏡 Come see me at the Open House this Saturday!

You never know…this could be your last stop on your house-hunting tour. 😉

MLS #202632170 located at 3414 Brookhurst Place South Bend, IN 46615 is a Residential listing in South Bend, IN for $199,900