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

09/24/2026

🏙️𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝐀 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐍𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐋𝐃

If you haven’t driven around Four Winds Field lately, you might be surprised by just how much this part of downtown South Bend is changing.

For years, there were vacant and underused properties surrounding the ballpark. Now, little by little, those spaces are becoming homes—and bringing more people into a part of downtown that most of us used to think of primarily as a place to catch a Cubs game.

One of the newest additions is Diamond View Apartments, directly across from Four Winds Field at 535 S. Main Street. The development added 60 affordable one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and the building was fully occupied by the time its ribbon-cutting was scheduled earlier this month.

There’s also a really special piece to this project. Diamond View partnered with LOGAN Community Resources to provide housing opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who want to live more independently.

The original vision for the area was even bigger: Diamond View's 60 affordable apartments alongside 90 new market-rate apartments at the neighboring Stadium Flats development. Unfortunately, Stadium Flats suffered a devastating setback on September 8 when the building under construction was destroyed by fire. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and firefighters kept the flames from spreading to Diamond View and Four Winds Field.

🏡 𝐒𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞?

Because neighborhoods don’t change one house at a time. New housing brings new residents. New residents support nearby restaurants, shops, and attractions. Vacant land gets put back into use. And over time, all of that can change how people see—and live in—an entire part of the city.

𝑾𝒆’𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒕. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌?

𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝑭𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒅?

— Wainscott Real Estate Service
https://wainscottrealestateservice.bhhsgreatlakes.com/
Local knowledge. Real estate experience. Community roots.

Sources:
https://www.sbrchamber.com/events/detail/2026/09/08/chamber/ribbon-cutting-diamond-view-apartments-logan-center/?utm
https://www.wndu.com
https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/0/edoc/380338/RDC%20Packet%201.25.24.pdf?utm
https://www.wndu.com/2026/09/08/massive-fire-cancels-groundbreaking-new-apartments-near-four-winds-field/?utm
https://www.wvpe.org/wvpe-news/2026-09-08/south-bend-firefighters-keep-downtown-blaze-from-spreading-start-investigation?utm

09/18/2026

🛼 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓: 𝐔𝐒𝐀 𝐒𝐊𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑

𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝑷𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓

If you grew up around Mishawaka in the '80s or '90s, chances are USA Skate Center means something to you. It certainly does to us. This was one of those places where entire evenings disappeared—music blasting, lights flashing across the wooden floor, skating in circles with your friends and, of course, hoping the right person might ask you to couples skate. 😂 Long before cell phones and social media, places like USA Skate were where we actually went to be social.

USA Skate Center opened on North Main Street in 1975, originally planned under the name Roller Dome Skate Center before becoming USA Skate shortly before opening. Its massive hardwood skating floor measured roughly 80 by 160 feet, and over the decades the rink became part of growing up for generations of Michiana kids. The rink finally closed on June 8, 2016, when longtime owner Ken Wall retired—ending a run of more than 40 years.

For nearly a decade, the building at 3909 N. Main Street has sat mostly silent—a strange sight for those of us who remember just how loud and alive it once was. But now there may finally be a new chapter. Developer David Farhan is proposing converting the roughly 24,000-square-foot building into as many as seven smaller commercial spaces, potentially bringing restaurants, a coffee shop, salons, offices, and other businesses into the former rink. The proposal still requires additional zoning approval, with the Board of Zoning Appeals expected to consider it in October.

And maybe that's what makes this one a little bittersweet. We'd certainly love to walk through those doors again, lace up a pair of skates, and see the rink exactly as we remember it. But communities change, and sometimes preserving a property's place in the community means finding a completely new purpose for it. The building that once sat practically surrounded by cornfields is now in the heart of one of Mishawaka's busiest commercial corridors.

Whatever happens next, USA Skate Center has already earned its place in Mishawaka memories. And if this redevelopment moves forward, we'll be watching to see what becomes of a building where so many of us spent our Friday and Saturday nights growing up. Same building. New purpose. And hopefully, the beginning of another chapter for a place that gave Michiana more than four decades of memories. ❤️🛼

📍 Former USA Skate Center | 3909 N. Main Street, Mishawaka
https://share.google/1RG6lCDXoTd5c1vrJ

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

SOURCES:
https://forgottenrollerrinksofthepast.com/USA%20Skate%20Center%20IN.html

https://www.wvpe.org/wvpe-news/2026-09-11/developer-says-new-life-for-old-rink-requires-smaller-tenants?utm

https://dailymishawaka.com/?utm

https://sturgesproperty.com/news/then-vs-now-historical-listings-pt-4?utm

09/16/2026

🏡 𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐓𝐓 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐓 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 | 𝐒𝐄𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
More homes to choose from, rising prices, and a busy weekend ahead in Michiana!

📊 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓'𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐓?
The latest numbers are in for St. Joseph County, and we're seeing an interesting shift.

In August, the median residential sale price reached $260,000, up 10% from a year ago. At the same time, average daily inventory increased more than 20% year-over-year, giving buyers more homes to choose from.

Despite that added inventory, homes that sell are still moving quickly—the median time from listing to pending was just 12 days in August.

For sellers, that means well-priced homes are still attracting buyers. For buyers, the increase in inventory may mean a little more choice than we've seen in recent years.

Affordability, however, continues to be an issue. Only about 43.5% of homes listed recently were considered affordable to a household earning $75,000 per year, according to the Indiana Association of REALTORS®.

𝘚𝘖𝘜𝘙𝘊𝘌: 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘙𝘌𝘈𝘓𝘛𝘖𝘙𝘚® — 𝘚𝘵. 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘈𝘶𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵
𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘢.𝘪𝘯.𝘨𝘰𝘷/𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴/𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩/?𝘶𝘵𝘮_

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📅 𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐃
There's plenty happening around town:

🏈 Notre Dame vs. Michigan State — Saturday, September 19. Another big football weekend is coming to South Bend.

🏟️ Rockne Bash — Friday, September 18 at Notre Dame Stadium, with live music, food trucks, and family activities.

🌿 Fall Greenhouse Plant Sale — Saturday, September 19 from 10 AM–1 PM at Battell Community Center in Mishawaka, featuring plants and local vendors.

🛍️ Mishawaka Market — Sunday, September 20 from 10 AM–2 PM at Ironworks Plaza. Produce, crafts, baked goods, food trucks, live music, and more as the market heads into its final weekends of the season.

Whether you're buying, selling, settling an estate—or simply wondering what your home might be worth in today's market—we're always happy to help.

Wainscott Real Estate Service
Local knowledge. Real estate experience. Community roots.

𝘚𝘖𝘜𝘙𝘊𝘌𝘚:
𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘢 𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴
𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘢.𝘪𝘯.𝘨𝘰𝘷/𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴/𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩/?𝘶𝘵𝘮_

𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘢 — 𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴
𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘥.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨/𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴-𝘵𝘰-𝘥𝘰-𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴-𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳/?𝘶𝘵𝘮

09/11/2026

🎶 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓: 𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐗 𝐁𝐀𝐑 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐋
More Than 150 Years of Entertainment in Downtown Mishawaka
Some buildings don't just survive history—they keep finding new ways to bring people together.

Phoenix Bar & Grill has been one of our favorite places in downtown Mishawaka for years. We've spent plenty of nights here singing karaoke (some performances better than others 😂), listening to live bands, catching up with friends, and enjoying one of those local places that just feels unmistakably Mishawaka.

But when we started looking into the history of the building at 101 Lincoln Way West, we discovered something pretty incredible:

People have been coming to this spot for entertainment for more than 150 years.

🔥 𝐀 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞
On September 5, 1872, a devastating fire swept through downtown Mishawaka, destroying 49 buildings and essentially the city's entire business district.

But Mishawaka rebuilt.

The following year, John Niles, Henry Niles, Joseph Burt, and Buford Holcomb constructed the three-story brick building that still stands here today.

Inside was Burt's Opera House, a roughly 1,000-seat entertainment venue that became a center of community life. People came here for concerts, dances, and plays—but also roller skating and even professional indoor ball games. The second floor housed the Century Club, complete with billiards, reading rooms, and social events.

In other words, long before karaoke night...

Mishawaka was already coming here to have a good time. 😂

🔥 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧
Over the generations, the building became home to a variety of businesses, including Hook's Drug Store and the Mustang Restaurant.

Then came another fire.

In the 1980s, a fire destroyed the Covey Restaurant that occupied the space. Once again, however, the building survived, and Don Kelly and his son Rich worked to preserve its history and legacy.

Which makes the name The Phoenix especially appropriate.

A sculpture depicting a phoenix rising from a lion's head once crowned the building—a symbol of rebirth. The surviving lion's head is now preserved at the Hannah Lindahl Children's Museum.

A building born after one fire, surviving another, and still standing more than 150 years later.

It's hard to imagine a better name.

🎤 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝
The current Phoenix Bar & Grill opened in 2002, and in a way, the building is still doing exactly what it did in the 1870s:

Giving people somewhere to gather.

Today you'll find karaoke on Wednesdays, open mic nights on Thursdays, and live music regularly filling the building on weekends. Their current calendar also includes things like trivia and Singo.

And that's probably our favorite part of this story.

More than a century ago, people dressed up and came to this building to hear music, see performances, dance, and spend an evening together.

Today, we're still walking through those doors to hear live music, sing karaoke, and spend the evening with friends.

The music has certainly changed.

The reason people gather here really hasn't. ❤️

🏘️ 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫
When we talk about what makes Mishawaka a great place to live, it isn't only houses, property values, or new development.

It's also the places that give a community its identity.

Historic buildings like the Phoenix connect downtown Mishawaka's past with what the city is becoming today. They remind us that preservation doesn't necessarily mean turning an old building into a museum.

Sometimes the best way to preserve a building is to keep using it.

Keep filling it with people.

Keep making memories inside it.

And after more than 150 years, that's exactly what's still happening at The Phoenix.

📍 Phoenix Bar & Grill
101 Lincoln Way West
Mishawaka, Indiana
https://share.google/bSANeRCNfOyrrTWeQ

🎤 Karaoke • Live Music • Open Mic • Food • Local History

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

Explore the history of The Phoenix in this article: https://thephoenixbarandgrill.com/history/

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
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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

Wainscott Real Estate at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northern Indiana

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