Cressy & Everett Real Estate Blog

Thanksgiving dinner may look a bit different this year for most of us, so why not try something different for dessert? If you've been looking at South Bend homes for sale this fall, you'll probably also want to simplify your meal prep and perhaps skip the homemade pie. The good news? There are scores of fantastic recipes out there that prove Thanksgiving dessert doesn't have to be pie. 

Here are some new riffs on Thanksgiving dessert: 

1. Pumpkin Truffles
   Need that pumpkin fix? Pumpkin Truffles should do the trick. Plus, what's better than bite-size so that your guest can keep the sampling size down and try several different desserts? The ingredients are cream cheese and graham crackers, which hold everything together, plus confectioners' sugar, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and pumpkin puree. Include chocolate for dippings. The type of chocolate is up to you.
   
   This recipe takes some prep time, so be forewarned. The dough must be chilled for 3 hours; after the dough balls are formed, they must be refrigerated; and then the chocolate must be melted for dipping. The truffles are made of cream cheese, so this dessert should be chilled until served.

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If you're staying home to oversee online learning or to work remotely, your mood may be sagging from looking at the same, tired surroundings day after day. But maybe right now is not the time for a big home renovation or for buying a whole houseful of furniture. Still, no need to fret. Who said bigger is always better? There are some pretty cool projects you can do on a budget that will enliven your mood while giving your home the upgrade you've been longing for.

Who knows? Some of these little upgrades are bound to catch a potential buyer's eye if your home's listed among South Bend homes for sale.  Our real estate agents have plenty of tips to get you started. 

Let's start outside and work our way indoors.

1. Copper mailbox.
   There's just something about copper. Warm and rich in hue, copper manages to be classy and understated at the same time. You're certainly welcome to go online and find the real deal, but if you're watching your bank balance these days, then go for a can of copper-colored Rustoleum (under $5) and spray paint your box. Then spiff up the post with a coat or two of shiny black. Follow up with some fall flowers planted around it to boost your curb appeal.

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Whether you're ordering a sandwich or grabbing ingredients for your own culinary creations, there's nothing like visiting your favorite neighborhood deli. Fortunately, anyone living in the Michiana region has no shortage of great delis to choose from! Sandwich Day, which takes place every year on November 3rd, provides the perfect excuse to visit your favorite deli and enjoy all of the amazing things that can be created between two slices of bread. Our real estate agents have all the delicious details on 5 of the best Michiana delis where you can satisfy your sandwich craving anytime.

• Old Style Deli – 200 S. Main St., Elkhart, IN 46516
  Searching for the perfect sandwich and soup combo close to Elkhart homes for sale? Head to the Old Style Deli, a long-time local deli with a reputation for amazing sandwiches and hot, homemade soups. Old Style Deli has been family owned and operated in Elkhart since it was founded in 1983, with a sandwich menu a mile long. Enjoy all of your favorite sandwich styles, including vegetarian options, or create your own sandwich from a long list of fresh ingredients. Old Style Deli offers takeout and delivery for all of your breakfast and lunch needs.

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If you're not vegan, you probably didn't know that World Vegan Day is coming up on Nov. 1. But you don't have to be strictly vegan to get into the spirit of things and celebrate along with your South Bend neighbors who opt for plant-based food. For just that one day, why not go vegan and see what it's like? You might find you feel better.

It may be you're looking at South Bend homes for sale on World Vegan Day, but may we suggest pausing for a bit to try one of these activities to mark the day?

1. Sample vegan restaurants in your area.
2. Host a potluck for those in your immediate social circle, and challenge them to come up with vegan dishes.
3. Bring some vegan foods home for your family to try, such as plant-based milk, cookies, or even meat substitutes such as vegetable protein. 

Here are some of those vegan options in our area you might want to try for takeout, delivery, or dining in at a distance.

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Everyone wants their home sale to go smoothly, but sometimes that's easier said than done. Our real estate agents have put together five important tips for how you can sail past the rough patches and ensure everything goes well on your end.

• Make Yourself Scarce During Tours
  Prospective buyers want to be able to imagine themselves living in your home, so it's important to remove as much of you from the premises as possible. This means more than just leaving during tours of your home, however. It also means getting the pets out of the house, so that agents and their clients don't have to worry about not letting a cat or dog outside that's not supposed to get out, or worse, being ambushed by an unfriendly animal who doesn't understand why there are strangers in the house. And even before that, you'll need to wipe yourself from the clutter and decor. Staging the house means decorating it in a welcoming but fairly impersonal fashion, so that prospective buyers are free to imagine themselves living there.

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