Southern Indiana · July 24, 2026

A garage door that pays you back 268%

Southern Indiana homes are outpacing the national market, with New Albany properties appreciating at more than twice the rate of homes across the country. Whether you're a homeowner watching your investment grow or a prospective buyer entering the market, here's what's happening in your neighborhood this week.

Community Spotlight

Sweet B's brings local ice cream to New Albany

Sweet B's, located at 137 E Market Street, Suite 50 in New Albany, is a beloved single-location ice cream shop earning consistent praise from the community. With a 4.7 out of 5 rating from visitors, it's become a neighborhood destination for families and friends looking for quality ice cream in a local setting.

If you're new to Southern Indiana or simply looking for a community gathering spot, Sweet B's represents the kind of locally owned business that makes neighborhoods vibrant and welcoming. Stop by this week and see why it's earned its reputation.

Rated 4.7/5 by visitors
Local single-location ice cream shop
Featured in this week's spotlight
137 E Market St Ste 50, New Albany, IN 47150, USA
Recipe of the Week

Entertain with Alouette Crème de Brie Shrimp Cups

Looking for an elegant appetizer to serve at your next gathering? Alouette Crème de Brie Shrimp Cups deliver sophistication in just 45 minutes and make 30 servings—perfect for summer entertaining at home or sharing with neighbors. Each serving contains only 38 calories, 2 grams of protein, and 3 grams of fat, and costs just 26 cents per piece.

Start by arranging phyllo tartlet shells on serving plates and spooning a small amount of Alouette Crème de Brie into each one. Combine shrimp with chives, extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, orange juice, grated orange peel, and crushed red pepper flakes, then toss to coat. Top each shell with one shrimp and a little of the citrus mixture, then serve immediately. For a variation, substitute cup-shaped tortilla chips for the phyllo shells, and warm them for 5 minutes at 350 degrees if you prefer them warm rather than cold.

Prep
45 minutes
Serves
30 servings
Ingredients
1 package (5 oz.) Alouette Crème de Brie, Original, at room temperature
1 tablespoon chopped chives
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/8 teaspoon garlic, finely minced
1 tablespoon orange juice
1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel
2 packages (2.1 oz each) frozen phyllo tartlet shells
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Method
1
Arrange tartlet shells on 2 serving plates. Spoon a scant teaspoon Alouette Crme de Brie in each.In medium bowl, combine shrimp and all remaining ingredients. Toss to coat shrimp.
2
Place 1 shrimp over cheese in each shell. Spoon a little orange juice-chive mixture over shrimp.
3
Serve immediately.Variation:For a slightly salty flavor, substitute 30 cup-shaped tortilla chips for the phyllo tartlet shells.If using phyllo tartlet shells, these can be served cold or warm (warm for 5 minutes at 350 F).
Seasonal Home Tips

Keep your Southern Indiana home summer-ready

July is the peak season for air conditioning and outdoor living, which means now is the time to ensure your home runs efficiently and safely. Start by replacing your HVAC air filters—pollen and dust from spring cleaning get trapped in those filters and force your system to work harder. A clean filter improves indoor air quality and reduces strain during peak cooling season.

Next, inspect your deck or patio for loose boards and clean the surfaces thoroughly. If you have a deck, apply water seal to the underside every few years to prevent rotting joists and extend its lifespan. Finally, clean your ceiling fans and verify they're rotating counterclockwise for summer—this direction pushes air downward and creates a cooling breeze, helping you stay comfortable while easing the load on your air conditioning. These simple maintenance steps pay dividends in comfort and longevity.

1
Replace HVAC air filters and swap out dirty filters
The pollen and dust from spring cleaning may be out of the air, but it's also trapped in your HVAC filters. Swap out that dirty old filter for a clean one to improve the air quality in your home and keep your system from working harder during peak cooling season.
2
Inspect and maintain deck or patio surfaces
If you have a deck or patio, check for loose boards and clean and seal the surface if needed. Use a water seal on the underside of your deck every few years to prevent rotting joists. Summer is the time to enjoy your outdoor space, so make sure it's safe and well-maintained.
3
Clean ceiling fans and check rotation direction
Clean those ceiling fans and check they're spinning the right direction for summer. In July, fans should rotate counterclockwise to push air down and create a cooling breeze, helping you stay comfortable without overworking your air conditioning system.
More for this month — blog exclusive
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Test and maintain pool water chemistry weekly
At this time of year, pool care feels like a part-time job but has big rewards. Test water with a pool test kit at least a couple times a week, treat the water with pool shock every week or so, maintain chlorine and pH levels to reduce algae growth, and remove leaves and debris that could clog the pool filter and drain.
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Secure your home before summer vacation
Overgrown lawns, overfilled mailboxes, and darkened porch lights are all cues to burglars that your house is unoccupied. Stay on defense by hiring a neighborhood kid to mow the lawn, contact the post office to stop your mail, and use a light timer or invest in smart light switches to keep the lights on while you're out.
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Clean outdoor light fixtures to remove bugs and debris
A bug-filled outdoor light fixture can quickly kill the mood during summer evenings. After making sure it's cool to the touch, unscrew the glass portion of the fixture, rinse out any debris or dead flies, then replace it. To reduce insect activity in the area, look into hanging a bug zapper nearby.
Home Value Pulse

New Albany homes surge past national growth rate

Homes in New Albany have appreciated 3.9 percent over the past year, significantly outpacing the 1.7 percent national average. This gap reflects the strength and stability of the Southern Indiana housing market, where local demand and limited inventory continue to support property values.

For current homeowners, this appreciation means your investment is building equity faster than the broader market. For those considering a purchase, it underscores why timing and location matter in your decision. The data, current as of July 2026, shows that Southern Indiana remains a solid place to own real estate.

Southern Indiana · Year over Year · as of July 2026
+3.9%
versus +1.7% nationally
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Thomas Gwinn
About the author

Thomas Gwinn

Let's Get You Home

Thomas Gwinn is a real estate agent serving Southern Indiana with a deep knowledge of local market trends and community insight. He shares weekly updates to help families and investors make informed decisions about buying, selling, and maintaining their homes.