Change Comes in Waves
As March arrives, I’m reminded that time keeps moving. Just when I hit a few weeks of wondering, “Will winter ever end?” we get a stretch of warm days. The daylight lingers a little longer. People are walking, biking, and skating again. And I am here for it!
Krystal absolutely lives for the warmth. It doesn’t take long before she’s got us headed to Sullivan’s Home & Garden to kick off growing season, stocking up on starters, soil, and everything we need for the landscaping and garden ahead.
Speaking of growing seasons, this one is a big one for our family. Krystal and I will both be in the weddings of my two remaining unmarried siblings in May and September. It’s been exciting to watch our extended family grow.
We’re also hoping to plan a quick road trip to Charleston, SC in a few weeks before Krystal heads to Texas for a short trip of her own.
And lastly, it’s been incredibly cool to watch my wife turn her hobby into a business. She just found out that she and a few partners have been accepted to open a storefront this spring! More to come there.
Local Events by City of Shay
Things to Do This Month
Art in Bloom presented by LINNEA at Newfields (March 19th-22nd)
Discover signs of spring at Art in Bloom to beat those winter grays. This event at Newfields is the perfect way to kick off the season, enjoy natural art from local artists, and wander the museum and gardens. It’s the perfect event for a day date or an outing with friends. Be sure to check out The LUME exhibit at Newfields after you experience the stunning floral exhibits.
Indy St. Patrick’s Day (March 12th-14th)
Catch the luck of the Irish downtown this year with the Indy St. Patrick’s Day festivities! First, check out the greening of the canal with live music and celebrations on March 12th. Then, on March 13th, take the whole family downtown to enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day parade presented by Hoosier Lottery. If you’re feeling athletic, be sure to sign up for the Shamrock Run + Walk on March 14th with a chance to win a free flight to Dublin with AerLingus.
Brickworld Indianapolis 2026 (March 14th-15th)
LEGO fans will find themselves getting lost in LEGOLand at this event. Be sure to check out 65,000 square feet of LEGO creations and interactive experiences perfect for families and friends. Try your hand at creating your own LEGO masterpieces or shop for the loved ones in your life (or just yourself).
Indy Hosts Final Four
Indianapolis is once again at the center of the college basketball world.
While conference tournaments tip off in early March, the real spotlight is on Final Four weekend, when Lucas Oil Stadium hosts the NCAA Men’s Final Four and National Championship (April 4 & 6, 2026).
But it’s more than just the games. Check out more below.
Market Minute
Ownership rates for Gen Z and Millennials on the rise…slowly
Recent data shows homeownership rates for younger generations are slowly ticking up even in today’s market. But let’s be honest: prices and monthly costs are still high.
If you’re renting now, but hope to one day own a home, there’s one reality worth knowing.Homeownership remains one of the most powerful ways Americans build long-term wealth.
According to recent Federal Reserve and Realtor.com data, the median net worth of U.S. homeowners is roughly 40–43× higher than that of renters, about $396,000–$430,000 compared with around $10,000 for renters
That doesn’t mean owning a home is easy in today’s market with prices and costs still high, but it does highlight how impactful homeownership can be over time.
The real question isn’t “Is renting bad?” It should be “How long do you plan to stay?”Because buying has upfront costs and those take time to recover.
Stay less than 2–3 years? Renting often makes more financial sense.
Stay 5+ years? Owning typically wins.
When you make a mortgage payment, it’s not just one number, it’s split between principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. The key difference between renting and owning? The principal portion goes back to you. It’s forced savings. On a $300,000 home with 5% down at today’s rates, roughly $250–$300 of the early monthly payment goes toward principal. That may not sound like much, but over just the first three years, that can add up to roughly $10,000–$15,000 in equity paid down.
And that’s before factoring in appreciation. At a modest 3% annual appreciation rate, a $300,000 home would grow to roughly $327,800 in three years — an increase of about $27,800. Combine that with an estimated $10,000–$15,000 in principal paydown, and you’re looking at roughly $40,000+ in total equity growth in just three years. That’s the quiet power of ownership. Leverage, appreciation, and forced savings all working together.
Owning doesn’t just give you a place to live. It quietly builds wealth in the background every single month.
I heard a story one time that was a bit of a parable that stuck with me. The familiar situation of grocery shopping. You show up to the store, find your parking spot, and you navigate around that shopping cart that was left in the parking space next to you. What you do next says a lot about your character. Do you leave the cart or put it in the cart corral?
This is actually called the “Shopping Cart Theory” and it’s very interesting because returning a cart after shopping is the right thing to do. No one is forcing you to do it, there’s no reward for doing it, and there’s usually no punishment for not doing it.
It’s easy. It benefits others. It costs you almost nothing and you get a few extra steps in.
Keeping our streets clean feels like a very similar situation. There is an opportunity coming up for you to take part in being a wonderful human that can have a positive impact on your local community. On March 27, we want to gather as many people as possible to help clean up Broad Ripple Park and the surrounding area.
I ask you to please consider doing us. And if not this time, on 07/07/2026 we are gathering 777 volunteers in one big citywide cleaning initiative.
Homeownership Tip
AC Tune-Up Season
March and April are the best months to get your AC unit serviced here in Indiana.
Before the summer heat hits and HVAC companies get slammed with emergency calls, schedule a simple spring tune-up. It’s one of those small, boring homeowner habits that can save you thousands long term.
A yearly AC service helps:
Catch small issues before they turn into expensive breakdowns
Improve efficiency (lower summer electric bills)
Extend the life of your system
Think of it like an oil change for your house. It’s something you should do every spring.
If you need a trusted local HVAC contact, just reply to this email and I’ll connect you.
Daylight Savings This Sunday
Remember that we “spring forward” this upcoming Sunday March 8th at 2:00 AM. This is your reminder to go to bed a little early on Saturday night!
Next Step
Planning to Buy a Home, but Don’t Know Where to Start?
If you’re thinking about buying a home, but aren’t sure what the first move should be, don’t guess. The Home Buyer Readiness Quiz at the bottom of this email will help you understand where you stand.
Whether you’re ready now or just starting to think ahead, you’ll walk away with a clearer game plan and fewer unknowns.
Biblical Wisdom
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
Until next month,
Plant Roots. Build Community.