Times Staff Report

House raffle tickets are now on sale to everyone.

Tickets for the 14th Annual Northwest Indiana House Raffle were restricted before Monday to entrants in previous NWI House Raffles. Now anyone can plunk down $150 for a chance at a $390,000 Lowell home.

About 2,600 tickets were sold before Monday, said Kristen Stash, raffle finance director. Raffle organizers hope to sell at least 6,000 tickets before sales close before July 22.

"It's looking pretty good. We had a good response from our previous buyers," Stash said.

About 5,100 tickets were sold for last year's raffle, Stash said.

This year, $150 buys entrants a shot at winning a "green-friendly," three-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch home in the Heritage Falls subdivision in Lowell, according to a news release from the raffle's organizers. Mirar Custom Homes is building the house.

Ticket money will benefit St. Jude House and Southlake YMCA in Crown Point.

Ticket buyers have 1 in 80 chance of winning either the house or one of 74 other cash prizes, according to the release.

The raffle drawing is set for July 25. For more information, visit the nwihouseraffle.org or call (888) 663-5810.