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3/17/12

Is your home unlucky?  I recently was showing homes to a buyer with very particular criteria.  A home we visited was considered unlucky because a perpendicular street ended in front of the house.  At first, I chalked it up to superstition, but later thought of the grim outcome if someone lost control of their car.  

 
  

2/28/12

Recently returned from a Flordia vacation and saw ocean front lots for less than what a 1/4 acre was selling for in Park Ridge and Glenview a few years back! 

 

1/18/12

My prediction is that this is the bottom of the real estate market.  Those of you that do not purchase in 2012, will be kicking yourselves after this year.  

 

12/30/11

In honor of getting my latest rental property rented, I'll share with you a good tip when writing leases.  If you have a mortgage on an existing rental property I strongly suggest you have your tenans pay on the 15th, two weeks before the first, of every month.  That way you will have time for their check to clear before you have to write your mortage payment. 





11/29/11

I recently read an interesting article in The Economist.  They were looking at prices of real estate around the globe and in many countries they felt properties were still over valued.  They looked at two criteria in order to figure out whether something was over priced or not.  The two criteria they looked at was the homeowner's income in relation to the sale price of the property and the other criteria is how much money can the house be rented for.  The good news for us is that they felt property in the U.S. was currently undervalued.  I can attest to that, because I recently purchased another rental property for the small sum of $14,200.  A few years back it would have sold for roughly $100,000.  I expect rent of $875/month for this 2 bedroom, 1-1/2 bath townhome.   





10/25/11

Halloween is right around the corner.  It's a little safer now that we change our clocks back after Holloween so the little ones are more visible in the evening.  As a reminder, when you change your clocks back this year, also change the batteries in your smoke detectors. 



9/11/11

ten years.




8/14/11

As we prepare for another "Back to School" season, remember to verify the information on the MLS.  There has been more than one occasion a Realtor has uploaded the wrong school in a particular district, it's best to call the city to double check any important info.  Most of the time it is accurate but it's not guaranteed.




7/4/11

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

6/4/11

If you have a post possession closing for the home you are purchasing make sure your home insurance company is aware that someone other than you is living there.

5/16/11

There's nothing "short" about a short-sale! If you're in the market to purchase a home there are many good deals to choose from. Find out if the seller is trying to sell the home for less than what they owe on it. If that is the case be prepared to be patient. All offers are going to be subject to the banks final approval. I've had a recent client that put an offer in on a property $30,000 above the asking price and we waited over three months for a response from the bank. Luckily the bank had accepted our offer and wanted to close in thirty days. As a buyer you must be very flexible, because the bank has most of the leverage. I've had good experiences as well as bad ones with short-sales so be prepared. Over the past two years roughly 65% of my business has been with short-sales or foreclosed properties.

4/1/11

Don't be a fool this April!  Your seller's expenses may be tax deductible, speak to your tax advisor for guidence.

 


3/6/11

One of the most important things you can do in order to get your home ready to put on the market is getting rid of your clutter.  It's a great time to get a jump on your Spring cleaning and make your home shine.  Start from the top level of the house and work your way down, that goes for cleaning tables before floors, etc.  Make sure your refriderator is free of magnets and clutter stored on top.  A great way to start is by taking pictures of each room first.  This will give you an objective view of your home and you'll see right away what you should focus on.



2/14/11

Fall in love with a new home this year!





1/1/11

One-One-Eleven, what a cool date!  My calendars are back by popular demand!  If you haven't received one please give me a call at 847.207.7398 and I'll be sure to mail one out.  This should be a great year to find your dream house, there is plenty on the market to choose from.





12/13/10

Many homes have been taken off the market for the holidays, don't make the same mistake!  Buyers that are willing to trudge through snow and ice are not just lookers, they are serious. 







11/23/10

This Thanksgiving give thanks not just to your family but to your community as well.  Volunteer at a local food bank, donate your time at a soup kitchen, host a coat drive for the homeless, shovel your neighbors driveway.  These things will feed your soul and make your community stronger!  Have a wonderful and safe holiday.




10/2/10

If your house is on the maket this month, I recommend lots of front yard Halloween decorations.  This will attract more drive by attention and possibly interest in your home! 







9/11/10

Thank you to all the first responders putting their life on the line for ours.





8/12/10

Kids will start returning to school soon and it's a good time to think about how your school is performing.  Did you know the Daily Hearld puts out a "school report card" every year?  They break down the average PSAT, ACT scores as well as teacher and administrative pay throughout a seven county area.  They also compare them to state averages to guage how your child's school is performing.




7/20/10

Anyone considering purchasing a distressed property to live in should familiarize yourself with the FHA 203K, and the FHA 203K Streamline loan.  It is not available to investors and standard FHA and conventional loans will not lend money if the home is missing a tub, toilet, kitchen, ect.  It's not uncommon for people to sell basic home fixtures when they know they're losing their home. 





6/18/10

I just listed an absolutely gorgeous two bedroom penthouse unit in Nantucket Cove in Schaumburg.  The owners have completely rehabbed this home from top to bottom.  Close to Woodfield Mall, major expressways, Metra train, and low Cook County taxes!  Visit the link for more pix:
http://www.zingding.com/67389102




5/19/10

The April 30th deadline to be under contract for the tax rebate didn't seem to bring as many first time buyers out as it did last September before the extension.  Some feel prices will continue to drop below the rebate amount.  I like to warn people that the only way to know when the market has bottomed out is in the rearview mirror.  Don't be someone that kicks themself later for not acting when they could have.





4/15/10

It's a gorgeous day today to shop for a new home!  Remember to qualify for the $8,000 first time home buyers credit or the $6,500 purchase tax credit you must be under contract by the end of this month!  Time is running out, I wish I got an $8,000 rebate check for my first home!  Prices and interest rates are at an all time low, this is the time to buy.

3/17/10

Two of my rental units are coming available as of April 1st.  If you're looking to rent over purchase contact me and I'll email you the listings.  If mine don't fit your needs I can always help you find any other rental listed in the MLS that might!




2/15/10

Gowing Green!  For those of you that have requested Calendars this year I can still mail them to you, however, this year I plan to save more trees through more email marketing and less snail mail.  If you'd like to be on my email list please contact me.



1/18/10

The Spring market has arrived early this year.  Normally the market picks up in mid March, however, due to the extension of the first time home buyer credit as well as the $6,500 tax credit toward previous owners of property for the past five years more people are coming out of the woodwork.  I've noticed a spike in the showing of my own listings and talking to other agents in my office they seem to be noticing the same trends. 

12/23/09

Donations keep coming in for our upcoming Leads Club Mixer.  We will be celebrating our third year aniversary at helping to build local businesses.  So far every guest that attends our mixer will receive a deck of cards and a pair of casino quality dice.  The Empress Casino has donated two travel bags and one travel blanket, RAM sent us a certificate for a 10 person brewery tour with drinks and appetizers ($150 value), Hollywood Casino chipped in with four dinner buffet certificates valued at $22 each, Stir Crazy gave us 6 free dessert or appetizer certificates, Rosati's donated a $25 gift card, Jimmy Johns has contributed two $20 gift cards, Panda Express has given us a $35 gift card as well as Gameworks chipping in with a $25 game card.  If you know of any other local businesses that would like to help make our night a success there's still plenty of time to get in touch with me. 

11/25/09

Mark your calendars for January 26, 2010 from 6-8 pm for a business networking event you won't want to miss!  Have a chance at winning raffle prizes, after playing Blackjack and Texas Holdem, all while networking with other business professionals in the area! We're expecting a large turnout so RSVP as soon as possible! There is a five dollar entry fee that entitles you to $500 in play money, refreshments, and a chance to grow your business.  For location and more information please contact me at 847.207.7398. This event is brought to you by the Schaumburg Leads Club.

www.SchaumburgLeadsClub.com

11/7/09

As the baby-boomer generation ages, I'm seeing an increased demand for homes without stairs.  The trend I'm noticing is empty-nesters are downsizing for more manageable living space without sacrificing their independence.  I have been recommending townhomes which the exterior maintenance is taken care of.  The second most important trait the new home should have is a large basement for storage. 

10/11/09

Now that the weather has changed for the season, only serious buyers are looking.  If your home is currently on the market you may see a dip in your showings, don't be alarmed, the people looking at your house from now until the end of the year are usually better prospects.  My listings under $200,000 are experiencing an unusual amount of activity for the season, probably due to the fact the first time home buyer tax credit is coming to an end. 

9/11/09

Please thank a veteran today.

8/17/09

I've been asked repeatedly by potential first time buyers if I think the government will extend the $8,000 tax credit beyond the end of this November.  As the deadline nears I must remind buyers that your new home must actually close by November 30th, not just be under contract.  Not knowing what the future holds, I don't want to speculate what actions the government might or might not take.  Having said that I recently returned from a seminar featuring an economist for Freddie Mac.  Her response to the same question was that it depends how long American tax payers are going to put up with all of the recent handouts.  Her feelings were it's better to act now than to get greedy, because it may not last.

7/14/09

The Naperville Sun interviewed me regarding the University Heights Subdivision in Naperville.  The two page article was in the "My Neighbors" section.  Living in the area provides me with more insight on what is happening in the local market.  In addition to keeping up with what's going on, I also try and improve the community by picking up roadside debris every couple of months.

6/24/09

The power of multiple pictures!  Everyone knows a picture is worth a thousand words, but now one is just not enough.  The MLS allows for up to 9 photographs of a property and I encourage every listing to have the maximum amount.  Time and time again I've spoken to buyers that skip viewing homes with zero or just one picture feeling as though the seller has something to hide.  Even on some of the largest Real Estate websites, often the user is asked to view properties with pictures first. 

5/23/09

Will an open house sell your home?  Some clients insist I provide them with open houses while others refuse for me to do one.  In my experience most Realtors enjoy doing open houses because it affords them the opportunity to meet new potential buyers.  I would think there is a relatively small chance of selling your home through an open house (maybe 5%), although I have done it.  My feelings are even if there's only a slight chance, every bit you can do certainly helps.

4/14/09

Hungry for Business?  I'll give you the skinny on broker tours.  Over the past several years I've seen a dramatic decrease in attendance to broker tours.  A broker tour is an open house strictly for area Realtors to see what homes have come onto the market.  Whether that agent has a particular client in mind our just wants to increase his working inventory for clients he might have in the future, it is an important tool in selling your home.  I've found that just publishing a broker tour in the MLS is not enough for agents to come to visit the home.  In more cases than not you must offer additional incentives such as a free bottle of wine, lotto tickets, raffle prize or food. 

03/18/09

First-time buyers should take advantage of the $8,000.00 tax credit featured in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  The difference between the $7,500.00 last year is that this never needs to be repaid as long as you live in the property for three years.  Also, a first time home-buyer is defined as someone that has not owned a home in the past three years.  The credit is good for ten percent of the purchase price up to $8,000.00 and applies to first-time buyers making less than $75,000 anually and $150,000 jointly.  Feel free to call me for further details at 847.207.7398.

02/15/09

I hope everyone had a great Valentine's day!  The Schaumburg Leads Club I founded celebrated it's one year aniversary.  I network with a variety of business professionals, all of which I have used myself.  So if you're in need of a good attorney, lender, mechanic, web designer, insurance agent or other professionals shoot me an email or give me a call and I'd be happy to put you in touch with someone.

01/02/09

It's a new year and a new start for many.  I've decided to include pictures with this years blog.  As many of you know I currently own a couple of homes in the Fox Ridge Subdivision.  I've sold many homes in the area; so if you're looking for floor plans of your unit or want to know how many are currently for sale feel free to call me.  I currently have listed a gorgeous penthouse unit.   

12/22/08

Looking to find a great deal on a house?  Many listings in this area are under market value and require bank approval on any offer.  These homes are not foreclosures, but are known as "short-sales" meaning the bank may be willing to take less than what is owed on the property.  More often than not these homes are in better shape than foreclosures, because the residents still own the property.  Call me for a free list of "short-sale" and foreclosures in your area at 847.207.7398.

11/01/08

Know your options when facing foreclosure.  Do not to ignore the problem.  Contact your lender ASAP.  Make sure you have an open communication with the bank holding your loan.  Here are some websites and phone numbers that may be of assistance: www.fha.gov/foreclosure/index.cfm. (800) 569-4287, www.foreclosurehelpandhope.org (888) 995-HOPE, www.nw.org/foreclosuresolutions

10/12/08

Thinking about buying new construction?  This late in the year, there are some excellent deals to be had.  Most new construction takes 4-6 months to build so start looking now!  I'm a certified Century 21 new construction specialist.  Using a Realtor to purchase new construction will not change the purchase price.  Not only will you save money when you list your home with me, I can offer you valuable insight on what upgrades give you the best return on the dollar when it's time to sell.  New construction companies have agents working hard to represent their interests, you should too!

9/11/08

We will never forget.

8/9/08

Find out whether or not your village charges transfer stamps when you sell your home and whether the buyer or seller is responsible for purchasing them.  Illinois charges the seller $1:00/$1,000 of the sale price in addition every county charging $0.50/$1,000 of the sale price. 

7/17/08

When purchasing a home using the latest version of the mlsni contract make sure you find out the cost of your home insurance within the first ten days.  Your insurance company can do a clue report to find out how many claims have been issued and how that might affect your rate.

6/15/08

Before putting your home on the market be sure to find out if you have any pre-payment penalties for paying your loan off early.  Occasionally these can be thousands of dollars and it's better to know about them up front.  Also, the loan payoff amount is often higher than the balance shown on your monthly statements.

5/24/08

Know the importance of building a good real estate team.  It's vital you find a Realtor you feel comfortable with, but it shouldn't stop there.  Other important members of your home buying team should include a certified home inspector, a lawyer specializing in real estate, and a mortgage professional.  You often get what you pay for so choose wisely.  You can find people I've worked with in the past under my affiliates page of my website. 

4/19/08

Don't rent a lifestyle!  The average net worth of a renter is $5,000 while the average net worth of a homeowner is $172,000!  Rents may be low right now, but that will change.  Historically rents increase an average of 5% a year, while a fixed mortgage remains constant over the years.  When purchasing your first home, lower your expectations.  Think of your first home as a building block to piggyback onto the bigger and better, until eventually you can get your dream home.  

3/22/08

The real estate market in Schaumburg is starting to pick up.  Our office had 60 showing appointments the other day.  It's true that the Schaumburg real estate market has slowed from previous years, however, it is just returning to a normal state.  Buyers are taking more time deciding what to purchase, because they have more to choose from.  This does not mean people aren't going to be able to sell their homes, it only means they have to work harder to do so.  My office thrives in this type of market, because we go above and beyond servicing all of our listings. 

2/21/08

This may be a difficult time to sell your house, but if you're in the market to buy, now's the time!  If you don't need to sell a home in order to buy a new one, you're in a very strong position.  Prices are lower than they have been in a couple of years, and interest rates have recently come down.  I currently have two pre-foreclosure townhomes available and the seller will take any offer the bank okays! 

1/15/08

Foreclosures are still on the rise.  Know the difference between a HUD and a bank owned home.  If you're thinking about purchasing a foreclosure, be flexible.  Often a bank will take several days if not weeks to respond to an offer to purchase, also the closing date may be delayed.