“How’s the market?” As a trusted Realtor®, I get asked this question a lot. Below is statistical data based on properties that have recently sold in some of Chicago’s fine neighborhoods. But every neighborhood, block, street and home is unique and this data includes all residential property types:
It’s not only the real estate markets that differ from town to town — the Cost of Living does, too.
Insurance costs, tax bills and just plain, day-to-day living will dent a household budget differently depending on where that household is. It can be a nerve-wracking fact for families moving across state borders.
2010 is just a few days old and already the “experts” are making predictions for the year.
Housing calls and mortgage rate predictions run the gamut:
HomeGain.com recently released the results of their Home Sale Maximizer survey (Nov ’09). From 1000 Realtors surveyed nationwide, the results show the top do-it-yourself home improvements recommended to home sellers and their average ROI (return on investment).
While residential property varies in size and type, not all DIY average costs will apply. However, the results (see [...]
Congress both extended and expanded the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit program Thursday.
The White House says the President will sign it into law today.
The up-to-$8000 tax credit’s expiration date has been pushed forward to spring, requiring homebuyers to be under contract by April 30, 2010, and to be closed by June 30, 2010.
The program’s basic eligibility [...]
Recently, I asked my trusted Real Estate attorney, Mark Edison, to briefly discuss a common question that arises regarding property tax credits paid by the seller during the sale of their home or investment property. Mark represents buyers and sellers throughout the Chicagoland Area with their Real Estate transactions. Below is his response.
A common question [...]
$5000 less today may be equal to $5000 more one month later…
Here is a quick tip to consider when negotiating the sale of your home.
Let’s say a buyer is offering you $5000 below what you have mentally determined to be your “bottom line.” You really don’t want to accept the price, but you’re contemplating it [...]
While having a casual conversation with a friend recently, he mentioned that the house on his street sold in less than a week. I said, “Wow that’s great to hear!” Unexpectedly, my friend blurted out, “Yeah, they definitely underpriced it if it sold that fast.” Below is a summary of my response…
In a market where [...]
A small, but common issue that buyers often look for when viewing a home is mold and mildew build up around the shower and tub. While a common cleaner, such as Tilex works well for removing these unsightly stains from tile and grout, they don’t seem to work well on the caulk around these surfaces. [...]
Not all remodels are created equal. You may already be familiar with Remodeling magazine’s popular Cost vs. Value report, which documents the average return on investment expected for specific improvement projects. But have you taken into account the latest design trends that will make your home more desirable and thus more valuable?
For example, many buyers [...]
