Chicago Suburb Real Estate & Area Guide 
New look complete for Chicago Suburbs Real Estate Website
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 5:54pm. 63 Views, 0 Comments.
I hope you like the new look for the #1 "local" website for the southwest and near west Chicago suburbs real estate (from where I'm looking, Realtor.com is above me in the organic searches on Google for "Chicago suburbs real estate"). I think this is a cleaner look and I'm always trying to keep the site easy-to-use and organized.
New and Improved MLS Search
Part of the update was a better, custom MLS search. You have more search parameters and a lot more information for each listing. I'll create a new post just to show all of the data that is available when searching for homes on this site.
There are specific searches already set up for the featured areas and accessible from each specific page. For instance, on the Orland Park homes page…
New Look Coming for Cook & Will County Real Estate Site
Sunday, July 25th, 2010 at 2:25pm. 49 Views, 0 Comments.
There have been several different websites and looks over the years on this site. I even made some tweaks to the Cook & Will County Real Estate website last year to make it easier to read and navigate. Below is my prior look for the Cook County Real Estate website:
The upcoming change will be more drastic. Although I chose a layout that is similar to the look above, the colors, heading and other items will be different. Again, I will strive to keep the site relevant with great real estate content but easy to use.
Maybe you're a buyer that doesn't need to read how to buy a place as you might be on your 3rd home. You just want to search the MLS. And that will be another site improvement. A better MLS search offering even more data…
Homer Glen Festival
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010 at 2:54pm. 31 Views, 0 Comments.
It was great timing to be able to attend this year's Homer Glen Parade and Festival since we'll be moving to our Homer Glen home soon. My husband's old band (he doesn't play with them much anymore as he is in a different band) played last year and this year. I missed last year's festival so was happy to be able to make it this year, although I didn't see the parade.
I thought that attendance was light but my friend told me it was twice as many people as last year's event. It will hopefully grow larger year after year.
Someone mentioned that there was a wolf on display so I went looking. Before finding the wolf I stopped by a petting area with some interesting looking alpacas (I thought they were llamas), goats and a pony.
Behind…
Is Shadow Inventory Affecting the Chicago Real Estate Area?
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 at 3:38pm. 35 Views, 0 Comments.
What is Shadow Inventory?
Most of us will agree that "shadow inventory" comprises of properties that are bank owned that are not on the market for sale yet and can also include homes that will fall into foreclosure when loan modifications or short sales are not transacted.
Where Does the Chicago Market Stand?
I just read an article that referenced an analysis of “Shadow Inventory” published by Standard & Poor's Rating Services. The analysis did not include any mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. I was eager to see if Chicago would be listed in the article, and it was.
The areas that were hit the hardest, such as Phoenix, Las Vegas, Detroit, San Diego, San Francisco, etc., currently have the least amount of shadow inventory. …
Using Synergy to Help a Friend
Friday, June 11th, 2010 at 4:51pm. 29 Views, 0 Comments.
The real estate business is based on synergy. The MLS is a database of local listings that the listing agent adds their listings to with 
a promise of a "cooperative commission" to the agent that brings the buyer, called the selling or buyer's agent. Although it seems every real estate agent is working against each other, that is really only our marketing efforts to try to get new clients. Once we get a client, we start cooperating whether it is to sell one of our listings or to find a new residence for our buyers.
And now many real estate agents are cooperating again to try to help one of our own. Carolyn Capalbo is a REALTOR in the Northern Virginia area that shares her name with the mother of a woman involved in a political sex scandal. …
Interest Rates Are Dropping!
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010 at 11:26am. 33 Views, 0 Comments.
Things have definitely slowed down since the tax credit expired. However, we're hoping sales will pick up again with the lowering interest rates that caught everyone by surprise.
It was predicted that interest rates would rise to around 6% in 2010. No one was ready for this latest drop, below 5%! Some are now saying we could see rates as low as 4.5% again!
How Low Can We Go?
We now have a great combination for buyers - prices have backtracked to 2003 values and interest rates are below 5%. Some say prices have another 20% to fall, but I'm not a gambling person and with these low interest rates right now, I'm not sure I'd want to wait if I were thinking about buying.
What if prices don't fall another 10% or 20%? What if interest…
Sellers - There Are Different Kinds of Feedback
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010 at 9:25am. 25 Views, 0 Comments.
Although I consider myself a listing agent, I also enjoy working with buyers. Whenever I show a property, if I am sent a feedback request via e-mail, I fill it out as helpfully as I can. I don't like discussing price unless it is really priced too high. And I have to be careful, especially if I think my buyers might be interested in the property.
And that's why many agents do not provide feedback. Below are excuses I've heard:
- Some agents feel they're doing the listing agent's job by providing feedback. They feel the listing agent should have informed the seller of the correct price and should have helped the seller stage the home properly. I do not buy this as a valid excuse. Sometimes a seller needs to hear it from more than one…
Financing your Home Through the USDA and VA Programs
Thursday, May 13th, 2010 at 11:41am. 56 Views, 0 Comments.
The process of becoming a homeowner is an exciting and often daunting one. The current economic climate has heightened the anticipation since, while it’s a wonderful time to buy a home. In fact, the government recently provided a tax credit to buyers (which is still available if you are a deployed service member). While the market is favorable and sellers are extremely motivated, many banks are tightening their lending requirements and loans can often seem hard to come by. Although USDA and VA loans may not be the first loans most potential home buyers normally consider when looking at home financing options, each can be a wonderful choice for a wide variety of lifestyles, budgets, and properties.
VA loans, which are backed by the US Department of…
Final Days to Get In On The Home Buyer Tax Credit
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 at 11:57am. 19 Views, 0 Comments.
Friday is the last day a buyer can qualify for the Home Buyer Tax Credit. You must have a fully signed and accepted contract by 
Friday, April 30th, in order to qualify. You have up to June 30th, 2010, to close.
I have been waiting for a Frankfort townhouse short sale to get approved so my buyer would be able to take advantage of the tax credit. Things weren't looking good and she was ready to move on. Just yesterday I got the notice from the listing agent that the bank approved the short sale.
My buyer was losing her locked-in interest rate but could get a 10 day extension. I am hoping that we can get this to closing (I don't trust that the short sale mortgage holder will have their act together in 10 days) so my buyer will have her…
Seller Tips
Sunday, April 18th, 2010 at 11:15am. 25 Views, 0 Comments.
It's that time of year again - the Spring season is upon us and buyers are out looking. This means I am seeing more and more mistakes sellers are making in the presentation of their homes. Every year around this time I write a post about how to best show your home in order to get a quick sale at top dollar.
This is not going to be a long list of everything a seller should do, but just what I've seen recently.
1. Clean and de-clutter - you'd think this would be a given, but I can't tell you how many homes I show where you can't see the kitchen counter or sink with all the food, dishes and clutter, piles of clothes all over (clean and dirty) and just very messy houses. My house is up for sale and I am not the fussiest house keeper around but…