Long Grove & Northern IL Real Estate

Home Sellers... so you have decided to list your home for sale.  How does your home compare to other properties on the market?

In these competitive times, it is all about first impressions.  Your home needs to appeal to the age range of the buyer.  In most cases, your home might need a "make under."  This is not often talked about, but how you live in your house is not how you sell your house.  You need to neutralize, de-clutter, and then make 3 piles:  1)  donate  2)  keep/pack  3)  trash/garage sale.  

Your home needs to be in a state of less is more.  A clean look, not a lot of stuff.  Get advice from an expert - a top agent knows exactly what to do, but those agents are far and few between.  The difference will be just listed, versus SOLD!  Work with the best - hire a CRS - Top 3% of all Realtors nationwide.

Posted by:  Carol Best | Coldwell Banker Real Estate | Licensed since 1992

For a confidential consultation - click here

E-mail Carol Best - click here

BUYERS:  Best Buys - Short Sales & Foreclosures - click here

SELLERS:  Find out what is for sale, pending & sold in your neighborhood - listings will be emailed to your inbox - click here 

Everyone wants to know - which direction are we going in the real estate market... up, down, or sideways.  The answer is that it all depends on your local statistics, graphs and current level of inventory [not to mention days on the market]... but keep in mind that the reason why the median values might be trending up, is because the high-priced foreclosures are selling, not necessarily because of an increase in property value.

Here is a hotlink to an interesting article - take the time to understand the bigger picture.  If your agent is not providing you with charts, facts, statistics, and cannot tell you which way the market is trending, i.e. up, down, etc, then it is probably time to start interviewing new agents and find a pricing expert.  Some listings have been on the market for years with the same agent - hello... something just isn't right.  Read what the experts from the Wall Street Journal, the Housing Wire and Reuters are saying.  After all, you wouldn't go to a podiatrist for heart surgery, would you?

Posted by:  Carol Best | Coldwell Banker Real Estate | Licensed since 1992

For a confidential consultation - click here

E-mail Carol Best - click here

BUYERS:  Best Buys - Short Sales & Foreclosures - click here

SELLERS:  Find out what is for sale, pending & sold in your neighborhood - listings will be emailed to your inbox - click here

Do you have plans to relocate to the Northwest suburbs or North Shore of IL?  Here's your E-Z sign up to receive listings of homes, condos, and townhomes currently for sale:  www.FindNorthernIllinoisHomes.com will send you a daily e-mail of homes for sale.

Work with the Carol Best Team for all your real estate needs - whether buying, selling, or if you have questions regarding a potential short sale. We're here to help.

Posted by:  Carol Best | Coldwell Banker Real Estate | Licensed since 1992

For a confidential consultation - click here

E-mail Carol Best - click here

BUYERS:  Best Buys - Short Sales & Foreclosures - click here

SELLERS:  Find out what is for sale, pending & sold in your neighborhood - listings will be emailed to your inbox - click here

Tenants Rights in Foreclosure:

The Illinois legislature recognized the problems with the current system and passed the Right to Possess law which goes into effect January 1, 2008. [10]  It specifies that a bank may only evict a tenant 120 days after notice of the foreclosure hearing or through the duration of the lease, whichever is shorter.  While opponents of the statute argue the newly imposed restriction will make it more expensive for banks to do business and result in higher mortgage rates, proponents contend that the statute adds much needed tenant protection to the foreclosure process.  Some disagree with both positions, arguing that the law does very little.  Since the statute gives tenants 120 days from the notice of the hearing, not the judgment of the court, it has almost no effect on the rights of the tenants since the judgment may come months after initial notice of the hearing and the tenant is still left guessing as to the outcome. 

A law that focuses on giving tenants time to relocate after the day of judgment instead of the initial hearing would certainly be more effective than a law that gives 120 days following the notice of hearing in protecting tenants’ rights.  Nevertheless, the Right to Possess puts tenants in a better position than they were in before.  At the very least, tenants are now aware of the minimum number of days they will be permitted to occupy the premises even if the property is foreclosed.

    **********************************************
Greg Bedoe
847-902-9898

HOME SELLERS:  It is imperative that you choose your Realtor wisely, not necessarily based on friendship, but based on advanced training - given our current market conditions here in Illinois.  EXPERIENCE & ADVANCED EDUCATION makes all the difference in the world but you also need to find an agent that is willing to invest their time & expertise into getting your property sold.  Working with an agent's staff/clerical help, is probably NOT in your best long-term interest.

I have and continue to see agents and attorneys give totally incorrect advice - very sad.

Example #1:  attorney tells seller not to make any mortgage payments and to just allow their condo to go into foreclosure.  This does not have to happen.

Example #2:   agent who knows a lot of residents, lists homes for sale.  It is now well over 4 and 5 months and her short sale listings have not yet closed.  At 6 months, a homeowner is typically in foreclosure.  She has no advanced education on how to properly market listings and close short sales.  This foreclosure will impact the sellers' credit rating for easily the next 15 years.

Example #3:  a long-time agent on the North Shore who is connected with the who's-who lists a multi-million dollar property for sale - it has been up for sale for nearly two years.  I read in the newspaper that this property has been taken over by the attorneys.  This did not have to happen.  Choose your Realtor wisely - not all Realtors are created equal.  Just because that agent was extremely successful when homes were selling like hotcakes, does not mean they know the ins/outs of selling in this down market of short sales & foreclosures.

I am saddened to see homeowners lose their foreclosure battle - they chose the wrong agent.   There are agents and broker-owners who have taken some classes, but they only wanted the designation.  Translation:  the short sale listings of those agents are slipping into foreclosure as of this posting...

Would you have open heart surgery from a GP?  A general practicioner Dr. cannot successfully accomplish heart surgery!   Choose your Realtor wisely - ask the right questions.  Is your home listed with an agent who REALLY cares and has the tenacity and experience to get the job done... or will you be handed off to one of their hourly staff?

The Carol Best Team has the experience and experts in place to accomplish your goals - we're here to help. 

Posted by:  Carol Best | Coldwell Banker Real Estate | Licensed since 1992

For a confidential consultation - click here

E-mail Carol Best - click here

BUYERS:  Best Buys - Short Sales & Foreclosures - click here

SELLERS:  Find out what is for sale, pending & sold in your neighborhood - listings will be emailed to your inbox - click here

National Association of Home Builders-NAHB Las Vegas, NV - February 10, 2010

KEY MESSAGE @ THE SHOW WAS:  If you want someome to buy your house, sell them the kitchen!  This message was repeated time and again at the International Builders Show that featured hundreds of seminars on all aspects of housing, including how to deck out your kitchen for maximum resale value.

KITCHEN DESIGN TRENDS TRANSLATE TO DOLLAR SIGNS!

1) Color, pattern, finishes.  Blue is the new "green" for 2010 soft blues to a consumer relate to clean water, clean air, clean earth. Blue is calming and in this down economy, we all want to be calm. Younger consumers like gray with a touch of pumpkin-orange as an accent color.  Wallpaper is coming back in large-color prints but just on an accent wall [not all four walls].  Cabinet choices have turned from a maple phase to painted white.

2) Homes are getting smaller & kitchens are getting better.  The newly built singlel-family home shrank in 2009.  Downsizing continues and buyer priorities are:  price, energy, and organization.  High on the list is kitchen space where the entire family can dine. They want table space vs. chairs at a counter.

Walk-in pantries, a family foyer at the BACK of the house by the garage, with space for backpacks, coats, boots and maybe a desk for crafts or homework.  Do this and you'll hit a home run!

3) Common Cents - watch your costs!  Green buyers value energy-efficient appliances, insulation and smaller windows.

4) Multiple cooks & different generations.  Grandparents helping in the kitchen and the little ones want to learn too - be sure there is adequate lighting.  Consider countertops, shelves, appliances at various heights.  If a grandparent is in a wheel chair, they can't reach the microwave over the stove.

5)  Granite counters become a personal choice, but consider soapstone or a quartz composite if you don't want to look like the rest.

SELLERS:  Click here to discuss listing your home for Sale with Carol Best & Coldwell Banker

BUYERS:  Search all homes for sale in Chicago & Northern IL

BUY a DEAL:  Search Luxury Home Foreclosures

E-mail Carol | Carol's Website | Call or Text:  773-799-5939

It was just announced on national news today that IL currently ranks #6 in foreclosures.

Realty Trac just sent me my Monthly Newsletter stating that 2009 Foreclosure filings in IL ended the year with a staggering 131,132 foreclosures.

If you think you might qualify for a short sale and want to save your credit rating from a foreclosure, register here:  www.ShortSaleHelpNorthernIllinois.com - my team and I save homeowners from foreclosure 9 times out of 10!

Give Your Dog a New Lease on Life!

45 minutes a day... That’s the amount of time it takes urban dogs to get into great physical shape. Canine health professionals know how critical exercise is for your dog’s physical and mental health.  A fitness program that includes jogging and running sessions that progress to a pace specific to each dog’s needs is paramount for a healthier and happier dog.

www.TailsAWaggin4U.com - a Buffalo Grove based pet sitting company provides the exercise your dog needs.  Peggy Corey, owner and long distance runner, runs with local dogs on a daily basis.  One of her star pupils is Mocha an 11 year old schnauzer.  Mocha has always had a dog walker, but after moving to the area, her owner Chris contacted Peggy @ www.TailsAWaggin4U.com for dog jogging/running/walking services. 

After walking for a few days it was obvious that Mocha really wanted to run.  The sessions progressed based on Mocha’s abilities and after a short period of time she was running.  Now, Mocha can run 2 miles and barks for more.  Mocha is in the best physical shape of her life.  Mocha the Wonder Dog!

Posted by:  Carol Best | Coldwell Banker Real Estate

SELLERS:  Click here to discuss listing your home for Sale with Carol Best & Coldwell Banker

BUYERS:  Search all homes for sale in Chicago & Northern IL

BUY a DEAL:  Search Luxury Home Foreclosures

E-mail Carol | Carol's Website | Call or Text:  773-799-5939

According to today's Chicago Real Estate Daily email, Harris Bank has sued to collect about $14.3 million on an unpaid loan on Galt Airport in northwest suburban McHenry County, specifically Wonder Lake, IL.  A 60-year old airfield for private pilots, this airfield also became a venue for outdoor concerts.  In 2009, there was a 40th anniversary celebration to celebrate the 1969 Woodstock music festival in upstate New York.  For more detailed information, click here:  http://www.ChicagoRealEstateDaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=37056

Unfortunately, The Djurian home on Foster Avenue in Lake Forest, IL is in pre-foreclosure, with a $3.2 million dollar mortgage.  It is not currently listed for sale.

Posted by Carol Best | Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate Brokerage

SELLERS:  Click here to discuss listing your home for Sale with Carol Best & Coldwell Banker

BUYERS:  Search all homes for sale in Chicago & Northern IL

BUY a DEAL:  Search Luxury Home Foreclosures

E-mail Carol | Carol's Website | Call or Text:  773-799-5939