Chicago's North Shore - North and Northwest Suburbs Real Estate

Evanston Farmers Market

When:  Saturday, May 18th, 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 pm

Runs:  Every Saturday morning through November 2nd

Location:  1090 University Place at intersection of Oak Avenue and University Place

Cost:  Free

Now in its 38^th year, the Evanston Farmers Market, a weekly Saturday venue, provides fun for visitors of all ages.  Noted for its particularly “festive atmosphere”,   this weekly scene features over fifty vendors who offer a diverse assortment of fresh items for purchase.  Stop in and you’ll find everything from meats to fruits and vegetable as well as flowers, dairy products and baked goods.

Please note that dogs are not allowed at the market (with an exception for service animals).

Evanston Farmers’ Markets are a popular weekend event throughout the summer and fall seasons.

Allyson Hoffman, ABR, ACRE, CDPE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SFR, SRES
RE/MAX Villager
Serving Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs
847-310-5300
allyson@allyson.com

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Allyson Hoffman is your ultimate real estate resource for Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs and surrounding areas. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

You're ready to buy a home, but do you really know how much you can afford?

Before you set out on your new home search, it is important to know how much you are able to afford.  This is referred to as being pre-qualified, which is different than being pre-approved and can be accomplished through a preliminary interview with your prospective lender.  During the pre-qualification process you will learn a number of different things about your finances such as:

• How much home you can afford

• The amount of down payment you will need

• The minimum down payment and the advantages of higher down payments

• What the bank feels you can afford for a monthly payment

Determining this information ahead of time will also assist your agent in finding the right properties for you to look at that fall within your budget.

The next recommended step is to be pre-approved.  This step is more involved.  Your lender will need to review your finances in greater detail, including running your credit profile, to determine how much money they can tentatively agree to loan you for your home purchase. Your lender will review the following:

•  Gross Monthly Income

• Credit History

• Amount of any/all outstanding debts

• Source and amount of money available for down payment and closing costs

• Type of Mortgage

• Interest Rates, etc.

Analysis of this information will allow the lender to determine two important ratios:

• Debt-to-Income Ratio
  Your bills/debt each month should not exceed 36 percent of your gross monthly income

•  Housing Expense Ratio

• Your monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 28 to 33 percent of your gross monthly income

Though there may be some flexibility in these ratios (depending upon the lender and the type of loan program you prefer), submitting your information to your lender’s automated underwriting program for approval should provide you a greater sense of confidence in your ability to secure the financing you’ll need to reach your objective.   With a strong pre-approval in hand your offers to sellers should be better received and more likely to be seriously considered.  For more information on the home buying process, please feel free to contact me for additional information or assistance.

Allyson Hoffman, ABR, ACRE, CDPE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SFR, SRES
RE/MAX Villager
Serving Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs
847-310-5300
allyson@allyson.com

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Allyson Hoffman is your ultimate real estate resource for Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs and surrounding areas. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

Mother’s Day Events – It’s all about Mom This Weekend

Mother’s Day is a special day of the year and you will find many options to choose from to show your Mom, Grandmother or other special “Mom” how much she’s appreciated and loved.  Below are just a few of the events for the North Shore and Northwest Chicago suburban communities you can consider this year for Mom on her special day. 

Enjoy the weekend!

Evanston

Davis Street Fishmarket

501 Davis St, Evanston, IL 60201
847-869-3474

Enjoy seafood with a bit of Cajun flair.  Davis Street Fishmarket flies in fresh fish daily.  The restaurant ditched its former Key West theme for a classier vibe, with booth seating in the bar area and a more upscale dining room.  Portions are generous but save room for a slice from their dessert tray.

Mother's Day House Walk

Sunday, May 12th, 12:00 p.m.

225 Greenwood Street, Evanston IL 60201
Evanston History Center

http://www.evanstonhistorycenter.org/

The annual tour, now almost forty years old, takes guests on a showcase of Evanston's architecture, highlighting everything from an 1860’s Italianate building to a prairie school.  The tour also features six private homes in the area!

Wheeling

Mother's Day Brunch at Pete Miller's

Sunday, May 12th, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

412 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Wheeling, IL 60090
Pete Miller's Seafood & Prime Steak

$40; $13 for children ages 6-12; Free for children 4 and under

847-243-3700 

Glenview

Mother's Day at Glenview House

Sunday, May 12th, 11:00 a.m.

1843 Glenview Rd., Glenview, IL 60025
Glenview House

Prices vary

847-724-0692

Glenview

Mother's Day Sunday Brunch at Glenview Park Golf Club

Sunday, May 12th, 9:30 a.m.

800 Shermer Rd., Glenview, IL 60025
Glenview Park Golf Club

$27.95 adults, $13.95 children ages 5-10, $6.95 children ages 2-4

847-657-3200

Here’s to you, your mom, your grandmom and all mothers!

Allyson Hoffman, ABR, ACRE, CDPE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SFR, SRES
RE/MAX Villager
Serving Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs
847-310-5300
allyson@allyson.com

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Allyson Hoffman is your ultimate real estate resource for Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs and surrounding areas. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

As busy as we can be sometimes, we can always use reminders. Reminders about appointments, phone calls to be made, or meetings with clients can help improve your business.  But reminders about your personal safety might help to save your life. That’s why I wanted to highlight a special app for Apple products, Live Life Safe.

Live Life Safe is a free app available on the iTunes store for iPhones, iPods and iPads.  It was created by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust as part of their personal safety program.  Suzy was a 25-year-old Real Estate agent who disappeared in 1986 after going to meet an unknown client. Her parents created the Trust to help teach people how to avoid the risks and dangers they can face in society.

The Live Life Safe app is just a part of the Trust’s overall mission.  But, it’s a very important part. The app provides advice and guidance for safety in a variety of situations including sections devoted to adults, parents and young people.  Knowing in advance the best ways to handle or avoid dangerous situations is the ideal way to protect yourself.

There are other personal safety apps available that you may want to consider as well.  StaySafe, for example, will notify specific contacts if you don’t check-in safely, providing your exact location via GPS.  Life360 (available for iOS, Android and Blackberry), allows family members or coworkers to track each other’s location and send a panic alert in an emergency.  bSafe and One Touch SOS, both Android apps, give you an easy way to send out an emergency alert to specific contacts.

When it comes to your personal safety, or that of family members and loved ones, you really owe it to yourself to take a look at Live Life Safe and these other apps.  It’s the little reminder that could just save your life someday.

Allyson Hoffman, ABR, ACRE, CDPE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SFR, SRES
RE/MAX Villager
Serving Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs
847-310-5300
allyson@allyson.com

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Allyson Hoffman is your ultimate real estate resource for Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs and surrounding areas. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

Enjoy classical music from 25 artists under the age of 25, as well as a special performance from the Lake Forest Symphony Ensemble

Musicians from the Music Institute of Chicago, Midwest Young Artists, Lake Forest High School, and Lake Forest College will perform at Lake Forest High School's Raymond Moore Auditorium.  Join in the fun:

Sunday:   May 5^th, 2013
Time:  2:30 p.m.

Location: 

Lake Forest High School

1285 N. McKinley Rd.
847-295-2135

Tickets:  $25 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Click here to order.

Allyson Hoffman, ABR, ACRE, CDPE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SFR, SRES
RE/MAX Villager
Serving Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs
847-310-5300
allyson@allyson.com

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Allyson Hoffman is your ultimate real estate resource for Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs and surrounding areas. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

Many people who love fresh herbs and vegetables find themselves jealously watching their neighbors working in their gardens every spring. That’s because not all of us have available or suitable ground for our own gardens. Factors including soil quality and too much shade can keep would-be gardeners out of luck every year.

Of course, where there’s a will, there’s a way.  So, if you just can’t stand the thought of not growing your own veggies and herbs during the summer, you might have to consider some unconventional gardening techniques.

One of the most popular options for gardeners with no ground space is container gardening.  Some folks build their own wooden containers to suit their needs, while others simply buy large enough containers at a garden supply store.  Enterprising container gardeners will base their crops on wheels, and move them about to get the best sun each day.  While purpose-built containers, nicely painted or stained, can be a permanent addition to your landscaping features, smaller containers and pots can conveniently be moved to places where they get both good light and add to the beauty of your home.

Other gardeners choose to hang their growing treasures on porches or under roof eaves.  Tomato planters that hang upside down have been popular for years.  They can be bought ready to go, or you can even make your own.  Hanging planters filled with basil or oregano instead of ferns are also popular. The convenience of stepping out onto the porch for a few snips of parsley is nothing to be dismissed in the deep heat of summer!

Hanging gardens do require a bit more focus than a traditional garden. Because they are above ground, plants in containers dry out far more quickly than if they were in the ground. This means you need to monitor the moisture in your hanging gardens on a daily basis. Carefully read the guidance on each plant in your hanging garden to make sure you keep its individual watering correct. It might become a bit tedious, but it won’t take much to stress the plants, or even kill them, if the soil doesn’t stay properly moist.

There are a lot of benefits to gardening from the practical and therapeutic to the visual and sensory.  The added beauty of green, growing plants and the delightful aroma of fresh herbs are sure to make a positive impact on potential buyers .   So if you are thinking of selling, you may want to take advantage of these benefits for yourself and for your home!

Allyson Hoffman, ABR, ACRE, CDPE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SFR, SRES
RE/MAX Villager
Serving Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs
847-310-5300
allyson@allyson.com

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Allyson Hoffman is your ultimate real estate resource for Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs and surrounding areas. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

Breathe Deep North Shore is a 5K Fun Run, 1-mile Walk, and Balloon Launch to raise crucial funds for lung cancer research.  Join the cause on April 28^th and be early.  This year they are expected to host approximately 1,500 supporters and raise well over $100,000 to support LUNGevity.  

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Deerfield High School Football Field/Track
Deerfield, Illinois 60015 

This event will take place rain or shine!

Check-in/registration begins:  9:00 AM
Team Photos:  9:30 AM
Program/Rally/Balloon Launch:  10:00 AM
Fun Run & Walk: 10:30 AM

Closing ceremony:  11:15 AM

LUNGevity was founded in 2001 by seven lung cancer patients including a Deerfield High School graduate and a Deerfield mom. LUNGevity raises awareness and funding for critical research.  Deerfield High School - School Chest 2012 broke DHS fundraising records by raising more than $136,000 for the organization.

Hope you’ll join in and consider supporting the cause!

Allyson Hoffman, ABR, ACRE, CDPE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SFR, SRES
RE/MAX Villager
Serving Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs
847-310-5300
allyson@allyson.com

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Allyson Hoffman is your ultimate real estate resource for Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs and surrounding areas. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

There are ten good reasons you should consider pressure washing your home this spring. Those ten reasons include: Mold, mildew, wind, rain, hail, dirt, tree sap, insects, rodents and birds. All of them take a toll on the exterior of your home, from the top of the roof to the foundation.  You can certainly hire someone to do the work for you, but you might be able to save money in the long-run by investing in a pressure washer and doing the work yourself.

Pressure washers can be powered by gasoline or electricity. They can be purchased for as little as $100 or up to thousands of dollars. A washer costing $200 to $300 will be fine for a most homes. Since you would likely use one only a few times each year, even a quality pressure washer will have paid for itself after a only few years as compared to hiring someone else to do the job.

Pressure washing is great for a variety of exterior treatments, including siding, stucco or brick. Each type requires a different approach. A good overview of the process can be found on the Lowe’s website or the WikiHow site.

Pressure washing should be an essential step in staging your home for potential buyers.  If you’re thinking about selling, please contact me and we’ll talk about other important elements of staging your home.

Allyson Hoffman, ABR, ACRE, CDPE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SFR, SRES
RE/MAX Villager
Serving Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs
847-310-5300
allyson@allyson.com

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Allyson Hoffman is your ultimate real estate resource for Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs and surrounding areas. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

In honor of Earth Day, Beanstalk Toyland and Bookstore which is a colorfully decorated store located in the middle of downtown Highland Park, invites children and their parents to learn how to garden. Each child plants his or her own daisy in a clay pot, decorates the pot, and takes it home.  Join in the fun at:

Beanstalk Toyland and Bookstore  

Saturday, April 20^th

11:30 AM

654 Central Avenue

Highland Park, IL 60035

For more information: 847-432-8300

Allyson Hoffman, ABR, ACRE, CDPE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SFR, SRES
RE/MAX Villager
Serving Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs
847-310-5300
allyson@allyson.com

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Allyson Hoffman is your ultimate real estate resource for Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs and surrounding areas. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

© Pcheruvi | Dreamstime.com

When you put your house on the market, you're inviting people to consider what living in your home might be like for them. And you need to make that experience as positive as possible. Home Staging is the process of doing just that -- giving the buyer a great first impression. I can help you assess what needs to be done, but here are some of the most important things to remember:

Keep it Neat and Spacious

Most of us just can't help ourselves, and over time we accumulate more and more stuff. Unfortunately, finding a place to store stuff can be a problem. But before a buyer walks through your front door, you need to find a place for as much of your stuff as possible.  Preferably, that place should be somewhere besides your house.  A good option is to put almost everything you don't need for day-to-day living in a rental storage space or if that is simply not possible, then find  a spot where you can pack up and store things you plan to move. First give away or donate what you don’t need and won’t take to minimize the need for storage space.  Then packing up for storage will be a much easier task.

Keep it Light

Pull back the curtains and open the blinds. Let the sun fill your home with natural light and bright open spaces. Make sure all your lights have working bulbs and that your light fixtures sparkle. 

Keep it Clean

Now is the time to be vigilant about keeping the entire house clean. Even people who can't keep their own homes clean will notice that yours is dirty if they're walking through as potential buyers. After you've cleared out the non-essential clutter, you may want to invest in a deep cleaning service. 

Keep Yourself Out

One of the most common staging mistakes is leaving all of your personal photos, keepsakes and mementos on display. You may have a great life in your home, but your family reminders distract buyers. They need to imagine themselves living in your house, with their own furniture and their own stuff.

Home Staging is an important part of the process of selling your home. Whether you hire an expert or do it yourself, taking the time and energy to make a great first impression can be the key to closing the deal!

Allyson Hoffman, ABR, ACRE, CDPE, CRS, e-PRO, GRI, SFR, SRES
RE/MAX Villager
Serving Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs
847-310-5300
allyson@allyson.com

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Allyson Hoffman is your ultimate real estate resource for Chicago's North Shore, North and Northwest Suburbs and surrounding areas. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.