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

As homeowners we should be aware of the existence and dangers of mold in our homes and how to address the issue before it gets out of control.

A lot of times we are unaware that mold may be growing in the corners behind appliances after a water leak, or in the walls of our bathrooms without proper ventilation which is definitely a concern if you are looking to sell your home.

Steve Rodriguez, Columnist for Realty Times has outlined 6 important things to know about mold. Additional information about mold can also be found on the EPA and CDC websites.

1. Molds are everywhere and have been around forever.

2. Use common sense in your approach to mold.

3. You cannot spot the feared "Toxic" or "Black" mold simply by looking at it.

4. Most of the media attention surrounding Stachybotrys is overblown.

5. Mold can be cleaned and corrected.

6. Always get the home professionally inspected.

For a full description of each of these important things to know about mold, read Steve Rodriguez's article Mold Must Go: 6 Things to Know.

WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES A
HAPPY AND HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This is the time of year when we try to free up extra time to enjoy the holiday season and spend time with family and friends. The Chicago area is full of fun and entertaining activities for the whole family to enjoy. Below are a few attractions you may want to check out this holiday season.

Chicago's Millennium Park
Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, Millennium Park is open 6am - 11pm daily. You won't want to miss the amazing display of art and architecture in this four season park. Round up family and friends and head down to Millennium Park's 16,000 square foot ice skating rink for a few twirls and maybe a few spills. The Park Grill is nearby and is perfect for a quick bite to refuel.

For more information visit the Millenium Park website.

Lincoln Park ZooLights
An amazing display of Christmas lights open to you and your families from 5pm - 9pm, December 14th - January 1st (closed December 24th and 25th). Perfect for the whole family, the zoo offers displays and activities sure to warm everyone. Santa's Safari, Ice Carving, Family Crafts and Giant Snow Globes are a few of the seasonal attractions.

For more information visit the Lincoln Park ZooLights website.

Winter Wonder Fest at Navy Pier
Live entertainment, music, rides, games and ice skating are sure to entertain the whole family this holiday season. Winter Wonder Fest at Navy Pier also hosts a fabulous New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Family Fireworks display. Experience the fun of Winter Wonder Fest during these hours.

December 7, 2007 - January 6, 2008

Sunday-Thursday 10 AM to 8 PM
Friday & Saturday 10 AM to 10 PM
Christmas Eve: 10 AM to 5 PM
Christmas Day: Closed
New Year's Eve: 10 AM to 6:30 PM

New Year's Eve Fireworks at 7 PM & Midnight,
New Year's Day Family Fireworks at 7 PM

For more information visit the Winter Wonder Fest at Navy Pier website.

Are you trying to sell your home during the holiday season or will you take it off the market until after the New Year?

Some people will argue that leaving it on the market over the holidays is a perfect way to weed out the “looky-loos” from the more serious buyers. Others think that leaving your home on the market during the holiday’s make you appear desperate to sell.

Discuss the pros and cons of both arguments with your Realtor® to decide what would be best for you and your home. In the event that you both feel it is in your best interest to leave your home on the market over the holidays, below are a few tips to consider when it comes to holiday decorating.

As most of us like to decorate our homes with lights, Christmas trees, and holiday scents during the Christmas season, this doesn’t always work well with properly staging your home for potential buyers. Keep the following in mind:

• Curb appeal is still important. Try not to “over decorate” your front yard. A few lights on the house should be sufficient. You want your front yard to be inviting, not clutter
• Interior decorations should be kept to minimum. You don’t want to take away from the many features of the home, by covering them up with decorations.
• If you are use to having a beautiful large Christmas tree in your front window, you might want to consider scaling down the size of the tree or possibly getting rid of it all together and use festive table centerpieces in stead. A tree can take away from the real focus of the room and make the room appear smaller.
• Wrapped present should not be left out. Keep them stored away so as not to add any additional clutter to the room.
• Instead of having holiday scented candles and incense throughout your home before a showing, why not create some natural holiday scents with fresh baking and a simmering apple cider. The baking and the cider can be left out with napkins and cups as a treat for potential buyers viewing your home.

If you would like more information regarding selling your home during the holidays, please do not hesitate to contact me.

It is no secret that foreclosures have increased drastically this year as a result of the subprime lending disaster and a lot of people are wondering if they will be next. For many homeowners there may be options, if they know what to look for and where to look. 

In the event that you find yourself struggling to make your mortgage payments, and you fear foreclosure may be in your future, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) has suggested a few possible alternatives. These options to fend off foreclosure include:

• Repayment Plan
• Reinstatement
• Forbearance
• Loan Modification

The Federal Trade Commission wants people to know that these alternatives may not work for everyone especially if you are already three or four mortgage payments behind.

For more information regarding the above alternatives visit the NFCC's Homeowners Crisis Resource Center website. They can also assist you in locating a certified housing counselor to explore your options in an effort to fend off foreclosure.

          A Recovering American soldier
          c/o Walter Reed Army Medical  Center
          6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
          Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

Come join in the Thanksgiving festivities as presented by the Chicago Festivals Association (CFA). The CFA is proud to present the  McDonald’s ® Thanksgiving Parade. A fun filled morning with fabulous floats, marching bands and talented equestrian units, unique performance groups and local and national celebrities.

The parade will travel north on State Street from Congress to Randolph. Click here for a detailed route map.

Date:
Thursday, November 22, 2007—Thanksgiving Day

Time:
8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Place:
State Street—from Congress to Randolph
Click the link below for Google map directions.

For more information about the  McDonald’s ® Thanksgiving Parade, visit the Chicago Festivals Assocations website.

Wishing you and your families a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Setting the right price is an important first step in the process of selling a home. Is it necessary to spend $200 to $400 for a professional appraisal of your property before placing your home on the market?

A professional appraiser's opinion of a property's market value is based on the recent sales of similar homes in the neighborhood, and on the square footage and condition of the property. Different appraisers might come up with different figures. Even if all of them agreed on a value, there is no guarantee that you would receive that amount for your property.

An alternative to a professional appraisal is to ask a professional real estate agent for a written market analysis of your property. This analysis will include information about recent home sales in your neighborhood, as well as how those homes compare to yours. Real estate agents may provide this service with no charge or obligation. If you are still unsure of the value of your home, you may wish to pay for an appraisal.

To get started with a FREE, no obligation computerized analysis of your home's value, click on the link below and have the report emailed directly to your inbox.

 

Strategically located within easy reach of the city of Chicago by trains and highways, Chicago's North Shore suburbs are culturally inspiring, diverse in housing and rich in community services and activities. From the lakefront to the Botanic Gardens, the Ravinia Music Festival Park to the Skokie Lagoons and dense forest preserves, area dwellers are fortunate to combine the appeal of suburban comforts with the benefits of convenient access to a major city. 

 To learn more about Chicago's North Shore Communities and what they have to offer, follow the links below.

If you have any questions or for more information regarding your buying or selling needs, please do not hesitate to contact me

 If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in the Chicago Illinois area, you won't want to miss these two highly acclaimed, Chicago Illinois specific, real estate books that I was a co-author of.

As a home seller in Chicago Illinois, the book, Get the Best Deal When Selling Your Home will guide you through the home selling process and cover topics such as:

   Selling Your Home: The Basics

   Buying Your Next Home

For more information about the authors and a detailed listing of the Table of Contents visit Buying in Illinois or Selling in Chicago?.

How to Make Your Realtor®  Get You the Best Deal will guide you through the purchasing process and describe the following topics:

   History of the home buying process

                 A new law for the people

                How to select your Realtor®

          Negotiating the best deal

For more information about the authors and a detailed listing of the Table of Contents visit Buying in Illinois or Selling in Chicago?.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require additional information regarding either of these books. I would be happy to discuss the contents of these books with you in more detail.