Archive for November, 2009
ENERGY CONSERVATION TIPS
November 30th, 2009 categories: Lifestyle, Market Trends
Even though many of us live in buildings where our hot water, heat and air conditioning are part of our condo assessment or our rent, we need to live green and be responsible for our energy use. Here are a few ideas that might help you be greener and save on your energy and water bills.
- Get a high efficiency shower head. This minor adjustment can save you as much as 3,000 gallons of water per person per year. You will also save on energy costs.
- Recycle water in your bathroom. There are devices such as the Sink-Positive system which allows you to re-use the water from your sink to flush your toilet.
- Improve the efficiency of your water heater. Set the temperature at 120 degrees, wrap it in an insulating blanket–they are available for water heaters. If you have to replace your water heater, consider a tank-less one. They are more expensive in the beginning and save the cost difference during the life of the water heater.
- Check your light bulbs–we’ve talked about this many times–the range of CFL bulbs is amazing and getting more amazing almost daily.
- Fill up the dishwasher and clothes washer–don’t run either appliance half full. If you can adjust the water level on your washer for a smaller than normal load, do it. For a one person or two person household, the smaller dishwasher may be as good answer–easier to fill it up.
I hope these suggestions have shaken up your brain cells–I am sure there are lots and lots of things we can all do to conserve our resources. Do you have any Chicago real estate questions? If so, just give me a call. My direct dial number is 312-981-2360 and my cell phone is 312-607-1306.
Some other greenish articles you might like are:
A Healthy House is a Green House
Yet Another Green–Toilet Paper
| Discussion: No Comments »
GRATITUDE–THAT’S WHAT IT IS ABOUT!
November 24th, 2009 categories: Market Trends
What am I grateful for? My business coach asked me that this morning. And there are so many, many blessings in my life that I really can’t count them. For starters, my loving husband, Jim, who has put up with my foolishness and foibles for many years. Our children and grandchildren–each of them wonderful and precious to me. Our good health–we have the usual assortment of aches and pains that accompany our ages and we are blessed to have doctors who care for us and care for us with compassionate attention. I am grateful for the wonderful office that I am associated with–the other Realtors who are always willing to help, the unbelievable administrative assistants who work so hard to make my job easier, my broker who is supportive, caring and positive. How could I not mention the friends we treasure? Some of them friends for many, many years and others friends for just a few years–all of them important to me. I am truly blessed! And I am grateful to have grandchildren coming to spend Thanksgiving with us–they are bringing their parents too! So this is my last blog for a few days–I am leaving the world of real estate for a few days to be a grandmother. Happy Thanksgiving!
| Discussion: 1 Comment »
THE STRAIGHT SCOOP ON THE NEW TAX CREDITS
November 23rd, 2009 categories: Buying, Market Trends, Selling
Are you puzzled by the new tax credits? To help you understand them, Kay Severinsen has written an informative article giving the requirements for using the two credits. As usual, Kay has done a good job of making the requirements clear. One of the very good points she makes is that Illinois also has a Home Start Down Payment Program that offers a forgivable loan of up to $6,000. Prices are down, interest rates are low and with the help of the government, the inventory of unsold homes should also decline–and normalcy might just return to the housing market! To read the entire article, just click here.
Are you looking for a Realtor to help you find your first home or a move-up home? It would be my very great pleasure to e-mail possible listings to you. I can be reached at ruthkarel@att.net or my direct line is 312-981-2360 and cell phone is 312-607-1306.
Some other articles you may find helpful are:
Sweet Dreams? No! A Bit Kooky? Yes!
Chicago Assoication of Realtors? Why?
| Discussion: No Comments »
RUB A DUB DUB — HOW ABOUT A CHEAP TUB?
November 20th, 2009 categories: Lifestyle, Market Trends, Selling
Bathroom looking a bit fatigued? A total remodeling of your bathroom may not be affordable so think about doing something that is affordable. Here are a few ideas for freshening it without spending a bundle. Your big box store is a best friend for this project.
- New light fixtures. An inexpensive over-the-vanity fixture and ceiling fixture can make a world of difference in the feeling of a bathroom.
- Replacing a bathtub is very costly–can be a thousand dollars and usually more. Have the tub refinished instead. Be sure to choose a company that has been in the business for a long time. Check with people who have had tubs refinished in the last few months. The prep work is the most important part of this process. A two-part acrylic urethane is the finish of choice. Care after the refinishing is the other key to making the finish last–no abrasive cleaners or cleaners containing bleach.
- Is the vanity in need of being a new one? If your vanity is in good condition, think about doing just a new top. The big box stores have standard size granite tops priced well. And they also have new vanities. Think about a new under-mount sink already installed in the granite top-also a big box store item.
- And your greasy, grimy shower door–wouldn’t it be a kick to have a beautiful new one? They are not super expensive and some even have a surface treatment that sheds water for easier cleaning.
- New faucets and a new shower head–the rain shower is quite the rage and not all that costly and faucets and a shower head can give the room a very different look.
Any one or all of these suggestions can make a huge difference in the appearance of your not so new bathroom. No need to live with that old tired bathroom for anther month–you can easily spruce it up before Christmas! If you would like my opinion about what needs to be done in your bathroom, just call me. My direct line is 312-981-2306 and my cell pone is 312-607-1306.
Other articles that may be helpful are:
A Healthy House Is A Green House
Record Keeping 101 for Homeowners
Need To Spruce Up Your Space and Stretch Your Dollars?
| Discussion: No Comments »
HOW TO BUY A FORECLOSURE 101
November 19th, 2009 categories: Buying, Market Trends
Even though Chicago doesn’t have the high percentage of foreclosures that other parts of the country have, the pricing makes them extremely attractive. If you are interested, even after all the discouraging words I have written, you can get some really good information from a CNNMoney.com posting, 7 Tips For buying foreclosures. To read it, just click here.
The seven tips are extremely practical and can be very, very helpful. My mind has not changed–foreclosures, short sales and any distressed property ara best suited for an experienced real estate owner, an investor, or someone who can do a fixer-upper. Faint hearts stay away! They are not the best choice for a first-time buyer, anyone with a set time frame, or anyone who gets nervous during the process of negotiating and waiting to close a real estate transaction.
If you would like to investigate the distressed prperty market–just give me a call. My direct line is 312-981-2360, or cell phone, 312-607-1306.
Other posts that might be of interest are:
Bank Owned Homes–Are They a Good Deal?
Is There a Good-Deal Foreclosure Left?
| Discussion: No Comments »
DID YOUR REAL ESTATE TAXES SHOCK YOU?
November 18th, 2009 categories: Market Trends, Real Estate Finance
If your 2008 taxes gave you a need for smelling salts–just wait for your 2009 taxes to come out in 2010. This is the premise of a recent article by Don DeBat–another of my favorite real estate columnists. In Cook County we are reassessed every three years by the Assessor, James Houlihan. He is not to be blamed for our increases–he is only doing his job. There are three regions in Cook county–north suburbs, south suburbs and the city of Chicago. It was the city’s turn to be reassessed this year. DeBat’s article gives a great explanation of the process for reassessing and for protesting your taxes if you think they are unfair. Well worth a read–so just click here.
Need a good ear to her your questions about Chicago real estate? Try me–312-981-2360 (direct), or cell 312-607-1306.
Other posts you might find interesting:
. . . And The Merry Go Round Goes Round and Round
| Discussion: No Comments »
WHEN THE WSJ IS RIGHT, IT’S RIGHT!
November 17th, 2009 categories: Buying, Market Trends, Renting, Selling
The Wall Street Journal article “Ten Questions on the Volatile Housing Market” should be required reading for anyone with a yen to buy or sell a property at this time. There are a few additional tidbits that I found interesting. For example, “Help Wanted” ads can be a useful tool–if there are more than there used to be, then business may be starting to recover. The answer to the question about buying now if you are a renter is spot on–depends on your specific situation. Do take the time to read the whole thing. Click here and read!
Need an experienced Realtor to talk to about the questions? Do feel free to call me at 312-981-2360, direct dial, or cell, 312-607-1306. E-mail is great too!
Other articles you might find helpful:
Bank Owned Homes–Are They a Good Deal?
Buying a Foreclosed Home–Is it for Me?
Buying a Bank Owned–Here’s a Checklist
| Discussion: No Comments »
CAN’T SELL–RENT IT RIGHT
November 16th, 2009 categories: Renting, Selling
Kay Severinsen has written an article that gives some good advice to sellers who can’t sell and want to rent. Many of the same suggestions that Realtors give owners who want to sell are spelled out. Kay brings up pricing, staging, accessibility, etc. These are the same issues that sellers face when they are selling there home. Kay also talks about the difference between a sale and in terms of time–renters don’t spend weeks looking for a place to live. A rental transaction is much more likely to be a “this is it or this isn’t it” type of viewing–and accessibility is key. Being totally available if you work can be tricky so you might consider hiring a Realtor. Many of my listings are for rent as well as for sale and whatever comes first is what happens. My clients frequently feel that having some income from their home is better than no income–even if it doesn’t quite cover mortgage payments, assessments and taxes. Being in a pet friendly building can doiuble your traffic and you need to decide if you want dogs and cats in your unit–you can also charge additional “pet rent” to cover any damage done by the pets. The article is worth reading–Help for Reluctant Landlords, just click and read.
Need a Chicago Realtor to talk to you about the sale of your property or renting a home? Just call, 312-981-2360–direct dial, or 312-607-1306, cell phone. I love e-mail too!
Other articles that might interest you are:
Keep Your Insurance Up To Date
| Discussion: No Comments »
IS THERE A “GOOD DEAL” FORECLOSURE LEFT?
November 13th, 2009 categories: Buying, Market Trends
Even though Illinois is third in the nation for quantity of foreclosures, we can ask are there bargains left and if so, are they for you? This is a question we have dealt with in previous posts. Steven Levitt has written an excellent article “Are There Any Foreclosure Deals Left?” He references some other sources of information about the foreclosure section of the real estate market. I think you will find the article interesting if you have thought of buying a distressed property, to read it just click here. He really does a good job of summarizing the perils and benefits of buying a distressed property. Levitt stresses the importance of doing research, knowing the condition of the home, and being sure of your time frame. I would disagree with him on the time that can elapse between acceptance of the contract and closing on the property–it can easily be more than three months. In fact three months is usually the least amount of time between acceptance and closing. All in all the article is worth reading if you are considering a distressed property for your next real estate adventure.
I would be happy to research distressed property for you–just call me at 312-981-2360 (direct), or cell, 312-607-1306. Or e-mail me.
Other posts you might find interesting are:
Bank Owned Homes–Are They a Good Deal?
Home Affordability and Mortgage Rates
| Discussion: No Comments »
LET THERE BE LIGHT
November 12th, 2009 categories: Market Trends
And not a flashlight! Is there anything less appealing on a dark, dreary Chicago day (and we have had so many of them lately, that the first sunny day I wondered what was that strange light outside?) than looking at a home for sale that is totally dark? If it is a single family home, just walking up the sidewalk is sort of creepy, especially if there is not even a porch light to guide you. And once inside a town home, a single family home, or a condo, the listing agent and/or the buyer’s agent should not be groping for light switches and lamp switches.
As a listing agent it is my practice to get to the home a bit early and turn on all the lights before the buyer’s agent and buyer arrive. Since it is local custom in downtown Chicago to show our own listings, I have to be there anyway–so I get there and turn on lights, open doors, etc., to help the place show well. I don’t do windows and I don’t make beds (usually), but I do lights big time.
If your home is on a lock box, you can always ask your agent to come by and turn on lights or you can just turn them on yourself before you leave. If you do it yourself, be sure you turn on EVERY light in the house–the microwave light if it is over the stove, the over-the-sink light–all the lights. Every lamp switch and light switch should be in the on position–full on. This is counter to all the green posts I have written–I understand that. Just remember that this is a short term condition–not like having a kitchen full of appliances without the Energy Star rating. The better your home shows, the more quickly it will sell–so leave all the lights on.
Thinking of selling your home–to make sure your agent will turn the lights on for showings, just call me, 312-981-2360, direct, cell phone is 312-3=607-1306. E-mail is a good way to find me too.
Some other articles for you to peruse: are:
| Discussion: No Comments »
