Gary Mancuso's (garymancuso) Blog

In last month's column I wrote about a very outdated Bylaw that is contained in most condo Association‘s Declarations. This Bylaw, "the right of first refusal" is preventing the majority of qualified buyers from purchasing condos that are currently on the market. With the current real estate mark...

At the time of this writing, June  2008 there are about 600 condos and townhouses for sale in Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park As you know all condominium associations have what is called condo "Documents and Bylaws" that for the most part outline the rules and regulations that govern that ...

Believe it or not, due to higher gas prices, there just may be a silver lining down the road for the Oak Park area in regards to home sales. Don't get me wrong, these high gas prices are affecting our entire country in an adverse way. However, our three villages of Oak Park, River Forest and Fore...

Were you thinking Oak Park Illinois was just homes, local commerce and schools? Did you think it was only famous for the Ernest Hemingway‘s childhood home or Frank Lloyd Wright residence?  Well it has much more to offer its residence!  Try spending some time with your children, grandchildren or j...

Manners are more important than simply not repulsing the person next to you when you eat. They are a part of a larger picture. Simply put: Manners keep the world civilized.If we stop teaching our children manners, our society will be in a heap of trouble! Practicing manners leads to caring about ...

As you begin your house hunting process, you will probably already have a good idea of what type of home you are looking for. For example, you might know the size and style of the home you want to purchase and you might have a general idea of the city or town in which you want to live. Of course,...

A Zoo in general is always a pleasure to young and old alike. From the cotton candy to the snakes behind glass zoological organizations go well beyond international borders. When planning on a visit to the West Chicago Burbs one must think of Brookfield, Illinois. A quiet mostly residential town ...

I thought this was amusing..... There are some myths about real estate agents, many of which are not so flattering. But when it comes down to it, real estate agents are not too out there, and there is a logical explanation to each misconception. Let's straighten out a couple myths and facts.Myth ...

River Forest, Illinois is another fine suburb just west of Chicago. I found some interesting events happening in River Forest and thought I would share with you some of the cultural best in River Forest.FYI - Since the inception of the Forest Park Historic Preservation Commission in 2007, the gro...

While the rest of the country may be waiting for the Federal government to figure out a solution to the housing/foreclosure crisis, the great state of Illinois is, once again, ahead of the pack!"There have been far too many foreclosures in Illinois," State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has said. Fo...