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Champaign, IL Real Estate News

By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
According to a recent article from Trulia, Interior Repair Hot Spots Where Sellers Should Focus Their Attention. It’s imperative that sellers don’t ignore necessary home repairs that a buyer’s inspector might uncover during an inspection."even small problems can result in buyer requests for repair or replacement credits that can drastically reduce the final sale price. When you're considering the interior of your house, download this Free Report.
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
Whether it be an unexpected one-time repair or just a trickle of little, monthly costs we didn’t account for follow my blog for tips on Handling the Hidden Costs of Home Ownership. Then comment and tell me... What was it, and what advice would you give for avoiding hidden costs to new home owners?   Don’t forget to check my Current Listings or forward my link link to anyone who may be interested in buying or selling in Central or Southern Illinois.
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
According to recent article from the Illinois Association of Realtors, home sales surged 18 percent over previous year levels, with data released today by the Illinois Association of REALTORS® showing signs that the state’s housing market is strengthening. Statewide home sales (including single-family homes and condominiums) in June 2012 totaled 13,111 homes sold, up 18.0 percent from 11,108 home sales in June 2011. This was the best June performance since 2010 when 13,144 homes were sold in Illinois. The statewide median price in June was $155,000, up 3.3 percent from June 2011 when the median price was $150,000. This was the fourth straight month of median price increases in Illinois, and marked a $32,650 jump in median prices since January. The median is a typical market price where ...
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By Shannon Lewis, Realtor, Broker - Champaign-Urbana, IL
(Beringer Realty)
New Downtown Champaign Hotel Construction To Begin Soon Word on the street is that construction on the new downtown hotel, a Hyatt Place, will begin on Monday July 23rd. For the businesses and venues of downtown Champaign IL, this is wonderful news! Of course, the downside is that during the construction process there will be periodic traffic disruption and street closures. Starting Monday and lasting (supposedly) 3 days to a week, Neil Street will be closed between Main Street and Park Street for replacement of a sewer line. Simultaneously, razing of the YG Financial Building will begin to be followed soon thereafter by construction of the new building. Ultimately, the new 150-room Hyatt Place hotel at the corner of Church and Neil Streets will provide much-needed accommodations to vis...
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By Shannon Lewis, Realtor, Broker - Champaign-Urbana, IL
(Beringer Realty)
Home sales in Ashland Park, Champaign IL may finally be heading towards stabilization this year after a few tough seasons for home sellers! When development first began in Ashland Park neighborhood about 6 or 7 years ago, the subdivision quickly gained popularity for its convenient location and low-maintenance, affordable homes with beautiful, modern design. However, a few years later as the economy slowed, home sales slowed, too, and in Ashland Park, resale homes were competing with the next phase of new construction. The result? Many homes lingered on the market and home values dropped. Buyers have been getting absolutely amazing deals in Ashland Park, Champaign IL for the past 2 years... but it's possible that we're seeing the tail end of this trend. Just over two years ago (6/19/201...
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By Shannon Lewis, Realtor, Broker - Champaign-Urbana, IL
(Beringer Realty)
In this Champaign IL luxury neighborhood, Trails at Abbey Fields, you'll find quiet streets, walking paths with serene views of the pond, and, most importantly, a variety of eloquent homes designed both with form and function in mind. About the Neighborhood The first luxury homes at the Trails at Abbey Fields were built in 2008. Today new construction continues meaning buyers currently have the option of selecting a lot and having their home custom-built, subject to approval by an architectural committee. Most existing homes are built in a traditional style with 5 or more bedrooms, 4 or more baths, and 2,500 to 3,500 square feet plus a full basement. They boast amenities such as designer kitchens, hardwood floors, leisure space as in a great room or media room, high ceilings, 3-car gara...
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
It has been almost six years since the bubble burst on the U.S. housing market sending the entire country into the worst economic crisis since the great depression. Most home purchases are made in the spring. This is because it coincides with when kids are getting out of school and have to go back to school in the fall. Most families want to be in their new homes and registered with their new school districts before the school year starts. So the prime buying time is from late April to late July. Statistics are showing that this particular spring season is looking like it will be the strongest in the six years since the market crash. May year-to-year comparisons between 2011 and 2012 show that sales are up over 10% from a year ago and are predicted to be up by as much as 13% by year’s e...
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By Shannon Lewis, Realtor, Broker - Champaign-Urbana, IL
(Beringer Realty)
Devonshire South Home for Sale, Champaign IL: Upscale and Updated! Overview Maps Photos Features Description Neighborhood $360,000 Single Family Home Main Features 4 Bedrooms4 Bathrooms1 Partial BathroomInterior: 3,003 sqft Location 2703 Galen DriveChampaign, IL 61821USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Shannon Lewis Homeplace Advisors, LLC(217) 552-8059Shannon@HomeplaceAdvisors.comhttp://www.HomeplaceAdvisors.com Listed by: Homeplace Advisors See more Champaign, IL real estate for sale
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
May2012 Market Update The housing market and the overall economy are improving at modest rates nationally, and in some areas they have actually gained momentum. The Conference Board’s CEO confidence index is up a notable 14 points—from 49 last quarter to a current reading of 63. A reading of 50 is the threshold above which indicates an optimistic outlook and below indicates pessimism. Rapidly growing optimism is a good sign for future hiring and growth. “The recovery is happening, though not at a breakout pace, but we have seen nine consecutive months of year-over-year sales increases,” NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said. “Existing-home sales are moving up and down in a fairly narrow range that is well above the level of activity during the first half of last year. With job growth, ...
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
Home buying is often exciting, but packing up and moving is almost always stressful. Below are a few tips to help make the move a smooth one. Special Boxes for Special Items. Dish barrels help protect dishware, and long flat boxes help protect artwork. Wardrobe boxes, which have a metal bar to hang clothes on, can simplify and speed up packing your closet. Paper, the Secret Weapon. Packing paper, or unprinted newsprint, can be used several different ways. Use it to protect fragile items or crunch it up to use as padding. Remember, ink on regular newspaper can rub off and stain. Use Bubble Wrap for extra- delicate items. Tape It Securely. Masking and duct tape don’t stick to cardboard as well as brown packing tape. Tape It Quickly. Tape guns help you assemble boxes faster. Mark It Clearl...
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By Shannon Lewis, Realtor, Broker - Champaign-Urbana, IL
(Beringer Realty)
Ever heard of The I.D.E.A. Store? It's a local re-use shop that takes donations of gently used or partially used items and sells them for a deeply discounted price. Examples of items you might find at The I.D.E.A. Store would include: fabric, glass jars, pens, markers, ribbon, pieces of wood, frames, coloring books, notepads, egg cartons, sheet music, wrapping paper, buttons, boxes, and oh-so-much more!!! Here's what I bought yesterday for a grand total of...... $2.51 (Yes, two dollars and fifty-one cents. This is not a typo.) The purpose of my visit was to purchase a few things for an upcoming baby shower and I found LOTS to work with...5 rolls of ribbons, streamers galore, crayons, perfectly good wrapping paper...all of these things easily may have ended up in a trash can if it weren'...
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By Shannon Lewis, Realtor, Broker - Champaign-Urbana, IL
(Beringer Realty)
Homeplace Advisors is pleased to announce that this beautiful Ashland Park home is now SOLD! It was previously on the market with no bites. The seller then contacted Homeplace Advisors and we're grateful to her for putting her trust in us. After hard work and team effort, this home is now officially OFF the market and the seller is able to move on, without attachments! Congrats to both our wonderful seller and the new homeowner! You're too late for this one, but don't worry! There are currently other homes on the market in Ashland Park! Search Homes for Sale in Ashland Park
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By Shannon Lewis, Realtor, Broker - Champaign-Urbana, IL
(Beringer Realty)
Be sure to check out our January 2012 Market Report for Champaign County IL. Here's the update specifically for and concerning only the City of Champaign:   In 2011, there were fewer overall listings and fewer sales than in 2010. However, the average sale price was up and we saw significantly more sales in the highest price range. Interestingly, for Champaign County as a whole (compared to just the city of Champaign) the results were the opposite meaning an increase in total sales but a lower average sale price.   The city of Champaign has also seen a great start to 2012 with a 28% increase in pending home sales in January compared to January 2011. Let's hope this trend continues throughout the year! *Update from the original post: I've now added a chart showing the increase in pending ...
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By Shannon Lewis, Realtor, Broker - Champaign-Urbana, IL
(Beringer Realty)
Happy Anniversary to The I.D.E.A. Store in Champaign, IL! On October 1st, The I.D.E.A. Store in Champaign reaches its very first anniversary of being in business! To help them celebrate, I decided to head over there and find out more about what they do as a creative re-use marketplace and how their profits support the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation. Next time you have "junk" lying around the house that you're thinking about tossing out (shoe boxes, old keys, metal scraps, small squares of fabric, etc, etc.) consider donating them to The I.D.E.A. Store instead. And stop by to make purchases, too. They sell all kinds of useful odds and ends, such as individual markers, buttons, greeting cards, baskets, bottles, maps, frames...the list goes on. Their prices are unbeatable and the proc...
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By Shannon Lewis, Realtor, Broker - Champaign-Urbana, IL
(Beringer Realty)
Champaign IL Neighborhoods: A Visit to Ashland Farm Ashland Farm in North Champaign is a premier condo community offering a low-maintenance, one-story lifestyle in a convenient location... At Ashland Farm, you're just around the corner from multiple shopping centers, restaurants, and access to the major interstates that travel through and around Champaign. Monthly condo fees cover lawn care, snow removal and exterior maintenance, leaving residents with plenty of time to simply live life minus the hassle of outdoor upkeep. All residents enjoy 24-hour access to the Ashland Farm club house featuring a fireplace, kitchen, pool table, and couches and chairs for lounging as well as entertaining. In addition, there's a heated in-ground pool just outside. The villas were designed with modern fu...
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By Shannon Lewis, Realtor, Broker - Champaign-Urbana, IL
(Beringer Realty)
Stormwater Utility Fee for Champaign Home Owners: Your Input Wanted! Earlier today I had the pleasure of attending a luncheon at which the mayor of Champaign, Don Gerard, was the speaker. The focus of his presentation concerned a proposed stormwater utility fee to be paid in the future by Champaign city property owners, both residential and commercial. As anyone who has lived in this area for a period of time knows, during heavy storms water backs up on the streets and in yards and basements. It's a very real problem that, to my understanding, has been improved from what it once was but is still very much an issue for residents. Therefore, the city formed a Stormwater Utility Fee Advisory Committee to investigate the problem, gather input from citizens, and put forth recommendations to ...
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By Shannon Lewis, Realtor, Broker - Champaign-Urbana, IL
(Beringer Realty)
Fiesta Cafe - Tasty Mexican Cuisine in Champaign IL Yesterday my husband and I enjoyed another yummy meal at Fiesta Cafe and once again we found ourselves thinking, "This is the best Mexican food in Champaign." At one time we lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico where I first came to appreciate good, authentic Mexican-influenced cuisine and since moving here to Champaign-Urbana, we've missed the easy access we once had to that type of fare. But our fairly recent discovery of Fiesta Cafe has filled that void. One of my favorite dishes to order in New Mexico was chile relleno, a stuffed, roasted pepper, and I'm thrilled to report that the chile relleno at Fiesta Cafe is unbelievably delicious. I like to order it as a combination plate with an enchilada and side of rice and beans. Bonus: I alw...
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By Shannon Lewis, Realtor, Broker - Champaign-Urbana, IL
(Beringer Realty)
Recently my husband and some friends decided to go out for a few drinks... on a weeknight. My first instinct was to pass on joining them in favor of getting adequate sleep that night. But then my husband mentioned that they were going to "Quality" in downtown Champaign. Quality? I'd never heard of it. After a quick google search, I discovered that this was a relatively new bar downtown and further, the reviews were all outstanding. I had to go check it out for myself. Quality is officially one of my new favorite places to grab a drink with friends for several reasons: First, Quality has a great vibe. The remodeling they've done is simply gorgeous with hardwood floors, exposed brick walls and classy, modern lighting and decor. It feels upscale. However, you won't feel out of place if you...
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By Shannon Lewis, Realtor, Broker - Champaign-Urbana, IL
(Beringer Realty)
Homes in Ironwood Subdivision: Champaign IL Looking to live in a quiet setting with a touch of luxury? Look no further than Ironwood subdivision in west Champaign. The neighborhood is just over 10 ten years old now while new construction continues to the north and west in bordering subdivisions. Residents of Ironwood have easy access to the centrally-located Mullikin Park, which features a playground, picnic area, and wide open space for common enjoyment. There are sidewalks throughout the neighborhood and, additionally, Ironwood is encircled by walking trails with views of the countryside. Most of these homes are a traditional style with 4 or 5 bedrooms, attached garages and basements. Some are a little newer than others, but all have been built with floorplans designed to accommodate ...
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By Shannon Lewis, Realtor, Broker - Champaign-Urbana, IL
(Beringer Realty)
Please join us for an Open House Sunday June 5th, 2-4pm at 608 Yalow, Champaign IL Directions: Take Prospect north, turn right onto Newton to enter Ashland Park. Turn left on Nobel and right on Yalow. Questions? Call 217-552-8059. We look forward to seeing you there!   Two Cute...Two Pretty...Two Bedrooms!! Overview Maps Photos Features Description Neighborhood Open House $125,000 Single Family Home Main Features 2 Bedrooms2 BathroomsInterior: 1195 sqft Location 608 YalowChampaign, IL 61822USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Shannon Lewis Homeplace Advisors, LLC(217) 552-8059Shannon@HomeplaceAdvisors.comhttp://www.HomeplaceAdvisors.com Listed by: Homeplace Advisors Nearby properties for sale
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