The message my good friend Loan Officer Vincent Redd sent me reminded me to share the difference between a market evaluation and an appraisal. Appraisals can be done before procuring a Buyer to help a Seller to determine the value of  a home, but they won't be accepted by a Buyer's Lender if paid for by the Seller.  Realtors are well trained to provide market evaluations to Sellers as they are thinking about how to price their home to attract a motivated, willing, ready, and able Buyer.  Realtors present the most relevant homes primarily deal-pending, and sold within the last 6 months, very similar to the subject property, within a 1 square mile. The report includes all the details about each property, including what the Sellers asked and what the Buyers actually paid.  The most vital ... 05/23/2015

One of the downsides to being a thoroughly knowledgeable, well seasoned, and perceived as a very successful Realtor, is potential Clients who know me well will use my expertise to help them in their decision making process to move, and use me as a gauge to keep the Realtor they intend to work with in-check to insure they serve them with the highest professional standard possible.This can happen when in the Buying process Buyers fear I may discover more personal information than they prefer me to know.  I easily remedy this concern by in our initial conversation, I assure them I would prefer they get pre-approved with a Lender I know and trust, and the only thing I really need to know is the target price range fitting within their budget.  In reality, I get to serve numerous diversity of... 05/14/2015

Prepping Your Home for a Vacation Vacations are a time to relax and escape from regular life. When you're miles from home, the last thing you want to worry about is the safety of your home. If you plan on taking a vacation this summer (or any time this year), here are some simple tips on prepping your home for a vacation.  Stop Your Newspaper and MailOne sure sign of being absent from your home is a pile of newspapers in the driveway. Contact your newspaper delivery person and stop service while you're gone. If you don't have a locked mailbox, contact the post office and have them hold your mail. You can also ask a trusted neighbor to collect mail, newspapers and deliveries and have him/her hold them for you until you're back.    Park Your Car in the GarageThe last thing you want is to ... 05/12/2015

Common Pests and Your Home   The list of new responsibilities can seem overwhelming when you buy a home or become a first-time homeowner. One responsibility that tends to get overlooked until it becomes a larger issue is that of household pests. A household pest is "a destructive insect or other animal that attacks" your home. Pests range throughout the U.S., but the most common pests are those that have become almost commonplace in our lives. Here are some of the most common pests encountered by homeowners throughout the U.S., and what you can do to help prevent pests in your home.   Most common Spring and Summer Pests:       Termites: Termites are generally grouped by their nesting and feeding habits: subterranean, soil-dwelling, dry wood, damp wood and grass-feeding. They feed on dea... 03/29/2015

When I am working with Buyers in the Chicago and its South-land marketplace in Illinois, who desire to make offers on foreclosed Condominiums, I have to have the important conversation with them defining what "AS-IS" really means? Condominium Associations find themselves powerless to collect assessments from the previous owners who have walked away from ownership of the condominium, resulting in them pursuing collection of past due assessments from the New Buyer.  Doesn't this just sound unethical and unfair?  It absolutely frustrates me to have to prepare my Valued Buyers, they will need to in addition to the price they pay for the Condominium, budget for all or a significant portion of the past due unpaid assessments, inherited from the previous delinquent owner. What makes this propo... 03/28/2015

Staging Tips for Sellers   Spring has arrived, which means real estate season is upon us. When selling your home or property, attracting full price offers is always top priority, and a properly staged home can be your number one asset in drawing as many offers as possible. Here are staging tips to help you prepare your home for the market.       Enhance Your Entry It's the first thing buyers see, and most likely serves as the first impression of your house. Utilize the entry by updating the front door color, change out the door hardware (or clean and polish the current hardware). Make potential buyers welcome with a nice mat and some potted plants or flowers.       Clean Out Clutter The majority of us have too much stuff, and clutter is a huge killer for potential buyers. Be ruthless wh... 03/28/2015

Alternative Energy and Your Home   We all appreciate electricity -- each one of us uses it in some capacity every day. Heating and cooling our homes is one of our top priorities, not only for our comfort but also for our safety. In recent years more and more information about alternative and green energies has become available to consumers. Green or alternative energy is energy that is produced from renewable resources: wind, water, or sunlight. Here are some of the most-readily available options for alternative energy systems offered to home buyers right now:     Solar Power Solar power is "the power obtained by harnessing the energy of the sun's rays." This is done through solar panels and photo voltaic cells on the panels, which convert the sunlight into usable energy. Solar power is... 01/31/2015

  http://tour.illinoisproperty.com/tour/blaze/?tourId=1884030#.VK6NZZU5AqQ   “It was on the market so long because the House was waiting on me.” These, are words a Realtor loves to hear at the closing table from a Buyer.       I plan to attend every closing because it is an opportunity for me to give the ultimate in customer service.  It is a confirmation, I was there at the start, and saw you through all the way to the end.  I get learn so much about both Seller, Buyer, their Attorneys, and the Cooperating Agent.  One Attorney shared about his love of Boating, the other Attorney told us about the sports activities of his teenage sons, the Buyer informed us of his childhood fun discovering the Tunnels, Al Capone constructed throughout the Historic Chicago Chatam neighborhood, and the Bu... 01/08/2015

New Year To Dos for Your Home   With the start of a new year, it's always a good idea to assess your home and its needs. Taking stock of appliances, home systems, and other items that make a house a home will help guide you to home improvements needed, appliances that may be near the end of their lives, and any other updates that can help to boost your home's worth. Listed below are major home systems to evaluate in the new year to help give you peace of mind.     HVAC In the winter and summer months a home's HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) systems are put to good use. January is the perfect month to replace disposable filters or wash permanent ones in your home's HVAC or humidifier systems. Filters should be regularly replaced or washed when use is high or during peak... 12/28/2014

Please allow me to multi-task for a minute.  I was just asked the following question by  Activerain Colleague, in which I have a very good answer to, in the Chicago-Southland:  http://sspads.org "How about the homeless?  There are still many Americans who are living on the streets and not sure where their next bed or meal will come from.  With winter approaching, these folks need blankets, coats, gloves and hats.  Of course, they also need a hot meal.  There are many local organizations who would love a food donation or some help at the stove preparing a hot meal for those less fortunate." This is the time of year when I get calls for volunteering on a specific Holiday.  Please know organizations like South Suburban Pads needs Volunteers every day of the year. Charitable organizations l... 12/02/2014

In a recent interview on "The Chew" show I heard Gladys Knight best define Gratitude.   When asked what were her preshow eating rituals, she explained them after sharing first, she never ever takes it for granted, after all these years of performing, when an audience shows up for her performance.  I have seen her concerts dozens of times, and even got the opportunity to spent a moment backstage with her when she performed with "The Mighty Dells," at the Taste of Chicago.  Gladys, faithfully leaves the stage with her audience wishing for her to not leave the stage.  She has created a very devoted Fan-base, because she gives them all of herself in every performance.This is the standard I give to every valued Client I serve.  I know, I was created to help valued Buyers and Sellers to succe... 11/01/2014

Red Flags for Homebuyers   Home buying season is upon us, and while some buyers get caught up in the emotions of finding their new home, an important part of buying a home is paying attention to red flags. Red flags are those items that could potentially cost you a lot in the future, or even in the beginning - essentially, warnings of a danger or a problem. According to HouseMaster, a major home inspection company with offices in the United States and Canada, 40 percent of previously owned homes have at least one serious defect (housemaster.com). Provided is a list of items and things to consider or avoid when looking for your next home.       1. You're also buying a neighborhood: Neighborhoods are a vital part of the home buying process - make sure you visit at different times of the d... 10/03/2014

IRS SCAM/FRAUD ALERT - I don't normally answer out of state calls when they show up in the caller-id.  If no name shows up, and only a phone number I usually wait for a message left, then I'll pick up if I recognize who is calling.  This is a good habit because I've answered fraud calls in the past.  Today, I saw a Washington, D.C. number in my caller-id land line phone.  I thought, since my daughter recently relocated to the D.C. area, I'd better answer.  I got a message from a 202-241-0211 directing me to call a Steve Madden 949-873-8412.  The message stated if I did not call him immediately, I would be flagged as avoiding a legal matter.  When I called this Steve, he spoke with a fairly strong Indian accent.  I introduce myself telling him about the message to call him.  He ask if he... 09/30/2014

Top 10 Home Styles in the U.S.   We've all had that moment -- driving down a street and we see a home we like specifically for the architecture and design elements. The United States is full of different home styles and architecture, and pinpointing a specific one can be difficult, especially when dominant home styles change from region to region. The homes below are examples of the most prevalent home styles found throughout the United States.     Victorian Victorian homes give off a certain air and possess a very stately feel. Victorians are more about beauty than functionality, with complex designs, ornate trim, and large wraparound porches. The Victorian exterior is seen as a medium for decoration. These homes generally have gables, bay windows, towers, overhangs and many are known ... 09/30/2014

10 Tips to Prepare for A Home Sale   We are in the middle of summer -- one of the busiest times for any real estate market -- with thousands of homes and properties going up for sale in every town and city throughout the United States. Getting the most for a home is always a seller's top priority; heeding these ten tips and tricks when considering putting your house on the market will help toward getting you top dollar.     1. Paint Color: When choosing an exterior paint color, stick with what's popular in the neighborhood, goes well with the surroundings of the area, or fits the style of the home. Picking a paint color that is not common or completely clashes with the rest of the neighborhood is a very risky decision, especially when thinking about listing a home. When it comes to pain... 07/31/2014

Celebrate America: Made in the U.S.A   July marks our nation's birthday, and as millions gather to celebrate Independence Day, feelings and ideas of what make the United States great will undoubtedly flood the minds of those attending local barbecues, neighborhood block parties, or fireworks displays. The United States is ripe with diversity, and there's no better way of celebrating this great nation than focusing on promoting American made manufacturers and craftsmen.   While a majority of products found in homes are now produced elsewhere, there are still American companies producing quality products for every facet of life. When celebrating the Fourth of July this year, wave a flag made by Annin & Co, the oldest and largest flag manufacturer in the United States, a company started in... 06/30/2014

Savvy Shopping-8 Things to Know When Buying a Home   Spring is here, and along with the buds and flowers comes a new crop of home buyers-Are you one of them? If so, you want to be well prepared to get that home you have always wanted.   Mortgage Matters "Pre-qualified" sure sounds good, but in fact, it doesn't ensure that homeowners or realtors will consider your offer. Getting "pre-approved" for a bank loan will signal to an informed seller that your offer is within your means and should be given serious consideration which can tip things in your favor in a tight housing market. Pre-approval is more difficult now than in the past, so, beginning the process early allows you to be prepared to make an offer that will be considered seriously when you find your dream property. When signing ... 04/28/2014

Solar: So What?   As any homeowner knows, heating and cooling bills can top the charts during the height of summer and winter in many parts of the country. Homes that are well insulated can aid in keeping bills in line by helping to keep temperatures at a constant - but there are additional ways to tackle energy bills, and increasingly popular solutions include solar energy.   Depending on your climate and surrounding buildings, trees and topography, solar energy can be a resource that could be harnessed to lower your bill from the local electric company. In fact, many people are able to generate enough electricity and heat from the sun to power their home without the need for power from a utility company at all, and a few even manage to generate excess energy that they can sell back to... 03/28/2014

While cold winter weather continues to assail much of the country, last week saw some sunnier economic headlines as real estate and jobs performed better, and new data pointed to growing economic strength. Existing Home Sales One look at last week’s real estate market shows the cold weather is continuing to have its impact on housing, but is the weather the whole story? Sales of existing single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, dropped 5.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.62 million in January from 4.87 million in December, the National Association of Realtors reported last week. This was the lowest level in a year and a half - 5.1 percent below January 2013’s 4.87 million-unit pace. While it would be easy to chalk up the drop entirely to the difficult ... 03/06/2014

10 Tips for a home that's Safe and Sound   There is little that is more important than feeling secure in your own home. While we can only control a small bit of the world around us, here's some basic information to keep a home safe.   The goal of securing your home is two-fold: protecting your possessions, but also protecting the people who live there. Security professionals advise "deter, detect and delay" tactics. These 10 tips cover a lot of ground, so keep them in mind and you will be well on the road to greater peace of mind.   Check your doors, windows and all locks: Deadbolts and secure, steel outer doors are important, as are secure windows that lock. A huge majority of burglaries are no-force entries, where culprits gain access to your home through an unlocked window or door, s... 03/06/2014