In the table below lists all of the single family detached and single family attached homes currently on the market in Hoffman Estates, IL  The data lists available homes by price range with average time on market in each range. Should you have an interest in homes in a selected price range, send me your physical characteristics requirements. I will send complete details on those homes that meet your criteria. Active Listings List Price Range # Listings Avg. Days on Mkt Less than $149,999 122 280 $150,000 - $199,999 50 229 $200,000 - $249,999 58 213 $250,000 - $299,999 44 169 $300,000 - $349,999 21 198 $350,000 - $399,999 21 281 $400,000 - $449,999 4 277 $450,000 - $499,999 6 110 $500,000 - $549,999 5 150 $550,000 - $599,999 4 344 $600,000 - $699,999 1 14 $700,000 - $799,999 1 18    Ac... 04/04/2011

Fed Reserve Scandal? I'm not surprised. Mention of the Feds acting like the mob? I'm not surprised. Well, at least there was no mention of Chicago politics! 03/23/2011

In the table below lists all of the single family detached and single family attached homes currently on the market in Hoffman Estates, IL  The data lists available homes by price range with average time on market in each range. Should you have an interest in homes in a selected price range, send me your physical characteristics requirements. I will send complete details on those homes that meet your criteria. Active Listings List Price Range # Listings Avg. Days on Mkt Less than $149,999 112 269 $150,000 - $199,999 56 237 $200,000 - $249,999 56 224 $250,000 - $299,999 47 185 $300,000 - $349,999 26 210 $350,000 - $399,999 17 360 $400,000 - $449,999 7 365 $450,000 - $499,999 5 110 $500,000 - $549,999 4 101 $550,000 - $599,999 4 324 $600,000 - $699,999 1 34    Active Listings Summary # U... 03/15/2011

In the table below lists all of the single family detached and single family attached homes currently on the market in Hoffman Estates, IL  The data lists available homes by price range with average time on market in each range. Should you have an interest in homes in a selected price range, send me your physical characteristics requirements. I will send complete details on those homes that meet your criteria. Active Listings List Price Range # Listings Avg. Days on Mkt Less than $149,999 114 277 $150,000 - $199,999 58 257 $200,000 - $249,999 51 220 $250,000 - $299,999 50 225 $300,000 - $349,999 18 255 $350,000 - $399,999 16 399 $400,000 - $449,999 10 292 $450,000 - $499,999 6 289 $500,000 - $549,999 4 153 $550,000 - $599,999 4 286 $600,000 - $699,999 1 257    Active Listings Summary #... 02/05/2011

FCIC Report just released should be a mandatory read by every Realtor©, loan officer and business person in today's market.  It's a heavy report at over 662 pages but gives a great explanation on what happened with the financial collapse.You can also go to the FCIC site and see a detailed/linked glossary. FCIC Report - The Financial Crisis Inquiry Report 01/31/2011

Who's client is it anyway? Was reading Joseph Michalski's post today and it put a 'spark to my keyboard' about a similar circumstance I've just had with a loan officer.  This loan officer begins to berate me with the words 'I am working for MY client'.  Well, that's nice because I know for certain you have never MET this client in person let alone have his 100% best interests in mind.  Background:  My buyer writes an offer on a REO and we win in a dual offer situation (another post).  Problem is the bank will not sign the contract even though it is accepted.  Weeks have gone by without a signature.   Behind the scenes I am trying to find out just who to contact as the listing agent and listing company are nothing more than an REO mill.  Churn & burn those REO's out - get awards for volu... 01/23/2011

SmartMove Program for First-time Buyers in Illinois SmartMove offers mortgage products with incentives such as affordable interest rates and down payment assistance.  Veterans can also apply.  SmartMove features up to $6000 for down payment and closing costs as a 10 year zero percent forgivable loan.  Obviously the program is geared toward borrowers who need extra flexibility on sources of income or who have limited funds for down payment and closing costs.SmartMove features: Minimum down payment loan amounts from 96.5 to 100% (this means 3.5% down up to zero down) Conventional, FHA, USDA products available Fixed rate loans with up to 30 year terms Mortgage insurance at one-third less than other conventional products Qualifications include: Minimum credit score = 620 (FHA and USDA loans... 01/21/2011

Northwest Suburban Housing Forecast Inventory slightly up - Sales flat.  That's pretty much how the market has shaped up for 2010.  What is selling is the low end of every price range which will further pull down the average sales prices in the Northwest Suburbs. On updating the graph below over November, all the average sales prices were adjusted downward between $2000 to $4000 except for Elk Grove which stayed the same.Northwest Suburban sales figures have been slight through the last quarter of 2010. The year has unfortunately ended without much applause.  Even with the added advantage of low interest rates, the sales have just not rebounded as hoped.  All these numbers are compared to 2009 so we've had no increases of any kind whether sales totals (number of units vs. 2009) or avera... 01/19/2011

Kitchen Decorating Idea or Disaster Waiting to Happen?Recently going through the 'new things you should know about'  from House Beautiful online.  They had a article about 10 Ways to Make your Kitchen New Again.  The horrible advice intrigued me and made for some afternoon comedic relief.  Like add a lamp in your Kitchen.  Yeah, ok.  Right next to the Mr. Coffee?I wanted to share with you the only worthwhile 'new' idea that I saw in the article.  Maybe this might not be bad to give a kitchen a new feel or give a taste of 50's flair.  It's called Tile Tattoos for your ugly (or not ugly) ceramic tile backsplash in the kitchen.  I think it's a great idea but I suppose like anything else if it's overdone it can be oh ... so ... bad. "Transform Your Tiles - Update the look of your backsplash... 01/18/2011

Illinois active adult communities come in a wide variety of sizes in wonderful locations and in all different price ranges. Some of the smaller communities located in more densely populated suburbs are popular due to their close proximity to shopping, dining, entertainment and convenient access to downtown Chicago. One such community is Haverford Place by Ryland Homes. This intimate sized 55+ community is located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois which is just minutes from the town of Schaumburg and its world famous Woodfield Mall. Woodfield is the largest shopping mall in the Chicagoland area with over 300 stores and restaurants including many premiere shops not found anywhere else in the Midwest. Aside from the mall there are hundreds of other major retailers and restaurants in the surroun... 01/10/2011

I think I'm trying to sell something.  Yep, I've looked at the submitted contract again just to be sure.The buyer thinks they have submitted an offer to the REO bank.  They are looking forward to just getting thru the acceptance part of the contract scenario.I've submitted an offer on an REO over a month ago now and there just hasn't been any word.  The buyers have lost their enthusiasm and have now gone into 'irritation mode'.  I can't say I blame them because they logically are thinking the bank wants to sell the house right?Well, errr, sorta I guess.  They did put it into the MLS system for sale and reduced the price dramatically until we finally were in a dual offer.  We won the dual and that was a month ago.  All we would like is for a bank exec to sprinkle some holy water on our c... 01/10/2011

How come my earnest money check wasn't returned? Dear Lyn:I was wondering why the other buyers agent I was working with on a property has not given back my earnest money deposit.  I did not win in a multiple bid situation on a foreclosure.  That was 2 to 3 months ago and I still haven't heard from him.  Will I loose my earnest money?Dear Concerned Buyer:Absolutely not!  The other agent should have returned your certified check for the earnest money as soon as the other offer was accepted.  I understand from our conversation on this that the seller (REO) wanted all earnest money in certified funds and the minimum amount was $20,000.  When your agent was notified the bank was going to proceed with another offer your check should have been promptly returned the next day.  OR mailed the nex... 01/08/2011

My recent blog post quoted the 10 states with the most 'population exodous' over the last year and Illinois showed up as Number 2.  An ironic reference? I think not. Then I saw an article in Chicago Magazine giving our county tax data as the highest in the nation.  Six counties in the Chicago metro area landed in the top 100 of each category: Median Property Taxes Paid, Taxes Paid as % of Median Home Value and Taxes Paid as % of Median Income.Here is the report numbers for our area: County MedianPropertyTaxes Paid Rank in U.S. Taxes Paid as % of Median Home Value Rank in U.S. Taxes Paid as % of Median Income Rank in U.S. Cook $3,739 83 1.43 198 5.23 57 DuPage $5,622 24 1.82 98 6.35 33 Kane $5,237 29 2.14 34 6.62 26 Lake  * $6,403 16 2.24 24 7.25 14 McHenry $5,282 28 2.17 30 6.53 28 Will... 12/29/2010

Inexpensive Home Updates   Curb Appeal Regardless of whether or not you're planning on selling in the short term, improving your home's outer appearance will improve both the value and charm of your home. Re-painting the front door and trim will give the front of the house the feel of a newer home. A little minor landscaping work (trimming shrubs, cutting the lawn, replacing sod) over a long weekend can dramatically change your home's look. Add some potted flowers on the front steps or entryway. Consider investing in new doorknobs, house numbers and a mailbox as well. Light Fixtures If you have older lighting fixtures that date the look of your home, consider replacing them with new, more appealing hardware. While you can certainly spend a lot of money on high-end fixtures, cheaper alte... 12/24/2010

Just when things are starting to look better at least in the Northwest Suburbs, 'someone' decides to sabotage the whole thing and raise interest rates.  This just doesn't make any sense to me and I know there are many factors involved here but it's just ridiculous.  One step forward, 2 steps back.Mortgage Rates Continue to Climb, Closing in on 5% Mark"Borrowing costs on home loans continue to increase, with mortgage rates rising sharply for the past five weeks in a row. New data from Freddie Mac shows that the average rate for a 30-year mortgage jumped 22 basis points over the last seven days to 4.83 percent. The 15-year rate climbed 21 basis points to 4.17 percent. A separate study by Bankrate shows that the average 30-year rate offered by the top 10 banks and thrifts in the top 10 U.S... 12/17/2010

Look out property management companies that help guide associations through the mine field of FHA paperwork approvals.  Seems like HUD has a few more problems in store for associations that homeowners in the area should be aware of.This just in for the new 'Condo Guidelines' for FHA approval for each complex.  Each complex must now re-certify with FHA in order to have FHA mortgages applied through out the subdivision.  It's a good thing to have and actually I would say MANDATORY in this economy.  Don't discourage any buyers by not getting your project approved.Guidelines just out ~ 'Condos will be rejected and unacceptable for HUD/FHA approval or recertification if they have any leasing restrictions other than a minimum lease term of 6 months.  Stated that this has supposedly always bee... 12/14/2010

This is as good a reason as any for me to write off Yahoo Real Estate!   This is the latest advertisement that I received as a Yahoo User and I can certainly say I'm not happy in the least with this partnership.  I don't know why everyone feels they have to 'get in bed' with Zillow?  Something about the zzzzz's?  Well, for me I will just not include my listings as a personal choice.  I currently don't send them to Zillow now because I feel they undercut my sellers value by their zestimates.  I list a house for sale at a very reasonable price & Zillow slashes the sellers proceeds 'on line, not on paper' by 20% or more.  No thanks.  I don't need any voodoo computer algorithm to discount my sellers bottom line.     11/30/2010

Northwest Suburban Housing Forecast Inventory up - Sales down.  That's pretty much what the market is projecting for our area over the next 2 months of 2010.  What is selling seems to be on the low end of the price range which will further pull down the average or median sales prices in our area.Interest rates have come down further with Freddie Mac reporting that rates on fixed mortgages again fell to their lowest levels this past week, with the average interest on 15-year loans dipping to 3.57 percent from 3.63 percent a week earlier, and the average interest for 30-year loans sliding to 4.17 percent from 4.24 percent. That is the lowest since 1971. The impact of the favorable borrowing costs is being largely overshadowed by a high rate of joblessness, foreclosures, and tight credit. ... 11/15/2010

  Barrington Square - Barrington Square is a townhouse community in Hoffman Estates. Barrington Square is on Higgins and Governors. Beacon Pointe - Beacon Pointe is a single family home neighborhood built by Ryland Homes. Beacon Pointe is located in Hoffman estates. Floor plans in Beacon Pointe range from 2,250 - 3,122 square feet. Blackberry Creek - Blackberry Creek is a townhouse community built in the mid 1990's. Blackberry Creek is located in Hoffman Estates on Hassell Road east of Barrington Road. Breton Pointe - Breton Pointe is a single family home neighborhood built in the late 1980's. Breton Pointe is located in Hoffman Estates on Versailles north of Route 62. Bridlewood - Bridlewood is a single family home community built in the late 1990's. Bridlewood is located in Hoffman E... 11/01/2010

Dog Parks in Hoffman EstatesBo's Run now officially open in Hoffman Estates (formerly Willow Dog Park)      (updated 5/11/17)3600 Lexington Dr Hoffman Estates IL 60169847-285-5440Park Amenities - Open daily, year round, this off-leash park at Willow Recreation Center offers dogs a dedicated open space to play while you sit and relax.• 2 Acre Off Leash Area• Small Dog Park Area• Fully Fenced• Agility Equipment• Dog Water Service• Entrance Holding Areas• Waste Disposal Bags• Picnic Tables• Key Code EntryThe revamped park has been named after Bo, the Hoffman Estates Police Department's first K-9. Bo graduated from The Chicago Police Department's Canine Training Center certified as a patrol and narcotic dog.Purchase your membership at WRC or CCIA today. Space is limited to a first come firs... 10/26/2010