The Benefits of Practicing "Appreciative Listening"                   Do you practice ... "Appreciative Listening"?           "Appreciative Listening" was defined by Eleanor Blayney, co-founder of consulting company Directions for Women  and consumer advocate for the national Certified Financial Planner Board in a June 22nd,  Chicago Tribune  article,as:     "Full and careful attention to what the speaker is saying, their body language, etc.  Or it can refer to an organizational process where you solve problems not by focusing on what is wrong or broken ... but on what is working."        In other words, "Appreciative Listening" is the "art form" of truly and thoroughly engaging and listening to someone while they communicate with you.  Watching them while they speak, learning from ... 06/25/2012

    Spreading Gossip, One Person at a Time                Yesterday, I wrote a blog entitled,  "Renters Growing More Optimistic About Buying ... "Here Comes the Sun".   It told of the growing confidence that Americans are once-again increasingly showing in becoming home owners.  The American Dream is still alive.        On one of the forums in which I  posted  this blog, many of those commenting stated that they just didn't think that potential home buyers knew of all the mortgage program options that exist for home buying currently ... especially those mortgage programs that exist that allow for smaller down payments.  They assume incorrectly that these options have dried-up.        Well, I'm here to say ... good opportunities for no-or-low down payment DO exist ... and in fairly large... 06/04/2012

    What to Expect When You Apply for Mortgage Financing           So you've heard that applying for mortgages ... and mortgage processing itself ... is a pain in the tush, huh?         I cannot lie to you.  It can be ...           But I think that stories, heard over and over again, contribute to perpetuating some of those problems. I believe that what an applicant hears (and thinks) prior to mortgage application, can influence what ends-up happening during their mortgage processing.          How's that, you say?  Let me explain ...       The stories heard set expectations. They serve to make applicants so fearful, so uptight about the mortgage process ... that they sometimes LOOK for and EXPECT problems to occur.     And it's been my experience, that if the mindset is to expect troubl... 05/31/2012

    Illinois Legislature Passes New Bill - HB4496 Updates the State of Illinois Plumbing Code                    Just having a bit of fun regarding this particular news topic, but ...         I believe the new IL Bill's passing will become a perfect example of what is typically referred to as the "trickle-down" theory.         It will provide evidence that what first effects one portion of the real estate industry ... will typically end-up "trickling down" and effecting the rest of the industry.         Get it?  "Trickle down" ... a bit of plumbing humor, right?? I know ... I know.  But I couldn't help myself!         Both Houses of the  Illinois Legislature  passed this new Bill on May 15th, 2012.  It's called HB 4496.  In essence, this new Bill authorizes the  State of Illinois' Depar... 05/30/2012

    Joliet Area Historical Museum Sponsors 2012 Summer Music Series              Nothing says summer quite like good music ...        And the Summer of 2012 is going to sound great, thanks to the  Joliet Area Historical Museum.          The ROOFTOP Summer Music Series returns to the  Joliet,  Will County  Area beginning on Thursday, June 7th.  The Museum's Rooftop Terrace will be "THEE" place to be throughout the summer, starting at 7:30 pm.         Taking the stage and performing the night of June 7th, will be:       "Classical Blast", featuring a blend of great sounds.  Think Bach with a little classic rock mixed into it and you have the group "Classical Blast" ... providing music that all ages can listen to and enjoy!     On  July 12th, the music will be provided by:    "Lil' Ed and ... 05/21/2012

    Opening Night Coming For Joliet Slammers Baseball!             Joliet's professional baseball team, the  Slammers, will open their 2012 playing season next week on May 22nd. They'll be playing the Traverse City Beam Bums that evening, starting at 7:05 pm.         Expectations are high for this year's season, as the Slammers will be defending their 2011 Frontier League title. A ring ceremony will be held prior to this year's first game to celebrate last year's League champions.         Tickets to Slammers' games  start at a low price of $5.00 ... making attendance at games very "family friendly". Seating is available at  Silver Cross Field,   where the Slammers play, ranging from lawn seating to box seats.  Concessions  are for sale within the stadium.         After the Slammer's ope... 05/17/2012

    Multiple Offers and Appraisals. Learning to Co-Exist Successfully               We are presently in the time of year when Appraisers, Realtors, and Mortgage Originators ... as well as Home Buyers and Sellers are often "anxious". Both good anxious and bad anxious.       This Spring, many of us find ourselves anxious, but hopeful, that our housing market is reviving itself after a long winter. This is especially true in the Midwest region where I live. Weather makes home sales somewhat more seasonal here.       This year's anxieties are accompanied by the good-to-have-problem of rising house prices. In many areas, we are presently seeing multiple offers placed on strategically-priced properties. RISING home prices shouldn't be a problem, right??? Welllllll ... they can be ...       As... 05/15/2012

"Do you think you can find us another house just like the house we should have written an offer on, but didn't? And the next evening the bank accepted an offer? You know, the house that matched our criteria EXACT and it was in the location we loved and the price range we wanted to spend? The house that was perfect and we were so excited and didn't want to leave and was imagining where we would put our furniture and talked about how wonderful the walk-out basement would be for parties in the summer? The house that was bank-owned and you told us that the agent said there were already offers on it and we would need to come in highest and best? Can you find us another house exactly like that one? We know we should have listened to you and should have written an offer while we stood there an... 05/10/2012

Eighteen single family homes sold in Joliet IL during April 30 - May 4, 2012. Of the 18, 5 were short sales and 5 were foreclosures. Sold prices ranged from $28,000 - $170,000. Average market time was 147 days. Sold properties closed averaging 89.42% of the final list price which is a 10.58% difference between the sale prices and the final list price. 05/07/2012

  You're OFFICIALLY Invited ...               Seems like I've read a real "rash" of posts lately regarding "visiting".  In person.  Via the internet.          These posts have followed closely on the heels of the  ActiveRain  social media site's "meet-ups" that were held just a short while ago in many locations across the US and Canada.                 Guess we bloggers (especially AR members) are just a friendly, out-going, social bunch!  Guess it also explains why we're in a people-business like real estate.               But these recent posts, and their subsequent comments, really had me thinking.   How "welcoming" and inviting are my posts when someone reads them?  How 'bout my other social media?   Do clients, referral-partners,  everybody  reading them ... understand that they in... 05/07/2012

Twenty homes sold during the week of April 16-20, 2012. Of the 20 homes, only 5 were foreclosures and just one was a short sale. Prices ranged from $14,000 - $235,000. Average list price was $129,169 with the average selling price at $121,460. Average market time is 175 days. Sold properties closed averaging 5.97% of their final list price. 04/24/2012

Paula Deen's Kitchen is the first Paula Deen buffet-style and ala carte restaurant and retail store located outside of the South. Paula Deen's Kitchen was created with the personal touch of the Queen of Southern Cooking herself and aims to create a memorable dining experience that goes beyond great food, but also provides patrons the feel of a home cooked meal served right from Paula's dining room. Menu highlights include "build your own" savory skillets and omelets for breakfast. For lunch and dinner, indulge in Paula Deen's renowned crab cakes, baby back ribs, shrimp and grits and much more. The Saturday and Sunday Brunch menu also includes delectable cocktails, including mimosas and the Georgia Peach. Complete the dining experience with scrumptious treats such as butter rum and choco... 04/20/2012

Looking for a fun family event to do in May? "Ride the Rock" is a free, family group bike ride and festival sponsered my the Forest Preserve District of Will County and Provena Saint Joseph Medial Center! This it the 6th year they will be doing it. Ride SIXTEEN MILES! Saturday, May 12th from 9:00am - 3:00pm. The ride will being at I&M Canal Access, located on Empress/Hollywood Road (Houbolt Road), 0.25-mile south of I-80 in Joliet. Additional activities include music, bike decorating, a climbing wall, a stilt walker, face painting and food will be available to be purchased from Heroes West Sports Grill. Rain or shine, we ride! Call 815-727-8700 http://www.reconnectwithnature.org/information/rtr2012.asp to sign up! 04/14/2012

HEY ALL YOU 70'S AND 80'S ROCK BAND FANS....COME TO HAIRBALL! When was the last time you saw Guns & Roses, AC/DC, Aerosmith, KISS, Van Halen, Queen Twisted Sister, Alice Cooper, Poison, Bon Jovi, Judas Priest and more all in the same night? Hairball is the world's ultimate "80's Rock" impersonation act, recreating the good-time party atmosphere of the decadent decade with unmatched authenticity. A pyro show that would make KISS jealous, more costumes and make-up than a traveling circus could ever dream of and an ever-evolving, endless play list of hit songs, Hairball produces a rock concert like nothing ever seen before. The lights, the sound and the performance will have you wondering if this isn’t the real deal! The dizzying spectical of non-stop rock for two plus hours is a world-cla... 04/14/2012

Alphabet Soup Productions, winner of the 2008 Illinois Theatre Association Award of Excellence in the Children's Theatre...is bringing "Beauty and The Beast" to Joliet! April 23, 24 and 25 with all performances starting at 10:30am Billie Limacher BiCenntenial Park Theatre located at Jefferson/Bluff Street in Joliet. Go to www.absproductions.com for other performances at North Central College, Governors State University, Museum of Science & Industry and more! 04/14/2012

Come see this five character (3 male roles and 2 female roles), two act thriller! "Sidney Bruhl" sorely needs a hit when young playright "Clifford Anderson" offers him a stunning new thriller, Deathtrap. Deathtap is a "play" within a "play". Friday, April 20th, 2012 at 8:00pm Saturday, April 21th, 2012 at 8:00pm Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 at 2:00PM Location: Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park, 201 W. Jefferson St. at Bluff Street. 04/14/2012

Remember The Carol Burnett Show? It was on for 11 years and earned 25 Emmy Awards! If you were a fan then you remember Carol Burnett, at the beginning of each of her shows, would ask audience questions. This is a rare opportunity to talk to Ms. Burnett in the same enjoyable and intimate audience-interactive format. So bring your questions! Carol Burnett is doing two shows: Tuesday, May 8th and Wednesday, May 9th; both at 8:00pm. Go to www.rialtosquare.com for more information! 04/14/2012

JOLIET ILLINOIS HOMES CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET $100,000 and higher: There are 468 single family homes Average list price is $154,070 The average number of bedrooms is 3 and the average number of bathrooms is 2 Average days on market: 192 days Information is taken from the Midwest Real Estate Data MLS.     04/06/2012

    You Wouldn't Call a Part-Time Doctor to Do Your Heart Surgery, Would You??             As we often do, my wife and I were having a discussion about work the other day.  I had just gotten home and it had been a very trying afternoon.      A Closing that day had taken much longer than it should have.  Also, one of the deals I'm presently working on had developed "hiccups".  Nothing that can't be solved, just frustrating.     The deals of two of my underling lenders had needs and issues to see to as well.   Glitches, and not all that uncommon anymore in the scheme of things.  But still, there had been a number of them ... and the time dealing with them had mounted up.        Upon reflection of all these issues, both my wife and I were struck by a commonality that ran through each of th... 03/26/2012

        It is said ...        Times change, people change, situations change, relationships change ...      The only thing constant is change.                                                                                                Author unknown              Yes, change is inevitable.  That is true ... but I personally believe, that HOW you react to that inevitable change is what is important.  It can be your defining factor moving forward.       And if any business industry has seen and had to endure change over the past few years, it's certainly been the real estate industry.  Change has been radical  and constant.      More change is coming.  We have to look no further than April 9th, 2012 to experience that change too.  That's the day that upfront costs for FHA Mortgage Insur... 03/22/2012