Apartments in the Chicago metro region haven't been on my radar for quite a number of years, but my interest perked up when I came across an article, Falling Values Slam Apartment Owners, in the Chicago Sun-Times this morning. Here are some of the conclusions he found: Falling property values in Cook County have put about $13 billion in multifamily mortgages at risk of default, about 30 percent of the total debt. Most of the risky loans are tied up in buildings with six units or fewer. Foreclosures of apartment buildings fall heaviest on poor neighborhoods. For the 2-6 unit buildings, the foreclosure rate in 2009 was 13.9 percent for poor neighborhoods vs. 4.2 percent for regions with high incomes. For larger buildings, the comparative foreclosure rates were 7.8 percent and 2.1 percent ... 07/07/2010

This is my initial re-foray into blogging on AR with my first post on the Chicagoland Real Estate Report. I am republishing a post I just put up on DISCOVER! Joliet Homes, my local blog about Joliet, IL real estate. I am excited to be joining the active ranks of bloggers on AR and look forward to your comments and opinions. Here goes: I believe it was Mark Twain who said "Lies, damned lies, and statistics". Mr. Twain, if I have my history correct, was implying that numbers can be very persuasive and that statistics often are used to support weak arguments. So it was this afternoon that I was looking at the new Housing Scorecard that the Obama Administration had published in June that is going to be taking a monthly look at the national housing outlook (insert snide comment about lack of... 07/06/2010

If you are thinking of buying a home in the Joliet area, a foreclosed home might be the right choice for you. There are foreclosures that are in poor condition and there are others that just need a few cosmetic touches. I have seen foreclosed properties that are beautiful and move-in ready. If you are thinking of buying a foreclosed home, the first step is having your preapproval letter in hand so you can submit an offer immediately. If a foreclosed home is in good condition, you might be up against some other buyers so you need to act quickly. I can help you learn your buying power so please call LaNita Cates with REMAX Realty of Joliet at 630-341-1545 or visit www.lanitacates.com. 07/04/2010

There are currently 188 single family homes in the Joliet market for sale priced from $201,000 - $300,000. Many of these homes are foreclosures and short sales.  If you are looking to buy in the Joliet area and need an agent that knows the Joliet market, please call LaNita Cates with REMAX Realty of Joliet at 630-341-1545. Please visit www.lanitacates.com and sign up to receive listings each day. 07/04/2010

There are currently 464 single family homes in the Joliet market for sale priced from $101,000 to $200,000.  Whether you are looking for a ranch, bi-level or two story or 2/3 bedroom with 2 baths, there is a perfect house for you in Joliet! There are some incredible deals whether you are a first time homebuyer or an investor. Please call LaNita Cates with REMAX Realty of Joliet at 630-341-1545. Please visit www.lanitacates.com and sign up to receive listings each day. 07/04/2010

There are currently 219 single family homes in the Joliet market for sale under $100,000. The majority of these homes are foreclosures and in need of repair or updating, but there are some adorable move-in ready homes closer to the $95,000 range. There are some incredible deals whether you are a first time homebuyer or an investor. Please call LaNita Cates with REMAX Realty of Joliet at 630-341-1545. Please visit www.lanitacates.com and sign up to receive listings each day. 07/04/2010

Ninety-one homes closed in Joliet in the month of June, 2010. The lowest priced home sold as a foreclosure for $17,500.   The highest priced home sold as a short sale for $440,000. For all your real estate buying and selling needs, call LaNita Cates of REMAX Realty of Joliet at 630-341-1545 or visit www.lanitacates.com. 07/04/2010

Saturday, August 21, 2:00pm & 8:00pm, Tickets $68; AA $58; A $48; B $38; C $28 15 E. Van Buren St., Joliet IL 60432 Phone 815-726-7171  Box Office 815-726-6600 A live two and one half hour performance showcasing the life and music of Elvis Presley. This one-of-a-kind experience brings the audience back to the 1950's, starring Victor Trevino Jr., recreating the excitement of the King's wilder years; the 1960's starring Kevin Mills and the 1970's staring Bill Cherry. Elvis transformed popular music and made it his own. He had a unique style and charisma on and off the stage. This is what made him what he is today - an American icon. For all your real estate needs, call LaNita Cates, REMAX of Joliet at 630-341-1545. 06/26/2010

During the month of May, 2010, 93 single family homes closed in Joliet, IL. The lowest priced home sold for only $13,000 (foreclosure) and the highest priced home sold for $270,000. Thirty-six of the 93 homes sold for under $100,000. For all your Joliet IL Real Estate home buying and selling needs, call LaNita Cates of REMAX Realty of Joliet at 630-341-1545 or email lanitacates@yahoo.com. Please visit www.lanitacates.com. 06/24/2010

If you have a large family and need room to grow, this historic home built in 1890 might be the perfect home for you. Listed at only $116,900, this home has 5 bedrooms, hardwood under carpet, huge basement and walk up attic. Home has been in the family for over 70 years and very well kept. Move in ready! Located at 916 N. Hickory Street in Joliet. Call LaNita Cates at REMAX of Joliet 630-341-1545 or visit www.lanitacates.com 06/17/2010

Home For Sale: 2923 Arden Pl, Joliet, IL in Fountaindale Subdivision MLSID: 07443742 Offered at $159,999 APPROVED SHORT SALE 2923 Arden Place is a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home on Joliet's west side.  Situated near the intersection of Black and Essington Roads it is close to shopping, Troy Craughwell Elementary School, the Black Road branch of the Joliet Library, and the Rock Run Preserve, with nature trails for walking and biking.  Also, within a block or two is a relaxing fishing pond with gazebo. The front exterior of the home faces south and features a concrete driveway up to the 2.5 car garage.  Arden Place deadends to the east of the home and helps keep autmobile traffic to a minimum.  Mature trees help provide summertime shade to the home and help provide privacy, especially in the ba... 02/22/2010

Take the kids to see Sesame Street Live- When Elmo Grows Up at the beautiful Rialto Square Theatre in downtown Joliet! The Rialto Square Theatre is an absolutely stunning theatre. I can think of no better place in Will County for entertainment! Enjoy! 01/07/2010

Sunday August 9, 2009 from 9:00am - 3:00pm Operation care package611 Wilcox St., Joliet, Illinois 60435 Paintabll Charity event to benefit operation care package. This will be held at Challenge Park Extreme in Joliet. Sponsored by Joliet Police Dept.Tickets are sold in advance for $20. and include park entrance, face mask & gun rental. You will be required to purchase the paintballs there. You may bring your own equipment if you have some.100 % of proceeds from this event go directly to OCP.For tickets or more info please contact Officer Remer at 815-724-3100. Or Debbie at 815-723-6869 Leave message and contact info. Ticket Info: $20. per person for the day For all your real estate needs in the Joliet and surrounding areas, call LaNita Cates with REMAX of Joliet at 630-341-1545 or visit... 08/07/2009

Sunday August 9, 2009 at 2:00pm Rialto Square Theater102 N Chicago St., Joliet, Illinois 60432 Von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet is one of the newest and brightest classical dance companies now touring throughout the Midwest. The company, which made its international debut at Scotland's famed Edinburgh Festival in 1989, is composed of professional dancers drawn from the ranks of The School of the Chicago Festival Ballet, the Lyric Opera Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, and other Chicagoland dance companies. Ticket Info: $22 For all your Joliet real state home buying and selling, contact LaNita Cates with REMAX of Joliet. Call 630-341-1545 or visit www.lanitacates.com 08/07/2009

Saturday August 8, 2009 from 4:00pm - 11:30pm Operation care package611 Wilcox St., Joliet, Illinois 60435 Live music by Slick willy, food, drinks and games. All Military, Veterans ands supporters welcome. Come thank hero in person.  Operation care package will also be accepting items that day to be included in care packages. For more info: Email Debbie at proudarmysis4@sbcglobal.net Website: http://www.operationcarepackages.org For all your real estate needs in the Joliet and surrounding areas, contact LaNita Cates with REMAX of Joliet. Call 630-341-1545 or visit www.lanitacates.com. 08/07/2009

Saturday August 8, 2009 from 11:00am - 3:00pm Pilcher Park Nature Center2501 Highland Park Drive, Joliet, Illinois 60432 Science Chicago presents... LabFests! will take place in local parks, neighborhood libraries and fab locations all across the region all summer long. Get your "wow" on and get into it with hands-on science fun featuring interactive demonstrations, crafts projects, science and environmental activities with some of the region's most popular museums, institutions and after school science organizations. Call LaNita Cates at 630-341-1545 for all your housing needs in the Joliet and surrounding areas. Or visit www.lanitacates.com. 08/07/2009

American Cancer Society Relay for Life - Joliet Saturday June 13, 2009 - Sunday June 14, 2009 from 2:00pm - 6:00am Joilet West High School401 N. Larkin Ave., Joilet, Illinois 60435 One day. One night. One community. Relay for Life is about celebration, rememberance and hope. By participating, you honor cancer survivors, pay tribute to the lives we've lost to the disease and raise money to fight it all right here in your community. You won't want to miss one moment of this life- and community-affirming event!Many teams sell food and have raffles. All money raised goes to the Joliet community for cancer research, early detection and prevention education, and a suite of free information, programs and services to help people that have cancer. Website: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=en... 06/10/2009

There were 60 home sales in Joliet IL over the last 30 days.  Of those 60 homes that sold 43% of them were short sale or REO properties. The difference in the number between short sales and bank owned properties in Joliet IL is somewhat alarming.  40% of the homes were actual bank owned foreclosure sales, while only 3% of those sales were short sales. The discrepancy in this number can either be attributed in the difficulty of getting a short sale accepted by the lender, or because more and more homeowners are simply walking away or giving up on trying to avoid a foreclosure. The range in home prices that closed in Joliet IL over the last 30 days was $26,500 - $479,000 If you are looking for a home in the northwest side of Joliet IL, call me at 630-673-6233.  I can help you get the best... 05/25/2009

Lincoln: the Civil War and Willcounty - Exhibition Sunday May 24, 2009 from 12:00pm - 5:00pm Joliet Area Historical Museum204 N Ottawa St., Joliet, Illinois 60432 Get Directions The exhibit features Lincoln memorabilia, including a November 1860 issue of the Chicago Tribune proclaiming Lincoln as the new President and an April 1865... Call LaNita Cates of REMAX of Joliet for all your home buying and home selling needs in Joliet and the surrounding areas. Call 630-341-1545 or visit www.lanitacates.com 05/23/2009

Sunday May 24, 2009 from 5:30am - 12:00pm Lake Shore DriveLake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois Get Directions bike Lake Shore DriveSunday May 24, 2009See the city's famous lakefront and architecture; relive legendary memories at the site of the 1893 World's Fair or the site of Barack Obama's history-making election speech; breeze through lush parks; and come together with family and friends - all while biking on eight lanes and 15 miles of a tranquil Lake Shore Drive.The experience begins in Grant Park at Columbus and Jackson. From there, ride for miles in a bicycle utopia. View the entire route and ride guide here. Bank of America Bike the Drive benefits the Active Transportation Alliance (formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation), a non-profit biking, walking and transit advocacy or... 05/23/2009