Real Estate Agent
Wayne Martin
Retired
Cell: 239-826-7400
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Real Estate Agent
Alan May
Residential Real Estate specializing in Evanston, the entire north shore, and northern areas of Chicago.
Cell: 847-924-3313
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Cook County, IL Real Estate News

By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
The Final Walkthrough - 5 Things Buyers Hate to Find Your closing day is almost here and the buyers have scheduled their final walkthrough. You've emptied the house, made repairs, and cleaned up. What could go wrong?As a seller, you may be unnerved by this. Buyers are allowed to visit the house before closing and make sure the house is as it's supposed to be. It's mostly a benign visit with the buyers excited to head to the close. What are the walkthrough hiccups that can occur?ITEMS THAT BOTH SIDES THOUGHT THEY HAD A RIGHT TOThe second refrigerator in the garage or basement, the stunning chandelier in the dining room - gone! It happens all the time - believe me. Unless you made sure the contract specified the second refrigerator, the seller can take it. This applies to shrubs and trees...
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By Femme Capital Partners, Residential & Commerical Broker
(Femme Capital Partners)
Why Trust Femme Capital Partners To Be Your Mortgage Broker?  Femme Capital Partners is a lending and small business consulting firm committed to strengthening financial futures.  We are a full-service, residential and commercial mortgage broker based in Chicago, IL , also serving Florida and Coming Soon....... South Carolina.  Our mission is simple, strengthen financial futures while paving the way to long-term wealth.   How Do We Accomplish Providing a Mortgage Loan? Concrete Communication Femme Capital Partners utilizes a hands on approach that allows our clients to have direct access to us as their trusted advisors. We provide clarity, so that our client’s feel comfortable and never forgotten. Exponential ValueOur commitment to our Chicagoland clients goes beyond the initial partne...
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By Alan May, A moving experience!
(Jameson Sotheby's International Realty)
Now and then we have a client who asks us why buildings (especially those larger buildings) are required to have fire protection sprinkler systems.Well, this is why.  Here we have a 1970's 25-story building, on the south side of Chicago (Harper Square coop building), that is currently (and I mean right now) having a major fire on higher floors.  It appears to be on the 15th - 24th floors.This is a disaster... the fire hoses don't even reach the higher floors.  There are many, many Chicago fire trucks and firefighters present, struggling to get this fire under control.There is no word, yet, as to whether anyone has been hurt, and residents who are not directly affected by the fire, have been asked to shelter in place... so far, the city feels an evacuation order is not necessary..  It's ...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Compelling Real Estate Facts Nationally and in the North Shore There are more than the usual number of articles about the U.S. housing market right now. After two tumultuous years of a seat-of-your-pants ride, everyone has a say on where the market has been and where it's going in 2023.I find this reading engrossing but don't accept my word, have a look:  From the Federal Housing Finance Agency, an interactive chart that shows the top 100 U.S. metro areas and how they ranked in 2022. Eight of the first 10 are in Florida which is not surprising. What is surprising is that many areas that we were told are dying on the vine made the list The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released its list of "10 Housing Markets Expected to Lead the Nation in 2023." Interestingly, Florida does not ...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
There's nothing like a simple chart to show off some amazing statistics. Going from right to left, it's easy to see the remarkable changes in the real estate market since 2019. The numbers on this chart encompass all the data for Winnetka, Wilmette, Glencoe, Kenilworth, and Northfield combined:The upward trajectory of North Shore home prices has been relentless for the past three years. There are changes happening now that will affect these numbers but I believe they will not be daunting. By this, I mean that home prices will remain fairly steady or drop slightly as long as inventory continues to stay low. Many pundits are suggesting a recession or housing downturn will occur in 2023. The Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell has said, "we're passing through a difficult housing correction...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
What Sold in Your North Shore Village in December 2022? WINNETKAClick here to see all Winnetka homes sold in December 2022Homes for sale:  16Private network homes for sale:  9Median price year-to-date:  $1,525,000 Current month's supply of inventory:  1.3See Winnetka homes for saleSee Winnetka condos for saleSee Winnetka townhouses for sale WILMETTEClick here to see all Wilmette homes sold in December 2022Homes for sale:  14Private network homes for sale:  15Median price year-to-date:  $900,000 Current months supply of inventory:  1.1See Wilmette homes for saleSee Wilmette condos for saleSee Wilmette townhouses for sale KENILWORTHClick here to see all Kenilworth homes sold in December 2022Homes for sale:  3Private network homes for sale: 7Median price year-to-date:  $1,958,000 Current m...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Hubbard Woods Winnetka Real Estate in December 2022 SOLD HUBBARD WOODS HOMES IN DECEMBER 1304 Asbury List price: $1,299,999Sold price: $940,000 (sold for land)Days on market: 155 1139 OakleyList price: $1,265,000Sold price: $1,175,000Days on market: 12 1485 ScottList price: $1,199,000Sold price: 1,189,000Days on market: 77 932 EuclidList price: $1,699,000Sold price: $1,825,000Days on market: 1 1189 AsburyList price: $2,125,000Sold price: $2,100,000Days on market: 17  NO NEW HUBBARD WOODS HOMES LISTED IN DECEMBER CURRENT HUBBARDS WOODS MARKETHomes for sale: 6Price range: $1,049,000 to $4,795,000Under contract/pending: 3Condos for sale: 0Year-to-Date median price: $1,620,000Months of inventory: 1.4 months Click to see all Hubbard Woods Homes for Sale  Sign up to get North Shore real estat...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
2022 Year-End Winnetka North Shore Luxury Home Report This year, I'm using $5,000,000 + as the market for luxury homes in the North Shore. I previously used $2,500,000+ but prices have risen too much to include so many homes!Luxury sales also benefitted from the super hot market of the past two years. In 2016, I wrote: "The average market time for these homes to sell in 2016 was 262 days." Incredibly, in 2022, the average market time was 80 days. The range of times went from 5 days to 384 days. If it weren't for the outlier of 384 days, the average days would have been just 47 days. Eight of the homes shown below sold for a discount, one sold for full price, and one home sold for slightly over the list price. Seven homes were located in Winnetka, two in Glencoe, and in Wilmette.  North ...
Comments 1
By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
What Sold in Your North Shore Village in November 2022?Check out the median year-to-date number below where I've indicated where it was in January (in italics.)  Prices have risen considerably over 2022 and while most pundits don't think housing prices will rise, I'm pretty certain that in 2023 they will most likely remain steady.  WINNETKAClick here to see all Winnetka homes sold in November 2022Homes for sale:  23Private network homes for sale:  8Median price year-to-date:  $1,555,000 (was $1,330,000 in January)Current month's supply of inventory:  1.3See Winnetka homes for saleSee Winnetka condos for saleSee Winnetka townhouses for sale WILMETTEClick here to see all Wilmette homes sold in November  2022Homes for sale:  22Private network homes for sale:  6Median price year-to-date:  $...
Comments 1
By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Hubbard Woods Winnetka IL Real EstateNovember 2022There were 3 closed sales and one new listing in November. Of the 3 sold homes, one sold well below the list price, while the other 2 went over the list price. The one new went under contract very quickly. As long as inventory is this low, mortgage rates won't have too much of a damper for certain buyers. There were no new listings entered in the Private Network in November.  SOLD WINNETKA PROPERTIES IN NOVEMBER  260 WoodlawnList price: $1,100,000Sold price: $860,000Days on market: 126(This home sold previously in June 2022 for $945,000 after 7 days on the market) 1225 Pine List price: $1,795,000 Sold price: $1,800,000 Days on market: $1,800,000 110 N. SheridanList price: $1,995,000Sold price: $2,108,000Days on market: 5  NEW HUBBARD WOO...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Glenview, Northbrook, Evanston IL Condo Report 2022 The three villages of Glenview, Northbrook, and Evanston have the largest inventory of condos on the North Shore. Wilmette has a good number but nearly not as many as these three.Many Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, and Glencoe residents have moved to these areas in search of one-level living that is in short supply.The three colored charts below show condo sales from 2019 to year-to-date 2022. There is nothing shocking about these numbers which, I believe, show a steady and robust market. Condo prices have risen particularly in 2020-2021. Also during those two years,  total sales rose. In 2022, sales dipped in Glenview and Evanston but rose in Northbrook. Days on market have significantly come down as well. The condo market in Wilmett...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Hubbard Woods Winnetka Real Estate in October 2022Most of the data below mirrors that of exactly one year ago - October 2021. The big change in home buying is the rising mortgage interest rate which, to date, has not impacted Winnetka and Hubbard Woods sales. The trade-off is the low inventory. Rising rates vs. low inventory and while the market is slightly cooling, clearly, low inventory is keeping prices high.   New Hubbard Woods Listings in October 888 Forest Glen - $1,049,000 1139 Oakley - $1,265,000 (under contract) 1225 Pine - $1,795,000 (under contract) 110 N. Sheridan - $1,995,000 (under contract)   Closed Hubbard Woods Listings in October 1044 Tower RoadList price: $650,000Sold price: $628,000Days on market: 6 1153 AsburyList price: $660,000Sold price: $760,000Days on market: 2...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
What Sold in Your Winnetka North Shore Village October 2022The statistics in this report reflect sales in September 2022. Many of these stats are almost exactly the same as they were in March 2022, when the market was very hot and mortgage rates had not yet risen.There are a few notable changes in some villages from March until September: Winnetka's median price rose by 7%, Wilmette's median price rose by 6%, Kenilworth's by 31% (remember, a small village with fewer statistics), Glencoe's rose by 15%, and Northfield's was unchanged. The months-of-inventory numbers have stayed almost exactly the same, meaning that inventory is still very low. Mortgage rates (for a 30-year conventional fixed-rate) have increased by 87%. March rates were 3.875% vs. 7.25% today. This has not, as yet, impact...
Comments 2
By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Halloween in Winnetka and the North Shore On a particularly mild Chicago afternoon, I grabbed my bike and camera and rode around the North Shore. I snaked by through Kenilworth, Wilmette, Winnetka, and finally Glencoe. I hadn't set out to photograph Halloween decorations, but they were (as always) so fun I had to!North Shore residents take their holiday decorating seriously. Halloween decor starts showing up in the third or fourth week of September. And Christmas/Hannukah decorations are often displayed before Thanksgiving and can stay up for months afterward. So here's my array of the local Halloween scene covering all tastes: scary, sweet, gory, whimsical, and funny. See the whole array of photos at Winnetka & North Shore Halloween Photos While you're here, please see all North Shore ...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Midwest Outpacing the Coasts as Housing Cools Just a few years ago the Midwest lagged behind every real estate market in the country. As home prices rose to astronomical heights elsewhere, we were struggling with long market times and slumping prices.  Now, according to a report:  "Redfin reports Chicago, Albany, and Milwaukee are among the housing markets holding up better than others as the U.S. faces high mortgage rates and an uncertain economy"Nine of the 10 housing markets that are holding up best are located in the Midwest or the East Coast. Redfin also said:"Lake County, IL—located about 45 miles north of Chicago—is holding up better than any other metro in this analysis. It’s followed by Albany, NY, and Chicago. Rounding out the top 10 are New Haven, CT; Milwaukee; New Brunswick...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Hubbard Woods Winnetka Real Estate September 2022It was a quiet September in Hubbard Woods which reflects lower sales in late summer. Just two closing in September and one new listing that is already under contract. There are just 7 homes for sale right now in Hubbard Woods. Three of those are proposed new construction, and one is a teardown home. The remaining 3 have been on the market for a good amount of time. Essentially, there are no homes for buyers in the under $1 million range. NEW HUBBARD WOODS LISTINGS  1044 Tower Rd. (under contract)$650,000  NEW HUBBARD WOODS PRIVATE LISTING 1139 Oakley - $1,265,000  CLOSED HUBBARD WOODS HOMES 1381 AsburyList price: $1,495,000Sold price: $1,330,000Days on market: 42 1134 TaylorsportList price: $6,900,000Sold price: $6,280,000Days on market: ...
Comments 1
By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
 What Sold in Your Winnetka North Shore Village Not much has changed since last month's report. Total sales, homes for sale, median price, and month's supply of inventory have stayed stable.  WINNETKAClick here to see all Winnetka homes sold in September 2022Homes for sale:  26Private network homes for sale:  7Median price year-to-date:  $1,575,000Current month's supply of inventory:  1.3See Winnetka homes for saleSee Winnetka condos for saleSee Winnetka townhouses for sale WILMETTEClick here to see all Wilmette homes sold in September 2022Homes for sale:  41Private network homes for sale:  11Median price year-to-date:  $903,000Current months supply of inventory:  1.4See Wilmette homes for saleSee Wilmette condos for saleSee Wilmette townhouses for sale KENILWORTHClick here to see all K...
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By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
What is the Private Listing Network in Winnetka & the North Shore TWO THINGS HAPPENED IN REAL ESTATEIn 2018, our Northern Illinois Multiple Listing Service (MRED) introduced the “Private Listing Network” (PLN) to real estate agents.  Then, in November 2019, the National Association of Realtors banned the use of “pocket listings.”  The ban has been challenged but stands for now.  WHAT IS A POCKET LISTING?First, what is a pocket listing and why is it problematic? A pocket listing (sometimes called an exempt listing) is an agreement between the home seller and real estate agent (more specifically, the brokerage) that the house will not be listed on the  Multiple Listing Service (MLS,) but rather sold behind the scenes. There are multiple reasons sellers might not want their homes publicly ...
Comments 9
By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
See What Sold in Your North Shore Village in August 2022Inventory came down some more in August in Winnetka, Wilmette, and Glencoe, but stayed stable in Kenilworth and Northfield. Homes that sold in August did not have as many homes selling "over list price" but they were very close. Some of the stats don't always make a lot of sense. The market was on fire in 2021, yet homes are going under contract much faster this August than in August of 2021. The lack of inventory is clearly still having an effect on the market. As an example, 29 homes are currently for sale at this time in Winnetka. Last August, there were 49 and that was considered low. Wilmette currently has 34 homes for sale, and last year it was double with 69 homes for sale. WINNETKASee all Winnetka homes and condos that sold...
Comments 2
By Margaret Goss, Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate
(@Properties)
Hubbard Woods Winnetka Real Estate in August 2022Hubbard Woods had just 2 new listings in August, which is 2 less than July. Five homes closed compared to 12 in July. And the median price of homes rose from $1.5M in June to $1.515M in July, to $1,660M in August.   HUBBARD WOODS 2 NEW LISTINGS - AUGUST 1485 Scott - $1,199,000 (under contract) 921 Fisher - $2,999,000   HUBBARD WOODS 2 NEW PRIVATE LISTINGS - AUGUST  1153 Asbury - $660,000 (under contract) 814 Boal Pkwy.$3,150,000   HUBBARD WOODS 5 SOLD HOMES - AUGUST 1330 AsburyList price: $1,625,000Sold price: $1,700,000Days on market: 4 838 LocustList price: $1,595,000Sold price: $1,765,000Days on market: 6 681 WaldenList price: $1,899,000Sold price: $1,800,000Days on market: 20 940 Private LnList price: $4,250,000Sold price: $3,900,000 ...
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