Eric's Chicago Real Estate Local

The great thing about Chicago real estate is the variety of housing stock.  Highrise, bungalow, condo, mid-rise, multi-units.  Depending on the tide, you can spread your purchase dollars around.The Chicago Tribune Real Estate section ran a story about buying multi-unit buildings for investment. T...

In my day to day business habits, I come across many real estate consumers.  I directly contact those who register on our Chicago Home Estates brokerage web site.  Many walk right up to me at an open house.  Several mention they are looking when the conversation turns to real estate at a cocktail...

  For anyone who looks at a Realtor as soft... who looks at the the career of a Realtor as a cush job... here is a little insight. Each weekend I tell myself to prepare so to avoid the following scenario.  I use to be in great shape before this career!  I'm back in the gym, but the diet and eatin...

Everyone knows that they want a condo... and mostly what kind of place they want. They don't always know what kind of money gets what and how to get into the condo once they find it. That's my career description (that part about knowing... not the part about not knowing).Once we have the where, w...

With many clients jumping on deals this early spring (including myself), one notices certain similarities amongst clients... They don't know how to take that first "step". What do we do once you've found a place? Before my wife and I bought our first home in Albany Park, just west of Ravenswood M...

Recently, an Internet client of mine asked a great question. To paraphrase, she was wondering why a listing indicated no parking, but then showed 1 or 2 in the parking space by-line on the listing. Why does it say no parking, but then list a space?Many listing agents will do this to indicate ther...

401(k), 403(b), stocks, you and me: Financing your mortgage Todays Tribune real estate section featured a great article about using securities accounts, 401(k)s and 403(b)s as financing options for home purchases. For instance, one can use these accounts as an equity line with various payback req...

Albany Park... Not so Hot Crain's featured a short little story about neighborhoods that haven't "popped" and heated up as thought. Albany Park was on that short list which is a little upsetting... guess where I live people. Anywho, I really hate those hit and run articles... so let's add a littl...

Mortgage 101: Preferred lenders and builder's incentives We've seen it a million times (and when I say WE, I mean me). Maybe you have seen it. A builder of a new home subdivision, condo building, or new condo conversion offers incentives somehow based on the preferred lender. "If you use our in-h...

Find a bar, restaurant, theatre... bar! Interactive map I was perusing the Chicago blog scene and came across this interactive map at the Chicagoist site. The map allows you to select an "L" stop for a drop down list of amenities. Really cool. I'd be wary of the updating, but gives you a great se...