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Champaign, IL Real Estate News

By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
The summer is the perfect time to get started on those home DIY projects that you have been putting off for way to long! While you may think that a “weekend warrior” project that involves a team of friends and countless number of labor hours and budget dollars are necessary, think again. Some of the best DIY projects are ones you can do in a weekend and you can see the results in a few days, rather than weeks. From painting an accent wall in your favorite room to simple landscaping in your outdoor garden, look to the projects to try this upcoming weekend. For the full article visit: http://champaignrealestatesales.com/easy-summer-home-weekend-diy-projects/ DIY weekend ideas – change lighting fixtures Image via: Merigo Design
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
Kitchen cabinets are the most expensive part of a kitchen and often times are forgotten when choosing to update your kitchen. Kitchen cabinets are also the focal point for color and material style that your eye first sees when entering your kitchen. From custom varieties to cabinets that come right out of a box – there is a perfect style for every kitchen renovation project. Before you decide on what flooring and countertops you want, look at these tips for choosing the right cabinetry first. To see the full article visit: http://champaignrealestatesales.com/renovating-your-kitchen-with-the-right-kitchen-cabinet-style/ What type of cabinet suits your kitchen the best? Image via: Sub-Zero – Wolf
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
Perk up your front entry with decorative touches to add emphasis to your home. These simple curb appeal tips will help your outdoor home feel & look welcoming. See the full article here: http://champaignrealestatesales.com/perking-up-your-front-entry-with-decorative-touches/
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
  You’ve hear the phrase that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. You might even think of how that could apply to real estate – maybe that run-down distressed property can be rehabbed into a dream home. Built by Arthur Harold Beal, aka Captain Nitt Wit or Der Tinkerpaw, the 90-year-old two-and-a-half acre home on the outskirts of Cambria, California. Beal, a local trash hauler, embarked on the project in 1928. A hoarder decades before obsessive collecting hit the reality TV circuit, the rubbish lover saved everything he could get his hands on. Over the course of nearly a lifetime, he taught himself basic construction skills, and, using trash, built and intricate network of terrace gardens, ornamental stone arches, buildings, fountains and walkways. Read more about this unique pi...
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
But both buyers and sellers are often pleasantly surprised at the other resources, strategic counsel and expertise their agents ultimately provide. In a recent article from Trulia, Six Unexpected Advantages of Having the Right Agent, lists some of the biggest benefits that catch them off-guard. Let me know what you think! * * * Sign up to be a Market Insider... only takes a few minutes. Get FREE access to valuable market data right here. CU Realty Group, LLC | Keller Williams Realty | 821 South Neil Street | Champaign | IL | 61821  
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
CU REALTY GROUP, LLC is currently adding extremely energetic Buying and Selling Agents to serve in Central and Southern Illinois. As a Top Producing Commercial and Residential Real Estate Brokerage Team, CU REALTY GROUP, LLC is currently adding extremely energetic Buying and Selling Agents to serve the following areas: Central Illinois: Champaign-Urbana, Savoy, Tolono, Pesotum, Philo, Monticello, Rantoul, Mahomet, Farmer City, Danville, and Paxton Southern Illinois: Mt. Vernon, McLeansboro, Dahlgen, Opdyke, BelleRive, Macedonia, Benton, Broughton, Eldorado, Harrisburg, Wayne City, Carmi, Dale, Salem, Centralia, Nashville, Benton, Pinkneyville, Vandalia, Mattoon, Charleston, Arcola, and Effingham Qualifications: • Extensive list of contacts or leads • Ability to generate client leads, se...
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
Our world is filled with suggestions on how to get things done more efficiently, inexpensively, quickly, etc. But often, no matter how well-meaning or sound the advice is, it’s delivered in a manner that’s, well, less-than-productive. So what’s the alternative? Most of us can follow simple recipes, right? Here’s lesson in productivity from LifeHacker that makes it as easy as following a recipe. * * * If you are looking for an competent and experienced Realtor who has a good understanding of the local marketplace. Someone who knows how to effectively negotiate on your behalf – so that you get a GOOD DEAL on the home you want WITHOUT getting ripped-off, contact me today, I am happy to help!
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
  Check out this video. .. Full of lots of great facts about CU area you may not have known! Did You know CU Realty Group is on your favorite social media platform? Check us out on: facebook | twitter Considering a career in Real Estate? Check out this link for more info on partnering with Keller Williams!
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
The online survey was conducted in early September among 2,570 U.S. adults age 18 and over and 13 percent said that if they were considering purchasing a home, they would delay their purchase until after the election because of the uncertainty it creates. Another 12 percent said they would take the election into consideration, and it might cause them to delay buying a home. “It’s understandable that a considerable number of people say the upcoming election would give them pause for thought,” says Rick Allen, chief operating officer of Mortgage Marvel. “There has been speculation that tax policies could change depending upon who wins. Some have even indicated that the longstanding deduction for mortgage interest could be eliminated. It appears that mortgage interest rates will remain low...
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS — After years of sluggishness, real estate is finally starting to contribute to the overall economic recovery. The National Association of Realtors recently reported that sales of existing homes in the United States rose 7.8 percent from July to August. The national median sales price has increased six straight months, according to the NAR, and the closely-watched S&P/Case Shiller home price index of the country’s 20 largest metropolitan areas has advanced for three straight months. Housing starts and building permit applications are also up significantly. Although home values seem to be slowly but steadily rising, homes are still affordable. With interest rates on home loans at rock-bottom lows, affordability also exists somewhat independent of home prices in terms ...
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
The big news in tech right now is that the iPhone 5 is here. Sounds great and all – bigger, better – but what the heck do you do with your iPhone 4s? Well, this follow a link to this post explains how you could get up to $400 for it. follow me on twitter for more quick tips. @JoshGidcumb
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
 CHAMPAIGN COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® RESIDENTIAL SALES as of AUGUST 2012 Information gathered from Home Sold Report within InnoVia   Single Family Residential: Includes Condo, Coop, House & Zero Lot; does not include 2-4 or Multi-Family   Sales activity (units sold and closed)   312         This month            292         Last month 239         This month last year   1631       Year to date last year 1890       Year to date   Sales volume (in dollars)   $49,172,885         This month            $43,380,526         Last month            $35,740,190         This month last year   $224,526,237       Year to date last year $287,001,559       Year to date   Average selling price   $157,605               This month $148,563               Last month $149,541               This month la...
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By Shannon Lewis, Realtor, Broker - Champaign-Urbana, IL
(Beringer Realty)
Champaign IL Named in Top Ten College Towns of 2012 Recently Champaign Illinois came in at #4 in a list of top ten college towns of 2012 published by Livability.com. Not bad, eh? :-) The town boasts being home to both the University of Illinois, which stretches across the neighboring cities of Champaign and Urbana, and Parkland College, located in west Champaign. So what makes Champaign, IL such a great college town? Reasons cited include the inarguably fantastic public transportation system, a ton of things to do year-round from events at the University of Illinois' Krannert Center to live music from local groups at bars downtown, and the low cost of living which, according to the article, is about 7% less than the national average. Regardless of whether you're affiliated with one of ...
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
I love home imporvement projects but speaking as a Realtor, listing your home for sale, one of the things that is very vital is the appraisal. Yet, this is an area that can be significantly positively or negatively influenced by what you do or don’t do to your home before it is appraised. #3 Unkept Exterior/Interior Having a messy home from the outside in, not only can cause potential buyers to turn away from your home but it can also cause an appraiser to shave a little off your appraisal. If the exterior has lots of overgrown and unkept bushes and the house is dilapidated, this could cause the appraiser to take “as much as 3 percent off”, according to CNNMoney. Curb appeal doesn’t just help entice buyers to come in and see more of your home; it can actually increase your appraisal val...
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
August 2012   Market Update The national housing market continues to recover, indicated by a balanced supply of inventory and increasing home prices across the country. NAR President Moe Veissi states, “The very favorable market conditions are helping to unleash a pent-up demand, which is why housing supplies have tightened and are supporting growth in home prices.” However, rising demand has led to tight supplies of affordable homes for first-time home buyers, who now only represent 32% of purchasers. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun claims “a healthy market share of first-time buyers would be about 40%, so these figures show that tight inventory in the lower price ranges, along with unnecessarily tight credit standards, are holding back entry-level activity.” Regardless, with the mark...
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
Big News: JD Powers has recently released the results of their 2012 home buyer and seller surveys.  Guess what?!  Keller Williams is #1 in Seller Satisfaction AND #1 in Buyer Satisfaction!!!    
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
It’s been a great week in Real Estate! The Charming 3.5 Acre property in McLeansboro is Under Contact and they Buyers and Sellers couldn’t be happier. I captured this photo yesterday in SW Champaign of an amazing rainbow. What a great way to end the week! Click Here for Weekend Forecast and searchable list of Upcoming Events!
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By Josh Gidcumb, Real Estate - 217-202-0571, Champaign, IL
(Keller Williams Realty)
OK, this isn’t really a “read,” per se, but the video is worth watching.   It’s an ad run by Nike and the kid in this video — 12-year-old Nathan from London, Ohio — proves one thing, according to Nike: “Greatness is not beyond his reach, nor is it for any of us. and it’s pretty inspiring if you ask me.
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