Yesterday both Chicago and Manhattan successfully held their respective Stage It Forward (SIF) ROUNDTABLE discussions.Earlier today I spoke with Val Allocco who was the facilitator for in Manhattan. Val said that their group had about 15 attendees at the luncheon sponsored by American Furniture Rental. (THANK YOU AFR) Val will share her own sparkling account of the 3 hour Round Tabletable discussion they had here: TRI-STATE ROUND TABLE MEETUP - NOV. 16TH, 2007  I guess the fact that Manhattan is read for their NEXT round table... tells us that SIF is on to something here. On to the Chicago RoundTable...IT ROCKED! In Chicago the event was graciously hosted by Brook Furniture with a wonderful lunch (and of course bottles of water.)  Due to space limitations we had to limit our group to 20... 11/17/2007

About 2 weeks ago a client of mine, a first time home buyer, closed on his new home.  My client is a young single Chicago Police officer.  I couldn't believe he was old enough to be purchasing a home, let alone a Chicago cop!  I think the older I get the younger these young men and woman look.  This young man has protected different areas of the city of Chicago for the last several years, and has my respect.Anyway....This client was a referral from a past client, and was already working with a Realtor and found a home.  The seller is an older woman with medical issues and financial difficulties and unfortunately had to sell her home.  She has not had the finances to keep the property in good shape and it was in need of some work and TLC.  My buyer knew the listing price was a good price... 11/12/2007

manage my homeThat is the title of one of the newer sites out there worth checking out.It is actually sponsored by Sears.I found out about it in Friday's Chicago Tribune.It has a place where you can sign up for home maintenance tips and a monthly news letter.There are some great sections on the site such as one where you can Q&A with technicians They also have another section with illustrations and info on systems and components .The site even has a search bar where you can enter model and serial numbers of appliances to get a manual.So if you get a chance be sure to save the link and check it out.    11/11/2007

Foreclosure, preforeclosures, REO, Auctions, Flips, and Real Estate Invetment in Chicago, Illinois For the best FREE list of available foreclosures in Chicago visit http://www.IllinoisReoGroup.com  11/11/2007

 Ding Dong (the doorbell)...And immediately all hell breaks loose in the house. My 125 pound hound starts baying, and woofing, and snorting. toenails clicking and sliding sideways on the hardwood floors while his too short legs lose traction, and he barrels head down, straight ahead--like the slowest guard on the football team-toward the front door to protect us from the FedEx guy."Dude," I say, grasping his choker collar with one hand and wiping the slobber from his jowels with the side of my jeans. "Act that way when they don't ring the doorbell." Like when they come through the basement window I want to say, but there is no need to expound. He's just a hound with a three or four track mind.He's a big guy and needs fed a lot. When I cut back on his portions, eliminate the table scraps... 11/08/2007

A few days ago I decided to take a shower upon waking up as per normal routine when I noticed my feet were splashing around in a puddle.I did not think to much of it till it seemed to actualy be getting to the edge of where the shower door strip is located ,which did not take longNot only do I like to take long showers , which last untill the hot water is gone from my 40 gallon hot water tank,but the shower stall floor is only a couple of inches deep , and was built in that way buy a previous ownerwho actualy went to the trouble of forming the shower stall floor with cement and an epoxy based coating.This is great since if you ever had or took a shower in a typical cheap stand up shower stall that they often sell at a DIY center such as Home Depot , Lowes , or  Menards you would notice ... 11/08/2007

Key Boxes, Key Smoxes.  How to select your RealtorBy Brian Ortiz, Realtor, Chicago ILChicago Real EstateHere in the city of Chicago, in the city area, I would estimate at least 85% of all the Realtors personally show up to their listings to personally show the home.  These are the agents you should want to hire!!!!  If you find a Realtor who shows their listings by themselves, be certain that's an agent you select to sell your home.  In the majority of cities across the nation, most Realtors utilize Key Box devices, and are actually not present during their showings.  I think this does not benefit sellers, and this approach hinders the potential of selling a client's home.  When I PERSONALLY show one of my listings, I know the home very well.  How terrible is it when you see a home and ... 11/07/2007

WHO DO YOU NEED?I got a guy...HousekeeperHVACHanicap DevicesUpholsterContractorPainterFire Place RepairArtistTile SetterElectricanMoversPastry ChefCarpetingArchitectMortgagePlumberStone RepairRefinanceFloristInterior DesignInsuranceWho we'd miss?Call today and we'll give you a great referral! 312.893.8197   11/06/2007

A few things about River NorthDid you know?  The police station is just blocks away on Larrabee at Division streets. Starbucks is next to the brown line and Caribou is next to the park. The Montgomery has 220 units over 28 floors, of which, 85 are valued in excess of $1 million, and that million dollar plus residences begin on floor six. The superior side lofts at River North Commons have 15' timber ceilings and the entire complex was once the Stiffel lamp factory. One River Place (758 Larrabee) concrete lofts have 20' ceilings on floors 2-5 and originally the building was created for a Montgomery Ward store when Kingsbury street operated with a street car trolley. A water taxi stop has been planned, at the top, of Erie Street in the park. The Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago hosts... 11/06/2007

People are always asking me to explain why my neighborhood is consistently touted as one of the hottest areas. As both a 6 year resident and top-selling real estate broker in River North here's my answer:1. Transportation AccessSituated next to the Ohio feeder ramp gives entry point to access all expressways in Chicago Walking distant to the L; brown (Chicago & Franklin), red (State & Chicago), and blue (Chicago & Milwaukee)Bordered by two major bus routes- Chicago Avenue and Grand Avenue 2. DowntownWithin 12 blocks of Michigan Avenue; the heart of the shopping or of financial district -The Loop. 3. Green Space and Dog FriendlyA four acre park, with endless activities, and river walk promenade located at the corner of Erie and Kingsbury. Two neighborhood dog parks, one off Kingsbury, se... 11/06/2007

In addition to the Lofts at Lakeview Collection, I am also selling the homes at Bradley Place 2, www.bradley2.com.  24-single family homes all located on a boulevard setting.  These homes are located on over-sized Chicago lots, 31x127 - 4,622 sq.ft. 5 bedrooms, 3-car garage, private yards and located in the BELL SCHOOL district.  If you would like to set an appointment to view the home, please send me an email.      11/04/2007

I am currently working on the Lofts at Lakeview Collection, www.lakeviewcollectionlofts.com.  A hip, urban new loft development in the Lakeview Neighborhood.  The unique finishes and design is what makes this loft development stand out in the city. Full sales center and model open for viewing Monday-Wednesday from 10-6pm and Saturday- Sunday from 11-5pm. By appointment anytime. Please call: 773-296-0400. To learn more about Carrie McCormick, please visit www.carriemccormick.com     11/03/2007

The title of this post should really go without saying, but being in the business, I have the opportunity to directly see consumers reacting to the "downfall" of the real estate market as it is portrayed by most of our nation's media. As the media reports this terrible market information to the consumers, they often leave out some very important facts that consumers really should be aware of to make educated decisions. Many consumers only hear about "the market" as a whole and never even take into consideration that when it comes down to buying or selling, the only "market" that matters is the one in which you are either looking to buy or sell your home. I recently read an article published in Crain's Business Magazine saying that "existing home sales in Chicago are down this year 27% i... 10/25/2007

Lightning In A BottleActually, a bunch of big fat liars. I'll include myself in the group for this exercise (as an embedded observer, of course) although I can state here comfortably--eyeball to eyeball, without flinching and safely nested behind the double locked doors of my home office library--that my truthfulness in business dealings consistently falls within the soupy gray boundries of acceptable sales chatter. In other words, I try not to exaggerate or overblow my Real Estate accomplishments when things fall nicely into my lap nor do I whine and moan (or shriek like a little girl...anymore) at the first sign of a market correction or the foreshadow of a lenghty Listing stint.The truth is, the Listing Agent who has the signed Exclusive Agreement when the actual Buyer walks through ... 10/24/2007

 The table below lists all of the currently active single family detached and single family attached homes in Chicao's Near North Side (River North), IL. The information is broken into price ranges with average time on market for that range. Included are the high, low, median and average prices. For detailed information on a property type within a price range, including virtual tour when available, contact me with physical characteristic requirements. Active ListingsList Price Range# ListingsAvg. Days on MktLess than $149,999753$150,000 - $199,99939109$200,000 - $249,999126119$250,000 - $299,999197143$300,000 - $349,999159141$350,000 - $399,999161165$400,000 - $449,999147146$450,000 - $499,999136151$500,000 - $549,999101161$550,000 - $599,999142161$600,000 - $699,999104157$700,000 - $79... 10/22/2007

Here is a link to my website: http://www.gilbertlending.com 10/22/2007

...but the Sears Tower instead, where would he buy?                                 Well, after qualifying him "of course" and listening to his needs and concerns I would definitely start with the Wrigleyville area. I don't know maybe it's cause his suit and Cubs colors match. Considering Spidey's lifestyle and affordability at $179,900 this 1 bedroom condo would be a great option.Goto ILbankhomes to search for condos Your friendly neighborhood Spiderman living near the "friendly confines" has a ring to it.                                                                              Attention! Attention! Read all about it! "Spiderman man hires none other than Goran Utvic of Chicagoland Brokers Inc to represent him in the ever important quest of finding a home in Chicago"!Stay tuned for ... 10/19/2007

Absolutely free real estate reports and information for buyers and sellers in the Chicago real estate market. Find a Chicago real estate agent, find homes for sale in your area, search for homes, do a home value search to find out the value of your real estate and look for new homes in your area. Go to:   http://www.ChicagoRealEstateExpert.net   Get free buyer and seller resources to help you get started with your home search or to find a Realtor to list your home. Go there today and sign up for a free real estate newsletter that will provide you with information on the Chicago real estate market.   http://www.ChicagoRealEstateExpert.net   You’ve got nothing to lose, and everything to gain!   If you'd like personalized information put together for you in your specific market, please se... 10/11/2007

Fear KnockedWe've all heard tell of certain California and Nevada housing markets in recent years where simply offering 'List Price' on a property didn't cut it on the real estate trading floor. Demand had a strangle hold on Supply and only the earliest of pre-approved birds brought home the juciest worms to the nest. Even the economically horizontal section of the United States where I reside and conduct business enjoyed it's own vertical spike in new construction housing starts with six and seven figure price tags to go with it. The appetite for real estate--condominiums in particular--seemed insatiable and looking back I'm not quite sure if it was greed, gluttony, or some other deadly sin feeding the emotional frenzy. The market was big and it was fast and the word on the street was.... 10/08/2007

It's important to make sure your closing goes smoothly. Many people are involved in the transaction of your home purchase.They might include.Home inspectorPest and dry rot inspectorAppraiserHandymanTitle officerInsurance agentMortgage brokerLoan processorRealtorAttorneySellerIt might not include all of these people but, nonetheless you can see that many are involved in the transaction. So here is a punch list to keep the process moving when you are buying a home. Once you have an accepted offer get a copy to your attorney. It's best to schedule a home inspection right of the bat. Your contract should allow 5 business days for inspection and attorney review.You might think an inspection is a waste of money but think of it as an added insurance policy. Even if you think that there is noth... 10/01/2007