Sorry Rex..... Nothing personal...but we need a change... and hopefully there will be something to be celebrating tomorrow."Gries"ing the Gridiron against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Michigan, will be the Chicago Bears in a fight to get on track and get the season going.  Sure we have some players out with injuries, but I look to Brian Griese to revitalize and motivate the rest of the players who are going to have to step up.  It will be hard for Rex to look on from the sidelines, but surely it has been difficult for Brian and Kyle as well. Best wishes to the Chicago Bears and get "Bearing Down"!!  CLICK HERE FOR MY WEBSITE  09/29/2007

Illinois is blessed to have a more stable market than most other areas of the country.  Although many areas of the country are seeing price declines, Illinois is experiencing longer market times but it is not seeing substantial price declines in any of the market areas.  Some areas continue to see strong sales and some weaker sales.  Many agents are still doing quite well. View Chicago Condos For Sale The latest figures from the Illinois Association of Realtors is that the median sale price for homes and condos INCREASED 1.2% over last year.  The properties that are presented well and priced "appropriately for this market" continue to sell.  The number of sales is 17.9% lower than last year (14,349 in August 2007 vs 17,467 in August 2006).  The total number of sales during the first 8 m... 09/27/2007

The City of Chicago has designated the commercial block along the east side of Western Ave., between Lawrence Ave. and Ainslie St. as a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District.  This means that the area is now under the active control of the Alderman (Gene Schulter, 47th Ward) who can facilitate the transfer of this privately owned property to other individuals (developers) who would build new buildings on the site.  This is similar to the condemnation of property which results in the forced sale of privately owned land for use by the government.  In this case the land sale can be forced onto the owners and then the land can be used by other non-government entities. View Lincoln Square Condos For Sale I happen to live on the street that ends in the middle of this block.  When I heard about... 09/26/2007

While awaiting my turn in the checkout line (for the fifth time in as many days) at the Home Depot last Sunday it occurred to me that my wife and I alone probably spend as much money in a single weekend as my parents spent in an entire month raising a family of five. Even after backing out the present day cost of housing which borders on ridiculous, and adjusting the 1967 dollar to the 2007 equivilant, our lack of frugality is pretty close to shameful. We are 'consumers extraordinaire,' us Petros. 'Recycling' in this household means riding a bicycle we paid $900 for, more than once.My mother used to run the house on around $100 of my father's monthly paycheck so it was Wheaties and whole milk on the 2nd and rolled oats and powdered milk by the 30th. Somewhere around the 15th, the 'milk'... 09/25/2007

On a scale of 1 - 10 I would say 7 maybe 8. Is it worth trying, YES. According to the 19th annual Cost vs Value Report a Chicago bathroom remodel should recoup around $9700. If you did it yourself it would cost about $2500-3000, potential profit $6000+ and not to mention possibly a much quicker sale. (not a bad thing for the buyer's market we are currently experiencing). You might say, "easy for you to say" cause I've got 15 years experience in remodeling bathrooms but, In my years of remodeling I've trained more than a handful of guys and found that with a few skills learned you can undertake a remodel in short order. How?......Gut your bath (demo only what you're going to replace, for instance, if you have tile only in the shower don't  remove the drywall in the rest of the bathroom).... 09/20/2007

There are 12 neighborhood associations in the Lakeview Area. They have joined together under the umbrella organization known as The Lake View Citizens' Council. The 12 neighborhood associations include:  Belmont Harbor Neighbors  Central Lake View Neighbors  East Lake View Neighbors  Hamlin Park Neighbors  Hawthorne Neighbors  Sheil Park Neighbors  South East Lake View Neighbors  South Lakeview Neighbors  Southport Neighbors Association  Triangle Neighbors  West DePaul Neighborhood Association  West Lakeview Association. 09/17/2007

The area has many high rise buildings along the lake front – both condos and apartments. There are also many 2, 3, and 4 flats that are condos or rentals as well as many single family homes. The buildings are mostly brick but there are many greystones and some frame construction (these are mostly single family homes). There are a number of newer buildings as some of the older housing stock is replaced with new condo buildings. The price range for property in the area varies but tends to be higher than most other areas of the city because of the large number of amenities available to residents. The median price for condos sold between June, 2007 and September, 2007 was $325,000. The median price for single family homes sold between March and September 2007 was $1,060,000. The price range... 09/17/2007

Prior to European settlement of this area it was used by native people. The first white settler to arrive and live in the area (around 1837) was Conrad Sulzer of Zurich, Switzerland (who lived in the area now known as Lincoln Square). He was followed by Elisha Hundley and James Rees who built a hotel at the corner of present-day Byron St. and Lake Shore Drive (in Lakeview). The Lake View House Hotel ultimately named the neighborhood. Farmers from Sweden, Luxembourg and Germany began to grow celery (that was a popular crop in Lincoln Square and Edgewater also). This led to increased immigration to the area. When a cholera epidemic hit Chicago, many people from the “city” wanted to escape to the “countryside” and they moved up to Lakeview. The Lake View Hotel became a refuge for many peop... 09/17/2007

Chicago Buyer Rebate - I Share My Commission With You (Chicago & North, Northwest, Western Suburbs) Providing Full Service Buyer Representation and Buyer Commission Rebate, at closing. Search Northern Illinois MLS Listings or let me search for you: Info: www.sellwithme123.com   or call direct 773-987-8224Home buyer rebate, house buyer agent, buyer realtor, buyer discount, buying a home, buy a house, buyer agency, buyer real estate brokerage, find buyer rebate real estate agents, search illinois discount mls options for buyers and sellers, investment property buyer's broker, condo buyer, buyer realty, house buyer refund, purchase Chicago real estate, search Illinois property listings, find homes for sale, MLS buyer rebate, buyer commission cash back refund, relocation service, moving to ... 09/15/2007

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America today. Being a victim can have a huge impact on you now and potentially well into the future. One of the frightening aspects of identity fraud is that it's most often perpetrated by a faceless enemy, and the struggle is fought on many different fronts: online, over the phone and even in the dumpster. However, if you can remember some simple advice and employ some easy tactics, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim.Picture this: You're sitting at the kitchen table, pouring over your budget and bills, when you open your credit card bill to discover a $1200 charge you're certain you never authorized. Someone's taken your name and used it for their own purposes. You've been a victim of a growing crime and y... 09/15/2007

I live in Wicker Park (Chicago, IL) and absolutely love it.  The mix of people here is terrific- from artists to professionals to families.  Overall, the neighborhood has a great vibe.  I found this video DreamTown Realty put together for the neighborhood and wanted to share it.  Enjoy!  If you have any questions at all about the neighborhood, please let me know and I will be happy to discuss them with you.http://search.realtyproducer.com/neighborhoodVideo.do?m=get&vid=0011 Also, check out the Wicker Park / Bucktown Chamber of Commerce website at http://www.wickerparkbucktown.com/.  And lastly, check out http://www.wickerpark.com.     09/13/2007

A Real Estate contract is generally not enforceable in the great state of Illinois unless it is a) Written, b) 'Signed-off ' on by competent parties (Acceptance), and c) Some form of Consideration ($$$) is placed in an escrow account to show 'Good Faith' on the Buyer's part. Think of it as the Holy Trinity of the home buying experience.It's the 'Good Faith' part of the experience I wish to address here. The truth is, most of the negotiation process in this Northside Chicago market takes place verbally. Once a written Offer is submitted to the Seller's side of the deal, the details usually get hammered out by the respective Realtors involved via cell phone, text messages and email. Sometimes we are The Negotiators, other times, mere Messengers. Either way, there are at least four channel... 09/07/2007

Everyone has a friend or relative who has made a killing in real estate because they bought in the next hot neighborhood back when it wasn't even lukewarm.  We call these prophetic buyers urban pioneers, and they're something of a tradition in the Windy City.Maybe that's because Chicago's neighborhoods are almost always evolving.  In fact, you don't have to dig too deep to discover that Lincoln Park was once a working class neighborhood, the South Loop was once a giant parking lot and Hyde Park was once a suburb!For many Chicagoans, pioneering is a conscious choice.  Some people are just more comfortable living on the edge.  For others, pioneering is a necessity.  They get priced out of more developed areas, so they go one more stop on the line and wind up looking like a genius.There ar... 09/04/2007

With many lenders tightening guidelines and the pool of possible buyers shrinking, consider utilizing the City Mortgage Program to cover closing costs and/or down payment.  This program is helping many buyers become homeowners today by offering a 4% gift for down payment and/or closing costs, as well as a very low fixed rate mortgage with the option to put $0 down.What is a City Mortgage Program? The City of Chicago has enforced a program that gives borrowers a huge step up by giving low income as well as middle income Chicago home buyers a 30-year mortgage at a fixed-rate and at bargain interest rates with up-front grants to help pay for the house's down payment and its closing costs, all of these amounting to 4%. Along with this 4% gift from the City of Chicago, there are other benefi... 09/02/2007

As result of the changes that have been occurring in the mortgage industry over the past several months, many homeowners are finding it hard to keep up with their home loan payments. Delinquency and foreclosures are widespread, creating a situation that affects both the consumer and the lender.We know many people are struggling to pay their mortgages these days, and so do the banks. Lenders, like borrowers, also feel the impact of current conditions with tarnished reputations and loss of money. They are happy to do what they can to help solve the problem. Your lender will do anything to help you avoid a foreclosure. Believe it. As in any other relationship, when two sides make an effort to work together, the likelihood of everyone benefiting rises significantly. They key word in this pr... 08/29/2007

New construction purchases have a different set of playing rules than that of resale.  Here is what buyers can expect will happen and how to better prepare themselves for any potential pitfalls when buying a new construction condo.1.   Use an agent.  I know that sounds self-serving but here is the reality, those friendly people at the sales center are there to do one thing, and one thing only, make the developer money.  They are there to protect his interests, not yours. Not to mention, most developer contracts are structured for the developer, not mutually agreeable parties.  I have seen some that make War and Peace look like an easy read!2.   If you are wise enough to protect your interests and use an agent, don't go to any open houses or sales centers without them.  As tempting as th... 08/23/2007

Fact SheetSince 1989, the Department of Housing has helped:Create or preserve more than 57,000 affordable rental units.Promote and support homeownership for more than 15,700 households.Preserve or improve the homes of more than 34,000 homeowners.Creating and Preserving Affordable Rental HousingSince 1989, DOH has helped to create or preserve over 10,000 SRO uinits, three out of every four SRO units in the city.Since 1989, DOH has helped to create or preserve over 5,600 units for seniors.Annually, DOH supports more than 2,000 very low-income rental units through the Chicago Low Income Housing Trust Fund.  In 2007, with funding generated by a statewide $10 recording fee for mortgage documents, the number of households served by the Trust Fund will double to more than $4,000.Since 2003, mo... 08/22/2007

Former Illinois Association of Realtors President, Robert Zoretich addressed the pending proposal by legislation to fund the Chicago Transit Authority's pension fund in the Chicago Tribune.  Their plan, to increase the property transfer tax on all real estate transactions.  What does this mean?  It means homebuyers and sellers are about to get raped.  For those unaware, the real estate transfer tax is a non-negotiable, large portion of closing costs that burdens buyers and sellers.  Currently, taxes to the city, county and state equal $9 for every $1,000 in value of the property.  Legislation wants to raise it to $11 per $1,000.  I can tell you this, most sellers, and especially buyers, are speechless when reviewing the closing statement and they see that transfer tax (it's divided betw... 08/21/2007

Some of our southern communities in Chicago have remained forgotten relics of the past.  Bronzeville, was one of them.  Until now.  Bronzeville's history may have lacked glamour, but it certainly did not lack culture.  "It's name came from James J. Gentry, a theatre editor for Anthony Overton, the Cosmetic King and publisher of the Chicago Bee, who suggested using the coined word "Bronzeville" to identify the community since it more accurately described the skin tone of most of its inhabitants", according to the Encyclopedia of Chicago.  Not exactly the kind legacy one would expect.  But despite its title, Bronzeville was home to some of the most significant African American contributors of our wonderful city.  Black intellectuals, politicians, sports figures, artists, and writers calle... 08/21/2007

There is much to celebrate with extension of House Bill 664.  This bill was put into place a few years ago to come to aid the soaring property values with the surge of New Construction and city improvements to many neighborhoods in Chicago.  Many people who have lived years in their homes where finding out that even thought their homes tripled or more in unrealized value, so did their property taxes.  As you can imagine, this was forcing a lot of long time residents to either sell their homes (many living on modest incomes) or fight back.Hence, the 664 bill was enacted.  This bill put into place a 7% cap that prevented home values to dicated new tax amounts past that.  This of course isn't a end to tax increases, but it did allow residents time to adjust.  Unfortuately, this was tempora... 08/21/2007