05/14/2012

Every spring one of my favorite things to do as a Realtor is to participate in the Illinois Association of Realtors Capitol Conference held at the State Capitol in Springfield.  A year and a half ago I was honored to be asked to be the key contact for the Republican Minority Leader Christine Radogno.  Whenever a pressing issue hits the senate floor, IAR asks key contacts around the state to speak with their legislators and help them understand the pros and cons of the legislation that they are about to vote on and how it affects real estate professionals and property owners alike.Here is a an updated list of what bills the IAR are monitoring and where they stand.  When you’re done reading the happenings here in Illinois find out what is going on in your state and make a donation to RPA... 04/22/2012

The table below lists all of the single family detached and single family attached homes currently on the market in Hinsdale, IL The data lists available homes by price range with average time on market in each range.   Included in this list are many Foreclosures and Short Sale properties. Contact us for information on how we may assist you in seeing these properties.   Should you have an interest in homes in a selected price range, send me your physical characteristics. Active Listings List Price Range # Listings Avg. Days on Mkt $100,000 - $149,999 2 230 $150,000 - $199,999 5 381 $200,000 - $249,999 14 377 $250,000 - $299,999 11 297 $300,000 - $349,999 8 315 $350,000 - $399,999 9 330 $400,000 - $449,999 11 317 $450,000 - $499,999 14 232 $500,000 - $549,999 5 319 $550,000 - $599,999 1... 04/18/2012

The table below lists all of the single family detached and single family attached homes currently on the market in Hinsdale, IL The data lists available homes by price range with average time on market in each range.   Included in this list are many Foreclosures and Short Sale properties. Contact us for information on how we may assist you in seeing these properties.   Should you have an interest in homes in a selected price range, send me your physical characteristics requirements. I will send complete details on those homes that meet your criteria. Active Listings List Price Range # Listings Avg. Days on Mkt $100,000 - $149,999 1 330 $150,000 - $199,999 7 310 $200,000 - $249,999 11 419 $250,000 - $299,999 9 345 $300,000 - $349,999 6 293 $350,000 - $399,999 15 311 $400,000 - $449,999... 03/12/2012

Maybe this is just what the doctor ordered to get me back in the swing of writing and sharing what goes on in my life.  I have been using my SendOutCards business as leverage to jumpstart my real estate business and like most of the prospecting activities I do I often wonder is what I’m doing really making an impact or should I be doing something else? I received my answer today and I’d like to share it with you.I had a client who loved rehabbing and saving homes but couldn’t save his own home from the grip of the banks.  I found one of his old projects in an old news article and thought I would cheer him up with sending him the card below.   Here is my answer: Joe... DUDE!!!  I got your card in the mail. What an awesome gesture, THANK YOU!One thing I always say about houses is, they'r... 02/24/2012

March 13 2013 I will be shaving my head for the fourth straight year to help raise money for the St. Baldricks Foundation.  St Baldricks is a foundation started to help raise money for cancer research for children.  How St. Baldricks was started is listed below. On March 17, 2000, reinsurance executives John Bender, Tim Kenny ( no relation of mine) and Enda McDonnell turned their industry's St. Patrick's Day party into a head-shaving event to benefit kids with cancer. Their 20 "shavee" recruits planned to raise "$17,000 on the 17th." Instead, they raised over $104,000!The movement quickly grew into the world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising program for childhood cancer research, and today the St. Baldrick's Foundation funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organi... 02/15/2012

St. Valentine’s day is tomorrow and the stores have been loaded with greeting cards, decorations and heart shaped chocolates and gifts for our loved ones to know how much they mean to us.  The best gift for the heart of our loved ones is the following video.  Watch physician researchers Gordon A. Ewy, MD, and Karl Kern, MD, demonstrate the easy, life-saving method that they developed at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.  They have come up with a new CPR proceedure that could mean the differece between life and death.  Don’t you want the people you love to be around for many Valentines Day?  It’s a good life. 02/13/2012

The table below lists all of the single family detached and single family attached homes currently on the market in Hinsdale, IL The data lists available homes by price range with average time on market in each range.   Included in this list are many Foreclosures and Short Sale properties. Contact us for information on how to process.   Should you have an interest in homes in a selected price range, send me your physical characteristics requirements. I will send complete details on those homes that meet your criteria. Active Listings List Price Range # Listings Avg. Days on Mkt $50,000 - $99,999 1 461 $100,000 - $149,999 2 336 $150,000 - $199,999 10 515 $200,000 - $249,999 12 434 $250,000 - $299,999 13 316 $300,000 - $349,999 6 297 $350,000 - $399,999 15 418 $400,000 - $449,999 16 208 ... 02/06/2012

Tuesday morning I received a text message from my cousin Mike who owns Gibbon’s-Ellison Funeral Home, asking me if I could use four tickets for that nights Bulls game against the Suns.  The last time I was at a Bulls game was in the early 90’s when Michael Jordan was in his hay day so I felt I was long overdue for a game and graciously accepted the offer.  I asked how much the tickets were and was told not to worry about it and just have a good time.I made a few calls to some of my Bulls fan friends and within a short amount of time the plans were made and the tickets received.  The tickets I found out later were the creme dela creme of tickets.  Parking, food and drink were all included.  Nothing to do here but sit back ,enjoy a good game and enjoy the company of my friend Tony of  Fo... 01/19/2012

When the first time home buyers tax credit came to an end in the spring of 2010 I was interested to see if the market would sustain it’s growth.  235   Hinsdale  Single Family Homes were sold  that year with an  with an average sales price of $987,328  with 195 days of average market time.2011 witnessed 220 Hinsdale  Single Family Homes that were were sold  for an average price of $986, 362  with 217 of avearge market time.  On the surface it looks like the market is still on a slight decline but when you factor in that 2011 did not have the tax incentives of  2010 I believe this shows we are on the right track.Now I know someone is reading this and thinking that I’ve lost my marbles because first time home buyers are not typically buying Hinsdale Single Family Homes with a million dol... 01/02/2012

You’re driving home from a day of returning ugly Christmas sweaters, clearance rack blow outs and half off wrapping paper when you see your neighbor already taking down his Christmas decorations.  If you take a closer look he may be adding more decor.No, neither the neighbor or I have been nipping on spiked eggnog, we have been reading about Patch.com’s Deck Your House and Win $100,000 for your local school district. Starting on December 30th and running through January 8th, people who live in any of the Patch.com communities across the country will be able to vote for the Best Decked House in all of Patch. The grand prize winner’s school district will receive a $100,000 check from Patch.So if you picked up an extra strand of lights or two today and put the boxes back on the shelf, you... 12/26/2011

     += Now that the Christmas Holiday is behind us we only have six more days left until we celebrate  the ringing in of 2012.  Six days is also the same amount of time we have to plan how we are going to get to our New Years festivities. 2011 has been such a great year for it would be a real shame to spend it in jail or even worse, the morgue.  Now I love to have a good time like the next guy but I want to be able to enjoy the memories of the night as well. So, if I’m driving I’m not drinking and if I’m drinking I will let Pat Kludac and the drivers of PrimeTimeLimoChicago take me home.PrimeTimeLimoChicago serves the City of Chicago and the surrounding collar counties.  So whether you are planning on attending a party a mile or two away or clear across town,  dial (630)359-1668 and te... 12/26/2011

What a person reads on the Internet about Hinsdale Real Estate Sales can be very misleading.  Typically ninety percent of the home buyers looking to purchase a piece of the American Dream in Hinsdale will start their search on the internet.  They might go directly to a site they heard about from a colleague or an overheard conversation in the grocery store or do a Google search on Hinsdale Real Estatesales.  This is where the problems for the buyer begins.If a person was going to take a trip to Chicago how good would a United States road map be?  They might get to Chicago but it might take them longer and cost more money than someone who had spoke to someone from Chicago that knew all of the best routes and best places to stay along the trip.What does a trip to Chicago have to do with ... 12/18/2011

  Hinsale, IL current marketing time is averaging 311 days (compared to 193 days for 2010).  The median sales price of $840,000 is up for 2011 versus the 2010 median price of $822,500. 12/15/2011

In the table below lists all of the single family detached and single family attached homes currently on the market in Hinsdale, IL The data lists available homes by price range with average time on market in each range.   Included in this list are many Foreclosures and Short Sales.   Should you have an interest in homes in a selected price range, send me your physical characteristics requirements. I will send complete details on those homes that meet your criteria.   Active Listings List Price Range # Listings Avg. Days on Mkt $50,000 - $99,999 1 405 $100,000 - $149,999 1 238 $150,000 - $199,999 11 466 $200,000 - $249,999 13 453 $250,000 - $299,999 12 260 $300,000 - $349,999 9 368 $350,000 - $399,999 14 428 $400,000 - $449,999 14 224 $450,000 - $499,999 17 295 $500,000 - $549,999 7 32... 12/12/2011

Today is  a sunny and warm day in Chicago where I sell Hinsdale Real Estate.  The Hinsdale Real Estate that I was showing today were rental properties and some great deals are to be had. When I got back to my office there was a list of things to accomplish.  Making sure the lender received the termite inspection so that we can have a clear to close for my buyers who are purchasing their first single family home, followed by preparing for a wine and cheese that I’m throwing this Thursday for two local candidates running for office in the spring, and of course spending some quality time in ActiveRain.I studied  the new Hinsdale Real Estate properties that are on the market and called a few of past clients and shared my findings.  A few personal notes made there way to the mailbox and hel... 12/12/2011

We see them on our association’s websites, we see them in our e-mail and in some cases we may even get a phone call from our local lobbyist asking us to answer the political calls to action.  When we receive these nagging requests sometimes we forget  make the calls or answer the emails.  We even go as far as saying "it’s a waste of time, the politicians will do what ever they want."So to all those doubting Thomas’ out there I just received a text message notifying me that “ We did it! Senate votes 70-30 to restore FHA Loan Limits.  Way to go REALTOR  Party!" The House earlier restored the limits with a vote of 293-121.We are a powerful voice when our industry works together and let our political leaders hear our plea’s.  Thank you to everybody who took a few minutes out and help make ... 11/17/2011

State Representative Patti Bellock is again in a giving mood.  Rep Bellock and her staff is organizing a care package drive for our military that are overseas for the holidays.  Donated items may be dropped off at Rep Bellock's office located at 1 South Cass Avenue, Suite 205, in Westmont, from 9-5 on weekdays until December 1st.  For more information contact Rep Bellock's office at (630)852-8633. Items in need are; Please provide new items only!!- CHICAGO SPORTS TEAM MERCHANDISEHats, Shirts, Banners, Footballs, Basketballs, Baseballs, etc.- SPORTING EQUIPMENTFootballs, Soccer Balls, Baseball equipment, Outdoor game items, Bad mitten,  etc.- BOARD GAMESMonopoly, Checkers, Chess, UNO, Dominoes, Dice, Playing Cards, Darts, etc.- SNACKSBeef jerky, Ramen noodle cups, Easy Mac Cups, mixed n... 11/09/2011

My wife gave me a guitar many years ago as a Christmas gift and I never learned to play it.  Recently I started to take some lessons and in the midst of taking those lessons my dad was told he had six months to  live.  I stopped taking the lessons shortly after that.My sister and I take turns going to my parents house to assist my mom with my dad any way we can as he was placed into hospice care about  2 weeks ago.  The hospice nurses say that music is an excellent therapy which was good news because my dad loves Irish music.  When I was a kid he would always find songs that he wanted me to learn and I would do my best to learn them but for one reason or another I just never learned the songs all the way through.Shortly after I threw the guitar back into the closet and my dad’s health ... 11/08/2011

Today has been a very good day at the Coldwell Banker Office in Hinsdale , somebody actually appreciates the little things I do.  Like Sally Field  said in 1984 when accepting her Academy Award for Places in the Heart, "You like me, you really like me".  Like  I have been saying “it’s a good life.”Joe,This sounds great! Thank you very much for taking the time to work with us and our unique requests. We couldn't have written this letter any better ourselves. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for being the kind of realtor who really cares!I love my job. 11/08/2011