After a brutal 2008 real estate market, I started analyzing what can be in store for 2009. The Good News: Mortgage rates are at history lows and about a full percentage point lower than they were in most of 2008. Since receiving TARP money, banks are more eager to lend, although not as much as the past. Congress has begun investigating new ways to stabilize the housing market. One way they are considering is to provide homebuyers with nice tax incentives Sellers are more realistic in pricing their homes now that reality has set in. Great bargins are to be had! Pending home sales in December were up 6.3%. The Bad News: The stock market is down 35% from a year ago. The unemployment rate rocketed to a more than 16-year high of 7.6 percent from 7.2 percent in December. Some top economist ... 02/08/2009

Buying your first home is a huge step. When you leave the world of renting behind, you begin building equity in an investment. And Uncle Sam is there to help ease the pain of high mortgage payments. Mortgage interest. For most people, the biggest tax break from owning a home comes from deducting mortgage interest. You can deduct interest on up to $1 million of debt used to acquire your home. Your lender will send you Form 1098 in January listing the mortgage interest you paid during the previous year. Points. When you buy a house, you usually have to pay "points" to the lender to get your mortgage. This charge is usually expressed as a percentage of the loan amount. And, believe it or not, you get to deduct the points even if you persuaded the seller to pay them for you as part of the d... 02/08/2009

Naperville Dental Specialists I was looking for a new Dental practice for my family and I, I called my insurance company and they emailed other a list of practitioners in Naperville. I looked at the list and all I saw was a list of unfamiliar names, it didn't tell me anything about the practitioners, about how long they have been in business or what services they provide. So I turned to my friend... Google, I googled all the names to find a website, a site that would give me more information about the practices. The results were shocking to me, out of a list of 20... only one had a website and that was, Naperville Dental Specialists. On the Naperville Dental Specialists website, I found all the information that I was looking for. What I liked most, was that they provided all the servic... 02/06/2009

My wife Nicole went back to work last July.  She is a pediatric dietician at Central DuPage Hospital. While Nicole works, I watch our little girl Erin.  It is working out quite well... Despite some challenges, I am running a fairly active and growing real estate business.  Nicole's steady paychecks are nice too... Recently, however, "fatherhood" has gone a little too far...  I think I have become a Naperville "mom". Let me explain.  Today went like this... After driving my wife to work, my daughter and I go to the health club, Lifetime Fitness... I drop Erin off at day care.  It's awesome.  They have a great staff and facility. It's free, too!  I am just in time for my 10:45 yoga class.  They have the temperature set way up.  Great workout.  I work up quite a sweat. After yoga, Erin and... 02/05/2009

What the heck...  I have a listing on Alan Road in Naperville.  It is a short sale.  Late stages.  We need an offer... The bank has "removed" our lock box.  Apparently this is a common practice for lenders in the Chicago area.  If a home is vacant and not paying the mortgage, they do not wait to foreclose.  They take control immediately and put on a new doorknob. Anyway, I now have to attend all showings.  Makes it very difficult. This week, we have lowered our price to $274,900.  The house has lots of potential and is on a big lot (2/3 of an acre) in south Naperville.                                          I have received 7 calls from Realtors in the last two days to see the home.  I have made all the apointments between 10-12 AM Sunday (Super Bowl Sunday). Since I need to be there, ... 02/01/2009

Naperville is the third largest city in Illinois, about 40 miles outside of Chicago. What's magic about Naperville is that it's a city of more than 142,000 people, with all the sophistication that gets you, but it still feels like a small town. The anchor of all things Naperville is its Downtown, with its pleasurable Riverwalk, its fountains and bridges, its shops, restaurants, its Carillon, sled hill, beach, woods. The Riverwalk alone generates a lot of foot traffic, but there's also North Central College, the Nichols Public Library, DuPage Children's Museum, Edward Hospital, and the Naper Settlement historical re-creations and museum-all either attached to downtown or just a few blocks off it.   Here are some other interesting tid-bits about Naperville.    2007 Population of more than... 01/28/2009

Independent Insurance Agent or Direct Writer? Which is the right choice for you? Choosing between an independent agent and a direct writer is a big decision and deserves careful attention prior to purchasing insurance. What is a direct writer? A company who doesn't use agents to distribute their policies is a direct writer, Country Insurance, State Farm, Allstate, and GEICO for example. As a consumer, you call these companies direct and they help you with you insurance needs and handle writing your policy. These direct writers have only one (1) insurance company to choose from.  There are neighborhood offices, however the direct writer is not going to jeopardize their relationship with their employer by fighting the claims department on a claim.  A direct writer will not do too much to ... 01/14/2009

Identify client needs through understanding their business through research. Predict the various outcomes that put the client in a position of Probably Maximum Loss scenarios. Decide collectively through a collaborative effort which outcome is the most advantageous for the client. Execute the outcome that has been collaborated upon, and then decided upon. 01/12/2009

Once again Naperville Schools have made the list of best high schools in US News and World Report. Naperville's highly rated school system has been a big attraction for families relocating to Naperville. It is the mission of Naperville Community Unit School District 203 to educate students to be self-directed learners, collaborative workers, complex thinkers, quality producers and community contributors. Quality producers they are; when tested for ACT and SAT, students scored higher than the State and National average. I personally have worked with several buyers that made the decision to move to Naperville because of our top rated schools.  Naperville High Schools that made the list.   Naperville Central High School - Silver                                 With an enrollment of approxi... 01/07/2009

It's not like I have been on vacation...  On the contrary.  I have had several buyer appointments, a listing appointment (which I did get), and two closings in the last two weeks.   Oddly busy, especially for late December. All that activity is only a byproduct of what I really do for a living... MARKETING.   And I was back marketing this morning delivering 165 newsletters to Carrolwood in Naperville and 140 newsletters to River Bend in Lisle. It was 23 degrees today and overcast.  Nice weather for my deliveries, although I was a bit under dressed.  My hands were pretty cold! Although I was dragging a bit from one too many holiday parties, it felt good to be pounding the pavement. These two neighborhoods have been getting my newsletter for over a year, so the neighbors are familiar with... 01/02/2009

2008 goes down in the record books as the "Wettest Year" in the Chicago area since records have been kept. Flood waters made some roads impassable during the most recent storm and thaw.  All the more reason to work with a Realtor that knows the area and can assist you when making one of the most important decisions of your life.  01/01/2009

Do I intentionally choose the cold days to deliver my newsletters? The thermometer never peeked above 16 degrees this week as I was making my deliveries. And it wasn't the cold, but the ice that presented a hazard. Last weekend the temps were in the 50s.  Lots of rain.  Sunday night, as the temps plunged into the teens, a layer of ice was created over Chicagoland. Tuesday was the real scary day.  Several times I was forced to walk like baby horse taking his first steps... Twice I fell flat on my back. Panic really kicks in as one is about to fall on a sidewalk. Please don't get hurt! Fortunately, no major injuries. 280 more newsletters delivered.  I am almost there... Ken A Realtor you can trust. 12/17/2008

Brought to you by Home Field Realtors in Naperville, IL...For those of you who are credit worthy and have steady income, buying a home or investment property today can yield incredible savings.  Mortgage rates are low and housing prices have dropped in most areas to what Home Field Realtors coins, the "safety zone".  The "safety zone" represents a band of housing prices that, if you reside in your property for at least a few years, should put you in a comfortable position to snap up a home at a considerable discount and be somewhat insulated from further drastic price decline.  True, pricing "may" drop a little more - and it may not, however, if you plan on staying for a few years you should be in the "safety zone"...if you buy now, you have the opportunity to beat others to the punch a... 12/07/2008

The thermometer read 16 degrees as I pulled up in my Jeep Liberty to Lakewood Crossing, a subdivision of moderately priced homes in Naperville Illinois. Overcast.  Occasional flurries.  Cold. There was snow on the ground.  Not deep.  Just enough to make walking treachorous... I had 365 of my newsletters stuffed inside of my Keller Williams bag. It would be a long day. Why do I do it? I must say the thought has crossed my mind several times.  Especially this week. Maybe I could wait until it gets warmer? I don't do much business in Lakewood Crossing anyway... What a silly business plan! These were my thoughts as I looked at the weather reports.  The only day that was available on my schedule was Friday, the coldest day of the week... I dressed in several layers.  Two coats.  Sweatshirt. ... 12/06/2008

They were a nice young couple.  I picked them up at the train station on Rte. 59 in Aurora... It was Friday morning.  The weather was cold, but the sun was shining bright.  A great day to show homes. We would be seeing several homes priced in the low to mid 200's.  They were in from Virginia, and considering moving to Chicago.  They would be needing a home near the train line for the commute to Chicago. The search was fairly challenging.  We would only have two to three hours.  The couple did not know the area at all. We started in Lehigh Station.  It is located on the edge of Aurora, right next to Naperville.  The townhomes are nice, but have been a tough sell for the builder who started the project during the market boom. But they are nice, a short drive to downtown Naperville and pri... 11/24/2008

.style1 {color: #FF0000} Price: $569,000 FIZBER.com ID 8298728 Single Family with 5 bed, 3.1 bath, in 1512 Alan Rd. NAPERVILLE, IL, 60564 http://www.fizber.com/8298728/ 1512 Alan Rd. - For Sale By Owner Property Details: Type: Single Family Address: 1512 Alan Rd., NAPERVILLE, IL, 60564 Sq footage: 4400.0 Floors: n/a Bathrooms: 3.1 Bedrooms: 5 Year built: 1997 View full property details and seller's contacts. View more Illinois homes for sale. Homes for Sale by Owner. Description: Come see this Impeccable home in saught after Willow Ridge, on over 1/2 acre w/fully fenced yard. Hardwood floor throough out all three floors, professionally finished basement w/Media Rm./kitchenette and full bath. New carpeting/blinds & paint in all rooms. Master closet organizer. Beautiful lanscaping/sprink... 11/20/2008

I took a cross section of the Chicago West Suburban Real Estate Market, Naperville IL, and looked at the Absorption Rate / supply of available listings for years 2005-2008 YTD...here is what I found: Available Homes For Sale in Naperville Priced $400K-$450K: 2005: 4.1 months supply 2006: 5.1 months supply 2007: 6.8 months supply 2008 YTD: 9 months supply  As you can see, the YTD 2008 Absorption Rate figures are over DOUBLE the 2005 figure.  This suggests what we already know, that 2005 was a very active year for Real Estate in Naperville, IL!  When will we know when the real estate recovery is well under way in Chicago West Suburban Real Estate?  Home Field Realtors and The Home Field Team will keep an eye on the absorption rates to see how we are coming along with the recovery into the... 11/19/2008

So here I am.  It's Saturday.  1:23 PM.  November 15th.  I am at an OPEN HOUSE for my new listing.  I took the listing two weeks ago, a short sale on the south side of Naperville. I am pleasantly surprised how nice the home looks today.  A few lit candles.  Lights are all on.  A cold cloudy November afternoon... It feels nice.  This would be a great "Thanksgiving" home... My spirits are high.  It has been a productive day.  I had showings this morning and an open house in the afternoon.  That is a good real estate day... I love open houses.  I was available this afternoon, and with a vacant listing?  I can't think of a better way to spend it than hosting an open house. Worst case scenario, I freshen up my new listing, I work on my computer, and my open house signs are up.  That's great ... 11/15/2008

First time home buyers are a growing portion of my business.  As that number grows, I am always learning. Radon, mold, closing, attorney, inspection, mortgage, down payment, property tax...These words can scare first time home buyers.  Buyers should not be scared.  Buying a home should be great experience.  Not terrifying.     Four professionals will usually be needed during the home buying process: 1.  The Realtor The Realtor will fill many roles during the home buying process. They will coordinate the transaction.  They can also narrow down home choices, educate on neighborhoods, assist with negotiations, and even provide a shoulder to cry on. A Realtor can show any home listed on their local Multiple Listing System (MLS). The Realtor should be patient.  A home is a big purchase.  An ... 11/14/2008

Looking for a home in Naperville Illinois? Search our Naperville homes for sale website with over 100,000 properties to search. There you will find Naperville New Construction Homes as well as Townhomes, foreclosures and many more properties. 11/13/2008