Does the Public Actually Read and Respond to Real Estate Blogging?  by Rebecca Howard Two Heads are Better than One I've often pondered the value of blogging.  I admit, it took a while for me to catch on to the idea of blogging.  It requires time, thought, effort and energy from me in ways that I still can't explain.  Most times, at the end of my busy day I would just like to relax and read my newspapers--yes plural. This time was different.  After much debate about the benefits of blogging, I wanted to decided to step outside of my comfort zone and blog about new construction going on in our community.  You may remember my blog in May 2013 about Orland Park New Construction for the Ashley Oaks subdivision.  We didn't have many pictures to use for this post since the project was literal... 06/22/2013

Condo and Townhome Suburban Living is Just Like Downtown  by Rebecca Howard Condo Sales Activity Heating Up in Chicagoland Market I recently read an article in Crain's Chicago Business that caught my eye. It referred to two companies; a condo development firm and a condo marketing group that are joining forces to, as the article put it, 'together, the former colleagues-turned-competitors-turned-business partners hope to capitalize on a rebounding condo market, the same market that threatened to put their companies out of business.  “Two or three years ago, (condo developers) had to rent,” said T. J. Rubin, managing broker at Chicago-based Fulton Grace Realty LLC. “Now that the market's rebounding, they can sell.” Rising apartment rents and pent-up demand, particularly among baby boomers... 06/06/2013

Orland Park Cheap Home Seller Tip: Maximize Your Curb Appeal Dollar   Find out what your Orland Park home is worth today... Are you an Orland Park Home Seller and looking for a way to Maximize Your Curb Appeal Dollar? While there are a ton of ways to spend your hard earned money to give your home curb appeal, there is a way that is simple and CHEAP! This somewhat down economy has caused quite a few folk to really think long and hard about how they spend their money. Some have decided to stay put and invest in upgrades like a kitchen or bathroom makeover. That can cost BIG BUCKS. And if you are really trying to sell your home and move to another, you might have a hard time justifying the expense and feel it is a gamble to a chance on getting your investment back. Well consider this Orlan... 05/20/2013

Market Data Report for Orland Park, IL May, 2013 by Rebecca Howard The data on this page is consolidated from multiple sources and includes current listings, recent sales, and more. Whether you're a buyer or seller, the knowledge you gain will help put you in control of your real estate transactions. Call or email anytime to discuss how this information can benefit you! Local Area Insights at Your Fingertips Get monthly area updates delivered to your Inbox. It's FREE for existing account holders! Price Trends - Sold vs. Listed   The median list price in May for single family homes in Orland Park is $439,900. The price per square foot for listings in this area is $141. The median sale price in March for single family homes is $227,500. The sale prices dropped by -37.67% from the previous... 05/19/2013

MOST CURRENT SHORT SALES AND FORECLOSURES FOR SALE IN ORLAND PARK, IL See the most Current list of Short Sales and Foreclosures in Orland Park, IL Are you looking for the most current list of short sales and foreclosures available in Orland Park? You have come to the right place. I'm looking for all the investors and bargain-hunters out there that are looking for quality properties to buy either for their personal dwelling or for investment purposes. Have you been searching the Internet and looking at numerous websites but have not found the most up-to-date information? Do you spend your time scouring websites and are scared off when the pop-up window asks you to register? What are you afraid of? No one is going to bite you! If I call you back right away, isn't that the kind of service ... 05/17/2013

Orland Park Luxury Homes - Spacious Champagne Living on a Beer Budget  by Rebecca Howard This blog is written for the many families out there that need SPACE. Space for the children, for the 'temporary' move-ins, maturing relatives, children returning home from college, grand-parents, sister and brother-in-law and their kids, and the tons of things you've accumulated over the years and the things of all those family members and the things they've accumulated. Whew! I recently did an Internet search for Orland Park Luxury Homes looking for Spacious Champagne Living on a Beer Budget for all those folks that need SPACE. In particular I was looking for features that large families would want and need. Here is a sampling of my search for Orland Park Luxury Homes - Spacious Champagne Living o... 05/16/2013

Orland Park New Construction Has Begun for Ashley Oaks Subdivision by Rebecca Howard     Orland Park New Construction for Ashley Oaks Subdivision began in May 2013. The crews are already clearing the land and the utility companies are on site as I write this. This new subdivision is the latest for Orland Park. The new models that are going in are Thomas Scott, Ashley Rose & Connor James, Wilshire and Richmond. I am told that the first finished model will be completed by the end of May 2013. Ashley Oaks is a distinct community of just 10 custom-built homes that will be nestled within other well established communities. The builder, Marth Construction, a family-owned home construction company located in Orland Park, is known for quality. This construction company was founded in 1977, and ... 05/14/2013

Computer Recycling in the Southwest Suburbs near Orland Park Well I decided to do some additional spring cleaning. That annual time slot that you must carve out of your life to enjoy the rest of the summer. You see, I need space for my gardening things. So after a careful inspection, we decided it would be the old electronics stored in the garage that we were supposed to toss over two years ago. Now the local laws have changed and you need to take them to a recycling center.   After looking online, I found a number of listings, but each click only frustrated because the listings offered very poor information. So I decided to offer a tip that worked for me: I called my local Village of Orland Park and surprisingly, someone answered the phone and told me about a location just up the stree... 05/10/2013

Village of Orland Park is Looking for Talent and Giving Away Money by Rebecca Howard   The Village of Orland Park is Looking for Talent and Giving Away Money at its  annual upcoming event 'Taste of Orland Park'. The event date is August 4, 2013. You don't need any special talent. Can you sing, dance, juggle, train pigs, or recite Shakespeare? Be sure to mark your calendar and practice, practice, practice. I plan on attending the Village of Orland Park is Looking for Talent and Giving Away Money event just to see who I might know, so you better be good. The Village of Orland Park is Looking for Talent and Giving Away Money event is giving away $1,000: 1st prize=$500; 2nd prize=$300, and 3rd prize=$200. That's good money just for having fun for a few brief moments. Even if you don't win y... 05/06/2013

About 4 or 5 years ago I created a hyper-local website for Orland Park real estate but I let it go - in fact, I shut down the blog/site and redirected the domain name to the Orland Park page on my main website.  I wish I hadn't done that! To my credit, although I worked in Orland Park, my office and my home at the time were in Oak Lawn, and I had a website for that village, which has the most annual sales than any other southwest suburb that I work in.  Three years ago we moved to the Homer Glen/Orland Park area and 8 years ago I switched my office from Oak Lawn to an Orland Park brokerage.  Once I moved to the area I wanted to focus my sales here.  I should have re-created this website as soon as I moved here, but better late than never. Why I Chose AgentPress I've been searching for n... 05/05/2013

by Rebecca Howard Townhomes For Sale in The Preserve at Marley Creek Subdivision Only a knowlegable person understands that the term Townhomes in The Preserve at Marley Creek refers to a very specific group of townhomes located in the southwestern tip of Orland Park. And if you were to scour the Internet looking for them, as I have, it can be confusing to locate them specifically. This group of townhomes is comprised of just 108 units; are comprised of two and three bedroom units that were built by three different builders with the difference in age between the first and last unit built covering a span of about 7 years, with the last units being built in 2002. These units are some of the most spacious townhomes around. You will get the best bang for your buck here. The Townhomes in The ... 05/03/2013

Have You Seen How Downtown Orland Park is All Ablaze with Activity? by Rebecca Howard Have you checked out the activity going on downtown Orland Park lately? There is all kinds of growth going on. There are new stores, shopping at mini malls, restaurants. Its so exciting. Recently we had a chance to preview the Ninety7Fifty on the Park Apartments. They are drop dead gorgeous! There are floor plans available for the one and two-bedroom units available. This level of apartment living is truly something out of the ordinary for the Southwest Suburbs. The amenities are nothing short of luxurious. A full exercise room is available to work off the stress of the workday or just to keep in shape. This elevator building has a large screen TV room and casual sitting areas for friends to get togeth... 04/29/2013

Springtime: Time to Decorate. Time to Transform. Time to Be Happy! by Rebecca (Becky) Howard Time to open the windows and let the fresh air blow through. Time to take deep breaths. Time to wash windows (we're getting a window-washing service to do it). We have skylights and I wouldn't dare ask my husband climb a ladder. It would make a mess if he had an accident of any kind. MESSAGE TO HOME SELLERS: Get your home 'market ready' It will enhance your home; it will show well and hopefully inspire buyers to buy. It can put more money in your pocket! In my subdivision there was a recent sale and I noticed that the new owners did not move in right away. They are taking the time to totally redecorate their new place. Imagine excitement of buying a new home and before you move in to do a total ... 04/26/2013

Customer Service: Do You Appreciate it? by Rebecca Howard That's a silly question, you might say. But do you? This week my husband did some grocery shopping at Berkot's, one of our favorite stores in the community. It's about three miles from our home. We drove past a store that is within walking distance, so it was not because of convenience that we took the ride. It was because of their staff's attention to customer service. There many examples I can mention, but for the sake of brevity, I'll just mention one. My husband is from the South. He likes to eat of all things, chicken gizzards. Hey, what can I say! People like their 'delicacies'. Its hard to find anyplace that sells them already cooked. Most cooks use them in turkey stuffing or gravy for the holidays. He likes them fried and... 04/26/2013

Spring Creek Estates, Orland Park, Illinois About Spring Creek Estates Spring Creek Estates is a single family home subdivision built between the late 1980's and early 1990's. Spring Creek Estates is located in Orland Park, Illinois south of 151st Street and west of Wolf Road. Average taxes in Spring Creek Estates $13,304 Average association fees in Spring Creek Estates $0 Average home size in Spring Creek Estates 4,161 ft2 Average lot size in Spring Creek Estates 0.25 acres Average year built in Spring Creek Estates 1990 Homes for sale in Spring Creek Estates Address Beds Baths Built Price 15232 Ginger Creek Ln. 4 3.1 1991 $424,900 15240 Ginger Creek Ln. 5 3.1 1989 $699,000 Sales Summary for Spring Creek Estates  (Apr 26, 2012 - Apr 26, 2013) # of Sales Average Days on Market Average ... 04/26/2013

Orland Park Real Estate: What to Look for in a Great Realtor® Finding a Realtor® is a simple task. Just cover your eyes and point your finger. Chances there is one close by. But is goes far beyond that. Recently I learned of a property that closed in a local community (name withheld to protect the guilty) whereby the closing price was about $30K below current market value. As a seasoned Realtor®, I am always concerned as to why this happens. It not only affects the seller, but the next door neighbor, the subdivision, the community in general. It just so happened that I needed to know the closed value of this listing in order to complete a CMA for a property within the same subdivision. So I went on an investigative search. One of the things I learned is when the low appraisal came in, b... 04/24/2013

Wooded Path Estates II, Orland Park, Illinois About Wooded Path Estates II Wooded Path Estates II is a single family home subdivision built starting in 2012. Wooded Path Estates II is located in Orland Park, Illinois south of 143rd Street and east of 82nd Avenue. Average taxes in Wooded Path Estates II $2,656 Average association fees in Wooded Path Estates II $600 ($0 - $600) Average home size in Wooded Path Estates II 3,100 ft2 Average lot size in Wooded Path Estates II 0.50 acres Average year built in Wooded Path Estates II 2012 Homes for sale in Wooded Path Estates II Address Beds Baths Built Price 7830 Emma Ct. 3 2.1 2012 $599,000 7825 144 St. 0 0.0 0 $225,000 7750 144 St. 0 0.0 0 $199,000 7740 144 St. 0 0.0 0 $199,000 7827 Emma Ct. 0 0.0 0 $225,000 7711 144 St. 0 0.0 0 $225,000 Sa... 04/19/2013

Countryside, Orland Park, Illinois About Countryside Countryside is a single family home subdivision built in the 1990's. Countryside is located in Orland Park, Illinois east of Wolf Road and north of 139th Street. Average taxes in Countryside $11,870 Average association fees in Countryside $0 Average home size in Countryside 3,559 ft2 Average lot size in Countryside 0.25 acres Average year built in Countryside 1993 Homes for sale in Countryside Address Beds Baths Built Price 11012 Mayflower Ln. 4 3.1 1993 $525,000 Sales Summary for Countryside  (Apr 18, 2012 - Apr 18, 2013) # of Sales Average Days on Market Average List Average Sale Ratio% 4 170 $465,925 $435,725 93.5% Recent home sales in Countryside Address Beds Baths Sold 11052 Mayflower Ln. 4 2.1 $375,000 11011 Woodstock Dr. 5 4.1... 04/18/2013

Ravina Glens, Orland Park, Illinois About Ravina Glens Ravina Glens is a townhouse and duplex subdivision built in the early 1990's. Ravina Glens is located in Orland Park, Illinois south of 153rd Street and west of 96th Avenue. Average taxes in Ravina Glens $0 Average association fees in Ravina Glens $0 Average home size in Ravina Glens 0 ft2 Average lot size in Ravina Glens 0.00 acres Average year built in Ravina Glens 0 Homes for sale in Ravina Glens None Sales Summary for Ravina Glens  (Apr 17, 2012 - Apr 17, 2013) # of Sales Average Days on Market Average List Average Sale Ratio% 6 151 $249,750 $221,292 88.6% Recent home sales in Ravina Glens Address Beds Baths Sold 9739 W. 154th St. 2 2.1 $209,000 9735 W. 154th St. 2 2.1 $200,000 15331 Wilshire Dr. 2 2.0 $173,750 15316 Wilshire D... 04/17/2013

Eagle Ridge III, Orland Park, Illinois About Eagle Ridge III Eagle Ridge III is a townhouse and single family home subdivision. Eagle Ridge is located in north of 179th Street and east of 108th Avenue. Average taxes in Eagle Ridge III $8,859 Average association fees in Eagle Ridge III $163 ($0 - $163) Average home size in Eagle Ridge III 2,430 ft2 Average lot size in Eagle Ridge III 0.25 acres Average year built in Eagle Ridge III 2000 Homes for sale in Eagle Ridge III Address Beds Baths Built Price 10527 Rachel Ln. 3 3.1 2000 $364,900 10559 Rachel Ln. 4 3.0 1999 $389,000 17819 America Ct. #39 2 2.1 2001 $189,900 17713 Abigail Ln. 5 4.0 1999 $558,500 Sales Summary for Eagle Ridge III  (Apr 17, 2012 - Apr 17, 2013) # of Sales Average Days on Market Average List Average Sale Ratio% 6 155... 04/17/2013