In the table below lists all of the single family detached and single family attached homes currently on the market in Schaumburg, 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 Less than $49,999 4 83 $50,000 - $99,999 23 124 $100,000 - $149,999 47 115 $150,000 - $199,999 38 126 $200,000 - $249,999 25 141 $250,000 - $299,999 27 86 $300,000 - $349,999 22 86 $350,000 - $399,999 22 163 $400,000 - $449,999 8 107 $450,000 - $499,999 5 17... 06/07/2013

Real Estate Market Update - Northwest Suburbs - May 2013Welcome to the place to get those housing questions answered about the real estate market in the Northwest Suburbs! Our local inventory level has continued to decrease and are still at insanely low levels. My assessment is that our recovery would be better if we had the inventory for the available buyers. Multiple offers in many price ranges make it tough for buyers. If your home is still 90 days or more on the market the buyers have deemed it overpriced.Prices? This has been the first report where all the average sales prices have increased across the board.Foreclosures are increasing their prices- I have noticed that there has been substantial price increases (try $20,000 to $30,000) in foreclosures new to the market. Can't fatho... 06/07/2013

People always ask me “Lyn, how many homes are selling?”   Well, that seems to make a difference is what area or subdivision you live in.  It’s really not an evasive answer.  Each area and subdivision is totally different!  Each housing type is different too.  Here’s what I can tell you about the overall Schaumburg real estate market:Single Family Homes -  Schaumburg averages 24 home sales a month.  Inventory is down substantially from previous years.  The percentage of homes going under contract each month is 20 to 24%. Average Sold Price was $258,938 for the 1st quarter of 2013.Multi-Family Homes - Schaumburg averages 53 sales per month. Inventory is down just like single family homes. The percentage of homes going under contract each month is 14 to 37% which is substantially higher th... 05/22/2013

Featuring Jazz, Big Band, Swing and Circus Boy?Come out and see what's being offered at the amphitheatre in Town Square.  Get yourself a 'calorie free' ice cream cone at Oberweis too!   05/22/2013

The Cost vs. Value Report for 2013 has been out reporting the top improvement projects that get the most 'bang for your buck' when remodeling.  Some of these examples I absolutely do not agree with but I just report the real estate news around here!  If you were planning on staying in your property for several years or had purchased a foreclosure that needed to be updated some of these costs would not be recouped in a short amount of time. This is based on our current market standards where the market is improving but there have really been no significant price increases. 1. Entry door replacement (steel)   Estimated job cost: $1,257 - Return on investment = ROI at resale: 82.3% 2. Window replacement (wood)   Job cost: $12,424 - ROI: 76.8% 3. Window replacement (vinyl)   Job cost: $11,2... 05/18/2013

Character Building and Site Building - same thing! I've disappeared for a few months and not that I need an explanation but I had made the lunatic assumption that I would build my own WP site and launch it recently.  I am a dare devil of sorts and have never shied from hard work or tackling something new.  But I have to say in this instance, I had made a HUGE MISTAKE.   Honesty is good in situations like this.  Too late, work started, and have to finish somehow when you have just bitten into the biggest internet elephant that you could ever take a bite out of.  I've built 2 sites previous to this and not to mention totally remolding my RE/MAX franchise site from top to bottom and can't ever remember having this much difficulty. Am I getting old?  Are things just becoming way too complic... 05/15/2013

Are you really a real estate investor? I've had many calls this year and one of the clear realizations has been the 'investor' call or contacts.  I can absolutely hold up the large 'goose egg' circle with my right hand on those that have purchased.  They've never bought anything but there has been an awful lot of hard work on my part. There's a few types of investors that I've found: The 'I have to have ALL the information' investor which includes reams and reams of paperwork related to one property.  I don't mind doing a mini-CMA on a property to prove value but a full blown 10 page appraisal is not going to happen.  This guy is killing trees in the rain forest all by himself. I'll pay cash they say and I've got lots of it - Haven't had one close yet and most investors that call now th... 05/13/2013

Source:  KCM Blog, various Gallup surveys 05/13/2013

Fahrrad Tour Von Schaumburg Bike Ride & Picnic Each year the village invites all to come celebrate Schaumburg’s heritage and extensive bike route network with a seven mile ride on off-street bike paths and on-street bike lanes before winding up at Schaumburg’s beautiful Atcher Municipal Center grounds where lunch is served and entertainment provided.  This event is co-sponsored with the Schaumburg Park District. Sunday May 19, 2013 from Noon - 2:15pm approximately     Starts at Blackwell Elementary School, 345 N. Walnut, Schaumburg IL 60194 Route Map 05/11/2013

What are today's buyers looking for in a home? Lots of statistics and lots of preferred features when buyers begin searching for a home.  But what are buyers really looking for?  This post is aimed in telling you which features are the most sought after with today's buyers.  Every buyer has a 'wish list' but these are the top features that buyers request most. Air conditioning - pretty anti-climactic here right?  I thought this was a pretty standard feature (94%) in our area but possibly not in all.  To me it's like a cell phone - got one right? Eat-in Kitchen - the kitchen is still the family gathering space with most buyers liking the newer open feel and styling of an island or breakfast bar.  (89%) Walk-in closet for the Master Bedroom - 60% of buyers felt they would pay an extra $1... 05/07/2013

What makes a good neighborhood? These are the most common factors of home buyers on deciding what area to purchase a home.  Obviously, having children plays a large role in housing selection because of schooling and convenience to those schools. 1)  Overall quality of the neighborhood 2)  Convenient to job 3)  Overall affordability of homes 4)  Convenient to friends/family 5)  Design of neighborhood 6)  Convenient to shopping 7)  Quality of the school district (this becomes the #2 point for buyers with children) 8)  Convenient to schools (this becomes the #3 point for buyers with children) 9)  Convenient to entertainment/leisure activities 10)  Convenient to parks/recreational facilities I can offer significant information on the Schaumburg neighborhoods when you are thinking of purchas... 05/07/2013

Another 'guessing game' comes to real estate & I'm calling it the Fishtamate! TechCrunch announced today another over anxious participant in the quest for a better Zestimate.  Redfin announced today it's own solution to the highly inaccurate evaluation function spouting a better, more accurate format called 'Home Value Tool'. Redfin says that participants will have the ability to customize and build the search for better accuracy. Really?   Why the rush to become one of the masses?  I guess that Redfin feels there is a 'market' for Zestimates, or in their version which I'll call the 'Redfin Fishtamate'.  Seems accurate to me as they are 'fishin' for a price using 5 comparables in the neighborhood.  Does seem more accurate over a Zestimate but still can't be considered a good real estate... 05/03/2013

    The table below lists all of the single family detached and single family attached homes currently on the market in Schaumburg, 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.     Active Listings List Price Range # Listings Avg. Days on Mkt Less than $49,999 5 101 $50,000 - $99,999 34 160 $100,000 - $149,999 35 136 $150,000 - $199,999 37 124 $200,000 - $249,999 16 206 $250,000 - $299,999 28 91 $300,000 - $349,999 24 162 $350,000 - $399,999 23 135 $400,000 - $449,999 7 113 $450,000 - $499,999 3 253 $500,000 - $549,999 2 30 $550,000 - $599,999 2 15 $600,000 - $699,999 3 933 $700,000 - $79... 05/02/2013

[Source: U.S. Census Bureau] Get infographic here 05/01/2013

Thinking about renting out your home/property in Schaumburg, IL? With the way the rental market has been on fire, now is the perfect time to rent out your home or investment property. I've recently been showing a lot of nice rentals that have just come on the market, and some go within 2-3 days while others stay on the market for 20-30 days. The difference between the ones that go quickly and the ones that tend to stick around are how they are marketed and presented. That is why it is so important to have an experienced and knowledgeable agent to help you market your rental property. Marketing - Cornerstone Realty and Rentals Inc. specializes in rental properties in the NW Suburbs and we are accustomed to marketing our client's properties through various forms of digital media, print me... 04/29/2013

Today in the National Real Estate Post (aka Think Big, Work Small) they talked about the 'averages' in today's lending environment.  I have to say that I am definitely working with the wrong bunch (sorry buyers!) in my area based on these numbers. Average Credit Score of Applicants is 743. Average Down Payment is 19% Average Score of a denied loan is 702. Except for the 'denied loan' score I am far removed for those numbers in my middle class area.  What is average?  What is considered 'good average' anymore? 04/25/2013

I know you've heard it from us before but the way the market is picking up, now is the perfect time to purchase a property on the cheap while you still can. With the housing market picking up, home prices will inevitably rise to much higher prices (which is currently the way the market is trending). So if you strike now while the iron is hot and inventory prices are relatively low, you may be able to walk away with a great deal where you are paying less for your mortgage than you would pay for renting a similar property. I know all this sounds good in theory and yes it would be nice to own your own home, but you're probably thinking that you don't have enough capital to purchase a home, you wouldn't qualify, or the process seems too complicated for you to seriously think about taking th... 04/22/2013

Red Rock in Schaumburg Red Rock is a townhouse community built in the mid 1990's by Town and Country. Floor plans in Red Rock feature 1st floor, 2nd floor and 2 story townhomes with 2 bedrooms, 1-2 baths, and 1 car attached garages. Floor plans range from 1,098 to 1,406 square feet of living space. Red Rock is located in Schaumburg, Illinois on Schaumburg Road north of Barrington. Activity in Red Rock for the past 6 months Homes Sold Lowest Price Highest Price Average Price 2 $126,900 $180,000 $153,450 2 homes sold in Red Rock in Schaumburg from $126,900-$180,000 with an average price of $153,450 within the last 6 months. -Schaumburg- Address City Beds Baths Model List Price Status 2781 Odlum Dr Schaumburg 2 1.1 Pueblo $169,900 Active 262 Sierra Pass Dr Schaumburg 2 2 Expanded $174,999... 04/21/2013

Schaumburg Short Sales Many sellers are finding that their Schaumburg homes cannot be sold for enough to cover the mortgage lien on their properties. So they sell “short” by getting the mortgage lender to accept less than what they owe to clear the mortgage debt. Consider a short sale a 'graceful exit' of your home because of your current financial setbacks. There are many reasons for a short sale too varied to go into detail here but if you are thinking of selling your Schaumburg home because of financial problems, please give me a call.  A short sale is a much better alternative to foreclosure. I've had many success stories with short sales in the Schaumburg Area and will be able to explain to you the entire process. Schaumburg Short Sale Success Story in Weathersfield South 04/16/2013

Real Estate Market Update - Northwest Suburbs - March 2013 Welcome to the place to get those housing questions answered about the real estate market in the Northwest Suburbs! Our local inventory level has continued to decrease and ended at extremely low levels. With this inventory level under 3 months this should be considered a sellers market.  And at these levels, buyers are scrambling for the lower price ranges. Sales levels are increasing but based on this inventory level, they should be crazy. Nope, not for that price! Overall inventory is down but mixed with high market times make this market conflicted. The market is still not energized by the low inventory like it should be. Buyers are still saying 'no thanks' to a good portion of homes currently available. Homes become 'stale'... 04/10/2013