ingenious little tips for around the home - 12/31/11 02:02 PM
Ideas to Make Life Easier Why didn’t I think of that?! We guarantee you’ll be uttering those words more than once at these ingenious little tips, tricks and ideas that solve everyday problems.Hull strawberries easily using a straw.Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes. Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40.Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch boxby securing with a rubber band.Overhaul your linen cupboard, store bed linen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.Pump up the … (2 comments)

help and guidance from a real estate professional - 12/31/11 01:12 PM

If you are considering a home purchase, be sure you don’t go it alone.  Buying a home in today’s market requires help and guidance from a real estate professional.  With multiple parties involved in most real estate transactions, pursuing a home alone, whether new or resale, would make you feel like a goldfish in a pool of sharks.
The following are some excellent home buying tips to consider and questions to ask when selecting a real estate agent to look out for your best interests:
First and foremost, select an agent who will represent you exclusively.  This type of representation … (0 comments)

it's time to call in a professional manager - 12/29/11 03:39 AM

1. Know what you need. Start your search by making a list of what you’d like the management company to do. You can put anything on the list, as long as the HOA board keeps the responsibility to oversee the management company’s actions. Knowing what your HOA needs will help you focus your search. 
2. Choose a person or committee to do the preliminary search. Expect to devote about 20 hours to choosing a company, says Elizabeth White, an attorney at LeClairRyan in Williamsburg, Va., who represents community associations.
3. Ask if your state requires some level of manager licensing. … (3 comments)

ways to work with the restrictions of a HOA - 12/29/11 03:30 AM

Here are seven crazy examples of laws and HOA rules:
1. Can't park your car in your own driveway.
In Odessa, Fla., a resident was fined by his board for parking his pickup truck in his own driveway because it wouldn’t fit in his garage. Not our problem, the HOA basically told him before slapping him with a lawsuit. After a protracted legal battle, he has since won the right to park his car, but only after two years and $200,000 in legal fees.
2. Don’t plant too many roses.
While foreclosure is an increasingly real threat to homeowners, few … (2 comments)

Lenders avoid communities with high HOA fee delinquencies - 12/29/11 03:21 AM

Just a few people who stop paying their HOA fees cut into an association’s budget fast. Annual median home owners association fees are $420 for single-family homes and $2,400 for condos, the U.S. Census Bureau says.
HOA and condominium delinquency rates have more than doubled since 2005. Today, 65% of associations have dues delinquency rates exceeding 5%, up from just 19% of associations in 2005. More than 30% have delinquency rates exceeding 10%, and for one in 10—or close to 30,000 associations—the rate is more than 20%, CAI data shows.
Those fees pay for pools, clubhouses, tennis courts, landscaping, community … (0 comments)

avoid buying into associations where common areas aren’t spiffy - 12/29/11 02:48 AM

Checklist: A pro is the way to go if:
Your HOA must manage a lot of building systems, amenities, and properties. Home owners don’t have time to volunteer to manage the association. Home owners don’t have the skills to do association work, such as depositing and recording dues checks or managing a pool. The management companies you’re considering can get discounts from contractors or service providers, such as insurance companies, and those discounts are important to your HOA. Our HOA doesn’t need a professional manager
OK, if the issues above don’t stand in your way, you can save money by … (2 comments)

significantly reduce energy consumption - 12/29/11 12:54 AM
  Housing Goes "Green" Wherever you turn these days, it seems that someone is talking about "Green", or "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED") certified buildings, and "Zero Energy Homes". Each of these share a commitment to reduced energy consumption and the "re-use, repurposing and recycling of materials", "improved indoor air quality" and use of "environmentally friendly" and "renewable products". Green or LEED buildings generally generate 20 to 70 percent in energy savings, while a Zero Energy Home (ZEH) by definition must generate enough energy to meet or exceed its own heating, cooling and electrical needs in any given year. … (2 comments)

turn Gmail into an assistant for your overworked memory - 12/28/11 02:14 AM
Schedule Emails & Set Reminders: Boomerang for Gmail Have you ever wished you could tell an email message to "go away and come back later"?
Have you ever wished your email would remind you when you haven't heard back from someone?
Have you ever wished you could schedule an email to be sent later?
If you use Gmail, then you just might be in luck. Boomerang is a free plug-in for the Firefox 3.6+ and Google Chrome 5.0+ web browser which will allow you to add these great functions to Gmail.
With this super handy plugin, you can turn Gmail into … (4 comments)

WHEN A HOME INSPECTOR WRITES "DOESN'T MEET CODE". . . . . Best Business Practices. - 12/28/11 01:57 AM
When Buyers make a decision to have me to prepare an offer on the home they desire, I make an effort to insure their decision is not an emotional one.  What I mean by this is I provide them all of the disclosures and encourage them to join me in conducting an additional "technical tour" of the property before I submit the offer. 
On this tour I remind them the home was constructed by human hands.  I further remind them human hands are not perfect.  This "technical tour" helps them to discover things they did not notice the first time.  On this … (4 comments)

what to do when your roof is loaded with snow. - 12/27/11 07:27 PM
http://thetaylormaderealtor.housingtrendsenewsletter.com/
Link to NBA basketball schedule...
http://www.nba.com/bulls/schedule/
Snow removal from roofs is rarely necessary, but when it is, it’s a dangerous job. Tips and advice about what to do when your roof is loaded with snow.
When (if ever) is it necessary?The critical factor in determining excessive snow loads on your roof isn’t the depth of the snow, it’s the weight, says home improvement expert Jon Eakes. That’s because wet snow is considerably heavier than dry, fluffy snow. In fact, 6 inches of wet snow is equal to the weight of about 38 inches of dry snow.The good news is that residential … (2 comments)

a genuine sustained sales recovery appears to be developing - 12/27/11 05:45 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDZVNBYf66c&feature=youtu.be
Existing-home sales rose again in November and remain above a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Also released today were periodic benchmark revisions with downward adjustments to sales and inventory data since 2007, led by a decline in for-sale-by-owners.
Although rebenchmarking resulted in lower adjustments to several years of home sales data, the month-to-month characterization of market conditions did not change. There are no changes to home prices or month’s supply.
The latest monthly data shows total existing-home sales1, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, increased 4.0 percent to a seasonally … (2 comments)

Secret Shoppers & Secret Sellers in Today’s Real Estate Market - 12/27/11 12:04 AM
I have to share with my Buyers during our initial meeting the fact not every property is on the market.  I explain to them what I really mean in my statement is not every property on the market is being offered by a Motivated Seller.  I help them to understand Motivated Sellers simply make their homes easy to tour.  When the decision is made for the Buyer to submit an offer, the Seller provides all the disclosures in advance to help the Buyer to make an educated decision, and they respond to an offer with respect in a timely fashion.  Tni below gives a humorous spin … (4 comments)

Should a Seller disclose EVERYTHING? Not always! - 12/26/11 11:31 PM
Fortunately in Illinois there are 22 simple questions a Seller is asked on the Sellers Disclosure form included in the listing package, and made a part of the sales contract when the Buyer and Seller execute a contract to purchase a home.  Sally shares an amusing story on how detailed a Seller should be when disclosing "everything" about their home, lot, block, neighbors, and/or neighborhood?
I too live in a neighborhood located on the edge of nature.  It is very natural to hear Coyotes howling, see Deer walking down the middle of the street, and encounter wild Turkeys on the nearby … (4 comments)

how tough it is to qualify for a mortgage these days - 12/26/11 10:52 PM
Paul Mullings shares excellent points of what Lenders really look for when deciding on grant a mortgage approval.   You're thinking about buying a home, but you're worried by the reports of how tough it is to qualify for a mortgage these days and how big a down payment is required. Yes, credit standards are higher now than they were a few years ago. But they actually are about the same as in the mid-1990s. Factor in today's historically low interest rates and current home prices, and affordable mortgages are within reach for many qualified borrowers who may have been hesitant … (4 comments)

Divorce and Real Estate Can Be Sticky - 12/26/11 10:35 PM

One of the roles I perform as a Realtor for my Valued Clients is of a "reluctant marriage counselor!"  Meaning, couples who are thinking of divorce will eventually consider using their home as a weapon against one another.  Usually, one or both spouses will contact me confidentially and ask me to put the home on the market.  Experience has taught me to stay very neutral and to ask them to keep me neutral.  I recommend I make the market evaluation presentation to the both of them in person at their home.  When I do meet with them, I ask them at the end … (2 comments)

Cinnamon And Honey - how they can improve health - 12/24/11 04:02 AM
Here Is A Tip On Cinnamon And Honey     Whoever  Thought?     Honey is  the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot. It will do what some call turning to sugar. In reality honey is always honey. However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time  it will do What I rather call "crystallizing" When this happens I loosen the lid, Boil some water, and sit the honey container in the hot water, Turn off the heat and let it liquefy. It is then as good as it ever was. Never boil honey or put it in a microwave. To do so will kill … (2 comments)

consider before purchasing a condo - 12/24/11 03:10 AM
As we all know the condo market in Chicago, can be quite tricky when looking for financing.  Here are 10 Things that you should consider before purchasing a condo:
1.        How much are the monthly condo association fee’s and what do they cover?
2.       What are the specific rules of the condo? Will they allow you to rent the condo out in the future if you decide to purchase a Single Family residence? Do they allow pets?
3.       How much does the association have in reserves?  This is important to know if any unexpected costs come up.  Let’s say there is … (2 comments)

What You See Outside Often Translates Inside - 12/21/11 11:23 PM
Always when I am showing homes to my Valued Buyers I think like a Home Inspector.  Because the touring experience can be very emotional especially when Buyers show those signs of falling in love with the home, I keep myself reminded the home was made by human hands.  Meaning, I look for the maintenance and/or repair issues and point them out before we prepare an offer.  I also make a point to share what I found with the Listing Broker so we can problem solve together long before they can become deal-breakers.  This inspector shares a good example...
Via Jay Markanich - … (4 comments)

real estate markets are localized economic systems - 12/21/11 10:59 PM
How do you know if your market’s really recovering?
Regardless of what buyers and sellers hear in the national media, real estate markets are localized economic systems with complex factors influencing pricing, inventory, and trends.
So how do you know if the market has hit bottom, is still sliding down, or is showing signs of recovery? What key indicator should most influence your opinion?
According to the talented real estate mind of Bernice Ross, there’s one simple, precise indicator: How many months of inventory are on the market. Here’s Ross’ opinion on market health:
More than 8 months inventory = “rocky buyer’s … (2 comments)

information-age, Gen-Y, first-time buyers on the right road - 12/21/11 09:04 PM
Younger buyers Dale Taylor from REMAX All Properties in New Lenox (dtaylor.illinoisproperty.com) has made it his mission to get the information-age, Gen-Y, first-time buyers on the right road to responsible homeownership. And lots of times that means working with potential buyers for months or even years before an actual purchase is made because they need to get their credit in order and save enough money for a down payment.
“Many of them come in, fearing to check their credit rating,” Taylor said, “but I get them to understand that knowledge is power. If we need to put together a plan of … (2 comments)

total blind spot when it comes to storing names - 12/06/11 03:08 PM
I was in a check out line a Sam's club and a past client overheard my voice.  I hear in the distance, "is that my Realtor Dale Taylor's voice I hear?"  As she approached me she said, "I bet you don't remember my name?"  She was correct I didn't for the moment.  What I did remember was all three homes I sold her over the past 20 years.  I admitted to her I could not think of her name, but I told her I remembered the first home I sold her in Riverdale and the last home I sold her in Richton … (6 comments)

 
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Frankfort, IL

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Re/Max All Properties New Lenox Illinois

Address: dale taylor, 1938 e lincoln highway, suite 218, New Lenox, IL, 60451

Office Phone: (815) 485-5500

Cell Phone: (708) 439-0165

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