The post below by Noah Levy, Highland Park agent is a great testimonial of how she knows how to help her clients obtain their real estate goals. Whether you are a Buffalo Grove, Long Grove or Vernon Hills agent, its important to really get to know your client's needs.
My goal as an agent is to help you with your real estate needs. In order to do my job and best serve your needs, I need to ask a lot of questions, many which actually don't have anything to do with the house we are viewing, some which don't seem to have any apparent connection to real estate.
I recently had the opportunity to assist a young couple moving from the city to the North Shore with theirhome search. We briefly spoke on the phone and met the following weekend. We looked at several homes in Northbrook, Deerfield and Highland Park that they had seen on MLS. At every stop I asked the couple more questions. They were questions about each house as we walked through but they were also questions about their interests and lifestyles. Do they entertain a lot or are they homebodies? Do they like to cook? Garden? Exercise? Do they spend a lot of time outside? Are they handy? What is more important to them, a large home or a neighborhood feel? Do they want to be able to walk to transportation or a coffee house? We were together for about an hour and in that time I got a much stronger sense of their wants and needs for their next home on the North Shore.
The following weekend I selected a few homes for them to see in Highland Park that I felt met theirneeds. These were at a higher price point, but based on the information I gained the previous weekend I thought that they might provide a better fit for them. They liked two of the homes; one was less expensive than the other and they tended to gravitate toward that one. They came back to show the two contenders to their parents. Their parents liked the more expensive home best for their kids, but it was beyond their financial means.
I suggested putting together the best offer they could make along with a handwritten letter to sellers. My clients liked the idea and asked me to help them with them with the content. I also took the time to meet with the listing agent to present the offer in person instead of faxing it over to her.
To my buyer's disappointment, the sellers came back with a counter although we had told them that thiswas our highest and best. Again, my goal was to get my client into the house. We pulled out the mortgage calculator and reviewed the variance of a mortgage payment if we increased the offering. We went back with a slight increase to the sellers. After a weekend of deliberations the sellers accepted the offer.
My buyers let me help them. I was direct with the questions I asked in order to get an understanding of their housing needs. They were open to rethinking their price point, sharing about themselves to the sellers, and extending a final olive branch to see if we can put the deal together. The results - we sealed a deal on a perfect fit in Highland Park.
Letting your agent help you is essential in today's market - every buyer needs is different, every situation is uniqueand every home for sale has its own story attached to it. My goal is to get my client into a home they love that suits them well. With my sales skills, negotiating tactics and creativity I am able to make their home a reality!
If you want more information regarding homes for sale, listing your property or rentals in the Highland Park, Glencoe, Deerfield,Highwood, Northbrook or surrounding suburbs check out my website http://noahlevyhomes.com give me a call at 312-203-2416 or email me atnoah.levy@cbexchange.com
Spectacular custom home in desirable Herons Landing. Amazing master suite with 2 giant walk-in custom closets & elegant bath. Soaring ceiling in huge great room w/fireplace. Gourmet kitchen w/granite counters, backsplash and new french doors leading to your own vacation paradise. District 96 & award winning Stevenson High School. This price is too good to be true!
Judy
can be reached at 847-602-5435 or via email at info@buffalogrovehomes.com.
Judy has helped people move in and out of the
Chicago Northwest Suburbs. including but not
limited to Long Grove, Kildeer, Buffalo
Grove, Lincolnshire, Vernon Hills, and Wheeling Illinois
I will be happy to tell you the closed price, as soon as it closes next Monday! Please do not hesitate to call me....
Under the auspices of the Buffalo Grove Park District. Big Deal Productions, is presenting its Children's Theatre performance of Honk Jr. during the month of November. Honk Jr. is a re-working of the Hans Anderson classic The Ugly Duckling!
As a very biased aunt( of one of the actresses who played a lead role), the show was simply awesome! If you want my unbiased take, it was a brilliant cast who took to the stage like ducks to water,egged on by a cracking musical score!
Annie, you know that I am always so proud of you in everything that you accomplish... This show was your best performance ever!
For those of you who want to egg perience the show yourself, you are in duck, I mean luck!
The remaining performances will be held at Ivy Hall elementary school, 1072 Ivy Hall Lane in Buffalo Grove on November 20th and 7:30, and November 21 and 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door.
Long Grove Realtor Analyzes Long Grove Real Estate for month of October.
Everywhere I go these days, people are asking me the same question, how is the real estate market doing in the town of Long Grove. As a full time Long Grove Realtor, and a 17 year resident of Long Grove, Il, I can tell you about every Long Grove home on the market , how much it is listed for, and for those that have sold, the sales price.
The below analysis from Coldwell Banker indicates that Long Grove sales in October have increased by 66.7% from last October , (good news) Long Grove home inventory is down( that's also really good news) but Long Grove, Il prices are down! ( that's devastating news for sellers, especially those with high debt ratios.)
The median sales price in October was $480,000 down approx 30.4% from October of last year. Why has the median price decreased by almost 30.4% One reason is that there are more short sales and Bank Owned Property than there have ever been. Yes, there are short sales and bank owned properties in Long Grove. Hard to believe huh? Also, because of these distressed sales, other homes cannot be appraised for normal prices.
Whether you are in the market to buy a home or to sell your current home in Long Grove it is important to keep abreast of the Long Grove market statistics (or at least to work with a Long Grove REALTOR who does.)
If you would like more information about the Chicago Northwest Suburbs,including Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Vernon Hills, and Lake Zurich please do not hesitate to call me at 847-602-5435 or email me at info@buffalogrovehomes.com. I am a realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
Two years after I wrote the article about Sunset Foods coming to town, the residents of Long Grove, Il still only see dirt and no signs of the Sunset Foods strip mall. For many months there were many trucks getting ready for the construction of the Sunset Foods, and then all of a sudden the consturction trucks ceased coming.
Well last week, the Chicago Tribune reported the following....
Hoffman's Lakewood Real Estate Solutions is working with the property's owner, Pinnacle Capital Group, on the $30 million, 141,000-square-foot project. Sunset is scheduled to open in about a year at the southeast corner of Illinois Highway 83 and Aptakisic Road.
Thank you LakeWood Real Estate- maybe now, Long Grove will get the Sunset they finally deserve!
In November of 2007, I wrote the following post....
Many of the residents of Buffalo Grove and Long Grove have heard rumors for the past few years that Sunset Foods may be adding their 5th grocery store at the South East corner of Aptakisic Road and Route 83 in Long Grove. Will this ever be a truism, and not just a rumor? At a recent Village Board meeting, Mike Firsel, co- founder of Mid- America Development Partners pitched the idea to the Village Board and the proposal will now be discussed by Long Grove's Plan Commission.
Village President Maria Rodriguez said the town has been trying to bring in Sunset Foods for more than a year now. "There was a definite cry from residents for practical stores," she said. "It's a family-owned business; it's a high-end grocery store. We think it's going to be an absolutely perfect fit."
Presently Sunset Foods has locations in Highland Park, Lake Forest, Libertville and Northbrook and many Buffalo Grove and Long Grove residents make a 20 minute trip to these other towns in order to do their weekly grocery shopping trip.
Sunset's customers stay loyal to this 70- year family-owned company because of the store's excellent customer service and reputation. The company's employees load the customers' groceries, provide complimentary cooking and nutrition classes and offer to special order products that are not on the shelf. Sunset is also a popular stop for busy moms and professionals like myself since they always have delicious pre- cooked meals, exotic salads and other tasty dishes.
If you would like more information about the Chicago Northwest Suburbs,including Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Vernon Hills, and Lake Zurich please do not hesitate to call me at 847-602-5435
The above information regarding was provided by Judy Greenberg, Buffalo Grove Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Judy can be reached at 847-602-5435 or via email at info@buffalogrovehomes.com. Judy has helped people move in and out of the Chicago Northwest Suburbs.
Everywhere I go these days, people are asking me the same question, how is the real estate market doing in the Buffalo Grove area?
The below analysis from Coldwell Banker indicates that sales in October are up , (good news)Buffalo Grove home inventory is down( that's also really good news) but Buffalo Grove prices are down! ( that's not good news!)
The median sales price in October was $225.000- down approx 20% from October of last year. Why has the median price decreased by almost 20%. One reason is that there are more short sales and Bank Owned Property than there have ever been.
Whether you are in the market to buy a home or to sell your current home in Buffalo Grove, it is important to keep abreast of the Buffalo Grove market statistics (or at least to work with a REALTOR who does.)
If you would like more information about the Chicago Northwest Suburbs,including Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Vernon Hills, and Lake Zurich please do not hesitate to call me at 847-602-5435 or email me at info@buffalogrovehomes.com
One of the charities that I feel passionate about is Cured (Campaign Urging Research for Eosinophilic Disease). This organization was started by a parent of a Stevenson High School student who currently has the disease. Eosinophilic enteropathy is a complicated digestive system disorder in which white blood cells are found in abnormal amounts, creating and autoimmune disorder in which the child cannot consume food without his or her body attacking itself. Take the time to watch this amazing video and you will learn more about the disease.
If you have any unwanted gold, silver or platinum jewelry, come to Flatlanders in Lincolnshire and receive cash in exchange for your jewelry! 10% of the cash given out will be donated to Cured!
When: Wednesday Nov. 18th between 6:30-10
Where: Flatlanders in Lincolnshire
Please RSVP to Cari @ carikroll@aol.com and make it a night out! You can have dinner in the restaurant or have drinks with your friends and hang out while you wait to have your gold/silver weighed! If you would like to come earlier than 6:30 let Cari know OR if you can not make that date but would still love to sell your jewelry and give to CURED we can arrange something else for you.
$8000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended and even expanded for Repeat Buyers! Everything you ever wanted to know and more.....
The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 has recently extended the tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence.The bill also authorized a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified repeat home buyers.
There are so many questions you as a potential may have, and I have provided links below that I feel explain this new tax law the best!I used to be a tax accountant, and I know how complicated the rules can be for even the most seasoned professionals.If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to call me.If I can’t answer , I know some of the best tax accountants in town!
For more information about the first time home buyer’s credit, this is the best information I have read thus far!
By the way….I thought this answer was the most interesting answer that applies to the First Time Home Buyer’s Credit… This really gives new home buyers a lot of opportunity to do pick and choose when they will get the best benefit of the tax credit!
Question...
If I’m qualified for the tax credit and buy a home in 2009 (or 2010), can I apply the tax credit against my 2008 (or 2009) tax return?
Answer
Yes. The law allows taxpayers to choose (“elect”) to treat qualified home purchases in 2009 (or 2010) as if the purchase occurred on December 31, 2008 (or if in 2010, December 31, 2009). This means that the previous year’s income limit (MAGI) applies and the election accelerates when the credit can be claimed. A benefit of this election is that a home buyer in 2009 or 2010 will know their prior year MAGI with certainty, thereby helping the buyer know whether the income limit will reduce their credit amount.
Taxpayers buying a home who wish to claim it on their prior year tax return, but who have already submitted their tax return to the IRS, may file an amended return claiming the tax credit using Form 1040X. You should consult with a tax professional to determine how to arrange this.
If you would like more information about the Chicago Northwest Suburbs,including Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Vernon Hills, and Lake Zurich please do not hesitate to call me at 847-602-5435
The above information regarding was provided by Judy Greenberg, Lincolnshire Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Judy can be reached at 847-602-5435 or via email at info@buffalogrovehomes.com. Judy has helped people move in and out of the Chicago Northwest Suburbs.
Sushi Kushi San 3 in Vernon Hills has recently opened!
Are you looking for a great Sushi place near Vernon Hills, Buffalo Grove or Long Grove?
Sushi Kushi San 3 just opened in Vernon Hills and I highly recommend it! As a matter of fact Sushi Kushi San 3 opened 3 weeks ago, and I have been back 3 times. Sushi Kushi Toyo and Sushi Kushi Too are already located in Lake Forest and Highland Park
The food is amazing and definately very fresh! You will be able to find over 30 unique Sushi rolls on the menu. Besides the Crunchy Roll, I tried the Black Tiger. Yum!
The second Sunday it was open, you couldn't even find a table. That's remarkable for a restaurant in the suburbs.
Sushi Kushi San 3 is located at 281 West Townline Road in Vernon Hills. If you need any further information, you can call them at 847-362-3330.
If you would like more information about the Chicago Northwest Suburbs,including Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Vernon Hills, and Lake Zurich please do not hesitate to call me at 847-602-5435
The above information regarding was provided by Judy Greenberg, Lincolnshire Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Judy can be reached at 847-602-5435 or via email at info@buffalogrovehomes.com. Judy has helped people move in and out of the Chicago Northwest Suburbs.
In Lake County,Illinois, the real estate tax assessments were just recently mailed to all of the homeowners. The scenerio in most households goes like this.
You can't believe it- your real estate taxes have increased, but your real estate property values have decreased.
If you want to protest your Lake County real estate taxes, do it now!
In Lake County Illinois, there are only 30 days after you receive your notice of assessment,(not 30 days after you receive your real estate bill),to file an appeal for that year. In other words, it is imperative at this time to act fast since the assessments were already mailed to the owners of record at the beginning of November, and the due date of the appeals would be at the beginning of December. If you snooze - you will lose! ( your shirt)
An expert can help you appeal your taxes if you don't feel that you have been fairly assessed. According to Carl Peterson, (see below) it is important to verify that your real estate property record card reflects accurate information when you receive the reassessment form. The number of baths, basement area, finished lower level, gross building area, garage type, etc. are important components of your total market value. If you find an error, contact your particular township to discuss these errors and if they agree with your findings, they will correct the property record card to reflect your changes.
If your property record card is already accurate, and you believe your assessment is too high, it is important to find 3 or more comparable properties from your neighborhood which are the most identical to your home. The homes you choose should be the same style, i.e. ranch, split level, 2-story, etc. as your home; be of similar size and have similar amenities, such as bath count, fireplace, garage size, etc. Next, compare the assessments of these properties to yours to determine if you are equitably assessed. If it appears that your assessment is higher than the comparables, you may consider contesting or appealing your assessment. This appeal needs to be filed on the County RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENT APPEAL FORM FOR TAX YEAR 2009
Carl Peterson has been a real estate appraiser for over 30 years and for the past 15 years has been actively involved in the real estate tax assessment field, as a Certified Illinois Assessing Officer (CIAO). He has reviewed thousands of parcels and has worked on correcting the assessment of homes that have been assessed incorrectly. If you would like help in protesting your taxes, please free to contact Carl Peterson of The Third Principal Meridian (708) 826-2101 or by email at The3rdPM@aol.com
If you would like more information about the Chicago Northwest Suburbs,including Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Vernon Hills, and Lake Zurich please do not hesitate to call me at 847-602-5435
The above information regarding was provided by Judy Greenberg, Lincolnshire Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Judy can be reached at 847-602-5435 or via email at info@buffalogrovehomes.com. Judy has helped people move in and out of the Chicago Northwest Suburbs.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
My goal as an agent is to help you with your real estate needs. In order to do my job and best serve your needs, I need to ask a lot of questions, many which actually don't have anything to do with the house we are viewing, some which don't seem to have any apparent connection to real estate.
r agent help you is essential in today's market - every buyer needs is different, every situation is unique and every home for sale has its own story attached to it. My goal is to get my client into a home they love that suits them well. With my sales skills, negotiating tactics and creativity I am able to make their home a reality!
Central A/C
( your shirt)
;)
;)
