Blurbs from the Burbs

New Construction in Long Grove- your real estate update!

2008-11-23T22:20:14Z

New Construction in Long Grove- Real Estate November 2008 Update

Have you always wanted to build your Dream Home, but couldn't afford it? Prices were just a little too high and as your budget increased, the price of new construction homes in Long Grove , or any other area for that matter skyrocketed. Not so anymore. Now it's the buyers that are controlling the market.

Sellers in the Long Grove area are starting to realize that they need to reduce their prices substantially . If you are Looking to buy a new construction home, in Long Grove, Illinois- Now may be a great time to get into the game , "Let's Make A New Construction Deal" with the local builders.

Long Grove New Construction includes Ravenna, Prairie Trails, East Gate Estates and Long Meadow Farms

Below is the active list of new Construction Homes presently on the Market in Long Grove. As you can see from this analysis, there are substantial reductions in some of the Long Grove new construction listings. Today one of the builders actually lowered their price by over $400,000, a huge price reduction to say the least!

If you want to get in the new construction game, don't hesitate to call me.

I can help you in the purchase or sale of Long Grove New Construction, a Long Grove single family home or a Long Grove executive rental. I am available 24/7 to make appointments!

Black Friday Ads

2008-11-22T00:48:31Z

Black Friday Ads-its time to shop!( for some of you)

I thought I would share with you a great tool, which was just sent t me, if you are planning to shop the day after Thanksgiving for great deals. The attached are the closely held ads / products that retailers will be advertising.

http://bfads.net/Walmart or http://bfads.net/Adscans

These links provide 40+ stores listing what will be in their "Black Friday ads". Click on the stores that may interest you. The first link will list the products and prices that each store will have without the pictures. The second one has the same info, but you see the ads when you click on it.

For some of us who hate sales, me included, even though I posted this blog- no savings would ever be worth it for standing in line and making my way through the crowds. I would really rather be taking buyers to my beautiful listings in Buffalo Grove, Long Grove and Lincolnshire...

If you want more information regarding specific real estate sales in the Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, Vernon Hills, Lake Zurich and Lincolnshire area, please do not hesitate to call me at 847-602-5435 , email me at info@buffalogrovehomes.com or check out my website at www.buffalogrovehomes.comor www.buffalogroveareahomes.com . I can help you in the purchase or sale of a Buffalo Grove Condo, Buffalo Grove Townhouse, Buffalo Grove single family home or a Buffalo Grove rental. I am available 24/7 to make appointments!

Lake County Illinois- Real Tax Appeal Protest time- Don't snooze or you will lose!

2008-11-17T22:52:53Z

In Lake County,Illinois, the real estate tax assessments were just recently mailed to all of the homeowners of Lake County. In Illinois, there are only 30 days after you receive your notice of assessment,(not 3 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 2008

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

Real Estate Urgency... How to sell homes in a slow market?

2008-11-15T23:16:55Z

No one is in a hurry in today's real estate market...Actually, everyone is procrastinating... Let me explain the real estate strategy of creating a sense of urgency that I have just utilized to help me sell a home in today's slow market.

Creating Urgency! Strategy 6 in selling a home for the highest price in the shortest amount of time..

One of my sellers recently had their beautiful home on the market. The sellers were the original owners and had immaculately maintained this home. The home received many showings and everyone who saw it gave positive feedback. All the prospective buyers were procrastinating.

After 3 months, the sellers were getting a little frustrated and concerned that their home would not sell for a fair price. They actually received a few ridiculously lowball offers from buyers who wanted to test whether my seller would give away the house. All the serious buyers were procrastinating

In another market this house would have sold in a week and the sellers would be able to move on. All that's well and good but as a realtor, I have to deal with the present market and still get the best possible price. I don't know about other realtors, but I'm always thinking about my sellers and what the next plan should be. This is what I suggested to my client and the outcome was most favorable.

I needed to create urgency- there were 6 buyers who expressed interest in my seller's home along the way, but for some reason they weren't going to pull the trigger and pay a fair price... The serious Buyers were procrastinating. Another similar, but not as maintained home house in the neighborhood sold for much lower than it should have, so buyers were actually basing their offers for this home on that previous sale.

In order to create urgency, I suggested to my clients to come to a bottom line in their head and present it to the 5 buyers who had already expressed interest in their home. One of the parties immediately took us seriously and wrote a contract based on this bottom line price. 3 days later, another one of the parties saw that that the home was under contract, and wanted to write a back up offer. My client accepted this back up offer in case their original offer fell through. Although the second offer was a better offer, my clients did not go back on their word to the first buyer, but they did inform the first buyer that since they had another offer... they would not fix any items that came up on inspection... The first party really wanted the house and agreed to take the house as is.. I guess in order for you to beat procrastination, you have to create a sense urgency

This is strategy 6 in my series or tips for selling/ buying your home. If you would like to read my previous posts in my strategy a week series, I have include them below for your convenience.

Strategy 5 Sellers Guide to hiring a realtor whether its in Buffalo Grove Illinois or Topeka Kansas

Strategy 4 How does a buyer find the best deal

Strategy 3 Real estate Marketing 101 the good ole fashion way

Strategy 2 Why you should hire a local realtor when buying a home?

Strategy 1 Why you should take pictures of your home in all seasons

If you want more information regarding specific real estate sales in the Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, and Lincolnshire area, please do not hesitate to call me at 847-602-5435 , email me at info@buffalogrovehomes.com or check out my website at www.buffalogrovehomes.com or www.buffalogroveareahomes.com . I can help you in the purchase or sale of a Buffalo Grove Condo, Buffalo Grove Townhouse, Buffalo Grove single family home or a Buffalo Grove rental. I am available 24/7 to make appointments!

Stevenson High School- Illinois received Bright A+ Award

2008-11-10T21:33:58Z

Adlai Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire- Illinois has again received the School Search Bright A+ award for Academic Excellence. Stevenson Highschool is one of only 60 Illinois school districts out of 871 in the state honored with this award. Other Lake County high school districts honored were Barrington, Deerifield, Lake Forest, Lake Zurich and Libertyville. Also honored were three of Stevenson's feeder schools, Aptakisic Tripp District 102, Kildeer- Countrysde District 96 and Lincolnshire- Prairie View District 103.

Whether you have children or not, buying a home in a community with good schools is very important. Well regarded schools increase property values and add to the desirability of a community.

Students who live in certain areas of Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove, Long Grove attend Stevenson High School if they are included in the school's district boundaries. A small percentage of Vernon Hills, Riverwoods, Lake Zurich and Hawthorn Woods residents also attend Stevenson Highschool The Junior High feeder schools include Woodlawn Junior High(District 96), Aptakistic Junior High(District 102), Daniel Wright Junior High (District 103) and portions of West Oak Junior High and Fremont Junior High Schools( District 76).

Schools are often the backbone of the community. Stevenson High School is included annually in the School Watch and School Match listings of schools that offer features most sought by parents . As both a realtor and mother of 3 boys teenage boys, I understand the value of a good education and the challenges of finding the right educational match. Please check out my website www.buffalogrovehomes.com or www.buffalogroveareahomes.com to find additional links to school web pages, school activities and just about anything you need to do your due diligence on your quest to determine the best local area schools.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you are considering a move to Chicago Northwest Suburbs, you owe it to yourself to talk with Judy Greenberg at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Buffalo Grove, Illinois

www.buffalogrovehomes.com

www.movetolonggrove.com

Royal Melbourne Long Grove- YOUR NEXT DREAM HOME!

2008-11-08T07:28:20Z

4719 Wellington, Long Grove, IL Just Reduced to $1799,900

Long Grove Spectacular Home in Gated Community of Royal Melbourne

5BR/4.5BA Single Family House

Just Reduced to $1799,900- Unbelievable Buy

Year Built	1995
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	4 full, 1 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$353 per month

DESCRIPTION

THIS EXQUISITE 7000 SQ FT CUSTOM HOME LOCATED IN THE PRESTIGIOUS GATED COMMUNITY OF ROYAL MELBOURNE SPEAKS TO UNCOMPROMISED QUALITY. THE FINEST APPOINTMENTS & DETAILS INCLUDE EXTRAORDINARY MILLWORK,LIMESTONE FLRS,CROWN MLDG & CUSTOM LIGHTING. UNBELIEVABLE GOURMET KITCHEN W/ALDER CABINETRY,GRANITE COUNTERTOPS & TOP OF THE LINE APPLIANCES. STUNNING MASTER SUITE W/SEP EXERCISE RM, 2 WALK-INS & LIMESTONE BATH.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor
Tile floor	Family room	Living room
Bonus/Rec room	Office/Den	Dining room
Breakfast nook	Dishwasher	Refrigerator
Stove/Oven	Microwave	Granite countertop
Stainless steel appliances	Attic	Basement
Washer	Dryer	Laundry area - inside
Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard	Jacuzzi/Whirlpool

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking	Swimming pool(s)	Tennis court(s)
Golf course	Gated property

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Judy Greenberg

Coldwell Banker

847-602-5435

For sale by agent/broker

Gorgeous Lake Zurich Home with Lake Rights-Best Buy of Lake Zurich Real Estate

2008-11-01T08:08:35Z

Judy Greenberg | Coldwell Banker | 847-602-5435

1119 Betty Dr, Lake Zurich, IL

Lake Zurich 4 bedroom home with Lake rights

4BR/2.5BA Single Family House

offered at $319,900

Year Built	1977
Sq Footage	2,124
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	11,104 sqft
HOA/Maint	$35 per month

DESCRIPTION

Gorgeous 4 bedroom, 2.1 bath home in desirable Lake Zurich Heights neighborhood w/lake rights! Cozy family room w/fireplace! Kitchen redone in 2002! Large basement, great for entertaining! Breathtaking yard w/deck and gazebo! Move in and feel right at home!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Fireplace	Hardwood floor
Family room	Living room	Dining room
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Basement	Washer	Dryer
Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Lake

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Judy Greenberg

Coldwell Banker

847-602-5435

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Oct 31, 2008, 11:32am PDT

website for craigs list

Please visit my website at www.buffalogrovehomes.com, www.buffalogroveareahomes.com or www.judygreenberg.com
for more great properties.

Trick or Treat Hours in Buffalo Grove, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire and Long Grove

2008-10-30T23:44:55Z

Buffalo Grove

Trick-or-treating will be on Friday, October 31 from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The Village wants to remind everyone to enjoy Halloween safely. Whenever possible, parents please insure that you or other responsible adults accompany children.

Vernon Hills and Lincolnshire.

The Village of Vernon Hills and Lincolnshire have designated Friday, October 31, from 4 PM to 8 PM for trick- or treating!

Long Grove- No hours have been designated... its up to the parent's discretion

Be Safe....Have a great day!

Don't Make a Costly Mistake Listing Your Home with A Scary Agent! Before You List Your Home... For A Real Treat - Give me a Call!

Long Grove/ Buffalo Grove - School District 96... looking for a home for a family with a disabled child.

2008-10-28T21:29:59Z

Were you planning to move, but do not want to put your home up for sale?

Do you live in Buffalo Grove or Long Grove?

Is your home in School District 96?

Do you have 4 bedrooms and at least 3 full baths?

Is there a full bedroom and bath on the first floor?

Did you say yes to all of these questions?

You say it is a buyer's market... Well my buyer is looking for a home that meets these qualifications and is having difficulty. Their child is disabled and they need a home with these special features.. If you can say yes to all of the above questions, please give me a call... Wouldn't it be nice to sell your home without putting it on the market...

Lake County Voting... Need the 411?

2008-10-28T19:04:43Z

Early Voting. in Lake County...

There are still two more days to vote early... Avoid the lines and vote before October 30^th. Click here for the times and places voting early. http://www.co.lake.il.us/cntyclk/pdfs/EVhours.pdf

Early Voting Centers will be open seven days a week through October 30th, between 9AM and 5PM Monday through Saturday.

Voting early? Bring an IL Photo ID showing a current address. Early voters can vote at any Lake County Early Voting Location, not only the Early Polling Center nearest your home.

Lake County Candidates- You don't have to be surprised when you get to the poll.

Do you want a list of candidates that are on the voting ballot in Lake County?

Still want more information about voting... This is a complete voting resource...

Ok so you don't know who to vote for?

Try clicking on this great voting website to determine which candidate best represents your views.

Seller's Guide to hiring a realtor.... whether its in Buffalo Grove Illinois or Topeka Kansas

2008-10-27T23:36:41Z

Suppose you are going to list your home.. How do you make a knowlegdable decision of which realtor to hire...

Here's the scenario...you just interviewed 3 local realtors in town... They each came to your home, gave you a market analysis of your property and presented their excellent credentials and qualifications. You seen to have a good rapport with all of them... How do you choose the best realtor?

Its easy- put their names in a hat and pick one...

Just kidding... Research shows that best choosing a realtor that has the most internet presence will sell your home faster... How can you verify if a certain realtor is technological advanced? Google their name or even the town you live in and see if their website appears on the first few pages Since 85% of the buyers begin their search on the internet, there should be a requirement that your agent needs to be internet savvy.

Do any of the realtors you just interviewed have their own blog, members of Active Rain, use Craigs list, Backpage or Twitter? If the realtor you are interviewing rolls their eyes indicating they do not have a clue , you will know that they aren't on the cutting edge of technology, and not up to date on all of the possible ways to market your property.

Seller's you are in the driver's seat and you need to choose the best realtor in the area who will be do the best job for you!

This is strategy 5 in my series or tips for selling/ buying your home. If you would like to read my previous posts in my strategy a week series, I have include them below for your convenience.

Strategy 4 -How does a buyer find the best deal

Strategy 3 Real estate Marketing 101 the good ole fashion way

Strategy 2- Why you should hire a local realtor when buying a home?

Strategy 1- Why you should take pictures of your home in all seasons

I love my Job by Judy Greenberg of Coldwell Banker- Buffalo Grove Illinois

2008-10-24T23:36:00Z

One of my favorite bloggers Cynthia Tilighman tagged me and asked me to explain why I love my job! That was easy for me...

I love my job. I love helping other people find the home of their dreams and selling homes for the highest price possible.

I also like helping people with many other details of their life. Due to the nature of my career and that I am connected to many people in the community, people have asked me the following questions....

Do you know a good painter in the Buffalo Grove area? I do, just call me or go to my website...

Do you know a good window washer in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago? Yes!

Do you know a good tax accountant in Lincolnshire? Yes! Yes! Yes! All normal questions for a realtor to receive.... the next question was a little more obscure.

A recent client asked me if I knew any cute women between the ages of 40-50 that I could fix him up with? Lucky for this guy was that I fixed him up and he is getting married this June. Not lucky for me since he was my client and he was going to buy a luxurious home before he met the girl. After I fixed him up and he fell in love, he changed his mind about buying a home and moved in with his new girlfriend. Although I didn't get the immediate sale, I was so happy he found his soulmate.

Other questions people ask are related to them just moving in a new neighborhood, new town, new country etc.

Do you know a good preschool for my 4 year old in Long grove, Illinois? Yes!

Do you know of a Conservative Synogogue or Catholic Church in Buffalo Grove? Yes!

Where is the best ballet studio? Call me and I will tell you!

Where should my children play tennis? I could help you find the information also!

For answers to all of these questions, you can click on my websites, www.buffalogrovehomes.com, or www.buffalogroveareahomes.com. It will answer all of your questions regarding Buffalo Grove Real Estate, Long Grove Real Estate,, Vernon Hills and Lincolnshire Real Estate ....and everything else you wanted to know about the area.

P.S. My hairdresser who thinks I know everyone asked me the strangest request last week. Because she just moved hair salons, she's afraid that many of her previous clients won't be able to find her. She asked if I could help her locate her previous clients. She's the greatest so I wanted to let anyone looking for Linda Ko, or her other name Linda Kim that she is located now at Michael Thomas Hair Salon in Buffalo Grove.

I tagged Greg Nino and Randy Prothero to tell us how much you love your job.... Sorry guys they made me do it. This part of my job, I'm not sure if I like!

If you want more information regarding specific real estate sales in the Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, and Lincolnshire area, please do not hesitate to call me.

Buffalo Grove Real Estate- 4 bedroom 2 1/2 bath home in Stevenson High School - Just Reduced!

2008-10-23T22:50:44Z

Judy Greenberg | Coldwell Banker | 847-602-5435

731 Dunhill, Buffalo Grove, IL

Gorgeous Buffalo Grove 2 Story Colonial on wonderful lot!

4BR/2.5BA Single Family House

offered at $419,900

Year Built	1980
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

PREPARE TO BE IMPRESSED W/THIS HOME! UPDATED KITCHEN W/GRANITE COUNTERTOPS,SEPARATE EATING AREA & TOP OF THE LINE APPLIANCES. VERY LARGE BEDROOMS. SPACIOUS FAMILY ROOM W/BRICK FIREPLACE. HUGE MUDROOM. MATURE, PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPING W/LARGE PATIO, UNDERGROUND SPRINKLER SYSTEM & SECURITY SYSTEM. ROOF AND MAINTENANCE FREE SIDING NEW IN 2002. STEVENSON HS & DISTRICT 102. THIS HOUSE IS PRICED TO SELL QUICKLY

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
Family room	Living room	Bonus/Rec room
Dining room	Dishwasher	Refrigerator
Stove/Oven	Microwave	Granite countertop
Basement	Washer	Dryer
Laundry area - inside

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Judy Greenberg

Coldwell Banker

847-602-5435

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Oct 23, 2008, 8:32pm PDT

website for craigs list

Please visit my website at www.buffalogrovehomes.com, www.buffalogroveareahomes.com or www.judygreenberg.com
for more great properties.

Buffalo Grove Condo and Townhouse Real Estate Sales - September of 2008

2008-10-22T22:36:50Z

Are you curious as to what Buffalo Grove closed real estate sales were in Sepember?

Whether you are in the market to buy a townhousehome or to sell your condo, it is important to keep abreast of market statistics (or at least to work with a knowledgeable REALTOR who does). Newspapers, national magazines, and television news report on regional and national trends, but don't do a very good job of explaining the local real estate market in Buffalo Grove. The number of new housing starts nationwide or the percentage increase in foreclosures or short sales in the entire state have very little, if any, bearing on how quickly your Buffalo Grove townhome is worth in Hidden Lake.

Everywhere I go these days, people are asking me the same question, how is the real estate market doing? My answer is always dependent on where or in which segment of the market you are talking about? For example, the first time home buyer market is as strong or stronger than ever. Those people who were renters and don't have anything to sell are strong buyers and sellers in this market can sell their home relatively fast. Also homes in desirable neighborhoods, can sell within a few days if the homes are situated in a great location, updated and priced correctly or even aggressively.

Do you live next door to someone who just sold their condo and you wanted to know the sales price?Since it would be considered a faux pas to ask your new neighbors what they paid for their home, just click on the neighbor's house green button, complete the data on the form including the entire address and I will be happy to provide you with the information you are looking for.

The chart below is an analysis fo the Buffalo Grove closed sales of attached homes in September

To recap, these 12 homes sold for 86. 7 percent of the asking price. The inventory is high though. There are currently 306 homes on the market. My feeling is that unless you price your home aggressively, it may take you a long time to sell. The homes in red represent short sales.

Would you like to subscribe to this blog....Blurbs from the Burbs?

Buffalo Grove condos and townhomes- How does a buyer find the best deal?

2008-10-22T08:50:58Z

To find a A great buy in Buffalo Grove is like looking for a needle in a haystack... There are currently 306 Buffalo Grove townhomes and condos on the market.

Check with your realtor.... A qualified realtor will steer you in the right direction of not only aiding you in searching for a home that meets your qualifications, but one that is also a great deal.

In my next post, Stay tuned, I will present all of the Closed Real Estate Sales in Buffalo Grove in October... Two of them were short sales, and the buyers purchased them at unbelievable prices

Out of the 306 townhouse and Condos in Buffalo grove, currently there are 16 short sales and 12 bank owned properties. There are also many relocation corporate owned properties. Which one best suits your needs both financially and for your family? Do you want to buy one for investment or one that you are going to live in... You can read my previous post where an investor bought a property without a realtor, but didn't realize the condo association wouldn't let him rent it out.

My last client just purchased the hottest deal in Buffalo Grove- maybe with my help you too could get the next best deal!