They Might be Playing at Wrigley Field this WINTER - But Not Chicago Cubs Baseball! - 05/30/08 10:10 AM
Reports suggest the National Hockey League is ready to announce this coming winter's Second Annual Outdoor Winter Classic may be played in Chicago - at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs!
(BTW - could it be the World Champion 2008 Chicago Cubs by January? Stay tuned here!)
Although the official … (1 comments)
Lil' Buddy's Blog - Stop Bicycle Thieves Cold This Summer! - 05/30/08 09:01 AM
THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG!
Here I am in my special "Blog Writing" Office - getting ready to work on this week's post!
You'd probably think a Little White Dog like me, with my short little … (1 comments)
CHICAGO METRO AVERAGE HOME PRICE UP OVER 16% - Despite Perception To The Contrary! - 05/28/08 10:30 AM
Findings from the Quarterly Survey of Home Prices, published by the Federal Housing Finance Board, show First Quarter, 2008 Chicago Average Home Prices increasing by 16.4% over the First Quarter, 2007.
Although the Chicago Real Estate Market is very large and diverse, and contains numerous pockets of varied growth or decline, … (2 comments)
GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS: Fannie & Freddie to Ditch "Declining Market" Areas - Not So for PMI Companies! - 05/27/08 10:19 PM
Since the beginning of 2008, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac began to score U.S. Zips and Market Areas into those showing stability, and those in decline, based on sales price and units sold statistics versus last year.
Although few declining market areas have been identified here in Chicago and our suburbs, … (4 comments)
FHA LOANS! The Best Option for Low-Down-Payment Buyers with Blemished Credit? NOT SO FAST! - 05/27/08 05:29 PM
Crazy weather here in Chicago these days, folks! Yesterday - 84 degrees, sunny! Today - 46 degrees, super-windy, gray and cloudy! They say Summer will be here before you know it. Many of us in Chicago are beginning to wonder!
If you read the news on the web, and listen to many Mortgage … (8 comments)
Chicago IL Market Statistics Update - May 26, 2008 - 05/26/08 08:38 AM
Good Morning!
Enjoy your Memorial Day Holiday, and please take some time to remember the meaning of today. Many in service of our country have sacrificed their lives to make sure we continue to live free!
Here's the latest Stat Summary on the Chicago Real Estate Market, based on data pulled yesterday … (0 comments)
Chicago Mirrors Many U.S. Cities with Housing Price Stabilty, Some Growth, Downtown! - 05/25/08 11:40 PM
We hope you're enjoying your Memorial Day weekend! Please take a minute or two to remember those who sacrificed bravely for our country.
Despite the recent downturn in the Chicago Real Estate Market, we have found that the downturn has not affected all areas of the city and suburbs equally. Indeed, … (1 comments)
Dean's Team just took a new Chicago Loop Condo listing that typifies living in Downtown Chicago - right in the prestigious River North Neighborhood - just north of The Chicago Loop!
The New Chicago Trump Tower, and our famous Terra Cotta Wrigley Building are just steps away, … (1 comments)
Lil' Buddy's Blog - Hey, You Dogs, Head Down to the Lake - CHICAGO BEACHES ON LAKE MICHIGAN OPEN FRIDAY! - 05/22/08 11:05 PM
THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG!
One of the Annual Rites of The Great Chicago Summer is ready to roll, you dogs!
Chicago's 26-miles of Beautiful Public Beaches, right on Lake Michigan, open for swimming on Friday, … (3 comments)
LOW OFFER ACCEPTED! Watch Out, Here Comes the Inspection Report! - 05/21/08 06:06 PM
Hey, folks!
I'm generally a cool, mild-mannered guy - most of the time! Mr. Cucumber - that's what they call me!
But something seems to be happening with greater regularity that is really DRIVING ME CRAZY - in fact, please tell me, you Listing Agents - am I crazy?
Tough negotiation, … (6 comments)
OPEN HOUSES - Are They Still Useful for Selling Homes? - 05/21/08 10:14 AM
It's Hump Day, Folks - you're almost to Memorial Day Weekend! Hang in there!
Realtors - do you still conduct public Open Houses? Or, have they become ancient history in your business?
When I was new in the business, about the time Andrew Jackson was President, my wife and I used … (8 comments)
Chicago IL Market Statistics Update - May 19, 2008 - 05/19/08 10:39 AM
Good Morning!
Here's the latest Stat Summary on the Chicago Real Estate Market, based on data pulled yesterday evening, May 18, 2008 -
Active Listing Inventory shows us another warmer-weather increase! Units Pending Sale ("Just Sold"), Sold Units, and Expired Listings, in mid-month mode, showed nominal changes from last week's numbers. Average … (4 comments)
MORTGAGE INSURANCE PREMIUMS Would Rise Under New FHA Plan! - 05/18/08 09:37 PM
Howdy from Chicago, Partner!
Today, FHA Loans seem to be the last, best option for home buyers with low down payment, or with blemished credit and low FICO scores. Under new guidelines FHA plans to implement this year, those with lower credit scores (less than 680, as determined by the middle … (0 comments)
SMOKERS LAST SANCTUARY IN ILLINOIS - The Golf Course! - 05/18/08 09:20 PM
Do you golf?
If you do, perhaps you know someone, or are someone, whose nerves are calmed somewhat by the smell of a good cigar, or a couple of puffs on a cigarette, when lining up that tricky putt.
Throughout Chicago, its suburbs, and the entire State of Illinois, the Smoke … (0 comments)
SKYROCKETING GAS PRICES - As They Rise, are Home Prices, Area Desirability Impacted? - 05/17/08 10:28 PM
News Flash!
THE PRICE FOR ONE GALLON OF UNLEADED REGULAR, SIX BLOCKS FROM OUR REAL ESTATE OFFICE, IN THE LINCOLN SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE NORTH SIDE OF CHICAGO -
$4.35!
Incredibly high - yes?
In May, 2002, according to GasBuddy.com, the average price for a gallon of unleaded across Chicago was a mere … (2 comments)
CHICAGO LOOP CONDOS Face an Incredible Oversupply in 2008, 2009 . . . Beyond! - 05/15/08 10:05 PM
Most who have visited Chicago think of it as a very livable city (except, perhaps, if the only time you visit our town is in our famous "Dead of Winter!")
Our neighborhoods offer dining, entertainment, and living options galore - Hyde Park, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Old Town, Lincoln Square, Pilsen, The … (1 comments)
CHICAGO MEDIAN SF HOME DOWN 6.6% - Far Better Than Many Markets - NAR Qtr 1 Survey! - 05/14/08 02:53 PM
According to National Association of Realtors First Quarter, 2008 Survey Data - the Median Price of a Single Family Home here in the Chicago Metro Area fell to $249,600, nearly a 7% drop, year-over-year, versus 2007.
Many in Chicago would say - "Where ARE these $249M houses?"
Not downtown or in … (3 comments)
APPRAISALS FACE RADICAL CHANGE January, 2009 - Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac's New "Valuation Code"! - 05/13/08 04:39 PM
Effective January of next year, Lenders and Loan Originators will not be allowed to have contract with appraisers for their loan transactions. Appraisers on the payroll or under contract to specifc Loan Originators or Banks will not be able to provide appraisals for their loans in process.
All of this according … (2 comments)
Chicago IL Market Statistics Update - May 12, 2008 - 05/12/08 08:43 AM
Good Morning!
Here's the latest Stat Summary on the Chicago Real Estate Market, based on data pulled yesterday evening, May 11, 2008 -
Active Listing Inventory continues to increase as the weather gets warmer ! Units Pending Sale ("Just Sold") gave back last week's gains, and has not produced a steady, predictable … (0 comments)
DON'T CALL - EMAIL! The Solution to That Sloppy Co-Broker! - 05/11/08 08:04 PM
Hello, you lovely AR Community! Hope you enjoyed Mother's Day, with your moms and families, today!
You know, I just had one of those light bulbs go off in my head, in reaction to a very sloppy Buyer's Agent who sold one of my condo listings in Downtown Chicago earlier this week. … (10 comments)
UNDERWATER HOMEOWNERS Could Benefit From Fannie Mae's New Program! - 05/11/08 11:12 AM
Happy Mother's Day, all you Ma's!
We hope the day is bright and sunny where you are today. Here, in Chicago, it's raining like crazy, and kind of chilly!
Within the next couple of month's, national loan funder Fannie Mae will introduce a program to help those "underwater" in their home … (2 comments)
TIMELY CHICAGO MAIL DELIVERY - Criticized for Decades - Now Measuarably Better! - 05/10/08 07:38 AM
Hope you're enjoying your weekend, folks!
I'm sure you've heard the stories of a letter or bill arriving days or weeks after it was sent. (This happens about once a month with me - when my tenants' rent checks are due!)
Here in the City of Chicago, and in select adjoining … (2 comments)
BACK-UP OFFERS! How Do You Handle Them? - 05/09/08 10:30 AM
Good Morning, folks! It's beautiful here in Chicago today! Hope it's nice where you are!
You men (and sons) - in case you've forgotten - Sunday, May 11th, is Mother's Day. Quick, head to Walgreen's and buy your card - or pay the consequences Sunday! (I'll be headed out there after I … (3 comments)
Sorry I am a bit late on my post today! I host a Friday Morning Tele-Conference for Chicago Dogs who have an Active Real Estate license, and we ran a … (2 comments)
"INTERNET EVERYWHERE!" WiMax is Coming to Chicago by Year's End! - 05/09/08 12:09 AM
Hey folks! While you're tucked away in your little beds - here I am, writing! Incredible technology news this week, in which Chicago is at the forefront. As you may have heard, telecommunications and cellular service provider Sprint Nextel this week purchased Clearwire Corporation, which specializes in developing broadband WiMax networks. With … (1 comments)
GUEST BLOGGER OF THE DAY - RICH BIRA, FIRST CAPITAL MORTGAGE, CHICAGO IL - 05/07/08 04:25 PM
FED RATE CUTS DO NOT ALWAYS EQUAL LOWER MORTGAGE RATES! (Rich Bira, our Preferred Lending Partner at First Capital Mortgage, Chicago IL, serving all Chicago Neighborhoods and suburbs, has been handing financing for many of our clients for over eight years. We posted his thoughts and comments - a very good summary - on our … (0 comments)
HAVE A FICO SCORE UNDER 680? It's Going to be Tougher, More Expensive, to Get a Home Loan! - 05/05/08 09:04 PM
Most real estate practitioners today agree there are two main ingredients in the current real estate market sluggishness in many places - 1. High levels of home inventory - sometines exceeding 48 months in many locations. 2. Fewer qualified buyers to purchase this inventory. Tough is getting tougher, as most lenders now reserve their best … (5 comments)
Chicago IL Market Statistics Update - May 5, 2008 - 05/05/08 08:07 AM
Good Morning! Here's the latest Stat Summary on the Chicago Real Estate Market, based on data pulled yesterday evening, May 4, 2008 - Active Listing Inventory continues to creep upwards in previous weeks - very slowly! Units Pending Sale ("Just Sold") increased just a bit last week. Sold Units and Sales Volume predictably jumped … (2 comments)
THE SCREWS ARE TIGHTENING For Many Seeking Home Loans! - 05/04/08 10:25 PM
According to Freddie Mac, and many of the larger Private Mortgage Insurers, look for even more stringent rules for certain types of "high risk" transactions in the coming months. Their analysis indicates certain types of loans create the highest levels of delinquency, and are attempting to greatly curtail their risk and … (3 comments)
CHICAGO ART LOVERS! "The Spindle," Famous Quirky Sculpture in Berwyn IL is Gone! - 05/03/08 12:20 PM
Wayne's World, Wayne's World! Remember that silly movie from 1992? If you do, you'll probably remember "The Spindle,"a 40-foot skewer of eight cars. The sculpture was real, and located in the north parking lot of Cermak Plaza, a local strip mall in the Chicago suburb of Berwyn IL. I used the word "was" … (1 comments)
CHICAGO RECYCLING PROGRAM TO GET A FACELIFT - City to Swap Blue Bags for Blue Carts! - 05/02/08 11:01 PM
I've got to be an old Boomer! Here I am writing a Blog Post at nearly 11 o'clock on a Friday night! Chicago fancies itself as a green city. But one program geared to the recycling side of going green seems to have failed, and by the end of this summer, will … (3 comments)
Lil' Buddy's Blog - Chicago Real Estate Market Leaves Many Humans in a Sour Mood! - 05/02/08 07:34 AM
THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG! I'm a little depressed this morning! My favorite baseball team, The Chicago Cubs, blew a game in the ninth yesterday, as our closer, Kerry Wood, experienced a relief pitching implosion. They say … (1 comments)
FOR MANY DELINQUENT HOMEOWNERS, Lender Workout Arrangements Hard to Come By! - 05/01/08 10:11 PM
Happy Thursday, Gang! Did you see the Season Finale of Smallville tonight? (Neither did I, but I bet your teenage kids did!) Remember last fall, 2007? The sub-prime crisis still boiling, adjustable loan rates facing reset, and many homeowners staring at loan delinquency, or, worse yet, foreclosure? Frustration was rampant among many who … (1 comments)
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Reports suggest the National Hockey League is ready to announce this coming winter's Second Annual Outdoor Winter Classic may be played in Chicago - at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs!
