Back in My Day ... When I Was Your Age. WAIT! There's alot more .... - 09/30/11 05:18 PM
 
 
          Knock! Knock!             Knock!Knock!       Back in my day ... When I was your age ...          Start a conversation with old sayings like that, and you'll lose a young person's attention quickly.  I know that's how I reacted when I heard them years ago.         And I understand.  Everyone has to learn their own life lessons.  Again, I know I did my fair share of learning the hard way.  Trial and error.  Life's hard knocks.  But still ... there are those times in my past that I wish I had learned a little differently. … (14 comments)

Answer This Home Buying Question. Are YOUR Personal Ducks in a Row? - 09/29/11 04:28 PM
              Is it time for you to buy a home?        That's a pretty personal question for first-time homebuyers.        Just last week, I met with a new buyer for her loan application.  She reminded me that she'd been in the market for a home for 2 (yes, that's two!) years!       Upon hearing this, I asked her ... "Why now?  What changed for you?  What made you think your ducks were all in a row?"     Her reply was, "I'm in a good place at my job now.  I have my down payment saved-up.  You … (16 comments)

Recommendations on Rear Facing Child Seats Extended - 09/27/11 11:37 AM
 
     Given my profile picture, most people are aware that I'm a newer grandfather.  This coming November, we will be adding another grandchild to our family too, courtesy of our older son, Tom and his wife Jenny.  So it should come as no surprise, that the topic of Anne Costello's (Weidel Realtors Newtown/Yardley Office) blog is of the utmost importance to me. 
     Safety recommendations for children, as well as many facets of child-rearing, have been updated or changed completely since our two boys were babies.  Marilyn and I are trying to be active, involved grandparents ... which means baby … (5 comments)

Visit the 26th Annual St. Charles, IL Scarecrow Fest, October 7th - October 9th - 09/24/11 10:12 AM
    

     For the 26th year,  St. Charles, IL,  will be hosting its'  Annual St. Charles Scarecrow Fest.  This year's Fest is being held October 7th through October 9th. 
 
     Although this event is celebrated in many areas and locations of St. Charles, the central location for the Fest is to be found on the west side of the Fox River at  Lincoln Park.  This is where you will find the many hand-made scarecrows featured at the Annual St. Charles Scarecrow Fest.
 
     Once again this year, there's great entertainment and activities planned, a carnival, … (20 comments)

FALL GIRLS WEEKEND Being Held This Weekend, September 22nd - September 24th in Downtown Naperville, IL - 09/22/11 02:04 PM


     A weekend of sales and fun is kicking-off today in Downtown Naperville, IL.  Once again, Downtown Naperville is hosting, "FALL GIRLS WEEKEND". 
       From September 22nd - September 24th, the downtown area of Naperville, IL will come alive with special events and great dining opportunities.  Participating merchants will be offering special sales, fashion shows, giveaways, and more throughout this annual event.         The "FALL GIRLS WEEKEND" starts today, Thursday, September 22nd, at 4 pm, with a kick-off event at Hugos FrogBar and Fish House, located at: 55 So. Main Street, Naperville, IL.  The first 100 women arriving at … (6 comments)

Do Not Believe All You Hear. Mortgage Funds ARE Available ... - 09/20/11 10:16 PM
 
 
     These questions have been asked of me as a mortgage lender quite often as of late ...  
    
     Are mortgage funds drying up??
     Can buyers even get mortgage monies if they're approved for a mortgage?
     Before I go any further ... the simple answer is YES! 
     Mortgage funds are available!    
    
    
    
     But the longer, more advanced detailed version of that answer possibly has an asterik after it. There's a bit more to the story, as usual.
     Kim McMahon of Executive Realty Group … (9 comments)

" Great teamwork is the only way we create the breakthroughs that define our careers" ... Coach Pat Riley - 09/19/11 06:19 PM
 
 
    " Great teamwork is the only way we create the breakthroughs that define our careers"
                                                                                           Coach Pat Riley

    
     During the last couple of weeks, I've had the opportunity to meet face-to-face during mortgage appointments with many new homebuying clients.  Nothing really unusual about that, except for one thing.
     In a handful of these appointments, their real estate agent has accompanied them during their initial mortgage pre-qualification appointment with me.
    THAT does not happen often, so it was quite notable to me.  But what made it even more notable, is that in … (23 comments)

The Many Uses for BEER. Count them ... 10! - 09/09/11 05:39 PM


     With a name like  Mundt,  you gotta guess that I'm going to like a good German beer once in awhile.  Well, okay ... any good beer once in awhile ...
     So when I saw Cecilia Cannon's (Home Staging by C.C. - Home Staging Chicago & the North Shore)  tweet the other day, "10 Uses for Beer", you have to believe I was all over it!        In her tweet, Cecilia provided a link to her website ... ... and a great list of amazing things you can do with beer.  The list, courtesy of Rachel Ray Magazine,  hosted ideas … (22 comments)

Who's the Real Expert Here? The Buyer or the Appraiser? Part 2 ... - 09/07/11 01:10 PM


     Yesterday, in Part 1 of this post, I spoke of a first-time home buyer facing the dilemma of having to "adjust" her purchase offer on a home or walk away from the transaction.  This home buyer found herself in this predicament because appraisers (and yes, I said plural) would not "adjust" their evaluation for the home.
      As supported by the many comments I received regarding Part 1 of this post, this dilemma is not an isolated incident.  It in fact is occurring in near epidemic levels in many areas of our country.       There is … (24 comments)

Who's the Real Expert Here? The Buyer or the Appraiser? Part 1 ... - 09/06/11 04:34 PM


    Lately, it's become obvious to me ... the "so-called" un-ending oversupply of homes for sale, is not so ripe with great homes at great prices.  Not all homes are in tip-top shape, nor are they priced realistically or temptingly for today's current market or home buyers.
    It's also abundantly clear that those homes that ARE priced right and in good condition don't always get the consideration and respect they are due.  Sometimes by the buyers.  Other times by the appraisal professionals asked to appraise them.
      Here's a good example of the latter opinion:  I … (41 comments)

The Vital Importance of Referrals. Remembering Those That Have Earned Them ... - 09/05/11 03:46 PM
 
 
     When sitting around tables of family and friends over the weekend, the conversation (as it so often does anymore) turned to jobs.
       The groups represented a real cross-section of professions. Everything from soup to nuts was in attendance. But it occurred to me, that I was really the only one involved that relied on referrals for my livelihood. And I wondered ... did any of those others surrounding me at those tables realize just how vitally important referrals could be to someone reliant on them? Did they think about it at all?        Now I know … (28 comments)

Downtown Joliet Illinois Hosts the 1st Annual Hauler Parade During the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Fan Rally, September 15th - 09/02/11 05:23 PM
    
 
     Downtown  Joliet Illinois  will host its first-ever "Hauler Parade" to kick-off the  NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Fan Rally  on Thursday, September 15th, from 4 pm to 10 pm.
     30 NASCAR haulers will wind their way through the downtown prior to heading over to the  Chicagoland Speedway for the scheduled weekend events.
     The annual Race Fan Rally marks its 10th Anniversary this year in Joliet.  Appearances at the Rally will include many of the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers. Those drivers in line for appearances at this year's Race Fan Rally are:
    Todd Bodine … (2 comments)

Fall Means it's Football Time! Here Are the Varsity Football Schedules for ALL 4 Lincoln-Way Community High School District Teams .. - 09/01/11 02:23 PM

     
     Nothing says fall like football ... 
     And the Lincoln-Way Community School District provides plenty of great opportunities to watch top-notch gridiron action.
     Now consisting of 4 superb schools, the LIncoln-Way School District offers a full fall schedule of exciting football games and half-time entertainment for area residents to enjoy.
     Below you will find the Varsity football schedules for each of the 4 Lincoln-Way high schools.  Whether a Lincoln-Way Knight, Phoenix, Griffin, or Warrior fan ... I hope you take the opportunity to support your Lincoln-Way athletes and musicians this fall and throughout the … (2 comments)

 

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