What is Escrow and How Does It Work? - 01/28/10 06:15 AM
Usually when purchasing a home in Wilmette, Glenview, or anywhere, some money will eventually be put into escrow. Why is this necessary? Where does the money go? Legitimate questions. So let's take a look at what putting money "in escrow" means. 
When you borrow money on your new home, the house itself is used as collateral. This means that if you are unable to pay your mortgage, the lender has the option, at some point, to foreclose on the property and sell the house to recover the money you borrowed. 
But what if you fail to pay the insurance and the … (4 comments)

How Does Your Home Compare to The White House? - 01/26/10 10:49 PM
Most of us in Glenview or Wilmette feel that our home is worth more than it may actually be appraised at. When a home is your own, it has sentimental value, plus if you've decorated it yourself, you probably feel that a professional could not have done a better job. 
But what if your home was The White House? Let's take a look at some of the statistics and see how close this premier American home comes to being just like your home-sweet-home. 
The address of The White House is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 200006. And the popular website … (5 comments)

Lots of Lovely Links to Glenview Happenings - 01/21/10 11:37 AM
So you're moving to Glenview or maybe you already live there, and you need some information. Well, you've come to the right place. Here are some links to a variety of things that may be of interest to you and your family: 
Do you have kids in the Glenview Schools that might be interested in more info about what's going on at their school. Check out the District School Calendar to learn when spring break starts, if school is in session for Valentine's Day and other such pertinent information. 
OK, it's Friday night and you want to go out to eat … (0 comments)

Watch for Red Flags When Shopping for a New Home in Wilmette - 01/19/10 01:56 PM
There are several red flags that should make you look and think twice when purchasing your new nest in Glenview or Wilmette. Today, let's take a look at five of them so when you're out there in the wilds of Glenview househunting, you can be sure to check for these problems in the homes you're viewing. 
1. New paint on just one wall. Now let's stop to consider this. Painting a home you're planning to sell is always a great way to spruce it up. But why would a homeowner only paint one wall? Did they run out of paint? Probably … (2 comments)

Looking Ahead: What's Happening in the Glenview Real Estate Market Today - 01/14/10 08:33 AM
With the economy seemingly on an upward path at last, interest rates seem to be heading upward as well. From a record low in early December, 2009, of 4.93% for a 30-year fixed mortgage and 4.19% for a 15-year fixed rate mortgage, rates have now continued to rise in the remaining weeks of December and into January of 2010. The average for 30-year fixed rate mortgages on January 5th was 5.05% and for 15-year fixed rate mortgages, it was 4.48%. 
The index for home pricing also seems to be going up, with prices in such cities as San Francisco and Minneapolis … (2 comments)

Going Green May Include Recycling, Downsizing and Even Going Back in Time - 01/12/10 10:14 AM
Going green in Wilmette and Glenview may be the trend of the new decade. Recycling will always be a front runner in the push to save the environment, while another way of going green may be accomplished by many households by downsizing and even going back to the way things used to be. 
As more baby boomers enter their retirement years, researchers find the tendency is to downsize their homes. With less home to heat and cool, the instant result is lower usage of energy. Lighting smaller or less rooms also saves electricity. Becoming a one-car family is also an alternative … (3 comments)

Chicago's at it Again - Snow Days Chicago is on its Way! - 01/07/10 08:24 AM
Just when you thought it was safe to go out in the cold again, Snow Days Chicago arrives! This great winter festival, held on Michigan Avenue in Grant Park, is in action on January 29th, 30th and 31st, 2010. Subject to change of course, in case of, well, bad weather! 
In spite of the fact that each winter Chicago, Glenview and surrounding areas usually get plenty of natural white fluff, the powers-that-be have determined that man-made snow is what they'll use for the snow sculpting competition during the festival. Last year 15 fantabulous snow sculptures were created by teams from across … (2 comments)

Pieces of the Mortgage Pie - 01/05/10 08:30 PM
So you've found the perfect city, maybe Glenview, Wilmette, or Northbrook, the perfect neighborhood, and the perfect house. You made your offer and, wonder of wonders, it was accepted! Next, of course, is that not-so-much-fun part of buying a house, obtaining and paying off the mortgage. 
There are several pieces to your monthly mortgage payment. Just what are they, you ask? Well, let's see! 
1. Principal. The major part of the mortgage over time is the portion that goes to the finance company to repay the funds that they loaned you to purchase your new home. At the beginning of your … (2 comments)