ChampaignExperts.com Real Estate Blog

Clark Griswold Eat Your Heart Out!

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:38:19 -0600

If you are looking for one of the best displays of Christmas Lights in Champaign County you will have to check out Candlestick Lane (aka Grant Place) in Urbana, IL

Dating back to 1963, Grant Place/Candlestick Lane has hosted an extremely decorated Christmas neighborhood. This tradition started when the Grant Place residents won a contest sponsored by Illinois Power Company and shared the $100 prize to buy candlestick ornaments for each home. The lighting ceremony was canceled last year (bah humbug!) due to lower participation but 5 new home owners on the street plan on participating this year so the event is back on.

I'm pretty excited to see the decorated homes this year and I know our 3 year old is looking forward to it too! In my mind I'm picturing Clark Griswold hanging from the gutters... The weather doesn't look too bad so I hope there is a nice turnout.

Location: View Candlestick Land Christmas Ceremony Map

I'll get a few pictures of the lights posted after this weekend.

Merry Christmas!

Mark Waldhoff

Keller Williams Realty

www.ChampaignValues.com – Find Your Home’s Estimated Value Instantly!

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Absorption Rate Example for Cherry Hills, Champaign, IL

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:50:09 -0600

In a recent listing appointment in Cherry Hills I discussed the local absorption rate with the home owners as a component of their overall pricing strategy. More details on that example and how the it is calculated can be found here: Home Update for Cherry Hills - Champaign, IL

In establishing the market value and recommended list price for a home I incorporate the following 3 components (at a miminum).

The Absorption Rate - What is the overall supply and demand of homes for this segment of the market?
What is the general range of $/sqft for sold homes? This is used as a 'reality check' but not as a true guideline. The goal here is to make sure that the house doesn't extremely stand out from the competition unless there is added value in the home.
Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) - The tried and true method of comparing a home to similar homes in similar or identical subdivisions that have sold in recent months.

Using these 3 components requires balancing the "sold" information with the active competition and pending sales. In a buyers market that is continually shifting a home seller needs to make sure they don't get caught looking in the past.

How is your home positioned in the market when you compare it to the competition? If there are 20 similar homes for sale will yours be one of the 5 to sell in the next 4 months?

www.ChampaignValues.com – Get a Free Estimate of Your Home's Value Instantly!

www.ChampaignExperts.com - Search Champaign County Real Estate Hassle Free!

I'm Moving...

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:48:38 -0500

As much as I have loved the ActiveRain Blogging platform I am moving over to a Wordpress blog at www.ChampaignExpertsBlog.com

There's a chance that I'll be back amongst the rain but for now it will be my focus.

I hope to "see" as many of you there as I have here on ActiveRain. Thanks!

1418 Dobbins, Champaign - Ranch with a Large, Fenced Yard

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:09:36 -0500

Featured on NBC's Today Show - 1702 Yorkshire, Champaign IL

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:44:35 -0500

If you are a fan of 'Today' on NBC you might have seen this listing during the "What Can You Buy From Nashville to Salt Lake City" segment. Find more info at www.ChampaignExperts.com

504 James, Tolono IL - Awesome 2 Bedroom Condo - $114,900

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:08:15 -0500

804 Balsam, St. Joseph - 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths and a Great Yard

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:37:33 -0500

Looking to buy a home in St. Joseph, IL? You can search all listings in Champaign County, including St. Joe at www.ChampaignExperts.com

Need to Reduce your Real Estate Taxes? - part 1

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:40:55 -0500

For those of you lucky enough to own real estate in Champaign County you should have received your real estate tax bill in the last couple of weeks. To help contribute to the joyful occasion I’ve provided info below on the most common real estate tax exemptions and tax freeze opportunities. These are just about the only guaranteed way to reduce your taxes.

You’ve got until June 2^nd to pay your bill so just keep smiling! Check out the Champaign County Assessors website if you want to see your tax bill.

Owner Occupied Exemption: link to form

This is the most common exemption. As you may have guessed this is for properties that the owners lives in as their primary residence. If you lived in your home as of January 1, 2008 you are eligible for a $5500 reduction in the assessed value. For the 2009 calendar year this reduction will increase to $6000. This could save you $400-$500 per year depending on your specific tax rate.

Over Age 65 Exemption: link to form:

$4000 Assessment Reduction. This is available to homeowners that are 65 or older as of December 31, 2008.

Senior Assessment Freeze:

If your annual household income is less than $55,000, you were 65 or older as of December 31, 2008 and you used the property as your principal residence as of January 1^st of the current assessed year and January 1^st of the prior assess year you most likely meet the requirements for this Freeze. It literally ‘freezes’ your assessed value if you meet the requirements the county sets out. One thing to watch on this is that you have to file the form every year to get the benefit.

Homestead Improvement Exemption:

Have you made substantial improvements to your home that will affect the assessed valuation? This exemption gives you 4 years of protection before your room addition or swimming pool will start impacting your real estate taxes. (the limit on this exemption is around $75k)

Returning Veteran Exemptions: link to form

Veterans returning from active duty can apply for a one-time $5000 reduction in assessed values for the year they return from active duty.

Disabled Veteran Exemption: link to form

Veterans that are at least 50% disabled due to a service connected disability can get up to a $5000 reduction in assessed value. (If you are a veteran or active duty and reading this, thanks for your service!)

Disabled Persons Exemption: link to form

If you are a disabled person and liable for the property taxes you can apply for the $2000 reduction in assessed value. There are some specific details and I’d suggest contacting the County Assessor for more details.

I'll be following this up with 'part 2' about reducing your assessed valuations soon. Check back for a link to that post in a couple days.

If the excitement of assessment reductions and tax freezes has you interested in owning real estate in Champaign County be sure to check out www.ChampaignExperts.com - Your local Real Estate Experts!

GoingSlowly.com - How Great Would This Be?

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:32:07 -0500

Ok, so this has nothing to do with real estate (unless you count being able to see pictures of Europe...) but I thought this was well worth sharing.

GoingSlowly.com is a journal/diary site for Tara Alan and her boyfriend Tyler as they travel 'round the world' on their bikes. Tara is from Champaign, IL and I know her father, Mark Alan, through a BNI group I am in.

I'm sure their trip is a ton of work but it sounds awesome!

Enjoy!

As always, if you are looking for real estate in Champaign, Urbana or Savoy, IL visit ChampaignExperts.com

1422 Abercorn, Urbana, IL 61802 - 2300sqft + full basement!

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:55:19 -0600

Mark Waldhoff CRS, GRI, ePro | Keller Williams Realty | mark@markwaldhoff.com | 217-239-7114

1422 Abercorn, Urbana, IL

Huge 2-Story Home with Full Basement, 4 Bedrooms, 2 1/2 Baths,
2300sqft + full basement

4BR/2.5BA Single Family House

offered at $154,900

Year Built	2005
Sq Footage	2,300
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$60 per month

DESCRIPTION

The Franklin 2-Story floor plan offers new construction amenities, style and conveniences at an unbeatable value. 3450 sqft of space including 1150 in the basement provide more than enough space to stretch out and relax. The main floor features a large, eat-in kitchen, a warm and inviting family room with gas fireplace, and formal living and dining rooms. The master suite provides a large walk-in closet, cathedral ceilings and spacious bath. This home also offers new carpet on the main floor, high efficiency A/C and water heater, a 90+ Furnace, low maint. ext. and a full basement wired with elec. outlets and cable throughout. The bsmt is also plumbed for a full bath to accommodate future expansion.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Family room
Living room	Dining room	Breakfast nook
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Basement	Laundry area - inside	Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Pantry

Eat-in Kitchen

Huge Master Suite

Pre-Inspected, email Mark@ChampaignExperts.com for a copy of the report

$1000 credit towards Buyers closing costs

1 Year Home Warranty offered at closing

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Mark Waldhoff CRS, GRI, ePro

Keller Williams Realty

mark@markwaldhoff.com

217-239-7114

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jan 23, 2009, 9:50am PST

2708 N. Landis Farm Urbana, IL

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:32:25 -0600

Mark Waldhoff -- www.ChampaignExperts.com | Keller Williams Realty | mark@champaignexperts.com | 217-239-7114

2708 Landis Farm Road, Urbana, IL

Check Out This Spacious Ranch with Open Floor Plan and a Great Master Suite

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $154,900

Year Built	2005
Sq Footage	1,463
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	10,000 sqft
HOA/Maint	$100 per month

DESCRIPTION

Looking for an open floorplan and a quiet subdivision? This spacious and inviting home offers a Living Room - Kitchen layout that is perfect for relaxing at home or accomodating family and friends. The Living Room features a gas fireplace, multifunctional mantle and cathedral ceilings. The Kitchen is loaded with cabinets and offers a pantry for additional storage. The split floorplan gives the master suite a bit of seclusion by separating it from the guest bedrooms. The master suite offers 2 closets (including one walk-in) and a private bath. The 2 additional bedrooms provide great closets and room sizes. The backyard offers full cedar fencing and a large concrete patio (great for the warmer weather that we are all anticipating!).

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Living room
Breakfast nook	Dishwasher	Refrigerator
Stove/Oven	Microwave	Laundry area - inside
Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Fully Fenced Yard (Cedar Fencing)

Huge Concrete Patio in the Backyard

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Mark Waldhoff -- www.ChampaignExperts.com

Keller Williams Realty

mark@champaignexperts.com

217-239-7114

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jan 16, 2009, 9:08am PST

Free Radon Tests for Illinois Residents

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:40:20 -0600

Even if you don't fully understand it you can get a free radon test if you are a resident of Illinois.

Direct link to request your free radon test

Radon and radon tests are the source of plenty of questions and concerns in the home buying and selling process and most times for good reason. As of January 1, 2008 we've been required to have clients read and sign off on radon disclosures for home sales. This new disclosure was a bit confusing for everyone involved at first but it has become second nature for most Realtors. The only thing lacking was a good (translation: easy to read and understand) resource on what Radon is and what you are recommended to do about it. Enter IEMA (to confuse and sometimes frighten people) and The University of Illinois (too educate and inform).

The Illinois government's official site on radon provides detailed information on what radon is and their advice on how to handle it. NEWSFLASH!.... you will find radon just about everywhere, the concern is how high the level is. IEMA does recommend that you test for radon in a real estate transaction so you are aware of your risks.

The University of Illinois Extension radon website provides their version of this information, (along with helpful and nice pictures). Although you will find Radon everywhere you want your test results to be below 4 pCic/L (picocuries per liter).

Both sites provide info on radon, radon testing and radon mitigation but the UofI site does a better job of explaining. According to the site, the typically cost for radon mitigation is between $800 to $1200 dollars. In my personal experience the cost to mitigate high radon levels in Champaign and Urbana Illinois is near the top end of this range. Hopefully, as radon testing and mitigation becomes more common we will see the price drop as more 'mitigators' enter the field.

Unsure of who to hire to perform your radon test? Check this list of Champaign County home inspectors for a few quality providers.

Questions on whether you should have your home tested or how this could impact the sale or purchase of your home? Drop me a note at Mark@ChampaignExperts.com or visit www.ChampaignExperts.com for more info on the home buying process.

Mark Waldhoff -- ChampaignExperts.com

Keller Williams Realty - The Real Estate Center of Illinois

Office: 217-239-7114

Is it Time for a Change?

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:40:56 -0500

No, it's not a political message! (I too am ready for Nov. 5th!)

Rather, a reminder that as the seasons change it's a good time to remember a few very important items that can save you a lot of headaches down the road.

When the leaves Change it's a good time to keep an eye on the following;

Change the batteries in your smoke detectors. As of January 1st , 2008 state law also requires carbon monoxide detectors if you have a gas furnace so don't forget those either!
Create your car's emergency kit for the winter (blankets, road flares, jumper cables, etc.)
Winterize your Home; clean the gutters (preventing ice damage in the winter), winterize the sprinkler system, make sure you pool is taken care of (surely you aren't looking for a mini ice rink in January...)
Clean the Chimney so you can (safely) enjoy those relaxing evenings by the fire
Trim trees, bushes and clean-up flowerbeds
It's a good time to dump all your old prescription medication as well

Thinking of a change in your housing situation? If you are looking to buy a home in Champaign or Urbana check out www.ChampaignExperts.com or email me to get a head start.

Enjoy the Fall!

Mark Waldhoff CRS, GRI, ePro

Keller Williams Realty

Mark@ChampaignExperts.com

www.ChampaignExperts.com

How Do I Handle a Home Inspection?

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:51:34 -0500

Home Inspections 101

The second most confusing part of the home buying process for the typical person is the home inspection. (the most confusing tends to be constructing the initial offer). This is mainly because the average person has only been through the process once or twice before and it may have been 5-10 year ago. Not to mention the fact that the average person is not an electrician, plumber, HVAC technician, appliance repair tech, home builder, roofer, etc. etc. Things change with time and a lot of things are forgotten but luckily there are great home inspectors out there to make the process much easier.

Looking for an example of what you might come across in a home inspection?

Take a look at this real life example to see how one situation played out.

A recent client of mine closed on a 6 year old home in Southwest Champaign. In the process we followed our typical due diligence which includes a home inspection. Overall, the house checked our very well but there were a mixtures of items that needed addressed. Some vital and a few of a much less important nature. Here's an abbreviated list of items the home inspector noted in his report;

Malfunctioning GFCI outlet on the exterior of the house
Unsecured hose faucets on the exterior of the house
Disconnected gutter extension on the corner of the house
Exterior A/C system required re-leveling
Exterior A/C system had blocked air-flow from overgrown vines and landscaping
Furnace/Heating System would not "fire" and provide heat
Thermostat was not secured to the wall
2 bedroom windows were fogged
Fireplace flue appears to be malfunctioning
Standing water in the crawl space, lack of a sump pump in the sump pump pit
No carbon monoxide detectors installed

Without more information you might not blame a person for jumping to the conclusion that this home has serious issues. The furnace doesn't work and there is standing water under the house?!? Who would want to live in a cold, damp and musty home?

These types of issues are exactly why you want a good inspector to provide more info, explain details and circumstances and help you weigh the seriousness of each individual issue.

In this situation do you think it would be useful to know that our area had just experienced 2-3 days of rain brought about by the remnants of a gulf coast hurricane? Or that the issue with the furnace only required a straightforward service call to replace a part? Also, the crawlspace had a sump pit dug and drainage tiles in place, the sump was just never installed. The inspector let us know that the water had not caused any damage yet and if it was corrected he did not foresee any issues in the future.

In the end, we requested 7 of the items listed above. We weighed the value of the most important items versus the minor issues my client felt they could handle like the gutter extensions, loose thermostat and missing carbon monoxide detectors and felt like we had a reasonable agreement with the home owner. (It also turned out that the fireplace flue wasn't broken, it just needed cleaned.)

We obtained more information about the individual items and were able to share that with the home owner so they could understand our level of concern and the need for these things to be fixed. This helped us focus the sellers attention on getting the items that were truly important repaired while ignoring the "nickel and dime" items. This is an important aspect of the process, the more info you can give the Seller the more likely you are to get the repairs you are requesting.

Talk to your home inspector and your Realtor to make sure you know the difference and to make sure they know what is important to you.

Interested in qualified Home Inspectors in Champaign and Urbana?

More questions on home inspections or the buying process in general? Drop me an email or visit www.ChampaignExperts.com

Enjoy your new home!

Mark Waldhoff CRS, GRI, ePro

Keller Williams Realty

217-239-7114

www.ChampaignExperts.com

Turnberry Ridge Subdivision, Champaign, IL - Real Estate Market Update

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:50:45 -0500

Turnberry Ridge Subdivision - Champaign, IL

Turnberry Ridge Real Estate Market Update:

The following data was compiled from the CCAR MLS as of 8/22/2008

Closed Sales of Single Family Homes


Year	Average List Price	Average Sale Price	Median List Price	Average Days on Market	# of Closed Sales	List Price to Sale Price Ratio
2005	$209,042	$220,820	$229,900	50	15	98.2%
2006	$223,756	$217,725	$219,900	60	16	97.3%
2007	$224,509	$219,664	$229,900	40	11	97.8%
2008 Closed YTD	$232,440	$222,500	$222,500	94	11	98.29

Similar to it's next door neighbor, Glenshire Subdivision, activity in Turnberry Ridge has picked up since our last market report. 5 home sales have closed since 5/23/08 bringing new neighbors and friends to the subdivision.
The average days on market for a home has greatly extended from 2007 but the number of sales, average sale price and LP/SP ratio all remain strong. A home seller in Turnberry Ridge can expect to obtain over 98% of their asking price on average.
The biggest concern for a home seller in today's market continues to be accurate and effective pricing to entice Buyers to view and make offers on their property.
There are currently 6 actively listed homes in Turnberry averaging 76 days on market at an average sale price of $220,267. This DOM stat has dropped quite a bit from our last update and is influenced by the 5 closings since May.
There is still plenty of time left in the year for homes to sell but the prime window of opportunity is coming to a close as August wraps up. If you are considering a sale you'll want to get things moving quickly and have your home in top condition as soon as possible.

Interested in suggestions or advice in getting your home ready? Check out these Seller Resources for more info.

Urbana, IL - Real Estate Market Update (August 2008)

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:05:27 -0500

Urbana, IL - Real Estate Market Update (August, 2008)

What better time than August to give an update on Urbana's real estate market? As the end of the 'prime-time' months for real estate draw to a close (May, June, July & August) let's take a look at what has been going on compared to the previous year.

Take a minute to review the chart and you'll find my take on the local market below.

	2007	2007 (1/1 thru 8/25)	2008 (1/1 thru 8/25)	% Change From Prior Year
Closed Sales	584	436	297	-32%
Median List Price	$129,900	$128,700	$129,900	0.9%
Average List Price	$140,598	$135,599	$144,587	6.6%
Average Sale Price	$136,814	$132,282	$139,832	5.7%
Avg LP to SP	97.3%	97.6%	96.7%
DOM	75	75	89	19%
High Sale Price	$925,000	$695,000	$740,000
Low Sale Price	$37,560	$37,560	$34,000

Overall, the home sales in Urbana, IL have held strong this past year as national real estate trends continue to decline. Urbana continues to build out new subdivisions and start plans for new additions in the ever expanding edge of the city.

The Good:    Home prices in Urbana increased 5.7% thru August. This is a pretty remarkable number when you consider it along with the drastic losses you hear about throughout the country. Urbana's absorption rate is 5.2 months. The absorption rate is a statistic used to compare the outstanding inventory in a given market. To sell all the actively listed homes in Urbana it would take 5.2 months. Most real estate pundits make 6 months the benchmark or breaking point to move from a Buyer's Market to a Seller's Market. It may not feel like it for some home sellers in Urbana but we are technically in a Seller's Market. The main difference is many homeowners (and Realtors) got used to stories of fast and easy homes sales from the past 2-3 years. To sell your home in today's market you need effective pricing and professional marketing to get the job done.

The Bad:    The average days on market for a home has increased 19% to almost 3 months. This is directly related to the 32% decrease in the number of home sales in Urbana. The List Price to Sale price ratio has also dropped. Home owners are now getting 96.7% of their asking price on average. On a $100,000 home this equates to a loss of $900 compared to the prior year.

The Interesting:    It's interesting to note that the number of sales has dropped, it's taking longer to sell a home and the average LP to SP ratio has fallen BUT... the average and median home prices continue to increase. Why? In a nutshell, Champaign/Urbana offers a bit of an insulated economy that has not been severly impacted by national trends. The constant in and out of University employees provides a steady demand for real estate in this area. We are also supported by a strong employment base (Carle, Christie, Kraft, Amdocs, Yahoo, Wolfram, Canadian National, etc.).

If you are thinking about buying a home in Urbana email or give me a call to learn more about the area and what you can expect for your price range. You will receive up to date information on our local market that can help you make a a solid investment as well as learn how to find a home you will love.

www.ChampaignExperts.com

Glenshire Market Update May 13, 2008

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:09:45 -0500

Real Estate Market Summary - 1/1/08 thru 5/13/08 The following data is taken from the CCAR MLS as of 5/13/2008


Year	Average List Price	Average Sale Price	Median List Price	Average Days on Market	# of Closed Sales	List Price to Sale Price Ratio
2005	$209,042	$197,400	$205,900	38	12	94.4%
2006	$212,450	$208,585	$214,900	55	12	98.2%
2007	$197,908	$193,096	$194,900	97	13	97.1%
2008 YTD	$212,291	na	$213,000	na	0	na

Looking at Glenshire as an individual market is a little tough to do because of the small number of sales every year so these statistics need to be incorporated with a view of the overall real estate market in Southwest Champaign. (if you are interested in that info please contact me)

In general, Glenshire has followed the general trend in the local real estate market with longer days on market following 2005. The average sale prices have remained strong with a dip in 2007 that can mainly be attributed to 9 of the 13 homes that sold that year being smaller than 1900sqft in size. Another sign of strong demand in Glenshire is the tightening of the List Price to Sale Price Ratio. This is the average percentage of asking price that a home seller is receiving in Glenshire Subdivison.

The item that really caught my attention so far this year is that there are no closed sales in Glenshire for 2008. I think this is an anomaly from the relatively small size of the subdivision but it will be interesting to watch for the remainder of the year.

There are currently 11 homes in Glenshire actively marketed through the MLS averaging 76 days on the market.

Don't Get Pushed Around in Your Next Move

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:55:11 -0500

Buying a home involves a lot of work

And the actual move ends up being a BIG portion of that work. If you hire a moving company it will make the process a lot easier but make sure you choose a company that has your interests in mind.

If you run into the following situations don't be afraid to ask questions.

Do they have a local address?
- Without a local presence who is your contact? Service companies always want to leave satisfied clients but if they don't have a local presence the repercussions of a dissatisfied client might not be as strong as with a local company.
Cost estimates given over the phone?
- Can they get a firm estimate of your requirements and possessions without visiting your home?
Blanket claims that all your possessions are covered by their insurance.
- Make sure you purchase 'full replacement value protection' or 'full value protection' otherwise the moving company may not be liable for the full cost of replacing or repairing damaged items.
Did the moving company demand a large deposit prior the move or cash payment
Ask for a copy of "your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move". It is a pamphlet provided by the Federal government and movers are required to give to customers moving out of state.

Other tips to help make the decisions easier

Ask for local recommendations and check them against the Better Business Bureau
Get multiple bids prior to making a decision
RELAX! Moving should be a fun experience!

Check out these two sites for more info prior to your move:

www.moving.org

www.protectyourmove.gov

Moving to or from Champaign or Urbana, IL? Visit ChampaignExperts.com for real estate info to assist your move.

1421 Caro Ct., Mahomet, IL - 3100sqft of Quality and Style

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:30:26 -0500

SOLD!!!

Interested in something similar? Just let me know and we'll find it!

Mark Waldhoff CRS, GRI, ePro | Keller Williams Realty | mark@markwaldhoff.com | 217-239-7114

1421 Caro Ct., Mahomet, IL

Condo Style Living with a Single Family Home Feel!

3BR/3BA Single Family House

offered at $238,900

Year Built	2006
Sq Footage	1,585
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	3 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	6,000 sqft
HOA/Maint	$150 per month

DESCRIPTION

This single-story home with basement will impress you in every way. Features include an amazing kitchen with granite counters, cherry cabinets, upgraded appliance and hardwood floors. The hardwood continues throughout the living room, office and entry. 3 bedrooms with a large office or dining room, skylights and a whirlpool tub in the guest bath, double closets and vanities in the master suite and a finished lower-level with full, daylight windows and a fireplace. Other amenities & upgrades include; a relaxing deck, loads of storage, an iPod docking station, surround sound speakers and wiring throughout the entire house. Association covers lawn care, snow removal, maintenance and more.

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
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Microwave	Granite countertop	Stainless steel appliances
Basement	Washer	Dryer
Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard
Jacuzzi/Whirlpool

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

http://ChampaignExperts.com

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Mark Waldhoff CRS, GRI, ePro

Keller Williams Realty

mark@markwaldhoff.com

217-239-7114

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jun 26, 2008, 4:28pm PDT

M2 Condos Change the Downtown Champaign Landscape....Again

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:29:52 -0500

M2 Condos Are Changing the Downtown Champaign Condo Market…Again

In early May I had the chance to sit in on a presentation on the M2 condo development at 312 N. Neil Street in Downtown Champaign. It was presented by the developers and staff from One Main Development and answered a lot of questions (and created a few more) on the status and plans for this new landmark in downtown Champaign.

A (very) brief history on the downtown, luxury condo market;

In 2005, One Main Development finished construction on the “One Main” building in downtown Champaign. It features retail, office and condo space over 5 floors. There are 24 condos in the building that have ranged in price from $150,000 to around $400,000. Since the building has been completed there have been 6 re-sales with an average increase in value of 4%. (That is a pretty solid number given some of the relatively flat price charts around Champaign).

This development was a big change for downtown Champaign and opened the door for a number of smaller scale, high-end condo conversions.

M2 Condos – 301 North Neil, Champaign, IL

According to local legend and news releases from M2, this is the largest construction project to be undertaken in downtown Champaign.

The development will feature the following:

9 Total Stories
- 1st Floor is all retail, approx 70% leased
- 4 floors of office space, approx 40% leased
- Top 4 floors are residential condos, 25% pre-sold
Price Ranges from the $170's to $428k
Sizes vary from 680sqft to 1900sqft
The condo fees for a 2br unit are expected to run around $360/month and include heat/AC/water/sewer/trash/building insurance and more. (Residents will have to pay for the electricity to run the heat pump which circulates the cool/warm air but that is a fraction of normal heating and cooling costs
Parking…. There are no parking spaces being sold or reserved with the condos however the City of Champaign is building a large parking garage in an adjoining structure. 24/7 permits are available and it sounds like availability will NOT be an issue for residents.
Click for City of Champaign Parking Deck info.

The developers have leases with the following companies that plan to occupy the 1^st Floor and more on the way

Destihl Brew Works
An Unidentified Salon/Spa occupying a large portion of the space (approx 11,000sqft over 2 floors). The exact identity wasn't disclosed at the meeting...
BankChampaign

How Will This Affect the Local Real Estate Market?

My immediate response is that it will be a real positive for that section of the Champaign real estate market. The One Main condo project has already had a positive impact and M2 looks to build on that. The addition of a 2^nd upscale condo building in downtown Champaign should also help provide a more predictable level of appreciation for the condos in both buildings. As M2 sells out I think these condos will maintain a solid level of demand if only because there is such a limited supply of these types of properties in Champaign.

Other areas in Downtown Champaign have already experienced a ‘lift’ from these projects with the additions of a number of other high-end condo developments like Uptown on Columbia, The Hickory and The Jewelers Loft apartments.

If I were to try and predict the future I would say that the condos and homes just West of downtown Champaign would also get a big lift from the revitalization of the area and could provide a good opportunity for real estate investment.

Interested in a tour of the building and future condos? Call, email or post and we'll set something up.

New Illinois Homestead Exemption Information

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:43:02 -0500

(An update to this post including data as of 5/21/09 is available here)

Hopefully every homeowner that reads this is taking advantage of the Homeowners Property tax exemption. If you aren't email me at Mark@ChampaignExperts.com for a copy of the Champaign County form or visit the Champaign County Assessment Office site:

Some current info on the basic exemptions for the 2008 tax year (payable in 2009):

The General Homestead Exemption will increase from $5000 to $5500.
The Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption will increase to $4000 from $3500
The Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption will increase from $50,000 to $55,000

What you may not have heard about is the recent legislation adding additional benefits for Illinois Veterans and disabled persons. A more complete description of the info is available on the Illinois Revenue website.

A basic breakdown from the Illinois Revenue website:

The new Returning Veterans’ Homestead Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15-167) provides a one-time 5,000 reduction in a property’s equalized assessed value (EAV) to qualifying veterans who return from active duty in an armed conflict involving the armed forces of the United States. To receive this exemption, the veteran must file an application upon their return home.
Disabled Persons’ Homestead Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15-168) provides a $2,000 reduction in a property’s EAV to a qualifying property owned by a disabled person. A disabled person must file an annual application by the county’s due date to continue to receive this exemption.
Disabled Veterans’ Standard Homestead Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15-169) provides a reduction in a property’s EAV to a qualifying property owned by a veteran with a service-connected disability certified by the U. S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs. A $2,500 homestead exemption is available to a veteran with a service-connected disability of at least 50% but less than 75% or a $5,000 homestead exemption is available to a veteran with a service-connected disability of at least 75%. A disabled veteran must file an annual application by the county’s due date to continue to receive this exemption.

Contact your chief county assessment office or local assessment office for information and to apply for these exemptions.
Interested in buying a home in Champaign County so you can take advantage of these exemptions? Start at www.ChampaignExperts.com

6 of 10 Great Walks in Champaign-Urbana

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 14:54:32 -0500

Tom Kachich, a columnist and editor with the News Gazette in Champaign, IL, had an article in a recent edition of the paper talking about Spring, getting outside and places you could take a nice walk in Champaign and Urbana.

A few of his top 10 included:

The Boulware Trail in south Champaign. This is a relatively short path at 1.25 miles but very nicely decorated in the Spring and Summer. It is most frequently used by employees on their lunch hours. It runs from Windsor almost to Kirby Ave, just west of Neil Street
Meadowbrook Park in Urbana. This is one of my personal favorites. It includes sculptures, prairie landscape, wildlife (including deer), and even playground equipment near one of the entrances. The easiest access is off of Windsor Rd. in Urbana
University of Illinois Campus. No specific paths here just a general stroll through campus town. The quad is always interesting to take in and there are plenty of old buildings and architecture to enjoy.
Green Street through Champaign and Urbana. This route would let you take in both cities, campus town, big old trees, new commercial/retail development and old architecture.
Church & University Avenues from Neil to Mattis in Champaign and/or the State Streets area in Urbana, sometimes referred to as the faculty ghetto, albeit jokingly. These areas are full of graceful old homes and some amazing designs.
Crystal Lake Park in Urbana. This is Urbana's largest park and a great place to spend an afternoon. You'll find a large woods, lake, creeks, and tons more.

My favorites have always been Meadowbrook Park and the UofI campus area. Meadowbrook provides a very peaceful setting full of nature and wildlife and the UofI campus gives you pretty much the opposite but it's just as interesting. It just depends on your state of mind and what you want to see.

Do you have your own favorites? There are plenty more but I'd love to hear what some others have found.

Interested in other suggestions for things to do in Champaign & Urbana, IL?

How Long is This Going to Take?

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:16:43 -0500

Whether you are a first-time home buyer or a seasoned pro, this is a pretty typical question.

Luckily, you don’t have to shut down your search or buy the last house you saw after a set limit. Can you imagine if that was the case...."um, honey....bring the checkbook tonight b/c this is #12". Personally, I don't think that would go over very well...

If you’d just like to get a handle on the amount of time it will take you can reference the averages.

According to the 2007 NAR Profile on Home Buyers and Sellers, NAR’s annual survey, the typical home buyer was shopping for a median 8 weeks and saw approximately 12 homes.

My personal experience has been very close to these numbers. The average number of viewings for my clients is around 10-14 (but has ranged from 1 house to 42). The time frame has been a bit quicker, around 6-7 weeks but as you might expect, has gone as long as a year or more.

Are you interested in starting your own home search? Contact me via www.ChampaignExperts.com or Mark@MarkWaldhoff.com to set an appointment and learn about my Buyer Client Services.

The Top Undergrad Business Schools - Go Illini!

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:17:35 -0500

I've enjoyed finding all sorts of interesting things at BusinessWeek.com lately but I really love to find articles where I have a personal attachment.

That most recent find was Business Weeks 2008 survey of the top undergrad business schools, The University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign ranked in at #18, up two spots from 2007. GO ILLINI! As an alum from the UofI with a bachelors in finance I always enjoy seeing the UofI near the top in these annual rankings. Although the fact that Michigan and Indiana are both ahead of Illinois is really eating at me.... :)

Here's a link to a summary table from the report.

Kiplingers.com gave the UofI some more solid press with a ranking in the top 100 best values in public colleges. UIUC came in at #32 in that study. That's great news, but I still cringe every time I see that the costs of tuition continue to increase. Most recently, that would be the 9.5% increase currently proposed by the Trustees.

The UofI's continued success is one more factor helping our local economy and real estate market. These top rankings help bring in quality teachers and staff which continually filters throughout our economy.

Interested in real estate in Champaign or Urbana? View homes for sale to get started.

College Town Real Estate

Mark Waldhoff GRI, CRS, Champaign/Urbana, IL (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:10:18 -0500

Despite the general doom and gloom from the majority of media outlets it is possible to find reports that focus on specific real estate markets instead of blanket statements that may or may not apply to your specific area.

A recent article from BusinessWeek.com, College Towns: Still a Smart Investment, provides a nice glimpse at college towns and how their local real estate markets have fared. Like many other college towns, real estate in Champaign/Urbana, IL has remained a successful, long-term investment.

One of their biggest points is that a university typically provides a very solid basis for the local economy, which is usually the driving factor in the condition of the local market. That is definitely the case in Champaign/Urbana. In our area the University brings quality jobs and consistent demand for properties, both investment and owner-occupied.

One disclaimer, I might have also enjoyed the article because I was briefly mentioned... :)

Interested in investment real estate around The University of Illinois? Contact me through www.ChampaignExperts.com

Have a Great Day!