After reading about the tragic death of a young folk singer in Canada from an attack by two coyotes, I am reminded that these wild animals should be treated with caution and never, ever fed.  These amazing animals have been thriving in our urban/suburban environement.  Because they look like the famiily dog, well-meaning people can sometimes forget that coyotes need to be left to fend for themselves.  This is for their protection as well as ours.

Experts say this this type of attack is extremely rare.  In order to keep facts in perspective, there are 4.7 million  dog bites every year - with 1000 people every day needing treatment in emergency rooms.  Meanwhile, some other statistics about coyotes:

• about 1 person per year is bitten by a coyote in California
• between 1993-1997 seven people were bitten by coyotes in Arizona
• The best estimates assert that, in recorded history, there have been 20 to 30 coyote attacks on humans that resulted in injuries

What is more common are coyote attacks on pets - such as Jessica Simpson's small dog Daisy being snatched by one in California.  Numerous small dogs have been killed by coyotes in their own yards.

The reason I am writing about coyotes is because they live among us, primarily here in Glencoe and Winnetka.  As I am a regular runner on the Green Bay Trail in the early mornings, I have often been treated to a fleeting glance of a coyote as it disappears into the brush.  On our nightly walks after dinner, my husband and I occasionally see one walking on the Metra rail tracks. 

Our dog is always leashed on walks - primarly to avoid the dreaded skunk spraying, but also to prevent a run-in with a coyote.  Our dog weighs about 40 lbs., perhaps too large for a coyote attack, but why take the chance.  Recently, a coyote was seen walking by Hubbard Woods School in Winnetka broad daylight as neighborhood dogs, confined in their yards with invisible fences, barked hysterically.  I would not have believed it except I saw it myself.

Use common sense if you see a a coyote and remember:

1. Coyotes prefer not to be seen by humans
2. Urban coyotes are more active at night than their rural cousins
3. They actually do us a favor by eating rodents that we don't want around
4. Don't leave your pet's food outside
5. Keep cats inside
6. Keep your dog on a leash
7. Don't let pets out at night unless accompanied

Coyotes are here to stay - remember the rules and you and your pets will remain safe.

Every buyer I have ever worked with has asked me to explain the Cook County system of property tax assessment.  Explain?  How could I adequately do this when the Civic Federation  says this on their blog:

"The Cook County property tax system is so complex that it is impossible to predict exactly how the new tax rates will affect an individual property owner’s bill."

And in today's Chicago Tribune, in an excellent article by Eric Zorn, he writes:

"Just about everything having to do with property taxes is convoluted and every explanation is filled with jargon, acronyms and more math than most of us are used to doing."

But of course, I try to explain it - as I will again now.  Especially in light of the fact that Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth and other North Shore communities have seen dramatic price reductions during the last year and people assume their tax bills will reflect this.  Maybe later - but one curiosity of our taxing system is that our bills are paid in arrears - this means that this year's bill is for last year, when home values were higher.

So no, your tax bill will not automatically reflect the rather substantial drop in your home's value.  In addiiton to this, the 7% Homeowner Exemption which was passed in 2004 is being phased out. 

But let's get back to basics.  There are hundreds (I have heard as many as 1200) taxing bodies in Cook County that make a claim on property tax monies.  These bodies are the park districts, libraries, schools, city, county, etc.  Determining what the total demand is - then setting about extracting this from homeowners is how the tax rate is determined.  So in effect, taxes go up if more money is requested.

Unless you're really ready for a challenge, skip the next paragraph!

Actually determining what each homeowner pays is a nightmare to understand.  First there is the assessment level, which in Cook County is 16% of your home's market value.  Then there is an equalization factor which attempts to even out or "equalize" assessments from county to county across the state.  The equalized assessed value is the county's assessed value after it has been equalized.  So your total tax bill is based on the latest assessment, and new equalization factor, exemptions and tax rate.

What is really confusing is that  1) your assessment could go up while your taxes go down, or 2) your assessment can go down and your taxes could go up.  In other words, somebody must have wrote this thing with the thought in mind that you can't complain about something that you don't understand.  The important thing to understand is how much your portion goes up in relation to other houses. 

This is where I can help you - by providing information from the tax base about your neighborhood, recent sales, and tax bills being currently paid by your neighbors.  This is how you can determine where you stand in comparison to other properties.  But please don't ask me to explain the Cook County System of Property Taxation - I'd rather wade through a swamp filled with alligators. . . .

New Trier High School in Winnetka is hoping that the school board will vote to set a referendum for next February to allow voters to decide on going ahead with plans to refurbish portions of the campus.  The estimated cost of renovations is $185 million which translates into approximately $300 additional in residents' tax bills.  Earlier this year the district nixed more expensive plans, including a $400 million rebuild that voters said was too expensive.

If approved the project would commence in the summer of 2010 and be completed in two years.  The school has not had a proper renovation in decades and the swelling population has only magnified the issues.  The plan includes state-of-the-art renovations such as 40 new classrooms, new spaces for science, performing arts, visual arts, practical arts, kinetic fitness, kitchen, cafeteria, library, gym and fieldhouse. 

Some practical matters need to be addressed as well. The current Tech Arts building still has the original single pane windows and no upgrades have been done to the heating, air conditioning and ventilation since they were installed.  The plan would also beef up fire safety and campus security.

In essence, the east and west sides of the campus would be demolished, including the existing gym/field house, the Tech Arts building, music and performing arts building and cafeteria.  The architects, Perkins + Will presented their final plans to the board this week. 

Not everyone is thrilled with this proposal.  In difficult economic times voters want their governments to rein in spending and don't see the value added.  As a resident of New Trier township, I have had two children graduate from New Trier.  Although I don't benefit directly from the school anymore, as a realtor I understand the significance of this school and the draw it has on newcomers willing to spend more to live in the district.

A special school board meeting will be held Nov. 3 at the Winnetka Campus at 385 Winnetka Ave.  A presentation and tour is planned for interested residents.  More information can be found at New Trier's website:  Facilities Initiative.

Great Winnetka Value!

2 Bedroom Condo in Downtown Hubbard Woods

You can't beat this sunny and bright condo for value . . . 2 bedrooms, 1 full bath, hardwood floors throughout, end unit with south and west exposures. 

• A 1-minute walk to the Metra Station                                               

• Restaurants in all directions

• Tower Road Beach just several blocks away

• Stores, services, banks, communites services nearby

Plus an updated kitchen with tumbled stone backsplash, tall cabinets, dishwasher, storage unit and new appliances.

Kitchen with tumbled stone backsplash, new cabinets and appliances

Bright and sunny with south facing window and hardwood floors throughout

Park and Metra Train Station just across the street

Vintage Tudor Styling

Eat-in space

Summer wasn't so hot. 

Fall has been cloudy and damp. 

But then today happened - warmer temperatures and the sunshine just made the fall colors sparkle like rubies and garnets.

Here's my take on today:

No Dairy Queen for Winnetka!

Winnetka residents waited all summer long for Dairy Queen to open up on the corner of Elm and Lincoln streets.  The windows to the old Depot restaurant were papered over and a hopeful sign there said Dairy Queen was doing the renovations.

Month after month went by and the brown paper in the windows started to look bedraggled and the permit vanished.  Nary a workmen showed up.  I started to worry when I called Dairy Queen last spring inquiring about the opening date and was told there were no plans to open one in Winnetka.

Now it's confirmed.  The head of business development for the Village of Winnetka told me this week that the company has canceled its plan.  Why?  The original store was to serve only ice cream and treats - then someone at the corporate office decided that they should also serve hamburgers and hot dogs. 

Well, unfortunatley for Dairy Queen, D's Haute Dogs, just a few storefronts to the north at 551 Lincoln, already had that business.  The Village felt that since D's was in first, their business should be protected and Dairy Queen pulled out.

If you really need a fix of Dairy Queen you'll still have to drive over to Lake St. just west of the Edens.  Or, you could go to D's Haute Dogs which is now serving smoothies.

As an agent who strongly believes in staging (and has staged homes since before the word "staging" became commonplace,) here's a little twist on that idea.  Use an upcoming holiday to dress up the house without spending a fortune.

Just a few years ago, the  bewildering words "short sale" were starting to pop up in our realtor meetings. No one really bothered to learn much about them since things like that didn't happen on the North Shore.  Maybe in Evanston, Chicago, or the south suburbs.  

Not so today.  Realtors have had to listen and learn about the implications of short sales, pre-foreclosures, foreclosures, auctions, and other distressed properties.  Certainly the North Shore has not been immune.  While recently showing condo properties for a friend on the North side of Chicago, fully 90% of these units were distressed.  The North Shore is not seeing numbers approach anything close to that, but enough to raise heads and have people calling and asking about them.

Here's how the numbers look:

                                           Total Units for Sale                   Short Sales/Foreclosure

Winnetka                                      204                                                7

Northfield                                       75                                                 4

Wilmette                                       189                                               13

Kenilworth                                      53                                                 1

Glencoe                                          22                                                 4

During the past week in Winnetka there were two extreme instances: 

• 719 Lincoln, originally priced at 2,900,000 in 2006, inexplicably raised to $4,300,000 in 2007 and finally selling at $1,260,000.
• 384 Hawthorn, originally sold in 2005 for $2,570,000 and just listed (under contract) for $1,336,500.

No wonder interest in these properties have jumped.  But buyers need to understand that not every such home will be reduced to almost half. In a short sale, the owner is trying to avoid foreclosure and owes more on the loan than the house is worth.  The homeseller is trying to sell the house for less than the loan amount and the bank may or may not approve the sale - a process which can take many months to work out.  In the end, the bank may try to get the seller to refinance the loan and avoid taking the loss on the loan. 

In a foreclosure, the homeowner has defaulted by not making payments.  The process is complicated and there are several different types of foreclosures.  In the end, the house is put up for sale and generally sold at a large discount.

Many people think the great wave of foreclosures is behind us as people with subprime loans defaulted.  But some, like me, think that the next big wave is just beginning and those with prime loans begin to have difficulty making payments.  I recently read a prediction that the next surge will not peak until 2013. 

These distressed home listed about are available now for purchase.  If you would like more information, please give me call and I'll be happy to discuss them with you.

Big Views . . . (from every room!)

Tiny Price . . .   ($188,500!)

Have you dreamed of waking up in the morning to beautiful, sunny lake views?  Or what about windy roiling waters?  Maybe deep dark clouds with a promise of rain?

How about 1 level living?  Not feeling like swimming in the lake?  Go ahead and try the heated pool or soak yourself in the hot tub.

For the unimaginable price of $188,000 you can have a premier two-bedroom, two-bath unit at the prestigious 1630 Sheridan Road building.  While the lake sits on one side, the other side offers Plaza del Lago shopping including dining, grocery shopping, Crate and Barrel, Starbucks, gift stores, clothing stores, and summer art shows. 

Really . . . what are you waiting for?

Another month, another set of stats.  Sales are still below average (what is average nowadays, anyway?)  Sale prices have continued with downward pressure - except when priced properly.  As I've shown month after month, competitive price = quick sale and more profit.  It's really that simple.

Winnetka - 12 closed sales (20 in August)

1035 Elm  $569,500   161 days on market, 82% of asking price

1257 Scott  $575,000   33 days on market, 87% of asking price

1413 Tower  $590,000   398 days on market, 66% of asking price

910 Spruce  $647,500   428 days on market, 82% of asking price

437 Chestnut  $730,000   401 days on market, 69% of asking price

756 Lincoln   $742,500    397 days, 68%

1264 Forest Glen  $751,500    138 days, 86%

1088 Mt. Pleasant  $758,000   80 days, 82%

511 Willow   $1,100,000   613 days, 72%

532 Oak   $1,300,000    46 days,  87%

82 Woodley  $1,425,000   506 days, 50% of asking price!

1234 Westmoor   $2,800,000  1089 days, 60% of asking price!

Northfield - 2 closed sales (4 in August)

214 Frontage   $210,000   298 days on market, 81% of asking price

51 Coventry   $853,425   179 days, 90%

Wilmette - 23 closed sales (24 in August)

626 Lavergne  $353,200  8 days on market, 97% of asking price

2246 lake  $359,500  83 days on market, 91% of asking

412 Lavergne  $370,000  9 days on market, 113% of asking (foreclosure property went over asking price)

1704 Walnut  $389,000  4 days on market, 100% of asking

3127 Sprucewood  $485,000   100 days, 88%

2219 Birchwood  $500,500  32 days, 95%

800 Chilton  $580,125  325 days, 84%

226 Sunset  $605,000 98 days, 69% (short sale)

2136 Kenilworth  $650,000  50 days, 81%

115 3rd $650,000  155 days, 87%

1234 Isabella  $659,450  56 days on market, 92%

1515 Forest  $725,000  31 days on market, 96%

1920 Thornwood  $775,000  97 days, 93%

431 Central  $850,000  40 days, 89%

605 6th  $950,000  128 days, 88%

687 Sheridan  $960,000  294 days, 80%

2035 Greenwood  $1,084,000  88 days, 85%

600 Forest  $1,325,000  113 days, 83%

906 Pawnee $1,352,000  86 days, 90%

505 Laurel  $1,555,000  213 days, 76%

1310 Maple  $1,575,000  147 days, 87%

436 Lake  $1,660,000  166 days, 83%

2333 Iroquois  $2,225,000   293 days, 80%

Kenilworth - 5 closed sales (5 in August)

551 Ridge  $450,000  60 days on market, 90% of asking price

504 Brier  $875,000  1 day, 92%

542 Kenilworth  $1,248,000  103 days, 83%

123 Oxford  $1,750,000  557 days, 60%

337 Raleigh  $2,100,000  167 days, 70%

Glencoe - 12 closed sales (9 in August)

954 Vernon $286,600  605 days on market, 38% of asking price (foreclosure property)

1109 Hohlfelder  $455,000  13 days on market, 100% of asking price

455 Drexel  $516,000  106 days on market, 96%

38 Drexel  $610,000  38 days, 88%

1069 Elm Ridge  $650,000  108 days, 76%

205 Dennis  $915,000  205 days, 72%

446 Jackson  $920,000  422 days, 63%

428 Woodlawn  $1,370,000  71 days, 81%

1045 Meadow  $1,470,000  432 days, 53%

1150 Fairfield  $1,651,359  290 days, 63%

120 Beach  53 days, 71%

382 Sunset  202 days, 69%

Sales in September compared to August of this year held steady except in Winnetka where there was a considerable drop in numbers.  Maybe Winnetka parents had more kids going off to college and were distracted . . .?