wilmette: Do Short Sales Occur in Winnetka and Other North Shore Villages - 05/25/11 07:54 PM
Do Short Sales Occur in Winnetka and Other North Shore Villages? Yes, they do. Not nearly to the extent that they do in Florida or Nevada, or even Evanston or Naperville for that matter.  But we are not immune to this happening and I find myself currently negotiating a contract that seems to be turning into a short sale. I know that many people in Winnetka, Northfield, Kenilworth, or Wilmette don't know what a short sale is because I am often asked to explain it.  That is what I am going to do in this post and I will keep it … (2 comments)

wilmette: 10 Reasons to Buy a Home in Chicago's North Shore - Winnetka,Wilmette,Kenilworth, Glencoe - 05/23/11 06:14 PM
10 Reasons to Buy a Home in Chicago's North Shore Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe #1 THE NORTH SHORE COASTLINE AND BEACHES                        Stretching from Wilmette to Lake Bluff, North Shore communities revel in their national status as the "Third Coast." Sailing clubs, private and public beaches, and luxury homes all make living along the coast of Lake Michigan a reason to enjoy this magnificent body of water for all seasons. #2 NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SCHOOLS              Abundance of top-rated public and nationally recognized private schools makes the North Shore a magnet for parents. With small class sizes and … (14 comments)

wilmette: Some Thoughts on Staging Your Home in Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth or Glencoe - 05/22/11 08:44 PM
Some Thoughts on Staging your Home in Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth or Glencoe Today on CBS's Sunday Morning, the show examined the business of staging homes, with this particular segment looking at Chicago.  I came away with two major impressions:
The agent who was interviewed (whose name I did not catch) said he won't list homes that are not staged.  He wants to be proud of his listings, he wants the buyers to be wowed when they walk in, and he wants the his homes to be memorable.  None of that will happen if the home owner is opposed or reluctant … (1 comments)

wilmette: Pandora's Box in Wilmette - a Gem of an Antique Store - 05/20/11 05:52 PM
Pandora's Box in Wilmette - a Gem of an Antique Store Imagine if Jenny Zervas had pursued her dream of being a comedy writer in Chicago. Wilmette would be less interesting for not having her wonderful, eclectic antique store located on Ridge Road in an . . . antique house, of course. But just because she doesn't write funny stuff doesn't mean she's lost her passion for something she loves - she just has a different passion now.  Jenny is the owner of Pandora's Box, a "Domestic Eclectic" store as she calls it. She grew up in a small town in … (8 comments)

wilmette: North Shore Farmer's Markets - Wilmette, Evanston, Northfield & Glenview, Summer 2011 - 05/18/11 06:30 PM
   North Shore Farmer's Markets - Wilmette, Evanston, Northfield, and  Glenview - Summer 2011
 
Even though I've worn a turtleneck for the past few days, my calendar says mid-May and I know that means it's farmer's market time again.  The reopening of the markets are always eagerly anticipated by many of us tired of months of grocery store squishiness and ho-hum produce.   These markets are uniquely different - check them out and see why: Evanston - Saturdays, May 7 through November, 2011 from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm.  The Downtown Evanston Farmer's Market is located at the intersection of … (0 comments)

wilmette: Two Things to do This Weekend in Winnetka and Wilmette (May 15, 2011) - 05/12/11 02:39 PM
Two Things to do This Weekend in Winnetka and Wilmette This Sunday, May 15, there are two events that will help keep you outside and perhaps get a little exercise. In Wilmette, the Wilmette Historical Museum's Spring Housewalk will go from 1-5 pm.  This year's theme is "Architecture Through the Decades" and four homes will be featured that were designed by noted architects between 1890 and 1950.  The housewalk will demonstrate the dramatic changes in architecture during those decades.  To read more about the homes and register online, please see:  Wilmette Housewalk. Tickets purchased before Sunday are $40 for museum members, … (0 comments)

wilmette: High End Homes Selling in Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth & Glencoe - 05/09/11 10:32 AM
There are currently 21 homes under contract/pending that are priced over $2 million in Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth and Glencoe, with the high end home priced at $7,785,000.  That breaks down to 7 in Glencoe, 4 in Kenilworth, 1 in Wilmette, and 9 in Winnetka.   I think that's a tremendous rebound from a sluggish high-end market, particularly in light of the fact that there are only 25 homes under contract priced under $500,000!
Check out the numbers in this chart:
 


 
The highest number of under contract homes is still under $1,000,000.  The total of under contract homes … (2 comments)

wilmette: Closed Home Sales for April 2011 - Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Northfield - 05/03/11 06:48 PM
Closed Home Sales for April 2011 Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Northfield Winnetka - Sales were up by 7 units in April over March for a total of 16 and the list price to sell price ratio improved to 90%. Wilmette - Sales were up by 1 unit to a total of 16 with the ratio staying about the same at 90%. Kenilworth - Kenilworth posted 2 sales, down from 4 in March. Glencoe - Sales were down by just 1 unit, with a total of 14 and 82% of list price. Northfield - Five units sold, up from just two in … (0 comments)

wilmette: Grandfather Knows Best - 05/02/11 01:04 PM
Grandfather Knows Best  Twenty-six years ago Joe Baker became a grandfather -  it was on that day that he began to jot down his everyday, practical advice and knowledge to be handed down to his grandchildren. Today, ten grandchildren later, he has self-published a book entitled "Grandpa Told Me . . . Things Your Father Meant to Tell You."   It is compiled with plain spoken advice and quotations on a variety of subjects including investing, jobs, politics, marriage, religion, and education.  The reason I bring this book up is because I like some of what Grandpa has to say.   … (4 comments)

wilmette: Wilmette Flea Market - Sunday May 1 - 04/30/11 04:55 PM
Wilmette Flea Market - Sunday May 1 at Heritage Trail Antique Mall 9-5 Heritage Trail Antique Mall in Wilmette and its neighbors are having their twice-yearly flea market on Sunday, May 1 (2011.)  Last time I attended, the back parking lot was filled with vendors,old and new, with great items at reduced prices.  Most of the vendors inside the store will also be participating and everything will be 15% off. Heritage Trail Antique Mall and two new antique stores are located on Ridge Road, just north of Wilmette Avenue.  The two new stores are:
Pandora's Box 416 Ridge Row 847-251-4416 www.DomesticEclectic.com … (1 comments)

wilmette: Wilmette Retail Space Available - 04/15/11 06:15 PM
Wilmette Retail Space Available Wilmette, as well as Winnetka, has a lot of empty retail space and landlords are more willing to negotiate and help with build out.  When interviewing the owner for a  post about Green Bay Cycles, he told me his landlord was more than accommodating in helping get his business started in Winnetka. Wilmette's website now has a list of retail properties with their rental price per square foot.  For more information to get  your business situated in Wilmette, please go to Available Retail Space in Wilmette
… (0 comments)

wilmette: Why Do I Have to Give Out My Social Security Number When I Buy a Home? - 04/07/11 05:52 PM
Why Do I Have to Give Out My Social Security Number When I Buy a Home? Winnetka IL and Chicago North Shore Suburbs I have often been asked this question when working with buyers, even ones that are seasoned in the process.  In this day and age, people are wary of giving out personal information and for good reason. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country and someone who is using your number or identity can cause a lot of problems for you. When working with people who are buying a home in Winnetka, IL or … (3 comments)

wilmette: March Closed Home Sales - Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe & Northfield - 04/04/11 12:50 PM
March Closed Home Sales Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe & Northfield
March showed strong sales in Wilmette and Glencoe with 15 single family homes each.  The average list:sell ratios are still on the low side with Wilmette having the best ratio at 89%.  However, even in this case, the difference between the average list to the average sell in Wilmette was almost $100,000, which is fairly substantial.   If you are trying or planning to sell your home, it is imperative in this market to price correctly.  Pricing to "test" the market is a thing of the past. Pricing to give … (0 comments)

wilmette: How to Dispose of Old Electronics & Appliances if You Live in Winnetka,Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe and Northfield - 03/30/11 05:55 PM
How to Dispose of  Old Electronics & Appliances if You Live in Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Northfield and other North Shore Suburbs If you are anything like me, you have a few cardboard boxes in your basement filled with old electronics like computers, keyboards, wires, chargers, connectors etc.  Or another closet might hold some unused and broken small appliances, air conditioners, fax machine, printer, or DVD player. It just feels wrong  (and is wrong) to toss them in the garbage along with the regular trash.  The proper disposal of this type of waste must be taken seriously. Well, now Abt Electronics … (0 comments)

wilmette: Wilmette School Tax Referendum - More Sources for Informed Decision Making - 03/24/11 10:54 AM
Wilmette School Tax Referendum - More Sources for Information Two weeks ago I wrote a post about this important referendum for increased funding for the Wilmette schools:  Wilmette District 39 - School Tax Referendum Coming Up. There are, of course, opposing sides to this referendum.  Those supporting the referendum call themselves "Citizens for Wilmette Schools" and their website is:  supportwilmetteschools.com Opposing the referendum is "Decline 39" whose website can be found at:  Opposing Wilmette District 39 Referendum. To recap the issue, the Wilmette school district is projecting a $5.5 million deficit in the current school year after having made substantial cuts. … (1 comments)

wilmette: North Shore Homes - Winnetka, Wilmette, Glencoe, and Kenilworth - 03/18/11 11:01 AM
North Shore Homes - Winnetka, Wilmette, Glencoe, and Kenilworth Tuesday mornings mean real estate broker tours for new homes on the market in Winnetka, Wilmette, Glencoe and Kenilworth (Wednesdays for Northfield.)  This past Tuesday was depressing for the simple reason that I saw too many new overpriced homes in a saturated market of overpriced homes.  Month after month I write posts and present statistics that show the ratio between the list price, sell price, and days on market.   Overpriced listings will almost always sell for a large discount (check my posts  - some for as much as 60% for non-distressed … (4 comments)

wilmette: Living with Disabilities - How to Become Safe and Independent in Your Own Home - 03/17/11 02:06 PM
Living with Disabilities How to Become Safe and Independent in Your Own Home For people with any type of physical disability, whether from injury, illness or old age, you have a new advocate in the North Shore communities of Winnetka, Wilmette, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Northfield, and surrounding areas.  Freedom Design, started by two local women who are both licensed physical therapists, can help you modify your home for safety and comfort. Both Jennifer Lawless and Cassandra Buccellato have degrees in Physical Therapy and met four years ago while they were both serving on the Winnetka Community Nursery School's board.  When they realized … (2 comments)

wilmette: Homes Sales - January 2011 - Winnetka, Northfield, Wilmette, Keniliworth & Glencoe - 02/01/11 01:40 PM
Home Sales for January 2011 Winnetka, Northfield, Wilmette, Kenilworth & Glencoe Wilmette had a significant edge over the other villages in closed home sales for January 2011, and this is a trend I've been seeing for the past several months.  Average market time is still very high indicating that the original list prices are still too high. Good news in Glencoe as well - the 10 homes that sold there in January sold for 92% of list price and had the lowest average market time of  125 days. Northfield's numbers are skewed as there were only 2 sales, but one was … (0 comments)

wilmette: Where to Get Pizza on the North Shore - Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, and Northfield - 01/23/11 03:29 PM
Where to Get Pizza on the North Shore Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, and Northfield
 
 
I gave up cooking on Friday nights a long time ago - after a week of working and making dinners, I just got pooped out.  Over time, Friday night became Pizza night and it takes a major holiday or event to get us off that. There are lots of good pizzerias on the North Shore, many of which we have tried, although we always seem to go back to a few favorites. Take your own night off and find  favorite pizza - here's a … (3 comments)

wilmette: This is What Happens When Your Overprice Your Home (Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe and Northfield) - 01/12/11 06:01 PM
This is What Happens When You Overprice Your Home Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, and Northfield The importance of pricing your home properly has never been more critical.  I firmly believe that a home should never be overpriced, and at the present time we have too many houses to choose from. What better way to be overlooked, dismissed and even snickered at than overpricing when there are so many other options for buyers.   Sellers are tempted to "test the market" and I say those days are over.  Testing the market will only test your patience, determination, and sanity.  There is no … (2 comments)

 
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Margaret Goss, Winnetka Realtor Winnetka & North Shore IL Homes for Sale

Winnetka, IL

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Baird & Warner Real Estate

Address: Baird & Warner - Attn: Margaret Goss, 549 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, IL, 60093

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