Short Sales Important Update: The Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 will expire at the end of 2012. What this means is that Short sale sellers will be getting sent a 1099 for their shortages starting Jan 1, 2013 if this bill is not extended. Considering some short sales take a year to close, I'd get it listed NOW if you are thinking about short selling!

Alright everybody, think back to your favorite costume ever. What was it and how did you make it??

From the MLS;

From last month to today, Detached single family.

For those of you who are not Realtors, the OLP is the Original List price. Looks like list prices are going up a bit so far this month, average sale prices are up almost a thousand dollars, and median sale prices down 6950. 

From my site AlgonquinBarringtonhomes.com, Sold vs List price in Elgin IL, zip 60123

Understand the difference between "listing prices" (what sellers are asking for) and "sold prices" (what buyers are willing to pay).

By comparing these price trends, you'll have a good idea of where the market is heading. The median listing and sold property prices are calculated based on the market activity each month.

Some sales are not immediately available from public records. As they become available, the data are updated.

From my site AlgonquinBarringtonHomes.com

FOX RIVER GROVE;

Understand the difference between "listing prices" (what sellers are asking for) and "sold prices" (what buyers are willing to pay).

By comparing these price trends, you'll have a good idea of where the market is heading. The median listing and sold property prices are calculated based on the market activity each month.

Some sales are not immediately available from public records. As they become available, the data are updated.

This is for the big kids AND the little kids!

I've compiled a list of the local Halloween events just for you! Print it out and keep it with you and DON'T GET TOO SCARED TO EAT YOUR CANDY!

VILLAGE OF LAKE IN THE HILLS

HALLOWEEN HOUSE DECORATING CONTEST; BE THE SCARIEST HOUSE IN LAKE IN THE HILLS! JUDGING WILL BE ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 20TH. CALL IN YOUR HOUSE OR NOMINATE ANOTHER HOUSE. ADDRESSES WILL BE LISTED ON THE VILLAGE SITE SO PEOPLE CAN SEE THEM. DECORATIONS MUST BE LEFT UP THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST. WINNERS RECEIVE A GIFT CERTIFICATE TO A LAKE IN THE HILLS RESTAURANT. CALL 847 960 7640 TO REGISTER. ONLY THE FIRST 20 TO REGISTER ARE ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE

TRICK OR TREAT!

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL BE HOSTING THEIR 8TH SAFE TRICK OR TREAT NIGHT FOR CHILDREN IN THE MINIATURE TOWN LOCATED BEHIND THE SAFETY ED CENTER AT 1109 CRYSTAL LAKE RD ON MONDAY OCTOBER 31ST FROM 3 TO 6 PM. THERE WILL BE NON SPOOKY MONSTERS AND CHARACTERS FOR THE KIDS TO MEET, AND THEY WILL BE HANDING OUT CANDY FROM THE LITTLE HOUSES IN THE SAFETY TOWN.

THE ACTUAL VILLAGE TRICK OR TREAT HOURS ARE 2 TO 8 PM

VILLAGE OF ALGONQUIN

TRICK OR TREATING WILL BE FROM 3 TO 7 PM ON OCTOBER 31ST.

COUNTRY FEST AND HISTORIC CEMETARY WALK;

DOWNTOWN ALGONQUIN, SATURDAY OCT 8TH. VISIT WWW.DOWNTOWNALGONQUIN.ORG FOR MORE INFO ON THE HARVEST DAY ACTIVITIES

CEMETARY WALK WILL BE FROM 11 AM TO 2 PM AT ALGONQUIN CEMETARY. FEATURES GRAVESIDE VISITS OF 5 EARLY RESIDENTS AND THEIR LIFE STORIES. THEY WILL BE "BROUGHT TO LIFE" TO MEET WITH GUESTS. DONATION OF ONE DOLLAR PER PERSON IS REQUESTED FOR THE HISTORIC COMMISSION TO FURTHER THEIR WORK. PARK NEAR THE WATER TOWER OR ALONG CARY ALGONQUIN ROAD. 847 658 4322

SPOOOOKY BOO BASH;

JOIN THE EVENTS AND RECREATION IN ALGONQUIN FOR THE SPOOKY BOO BASH. THERE WILL BE A HOWL-OWEEN DOG PARADE. OWNERS AND THEIR DOGS CAN COME IN COSTUME AND MARCH FROM VILLAGE HALL TO HIGH HILL PARK. PARKING ONLY ON THE SIDE STREETS DURING THE PARADE. DOGS MUST BE LEASHED AT ALL TIMES. CHILDREN UNDER 10 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT. REGISTER BY 10/21, $5.00 FOR RESIDENTS/8 FOR NON. AWARDS WILL BE GIVEN FOR BEST DOG COSTUME, BEST OWNER/DOG THEME. ALGONQUIN VILLAGE HALL, 2200 HARNISH DRIVE

HALLOTWEEN PARTY

HALLOWEEN PARTY JUST FOR TEENS. COSTUME CONTEST, DJ DANCE PARTY, SNACKS. NO COSTUMES WITH WEAPONS ALLOWED. AGES 12 TO 15, FRIDAY, COTOBER 21ST, 7 TO 10 PM. 17 DOLLARS FOR RESIDENTS/ 20 FOR NON. LAKE IN THE HILLS VILLAGE HALL, 600 HARVEST GATE, LAKE IN THE HILLS.

BOO BASH WITH PARENTS

AGES 3 TO 5, FRIDAY OCTOBER 28TH, 5 TO 6 PM. 16 DOLLARS FOR RESIDENTS/26 FOR NON. CHILDREN CAN CREATE A FUN PROJECT, LISTEN TO A SPOOKY STORY, AND HAVE LOTS OF HALLOWEEN FUN! YOU CAN ATTEND IN COSTUME!

NORTH BARRINGTON

TRICK OR TREATING HOURS 3 TO 7PM MONDAY OCTOBER 31ST

WEST DUNDEE

SPRING HILL MALL KIDS FEST FOR HALLOWEEN

 AGES 2 TO 12, COME IN COSTUME, FREE ACTIVITIES INCLUDING CRAFTS, FACE PAINTING AND PRIZES. TRICK OR TREATING AFTER ACTIVITIES IN THE MALL FROM 6 TO 8 PM. SATURDAY OCTOBER 29TH FROM 1 TO 5 PM, CENTER COURT OF THE MALL.

BARRINGTON

HALLOWEEN EGG HUNT; THURSDAY OCTOBER 27TH, 7 TO 7:45 PM. LANGENDORF PARK-H SHELTER AND BARRINGTON ROOM. BRING A FLASHLIGHT FOR THIS FUN AND SPOOKY EGG HUNT. EACH CHILD GETS A SAFETY KIT, BAG FOR THEIR EGGS, AND TREATS. PRE REGISTRATION REQUESTED BUT NOT REQUIRED. 5 PER CHILD WITH PRE REGISTRATION, 8 DOLLARS WITHOUT. ADULTS FREE WITH CHILD.

HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR; SATURDAY OCTOBER 29TH, 10AM TO 1PM. LAGENDORF PARK, LAC GYM AND PROGRAM ROOM. AGES 1 TO 10 WITH PARENT. LOTS OF SPOOKY (NOT TOO SPOOKY) FUN FOR THE FAMILY. GAMES, FACE PAINTING, COOKIE DECORATING, HAYRIDE. HUNT FOR CANDY IN THE HAYBALES! HAUNTED MINIATURE GOLF AS WELL! WEAR YOUR COSTUME! PREGREGISTRATION REQUIRED 10 DOLLARS PER CHILD, ADULTS FREE WITH CHILD.

CRYSTAL LAKE

TRAIL OF TERROR CANCELLED THIS YEAR. :(

HOUND TOWN HALLOWEEN BASH, OCTOBER 23RD, 2 TO 4 PM, HOUND TOWN AT LIPPOLD PARK, RT 176, CRYSTAL LAKE. BRING YOUR DOG IN COSTUME AND HAVE A FUN AFTERNOON OF DOG TRICK OR TREATING. CONTACT CONNIE COOK AT 815 459 0680 X213

CREEPY CRAWLER CRAFTS

AGES 6 TO 8, OCTOBER 24TH, 4:30 TO 5:30 PM. PARK DIST ADMIN BLDG, ONE EAST CRYSTAL LAKE AVENUE, CRYSTAL LAKE. MAKE CRAFTS BASED ON BUGS AND SPIDERS, TAKE THEM HOME WITH YOU TOO! FEE $23 RESIDENT, $28 NON. CONTACT JENNI SILKA 815 459 0680 X219

DEARLY DEPARTED AT COLONEL PALMER HOUSE

10/21  6 TO 8PM

10/21 6:30 TO 8:30

COLONEL PALMER HOUSE. 45 MINUTE SPOOKY WAKE AND INVESTIGATION INTO AN UNTIMELY DEATH! 1879 SCANDAL UNFOLDS AS YOU MOVE THROUGH THE HOME! BE PART OF THE INVESTIGATION AND SEE THE FORTUNE TELLER. CRYSTAL LAKE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 815 455 1151

UNION

MCHENRY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL HOLD RETURN OF THE DEAD ON OCTOBER 19TH. COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL PLAY THE ROLE OF THOSE WHO MET AN USEEMLY DEMISE. DOORS OPEN AT 7, SHOW AT 7:30. SCARY REFRESHEMENTS TO FOLLOW. 6422 MAIN ST, UNION. (NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN)

CARY

HALLOWEEN WALK FROM 11AM TO NOON, DOWNTOWN ON WEST MAIN ST. CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT. LINE UP BY BEAU NAIL SALON AND SPA. FREE, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES WILL BE HANDING OUT CANDY. SATURDAY OCTOBER 29TH.

FOX RIVER GROVE

HALLOWEN WALK

1 PM SATURDAY OCTOBER 29TH AT ACE HARDWARE AND ACE RENTAL IN STONE HILL SHOPPING CENTER (RT 14 AT RT 22)

From my site AlgonquinBarringtonHomes.com. Realtors, what does this say to you about the First Principle of Real Estate; LOCATION. Has what we learned and believed over time perhaps changed in this market? Thoughts?

Visit our Short Sale Facebook page all this month for fun trivia questions regarding Haunted sites all over the nation. Don't be afraid, it's just a click away!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Short-Sales/137492022981738

  We've all seen the commercials with the beloved (somewhat older) celebrities touting the new "Reverse Mortgage" for the older homeowner.

Seems like a great idea, but what are they REALLY getting into?

What a reverse mortgage boils down to, essentially, is tapping your equity. Homeowners (62 and older) can qualify for these if their homes are owned in full or nearly paid off. The homeowner can choose how they are paid with this reverse mortgage; monthly, as an open line of credit, or in one big payment. The homeowner retains title, just as they would with an equity loan.

Some Cautions and facts;

 During the actual term of the reverse mortgage, you don't have to do repayment. HOWEVER, there is interest charged, and it has to be paid in one lump sum at the end of the reverse mortgage.

 As long as the owners reside in the property and keep up insurance, taxes, and repairs, the reverse mortgage doesn't need payback. If they sell the house, die or move from the house for more than one year, the loan end of that reverse mortgage kicks in, and it will need to be paid back (again though, WITH INTEREST)

  The reverse mortgage is not fun money or living expense money. It's ideal for the homeowner that plans to STAY in the home, forgoing assisted living or nursing care.