This is in response to a blog posted by another member lamenting the high cost of software and how one might save a few bucks using free alternatives. Most of the responses indicated that there was no substitute for the genuine article.

My response was as follows:

If you want to save a bunch of cash on your software purchases try using "academic software" You get full versions of any type of software but at steep discounts. The catch is you must be a student, this means with a student ID to purchase. Not a student? Have any children in school? They qualify. Just goggle Academic software and you'll see what I mean. Right now you can get a full version of Microsoft Office pro 2007 for $119 at  http://www.academicsuperstore.com/product/search?qk_srch=MS+office&x=15&y=8

Shop smart my friends, (not intended to sound like John McCain:)

Would you rather,

1) Work with a Realtor who has sold hundreds of homes (personally) or... is a "team member' with a few sales under their belt?

2) Work with a Realtor who lives in the community they work in or... one who can show you "any home in a hundred mile radius"?

3) Work with a Realtor who can provide you with a long list of references (including phone numbers and email addresses) or... one who "has dozens of past clients"?

4) Work with a Realtor who can give you (off the top of their head) a referral for any service provider from daycare to septic service or... one who hands you a phone book? 

5) Work with an Realtor who interviews mortgage brokers with you (as part of his service) or... one who tells you "oh, my lender is the best, use him".

6) Work with an Realtor who returns all calls or emails within an hour or..one who gets back to you "at my earliest convenience".

7) Work with a Realtor who operates as your partner in the home buying/selling process or...one who is great at taking orders (I'll take a 3 bed 2 bath home with a 2 car garage under 200K please). 

8) Work with a Realtor who has extended family and friends with children and parents in the community or...one who knew someone who heard a story about that school, or over 55 community.

Please add your thoughts in the comment section.

Thanks-David

Neumann Homes Info

Neumann Homes officially declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy on October 31, 2007.  To date, the Village of Antioch is closely monitoring the situation and has hired representation to assist with the bankruptcy procedures and any other issues that may relate to this circumstance.

If you have a specific question regarding the status of the Neumann Homes bankruptcy, please email your question to the Village.  You will not receive a direct response to your email question.  A compilation of Frequently Asked Questions, as they are developed, will be posted on the village website @

www.antioch.il.gov

Frequently Asked Questions

1.  We understand that Neumann Homes was required to provide to the Village money in the form of bonds to assure completion of the development and/or the amenities.  How much of this money is available now for use by the Village in the Clublands community?  The Village has sureties in place for the completion of public infrastructure.  There are no sureties in place for private amenities.  The process to utilize the surety for completion is lengthy and complicated due to the bankruptcy.  If the site improvements are within the scope of the bonds, the sureties would be obligated to complete the improvements at their own cost and expense, up to the limits of the bonds.

2.  How does the Village administration envision using that money in Clublands?  The money provided by sureties or other sources will be used for public infrastructure completion.

3.  How does the Village plan to complete the existing streets and sidewalks for dedication to the Village?  In the event the surety does not complete the public improvements so that the Village must complete the streets and sidewalks, the Village will contract this work.

4.  Will the Village take action to repair street lighting fixtures that are not working?  Street lighting fixtures are the property of Commonwealth Edison.  If there are problems with your street lights, please report it on ComEd's website at: https://www.exeloncorp.com/ComEd/logiccode/Residential/ComEd_StreetLight.asp,    You may also call contact ComEd at 800-334-7661, or the Village of Antioch at 847-395-1000.

5.  What steps is the Village taking to protect the initial construction phase of the clubhouse and pools?  The Village's attorneys are actively seeking the responsible party to protect the clubhouse and pools.

6.  Can the Village assure that any builder who purchases the Clublands development will be required to continue building the community as originally planned, including amenities that were promised to current homeowners?  Clublands of Antioch is a Master Planned Community, approved and controlled by a Planned Unit Development.  It would be the Village's position to enforce the PUD and any successor that assumes the role of developer must abide by the PUD.   Likewise, for a successor developer to receive the benefit of the Village's promises it would need to comply with the PUD.

7.  Please explain the reason for Special Service Area Tax and how that money has been used.  The SSA Tax provides for the servicing of bonds issued to construct public improvements.  The public improvements that have been constructed were paid for by bond proceeds.

8.  Based on Neumann Homes' bankruptcy, what impact will this have on the SSA funding?  So long as the SSA taxes are collected from Lake County, the bonds will be properly serviced.  The taxes collected from year to year are not and may not be used to pay for new improvements. The primary concern arising from the Neumann bankruptcy currently affecting the SSA's, relates to the payment of real estate taxes by Neumann or some other entity on behalf of Neumann.  The bondholders may have other concerns pertaining to the Neumann bankruptcy which Antioch will address as they arise.

9.  May the SSA payments required from each homeowner increase or decrease?  The SSA payments may increase or decrease within agreed upon limits published in the ordinance establishing the SSA.

10.  How much of this money has been used, and how much money may remain to be used for Clublands?  Nearly all of the SSA proceeds have been utilized.  The Village is looking into the possibility of accessing any remaining funds.

11.  If a new developer takes over Clublands, will that money be available for their use?  That determination is yet to be made.

12.  If another developer purchases the Clublands property from Neumann, can they choose not to require SSA fees from the buyers?  How would that affect the homeowners who have paid to date?  At the developer's option, they could elect to prepay the remaining balance of the SSA taxes attributable to either those parcels which it still owns or all of the properties subject to the tax.  Likewise, any homeowner may prepay the remaining balance of the SSA taxes attributable to their property.  If you are interested in doing so please call the Village Treasurer.

13.  How does the Village plan to address the issue of homes currently under construction, but delayed because of this bankruptcy?  At this time, these homes have been "red tagged" by the Building Department due to potential safety hazards.  Cole Taylor Bank has been given permission by the Bankruptcy Court to complete the partially constructed homes in Clublands.  Our attorneys for Neumann Homes are discussing this same issue with the primary lender on NeuHaven.

14.  Is there any recourse or relief for homeowners who recently purchased homes, and now find that Neumann Homes did not pay the previous year's property taxes?  Please contact the Tax Assessor's office at 847-395-1545.  You may also refer to your closing documents and contact your Title company and/or attorney.

15.  In that the Neumann Homes bankruptcy will result in lower property values for Clublands homes, should this be reflected in lower property assessments and taxes?  Please contact the Tax Assessor's office at 847-395-1545.

16.  What do the homeowners have to do regarding the unpaid contractors that are putting liens on the homes?  Homeowners should contact their title insurance companies for further guidance.

17.  What is the zoning of the clubhouse property?  The property is zoned R-1, PUD.  Is it able to be changed to residential zoning?  It is currently zoned residential, but controlled by the PUD.

18.  What is the Village doing to ensure the safety of the unfinished homes?  At this time, these homes have been "red tagged" by the Building Department due to potential safety hazards. Access to these homes is restricted.

19.  What about liabilities for any possible injuries incurred in unfinished homes or vacant lots?  The party in ownership of the property in question shall ultimately be responsible for any liabilities.

20.  Can the Better Business Bureau take any action?  You may contact the Better Business Bureau at 312-832-0500.

21.  How much property is left undeveloped that is still owned by Neumann Homes?  Of the 1400 homes scheduled for construction by Neumann Homes, approximately half have been completed. 

22.  Who will handle homeowner warranty repairs?  Please refer to your contract with Neumann Homes.

23.  What will happen to the 29 acres set aside for a future school location?  The school district owns this property.  The bankruptcy will not impact school property.

24.  What will happen to the 26 acres commercial property on the corner of Hwy. 173 and Savage Road.  It is believed that this property is not owned by Neumann Homes, and will not be affected.

25.  Would there be support for the Lake County Forest Preserve's purchase of some of the undeveloped Clublands property?  Much of the property is already adjoining existing Forest Preserve borders.  The Forest Preserve District must make that decision and then negotiate with the current owner of that property. 

26.  Who will provide the 19 year structural warranty on Clublands homes?  Please refer to your purchase contract.

27.  What happened to the $500 that we paid at closing for the clubhouse?  The Village was not made aware of the closing details.  The bankruptcy schedules filed by Neumann Homes indicate a special account for funds relating to the clubhouse.  We advised the management company for Clublands of that fact.  Any further investigation should be done by the Home Owners' Association.

28.  Has Neumann Homes made any effort to communicate with their communities or residents?  The Village is unaware of any direct communication between Neumann Homes and any residents to address individual questions or problems. Attorneys for Antioch have been in communication with attorneys for Neumann Homes on legal issues relating to bankruptcy proceedings.

6 Costly Mistakes Made by Home Buyers

1) Not getting pre-qualified for a loan before you search for a home.

Getting pre-qualified for a loan by a professional lender will let you know in advance how much mortgage you can afford. This allows you to make an offer on your home with confidence funding is available.

2) Not being honest with your Realtor or lender up front about your credit.

Your credit-- whether good, bad, or limited--affects everything from your down payment to interest rates. Your realtor or a professional mortgage consultant can often advise you as to how you can get credit problems cleared up or completely eliminated from your credit report before you apply for financing or make an offer on your home.

3) Not negotiating with the owner to provide a home warranty.

A home warranty can save you thousands of dollars in repairs, and often be obtained for as little as $500.00 for one year. A typical home warranty covers the electrical, plumbing and heating systems as well as major home appliances.

4) Not requesting a market analysis of the home, in comparison to similar homes in the neighborhood from your Realtor before you make an offer.

A home is not just a place to live-it's an investment in your future. View several homes before you make an offer so you know what's available on the market. Be certain you're making a wise investment by asking your Realtor to provide comparable sales of similar homes in the same neighborhood.

5) Not inspecting a home before you buy it.

Hire a professional to inspect every aspect of the home thoroughly. This can save you thousands of dollars in costly repairs and hundreds of headaches in the future. A thorough home inspection can also allow you to negotiate for any repairs prior to closing.

6) Not taking into account your present homeowner or renter status.

If you already own a home and must sell this home before you buy a new one, it's best to get a Realtor to do a complete market analysis on your present home. This allows you to know how much you can sell your current home for, before you make an offer on a new one. If you are leasing or renting, the lease's expiration date will give you a timetable for your new purchase.

View all homes listed by members of MLSNI at :

Home buyer and seller reports and more at:

Neumann Homes announced plans Monday to file chapter 11 bankruptcy.

It has been reported that they have laid off most if not all their employees and closed sales, production and customer service offices.

It has been reported that customers with earnest monies deposited with Neumann should get their deposits back through the bankruptcy courts. Customers with homes under way may not be so lucky. Right now would be the time to contact your real estate attorney if you are affected by this unfortunate event.

Neumann Homes is no stranger to the Antioch with two developments currently under way "The Clublands of Antioch" and also "Neuhaven" 

As a Realtor living and selling homes in Antioch, these two communities have always been on my "proceed with caution list" since they are/were one of the few developments that saddled homeowners with a costly SSA which inflated the actual price of the homes by about thirty thousand dollars on average. I assumed and counseled home buyers that this SSA would be problematic when the time to sell came about and according to our MLS records, active on market time continues to mount while a large percentage of these homes offered for sale do not sell during their initial listing period and subsequently expire, only to be re-listed in attempts to sell. The absorption rate puts the average home in these neighborhoods currently at 13 months.

Market Statistics CriteriaStatus: Active, Back on Market, Contingent, New, Price Change, Re-activated, Temp Off Market, Pending, Closed, Expired   Area: Antioch   Property Type: Detached Single, Attached Single   Subdivision: Neu, Club (Begins With)   Months Back: 6 Months

Active Listings

Detached Single

Bedrooms # Active Avg. LP Avg. MT All 23 $351,141 170 3 4 $304,000 110 4 18 $352,797 172 5 or More 1 $509,900 364

Attached Single

Bedrooms # Active Avg. LP Avg. MT 3 2 $206,485 132

Off-Market Listings

Detached Single

Bedrooms # Sold % Sold Avg LP (Sold) Avg SP SP:LP Ratio Avg MT (Sold) Avg LP (Unsold) % Expd All 3 30% $365,567 $351,667 96% 144 $342,071 70% 3 1 33% $349,900 $348,000 99% 155 $352,450 67% 4 2 29% $373,400 $353,500 95% 138 $337,920 71%

Neumann has developments underway in these Lake County Communities as well.  Grayslake, Lakemoor and Wonder Lake.

To view all homes listed by paticipants of MLSNI go to:

My friends Chris & Larry Wilson passed this to me: 

Journey of Faith, the talented worship band at Shepherd of the Lakes Church in Grayslake

 will take the stage on Sunday evening, June 10 from 7 to 9 PM at The Last Chance Saloon

 in downtown Grayslake.   You may be asking at this moment,   "Do they do bird calls?"

 Not to my knowlege.   "Imitations of Hollywood movie stars?" Probably not.   "Feats of strength?"

 YES, watch 'em schlep the PA system into the bar and you'll see what I mean.  

BUT, what they're particularly well known for is great Christian contemporary music.

 These kids know how to praise Jesus Christ and reach out for His comforting presence in song.

You're probably asking yourself, "How much would I have to pay for an evening of great entertainment like this?

Zero. Zip. Nada. It's FREE.   Here's how to get there. Just click on this link.

DIRECTIONS TO THE SHOW!

It's that time of year again when we Lake County Homeowners get those envelopes in the mail reminding us to pay our Real Estate Taxes! If your mortgage company holds an escrow account for you it should be taken care of automatically. If you pay yourself let us not forget the due dates!   From the Treasurers Office:

Real Estate Tax Information

The Lake County Collector mailed out more than 260,000 real estate tax bills and collected over 1.8 billion dollars. Tax bills are mailed out in May. If you do not receive your tax bill, contact the Lake County Collector at 847-377-2323. Due dates for this year's tax bills are June 6th and September 6th. In Lake County, a single tax bill is issued for the full year's taxes. That bill is payable in two equal installments. Lake County taxpayers DO NOT receive a second bill when the second installment is due. Taxes can be paid in person at the Lake County Treasurer's office, 18 N. County St. Room 102, Waukegan, IL by cash, check (payable to Lake County Collector) or by Discover Card (A fee from $6 to $38 will be assessed for those using Discover Card in the office.) Those paying in person at the Treasurer's Office should be aware that all persons entering the county government building will be required to pass through metal detectors and will have any bags or purses x-rayed, per county policy. Also, the county parking structure is now open to the public. Visitors using this lot will be charged a nominal fee. If that lot is full there is city metered parking on the street and a City of Waukegan public lot is available on County Street, two blocks north of the Courthouse.   Quick Links   Real Estate Payment Status Lookup by PIN or address the amount of tax owed Online Payments Using a credit card to make online tax payments Credit Card Payments Using a credit card for tax payments in the Treasurer's Office   Bank Listing List of banks that take tax payments   Email Notifications Automatically receive email notices   State of Illinois Property Tax Code   Real estate taxes can be automatically withdrawn from a checking or savings bank account. An application form is available from the Treasurer's office or on this website. The payment coupon along with bank information must be submitted to the Lake County Treasurer 14 days prior to the 1st installment due date. Also, other features are, online payment by credit card which is accessed on this website or by phone through the Interactive Voice Response System (IRV). The IRV phone number is 1-877-455-3729. Those using credit cards should be aware that a convenience fee will be charged by the credit card company and the processing bank. Payment can also be made at most Lake County Banks by cash or check. To pay at the bank, you must bring the original tax bill. As required by the Illinois State Statutes, taxes paid or postmarked after the due date must include interest at a rate of 1 ½% per month. To figure interest go to our website and click on the link under Tax Payment Information. If you need to change the name or address on your real estate taxes, you must do so by signing a name or address change form supplied by the Lake County Collector or on this website. Final notices for unpaid 2006 real estate taxes are mailed out in October. After that date, the Collector shall collect $10 from the taxpayer to cover the costs of registered mailing and the costs of advertisement and publication. Additional fees (with a minimum of $94) will be added at the time of the tax sale which is generally the first or second Monday of December. All payments received after Friday two weeks preceding the sale must be in legal money of the United States, cash, cashiers check or money order. Personal and business checks will not be accepted. For the exact date, contact the Treasurer at 847-377-2323. Postmark will not be accepted. All payments must be received by Friday, November 30th, at 5:00 pm to avoid going to tax sale. Those interested in participating in the tax sale must register 10 business days prior to the sale.