illinois: 210 Hartway Court Montgomery IL 60538
- 08/17/07 07:15 AM
Unique California Style Ranch offers great value for the $$$-Structurally sound home Maintained for the last 20+yrs by the same owner-Living,Dining,and Kitchen area has Vault Ceiling w/exposed beam-Private setting w/Mature Landscape opens to large green space area-Recently resealed Horse shoe shaped asphalt driveway-Conveniently located near the Fox River & bike trails-Estate will entertain all reasonable offers offered at $184,500
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illinois: Broker Class Update
- 06/20/07 05:24 PM
I wanted to share an update with all the AR members about my broker's class. I am happy to say the long journey is finally over. I finished classes on June 1st. This past Monday I took the state exam and am happy to report I PASSED. Needless to say, I am not that great of a student and was worried about getting through this whole process. It was the high of my week. Thanks to all the local agents in my area who knew I was taking this course and were supportive believing in me when at thimes I didn't always believe … (8 comments)
Oswego-Semi Custom King's Court Built Home-Light & Bright-Neutral Throughout-2 Story Foyer w/Hardwood floors leading to Kitchen offering Center Island/Breakfast bar w/Granite Top-36"/42"Custom Brakur Maple Cabinets w/Crown Molding-Family Room w/Stone Face Fireplace & Oak Mantel-Mstr Suite w/Vault Ceil & Private Bath w/Sep Shwr & Soaker Tub-Generous Size Guest Bdrms-All Appls Stay! Rooms wired for Speakers-Close to schools, shopping, & Entertainment-Offered at $329,000 Village of Oswego Chamber of Commerce School Information Parks and Recreation Library Neighborhood Information … (2 comments)
illinois: Update on my Broker's Class Progress
- 06/09/07 09:35 PM
I finished the last module of the 5 module Broker's Class. Sitting though these classes was probably one of the more boring times of my life in recent years. ( I have to be honest - this material is dry ) So now for the real challenge, passing the state exam. We actually have upto 6 months to take this test after class finishes, but I believe if I don't know this material by now, 6 months won't help a guy like me :-) I'm signed up for the test in about 1 week. There was one student that took her test like 4 … (2 comments)
illinois: Real Estate safety
- 02/20/07 10:24 AM
Here are some real estate safety tips I read in a recent article: Open House Safety tips we want to share with you. An open house can be a great sales tool, but it also exposes you to numerous unfamiliar people for the first time. Stay safe by practicing these guidelines...1. Check your cell phone's strength and signal prior to the open house. Have emergency numbers programmed on speed dial. Carry an extra, fully charged cell phone battery.2. Upon entering a house for the first time, check all rooms and determine several "escape" routes. Make sure all deadbolt locks are unlocked to facilitate … (2 comments)
illinois: Taxes: Don't Forget to Deduct Rental Depreciation
- 02/18/07 04:35 AM
Tax time is nearly here. Anyone renting out a property to a tenant - either as an investor or as a reluctant owner who can't find a buyer - shouldn't forget to deduct depreciation expenses from income taxes.The idea is that property loses value as it ages, so the IRS lets landlords subtract some of the value of their property every year for 27.5 years and use it to reduce the income received from the tenant. That reduces the landlord's tax bill. Depreciation is complicated - and calculating it often requires professional help, experts say. Some people are overwhelmed by a … (1 comments)
illinois: One Laundry Room Isn't Enough Anymore
- 02/09/07 06:44 AM
A growing number of home owners are equipping their residences with more than one laundry area, and some have gone so far as to include washing machines and dryers in the closet of each bedroom. Multiple laundry rooms are convenient for owners of spacious dwellings and aging baby boomers who would otherwise have to carry clothes up and down stairs or across a large house. Some home owners are spending upwards of $2,500 on the newest machines that come in designer colors and run quietly, or they're buying specialized machines for delicate items and durable items. No statistics are currently available … (1 comments)
illinois: 6 Ways First-Time Buyers Can Prepare
- 02/09/07 06:43 AM
A cooling housing market gives buyers, especially first-time buyers, more opportunities to snatch up a good deal. But just because there are good deals, doesn't always mean buyers are ready to make the leap.These six tips will help prospective buyers find out if they are ready for homeownership. 1. Take a first-time home buyer class. It will make repairing a credit score and shopping for a loan less stressful.2. Be conservative. Borrowing too much can mean stretching and even sacrificing - to the point that it's hard to even keep a six-pack of beer in the fridge.3. Organize documents. First-time buyers … (0 comments)
illinois: Illinois Home Ownership
- 02/07/07 02:34 AM
Illinois homeownership at 70.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2006, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. homeownership rate reached 68.9 percent in the fourth quarter. Regionally, the homeownership rate was 73 percent in the Midwest, 70.8 percent in the South, 65.3 percent in the Northeast, and 64.5 percent in the West. The homeownership rate for non-Hispanic whites was 76 percent, versus 49.5 percent for Hispanics and 48.2 percent for blacks, according to the Census. … (1 comments)
illinois: Preventing Water Damage in your home
- 01/06/07 08:17 AM
For homeowners, water can be a quiet villain. This seemingly innocuous element can harm your house gradually over time or in sudden disastrous events. A home that is water damaged can be a health hazard to its occupants and is very often expensive to repair. Common Causes of Water and Moisture DamageWater damage can be grouped into two general sources: 1) leaks of external water through the home's exterior and 2) moisture accumulation from internal sources. Below are some of the most frequent causes of moisture damage: Roof/Flashing Needs Repair - Worn or broken roofing material can expose your home to … (1 comments)
illinois: Housing Recovery - Normal Not White Hot Growth
- 12/11/06 07:14 AM
Probably the big news in the December 2006 Economic Outlook published by Freddie Mac's Office of the Chief Economist last Friday was that the office has finally changed its interest rate projection for the year. The monthly forecast since late last year has clung to a projection that the 30-year mortgage rate would average 6.5 percent for the year. This number went up to 6.6 for a few months in late summer when rates did rise steadily but only now, with recent rates off of July highs by 69 basis points has Freddie revised its projection to 6.3 percent for the 4th … (0 comments)
illinois: What is "H.O."? You can probably guess--it means "home odors"
- 12/07/06 07:39 AM
Be careful of odors in your home. If your family room smells stuffy and stale, or if your cat or dog has left a distinctive odor in the hallway, take action by eliminating the source of the odor rather than merely treating the effects. Smells have a powerful effect on the way people react to a house, and no amount of room freshener or vanilla on the light bulbs can mask a serious odor problem. In fact, such remedies may draw attention to the problem. We have seen homes with an odor problem languish unsold on the market for months or … (0 comments)
illinois: It's a Wonderful time of the year.......................
- 12/04/06 07:22 AM
The shopping season is now in full swing. And whether you bought electronics or clothes or toys this weekend...or just stayed home and enjoyed football and leftovers...retailers everywhere enjoyed a long day of consumer spending on Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year. And did you know the actual celebration date of Thanksgiving has some shopping trivia in its history? Here's an interesting tidbit to bring to your next holiday gathering. Abraham Lincoln gave his Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1863, and stated that the last Thursday in November would be the national day of Thanksgiving - but then in 1939, during … (0 comments)
illinois: New Scam - Be Careful !
- 12/04/06 07:19 AM
It appears the only ones who love the holiday season more than children are criminals. You may be familiar with the term Phishing - where scammers send you emails in an attempt to acquire sensitive information like credit card details and passwords by masquerading as a trustworthy person or business. And much like Phishing, Vishing is the latest identity-theft ploy. Beware - this one is extra tricky. Instead of using email, scammers use voice over internet protocol (VoIP), which allows people to make calls using an Internet connection instead of a regular phone line. The con calls their target with an automated phone message, … (0 comments)
illinois: Smart Quiz
- 12/03/06 06:57 AM
The following short quiz consists of 4 questions and will tell you whether you are qualified to be a professional. Scroll down for each answer. The questions are NOT that difficult. But don't scroll down UNTIL you have answered the question! # 1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator? >> > > >> > > >> > > The correct answer is: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe, and close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way. > # 2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator? >> > … (1 comments)
illinois: Before You Buy Your First Home - Tips for First-time Home Buyers
- 11/30/06 07:50 AM
How Many Homes Will You See? Studies show that the your memory dramatically improves after consumption of carbs and slows upon consuming sugar. So, layoff the soft drinks and have a hearty meal of carbs before venturing out to tour homes. The average number of homes that I show to a buyer in one day is seven. Any more than that, and the brain is on overload. Therefore, don't expect to see 20 or 30 homes; although it's physically possible to do so, you probably will not remember specific details about any of them. The "Red Shoes" Experience Women will relate to this. … (4 comments)
illinois: Real Estate Investing with a difference.............
- 11/27/06 06:09 AM
When most people think of real estate investing, they think of buying and selling houses. However, there is an entire area of real estate investing that exists outside the residential arena. There are two major categories of real estate investment: residential and commercial. Commercial real estate investing is very similar to residential real estate investing. The primary difference between the two is the type of real estate that is purchased and sold. Commercial real estate investing yields a higher profit for each transaction than what is provided with residential investments. This profit isn't just easy money. Commercial real estate investment calls … (1 comments)
illinois: Market Stats for Plainfield, IL 2005 vs 2006
- 11/17/06 08:30 AM
Summary: 2006 Closed volume is 30.82% less than 2005 Closed Listings average days on market increased from 87 days in 2005 to 131 days in 2006 Average sale price to list price ratio 97.92% in 2006 vs. 98.98% in 2005 Average sale price decreased in 2006 by .42%
Unique California Style Ranch offers great value for the $$$-Structurally sound home Maintained for the last 20+yrs by the same owner-Living,Dining,and Kitchen area has Vault Ceiling w/exposed beam-Private setting w/Mature Landscape opens to large green space area-Recently resealed Horse shoe shaped asphalt driveway-Conveniently located near the Fox River & bike trails-Estate will entertain all reasonable offers offered at $184,500
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