Illinois and Chicago Market Update

Here is a link to Illinois and Chicago Market Stats

http://www.illinoisrealtor.org/marketstats

Contact me if you need any info on available properties or if you are ready to buy or sell

Jillogrady.bairdwarner.com

Short Sales Quiz

A lot of home buyers might be interested in purchasing a Short Sale, Foreclosure or Bank Owned Property in pursuit of a good deal. More and more opportunities have become available but there are a few things to be aware of...things that I have noticed.

1. It is a good idea to come in with your highest price. There is a good chance that the bank will not counter your offer but move on to a better one.

2. Don't be suprised if the listing agent takes a very long time to get back to you about your offer. Either there is lots of work on the table or they are 'shopping' your offer with the hope of a higher one coming in soon.

3. Cash is king. The bank would much rather accept an offer that does not have a mortgage contingency. You can still get a loan to buy the property but don't make the contract contingent upon it.

4. These places are usually sold 'as is', with no disclosures, and the buyer may have to pay unpaid assessments and taxes.

Click on the title to see how much you know about Short Sales by taking a quiz

2016 Olympics in Chicago?

Just a few more months till October. That's when we find out if the 2016 Summer Olympics will be held in Chicago. Will the outcome have an impact on the Chicago real estate market? I say yes.

So many properties are available for purchase in this buyers' market and those places close to the lakefront are perfectly located for the event. Some of those areas are: The Loop, South Loop, Bronzeville, Washington Park and even Lakeview where the tennis events are proposed to take place.

Just east of The Loop and just west of Lake Michigan is beautiful Millenium Park which is central to any happening in Chicago.

A perfect place to buy a condo is in the 5 North Wabash Building. I just happen to know of a great one bedroom in that building that would make convenient 'in-town' , full time residence or even an investment.

Check it out and contact me if you have any interest in seeing it.

'>5 North Wabash #605

Chicago Information Website

I found a really great website to find alot of current information about Chicago. It's a great resourse for things happening around town if you want to attend or just avoid due to traffic or street closures.

It is americantowns.com . See below for some types of info available on this site:

Chicago Illinois Quick Facts: Population for Chicago: 2896016 County: Cook Latitude: 41.8865 Longitude: -87.6245 Chicago Illinois Site Map: Chicago Illinois IL Chicago Upcoming Events and Things to Do Chicago Illinois IL News Chicago Organizations Businesses Chicago Illinois IL Video Chicago

Ask me if you ever want some good shortcuts for driving around Chicago or of course if you want to know about Chicago Real Estate

Mortgage Crisis to Credit Card Crisis

This story is not really about real estate but I can forsee a problem that is similar to what happened in the mortgage industry. ..Home owners not able make their mortgage payment now that the rate on their ARM has adjusted to much higher.

Higher Rates!

I signed on to citicard site to pay my credit card bill. The minimum payment due seemed a little high so I actually look at the bill. Ah ha there it is! Citibank raised my finance rate to 13.99%. Yipes, with further investigation I found that last month my rate was 7.49%. I contacted them and they told me that the increase had nothing to do with my account but with their 'cost of doing business'. Hey, don't punish me for your problems!

I told them they need to lower my rate and that if they continue to raise peoples rates so high then payment will be more difficult...they might default on the payment and hence...a credit card crisis.

I wish I didn't have a balance on my credit card but with the mortgage crisis which led to the real estate slump...boohoo :(

Tell me about it!!

So here is my latest idea. It's a site or in this case a blog where you can complain, vent, or even say nice things or kudos about someone, something, etc. If you just want to go on and on about something...fine. Or maybe you would like advice about something specific....fine, ask for it. Or maybe you want information on a subject. I will try to obtain that info for you or call out to someone who can help. Oh, and also since this is supposed to be a real estate blog, let's keep it about real estate for now. Okay? I'll start!

So the other day, I was on 'live chat'. Live Chat is a feature on rubloff.com where a person can get info by chatting with an agent online. I was on - a chatter came on asking for the 3 Rubloff agents with the highest sales volume in River North because he may have a property to sell soon. I told him that I would be happy to help him sell his place. I work in River North and that is my job, right? This guy says "Oh that's what all agents tell me" "Well, would you like me to search for that information for you?" I say. "Yes" he said. So I did and gave him that information.

Now how is a real estate agent like me supposed to make a living in this business if people request the only top selling agents to represent them? Hey, I am a great agent. I try hard and I care. I can sell this guys house just as well or even better that those other agents....just gimme the chance!!!!

Let me know what you think or tell me some of your issues.

Lincoln Park Preschools

Cody O'Grady

A few days ago someone asked me about preschool options for little ones on the near north side which would include, Lincoln Park, Old Town, Gold Coast, Streeterville, New East Side, Loop. It's been a while since my kids were in preschool but I asked around and found the best ones....still. Here's the list:





Catherine Cook


Lincoln Park Co-op


Lake Shore Prep (Apple School)


Chalk Board


and a new one


Chalk





I know all about Chicago Public Schools- elementary and high school. My kids, Bethany 18 and Cody 15 went to LaSalle Language Academy and now go to Whitney Young High School. Both are magnet schools. They got into LaSalle by 'lottery' and for magnet high schools, it is necessary to test in. I will write about that next time.