http://www.lauraslocal.com Real Estate News for Palatine, Barrington & Inverness Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:36:21 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Wow!! I honestly don't think so! This may be a once in a life-time opportunity. If you're not buying a home, you may want to re-finance. For more in-depth information on interest rates, click on my Zillow interest rate widget in the first column on the right. http://www.lauraslocal.com/?p=2725 The Village of Palatine has demolished the old Sears Essentials store on Northwest Highway and Hicks and is replacing it with a beautiful new village building. The new building will house the Palatine Police Headquarters, which is currently in cramped quarters on Wood Street, just west of Northwest Highway. I think this ... http://www.lauraslocal.com/?p=2713 The State of Illinois and the Chicago area are finally enjoying some good news in the housing market. “For the first time since the recession began, the housing markets in Illinois and Chicagoland region almost presented positive indicators across the board."  said Dr. Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, director of the Regional Economics ... http://www.lauraslocal.com/?p=2703 Home sales were up 23.5% in the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of last year (IAR.org)! That is great news! I remember the first quarter of last year, and it was rough. This spring felt a lot better. Buyers were out and about; dual offers were ... http://www.lauraslocal.com/?p=2699 It looks like the new spring inventory is beginning to peak. In April, particularly at the end of April, I believe we'll start seeing fewer new listings hit the market. Sure, inventory may begin to pile up in June and July, but a lot of that will consist of homes that ... http://www.lauraslocal.com/?p=2649 Are you watching the interest rates? They're just to the right in the margin. My little Zillow widget has a great little graph of the recent rate history. Zillow's Mortgage Marketplace is also a helpful resource. It's important to keep an eye on the rates. Often times, a rate drop can make a bigger difference in ... http://www.lauraslocal.com/?p=2642 Buyers frequently ask me if they should test for radon. The answer is "yes." Radon is an invisible, odorless gas that can cause cancer. Indoor radon gas is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over ... http://www.lauraslocal.com/?p=2628 Finally, we're beginning to see some beautiful new inventory in the Northwest Suburbs. And, as always, the nicest homes are getting snatched up quickly. I've been in several dual offers this year already. Properties have been priced extraordinarily well and interest rates are low, so smart buyers aren't stalling. If you see something nice, ... http://www.lauraslocal.com/?p=2616 Downtown Palatine, along the Railwalk http://www.lauraslocal.com/?p=2598 Well, then give me a call or shoot me an email! I work with both sellers and buyers, but I specialize in buyer's agency. I've lived in the Northwest Suburbs for over forty years and have been involved with selling real estate most of my adult life. I've helped happy clients find ... http://www.lauraslocal.com/?p=2585