Archive for April, 2009

Filed under buyers, market stats, sellers

I Had A Feeling the Market was Picking Up

Real estate can be very subjective. If you ask a busy agent how the market is, they’ll say great. If you ask a slow one, they’ll say terrible. For all of last winter and the early months of spring, however, you couldn’t find a busy agent. So, there was a pretty widespread consensus that the [...]

Comments Off Laura on Apr 28th 2009

Filed under barrington

Barrington’s Annual Kite Fly

This Saturday, May 2, Barrington Breakfast Rotary Club, is hosting the annual Community Kite Fly.

Where? Citizen’s Park in Barrington, located off of Northwest Highway, just north of the library
When? Saturday, May 2, from 1:00-4:00
Who? Anyone and everyone from all over the Northwest Suburbs
Cost? Free!

The Kite Fly is a big hit with kids and [...]

Comments Off Laura on Apr 28th 2009

Filed under buyers

What’s the Best Site to Find Local Open Houses?

A couple weeks ago, a reader emailed me this question. It’s one that I am happy to answer. Undoubtedly, Baird & Warner’s website is the best source for local open houses.
I am not just tooting my own horn here.    The reason Baird & Warner’s site supersedes others is that it lists all of its own offices’ open houses [...]

Comments Off Laura on Apr 23rd 2009

Filed under sellers

Showing Your Home: The Basics

I’ve been showing a lot of homes lately, and I am always surprised how many sellers and/or their listing agents miss the basics. Here is a short list of reminders of how you can make your home showing-ready.

Make sure your agent has professional photos of your home taken. A few times a month I preview [...]

Comments Off Laura on Apr 22nd 2009

Filed under buyers, palatine

Spring Market Update

The market is picking up.  I held an open house in Inverness today, and I had seven or nine groups through.  I lost count.  I had an open house in Palatine on Saturday for just two hours, and I had five groups through. Many of the visitors were serious buyers looking to purchase within the [...]

Comments Off Laura on Apr 19th 2009

Filed under buyers

Inverness Open House Walk

Come on out for Baird & Warner’s Annual Inverness Open House Walk!  We have 14 beautiful homes on tour ranging in price from $400,000 to 4 million.

The Open House Walk is open to the public.  So, you don’t have to be in the market to buy a home.  Anyone who likes to see beautiful architecture [...]

2 Comments Laura on Apr 16th 2009

Filed under barrington, buyers, palatine

Referendum to Extend Route 53 Passes

Yesterday, Lake County residents voted overwhelmingly to extend Route 53 into Lake County. The vote was merely advisory and will not necessarily lead to immediate action. Route 53 currently ends at Lake Cook Road at the north end of Palatine.

Proponents of the plan believe that an extension of 53 would alleviate the gridlock that oppresses [...]

3 Comments Laura on Apr 8th 2009

Filed under barrington, market stats, palatine

January & February 2009 Market Statistics

County
Total Sales
Median Price

Cook
-26%
-27%

Lake
-33%
-23%

McHenry
-26%
-17%

Chicago PMSA*
-26.7%
-23.5%

February, 2009 compared to 2008

County
Total Sales
Median Price

Cook
-22%
-28%

Lake
-29%
-18%

McHenry
-23%
-7.5%

Chicago PMSA*
-24.5%
-23%

January, 2009 compared to 2008

To get a sense of context, check out the Local Market Stats category in the right margin.
Source: illinoisrealtor.org
*Chicagoland PMSA includes the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will.

Comments Off Laura on Apr 7th 2009