Monday, April 26, 2010

Art Admirers, Mark Your Calendars


Commemorating fifty years of creative expression, the Art Center in Highland Park celebrates its’ Anniversary with a Golden Gala on May 6th at 7pm. The exhibit will include the work of Ed Paschke, with an exclusive chance to purchase original work from the Ed Paschke Foundation, in addition to Chuck Walker, Roger Brown, Judith Geichman, Cat Chow, Victor Skrebneski and other featured artists. The musical accompaniment is provided by Grammy Award winning Jazz Pianist Laurence Hobgood, bassist Eric Hochberg, and drummer Ernie Adams. Laurence Hobgood is best known for his collaborations with singer Kurt Elling, and is revered as one of the most talented pianists of the decade.

In the form of dance you’ll enjoy a young and talented group of choreographers, all between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five that make the dance company known as Hubbard Street 2. Their latest repertoire has been described as mysterious, and intriguing. Pieces from fifty different artists will be up for auction, and gold tie attire is optional.

Don’t miss this great event to experience fabulous local artistic talent while celebrating fifty years of excellence in the arts! For more information on North Shore happenings and events, contact me for more local insight including Real Estate updates. If you're currently looking to move to Chicago's North Shore, give me a call, I’d be happy to assist you with a smooth relocation.


Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert

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Monday, April 19, 2010

A Rising Market- Start Your North Shore Home Search Today!

You may still be wondering if now is the best time to dive into the North Shore Real Estate Market. You’ve heard that the world of Real Estate is still on shaky ground, but there is hope! The Index of Leading Economic Indicators rose 1.4% in March, the Conference Board recently noted, making it the 12th straight month of increase! Which means the economy is steadily getting back on its feet!

Ken Goldstein, economist for The Conference Board pointed out that, “The indicators point to a slow recovery that should continue over the next few months. The leading, coincident and lagging series are rising. Strength of demand remains the big question going forward. Improvement in employment and income will be the key factors in whether consumers push the recovery on a stronger path." Now may actually be a great time to cash in on those still low interest rates and the overall lean towards the buyers market.

Chicago’s North Shore is an ideal place to call home. With its close proximity to big city life, to its scenic foliage in the well kept neighborhoods; the area appeals to all lifestyles! Take a minute to view some of the stunning North Shore homes or feel free to contact me with any questions you may have regarding Chicago’s North Shore. The increasingly steady market means it may not stay a buyer’s market for long; so be sure to start your home search today!


Janie Bress

Your North Shore Real Estate Expert

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Read the full article about the market rise here.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Making the Most of Your North Shore Space!

The Real Estate market has noticed a slight decline in the size of homes as people are looking to make better use of the space they have. Many are attempting to be as energy-efficient as possible and the thought of heating and cooler a larger home doesn’t seem worth it in the long run. Whether you are looking to buy a home in the North Shore area or if you are itching to sell, below are a few good tips for getting the best use out of a smaller space.

Assess Furniture Size: Before you buy a home or buy new furniture for your new home, assess the size of your furniture to see how it will fit in your new space. If you are hosting open houses to sell your home; be sure to remove any unnecessary furniture from the room to ensure the room looks as large as possible.

Room Mapping: Again, before buying furniture for a new home or even buying a home in the North Shore area, be sure to map out where your new or existing furniture would be placed within the room. More is not always better and being willing to pare down to the main pieces you would like to highlight can create a better flow in the room and give the appearance of more space.

Storage Smarts: If you are looking for a great deal on a North Shore home, you may have to compromise on things like storage space. Luckily, there are many options today for furniture that doubles as storage such as benches that open up as storage bins, beds that contain pull out drawers, etc… Be sure, if you are selling your home, to clean out closets to the bare minimum as potential buyers will open closets to see how much room they have to store items. If they open the door to a cluttered closet, they will have a harder time envisioning how much space they really have.

Stashed Away: Whether a closet or pantry is big or small, there are options for adding shelving and other features that allow you to get the most return on your space. However, if it seems that what you need to store is simply not going to work; reassess your items. This may be an ideal time to go through your items and see what you really use and what can be donated. Going through older or unused items before a move or just after moving into a new place is a great feeling as a new home offers a new start.

I hope these tips have been helpful as you are beginning your home search in Chicago’s North Shore or preparing for a home sale. I know of many great homes from which to choose and would enjoy helping you find your perfect fit! Not sure where to start in the home selling process? I’d be happy to help you from start to finish ensuring your home sale runs smoothly and that you are happy with the results! My experience in the North Shore market is extensive and can put you on the right track from the start! Feel free to contact me today!


Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert

North Shore Real Estate
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Monday, April 5, 2010

Find Your Perfect North Shore Home Today!

With Spring beginning to bud all around us, the warmer weather beckons us outdoors. You may have been waiting for this season to begin searching for a new home, and now is the perfect time to start looking! Perhaps you currently live in one of the great North Shore communities and are hoping to “move up” into your dream home. If so, there are many beautiful properties from which to choose and with housing prices still buyer friendly, this is the ideal time to “upgrade.”

If you are not familiar with Chicago’s North Shore, but have heard about all that this area has to offer, please let me know! I enjoy helping buyers’ find the North Shore home that fits their budget and lifestyle. If you act quickly, there is still time to cash in on the Tax Credit which has been extended to the end of this month.

The Chicago North Shore area has many great communities! Whether you are looking for a young professional, active environment or family friendly neighborhood- there are plenty of options from which to choose! Feel free to view a few of my listings or contact me today to get started with finding your North Shore home!


Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert

North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
Visit My Website
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