Wednesday, July 27, 2011

6 Eco-Friendly Ways to Stay Cool This Summer on the North Shore!

Summer is a great time on Chicago’s North Shore with many great outdoor activities, festivals and other opportunities to get out and enjoy the vibrant North Shore communities. Whether you’ve been a North Shore resident for years or are new to Chicago’s North Shore, you’ve probably noticed our unusually warm season!

Having lived in the North Shore and working as North Shore Real Estate agent for over twenty years, I can attest that you’re never quite sure what each season will bring. Yet this summer's warmer temperatures has many concerned about their utility bills and the affect on the North Shore environment while trying to keep cool inside.

I thought it would be helpful to let you know of some cost-effective and eco-friendly ways to keep cool the rest of this summer on the North Shore. Take a look!

1. Close your windows- It may seem counterintuitive, but opening the windows will often make your North Shore home warmer, not cooler. Open your windows at night if the air outside is cooler than inside, and close them – along with blinds and shades – before the sun hits your house in the morning. When night falls, open windows wide, particularly those oriented toward prevailing winds so you can take advantage of cross ventilation. You may also put houseplants – particularly larger potted trees – in front of sunny windows to absorb some of the sun’s energy.

2. Use fans strategically- Using ceiling fans or stand alone fans can create a nice breeze in a room and help keep you cool. If you’re using ceiling fans, make sure it’s running in the right direction, so that in the summer the breeze is blowing down, not up. Remember to turn fans off when you leave a room since they are made to keep people cool, and are not made to cool an entire room. If you’re buying a new fan, buy an Energy Star fan which will use 50% less energy than other models!

3. Cook (or don’t cook) a cool meal- Just as drinking an ice cold lemonade cools your body, eating cold food helps keep your internal temperature lower on a hot day. If you do cook, use the grill or the microwave, or else you’ll heat up your kitchen from using the oven and stove. And remember, kitchen appliances aren’t the only devices that give off heat; limiting your use of electronics will help keep your spaces cooler.

4. Shut off the lights- While modern lightning, like compact fluorescents and LEDs, are more efficient, incandescent light bulbs can produce as much heat as they do light. Energy Star-rated light bulbs produce 75% less heat, so consider that when replacing bulbs. It’s always a good idea to shut off lights to save energy, it makes a big difference on hot sunny summer days.

5. Go for a swim or take a cold shower- It may sound obvious, but it’s worth saying: If you’re hot, cool it off by immersing yourself in cold water. Jumping in your pool or even a cold shower will immediately cool down your core body temperature.

6. Plant a tree (or two or three) strategically- Your North Shore home may get hot because the sun beats down on it relentlessly on hot summer days. Let nature help reduce your energy bills by planting deciduous trees on the east and west sides of your home; in the summer, their broad leaves will shade your house. Also consider planting trees or shrubs to shade high-heat areas – air conditioning units that emit heat, for instance, and driveways and walkways that absorb it.

I hope these six simple tips help you as you think about energy efficient ways to stay cool in your North Shore home this summer!


As always, if you have any questions about living in Chicago’s North Shore, would like information about the North Shore Real Estate market or are ready to begin your home search; please contact me! I’m here to help in anyway I can and guide you through each step of buying a North Shore home.


I look forward to hearing from you!


Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

The America Dream Lives on in Chicago's North Shore!

Thinking of buying a North Shore home this year? What’s the first thing that comes to mind? As a North Shore Real Estate agent, I hear the main concern with buying a home is the price tag.

The media produces constant reports of where the real estate market is headed, how we’re currently living in a buyers market and the fact that home prices and interest rates have reached all time lows. Consequently, one of the questions I get asked often is if now is the best time to buy or if North Shore home buyers should wait for home prices to drop even more.

And, while the majority of conversations and questions revolve around the financial aspects of buying a home; this is not the reason for buying a North Shore home. At the end of the day, no matter what the market is doing; the American Dream of home ownership is at the root of it all.

In fact, a few recent surveys prove that when asked the reasons for buying a home, buyers didn’t mention the cost at all. Take a look!

National Housing Survey

The top five reasons given in the survey for buying a home, in order, are:

It means having a good place to raise children and provide them with a good education

You have a physical structure where you and your family feel safe

It allows you to have more space for your family

It gives you control of what you do with your living space (renovations and updates)

Paying rent is not a good investment


The Myers Research and Strategic Services Survey

The top five reasons given in the survey for buying a home, in order, are:

Home ownership provides a stable and safe environment for children and other family members

Home ownership means the money you spend on housing goes towards building equity, rather than to a landlord

Home ownership creates the opportunity to pay off a mortgage and own your home by the time you retire

Home ownership creates the opportunity to live in a neighborhood that you enjoy

Home ownership allows you the right to decorate, modify and renovate your home as you see fit


So it seems that, while the price of a home does play a role in finding the right home, it does not affect the reasons for buying a North Shore home. At the end of the day, people want to own a home as a way to invest in the future of their children, their well being and sense of pride in ownership. The American Dream lives on in spite of the housing market!


If you are interested in buying a North Shore home, but have been leery of jumping into the North Shore Real Estate market; I would love the opportunity to talk with you! Getting to know the facts about the North Shore Real Estate market, the current homes that are available in the North Shore and your options for financing will give you the confidence you need to take the next step.


Please feel free to contact me today as I would enjoy helping you find the North Shore home of your dreams!


Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Shop Till You Drop This Weekend at the Winnetka-Northfield Sidewalk Sale!

As a North Shore Real Estate agent, I enjoy not only bringing you the latest real estate news and home tips, but local news and events as well! My goal is to provide you with a well rounded view of life on Chicago’s North Shore and highlight what makes it such a great place to call home.


If you are currently living in the North Shore, or are planning on visiting for the weekend, you’ll want to head over to Winnetka this weekend for one of the years most favored events! The Winnetka- Northfield Sidewalk Sale, taking place this Friday, July 15 and Saturday, July 16 from 9am-5pm, is a fun time for young and old alike and is a great way to interact with the community.


For over 40 years, the Winnetka Chamber of Commerce has been hosting this free event, and is welcoming Northfield into this years’ event! Both villages will be featuring local goods such as clothes, jewelry, books and much more from stores that line their charming streets. These local retailers have special prices and unique offerings for this shop till you drop weekend! Live music, local food and even displays by charity organizations will enhance the shopping experience.


Because of Winnetka and Northfield’s committment to children; the Sidewalk Sale will also feature a Kid-entrepreneur section. This gives children the opportunity to get creative as they’ll sell items such a duct-tape wallets, crafts and other home made goods. Children will enjoy having something creative to do and will get a feel for business and being involved in their community.


This year will also kick off the first ever Go Green Winnetka-Northfield Fair which will take place on Saturday, July 16 from 10am-2pm in Hubbard Woods Park. In an effort to create awareness and bring about a more eco-friendly environment to our communities the Go-Green Fair will feature information about simple ways to go green as well as activities for children and adults! You’ll learn about biking, recycling, healthy foods, compost, reusable art and much more. View more information at the Go Green Winnetka-Northfield website.


Whether you are a permanent resident of Winnekta or Northfield, or are in the North Shore area; I encourage you to take part in this fun event! Perhaps you’re considering a move to Winnetka or Chicago’s North Shore and want to get a feel for the community. This weekend would be a great opportunity to do so! You can also view more information on the Winnetka-Northfield Sidewalk Sale to see the specific retailers and other detailed information on the event.


If you have questions about living in Winnetka or Chicago’s North Shore; let me know! I’d enjoy the opportunity to talk with you and answer your questions about buying a home in the North Shore. I hope to hear from you soon!



Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
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Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Winnetka Market Stats for June 2011


Winnetka Active Listings: There are a total of 206 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,849,260 in Winnetka.

Winnetka Park Sold Listings: 20 properties closed last month in Winnetka with an average sales price of $1,417,400, the average time on market for these properties was 100 days.

To view the complete report including additional detailed data, charts ad graphs, please view the Winnetka market statistics!


Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
Visit My Website

Northbrook Market Stats for June 2011


Northbrook Active Listings: There are a total of 421 properties actively on the market with the average price of $562,162 in Northbrook.

Northbrook Park Sold Listings: 36 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $402,641, the average time on market for these properties was 100 days.


To view the complete report including additional detailed data, charts ad graphs, please view the Northbrook market statistics!


Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
Visit My Website

Highland Park Market Stats for June 2011


Highland Park Active Listings: There are a total of 395 properties actively on the market with the average price of $918,879 in Highland Park.

Highland Park Sold Listings: 34 properties closed last month in Highland Park with an average sales price of $529,366, the average time on market for these properties was 100 days.

To view the complete report including additional detailed data, charts ad graphs, please view the Highland Park market statistics!


Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
Visit My Website

Glencoe Market Stats for June 2011


Glencoe Active Listings: There are a total of 125 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,557,439 in Glencoe.

Glencoe Sold Listings: 12 properties closed last month in Glencoe with an average sales price of $1,328,833, the average time on market for these properties was 100 days.


To view the complete report including additional detailed data, charts ad graphs, please view the Glencoe market statistics!

Deerfield Market Stats for June 2011



Deerfield Active Listings: There are a total of 194 properties actively on the market with the average price of $547,252 in Deerfield.

Deerfield Sold Listings: 26 properties closed last month in Deerfield with an average sales price of $380,846, the average time on market for these properties was 100 days.


To view the complete report including additional detailed data, charts ad graphs, please view the Deerfield market statistics!