Friday, September 26, 2014

Don’t Miss the Evanston Art and Big Fork Festival This Weekend!

A variety of artists will feature their original art at the festival.
Are you looking for a fun activity to do outdoors with your family this weekend? The fall weather is looking absolutely gorgeous for the EvanstonArt and Big Fork Festival!

The streets of downtown Evanston, IL will be closed both Saturday and Sunday from 10am-9pm for this event. Tonight (Friday, Sept 26) there will be live music and food from a variety of restaurants from 5-9pm.

The very best artists will be featured at this event and all art is original and crosses the spectrum of price points. Art will be available to purchase from classic categories such as paintings, sculpture, photography as well as unique categories such as handmade jewelry, glass, wood, art made from recycled materials and one-of-a-kind furniture.

In addition to having a variety of art to enjoy and even purchase, this festival also includes a wide variety of Evanston’s great restaurants and have live music playing.

The Evanston, IL Green Living Festival is also taking place this weekend, on Saturday starting at 9am. This event will include a variety of “green” exhibitors and various educational areas for adults and children. And of course, no event would be complete without a delicious menu of food to choose from!

Fall can be an excellent time to list your house and to shop for a new North Shore home. If you are in the market for a North Shore real estate agent, you have come to the right place. I have a wealth of experience with North Shore real estate and would be happy to help you find the home of your dreams!

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
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Local Expert... with National Connections!


Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States

Friday, September 19, 2014

Mortgage Pre-Approval When Purchasing a North Shore Home?

Should I get pre-approved for my mortgage when buying North Shore real estate?

Chicago North Shore Real Estate
Mortgage Pre-Approval

In today’s market, seeking a pre-approval for a home loan is vital! While the real estate market on Chicago’s North Shore is continuing to improve, lending guidelines are still tight. Having a pre-approval for a mortgage will help to set you apart from other North Shore buyers. Here are 3 things that a mortgage pre-approval will do for you in your home buying process:

1) Establish your price range

By completing the pre-approval process before you begin your search, you will save yourself the time and energy of looking at homes for which you will not qualify. Establishing a price range will allow your realtor to quickly narrow down your options so that you can spend more time focusing on the features that you would like to have in your home.

2) Give you a competitive edge over other buyers.

It is not uncommon for sellers to get multiple offers on their homes. By having a pre-approval for a mortgage, it let’s the seller know that you are serious about purchasing the home and that you are also qualified to do so. If a seller is evaluating offers from a pre-approved buyer and one who is not, the pre-approved buyer will probably win.

3) Streamline your home buying process. 

From the moment that you view your first home through the day that you sign on the dotted line, having a pre-approval can make the process much smoother and less stressful. Once you find the perfect home, you’re not going to want to wait days or weeks to find out if you are approved for a loan while worrying that another buyer is going to come in a scoop it up in the meantime.

Getting a pre-approval for a North Shore home loan can really help to simplify your home buying process. You will have to go through the approval process at some point no matter what, so why not get it out of the way early on? Please contact me if I can be of assistance in buying or selling your North Shore real estate!

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
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Local Expert... with National Connections!

Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Winnetka Market Stats for August 2014


City Active Listings: There are a total of 144 properties actively on the market with the average price of $2,288,740 in Winnetka.
City Sold Listings: 44 properties closed last month in City with an average sales price of $1,370,381, the average time on market for these properties was 44 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
Local Expert... with National Connections!

Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States

Northbrook Market Stats for August 2014

City Active Listings: There are a total of 271 properties actively on the market with the average price of $742,182 in Northbrook.
City Sold Listings: 67 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $551,648, the average time on market for these properties was 58 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
Local Expert... with National Connections!

Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States

Glencoe Market Stats for August 2014

City Active Listings: There are a total of 87 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,780,582 in Glencoe.
City Sold Listings: 12 properties closed last month in Glencoe with an average sales price of $1,470,417, the average time on market for these properties was 61 days. 
To view the complete report including additional detailed data, charts ad graphs, please view the Glencoe market statistics!

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
Visit My Website
Local Expert... with National Connections!

Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States

Highland Park Market Stats for August 2014

City Active Listings: There are a total of 235 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,053,532 in Highland Park.
City Sold Listings: 65 properties closed last month in Highland Park with an average sales price of $630,918, the average time on market for these properties was 47 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
Local Expert... with National Connections!

Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States

Deerfield Market Stats for August 2014

City Active Listings: There are a total of 127 properties actively on the market with the average price of $678,266 in Deerfield.
City Sold Listings: 35 properties closed last month in Deerfield with an average sales price of 596,013, the average time on market for these properties was 41 days. 
To view the complete report including additional detailed data, charts ad graphs, please view the Deerfield market statistics!

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
Visit My Website
Local Expert... with National Connections!

Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Evaluating Your North Shore Home for Pet Damage Before Selling


4 Area of Pet Damage to Address Before Listing Your North Shore Home

North Shore real estate
Pet Damage & Selling Your North Shore Home

For pet owners, Fido the dog or Mittens the cat are a part of the family. The issue with these family members when it comes to selling your North Shore home is that they can lead to lost home value if there is pet damage to your home. According to the American Pet Products Association, it's estimated that 37-47% of all households in the United States have a dog, and 30-37% have a cat. This means that one-third to one-half of home sellers of Chicago’s North Shore may be contending with pet damage needing remedy prior to listing and selling their homes. Here are 4 areas to evaluate for pet damage and address when deciding to sell your home on Chicago's North Shore:

Odors

A popular home air freshener brand has recently coined the phrase “nose blind”. Unfortunately, many pet owners succumb to this dreaded nose blindness. Since you spend a lot of time in your home, it gets to a point where you no longer recognize smells that may be offensive to those who do not have pets. While anyone who is listing their home should do a thorough deep cleaning, pet owners should especially dive deep into every nook and cranny. Cleaning carpeting and upholstery is very important, as both tend to retain smells. Don’t be afraid to ask a close friend or a family member for an honest opinion. Remember, a stinky home could be the difference between getting an offer and not, so don’t take it personally!

Stains

It is very important that you do your best to remove any pet stains from your flooring. No matter the cause, pet stains will be a turnoff to potential buyers. Even if there isn’t a lingering odor, pet stains still give a home an unclean feeling. If the stains can’t be removed with spot treatment, have them professionally addressed. If they can’t be professionally removed, it’s then time to consider replacement.

Scratches / Chew Damage

This can be a costly one, depending on the extent of the damage. Inspect your flooring, doors, and trim carefully. If the damage can not be buffed or sanded away, it may be necessary to consider replacement. If there is damage to hardwood flooring, you should consider having the flooring refinished.  While this type of damage doesn't necessarily lend to an unsanitary feeling to the home, buyers will see the damage as an expense that will be incurred immediately upon moving in.

Landscaping

First and foremost, your lawn. It’s almost inevitable that owning a dog will lead to yellow or bare spots in your lawn. If you have ample time, over-seeding may be a possibility. If not, invest in sod to address the dead area. Beyond just your lawn, you should also inspect plants, shrubs, and fencing. If your pet has created wear on any of these items, it’s time to repair or replace them.

As much as we love our pets, they can definitely add to the wear and tear on your North Shore home — especially if your pet is young or you have been in the home for some time. Unfortunately, potential buyers do not share in your attachment to your pet and therefore will notice every ounce of damage caused by said pet. The best thing to do is to be proactive in addressing pet damage before listing your home, and these are 4 areas that you will definitely want to assess. Taking the time to repair any pet damage will result in a higher sale price and potentially a quicker sale. If you’re in debate of what should and should not be repaired based on the cost, your North Shore realtor can be a great resource. Please contact me if you would are considering selling your North Shore home. I will help you prepare your home for listing so that you can get the most out of your investment.

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
Visit My Website
Local Expert... with National Connections!

Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States