Wednesday, December 30, 2015

How to Start Fresh for the New Year in Your North Shore Home

With the new year here, it's time to turn over a new leaf and start fresh in your North Shore home. If you haven't made a list of New Year's Resolutions yet, you might like to make one specifically to help you start with a clean slate at home.

As your North Shore real estate expert, I'm happy to share some suggestions with you for a happy, healthy new year!

Organize your closet
There is no better way to begin fresh for 2016 than by following the classic "out with the old, in with the new" strategy. Make it a point to clean out your closets, donating what you no longer wear or use and toss any items that may be broken. Move every item that you use on a daily basis to the front where you can quickly access them.

It pays to do this with every closet in your Glencoe, Highland Park, Deerfield, Winnetka, Northbrook home, not just where you store your clothes. Coat closets, pantries and storage closets all need attention too!

Brighten up your home
Do you have light bulbs in your home that seem to be dim? Not enough light for reading or working in the kitchen? It's time to upgrade your lighting! Replace light bulbs with energy-efficient alternatives and use the maximum wattage allowed. Consider adding more lighting to your living spaces— a new desk lamp, floor lamp or ceiling fixture can help your home instantly feel airier and more open!

Add colorful accessories
During the winter months, your North Shore home may tend to feel dark and dreary, so consider adding a few pops of color! Work in colorful throw pillows, blankets, exciting artwork or a new rug. If you're ready for a complete change in your home, bringing in new furniture can give your spaces a fresh feel!

Paint the front door
Just as I mentioned above, adding color to your home during the first few months of the new year can be just the update you need. Why not give the front door a fresh coat of paint? This project requires minimal work and will be one of the first things both you and your guests notice about your home. The front door also makes a statement about who you are as a North Shore homeowner, so choose something that makes you smile!

Do not hesitate to reach out with any questions about moving on to a new home for the new year, information about the real estate market or available properties in Glencoe, Highland Park, Deerfield, Winnetka, Northbrook and the surrounding areas!

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


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Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Winnetka Real Estate Market Stats for November 2015


City Active Listings: There are a total of 147 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,817,894 in Winnetka.

City Sold Listings: 12 properties closed last month in Winnetka with an average sales price of $791,481. The average time on market for these properties was 38 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
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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. 

Northbrook Real Estate Market Stats for November 2015


City Active Listings: There are a total of 248 properties actively on the market with the average price of $702,148 in Northbrook.

City Sold Listings: 54 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $481,351. The average time on market for these properties was 37 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. 

Highland Park Real Estate Market Stats for November 2015


City Active Listings: There are a total of 263 properties actively on the market with the average price of $994,044 in Highland Park.

City Sold Listings: 27 properties closed last month in Highland Park with an average sales price of $658,769. The average time on market for these properties was 140 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 Real Estate Market Stats for November 2015


City Active Listings: There are a total of 114 properties actively on the market with the average price of $660,289 in Deerfield.

City Sold Listings: 13 properties closed last month in Deerfield with an average sales price of $320,185. 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 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. 

Glencoe Real Estate Market Stats for November 2015

City Active Listings: There are a total of 76 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,404,051 in Glencoe.

City Sold Listings: 10 properties closed last month in Glencoe with an average sales price of $919,227. The average time on market for these properties was 71 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. 

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Do's and Don'ts for First-time Homebuyers on Chicago's North Shore

When December rolls around, many North Shore residents begin thinking about the new year and what it will have in store. For instance, are you starting a new job? Will you move to a new home or community? Of course, these are all important milestones, but if buying a home for the first time is on your list of new year to do's, it's time to start planning ahead!

First-time homebuyer mistakes are quite common, but can easily be avoided with a bit of early research and preparation. Consider the following your Guidebook to Do's and Don't of Buying a Home on the North Shore:

Do— Work with a real estate agent
There are many complex decisions and negotiating with different parties involved with buying a home and if you haven't done so before, it can feel overwhelming. The right real estate agent can be invaluable to you as you navigate this journey, helping with everything from finding the best home to recommending a lender to explaining closing costs.

Do— Think long term about your home
As you tour homes on the North Shore, keep the long term in mind. The school districts or proximity to parks may not be important to you if you don't have children, but the number of bedrooms will affect your resale value. Think about how easily you could sell the home if you needed to move or how changing the home to suit your needs might affect resale.

Don't— Make a decision based on emotions
Buying a home is a big step for a North Shore resident or those relocating to the area, but it is one that should be made with a clear mind. Don't allow yourself to form emotional attachments to a property or its details prior to the purchase as this could keep you from making a smart financial decision.

Don't— Overlook the cost of improvements
As I mentioned above, it's always wise to keep resale in mind when you purchase a home. You'll also want to factor in the costs of making the home suit your needs or style— home improvement projects, for example. Buying a fixer upper home could likely cost more and take longer to finish than expected, so be sure you have the budget before you make the purchase.

As your real estate expert in Winnetka, Deerfield, Highland Park, Glencoe, Northbrook and the surrounding communities, I'm here to help with your first home purchase! Give me a call today with any questions you might have about the real estate market for the coming year!

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. 

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Don't Let Holiday Shopping Ruin Your Chances of Buying a Home on Chicago's North Shore

The holiday season often means hectic schedules for many North Shore residents— from visiting with friends and family to the festive events I shared in my previous blog post to hours of holiday shopping. But did you know that the latter can really take a toll on your pre-approval for a mortgage if you're not careful?

Before you get carried away with gift-buying this year, it's important to keep the following in mind as a potential North Shore homebuyer:

Pay all of your bills on time
Holiday shopping can come with large bills and putting them off until your schedule calms down may seem like a great option, but in reality, it can compromise your chances of being approved for a loan. A payment over 30 days late can lower your credit score anywhere from 60 to 110 points, which can be a major loss even if you have a high score to begin with.

Even if you've already been pre-approved for a mortgage on the North Shore, that is not a free pass to fall behind on your bills. In fact, it's now more important than ever to pay bills on time and in full! You will not want to give a lender any reason to deny your loan altogether.

Don't take on new debt or credit cards
With online shopping, it's easy to reach for your credit card and keep those holiday purchases "out of sight, out of mind." However, acquiring more debt can impact your "Debt to Income Ratio" or DTI and raise a red flag to a lender that you may be more high risk than they previously thought.

The same goes for opening new credit cards. Opening a new card triggers a "hard inquiry" on your credit score and can impact your score in the process. As many lenders monitor debt during this time, new debt may cause them to rethink your qualifications.

Be careful moving around money
Transferring money from one account to another to fund holiday purchases may seem trivial, but it can create a hassle for lenders. They will need to monitor large sums of money going in and out and if they cannot track the funds, it may raise another red flag. North Shore buyers should be able to explain unusual deposits or withdrawals to keep their approval status on the right track.

Buying a home in Glencoe, Winnetka, Deerfield, Northbrook, Highland Park or the surrounding areas is a big step and as your trusted real estate expert, I'm happy to provide you with the steps to keep the process moving ahead, as seamlessly as possible.

Give me a call today!

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. 

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Where to Celebrate the Holidays on Chicago's North Shore


The holiday season is here! December has arrived, snow has fallen and many North Shore homeowners are decking the halls and trimming the tree. So what comes next? Holiday-themed events to bring the spirit of the season to Winnetka, Deerfield, Glencoe, Northbrook, Highland Park and the surrounding areas! And lucky for us, there is no shortage of festivities on the North Shore!

Below are just a few ways you can plan to celebrate the holidays in the area:

Breakfast with Santa
December 5, 2015
Winnetka Community House
Winnetka IL

Kick off the season with Breakfast with Santa in the newly-transformed Winter Wonderland at Winnetka Community House! This annual event is popular with the whole family and will include a breakfast buffet, a meet and greet with Santa, complimentary photo, personalized crafts and a book to take home from Mrs. Claus' library. Admission is $25 per person, kids under 2 are free.

Wonderland Express
December 5, 2015
Chicago Botanic Garden
Glencoe IL

The Wonderland Express exhibition at the Chicago Botanic Garden offers much to enjoy! The kids will love the trains and indoor snow, the adults will love the city sights and of course, everyone will love the lights!

3rd Annual Holiday Sing Along 
December 6, 2015
Winnetka Community House
Winnetka IL 

The Some Assembly Required 3rd Annual Holiday Sing Along will take place this weekend in Winnetka. $5 per person, $10 per family.

Clara and the Nutcracker
Through December 20, 2015
Piccolo Theatre
Evanston IL

A performance of the Nutcracker is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays on the North Shore! Join Clara on her adventure into dreamland, filled with songs, dancing and memorable characters. But don't be mistaken, this performance is not your average ballet— in fact, there are no tutus and no ballet moves at all! It's a unique show the whole family will love.

It's A Wonderful Life Live Radio Play
Through December 20, 2015
Oil Lamp Theater
Glenview IL

This presentation of "It's A Wonderful Life" is done entirely with the help of a sound effects artist! The story begins on Christmas Eve 1946 at WSTG Radio and reenacts the memorable story of George Bailey. $35 admission includes cookies.

I wish you a happy holiday season and as always, do not hesitate to reach out with any questions about buying or selling a home yet this year or in 2016!

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.