Thursday, September 29, 2016

How to Avoid Closing Delays on Your North Shore IL Home

When you've found the perfect home on Chicago's North Shore, it may seem like the only thing left on your list is the home closing. And what could stand in your way? As a matter of fact, there are dozens of issues that can arise during this window of time and force a closing delay that you didn't see coming.

But not to worry! As your North Shore real estate expert, I am sharing a few ways to avoid closing delays and keep everything on schedule. The next thing you know, you'll be settled into your Glencoe, Winnetka, Northbrook, Deerfield, or Highland Park home!

Stay up to date with your lender
Oftentimes lenders will require another signature or more paperwork to keep your closing on track. In fact, in today's real estate market with increasing requirements, lenders may ask for more than they have in the past. Communicate with your lender and if they ask for certain documentation, be sure you get it to them right away! Even the slightest delay can risk pushing your closing delay further into the future.

Talk to your real estate agent
Your real estate agent is on your side and will work to stay ahead of problems— as long as you keep in touch with them! Your agent will know how to spot issues before they arise and determine a plan to fix them that will not affect your closing date. Check in with your agent weekly to see if there have been any changes from any parties involved in the transaction. If there are, your agent will be able to fill you in on the next steps.

Keep your finances steady
Now is not the time to take out a new loan, apply for a new credit card, buy a new car or finance all of the new furniture you plan to put in your new North Shore home. You will want to keep your finances as steady and stable as possible, with little to no changes. Continue to pay down debts and avoid falling behind on bills to keep your credit score up. Even a change in jobs—or a job loss, while unexpected—can risk you delaying your closing or losing the loan altogether.

Buying a home comes with many milestones along the way and it's important to stay on top of them! If you have questions about your homebuying timeline or available properties in Glencoe, Winnetka, Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park or the surrounding areas, give me a call today!

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. 

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Why You Need a Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Winnetka, Glencoe, Northbrook IL Home

Selling your North Shore home may seem like an easy task— you simply choose a listing price, place a For Sale sign in the yard and sit back and wait for the offers to come in. Not exactly! There is so much more involved in a home sale, from preparation to choosing an offer, and if you want to set yourself up for success, working with a real estate agent is key!

But why should you work with an agent as opposed to going the For Sale by Owner route? Below are three reasons why a listing agent makes the most sense for today's North Shore sellers:

Agents help you price your home
As I shared in a previous blog post, understanding your home value is an important step in pricing your home. Your agent will help you to price your home competitively according to both the market and comparable properties in the area, providing an objective opinion not tied to your feelings about the home. After all, letting your emotions steer the ship of pricing can tempt you to aim too high and risk your home sitting on the market.

Agents recommend improvements
Before you list your home in Winnetka, Glencoe, Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park and the surrounding areas, you may need to make some improvements or repairs to better attract buyers. However, as the homeowner, it can be more difficult to spot these or even decide if they are worth the investment. Your agent will assist in identifying necessary improvements and suggesting staging techniques to allow you a quicker sale and perhaps a higher price.

Agents take better photos
With a FSBO listing, homeowners often snap photos on their cell phones. However, with the majority of buyers today looking for properties online, it's essential that listing photos wow them or they may lose interest right away. Agents will know how to take photos of your home's best features and could even use a professional photographer to capture buyer interest.

Agents advertise 
Whether that be by including your listing in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) where buyers and agents can view your property or holding open houses, agents will advertise your property through many outlets.

Ready to list your North Shore home this year? Give me a call today!

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 14, 2016

Making the Transition from Renter to North Shore Homeowner

September does not only signal a change in seasons, but a shift for many renters who will soon become homeowners. Fall is an opportune time to buy a home on Chicago's North Shore and if you are currently renting, you might be mulling over whether or not you are ready.

As your local real estate expert, I understand that buying a home for the first time can feel overwhelming, but by asking yourself a few important questions, you can ensure you are making the best decision.

Do you understand the costs of homeownership?
You may have played around with a mortgage calculator to determine how much you can afford on the North Shore, but there are more costs involved aside from your monthly payment. In fact, this is one of the biggest surprises to first-time buyers and can leave them feeling remorseful. It is important to research your potential mortgage payment, but also look into costs like property taxes, homeowner's insurance, HOA fees, closing costs and yearly maintenance and upkeep. It pays to know exactly what you're getting into before you sign on the dotted line, so take your time researching!

Do you know the tax benefits?
As you are researching the costs of homeownership, look into the tax benefits. You will be pleased to learn that mortgage interest and property taxes are deductible on your tax returns, which will in turn lower the ultimate cost of owning a home.

Do you know which mortgage fits you best?
Not all mortgages are the same— in fact, there are many choices, from the common 30-year-fixed-rate to the 5-year-adjustable-rate and beyond. Take some time to identify the pros and cons of each mortgage type so you can find the loan that makes sense for your financial situation. For instance, there are loans that allow for a smaller down payment, but have a higher interest rate and vice versa.

Do you have a down payment?
The down payment is an important part of the home buying process, but it is not always required. There are loan types, like a VA loan, that allow for zero money down and others that allow for as little as three percent down. If you have a larger down payment to work with, your monthly mortgage payment will ultimately be lower, but don't panic if you don't have too much saved.

Do you know your credit score?
Your credit score will be referenced by your lender to determine your eligibility for a loan, as well as certain loan types. Now is the time to look into your score and clear up any errors that you find. If possible, try to boost your score prior to buying a home by paying down any outstanding debt and eliminating extraneous spending on credit cards.

Ready to start your home search in Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Glencoe, Winnetka and the surrounding areas? Give me a call today!

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 7, 2016

Deerfield Real Estate Market Stats for August 2016

City Active Listings: There are a total of 166 properties actively on the market with the average price of $713,930 in Deerfield.

City Sold Listings: 48 properties closed last month in Deerfield with an average sales price of $426,615. The average time on market for these properties was 56 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!

Glencoe Real Estate Market Stats for August 2016

City Active Listings: There are a total of 95 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,737,796 in Glencoe.

City Sold Listings: 15 properties closed last month in Glencoe with an average sales price of $1,222,267. The average time on market for these properties was 60 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!

Highland Park Real Estate Market Stats for August 2016

City Active Listings: There are a total of 338 properties actively on the market with the average price of $983,931 in Highland Park.

City Sold Listings: 47 properties closed last month in Highland Park with an average sales price of $563,695. 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 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!

Northbrook Real Estate Market Stats for August 2016

City Active Listings: There are a total of 299 properties actively on the market with the average price of $778,968 in Northbrook.

City Sold Listings: 81 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $490,793. 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 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!

Winnetka Real Estate Market Stats for August 2016

City Active Listings: There are a total of 196 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,885,048 in Winnetka.

City Sold Listings: 38 properties closed last month in Winnetka with an average sales price of $1,263,228. The average time on market for these properties was 60 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!