Wednesday, February 22, 2017

5 Questions to Ask North Shore Mortgage Lenders

Buying a home is undoubtedly one of the biggest purchases you will make in your lifetime. It's important to thoroughly research ahead of time, especially as you begin the mortgage process and working with a North Shore lender.

However, finding a lender you trust can be a process in itself, not to mention remembering to ask the proper questions. Below I've included five great questions to ask North Shore lenders this year as you prepare to buy a home in Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Northbrook, Deerfield or the surrounding areas.

1. Is now a good time for me to buy?
A lender will look at your financial situation and determine if now is the best time for you to buy a home.

2. Which debts should I pay down first? And how soon?
Taking into consideration your high-interest debts and loans, a lender will determine which will help get you a better interest rate and how soon you should begin paying them in order to secure one.

3. How much will I have to pay at closing?
Each loan comes with its own set of closing costs, so be sure to ask your lender about those that apply to yours.

4. How do I pay at closing?
Inquire about the method of payment for closing costs when the time comes.

5. Who services my home loan?
Mortgage loans are often serviced by third-party, so make it a priority to ask who will be overseeing yours.

Choosing a lender is one of the most important steps in the home buying process and these questions are just the beginning. Give me a call today for more information about homes available in Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Northbrook, Deerfield or the surrounding areas or with questions about getting started as a buyer.

I look forward to hearing from you!

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, February 15, 2017

Winnetka Real Estate Market Stats for January 2017

City Active Listings: There are a total of 137 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,875,955 in Winnetka.

City Sold Listings: 20 properties closed last month in Winnetka with an average sales price of $1,582,950. The average time on market for these properties was 95 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!

Northbrook Real Estate Market Stats for January 2017

City Active Listings: There are a total of 236 properties actively on the market with the average price of $726,514 in Northbrook.

City Sold Listings: 38 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $409,795. The average time on market for these properties was 62 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!

Highland Park Real Estate Market Stats for January 2017

City Active Listings: There are a total of 263 properties actively on the market with the average price of $901,125 in Highland Park.

City Sold Listings: 30 properties closed last month in Highland Park with an average sales price of $621,184. The average time on market for these properties was 68 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!

Glencoe Real Estate Market Stats for January 2017

City Active Listings: There are a total of 80 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,559,721 in Glencoe.

City Sold Listings: 10 properties closed last month in Glencoe with an average sales price of $847,800. The average time on market for these properties was 99 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!

Deerfield Real Estate Market Stats for January 2017

City Active Listings: There are a total of 116 properties actively on the market with the average price of $755,775 in Deerfield.

City Sold Listings: 18 properties closed last month in Deerfield with an average sales price of $528,167. The average time on market for these properties was 55 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!

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

How to Landscape Your North Shore Home This Spring

We may still have chilly temperatures here on Chicago's North Shore, but before we know it, the snow will be thawed and spring will arrive again! As a homeowner, that means it's time to get down to business on planning your landscaping for the upcoming months.

Perhaps you have a garden in mind or are finally going to get around to mulching and planting near your home's entry— either way, I've included below a few top landscaping trends emerging for 2017 that will fuel your inspiration!

Incorporate various greenery
Use a variety of textures and shades of greenery when landscaping your Highland Park, Glencoe, Winnetka, Deerfield, or Northbrook home this year. You might like to incorporate boxwood and ivy instead of choosing just one for added interest, in addition to the pops of color your flowers will bring to the yard.

Create a pollinator garden
Homeowners on Chicago's North Shore might like to give the pollinators a helping hand with a garden that attracts specifically hummingbirds, butterflies and even honeybees. Today's homeowners are increasingly aware of their preservation and are finding ways to best maintain them with an oasis in their yards and gardens.

Vary materials
Add visual interest to your landscaping with paths made of pebbles or stones, bringing in planters or pots and installing gates and railings to your deck. These not only create a more casual feeling, but they keep your landscaping looking well thought out and put together.

Look into smart grass
You would be surprised at the amount of options available for seeding your Deerfield, Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Kenilworth, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Lincolnshire, Lincolnwood, Northbrook, Northfield, Riverwoods, Skokie, Wilmette, and Winnetka lawn— even something called smart grass! These forms of grass are designed to better withstand the elements, while keeping that healthy look as long as possible.

Everything from landscaping to power washing to repairing those cracks in your driveway can help attract buyers to your North Shore home! Give me a call today for more information about preparing your home to sell and boosting your home value.

I look forward to hearing from you!

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, February 1, 2017

Why Overpricing Can Hurt Your Glencoe, Winnetka, Northbrook IL Home Sale

Pricing your North Shore home appropriately is an essential part of a successful sale. Many homeowners are tempted to set the price as high as possible, thinking they will give themselves room to negotiate with sellers, but that is not always the case. You could risk buyers being turned off by the high listing price and your home "sitting" on the market, lowering your chances of selling for that top dollar number.

Below are three reasons why you will want to avoid overpricing your home in Deerfield, Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Kenilworth, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Lincolnshire, Lincolnwood, Northbrook, Northfield, Riverwoods, Skokie, Wilmette, and Winnetka:

First impressions matter
The majority of homebuyers today first look for properties online, so you can imagine how important first impressions are. You will need to hook them right away! Buyers often set search parameters and include their price range in order to find available homes and if you price too high, you could risk them skipping over your property entirely. Buyers also know what homes in their price range look like— if your property is priced too high for its features, size and location, they will notice.

You may have to reduce the price
Homes that sit idly on the market for weeks or months at a time are likely headed for a price reduction. Not only does that mean you have less of a chance of getting top dollar for your North Shore home, but buyers may wonder what is wrong with the property that warranted the drop in price and ignore your listing altogether.

The market may change
As you know, the real estate market changes over time and even if you list now with the intentions of pricing higher, the spring signals a change. More inventory will soon be headed to the market and your high-priced home can get lost in the mix of newer, more realistically priced properties. Keep in mind that the changing economy and interest rates also come into play!

If you are ready to find out how much your North Shore home is worth in today's market, give me a call today! I have helped many homeowners agree on the best listing price and make their properties as intriguing as possible. What are you waiting for?

I look forward to hearing from you!

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.