Tips for Buying a North Shore Home on Your Own

With mortgage rates on the rise and the spring real estate busy season just around the corner, many North Shore residents are gearing up to begin their home search— if they haven't already! As your North Shore real estate expert, I have helped many families and singles alike find their perfect property and I'm here to do the same for you in 2017!

If you're planning to buy a home on your own this year, below are five steps to take to make your home search a big success!

Find the right agent
Working with a real estate agent is the key to buying a home successfully as a single person. It's not always best to choose the first person you come across or find online or even the agent that is recommended to you by family and friends. Do your research, read reviews and reach out to your agent to ask any questions you might have! I'm happy to have served clients in Deerfield, Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Kenilworth, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Lincolnshire, Lincolnwood, Northbrook, Northfield, Riverwoods, Skokie, Wilmette, and Winnetka and received excellent testimonials!

Read your resources
It always pays to do your research before buying a home! Check out books at your local library on buying a home or read up on online resources. Making an informed decision as a buyer starts with you— you can rely on your agent, but you should have a solid grasp on the subject yourself too!

Find the best home type
Shopping for a home will require you to think ahead to the future. Are you looking for a home you can grow into? One that will suit you for now while you're in your current career or location? You have dozens of options, including townhouses and condos that can offer a lower payment, but also likely come with HOA fees.

Be confident
Once you've done all of the necessary research on your potential home, location, commute time, and even schools and crime data, you should be able to proceed to an offer with confidence. If you need further reassurance, bring along a family member or friend to get their input on the property, but remember, it's ultimately your decision!

Submit a strong offer
When you're purchasing a home on your own, you do not have another person to bounce ideas off of when it comes to formulating your offer. But not to worry! As your real estate agent, I will work with you to determine the best possible offer for your dream North Shore home.

Give me a call today for more information about the North Shore real estate market, as well as available properties in Glencoe, Winnetka, Deerfield, Northbrook, Highland Park and the surrounding areas.

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. 

How to Sell Your Winnetka, Glencoe, Deerfield IL Home in the Winter

Before we all begin to think spring here on the North Shore, it's important to note that those who list during the winter may have an advantage this year! Selling your home when the temperatures are low could help you appeal to the motivated buyers in today's market, but there are a few steps you will need to take first.

Not all homes in Winnetka, Glencoe, Deerfield, Highland Park, and Northbrook are ready to list in the winter, so I've included below four ways to prepare to show off your property's best features this time of year.

Keep the home accessible
When the snow falls, pathways to your home from driveways to sidewalks can easily become blocked. Take extra precautions to keep your home accessible for buyers visiting during the winter, whether by shoveling, using ice melt or clearing an alternate route to the front door. If you have a back entrance, be sure to clear that path too!

Keep the home warm
Cold homes on Chicago's North Shore can be a major turn-off for buyers. As you can imagine, it's difficult to feel warm and inviting vibes when visiting a chilly property. Keep the heat on for potential buyers, especially if you have a showing scheduled.

Showcase the outdoor features
No matter what time of year it is in Winnetka, Glencoe, Deerfield, Highland Park, and Northbrook, your outdoor features are a selling point! Make sure assets like a pool, deck, or patio are visible from indoors and are included in your marketing to buyers. If possible, clear a slice of space in the outdoor area so buyers can step out and get a feel for what your home has to offer.

Showcase the indoor winter features
When the weather is cold, buyers will love to see a working fireplace! If your North Shore home is lucky enough to have one, consider lighting a fire during showings or open houses and ensuring nothing is blocking this major focal point.

Waiting until spring to sell your North Shore home may sound like a great idea, but winter can be just as beneficial! Give me a call today for more information about the local real estate market or finding your home value to get started. I've helped scores of North Shore home sellers find success and move on to their next dream homes and I look forward to helping you do the same in 2017!

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. 

Winnetka Real Estate Market Stats for December 2016

City Active Listings: There are a total of 114 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,992,634 in Winnetka.

City Sold Listings: 17 properties closed last month in Winnetka with an average sales price of $1,542,897. The average time on market for these properties was 117 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!

Glencoe Real Estate Market Stats for December 2016

City Active Listings: There are a total of 67 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,614,958 in Glencoe.

City Sold Listings: 6 properties closed last month in Glencoe with an average sales price of $883,333. The average time on market for these properties was 63 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!

Northbrook Real Estate Market Stats for December 2016

City Active Listings: There are a total of 218 properties actively on the market with the average price of $794,570 in Northbrook.

City Sold Listings: 44 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $536,134. The average time on market for these properties was 63 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 December 2016

City Active Listings: There are a total of 272 properties actively on the market with the average price of $903,105 in Highland Park.

City Sold Listings: 38 properties closed last month in Highland Park with an average sales price of $508,121. The average time on market for these properties was 73 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!

Deerfield Real Estate Market Stats for December 2016

City Active Listings: There are a total of 105 properties actively on the market with the average price of $763,090 in Deerfield.

City Sold Listings: 19 properties closed last month in Deerfield with an average sales price of $491,204 The average time on market for these properties was 92 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!

5 Reasons to Hire a North Shore Real Estate Agent in 2017

As you embark on your real estate journey in the new year, there are many decisions to make. For instance, when will you start? Will you take advantage of the current market conditions and winter opportunities or will you wait for the wave of activity that hits in the spring? As I shared in a previous blog post, winter can be an ideal time to score a deal in the market! Either way, one thing is certain— you will want a North Shore real estate expert on your side!

Why? An experienced real estate agent is an invaluable part of your home buying and home selling journey, from handling negotiations to helping you decipher each document and disclosure. Below are five reasons to resolve to hire an agent in 2017:

I know the market
You may be hearing about rising mortgage rates, low inventory and whether or not now is a good time to buy or sell in today's industry headlines. But take all of it with a grain of salt until you can speak with your agent! I know the market and am happy to discuss how each of these relates to our specific area so you can move forward as an informed buyer or seller.

I know home values
Pricing your home is one of the most important aspects of selling, as is formulating the perfect offer on a new home as a buyer. With my knowledge of home values and market conditions, you can rest assured that you're making the best decision for real estate success!

I handle negotiations
There are dozens of parties involved in a single real estate transaction—from the lender to the appraiser to the inspector—and proceeding without an agent means all of the negotiating falls on your shoulders. Let your Winnetka, Glencoe, Deerfield, Northbrook, Highland Park agent handle the negotiating for you!

I help with paperwork
Today's market is inundated with regulations and rules which can be tough to understand for buyers and sellers. As your North Shore real estate expert, I will walk you through each form, document and disclosure so you feel confident in your decision to buy or sell.

I have experience
Assisting North Shore buyers and sellers is my passion and I am well-versed in the entire process from start to finish. By working with an agent, you can eliminate the stress factor as I will make every step as seamless as possible!

Ready to make a move and buy a new home on Chicago's North Shore? I have helped numerous buyers and sellers make their real estate dreams a reality! 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.