Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Your North Shore Home Summer Maintenance Checklist

Now that summer is here (at least the temperatures!) on Chicago's North Shore, we're all eager to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. But even if you plan to spend your time boating, gardening, swimming, or vacationing, there are a few tasks to check off of your home maintenance to-do list to ensure everything runs smoothly this season.

Protect your deck
When the weather warms up, your deck becomes a popular place! However, if you haven't sealed it properly, it can absorb all of the summer rain and excess moisture from your hose and watered plants, paving the way for wood rot. Test a patch by pouring a small amount of water and if the water beads up, it's ready for the season. If not, you'll want to purchase a sealant.

Clean your patio furniture
Months of being covered or—worse yet—standing out in the elements likely took a toll on your patio furniture. You might even find some resident cobwebs hanging around! Before you invite anyone over for summer gatherings, or lounge by yourself, give your furniture a good cleaning and spray down with the garden hose.

Inspect your AC
Did you AC unit have a cover over it this winter? If not, it may be covered with debris and dust. Now is the time to brush it off and replace your air filter before you run the machine all summer long.

Add mulch
Plants and flowers need to absorb as much moisture as possible in the summer heat to grow and thrive— which can be hard to do if you don't give them a little extra care. Consider adding mulch in your flower beds to allow the moisture to get to your plants and hydrate them without the sun interfering.

Ready to start your North Shore home search or sell your current home in Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Northbrook, or Deerfield? Give me a call today!

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


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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, May 23, 2018

Winnetka Real Estate Market Stats for April 2018

City Active Listings: There are a total of 168 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,811,886 in Winnetka.

City Sold Listings: 24 properties closed last month in Winnetka with an average sales price of $1,620,625. The average time on market for these properties was 91 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
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Northbrook Real Estate Market Stats for April 2018

City Active Listings: There are a total of 307 properties actively on the market with the average price of $729,368 in Northbrook.

City Sold Listings: 63 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $478,057. 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
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Local Expert... with National Connections!

Highland Park Real Estate Market Stats for April 2018

City Active Listings: There are a total of 356 properties actively on the market with the average price of $902,248 in Highland Park.

City Sold Listings: 76 properties closed last month in Highland Park with an average sales price of $494,850. The average time on market for these properties was 76 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
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Glencoe Real Estate Market Stats for April 2018

City Active Listings: There are a total of 112 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,359,744 in Glencoe.

City Sold Listings: 17 properties closed last month in Glencoe with an average sales price of $1,037,456. The average time on market for these properties was 74 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
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Local Expert... with National Connections!

Deerfield Real Estate Market Stats for April 2018

City Active Listings: There are a total of 168 properties actively on the market with the average price of $654,312 in Deerfield.

City Sold Listings: 49 properties closed last month in Deerfield with an average sales price of $456,251. The average time on market for these properties was 46 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
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Local Expert... with National Connections!

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

North Shore Home Selling Advice to Ignore

As a North Shore homeowner, you've probably heard dozens of real estate myths bouncing around from family and friends— running the gamut from when to sell your home to how much buyers are willing to pay. However, it's important to note that these should be taken with a grain of salt—unless they come from a trusted real estate expert—and in some cases, ignored entirely.

If you plan to sell your home on Chicago's North Shore this year, you will want to ignore the following home selling advice:

You will sell at the open house
Open houses can be beneficial for North Shore homeowners in that they attract many eyes to your property at once— but that doesn't mean it will always end in a sale. While many buyers may come through your home, don't expect all of them to make an offer. Private showings can be just as lucrative as open houses and may even signal a more serious buyer.

You should only sell in spring
With smartphones, online listing alerts, and home search websites galore, buyers are constantly searching for properties— no matter the season! You might be surprised by how motivated buyers are to secure their dream home in the beginning of the year, for instance. Be careful not to prioritize one season too much when it comes to listing.

Pricing high will make you the most money
You can only make a profit if you sell and pricing too high is a great way for your property to "sit" on the market for longer than necessary. In fact, if it sits too long, you could end up settling for less than you'd like. The key is to price your home according to supply and demand to allow for the most successful sale.

You can save money without a Realtor
While cutting out the commission factor may seem like a great way to save money, the opposite is actually true. Did you know that homes sold with a Realtor sell for more money than those without? Not to mention all of the correspondence involved in a single transaction that the Realtor handles on your behalf— including the buyer's agent, lender, title company, inspection company, and more!

Questions about selling your Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Deerfield, or Northbrook home this year? Give me a call today!

I'm here to help!

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, May 9, 2018

How to Avoid Mortgage Closing Delays on Chicago's North Shore

When you've found your dream home on Chicago's North Shore, you want to move in as soon as possible! But even though your offer has been accepted, you'll need to make it to the mortgage closing before you're officially declared a homeowner.

There are several factors that can impact the timeline of the closing, some of which are out of your hands, so it's always helpful to know what you can do to keep things on track! Below are four ways you can avoid a closing delay in Winnetka, Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, or Glencoe:

Send documents on time
Lenders will ask for many documents throughout the closing process and it's essential that you send them as soon as possible. When you fail to provide the necessary verification on time, your closing could get pushed back days or even weeks.

Check for liens
If the property has a tax lien against it, you are likely in for a closing delay until the issue is resolved. While this may be out of your hands as a home buyer on Chicago's North Shore, working with your lender to learn of any liens can at least keep your expectations on par.

Avoid large purchases
You will be tempted to buy furniture and decor for your new home in Winnetka, Glencoe, Northbrook, Highland Park, or Deerfield, but it's important to hold off until after the closing. Making big purchases like this on a credit card can jeopardize your qualifications in the eyes of a lender as you are taking on more debt. The lender will pull your credit before closing to check that you're still in good standing and if not, your closing could be impacted.

Resolve HOA fees
If the previous homeowner owes any outstanding fees or fines to the homeowner's association, it may be wise to try to resolve them as early as you can to keep from adjusting your closing date. You may be able to negotiate these with the seller, or pay them, prior to experiencing any hiccups in the closing process.

As your North Shore real estate expert, I am here to walk you through every aspect of the home buying process, from home search to home closing. Give me a call today for more information or a list of available homes in the area!

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, May 2, 2018

Why You Should Sell Your North Shore Chicago Home This Month

As a homeowner on Chicago's North Shore, making the decision to sell your home should not be taken lightly. In fact, there are a number of factors that should go into your decision— from the right price to pique buyer interest right down to the time that you list. Timing is key in the local real estate market and if you've been on the fence about listing, you'll be glad to note that now is one of the best possible times you can sell!

According to a Zillow survey of real estate markets across the country, May is the best month to sell your home. Not just for the financial gains you can yield, but also for the time it takes to land a buyer!

Fewer Homes for Sale, More Buyers

One of the main reasons May has been heralded as an ideal time to sell is due to the lack of inventory we've seen during the beginning of this spring season. There are fewer homes for sale, but no shortage of buyers which means more competition and more of a chance that they will pay over asking price to secure their dream home.

Quicker Sale

Just as North Shore buyers are willing to pay more to land their dream home in Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Deerfield, and Northbrook, you can bet they aren't willing to wait. Home sellers who listed this month can expect to see an offer 18.5 days sooner than homes listed during any other time of the year, according to the survey.

Timing is Everything

I mentioned above that timing is key to the success of your North Shore home sale, but that does not simply mean the month that you list. The day is equally as important and in the Chicago area, Friday is said to be one of the best days for your home to hit the market.

Ready to take advantage of everything the real estate market in Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Deerfield, and Northbrook has to offer? As your North Shore real estate expert, I am here to help you sell your home quickly and for top dollar!

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.