Bringing in December Like only the North Shore Can!

It's official. December is here! The North Shore is the ultimate place to be for the holidays. There is always an event of some sort - whether it be extravagant or intimate, for adults only or family friendly - the fun does not stop come December. Here are just a few ideas of how to get involved with the holiday festivities in your North Shore Communities - From Glencoe to Glenview, Northbrook to Winnetka.

Christmas Breakfast with Santa
Where: Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022
Dates: December 11th, 12th, 18th and 19th
Time: 8:30- 10:30 am
Event: A buffet with miniature cinnamon rolls, seasonal fruit, scrambled eggs, turkey sausage links, hardwood smoked bacon and buttermilk waffles.

Hot Chocolate with Mrs. Claus
Where: Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022
Date: December 20, 2010
Time: 11:00 am
Event: Listen to Christmas stories recited by Mrs. Claus while sipping hot chocolate and snacking on holiday cookies. The event also runs at 2 p.m.

Annual Winnetka Holiday Tree Lighting
Where: Chestnut St & Elm St, Winnetka, IL 60093
Date: December 3, 2010
Time: 5:30pm–6:30pm
Event: Join members of the Winnetka Chamber of Commerce and Village Council
for the annual tree lighting. Caroling begins at 5:30 p.m. and the group will move to
Caribou for hot chocolate after.

Holiday Sing
Where: Village Green, Elm St & Maple St, Winnetka, IL 60093
Date: December 24, 2010
Time: 6:00 - 6:15 pm
Event: Join families, friends, and neighbors at the 16th annual Holiday Sing on the Village Green. Gather around the Village Green and sing favorite holiday songs. Please bring your singing voices and your own candles or flashlight. This event will last approximately 25 minutes. The Village Green is located on Maple Street, in between Elm and Oak Streets.

Northbrook Symphony "Nutcracker"
Where: North Suburban YMCA, 2705 Techny Rd, Northbrook, IL 60062
Date: December 11, 2010
Time: 3:00 pm
Event: A special holiday concert at the Y features the Northbrook Symphony as well as a range of professional dancers and multi-media presentations. Selections from the Nutcracker Suite will be performed on December 11 at 3:00 and 6:00 pm. The various sections will showcase different program opportunities at the Y, including a wide variety of dance genres, yoga, gymnastics, swimming and fitness. Admission will benefit the Y's Capital Campaign. Don't miss this one-of-a-kind celebration of music and movement!

Chanukah Family Fun Day
Where: Lubavitch Chabad of Northbrook, 755 Huehl Rd, Northbrook, IL 60062
Date: December 13, 2010
Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Event: Kids of all ages can spin dreidels, have their pictures taken as Juda the Maccabee, do arts and crafts, play a Chanukah game show and snack on latkes and jelly doughnuts.

Holiday Dinner Party at the Viking Cooking School
Where: Viking Cooking School, 1140 N. Milwaukee, Glenview, IL
Date: December 13, 2010
Event: Start a warm, crackling fire; light the tree; and play some old familiar carols as you welcome your guests for a special holiday dinner. Experience your holiday tradition in a whole new way with our inspired, sophisticated and festive menu. $99. Type: Performing Arts.

As cliche as it may sound, the best thing about the holidays is spending time with family and friends. North Shore Real Estate is one of the most family-friendly, tradition-rich, close-knit areas in Illinois. There's always something to do and each event is another opportunity to begin a new tradition with your family or friends.

Communities like Winnetka, Illinois and Glencoe, Illinois are the kinds of places that people dream of living. They offer the perfect background to the holidays - from the beauty of the shoreline to the picturesque residential neighborhoods - they are like something out of a Christmas card. If this sounds like the kind of community you'd like to live in, I can help make that dream a reality. Give me a call, anytime. I'm always here to answer your questions about theis dream home real estate known as the Chicago North Shore.

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert

North Shore Real Estate
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Winnetka Market Stats for November 2010

Winnetka Active Listings: There are a total of 180 properties actively on the market with the average price of $ $2,055,483 in Winnetka.

Winnetka Sold Listings: 13 properties closed last month in Winnetka with an average sales price of $ $1,447,308, the average time on market for these properties was 179 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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Northbrook Fast Stats for November 2010

Northbrook Active Listings: There are a total of 262 properties actively on the market with the average price of $758,784 in Northbrook.

Northbrook Sold Listings: 23 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $547,457, 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 Northbrook market statistics!


Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert

North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
Visit My Website
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Highland Park Fast Stats for November 2010

Highland Park Active Listings: There are a total of 294 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,085,753 in Highland Park.

Highland Park Sold Listings: 21 properties closed last month in Highland Park with an average sales price of $462,714, the average time on market for these properties was 110 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
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Glencoe Fast Stats for November 2010

Glencoe Active Listings: There are a total of 122 properties actively on the market with the average price of $2,053,723 in Glencoe.

Glencoe Sold Listings: 9 properties closed last month in Glencoe with an average sales price of $910,444, the average time on market for these properties was 112 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
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Deerfield Fast Stats for November 2010

Deerfield Active Listings: There are a total of 126 properties actively on the market with the average price of $739,604 in Deerfield.

Deerfield Sold Listings: 13 properties closed last month in Deerfield with an average sales price of $501,369, the average time on market for these properties was 88 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
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Selling Your North Shore Home this Holiday Season? View 8 Great Tips for Staying Calm!

The holidays are quickly approaching as we begin to notice the days getting shorter and a chill in the air. And, while the holiday season offers endless joy of getting together with friends and family, you may not be looking forward to them quite yet. If you’re currently trying to sell your North Shore home; thinking of the holidays right now may begin to cause some panic!

Selling your home is a large undertaking and doing so during the holidays may cause additional stress. However, there are ways to make your home selling process a smooth one while still enjoying the holiday season to the fullest! Below are 8 ways to maintain a sense of calm while your home is on the North Shore Real Estate market during this busy time of year.

1. Prepare your home well in advance- If you know you're going to have to sell your North Shore home during the holidays, begin getting your home ready now. Start clearing out clutter and personal items such as family photos and knickknacks and begin cleaning your home from floor to ceiling. Getting these chores out of the way early will give your more time to enjoy the holidays.

2. Take care of holiday errands early- Don't procrastinate on your Christmas shopping. Selling your home is stressful enough, so you don't want to be stuck fighting traffic and long lines at the mall as well. Think ahead and get your errands done before everyone else enters holiday panic mode.

3. Hire someone to help with the cleaning- You'll need to keep your North Shore home immaculate for showings, which is easier said than done when friends and family are frequenting your home for holiday parties. Spending a little extra money on a housekeeper for this hectic season can pay off by saving you time and energy.

4. Look on the bright side- While maintaining your home's curb appeal is still important in the winter, just think of the things you don't have to do, like mowing the lawn or weeding flower beds.

5. Don't schedule showings when you have houseguests- Your friends and family won't be pleased if they have to vacate every time a North Shore buyer wants to take a look. If you plan on having holiday visitors, let your North Shore Real Estate agent know that these dates are off-limits for showings.

6. Keep the weekends open for showings- Homes show better when it's bright out, but as the days get shorter, buyers may have less time to squeeze in daytime visits during the workweek. Be prepared to open your home to North Shore buyers over the weekend.

7. Don't fret over a lack of lookers- Fewer people viewing your home doesn't necessarily mean fewer offers. When you sell a North Shore home in the spring, you're likely to get a lot of visits from people who are just casually looking to buy. You may not get as many visitors during the holidays, but the ones you do get will be serious about buying.

8. There's always next year- If you don't manage to sell your North Shore home during the holiday season, don't let it get you down. Sales should pick up as spring approaches, so you could have more luck then.

There are many great events, concerts, and things to experience in Chicago’s North Shore during the holiday season. Don’t let selling your North Shore home get in the way of enjoying the holidays! If you are just beginning the home selling process and are still looking for a North Shore Real Estate agent, please let me know! I’d be happy to answer any of your questions and to walk with you through each step of the way. My years of experience in the North Shore Real Estate market gives me an edge of knowing what North Shore buyers want in a home. Please contact me today; 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
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