Janie Bress - My North Shore Blog

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Enjoy Chicago North Shore Beaches This Summer!

Even though we’re still in the month of May, it feels like we’ve already hit summer with the recent balmy temperatures and beautiful sunshine! And, with Memorial Day weekend just around the corner, many of us here on the North Shore are ready for the official start of the summer season boasting a number of great outdoor activities.

Whether you currently live in Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Deerfield, Northbrook or any of the other North Shore cities; chances are you’re anticipating taking advantage of the North Shore’s great location along Lake Michigan. Summers are the perfect time for setting sail, boating, swimming or just soaking up the sun on the sandy beaches. Yet, safety is also a number one priority if you’re going to be enjoying the North Shore beaches; so I thought I’d highlight a few safety tips you’ll want to review before heading out to the sun and sand!

• Always wear sunscreen! Even with clouds overhead and late afternoon sun, your skin will still be exposed to harmful UV rays; be sure to protect your skin.

• Make sure everyone in your boat can swim, and if not, that floating devices are used and there is someone watching that person at all times.

• Never swim alone! Even the most experienced swimmers can experience fatigue, or an injury that will make it hard to swim.

• Always watch children who are anywhere near water! The most accidents happen when children are wading in shallow water, so always make sure they’re supervised!

• Be sure to swim only in designated swimming areas.

• Look before you leap! Never dive into water unless you know that it’s deep enough to do so. Always keep your hands above your head when diving to ensure safety.

• Never mix swimming or boating with alcohol.

Now that you’ve reviewed these important safety tips, I thought I’d point out a few of the North Shore beaches where you can enjoy the beautiful summer season!

Glencoe Beach
Hazel & Park Ave, Glencoe
This beach opens June 7 and is a fantastic beach with free, but limited, parking! A perk is that the beach staff operates a cart service from the lot to the beach so that you don’t have to carry all of your beach stuff to and from the beach!

Elder Lane Beach

Elder Lane & Sheridan Road, Winnetka

Amenities include: swimming beach, beach house with restrooms, playground and off-street parking. Daily admission and season passes are available.

Lloyd Beach Sailing Center and Boat Launch

Lloyd Place & Sheridan Road, Winnetka

Lloyd Beach is home of Winnetka Park District's junior sailing program, a public boat launch for power and sailboats up to 24' and small boat storage for kayaks, canoes, Sunfish, Lasers and similar sized boats. The boat launch allows patrons to purchase a daily fee or season pass for the launching of boats. Personal Watercraft are launched by season-pass only, no daily fees.

Tower Road Beach

Tower Road & Sheridan Road, Winnetka

Amenities include: swimming beach, beach house equipped with restroom, showers, vending machines, concessions, sand volleyball court, playground, wet sand play area complete with spray pole, boardwalk extending from parking lot to beach house, two parking lots, walkway from top of bluff to beach and picnic shelter at the top of bluff. Daily admission and season passes are available.

Of course there are many other options for beaches along Chicago’s North Shore, but I wanted to highlight just a few that you’ll enjoy!

If you don’t currently live on the North Shore, or you’ve been dreaming of buying a second home along the Lake Michigan shoreline as a vacation destination; please let me know!

As an experienced North Shore Real Estate agent, I would love to help you navigate through the home buying process and can show you some of the beautiful homes currently for sale on the North Shore Real Estate market!

Please feel free to contact me today!

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert

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Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Deerfield Market Stats for April 2013

Deerfield Active Listings: There are a total of 92 properties actively on the market with the average price of $649,774 in Deerfield.

Deerfield Sold Listings: 32 properties closed last month in Deerfield with an average sales price of $424,179, the average time on market for these properties was 69 days.

To view the complete report including additional detailed data, charts ad graphs, please view the Deerfield market statistics!

Glencoe Market Stats for April 2013

Glencoe Active Listings: There are a total of 62 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,792,461 in Glencoe.

Glencoe Sold Listings: 18 properties closed last month in Glencoe with an average sales price of $944,631, the average time on market for these properties was 50 days.

To view the complete report including additional detailed data, charts ad graphs, please view the Glencoe market statistics!

Winnetka Market Stats for April 2013

Winnetka Active Listings: There are a total of 122 properties actively on the market with the average price of $2,443,923 in Winnetka.

Winnetka Sold Listings: 15 properties closed last month in Winnetka with an average sales price of $990,533, 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!

Highland Park Market Stats for April 2013

Highland Park Active Listings: There are a total of 213 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,181,143 in Highland Park.

Highland Park Sold Listings: 52 properties closed last month in Highland Park with an average sales price of $467,989, the average time on market for these properties was 69 days.

To view the complete report including additional detailed data, charts ad graphs, please view the Highland Park market statistics!

Northbrook Market Stats for April 2013

Northbrook Active Listings: There are a total of 139 properties actively on the market with the average price of $785,815 in Northbrook.

Northbrook Sold Listings: 55 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $406,340, the average time on market for these properties was 57 days.

To view the complete report including additional detailed data, charts ad graphs, please view the Northbrook market statistics!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Tips for a Smooth and Efficient Home Buying Process on the North Shore!

A few weeks ago, I talked about the spring North Shore Real Estate market and gave some tips for navigating the home buying or selling process. Today, I wanted to hone in on ways to ensure the home buying experience is as seamless and efficient as possible.

As you know, the spring market is teaming with activity and you’ll want to be prepared to move on a home before another buyer snatches it up. If you’re hoping to find and be settled into your new North Shore home before the gorgeous summer season begins, here are a few key tips for making it happen.

1. Start Your Search Online- Instead of spending your time searching for open houses or for sale signs, get online to streamline your search. There are many great homes in the North Shore which you can view on my North Shore website!

2. Get Pre-Approved- Finding the home of your dreams and then shopping for a loan is a risky move, as most home sellers won’t even look at an offer that’s not accompanied by a pre-approval letter. Getting pre-approved ensures you know your exact budget and can save you from a bidding war if many are vying for the same home.

3. Prioritize Your Housing Needs- Finding a home fast means being flexible. The longer the list of requirements, the harder it will be to find a home. Keep your list short and to the point. Focus on the key elements you’re looking for and let the extras fall as they may.

4. Find a Great Agent- This may seem easy, but finding an agent that truly knows the North Shore Real Estate market and can show you properties that are right in your price range and meet your style and needs can be challenging. Of course, I’d love to help you in your home search and know that my experience and proven success will make the home buying process an easy one. Bottom line? Do your homework and really research local North Shore Real Estate agents.

5. Negotiate Repairs- If an inspection reveals that the home you want to buy requires repairs, taking the responsibility off the seller can help you close the deal quicker. After obtaining estimates, ask the seller for a credit rather than asking them to complete the repairs themselves.

6. Have Cash Ready for Closing- You don’t want to be scrambling for funds at the last minute, so be prepared for this important date. A day or two before closing on your North Shore home, you’ll get the final settlement statement, detailing the terms of your loan and all the closing costs.

7. Have a Plan B- Because not every transaction goes smoothly, be sure you have a property or two as a backup; you don’t want to have to start from scratch!

As a North Shore Real Estate agent, I understand that the entire home buying process can seem overwhelming at first, but these tips should help the process feel more manageable and create a streamlined approach.

I’m always here to answer any questions you have concerning buying a home or living on the North Shore. From finding your dream home to signing the contract; I’ll be with you each step of the way!

Contact me today to get started!