Glencoe Market Stats for April 2015

City Active Listings: There are a total of 87 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,506,905 in Glencoe.

City Sold Listings: 12 properties closed last month in Glencoe with an average sales price of $1,123,333. 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 Glencoe market statistics! 

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert

North Shore Real Estate
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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.

Highland Park Market Stats for April 2015

City Active Listings: There are a total of 277 properties actively on the market with the average price of $925,079 in Highland Park.

City Sold Listings: 30 properties closed last month in Highland Park with an average sales price of $493,624. The average time on market for these properties was 89 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!

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 Market Stats for April 2015

City Active Listings: There are a total of 181 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,942,126 in Winnetka.

City Sold Listings: 18 properties closed last month in Winnetka with an average sales price of $1,318,750. The average time on market for these properties was 100 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!

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.

Glencoe, Deerfield, Winnetka Home Sellers: Staging Tips for Your North Shore Home

Warmer weather typically brings busy schedules to North Shore residents and when selling your home, your to-do list is bound to grow! Now is the time to spring clean from top to bottom, toss out old furniture and knick-knacks, work with your real estate agent to ensure you're on the right track and get ready to welcome North Shore buyers inside.

Staging your home is key to allowing buyers to visualize themselves and their belongings inside the property. As you clean out the clutter this month and begin to set the scene for homebuyers, take into account these must-do's and absolute do-not's of home staging.

Say goodbye to the old
Picture yourself walking into a home in Glencoe, Winnetka, Deerfield, Northbrook or Highland Park and find that the homeowners have old, worn-out furniture. It will likely have an impression on your opinion of the home overall— just for that one reason. When staging your own home to sell, choose the furniture that showcases your home well!

Focus on the home itself
One of the best ways to showcase the features of your home is to allow them to speak for themselves. Don't overwhelm buyers with wallpaper, dozens of knick-knacks or loud decor or distracting wall colors. Keep it simple and when in doubt, do an edit of the space! Anything you feel might take away from a space should be removed.

Be consistent
Think of your North Shore home as a book— every room should be a part of the same story. If you leave one space in disarray while the rest of the home is clean, tidy and updated, buyers will notice. Consistency from room to room is key! Every space should feel comfortable and reflective of the love you have for the property.

Say no to themes
Using themes or bright, bold colors can be a distraction for North Shore homebuyers. In fact, one of the main rules of staging is to stick to a neutral palette. Soft, calming tones allow a buyer to envision their own furniture inside and harmonize with the home, instead of overpowering it.

Remember, there is always a chance North Shore homebuyers will not like your staging job. If you have questions about what buyers are looking for this year, always feel free to reach out to me! With years of experience in area real estate, I can provide you with insight into local buyer's minds!

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!

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. 

Buy Local, Eat Local at North Shore Farmers Markets

The North Shore of Chicago is a hub of culture, history, entertainment and shopping. This spring, there is so much to do and see locally that there is no need to even leave the area! One of those treasured events returning to North Shore communities this spring and summer is the farmers market.

Many North Shore locales— like Glencoe, Northbrook and Evanston—host farmers markets featuring their own home-baked goodies, flowers, fruits and vegetables, in addition to local wares. As the weather continues to warm up, be sure to make plans to visit one of the following farmers markets nearby:

• Evanston Farmers Market

Begins third week of May

When: Open Saturdays, 7:30 AM to 1 PM

Where: Held on University and Oak Streets

• Glencoe Farmers Market

Begins first Sunday in June

When: Open first Sundays in June through November,  9 AM to 2 PM

Where: Chicago Botanic Garden

• Glenview Farmers Market

Begins first week of June

When: Open Saturdays, 8 AM to 12 PM

Where: Wagner Farm, Lake Avenue and Wagner Road

• Northbrook Farmers Market

Begins first Wednesday in mid-June

When: Open Wednesdays, 7 AM to 1 PM

Where: Our Lady of Brook, Dundee Road

As your North Shore real estate expert, I am happy to share the many reasons why our area is such a great place to call home. Contact me today with any questions you have about buying a home on the North Shore or selling your current property!

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. 

North Shore Homebuyers Should Shop Around for Mortgage Rates This Year

Just as it would in any other purchase scenario on the North Shore, shopping around can be a major benefit to today's homebuyers.

Home prices and sales are rising and as a result, the real estate market is getting busy and seeing more buyer demand. But that doesn't mean you should rush into a home purchase in Glencoe, Winnetka, Highland Park, Northbrook or Deerfield! Taking the time to research mortgage rates could save you more than you think on your new North Shore home.

Below are some common questions homebuyers on Chicago's North Shore may be wondering about rate shopping this year:

How long should I shop around?
As you know, mortgage rates are known to rise and fall daily and could change as much as .25 in a single day. In order to accurately compare lenders, you need to get quotes from each lender on the same day. Homebuyers will need to gather these rates before making a home offer and if the North Shore seller accepts, you will then choose one.

How do I know if the rate is accurate?
Your comparison of rates should consider the relationship between closing costs and the rate itself. The higher the closing costs, the lower the rate and vice versa. When you receive your rates from lenders, compare the rates with fees and APRs. You won't know which is best until you compare each summary given from each lender and look at these factors.

What happens if rates drop after I lock in my mortgage?
Every lender will have their own policy on how to tackle this subject. Many of them will give you some leeway when re-negotiating a previously locked in rate. For instance, if you just locked in your mortgage at 3.75 and mortgage rates drop to 3.5, the lender may allow you to re-negoiate your rate to 3.625. As you gather quotes, simply ask the lenders about their policy.

With years of experience in all things North Shore real estate, I understand how overwhelming the homebuying process can feel— from home shopping to mortgage rate shopping to home closings. I can recommend area professionals to assist you with rate shopping and am happy to answer any questions about buying a home on the North Shore!

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. 

Preparing Your Home to Sell on Chicago's North Shore This Spring

The weather is getting warmer every week and spring is in full bloom on the North Shore. Homebuyer demand is increasing, homeowners are taking to sprucing up their homes in Deerfield, Glencoe, Winnetka, Northbrook, Highland Park and the busy real estate season is kicking off.

But there is still one thing left to do this spring— prepare your North Shore home to sell! Listing your home now is a great idea with more buyers coming into the market, but it must be ready to show and grab buyer attention to be successful.

Below are three suggestions for preparing your home to sell on Chicago's North Shore this spring:

Start spring cleaning
If you haven't already, begin de-cluttering your home, editing down furniture to allow spaces to feel bigger and airier, clean windows and consider a fresh coat of paint. Even small items like the furnace filter can make a difference to North Shore homebuyers— if you passed over something small, buyers may wonder how well you have taken care of other things in the home.

Boost curb appeal
Now that spring is here, North Shore buyers will begin driving by properties for sale and visiting open houses— where the exterior and landscaping are the first things they notice. Make sure your home stands out in a good way with updated, fresh landscaping, clear sidewalks and driveways and house numbers that are easily visible. You might even consider giving your front door a coat of paint or replacing it altogether if necessary and flanking the entry with plants or flowers.

Price the property well
The success of selling your home in Glencoe, Northbrook, Winnetka, Deerfield, or Highland Park has much to do with the price at which its listed. I am a seasoned real estate professional in the area and can help you arrive at a price you're happy with as well as one that will get buyers to your door.

As your North Shore real estate expert and Top Trulia Agent, I am happy to share ideas for piquing homebuyer interest this season. Whether you are ready to list your home now or sprucing in anticipation of summer, do not hesitate to give me a call!

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.