Northbrook Real Estate Market Stats for March 2016

City Active Listings: There are a total of 256 properties actively on the market with the average price of $750,563 in Northbrook.

City Sold Listings: 48 properties closed last month in Northbrook with an average sales price of $445,858. The average time on market for these properties was 41 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!

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 March 2016

City Active Listings: There are a total of 186 properties actively on the market with the average price of $1,845,222 in Winnetka.

City Sold Listings: 15 properties closed last month in Winnetka with an average sales price of $1,138,667. The average time on market for these properties was 71 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. 

Why You Should Not FSBO Your North Shore Home This Spring

If you've been thinking about selling your home on Chicago's North Shore, spring is the perfect time to do so! Many buyers, both first-time and seasoned, are beginning to enter the real estate market in search of their dream home, but are being met with less inventory than there has been in the past.

North Shore home sellers are in high demand, but you may be contemplating the best route to take— FSBO (For Sale by Owner) or work with a real estate agent? The perks of working with an experienced agent are numerous and if your motive for considering FSBO is simply to save money, you might like to think again!

Your agent will do the negotiating
Think of all of the parties involved in a North Shore home sale, from the buyer and their agent to the appraiser and inspection company. There are dozens of parties to negotiate with and if you choose to go the FSBO route, you will be responsible for this all on your own. Remember that your real estate agent has done this before and they know how to interact with the many different parties involved with the sale.

Your agent has a strategy
An experienced agent, especially Your North Shore Real Estate Expert, has a strategy for selling homes in Deerfield, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Northbrook and beyond. And since the majority of buyers start their home search online, it is no longer as easy as placing a sign in your front yard or an ad in the paper. Your real estate agent knows where the buyers are looking and how to catch their eye.

You will net more money with an agent
Studies have shown working with a real estate agent can help you sell your home for more money than if you choose to do so without. For instance, a house sold by a homeowner sells on average for $210,000, while the house sold by an agent sells for $249,000. In terms of securing the best deal, working with a real estate agent makes more financial sense.

If you are thinking about selling your home on the North Shore this year and have questions about how I can help you achieve a successful sale, do not hesitate to reach out! I am happy to help you move on to your next dream home in Deerfield, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Northbrook or the surrounding area.

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. 

5 Features to Ignore When Shopping for North Shore Chicago Houses

Now that spring has officially sprung and homebuyers are heading out in waves to begin searching for the perfect property on Chicago's North Shore, excitement is running high! And with the whirlwind of house-hunting, it can be easy to let certain home decor features cloud your judgment and force you to pass on what would have been the best home for you.

As you begin browsing homes in Winnetka, Glencoe, Deerfield, Northbrook, Highland Park and the surrounding areas, remind yourself to look past these five features— you can fix them later!

Paint color
Perhaps one of the easiest cosmetic flaws to fix and yet, the one that can get in the way of North Shore buyers seeing a home's true potential. The same goes for wallpaper or paneling! Keep in mind that you can change these in a single weekend and typically for under $50.

Ceiling texture
You've found a home that could be the one, but then you look up to find popcorn ceilings. This texture of the past can be found in older homes, but can also be scraped (either as a DIY project or by a professional) to restore the ceilings to your preferred, clean look.

Carpet or flooring
Once you step inside a home, you might be distracted by the odd-colored carpeting or outdated tile. But remember, you can easily pull up carpeting (at time, finding hardwoods underneath!) and replace tile with your desired flooring choice.

Older fixtures
If what is turning you off about a home is simply the old light fixtures or countertops, look past them at the big picture of the property. Does the floor plan work for you? Does it have your desired amount of bedrooms and bathrooms? If so, remind yourself that light fixtures can be swapped out in a matter of minutes.

Kitchen cabinets
Unlike countertops, kitchen cabinets in good shape can always be painted! With just a few hours of your time, you can give them an updated look with new paint and updated hardware.

Ready to buy a home on Chicago's North Shore this spring? Give me a call! I have years of expertise in assisting buyers find their dream property in Winnetka, Glencoe, 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. 

Your Guide to 2016 Easter Events on Chicago's North Shore

It's officially time to start thinking spring as we set the clocks ahead, don green for St. Patrick's Day and jot down Easter egg hunts to visit around Chicago's North Shore. There are dozens of spring-centered events to attend this year and as your North Shore real estate expert, I've selected a few to share with you!

If you're planning your Easter weekend or festivities, you will want to consider the following taking place in Winnetka, Glencoe, Deerfield, Northbrook, Highland Park and the surrounding areas:

Community Easter Egg Hunt
March 19, 2016; 9:30 AM to 11 AM
Northbrook Covenant Church
Northbrook IL

Glencoe Spring Egg Hunt
March 19, 2016; 10 AM
Watts Park
Glencoe IL

Biscuits, Bones and Bunnies: Hound Hunt
March 19, 2016; 11 AM
Watts Park
Glencoe IL

Glenview Park District Eggstravaganza
March 19, 2016; 10 AM to 10:30 AM
Glenview Park District
Glenview IL

West Ridge Egg Hunt
March 19, 2016; 11 AM to 11:45 AM
West Ridge Center
Highland Park IL

LEGO Easter Egg Hunt
March 21-26, 2016; 10 AM to 9 PM
The Lego Store Northbrook Court
Northbrook IL

43rd Annual Egg Hunt
March 26, 2016; 10 AM to 10:30 AM
West Elm Park
Winnetka IL

Doggy Egg Hunt
March 26, 2016; 12 PM to 1 PM
West Elm Park
Winnetka IL

Questions about calling the North Shore your home? I would be glad to hear from you! Give me a call today to discuss available properties in the area, selling your home or purchasing your first in Winnetka, Glencoe, Deerfield, Northbrook or Highland Park.

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. 

3 Homebuyer Turn-Offs To Avoid in Your Winnetka, Northbrook, Highland Park IL Home

The real estate market is just beginning to heat up for the spring and summer seasons and experts are already predicting it to "spring forward," along with the time this weekend. Inventory has been trending on the lower side for several months, but a wave of home sellers are getting ready to list their properties and spark interest among the numerous buyers searching for a home in Glencoe, Deerfield, Winnetka, Northbrook, Highland Park and the surrounding areas.

But just make sure you don't turn them off before they even make it to the door! Below are three common buyer turn-offs you will want to avoid in your North Shore home this year:

Converted spaces
Many of the homebuyers in the North Shore real estate market this spring and summer are looking for more space— whether that be with additional bedrooms, garage space or even finished basements. What they are not looking for, however, are converted spaces that take away from that extra room. Try to avoid turning your garage into a living or workout space and adding built-in features like wine storage or entertainment equipment to your spare bedrooms.

Carpet over hardwood floors
Today's homebuyers love the easy upkeep of hardwood floors, as well as the look they give a home. If you have wood flooring underneath of your carpet, you might like to consider showing it off! It is always easier for a buyer on the North Shore to decide to lay down carpet over wood floors than to see past the current carpet in a property.

Adding an above-ground pool
We are approaching the warmer weather months, but that doesn't mean every homebuyer on Chicago's North Shore will desire a pool. You might be tempted to install an above-ground pool in your backyard, although it is wiser to remember that most buyers see these as a major upkeep factor and a distraction from what would be a lovely yard.

I have years of experience in helping North Shore homeowners prepare and sell their properties both quickly and efficiently! If you are thinking of selling in Glencoe, Deerfield, Winnetka, Northbrook, Highland Park or the surrounding areas, do not hesitate to give me a call!

I'm happy to answer any questions you have!

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. 

What Your Home Inspector Will Not Inspect in Your Glencoe, Winnetka or Deerfield Home

The main objective of your home inspection is to make you—the homebuyer— aware of any issues currently associated with the property. But when inspection day rolls around, it's important that you know your inspector will not always inspect everything and you may be left with a few questions or even surprises down the road.

To avoid any headaches after you've purchased a home in Deerfield, Glencoe, Winnetka, Highland Park, Northbrook or the surrounding areas, keep in mind the following areas that the inspector may not be checking:

The roof
Not all inspectors are qualified to inspect roofing, so be sure to consult your inspect to find out if you will need to call a specialist. It may also be more difficult to fully inspect the roof if it is covered with snow.

The chimney
If you think your home may have structural damage, hiring a chimney specialist may be a wise decision. They will be able to further research damage hiding inside of the chimney with a small camera.

The sewer
Your inspector may do as much as flush the toilets and run the water to make sure things are in working order, but a sewer specialist will be able to expand on whether your sewer line is in good condition, if there are any cracks or tree roots causing a problem now or in the future. This is one place you will want to have covered— these repairs can be very costly later!

Permitted/non-permitted spaces
You will not have to hire any additional experts to determine if a space has been properly permitted, but your inspector and real estate agent will be able to shed some light. While purchasing a home with extra room in the form of a porch, converted garage or additional bedrooms may sound appealing, these can cause a hassle if they need to be brought up to code.

If you have questions about purchasing a home on Chicago's North Shore this spring, give me a call! I'm here to walk you through the process, from finding the right property to the important steps like the home inspection!

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.