Real Estate Information

As you start to hear more news about President Obama's Making Home Affordable Plan, you'll be wondering whether you qualify as a homeowner. Below is some of the key information to consider.

1. Who is the Making Home Affordable plan designed to help?

The Plan is designed to help families who've been affected by the sudden drop in housing prices. The Plan will give families access to low-cost refinancing or loan modification for lower monthly mortgages to slow the wave of foreclosures.

The Plan is restricted to owners of primary residences who are looking in good faith to restructure their mortgage payments. The Plan does not bail out speculators or house flippers.

2. Do I qualify?

Due to the Plan's complexity, the US Department of Treasury and Department of Housing and Urban Development launched the following website, which includes interactive self-assessment tools to determine if you qualify: www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov.

If you have any specific questions regarding your situation, please feel free to email me.

Home warranties are designed to insure the home against mechanical failures in plumbing, heating, electrical, and installed appliances.

How do they work? For an annual fee anywhere between $250 to $600, the warranty company hires local repair companies to provide service in case of mechanical failure when contacted by the homeowner. If the mechanical breakdown is covered in the warranty contract, then the homeowner pays a fee for the service visit, around $25-$75. 

There are several important points to remember when choosing a home warranty:

1. Carefully read the service agreement to be clear on what is and is not covered. Some contracts could intentionally have loopholes. 
2. Research the customer service track record of the company by looking on the internet for any customer reviews.
3. Check that the company has a solid financial history. How long has it been in business? How has it been performing for the past several years?

For more information on how to choose the right home warranty, I recommend this article from MSN Money.

When selling your home in the winter, the art of staging the inside becomes more important. 

Here are five simple tips that can help you sell your home even when the outside landscaping has faded:

• Keep your house warm.  In the winter people tend to turn the thermostat down to save money, however a warmer house is more welcoming to a potential buyer.
• Clear your walkways and driveways of any snow or ice.  Make it easy for buyers to get to your home.
• Clean the windows and blinds.  Letting in the natural light can brighten up a room and cheer up the home.  This also brings attention to the windows and blinds so make sure they are clean even during winter.  Dirty windows will make the home seem as those it's not well maintained.
• Background music played softly can completely change the atmosphere making the home seem cozy and keep potential buyers around longer.  Stick with classical music which can appeal to anyone.
• Leave the light on.  Before showing a home, make sure it's well lit.  A well lit home is more inviting.  If you're not home, consider setting up timers.

Following these simple tips can give your house that added boost in today's competitive market.

Want a great one-stop shop for your new home furnishing or remodeling needs at factory-direct prices? I would recommend DirectBuyCares.com. Don't forget to read the Design Ideas and Forums at the bottom of this site. 

What’s in store for 2009 is anyone’s guess, but...

Real estate professionals are betting on better days ahead!  And consumers would do well to recognize some rather important facts that might not normally be considered, and in contrast to what is frequently reported by the media...especially when considering buying or selling real estate in 2009 and [perhaps] beyond.  It’s anybody’s guess exactly how long it will take for the economic market to correct itself, although history proves that the economy, especially the real estate market, is cyclical...numbers go up, they go down...and eventually they will correct themselves.  ”What goes up must come down!”  Ring any bells?

It may help to remember a few of those important facts referred to in the latter paragraph if you assume that you couldn’t possibly expect to get as much from the sale of your home, right now, as you would like to; that it could take a long time to produce a buyer for your home; or, if you are a buyer who thinks that financing has become an impossibility.  I am always available to help put your mind at ease. And I share all types of real estate related information to clients on a regular basis, as part of my ongoing dedication to them...to help them at all times, not just during the times I’m working for them to help them buy or sell a home.

If I may present a good example of a [recent] positive happening in a negative market...in October [2008], I placed a new listing for the sellers of an exquisite single-family home.  We closed the sale of that home in 68 days, for 93% of their original list price.  In turn, I helped them find an equally [actually more] beautiful home in a fine neighborhood, for a great price!  Is that proof enough that this is a good time to be part of the current real estate market?  One should remember that any deficit a seller might recognize in the sale of one home, they can usually make it back in the purchase of another property that can be bought at a reasonable price.

Other facts to remember are 1) a financial “loss” on the sale of real estate might garner certain tax benefits*; 2) there is still a buyer for every home; 3) there are some pretty great deals to be made right now, considering current price reductions on so many homes; 4) numerous financing options are still available for qualified buyers; and 5) nothing is impossible if a knowledgeable REALTOR® is hired to assist.  And, finally, if you’re not actively engaged in the buying or selling process, you can’t hardly expect to reap any benefits!

Even though some consumers are feeling the current “crunch” more than others, not everybody is so “doomed”, considering the many positive opportunities there are in the real estate market.  So, when will the media finally give up on all their “gloom and doom” reporting?

I’d love to hear your comments and discuss any feedback you might have to offer.  Please feel free to share yours!  You can  either comment here, or email me at Marlene@MarleneDoesMore.com.

*It is highly recommended you seek the advice of a Certified Public Accountant about your personal tax structure.

In the Chicago North Shore, much of the drop in average sales price was due to the sharp decrease of demand in expensive neighborhoods such as Winnetka and Glencoe (NorthShoreInsider.com, 12-04-2008). Every neighborhood is experiencing a drop in prices, and it's certainly a rare buyer's market right now in the North Shore.

Taking a step back for a bigger perspective, the 2008 third quarter S&P/Case-Shiller home-price index reported an additional decline from the previous quarter. Among the 20 major metropolitan areas, home prices dropped an average 17.4% from the previous year and among the top areas that suffered were Phoenix, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Miami. The Chicago area reported a 10.1% decrease in home-prices compared to the past year (S&P, 11-25-2008). The full Case-Shiller report is available right here.

I want to point out that overall, the Chicago housing market is not suffering as much as other major cities. I believe this is due to our widely-recognized, reputable schools, welcoming suburb neighborhoods, great family environment, abundance of parks and green space, and plenty of arts and entertainment facilities. Let's all remember that the Chicago North Shore is one of the best places for long-term investment, and I'm sure it will be one of the strongest to hold out valiantly through this economic downturn!

It's the time of year when family and friends gather together to share smiles, laughter, heart-warming conversations, and of course, great food! For that last finishing touch for the family gathering, here is a lovely, easy drink recipe that can be enjoyed by kids and grandparents alike. Best of all, it looks absolutely beautiful. I consider myself very lucky to have a wonderful virtual assistant who lives in California, to have shared this wonderful drink recipe that is her family favorite. Enjoy!

"Holiday Sparkle Punch"

Ingredients:
4 quarts, cold water
1 liter, Sprite
1/2 gallon orange sherbet
6 oz orange juice concentrate
6 oz pineapple juice concentrate
2 oranges
2 limes
2 lemons
1 pack of Mint leaves
Several ice cube trays

Directions:
1. Slice the oranges, limes, and lemons into very small pieces and scatter a little bit of each into your ice cube trays. Also put in mint leaves. Pour in water and put in the freezer.

2. Take a large punch bowl and mix in the remaining ingredients.

3. When the ice cubes are done, serve the punch in a clear cup with 1 or 2 ice cubes. Each ice cube will be glittering with bright orange, yellow, and green pieces of fruit and it'll be a delight for any drinker.

We are veterans of the bitter-cold Chicago winter. Meteorologists are predicting a milder winter for this year, but there are always additional steps we can take to make sure our home is warm, safe, and prepared for the icy snow and wind. Below is a checklist you will find resourceful:

• Inspect your fireplace: The fireplace should be professionally inspected once a year and cleaned if necessary.
• Replace furnace filters: This will improve airflow and improve the efficiency of your home's heating system.
• Place a mat next to entries: Protect your hardwood floors from mud, snow, and salt with this easy step.
• Seal any windows with cracks: By preventing cold air from entering the house, you'll see major savings in utility costs.
• Clean out gutters and downspouts: This will prevent the formation of ice dams.
• Inspect your smoke alarms: Clean the dust from the cover and replace batteries.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Though you might feel worried about the housing market as a homeowner, there is also a lot of hopeful news. My job is to highlight the good news to you.

The National Association of Realtors noted that new residential construction is down by 31.1% compared to September 2007 (NAR, Oct 2008), so this means that there will be a decrease in the overall supply of new homes in the market. What does that mean for you as a homeowner? With less homes in the market, the value of your home is less likely to be negatively impacted.

Real estate is still a great investment, even if we are experiencing a rocky road as the market is correcting itself. In spite of the negative news that surrounds us, I want to emphasize that homes are selling--they may be taking longer than usual, but they are selling.

Marlene Bass, Broker, REALTOR(R), Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (Northbrook), was recently honored to receive an invitation from Dr. Tom Sultan, a Wellness Medical Associates Internist, to be a guest speaker at a seniors seminar being held in the conference room at Glenbrook Hospital (Glenview) on Wednesday, November 5th. 

"Shaping Our Futures...Where Do We Go From Here?” focuses on the needs of seniors hoping to extend their vitality and maintain the ability to remain in their current homes, living independently as long as possible.  Various community organizations will make brief presentations related to future health and social needs of seniors.  Representative of local real estate industry professionals, Ms. Bass will compare and discuss current real estate market conditions and how they are affecting our local communities, especially as it all relates to senior living. 

For many individuals, as they approach a point in their lives when uncertainty about the future becomes more defined, facts and information, as well as a positive support system, can mean all the difference in the world as far as choices and preparedness. Supporters at the seminar will offer information and assistance that will make life simpler and issues clearer to seniors facing crucial and life-altering decisions, housing, relocation, health/critical care, as well as other issues.

For the scheduled time and more information about the seminar, please contact:

Marlene Bass, Broker Associate, REALTOR(R), ASP, CRS, e-PRO(R), GRI, SRES
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
1330 Shermer Rd
Northbrook, IL 60020
PH: (847) 209-9880

Wellness Associates
2150 Pfingsten Rd # 2250
Glenview, IL 60026 
PH: (847) 729-2320

All around Chicagoland, a deep hue of gold and red are coloring the trees. The Windy City is living up to its name more and more, prompting us to bring out those gloves and scarves from their slumber in the back of our drawers. As we approach the end of October, we're also anticipating Halloween, a day that makes us excited at the thought of costumes, Jack-o-Lanterns, pumpkins, scary stories, and trick-or-treating.

By the way...do you know how trick-or-treating began? Back in England, there was a holiday called "All Souls' Day," in which the poor would go from door to door, asking housewives for a treat called "soulcakes" in exchange for protection against bad luck. Many children also started knocking on doors, eager to receive cakes, apples, candy, or bread. As time passed, the children started to say "Trick or treat!" and played practical jokes on housewives who refused to give them anything. So make sure you have treats ready for this year.

Happy Halloween!