Monthly Archives: April 2012

Three Nice Homes in Palatine Illinois in the 200′s

Posted on April 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

Three Nice Homes in Palatine Illinois in the 200′s

Save Money When You Purchase a Home Through Buyer Broker Chicagoland

As Exclusive Buyer Agents, and Certified Negotiation Experts – we are ALWAYS 100% on the Home Buyer’s Side – Never “Selling” – But Helping You Buy With Your Eyes Wide Open – Pointing Out Drawbacks, and Acting As Your Coach and Advocate. Call 847-566-7558 to see if you qualify to meet with us for an initial consultation.

Looking for properties / real estate in Palatine Illinois in the 200k range? Here are some single family homes in Palatine that we can help you price whack, should they be your cup of tea… Three homes for you….

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 08032546 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 08031396 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 08007670 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

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The Real Estate Market is Hopping With Home Buyers in Chicago’s Suburbs and Downtown Chicago This Spring – From Lake Zurich and Palatine, to the North Shore – to Downers Grove, Lombard and Naperville, to Bucktown and Wicker Park

Posted on April 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

The Real Estate Market is Hopping With Home Buyers in Chicago’s Suburbs and Downtown Chicago This Spring – From Lake Zurich and Palatine – to the North Shore, to Downers Grove, Lombard and Naperville, to Bucktown and Wicker Park

It is off-to-the- races for home buyers in the Chicagoland area!

Folks – the market has changed. It’s off-to-the-races for home buyers. I can’t tell you how many offers there are now on short sale, foreclosure, new construction and owner occupied homes this spring….. LOTS. In many cases, we are encountering multiple offer situations for homes that are priced right that have been well taken care of (and that are not too dated for the price) or for short sale properties.

We are swamped with new home buyer clients

We are swamped with home buyer clients wanting Chicagoland’s best real estate negotiator on their side! We’ll lead you along a safe path to closing – after negotiating a killer price.

Downtown Chicago

We have a client heading to closing on a Bucktown property, and 5 clients in the Downers Grove / Lombard / Naperville area, and a number of clients in the Northwest Suburbs (Palatine, Lake Zurich, Vernon Hills), and a North Shore client.

Rates are down, but with the economy improving they are expected to go up – so there are a lot of people flocking to buy low and lock in a low rate. By summer, and certainly by fall – we expect that interest rates will tick higher.

Home Sales are Up across the Chicagoland area. From Palatine, Lake Zurich, Vernon Hills, to the North Shore to Downers Grove, Lombard, Naperville to Bucktown, Wicker Park and Downtown Chicago

Today – it was revealed that pending sales of existing homes rose to their highest level in nearly two years in March, according to the National Association of Realtors’ latest Pending Home Sales Index.

The index, which represents contracts signed but not yet closed, jumped a seasonally adjusted 4.1 percent from February to March, to 101.4. That’s the highest index level since April 2010, when the deadline for a federal homebuyer tax credit program loomed. The index was 111.3 then. Pending sales were up 10.8 percent from the same time a year ago on a non-seasonally adjusted basis.

An index score of 100 is equal to the average level of sales contract activity in 2001, a robust year for home sales and the first year examined. The index typically represents about 20 percent of all existing-home transactions. Contracts signed in March typically close one or two months later.

“First-quarter sales closings were the highest first-quarter sales in five years. The latest contract signing activity suggests the second quarter will be equally good,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, in a statement.

Home sales turned a corner

“The housing market has clearly turned the corner,” Yun said. “Rising sales are bringing down inventory and creating much more balanced conditions around the county, which means home prices will be rising in more areas as the year progresses.”

If you’d like to put Chicagoland’s best real estate negotiators on your side, and have an agent who is TOTALLY ON YOUR SIDE (versus half on your side as a so-called “buyer agent” can be – ie – they and their company list property for sale) then call 847-566-7558 to set up an initial consultation to see if you qualify. You can visit Buyer Broker Chicagoland for more information.

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Posted in Bucktown, Downers Grove, Downtown Chicago, Lake Zurich, Lombard, Naperville, North Shore, Palatine Ilinois, Vernon Hills, Wicker Park

Tagged Bucktown, Downers Grove, Lake Zurich, Lombard, Naperville, North Shore, Palatine, sales trends, The Real Estate Market is Hopping With Home Buyers in Chicago's Suburbs and Downtown Chicago This Real Estate market, Wicker Park

List of Performers / Performances / Shows at the Ravinia Festival for the 2012 Season

Posted on April 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

List of Performers / Performances / Shows at the Ravinia Festival for the 2012 Season

Ravinia Festival Tickets - 2012 Performances / Shows / Acts

Tickets Go on Sale Online Tomorrow – Thursday April 26 at 5 AM !!

Yes – it’s that time of year again for music / picnics under the stars – when people across the Chicagoland area go on a feeding frenzy online for Ravinia tickets. A reminder that tickets open up for sale online tomorrow at Ravinia.org at 5 AM. The good acts tend to sell out quickly – so if you are an early riser – all the better. We attend about 12-15 shows a year with friends and past clients, typically sitting up-front on the lawn near the main stage. One of these years – we’ll just have to get a Ravinia season pass with preferred parking…

It is kind of tedious to have to scroll through month after month on Ravina’s calendar to see who is playing – so we’ve made it convenient for you to browse all of the acts / performers / performances for the 2012 season in list format.

Ravinia Festival, Highland Park IL Performers / Shows for the 2012 Season Include:

List of Performances at Ravinia For 2012

Earth Wind & Fire, Iron & Wine, Dr. John, Al Green, Fifth House Ensemble, Jimmy Cliff, Leon Fleisher and Friends, Nnenna Freelon, Philip Glass, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, Esperanza Spalding, Zukerman Chamber Players, Sergio Mendes, Ramsey Lewis, Glen Campbell, Ronnie Milsap, Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, Sarah McLachlan, Jake Shimabukuro, Stephanie Blythe, Midori, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Emerson String Quartet, Jaap Van Zweden, Idina Menzel, Marvin Hamlisch, Angel Romero, Santana, Natalie Merchant, Blues Brothers, Jim Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Benedetti Elschenbroich Grynyuk Trio, Christoph Eschenbach, Barbara Cook, Matthias Goerne, Diana Krall, Tedeschi Trucks Band, James Conlon, BoDeans, Patti LuPone, Patricia Racette, Seal, Macy Gray, Tokyo String Quartet, Joshua Bell, James Taylor, Misha Dichter, Cipa Dichter, Denis Matsuey, Miriam Fried, Jonathan Biss, Nicole Cabell, Crosby Stills & Nash, Demi Lovato, Ann Hampton Callaway, John Pizzarelli Quartet, Martinez Urioste Brey Piano Trio, Gerald Finley, Kevin Murphy, Huey Lewis and the News, Joe Cocker, Train, Kiri Te Kanawa, Kevin Murphy, Vladimir Feltsman, Justin Roberts & The Not Ready For Naptime Players, Tony Bennett, Arlo Guthrie, Mary Chapin Carpenter, River North Dance Chicago, Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Roger Hodgson, Lyle Lovett, Anita Baker, John Hiatt, Steve Earle, Momix Dance Company, Duran Duran, Behzod Abduraimov, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Robin Rosenberg, Chris Jones, Sarah Gruneberg, Tony Mantuano, Orion Weiss, Johannes Moser, Juilliard String Quartet, Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Dawn Upshaw, Ruth page Civic Ballet, Tom Chapin

Piano at Ravinia

Did you know that the very first song played at Ravinia was “Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home?”

If you are younger than dirt, you may have to Google the title to recognize the tune. In 1904 – Ravinia actually started out as an amusement park complete with baseball diamond, electric fountain and a casino building with dining and dance floor.

During the Great Depression, the Park and its music festival ended but only for 5-years until the Ravinia Festival Association was founded and in 1936.

Chicago Symphony

Ravinia became the summer residence of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (as it still is today). Ravinia Park Festival is proud to hold the title of the oldest outdoor music festival in North America and boasts of its world-class venue.

Ravinia is situated on a 36 acre park and with a lot of lawn area. The unique setting allows for open seating and picnicking. Those attending the summer concerts bring complete picnics and dinners to shows, with lawn chairs, blankets, coolers full of foods of all kinds and candles, if you’re so inclined. Some of the set-ups people bring are quite extravagant – with Candelabras, and huge spreads of food and drink.

Ravinia Wine

It’s a great place to go as a family or a couple, or with a bunch of friends. Don’t be shy about meeting others that are seated close by. I enjoy sharing the food and wine I bring, with others nearby. We occasionally bring past clients and current clients – which is a lot of fun – as we get to know each other even better!

Ravinia is one of the few concert venues in the country to allow full meals to be brought in and alcoholic beverages and bottles of wine. You may want to bring an extra bottle of wine just to share with the new friends that you’ll make.

If you don’t feel like packing a picnic (or don’t have time), the local grocery stores and specialty restaurants in and around Highland Park (home of Ravinia Park Festival) offer ready-to-eat “Ravinia picnics” for purchase.

Located on Chicago’s north shore in Highland Park, Ravinia Park’s neighbors include Highwood, Glencoe, Deerfield and Northbrook.

Chicago’s North Shore remains one of the most affluent and highly educated areas in the United States. Seven of its communities are in the top quintile of US household income, and four of those (Lake Forest, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Highland Park) are in the top 5 percent. It is a given that the North Shore area has a number of excellent schools.

To learn more about Chicago’s North Shore or what we do as Exclusive Buyer Agents (always 100% on the buyer’s side, with expert negotiation) — call Buyer Broker Chicagoland at 847-566-7558.

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Posted in Ravinia Festival

Tagged 2012 Ravinia season, Al Green, Angel Romero, Anita Baker, Ann Hampton Callaway, Arlo Guthrie, Barbara Cook, Behzod Abduraimov, Benedetti Elschenbroich Grynyuk Trio, Blues Brothers, BoDeans, Boz Scaggs, Chicago IL, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chris Jones, Christoph Eschenbach, Cipa Dichter, Colbie Caillat, concerts, Crosby Stills & Nash, Dan Aykroyd, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Dawn Upshaw, Demi Lovato, Denis Matsuey, Diana Krall, Donald Fagen, Dr. John, Duran Duran, Earth Wind & Fire, Emerson String Quartet, Esperanza Spalding, Fifth House Ensemble, Gavin DeGraw, Gerald Finley, Glen Campbell, Highland Park, Huey Lewis and the News, Idina Menzel, Iron & Wine, Itzhak Perlman, Jaap Van Zweden, Jake Shimabukuro, James Conlon, James Taylor, Jim Belushi, Jimmy Cliff, Joe Cocker, Johannes Moser, John Hiatt, John Pizzarelli Quartet, Jonathan Biss, Joshua Bell, Juilliard String Quartet, Justin Roberts & The Not Ready For Naptime Players, Kevin Murphy, Kiri Te Kanawa, Leon Fleisher and Friends, live bands, Lyle Lovett, Macy Gray, Martinez Urioste Brey Piano Trio, Marvin Hamlisch, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Matthias Goerne, Michael McDonald, Midori, Miriam Fried, Misha Dichter, Momix Dance Company, music, Natalie Merchant, Nicole Cabell, Nnenna Freelon, North Shore, Orion Weiss, Patricia Racette, Patti LuPone, performances, performers, Philip Glass, Ramsey Lewis, Ravinia Festival, River North Dance Chicago, Robin Rosenberg, Roger Hodgson, Ronnie Milsap, Ruth page Civic Ballet, Santana, Sarah Gruneberg, Sarah McLachlan, Seal, Sergio Mendes, Stephanie Blythe, Steve Earle, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Tokyo String Quartet, Tom Chapin, Tony Bennett, Tony Mantuano, Train, Vladimir Feltsman, Yo-Yo Ma, Zukerman Chamber Players

New Demographic Study on the Future of Housing and Real Estate

Posted on April 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

Baby Boomers Growing into Seniors

Through at least 2030, the housing market will depend on the desires and fortunes of two generations: baby boomers and their offspring – the echo boomers.

The report – called – “Demographic Challenges and Opportunities for U.S. Housing Markets,” was written by researchers at the Urban Institute, the University of Southern California, and the National Association of Realtors for the Washington, D.C.-based Bipartisan Policy Center.

The report states: “Just as the Baby Boom will swell the number of seniors in the next two decades, it will also swell the number of dwellings released into the housing market over the next four decades. The increase is likely to be felt most
acutely in the housing markets of the Northeast and Midwest, where the number of older homeowners seeking to sell their homes already accounts for a large share of the houses bought by younger home buyers. The sheer
size of the Baby Boom generation could cause a dramatic increase in the construction of senior-accessible housing over the coming decades.

Echo Boomer

But Echo Boomers will account for between 75 and 80 percent of the owner-occupied housing absorbed by people under 65 before 2020. Resulting demand would help absorb houses that are currently vacant or being withheld from the market, and would accelerate a return to conditions that are conducive for residential construction.

Over the next 20 years, the aging of the Baby Boom generation will
cause the senior population to grow by 30 million, according to Census Bureau
projections. About 14.2 million more seniors will live in the U.S. by 2020; between 2020 and 2030 the increase will grow to 16.5 million. As a result, the senior population is expected to grow.

The Echo Boom consists of young adults aged 15 to 29 in 2010; it includes the nearly 65 million people born between 1981 and 1995. By comparison, the Baby Bust generation – those aged 30 to 44 in 2010 – numbers only 61 million.

In summary – while the baby boom generation will contribute to housing supply – the echo book will consume that supply and then some..

As an exclusive buyer agent, I work only for home buyers, not for sellers. When you allow Buyer Broker Chicagoland to assist you in your home-buying process, you’re putting one of Chicagoland’s most experience real estate professionals on your side.

Buyer Broker Chicagoland has shown over 8,000 homes during the past ten years, and we’ve had transactions in over 50 Chicago towns and suburbs, as well as downtown Chicago, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Logan Square, Lincoln Square, Lincoln Park, and many other communities. We leverage our background in corporate competitive intelligence, and as a Certified Negotiation Expert, and Exclusive Buyer Broker to get you the best possible price on your home and your loan.

Please look around the Buyer Broker Chicagoland web site, then call us at 847-566-7558. We’d like to show you what it means when we say: 100% Percent Loyalty to the Home Buyer, 100% of the Time!

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Posted in Demographic Trends

Tagged boomers, demographic trends, echo boomers, housing, housing demand, housing supply

Libertyville Illinois Restaurants, Nightlife, and Community Information

Posted on April 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

Libertyville Illinois Restaurants, Nightlife, and Community Information

Libertyville Illinois Education and Schools

Libertyville Illinois - Great Place to Live

Located approximately 35 miles north of Chicago in Lake County, Illinois, Libertyville was named the 52nd best place to live in the U.S. by CNN Money Magazine in 2007. Not bad for a town with just over 20 thousand residents.

Great Restaurants in Libertyville

Libertyville has a lot to offer. Even though the town is conveniently located
about half way between Chicago and Milwaukee, there’s really no reason
to leave the quant village atmosphere of Libertyville in search of
something to do – or to find great restaurants.

Looking for something to do in the evening or some night life? A number of regular evening entertainment options are available including Austin’s Saloon & Eatery on the north side of town featuring live music, including nationally renowned bands on most weekends – in the Fuel Room.

Romantic Abiance at Cafe Pyrenees

Also on the north side of town is Cafe Pyrenees – featuring live music most Friday and Saturday evenings. They have very good French cuisine, and a nice romantic ambiance.

Vance Kelly and the Backstreet Blues band (a Chicago blues band) is a must hear band every Thursday night starting at 10 PM at Firkin in downtown Libertyville – if you find you want to start your weekend a day early. The Managing Broker of Buyer Broker Chicagoland plays with the group now and then, on trumpet – as well as downtown at various blues clubs, such as BLUES on Halsted.

And there’s the Improv Playhouse - an Improv comedy venue every other Friday and every Saturday night at the Black Box Space or Micky Finn’s Brewery featuring live music Thursday through Saturday evenings in the Amber Room.

Libertyville’s First Friday events feature local downtown merchants – as well as art, music and refreshments, 6-9pm during the first Friday of each month. This is a great opportunity to visit local shops and merchants, including wine tasting at Parkview Gourmet and Vive le Vine. You’ll run into old friends and make new ones.

In need of some cultural influence? Visit the Adler Cultural Center (formerly the home of David Adler, one of Chicago’s great architects) which offers art and music classes, folk and ethnic concerts, art exhibitions, tours and programs for adults and children.

A Lake Shot Depicting Lake at Independence Grove, Libertyville IL

If it is peace and tranquility you are searching for, look no further
than Independence Grove – one of the finest forest preserves in Lake
County. Independence Grove has lagoons for fishing or a paddle boating, a small sand beach, miles of trails for biking or walking/jogging – as well as cross country skiing during the winter. Several times during the summer, Independence Grove hosts live bands – sort of like “Ravinia to the north.” Feel free to bring a blanket or lawn chair and a bottle of wine and some appetizers. That and a beautiful sunset, with the live music, and it doesn’t get much better.

I could go on and on about Libertyville and the endless things to do or places to go but you should experience it for yourself.

Dog Jumping - Libertyville IL

The dog jumping competition (into a large pool) in the summer – is a real hoot. Libertyville is more than fun night spots and good restaurants,
it’s the people. It has the small town feel with the big city personality. Libertyville schools have always been rated as some of the
best in the Chicago area.

Wedding in Libertyville IL

Libertyville warrants your taking a serious look at possibly settling down there. It’s a perfect setting for buying your first home or downsizing if you find you are now an empty nester.

Here are some homes in Libe rtyville that have been on the market for over 200 day – that are “price whackable.” As your Exclusive Buyer Broker and Certified Negotiation Expert – I am always on the home buyer’s and investor’s side… Call 847-566-7558 for more information.