The Importance of Seasonal Curb Appeal-North Shore Real Estate

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Spring starts off with a bang on Chicago’s North Shore!  Home prices are on the rise and inventory levels are decreasing. This may be one of the best times in history to sell,  invest or go on vacation for spring break…you decide the order. To help get your home in tip-top shape, below are 4 easy ways to make your home stand out from the rest. Your property should get noticed for all the right reasons the moment someone passes in front of or past the threshold:

1. Focus on your front door: Updating your door’s handle and deadbolt set with a modern-looking option is a great visual upgrade, and it can be a practical improvement, too. While you’re at it, see if your doorbell, light fixtures and the door’s kick plate could be replaced. And be sure to glance up to check for cobwebs on the front porch.

2. Be the visitor: Stand at the end of the driveway and try to view the home as a buyer or visitor would. Are there oils stains in the driveway? Is there mold on the mailbox? Grime on the front door? Thoroughly clean your home’s exterior. Clean your siding, foundation, patio, walkways, driveways, stairs, decks and porch. Take a bucket and scrub brush to your front door, mailbox and any other areas that need gentler cleaning.

3. Don’t forget your fence: A homeowner may get used to looking at the back fence and not notice discoloration from water and sun. Give it a glance and plan for an update in paint or materials if needed.

4. Use plants, pots, or wreaths in cool colors, and keep them low-maintenance: People will react in a visceral, emotional way to hot colors, such as reds and yellows, it’s best to stick with a cool palette. Use blues, purples, light pinks and whites. Those colors will also make the home look cooler in warmer weather.

More information HERE

Breathtaking property, architectural treasure on Chicago’s North Shore-Glencoe

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Breathtaking property, architectural treasure on Chicago’s North Shore Glencoe! http://ht.ly/hHlsB

Glencoe-North Shore Market Trends: Update December-January2013

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Ideal real estate news for the 2013 New Year…North Shore-Chicago Illinois home sales volume jumped 30.6% compared to previous-year levels in November!  Median prices also increased 7.7% statewide according to the Illinois Association of REALTORS® recent reporting.

The Chicago North Suburban housing market is gaining additional strength with Listings Under Contract up 73.3%, Inventory levels shrinking 36.9%, prices moving higher as the Median Sales Price increased 12.2%, and Market Times down 12.1%. Momentum has been maintained even in historically slow holiday timeframes this year. The trends point to upward figures being seen well into 2013. Although real estate analysts are keeping an eye on listing duration, and fixed rate averages. Confidence continues to soar among local and relocation buyers with the November 2012 mortgage rates at 3.33% for the North Central region. Last November it averaged 4.0%. See image below from Midwest Real Estate Data LLC and The North Shore Barrington Association of Realtors (click to enlarge):

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Fifty-five (55) of 102 Illinois counties including the North Shore showed year-over-year home sales increases in November 2012. More than half (54) counties showed year-over-year median price increases including Cook, up 7.9%. See supporting real estate data in the image below. (Provided by MRED and NSBAR) click to enlarge:

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Sales and price information is generated by Multiple Listing Service closed sales reported by 31 participating Illinois REALTOR® local boards and associations including Midwest Real Estate Data LLC data as of Dec. 7, 2012 for the period Nov. 1 through Nov. 30, 2012 reflected in December 2012. The Chicago PMSA, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, includes the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will.

The Illinois Association of REALTORS® is a voluntary trade association whose 41,000 members are engaged in all facets of the real estate industry. In addition to serving the professional needs of its members, the Illinois Association of REALTORS® works to protect the rights of private property owners in the state by recommending and promoting legislation to safeguard and advance the interest of real property ownership.

Find Illinois housing stats, data and the University of Illinois REAL forecast atwww.illinoisrealtor.org/marketstats.

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