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.
The Median Chicago/North Shore-Glencoe Sales Price in February was up 144.8% compared to real estate data totals in February of 2012 and up 65.6% from figures reported last month. The Average Sales Price in February was $1,550,000, up 111.5% compared to February of 2012 and up 101.0% based on real estate totals last month. February 2013 North Suburban Glencoe ASP (average sales price) was at highest level compared to February of 2012 and 2011.
Property Sales
February Chicago North Shore-Glencoe Property sales were down -50.0% in February of 2012 and -50.0% lower than sales last month. February 2013 sales were at their lowest level compared to February of 2012 and 2011. February YTD sales are running -25.0% behind last year’s year-to-date sales reporting figures.
Inventory & MSI
The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale on the North Shore of Chicago-Glencoe as of February was up 11.3% from last month’s market action report totals and down -33.0% compared to February of last year. February 2013 North Shore Inventory was at the lowest level compared to February of 2012 and 2011.A comparatively lower MSI is more beneficial for North Suburban sellers while a higher MSI is better for North Suburban buyers. The February 2013 MSI of 17.3 months was at a mid-range compared with February of 2012 and 2011.
Market Time
The average Days on Market (DOM) shows how many days the average North Shore-Glencoe Property is on the Market before it sells. An upward trend in DOM tends to indicate a move towards more of a Buyer’s market, a downward trend a move towards more of a Seller’s market. The DOM for February was up 97.4% compared to last month and down -10.2% from calculated days in February of last year. The February 2013 DOM was at a mid-range compared with February of 2012 and 2011.
Inventory / New Listings / Sales
The summary image above of the Chicago North Shore view of the market combines monthly inventory of Properties for sale along with New North Shore Listings and Sales. The graph shows the basic annual seasonality of the market as well as the relationship between these items. The number of New Glencoe Listings in February 2013 was up 20.0% from last month and up 25.0% from February of last year.
Gloria Matlin, recognized nationally as a top 1% performer, and a trusted Chicago North Suburban Realtor/Broker offering over 25 years of professional expertise. Her office, located in the heart of downtown Glencoe-640 Vernon Ave-60022.; is a top ranking resource with over 45 years of reliable service, reporting, analysis, forecasts and community resources. Stop in today to discuss this market action data, or similar North Shore real estate market condition outcomes.
It is no surprise that a fresh start at the beginning of the spring season for some means they are ready to finally put their North Shore house on the market and/or start looking for a new Chicago-North Suburban place to call home.
Spring is commonly the time when everyone awakens from the routine of winter and is often motivated to start something new. Below are4 reasons plus 1 tip on why spring can be the ideal time to get moving on buying, selling or both on the North Shore:
1. A house on the market at the beginning of spring sets you up for a perfect timeline to move over the summer! The weather is most likely to cooperate with you during this time. A summer move is also ideal for those who have families where it is better not to disrupt the children during the school year – especially if you’re moving school districts; this will allow them to have a fresh start at the beginning of a brand new school year.
2. Uptick in traffic at open houses means increased probability of a sale. Let’s face it; people don’t generally like to leave the comfort of their warm homes on a Sunday afternoon when it’s too chilly outside.
3. Houses look more appealing in the sunlight with nice curb enhanced greenery and/or flowers out front. Curb appeal is important year round. The spring shines a light on a home’s appearance literally and figuratively. It’s a little easier to make repairs to a home when the weather is mild. Spring is the time to finally stop putting off the little projects that have been building up through the winter. Fix that broken step banister put a fresh coat of paint on that chipped garage door, it can make the difference and have bearing on a buyer the moment they approach a home.
4. Take the fix-up projects a step further….There is certainly no better time to de-clutter than with the windows open for the first time after winter! Deciding to sell might be that extra push you need to finally get rid of those old clothes or an over abundance of toys. More tips and guides HERE and HERE
IMPORTANT TIP:
Find a good Chicago North Suburban Realtor/Broker. Local North Shore luxury real estate agents offer insight you won’t always find online or through a listing/ad. Gloria Matlin has kept a pulse on the market and knows the North Shore communities with over 25 years of experience. Let her be your guide, and make your real estate dreams a reality for Spring 2013. Stop in her Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate office, located at 640 Vernon Avenue in downtown Glencoe, Illinois-60022-for additional information and superb service/attention.
The Chicago North Shore Spring season is projected to be bright….home sales increased 31.1% over previous-year real estate figures in January 2013. In addition median prices increased state-wide by 1.2% based on a recent report by the Illinois Association of REALTORS®.
Sustained improvement in the North Shore real estate market was seen throughout a predominant portion 2012, and it is highly probable that figures will remain strong well into the first quarter of 2013. North Suburban sales volumes and inventory levels for January 2013 are notable. Inventory levels shrank 38.9% to 2,617 units. This indicates sustained buyer confidence in conjunction with ongoing and appealing buyer incentives; as supported by data provided by theNORTH SHORE BARRINGTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and MIDWEST REAL ESTATE DATA LLC:
The monthly average commitment rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage for the North Central region was 3.40 percent in January 2013, up from 3.32 percent during the previous month, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. Last January it averaged 3.92 percent. . Interest rates are slowly moving higher in some regions, though the affordability picture remains extremely attractive.
Fifty-nine (59) of 102 Illinois counties including North Suburban Cook showed year-over-year home sales increases in January 2013. Fifty (50) counties showed year-over-year median price increases with cook up 3.1%. New Listings in the North Shore-Barrington region increased 2.6 percent to 836. Listings under Contract were up 41.4% according to data from NSBAR and MRED:
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 Feb. 7, 2013 for the period Jan. 1 through Jan. 31, 2013; the process repeated in March 2013. 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.
Find Illinois housing stats, data and the University of Illinois REAL forecast atwww.illinoisrealtor.org/marketstats.
Gloria Matlin, Realtor, top producer, Chicago North Suburban resident, can be your trusted luxury real estate guide. She has been representing Glencoe’s highest ranking residential brokerage office for over 25 years. Feel free to stop by the office located at 640 Vernon Ave-60022, in the downtown district to discuss this or similar reports. Coldwell Banker, your resource for analysis, projections, history, impeccable service, or simply to gain information on North Shore-Chicago communities.
The North Suburban area became popular with the affluent wanting to escape urban life, beginning after the Great Chicago Fire, and grew rapidly before and just after World War II. Large estates were built, along with lavish homes with well established architects. North Shore-Glencoe remains one of the most sought after and highly educated areas in the United States.
The term Chicago North Shore became common for businesses in numerous nearby inland Chicago suburbs. in the Evanston, Maine, New Trier, Niles and Northfield Townships and in southern Lake County, Illinois, it was common to name themselves “North Shore,” and for real estate and other marketers to use the term for North Shore communities as a frame of location; which caught on and became a confirmed reference to the area. More information HERE and HERE
Chicago’s North Shore Glencoe January Property sales were equal to volume trends generated in January of 2012 and 14.3% higher than real estate market action reporting last month.
Prices
The Median Glencoe-North Shore Sales Price average in January was down -3.4% compared to real estate reporting in January of 2012 and up 9.6% from last month. The Average Sales Price in January was down -50.6% from real estate data recorded in January of 2012 and up 26.0% last month. January 2013 ASP (average sales price) was at the lowest level compared to January of 2012 and 2011.
Inventory & MSI
The Total Inventory of North Suburban Glencoe Properties available for sale as of January was up 1.7% from volume reported last month and down -37.1% from figures totaled in January of last year. January 2013 Inventory was at the lowest level compared to January of 2012 and 2011.
A comparatively lower MSI is more beneficial for Chicago North Shore sellers while a higher MSI is better for Chicago North Shore buyers. The January 2013 MSI of 7.6 months was at its lowest level compared with January of 2012 and 2011.
Market Time
The average Days on Market for Glencoe (DOM) shows how many days the average North Shore-Glencoe Property is on the Market before it sells. An upward trend in DOM tends to indicate a move towards more of a Glencoe Buyer’s market, a downward trend a move towards more of a Glencoe Seller’s market. The DOM for January was -21.6% from data reported last month and down -35.0% days totaled in January of last year. The January 2013 DOM was at its lowest level compared with January of 2012 and 2011.
Inventory / New Listings / Sales
‘The graph view provided above of the North Shore Chicago market combines monthly inventory of Glencoe Properties for sale along with New Listings and Sales. The graph shows the basic annual seasonality of the market as well as the relationship between these items. The number of New Listings in January 2013 was up 1150.0% from last month and up 13.6% from January real estate reporting provided last year.
For additional market action data, analysis, projections, recommendations, with real estate reporting focused on specific North Shore Chicago communities such as Winnetka, Wilmette, Highland Park, Kenilworth, Northbrook, Deerfield, Northfield, Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove, Glenview, and Skokie; feel free to stop in to the highest performing residential real estate office in Glencoe-Coldwell Banker at 640 Vernon Ave., 60022-The heart of downtown center. The place Gloria Matlin, Realtor/Broker calls her professional home.
