15 Life-Changing Summer Storage Ideas for the Kitchen in 2019 – Chicago North Shore

The 2019 summer continues with award-winning top tier real estate service, high ranking, top producing, optimally performing results; all done with a personalized approach at making North Shore real estate dreams a reality. Look to Gloria Matlin and partner/son Zack Matlin for seasoned experience that spans 25+ years, and a broad grasp of Northern Shore real estate trends within communities such as Glencoe, Winnetka, Wilmette, Northbrook, and Highland Park and Chicago. Her home base office can be found at the coveted Coldwell Banker Residential real estate office of Glencoe, Illinois-640 Vernon Avenue, 60022.

If you’re lacking on kitchen storage space but aren’t feeling a huge reno, it’s time to trick out the cabinets, drawers, and island with a few space-saving ideas. Rethink the little nooks and niches and you’ll have counter space for days. No demo day required! See the demo HERE

 

 

Sarah Sitar Remodeling and Interior Design

If you’ve perused Pinterest lately in search of kitchen storage ideas, you know there are thousands of space-saving tricks floating around. Here are 15 of our favorite ideas (we’re filing them away for any future kitchen remodels). Read more

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Your Homes’ Honey-Do List for July 2019

This summer-2019, let top producing, high ranking, optimally performing real estate professionals, guide you through the sought after North Shore area of Chicago. Gloria Matlin and partner Zack Matlin have been assisting with North

Shore real estate dreams for over 25 years. They pride themselves on being consummate professionals with a stellar reputation for thorough, sincere, friendly, and tenacious service. Located in the award-winning Coldwell Banker residential real estate office of Glencoe Illinois – 640 Vernon Avenue, 60022. more information HERE and HERE

Contact Info:

• Address: 640 Vernon, Glencoe, IL 60022
• Website: gloriamatlin.com
• Phone: 847-951-4040
• Email: gloriamatlin@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/GloriaMatlin
• Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/Glo360Topagent?ref src=twscr%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp7%Ctwgr%5Eauthor
• Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/gloria-matlin-glencoe

We proudly serve Chicago, Chicago’s north suburban area including Glencoe, HighlandPark, Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Northbrook, Deerfield, Northfield, Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove, Skokie, Evanston, and Glenview.

 

Tri-Valley Real Estate Buzz

With summer around the corner, the days are getting longer…and so is the honey-do list. To help you out, we’ll be featuring a “Honey-Do List” at the beginning of each month to make sure you stay ahead of those around-the-house projects.

Here is your to-do list for the month of June:

1.  Prep your guest room for summer visitors.  

Summertime means vacation time, which sometimes means you run a bed & breakfast from your spare bedroom. When creating a serene retreat for out-of-town guests, it’s all about the little touches. Stock a bookshelf with great reads, leave a water pitcher and glasses on the nightstand, and add fresh flowers to brighten up the space. An extra blanket and a set of hotel-size toiletries make any visitor feel at home. Want to make sure your house guests don’t extend their stay? Start enlisting their help on the chores on your…

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Seasons Change Means 2018 Opportunity Arises: North Shore-Chicago Real Estate Trends

School has begun, days are getting shorter, and the networks are eagerly trying to gear us up for football. And 2018 home sales are still brisk—despite historical seasonally adjusted outcomes we’re used to seeing.

Seasonal adjustments help make data that are inherently seasonal easier to compare month to month. You can’t get a good picture of whether it’s a good or bad year by comparing typically slow January with typically busy July. But they also lull us into a false sense of reality that all months are similar, or merely go up and down based on the strength of the market.

The raw data tell us that real estate follows a clear seasonal pattern. Inventory peaks in the summer. Sales peak in the summer. Real estate Web traffic peaks in the summer. Notice the trend?

But each local market has its own cycle. The school calendar plays a big role since families with kids prefer to move while school is out. And not all schools start at the same time.

Looking at existing-home sales data at the national level over the past several years, June averages almost twice the volume of sales as January. But inventory doesn’t vary quite as much. The typical peak for inventory is in July, but the inventory in July is usually only about 25% higher than in December. The discrepancy between the variation in sales and the variation in inventory presents an opportunity for buyers.

When sales are slower due to the season, the age of inventory rises. We monitor the median days on market of active listings, which typically bottoms in June and peaks in the winter months of December and January.

As the age of inventory increases, buyers could gain more leverage. That’s why prices are also seasonal, often peaking each summer when demand is highest and the age of inventory is lowest.

So take heart, would-be buyers! If you can resist the herd and ignore the school calendar, you will face less competition in the off-season. And if you can find a home that fits your needs, you will have more bargaining power! More info HERE

2018, October: With more than 25 years of top producing, high ranking, client-focused performance, Gloria Matlin and partner Zack Matlin remain consummate real estate professionals for Chicago’s North Shore. Dedicated to making dreams come true and providing the highest quality service for each and every client, Gloria Matlin is the real estate resource you want for every season. See intro HERE

Preparing Your Home to Sell This Summer 2018-North Shore Chicago Real Estate

While several Chicago North Shore homes may be sold each week, the process may not be as easy for sellers as it was five or 10 years ago. Surviving in today’s real estate world requires experience and training in such fields as online real estate marketing, relocation savvy, financing options, negotiating and closing, the very expertise available from local North Shore-Chicago real estate professionals. Millions of existing homes are sold each year and, while each transaction is different, every owner wants the same thing: the best possible deal with the least amount of hassle and aggravation.

Are You Ready?

The home-selling process typically starts several months before a property is made available for sale. It’s necessary to look at a home through the eyes of a prospective buyer and determine what needs to be cleaned, painted, repaired and tossed out.
Ask yourself: If you were buying this home, what would you want to see? The goal is to show a home that looks good, maximizes space and attracts as many buyers as possible.

When Should You Sell?

As with several locations across the country, the North Shore Chicago marketplace tends to be active in the summer because parents and/or young adults want to enroll in classes at the beginning of the school year (usually in August). Summer is also typically when most homes are likely to be available.
Generally speaking, markets tend to have some balance between buyers and sellers year-round. For example, a given North Shore community may have fewer buyers in late December, but it’s also likely to have fewer homes available for purchase. As a result, home prices tend to rise or fall due to general patterns of supply and demand, rather than the time of year. Look to a skilled, North Shore Real Estate professional can be a sound decision to assess local real estate market activity and trends.

From providing an in-depth view of luxury North Shore-Chicago real estate markets in 2018, to examining and providing an accurate seasonal gauge on North Shore’s rental trends; Gloria Matlin along with partner Zack Matlin continues to be North Suburban real estate experts with an unparalleled record of top producing, high-ranking accomplishments that span 25+ years. Her keen awareness of the Northern Shore communities and his extensive marketing, as well as mortgage consulting knowledge, are what makes Gloria and Zack Matlin an elite high performing team with a sincere and personalized style they offer each and every client. Gloria Matlin and Zack Matlin educate, tenaciously perform and make Chicago North Shore real estate dreams a pleasant reality! More info HERE

Creating a Life Plan to Secure Your Children’s Future – North Shore Chicago Real Estate

Image credite:Pixabay:jairojehuel

It’s never too early to start thinking about your children’s future. You’ve already made big decisions about the house or area your children will live in or even what school they will attend, and creating a life plan can make it much easier to think of any contingencies that may arise down the road. You owe it to your children to map out your future goals for yourself and in ways which will affect their lives also, so start thinking about it now, even if your children are still very young.

Draw Up a Will

Everyone wants to live to a good old age, but you cannot guarantee this will happen. You never know what’s round the corner, so it’s best to plan your estate now rather than later. Here are some reasons you should make a will now:

• A will gives you the opportunity to state who will care for your children in your absence.
• You can use your will to name an executor for your estate.
• A will allows you to select a trustworthy guardian for your children’s finances.
• Your will can be a vehicle to enable you to name someone to take care of property for your children.

You can also state clearly who gets what in your will, and provide for any children that may have special needs.

Get Life Insurance

You already probably have life insurance for yourself, and if you’re in a stable financial position, it’s a good idea to invest in life insurance for your children. The main reason you should do this now, is in case your child develops an illness later in life, which could make her ineligible for life insurance. Heaven forbid you should outlive your children, but if this does happen, a life insurance policy will enable you to pay for their funeral expenses.

Save For Your Children’s College Education

College education is not cheap. For the 2016-2017 school year, the average cost of public college was $9,650, it was $33,480 at private colleges. There are several ways you can save wisely for your kid’s college fund.

Evaluate Your Real Estate

Perhaps your 1,300 square foot townhouse works perfectly well for you, your spouse, and toddler, but adding another child or even a pet into the mix could necessitate purchasing a larger home, or at least finding a home with a more flexible layout. Regardless of whether you are adding children and pets, got a job promotion, or suddenly came into some extra money, it may be time to re-evaluate your living situation if your quality of life is suffering.

A 529 Plan

A 529 plan is a savings plan with tax advantages, which is operated by a state or educational institution.  Such a plan can be used to pay for the cost of college education nationwide. In general, the state which your savings plan is from, does not affect your choice of school. This means you can live in Georgia, invest in a plan in California and send your child to school in Michigan. You can check here to see if your college is eligible.

Coverdell Education Savings Account

This is a type of trust account designed specifically for your child’s college education. The advantage of a Coverdell account is that it’s not just for college, you can use your savings to pay for K-12 education tax-free. The main disadvantage of this type of account is that you cannot deposit more than $2,000 per year.

UTMA and UGMA Accounts

These are custodial trust accounts. This means that if you have annuities, bonds or stocks, or cash that you wish to reserve for your children, you can put them into one of these accounts. This is the best option if your child will not need to apply for financial aid.

Creating a life plan is an essential part of securing your children’s future. Don’t let the prospect overwhelm you. Break it down, and build on it gradually. You will also need to review it from time to time and make any necessary changes or updates as your children grow older. When your children are getting ready to leave home and move on to the next stage of their lives, you will be glad that you had everything planned in advance.

Gloria Matlin along with partner Zack Matlin continue to be North Suburban real estate experts with an unparalleled record of top producing, high-ranking accomplishments that span 25+ years. Her keen awareness of the Northern Shore communities and his extensive marketing as well as mortgage consulting knowledge are what make Gloria and Zack Matlin an elite high performing team with a sincere and personalized style they offer each and every client. Gloria Matlin and Zack Matlin educate, tenaciously perform and make Chicago North Shore real estate dreams a pleasant reality! Look to them for guidance on real estate and related matters this summer season 2017!

 

Home Staging During the Holidays: Chicago-North Shore Real Estate

Don’t let the thought of selling your North Shore home during the winter months dampen your holiday spirit. Create a festive, buyer-friendly environment with these 7 seasonal staging must do’s.

1. Before you start untangling your tinsel, make sure your holiday collection matches your current indoor decor.

2. Too many trimmings can be distracting, but the right accessories can draw attention to your home’s best features. As an example, try hanging a few (no more than five) tasteful ornaments from your mantel to highlight an elegant fireplace.

3. Go light on the lights outside…Leave the giant inflatable snowman in storage this year. One man’s “merry” is another man’s “tacky,” so tone down any over the top light displays.

4.  If you decide on adding a tree make sure the wide base won’t overwhelm the floor space.

5. Crank up the Heat! Cold temps present the perfect opportunity to create an inviting environment for potential home-buyers. Buyers will be grateful for a place to escape from the cold.

6.Offer accessible tasty treats..this is a great way to get buyers to stick around and check out your home.

7. The less-is-more mantra of home staging may tempt you to go without holiday cheer this year. But a few subtle touches like a pine cone centerpiece,  or even an evergreen wreath can add warmth anyone will notice as soon as they come through the door….CONTINUED

Gloria Matlin and team member Zack Matlin pride themselves on being top real estate resources; with Gloria’s experience with everything North Shore Real Estate for over 25 years.  Market trends, reports, lists of homes for sale, homes for rent, and general North Shore housing information is available 24/7 at  www.gloriamatlin.com or www.coldwellbankeronline.com. You may also stop into the highly awarded Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate office where Gloria Matlin calls home base – 640 Vernon Ave, Glencoe, IL; for additional assistance/guidance.

 

 

Real Estate Outcomes January2015: Chicago’s North Shore

Real estate on Chicago’s North Shore and across the country is all about location, location, location…with that in

Monthly Market Update (Click to Play)

mind, provided in the attached image are the facts and information you need for Glencoe and/or any location you choose!  Review local market conditions, sales, trends, and more through the detailed yet efficient and easy to understand videos.

 

 

 

Feb. 2015-For additional top ranking, top producing, highly experienced guidance; feel free to contact Gloria Matlin or Zack Matlin with the Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate office of Glencoe, Illinois-640 Vernon Avenue, 60022.

2015 and Kitchen Design: Three Trends That You Need to Be Aware of Before You Renovate

For Gloria Matlin 2015 means… a continuation of exemplary, high ranking Chicago North Shore real estate service spanning well over 2 decades, a trusted, top producing resource within the North Shore communities, client centered accolades earned in 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and beyond, a savvy, dedicated real estate professional who stays ahead of the market, as well as helping to make North Shore real estate dreams a reality; just a few factual phrases and successes secured by Gloria Matlin, the consummate North Shore real estate expert.

Holiday Market Updates-North Shore Chicago Real Estate

Seasonal Chicago North Shore real estate news…

Visit www.gloriamatlin.com for more information

Gloria Matlin’s area of expertise spans 25+ years with a high-ranking, accolade supported background in new construction and luxury Chicago-North Shore real estate. She with son Zack Matlin, enjoy helping clients form their North Shore real estate dreams from start to finish; whether the client is a first time buyer or seasoned investor, she lends her proven top performing skill-set every step of the way. As a Certified Relocation Specialist– “On The Go? Move With Glo!” Gloria and Zack help out of area buyers, and those relocating find the perfect North Shore place to call home. Representing sellers has always been a passion, creating top producing marketing plans to fit each individual clients needs and helping the client get through what can be an emotional venture.

 

Real Estate Outcomes August2014: Chicago’s North Shore

Monthly Market Update (Click to Play)

Prices

The Chicago North Shore real estate market continues on a path of progress with the Median Sales Price in August up 12.0% from market action reporting in August of 2013 and up 14.5% from last month. The Average Sales Price in August was up 17.6% compared to August of 2013 and up 13.5% from last month. August 2014 ASP was at highest level compared to August of 2013 and 2012.

 Property Sales

August North Shore Property sales were down -13.9% from sales figures in August of 2013 and -8.3% lower than the sales totals last month. August 2014 sales were at a mid-level compared to August of 2013 and 2012. August YTD sales of 2,765 are running -12.2% behind last year’s year-to-date sales of 3,150.

 

Inventory & MSI

The Total Inventory of North Shore-Chicago Properties available for sale as of August 2014 was down -2.5% from figures calculated last month and up 14.3% from totals in August of last year. August 2014 Inventory was at a mid-range compared to August of 2013 and 2012. A comparatively lower MSI is more beneficial for North Shore sellers while a higher MSI is better for North Shore buyers. The August 2014 MSI of 3.5 months was at a mid-range compared with August of 2013 and 2012.

 Selling Price vs Listing Price

The Selling Price vs Listing Price reveals the average amount that North Shore Sellers are agreeing to come down from their list price. The lower the ratio is below 100% the more of a Buyer’s market exists, a ratio at or above 100% indicates more of a Seller’s market. The August 2014 Selling Price vs List Price of 96.4% was down from 96.7% last month and down from 96.8% in August of last year.

 

Inventory / New Listings / Sales

This view above of the market combines monthly inventory of Chicago North Shore Properties for sale along with New Listings and Sales. The graph shows the basic annual seasonality of the North Shore real estate markets as well as the relationship between these items. The number of New Listings in August 2014 was down -16.4% from market action totals last month and up 13.1% from figures noted in August of last year.

Often thought of as the consummate North Shore real estate professional, Gloria Matlin has a client centered style that focuses on elite real estate service and attention.  With over 25 years of top ranking, high producing accomplishments, a precise sense of area market trends and forecasts, she enjoys making dreams come true with each and every one of her clients.  Look to her for optimal performance with a sincere and personable approach to buying, selling, investing or even relocation related real estate endeavors. She calls Coldwell Banker residential real estate her home office-640 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe, Illinois.