Helpful Info

Long Grove Real Estate: Use a realtor who knows the news!

When is winter going to end in Long Grove? I’m sure everyone in Lake County Illinois is waiting for all of this snow to melt and flowers to start blooming. As the weather begins to turn, we will see all of the events such as the Fine Arts Festival and Strawberry Festival which Long Grove is known for.

Downtown Long Grove is an historical area with businesses and houses that date back to the 1800’s. This thriving town of cobblestone walks that wind include the shops like Bella Donna Boutique, Casa Brasil, Country House of Long Grove and more. The restaurants include Long Grove Café & Restaurant, Victoria’s Mexican Grill, The Village Tavern and there is so much more including art galleries, salons and jewelry shops. These are just some of the places that make up this historical area with unique charm the place it is today.

For a map and list of local businesses (PDF)

Commonly known as the crossroads, Long Grove was first settled by German immigrants who kept their farms in the great plains of Illinois and would come to town to buy supplies. As the years passed the crossroads of the Indian trails, one leading Northwest from Chicago through Buffalo Grove and Long Grove and one Southwest from the Lake Michigan shores crossing in Long Grove, came to mark this lush and beautifully wooded town that we all know and love today.

By 1880 the first settlers of this area, George Ruth and family claimed a remarkable 160 acres of this great prairie land, of course not even recognizing what the value of Long Grove Real Estate would be today. At that time the town consisted of general stores, blacksmiths, wagon and carriage shops, a tavern, a hotel, churches and a school.

If only the crossroads could talk, I’m sure there would be great stories to tell which have made Long Grove the town it is today.

To carry on its traditions, this town celebrates events throughout the year. If you are ever looking for something to do, you have found a small haven in the crossroads.

Coming soon, March 27 & 28, 2010 is the Long Grove Ice Meltin’ Blues Fest.

Although the date has not been announced in April you can look forward to the Flaming Flapjacks Pancake Breakfast. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausages, coffee and fruit – hosted by the Long Grove Firefighters Association and the South Lake County Regional Community Emergency Response Team.

My favorite event that takes place April 30-May 2, 2010 is the Chocolate Fest. It is a celebration of everything Chocolate. It is fun for the whole family and the warm weather gives you a chance to enjoy what this charming village has to offer.

I could go on and on about this amazing town, but I think you should see it for yourself.

I you are looking for more information about Long Grove and the Northwest Suburbs of Lake County Illinois give The Sharron Kelley Team a call at 847-980-0426 or email me at sharron@northernillinoishomes.com

For a List of All of the Events and Information (PDF)

 

You can visit our website at www.NorthernIllinoisHomes.com or www.SharronKelley.com  for more information on our current listings and see how we get homes sold.

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Real Estate in Buffalo Grove Sold in the Last Quarter of 2009

The last quarter of 2009 was very good for us!

 
We sold homes in the Woodlands Subdivision, 2301 Birchwood Lane,

Green Knolls Subdivision www.1379greenknolls.com ,

Churchill Subdivision www.577Coventry.com ,

Mirielle Subdivision www.2390Chambourd.com ,

Canterbury Fields subdivision www.441Foxford.com , and

We just sold one in Rolling Hills Subdivision of Buffalo Grove www.1923Sheridan.com  which is set to close soon.

Online Exposure Sells Your Home!

Most people do not realize that in today’s real estate market, the first showing of your home is online.  If the buyers like what they see online they will then schedule a showing of the home with a real estate agent. 

A point to mention here is that great photography is a must today and virtual tours that flow well.  You need a good professional photographer to do this, and we have two on staff.

One of my favorite sayings that I tell my clients and prospects is, “Your home is in a beauty contest and a price war at the same time.  In order to get to the finish line, you have to place in the Top Five, so let me show you what I can do to get you there.”

It is important, and a must that you hire a real estate agent with sophisticated internet marketing and extensive online exposure.  We market our properties on over 50 websites, and my listings are selling. 

Do I Sell Your Home or Just List it?

If we are showing our properties on 50 plus web sites, we are showing your home to thousands of prospective buyers every day, and that is how a buyer will choose to see your home.  My answer is we listed it and sold it as well, even though another agent worked with the buyer and with our Team.  That is the magic of The Sharron Kelley Team!

If you are looking to buy or sell a sell a home in Lake County Illinois including Buffalo Grove, Long Grove and Vernon Hills please contact us. You can reach us at 847-465-3638 or email me at sharron@northernillinoishomes.com You can also visit our website www.northernillinoishomes.com or www.northernillinoishomes.com

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Vernon Hills Real Estate: Gregg’s Landing Townhouse Sold in Pinehurst!

Great Gregg’s Landing Townhouse in Pinehurst of Vernon Hills will be closing soon. We have another happy seller and SOLD one of the 3 Townhouses that has closed in the last 3 months in Pinehurst of Gregg’s Landing. We get Vernon Hills Homes Sold!

How Did We Sell This Townhouse in Vernon Hills?

Market Time will Depend on Pricing Your Home Right:
If you price your home to sell and compete with the current market, you are more likely to sell your in a timely manor.

Supply vs Demand in Your Area:
There are 8 houses currently for sale in Pinehurst of Gregg’s Landing. Only 3 have sold in the last 3 months, so in Pinehurst there is an 8 months supply of homes if you base it on the last three months of sales.

Exposure of Your Home:
In MLS we provide all 16 photos and a virtual tour. We also feature your home on coldwellbankeronline.com, you will have your own website, visit www.388PineLake.com, your home shows up on realtor.com, active rain , blockshopper and the list goes on view our Exclusive Marketing Plan PDF

Choosing the Right Vernon Hills Realtor:
Why work with a single agent when you can work with a team of professionals. We are available to you almost every day of the week provided it’s not a holiday, to answer your questions. My team consists of two office managers and three full time agents that help assist me throughout the process of selling your home. How can one person be in 3 different places and answer calls at the same time. It’s impossible!

Getting Your home Prepared for Showings:
When selling your home you have to be prepared to pack up some of your personal belongings and put things away. It may be a far cry from what your home looks like on a day to day basis. A lasting impression is going to sell your home. When you list with the Sharron Kelley Team we provide a personal home stager at no cost to you. That’s right is FREE!

I always like to mention that I have two professional photographers working on staff. I am confident in saying that you get the best pictures of your home when you list with us.
View our Featured Listings

When it comes to buying or selling your Vernon Hills home, it’s not about quantity of homes an agent has for sale it’s about quality of service you get.

Visit the Vernon Hills Township for more information on this great town.

I you are looking for more information about the Northwest Suburbs of Illinois including Long Grove, Buffalo Grove, Vernon Hills, Libertyville, Hawthorn Woods or Palatine give The Sharron Kelley Team a call at 847-980-0426 or email me at sharron@northernillinoishomes.com

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Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, Palatine & Vernon Hills Real Estate: What You Need to Know About Short Sales!

There are many questions today regarding the length of time it takes to get a short sale approved. Many of our clients in Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, Palatine and Vernon Hills are not aware as to how this will affect them even if they are not upside down in their homes. Please watch this video. It is a real eye opener for all of us.

Here are some great questions to ask:

What Does is Take to get a Loan Modification?

How Do Short Sales Affect the Current Housing Market?

This Information Below was provided to us by a fellow Cyber Star Member (Zac Pasmanick)

Do you wonder sometimes why it can be so difficult for home owners to refinance and why so many end up in up with approved short sales instead? Apparently, one bank has turned their short sales into a cash cow, and with so much money to be made in short sales, why refinance any loans?

Watch this video for more on this government loophole!

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Buffalo Grove Real Estate Appraisal Information

Here is some great infomation that will help out buyers when looking in Buffalo Grove or any Lake County Illinois Area. I was featured in Chicago Agent Magazine this month and was lucky enough to get some great answers about appraisals in the Buffalo Grove and Lake County Illinois Market and wanted to share it with everyone.

Q: SHARRON KELLEY CRS,
CDPE, The Sharron Kelley
Team, Coldwell Banker
Buffalo Grove, 847.465.3638,
sharron@northernillinoshomes.com

Q. How has the appraisal process changed
and why are appraisals coming in low?

A: SHERYL ACKERSON, Vice
President of Mortgage
Lending, Guaranteed Rate,
Inc., Skokie Branch, 847.972.5707,
Sheryl.Ackerson@guaranteedrate.com

The prevalence of foreclosures in the
current market is the major reason
for the decline in appraised values. In the past 18 years,
when there was a foreclosure an appraiser would typically
be able to explain that this property was an uncommon
exception to the market. In other words, both appraisers
and lenders ignored this comparable. Now, nothing can
be ignored and short sales and foreclosures are dominating
the marketplace. Not only are appraisers using three
sold comparables, but typically most also will show three
current listings. If one of the new, current listings is a REO
bank-owned property, it is there to serve as an indication
of where the market is going.

In addition, in the past, upgrades or improvements to
a home such as a finished basement or a new state-of-the
art kitchen could easily add $35,000 to $50,000 to a home.
Now upgrades seldom matter. In this manner, every house
is affected.

Q. How do we get buyers to understand the appraisal process
in today’s market?

When working with a potential buyer, we educate them
that an appraisal is an independent, impartial evaluation.
Only facts and figures matter; square footage and above
grade bathroom counts have more to do with determining
the appraised value than if there is a finished basement,
new carpet and custom paint. Additionally — the timeliness
of the sale — the closing date — is a principal,
controlling factor. In today’s market, a comparable sale
over 90 days is old news. In the past, lenders would allow
comparables up to a six month period.

Another issue is the concept of “declining market.”
An appraiser states that a house is in a declining market
or in a market with an oversupply of inventory. In these
instances, some investors are requiring an additional 5
percent down payment. This is happening more in the
high-end market.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Buffalo Grove, Vernon Hills, Long Grove or anywhere else in the Lake County Illinois area please contact me, I would love to help you out.

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Palatine Real Estate News on the Housing Market

I have been writing recently about the housing market and how the market is down which is not new to anyone. Because the housing market is down pricing your home right is what is going to sell your home. This is important for both buyers and sellers.

Real estate agents are getting bad reputations now a day for something that is completely out of our hands. Please remember we do not control the economy and the housing market.

We are here to represent the buyers and sellers and use the knowledge we have, in the best way that we know how, in order to get what our buyers and sellers want.

That is why it is so important to work with a knowledgeable agent, in my case a team of agents who know what your needs are, and we make sure that you get taken care of.

I am continueing to blog about different towns and keep you informed regarding Palatine real estate.
The months supply in Palatine Illinois has reduced from 12.46% from last year this time to 8.66%. This can be contributed to the average sales price dropping 16.16% and the amount of short sales that have been bought up.

In the last 6 months 13% of the sales have been short sales and foreclosures. People are either selling low or pulling their house off the market.

That is not an option for everyone as some people have to sell, so pricing your home right with an experienced and knowledgeable agent is what is going to set your home apart from the rest of the homes on the market.

Please contact us for more information on Palatine Homes and the surrounding areas in Cook County Illinois.

To View The Full Housing Market Report Click Here (PDF)

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