Real Estate News

SHORT SALE, LENDER’S APPROVAL REQUIRED. CASH OFFERS PREFERED DUE TO LOW OWNER OCCUPANCY.  NEWER VINTAGE REHAB CONVERSION.  BALCONIES, HARDWOOD FLRS, KITCHEN W/42″ CABINETS, GRANITE COUNTRERTOPS, STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES. OPEN FLOOR PLAN, EXPOSED BRICK, TWO FULL BTHS W/MARBLE FLOORS, MASTR BATH W/JACUZZI, LAUNDRY IN THE UNIT. WALK TO METRA & RED LINE

Effective Feb 1, 2015, HAFA short sales will be eligible for the relocation incentive for qualifying borrowers. This change has the potential to create great benefits to homeowners. They would still have the ability to get out of the mortgage obligation without being responsible for repayment of the difference.  Also, they would receive a larger monetary relocation incentive increased from $3,000 to $10,000.

Ocwen Financial may have their license pulled in California.  As a result, the stock is down to four year low this morning. It may be a rare opportunity to buy Altisource REO assets at a great price.

Damen Avenue is NOT a busy street. Bright,sunny & spacious unit in a courtyard building. Remodeled cabinet kitchen. Windows replaced in 2008. Remodeled bath has ceramic tile floor to ceiling. Newer A/C wall unit (keeps entire unit cool). Extra Storage in bsmt. Near CTA. Walk to Target and Devon Avenue corridor for shopping. Heat, gas, water included in monthly assessments. No rentals. Well run & managed association.

Streeterville, spectacular, modern, Helmut Jahn design corner unit. Concrete floor to ceiling, 10′ windows, Dark wood floors. Balcony, Snaidero cabinetry, limestone counters, Subzero,Wolf, Miele SS appliances. Calcutta Marble bathrooms. Master bath W/10′ window, Jacuzzi, separate shower. Panoramic views. Amenities include: 24hr doorman, fitness center, indoor pool, heated indoor dog run, sundeck, storage. PARKING INCLUDED IN PRICE. Taxes do not reflect exemption.

HomePath is a program designed exclusively by Fannie Mae for their own REOs. It gives an opportunity to owner-occupants, and to public entities to submit their offers first before the investors can. It is called #FirstLook. Recently #Fannie Mae has made some changes. Now FirstLook has been extended from fifteen to twenty days. Additionally, the buyers who purchase a HomePath property during the FirstLook period, may receive up to 3.5 percent in closing cost assistance. This special offer applies to contracts submitted between February 14th, 2014 and March 31st, 2014.

In recent years, foreclosed properties have received lots of attention. We still have many of them coming to market. Eight million of home owners are currently under water. Sadly, some will not be able recover and their homes eventually will become REOs.

Streeterville, spectacular, modern, Helmut Jahn design corner unit. Concrete floor to ceiling, 10′ windows, Dark wood flroos. Balcony, Snaidero cabinetry, limestone counters, Subzero,Wolf, Miele SS appliances. Calcutta Marble bathrooms. Master bath W/10′ window, Jacuzzi, separate shower. Panoramic views. Amenities include: 24 hour doorman,fitness ctr,indoor pool, heated indoor dog run, sundeck, storage. PARKING INCLUDED IN PRICE. Taxes do not reflect homeowner exemption

Chicago Bulls won today against Brooklyn Nets without Deng and Rose. Not juts won, but they steamed rolled the Nets. Congratulations and Merry Christmas!

When evaluating a home in Chicago that has been renovated one or more times, there are many ways to proceed. Establishing the value placed on a renovation requires some knowledge and looking so that you can understand pricing of a home. In this arena, Chicago real estate agents and home inspectors can be incredible assets as they have seen many, many homes and understand the market and condition of a house with a very keen perspective.

REO- bank owned. House needs work. Cash offers only. Large kitchen and living room. Enclosed front porch. Large lot, side drive. Full basement. Residential neighborhood. Sold in as-is condition. Prorations at 100%. All required inspections at buyer’s expense. Motivated seller, make an offer.

CHICAGO LAKEVIEW, CLEAN, BRIGHT, UPDATED 13TH FLOOR UNIT. GREAT VIEW OF THE LAKE AND THE CITY. NEW FLOORS AND KITCHEN CABINETS. FRESHLY PAINTED. NEWLY RENOVATED MAIN LOBBY AND ROOF DECK. FULL SERVICE BUILDING FEATURES 24 HOUR DOORMAN, LAUNDRY, BIKE ROOM, RECEIVING ROOM, SUN DECK, ON SITE MANAGEMENT. VALET GARAGE PARKING. NO RENTER,AND NO DOGS.

Today is the first day of trading for RE/MAX, now a public company. Initial public offering has been a huge success. Priced at $22 per share, it is trading at $27.37 midday. That is a 25% gain for the day! Wall Street is obviously recognizing the company for its value. The interest of investors is confirming their trust in the brand and the direction the company is heading. Congratulations to all the agents for their contribution to making RE/MAX truly great!

While spring may be the time for cleaning, fall is surely the time for fixing. Simple home improvements during fall season can save money in utility bills as well as prevent costly repairs in the future. Like a well-played game of football, the homeowner needs a good playbook to get ahead in the game. The trick is, by the time it is October many areas might be into the first quarter — well on the way to frigid temperatures – so prioritize and use this valuable time to the best advantage.

RARELY AVAILABLE BUILDING WITH SEPARATE HEAT! YELLOW BRICK 5 FLAT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. HARDWOOD FLOORS, EAT-IN KITCHENS W/TABLE SPACE. FINISHED BASEMENT W/COIN OP- LAUNDRY ROOM. & SEPARATE STORAGE ROOMS FOR EACH UNIT. 4 CAR BRICK GARAGE. WALK TO TRANSPORTATION. EXCELLENT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY OR POSSIBLE CONDO CONVERSION.

Spacious, clean, bright Buena Park-3 bedroom,2 bath unit. Great layout. Separate living, dining & family rooms. Vintage features. Balcony (15×6),Deck (16×8). Gourmet kitchen w/ granite counters,island, 42″ cabs & Stainless steel appliances. Master suite w/ walk-in closet,marble bathroom, separate shower & whirlpool. Hardwood floors thru out, laundry rm, lots of storage. 2 gated parking spaces included. Walk to the Lake, restaurants, shops & transportation

It’s September and you are selling your home in Chicago entering into the fall and winter months. With light dwindling and temperatures dropping, evaluating your home with regard to warmth is a smart idea. Homes that are warm in the winter (and cool in the summer) are highly desirable – and achievable, if the savvy homeowner knows where to look and what to do to control the interior environment.

Finding someone to blame for most recent recession has become an obsession. And it looks like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the scapegoats. But if you stop and think for a moment, you will realize that owning a piece of real estate without Fannie or Freddie would be impossible for many of us. We survived this crisis not because Fannie and Freddie created it. Secondary market does not make the loans, but only purchases them. Mortgages are originated and packaged by the mortgage companies and banks.

When sizing up a home in Chicago, either to purchase or to sell it – windows are one feature that can make a dynamic difference. Size and placement of windows affects the character and curb appeal of the home from the outside, and light, views, energy efficiency, air flow, noise and egress from the inside. Done right, windows can make your home in Chicago everything you would want it to be. Windows that are inadequate can be a headache and an expensive fix.

REO- bank owned property. Brand new rehab. 3 bedrooms, 1.1 bath. Family room with fireplace. Beautiful maple cabinet kitchen with granite counter top and ss appliances. New wood floor, carpet in bedrooms. 2 car attached garage with a drive. Bright and sunny. Excellent location, easy access to I-57. Sold in as-is condition. Prorations at 100%, no disclosures.

It has been 237 year since the Liberty Bell sounded of, declaring our independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. For some of us, this is the time to get together with friends and family and enjoy the fireworks. For others, it is the time to reflect upon the history of United States. So before we take that next bite of a hamburger, let’s stop and appreciate this great country and its amazing resilience, especially during the times of crisis.

Chicagoland is anxiously awaiting tonight’s game between our beloved Blackhawks and Boston Bruins. Could game six be the winning one? A lot is riding on this one. Blackhawks lead the series 3-2, but with a skillful opponent and on their home turf, anything can happen.

Blackhawks players most certainly do not underestimate the Bruins, remembering the series two years ago when Boston was down and yet came back winning the cup in Vancouver.

Father’s Day is upon us again. How about a gift? Does he really need another aftershave, baseball hat, set of golf clubs or maybe something completely different for a change.
How about this old room in the basement? Wouldn’t he just love his own man cave or play room. With a fresh coat of paint and some imagination, it can be turned into an original, just for dad space. If he likes plying pool, card with his friends, or even smoking a cigar , he would certainly appreciate a place just for the guys.

You’ve heard it, we all have, when buying or selling a home in Chicago: Location, location, location! But what does that really mean? For some, it is the proximity to certain features of an area or locale. For others it is a view or access to water. Some prefer areas where properties are larger, for others it means places where there is access to entertainment or work, schools or healthcare. But, in many cases, it all boils down to one word: Neighborhood.

Bank-owned REO. Clean ranch on a large lot. Quiet location close to the lake. Bright, sunny house. Oak cabinet kitchen, new carpeting. Neutral paint. Hardwood floor in kitchen and family room. In ground pool and hot tub. Sold in as-is condition. Prorations at 100%, no disclosures.