Realtor.org has an interesting article on consumers’ interest in being green. The latest environmentally friendly home features aren’t just good for the planet — they look great and are a huge draw for conscientious buyers, too.
Whether or not you specialize in selling green homes, you’re likely to meet clients who are interested in living a more sustainable lifestyle. Here’s a look at the green housing trends you ought to know as you navigate today’s market.
Copper roofs. Copper and copper alloys, such as brass and bronze, are showing up on roofs, entryways, facades, gutters, and downspouts. Despite being quite pricey to purchase and install, they’re seen as a good long-term investment because they tolerate inclement weather. “A copper roof that’s installed properly will last beyond 100 years versus a composition roof that may last only 30 years,” says Ken Geremia, manager of communications for the Copper Development Association in New York City. Copper elements also can be completely recycled, so you’ll never find them left on a site or plowed under a foundation, says Geremia. Read Full Article ->
I found some funny stories on realtor.org and I thought I would share one with you today.
“Hosting an open house on an empty stomach is not a good idea, trust me. Not too long ago I agreed to help out a fellow agent by sitting at his open house all day. But the morning of the open house I was running late and I didn’t have time to grab anything to eat.
A few hours went by, and suddenly, a loud, long groaning noise rumbled from my stomach. I didn’t want others to hear, so I thought I’d sneak a snack. I spotted a jar of pretzels on the kitchen counter. Nobody was looking. Should I or shouldn’t I? My stomach growled again. I reached in the jar and as I yanked one out, I heard a buzzing noise behind me.
I slowly turned around, pretzel in hand, only to find that a remote camera on the kitchen island was pointed directly at me. I stepped to the left, and it turned left. I stepped to the right, and it followed me right. Read Full Article ->
Choosing a realtor is not always as simple as it seems, you are basically going to rely on the real estate agent’s expertise and honesty in order to find your dream house. In the Chicago Real Estate area, there are around 10,000 realtors, and choosing one will take time, patience and research.
In my opinion, the client should select candidates from referrals, realtors that you met during open houses and realtors that have websites and show a lot of interest in marketing (this applies usually to sellers that would like to have their house sold fast and at a good price).
Always remember that the realtor’s commission is paid by the seller, so it is important that they have the patience to work with you rather than just try to make a quick purchase for you while spending the least amount of time. Below there are some good questions that you can incorporate into your interview and based on them, you can make a decision on hiring the real estate agent. Read Full Article ->
Have you ever wondered, before you moved into a new area, if there are any gangs in the vicinity and what their territories are? I know I did, before I moved into my new Bucktown loft four years ago, I did my research and checked to see the gangs and their crews in my area.
I remember that I was on google trying to find lots of articles and I also checked the http://www.chicagocrime.org/ website to see the police cases in Bucktown. It was time consuming and I was already stressed out by the new move, into a new house and new neighborhood and I wished it was an easier way to find the information needed.
To my surprise, recently I ran across a website, http://chicagogangs.org and its maps, that shows all the Chicago gangs on a Google Map, so you can just scroll and zoom in to see them. There is a disclaimer on the website stating that
The information on this site comes from a variety of sources and therefore the accuracy or the authenticity of the information may vary depending on the source. The goal of this web site is to show in detail how rampant street gangs or crews are in Chicago.
I will be definitely be using this tool when my real estate clients will ask me if I know of any gang related crimes in the area. A lot of neighborhoods in the Chicagoland area are still upcoming and a little rough, so the buyers decision could be definitely influenced by this.
Isn’t this a question that we all asked ourselves? Wouldn’t be great to own two properties, live in one and rent the other one?
But are you financially ready to take the plunge? Lenders are tough on second-home loans. Usually, second-home loans require a 20% down payment, and not many lenders are willing to take the risk.
The question is: how do you determine if you could afford a second home? Check the worksheet on smartmoney.com and see for yourself. Remember: you’re the one that needs to make the decision and don’t rely on your friend, a realtor or a mortgage person to tell you what you can or can’t.
This worksheet will help you evaluate your overall financial situation, including the income you could receive from renting the property part-time.
YOU’VE FOUND YOUR DREAM CONDO, and you’re ready to relax among the mango trees and swaying date palms. Hold everything. To keep from getting stuck with a lemon, you’ve got to do some homework. Here are the seven most important questions you need to ask before buying a condo.
1. “What’s the beef?”
Take a look at the minutes of the condo association board meetings to see what the owners have been griping about. If everyone was complaining about the faulty plumbing or the gardener’s absence, you know that the complex is having management difficulties. Even if there aren’t any complaints, reading the minutes will reveal the sorts of projects that are under way at the complex — projects the seller may have neglected to mention.
2. “Who’s been naughty and who’s been nice?”
Find out the delinquency rates of present owners. If people aren’t paying their association dues on time, that is either a sign of discontent or an indication that the association might be underfunded. Read Full Article ->
Closing costs seem to be designed to confuse the buyer. Most folks don’t understand all the mysterious fees they’re paying their lender when they close on their home — and sometimes end up overpaying, says Keith Gumbinger, vice president of HSH Associates, a mortgage information provider. (For a list of the average amounts paid for various closing costs, click here.)
The truly insidious lenders out there realize that they’re catching their customers during one of the most vulnerable points of their lives — when they’re about to buy their first home, a darling weekend lake house or the palace of their dreams. After coming along so far in the process, many buyers are itching to move in, and consequently overlook small, unexplained charges. Others might notice some fishy line items but decide not to fight them. They’re reluctant to walk away from the deal over an extra, say, $500 of unexplained costs. Read Full Article ->
Here is an article with a very interesting approach on the whole issue renting vs buying. Even though, I disagree with some points made in that article, I still think it’s pretty interesting and it offers some good information. This article comes from johnchow.com
“The House You Live In Is Not An Asset
Many people view their house as an asset – and the biggest asset at that. The truth of the matter is your primary home is not an asset, it’s a liability. You see, assets make you money. However, the only way you can make money off your house is if you sell it for more than you bought it for. Until then, you have to pay maintenance, hydro, cable, property tax, mortgage, repairs, etc. Housing costs are among the highest recurring cost a family can take on. Would you call something that takes thousands of dollars each month to maintain an asset? Read Full Article ->
