TheBlogDog.net: Lyn Sims and the Blog Dog© (Bartlett IL Real Estate ~ Bartlett Homes ~ RE/MAX Suburban)

Stop right there and start looking for your new Bartlett Townhome here!
 
Thinking that now is the time to make a move?  

Interest rates are now the lowest they've ever been.  I know you're saying to yourself "but you guys told us that last year?"  Well, the interest rates were low then and now they are even LOWER.  Just a few months ago we were quoting an interest rate of 5.125% and now we can say the rate is now at 4.125% which is a full percent less!  What does that mean to you and your wallet?  About a $120 a month savings. That's your cable bill, maybe gas for the month or just one ticket (sorry) to a Bears Game!

There are many great Bartlett values to be had on the market right now and I'm looking for buyers that want to get in the game. The average list price in Bartlett is $156,230 and there are many homes available in the most popular price range of $150,000 to $200,000. The lowest price for sale right now is $53,900 and the highest is $298,750. Variety, styles and selections in all price ranges.

Search Bartlett (2 car garage) Subdivisions ~

Looking to buy a Bartlett Townhome or Condo and want to work with a buyers agent that's familiar with the area like the back of her hand?

Search for Bartlett Townhomes or Condos here.
Search for Bartlett Foreclosures here.


Lyn, I'd like you to contact me by email as soon as you can! I'd like to get started right away!

Looking to sell your Bartlett Townhome and work with an area expert? Let's work out a strategy to get your Bartlett Townhome sold!

Bartlett IL Demographics
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See who sells the most Bartlett Homes?

Disclaimer:  Your interest rate will vary depending on your FICO score and other variables. This was for informational purposes only to show you an example of monthly savings.

Positive Signs continue in our Northwest Suburban Real Estate Market for the 8th consecutive month. We are moving ahead with recovery here and sales have successfully reached above the 2010 level of closings. For November, Hanover Park Single Family Homes have now reached the number of 2010 closings and Hanover Park Multi-Family are down 31% over 2010.  

For Hanover Park there are still no price gains calculated with foreclosures still leading the way in current sales.  What is promising is that in a few different surrounding markets the average sales prices are now stabilizing.  If all goes well, our next trend will be for prices to finally level off and slight increases to begin in our area. I should point out that how much inventory we have going into winter is very important and we currently are holding near 8 months supply.  We are at a dangerous teetering point here where we can continue to move ahead or have a stall out and slowdown that will continue through our winter.

My summary shows painfully slow growth and sales have been erratic at best at the beginning and again for the end of this year.

Hanover Park Home supply declined (yipee) for November at 4.5 months from October's 7 months.  Homes under contract was 16.2% of inventory which is excellent and above surrounding area sales.

The median sales price is now $100,000 from $124,900 just the month before showing that the absolute lower end homes are selling first.

 

 
 
Looking for an agent that knows this fluctuating market?  Give me a call to discuss your housing situation and needs.

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There's been much talk (chatter by the national talking heads) in the media about our Northwest Suburban and Streamwood home values returning to a previous level. I read these reports constantly, day in and day out and wonder to myself 'How do they know this stuff when I don't even know it!'

Real estate is unique in that it is very local in nature. In fact, real estate is so unique it can even be broken down further to say that neighborhoods even in the same town will been effected differently. What happens in one subdivision doesn't necessary happen in another. What effects one subdivisions appeal doesn't effect another that's even similar. So 'painting with a broad brush' is not possible in our Streamwood neighborhoods.

Any Streamwood real estate professional I will challenge because they cannot say with absolute certainty that market prices have fallen 20% (you pick the number here). 'Painting with that broad brush' just cannot be done. Many variables have effected your home's values and each subdivision should be considered on it's own merit.

How many short sales have been in the area?

How many foreclosures have decimated prices?

One constant that I will say with certainty is that the more homes for sale in a particular subdivision essentially effects the overall sales prices. The more sellers that compete for the smaller buyer pool effects the sales prices. Each seller is eager to obtain their own goals whether a transfer, death, birth or divorce. It's the economic market standard of supply and demand.

The graph that I present is for the average sales prices per year for Streamwood homes. I've given you a 10 year sampling of prices (MLS closed only) so you can actually see the rise of the market and also the fall. According to this graph, 'prices have corrected themselves' to just above 2000 sales levels.

We need less homes on the market to create the equilibrium for prices to increase in the future.

Market Update






Disclaimer:  NAR (National Association of Realtors) does not provide these numbers to their members. MRED, the area MLS, does not provide this figures which I had to compile for this presentation. I feel confident in their accuracy to report to my readership.

Positive Signs continue in our Northwest Suburban Real Estate Market for the 8th consecutive month. We are moving ahead with recovery here and sales have successfully reached above the 2010 level of closings.  For November, Bartlett Single Family Homes are now 32% above 2010 closings and Bartlett Multi-Family are now up 17% over 2010.  

For Bartlett there are still no price gains calculated with foreclosures still leading the way in current sales.  What is promising is that in a few different surrounding markets the average sales prices are now going up.  If all goes well, our next trend will be for prices to finally level off and slight incre,ases to begin for Bartlett. This also would have to take into account how much inventory we have going into winter and we currently are holding near 8 months supply.  We are at a dangerous teetering point here where we can continue to move ahead or have a stall out and slowdown that will continue through our winter.

My summary shows slow growth and first time home buyers or investors have decided to jump in the market to snatch up all those townhouses and condos we've got. It's a good idea for investors as most sales prices will equal a positive cash flow. I've been in multiple offers again for the low end price ranges.

Bartlett Home supply declined (great) for November at 5 months from October's 6.5 months.  Homes under contract was 14.5% of inventory.

Looking for an agent that knows this fluctuating market?  Give me a call to discuss your housing situation and needs.

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Yes, we're talking about skunks and the odoriferous relationship they could have with your dog someday!  In the last few months there has been many misconceptions about what will really get rid of the skunk odor from your pet should disaster strike.

First, let's look at things from the skunks perspective. Skunks are very gentle, non-aggressive creatures that get a bad rap. People don't appreciate the benefits of skunks eating grubs, insects, mice and baby rats.  Skunks den in natural cavities like woodchuck burrows, hollow logs, brush piles, crevices in stone walls and under buildings.  And since skunks are nomadic (little black and white drifters) they use their dens for only a brief amount of time.  If they've decided to 'visit', they will usually move on in a short amount of time (unless they've decided to move in under your bedroom window - it can never be soon enough!)

I guess it's actually a miracle of nature that a skunk actually hits it's target. It's only defense is the noxious odor created by a sulfuric acid that is 'fired' from two independently operating anal glands. Just before the skunk 'unleashes' they give a warning to the offender by stamping their front feet. People seem to pay attention but it doesn't seem to make a difference to your dog who prefers to ignore the warning.

So after your poor dog has had it's skunk 'adventure', be sure to check their eyes, nose and mouth. The chemicals in the spray could cause irritation and inflammation of the throat and lungs also. So if your dog has unfortunately been sprayed directly in the face be sure to rinse your pet's eyes, nose and mouth with plenty of water.  If after rinsing their face and the eyes look red or they rub at their face you should take the dog to the vet.

Next part is the 'smell'.  Some people still use tomato juice but another mixture (potion?) some have tried:

1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
1 teaspoon Dawn dish soap

After thoroughly soaking your dog in the mixture, rise them again with clean water.

There are shampoos and sprays formulated to neutralize skunk smell which are available from your vet and most pet supply stores.  Problem here being, your dog will never get sprayed while PetSmart is open that would be just too easy!  

It also seems that if you have a long haired dog you might have to 'sheer' the coat to also remove some of the lingering smell.

Good luck and glad to pass long this 'recipe'. Hope you learned something here and always remember to run like hell if you see a skunk doing the two-step!

Real Estate Market Update - Northwest Suburban October 2011

It's good news and I'm market optimistic!  That's for sales being on an upward trend for the last 7 months.  The numbers are showing a distinct improvement for the 7th month in a row for the Northwest Suburban Market!

The majority of towns sales are up.   Even if the town is showing a negative (YOY Change), the sales are increasing each and every month overall.  Most of the average sales prices are still low but that is because most of the lower priced homes are being bought by first-time home buyers or investors snatching up those deals.  It will take some time but once the lower price ranges begin to move at a decent pace the move up buyers will also begin their acquisition of that larger home.

For the first time doing this report I am seeing an increase or no change in Average Sales Prices!  There is still a lot of lost ground that we need to make up so we won't be passing out the champagne just yet.  Stay tuned!

Interest rates have hit another all time low making a home the most affordable it's ever been in the last 50 years.  Get out there and take advantage of a housing opportunity if you can.  There has been a distinct increase in mortgage applications.

Foreclosures on the market currently are slashing away at prices to get rid of the inventory going into the winter months.  Winter is notoriously when you can get the best deals in real estate if you have the patience to trudge through the snow and ice.  

Positive Signs .... Increased Sales ... Even in little increments we are seeing an increase in sales.

If your home is currently on the market it is showing that we are having a slight recovery here in our area for the last 7 months.  Single family homes are still doing better than the (Multi) condos and townhouses but in my opinion homes are stalling quickly.

Again this month we have anomalies, the high request areas that normally would do well are not and the others are.  Schaumburg and Streamwood Multi-family is still down overall for the year but each month sales make gains to the positive.  Possibly there are just too many other opportunities in other areas for buyers to choose from?  I will tell you that if your house is updated and without extensive remodeling work to do - it is going to sell.


Schaumburg Home supply was down (good) for October at 7.8 months from September's 11.8 months.  Homes under contract was 9.7% of inventory.

Bartlett Home supply unchanged (good) for October at 6.5 months September's 6.6 months.  Homes under contract was 18.3% of inventory.

Streamwood Home supply was way down (even better) for October at 3.8 months from 8.7 for September.  Homes under contract was 11.1% of inventory.

Is your agent showing you this stuff?

Looking for an agent that's really a market expert?  Let's get your Northwest Suburban home on the market and priced right to sell!

Looking for a home in the area? Please give me a call or email me on the right to talk about the possibilities.

Sources:  MRED October Stats 2011

Bruno's Pro Bone O Pet Pantry

Even pets need help in this economy and I've come across Bruno's that does just that.  Need help so your pets will have food?

Bruno's Pro Bone O Pet Pantry is dedicated to temporarily providing free pet food for the dogs and cats of low income, elderly and disabled people who find themselves in an unexpected crisis. Bruno's Pantry operates in select areas of Kane and DuPage Counties in Illinois. They are able to accomplish this goal by soliciting for and collecting pet food through a network of agencies, programs and the generosity of the community they serve. Their mission is to ensure that pets are not forgotten or abandoned during financial hardship and can remain in their home and with their family, thereby improving the quality of life for both pets and their owners.

You must fill out an application that shows your financial need. You must also agree to their guidelines.

Food will be delivered to you once a month after eligibility.

Donations are also gladly accepted, please see their site.

The office of Fred Crespo invites you to a town hall meeting that will be hosted at the Hanover Park Village Hall on Wednesday, November 16^th at 6:00 PM.

This town hall meeting will include a general overview of the past legislative session, discussion about the fall veto session, state and local issues, as well as a question and answer session for members of the audience.

Mayor Rodney Craig and representatives from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago will also be in attendance, so this is a unique opportunity to meet with several elected officials at once to ask questions about local and state affairs.

This event will take place in room 214 of the Hanover Park Village Hall, at 2121 West Lake Street.

To RSVP or for more information, please contact Fred Crespo's Office at 630-372-3340.