FREE!!!  2011 INSTANT SALES INFORMATION FOR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!!!

Due to our updated technology I can send you, your neighborhood sales for the last 3 and 6 months just like an appraiser and all the active competition.

Wouldn’t it be nice to know if your home has appreciated, if there is some equity, or whether you can refinance at these low interest rates.

Its a great time to sell or buy and most of all to be informed.

Call me at 847-990-3123 or email me to tell me what town and which area you would like.

There is no obligation.

Well quite an end to 2010. I actually had a good year in current real estate terms.

Ingredients For Success in Real Estate

I was able to provide help to those who were doing short sales and work with quite an experienced team of lawyer and negotiator. I definitely have had to work ten times harder to achieve the same results but it has been worth it.

With Coldwell Banker’s leading edge technology I have stood apart from the rest of my competing associates. I have 15 years of full time real estate experience at the same company and have grown immensely.

My sellers understood that the most important thing in selling their home was to position it correctly against the competition initially to generate offers and at times even multiple offers. My website provides IDX and allowed my clients to access listings, to read my blogs, to learn techniques about buying and selling. My brochures provide multiple photos, detailed descriptions so when a buyer looks at a lot of houses they will have a book to help them remember your home.

I have approached selling homes as an important job, but also to have my clients enjoy themselves and actually have a fun experience.

I have become certified as a Short Sale foreclosure expert, and a certified distressed property expert which have help me to have a lot of success.

I know 2011 will provide many challenges which I will be prepared for and will work very hard for all my clients while making it a positive experience..

Please don’t hesitate to call me at (847) 791-0148 or email me to talk about current market conditions or to buy or sell.

I had the pleasure of volunteering at the Middle School in Mundelein and brought a guest author, Peter Schulenberg who specializes in children’s books and has even won an award.
Peter read excerpts from many of his wonderful books to the children and everyone had a great time.

As a Realtor® in Libertyville who services Libertyville, Mundelein, Vernon Hills and surrounding Lake County IL communities I can honestly say that schools are often the deciding factor in real estate buying decisions in this area. I volunteer in the schools because I believe stronger schools make better communities.

If you are looking for information about local schools, please visit my website for more information. If you questions about local schools or are interesting in buying or selling, don’t hesitate to call or email me.

Click on the pictures to see them at full size

As a Libertyville area Realtor^®, I have worked on numerous short sales and some have gone so smoothly and others have been difficult.

Before a Realtor^® takes their client out they need to educate their buyers that it is can be a very lengthy process, from 3 months to over a year.If they are not willing to wait they should not be looking at or writing contracts for short sales. I have had instances where buyers back out and the property has had to be sold two and three times over.

On the other end, Realtors^® and sellers need to beware not to list the property too low, it should be around 10 % below market value in order to get approval from the bank. The banks will do a BPO (Broker Price Opinion) to determine what it should sell for and if it not in the correct range the price will need to be renegotiated and either the buyer or seller will pay the difference or the short sale will not be approved.

A good attorney to work on the short sale is a very important tool, especially a lawyer who has experience with the banks and has done a lot of short sales.

The seller should be made aware of all the paperwork needed to complete the short sale, and that they need to prove a hardship.

That is why a Realtor with an SFR (Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource Certification) and CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert) affiliation is important.

Feel free to call me with any questions about properties in Libertyville and surrounding Lake County IL communities.

Everyone can remember how much fun Halloween was and still is. Its fun to visit Haunted Houses and you can find a schedule for Lake County at HauntedIllinois.com.

Schedule for Halloween Trick or Treating
Vernon Hills- October 31,2010-4pm-8pm
Wauconda-   October 31,2010-4pm-8pm

Haunted Houses and More

Six Flags at Great America has Fright fest with ghosts,ghouls, and creatures. This caters to all ages.

Dungeon of Doom is located at 2701 Deborah Ave in Zion and is rated one of the best haunted houses . There phone no is 262-331-0092

Realm of Terror is located in Round Lake Beach at 421 Rolling Road. There phone no is 847-363-8799.

Extreme Haunting is located in Fox Lake at 76 Honing and there phone is 847-702-7227

Ghost Stories Plus is on Oct 9 at Volo Bog  28478 and includes ghost walks and stories.(815-344-1294)

Didier Farms in Lincolnshire has the Pumpkin fest and has hayrides,petting zoo and a corn maze,face painting,cider, and baked goods.

Sullivan Center on October 9 has costume party and local organizations will have activities and refreshments.

Hunt Club Park in Gurnee has Pet Halloween and Costume Contest.1529  N Hunt Club Road in Gurnee)
This takes place on October 9th.

Halloween Tips

Halloween is so much fun and here are some tips to keep it fun and safe:
Young children should be accompanied by adults
Don’t enter anyones home that you do not know.
It’s easier to see if you wear makeup verses a mask(and breathe for that matter)
Watch for cars and pay attention.
Bring a glow stick and flash light so drivers will see you.
Parents should check all candy to make sure it is wrapped and hasnt been tampered with.
Be  careful of wearing costumes with high heels or long pieces of material that may cause you to trip and fall.
Children should not accept rides with strangers.
Trick or treat in a group.

Why not consider giving your candy away to the less fortunate and save your teeth…

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions

Its getting to be that time of year again when the seasons are changing and the holidays are on there way. My sellers ask me all the time since its going to be Christmas and Thanksgiving soon should I take my house off the market?

Think of it this way if everyone thinks that same thought  there will be less inventory on the market so its actually a great time to have your home listed. Companies that relocate there employees don’t only relocate them in the spring and summer months.

The conclusion is, is that it’s a great time to be on the market and with the economy slowly improving what could be better.

The main objective we are overcoming right now is to make sure your home is POSITIONED AT THE CORRECT PRICE.

After waiting a long six years, my favorite restaurant in Vernon Hills has returned. Chilis reopened the beginning of September and has many loyal former restaurant goers. It is located at the Shops of Aspen Pointe on Route 60. The store has a new design of any Chilis in the area. The village did not allow them to have the large Chili Pepper due to Logo Rules.

Chilis used to be located where the Jared Jewelers is now, and was closed after a salmonella outbreak. The menu has been changed slightly but they are still willing to make my Caribbean Chicken salad the old way, with tortilla strips, pico de gallo, and to remove the dried cherries.

I have already been to the restaurant four times. The staff is excellent and works in a very timely fashion.

Thank you Vernon Hills for bringing back my favorite restaurant.(PS. You can be sure the chicken is cooked to perfection)

Visit the Chilis Website.

I Love My Job! Really!

The Real Story

I know its very late (12:45 AM) but I figured it was time to write my weekly Blog. Before I became a Realtor I often thought, Gee, Realtors make a lot of money for what they do, and boy was I wrong.

First of all, it is an incorrect perceived notion that Realtors don’t work hard. My job involves working seven days a week approximately ten hour days and being on call at all time (and I’m not even a Dr.) I need to know how to market, use the computer, have social skills, mathematics,psychology, do comparative market analysis, counsel first time buyers, discuss short sales, foreclosures, discuss pricing in a relatively sensitive market with very sensitive folks. I make sure my buyers are preapproved and ready to go just in case they find that perfect house.

Another important thing for the public to know is that that “huge” comission is divided between myself and the other agent and then split with my company that provides me with advertising, a desk, marketing assistants and continuing education. I pay dues, I pay phone bills, I pay for mailings, and I pay for gas for my TAXI..

The great thing is is that I love my job, I love meeting people, making life long relationships, seeing people make the purchase of a lifetime and have a thrilling, pleasant experience. I keep in touch with my clients and appreciate each and everyone of them and treat them like they were my first client..So to all my Clients thank you for your kindness and support throughout the years, Come one, come all!!!!

12 GREAT THINGS ABOUT VERNON HILLS

People are always asking me about different towns. If you are considering living in Vernon Hills, I thought you might benefit from my list of my favorite things in town.

A leisurely walk in one of Vernon Hills many parks

1. Your favorite realtor lives there, Sheryl Allen of Coldwell Banker and producer of my website (Jeff Stone of Next Level Solutions)
2. Close to Metra – there is a train station in town
3. Close to Westfield Mall and general shopping
4. One hour to downtown
5. Home of many parks – check out the Vernon Hills Park District
6. Wide range of prices of homes – See Homes For Sale in Vernon Hills on my website
7. Home of two wonderful hardware stores to wander around in, Lowes and Home Depot 
8. Loads of restaurants, from sushi, to ribs,to beef, to chicken wings – ask me about my favorites
9. Close to Libertyville, home of my great Coldwell Banker office
10. Walking and bike trails  
11. Vernon Hills has its own TJ Max!
12. Home of Summer Celebration in July with many bands, and rides for the kids in the summer time

There are really is really a lot more to love about Vernon Hills, just ask me. If you want to know more about Vernon Hills or would like to look at Vernon Hills real estate give me a call or email me.

Little Known Vernon Hills  Facts – It’s Not Just About The Donuts!!!

I bet you didn’t know that the Vernon Hills Police Department has a fun group called the Citizens Police Academy that you get to experience all the things our men in uniform do.

Since I love the show COPS and Forensic Files it was fun to learn how to shoot a firearm at a target (I became a video on what not to do when you shoot a firearm) as I turned the gun on the poor officer, because I had never experienced recoil before. We also used the Firearm Training System, kind of like a video system, that shows you the results of what would happen if you used your firearm in the situation to catch the perpetrator.In reality the consequences can be dire.

We had a demonstration of the K9 police unit dogs, learned about DUI laws ( a  member of the class under supervised conditions drank alcohol and did a simulated driving test to show reaction time. We discussed use of force, handcuffing, and evidence collection. This program is available to young and old.

You can also get involved in the police fundraisers for various causes. The best part was to do a drive along with the police, observe arrests,stops for violations..I felt like I should be on TV..So remember when you see the Vernon Hills Policemen say thank you for protecting us from crime, keeping us safe from accidents, and know they risk their lives every day for you and me..

There is a great new website that has the crime report for Vernon Hills. Crime Report Website