Noah Levy: December 2009

Serving buyers and sellers in Highland Park,Illinois and other surrounding North Shore suburbs

TRADE UP! 5 Reasons why this is the BEST market to upgrade in Highland Park IL and surrounding suburbs!

 

Thinking about doing a trade up in 2010?  Here are 5 reasons why this is the Best market to upgrade!!

 

Via Daniel Dima Batsalkin | Los Angeles Real Estate | 310.933.4281 (Boulevard Realty):

Have you thought about getting that bigger, better house in a better neighborhood?  

NOW IS THE TIME!

Whether you need more space, want to upgrade your location, or for any other reason, the current real estate market presents a unique opportunity to capitalize by trading up! 

5 reasons why this is the best market to trade up!

1. You will make money NOW on the trade!  

Here's how this works. You currently own a condo that was worth $1,000,000 three years ago, and now it's worth $700,000 (that's right, it's gone down 30%!).  You may be thinking, I've lost $300,000, right?  Wrong!  

What you do is go out and sell your condo and purchase the home of your dreams for $1,400,000.  That house, three years ago, was worth $2,000,000 and you probably couldn't have afforded it.  By buying it now, what you've just done is bought your new home at a $600,000 discount!  Just like that, on the trade, you've made $300,000!  This doesn't even take into account the money you'll save on property taxes because you're paying taxes on a $1.4M house, and not on a $2M house.

2. ... AND you will make money LATER when you sell your new home!

OK you've listened to my advice, bought that new home of your dreams and traded up. YES!  Fast forward five years and the real estate market has gone up 20%.  Let's take a look at what has happened.  Your old condo is now worth $840,000, for a $140K gain over today's value.  Your new home is worth $1,680,000, or $280,000 more than when you bought it today.  Just like that, you've made an extra $140,000 on the trade!

Your New Dream Home!3. You can likely buy a house you otherwise could not have afforded, and may not be able to afford again!

Going back to my example above, you probably couldn't have afforded that $2M house three years ago when you bought your condo.  You also may not be able to afford it again in 3 - 5 years when the market rebounds. If you've been dreaming about a bigger home or one in a nicer area, now is really the time to capitalize.

4. It's much easier to trade up in a down market than in an escalating market!

I've had clients say that they will trade up when the market "goes back up."  Let's take a close look at that.  Let's say that 5 years from now, the market is back up 20% from today's values.  You then sell your condo for $840,000 and your dream home is now worth $1,680,000.  You've gained $140K on your condo (from today's values) BUT your dream home is now worth $280,000 more!  That means that, by waiting, you've now spent an extra $140K to buy that house!

5. You'll probably get a better house by trading up in a down market!

The current market presents some very unique opportunities.  In most areas, inventory is pretty high and buyers have a lot of great choices.  By shopping in this market, you can really get the home of your dreams and take your pick of all the inventory available.  In most cases, you can get a good deal on a great property in a terrific area.

The bottom line is that if you can afford it, now is a terrific time to upgrade!  Interest rates remain at historic lows and there is plenty of financing available.

 


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© Boulevard Realty 2010. All Rights Reserved.

About the Author: DANIEL DIMA BATSALKIN is the Principal Broker and CEO of Boulevard Realty, a full service real estate brokerage serving the discerning needs of clientele throughout Los Angeles, California.

Mr. Batsalkin specializes in representing sellers and buyers of residential real estate in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Bel Air, Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, Studio City, Encino, Tarzana, Calabasas, the South Bay and other Los Angeles communities.

Capitalizing on a background practicing real estate law, Mr. Batsalkin provides clients with a strong level of comfort due to his extensive knowledge of real estate contracts, powerful negotiation skills and use of the latest technologies

Mr. Batsalkin may be reached directly at 310.933.4281 or via e-mail.  

Visit Boulevard Realty on the web at www.blvdrealty.com for real estate information and to view all available Los Angeles homes for sale.

Boulevard Realty



For more information regarding homes for sale or listing your property  in Highland Park IL, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Wilmette, Winnetka, Deerfield and other surrounding Chicago North Shore suburbs check out my website Noahlevyhomes.com give me a call at 312.203.2416 or email noah.levy@cbexchange.com.  

I look forward to hearing from you!  

"Noah Knows Real Estate!"

All rights reserved.  No copy writing permitted without written permission.

HOME SALES IN HIGHLAND PARK ILLINOIS FOR LAST TWELVE MONTHS

sold homes in Highland Park IllinoisAs a REALTOR in Highland Park Illinois, I have recently been asked: How many homes have sold  in Highland Park Illinois for the last twelve months?  I have been getting asked this question by my current sellers, sellers thinking about putting  their home on the market, my buyers and by the general public.  Everyone is curious!!

 

Well, here is the scoop:

 

For the last twelve months there have been a total of 208 closed sales of single family homes in Highland Park Illinois. Coincidentally, twenty-eight of the closings were  Short Sales and another  twenty-eight were Bank Owned Properties/Foreclosures.Sold in Highland Park IL

 

I have included a breakdown by price range:

 

 

PRICE RANGE   HOMES CLOSED  SHORT SALES  BANK OWNED
$135,000 - $300,000 44 14 17
$301,000 - $400,000 32 3 1
$401,000 - $500,000 30 0 3
$501,000 -$600,000 25 3 1
$601,000 - $700,000 15 2 4
$701,000 - $800,000 11 0 0
$801,000 - $900,000 13 2 1
$901,000 -$1,000,000 10 1 0
$1,000,001 -$1,250,000 13 3 0
$1,250,001 -$1,500,000 7 0 0
$1,500,001 - $3,300,000 8 0
1

For more information regarding homes for sale or listing your property  in Highland Park IL, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Wilmette, Winnetka, Deerfield and other surrounding Chicago North Shore suburbs check out my website Noahlevyhomes.com give me a call at 312.203.2416 or email noah.levy@cbexchange.com.  

I look forward to hearing from you!  

"Noah Knows Real Estate!"

All rights reserved.  No copy writing permitted without written permission.

Home Buyer - Make Your Checklist!

buyer checklist A home buyer should make a checklist - it will make the process of home buying easier and with a checklist there should be less stress too.

So one of your New Year resolutions is to move to a new residence within the next six months.  So where do you start?  Most likely you will dabble on the Internet looking at various areas of choice and various price points.  As a REALTOR in Highland Park, Illinois I can help you with a few pointers to make the process easier.

1. Partner with a Real Estate Agent who sells Real Estate in the area you are condisering. 

2. If you do not know a REALTOR ask a friend, search the Internet or visit open houses - there are many choices. Make sure you partner yourself with someone who knows the marketplace. 

3. Your REALTOR will be a key player in helping you secure your home of choice so make sure you feel confident that your REALTOR will work for you.

4. Talk to a Mortgage Broker  to learn how much you can spend and get pre- approved.

5. Focus within a specific price range.

6. Know what your MUST HAVES are - number of bedrooms and baths.

7. Create your WISH LIST - an updated kitchen, Master Bedroom with private bath, a finished basement or a two car garage.

8. If you have absolute NO'S such as a specific style home or location let your REALTOR know so you do not waste time.

9. Visit public places in the area you want to move to - such as restaurants, grocery store or parks.

10. If you have children who will be attending school- visit the school, meet the principal/director and get a tour.buyer checklist

11. Ask your REALTOR  for recommendations for a Real Estate Attorney and an inspector.

 

Having a buyer checklist will make the home buying process much more enjoyable.  You may want to add a few other things to your checklist that are important to you and your family.  I hope the above gives you a head start on the process.

 

Remember - with today's market conditions, low interest rates and buyer incentives in place it is a GREAT TIME TO BUY!! Enjoy the process and if you are looking for a home in Chicago's North Shore - give me a call. You'll be glad you did.

For more information regarding homes for sale or listing your property  in Highland Park IL, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Wilmette, Winnetka, Deerfield and other surrounding Chicago North Shore suburbs check out my website Noahlevyhomes.com give me a call at 312.203.2416 or email noah.levy@cbexchange.com.  

I look forward to hearing from you!  

"Noah Knows Real Estate!"

All rights reserved.  No copy writing permitted without written permission.

Short Sale Listing Successfully Closes in Highland Park Illinois

Short Sales in Highland Park IllinoisA short sale listing successfully closed in Highland Park Illinois last week. We all see a lot of short sales on the market - many are a great opportunity for a buyer- but what exactly is a short sale, and how many actually get approved by the bank and go on to close?

A short sale is a sale of Real Estate in which the sale proceeds fall short of the balance owed on the property's loan.  The major differences between a short sale and a conventional sale are that the bank is actually involved in accepting their loan short and it also impacts the seller's credit.  As property values have dropped, so have the values of people's other assets, and many times a short sale is a way to stop the loss of resources and find a way to move forward into a better suited financial and living arrangement without going into foreclosure, which is a process that transfers the right of home ownership from the homeowner to the bank and has a greater impact on the homeowners credit score  for a longer period of time . Currently  in Highland Park Illinois, there are over 20 short sale listings, ranging in price from $140,000 to $2,400,000.

I  just closed on my listing at 948 Marion in Highland Park Illinois last week after months of hard work.  In 2006 I sold 948 Marion to my clients at $1,050,000 - this home was built as a spec home by Orren Pickel, a well respected North Shore builder, in 2005.  Last week the 948 Marion Highland Park IL home closed short at $840,000.

This was the first short sale listing I had listed it was a great learning experience with a successful ending.  How were we able to seal the deal?

Patience, lots of patience... finding the right buyer was only a fraction of the battle.  We had to wait for a buyer who would be able to get financing for the house and the bank to approve the sale.

Organization was key -

1.       My clients hired a real estate attorney who specializes in short sales.

2.       My clients prepared and submitted a hardship letter to the bank along with their financials.

3.       Both the attorney and myself had approval to speak directly to the banks involved.

We actually had another offer on the house for more money but the buyers were very anxious and did not enjoy the waiting game - it's very common for a buyer to walk away from a short sale. So when buyer #1 walked away we had a to wait for another offer. Again patience, lots of patience.

When buyer # 2 came along both the attorney and myself were very diligent in staying in touch with the bank and really pushing for the file to get assigned to a negotiator. The process is very tiresome but in order to be considered persistence is key.  After many phone, finally being assigned to a negotiator, lots of paperwork and more follow up calls the short sale was approved!!

sold short saleIf you need to sell your home short in Highland Park  Illinois and/or surrounding areas give  me a call.  I have the experience, organization and patience to make it happen.

For more information regarding homes for sale or listing your property  in Highland Park IL, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Wilmette, Winnetka, Deerfield and other surrounding Chicago North Shore suburbs check out my website Noahlevyhomes.com give me a call at 312.203.2416 or email noah.levy@cbexchange.com.  

I look forward to hearing from you!  

"Noah Knows Real Estate!"

All rights reserved.  No copy writing permitted without written permission.

Preschools in Highland Park IL

 

preschool time in Highland Park ILThere are many Preschools in Highland Park IL to choose from.  As a Real Estate professional in Highland Park IL and a Mother of two kids I know that making a decision as to which preschool to choose is important and can be overwhelming. After all, this is probably going to be the first time your child will be in organized program without you. If your little one is close to two or older now is the time to start your search and get your application for preschool filled out. So where do you start?

1. Decide if you want a full day program for your child or a program that meets a couple of times a week for a few hours.

2.  Ask friends with older kids what preschool they sent their kids to.

3.  Tour the preschool, observe a class and meet the Director.

 

To  further simplify your search,  below  is a list of  several preschools in Highland Park IL and neighboring towns with addresses, phone numbers and websites. 

Highland Park

Bethany Early Childhood Center, 1696 McGovern St., Highland Park IL 60035,847-432-2269   www.bethanyumhp.com 

B'NaiTorah Pre-School, 2789 Oak St., Highland Park IL 60035, 847-433-6900     www.congregationbnaitorah.org

George LutzFamily Center, 800 ClaveyRd., Highland Park IL 60035, 847-433-6001 www.jcys.org

Highland Park Montessori School, 1301 ClaveyRd., Highland Park IL 60035, 847-433-3383   www.higlandparkmontessori.com

North Suburban Synagogue Beth  El Preschool, 1175 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park IL 60035, 847-432-8900  www.bethel.org

RaviniaNursery School, 686 Red Oak Lane, Highland Park IL 60035, 847-831-3700    www.ravinianurseryschool.com

The Children's Center of Lakeside Congregation, 1221 Lake Cook Rd., Highland Park IL 60035, 847-432-4766    www.lakesidecongregation.org

Glencoe

Gates of Learning Preschool North Shore Congregation Israel, 1185 Sheridan Rd., Glencoe IL 60022,     847-835-0724  www.nsci.org

GlencoeJr. Kindergarten &; Nursery School, 999 Green Bay Rd., Glencoe IL 60022, 847-835-5448   www.glencoejuniorkindergarten

J.C.C. Early Childhood Services at Am Shalom, 840 Vernon Ave., Glencoe IL 60022, 847-835-3753    www.gojcc.org

St. Elisabeth's Nursery School, 556 Vernon Ave., Glencoe IL 60022, 847-835-0609                 www.sensglencoe.org

Deerfield

BJEEarly Childhood Center at BnaiTikvah, 1558 Wilmot, Deerfield IL 60015, 847-945-8577    www.bnaitikvah.net

Christian Beginnings, 824 WaukeganRd., Deerfield IL 60015, 847-945-5140    www.deerfieldPresbyterian.org

Congregation B'NaiJehoshuaEarly Childhood Center, 445 Pine St., Deerfield IL 60015, 847-729-7575      www.bjbe.org

DeerfieldCommunity Nursery School, 801 Rosemary Terrace, Deerfield IL 60015, 847-945-2310   www.deerfieldcommunitynurseryschool.com

Deerfield Deerfield Montessori School, 760 North Ave., Deerfield IL 60015, 847-945-7580    www.deerfieldmontessori.org

DeerfieldMontessori Children's , House1500 WilmotRd., Deerfield IL 60015, 847-945-7581     www.deerfieldmontessori.or

MoriahPreschool/Day Care Center, 200 TaubPlace, Deerfield IL 60015, 847-948-8930             www.moriahcong.org

I hope that the above information has been helpful. Good luck with your selection!

For more information regarding homes for sale or listing your property  in Highland Park IL, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Wilmette, Winnetka, Deerfield and other surrounding Chicago North Shore suburbs check out my website Noahlevyhomes.com give me a call at 312.203.2416 or email noah.levy@cbexchange.com.  

I look forward to hearing from you!  

"Noah Knows Real Estate!"

All rights reserved.  No copy writing permitted without written permission.

How is the Real Estate Market in Deerfield Illinois

Real estate market update in Deerfield IllinoisAs a REALTOR in Deerfield Illinois the number one question that I am always asked is..... "How is the Market?"  Obviously, my clients ask me this question but I am also asked this question by friends, family and/or acquaintances. I am asked this question at the grocery store, while I am walking my dog, at school functions, as a spectator at a sporting event, cocktail party- anywhere and everywhere.

So to answer "How is the real estate market in Deerfield Illinois" - I have gathered information from the Coldwell Banker Market update and the MLS to provide information which I think a consumer would find of interest:

1. In the last thirty days there were ten sales in Deerfield Illinois - of the ten - one was a short sale and one was a foreclosure.

2. Highest list price for a single family home in Deerfield Illinois is $2,699,000 while the lowest list price is $240,000.

3. The average list price for a single family home in Deerfield Illinois is $667,000 and the median price is $577,000.

4. The average listing market time in Deerfield Illinois is 6 months - understand that this is an average and that "pricing a home right for today's market" will result in a quicker sale.

5. Selling price vs. listing price - the average in 130 Greenbriar East Deerfield offered @ $565,000November of 2009 in Deerfield Illinois was 87.2%.

I think that it is a wonderful time to sell if you are looking for a great opportunity to buy - I have had two clients who recently sold their homes for less than they had paid for them in 2004/2005 but made up for  it up on their buy. If you do not own anything it's a wonderful time to buy too.  With the extended tax credits in place and interest rates under 5% for a conventional loan - there are some amazing opportunities in Deerfield Illinois.

So How is the Market in Deerfield Illinois?  I think it's good! The market in Deerfield Illinois is filled with opportunities!!

For more information regarding homes for sale or listing your property  in Highland Park IL, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Wilmette, Winnetka, Deerfield and other surrounding Chicago North Shore suburbs check out my website Noahlevyhomes.com give me a call at 312.203.2416 or email noah.levy@cbexchange.com.  

I look forward to hearing from you!  

"Noah Knows Real Estate!"

All rights reserved.  No copy writing permitted without written permission.

130 Greenbriar East Deerfield IL - Make this home yours in time for the Holidays!!

Noah Levy | Coldwell Banker | 847-926-1959
130 Greenbriar East, Deerfield, IL
WONDERFUL UPDATED HOME - JUST MOVE IN!
4BR/2.5BA Single Family House
offered at $565,000
Year Built 1963
Sq Footage Unspecified
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial
Floors 2
Parking 2 Car garage
Lot Size .28 acres
HOA/Maint $0 per month

DESCRIPTION

SUNNY UPDATED CONTEMPORARY ON GORGEOUS LANDSCAPED LOT IN BRIARWOOD VISTA. BRIGHT LARGE KITCHEN WITH LOTS OF CABINETRY,ISLAND & EATING AREA. FAMILY ROOM WITH WOODBURNING FIREPLACE & SLIDERS OPEN TO BRICK PATIO! LIVING ROOM/DINING ROOM COMBO W/BALCONY OVERLOOKS PRIVATE YARD. LARGE MASTER BEDROOM WITH WALK INCLOSET & UPDATED MASTER BATH. BRIGHT PLAYROOM ON LOWER LEVEL. NEW POWDER ROOM, MECHANICALS & MORE! NOT TO BE MISSED!


see additional photos below
PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C - Central heat - Fireplace
- High/Vaulted ceiling - Walk-in closet - Hardwood floor
- Family room - Living room - Dishwasher
- Refrigerator - Stove/Oven - Microwave
- Basement - Washer - Dryer
- Laundry area - inside - Balcony, Deck, or Patio - Yard

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS


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Contact info:
Noah Levy
Coldwell Banker
847-926-1959
For sale by agent/broker

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Posted: Nov 10, 2009, 12:31pm PST

For more information regarding homes for sale or listing your property  in Highland Park IL, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Wilmette, Winnetka, Deerfield and other surrounding Chicago North Shore suburbs check out my website Noahlevyhomes.com give me a call at 312.203.2416 or email noah.levy@cbexchange.com.  

I look forward to hearing from you!  

"Noah Knows Real Estate!"

All rights reserved.  No copy writing permitted without written permission.