Noah Levy: March 2010

Join the Easter Bunny at West Ridge Park in Highland Park Illinois on April 3rd at 10:00am.

The Highland Park Park District will be hosting its annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 3rd at the West Ridge Park located at 635 Ridge Road in Highland Park, Illinois. The festivities will begin at 10:00 am. 

Keep your eyes to the sky and look for the Easter Bunny to arrive in a helicopter which will land at the West Ridge Park.  This annual Egg Hunt is a fun family event. It is especially fun for the little ones as they run through the park looking for chocolate covered eggs.  The Park District of Highland Park will also have ONE GOLDEN EGG mixed in with all of the other eggs in the field.  The one lucky winner of the GOLDEN EGG will be awarded a family pass to Hidden Creek Aqua Park - a fun place for the whole family.

Save the date and have fun!!

The above article  Join the Easter Bunny at West Ridge Park in Highland Park Illinois was written by Noah Levy, REALTOR from Coldwell Banker Highland Park, IL.

Staged home on Chicago's North Shore looks amazing.

I recently wrote an entry about staging. 

As a REALTOR  serving clients along Chicago's North Shore I believe that staging a vacant home (if it is within the seller's budget) makes a big difference.

I currently have a vacant listing which I sold  to my clients a few years ago. They absolutely loved this home and the picturesque landscaped yard backing to the forest preserve but felt that they were growing out of it. We are priced very competitively in the market but the house is vacant and does not show its best. I had three staging companies meet me at the vacant home to discuss options and cost to stage the home.

After presenting my client with the three proposals we decided to have  Sizzle Productions stage my listing in Deerfield on Chicago's North Shore and they did an amazing job.

Sizzle Productions is a full-service staging company located in downtown Highland Park. They are a top notch staging company and have a warehouse filled with everything- from furniture, artwork, rugs, plants, accessories, linens and more.

Take a look they did an unbelievable job!

Can You Tell Me About the Highland Park Schools?

Often times when I am taking a home buyer out to look at homes in Highland Park IL  I am  asked about the schools. As a Real Estate professional in Highland Park IL and a Mother of two boys I know that schools are a key factor when looking for a home.  I remember when were looking for a home - the schools were a big  part  of  our decision making prior to purchasing our home.

In Highland Park IL there are eight Elementary Schools and three Middle Schools. These eleven schools are all a part of North Shore School District 112.

Highland Park Elementary Schools:

Braeside School               Address: 150 Pierce Road, Highland Park, IL                   Phone: (847) 433-0155

Indian Trail School           Address: 2075 St. Johns Avenue, Highland Park, IL          Phone: (847) 432-9257

Lincoln School                 Address: 711 W. Lincoln Avenue, Highland Park, IL           Phone: (847) 432-1720

Oak Terrace School         Address: 240 Prairie Avenue, Highwood, IL                        Phone: (847) 433-0930

Ravinia School                 Address: 763 Dean Avenue, Highland Park, IL                  Phone: (847) 432-4260

Red Oak School               Address: 530 Red Oak Lane, Highland Park, IL                 Phone: (847) 831-4570

Sherwood School             Address: 1900 Stratford Road, Highland Park, IL               Phone: (847) 831-9152

Wayne Thomas School     Address: 2939 Summit Avenue, Highland Park, IL              Phone: (847) 433-0090

Highland Park Middle Schools:

Edgewood Middle School   Address: 929 Edgewood Road, Highland Park, IL              Phone: (847) 432-3858

Elm Place Middle School    Address: 2031 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, IL              Phone: (847) 432-9217

Northwood Junior High      Address: 945 North Avenue, Highland Park, IL                 Phone: (847) 432-4770

Braeside, Lincoln, Ravinia and Red Oak Elementary Schools  feed into Edgewood Middle School.  Indian Trail and Sherwood Elementary  Schools feed into Elm Place Middle School.  Oak Terrace and Wayne Thomas Elementary Schools feed into Northwood Junior High. 

Highland Park High School is located at 433 Vine Avenue in Highland Park IL and is a part of District 113 along with Deerfield High School which is located at 1959 N. Waukegan in Deerfield IL.  Families whose children attend Red Oak School or Sherwood School have a choice of attending either Highland Park or Deerfield High School.

For those families  moving to Highland Park IL with little ones take a look at Preschool options in Highland Park IL and surrounding North Shore Suburbs.

I always suggest to my clients to visit the schools once they have narrowed their home search. All of the schools in Highland Park IL welcome families and will be happy to give school tours - just call ahead.  Additionally,  I also suggest that before buying real estate in one of the Highland Park IL neighborhoods to  check the school report cards of the specific school to see if it fits the needs of your family. Whether you have children or not, buying a home in a community with good schools is very important. Well- regarded schools increase property values and add to the desirability of a community.

As a parent, resident and a Real Estate Professional in Highland Park, IL I have always been a strong advocate of Highland Park  Schools and I will continue to educate my clients about the wonderful system and  share my first hand experiences.  Additionally, I am involved with the schools on a daily basis through the pta/pto and am able to keep my clients updated with any District 112 and 113 (Highland Park School District) modifications.

This blog post Highland Park Schools in Highland Park IL was written by Noah Levy- Highland Park REALTOR.

To Stage or Not to Stage? That is the question....

As a REALTOR assisting  buyers and sellers throughout Chicago's North Shore I say - Yes -  Stage!!

Without a doubt  a staged home will show much better than a non staged home and/or a vacant home. First impressions are key and with the abundance of inventory in the marketplace the goal is to make your home look at its best.  Many buyers have a hard time visualizing how and where their furniture will work/fit  in a vacant home.  Empty rooms actually appear smaller then they really are. Staging is an additional expense for a seller - but in the long run I believe that it is money well spent.  On Chicago's North Shore there are several staging companies to fit every budget. As your Chicago's North Shore REALTOR, I will assist you in selcting the right staging company for you and your home.

Below  are a few staging companies which I have referred to my sellers.  Take a look - you'll be amazed.

1. Sizzle Productions                 

2. Brooks Furniture Rental

3. Dressed to sell

4. Showhomes 

One of my clients will be staging their home next week (they have already moved into their new home)..... I'll be sure to take before and after pictures to share.

Regardless if your home is vacant or you are living in your home a home for sale should have a "staged look" - so for those of you who are thinking about selling your home - please take some time to prep your home.

As a REALTOR  in Highland Park 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.

Below is a snapshot of the Highland Park Real Estate Market:

There are 311 Single Family homes for sale in Highland Park IL ranging in list price of  $139,000.00 - $8,500,000.00

There are an additional  61 homes that are under contract.  The Real Estate Market in Highland Park IL has been very active with properties going under contract. Last week ten homes went under contract ranging in list price of $215,000.00 - $999,000.00

A total of 30 homes have closed since the beginning of the year. Two of the homes were foreclosures, one home was a short sale and the remainder 28 were traditional sales. The least expensive home sold for $175,000.00 and the most expensive home was a lakefront property which sold for $2,835,000.00.

The Highland Park IL  Real Estate Market is quite active and  filled with great opportunities in all price points.  If you would like to view homes for Sale in Highland Park click here.

P.S.   Don't forget - time is running out with the tax incentives for first time/repeat buyers. Click here for more details.