Archives

May 2008

My House Is Worth What???

Posted at 5:50 AM, May. 30, 2008

In this episode, see how I evaluate a young couple's property in Oak Park as they gear up to move on with their lives.  Do they have enough equity to sell and purchase a single family home to raise their family?  Find out on June 1st at 6pm Central Time on HGTV.

My House Is Worth What?

Posted at 5:41 AM, May. 26, 2008

A long awaited return of another episode with yours truly featured.  Tune in on May 27th at 10 pm central standard time to catch the latest evaluation of a property owned YET by another real estate agent looking for a second opinion of his two flat in Andersonville.  Do I bring him good news, or do I give him a reality check?  Find out on Tuesday the 27th.

What Do You Ask For; The Farm?

Posted at 6:18 PM, May. 16, 2008

A basic rule of thumb I like to demonstrate to my clients is, pick your battles.  When it comes to contract negotations, a little goes a long way.

Often, in the initial stage of contract negotiations, it is almost garaunteed that one side will feel pious  and almost offended at the lack of clairity the other side seems to lack.  However, what I try to illustrate to my clients is, regardless of how "grounded" we feel we are in the moment, emotions run deep.  We can bring personal, political and financial issues to the table without necessarily throwing them on it.  We all have motives, relevant or not.

What is important to keep at hand is, what matters.  What truly matters.  Will you life come to a screeching hault if the GFI outlet is non-functioning?  Would your moving plans sieze should you discover that the filter in the HVAC unit needs changing?  Often enough, the inital agreement already bears slight wounds, so be careful about what you go after with inspection issues.  Choose the items that are representational to the property.  If it is a gut rehab and several items fall short of expectation, than go after it.  If it is an older home put those expectations into perspective.    If you don't you may find youself going to war over minor wages while missing the bigger picture.

Too Much Information

Posted at 6:07 AM, May. 14, 2008

This market has been crazy to say the least.  One thing is for sure, Buyers have way too much to choose from in many instances.  Why is this a problem?  Information overload.

In past markets, Buyers would have 20 or so homes to pick from on a average.  Enough to see what works for them, but not too much to cause confusion.  Not today.  I have literally shown 50 or so homes to the same Buyer and all feel that they need to see yet one more.  Why?  Too many choices.  It absolutely paralyizes the mind when your perameters open up and suddenly, the housing market is an endless supply of candy. I find today's Buyer, thought better educated and ready to hit the ground running, is still subject to commitment phobia and unwilling to take the initiative on a property they already love.  As with anything in life, nothing and no one is perfect.

Tid bit for those of you out there riding the fence.  The market is changing.  Get off your tuff and make a step forward.  This kind of purchasing oportunity (for those who qualify) will not last for long.  Isn't it better to buy a home that fits you nicely than wait to find that "perfect" home and some imaginary perfect price? If you continue to procrastinate,  forever will you rent.

Million Dollar Body

Posted at 5:57 AM, May. 12, 2008

I am so excited to annouce that my husband is the April winner of the Million Dollar Body Contest.  I am so proud of him as he has dedicated a great deal of time, energy and of course, sweat to transforming his body into one representational of strength and discipline. 

Check out his story at:

http://www.milliondollarbody.com/showcase_public.htm

And should any of you be looking to make a change, Joe is now a Coach for Million Dollar Body and can help you change your life, and change your health!