Once in a while something so good comes along that you wish you do not know how you could have lived without it. That is the way I feel about voice mail transcription to e-mail.

When you get a voice mail on your phone it is automatically transcribed and e-mailed to you. That means no more having to call in to your voice mail to check messages. Moreover, the e-mail comes with a sound file (.wav) attached so that you can click on it and listen to it if you so desire.

If you get a message that should be directed to someone else, just forward the e-mail (and attached sound file) to whomever you would like.

I get about 70-90 incoming calls per day. I can read a 60 second voice mail in about 10 seconds. You can see how the time savings are huge.

If you would like to try this this voice mail transcription service for free for one month click here.

HINSDALE 4th OF July:

Parade: Begins at 6th and Garfield; Saturday July 4 @ 10am. For more info, http://www.villageofhinsdale.org or 630-789-7090

Oak Brook 4th of July

Festival and Fireworks: Oak Brook Polo grounds; Friday July 3 4pm. For more info, http://www.oak-brook.org or 630-368-5000.

Clarendon Hills 4th of July

Festival and Fireworks. Prospect Park; Saturday July 4 @ 7pm. Fore more info, http://clarendonhillsparkdistrict.org or 630-323-2626

Western Springs 4th of July

Rely on the neighboring towns for fun this weekend.

• 98 x 314 lot
• 8000 square feet of living area
• in ground salt water pool with pool house
• 16 rooms, 5 bedrooms, 6 full bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms
• 4 car garage with height which will allow a lift to store more cars
• heated travertine floor in beautifully finished basement
• Hinsdale central High School

If you are considering a home of this level in this price range, you would be remiss not to see this one.

More information on 6381 Garfield in Burr Ridge:

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Hinsdale’s 60521 zip code is known for a lot of great things. Hinsdale Central High School. Beautiful trees. Low crime. Ease of access into the city of Chicago. However, one of the things that Hinsdale is typically not known for is affordability in the cost of housing.

In you have been searching the internet for homes for sale in Hinsdale, you know what I mean.

View the virtual tour of 5548 Washington in Hinsdale offers a lot for a little. Here are the basics:

• All Hinsdale District 181 and District 86 schools
• Built in 2005
• 15 rooms, 5 bedrooms 6.1 bathrooms
• Approximately 6,000 square feet of living area
• Three car garage
• Brick construction
• One block from Hinsdale Central High School
• 64 x 297 lot
• Priced at just $1,399,000

Of course, you could pay $400,000+ more for similar-sized homes on similar-sized lots on the same street, but why would you?

Contact Bryan Bomba for more information.

334 Ridge Clarendon Hills IL

This house is unique.

Before you see the virtual tour of 334 Ridge in Clarendon Hills, take note of the following extreme characteristics which make this a once-in-a-lifetime offering:

This is an easy walk to town and train location. In all of the Hinsdale Central High School District, this characteristic alone is golden.

The location on the 300 block of Ridge is idyllic. In addition to the off-the-chart aesthetics offered by the traditionally designed custom homes, the road is curvy, which adds to the overall appeal.

The lot size measures over .6 acres. This is not a misprint.

View Of Back Yard Of 334 Ridge Clarendon Hills

The nearly new home has over 6,000 square feet of living area. And that does not include the finished lower level.

Priced at $2,749,000, it is unlikely that a home of this level and characteristic is available at this price anywhere in the entire Hinsdale Central High School district for a price this competitive. If you find one, will you please let me know? To make it easy for you, I have prepared the following one click searches where you can check the updated MLS for properties with the following characteristics:

• Clarendon Hills homes priced over $2,000,000
• Hinsdale Homes Priced From $2,000,000 to $3,000,000
• Burr Ridge Homes Priced $2,500,000 and lower

Please contact me for a detailed property brochure. Better yet, call me at 630-455-8455 for a private showing.

Little Monkey BiznessSprings The Western Springs

The coolest new business to open in Western Springs is Little Monkey Bizness.

Here is the concept: It is a dual purpose place which has fun amusements for kids as well as a coffee house for adults! It is the newest and most exciting business model in children’s amusements.

Monkey Bizness is located at 4700 Gilbert in Western Springs IL. Click for map.

128 Garfield Hinsdale IL

128 North Garfield in Hinsdale is so amazingly well updated and renovated that it is difficult to determine whether it is an updated vintage home or a new home that is made to look vintage!

The uncompromising level of attention to detail is the hallmark of Northridge Builders, the general contractor who is responsible for the workmanship.

In all, there are three perfectly finished levels of living area plus a basement. Eleven rooms. Five bedrooms. Three-and-a-half bathrooms.

Additionally, there is a finished coach house above the garage. This could be the ultimate home office (with the world’s shortest commute) or a fun use like a poker room. You decide. Once you see it, your imagination will run rampant.

Take a look inside 128 N. Garfield Hinsdale IL 60521.

With just a one block walk to downtown Hinsdale and the Hinsdale Metra train depot, this location is excellent. Surprisingly, this coveted in-town Hinsdale location is blessed with a .8 acre lot! It measures 144 x 231. In Hinsdale, a town where the average lot size measures 50 x 123, a lot of this size is unheard of.

This spectacular home is priced at $1,474,000. The current owner has over $2,000,000 invested in this home. In addition to being a prized family home in a stellar location, it is an absolute bargain as well. Click to see all Hinsdale homes listed for sale form $1M to $1.5M.

Do not be left wondering why you did not call me sooner. Contact Bryan@BryanBomba.com to schedule a private showing for 128 Garfield. You will be glad that you did.

Need more informaton, keep reading…

Main Level

Foyer
Traditional air-lock foyer
2-inch thick natural wood entry door
Natural marble tile in a basket-weave design
Guest coat closet

Grand Entry ~ 20 x 9
9 ½- foot ceiling height
Quarter-sawn oak flooring
Cove molding
Tall base molding
Picture rail
Window seat with flip bench
Leaded glass windows
4-foot wide natural wood staircase with carved newel posts
Matching period sconces and ceiling fixture

Living Room ~ 17 x 15
Quarter-sawn oak flooring
Cove molding
Tall base molding
Picture rail
Three 6-foot tall windows
Pocket door to Grand Entry and Family Room

Dining Room ~ 15 x 15
Quarter-sawn oak flooring
Cove molding
Tall base molding
Picture rail
Five 6-foot tall windows
Built-in cabinets with beveled glass
Matching period sconces and ceiling fixture

Kitchen ~ 19 x 22
Marble flooring
Natural cherry wood cabinets
Granite counter tops
Appliances include double oven, dishwasher, cook top, refrigerator
Eating area with built-in flip-top bench
Bay window overlooking pastoral back yard
Center island with pendant lighting above
Tumbled marble back splash
Recessed can lighting
Period light fixture

Family Room ~ 18 x 15
Quarter-sawn oak flooring
Cove molding
Tall base molding
Picture rail
Three 6-foot tall windows
Fireplace with carved wood mantelpiece and gas starter
Pocket doors to Grand Entry, Living Room and Dining Room
Period sconce lighting

Powder Room
Period mosaic tile flooring
Pedestal sink
Period light fixture
White plumbing fixtures

Mud Room ~ 6 x 4
Direct back yard access
Built-in maple cubbies

Second Level

Master Bedroom ~ 16 x 15
Oak flooring
Cove molding
Tall base molding
Picture rail
Two reach-in closets

Master Bathroom
Natural marble flooring and shower surround
Subway tile wainscoting
Beaded inset vanity with 1 ¼-inch marble top
Double sinks
Perrin polished chrome and Hans Grohe plumbing fixtures
Sunrise period tub with hand-held body spray
Furniture-grade mirror wraps
Separate shower with natural marble surround, bench seat and heavy tempered glass door
Separate commode compartment
Built-in linen closet

Bedroom 2/south ~ 18 x 13
Oak flooring
Cove molding
Tall base molding
Picture rail
Walk-in closet

Bedroom 3/southwest ~ 10 x 15
Oak flooring
Cove molding
Tall base molding
Picture rail
7 windows
Reach-in closet

Bedroom 4/northwest ~ 11 x 10
Oak flooring
Cove molding
Tall base molding
Picture rail
Reach-in closet

Family Bathroom
Period mosaic floor tile
Subway tile tub surround
Pedestal sink
Porcher plumbing fixtures
 
Third Level
Recreation Room ~ 25 x 18
Oak flooring
Bead board wainscoting
Chair rail
12-foot vaulted ceiling
Ceiling fan
Recessed can lighting
Window seat

Bedroom 5 ~ 16 x 8
Oak flooring
Reach-in closet
Dressing area

Full Bathroom
Ceramic tile flooring and shower surround
Marble slab counter top
Vaulted ceiling
Stand-up shower
Private commode room

Basement

Laundry Room ~ 16 x 13
Ceramic tile flooring
Above-ground windows
Cabinets
Washer and dryer

Miscellaneous Features

Interior
1 ¾-inch thick interior natural wood doors
3-piece crown molding
10-inch base molding
5-inch casings
Pediments above windows and doors
2 staircases between first and second floors

Mechanicals
90%-plus efficiency dual zone furnace
Boiler
Two 50-gallon water heaters with recirculating line and pump
Two 200-amp electrical panels

Exterior
Clapboard siding
Wrap-around porch
Ceiling fan
Architectural grade roof shingles
Galvanized half-round gutters
Old-growth trees
Paver brick walkways
Crushed stone walking path

Coach House/Two-Car Garage ~ 20 x 15
Pine flooring
Ceiling fan
5 windows
9-foot ceiling height
Sanyo heating and cooling system
Roof deck
Commode

Schools
All school scores can be viewed online at www.BryanBomba.com
Monroe Grade School, District 181
Clarendon Hills Middle School, District 181
Hinsdale Central High School, District 86

Important Link
Village of Hinsdale

Mortgage insurance insures the lender in case of a default by the borrower and is required on conventional financing when the down payment is less than 20%.  

The bank or mortgage company you obtain your financing from will seek to obtain the mortgage insurance coverage on your behalf.   However, the premiums are typically paid monthly by the borrower as part of your mortgage payments and are tiered at 5%, 10% and 15% down payments. 

The smaller the down payment the higher the mortgage insurance rate. What you may not be aware of his mortgage insurance is becoming increasingly more difficult to obtain.  A few examples of their “newer” requirements are:

•  Minimum credit score of 700
• Total debt to income ratio not to exceed 41%. 

While the reasons for this are many, but when you are in a business of insuring defaulted loans clearly there have been better times for this industry as more than 10% of all mortgages are 30 days or more past due.   With out mortgage insurance you would have to obtain FHA financing or be forced into putting 20% down.  Not that long ago most banks would loan you part of the down payment in a second mortgage to avoid the mortgage insurance premiums but that option for the most part is no longer available. 

If you do obtain your financing with mortgage insurance you may be able to cancel the insurance within 12-24 months if upon review of a new appraisal the necessary equity of 20% is now there.   The responsibility lies with the borrower to initiate this review process.   It is becoming increasingly important to discuss this situation with your lender as early in the process as possible.

Any mortgage questions?

Call the author of this piece:

Tony Pigatti

Vice President Residential Lending

Archer Bank

Office #708-237-4049

http://www.metrobankgroup.com