Overall, there is a huge increase in the amount of accepted real estate sales contracts this year versus the same time last year. Take a look at the quantity of sold homes as of May 10, 2010 versus the same period of time in  2009. This is only the number of homes sold, not a representation of sales prices

• Burr Ridge had residential real estate sales increase of 150% (detached single family homes only)
• Clarendon Hills had residential real estate sales increase of 214% (detached single family homes only)
• Downers Grove had residential real estate sales increase of 133% (detached single family homes only)
• Elmhurst had residential real estate sales increase of 144% (detached single family homes only)
• Hinsdale had residential real estate sales increase of 142% (detached single family homes only)
• LaGrange had residential real estate sales decrease of 18%(detached single family homes only)
• Western Springs had residential real estate sales increase of 113%(detached single family homes only)

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734 Bodin Hinsdale IL 60521

It has long been argued that the 700 block of Bodin in Hinsdale IL is the most sought after block in all of the Madison Grade School area. Here are the top few reasons why those who assert this position about this block believe it to be so:

• Dietz Park is actually located ON this block. This is a small, very local park that appeals primarily to little kids.
• Unlike many of the north/south streets in 60521, Bodin is low traffic. That is particularly appealing if you like your kids.
• Unlike many parts of Hinsdale IL, there are some wide lots on this block. As such, the street scape is more appealing.
• Gorgeous trees.
• Easy and quick walk to Madison Elementary School, Hinsdale Central High School (no need to buy a car for your teenager) and the West Hinsdale train depot
• The houses on this block are a healthy blend of older and newer, but all are of an appealing architectural design

For a moment, I felt like David Letterman doing a Top Ten list.

The interior of 734 Bodin in Hinsdale is nothing short of spectacular. The current owners (who are moving within the neighborhood, by the way) have made many significant important improvements for your enjoyment. Specifically, the roof was re-done in March 2010. The kitchen and all bathrooms were gut-renovated – they are simply awesome. The materials and workmanship is similar to that you would find in a $1,500,000+ home.

And the yard….no skinny lot size here. This is a serious, family-sized lot that is 71 feet wide. Around here, that is a big deal as it is over 40% wider than a typical lot. And if you have kids, this is like hitting the lottery to find an updated house on a wide lot on a quiet street within walking distance to all that is important.

Take a quick peek inside…

Main Level
9-foot ceilings throughout Main Level
Hardwood flooring
Tall base molding
Traditional window and door casings
Over-sized windows

Foyer
Hardwood flooring
Traditional 6-panel entry door with transom and sidelights
2-piece crown molding
Traditional oak staircase with painted wood balusters
Decorative carpet runner on custom milled staircase
Wainscoting

Living Room 18×14
Hardwood flooring
Bumped out front bay window
Courtesy of five oversized windows
Extra light
2-piece crown molding

Dining Room 18×12
Hardwood flooring
Bumped out bay window enhances an already large room
Tall base molding
Chair rail
2-piece crown molding
Decorative wall sconces
Decorative chandelier

Kitchen 15×10
Complete renovation in 2005
Hardwood flooring
Painted and glazed custom cabinets with full extension, dove-tailed, full interior wood doors
36” Viking cook top with commercial Vent-A-Hood, 36” Subzero refrigerator, Thermador double/thermal cook top, Bosch dishwasher, GE professional stainless steel microwave, disposal
Natural granite counter top
Tumbled marble backsplash
Extensive moldings
Center island with eat-in capacity
Recessed lighting

Breakfast Room 16×10
Hardwood flooring
Large enough space to accommodate oversized furniture
Bumped out bay window overlooking backyard
Pantry

Family Room 18×15
Hardwood flooring
Hand-built masonry fireplace with traditional surround
Dual palladium windows
Triple bank of windows overlooks backyard

Laundry/Mud Room 11×7
Renovated in 2005
Clay tile flooring
Painted and glazed upper and lower cabinets
“Folding” counter top with under mount stainless steel sink
GE Monogram beverage refrigerator
Private entry access to outside

Office/Bedroom 5 15×12
Carpeting
Two windows overlooking back yard
Walk-in closet
Nicely tucked away for privacy on 1st floor plan

Bathroom #1
Renovated in 2009
Natural stone tile flooring
Shower surround with sit down
Tempered glass shower door
Furniture grade vanity with stone counter top

Second Level
Master Bedroom 20×12
Carpeting
Two windows
Ceiling fan
Walk-in closet
Oversized room to accommodate large furniture

Master Bathroom
Renovated in 2009
Natural stone tile
Oversized sit-down shower with Grohe rain head and steam shower
Tempered glass shower door
His and her vanities with natural granite counter top
Under mount sinks with Grohe faucets

Bedroom #2/Northwest 14×13
Carpeting
11-foot wide reach-in closet
Wood blinds

Bedroom #3/Northeast 15×11
Carpeting
Three windows
Extra bright
8’-wide reach-in closet
Wood blinds

Bedroom #4/East 13×10
Carpeting
Reach-in closet

Bathroom #2
Renovated in 2009
Ceramic tile floor with tub surround
Whirlpool tub
Double bowl vanity with granite counter top

Lower Level – Renovated in 2008

Recreation Room 21×14
Carpeting
Drywall walls
Recessed lighting
Above ground windows provides natural light

Playroom 14×10
Carpeting
Drywall walls
Recessed lighting
Above ground windows provides natural light

Storage/Mechanical Room 35×14
Concrete flooring
90 plus efficient furnace – 2009
50 gallon water heater
200 amp electrical
Central air-conditioning – 2009

Exterior Features
Brick and cedar
Architectural shingle roof – 2010
Copper roofs
Aluminum gutters
Double hung windows
Two car attached garage with concrete drive
Wood deck
Fenced back yard with mature trees

School Links
Madison Elementary School District 181
Hinsdale Middle School District 181
Hinsdale Central High School District 86
 
Village Link

Contact Bryan@BryanBomba.com to see it today.

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Conforming, Jumbo and Super Jumbo. 

No these are not the size of the French fries you can get from McDonalds but the 3 main mortgage loan amount categories. 

Conforming is the level set forth by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and is currently at $417,000 for the Chicagoland area.   This value is determined by the direction of housing prices and should be a lot lower but the government has maintained this amount for the last few years.   This category will have the cheapest interest rates and the most flexibility when it comes to underwriting the loan. As an example, 5% down payment options are readily available. 

Jumbo is loosely defined as any amounts over $417,000 and since it is not backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac this category will demand higher interest rates and more stringent underwriting criteria.  The interest rate premiums are currently a minimum of a .5% above the conforming loan amounts for a fixed rate loan and about a .25% for any adjustable rate loan types.   The down payment requirements increase to 10%-25% depending on many factors including purchase price and property type. 

Super Jumbo has many different definitions but this is typically loans above $850,000.  At this level the rates are yet even higher and the down payment requirements are even greater.  20%-30% down is a common down payment requirement on these size of loans.  It is worth noting at this level the process interest rates and requirements can vary greatly from lender to lender.  For example, some lenders will require two appraisals or cash reserves equal to 10%- 20% of the loan amount after closing. 

As you plan your financing it is important to discuss these levels with your lender to help make sure you are getting the best offer available. 

Tony Pigatti

Vice President Residential Lending

Archer Bank

Office #708-237-4049

Cell #630-254-8946

www.metrobankgroup.com

9s300 Woodcreek Downers Grove IL

Squeaky clean and in absolute move in condition. See for yourself: 9s300 Woodcreek in Downers Grove IL is just sensational.

Conveniently set in the Mallard Landing neighborhood, just south of Plainfield Road and west of Cass Avenue, this is the perfect location for the commuter who drives. The accessibility to the city of Chicago (via Interstate 55), Oak Brook (via Route 83) and Schaumburg (via Interstate 355) is simply unmatched.

Why live in a far out place like Naperville when you could cut an easy 30 minutes off your commute each way?

This fine home is surrounded completely by like kind residences. The street is low traffic and quiet.

Here’s a sneak peek of the interior…

Main Level

Foyer
Dramatic two-story entry
Traditional entry door with side lights and transom
Marble flooring
Designer light fixture (George Kovacs design)

Living Room 17 x 14
Two story ceiling
Neutral plush carpeting
Triple bank of floor-to-ceiling windows with transoms
Ceiling fan with remote

Dining Room 13 x 12
Neutral plush carpeting
Double bank of windows
Designer pendant lighting fixture

Kitchen 17 x 13
Marble flooring
White cabinets
Kromark solid surface counter tops (Corian type)
Center island with breakfast bar
Designer light fixture over island
Recessed can lighting
Appliance package includes:
GE cook top
GE double oven
GE Profile microwave
GE dishwasher
Whirlpool refrigerator with through the door water and ice
Eating area with designer light fixture
Sliding glass door access to paver patio in back yard

Family Room 17 x 13
Carpeting
Marble fireplace
Sliding glass door access to back yard
Recessed can lighting

Den 12 x 10
French door entry
Carpeting
Double bank of windows

Laundry / Mud Room 8 x 5
Marble flooring
Upper and lower cabinets
Laundry sink
Maytag washer and dryer
Storage closet
Direct garage access

Powder Room
Marble flooring
Tempered glass sink
Custom designed mirror
Recessed can lighting
Silent flush commode

Second Level

Master Bedroom 21 x 13
Neutral plush carpeting
Vaulted ceiling
Two walk-in closets, one reach-in closet
Three windows

Master Bathroom
Ceramic tile floor, tub and shower surround
White vanity with double sink
Granite counter top
White plumbing fixtures
Whirlpool tub
Stand-up shower
Separate commode area

Bedroom 2 12 x 12
Carpeting
Full-wall closet
Two windows

Bedroom 3 13 x 12
Carpeting
Two windows

Bedroom 4 12 x 10
Carpeting
Reach-in closet
Two windows with transoms

Full Bathroom
Ceramic tile floor and tub surround
Granite counter top
White plumbing fixtures
Silent flush commode

Basement

Recreation Room 35 x 18
Multi-level loop carpeting
Wet bat with granite counter top, wine refrigerator and beverage refrigerator
Recessed can lighting
Pool table
Off-white love seat
Sony 52” TV, receiver, cassette/DVD/CD changer, VHS VCR and Direct TV, surround sound system
Built-in shelving

Exercise Room 29 x 10
Laminate flooring
Recessed can lighting
Wall-to-wall mirror

Full Bathroom
Ceramic tile floor and shower surround
Kohler plumbing fixtures
Pedestal sink
Steam shower with body sprays
Reach-in linen closet

Storage/Mechanical Room
Central air conditioning
Two sump pumps
Two 40-gallon water heaters
Blown-in cellulose insulation

Miscellaneous Features

Exterior Features
Brick and cedar siding exterior
Stamped concrete driveway and walkway
Paver patio
Play set
Wrought iron fencing
Professional landscaping

Garage Features
Two-car garage with a lot of storage (both sides of garage have cabinets)
½ h.p. garage door opening
Epoxy coated garage floor

Schools
Elizabeth Ide Grade School – District 66
Lakeview Junior High School – District 66
Downers Grove South High School – District 99
Village Link

9s300 Woodcreek in Downers Grove can be rented for $2,450 per month or purchased for $599,800, the choice is yours!

Contact the exclusive marketing agent, Bryan Bomba of Coldwell Banker, to arrange a private showing.

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5744 Garfield Hinsdale IL 60521

Plenty of options here:

• Rent it for $6,500 per month
• Buy it for $1,699,700
• Or rent it until you are ready to buy

5744 Garfield in Hinsdale, Il 60521 is an excellent value. Per the assessor, there is 5,390 square feet above ground, plus an amazingly well-finished lower level with an additional 2,000+ square feet. Three car garage. 64 x 296 lot. Five bedrooms. Six bathrooms.

See the virtual tour of 5744 S. Garfield Hinsdale IL 60521. The next step is to contact Bryan@BryanBomba.com to set an appointment for your private showing. I look forward to hearing from you.

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Is paying your credit card bills on time each month enough to maintain a high credit score?

Unfortunately no, there are two other lesser known factors that play a significant role in determining your scores.

The first is the relationship between what you owe and your total available credit.  It is generally believed that exceeded 30% of your total available credit starts to impact your scores negatively.  For example, if your total available credit on all of your open cards is $10,000 try to limit your purchases or balances to $3000 or less.  The higher this percentage is the more it will lower your score even if you are paying the bill each month.

Second, is the frequency in which you use your card.  Clearly, limiting your use of credit cards is the responsible thing to do but not using them enough will also negatively impact your scores.  Each creditor reports a date last active to the credit bureaus.  This is the date the card was last used.  The longer you go without making charges on the card the less valuable this credit reference becomes.  I suggest using each of your cards at least once per quarter to avoid having what appears to be a positive thing turn into a negative.

Authored by Tony Pigatti, Archer Bank.

TPigatti@archerbank.com

When it comes to maintenance-free lifestyles, it does not get any better than Forest Gate of  Oak Brook. It is a gated, 55 and over community, comprised of luxury, detached homes devoid of the hassle of exterior maintenance. Forest Gate is located in the heart of the village, immediately next door to the beautiful recreation complex and west of the forested headquarters of McDonald’s Corporation.

And when it comes to Forest Gate, the home at 63 Forest Gate exemplifies perfection. Idyllically located in the interior of the neighborhood, on a site that offers so much privacy the neighbor to the rear is a scenic pond!

The interior is sheer traditional excellence. You will swear that you are walking through a new home that has NEVER been lived in. The decor is so flawless it is suitable for the cover of Architectural Digest. See for yourself….View the virtual tour of 63 Forest Gate in Oak Brook IL….and then contact me (Bryan@BryanBomba.com) to arrange your private personal tour. You will not be disappointed. And you will most assuredly be impressed.

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Before I market a house for sale, my team and I go through the home and comprise a list that we call “How Marketable Do You Want To Make Your Home?” This exercise is designed to reveal objections that prospective home buyers would have to the home before we go on market. The home owner then has the opportunity to address these objections and presumably reduce objectins from real buyers.

While preparing homes for sale and showing homes to buyers, I have seen more than my fair share of closets. While I see over 100 homes every month, most have closets that could use some loving. While most people are aware of the staging process, where homes are made over to appeal to a greater number of buyers, closets tend not to be included in this category.

That is why I was interested to learn more about a new business in Hinsdale Illinois. What-2-Wear.biz is owned by Sally Guglielmo and Tiffany Cummins. Their two primary focuses are closet makeovers and personal style shopping. When you check out their website, you will see that there is much greater depth to the concept. For example, while my wife call me “cheap”, I like to think of myself as “value-oriented”. That’s why I thought that the “deals and steals” section ALONE was worth bookmarking this site.

Go look at your own closet, check out What-2-Wear.biz or call them at 617-320-4843.