Enviably located at 4637 Saratoga in Downers Grove IL, this nearly new home affords great flexibility to a family who’s considering both renting and buying. This home, located in the coveted northwest section of Downers Grove, is available for either sale or rent. To purchase this home, the price is $799,900 whereas the rental price is $3,700.

The northwest section of Downers Grove has excellent "walk to" access to the Peirce Downer Grade School, Herick Junior High School and Downers Grove North High School. Additionally, this neighborhood is serviced by the most sought after Metra commuter train schedule in the metropolitan area. The station is the Downers Grove Main Street station.

The home features 11 rooms, 4 bedrooms, 3.1 bathrooms. There’s an attached three car garage.

Click to  view all homes listed for sale in Downers Grove

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5548 Washington Hinsdale IL has just been reduced to $1,499,900. Now, it’s priced like bank-owned property. Where else can you get approximately 6,000 square feet of living area on a 64′ x 297′ lot for this price? Comparable homes on this specific block have sold as high as $2,150,000.

5548 Washington is a new house that has never been lived in.

This Hinsdale location is particularly convenient if you have a student attending Hinsdale Central High School. Take a look at this map of Hinsdale IL  to see what I mean.

Now that it is priced below it’s new reproduction cost, it’s the time to buy this new home. If you are represented by a Realtor, just have him or her contact Bryan Bomba of RE/MAX. If you do not have an agent representing you, just contact Bryan Bomba of RE/MAX yourself. Either way, this is one of those opportunities you do not want to look back on and wish you had acted.

Referencing a section of the village of Hinsdale Zoning Code known as "open space districts", a group of Hinsdale residents opposes light structures which are higher than fifteen feet. This reference had surfaced in response to the desire of the Hinsdale Little League’s efforts to install lights, at it’s own cost, at Pierce Park.

The village of Hinsdale plan commission has scheduled a public discussion on this topic for October 8, 2008 at the Village Hall at 8 p.m. The issue is whether or not the village should make a text change to the zoning code to allow for light structures in Hinsdale’s open spaces at a height greater than fifteen feet.

If you have an opinion on this topic, this is the time and place to express it.

blog.westsuburbanhomeseeker.com

Click the button to hear the current real estate market conditions in Chicago’s near western suburbs. Specific reference is made to the towns of Hinsdale, Western Springs, Clarendon Hills, Oak Brook, Downers Grove and Burr Ridge.

The second portion of this real estate audio broadcast addresses the opportunities which uniquely exist under the current market conditions.This month’s edition covers West Suburban Chicago real estate market activity and then we will talk about how with every change, there are hidden opportunities for both buyers and sellers.

Program length: approximately 6 1/2 minutes

Five Strategies For Choosing the Right Luxury Real Estate Agent

Once you have made the decision to buy or sell a luxury home, now it is time to select the real estate professional who can best assist you. Not all good agents operate effectively in the upper-tier market. It is a market segment that requires special competencies. Here are some general guidelines and recommendations for choosing a Realtor to help you in the upper-tier residential marketplace:

1. Look for market knowledge and real estate skills.
Not only should your agent know the city or area you are interested in, he or she should be knowledgeable about the price range you’ve targeted. A luxury home expert should be able to discuss the amount of inventory available, the average number of days a property is on the market before going under contract, the number of sales in the last 90 days, and the list to sales price ratio, all by price range.  The more knowledgeable the agent is about the upper-tier market, the more valuable he or she can be as a resource for you. When you schedule your first meeting with a prospective agent, let the agent know you want an overview of the market conditions based on price range. A solid track record of success is also a clear indicator of market savvy. Don’t choose an agent based on country club membership, the kind of car he or she drives, or similar criteria. Do choose your agent based on the answer to the question, "Does this agent have the skills and resources necessary to help me accomplish my real estate goals?"

2. Don’t assume that the best marketing plan is always the most expensive.

Listen to why the agent has included each element of the plan. Be sure that your home will be promoted Online as well as in more traditional ways. If the home is very expensive or the buyer is likely to come from outside the area, a luxury home magazine may be an important part of the plan. Recognize that the marketing plan in a fast-moving sellers’ market will differ from the plan to be implemented in a slower buyers’ market. Your agent should outline his or her proposed plan and explain it. Look at the quality of the marketing pieces the agent has used in the past as part of your evaluation process. Some agents will have access to special luxury home marketing systems with special marketing pieces that add value to their toolkit.

3.  Notice special luxury affiliations and designations and ask what they mean. 
To zero in on professionals who specialize in the fine homes and estates market, look at an agent’s memberships and designations.   Some agents are members of organizations specific to the luxury market such as The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, which awards an international designation (Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist or "CLHMS") to agents who meet education requirements and have a track record of success.  Some real estate companies offer special recognition to their associates who work successfully in the luxury market.  Some firms have special luxury marketing programs available to their agents.  All these memberships, affiliations and credentials add credibility.
If you are selling, ask that the listing presentation include a specific marketing plan for your property.

4. If you are selling, don’t let an agent "buy" your business.
This is the oldest trick in the book. Choosing your agent based on the highest suggested list price is counterproductive if the house is overpriced. The agent doesn’t set the price-the marketplace does. If your home goes on the market as an overpriced listing, agents and their prospects will quickly move on to other properties that offer more value relative to cost. Will they come back if the price goes down? In many cases, no.

5. Rapport and clear communication are important.
Buying and selling can be stressful. Choosing an agent with whom you communicate clearly will help simplify the process. Be sure he or she understands your needs and expectations and that you understand the process and the agent’s expectations of you. In short, specialized knowledge + quality tools + clear communication = an agent who can deliver the results you want in the luxury home arena.

Reprinted with permission by the Institute For Luxury Home Marketing.

Submitted by Yvonne Mayer

Yesterday, District 181 finally released the financial terms of Dr. Tenbusch’s “resignation” package, in response to my Administrative Appeal from the denial of a Freedom of Information Act request. The terms were released by producing a copy of the “Resignation Agreement” which Dr. Tenbusch and President Armonda executed on June 23, 2008, and a spreadsheet that showed two payments made to him on July 31 and August 29, 2008.   To date, Dr. Tenbusch has been paid $198,569.84. Under the terms of the agreement, he received:

So when we go through the cycle of hiring a superintendent again for the second time in two years, principals of fiscal responsibility dictate that we invest in the future of our children by hiring someone with true quality, experience and skills, not only to avoid a continuing fiscal fiasco but also provide the educational return that matters to us all. The Board of Education must take every step now to begin a legitimate search for Dr. Tenbusch’s replacement. Every day that is wasted may result in a lower return on the investment the District must make in hiring the best leader available. Other districts are actively seeking new superintendents and will have the pick of all available candidates. By waiting to begin the D181 search until after October 27, one or more of these candidates will be off the table. The best and most experienced candidates may be unavailable, perhaps leaving only the cheaper, yet ultimately more expensive ones for the district to pick from. The Board of Education must not let this happen. Let’s hope it does what is truly fiscally responsible, begins the search immediately and makes the right investment this time around.

This is a headline from USA Today October 1, 2008: Home Prices Hint At Stabilization. Hmmm. I thought the mass media was only allowed to overstate negative news.

During the third quarter of 2008, there had been 69 accepted contracts on detsched homes in all of Hinsdale IL (School DIstrict 181 area only). This compares with 17 accepted contracts over the same period in 2007.

During the 3rd quarter of 2008, the average sales price for a detached home in the Madison Grade School area was $916,714 compared to $$1,299,549 in all of Hinsdale. This past quarter, the average marketing time of a house was 248 days whereas it was 199 last year at this time.

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