My Personal North Shore House Search
I fully understand and appreciate the stress involved in both selling and buying a house for your family. My wife and I just had our third child 3 weeks ago and we are currently searching for a new home. In October, I was fortunate enough to sell my house in Evanston in a very short time period. We are currently renting and searching for our next home.
The main issues that we have had with this process are:
1. Where do we want to live and where can we afford to live?
a. Unfortunately, like many young families, we can not necessarily afford where we want to live. We have broadened our search from neighborhoods to towns. We have settled on Evanston and Wilmette because of the outstanding reputation of their schools and our familiarity with the areas, having both grown up on the North Shore.
2. What size house do we want and can we afford?
a. Initially we thought that we needed a 4-bedroom house, however we have been leaning towards 3-bedroom houses in areas that are more conducive to our lifestyle. We would much rather be within walking distance to a commercial/retail area, as well as parks and possibly Lake Michigan. With this in mind we have decided that there is nothing wrong with our kids sharing bedrooms and have included 3-bedrooms in our search.
3. Everything else that drives you crazy when searching for a home in Chicago and the North Shore suburbs.
a. Schools
b. Transportation
c. Garage
d. Yard size
e. Remodel or buy remodeled?
f. What is going on with the market?
g. And on and on and on…
Please contact me with any questions regarding your house search in Chicago, Evanston, Wilmette, Skokie, Winnetka, or anywhere else on the North Shore.
Foreclosures in Chicago and North Shore on the Rise
Foreclosure filings continued on their record pace in the 4th quarter of 2009*. The general belief in the local real estate industry is that Chicago and North Shore suburbs will experience more foreclosures in 2010 than in 2009. At least, there will be more foreclosures that are actively marketed in 2010 than 2009.
What is the silver lining? This is a great time to invest in distressed properties! A buyer must be selective in the process and find a property that works within their personal budget and provides positive cash flow. Generally speaking, if a buyer/investor is willing to put a little work into rehabbing and managing a property, then there are ample opportunities for cash flow positive investments.
Please contact me with any foreclosure questions in Chicago and North Shore.
*Chicago Tribune Article- Foreclosures Soar in 4th Quarter
Lincoln Park
Why move to Lincoln Park? The answers are endless. From its nearly perfect north side location to the amazing diversity in housing and family demographics, it is consistently viewed as one of the top neighborhoods in Chicago to live in.
University students, recent graduates, both new and experienced families and young professionals are able to enjoy the amenities that Lincoln Park offers, which include a multitude of restaurants and nightlife options, proximity to the lake and North Avenue Beach, easy access to the loop and museum campus and top rated schools.
Lincoln Park offers a variety of housing options, most notably its single family homes that average in price around $1,000,000.
Lincoln Park Real Estate Listings are updated on this site daily.
Please contact me for information or listings in Lincoln Park.
Skokie – Diversity – Community – Affordability
The recent article, “Diversity makes the difference in Skokie,” from www.chicagotribune.com accurately describes the overall diversity and sense of community that Skokie offers.
We have definitely see an increase in single family home sales that are priced around $300,000 due to the price improvements in the area. Use this site to see what is for sale in Skokie Now.
Skokie IL Real Estate Listings
Please contact me for listings in Skokie.
Sauganash and Edgebrook – Chicago Neighborhoods with a Suburban Flavor
Edgebrrok and Sauaganash are Chicago Neighborhoods with a feeling of the suburbs
I often meet buyers looking to move out of high density areas of Chicago, like the West Loop, Lincoln Park and Wicker Park, who do not want to “take the plunge” and move into the suburbs. Two of the areas that I consistently recommend searching for homes in are Edgebrook and Sauganash, both of which are located in the Forest Glen community area of Chicago. These neighborhoods offer the desired feel of living in family based communities that is often associated with the suburbs, while maintaining all of the amenities of Chicago and keeping a Chicago address.
Single family homes are prevalent in these communities and generally range from $300,000 for a non-updated ranch into the million dollar range for newly constructed 4-bedroom house. Residents enjoy both the public schools in the area and easy access to a wonderful variety of private schools.
Please contact me for listings in both Edgebrook and Sauganash.
