In the table below lists all of the single family detached and single family attached homes currently on the market in Hoffman Estates IL  The data lists available homes by price range with average time on market in each range. Should you have an interest in homes in a selected price range, send me your physical characteristics requirements. I will send complete details on those homes that meet your criteria.   Active Listings List Price Range # Listings Avg. Days on Mkt Less than $149,999 124 254 $150,000 - $199,999 48 257 $200,000 - $249,999 74 191 $250,000 - $299,999 70 192 $300,000 - $349,999 30 138 $350,000 - $399,999 32 251 $400,000 - $449,999 14 147 $450,000 - $499,999 15 258 $500,000 - $549,999 6 241 $550,000 - $599,999 3 163 $600,000 - $699,999 1 142    Active Listings Summary... 10/13/2010

How to describe this market for Hoffman Estates IL Homes?  Unbelievable! A now retired agent in my office used to say this to encompass every conceivable change or option and still stay positive!  I'm going to loudly reiterate that phrase to update you on recent Hoffman Estates IL Home sales.Over the last 3 months, inventory for Hoffman Estates IL Homes was down at 9 months and finally ending at 11.5 months.  Added inventory is going to make your home take longer to sell (especially going into the winter months).  More inventory is great for buyers but not welcomed obviously as a seller.  Keeps prices down and sellers are competing harder to get buyers attention with either lower prices or incentives.Percentage of Listed Hoffman Estates Homes that go under contract each month. July Augu... 10/04/2010

Chrissy Doremus did a great post the other day about the smallest house.  It's about 89 square feet which is about the size of most people's one car garage.  Well, yesterday I was out with a new buyer and I showed this house built in 1900 and it was close to being the smallest house I'd ever been in.  In fact, it was only 580 square feet. The one car garage (280 sq feet) rivaled the interior of this 2BR matchbox, I mean 'bungalow'.  'Bring your decorating ideas aplenty', which means exactly what you are thinking in Realtor© speak.  Yikes! This house was so small I couldn't lift my arms to take a picture as my elbows got in the way in the 'spacious' eat-in kitchen.  I had to leave my oversized purse in the car for added mobility.The one featured in Chrissy's post was at least cute & didn... 09/18/2010

What da ya mean I need a permit? This is a village list on what type of home repairs or modifications need a building permit.    Addition New Construction  Air Conditioner New Tenant - Condo Conversion  Alterations - Basement, Bathroom, Kitchen Patio  Antenna Plumbing - Miscellaneous   #3  Deck, Balcony, Porch Roof  Demolition Retaining Wall  Drain Tile/Drainage Sewer Repair  Driveway/Repair Shed  Electrical - Miscellaneous   #4 Siding  Fence Sidewalk/Stoops  Fireplace Swimming Pool  Foundation/Repair Underground Sprinkler  Furnace    #2 Water Heater      #1  Garage - Attached and Detached    Gazebo/Greenhouse/Pergola    Natural Area Landscaping Let's talk about the most abused installations in this list:If you are planning to install a new water heater you MUST have a village permit.  ... 09/15/2010

Introducing m.lynsims.net! Now your real estate search and favorite properties can go wherever you and your phone go! (Click on 'The Who' and hear the original 'Goin' Mobile')  THE MAGNIFICIENT 7 FEATURES OF MY NEW MOBILE SEARCH ~~~  Search the full MLS anywhere anytime including access to property details. Registered members, like yourself, can see all available listings in the MLS. Access your saved searches and favorites from your mobile device. Unlike most mobile real estate searches on the market today, you can save your searches and your favorite properties. There is no learning curve. The mobile process is completely intuitive. You can search and save just like you do on your computer. My mobile search works with all types of phones that allow you to browse the internet, includin... 08/17/2010

In the table below lists all of the single family detached and single family attached homes currently on the market in Hoffman Estates IL  The data lists available homes by price range with average time on market in each range. Should you have an interest in homes in a selected price range, send me your physical characteristics requirements. I will send complete details on those homes that meet your criteria. Active Listings List Price Range # Listings Avg. Days on Mkt Less than $149,999 140 229 $150,000 - $199,999 51 227 $200,000 - $249,999 84 162 $250,000 - $299,999 88 163 $300,000 - $349,999 29 161 $350,000 - $399,999 29 207 $400,000 - $449,999 16 137 $450,000 - $499,999 12 269 $500,000 - $549,999 9 132 $550,000 - $599,999 3 138 $600,000 - $699,999 1 84 $800,000 - $899,999 1 385    ... 08/16/2010

Looking for a home in the Hoffman Estates IL area?   Check out what's available in Hoffman Estates IL Homes now!  Interest rates are at a 40 year low so why not take advantage?These are the current market numbers and availability for Hoffman Estates IL Homes.  Lots of great home selections (224 total) with some below the $200,000 range and we've got great custom construction for price ranges above that!  Best selection is between $200,000 to $300,000. The current average listing price for Hoffman Estates Homes is $318,883.  Some 'handyman specials, foreclosures and fixer uppers' are available for buyers trying to get instant equity in the market by doing the work themselves!  Some start at just $119,900 so you better get movin'. To search for what's currently available in Hoffman Estate... 08/14/2010

Offering something unique on your listings - Job Loss Protection Recently a gentlemen contacted me about a great new idea that only builders have been using and taking advantage of - Job Loss Protection for buyers.  Let's face it, it's a major concern facing all income level buyers and their families.  This might turn that relucting buyer into a new homeowner on one of your listings.I will have to say that I think this idea is great and I currently offer the program on all my listings.  Sellers think it's a great twist giving them added exposure even though we haven't had any takers up to this point.  Car insurance is now the norm as is most life insurance which protects your family, why not this?  It offers a solution to a problem that faces all buyers and generates more interest for y... 08/03/2010

This is the 'Months Supply of Inventory' for Hoffman Estates IL Homes (single family only) from June 2007 to June 2010.This is also called the 'Conversion Rate' or how long and how much inventory is on the market in that particular town.  Obviously, the higher the rate, the longer the market time for homes in that community.Does your agent know the 'Conversion Rate' and will they share that information with you?  It shouldn't be kept a secret because it plays a pivotal role in how your home should be marketed.Looking to sell your home and work with an area expert?  Let's work out a strategy to get your Hoffman Estates IL Home sold! 07/23/2010

What's the results of the tax credit with Hoffman Estates Home Buyers? I've been waiting to write this update now for quite sometime on Hoffman Estates Home Sales and to be honest, it sure is a let down!  Yep, an anti-climactic end to the Home Buyers Tax Credit I'm afraid. Like a sharp object aimed at a balloon, it's a total fizzle (or as Snoop Dogg would say 'a total furrrschnizzle').The graph illustrates sales for single family and multi-family Hoffman Estates Homes from January to June 2010.  With all the media hype, I would have expected better numbers.  What I see here is the standard increases that we see every year at this time.  But, one caveat is that I believe the tax credit was much more valuable to multi-family buyers.  Here we see a surge for the deadline but again this cou... 07/07/2010

More real estate lunacy! In an effort to curb fraud our area of Cook County has enacted a new law that to me has gone totally over the top!  In order to close on a home, the seller must put his fingerprint on the title document which then gets transferred to the buyer.  Typical 'give me your thumb please and press here' only there are no police present.  Has fraud gotten that out of control?   Normally at a closing the sellers and buyers present the title officer their drivers licenses or any form of official identification at the closing.  This is to ensure identity for the title officer who also has to certify the signatures on those documents.So last Wednesday my first seller had to 'press here please'.  He thought it was normal and offered up his poor thumb promptly. I guess it will... 06/22/2010

There is a large amount of inventory thruout the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago which include Hoffman Estates IL homes.  Sellers are competing to make their home standout and enhance their marketability.  Prices have held between 4 to 5% from the listing price over the recent months.   Here is a chart of the ACTIVE Single Family Hoffman Estates IL Homes by price range with the market times posted as 'average days on the market.'   There currently are 209 single family homes available for sale with an average market time of 180 days.  The average list price is $332,347 and the highest listing price is $949,000.  The largest selection of Hoffman Estates homes occurs in the $200,000 to $300,000 price range. The lowest price is $114,900 and a short sale which would be considered a 'value pric... 06/10/2010

Creaky Wooden Staircase I hear?   Whether it's getting your home on the market with this easy repair or just fixing something that's been aggravating you to death, here's a few easy suggestions.  There is nothing more annoying or demonstrates 'lack of maintenance' than 3 people (2 buyers and your light as a feather real estate agent) coming down the stairs of your home and there are pops, creaks, squeaks and groans.  Great for an Alfred Hitchcock movie but doesn't scream 'the stairs have been well maintained' does it? Wooden stairs creak as they age and begin to dry out. They can be fixed by carefully placing screws in the stair tread (the top, horizontal portion of the stair) to flatten the wood. Typically the drying wood will cup or bow. If the tread cups, it begins to slightly curl d... 06/07/2010

There has been much confusion lately it seems on the advantages and exclusive use of FHA financing and I wanted to check & see what is going on in our area.  As all real estate is local, let's see what is going on just in Hoffman Estates IL townhomes.  (I mean condos, duplexes, manor homes, coach homes, etc. in this reference).What I found was actually quite eye opening as what the media spin would like us to believe and what is actually closing are two different things.  Two good financing posts recently are very conflicting.  John Mulkey, did a post on the major use of FHA financing from the head of FHA.  There are worries that the system might be overtaxed, overused and could lead us again into financial disaster.  Another point of view from a loan officer, Janet Guilbault states tha... 06/01/2010

Must be something in the air, something in the stars or my ouija board has a speed bump!   There have been an unusual amount of 'strange happenings' in my real estate hemisphere!Buyer client #1 states at home inspection - 'Can't you just give me the payment book & we can get this over with'?   Sure, I'll work on that for you but we have to go thru the closing process first.Buyer client #2 states at closing - 'I'm tired of reading all this @%*&!n paperwork, just tell me where to sign and give me my payment number'.   Hmmmm, are you related to that other guy?Buyer #2 obviously has lost his patience with the closing process.  He now hates the sellers, and anyone attached to or admits to knowing the sellers. Why?  Check out the picture below - the Sellers won't remove the ice cream truck fr... 05/29/2010

What happens when 'something you think' and 'something that is' don't agree?   Recently I needed to check what type of financing recent buyers have been using because I've got a listing that will only accept conventional financing.  I checked all Hoffman Estates homes that closed over the last 4 months of 2010 and here's what I found:Not what I thought - Not what I've been told!I was surprised because a good chunk is 'cash'.  Remember the adage 'who's got cash these days'?  I guess more people then I thought!The other point 'I've been told' has been that all buyers are using FHA financing recently because it's just easier, better guidelines, less hassles.  Well ok, but the statistics don't show that as true here for Hoffman Estates homes.  Another point about going FHA financing has bee... 05/25/2010

Paneling in your home? I'm sorry for you   :-(   I really am.From a home sale perspective here in the Hoffman Estates area, it's the kiss of death for your home sale!  Buyers consider it an eyesoar and will refuse to deal with it.  So what should you do? Here's my thoughts from past marketing experience: REMOVE IT DRYWALL OVER IT PAINT IT My personal preference is going to make you unhappy.  I recommend removing it and re-drywall the area with 1/4' drywall.  Basically think of it as a thin fresh coat over the ugly 60's paneling.  There might be glue residue and numerous nail holes that need to be covered over and patched.  I would recommend calling in a professional drywaller for 'mudding' help.  These guys make quick work of 'taping' and if you don't know what you're doing you can make... 05/22/2010

Well there's always something! Had an appraisal done for one of my sales and the lenders processor just told me about 'the conditions' from the appraiser.  Now this is a short sale so there was nothing wrong with the below market sales price, I guess I am irked by the comments and recommendations from the appraiser!1)  Lights have to be working and all utilities have to be turned on.   (Because he's afraid of the dark?)2)  Attic needs to be inspected as well as the basement & crawl space.   (Yep, it's true, he is afraid of the dark!)How lovely!  What did the appraiser do while he was there?  The buyer and I visited and purchased the house with no lights, no water & we got to see the basement and crawl space with no apparent problems on our part.  But when does an attic need to be inspec... 05/18/2010

4118 Crimson Dr., Hoffman Estates, IL 60192 3 Bedrooms/ 2 Bathrooms       MLS# 07509502                  $285,000 You will be impressed by this beautifuly remodeled home. Check out the kitchen with 42 inch cabinets offering lots of storage. Granite countertop adds to this well planned layout. Step out onto your large deck with built in benches overlooking the expansive yard. Both baths have been remodeled too. Hall bath has double sinks and a deep tub. Family room is large and has a wood burning fireplace too. Culdesac too. Click on the link below for more details and pictures: http://www.realestate4uonline.com/s=active&MLS=IL07509502 RE/MAX Territory 847-956-2800 05/11/2010

Why would you show a non-approved condo to an FHA buyer? Recently this has happened so much to me that I thought I would write a post about it.  The poor unsuspecting buyer thinks they are in capable hands when in fact they are with an agent that doesn't have a clue.  I thought that in Real Estate 101 someone once told me (they were selling caves at that time) that you can't sell all condos to every buyer.  Either they can go FHA or they can't.  Can't mix and match, it's got to be a 'yes' or a 'no' for the complex.I have a non-approved 2BR condo in the worlds smallest complex of 13.  That's it folks, one building, everyone in it is retired.  Since I mistakenly thought every agent knew there is no longer any 'spot approvals' for FHA I would have no problems.  Last 3 showings the agent fe... 04/23/2010