Did you know that, for no additional cost, you can be represented by a real estate broker in conjunction with purchasing a home from a builder? Homebuilders are accustomed to working with real estate brokers and often their commission is already covered in their marketing and promotion costs. A broker can provide objectivity and guidance in designing your home and help you select amenities that will lead to a more advantageous resale. He or she can help coordinate the sale of your present home and the closing of the new one. Many brokers offer guaranteed home sale programs so that when your new home is finished, the real estate company will buy your previous home at a pre-agreed price to prevent you from owning two homes at one time; and can usually arrange the occupancy agreeable to al... 01/25/2007

Who represents the homebuyer in the transaction? The most common scenario is for homebuyers to purchase a home with the help of the seller's listing agent. In this case, known as "dual agent representation," the real estate agent assists both the sellers and the buyers. However, it is also possible for the buyers to ask another realtor to represent their interests exclusively, acting as the "buyer's agent," a service which is available at no additional cost to the homebuyer.Any licensed real estate agent can act as your buyer's agent, helping you to locate and look at properties in your price range. However, if that real estate agent works for the same brokerage that is listing a particular property, dual agency or designated agent rules will then apply. The buyer's agent will advise th... 01/25/2007

  Quite a year for the Condo/Townhome market in Naperville. The average sale price took quite a leap (about 14%) while the total number of transactions declined about 16% to 869 units sold (compared to the previous years 1034 units)A large contributing factor to the average price is the advent of the million dollar condo in Naperville which prior to 2006... did not exist.Another factor that affects these numbers is the recent spate of condominium conversions... these units siphon sales from the general market and are not generally reflected in the Multiple Listing Service. This chart illustrate the average price by month for attached homes in Naperville, by month for a two year span.. illustrating the upward pricing trend The following chart tells a story for the immediate future of Nap... 01/20/2007

   2006 was an interesting year for residential real estate in Naperville as overall sales declined from 2005 by about 21.5% Single family detached Naperville home sales fell from 2232 total units in 2005 to 1705 total units in 2006 a decline of 23.6%Of course the total transaction decline created an uncomfortable feeling for the many new real estate agents (over 350 agents were added over the course of one year... an increase of about 20%!)The good news for area seller's is that while average market times increased... so did prices. The average sale price for single family detached homes in Naperville increased to $504,674 and increase of about 8.5%An interesting phenomena in 2006 was that while transaction volume was down... in the million dollar + market... transactions were up signi... 01/20/2007

Homebuyers who use the Internet to start their home search may be lured by the promises of realty companies advertising "one-stop shopping" guaranteed to meet all your housing needs. But before you sign up with an online company, consider the benefits of meeting personally with a real estate agent or broker who can represent your best interests in the transaction.A full service real estate broker will be informed about the current trends in your local market. He or she will personally show you properties that satisfy your unique requirements. When you want to discuss your options for a home mortgage loan, your broker will refer you to a reputable mortgage professional who can help you choose a loan that meets your specific needs. Your broker will have a working relationship with home in... 01/17/2007

Home sellers may be lured by the promises of agents that offer to list and sell your home for a discount commission. But consider the advantages of using a full service broker who will represent your best interests in the transaction without cutting corners.A full service real estate broker will be informed about the current trends in your local market. He or she will share valuable information about the selling price of comparable properties, to help you determine a realistic price for your home. If your home needs repair prior to listing, a reputable local contractor will be recommended. Buyers will be pre-qualified and personally escorted through your home. After showing your house, your broker will give you feedback from buyers and agents, negotiate the price and terms of the purcha... 01/17/2007

01/17/2007

DANS TOP 10 TIPS TO SUCCESSFULL HOME BUYINGTip #1: Get Pre-Approved 1st!!!!There is nothing more frustrating in real estate then finding a client a home they really want and finding out their pre-approval was not done correctly or their not pre-approved at all. Agents representing sellers will recommend 99.9% of the time not to accept offers without solid pre-approvals. Pre-approvals also keep us focused on homes that fit your financial profile.  Tip #2: Work with ONE agent......ME!!!!Working with one agent will get you quicker results; your agent will be completely dedicated to you if your dedicated to them. If your calling more than one agent your getting the same information from 2 or more different agents, it can get confusing, frustrating and time consuming, you get the same inform... 01/17/2007

Holiday Inn Select, 1801 N. Naper Boulevard11:30 AM - 1:30 PMMayor George Pradel will highlight the year's accomplishments and outline the city's objectives for 2007 in the annual State of the City Address. Registration will begin at 11:30 a.m. with lunch being served at noon. The mayor's presentation will begin at 12:30 p.m. Cost for the luncheon is $25 for Chamber members and $35 for non-members. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to make reservations, please call(630) 355-4141 01/17/2007

WINNER Naperville, ILTop 100 rank: 2Population: 141,600Compare Naperville to Top 10 Best Places     Financial City statsBest places averageMedian family income(per year)$112,258$76,893Family purchasing power(annual, cost-of-living adjusted)$85,693$68,109Sales tax6.75%6.55%State income tax rate(highest bracket)3.00%6.46%State income tax rate(lowest bracket)3.00%2.74%Auto insurance premiums(Average for the state)$2,006$2,207Job growth %(2000-2005)12.14%10.97%Housing City statsBest places averageMedian home price$329,000$259,566Home price gain(2004-2005)11.50%9.26%Education City statsBest places averageColleges, universities andprofessional schools108Junior colleges andtechnical institutes00Test scores reading(% +/- state average)31.1%13.3%Test scores math(% +/- state average)31.7%16.9%% s... 01/17/2007

Often the first offer to come in is the best one. When a house is fresh on the market, there is usually a rush of activity and the buyers who see it during the first thirty days are likely to be the most interested. While your home is new on the market, it will receive the most exposure, so the chances of finding a serious buyer are greater during this period of time. If you are fortunate enough to receive an offer right away, you will probably be better off if you accept it and work on resolving any issues that arise relative to price and terms.Scott GeramiBroker/OwnerReal Time Realty630-357-4800Naperhome.com Move2geneva.com Move2Naperville.com  01/15/2007

The beginning of negotiations is usually the end of many months of hard work for the buyer or seller. The work ahead requires skill in order to maintain a strong position.Sellers can lose their advantage if they do not counter an offer that a buyer has made. Even if the opening offer is beneath what the seller feels is reasonable, it is advisable for the seller to respond with a slight reduction from the asking price. The most important component in negotiating is good communication.The best way to handle a low offer is to counter it with definite terms that are favorable to the seller. A counter offer has two advantages: 1) it keeps the buyer interested, and 2) it moves the negotiation forward and gives the buyer the opportunity to submit another offer that the seller is more likely to... 01/15/2007

If you are selling your home, you should be prepared for the day your first offer comes in. When your real estate agent calls to say there is an offer on your home, you will naturally get excited. When your agent describes the offer, you will probably experience an adrenaline rush. Whether the offer is good or bad, you should just remain calm--and discuss a counter-offer with your agent. The negotiations of a purchase begin with the buyer's ideal terms and a counter offer that communicates the seller's ideal terms. A good agent will look beyond the price when evaluating an offer. If the buyers' financial qualifications are shaky or the offer includes potentially problematic terms or conditions, your real estate agent should be there to minimize any risk to you and to address these items... 01/14/2007

Many of the offers real estates submit for prospective buyers aren't exactly what the sellers want. The price may be lower than they are asking or there might be terms included in the offer that will require negotiation. What happens after the offer is submitted?The seller's real estate agent will present the offer to the sellers, along with the buyer's qualifications. If the sellers accept the offer, then a purchase agreement is written and signed by both parties. If the sellers counter the offer, the next action is initiated by the buyers when they make a response, either accepting the counter offer or countering it with yet another figure. If you want to buy a particular house, your chances of succeeding are greater if your initial offer is as close to the asking price as possible. Y... 01/14/2007

Negotiations for the sale of a home can be affected by emotional factors. For example, it is easy to be offended by someone who is making an offer on your property. Even if the buyers love your house, they are trying to negotiate the best possible price and terms. They probably will not let you know how much they want your home until they have negotiated a purchase agreement. Buyers almost never write offers that please the sellers entirely. Offers and counter offers may be traded back and forth over days or weeks. Terms of the sale will be discussed and deadlines will be set. When there is finally a meeting of the minds, both sides may feel relieved but exhausted by the process. One of a real estate agent's most important jobs is to act as the intermediary during such negotiations. Wit... 01/13/2007

History at it's heart - The Naper Settlement   Right in central Naperville is a piece of land preserved as it might have been in the 1800's. A cultural museum called the Naper SettlementLocated on Aurora Avenue, just steps from Naperville's thriving downtown and renowned riverwalk... the Naper Settlement preserves a long and rich history to the benefit of the community. A 13 acre 19th century village complete with costumed villagers.Enter the Settlement at the Pre-Emption house, a hotel and tavern where Grover Cleveland and Abraham Lincoln would stop for a pint or two. Abraham Lincoln once gave a speech from the Pre-emption house roof. This building is a recreation of the original which was located just a couple of blocks away. The expansive grounds are home to many historical buildings... 01/12/2007

As a homebuyer, you may have found the perfect new house for your growing family, but what if it is a little out of your price range? You might list your current home for more than it is worth and be lucky enough to find a qualified buyer who is willing to pay the price, but it is impossible to know in advance what your home will sell for. If you want to sell your home quickly, have a frank and detailed conversation with your real estate agent to determine the best price for the house. Setting your price within 5% of the fair market value of your home greatly increases your chances of getting solid offers that will result in a relatively quick sale. Don't buy and sell so close to your target amount that you become anxious when the numbers don't meet your expectations. There may be other... 01/12/2007

Your home has been listed for just a few days, and your real estate agent calls with great news. The people who looked at the house last night have come in with an offer to buy it! When the agents arrive to present the offer, you are excited and hopeful. As they explain the price and terms, however, you feel that the price is a little too low and that the offer contains some terms that will be inconvenient for you to meet. Should you try to work it out or wait for something better? Work it out! Often the first offer to come in is the best one. When a house is fresh on the market, there is usually a flurry of activity and the buyers who see it during the first few days of the listing are likely to be very interested. If you are fortunate enough to get a solid offer right away, it will pr... 01/12/2007

Naperville, IllinoisNaperville is a very old community and features lots of real estate options for homeowners. As the fourth-largest city in Illinois, Naperville has focused inward on developing the community. Homes in Naperville tend to be priced higher than surrounding areas (on average) but many residents feel it's a fair trade for living in a city ranked in the Top 10 places to live in the United States. You can find a good mixture of Naperville real estate - from century-old mansions to modern townhomes. There are also a good number of high-end real estate options - homes for sale in Naperville priced above $1,000,000 are plentiful. The only major group of homes you won't find too many of in Naperville is new construction. If you're looking for high-end housing, the City of Naperv... 01/07/2007

December Market Conditions Detached Style Single-Family Homes The median price of homes on the market in Naperville remained rose slightly in December, going from $569,450 in November to $574,900 in December. Also, the average price of homes sold during the month of December rose fairly significantly from $418,250 in November to $455,250. However, this signals more of a return to normal than a large advance as the average price of homes sold in November was the third lowest monthly value over the last two years. The number of homes on the market continued to drop from a high of 1,462 in June to 963 in December. During the same month, the number of homes sold in Naperville actually rose slightly from a low of 80 in November to 88 in December. The reduction of inventory coupled with an in... 01/07/2007