RTR Motorsports  is looking for sponsers for the 2007 Michelin Challenge series http://www.viperdays.com and the Viper Racing League http://www.viperracingleague.com/ So far Real Time Realty is the featured sponser for next year but we are looking for supporting sponsers to help fund the full season. Last year I was fortunate to win 2006 Michelin Series Rooky of the Year. The series will  start in New Orleans, LA in mid January and end in October in Topeka KS. We will be traveling as far east as Virginia and as far as California. The Viper Racing League (VRL) was founded in 1999 for the sole purpose of its drivers to learn how to race "wheel to wheel".  This is an entry level series and there are no cash prizes but trophies are of good quality.There are currently forty three licensed ra... 11/27/2006

AS CON ARTISTS ARE "VISHING" YOU A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON TO YOUR FACE, WHILE THEY MAKE OFF WITH YOUR CASH. DON'T MISS LEARNING ABOUT THIS ALARMING NEW WAY THAT CRIMINALS ARE SEEKING TO STEAL FROM YOU, AND PASS IT ON TO ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO PROTECT AND INFORM THEM AS WELL. 11/27/2006

Thanksgiving Day, a function which originated in New England two or three centuries ago when those people recognized that they really had something to be thankful for - annually, not oftener - if they had succeeded in exterminating their neighbors, the Indians, during the previous twelve months instead of getting exterminated by their neighbors, the Indians.  Thanksgiving Day became a habit, for the reason that in the course of time, as the years drifted on, it was perceived that the exterminating had ceased to be mutual and was all on the white man's side, consequently on the Lord's side; hence it was proper to thank the Lord for it and extend the usual annual compliments.  ~Mark Twain 11/23/2006

I would like to see a system that would allow buyers and agents rate homes currently on the market. I am so sick of wasting my time and my client's time going to homes that sound good on the description but are misrepresented just to draw buyers in. If anyone knows of such a system I would be very interested. Scott GeramiBroker/OwnerReal Time Realtyhttp://www.naperhomes.com/630-357-4800 11/19/2006

I was reading a local magazine this morning and I ran across an article that was talking about how desperate sellers are becoming. Apparently a seller of a 1.475m house offered a brand new H3 Hummer as part of the deal! What would happen if we were in a bad market? Naperville has enjoyed many years of double digit appreciation that houses selling before they hit the market that now that we are experiencing a Normal market Sellers are freaking out and Buyers think they could pick up properties at 80-90% of asking price. I feel that if a seller properly stages their home and lists it at market value it would sell in a reasonable amount of time.Scott GeramiBroker/OwnerReal Time Realtyhttp://www.naperhomes.com/630-357-4800  11/19/2006

 As of November 16, 2006....   Sold PropertiesSold Price Range# ListingsAvg. Days on Mkt$150,000 - $199,999110$200,000 - $249,9992960$250,000 - $299,99911366$300,000 - $349,99924053$350,000 - $399,99923170$400,000 - $449,99918071$450,000 - $499,99919461$500,000 - $549,99913279$550,000 - $599,99910980$600,000 - $699,99913782$700,000 - $799,9995896$800,000 - $899,99949133$900,000 - $999,99921196$1,000,000 - $1,499,99960243$1,500,000 - And Over15231  Sold Properties SummaryAvg. MTMedian Sold PriceAvg. Sold PriceMax. Sold PriceMin. Sold PriceTotal Volume81$445,000$504,513$2,295,000$155,000$791,581,312 Source; Multiple Listing Service of Northern Illinois 11/16/2006

As of November 16, 2006...  Sold PropertiesSold Price Range# ListingsAvg. Days on MktLess than $149,99911$150,000 - $199,999555$200,000 - $249,999548$250,000 - $299,99915$300,000 - $349,9991178$350,000 - $399,999130$450,000 - $499,99911$600,000 - $699,999143$900,000 - $999,9991228  Sold Properties SummaryAvg. MTMedian Sold PriceAvg. Sold PriceMax. Sold PriceMin. Sold PriceTotal Volume59$214,500$298,524$959,000$137,500$5,074,900Source: Multiple Listing Service of Northern Illinois 11/16/2006

As of November 16, 2006....Sold PropertiesSold Price Range# ListingsAvg. Days on MktLess than $149,9999458$150,000 - $199,99922246$200,000 - $249,99922343$250,000 - $299,9997846$300,000 - $349,9997091$350,000 - $399,99936101$400,000 - $449,9991859$450,000 - $499,999564$500,000 - $549,9998111$550,000 - $599,999823$600,000 - $699,99910141$700,000 - $799,999744$800,000 - $899,9995307$900,000 - $999,9994210$1,000,000 - $1,499,9992539$1,500,000 - And Over1150  Sold Properties SummaryAvg. MTMedian Sold PriceAvg. Sold PriceMax. Sold PriceMin. Sold PriceTotal Volume59$214,000$254,819$1,850,000$100,000$201,561,792 Source: Multiple Listing Service of Northern Illinois 11/16/2006

As of November 16, 2006....Sold PropertiesSold Price Range# ListingsAvg. Days on Mkt$200,000 - $249,9991175$250,000 - $299,999470$300,000 - $349,999389$350,000 - $399,9995100$400,000 - $449,9995100$450,000 - $499,9994152$500,000 - $549,9994161$550,000 - $599,9991102$600,000 - $699,9994144$700,000 - $799,9991180$1,000,000 - $1,499,9991280  Sold Properties SummaryAvg. MTMedian Sold PriceAvg. Sold PriceMax. Sold PriceMin. Sold PriceTotal Volume125$433,000$467,267$1,299,900$232,000$15,419,800Source: Multiple Listing Service of Northern Illinois 11/16/2006

   As of November 16, 2006....   Sold PropertiesSold Price Range# ListingsAvg. Days on Mkt$150,000 - $199,999110$200,000 - $249,9992960$250,000 - $299,99911366$300,000 - $349,99924053$350,000 - $399,99923170$400,000 - $449,99918071$450,000 - $499,99919461$500,000 - $549,99913279$550,000 - $599,99910980$600,000 - $699,99913782$700,000 - $799,9995896$800,000 - $899,99949133$900,000 - $999,99921196$1,000,000 - $1,499,99960243$1,500,000 - And Over15231  Sold Properties SummaryAvg. MTMedian Sold PriceAvg. Sold PriceMax. Sold PriceMin. Sold PriceTotal Volume81$445,000$504,513$2,295,000$155,000$791,581,312 Source; Multiple Listing Service of Northern Illinois 11/16/2006

I just compared data for closed properties in Naperville Illinois for October 1st 2005 thru October 31st 2005 and compared it to the same time this year. Findings:#1-27.74% less homes closed in 2006. #2-The homes that did close took 21.68% longer than the homes closed in 2005. (101 days in 2006 vs. 83 days in 2005) #3-The sale Price to list price ratio dropped from 97.12% in 2005 to 96.21 in 2006. #4-The average sale price of closed properties rose in 2006. 17.45% I think it's interesting that the prices are going up but the volume is going down? I will be keeping an eye on these stats month by month. If anyone has a comment or opinion on what exactly might be causing this to happen please feel free to contact me. Enthusiastically, Scott Gerami-ABR,GRI,e-ProBroker OwnerReal Time Realty,... 11/15/2006

After years of hearing from successful sellers that they didn't have to do a thing to sell, they now need to understand how they can stand out from their competition. Here is a handy list to help sellers determine if some features in their home might need some attention. Test all door and cabinet knobs. Replace mismatched or inexpensive hardware for a quick update. Buyers rarely can get beyond a knob that comes off in their hand as they attempt to use a door.  Take the time to paint walls, trim and ceilings. Keep adjoining rooms in one color palette, which will make your home appear larger. Clean up spills from messy painters. Hire professionals to paint mullions on windows and staircase spindles.  Slipcover mismatched furniture in a room that requires visual unification.  Discover way... 11/14/2006

  Many homebuyers frequently wonder, "If I am shopping for a home loan will my credit be affected each time a credit report inquiry is made?" It's a logical and intelligent question to ask; the answer is: not significantly, if the credit checks are done in a short period of time. When a credit check is made by a potential lender it is called a hard inquiry. When a hard inquiry occurs it does have an impact on your credit score. However, when you're shopping for a mortgage or a car loan, credit bureaus typically cluster the hard inquiries together because the credit reporting bureaus understand that the consumer is shopping for the best loan. "So for example, if you're shopping for a new mortgage and three potential lenders pull your credit score within three weeks, that is looked at as ... 11/14/2006

CLOSED LISTINGS - Detached Single  MLS #Street #CPStr NameCityArea# RmsBedsBathsLOList PriceSold PrClosed DateStatus Date1  06193082311 Danbury DRNAPERVILLE540731.122993$279,900$267,00011/06/200611/07/20062  062688311459 ENCINA DRIVENAPERVILLE54074223120$310,000$296,00011/13/200611/13/20063  062591921412 WestglenNAPERVILLE540842605$319,900$291,00011/01/200611/02/20064  06219938230 ELMWOOD DRNAPERVILLE540952.123156$329,900$290,00011/03/200611/03/20065  06280205375 LARCHMONT CTNAPERVILLE540732.121361$349,900$349,90011/06/200611/07/20066  0626057811S032 West StreetNAPERVILLE540942.123268$359,900$337,00011/01/200611/01/20067  062267771519 CHARLOTTE CIRCLENAPERVILLE540842.122782$367,990$361,00010/16/200611/11/20068  06309721401 MENOMINEE LANENAPERVILLE540942.123038$394,900$360,00011/09/20061... 11/14/2006

It's interesting that in a recent Fine Homebuilding magazine, where they picked the 25 most important homes in America, Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater graced the cover. And, not only does the house sit over water, but there's water running inside which is causing damage.Now, what does FLW have to do with Naperville you ask. We have an historic district in the downtown area and several homes were built utilizing FLW's studio. It's easy to recognize these homes...once you know what to look for.In fact, Illinois has probably the largest number of FLW homes, as he lived in Oak Park, Illinois, a near western suburb. His family home is now part of the trust and they have tours of the house. The original furniture is still in the house. And, you can see the Japanese prints he loved in his o... 11/13/2006

According to NAR's online magazine, "Front porches are making a comeback - sort of.After porches practically disappeared in the last half of the 20th century, the number of new houses with porches has increased about 11 percent in the past decade, according to the National Association of Home Builders."  Interesting because now that I think about it, what I've seen in some of the newer Naperville construction homes are pseudo porches...a small cement area with a covered roof at the front door.  We have a 'real' porch...big enough to put out plants, a love seat, tables and chairs. And, during the summer months it's a quiet place to read or relax as we have shrubbery that provides a screen.   How do you feel about a front porch? 11/10/2006

                   Naperville single family sold homes from January 1, to October 31, 2006 There were 8   2 bedroom single family homes sold with an average price of $312,175 and a market time of 46 days. There were 152   3 bedroom single family homes sold with an average price of $348,800 and a market time of 65 days. There were 505   4 bedroom single family homes sold with an average price of $534,500 and a market time of 79 days. There were 56   5 bedroom single family homes sold with an average price of $762,335 and a market time of 127 days.                          Statistics from Multiple Listing Service of Northern Illinois 11/10/2006

We're getting close to cold, snow and ice weather.And, I thought that I'd share with you my emergency box which is in the trunk of my car.I use a transfer box and put the following items in it:A fleece blanketA Roll of duct tapeA flashlightA small portable radioA plastic bag filled with food, nuts, raisins. Products that would be edible under most circumstancesA bag of kitty litterA can of WD-40A bottle of window washing fluidAn ice scraperWhat else would you put into your emergency box? 11/02/2006

Naperville Stats    as of    October 26, 2006                                 Condo & Town homes  Currently there are 295    2(or less) bedroom homes on the market with an average list price of $248,024 and a market time of 105 days. Currently there are 122   3 bedroom homes on the market with an average list price of $388,811 and a market time of 115 days.                           Currently there are 2   4 bedroom homes on the market with an average list price of $714,850 and a market time of 79 days. Highest Priced Listing: $1,800,000 Lowest Priced Listing: $107,000 Statistics compiled from MLSNI 10/26/2006

Naperville Stats    as of    October 23, 2006 Single Family detached homes Currently there are 178   3 bedroom homes on the market with an average list price of $426,881 and a market time of 118 days. Currently there are 765   4 bedroom homes on the market with an average list price of $699,566 and a market time of 156 days. Currently there are 139   5 bedroom homes on the market with an average list price of $1,142,634 and a market time of 199 days.   Highest Priced Listing: $3,300,000 Lowest Priced Listing: $234,900  Statistics compiled from MLSNI         10/23/2006