As March is behind us and April brings us much warmer weather let's take a minute to breakdown the latest market activity for our wonderful village.  We are lucky to have a diverse housing stock.  From condo's to 20 acre farmettes and everything in between, you can find a home that suits your needs in our town. Although Oswego has a downtown reminiscent of times gone by we also have the latest in strip malls with everything from Home Depot to your favorite franchise restaurant or fast food.  With our more prominent neighbors - Aurora and Naperville garnering more news we manage to provide great schools, diverse housing stock and plenty of green space for bike trails, farms and even a golf course.   We have 152 active attached single family homes.  This category covers condo's, townhomes... 04/02/2010

Since I am now officially in Oswego I decided to add the local market activity for this past month.  I can't believe we are already in April!  If you look at the chart below you will understand the following numbers:   Currently we have 257 Active Listings - Out of those we have 172 market listings, 6 Foreclosures/REO, 41 short sales and 38 new construction.  We currently have 67% regular market listings, 16% short sales, 2% foreclosures and 15% new home construction for those of you who like a different perspective.   In March there were 19 sales in the single family category.  Of those 19 sold 6 were foreclosures/REO, 4 short sales, 3 new construction with only 6 regular market listings.  We are behind 2009 March Sold's which were 27 total with 11 foreclosures/REO, 2 short sales, 3 ne... 04/02/2010

As a home buyer one of the most important things for you to do before you go and talk to a lender is to get your free annual credit report.  The official site is: AnnualCreditReport.com   There are others that may give you a free credit report but a lot try to sell you other products. Why should you check your credit report before going to a lender?  If you check your own credit report it is not reported as an inquiry to the credit bureau's.  Too many inquiries like, too much credit can have an affect on your credit score or F.I.C.O. score.   FICO scores are provided by the Fair Isaac Corp. via a variety of sources.  Beacon scores are another similar provider.  They are all based on algorithms developed by individual companies that are trade secrets that take into account various aspect... 03/09/2010

Having come from a corporate background where communication was almost an art form, I am sometimes surprised when I am in the middle of a home transaction to find that others involved in the transaction may not communicate in the same way or frequency that I am used to. I realize that we have a cross section of individuals involved in a transaction - the Main Players - Buyer & Seller - Supporting Players - Listing Agent & Buyers Agent - and then the Cast of Specialists: Lender/Mortgage Broker/Bank  - Key Player - Without him/her  the rest of the cast would not be able to honor their commitment.        Underwriter- Verifies credit, employment, assets, financials, meets lender guidelines and works with mortgage broker/bank to get the famous "clear to close".        Appraiser - Inspects ho... 03/06/2010

Announcing my brand new newbie website: www.foxvalleychicagorealestate.com It's just minutes old and still evolving but if you are ready to buy your 1st home or leave your current home for a new one why don't you start your search there.  You will have access to search for homes in the Northern Illinois area not just the Fox Valley area.  Eventually you will be able to read all my active rain blogs, call my favorite lenders and get pre-approved for your mortgage. If you have suggestions on what you would like on a real estate site just contact me and I will try to incorporate it into my site. I am a low key, friendly person that personally does not like a hard sell approach in transacting any business.  I believe helping you understand the home buying process and trying to make it as st... 03/04/2010

I am only human...I put off many things that I don't like to do...laundry, filing and sometimes thank you cards.  This past summer I was able to help a few 1st time homeowners close on homes before the original homeowners credit was extended. With the current extension we will again have many homeowners put it off until there are only a couple of months left to get that contract signed and approved by April 30, 2010 and closed by June 30, 2010. Looking for a home can be a challenging event in the best of times.  If it's your first, the whole process can be intimidating and confusing.  New terms, more paperwork, time involved in narrowing down your choices, finding someone to trust that will help you through what looks like a labyrinth. So start your search early.  Find a real estate age... 11/27/2009

Late in August I decided to set a goal of 30 bike rides before September 30th.  Well, yesterday I passed my halfway point.  I live in a duplex in the Lakeview subidivision in Oswego, IL.  It's a mix of single family homes with duplexes.  We have some wetlands with ponds and some great biking trails that run through the subdivisions and along some country roads.  The journey of getting to my 30 rides has been interesting.  I have been going to a health club of one sort or another for over 25 years so am not someone new to staying fit.  I work out 5-6 times a week and ride the stationary bike as part of my overall fitness program.  Sitting on a staionary bike at the gym and riding a bike on a crisp summer morning is the difference between eating at McDonald's and eating at Morton's.  You... 09/14/2009

  Would you like a list of available bank owned homes for sale in Oswego IL? I would be happy to email them to you for free! The list you will receive will be updated, current, detailed and include photos on most of the properties. If you are interested please contact me now by clicking here. Send me the FREE list. Visit my website at www.markroncone.com 04/27/2009

MAINSTREET ORGANIZATION OF REALTORSMarch 2009 Sales for Detached Single Family Oswego IL  Number of Homes SoldSold month to date 2009 = 25Sold month to date 2008 = 18Month to date % change = +38.9%Average Sale Price2009 = $274,5422008 = $246,340Month to date % change = +11.4%Oswego IL had a great March 2009!Click here to search homes for sale in Oswego IL 04/15/2009

An opportunity like this does not come around too often. With the recent signing of a major housing stimulus bill, it's now a great time to close on your first home. On July 30, 2008, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 was passed, which includes a new, temporary tax credit as an incentive for first-time homebuyers. With this bill, first-time homebuyers may qualify for a tax credit of up to $7,500 for the purchase of a principal residence. Contact LaNita Cates with RE/MAX of Joliet by calling 630-341-1545 or visiting www.lanitacates.com or emailing me at lanitacates@yahoo.com. LaNita works in Joliet, Crest Hill, Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Plainfield, Naperville, Aurora, Oswego, Montgomery, Yorkville and other areas! I've worked with buyers in the South Loop, Morris, Orland Park,... 11/06/2008

There are many fantastic real estate deals in Oswego and the surrounding areas. Right now in Oswego there are 22 single family homes for sale under the price of $200,000. An additional 21 more homes are priced between $200,000-$225,000. If you are in the market for a home this is a great time to buy. Contact me today! 630-212-1118 or mroncone@remax.net  Search homes for sale at www.markroncone.com. 10/30/2008

What's happening with Home Sales in Oswego Illinois you Ask?  Here's the real story.  The graph below illustrates where the local home sales are for the month of September, 2008.  So what does this graph actually tell me?  This graph is only one of the tools I use to illustrate current transaction activity in our real estate market at any given time.  This information, you would agree, is critical to the success of my Sellers.   The knowledge we can take from this information is just how many homes are receiving not only offers, but contracts for the month of September 2008 in Oswego Illinois.  So, according to this graph, you will see that 5.3% of the homes listed for sale in Oswego Illinois received agreed contracts to purchase... Roughly 5 out of every 100 homes for sale - whereas ne... 10/24/2008

Join me for my first neighborhood video tour of the Churchill Club subdivision in Oswego, Illinois. Churchill Club is located just South of Route 34 and East of Douglas Road in Oswego, Illinois. Churchill Club is a 438 acre community built by Town & Country Homes. Three different communities make up Churchill Club - the townhomes of Churchill Club, the single family homes of churchill club, and "Steeplechase" the 55+ community. The community will consist of 775 houses, 224 townhomes and 212 active adult homes (126 single family ranches and 86 duplexes). Bo Buchanan, Kettley Realtors 58 Chicago Rd, Oswego IL. 60543 (630) 846-4663 IllinoisHouseHunter.com|OswegoHouseHunter.com|MontgomeryHouseHunter.com|YorkvilleHouseHunter.com 05/23/2008

"Courage is not the lack of fear. It is acting in spite of it." -- Mark Twain, author ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ People who want to move mountains must start by carrying away small stones. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ "Most successful men have not achieved their distinction by having some new talent or opportunity presented to them. They have developed the opportunity that was at hand." -- Bruce Barton ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ "Learning is not attained by chance; it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence." -- Abigail Adams __________________... 05/22/2008

I was out mowing the lawn today and couldn't help but pause to look at my house.  I realized that I don't usually stand on the sidewalk and just look at my house.  Do you?  So I walked up and down the sidewalk looking at my house from different angles - like a buyer driving by would.  It's important to remember - the first tme a buyer sees your house, they will probably be driving by.  In two or three minutes they will form a lasting first impression.  Will they turn around and drive by again?  Will they call an agent to schedule a showing?  Will they write down that phone number and call for more information?  As a seller - you want the answer to all those questions to be YES.  Here are a few tips on how you can stage your home from the curb:  Edge the lawn along your driveway, sidewal... 05/19/2008

"Learning is not attained by chance; it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence." -- Abigail Adams _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ "There is no excellence uncoupled with difficulty". Ovid _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Set S.M.A.R.T. goals: Ones that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Tangible. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Stand firm for what you know is right, it's wise, as I have found. The mighty oak was once a nut that simply held is ground. Agnes W. Thomas ______________________________________________________________________________... 05/18/2008

Bankruptcy: A legal alternative that allows the borrower to clear any debt obligations by restructuring the payment terms. A bankruptcy stops the foreclosure process until the bankruptcy process is completed or the court allows the lender to resume the foreclosure.  Deed in Lieu: Voluntary conveyance of title in exchange for a discharge of debt.  The house must be free of other liens and must have clear title.  In simple terms, the borrower agrees to transfer title of the property to the lender, who accepts the property in exchange for the total debt.  Deed of Trust: A legal document that dictates the terms of a loan used to buy a property and transfers the ownership of the property to a third party called a trustee until the loan has been paid in full.  Default: Occurs when the borrow... 05/16/2008

The world is primarily constituted on the basis of harmony.Everything works in cooperation with something else. Personal relationships are the fertile soilfrom which all advancement, all success,all achievement in real life grows. Put yourself in another's place.Only then will you know why they think and do certain things.Once you understand how quickly people will grant your requestswhen those requests appeal to their self interest,you can have practically anything you go after. It's through cooperation not conflict,that you'll achieve your greatest success.  05/16/2008

Number One: Absolutely DO NOT ever deed your property to a third party without absolute confirmation your loan has been paid off! Note: if you believe this option is best for you, please consult with an attorney - not the buyer's attorney - before completing the transaction. If you deed your property to a third party, that party then controls the property. The new owner can rent the property (and keep the rent), attempt to sell the property to make a profit, move into the property or use the property in other ways. What the new owner might not do is make mortgage payments, and that could become a big problem for you. Just because you no longer own the property does not mean you are no longer responsible for the mortgage loan obligations. The lender made the loan to you. And until it is... 05/15/2008

" Winning starts with beginning." -- Robert H. Schuller _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ "Hope, purpose and determination are not merely mental states. They have electrochemical connections that affect the immune system. --Norman Cousin _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ "Nothing ever built arose to touch the skies unless some man dreamed that it should, some man believed that it could, and some man willed that it must." -- Charles Kettering, inventor _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ "Sometimes you must fight and win, just because all the pain and suffering you experienced up to ... 05/15/2008