Yesterday I sat with my buyers as they signed contracts for new construction in Plainfield, IL. It was extremely interesting to hear the sales lady WHO WORKS FOR THE BUILDER act as if radon was pixie dust. This is how it went: She gave them a radon pamplet and said "we have to give this to you guys". She handed them the radon disclosure form and said "this just tells you that we don't know if there is radon around and no one tests for it." That was it. Well, I interuppted and said to my buyers "Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. You can't see it, smell it or taste it but it is in the air you breathe." I went on to explain more about it. The sales lady (who works for the builder) said "I've done hundreds of contracts here and I think only 2 people tested and there wasn't a... 11/14/2010

Mark your calendars for Monday, November 8th as District 202 and Kennedy Middle School welcomes novelist, Kathy Reichs.  Ms. Reichs was the inspiration behind the TV show, Bones.  She will be promoting her newest book entitled, Virals.  The storyline is based on the Tory Brennan, niece of the forensic anthropologist from the Bones novels. Kathy Reichs hails from Chicago.  Along with her credentials as a best-selling author, she is also a forensic anthropologist and professor of anthropology at the University of North Carolina. Kids of all ages will want to come out and greet Ms. Reichs.  It's a great opportunity for Moms, Dads, kids and grandparents to spend some quality family time and have fun.  For more information please go to:  http://www.psd202.org/news_release.php?newsitem=1728. ... 10/28/2010

(New!) When is Foreclosure Removed from Your Credit Report? Use this handy guide to figure out how quickly you can buy a home after a major financial setback when applying for a loan through FHA, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac. Read Foreclosure Help: 5 Pros You Need on Your Team Know which experts provide foreclosure help—often at no cost to you—and how to find them. Read Foreclosure Alternative: The Short Sale A short sale is far from hassle-free, but it’s a better alternative than foreclosure. And now you’ve got a little help from your friends in D.C. Here are the facts about short sales and how to get started. Read Facing Foreclosure: What to Do Right Now If you’re facing foreclosure, don’t panic: Take steps right now to save your home or at least lessen the blow of its loss. Read Visit... 10/27/2010

 SPOOK-TACULAR Hanted House Decorating Contest! Wednesday, October 27 and Thursday, October 28, 6-10pm Participate in the 4th annual Halloween outdoor house decorating contest! The contest is open to all Plainfield Park District residents. Prizes will be given in two categories: family-friendly haunted house and scariest house. Judging will take place on October 27 and 28. Judging will take place from the sidewalk only. All decorations must be visible from the sidewalk. A committee will judge all entries and winners will be contacted Friday, October 29. All contest decisions are final. A map of address will be available on www.plainfieldparkdistrict.om. Registration deadline is Friday, October 22 and there is a $10 registration fee. 10/14/2010

Plainfield, IL Real Estate Market Report, 10/10/10Currently, Plainfield, IL has 486 single family homes for sale with a median list price of $223,500.  There are 32 homes under contract.  The average market time is 191 days.  Prices range from $110,900 to $410,000.  See all of these listings at http://www.roakehomes.com.  In the last 30 days, 67 homes for sale have closed at a median price of $203,500 and 100 homes have had the listing expire or have been cancelled.  Sold homes had an average list price of $263,855 and were on the market, on average, for 170 days.  Expired/cancelled Plainfield homes for sale averaged $273,979 with average market time of 242 days.  Of the 67 closings, 34 were distressed with a median sales price of $189,000 and average sales price of $217,622.  Average m... 10/10/2010

Six homes sold in Plainfield IL during the week of October 4-8, 2010. Only 1 was a foreclosure and 1 sold as a short sale. 2116 Beldon Ct. $145,000 (S) 2105 Ashbrook Ct. $179,750 1800 Westbrook Ct. $215,000 5616 Riviera Blvd. $215,000 25906 Meadowland Circle $385,000 22532 Lake Mary Drive $402,000 Average sold price was $256,958 and average market time was 98 days. 10/08/2010

Haunted Pony Rides: 2-2:30pm October 24, Normantown Trails Equestrian Center, 12151 S. Normantown Road. Ride a Halloween-costumed pony. Pony rides in the indoor arena last 10 minutes and cost $10 each. Please note that the pony rides are appropriate for children ages 5-10 years with a height and weight of less than 4'6" and under 100 lbs. All riders must have a signed release frorm and helmets will be provided. Long pants and covered shoes are recommended. It is also recommended to call ahead of time to book a pony ride as those with reservations will be served first. Call the Normantown Trails Equestrian Center at 815-254-1950 or visit www.plainfieldparkdistrict.com. 10/08/2010

Winter is right around the corner and if you have children, you know it's hard to get them out of the house to get some activity when its freezing cold outside ! It might be a fun idea to check out the YMCA in Plainfield. There is a one-time joiners fee of $120 for family, $80 for adult and $40 for youth. Then you pay a monthly fee of $68 for family, $47 for adult, $32 for teen (14-17) and $27 for youth (6-13). Swimming, sports, after school care....they have everything! Go to www.jolietymca.org and check it out! 10/03/2010

Are you a first time homebuyer and not sure where to start? Do you wonder if you need to find the house first and THEN talk to a lender? Do you know what you should look for in a home that fits your needs now but will be good for resale later?  Does a short sale make sense for you?  If you are renting, and your lease doesn't expire for another 6 months, when is the right time to look? Should I consider a townhome/condo or a single family home? Call LaNita Cates with REMAX Realty of Joliet at 630-341-1545 or email me at lanitacates.com.  As a 15 year resident of Plainfield, I can help you. I will walk you through every single step from beginning to end. I promise it will be a fun and informative home buying experience! 10/02/2010

When you're in the mood for good times and great cuisine, be sure to check out Sapporo Japanese Restaurant. The restaurant is located in one of the area's most pleasant settings and is known for its delightful staff and superb cuisine. The menu at Sapporo Japanese Restaurant features a wide array of great selections, made from only the freshest and highest quality ingredients, with something sure to please every member of your group. Sapporo Japanese Restaurant has established itself as one of the area's favorite culinary destinations and is sure to offer you a pleasant and unique dining experience every time you visit. Cuisine TypeJapaneseSteakHours of OperationLunch Mon-Fri 11:30am-2pmDinner Mon-Fri 4pm-9:30pmSat 12:30pm-10:30pmSun 2pm-9pmReservations Suggested Tuesday - Enjoy their $... 09/30/2010

 BIN 48 WINE BAR & GRILLE Welcome to Bin 48 Wine Bar & Grille! A fun restaurant specializing in freshly prepared and reasonably priced cuisine, including over 60 carefully selected wines, many of which can be purchased by the taste, glass or bottle. Their cuisine entrees are served in a relaxed and welcoming setting that you and your friends and family are sure to enjoy. Whether you are in the mood to indulge in something new or just want to enjoy some old favorites, they promise that theirinventive menu and attentive service will leave you truly satisfied. No matter what your occasion calls for or your appetite demands, the friendly staff at Bin 48 Wine Bar & Grille promise to make your next dining experience a pleasant one. Hours of OperationMondayClosedTuesday11:30 AM - Wednesday11:3... 09/29/2010

Central Elementary's HomeComing/Spirit Week is September 27-October 1! We have many events planned, such as our Ice Cream Social which will be held Thursday, September 30, evening and our daily dress up days. The dress up days are as follows: Monday is Pajama Day. Tuesday is Mismatch Day. Wednesday is Sports Team or Jersey Day. Thursday is Rainbow Day (Kindergarten wears yellow, First wears orange, Second wears red, Third wears purple, Fourth wears blue, and Fifth grade wears green). Friday is our spirit day when students are encouraged to wear Central School Spirit Wear or Wildcat Spirit Wear OR students can wear green and white. In addtion, our annual Bubble Day assembly will be held next Friday at 2:45 on the playground (weather permitting). 09/25/2010

Thirteen single family homes sold during the week of September 13-17, 2010. Of the thirteen homes, four were foreclosures and three were short sales. 2808 Billie Limacher Lane, $144,000 (F) 5614 Sierra Highlands Dr., $160,000 (F) 5609 Arbor Gate Dr., $167,000 (S) 15963 S. Arbor Dr., $196,000 2301 White Eagle Dr., $203,500 1708 Sierra Highlands Ct. $212,000 (S) 14310 Meadow Lane $215,000 1703 Kenicott Lane $219,000 11613 Chesapeake Dr., $235,000 (F) 21125 W. Walnut Dr., $270,000 24822 Winterberry Ln., $270,000 (F) 22849 Eider Ct. , $386,000 11534 Century Circle $465,000 (S) For all your real estate needs in the Plainfield and Will County area, call LaNita Cates with REMAX Realty of Joliet. As a Plainfield resident for 15 years, I can help you find your next home or help you sell your cur... 09/21/2010

One of the largest active adult communities in Illinois is located in the far southwestern Chicago suburb of Plainfield. Carillon by Cambridge Homes began in 1989 and completed construction in 2001 with nearly 2,100 homes for residents age 55 and better. This gated active adult community is extremely popular thanks to its fantastic collection of amenities including world-class golf, sprawling clubhouse and vibrant lifestyle. Carillon Plainfield is one of six Chicagoland active adult communities by Cambridge Homes. As the first active adult community in the Chicago area, Carillon in Plainfield is a resort-style gated community offering a wide variety of homes including condominiums, townhomes, coach homes and single family ranch homes. Pricing for the resale homes of Carillon Plainfield ... 09/13/2010

Nine homes sold in Plainfield IL for the week of September 6-10, 2010. Three of those homes were foreclosures. 1716 Silver Ridge Ct., Sold for $150,000 (F) 13959 Idaho Ct. Sold for $190,225 (F) 13006 Grande Poplar Circle Sold for $205,000 (F) 16521 Winding Creek Road Sold for $255,500 24341 Shagbark Drive Sold for $258,000 25308 Knoll Road Sold for $288,500 13647 Golden Meadow Drive Sold for $306,000 16411 S. Harmon Lane Sold for $349,000 26101 Stewart Ridge Drive Sold for $480,000 The average market time was 50 days, which is really incredible in this market! As a 15 year resident of Plainfield, I can help with your home buying and home selling needs. Call LaNita Cates with REMAX Realty of Joliet at 630-341-1545 or visit www.lanitacates.com 09/10/2010

Walking into Moe Joe's Cajun & Caribbean Cuisine is definitely a place you want to visit if you enjoy New Orleans! The food is incredible and it is a fun atmosphere. Some menu items: Jambalaya - Gumbo - Calamari Creole - Southern Fried Green Pepper Rings, Southern Fried Crawfish Tails, Alligator Fricassee, Southern Fried Frog's Legs - Blackened Catfish Food is awesome like I said.. but don't go there if you are on your lunch or in any type of hurry! My husband I went there tonight and were seated and ordered our food and an appetizer at 4:59 (I know this because my son had just texted me). Our appetizer of fried sweet potato fries came at 5:31! A half hour for an appetizer and the place was not busy. 15 minutes later we got our meals - nothing special that would require a long time to c... 09/04/2010

23017 Eider Drive Plainfield, IL 60585 5 bedrooms, 4full baths, 1half bath, with finished walk out basement Asking $450,000   CHECK OUT THE VIRTUAL TOUR!!   Excellent home with great features in Farmstone Ridge!! Award Winning Plainfield Schools... Beautiful brick front was built in 2005. 4/5 bed. 4.5 baths, finished walk out bsmt on park-like area w/ extra special sunsets thrown in. 9' ceilings on 1st floor and 2-story entry. A spacious kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite counters, cherry cabinets, recessed lighting and a huge walk-in pantry. The generous family room with fireplace and built-in cherry cabinetry. A large master bedroom and terrific walk-in master closet. Plus a Jack & Jill bath and a private bath in the other bedroom. That's 3 full baths on the second floor... 09/04/2010

Seventeen homes were sold during the week of August 16-20, 2010. Of the 17 homes, one was a foreclosure and 2 were short sales. Prices ranged from $137,000 to $446,000. The average market time was 70 days. For all your home selling and home buying needs, please call LaNita Cates with REMAX Realty of Joliet. As a 15 year resident of Plainfield, I can help you from beginning to end. Call me at 630-341-1545 or email lanitacates.com. To sign up to view homes, visit www.lanitacates.com 08/24/2010

If you are thinking of selling your current home, please call LaNita Cates with REMAX Realty of Joliet. As a resident of Plainfield for 15 years, I know the area extremely well and can guide you with pricing your home. My marketing is outstanding and one of the best in the area. Open houses, print, internet are just the beginning. Call LaNita Cates with REMAX Realty of Joliet at 630-341-1545 08/24/2010

Yesterday, a report on the status of Obama mortgage-aid program stated that 1/2 of the people receiving government sponsored mortgage relief have dropped out of the program.  More than 2.3 million homes have been repossessed since 2007.  2010 is on pace for almost 1 million more foreclosures.  Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, expects up to 1.5 million foreclosures and short sales in 2011.  This will continue to put downward pressure on home prices with another 5% in losses expected by spring 2011.  In Plainfield, Illinois, 359 of 1352 homes for sale as of 8/24/10 were catagorized as short sale, preforeclosure or REO homes.  This represents 26.6% of the market.  Further,  buyers continue to take advantage of below market as evidenced by 40% of sales in the past month wer... 08/24/2010