If you are tired of the renting game and ready to become a homeowner, go with a realtor that cares and is fun and will make the experience awesome. Visit my website at www.lanitacates.com and read my testimonials so you know the type of realtor I am. Whether it's Plainfield, Joliet, Naperville, Aurora or the surrounding areas, I can help you find the house of your dreams. I'll bring you home!  Contact at top Realtor for REMAX of Joliet, LaNita Cates at 630-341-1545. 10/18/2008

If you are wondering how September, 2008 compared to last year during the same time in Plainfield, Illinois, here you go! September, 2007 - 77 single family homes closed. Lowest price was $165,000 (not a foreclosure or short sale) and the highest was $800,000. September, 2008 - 85 single family homes closed. Lowest price was $130,200 (foreclosure) and the highest price was $579,000. If you are interested in buying or selling in the Plainfield, Joliet, Naperville or Aurora area, contact LaNita Cates with RE/MAX of Joliet. Contact LaNita by calling 630-341-1545 or visiting www.lanitacates.com   10/13/2008

Looking for an alternative to traditional trick or treating? Are you new to the area and unsure of where to go? We have something for you! Play games and win prizes! Use your creative energy to design a costume for yourself and enter the costume contest (for ages 12 and under). Tickets for games are $.50 each/3 for $1. Each game requires 1 ticket. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Location: Central Elementary School, 23723 Getson Dr. Date: October 24, 2008  6:00-8:00pm Contact: Misty Bartlett, (815) 436-8812   bartlett@plainfieldparkdistrict.com 10/07/2008

Add some "spook-tacular" crafts to your table or your front porch. Paint or carve a pumpkin and leave the mess for us. All this and more at the 11th annual Halloween Craft Night. R $3 per person/NR $4.50 per person. Fee includes 1 pumpkin per paid participant. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is required. Everyone completing the crafts must register! Registration deadline is Oct. 20. Program #10104A1. Date: October 23, 2008 6:30pm-8:30pm Location: Four Seasons Park Maintenance Area, Lockport St. just west of I-55 Contact: Misty Bartlett (815) 436-8812   bartlett@plainfieldparkdistrict.com 10/07/2008

Thrills and chills abound on the Halloween Haunted Trail! Strange sites will keep you looking over your shoulder as the hayrack twists and turns through Van Horn Woods. Great fun for the entire family! Ride is approximately 15 minutes long. Enjoy Halloween movies along with free popcorn and hot cider while you wait. Friday: program #10103A1. Saturday: program #10103A2. Pre-Registration: R $5 per person/NR $8 per person. Pre-registration is recommended and will be accepted until Oct. 16. Need not register age 4 and under. At the Event: $8 per person while space is available. Location: Van Horn Woods, Lily Cache Rd. just north of Caton Farm Rd. Time: 7:00 pm - 9:45 pm Dates: 10/17/08 - 10/18/08 Contact: Misty Bartlett (815) 436-8812  bartlett@plainfieldparkdistrict.com 10/07/2008

In order to get a really good grip on what is going on in real estate right now here in Plainfield, it becomes necessary to compare apples to apples. I got a little curious this afternoon about how the Plainfield real estate market in September 2008 compared to the real estate market of September 2006 and also of 2007. With all the doom and gloom of the economy in recent weeks, the obvious question becomes... How is Plainfield fairing through all of this? Well, heres the breakdown of Plainfield Real Estate for September 2006-2008: # of Closed Single Family Properties Price Range September 2006 138 $174,000 - $816,959 September 2007 57 $191,050 - $711,750 September 2008 76 $130,200 - $579,000 In hopes of putting these numbers in proper perspective, its obvious that the number of closed ... 09/23/2008

Buyers know they have the upper hand in negotiating in this real estate market, and they are using that power to get the best deal on a new home in Illinois. But what can you do as a seller to get the best price for your home in shortest amount of time? There are a couple of things to understand about the market that can help you equalize the playing field with qualified buyers when it comes to negotiating a sales contract: Price your home between the highest and lowest priced comparable home on the MLS. You never want to be the highest priced home on the market. Keep close tabs on what the competition is doing. New listings, price adjustments, and price reductions will affect your position on the MLS so it's really important to know where you rank among the competition. Instead of lowe... 09/23/2008

Fannie, Freddie Takeover Keeps Mortgages Flowing The federal government's sweeping takeover of mortgage market giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is expected to have positive short-term benefits to the real estate market and opens the door for the industry to shape the restructuring of the companies. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® commended the Treasury Department's decision, which it said will bring much-needed stability and continued liquidity to the nation's mortgage market."This demonstrates that the government is clearly committed to keeping the flow of capital uninterrupted, which is crucial to the housing sector and the economy," NAR President Richard F. Gaylord said in a statement Monday. Fannie and Freddie own or guarantee almost half of the country's $12 trillion in outs... 09/11/2008

What is your home worth?All homes have a price, and sometimes more than one. There's the price owners would like to get, the value buyers would like to offer and a point of agreement which can result in a sale. In considering home values, several factors are important: The value of your home relates to local sale prices. The same home, located elsewhere, would likely have a different value. Sale prices are a product of supply and demand. If you live in a community with an expanding job base, a growing population and a limited housing supply, it's likely that prices will rise. Alternatively, it's important to be realistic. If the local community is losing jobs and people are moving out, then you'll likely have a buyer's market. Owner needs can impact sale values. If owner Smith "must" se... 09/09/2008

 Leave a comment » Will County and DuPage County area homeowners who are interested in resolving their foreclosure situationthrough a short sale now have a better option when they chose me to represent them in the sale of their home.  I work with an attorney who has a team of 25 foreclosure specialists ready to assist you with the process of selling your home for less than what is owed by your lender at no out of pocket costs to you. I have come across a lot of pre-foreclosure listings on the MLS recently that will require a short sale with their lender in order to avoid a foreclosure. I've talked to a lot of agents in the process of showing many of these listings, and there is a pretty wide range of how Plainfield real estate agents are handling these short sales. While I have perform... 09/03/2008

Do I qualify for a Short Sale? Do You.... Owe more on your Naperville or Plainfield area property than what you could sell it for, especially after real estate commission, closing costs, late payments, interest, etc? Have difficulty covering your expenses each month? Not have money in the bank to cover the difference of what you could sell your house for and what you owe the bank? Are You Having Trouble Making The Payments? Are You.... Feeling the stress mounting with each missed payment and phone call from your bank? Have difficulty covering your expenses each month? Getting confused as to what your options are at this point? Foreclosure Sale Date Approaching?• Are you behind on your payments?• Do you owe more than your home is worth?• Have you lost your job, fell ill, or lost a loved ... 09/03/2008

These Plainfield homes ranged from $135,000 for a 2 bed/1 bath one story home to a $741,631 for a 4 bed/3 bath one story home. Of the 72 single family homes, 15 were short sales/foreclosures ranging from $165,000 to $430,000. If you are looking to buy or sell, please call LaNita Cates with RE/MAX of Joliet. As a 15 year resident of Plainfield, I can help you with all your real estate needs. Call me at 630-341-1545 or visit my website at www.lanitacates.com. 08/26/2008

From August 1 until today, there are 150 homes that have been listing as new on the MLS. 31 of the homes are short-sales or foreclosures. But for the 119 homes newly listed this month, I guess I'm wondering why. It's a tough market and most people aren't going to get what they want for their home but they continue to list at the end of August, toward the end of real estate season. Buyers, there are still sellers wanting to sell. I know 119 of them! Call LaNita at RE/MAX of Joliet. I serve the Joliet, Plainfield area as well as surrounding areas.  www.lanitacates.com or 630-341-1545 08/26/2008

The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 authorizes a $7,500 tax credit for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing homes on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009.  1. Who is eligible to claim the $7,500 tax credit?First time home buyers purchasing any kind of home-new or resale-are eligible for the tax credit. To qualify for the tax credit, a home purchase must occur on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009. For the purposes of the tax credit, the purchase date is the date when closing occurs. 2. What is the definition of a first-time home buyer?The law defines "first-time home buyer" as a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase. For married taxpayers, the law tests the homeownership history of both the... 08/26/2008

According to Crain’s Chicago Business an index of Chicago-area single family home prices will decline 8.1% in 2008 and another 2.2% in 2009.  Prices for homes in Plainfield and Naperville area, in general, have held up well against the current rates of depreciation, but the price declines are a necessary evil for bringing some long term stabilization to the real estate market.  Plainfield home values have returned to their 2005 values which was pretty much the peak of the area’s appreciation during the real estate gold rush that swept across the nation.  I personally think that one of the reasons that appreciation was so high and depreciation has been relatively low in areas like Plainfield and Naperville has to do with the new development that took place during the years of 1998-2004. ... 08/21/2008

10 Things to Expect Going Through a Short Sale The bank is going to what to see your entire financial picture.  This means you will need to provide copy of back taxes, paycheck stubs, bank statements, personal financial statement, etc.  They will want to know what all your assets are. The bank may want you to sign a promissory note for the difference, now it will most probably be at a hugely reduced amount and may include monthly payments. When the bank gives the final approval of the short sale, they may request that the escrow close in as little as 30 days, sometimes sooner. As the seller, you can not receive any proceeds from the sale.  Period. Your Real Estate agents, and Title company, may have to work for reduced fees. The banks are incredibly overwhelmed with short sales and many... 08/20/2008

For first-time buyers, often the first thought that comes to mind is, "I need a down payment." This is often followed by the question, "Now, where do I get that down payment?" Depending upon the loan type, a home mortgage typically requires 3 to 5 percent down. If you have the money, then you're set. But what if you don't? What if you're renting? You can afford a mortgage within your means, but coming up with the down payment money needed to begin the transaction can be challenging. So, where can you turn? One of the most overlooked sources of down payment funds is likely right under your nose-in the form of government bonds and local grant programs. These programs either provide outright monetary grants for down payment or money to buyers in the form of a forgivable loan. In essence, t... 08/15/2008

Do I qualify for a Short Sale? Do You.... Owe more on your Naperville or Plainfield area property than what you could sell it for, especially after real estate commission, closing costs, late payments, interest, etc? Have difficulty covering your expenses each month? Not have money in the bank to cover the difference of what you could sell your house for and what you owe the bank? Are You Having Trouble Making The Payments? Are You.... Feeling the stress mounting with each missed payment and phone call from your bank? Have difficulty covering your expenses each month? Getting confused as to what your options are at this point? Foreclosure Sale Date Approaching? •· Are you behind on your payments? •· Do you owe more than your home is worth? •· Have you lost your job, fell ill, or lost a... 08/14/2008

So there has been an empty restaurant that used to house a chinese restaurant that went out of business over 2 years ago. Finally, a new sign came up about a month ago: "Evangeline's". This of course told us nothing as to what kind of restaurant it was OR even if it WAS a restaurant. This week my kids and I saw that it was open with a marquee sign that it was open for breakfast and lunch. We stopped and glad we did. Awesome staff and the owner is very nice. The food is really good and you can have breakfast anytime! Friendly to kids and just a great new restaurant in Plainfield. You should try it! Located at 15521 S. Route 59 in Plainfield, IL 08/14/2008

The most obvious way to mess your credit score up is to make a late payment.  Did you know that even if you have a solid credit score, a single missed payment could cost you as much as 100 points? According to the Fair Isaac, the company that calculates your FICO score, payment history accounts for 35% of your total score! Of course that credit score helps determine what kind of rates you can get when applying for home or car loans. Your FICO score is a number between 300 and 850 and is based on five criteria: 1. Payment history 2. Amounts owed 3. Length of credit history 4. New credit 5. Types of credit used According to Experian, the average credit score in America is currently 692. Those with a 700 or above will qualify for the best interest rates available. Call me to learn your buy... 07/17/2008