There are many things that people should know about FHA loans.  They're great for a variety of reasons, but I'm going to give you my list of favorite reasons for considering and FHA mortgage.  First time homebuyers can generally come in with less of a downpayment.  Truthfully, conforming or conventional loans generally want 5% down.  FHA loans only need 3.5% down.  How cool is that? The entire downpayment for an FHA loan can be in the form of a gift.  There are gift restrictions as to who can give you a gift, but generally, if you're related, you can help someone out by gifting them the entire downpayment and closing costs.  Borrowers can put zero of their own money into the transaction.  You know that with conventional loans no matter what the borrower needs to put 5% of the purchase p... 07/30/2013

Harvest Hills, Saint Charles, Illinois Harvest Hills Real Estate Statistics Average Home Size: 1824 Average Property Taxes: 4864 Homes Listed: 39 Homes Sold: 22 Average Number of Days To Sell: 96 The above statistics were compiled by Team Bowers based on homes listed for sale in Harvest Hills, St Charles, Illinois between July 29th, 2012 and July 29th, 2013. Homes for sale in Harvest Hills Address Beds Total Baths Total Sqft Year Built List Price 3018 Langston Circle 2 2.1 1868 2003 $174,900 302 Tower Hill Road 2 2.1 1546 1999 $166,000 322 Fairmont Court 2 1.1 0 2001 $190,000 257 Valley View Drive 3 2.1 2210 2001 $284,900 315 Fairmont Court 2 1.1 1718 1718 $151,900 3007 Pleasant Plains Drive 2 2.1 1868 2002 $199,000 275 Tower Hill Drive 3 3.1 2600 1999 $225,000 2923 Langston Circle 2 1... 07/29/2013

Campton Trail, Saint Charles, Illinois Campton Trail Real Estate Statistics Average Home Size: 6191 Average Property Taxes: 11913 Homes Listed: 9 Homes Sold: 2 Average Number of Days To Sell: 66 The above statistics were compiled by TeamBowersRealtors.com based on homes listed for sale in Campton Trail, St Charles, Illinois between July 26th, 2012 and July 26th, 2013. Homes for sale in Campton Trail Address Beds Total Baths Total Sqft Year Built List Price 41W310 Campton Trail 4 3.1 3460 2007 $649,900 40W837 Campton Trail Road 4 4.1 3733 2006 $849,900 40W952 Campton Trail Road 5 5.1 9827 2005 $970,000 40W885 Campton Trail Road 5 5.1 4965 2005 $699,000 41W118 Brown Road 4 3.1 2948 2006 $599,900 Sold Real Estate in Campton Trail - (April 27th, 2013 - July 26th, 2013) Address Beds Total B... 07/26/2013

Aintree, St. Charles, Illinois Aintree Real Estate Statistics Average Home Size: 4476 Average Property Taxes: 17019 Homes Listed: 13 Homes Sold: 3 Average Number of Days To Sell: 92 The above statistics were compiled by www.TeamBowersRealtors.com based on homes listed for sale in Aintree, St Charles, Illinois between July 25th, 2012 and July 25th, 2013. Homes for sale in Aintree Address Beds Total Baths Total Sqft Year Built List Price 74 Highgate Course 4 3.1 3591 1978 $439,000 61 Stirrup Cup Court 5 6.1 7280 2008 $2,099,000 114 Highgate Course 5 2.1 3189 1986 $437,900 Sold Real Estate in Aintree - (April 26th, 2013 - July 25th, 2013) Address Beds Total Baths Total Sold Price 12 Squire Lane 4 3.3 $542,500 The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the... 07/25/2013

Majestic Oaks, St Charles, Illinois Majestic Oaks Real Estate Statistics Average Home Size: 4544 Average Property Taxes: 12785 Homes Listed: 15 Homes Sold: 6 Average Number of Days To Sell: 61 The above statistics were compiled by Team Bowers Realtors based on homes listed for sale in Majestic Oaks, St Charles, Illinois between July 25th, 2012 and July 25th, 2013. Homes for sale in Majestic Oaks Address Beds Total Baths Total Sqft Year Built List Price 2912 Majestic Oaks Drive 4 5 3768 2001 $624,800 2421 Majestic Oaks Lane 5 4.1 7124 2002 $785,000 Sold Real Estate in Majestic Oaks - (April 26th, 2013 - July 25th, 2013) Address Beds Total Baths Total Sold Price 3025 Majestic Oaks Drive 4 4 $515,000 1985 Cool Creek Drive 5 4.1 $608,000 The data relating to real estate for sale on this we... 07/25/2013

Sunset Views, St Charles, Illinois Sunset Views Real Estate Statistics Average Home Size: 3663 Average Property Taxes: 14022 Homes Listed: 20 Homes Sold: 6 Average Number of Days To Sell: 69 The above statistics were compiled by Team Bowers Realtors based on homes listed for sale in Sunset Views, St Charles, Illinois between July 25th, 2012 and July 25th, 2013. Homes for sale in Sunset Views Address Beds Total Baths Total Sqft Year Built List Price 43W819 Morningside Court 4 3.1 3250 2010 $586,000 43W515 Otter Lane 4 2.1 3200 2013 $429,000 43W898 Sunset Views Drive 5 4.1 4697 2010 $525,000 43W835 Sunset Views North Drive 4 5.1 4763 2006 $539,000 5N851 W. Sunset View Drive 5 3.2 3811 2005 $489,900 43W874 Morningside Court 4 4 4178 2006 $549,900 43W782 Twilight Lane 5 3.1 2896 2005 $499,... 07/25/2013

  In the table below lists all of the single family detached and single family attached homes currently on the market in St. Charles, IL The data lists available homes by price range with average time on market in each range.    Included in this list are many Foreclosures and Short Sales.    Should you have an interest in homes in a selected price range, send me your physical characteristics requirements. I will send complete details on those homes that meet your criteria.   Active Listings List Price Range # Listings Avg. Days on Mkt Less than $49,999 1 63 $50,000 - $99,999 3 288 $100,000 - $149,999 17 165 $150,000 - $199,999 31 180 $200,000 - $249,999 35 202 $250,000 - $299,999 46 104 $300,000 - $349,999 34 162 $350,000 - $399,999 36 182 $400,000 - $449,999 19 268 $450,000 - $499,999... 07/24/2013

Burr Hill, Homes for Sale in St. Charles, Illinois Burr Hill Real Estate Statistics Average Home Size: 4816 Average Property Taxes: 19837 Homes Listed: 23 Homes Sold: 7 Average Number of Days To Sell: 63 The above statistics were compiled by Team Bowers Realtors based on homes listed for sale in Burr Hill, St Charles, Illinois between July 19th, 2012 and July 19th, 2013. Homes for sale in Burr Hill Address Beds Total Baths Total Sqft Year Built List Price 38W383 Fairway Drive 4 4.1 4437 1998 $849,900 5N684 Eagle Court 4 3.2 4202 2001 $689,900 38W485 Lakeview Circle 5 3.1 6500 2004 $795,000 5N575 Lakeview Circle 5 5.1 4127 1995 $729,613 38W318 Clubhouse Drive 5 4.1 8000 2002 $995,000 5N594 Lakeview Circle 4 4.1 4223 1998 $939,000 5N742 Fairway Drive 5 4.1 4350 1999 $929,000 Sold Real Es... 07/22/2013

Heritage Oaks, Saint Charles, Illinois Heritage Oaks Real Estate Statistics Average Home Size: 6514 Average Property Taxes: 22447 Homes Listed: 16 Homes Sold: 4 Average Number of Days To Sell: 85 The above statistics were compiled by Team Bowers Realtors based on homes listed for sale in Heritage Oaks, St Charles, Illinois between July 19th, 2012 and July 19th, 2013. Homes for sale in Heritage Oaks Address Beds Total Baths Total Sqft Year Built List Price 38W059 Mallard Lake Road 4 3.1 5400 1992 $434,000 38W315 Henricksen Road 4 4.1 3799 1998 $724,800 37W903 Heritage Oaks Drive 4 4 3360 1999 $529,000 38W340 Henricksen Road 4 4.1 12638 2006 $2,350,000 Sold Real Estate in Heritage Oaks - (April 23rd, 2013 - July 22nd, 2013) Address Beds Total Baths Total Sold Price 37W960 Heritage Oaks D... 07/22/2013

New Construction Homes For Sale in St. Charles, Illinois Currently for Sale   For Sale Avg. List Min. Max Avg. Days All 47 $547,268 $48,000 $3,682,000 333 0 bedrooms 10 $129,790 $48,000 $311,000 438 3 bedrooms 12 $328,274 $223,840 $765,000 252 4 bedrooms 23 $672,323 $281,995 $3,200,000 351 5 bedrooms 2 $2,510,500 $1,339,000 $3,682,000 80 View All New Construction For Sale in St. Charles New Construction Homes for Sale by Subdivision Subdivision Description For Sale Fox Mill Fox Mill is a single family home neighborhood built in the early 2000's. Fox Mill is located in St. Charles, Illinois on Fox Mill west of Route 64. 1 home for sale Innisfree Innisfree is a single family home subdivision built by Avondale Custom Homes in the late 2010's. Innisfree is located in St. Charles, Illinois w... 07/21/2013

Prairie Lakes, St. Charles, IL Homes for Sale Prairie Lakes Real Estate Statistics Average Home Size: 5316 Average Property Taxes: 15455 Homes Listed: 28 Homes Sold: 4 Average Number of Days To Sell: 131 The above statistics were compiled by Team Bowers Realtors based on homes listed for sale in Prairie Lakes, St Charles, Illinois between July 19th, 2012 and July 19th, 2013. Homes for sale in Prairie Lakes Address Beds Total Baths Total Sqft Year Built List Price 39W179 Longmeadow Lane 4 6.1 0 2008 $1,349,000 Lot 84 Longmeadow Lane 4 3.1 3700 2013 $930,000 Lot 92 Prairie Lakes Boulevard 4 3.1 3200 2011 $825,000 39w334 Longmeadow Lane 4 3.1 4746 2012 $875,000 39W192 Longmeadow Lane 4 3.1 5061 2012 $889,000 5 N115 Prairie Rose Drive 4 5.1 0 2008 $579,500 Lot 149 Longmeadow Lane 4 3.1 552... 07/19/2013

Renaux Manor, Saint Charles Homes for Sale Renaux Manor Real Estate Statistics Average Home Size: 2281 Average Property Taxes: 6260 Homes Listed: 27 Homes Sold: 12 Average Number of Days To Sell: 45 The above statistics were compiled by Team Bowers Realtors based on homes listed for sale in Renaux Manor, St Charles, Illinois between July 17th, 2012 and July 17th, 2013. Homes for sale in Renaux Manor Address Beds Total Baths Total Sqft Year Built List Price 3527 Voltaire Lane 4 2.1 0 2000 $289,900 3706 Deville Lane 3 2.1 2100 1999 $279,900 3086 Renard Lane 2 2.1 1994 2002 $154,000 3609 Provence Drive 3 2 2071 2002 $309,900 3320 Renard Lane 3 2.1 1771 2000 $289,900 3602 Provence Drive 4 2.1 2544 2002 $299,988 3510 Voltaire Lane 6 4.1 3200 2001 $300,000 Sold Real Estate in Renaux Manor - ... 07/17/2013

As a Wells Fargo Alumni, I have fond affection for my alma mater.  I had spent my first 7 years of my career working for the big boys and loving every minute of it.  I worked for Norwest Mortgage.  Norwest bought Wells Fargo when Wells was going through bankruptcy and I stayed through the change from Norwest to Wells. Wells was fun, but it was a big box.  Their products, their rates and their way of doing business.  To this date, Wells and all of the other big boxes still provide a lot of income to me.  You see, loan officers don't need to be licensed in order to originate loans.  As a result, the big boxes have a lot of inexperienced loan officers working there.  Because of that, I get a lot of their turn down business.  The business comes from all of the loan officers at the big boxes... 07/16/2013

Red Gate Ridge, Saint Charles, IL Homes for Sale Red Gate Ridge Real Estate Statistics Average Home Size: 4266 Average Property Taxes: 11770 Homes Listed: 13 Homes Sold: 5 Average Number of Days To Sell: 79 The above statistics were compiled by Team Bowers Realtors based on homes listed for sale in Red Gate Ridge, St Charles, Illinois between July 15th, 2012 and July 15th, 2013. Homes for sale in Red Gate Ridge Address Beds Total Baths Total Sqft Year Built List Price 6N211 Woodview Court 4 2.3 3849 1989 $499,900 6N444 Ridgewood Drive 4 3.1 3613 1998 $479,750 36W688 West Ridgewood Lane 4 3.1 3907 1993 $539,999 5N999 Ridgewood Drive 4 5 4556 1992 $725,000 Sold Real Estate in Red Gate Ridge - (April 16th, 2013 - July 15th, 2013) Address Beds Total Baths Total Sold Price 5N869 Westwood La... 07/15/2013

So we had our weekly daddy kid night.  My 4th in line, Grant, was the next in line!  We had a great night.  First, he picked out the menu, then we bought everything together, prepped everything together and then cooked together.  Tonight's menu...... Caesar Salad; Grilled Asparagus with a tomato salsa and a cherry balsamic; Burger Bar with Jalepenos; Sherbert Freezes for dessert (Orange, Rainbow, or Lime) topped with Raspberries!     The night that the kid gets to cook....he gets a special pop or soda and mom always gets served first, but the cook doesn't have to clean up! Grant was begging for tonight that ended in a number of "Hip Hip Hoorays!!!" Great night!!! 07/14/2013

In my 17 plus years of originating I've seen all sorts of originators.  I see a lot of originators who market and I see those who create relationships.  Hands down nothing is better for sales than building relationships. My best realtor referral partner is top 5 in all of Illinois.  She spends less than $1,000 a year in advertising.  Just this past week she handed me 5 new contracts.  Her methodology is building relationships.  There are a myriad of ways that she builds these relationships, but your method is insignificant.  What is significant is building those relationships. Relationships are built in three steps: Know Me Like Me Trust Me The reality, for one of the biggest transactions of a person's life, people want to work with someone they know, like and trust.  Internet marketing... 07/12/2013

Last week, on vacation in Door County, my brother in law and I had a quick run to the grocery store.  After buying the goods for our barbeque, we headed to the check out line.  When our turn came up the cashier asked for his card.  He handed the cashier his I Phone and she scanned his card right off of his I Phone.  Wow!!!! KEY RING Key Ring is the latest app where you take all of your little bar codes on your key ring and transport them to your I Phone.  Pretty nifty little application.  Just download it at the App Store.  Nothing earth shattering, but definitely a nice convenience...and now...my pocket is a bout one billioneth of an ounce lighter, but mostly it's so much less cumbersome!  Enjoy!     07/10/2013

Gotta tell you.  Just got back from a great 4th of July week and it already seems as if it was 20 years ago.  Beautiful weather today doesn't eliminate the beauty that I've been walking away with and all of the R&R that we experienced up in Door County Wisconsin.  A lot of fun. For obvious reasons, the beauty her in Sturgeon Bay means that even the best weather back home won't beat this in comparison.             07/10/2013

So....Active Rain....I said that I'm back, and I am with a full vengeance.  When I left off (pre-sabbatical), I had 117 new transactions because of my time blogging, free associating and just throwing up into cyberspace in Active Rain.  Then....I had that divorce.  During the divorce things went well for most every lender.  Things are still going great for me even with the rates creeping up.  However, in my short 1+ week back, I just received my first Active Rain application this week!  I don't really NEED to be back, but in truth, if I'm thinking of my economic future, I can't afford to be gone 1 day longer As a result.....one new application last night from just one week back!   Active Rain....thank you for the reminder!  You are awesome and I'm glad that we've re-united.  Great marri... 07/09/2013

Today it's imperative that you get pre-qualified!  In days of yore, you would just go shopping and off to the races, but with guidelines as stringent as ever, even the most innocuous irregularity in your financial situation could spell disaster if you aren't prequalified up front.   A Pre-qualification or pre-approval means that you've addressed every potential issue prior to shopping for a home.  Often times stuff will show on your credit that isn't yours.  Make sure that those blemishes are really not yours.  Have time to clean it up.  Work with a lender who knows how to help you rid your credit of bad marks on your credit; Assets need to be verified, so just saying that you have the money in the bank may not be good enough.  Often times you'll have to show that you've had the money f... 07/07/2013