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Best of my Blog My life in real estate: Lessons learned from my mom
May, 2010
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If my blogging has seemed sporadic these past few months, bear with me... it's been a challenging year. In December, I had rotator cuff surgery and was typing one-handed for a few months. I finally finished physical therapy in late April - the same week my amazing mother...
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Interesting series in the New York Times,
The Housing Haze
"What prices will today's home buyers get if they sell a decade from now?
Most people live in their home for many years. They don't need to view it as an investment at all, but if they do, they surely need a long forecasting horizon...."
Why Home Prices Change (or Don't)
- The New York Times
"Since 1977, we have lived through the biggest real estate bubble in United States history - followed by the most calamitous decline in housing prices that the country has ever seen."
Before Housing Bubbles, There Was Land Fever
- New York Times
"Houses are just buildings, but homes are often beautiful dreams. Unfortunately, as millions of people have learned in the housing crisis, those dreams don't always comport with reality..."
The New York Times
"...It is a growing trend among Baby Boomers, defined by the U.S. Census as those born between 1946 and 1964. Many of them are putting their big suburban homes on the market again, after waiting out the housing crash...."
Boomers a Boon to Urban Home Builders
- CNBC
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"But behind all your stories is always your mother's story, because hers is where yours begins."
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Greetings!
Welcome back to "How's the Market?" April was quite a month... With the rain storms, national tragedies and a Spring Market like I haven't seen in years, it was whirlwind of activity.
Hopefully May will be a little less chaotic and a time to enjoy Spring. May is typically the month we start get serious about our gardens, yards and trees. After the deluge of rain, I'm ready for my garden to dry out, and even more grateful I have a rain garden. It has seemed to handle all this rain pretty well.
Thinking about new trees? A number of the North Shore communities have terrific programs for subsiding homeowners to plant their trees in their parkway. For example, Wilmette has its Village Cooperative Tree Planting Program and Lake Forest its Shared Cost Parkway Tree Program... Check out with your own village to see what is available. And speaking of trees, as many of you know, last Friday was Arbor Day -- below is an instructive article about trees not to plant!
For me, Spring is also an anniversary of sorts. Three years ago, my remarkable mother passed away -- I've been thinking about her a lot lately: maybe because of the time of year; maybe because it's Mother's Day this month; or maybe because she loved the beautiful things in nature -- especially birds, flowers, and trees. So in honor of my very special mother, the "best of my blog" selection for this month is one I wrote about her three years ago.
Happy Mother's Day and Happy Spring! |
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Just the facts...
Wow -- what an April. I haven't experienced that kind of month in long time -- the market is coming back -- big time -- and we're seeing all sorts of action on the North Shore.
So how is the market?
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The North Shore's Highest Sales in April
 Lake Forest - 277 Bluff's Edge Drive
Original List Price - $11,495,000 (in 2007)
List - $3,999,000
Sale - $3,600,000 (90%)
Total Days on Market - 1096
Total Days on Market at Final List Price - 45
Lake Bluff - 700 Forest Cove (land)
Original List Price - $8,995,000
List - $3,395,000
Sale - $3,175,000 (94%)
Total Days on Market - 817
Total Days on Market at Final List Price - 42
Glencoe - 241 Harbor Street
Original List Price - $2,495,000
List - $2,300,000
Sale - $2,175,000 (95%)
Total Days on Market - 152
Total Days on Market at Final List Price - 1
Total of 2 homes closed for over $2,000,000 during the month of April:
Glencoe - 1
Lake Forest - 1
(There are currently 231 homes for sale over $2,000,000.)
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11 Trees You Should Never Plant in Your Yard
Some trees are more trouble than they're worth. Before you head to a nursery... |
Spring Home Improvements: Repair, Replace, Enjoy!
 With memories of snow and cold fading, it's time to remind home owners to take stock of important work to be done for themselves and potential buyers down the road. Keeping on track with seasonal maintenance will lower costs and raise value.
Besides cleaning closets and planting flowers and cool-weather vegetables, spring should involve.... |
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All About Rain Gardens
 "Building a rain garden (or a couple of rain gardens) in your own yard is probably the easiest and most cost efficient thing you can do to reduce your contribution to stormwater pollution. By capturing clean rainwater from your roof, driveway and sidewalks and diverting it into a great looking rain garden where it can slowly soak into the ground, filter contaminants and..." The City of Chicago also has a nice brochure, Plant a Rain Garden in Your Yard. |
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"Spring is here, and that means it's spring cleanup time. Making a list of all the things to clean and repair or maintain can be daunting, so I use a spring-cleaning and home-maintenance checklist to make my job easier..."
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Featured Listing
100 Warrington Drive, Lake Bluff
Smart, sophisticated and maintenance free! This darling ranch town house in desirable Armour Woods is ideal place to call home. Cozy family room with a family room; dining room and spacious great room with vaulted ceilings. Two nice sized bedrooms, a wonderful sun porch looking out to a private back yard; finished basement; first floor laundry. What more do you need? It's wonderful!
List Price: $389,000 2BR/2 Baths |
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Have you discovered Pinterest? I love it. I've found Pinterest a great way to display pictures and ideas for the home. I don't know whether you have a Pinterest account, but it is wonderfully visual way to communicate. If you like my newsletter, I think you'll really like my Pinterest account. Follow me to see the latest updates and new ideas. As always, if there is any way that I can assist you with your real estate needs, please don't hesitate to call or write!
Wishing all of us a beautiful Spring -- finally!
Ann
R. Ann Jones,
Broker Associate
Prudential Rubloff Properties
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