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How's the Market?

Real Estate News of Chicago's North Shore   

December, 2013  

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In This Issue
App-titude: Zillow Digs
In the news... Predictions for 2014
Just the facts...
Highest sales in November
Top 10 Features of Upscale Homes
Confused by Real Estate News?
Tips to reduce waste
The Brass Revival in Home Decor
6 Tax Tips
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App-titude
Zillow Digs
Zillow Digs is a hub for home improvement and design ideas. Collect images, share your favorites and check out project costs all from your iPad. Stunning images and a simple interface make finding inspiration for the next remodel easy.
In the news...
Predictions for 2014

"As chief economist of the National Association of Realtors, the housing industry's biggest cheerleader, Lawrence Yun often has an optimistic outlook...Mr. Yun outlined his housing-market forecast for 2014 ...."

NAR Sees Home Prices Rising in 2014, Rates Jumping to 5.4%

- Wall Street Journal

 

"The housing recovery has pushed up home prices nearly everywhere. Over the past year, home prices rose in 225 of the 276 cities..." 
- Kiplinger

 

"If the real estate recovery is a baseball game, we are only in the fourth or fifth inning, which means we are barely half way through. Why do I say that and what are the predictions for the 2014 housing market?"

- CBS News

 

"How much do you know about the trends and phenomena that will shape the economic and business landscape in the year to come? Take the quiz >>"

- Bloomberg Business Week

 
Step of the Month
50 Simple Steps you can take to Sell Your Home
#4 Choose a broker who matches your Home-Selling Temperament
 
Gingerbread House
"How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?" 
 
View previous newsletters
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Can you believe we are now in December... where did the year go? It has been another terrific year for my business.  After working through the housing market collapse, it's fabulous to have these two consecutive successful years in this business -- I feel like the housing market is finally recovering!  As always, I am ever grateful to my clients who have entrusted me with their real estate needs. 

This Christmas I will (quite literally) be surrounded by family.  Isn't that what we want - spending time with the people we love?  Heartfelt joy to you and yours this holiday season. 
 
Just the facts...
Rubloff Report  
Instead of giving you a December update, stay tuned for my end of year wrap up in January. 
 
In the meantime, enjoy reading this article from Crain's Chicago Business:
 
The North Shore's Highest Sales in November

607 Longwood Avenue

Glencoe - 607 Longwood Avenue

List - $8,000,000

Sale - $8,000,000 (100%)

Total Days on Market - 2

 

Lake Bluff - 1600 Green Bay

List - $5,500,000 

Sale - $5,250,000 (95%)

Total Days on Market - 6

      

Winnetka - 853 Sheridan Road

Original List Price - $3,995,000

List - $2,995,000

Sale - $2,800,000 (93%)

Total Days on Market - 233

Total Days on Market at Final List Price - 7

 

Total of 4 homes closed for over $2,000,000 during the month of November:

Lake Bluff - 1

Lake Forest - 1

Winnetka - 1

Glencoe - 1

(There are currently 192 homes for sale over $2,000,000.)

       
Top 10 Features for Upscale Homes
outdoor kitchen
Because a home is a complex commodity, with many features that can make it more or less desirable to particular customers, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) survey included a long question that asked recent and prospective buyers to rate a list of many (approximately 120) different features on a consistent scale. The features spanned many aspects of the home, including windows, doors, kitchens, baths, specialty rooms, decorative features, accessibility, energy savings, and type of development in which it's located... The survey asked buyers to rate each feature on the list as ....
  
Family in front of house  

"If you are buying or selling a home, chances are you follow real estate market news carefully. As you scan the headlines on your computer, you've probably noticed that they frequently contradict themselves.

How can home prices be up one day and down the next? When one report says houses are selling faster than ever and another says to be prepared to wait months after you list your home for sale, what should...."

 
Tips to reduce waste this holiday season
Eco World
Partners for Environmental Progress estimate that each year Americans throw away 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.   With this in mind, here is a compilation of tips on how to cut down the amount of garbage generated....
   
images of brass
 
"In contemporary design, all that glitters is no longer silver. Nor is it nickel, chrome or mirror-polished stainless steel, the similarly cool metal tones that have outsold other finishes on everything from faucets to furniture for decades. Brass, last in vogue in the '70s, has been moving in from the margins, showing up on a pendant light here, a table leg there-exuding a certain cocky, outsider glamour. In recent years, it's started to make silver tones look, all too accurately, commonplace. And now, no metal is shining more compellingly: Brass is conclusively back."
    
6 Tax Tips For The End Of 2013
Cleaning up Times Sq
Tax time may not be right around the corner, but the last quarter of the year is here, so it's time to get in gear to maximize the potential for tax deductions as the year draws to a close....


  
As some of you may have may have read in the news recently, 

HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, has acquired Prudential Rubloff Properties and joined it with the Koenig & Strey Real Living operations.  The merged companies will become Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group in spring, 2014.  There was announcement presented by the company at the new website, http://www.koenigrubloff.com.  My service to you will continue without interruptions or delays.  (All existing agreements will remain in place and do not need to be changed. We will continue to use the same marketing materials and yard signs until next Spring.)

 

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!

  

Have a lovely holiday season -- my best to you and yours.

 

Ann 

 

R. Ann Jones, Broker
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If your property is currently listed for sale with an agent or broker, this is not intended to be a solicitation of that listing.