How's the Market?
Real Estate News of Chicago's North Shore                                                                                                                                September  2015


I can't believe that summer is over.  It seemed to slip by really fast this year.  I've been so busy with work and the weather was usually mild, that summer just disappeared.   I hope you had a nice summer and are ready for the fall!

September is always my favorite month.   It always feels like new beginnings -- maybe it's memories of new school shoes and clothes, new pencils and pens.   The weather always seems more relaxing and the skies are bluer.   It is also a time when the real estate market picks up a little bit.  People are returning from summer vacations and are thinking about moving.  
In This Issue...
How's the Market
Just the Facts...

I've been noticing a trend that I thought worth sharing.  I compared 2015 units sold to 10 years ago in 2005 in Lake Forest.  The difference in sales by August 31st was not terribly significant: 244 in 2005; 231 in 2015.  But there was a big difference in types of sales.  In 2005, single family homes represented 83% of the units sold -- 2015 single family homes represented only 72% of the sales... there seems to be a trend to downsizing to townhouses and condos, etc.  Interesting trend to watch...

So How is the Market?   Read on....
North Shore's Highest Sales in August

Winnetka - 830 Mt. Pleasant Street

Original List Price - $5,300,000
List Price - $4,995,000  
Sales Price - $4,500,000 (90% of asking)
Days on Market - 81
Days on Market at Final List Price - 5
To see pictures and detailed information go to  830 Mt. Pleasant Street, Winnetka

Winnetka - 97 Indian Hill Road
  
Original List Price - $4,600,000 
List Price - $4,450,000  
Sales Price - $4,200,000 (94% of asking) 
Days on Market - 370 days  
Days on Market at Final List Price - 6
To see pictures and detailed information go to  97 Indian Hill Road, Winnetka

Winnetka - 767 Mt. Pleasant Street

List Price - $4,250,000 
Sales Price - $4,166,981 (98% of asking)
Days on Market - 2
To see pictures and detailed information go to 767 Mt. Pleasant Street, Winnetka

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There are currently 250 houses for sale on the North Shore that are priced greater than $2M.   During the month of August, 7 houses closed in this price range:

CommunitySold this Month# for Sale
Evanston06
Wilmette011
Kenilworth028
Winnetka451
Northfield05
Glencoe125
Highland Park126
Lake Forest188
Lake Bluff010


Source: MRED (Midwest Real Estate Data) Multiple Listing Service
roof
What to Know Before Selecting Your Home's Roof Material
The right roof material can do more than simply keep you dry and protect your home. It is the icing on the cake, and can augment, or even define, the style of your home. Today we summarize your home roof material options, providing an overview of a subject that might not get the same attention as other architectural....
Your Real-Estate Horoscope

Buy or rent? Sell or stay? With the full moon on Saturday and autumn quickly approaching, we've checked in with a professional astrologer for a light-hearted look at what the stars have in store for your real-estate future. 

As Saturn moves into Sagittarius on Sept. 18, upheaval is the name of the game....
4 Ways to Decorate Better Kids' Bedrooms
... Often an afterthought, the children's room can easily be the coolest part of the house. And a "well-designed" one doesn't have to be a Philip Johnson-worthy temple to minimalism. Simply passing on overly sweet graphics for those that are more stimulating-and abandoning old notions that baby blue is for boys and pink is for little girls-can make a big difference...
Homeowner Insurance: 
Your Credit Score May Raise the Premium
If you own a home, there's yet another reason to maintain good credit: Insurance companies may give significant weight to your credit history when setting rates for homeowner coverage.
While insurers' use of consumer credit in setting rates is nothing new, homeowners may be surprised to know just how much their credit profile can affect their premiums. If you have merely fair credit, you'll pay about 32 percent more on average for homeowner insurance than those with stellar credit, according to a report from.... 
Half a Bathroom Can Be Better Than One
....Not surprisingly, an extra bathroom adds value to a home. But an extra half-bath-a bath minus shower or tub-can boost the price almost as much, or more, data show.  The median price for single-family homes with one bathroom was $85 a square foot, according to a survey of listings on realtor.com in late July. With an extra full bathroom, the price climbed 15%, to $107 a square foot, while an extra half-bathroom added 10%...
For the Garden...
...fall-blooming bulbs are called colchicum, and when they open, they resemble crocuses on steroids. They're just one example of a little-known class of flower that seems confused about what time of year it is, since most bulbs, as well as perennials and shrubs, issue their flowers in spring to take advantage of the bounty of bees buzzing around then.

I think September will always be a month for memories of the tragic events that happened 14 years ago.  Has really been that long?  Where does the time go!   

 

Here's hoping your September life is "slow and oh so mellow..."

 

If there is anything I can do to help you with your real estate needs, please don't hesitate to call!

 

 

Ann

Ann Jones

Broker Associate, 
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group
Featured Listing
341 Granby
Lake Forest
Be amazed at this delightful in town property... walk to train, town, schools and beach.  Kitchen has been recently remodeled -- all new appliances and open to the family room.  It's available for rent or for sale.

List Price: $549,000
Rent Price: $3,500/month
3BR/2.1 Baths

See the details at:
341granby.com
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Selling your home quickly
Recently I was watching a movie, where the heroine was selling her apartment. When it sold quickly, her comment was, "I must have priced it too low."

I chuckled. I'm always amused how sellers...
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In the news...
"Most Americans have a clear idea of their dream home - and it doesn't involve living large. 
Fewer people think owning their own home is part of the "American Dream" in 2015 than they did five years ago (71% in 2015 versus 77% in 2010), according to a survey of 2,000 adults carried out by Harris Poll..."

"Consumer confidence in housing has been on the rise all year, thanks to increasing home values and a strengthening job market. That confidence, however, may be taking a hard hit from swings in the U.S. stock market, volatility in overseas economies and uncertainty over interest rates..."
Stock volatility could further weaken housing demand 
- CNBC
 
"When it comes to the volatility of the stock market, you may lose your shirt, but you probably won't lose your home. That's because real estate tends to be a life raft for investors seeking safety amid volatility when equity markets are expected to..."
5 reasons a 2009-style real estate meltdown is unlikely now
- MarketWatch
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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.
Ann Jones | 847-691-1111 | ann@rannjones.com | rannjones.com
778 N. Western Avenue | Lake Forest, IL 60045

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