1)  Elevators are in vogue

2)  On-premise indoor car wash, include a pressure washer & car lift

3)  Walk-in refrigerators with multiple ovens in a professional kitchen.  Multiple sinks and dishwashers are becoming the norm.

4)  Spas, gyms, Pilates studios - the home gym has undergone a makeover!

5)  Wine cellars & tasting rooms

6)  Media rooms: plush seating, windowless, theatre-size screen

7)  Security systems - wireless options

8)  Heated driveways - walkways - garages

Posted by:  Carol Best - Keller Williams Realty, Barrington, IL
Your #1 Source to Buy & Sell Real Estate

November 5, 2008

BUYERS:  http://FindNorthernIllinoisHomes.com

Sellers:   http://NorthernIllinoisHouseValues.com

Check out the Sunday Daily Herald Newspaper article in today's paper: 

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=245830&src=118

Posted by:  Carol Best - Keller Williams Realty, Barrington, IL
Your #1 Source to Buy or Sell Real Estate 

While the short sale & foreclosure real estate market is less than 3% of all homes owned, First American Core-Logic reported today that more than 7.5 million single-family homes are worth less than what is currently owed on their mortgages - and, another 2.1 million homes are getting close to being upside down.

The good news for us here in Illinois is that we are not at the top of the list!  Statistics for the top states are:  

Nevada - 48%
Michigan - 39%
Florida - 29%
Arizona - 29%
California - 27%
Georgia - 23%

How nice is it to be living in Illinois - a state NOT not on this list!

Posted by:  Carol Best - Keller Williams Realty, Barrington, IL
Your #1 Choice to Buy or Sell Real Estate

Today's National Association of Realtor's event in Naperville, IL reiterated the fact that 84% of today's home buyers search the internet to find the properties they want to see/tour in person.  If you did not receive a showing, then that buyer has ELIMINATED your property - they are filtering out what is not of interest to them.  What does that mean... well it could be a variety of reasons, including price.

The real estate market has definitely changed this past year, but I am really excited about it - it is a great opportunity for both buyers and sellers.

Buyers are 900% more likely to find their next home on the internet - not a newspaper.  The Los Angeles Times no longer has a real estate section, because print advertising no longer works!

The listing agent has only an 8% chance of find the buyer for your home - their expertise is marketing your property to the largest audience possible and that is the worldwide web!

Never settle for less than the Best internet marketing program.  When you are serious about selling, contact me - you'll be glad you did. 

Posted by:  Carol Best - Keller Williams Realty, Barrington,IL
Your #1 Source to Buy or Sell Real Estate

Arlington Heights                                       348                     399                      49

Barrington Areas- all 60010 Recap           269                     577                      37

Barrington                                                  155                     333                      22

Barrington Hills                                            31                       99                        6

Buffalo Grove                                             179                    174                       25

Hawthorn Woods                                        74                     115                         4

Inverness                                                     33                       83                         9

Kildeer                                                          28                      73                         7

Lake Barrington                                            23                      39                         3

Lake Bluff                                                      72                    116                         8

Lake Forest                                                 138                    358                       16

Lake Zurich                                                  159                    193                       12

Libertyville                                                    164                    276                      16

Long Grove                                                    45                    151                        7

Mt. Prospect                                                 191                   265                       25

North Barrington                                             24                     82                         4

Palatine                                                         234                   323                       30

South Barrington                                            32                      59                         3

Wauconda                                                      88                    199                       21

 If you would like to know what real estate is selling in your specific community - let me know your home address, including your subdivision name, city and/or zip code & I'll get right back to you..

Posted by Carol Best - Keller Williams Realty, Barrington, IL
Your #1 Resource for Buying or Selling Real Estate

It is important to note that while I was the Ambassador Chair for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, their quarterly Business Leaders Breakfast featured Michael H. Moskow, head of the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank.  He was one of three featured speakers that morning.  The topic:  The Economic Forecast. 

While Mr. Moskow did the typical overview and pretty much said little that was useful to the approximate 300 members in the audience, I believe they called it Alan Greenspan speak...  I was one of only 20 women but just could not resist asking the question...  At the end, I went up to the "mike" and asked why the Federal Reserve did not seem concerned that John Q. Public was more than $450 billion dollars in credit card, home equity, mortgage and vehicle/car debt.

Everyone in the audience was pretty quiet - I think they were pretty stunned by my question to him... it was apparent the attendees had not heard such a statement from anyone previous to this - I'm sure they thought I was mis-informed!

His answer was a non-answer & it made no sense whatsoever to the audience.  It was apparent that Mr. Moskow did not have a pulse on the real world - he was extremely out of touch with the everyday people.  While he did not directly cause this crisis, I do believe he played a small role.  I wonder what he would say now, two years later - my guess is the blame game would win out as his answer, along with some finger pointing.  I sure do hope you are enjoying your retirement Mr. Moskow.

While I have told a few people close to me of this event, I just can't keep it to myself any longer.  At least I had the pulse of what was happening and wasn't shy about asking the hard questions... the Realtors have been trying to tell everyone what's (not) going on for over a year - too bad no one listened.

Posted by:  Carol Best - Keller Williams Realty, Barrington, IL
Your #1 Source to Buy or Sell Real Estate

Q3  2006          Q3  2007          Q3  2008

TOTAL # of SINGLE & ATTACHED PROPERTIES SOLD:

  36,815              28,481              21,973

% CHANGE OVER Q2 of 2006 is:

                         -22.6%            -40.3%

Carol Best
Your #1 Source for Buying & Selling Real Estate
Posted September 30, 2008

CLOSED TRANSACTIONS January 1, 2008+

Keller Williams Success - Barrington - 356
Remax of Barrington - 305
Coldwell Banker - Barrington - 218
Remax Unlimited - Lake Zurich - 169
Baird & Warner - Barrington - 162
Century 21 American Sketchbook - Lake Zurich - 92
Prudential First - Woodstock - 73
Weichert - Long Grove - 36
Remax Prestige - Long Grove - 32

PENDING TRANSACTIONS - NOT YET CLOSED

Keller Williams Success - 20
Coldwell Banker Barrington - 18
Remax of Barrington - 16
Baird & Warner Barrington - 14
Remax Unlimited - Lake Zurich - 12
Century 21 Amerian Sketchbook - Lake Zurich - 6
Prudential First - Woodstock - 3
Remax Prestige - Long Grove - 2
Weichert in Long Grove - 0

Enjoy your weekend - even in the Depression, homes were sold!  Be sure to choose the right agent & company to get the job done.

Regards,

Carol Best
Your #1 Source for Buying or Selling Real Estate

Buyers:  www.FindNorthernIllinoisHomes.com

Sellers:  www.NorthernIllinoisHouseValues.com

1) with over 1 million excess homes on the market & over a year of excess inventory, they anticipate prices of homes to decline another 15%.  All real estate is local and their opinion was a general one - that could or could not happen in your area. 

     a)  Are you holding onto a depreciating asset? 

2) bank credit turns negative - the sharpest fall in over 30 YEARS!  What this means is that the banks have tightened credit so less money is available.  First time home buyers have been squeezed and are unable to buy - they are the 1st domino in the move-up chain.  If they don't buy, everyone else sits and waits.

3) we (USA) have dumped our financial problems abroad - Spain & Britain are in worse shape than we are.

4) it was announced today that Canada is tightening their credit, so that what is happening in the USA, will not happen in Canada

Posted: July 22, 2008
Carol Best

http://www.CarolBest.net

Keller Williams Success in Barrington:  42

Remax of Barrington:  16

Coldwell Banker Barrington:   11

Baird & Warner Barrington:  10

LISTING OFFICE:  Which brokers have contracts pending on their listings?

Keller Williams Success in Barrington: 36

Remax of Barrington:  31

Baird & Warner Barrington:  12

Coldwell Banker Barrington:  11

Q2:  2006                  Q2:  2007                  Q2:  2008

TOTAL # OF SINGLE & ATTACHED PROPERTIES SOLD:

  38,034                      31,034                      21,443

% CHANGE OVER Q2 OF 2006:

                                -18.4%                      -43.6%  

Carol Best 
Posted:  July 1, 2008   

Q1 2006:                  Q1 2007:               Q1 2008:

Total # of Homes Sold:

  34,235                      29,553                   21,576

% Change over Q1 of 2006:

                                  -13.7%                    -27%

Carol Best
Posted:  June 2, 2008

• North Barrington
• Lake Barrington
• Tower Lakes
• Riverwoods
• Deerfield
• Hoffman Estates
• Kenilworth
• Wilmette
• Northfield
• Rolling Meadows
• Wheeling
• Roselle
• Elk Grove
• Highwood
• Highland Park
• Mettawa
• Vernon Hills
• Island Lake
• Gurnee
• Lake Villa
• Beach Park
• Fox Lake

AVERAGE SELLING PRICE DECREASE in Illinois - over last year:

• Lake Zurich
• Hawthorn Woods
• Long Grove
• Kildeer
• Deer Park
• Barrington Village
• Bannockburn
• Prairie View
• Park Ridge
• South Barrington
• Palatine
• Inverness
• Buffalo Grove
• Glencoe
• Lincolnshire
• Lake Bluff
• North Chicago
• Libertyville
• Volo
• Grayslake
• Antioch
• Winthrop Harbor

% of Specific Market with Contracts PENDING or CLOSED:

Buffalo Grove   30%

Cary   26%

Chicago:
     Bucktown   30%
     Gold Coast   34%
     Lakeview   41%
     Lincoln Park   37%    

Deerfield   19%