Rob Gow - Real Estate and Shoreline Lifestyle: November 2011

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

5 Great Reasons to Buy a Harbor Country Home This Holiday Season!

With Thanksgiving tomorrow, the festive holiday season will soon be in full swing! If you currently live in Harbor Country or are visiting friends and family in the area; you’ll enjoy the charming atmosphere that Harbor Country has to offer this time of year. Harbor Country homes are adorned with twinkling lights and local shops offer those special holiday finds that enhance the spirit of the season.

If you’ve been on the hunt for a Harbor Country home, you may be tempted to take a break during the holiday season. While finding your dream home may not be on the top of your list with all of the parties and gatherings with loved ones, there are a few compelling reasons to continue on with your search and to buy a home this holiday season. Take a look!

1. Lower Prices- With the lack of people searching during the holidays for a home in Harbor Country; prices soften a bit. You can view our website, ShorelineAdvice.com, to see a list of our current homes for sale in Harbor Country! You’ll notice these homes are priced to sell and are a great deal for buyers.

2. Less Competition- Many buyers don’t think to take advantage of house hunting during the holidays, so you’re sure to avoid any bidding wars that would occur at a peak point on the Harbor Country Real Estate market. This will mean a less stressful home buying experience for you!

3. Motivated Sellers- Sellers dread not being able to sell their homes before the holidays get under way. They’re very aware that most are not in the market to buy a home until Spring rolls around, which means; they’re motivated. They know showings of their home will greatly decrease, so any activity on their home is good news. Oftentimes they’re willing to come down on the price or be flexible with closing dates, and other extras.

4. Favorable Mortgage Terms- Mortgage lenders may be willing to lower interest rates or let go of some of their fees in order to gain your business. With fewer people shopping for homes; they will be experiencing a slower time in their business as well. Be sure to shop around to get the best possible deal. Your Harbor Country Real Estate agent will help point you in the right direction.

5. Tax Deduction- Closing before the end of the year can mean you are eligible to deduct the interest component of your first monthly mortgage payment from your taxable income for this year. You may also be able to deduct any money you pay for points to reduce your interest rate. Of course you’ll want to consult with a Harbor Country tax advisor to talk over the full details.

There are a wide variety of beautiful homes currently on the Harbor Country Real Estate market. If you’re ready to take the next step in your home search, or have any questions about buying a home in Harbor Country; we’d love to talk with you!

Our team of trusted advisors and experienced Harbor Country Real Estate agents would be happy to meet with you to discuss your real estate needs and help you find the Harbor Country home that you can enjoy for years to come!

We look forward to hearing from you! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Take Part in Turkey Trot Chicago This Thanksgiving & Give Back to the Community!

With Thanksgiving coming up, many of us are beginning to get into the holiday spirit! If you’re looking for a way to get involved in the Chicago community while also giving back to those less fortunate, a great way to do this is through the annual Turkey Trot Chicago!

Gather friends and family to work up an appetite for your Thanksgiving Feast! The Turkey Trot will be taking place on Thanksgiving Day, November 24 beginning at 9am and everyone is encouraged to get involved. This 8K Run/Walk is in its’ 34th year and will be taking place in beautiful Lincoln Park. With over 5,000 people attending, you’re sure to bump into neighbors and will enjoy this sense of community and interaction.

This race will also be supporting local community organization the Greater Chicago Food Depository! Bring canned goods to the race and the GCFD will distribute them to those in need. You can also include a monetary donation when you register to give back even more! Last year, over 8,000 can goods were donated and the goal is to exceed that number. Whether you’re participating in the event or are cheering friends and family on, be sure to bring a few canned goods to donate!

Not only is Turkey Trot Chicago giving back to the community, it also is awarding some great prizes to its winners. Prizes will be awarded to the top three men and women in each age group and winners will be announced after the race. Raffles, treats and much more will enhance the spirit of this event, so be sure to register today! Children can get involved in the Plymouth Rock Ramble where prizes will be awareded as well! For more information regarding location and registration, check out the Turkey Trot website.

As Chicago Real Estate agents, we enjoy highlighting events like this as it showcases the great community and lifestyle that’s offered in the area! Whether you’re just visiting friends and family for the holiday or are a permanent Chicago resident, we hope you’re able to get involved.

If you have any questions about buying a home in Chicago, what it’s like to live in Chicago or selling your current home; please feel free to contact us! Our Shoreline Property Advisors team and Prudential Rubloff Real Estate agents would enjoy putting their expertise to work for you!

We hope to hear from you soon!

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Avoid These 4 Mortgage Mistakes When Buying Your Chicago Home!

Buying a home in Chicago can be a really exciting time, however it’s also a large financial decision. Currently, the Chicago Real Estate market is filled with a wide variety of homes from which to choose and, with the market leaning in the favor of buyer’s, many people are finding the confidence to jump into the home buying process.

If you’re one who’s considering buying a Chicago home, it is important to remember that lenders have tightened the reigns on who qualifies for a home loan. While you may have great credit, there are a few mistakes you’ll want to be sure to avoid in order to secure your home loan. As the Shoreline Property Advisors team, we thought we’d point out four mortgage mistakes that you may not even consider when buying a Chicago home. Take a look!

1. Avoid any major purchases before closing your mortgage loan- Just because you have your mortgage approved and lined up doesn’t mean the deal is done. Banks are not afraid to pull out of the deal if they see the homebuyer makes a significant purchase such as a car or another major buy. They see this as a sign of further debt for the homebuyer and are nervous about the potential risks if the buyer can’t come up with the money. To be safe, avoid any major purchases until after your signed the contract on your Chicago home. This goes for cash purchases as well since banks will look at your cash reserve before you get approved for a loan.

2. Don’t make any big career changes- While this may be the reason you’re searching for a Chicago home, it’s better to avoid any career changes during the home buying process. Banks want to know that your financials are stable. If there is a career change pending, try to delay it until after you’ve bought the home. Or, delay the home purchase if at all possible until you can show that your new job is given you the financial resources to pay on your new home.

3. Prepare for a last-minute credit check- This may come as a surprise to some, but with Fannie Mae’s loan quality initiative that came out in June of this year, lenders are likely to do a second credit check right before you close. Make sure that you keep up with your credit card payments and avoid applying for a new credit card during the home buying process as they may see this as a sign of desperation and can call for another credit score check, which could hurt your credit score.

4. Watch out for closing-cost surprises- Avoid putting all of your money into the down payment as you’ll need cash for closing costs. Don’t be caught off guard! At times, closing costs can be as much as 3% of the home price, so be sure to keep this in mind and set enough aside.

We hope being aware of these four mistakes will help you avoid them and allow you to have a smooth home buying experience in Chicago! Our team of trusted advisors and Prudential Rubloff real estate agents are here to help and will provide you with the up-to-date Chicago Real Estate market information you need to know!

If you’re considering buying a home in Chicago, but have questions or have not yet found a Chicago Real Estate agent; please feel free to contact us. We would enjoy working with you and helping you through the entire home buying process.

Shoreline Property Advisors

@ Prudential Rubloff