Wednesday, May 9, 2012

View Evanston's Unique History This Mother's Day!

This upcoming weekend is a great time to celebrate the special woman in our life we lovingly refer to as “mom.”  And, while you could do the typical Mother’s Day brunch or bouquet of flowers; here at Shoreline Property Advisors, we’d thought we’d point out a unique way to celebrate mom in the quaint North Chicago city of Evanston.
Many of us learned from our moms that a house can quickly feel like a home once a little love and TLC is thrown in to the mix.  Evanston captures that essence of home life through a unique, annual event that you won’t want to miss!  
The Evanston History Center’s 37th Annual House Walk will be taking place this Sunday, May 13 from 12pm-5pm, and has been a long-standing favorite event for the Evanston community.  This is your chance to visit private historical homes in Evanston such as the stunning 1899 Myron Hunt home, as well as the 25 room home modeled after the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow home in Cambridge, MA.  
All proceeds from the walk will go to the Evanston History Center and used to continue our enjoyment of Evanston’s rich heritage.  To view more information on the event and purchase tickets, please visit the Evanston History Center’s website.  
As Prudential Rubloff Real Estate agents in Evanston, we enjoy the fact that this city is filled with beautiful historic homes and condos.  Incorporated in 1863, Evanston preserves well its history and charm, yet this city is continually progressing forward and maintains an ultra-current and lively persona.  With this distinct blend of history and progressive culture; Evanston is truly a great place to call home!
If you’ve been considering moving to Evanston, why not visit this coming weekend!  You’ll get a good feel for what Evanston has to offer and can learn more about its’ rich history.  Whether you’re able to attend the house tour or not, spending time in Evanston’s downtown will give you a great sense of the community, and we promise you won’t be disappointed!
As always, we’re here to answer any questions you have about living in Evanston or about the Evanston Real Estate market.  We would love the opportunity to meet with you and give you a personalized tour of homes that are currently available in Evanston.  You’re sure to find an Evanston home that will fit your needs, budget and lifestyle. 
Please contact us today to get started!  


Shoreline Property Advisors
@ Prudential Rubloff

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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Retire in Harbor Country Mortgage Free!


We love making people feel at home.  Whether you’re buying your dream home as a permanent location, a vacation getaway or are considering retirement; our goal is to not only help you find a home, but to help you feel completely comfortable with your investment.  As the Shoreline Property Advisors team and Prudential Rubloff Real Estate agents, we know there’s a lot involved in the home buying process.
In fact, you may be reading this blog as you consider retiring within the next few years.  You’re thoughts are turning towards spending your post-work days soaking up the beautiful views in Harbor Country, or one of the other cities along the Lake Michigan Shoreline.  Yet as you look towards retirement, you feel the financial decisions weighing heavy on your mind.  
Since our job is to help people work through and meet those financial real estate goals, we thought we’d point out three ways that can help you live your retirement days mortgage free. Take a look!
1. Make Extra Mortgage Payments- It may seem insignificant to tack on an extra $100 a month, but over time it can amount to major savings!  Let’s say you have a $200,000 mortgage at an interest rate of 6% on a 30 year mortgage.  Without taxes and insurance, that will amount to around $1,200 a month, which means you’ll be paying a little over $231,000 in interest.  But, paying an extra $100 a month can save almost $50,000 in interest and you can be done with the loan five and a half years early!
2. Refinance Your Mortgage- If you currently live in Harbor Country, refinancing your home could be one of the best ways to cut costs each month or switch to a shorter term loan.  Many people are considering refinancing due to the historically low interest rates we’ve seen over the past few years, which is great if your goal is to reduce monthly payments.
However, refinancing can also mean switching out your current 30-year mortgage to a 15-year loan.  While you will be paying a little more each month, you’ll find yourself mortgage free much sooner!  
3. Downsize Your in Your Harbor Country Home- We all love to have our own space and a home that allows for hosting gatherings and guests.  But, do you need the same amount of space as you did earlier in life?  While you do want to account for friends and family that will want to come visit you in your Harbor Country home; you won’t need a lot of extra space such as a formal dining room or a formal living room.  Downsizing can allow you to find a less expensive home and, if you are selling your current home to relocate to Harbor Country, you could potentially make an all cash offer! 
Whether you’re facing retirement in a few years, or are already planning far in advance; we feel these tips will help!  Each year we work with many who are searching for a great place to retire and Harbor Country seems to have it all!  From stunning Lake Michigan views, to shops, restaurants, a vibrant community and things to do year round; you’ll find it’s an ideal spot to settle down.

If you have questions about living in Harbor Country, planning for retirement or want to view some of the homes currently on the Harbor County Real Estate market; please let us know!
We look forward to hearing from you and helping you find your place in Harbor Country!

Shoreline Property Advisors
@ Prudential Rubloff

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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Tips for Pricing Your Evanston Home Correctly!


Selling your Evanston home can seem daunting as the real estate market is currently leaning in favor of buyers.  You may be worried about getting a good price for your home or even may be wondering if you home will sell at all!  Yet, as Shoreline Property Advisors and Prudential Rubloff Real Estate agents, our years of expertise tell us that selling your Evanston home is not impossible.  In fact, it can be stress free and efficient if you take time to consider what selling in a buyer’s market means and have a trusted Evanston Real Estate agent by your side.
One of the top concerns for sellers is, of course, the listing price for their Evanston home.  Oftentimes sellers have put time, energy and money into making their house a home, and they want that reflected in the selling price.  And, while we know that pricing your home is one of the toughest parts of the home selling process; the best thing you can do is to remain objective.  Take a look at some of the advice we give to our sellers before you begin dreaming up the perfect price for your home.
Study past sales- While this will take a little work, getting to know what other homes in Evanston have recently sold for will be helpful in giving you appropriate expectations.  Your Evanston Real Estate agent can also provide you with this list and can explain more about the current market value.
Do not confuse active listings with past sales- For those who are new to selling a home, this is key.  The active listings in the Evanston area don’t reflect what the actual selling price for the home.  While these homes are your competition, they shouldn’t be the determining factor on the price point for your home. 
Do not overprice because you have the time- This can be one of the biggest mistakes sellers can make.  They reason that, since they’re not in any hurry to sell, their Evanston home can sit on the market.  The reality?  This can have the opposite effect on your home.  The longer your home sits on the market, the harder it is to sell.  Buyers will assume there’s something wrong with your home, or may not even bother looking at your home if it’s overpriced. 
Leave some room for negotiation, but don't overreach- You never want to feel like you’re giving your home away, but you will want to leave some room for both parties to negotiate.   
Think like a buyer- You’ll want to talk with your Evanston Real Estate agent about current buyer trends.  What are the top things they’re looking for in a home?  What type of flooring or finishes are desirable?  If you’ve been out of the market for some time, chances are things have changed since you last bought a home.  Getting to know what buyers are looking for will help you evaluate your home, help you consider any updates you’d like to make, and allow you to price your home accordingly.
React swiftly and decisively- Being proactive with the price of your home is key.  You want to remain on top of what buyers are saying during the showing of your home and how the market is moving.  Your Evanston Real Estate agent will guide you with this information, and you’ll want to be prepared to respond quickly in order to keep buyers interested in your home.  Don’t delay the inevitable!
We hope that as you consider selling your Evanston home, these tips will help you get a better understanding of pricing your home in today’s market.  Our team of experienced advisors and Evanston Real Estate agents are here to answer any questions you have or to help you get started and take you through the home selling process.
Feel free to contact us today to get started!

Shoreline Property Advisors
@ Prudential Rubloff

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