Famed investor Warren Buffett is betting on housing… literally. Perhaps replaying a scene from a classic movie, the Berkshire Hathaway CEO has made a Trading-Places-esque $1 bet with former Office of Management and Budget director Peter Orszag that unemployment will fall below 8 percent before the next presidential election due to a strong housing rebound that will breathe [...]
Test Drive a Dream Boat
Picture this: a lake, an open boat, a full-throttle ride. You can be in this picture Saturday, June 11, when Cobalt Boats hosts a demo day at Newport Cove’s private marina, located on Bluff Lake on the Chain O’ Lakes near Antioch, IL. This is your chance to test drive some of the best power [...]
The 10-Year Hybrid ARM Makes Sense!
Question: Do you want to buy a house? Did you answer, YES? Then, ask yourself these questions: Has your job required a transfer in the past 10 years? Are you buying a starter home? Are you single, but planning to someday get married and have children? Do you plan to retire in the next 10 [...]
A Housing Shortage? You Kidding Me??
Is a housing shortage coming? If you watch TV news or read newspapers, you would say, “Absolutely not!” Yet a few economists are beginning to predict a housing shortage in just a few years. Why? Here’s the story: According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, our country forms something north of one million new households [...]
Appraisal Know-How
In today’s turbulent real estate market, an appraisal can make or break the sale of your home. Yet, appraising is far from an exacting profession. Here are a few things to know about appraisals so that the house you are buying or selling is valued properly: 1. An appraisal is one person’s opinion. During our 25 years [...]
April Home Prices Are UP!
Home prices and sales rose in April, and that’s good news for home owners and home sellers. The National Association of Realtors said yesterday that the nation’s sales of previously owned homes rose a surprising 7.6 percent last month. This is the best showing in five months and far better than what economists had predicted. The Midwest did even better [...]
Sell Yourself, Sell Your Home
When your lifestyle reflects market trends, it’s possible that if you sell yourself, you can sell your home. How can unfinished rooms in a basement be turned into a selling point? Lots of people are looking forstudio space. Mary’s basement rooms became studios with a drafting board for design work and a potter’s wheel for making [...]
Trying to Sell Your Home? Be Ready with Selling Points
Do you have lifestyle selling points worth mentioning when trying to sell your home? Realtors may not list these assets along with wood floors and granite counter tops, but they may be worth discussing when potential buyers are wavering between your house and someone else’s. Here are some potential house selling points you may have [...]
Can Lifestyle Choices Help Sell a House?
This week we’re talking about giving yourself an edge when selling an existing house. It may be as simple as looking at your lifestyle choices as a homeowner. A few years ago Mary and her husband sold their ranch house. A potential buyer impressed with the butterflies, rabbits and birds in the yard asked how [...]
Find Pleasure in Buying a New Home
When searching for a new home some people fall in love fast. For others anticipation builds. Avoid these potential trouble spots to keep your pleasure high throughout the buying process. Financing. Get your mortgage pre-approved. Talk with a professional loan officer and get a firm loan commitment. This can hasten the closing process, getting you [...]
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Details – Part II
- Bathroom Redo Ideas
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The Chain O’ Lakes Unchained
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Mornings at Newport Cove
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The Great American Lotus
