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10 Things We Love About Park Ridge
16 Nov 2019 | 2:00 pmOne of the special things about Chicago’s inner ring suburbs is how these communities effortlessly blend and balance the best attributes of busy city life with the slower pace and residential streets of a small town. A true standout in this category, Park Ridge boasts not one, but two central downtown districts, top public schools, and a housing inventory that’s equally diverse in aesthetics and price points. Only 15 miles from downtown Chicago and six miles from O’Hare, Park Ridge is also located within close proximity of the metro area’s two largest job hubs. This doesn’t mean that it’s totally built up however, as Park Ridge has even closer access to a long stretch of forest preserves, recreation activities along the Des Plaines River, and a number of popular city parks. Park Ridge is a rare balance between work and play that may be the perfect place to call home for those who refuse to compromise. Small town feel accentuated by two downtown districts With a population of 37,000 residents, Park Ridge is by no means a large city. However, with its location just northwest of Chicago, Park Ridge is truly a unique blend of dense city living with the small-town charm of early suburbs. The city also naturally developed around two central downtown districts: Uptown and Downtown Park Ridge. This translates to excellent transit connectivity and a vibrant small business community. Easy transit access to and from Chicago Park Ridge is well connected to the area’s main job center in downtown Chicago via commuter rail. There are two Metra stations: the downtown Park Ridge stop and Dee Road on the northwestern edge of town. While not directly connected to the CTA rail system, the Cumberland Blue Line station is only two miles away. Additionally, Route 241 of the suburban[…]
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The Future of Gold Coast Luxury Real Estate
13 Nov 2019 | 9:50 pmSales numbers from the last few years paint the picture of a down market in the Gold Coast – the upscale lakefront pocket that has long been known for ultra high-end condos and co-ops. But another evident trend that sales reveal is a wide gap between new construction and existing housing stock, particularly in dated inventory. While new construction in the Gold Coast now can hit $1,200 to $1,300 per square foot, a lot of the inventory in ‘last generation’ buildings will be priced at half that level, and older condos will sell for even less. However, a variety of options and slow sales can present an opportunity for buyers who are willing to put in some sweat equity, says Rick Sobin, managing broker and VP of Brokerage Services for @properties. “A lot of people are seeing great opportunity in large units with good pricing, who are [then] able to gut a unit down to the studs, start over again, and when it’s finished, end up with a very well appointed unit at a price point with there still being an opportunity for a profit.” And for the new construction side? Expect to pay top dollar. The cost to build in this exclusive neighborhood is some of the highest in the region, says @properties co-founder Thad Wong. “The land value in the Gold Coast is the highest in the city,” Wong says. “You’re not able to build anything in the Gold Coast for under $1,000 per square foot.” What does all of this mean for the Gold Coast market in 2020? Tune in and listen as Rick Sobin, Thad Wong, and Mike Golden offer their insight and predictions for the coming years. The post The Future of Gold Coast Luxury Real Estate appeared first on @home.
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10 Things We Love About Lincoln Park
9 Nov 2019 | 3:00 pmWith roots tracing back to Chicago’s earliest years, Lincoln Park has always played a leading role in the city’s entertainment, higher education, and civic institutions. Its stretch of lakefront, which prominently features its namesake park, includes many attractions such as the Lincoln Park Zoo and Lincoln Park Conservatory, among many others, and is as bustling as the busy retail and commercial corridors that cross through the neighborhood. But there’s also a balance, with an emphasis placed on nature and the outdoors at many of Lincoln Park’s best known attractions and amenities. And for lovers of all things Chicago, there’s a plethora of cheap dives and high-end dining to explore all flavors of the city. Home to thousands of college students as well as long-established, multi-generational families, Lincoln Park is not only a North Side anchor, but a place that people from all walks of life call home. Here are just a few things that we love about Lincoln Park. Lincoln Park Zoo With free entry every single day of the year, including holidays, the 35-acre Lincoln Park Zoo shows unwavering dedication to its mission to educate and entertain Illinois residents. And having been in operation for more than 150 years, the attraction is noted as being the second oldest zoo in the country (New York’s Central Park Zoo opened just four years prior in 1864). With over 1,000 animals from around the world, there is enough to see and do for an entire day. And it’s not all just for kids — the Adults Night Out events, winter ZooLights lighting display, and Zoo Year’s Eve celebration are popular draws for grownups. The honeycomb-shaped nature boardwalk designed by Chicago’s Studio Gang is also a must-see. Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and Lincoln Park Conservatory Further bolstering the neighborhood’s naturalist credentials are the[…]
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What’s Selling and What’s Sitting in Winnetka’s Luxury Real Estate Market
6 Nov 2019 | 8:16 pm@properties co-founders Thad Wong and Mike Golden face scary headlines about the Chicago area luxury real estate market head-on in the final @/The Market installment of 2019. But how do the foreboding stories hold up to actual sales numbers and buyer preferences? @properties managing broker Amy Corr provides some boots-on-the-ground insight into the Winnetka housing market, one of the priciest in the metro area. “There’s hype out there about our market not being that great, but I feel like over the last three years, we’ve been steady,” Corr says of the tony pocket, which had only three fewer million-dollar home sales through the first three quarters of 2019 vs. the year-ago period. “I think when you hit the luxury market, there are some really great opportunities for people who want to buy and be in that uber luxury in Winnetka.” The numbers offer some clues as to where the ultra high-end market is moving. Case in point: $3 million home sales are up year-over-year for the first three quarters of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018, going from 11 to 17. However, the stratospheric $10-million-and-up segment has been quiet, with no transactions in 2019 vs. three last year. In total, there were 125 $1 million homes sold in the first nine months of ‘19 versus 128 during the same time frame last year. A few more Winnetka market stats worth taking into consideration: the average sales price is down 5.2%, but the median sales price is up 6.1%. The average time on market is 157 days. A closer look at the inventory and sales data reveals a clear preference emerging among buyers, Corr suggests. “What’s sitting right now in Winnetka are some of the older homes,” Corr says. “We do have a lot of inventory that is from[…]
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7 Ways to Give Back Across Chicagoland
4 Nov 2019 | 5:05 pmAs the holidays approach, giving back is a great way to kick off the season. Whether you’re looking to give back in the form of time or monetary donations, there are many organizations across the Chicagoland area that could benefit from extra support. Read on to learn the ways you can start a new tradition, while lending support to those in need. Blessings in a Backpack This organization provides food on the weekends to elementary school children across America who might otherwise go hungry. While these children are fed during the school week, Blessings in a Backpack is dedicated to ensuring they receive nutritional meals over the weekend, too. How to give: Through a one-time gift ($130 will feed one child on the weekends for one 38-week school year). Make a donation to a specific school. Make a monthly donation. Donate new backpacks or drawstring bags. Cradles to Crayons Chicago Cradles to Crayons provides homeless or low-income children, from birth through age 12, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play. How to give: Make a monetary donation ($33 helps provide a child with the everyday essentials they need). Donate high-quality and like-new items, such as coats, clothing, diapers, baby gear, toys, bedding, etc. Create a KidPack (make a monetary donation or purchase items off an Amazon Wish List). Host a drive in your community. One Warm Coat This organization provides a free, warm coat to anyone in need. One Warm Coat also provides individuals and groups with the resources to hold a successful coat drive. The coats are then distributed in the communities where they were collected. How to give: Donate a coat at a participating location. Make a monetary donation (every dollar donated warms one person). Host your own coat drive.[…]
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Scary Real Estate Stories
31 Oct 2019 | 12:00 pmBuying or selling a home can be scary – but it doesn’t need to be. In the spirit of Halloween, we’re breaking down some of the scary real estate stories that can haunt buyers and sellers – and how you can avoid them. Sellers Horrifying photos The story – John is looking to buy a house, so his real estate agent sends him a new listing that checks all the boxes when it comes to features, location and price. The first thing he notices? Dark, out-of-focus photos that set the scene for the next Paranormal Activity movie. The house is everything John wants on paper but it doesn’t look very inviting – so he tells his agent he’s not interested in seeing it. The reality – Listing photos are often the first thing a buyer will see, so you have to make them count. That means you want high-quality, professional photography that highlights your home’s standout features and makes buyers envision the lifestyle they could have there. Pricing mistakes that scare off buyers The story – Paul is selling his home and hoping to get $750,000 like his neighbor down the street. He knows his home is smaller and isn’t in the same condition as his neighbor’s, but figures there’s no harm in starting with an overly-ambitious asking price since he can always lower the price. Despite the true comps, Paul moves forward with this strategy and puts his home on the market for $750,000. Weeks go buy with hardly any traffic from buyers, and Paul falls into a dreaded trap – the price reduction trap. The reality – If buyers perceive your home as overpriced right when it hits the market, you’ve already missed a huge opportunity. The next thing you know, traffic is going down and market time[…]
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Why Video is Essential to Your Home-Marketing Strategy
29 Oct 2019 | 12:00 pmA picture may be worth a thousand words, but according to a Forrester Research study, just one minute of video is worth a whopping 1.8 million words. Regardless of the accuracy of that stat, one can’t deny the exponential power of video marketing. That’s why @properties has an in-house production team that films, edits and distributes professional videos showcasing our listings and the surrounding community. If you’re thinking about making a move, it’s important to create a marketing strategy that sets yourself apart from the crowd. Here’s why video helps sell your home: Video tells the story of a property in a more dynamic way Like selling a home, the process of buying a home can be very emotional. A compelling video not only immerses potential buyers into the experience of your home, but also establishes an emotional connection by highlighting what makes it special. While photography will always be essential to the real estate marketing mix, a well-produced video can make a home come to life in ways that even the best photography can’t. Buyers can tour your home online before seeing it in person Most buyers today begin their home search online. With the help of a listing video, these buyers can better envision the layout of your home as well as the lifestyle it offers, prior to scheduling a showing. At the end of the day, the more engaging the marketing, the more likely a buyer is to take an interest in your home and ultimately make an offer. Video boosts online exposure for your home Social media channels like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have all experienced a significant growth in users watching video. Sharing your listing video through these channels generates more online exposure and enables you to reach more buyers. Meanwhile, sites like Zillow and[…]
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