Hint of Spring Surge – Pending home sales show healthy gain

April 14, 2010

Pending home sales rose in February, potentially signaling a second surge of home sales in response http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2010/04/phs_gain to the home buyer tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in February, rose 8.2 percent to 97.6 from a downwardly revised 90.2 in January, and remains 17.3 percent above February 2009 when it was 83.2. The data reflects contracts and not closings, which usually occur with a lag time of one or two months.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the improvement is another hopeful sign. “The rise in buyer contract activity may signal the early stages of a second surge of home sales this spring. The healthy gain hints home prices are continuing to flatten,” he said. “We need a second surge to meaningfully draw down inventory and definitively stabilize home values.”

In the Midwest the index jumped 21.8 percent to 97.9 and is 18.7 percent above a year ago…

“Anecdotally, we’re hearing about a rise of activity in recent weeks with ongoing reports of multiple offers in more markets, so the March data could demonstrate additional improvement from buyers responding to the tax credit,” Yun said.

Walter Molony, National Association of Realtors
Washington, April 05, 2010

When choosing a Realtor during these challenging times, look for the one that has a proven sales record with the experience, knowledge of your area, and expertise that you deserve.

In a Real Estate Market where sellers are unsure of what to expect next, you can’t afford to wait for a Realtor to decide how to best market your home. Our team has been doing this successfully for over 20 years. When Something Feels Right You Stick with it… That’s Why People Stick With Steve!!

Roselle condo units are selling fast!

April 8, 2010

Bank owned new construction! Seven beautiful finished units ready to move into & 27 unfinished units waiting for your decorating ideas on all finishes. Unfinished units are drywalled & primed. They need trim, doors, cabinets, plumbing fixtures, flooring & countertops . Call for details & financing availabilty. See all floorplans & pricing at www.parkstreetcrossing.com. Investors welcome! Don’t miss this opportunity! Call Steve for a showing today 847-222-8686. Two year health membership included.

Relocating to Arlington Heights and Northwest Suburbs of Chicago

February 12, 2010

If you are Relocating to the Arlington Heights and Northwest Suburban area of Chicago you should consider obtaining a well qualified and experienced real estate agent that can make your move stress free.
A qualified Realtor will help you locate the best neighborhood to suit you and your family’s needs.  One of the qualities of being an great Realtor is being an expertise in his area. Matching your needs to a particular area is very critical.

Make sure that the Realtor has a proven track record and a good reputation in the industry. When you purchase a home you want the best of the best so choose an agent that is the best in the area you prefer.

Make sure the Realtor answers all of your questions, and concerns.

Do your homework and the real estate broker you choose will do the homework on your new environment.

By Being the number 1 Realtor in the Northwest Chicago land region, Steve Cohen and The Stick With Steve Team has a proven track record and are experts in our field.  We have the expertise and Knowledge needed to make your next move to the Northwest Suburbs  stress free and successful.  Stick with a proven leader in the industry.  Stick With Steve

For a list of Homes in the Arlington Heights and Northwest Suburban area of Chicago you can visit our website and create your own custom home search.

Click here to create your search.

If you are moving to Arlington Heights, Palatine, Buffalo Grove, or any of the Northwest Suburban areas Contact us at 847-222-8686 for a FREE Relocation Kit

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First Time Home buyers Seminar in Palatine IL

February 10, 2010

Tired of Renting?

Come join us for a FREE First Time Home Buyers Seminar.

These seminars are held Monthly at Harper Community College in Palatine, IL.  Residents from Arlington Heights, Palatine, Schaumburg, and many surrounding areas in the Northwest Suburbs attend these informative sessions.

You can have all of your questions answered about purchasing your new home as well as learn some Home Buyer Tips that could save you Time, Effort & Money!

Topics for Discussion Include:

How to buy a Foreclosure

New Homes vs Existing Homes

How important is Credit When buying a Home

What Mortgage program is best for you

Do I qualify for the New $8,000 Tax Credit

Tax Advantages of Home Ownership

Do I have an Inspection before making an offer

Should I have an Attorney

You can contact us at 847-222-8686 to register or Register online at www.HomeseekerSeminar.com

Deadline for February is 2/16/2010

Seminar will take place on February 17, 2010

Harper Community College~ Building A RM 242

7:00PM-8:00 PM

When It Comes to Chicago Real Estate…It’s a Buyer’s Market

February 5, 2010

It is a buyer’s market when it comes to real estate. To be a buyer the conditions could not be better. Low interest rates, home values and inventory all point to buy, buy, buy. The only thing standing in the way is money, but if people can get money and they are in the right place at the right time, buying real estate is a great idea.

If the real estate market were a car the first time home buyer would be in the driver’s seat. Not only to first time home buyers get to take advantage of low mortgage rates, low home values,  but they also don’t have to sell a home before they buy a home. There are a LARGE inventory of homes for sale in the Northwest Suburbs that you can take a look at.

There may not be a better time to be a home buyer, especially a first time home buyer, for a long time. The first part of 2010 displays ideal conditions to get out there and start looking, and not to mention the $8,000 credit that is available for First Time Home buyers.

Real Estate is Looking Good Today

February 5, 2010

Up, down, sideways, back and forth, it sounds like a game of hopscotch but is actually the way the economy, recession and real estate market have been moving. Mastering what is going on has had experts and professionals confounded, wondering how we can all come out ahead of the game. There is one aspect that most can agree on, good news is great to hear.

Today’s headlines show that real estate contracts are up in volume. The good news for housing affected stocks, as they increased in price. Some believe that the Spring buying season is starting early. December is rarely, if ever, thought of as a Spring month but December showed that the Pending Home Sales Index is up over 10%.

There is no doubt that the real estate industry is faring better than a year ago. To continue coming out ahead job growth needs to improve, interest rates need to remain low and consumer confidence has to continue growing. So far 2010 is looking better than 2009 and hopefully real estate sales will continue to rise.

Click here for an article at Yahoo Finance about good news in the real estate market and its effect on the stock market.

Sourced from: Kinetic Content Library

Did you hear? STAR POWER Club is relaunching!

February 5, 2010

It’s official … STAR POWER is being relaunched under new leadership! As a STAR POWER Star it’s incredibly exciting to be involved in the continuation of STAR POWER into a new era of industry leadership.

Lots of changes have been made to the program, including creation of a new monthly magazine, new spotlight videos on DVD monthly, organization of historical content in the newly branded STARCHIVES, and the new STAR POWER website with highly interactive forums. To learn more, visit:    http://www.gostarpower.com/go?w=gostar&p=a402

I’m proud to be a part of this extraordinary organization helping thousands of agents across the country learn how to be more successful, both professionally and personally.

Agents interested in elevating their business should definitely look into joining STAR POWER Club. Again, the site is:  http://www.gostarpower.com/go?w=gostar&p=a402

STAR POWER is … Success Shared™.

Pending Home Sales Stabilize…

February 2, 2010

Pending home sales have leveled from a market swing driven by response to the home buyer tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

The association also adjusted its economic outlook for 2010 and 2011, and projects that existing-home sales will rise from 5.19 million in 2009 to 5.66 million in 2010 and 5.7 million in 2011.

Based on contracts homebuyers signed but not yet closed in December, the association’s Pending Home Sales Index increased 1 percent, to 96.6 from 95.6 in November, and rose 10.9 percent from December 2008, when the index was 87.1.

For more detailed information regarding this article please click here

Selling Your Home In the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago? Choose the Right Realtor

February 1, 2010

When preparing to sell your home it is important to find a real estate professional that will best suit your needs. A warm handshake and a friendly smile is all well and good but if you want to sell your home pick a broker that is experienced and knowledgeable, someone that will do the best job for you. When selecting your real estate agent here are a few things to keep in mind:

Data.

Get a prospective Realtor to bring in a copy of what they have listed and closed. They can present you with an MLS report that displays their inventory.

References.

Get references from a potential Realtor and call them. Find out what other people’s experience with a particular Realtor has been.

Plan.

What does your Realtor plan to do for you in terms of marketing, sales, listing, etc. Make sure he has a plan for your house and find out what he is willing to do to get it sold for you.

Real estate is often a person’s most valuable asset. Do your legwork and choose the best broker for your home. He or she should be a salesperson. If they can sell themselves to you perhaps they are halfway to selling your home for you as well.

There are many reasons to Sell your Home with The Stick With Steve Team….

We have a TEAM approach—We are 4 licensed realtors for the price of ONE, all working TOGETHER for YOU!

We help an average of 75 families buy or sell a home each year

We average one sale every 5 days

We offer Professional home staging by our interior decorator partner

We also offer a FREE professional home cleaning for up to 3 hours

We get you RESULTS!

For more great valuable information regarding selling your home in the Northwest Suburbs or Arlington Heights, Palatine area  click here

Real Estate Market’s Ups & Downs Present Many Questions

January 28, 2010

Let’s face it, times are tough and on any given day the mood is a different one than the day before. The market’s up, then down, we’re in a recession, we’re recovering, it is hard to know what is really happening out there with so many mixed signals. Real estate is difficult to figure out, and remains relative to where you are.

Is real estate improving? Sales are up, inventory is down but foreclosures are expected to keep coming, especially with unemployment figures on the rise. To find out if real estate in your area is improving talk to a real estate agent and look at the statistics that they provide. The December real estate sales figures were down as a nation but some areas of the country saw an increase in sales.

Have we hit bottom? Parts of the country have hit bottom other parts still have a way to fall. Home prices are apparently steady in parts of the country and climbing in others. The areas where home prices will continue to fall are those hit hard by job losses, an increase in foreclosures and too much inventory.

In a nutshell, real estate is relative. It is improving in many areas and as soon as our recovery includes job growth real estate is going to improve in many more areas.

Click here for an article about real estate on Yahoo Finance.

Sourced from: Kinetic Content Library

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