Blurbs from the Burbs by Chicago Northwest Realtor, Judy Greenberg

Food, Fun and Festivals in Buffalo Grove and Long Grove This Weekend.

Strawberries, strawberries, strawberries!  I love this time of year when the local strawberries are ready for harvest.  This weekend in the Chicago Northwest Suburbs, there are two events going on, each which feature this seasonal, delicious treat.  The Long Grove Strawberry Festival, which runs Friday, June 25^th though Sunday, June 27^th, features entertainment, shopping and all things strawberries.  On Sunday, June 27^th, the long awaited Buffalo Grove Farmer's Market opens for the first time.  No matter which event you attend (and I highly suggest you try and get to both) you're sure to have a deliciously sweet experience.

Long Grove Strawberry Festival

If you love chocolate covered strawberries, you will love the Long Grove Strawberry Festival.  Around every corner you will find fruit smoothies, ice creams, strawberry donuts and baked goods.  

According to the Long Grove website, there will be free live entertainment all three days at venues all over town and most of Long Grove's many shops, galleries, cafes, and restaurants offer variations of strawberry-themed foods, drinks, and merchandise.

There will be plenty of activities and fun for children at the Long Grove strawberry festival, including a variety of kiddie rides and face painting.  Bring the family, bring your appetite and get ready for a great afternoon.

Click here to go to the Long Grove website for more information: www.longgroveonline.com.

Buffalo Grove Farmer's Market

At long last, the Buffalo Grove Farmer's Market is ready to open.  Be sure to stop by the Spray and Play parking lot this Sunday, June 27^th from 7:30am to 12:30pm.

In addition to numerous farmers, the Buffalo Grove Farmer's Market will have a knife sharpening vendor who will come 4 times this summer, an Orchid grower coming in July, bakeries, meats, fresh flowers, plants, honey & jams.
 
There will free entertainment most weekends at the Buffalo Grove Farmer's Market and visitors will be able to buy fresh donuts after watching them be made! I'm planning on going early to take advantage of the best of the produce. 

Whether you're in the mood for a day-long festival or a quiet morning of enjoying the sights and smells of the best product summer has to offer, you can definitely find something fun to do this weekend in Buffalo Grove and Long Grove.

The above post,Long Grove Strawberry Festival and  Buffalo Grove Farmer's Market was written by Tara Arnold and Judy Greenberg of the Judy Greenberg Real Estate team at Coldwell Banker.

If you would like more information about the Chicago Northwest Suburbs,including Libertyville, Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Vernon Hills, and Lake Zurich  please do not hesitate to call me at 847-602-5435 or email me at info@buffalogrovehomes.com

My websites, www.movetolonggrove.com , www.buffalogroveareahomes.com, and www.vernonhills.homes-for-sale.com  will  provide you all the information regardless as to whether you are a potential buyer or seller!

Buffalo Grove Real Estate Analysis- May 2010 by Judy Greenberg, Buffalo Grove Realtor

How is the Buffalo Grove real estate market doing?

Everywhere I go these days, whether at my child's volleyball game,  my social  bowling league on Saturday night or walking my dog, people are asking me the same question, how is the Buffalo Grove Real estate market doing?    If you  want my complete answer, we need to meet for lunch.  I'm definately a straight shooter and will give you the  411 on what is happenning in the Buffalo Grove real estate market. 

The long and short of it is that on paper, the Buffalo Grove  Real Estate market, especially the $250,000 to 400,000 priced home is definately holding its own and  is even showing nice signs of improvement.    However, if you talk to a  frustrated seller of a higher price Buffalo Grove home, they would not sound as optimistic.  

The Buffalo Grove real estate  analysis  I did last month  indicated that the number of  Buffalo Grove Real estate sales have  almost doubled and Buffalo Grove real estate prices, have even increased,   In 2009 the median Buffalo Grove selling price was $285,000 and in 2010 the median Buffalo Grove selling price was $295,000. Although it is only a little increase, it was an increase. 

Buffalo Grove Real Estate Analysis- First four months of 2010 

 Buffalo Grove Real Estate Analysis- First four months of 2009

 As of May 31st 2010, the market still seems to be improving in Buffalo Grove.  27 Buffalo Grove homes were closed in May  and the selling price increased in one month  from $330, 711 to $347,062.  Additionally the days on the market decreased from 136 days to 128 days.   All good signs!

The above post, Buffalo Grove Real Estate Analysis May 2010-  was written by Judy Greenberg, Buffalo Grove Realtor. 

Judy Greenberg's websites www.movetolonggrove.com and www.buffalogrovehomes.com all the information regardless as to providewhether you are a potential buyer or seller.  If you are a first time home buyer trying to determine how much you can afford, or an experienced buyer who is selling your home, Judy can help you with all your real estate needs .  As a seller you benefit from Judy's savvy internet marketing skills and strong negotiating skills, and as a buyer you benefit from her passion for finding you your perfect home!

Judy can be reached at 847-602-5435 or via email at info@buffalogrovehomes.com. Judy has helped people move in and out of  the Chicago Northwest  Suburbs. including but not limited to , Long Grove, Kildeer, Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Vernon Hills, and Hawthorn Woods.

Finding fun, rainy-day activities for kids in Buffalo Grove during June is as easy as looking around the corner.

Things to do In Buffalo Grove for Children

The signs are all there.  The kids are getting restless, the weather is getting warmer and the bulletin boards are all coming down in the classroom.  This can only mean one thing - summertime in Buffalo Grove, IL.   For most parents in the Chicago Northwest Suburbs, the most pressing question on their minds is "What am I going to do with the kids before camp starts?" 

It's easy to send the kids outside or to the pool on a nice day, but what do you do if Buffalo Grove when it rains?  Before you drive yourself crazy from watching eight straight hours of the Disney Chanel, give some of these activities in Buffalo Grove  a try:

• Bowling - eScape Entertainment in Buffalo Grove participates is a nationwide program titled Kids Bowl Free.  By registering your kids at the kidsbowlfree.com website, you can treat your kids to two, free games of bowling every day from now until the end of summer.  There is also a family pass option for $25 that allows four adults to also bowl two, free games all summer.
• Library Programs - The Indian Trails Public Library has a whole assortment of free programs for kids 3 years through high school students.  Most are free and just require registration at the library's website.  I'm personally looking forward to the Preschool Craft program on June 10^th and the Pictionary and Pizza program on June 16^th.
• Movies - Regal Theaters in Lake Zurich is continuing its Family Film Festival this summer.  Every Tuesday and Wednesday in the summer, the Lake Zurich Regal Theaters (about 15 minutes from Buffalo Grove just a couple miles north of Deer Park Town Center on Rand Rd.) shows free movies at 10:00am.  Movie selections in June include Polar Express, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Planet 51.
• Raupp Museum  located in Buffalo Grove- My kids and I stumbled on the Raupp Museum on a rainy afternoon last fall.  It took considerable effort to persuade my kids that Buffalo Grove history could be fun, but once we got inside there were interested and kept busy for almost 2 hours.  My hint here is to make sure you ask one of the volunteer docents for a guided tour.  These wonderful people know the museum history inside and out and have a knack for keeping the children interested and entertained.

Hopefully, these ideas will help you find fun things to do in Buffalo Grove and the surrounding suburbs, keep your kids entertained and help you keep your sanity.  If all else fails, just keep telling yourself that summer camp is just around the corner and schedule an appointment for a well-earned pedicure for exactly 15 minutes after you drop the kids off(the Buffalo Grove Fitness Center has a fabulous revitalizing pedicure).

The above post Buffalo Grove things to do if it rains was written by Tara Arnold and Judy Greenberg of the Judy Greenberg Real Estate team at Coldwell Banker. 

If you would like more information about the Chicago Northwest Suburbs,including Libertyville, Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Vernon Hills, and Lake Zurich  please do not hesitate to call me at 847-602-5435 or email me at info@buffalogrovehomes.com

My websites, www.movetolonggrove.com , www.buffalogroveareahomes.com, and www.vernonhills.homes-for-sale.com

 will provide you all the information regardless as to whether you are a potential buyer or seller!

Casa Bonita in Libertyville is one of my new favorite Mexican Restaurants.  If you are looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant with a wonderful atmosphere Casa Bonita in Libertville is a great place to try

From the moment you walk in the door at Casa Bonita you know you are going to experience an authentic Mexican restaurant.  The guacamole is to die for and the fajitas were out of this world.  I also enjoyed the trilogy of salsas on the table (one is a combo tomatillo/guacamole salsa).

The Margaritas were delicious- I tried both the frozen Mango and the regular on the rocks.. 

My friends and I were celebrating a few birthdays and the owner as well as the rest of the staff couldn't be nicer.  One of the owners  is the women 2nd from the right.   The birthday girls were given sombreros...  We sat outside and although it was not a balmy summer evening, the heat lamps worked very well. 

I definitely recommend Casa Bonita to everyone who is looking for a new restaurant to to try..  

If you would like more information about Casa Bonita, you can visit their website at www.casabonitalibertyville.com

The above post Libertyville Mexican Restaurant- Try Casa Bonita!  was written by Judy Greenberg of Coldwell Banker. 

If you would like more information about the Chicago Northwest Suburbs,including Libertyville, Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Vernon Hills, and Lake Zurich  please do not hesitate to call me at 847-602-5435 or email me at info@buffalogrovehomes.com

My websites, www.movetolonggrove.com , www.buffalogroveareahomes.com, and www.vernonhills.homes-for-sale.com

 will provide you all the information regardless as to whether you are a potential buyer or seller!

Vernon Hills Renters-  Don't be a victim of your lessor's potential foreclosure.

In order to protect my Vernon Hills client if he/ she is the the lessee, and prevent them from being thrown out on the streets, or from being a victim of foreclosure,  it is important to ask these questions prior to signing a lease or rental agreement.

Just this past week, I have received 2 calls from two different Vernon Hills lessees where one family was told that they needed to vacate their Vernon Hills home immediately and the other couple was told that they needed to move out of their Vernon Hills home within the next few weeks.

Imagine a family dinner and the sheriff knocks on the door informing that you have to move out suddenly since the lessor failed to pay the mortgage.  Yes, the Vernon Hills renters paid the rent on a timely basis, but the Vernon Hills lessors failed to pay their mortgage and taxes.

Since I represent many Vernon Hills clients, both lessees and lessors, my job as a Vernon HIlls Realtor is to represent and protect my clients.  If I represent the lessors, I do a background check on the lessees, and if I represent the lessees, I need to do a background check on the lessor.

1. How long has the Vernon Hills home been vacant?

If the house has been vacant for more than a few months, it is very possible that the landlord could be distressed and must get your first/last month rent and security deposit to catch up on the mortgage that may be past due. This is the first sign that there might be a problem.  

2. Are the Vernon Hills real estate taxes current on the property?

Not only does properties get foreclosed on because of non payment for the mortgage , non payment of property taxes can also cause a property to be foreclosed on. You can also check the Lake County tax records if you feel awkward asking this question.

3. Lastly,  pull the credit of the Vernon Hills lessor.- Don't get me wrong, the first time I was asked to pull credit of one of my lessors, I was taken aback and appalled that they were asking for my client's credit.  My client was allowing these people to rent from them! However, after I have heard the problems lesses go through, I  now perfectly understand and can sympathize.  People want and need  to protect their families from having to be a victim of foreclosure,  Its a mess, the legal fees, double moving costs and lastly,  its not fun to have to move out suddenly when the sheriff comes knocking on your door.  Make sure you use the services of a Vernon Hills Realtor to protect your interests

If you would like more information about the Chicago Northwest Suburbs,including Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Vernon Hills, and Lake Zurich  please do not hesitate to call me at 847-602-5435 or email me at info@buffalogrovehomes.com

My websites, www.movetolonggrove.com , www.buffalogroveareahomes.com, and www.vernonhills.homes-for-sale.com

 will provide you all the information regardless as to whether you are a potential buyer or seller!