Vernon Hills Real Estate Recap

Are you curious as to what Vernon Hills real estate homes went under contract in the first 68 days of 2010? Everyone else ( including all my clients) looking in Vernon Hill seem to be!

Whether you are in the market to buy a Vernon Hills home or to sell your current Vernon Hills  home, it is important to keep abreast of market statistics (or at least to work with a knowledgeable Vernon Hills REALTOR who does). Newspapers, national magazines, and television news report on regional and national trends, but aren't doing a very good job of explaining the local real estate market in Vernon Hills. The number of new housing starts nationwide or the percentage increase in foreclosures or short sales in the entire state have very little, if any, bearing on how quickly your Vernon Hills real estate is worth in the  Vernon Hills subdivisions of Centennial Crossing, Deerpath or Sugar Creek.

A few days ago, I was watching a real estate video clip on the ABC news and I really appreciated the way the reporter, Leah Hope, summarized the state of today's real estate market.  In order to sell a home today, the  price and condition  of your home  does not have to be comparable, it has to be compelling. How true is this statement!

In the Vernon Hills real estate analysis below, it shows that the Vernon Hills real estate listing prices at the time the contracts  were entered into were compelling!   Also note that 2 of the contracts were short sales! If you would like to know the sale prices of these homes when they actually close, please do not hesitate to call me or email me. There were 18 homes that went under contract in Vernon Hills since the beginning of the year...

The above article   was written by Judy Greenberg, Realtor from Coldwell Banker Buffalo Grove

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

Coldwell Banker Residential is hosting a Trends  Tools Technoloy  Expo this Tuesday March 9th  for their employees. 

What I love about  being a Realtor with  Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is the amount of education the company provides for their real estate agents.  I have been with the Coldwell Banker  Buffalo Grove office  fo over 8 years and  the education the company has provided me on the local level as well as national level has always been first rate.  Ultimately this education helps me serve my clients  who in turn benefit from all Coldwell Banker has to offer.  My motto is that.... Its not about me, its about you my client!

Three years ago I attended a tech expo sponsored by Coldwell Banker and a speaker at the expo spoke to the employees regarding the how to's of  blogging and to how to better hone our internet marketing skills to better serve our clients.   I took advantage of this expo to the fullest and have been blogging on a consistent basis for 3 years. 

In two days Coldwell Banker is sponsoring another Tech expo to teach the latest and greatest trends in social media and how to use these new tools in marketing our client's homes.  Actually Stefan Swanepoel will be the  keynote speaker and we are  all very excited to hear him speak.   

I'm a person who likes to pay it forward.  As much as I hate speaking in front of groups, this year at the expo, I will be on a panel discussion speaking about how I blog through Active Rain and the benefits it serves my clients.  www.judygreenberg.com

If you would like more information about Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, the expo, or any other real estate matter, please do not hesitate to call me.

The above article  Coldwell Banker in the Chicago area hosts Expo 2010 for their employees  was written by Judy Greenberg, Realtor from Coldwell Banker Buffalo Grove

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.movetoVernonhills.com , www.buffalogroveareahomes.com and my blog www.judygreenberg.com will provide you all the information regardless as to whether you are a potential buyer or seller!

Buffalo Grove - Long Grove Area School Information

Buffalo Grove Schools- Everything you wanted to know if you are moving to Buffalo Grove

When considering a move to a new community, it is very important to learn as much information about the area as you possibly can.  For those of you with children, or dreams of having children in the future, school information is extremely important. 

The schools in Buffalo Grove have an excellent rating.  As a parent of 3 boys who have all attended the Buffalo Grove and Long Grove schools, I understand the pressure that sometimes comes about by trying to find just the right schools for your children. To help you evaluate and locate the Buffalo Grove schools, I have provided a set of general links which will help you find school report cards, demographics, extracurricular activities and sports and private schools.

I know there is more to choosing a school than statistics, so I am continually adding new information about what's happening in the Buffalo Grove and Long Grove schools so you can real get a feeling for what goes on in the schools. I will even be glad to set up a tour of a local school if that will help you.

Report Cards, Demographics, General Information for the Buffalo Grove and Long Grove Schools

Illinois State Board of Education School Report Cards-Illinois has mandatory report cards which help you evaluate and compare schools based on test scores and numerous other variables.

National/Local School Demographics and Statistics- Excellent site for school statistics that can be used to look at schools both locally and nationally.

Illinois High Schools- Quick information about Illinois High Schools

Illinois Community Colleges- Find out about Illinois' outstanding community colleges

State Universities in Illinois- Run down on the state colleges and universities

Finding the Right PreSchool- Quick guide to choosing a preschool

Preschools in Buffalo Grove and Long Grove Vicinity- List of area preschools

Private Schools and Special Education for the Buffalo Grove and Long Grove area

Chicago Area Independent Schools- This is a good place to start if you are looking for a private school

Illinois School Special Education Information- Information about special education in Illinois

Chicago Area Catholic Schools- Locate Catholic schools throughout Chicago and the Suburbs

Illinois Jewish Schools- Locate Jewish schools in Illinois

School Sports and Extracurriculars for the Buffalo Grove and Long Grove area

Illinois Elementary School Association- Information about topics other than academics such as sports and performance arts on the elementary school level

Illinois High School Association- Information about topics other than academics such as sports and performance arts on the secondary school level

Local School blog posts for Buffalo Grove and Long Grove

Woodlawn School in Long Grove  gets Blue Ribbon Award  Woodlawn Junior High School wins Blue Ribbon School...

Stevenson High School - Stevenson wins national debate championship and state chess title
Stevenson High School- Stevenson High School holds 2 day fine arts festival for students
Stevenson High School- Stevenson was again rated one of the top High Schools
Twin Groves wins Blue Ribbon Award- Twin Groves School is a 2007 National No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School
Great Tutor for K-6 grades- Need a tutor, Judy has a recommendation for a great Buffalo Grove tutor

District 96 Schools

Elementary - Buffalo Grove and Long Grove Schools

Willow Grove Kindergarten Center

Country Meadows Elementary School

Ivy Hall Elementary School

Kildeer Elementary School

Prairie Elementary School

Junior High - Buffalo Grove and Long Grove Schools

Twin Grove Middle School

Woodlawn Middle School

District 21 Schools

Elementary Schools in Buffalo Grove

Field Elementary School

Frost Elementary School

Kilmer Elementary School 

London Middle School

Longfellow Elementary School

Poe Elementary School

Riley Elementary School

Tarkington Elementary School

Twain Elementary School

Whitman Elementary School

Cooper Middle School

Holmes Middle School

455 Navajo Trail -  Buffalo Grove  Price reduction  Now $250,000  Open house this Sunday March 7th from 12-2

This well cared lovely split level home located in Cook County Buffalo Grove at 455 Navajo Trail is perfect for any first time home buyer. 

The upper level of this split level Buffalo Grove home features three  lovely spacious bedrooms with newer carpeting and updated bath, including new cabinets and ceramic tile in the shower.  

This beautiful  Buffalo Grove home boasts per go floors on the main level. The light and bright  kitchen features white appliances and ample cabinet space including a wonderful pantry.

A two car detached garage and a very spacious backyard are additional features of 455 Navajo Trail in Buffalo Grove. 

The roof as well as the siding , air conditioner, furnace and A/C are all new!

There is a brick paver patio as well as a fenced-in -yard  This is a wonderful home!  If you would like more information and additional pictures, you can click on the properties' own website at www.455Navajo.com

If you would like to take advantage of the first time home buyer's credit that is scheduled to expire Apil 30th 2010, please give me a call  at 847-602-5435 and I will be happy to show you this property.

This Buffalo Grove property listed by Judy Greenberg, Coldwell Banker Buffalo Grove is centrally located  close to shopping, parks and the Buffalo Grove Alcott Center.  

The above article  was written by Judy Greenberg, Realtor from Coldwell Banker Buffalo Grove

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.movetoVernonhills.com , www.buffalogroveareahomes.com and my blog www.judygreenberg.com will provide you all the information regardless as to whether you are a potential buyer or seller!

As a Vernon Hills real estate agent, many of my current clients are planning to  take advantage of the $8000 first time home buyer tax and   others are planning to claim the $6500 repeat buyer credit.  Buyers are coming out of the woodwork and Vernon Hill homes priced less than $300,000 are moving quickly.

If you are moving to the Vernon Hills area, or selling your Vernon Hills home, I feel that if you don't begin your search looking for  a home or putting your home on the market, you will miss the opportunity for you or your potential buyer to take advantage of these credits!

The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 has recently extended the tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence. 

The bill also authorized a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified repeat home buyers.   The home you purchase needs to be undercontract by April 30th, 2010. 

There are so many questions you as a potential buyer may have, and I have provided links below that I feel explain this new tax law the best!  I used to be a tax accountant, and I know how complicated the rules can be for even the most seasoned professionals.  If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to call me.  If I can’t answer , I know some of the best tax accountants in the Vernon Hills area.

 
For more information about the first time home buyer’s credit, this is the best information I  have read thus far!

Tax Credits at a Glance

Questions and Answers about the First Time Home Buyer’s Credit

Questions and Answers about the Credit for Repeat Buyers

How to claim your credit is very important...  The IRS had published the following guidelines

2009 Tax Return

Because of the documentation requirements for claiming the credit, taxpayers who claim the credit on their 2009 tax return must file a paper — not electronic — return and attach Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit and Repayment of the Credit (see the instructions for help with the form), and a properly executed copy of a settlement statement used to complete the purchase.

• Purchasers of conventional homes should include a copy of Form HUD-1, Settlement Statement, or other settlement statement, showing all parties' names, property address, sales price and date of purchase.
• Purchasers of mobile homes who are unable to get a settlement statement should include a copy of the executed retail sales contract showing all parties' names, property address, purchase price and date of purchase.
• Purchasers of newly constructed homes where a settlement statement is not available should include a copy of the certificate of occupancy showing the owner’s name, property address and date of the certificate.

Note Regarding Signatures: While the Form 5405 instructions indicate that a properly executed settlement statement should show the signatures of all parties, the IRS recognizes that the elements of the settlement document, often a Form HUD-1, may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and may not reflect the signatures of the buyer and seller. The settlement statement that must be attached to the return is considered to be properly executed if it is complete and valid according to local law. In locations where signatures are not required the IRS encourages the buyer to sign the settlement statement prior to attaching it to the tax return even in cases where the settlement form does not include a signature line.

Long-Time Residents: The November 2009 legislation extends the credit to long-time residents of the same main home if they purchase a new main home. To qualify, eligible taxpayers must show that they lived in their old homes for a five-consecutive-year period during the eight-year period ending on the purchase date of the new home. For long-time residents claiming the credit, the IRS recommends attaching, in addition to the documents described above, any of the following documentation of the five-consecutive-year period:

• Form 1098, Mortgage Interest Statement, or substitute mortgage interest statements,
• Property tax records or 
• Homeowner’s insurance records

If you would like more information about the Vernon Hills area, please do not hesitate to call me.

The above information regarding was provided by Judy Greenberg,Vernon Hills Real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 

Judy's websites, www.movetolonggrove.com , www.buffalogroveareahomes.com and www.judygreenberg.com will provide you all the information regardless as to whether you are a potential buyer or seller!

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.