Welcome to the Site for SW Chicago Suburbs
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Welcome to the blog/site for southwest suburban real estate and more. This easy-to-use site offers a link to a custom MLS search, listings, local information, news and more. Check out the categories to the right and the pages on the menus above and also to the right. |
Orland Park 2011 Statistics Are In
By · CommentsThe 2011 stats are in for Orland Park homes.
- There were 6% more sales than in 2010 – 282 in 2011 vs. 266 in 2010. That’s good news and I’m hoping we’ll see even a higher amount of sales in 2012. It’s been really busy for this time of year and I hope it continues.
- Prices decreased 11.1% – the average sale price in 2011 was $318,088 compared to $357,690 in 2010. I didn’t expect double digit price decreases in this popular village.
Although I am optimistic about 2012 I’m not sure how prices will be affected. Even with more sales we are still in a buyer’s market with more short sales and foreclosures coming up. As many real estate gurus predict, I think we will continue seeing price drops.
Click the link to see all Orland Park real estate sales stats from 2005 until the present.
Mokena Homes and Real Estate
By · CommentsIf you’re interested in looking at Mokena homes and real estate, click the link and get to the best page about Mokena real estate on the Internet. You’ll find out a little bit of information about this growing village and will be able to view properties for sale without having to do a search. If you’d like to customize your search to fit your parameters, you can create an advanced MLS search to find homes that best match your requirements.
The property listings will show all photos and any virtual tours the listing agents provide, a map of the location, Walkscore and more! Unlike many big, national portals, each property report is just about that property – no other non-matching homes that you might not be interested in. This page is easy-to-use and gives you the information you want.
This page is provided by your Mokena REALTORS, Judy Orr & Jimmy Herter.
3rd Quarter 2011 Stats in for Homer Glen
By · CommentsClick the link to read about 3rd Quarter Real Estate Sales Stats for Homer Glen Homes, comparing 2011 to 2010 figures. There is good news and 
bad news.
The good news is that the volume of sales was up by a healthy double digit figure. It’s always a positive indicator when more people are buying than in the past – more activity will help clear out the overloaded inventory.
The bad news is that prices dropped, but at least the drop was in the single digits, unlike some other southwest suburbs. We don’t like to see these constant price drops, but this means value is still there for buyers, especially with our current interest rates. What many buyers don’t realize is that even at a lower price, higher interest rates might mean a higher monthly mortgage payment vs. today’s prices with these super low rates. I wrote a post about home buyers getting off the fence that shows some actual examples.
Palos Park Homes Currently Available
By · CommentsPrices for Palos Park homes are dropping and you might be able to afford this popular village more today than ever before. I think some buyers avoid Palos Park because they feel the prices are so high, but for the 1st 6 months of 2011 they were #3 on the list of average sale prices for the southwest suburbs I work in – you can see the chart on my Southwest Chicago Suburbs Real Estate blog. It doesn’t cover all of the suburbs I work in but encompasses a small, somewhat interconnected area of villages.
As of today’s date, there are 82 Palos Park homes currently on the market. Prices might still sound a little high to some of you when you hear that the lowest priced home is $234,000 and only offers 2 bedrooms, 1 bath and needs updating. On the high end, there are currently 6 homes priced over $2,000,000 in the village. The most recent highest priced sold and closed Palos Park home was sold at $2,740,000 and was new construction in the Shadow Ridge Estates subdivision. It closed in 2008. The most recent high priced sale this year was a foreclosure in the same subdivision that closed in June, 2011, for $1,600,000. Foreclosures occur in all price ranges.
If you love Palos Park and would like to view homes there give your Palos Park REALTOR, Judy Orr, a call at 708-536-8200.
Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
By · CommentsI am so fascinated (and saddened) by the exotic animals that escaped from their “jail” in Ohio. It sounds like most of them were killed. It brings back memories of a couple of animal stories in the Chicago area, such as the Quizno’s coyote, Adrian and a cougar who possibly came down to Illinois from Wisconsin and ended up in a residential Chicago area, also being shot to death.
I’ve watched many TV shows about the people that own these exotic pets and they all seem a bit “off.” Exotic animals have escaped from more than this one compound. There was another man who realized that one or two of his large cats had escaped but he tried to deny it, and the fact that he didn’t keep good records made it sound like he truly didn’t know how many of the cats he owned.
I feel so sorry for the animals. They are penned up and possibly abused (as it sounds like was happening in Ohio), and once they escape, whether sneaking out or being set free, they have a little freedom followed by death. I guess that’s better than living in cages for the rest of your life. I wonder if they knew what to do with that freedom. One of the Ohio cats got hit by a car, so they didn’t even know to hide. It enrages me that these people are allowed to keep these animals.
The weirdest story I’ve ever heard was the man who kept a tiger in his New York apartment. The tiger ended up attacking him and I can’t 
remember if he died or survived. Living with a tiger in an apartment is unfathomable. This tiger was at least captured alive.
I have nightmares about stumbling upon a lion or tiger outside my house. I love scary movies but those that show my nightmare scenario give me the chills. My Homer Glen home is near the Big Run Wolf Ranch in Lockport, although I feel pretty safe that I won’t find a wolf in my back yard. The ranch is open to families a few days a year and other visits are organized in advance.
I took my kids and grandkids there one summer during an open house and the regular residents are wolves, coyotes, a bear, horses, a donkey and many small animals. During the open house we attended there was a special lady guest with other exotic animals, and they were amazing. It was extremely hot that day and we were all uncomfortable, but I’d love to go back again in better weather. Big Run Wolf Ranch is clean and well taken care of and seems to take care of their animals and takes in injured ones and nurses them back to health.
Orland Park Homes For Sale Today, 10/10/2011
By · CommentsAs of today’s date, there are 337 homes in Orland Park up for sale. The year started out with about 250 homes on market and in October, 
getting to the end of our annual selling market, the inventory has increased to more than 300 available homes. We are still facing a very lopsided buyer’s market, and although there are some pockets of the United States where sales are good, we still have way too much inventory vs. ready, willing and able buyers in our area.
Add to that the problem of appraisals falling short for many sales, it is still a challenging market for Orland Park and other southwest suburbs. There are buyers out there, but with over 300 homes up for sale, only 27 were under contract last month. That means that less than 10% of the total inventory of Orland Park homes received an accepted offer. All the rest sit, waiting for that special buyer.
Unfortunately, many have to take multiple price reductions until a buyer feels their home is offer worthy. Many sellers cannot comprehend the reality of our current market and it takes them months (sometimes years) and multiple price reductions and even multiple agents for them to realize that this is how it is.
If you’re an Orland Park home seller that would like to get your home sold, give Judy Orr a call at 708-536-8200. She can tell you why your home hasn’t sold yet if you’ve had it on the market. She will create a marketing plan to get your property sold.
Beautiful Fall Day Perfect to Show Homer Glen Homes
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I’m glad I had to show some Homer Glen homes today as I might have otherwise stayed in the house on this beautiful fall day in the southwest Chicago suburbs. That would have been a shame as I would have missed the sunny blue sky. There were some Sunday drivers on the 2-way streets today, but it was a day to take in the outdoors, to view the lovely foliage, to see the shimmering lakes and ponds and to see the people fishing.
There were geese gathering at some of the lakes and there was a low flying hawk. I’m assuming it was focusing on its lunch as it dove downwards into one of the forest preserves. The other day I was out driving I saw a hawk flying down towards the side of the road but I was driving and couldn’t see what it was aiming for, maybe roadkill.
I am a warm weather lover but I do enjoy a crisp Fall day. Unfortunately, it also is a precursor to our freezing winters with snow and slush, and I sometimes get a little blue thinking about that. But for now I’m going to savor the autumn weather and not think too much about winter. We will be visiting our Scottsdale AZ townhome in November, but when I need to go there is in February, March or April, as our Novembers haven’t been too bad.
Lemont Homes For Sale Today – 9/21/11
By · CommentsAs of today’s date, there are currently 204 Lemont homes available for sale. Read More→
