Relocation

Average deeded parking space sale price $31,000 in 3rd quarter 2010

Parking Spaces October 29, 2010

The average sale price of a deeded parking space in Chicago in the 3rd quarter was $31,000, up 14% from a year earlier. The median sale price was unchanged at $28,500, but the number of spaces sold was up 50% from 16 to 24. As shown above there are well over twice as many deeded Click to continue...

Chicago’s most walkable neighborhoods

Thumbnail image for Chicago’s most walkable neighborhoods November 11, 2009

Today’s Chicago Tribune included a list of the 10 most walkable neighborhoods in Chicago according to Walkscore.com. The list caught my attention since I like to walk, but also because some buyers I’m working with wrote me, “A sense of being in a city neighborhood – where we can walk to great food markets, restaurants, Click to continue...

2009 Illinois school report cards & rankings released today

October 30, 2009

The Illinois State Board of Education released its 2009 school report cards today. Use ISBE’s eReport Card Public Site to view the complete reports. Another option for viewing the report cards is the Interactive Illinois Report Card. One advantage of this site is that it lets you compare schools. Both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Click to continue...

What to do when Chicago homes for sale details don’t include schools

October 29, 2009

One of the shortcomings of all sites that let you search for Chicago homes for sale is that they don’t always list the neighborhood schools. That’s because only school district numbers are required in our multiple listing system (MLS). School districts may encompass several neighborhood schools. Neighborhood school names are optional in the MLS. Since Click to continue...

Relocating tougher now for dual income couples

June 19, 2009

Relocating recently got tougher for dual income couples. Chicago’s Daily Herald reported today that Fannie Mae “no longer will permit mortgage applicants to count the income of so-called “trailing spouses” toward the household income needed to qualify for a loan. A trailing spouse is the one who joins his or her spouse or partner in Click to continue...

Named One of The Best Chicago Real Estate Blogs by Relocation.com!

March 29, 2009

This morning I discovered that this blog was picked as one of “The Best Chicago Real Estate Blogs” by Relocation.com. I am very flattered for a couple of reasons! First, I work with a lot of relocation buyers, so the honor means a lot to me coming from a site dedicated to helping people relocate. Click to continue...

How to Identify a True Blue Ribbon School

March 24, 2009

Sunday’s Daily Herald had a very informative article on schools that tout Blue Ribbon Awards not from the U.S. Department of Education, but from paid consultants! If a school displays a Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence as shown, the award was earned, not purchased from the U.S. Department of Education. If a school displays Click to continue...

Chicago & Suburbs Online Rental Search Sites

January 28, 2009

Yesterday I was texting on Twitter (franbailey) with a woman who will be moving here with her husband from Miami in a few months. They’ll initially be renting and then plan to buy a home. I’ve been hearing from a lot more people relocating to the Chicago area that plan to rent for the first Click to continue...

ChicagoTribune.com’s Community Intelligence

June 15, 2008

Looking for more information on Chicago neighborhoods and suburbs? After you review my neighborhoods and suburbs‘ posts, check out the ChicagoTribune.com’s Community Intelligence. For each neighborhood and suburb it shows a map with numerous amenities, market stats, demographics, crime data and schools. Community Intelligence also has several articles most recently featuring Andersonville and Wilmette. Click to continue...

Chicago Parking Space Prices

March 14, 2008

I have a buyer comparing Lakeview condos and Arlington Heights condos. One of the differences I mentioned to him is the fact that parking for Lakeview condos is often not included in the price of the condos. Many Lakeview condo sellers are asking $25K to $45K for their condos’ parking spaces. Rarely is parking for Click to continue...

MapMuse.Com – Great for Finding Your Favorite Businesses

February 25, 2008

In my February 6th post, “Chicago Magazine Names BairdWarner.Com Best for Real Estate Search!“, I mentioned that the “nifty Google Maps mash-up” that Chicago Magazine raved about is provided by MapMuse.com. If you’re thinking of relocating to the Chicago metro area or moving to another area of Chicago that you aren’t too familiar with and Click to continue...

How to Find Public Schools for Chicago Homes

February 18, 2008

On Saturday I showed townhouses in the Lakeview and Lincoln Park areas of Chicago to a woman relocating here from Memphis with her two children. The son is in high school and the daughter is in elementary, so schools are an important consideration in her home selection. School names currently aren’t required for listings in Click to continue...

Chicago Area High Schools with Top ACT Scores

February 10, 2008

I recently started working with a gentleman relocating with his wife and daughter from Seattle. He was clear that his top criterion in deciding where to buy a home is good schools. Even though his daughter won’t be in high school for several years, he wanted to know where good high schools are located. What Click to continue...

Finding a Home Within a School’s Boundaries Takes 2 Kinds of Searches

January 14, 2008

For families with children in school, schools are often an important part of the home buying process. On Friday I started searching for a new home for a lesbian couple in Palatine. They want to keep their 8 year old son in the same elementary school, but with another child soon to be on the Click to continue...

Chicago Area Whole Foods Map

December 26, 2007

My partner’s brother’s family is visiting this week and they’re big fans of Whole Foods. For those of you not familiar with Whole Foods, it’s a grocery store chain which sells high quality natural and organic products. For you Whole Foods Fans out there relocating to the Chicago area, I thought I’d create a map Click to continue...

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