Eric Logan | Illinois Real Estate

Vacant Homes: 8 Ways to Make Sure They’re Maintained

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Realty Executives

By: Mariwyn Evans
Published: September 30, 2010

Living near a vacant home doesn’t have to mean putting up with overgrown grass and unshoveled snow. Does your community use these eight common local laws, programs, and regulations to force owners to maintain vacant homes?

With the foreclosure crisis, you may have noticed a vacant home or two on your block. Rather than see the home free-fall into disrepair, push local officials to take action before the untended house lowers the value of your own home.
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Posted in Lifestyle and Community | Tagged home values, neighborhood improvement, vacancy, vacant homes | Leave a comment

Avoid Foreclosure Rescue Scams

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Realty Executives

By: Donna Fuscaldo
Published: January 15, 2010

With foreclosure rescue scams widespread as more homeowners fall behind on mortgage payments, be smart if you seek help.

A record high 2.8 million properties were hit with foreclosure notices in 2009, putting even more Americans at risk of facing foreclosure rescue scams. Homeowners who fall behind on mortgage payments need to tread carefully when seeking assistance, since foreclosure rescue scams come in many guises. A day spent researching legitimate options, from a mortgage modification or principal forbearance to a short sale or deed-in-lieu, could keep you from becoming a scam victim.
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Posted in Home Finance | Tagged avoiding foreclosure, financial scams, foreclosures, pre-foreclosure, scams | Leave a comment

Foreclosure Counselors: What They Can and Can’t Do

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Realty Executives

By: G. M. Filisko
Published: August 4, 2010

Foreclosure counselors can make the difference between losing your home and keeping it. Here’s how they work and how to choose one.

If you’re facing foreclosure, your foreclosure counselor will be a key part of your foreclosure team. As you start looking for one, however, you need to know what exactly they do, what they don’t do, and how to choose one who’s legitimate and qualified.

What a foreclosure counselor does
•   Reviews your finances
•   Helps you establish a budget
•   Explains your non-foreclosure options, such as loan modification, short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure; helps you navigate the process with any chosen option
•   Advocates on your behalf with lenders and loan servicers
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Posted in Home Finance | Tagged debt reduction, foreclosure, foreclosure counselors, home budgeting, home finance | Leave a comment

Attic Insulation Saves You Money

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Realty Executives

By: Jeanne Huber
Published: September 21, 2010

Add attic insulation to lower heating and cooling costs by as much as $600 per year.

Save about $600 per year by boosting the amount of attic insulation from R-11 to R-49. Depending on the type of materials you use, figure on paying an insulation contractor about $1,500 to insulate an 800-square-foot attic, which pays back your investment in three years. You’ll spend about half that to do the job yourself.

Do you need more attic insulation?

A good, quick way to check if you need insulation is to look across your attic floor. If the existing insulation comes up just to the tops of the joists, then you probably need to add insulation. If you can’t see the joists and the insulation is well above the tops of the joists, you’re probably okay and you won’t recoup the cost of adding more.
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Posted in Home Improvement | Tagged home improvement | Leave a comment

Three Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Realty Executives

Buyers only get one first look at a property, and they don’t want to use their imagination. They assume the house they see is as good as it’s going to get. If you want your home to sell, step out of your comfort zone and think like a buyer. Here are three ways to help you turn your house into the home of someone else’s dreams. We’ve broken down each category into low-cost, “Basic” tips and tricks, and an “All-Out” blow-the-budget transformation. How far you take it is up to you.
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Posted in For Sellers | Tagged home improvement, home selling, remodeling | Leave a comment

Find the Best REALTOR® to Sell Your House

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Realty Executives

By: G. M. Filisko
Published 2010-03-11 16:55:53

Ask detailed questions about their experience and skills to help you find the right agent for your home sale.

Working with the right real estate agent can mean the difference between getting prompt, expert representation and feeling like you’re going it alone when selling your home. Here are 10 questions to ask when you’re interviewing agents.
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Posted in For Sellers | Tagged finding an agent, GRI, homeselling, MLS, selling my home | Leave a comment

6 Tips for Choosing the Best Offer on Your Home

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Realty Executives

By: G. M. Filisko
Published 2010-02-10 11:32:13

Have a plan for reviewing purchase offers so you don’t let the best slip through your fingers.

You’ve worked hard to get your home ready for sale and to price it properly. With any luck, offers will come quickly. You’ll need to review each carefully to determine its strengths and drawbacks and pick one to accept. Here’s a plan for evaluating offers.
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Posted in For Sellers | Tagged choosing an offer, homeselling, negotiation, preapproval, selling your home | Leave a comment

Home Inspections 101

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Realty Executives

According to a study conducted by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) in 2001, 97 percent of home buyers who received home inspections believe they received a good value for their money. A home’s history gives it character and charm, but also takes a toll.

Over time, roofs sag, mortar cracks, and furnaces lose efficiency. Beyond this normal wear and tear, older homes can harbor mold, water damage, termites, or other structural threats that can cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix.
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Posted in For Buyers | Tagged assessment, home inspectiom, representation, wa;kthrough | Leave a comment

7 Tips for Improving Your Credit

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Realty Executives

By: G. M. Filisko
Published 2010-02-25 13:35:12

Here’s how to clean up your credit so you get the least-expensive home loan possible.

Getting the loan that suits your situation at the best possible price and terms makes homebuying easier and more affordable. Here are seven ways to boost your credit score so you can do just that.
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Posted in For Sellers, Home Finance | Tagged credit monitoring, credit rating, credit score, Equifax, Experian, TransUnion | Leave a comment

Homeowners Insurance Checklist

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Realty Executives

A home is the single biggest investment most Americans will ever make. Protecting that investment is not just a legal responsibility, but the smartest move you can make. Here are 7 tips for getting the most out of your homeowners insurance for the smallest premium.