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Evanston, IL Real Estate News

By Noah Seidenberg, Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917
(Coldwell Banker)
The rental apartment building at 1717 Ridge has just been sold for $70 Million Dollars to Invesco LTD. The building was sold by Focus Development and they had not even finished leasing out all the units. It is the highest price ever paid for a rental property in the Chicago Land. The now former owner paid $55 Million for the building which is located in front of the 2 Sienna condo buildings. They have an address of 1720 and 1740 Oak and the site of these 2 buildings was originally supposed to be 2 additional Sienna condo buildings. The developer of the Sienna buildings was Tom Roszak whose complex went bankrupt due to bad market timing and the property then went into foreclosure. All the Seinna units were then sold at great prices. An empty space was left where the new 1717 Ridge buildi...
Comments 13
By Noah Seidenberg, Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917
(Coldwell Banker)
In Evanston Illinois the closed sales has just about passed that of 2008 when the real estate market really dropped off. In the last 3 years September 2010 through the end of August 2011 there were 710 closed sales, the next year 811 and this year 1018. This is really good news and shows that people are out there buying again and so it is a fantastic time to sell your home if you want to move. The below graph shows us this information: The below line chart shows the period from 2008 through present, closed sales:   If you are interested in selling your home or just want a free market analysis please contact Coldwell Banker Evanston Understand Your Expectations and Exceeding them
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By Noah Seidenberg, Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917
(Coldwell Banker)
Yesterday in Evanston IL I saw film crews all over and wondered what was going on. Finally I asked a man standing around drinking coffee and was told that a new TV show called Betrayal is being filmed all around Evanston. I saw many trailers at the Beach, downtown and along Sheridan Rd which in very near the lake front. I read that Betrayal is a show about an attorney and a photographer who have an affair and end up on the opposite sides of a murder and trial which you can read more about in the ABC web site link Betrayal. The show stars Hannah Ware who is a British model and was in a movie on Starz called Boss and James Cromwell who was in Babe and LA Confidential and also HBOs Boardwalk Empire. They were filming at Pete Millers Steak house which is a very popular restaurant and jazz c...
Comments 10
By Noah Seidenberg, Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917
(Coldwell Banker)
In Evanston Illinois the amount of homes and condos left on the market has dramatically gone down in the last 3 years. The graphs I am going to show you are an example of low inventory. Why are there fewer homes on the market? The reason is demand. People are buying homes and condos that are presented and priced correctly immediately. In the period from September 2010 through August 2011, 704 properties were sitting on the market as active listings for sale. In the period of September 2012 through August 2013 that number is 341 more than half as compared to 3 years ago. This is very good news for the seller. The below graph is 2008 through the present time. This shows us that homes will sell and if you are thinking about making a move there is still time to sell your home, you will be s...
Comments 2
By Art Wilson, Realtor - Chicago's North Shore
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
  By Art Wilson, Realtor       Evanston's August Property sales were 117, up 19.4% from 98 in August of 2012 and -4.1% lower than the 122 sales last month. August 2013 sales were at their highest level compared to August of 2012 and 2011. August YTD sales of 739 are running 24.8% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 592.   The Median Sales Price in August was $266,000, down -11.1% from $299,250 in August of 2012 and down -12.6% from $304,250 last month. The Average Sales Price in August was $317,315, down -8.8% from $348,112 in August of 2012 and down -17.5% from $384,448 last month. August 2013 ASP was at the lowest level compared to August of 2012 and 2011.   The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of August was 271, down -7.8% from 294 last month and down -39.4%...
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By Noah Seidenberg, Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917
(Coldwell Banker)
The closed sales of all types of all types of property have gone up over 25% in the last 3 years in Evanston Illinois. The last year Evanston has had 1,015 totally closed sales from August of 2013 back through August of 2012. This is great news and shows us that the real estate market has picked up very much and should give confidence to the seller that you can achieve success if you want to sell your property. If you are interested in a free, no obligation market analysis of the value of your home, please feel free to call or visit our site at Coldwell Banker Evanston and we will help you. Understanding Your Expectations and Exceeding them. 1-800-858-7917 Open 9AM to 9 PM.
Comments 10
By Noah Seidenberg, Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917
(Coldwell Banker)
The very first Trader Joe's is set to open in Evanston IL on Friday September 6th. It is located at 1211 Chicago Ave and welcomed by Evanston residents. It is in the old Blockbuster video location. Before this date Trader Joe's fans had to travel a few miles to Glenview Illinois. What makes this so interesting is that right across the street from the store is a Whole Foods location at 1111 Chicago Ave, and across the street from that at 1128 Chicago Ave is a Jewel Osco so not only are all your shopping needs met, it brings friendly competition. There are 2 Whole Foods locations in Evanston IL, the other being at 1640 Chicago Ave, Evanston considered the downtown location. A decade ago we only had Jewel and Dominick’s and now we have these 3 stores. The new Trader Joe's will be open from...
Comments 11
By Noah Seidenberg, Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917
(Coldwell Banker)
The time it takes to sell your home in Evanston, Illinois has gone down. This is good news for the consumer. In a 3 year period the single family home sales time on market is down by 29.7%. This is a dramatic decrease in time it will take to sell your property. If you own a condo then the statistics are down 18.6% in a 3 year period. The market is changing and we can sell your home and get you the value your home deserves. If you are thinking about selling your property in Evanston, IL please contact Coldwell Banker Evanston for a free market analysis and we can discuss the steps to get it sold by a professional. We take care of all the details and have open communications with all our customers, providing all your needs to an easy transaction. The top numbers on the first graph are day...
Comments 8
By Noah Seidenberg, Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917
(Coldwell Banker)
It is Sunday and time for some fun. Yesterday I went to the Art Fair at Northwestern University Campus in Evanston IL. I had so much fun walking around and looking at the art work. I thought I would share a little with you. In tribute to the artists, if you are interested in anything you see shoot me an email and I will put you in touch with the artist and or their web site. They are awesome and should get the business if you are inclined to like what you see. What a fantastic ceramic American flag I love this artists Ceramic work   It is hard to believe that this is also ceramic   What pretty pieces   Another ceramic artist, hard to believe this is clay Is this pleasing to the eye? I love it What interesting work, its all wood This is beads of glass melted layer upon layer   Carved fro...
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By Noah Seidenberg, Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917
(Coldwell Banker)
 Just like almost every community in the United States Evanston IL was hit hard by the real estate slump of a few years ago. Now things are much more active. We have experienced much greater sales in the 2013 market and we feel that the upswing should continue. It is interesting to take a look at some data that can show us a bit of information about what is going on.         This graph shows median price sales of all real estate sold in Evanston Illinois over last 5 years and the drop we experienced. What is nice is the great spike upward we are seeing now.   Below is a graph of the median sales price over 12 months. Yes it did drop off August 2011 through July 2012 But look at what happened the last year. If you are interested in buying or selling property in Evanston IL or Chicago Lan...
Comments 8
By Noah Seidenberg, Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917
(Coldwell Banker)
The Optima properties in Evanston IL are considered to be some of the most desired condos near the down town area. There is something to offer for anyone thinking of moving to the community and is interested in full amenities building. The building has a door person, swimming pool, exercise rooms and outside terraces for a BBQ, a party with friends or just to relax in the sun and read your favorite paper of book. The 800 Elgin address which is known as the Optima Horizons is the closest to Northwestern University and very popular with students, and anyone who wants to be close to public transportation like the Metra train or the El. It is walking distance to the school and has 248 units and 16 floors. Ownership includes a heated attached garage and onsite management for all your needs a...
Comments 6
By Noah Seidenberg, Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917
(Coldwell Banker)
Evanston Il and Chicago has fantastic beaches. I live right across the street from the South Blvd Beach in Evanston which I think is one of the best. So nice to lay out on the sand. Great for swimming and body surfing. I moved to this location because I always wanted to be near the beach and to see the lake from my windows. Where something so beautiful lies is also danger. Lake Michigan is about 60 miles across to the state of Michigan and 350 miles wide covering Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. So large it is more like an inland sea. Often during the summer we get beach closings because of Rip Tides and Under Tows. This is deadly. If you are even up to your knees you can get swept away. It happens every year. Unfortunately living so close I always hear the police and rescue s...
Comments 12
By Noah Seidenberg, Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917
(Coldwell Banker)
I don't know if everyone across the country knows about the emerald ash borer? It is a real and sad story. This bug is killing trees like crazy. Years ago it was the Elm Tree in danger, it was Dutch Elm Disease.  This bug killed Elm trees of course and there were many of them around. These insects all supposedly came from shipping crates via the airport from other countries. Evanston IL, and the North Shore of Lake Michigan has always been know as having "Tree Lined Streets". This is now being ruined and we see trees dead or on their way all over. It takes a tree years to grow and months to die in this case. I am very sad. I personally love the old, huge trees. They provide shade and are beautiful to look at. It has gotten so bad that here in Evanston IL they are painting the trees blue...
Comments 12
By Art Wilson, Realtor - Chicago's North Shore
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
  By Art Wilson, Realtor       Evanston's July Property sales were 122, up 16.2% from 105 in July of 2012 and 4.3% higher than the 117 sales last month. July 2013 sales were at their highest level compared to July of 2012 and 2011. July YTD sales of 622 are running 25.9% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 494.   The Median Sales Price in July was $304,250, down -4.9% from $320,000 in July of 2012 and down -7.0% from $327,000 last month. The Average Sales Price in July was $384,448, down -6.8% from $412,440 in July of 2012 and down -1.7% from $391,094 last month. July 2013 ASP was at the lowest level compared to July of 2012 and 2011.    Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of July was 278, down -6.7% from 298 last month and down -38.2% from 450 in July of last yea...
Comments 0
By Noah Seidenberg, Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917
(Coldwell Banker)
Which is better super hot 80 degree plus dog day afternoons or cool and cloudy 60 by the lake and about 65 at the highest further west? I think I would take somewhere about 75 to 80 degrees with no humidity. Friday had light showers all day and there was no need for AC, all windows open.   The record low for July 27 was 69 degrees, set in 1981. Its been overcast and some street fests have required jacket wearing to be comfortable. A cold front moved in Friday. Check out what the Weather Channel says. Pretty unusual for this time of year. I think many boaters are disappointed.   From Metromix here is a list of the Chicago Street fest guide.   19-21: Taste of River North | River North19-21: BenFest | North Center19-21: Pitchfork | Union Park20: Sheffield Garden Walk | Lincoln Park20-21: C...
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By Noah Seidenberg, Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917
(Coldwell Banker)
So you've made the decision to move forward with a home purchase. Good for you! Whether you're a first time buyer or a seasoned veteran, you might be trying to determine if you want to purchase a condo or a single-family home.  There's benefits to both, but some first time buyers especially prefer condos for many reasons.  First of all, price.  Depending on what area you're looking in, generally a condo is less expensive than a home.  An association handles all of the exterior maintenance like shoveling snow and mowing grass, so if you're on your own, that might be a better option.  You do pay for it in a monthly fee, but it can be worth it to some.  Some condos have common amenities like tennis courts and pools. So if you're out shopping and you find a condo you can imagine yourself li...
Comments 9
By Noah Seidenberg, Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917
(Coldwell Banker)
I just ran into a past client of mine.  She was who I had helped rent out her prior home while she bought a different one.  She just had her tenant of one year move out, and now she's searching for a new one.  She was telling me what was going on, and it got me thinking about certain items landlords need to take care of in between tenants.  I thought this would be important information to share with you. Even though the market is doing much better then it was even a year ago there are many people who still would loose money if they sold and choose not to become landlords. It's not as easy as one would think. Especially if you are not a Handy Andy type of person. You can loose all your profit or go in the hole if you have to hire a vendor or service person for every repair.     1. Make s...
Comments 14
By Art Wilson, Realtor - Chicago's North Shore
(Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage)
  By Art Wilson, Realtor-   Evanston's June Property sales were 113, up 1.8% from 111 in June of 2012 and -0.9% lower than the 114 sales last month. June 2013 sales were at their highest level compared to June of 2012 and 2011. June YTD sales of 496 are running 27.5% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 389.   The Median Sales Price in June was $327,000, up 5.5% from $310,000 in June of 2012 and up 6.5% from $307,000 last month. The Average Sales Price in June was $393,328, down -0.2% from $394,091 in June of 2012 and down -1.0% from $397,164 last month. June 2013 ASP was at the lowest level compared to June of 2012 and 2011.   The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of June was 281, down -15.1% from 331 last month and down -38.8% from 459 in June of last year. Jun...
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By Noah Seidenberg, Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917
(Coldwell Banker)
As the weather starts to warm up, most homeowners are starting to turn on their air conditioner.  While opening windows is a great energy saver, those rainy, muggy days can be extremely uncomfortable.  A great solution for almost any room is a ceiling fan.  They allow air to circulate in bedrooms, family rooms, kitchens, etc.  Some studies have even shown that installing a ceiling fan in a baby's nursery helps to reduce the risk of SIDS.  Having ceiling fans in the home are also an affordable way to make your home more appealingly to buyers. Here are some tips when determining how to choose the right ceiling fan. 1. Choose where in the room you want the fan installed.  The center is the most common choice.  If you are putting one in a bedroom, do not put it directly over the bed in case...
Comments 49
By Noah Seidenberg, Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917
(Coldwell Banker)
If you're in the market to buy or sell a house right now, chances are you'll be working with a real estate agent.  In Illinois, it's free to work with someone to help buy a home, so I strongly recommend that you do that to get the best advice possible.  If you don't know anyone who can help you, here's a list of qualities that you do not do not want your agent to have.  1. Lack of communication.  Communication is key when you're in the process of buying or selling.  Real estate is probably one of the biggest investments you'll make in your life, so it's important to be a part of the process.  Make sure your agent responds to you in a timely manner and doesn't disappear for days or weeks without a word.  If you're in the process of negotiating a deal, daily communication is a must, even ...
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