1415 Sherman Ave, Evanston, Illinois About 1415 Sherman Ave Sherman Condos were built in 2000. Sherman Condos are located at 1415 Sherman Avenue, Evanston north of Dempster and south of Lake Street. The building includes a sun deck and exercise room and is within walking distance to trains, shops, the lake and more. Average taxes in 1415 Sherman Ave $5,540 Average association fees in 1415 Sherman Ave $441 ($411 - $470) Average home size in 1415 Sherman Ave 1,900 ft2 Average lot size in 1415 Sherman Ave 0.00 acres Average year built in 1415 Sherman Ave 2000 Homes for sale in 1415 Sherman Ave Address Beds Baths Built Price 1415 Sherman Ave. #404 2 2.0 2000 $299,000 1415 Sherman Ave. #301 3 2.0 2000 $439,000 Sales Summary for 1415 Sherman Ave  (Mar 26, 2012 - Mar 26, 2013) # of Sales Aver... 03/26/2013

Let me just preface this blog by saying that you should always consult a real estate attorney prior to signing any contract you are not comfortable with or you have questions about.  In Illinois, a real estate contract has a clause written in allowing for five days for an attorney to review a contract prior to it becoming finalized.  However, this is not a reason to say you no longer want the property.   As a buyer, once you sign that contract you should want to move forward with it.  There may be some reason to consider calling off the deal. 1. Home inspection issues.  After your home inspection, you may find some items that are in need of repair.  Some could be as simple as replacing an outlet, fixing a stove burner, or replacing a light bulb in a closet.  However, you may run across ... 03/24/2013

  Sometimes, it's the little things.   Like these little breaks in the electrical conduit.  Don't look like much, do they? Actually, these little breaks are a pretty big deal.  In and around the Chicago area, we use the conduit to carry ground.  In other parts of the country, they do it differently, typically using a bare copper wire.   Since we're using the conduit as part of the circuit, it is essential that the conduit is properly bonded together throughout its entire length. These three photos show conduit that's pulled apart.  When that happens, you have an electrical hazard. Equipment that was formerly grounded is now ungrounded.  In case of an electrical fault, the current won't have an easy path to get back to the transformer.  The circuit breaker might not trip in this instanc... 03/14/2013

Sherman Plaza, Evanston, Illinois About Sherman Plaza Sherman Plaza is a high rise condominium complex built in 2006. Sherman Plaza is located in downtown Evanston, Illinois is on Davis Street just east of Sherman Avenue at 807 Davis. It features 24-hour doorman, concierge, athletic club, storage, party room, walking distance to shops, restaurants, "L" stop. Average taxes in Sherman Plaza $9,034 Average association fees in Sherman Plaza $518 ($356 - $592) Average home size in Sherman Plaza 1,412 ft2 Average lot size in Sherman Plaza 0.00 acres Average year built in Sherman Plaza 2006 Homes for sale in Sherman Plaza Address Beds Baths Built Price 807 Davis St. #603 1 1.0 2006 $349,000 807 Davis St. #604 2 2.0 2006 $495,000 807 Davis St. #2109 2 2.0 2006 $625,000 807 Davis St. #1007 2 2.... 03/11/2013

Optima Views, Evanston, Illinois About Optima Views Built in 2003, Optima Views is a condo high-rise located in Evanston at 1720 Maple Ave . Average taxes in Optima Views $8,683 Average association fees in Optima Views $628 ($260 - $908) Average home size in Optima Views 1,405 ft2 Average lot size in Optima Views 0.00 acres Average year built in Optima Views 2003 Homes for sale in Optima Views Address Beds Baths Built Price 1720 Maple Ave. #1370 1 1.0 2003 $245,000 1720 Maple Ave. #2650 3 2.0 2003 $659,000 1720 Maple Ave. #1410 3 2.0 2003 $579,900 Sales Summary for Optima Views  (Mar 11, 2012 - Mar 11, 2013) # of Sales Average Days on Market Average List Average Sale Ratio% 6 113 $356,417 $328,417 92.1% Recent home sales in Optima Views Address Beds Baths Sold 1720 Maple Ave. 2 2.0 $28... 03/11/2013

Optima Towers, Evanston, Illinois About Optima Towers Optima Towers is a condo building built in 2002 by Optima Inc. Optima Towers is located at 1580 Sherman Avenue in Evanston, Illinois. Average taxes in Optima Towers $0 Average association fees in Optima Towers $0 Average home size in Optima Towers 0 ft2 Average lot size in Optima Towers 0.00 acres Average year built in Optima Towers 0 Homes for sale in Optima Towers None Sales Summary for Optima Towers  (Mar 11, 2012 - Mar 11, 2013) # of Sales Average Days on Market Average List Average Sale Ratio% 6 146 $340,833 $299,083 87.8% Recent home sales in Optima Towers Address Beds Baths Sold 1580 Sherman Ave. 1 1.0 $142,000 1580 Sherman Ave. 2 2.0 $278,000 1580 Sherman Ave. 2 2.0 $217,000 1580 Sherman Ave. 3 2.0 $445,000 1580 Sherman Ave.... 03/11/2013

Optima Horizons, Evanston, Illinois About Optima Horizons Optima Horizons is a high rise condominium building which was built in 2004. Optima Horizons is located in Evanston, Illinois at 800 Elgin Road south of Emerson Street and east of Ridge Avenue. Average taxes in Optima Horizons $3,962 Average association fees in Optima Horizons $302 ($302 - $302) Average home size in Optima Horizons 665 ft2 Average lot size in Optima Horizons 0.00 acres Average year built in Optima Horizons 2004 Homes for sale in Optima Horizons Address Beds Baths Built Price 800 Elgin Rd. #1104 1 1.0 2004 $239,000 Sales Summary for Optima Horizons  (Mar 11, 2012 - Mar 11, 2013) # of Sales Average Days on Market Average List Average Sale Ratio% 6 164 $302,667 $278,583 92.0% Recent home sales in Optima Horizons Ad... 03/11/2013

One Evanston, Evanston, Illinois About One Evanston One Evanston is a high-rise condominium complex built in 2009. One Evanston is located in Evanston, Illinois at 1570 Elmwood which is east of Ridge Avenue and south of Church Street. Average taxes in One Evanston $7,940 Average association fees in One Evanston $657 ($298 - $1,138) Average home size in One Evanston 1,718 ft2 Average lot size in One Evanston 0.00 acres Average year built in One Evanston 2009 Homes for sale in One Evanston Address Beds Baths Built Price 1570 Elmwood Ave. #706 3 2.0 2009 $499,000 1570 Elmwood Ave. #607 2 2.0 2009 $369,000 1570 Elmwood Ave. #1109 1 1.0 2009 $280,000 1570 Elmwood Ave. #711 2 2.0 2009 $440,000 1570 Elmwood Ave. #503 3 3.1 2009 $975,000 1570 Elmwood Ave. #1106 3 2.0 2009 $599,000 1570 Elmwood... 03/11/2013

By Art Wilson, Realtor Evanston's February Property sales were 43, up 19.4% from 36 in February of 2012 and -10.4% lower than the 48 sales last month. February 2013 sales were at their highest level compared to February of 2012 and 2011. February YTD sales of 91 are running 5.8% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 86. The Median Sales Price in February was $224,900, down -10.0% from $250,000 in February of 2012 and up 7.0% from $210,250 last month. The Average Sales Price in February was $286,142, down -30.1% from $409,111 in February of 2012 and up 5.9% from $270,327 last month. February 2013 ASP was at the lowest level compared to February of 2012 and 2011. The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of February was 261, down -4.7% from 274 last month and down -47.4... 03/03/2013

So much potential must see   One owner house in NW Evanston, one of the finest school districts. A ranch with 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths upstairs and in the semi finished basement 2 more bedrooms and another full bathroom. A huge 27 foot long area that could be a rec room Super value $280k http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3328-Harrison-St-Evanston-IL-60201/3515445_zpid/   02/27/2013

  The yard or garage sale season is right around the corner. Perhaps it is a bit early for this but it's almost March and people are thinking about cleaning up their household items they don’t need. I figured it would be a good idea to offer some tips on having a successful one. 1. Plan ahead. Find out when the best dates are in your area. For instance, in some local suburbs here, garage sales are much more popular on Thursdays than on the weekend. So to make a lot of money, you’ll want to make sure to have your sale locally starting on Thursday. Check the weather forecast ahead of time. And consider that most people get paid around the 15th and 30th of the month, so the middle of the month and beginning is when people will most likely be carrying around extra cash. 2. Advertise. Make s... 02/24/2013

Small House for Sale in Evanston Are you thinking of buying a condo but can’t stand the thought of living in a high rise or vanilla box condo with no outdoor space? Need a pet friendly place for you and Rover? Then this adorable little house might be for you.   This one-bedroom home at 2225 Noyes Street in NW Evanston is 616 square feet of pure charm, plus plenty of outdoor space, including a nice yard and brick patio  It’s one of the original Sears Roebuck catalog house, constructed in 1917 from ready-to-assemble pieces. It was certainly a quality product, as it’s solid as a rock despite being almost 100 years old. Here's how it looked in the Sears Roebuck catalog: Although it’s small, the house has everything you need: a recently updated kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and a “great room” ... 02/20/2013

It seems that there are so few open houses on Sundays these days. A few years ago many of the listings had opens on the afternoons. Now it is dropping off. I am not saying this is bad but is this the new trend? I see lots of Brokers opens during the week but that is it. Our office puts out a list of what properties are open plus I look myself and I don’t see many. I wonder if technology has changed things. I feel it as a double edged sword. I didn’t really like doing an open house in the middle of Sunday but I was told it was my job. I got a few clients through them but not all that many. Another Realtor I know from a different area then mine with a lot of experience and sales says the internet is the new open house. He says if they want to see it they will make an appointment. I wonder... 02/20/2013

I remember how excited I was to become a Realtor. This was in the good old days and homes sold themselves. I thought I could just jump in there and become an instant success. Boy was I wrong. I had previous sales experience and was over confident. I studied the classes we had to take and asked a lot of questions. It seemed more like a business law class then how to be a Realtor now that I look back. After the class was over I did the practice tests for the licensing again and again. I was over kill because when I went in I wiped through the test and was the first person to finish and passed. I had really taken my time doing so, I have this problem of being a perfectionist or maybe it’s OCD? I was referred to Coldwell Banker in Evanston Illinois by the wife of a fellow I worked out with ... 02/17/2013

For many years I had been in sales and know I liked selling. The first work I ever did was computer consulting. I then started selling computer consulting services. After 2001 I started to become bored with it and the world of computers was changing. Changing in a way I did not like. In 1997 I purchased my first home. When the realtor took me out to view homes it took quite a while to find what I wanted. This man is now long retired so I won’t mention who he was.  But anyway I said to myself as he was showing property to me “I can do this”. I thought this might be the change I wanted to make. So I did. It took me a while to actually go through it but I did and never looked back. I was a person who always said to myself as I was driving around “I wonder how that house looks inside”. Well... 02/15/2013

A few years ago I got a call from a buyer who I did not know asking to see an Evanston Lakefront (Lake Michigan) condo right away. Being that I live steps away from there and it was convenient I did it. I have learned the hard way that this is a bad way to do things but I did it this time. I have had unqualified buyers, buyers with other realtors on vacation etc. This was a woman in her 30’s dressed casually and seemed excited to see the condo. It is on a one street area that has condo and the other parts of Evanston where one is steps from the beach is quite expensive. We viewed this 2 br vintage condo. After looking for about 15 minutes she said “I will take it what do we do now?” My reply is you a first time buyer? And she yes. I then said why don’t I show you a few other condos and ... 02/13/2013

One Evanston, Evanston, Illinois About One Evanston One Evanston is a high-rise condominium complex built in 2009. One Evanston is located in Evanston, Illinois at 1570 Elmwood which is east of Ridge Avenue and south of Church Street. Average taxes in One Evanston $7,015 Average association fees in One Evanston $530 ($422 - $615) Average home size in One Evanston 1,370 ft2 Average lot size in One Evanston 0.00 acres Average year built in One Evanston 2009 Homes for sale in One Evanston Address Beds Baths Built Price 1570 Elmwood Ave. #706 3 2.0 2009 $499,000 1570 Elmwood Ave. #607 2 2.0 2009 $369,000 1570 Elmwood Ave. #1106 3 2.0 2009 $629,000 Sales Summary for One Evanston  (Feb 13, 2012 - Feb 12, 2013) # of Sales Average Days on Market Average List Average Sale Ratio% 6 103 $442,567 ... 02/12/2013

  Evanston's January Property sales were 48, down -4.0% from 50 in January of 2012 and -22.6% lower than the 62 sales last month. January 2013 sales were at a mid level compared to January of 2012 and 2011. January YTD sales of 48 are running -4.0% behind last year's year-to-date sales of 50.   The Median Sales Price in January was $210,250, down -34.1% from $319,000 in January of 2012 and down -9.0% from $231,000 last month.   The Average Sales Price in January was $270,327, down -33.9% from $409,123 in January of 2012 and down -20.0% from $337,866 last month. January 2013 ASP was at the lowest level compared to January of 2012 and 2011.    The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of January was 257, down -14.0% from 299 last month and down -47.0% from 485 in January of ... 02/04/2013

Townhome & Condo Stats for Evanston, Illinois Currently for Sale   For Sale Avg. List Min. Max Avg. Days All 249 $217,477 $1,750 $1,065,000 157 0 bedrooms 3 $77,167 $70,000 $86,500 197 1 bedroom 45 $123,719 $35,000 $280,000 157 2 bedrooms 137 $174,870 $1,750 $939,000 162 3 bedrooms 58 $375,469 $79,000 $1,065,000 138 4 bedrooms 2 $562,250 $195,500 $929,000 208 5 bedrooms 4 $373,475 $170,000 $729,000 226 View All Townhomes & Condos For Sale in Evanston Sale Averages - By Month   Sales Avg. List Avg. Sale Ratio% Avg. Days Dec 2012 36 $254,200 $231,937 90.0% 146 Nov 2012 39 $245,231 $221,804 88.6% 131 Oct 2012 39 $219,808 $192,627 86.0% 167 Sep 2012 27 $263,208 $232,741 87.6% 130 Aug 2012 47 $230,631 $209,748 89.5% 140 Jul 2012 46 $260,778 $234,045 88.2% 189 Jun 2012 55 $253,063 $269,981 10... 01/30/2013

Single Family Home Stats for Evanston, Illinois Currently for Sale   For Sale Avg. List Min. Max Avg. Days All 176 $577,321 $23,900 $4,600,000 125 1 bedroom 2 $309,450 $23,900 $595,000 230 2 bedrooms 22 $169,925 $55,000 $424,900 199 3 bedrooms 66 $338,843 $38,000 $928,000 99 4 bedrooms 45 $556,807 $106,000 $995,000 110 5 bedrooms 41 $1,215,398 $175,000 $4,600,000 136 View All Single Family Homes For Sale in Evanston Sale Averages - By Month   Sales Avg. List Avg. Sale Ratio% Avg. Days Dec 2012 27 $531,922 $469,547 91.6% 139 Nov 2012 36 $604,374 $557,389 94.4% 98 Oct 2012 31 $522,910 $455,006 89.5% 175 Sep 2012 23 $470,526 $419,935 91.1% 164 Aug 2012 48 $518,325 $481,316 93.7% 112 Jul 2012 57 $623,506 $564,776 91.7% 125 Jun 2012 53 $582,792 $536,229 91.8% 131 May 2012 50 $580,300 $519,82... 01/30/2013