Lets start the day with a good story. I had a buyer who called me up and was moving from Boston. The couple looked at listings I sent them from the MLS for 6 months and I was beginning to wonder if it was for real. The wife did all the commenting but they did view online. You never know. Then one day she called me up and said "we are ready to move to Evanston Il and are coming in 2 weeks can you give me the weekend to tour?' I was glad to help and she sent me a list of what they wanted to see and some of them were not on the search I set up for them. I used their criteria they gave me so I do not consider it to be my fault. There was 15 houses on the list they wanted so see that Saturday. I called her and said I think that is too many and you will have trouble remembering every property... 01/28/2013

013 categories: Ask the "Specialist", Bank Owned, Just "My" Opinion strategic       Definition Decisions or plans designed to impact favorably the key factors on which the desired outcome of an organization, game, system, venture, or war, depends. See also tactical.   Why do people in the Real Estate Industry today hate the word “Strategic”? We all make decisions and sometimes we make bad decisions and have to re plan and make new decisons. Our decisons have impact on others. Sometime these decisions have negative impact on others and this is what is feared the most. I have come to realize working in the distressed Real Estate Market that Organizations all strategize. Its a game and it all depends on which strategy you use depends on whether you win the game or loose. To say some are al... 01/28/2013

It's so funny that people ask when does the spring market start? I say the day after the Super Bowl. Stats show that after the big game is over lots of people start coming out and looking and listing. It will be interesting to see what happens this year. Things are so mixed. Media talks about home sales but I want to feel more realistic about what the people looking or selling are thinking. You either make less then you used to or probably work way more hours. The job market is scary and yet the stock market has gone up quite a bit since the start of 2012. What does that mean to us? I think that people wish more products were made in America and that more good jobs were available to folks who want to get a decent position. Health care used to be a given but not anymore? I want to feel a... 01/27/2013

  Evanston's December Property sales were 55, up 12.2% from 49 in December of 2011 and -26.7% lower than the 75 sales last month. December 2012 sales were at their highest level compared to December of 2011 and 2010. December YTD sales of 842 are running 18.3% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 712.    The Median Sales Price in December was $230,000, down -23.6% from $301,000 in December of 2011 and down -19.3% from $285,000 last month. The Average Sales Price in December was $340,674, down -5.0% from $358,730 in December of 2011 and down -11.0% from $382,885 last month. December 2012 ASP was at a mid range compared to December of 2011 and 2010.   The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of December was 284, down -17.4% from 344 last month and down -42.0% from 490... 01/02/2013

  Evanston's November Property sales were 73, up 43.1% from 51 in November of 2011 and 4.3% higher than the 70 sales last month. November 2012 sales were at their highest level compared to November of 2011 and 2010. November YTD sales of 785 are running 18.4% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 663.   The Median Sales Price in November was $285,000, up 43.9% from $198,000 in November of 2011 and up 27.5% from $223,500 last month. The Average Sales Price in November was $379,334, up 48.9% from $254,729 in November of 2011 and up 22.8% from $308,824 last month. November 2012 ASP was at a mid range compared to November of 2011 and 2010.The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of November was 329, down -11.1% from 370 last month and down -41.5% from 562 in November of ... 12/03/2012

  Evanston's October Property sales were 60, up 7.1% from 56 in October of 2011 and 17.6% higher than the 51 sales last month. October 2012 sales were at their highest level compared to October of 2011 and 2010. October YTD sales of 701 are running 14.5% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 612. The Median Sales Price in October was $223,500, down -31.8% from $327,500 in October of 2011 and down -10.6% from $250,000 last month. The Average Sales Price in October was $306,461, down -18.8% from $377,387 in October of 2011 and down -2.3% from $313,833 last month. October 2012 ASP was at the lowest level compared to October of 2011 and 2010. The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of October was 356, down -10.1% from 396 last month and down -40.2% from 595 in October o... 11/02/2012

  Evanston's September Property sales were 49, down -22.2% from 63 in September of 2011 and -50.0% lower than the 98 sales last month. September 2012 sales were at their lowest level compared to September of 2011 and 2010. September YTD sales of 639 are running 14.9% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 556.   The Median Sales Price in September was $250,000, down -24.5% from $331,000 in September of 2011 and down -16.5% from $299,250 last month. The Average Sales Price in September was $314,663, down -17.1% from $379,610 in September of 2011 and down -9.6% from $348,112 last month. September 2012 ASP was at the lowest level compared to September of 2011 and 2010.   The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of September was 384, down -7.5% from 415 last month and dow... 10/03/2012

  Evanston's August Property sales were 85, down -1.2% from 86 in August of 2011 and -18.3% lower than the 104 sales last month. August 2012 sales were at a mid level compared to August of 2011 and 2010. August YTD sales of 576 are running 16.8% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 493.   The Median Sales Price in August was $286,000, up 3.9% from $275,325 in August of 2011 and down -11.3% from $322,500 last month. The Average Sales Price in August was $352,633, up 3.1% from $342,028 in August of 2011 and down -15.2% from $416,021 last month. August 2012 ASP was at a mid range compared to August of 2011 and 2010.   The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of August was 395, down -7.1% from 425 last month and down -40.4% from 663 in August of last year. August 2012 I... 09/02/2012

Just came from the car wash... it's a lovely day, bright, sunny, and I haven't had the car washed in a coon's age, so I figured it was time. I go to a local hand-wash, where I have a 10-pass card, so I might as well get it washed... after all, I've already paid for it, haven't I? I pull into the line, gather up my miscellaneous "trash" that has collected in the car, and deposit it in the trash bins at the entrance, and pull into the building behind about four other cars, and another fifteen, or so, lined up behind me who've had the same "great idea". I relinquish my car, leaving the keys in the ignition, to the fella holding his hand out... no problem, after all, where can he go with the car, there are four cars lined up ahead of us, and no way around them. I make my way over to the off... 08/24/2012

Evanston's July Property sales were 101, up 21.7% from 83 in July of 2011 and -8.2% lower than the 110 sales last month. July 2012 sales were at their highest level compared to July of 2011 and 2010. July YTD sales of 488 are running 19.9% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 407. The Median Sales Price in July was $325,000, equal to $325,000 in July of 2011 and up 4.8% from $310,000 last month. The Average Sales Price in July was $416,705, up 6.2% from $392,561 in July of 2011 and up 10.9% from $375,628 last month. July 2012 ASP was at highest level compared to July of 2011 and 2010. The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of July was 413, down -5.1% from 435 last month and down -41.7% from 709 in July of last year. July 2012 Inventory was at the lowest level comp... 08/03/2012

  Evanston's June Property sales were 109, up 25.3% from 87 in June of 2011 and 25.3% higher than the 87 sales last month. June 2012 sales were at a mid level compared to June of 2011 and 2010. June YTD sales of 386 are running 19.1% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 324.   The Median Sales Price in June was $310,000, down -5.9% from $329,500 in June of 2011 and up 17.0% from $265,000 last month. The Average Sales Price in June was $377,469, down -6.3% from $403,036 in June of 2011 and up 3.1% from $366,239 last month. June 2012 ASP was at the lowest level compared to June of 2011 and 2010.   The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of June was 414, down -8.2% from 451 last month and down -42.6% from 721 in June of last year. June 2012 Inventory was at the lowest... 07/04/2012

  Evanston's May Property sales were 83, up 23.9% from 67 in May of 2011 and 56.6% higher than the 53 sales last month. May 2012 sales were at a mid level compared to May of 2011 and 2010. May YTD sales of 273 are running 15.2% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 237.   The Median Sales Price in May was $250,000, down -27.5% from $345,000 in May of 2011 and up 5.0% from $238,000 last month. The Average Sales Price in May was $363,263, down -20.8% from $458,779 in May of 2011 and up 23.7% from $293,743 last month. May 2012 ASP was at a mid range compared to May of 2011 and 2010.   The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of May was 433, down -7.9% from 470 last month and down -40.3% from 725 in May of last year. May 2012 Inventory was at the lowest level compared to... 06/04/2012

Evanston’s April Property sales were 50, down -20.6% from 63 in April of 2011 and -2.0% lower than the 51 sales last month. April 2012 sales were at their lowest level compared to April of 2011 and 2010. April YTD sales of 187 are running 10.0% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 170.   The Median Sales Price in April was $239,000, down -12.1% from $272,000 in April of 2011 and down -21.6% from $305,000 last month. The Average Sales Price in April was $292,488, down -12.9% from $335,924 in April of 2011 and down -23.9% from $384,580 last month. April 2012 ASP was at the lowest level compared to April of 2011 and 2010.   The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of April was 449, down -7.0% from 483 last month and down -38.1% from 725 in April of last year. April 201... 05/03/2012

For those of you, here in Evanston, who have been bemoaning the loss of Casteel Coffee (which closed unceremoniously a couple of months back), you're in luck. Curt's Café, which is in the same location at 2922 Central Street, has been in "testing" mode... they're training their employees and readying them for the onslaught.  They officially open to the public on Monday, April 23rd. Curt's Café is set up as a training ground for troubled youth, to teach them about the food industries, and make them hire-able outside the Café.  They're goal is to give them basic cooking skills, teach them counter service and barista training while also teaching life skills so they can be successful in the community. Their students are all from Evanston, and will have a full-time supervisor on staff.  Curt... 04/20/2012

Looking for some good news?  Wondering if we're truly experiencing the up-tick in the market that you keep hearing about? Take a look at this information published by NSBAR (The North Shore/Barrington Board of Realtors) which shows that the number of homes "under contract" by NSBAR agents is up 43% for 1st quarter 2012, compared to 1st quarter 2011 and up 39% by all Northeast Illinois agents. This appears to confirm that we've seem more than a "blip" in the market. It looks like the beginning of a trend.  Let's hope that the rest of 2012 follows along. I don't know how well this translates to other markets, but I find it encouraging.  And I have seen an increase in homes going under contract in our area.  Prices have gotten so low, that even the most jaded of buyers have decided that th... 04/09/2012

Passover begins this Friday at sundown.  In an effort to educate the masses on the meaning of Passover, I have devised this little quiz: Answers can be found in the red box at the bottom right.  No cheating now! 1. What does the word SEDER (the name of the Passover service) actually mean?      a) Say There     b) Order     c) When are we gonna eat?     d) Okay 2. What do we call the "unleavened bread" that is eaten at the Seder and during Passover? a) I can't believe it's not breadb) Matzahc) Matt Lauerd) Flatbreade) Cardboard 3. The story of Passover tells of the Exodus of the Hebrew people a) from Egyptb) to Boca Ratonc) to Palm Springsd) from Macy's 4. How many plagues did God visit upon the Hebrew's captors before they were finally released? a) 10b) 13, the age of bar-mitzvahc) 11, ... 04/04/2012

  Evanston's March Property sales were 51, up 37.8% from 37 in March of 2011 and 41.7% higher than the 36 sales last month. March 2012 sales were at a mid level compared to March of 2011 and 2010. March YTD sales of 137 are running 28.0% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 107.   The Median Sales Price in March was $305,000, up 36.8% from $222,900 in March of 2011 and up 22.0% from $250,000 last month. The Average Sales Price in March was $384,580, up 35.0% from $284,906 in March of 2011 and down -6.0% from $409,111 last month. March 2012 ASP was at highest level compared to March of 2011 and 2010.   The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of March was 464, up 1.1% from 459 last month and down -34.6% from 710 in March of  last year. March 2012 Inventory was at the... 04/03/2012

Even when the general media is reporting less than exciting news, that doesn't mean some pockets of strength do not exist. Take Evanston for instance, a relatively small area just north of Chicago, right along Lake Michigan that appears to have hit bottom sooner than Chicago and has been rebounding faster.  Granted, Chicago is much larger than Evanston and is much more diverse, but averages are averages and a decent basis for comparison. As shown below, the Lakeshore sub-market of Evanston, which is just south of Northwestern University, is even stronger and more desirable than the Evanston market at large....actually is twice as large (in price that is). Based on our analysis for the area using MLS data (from MRED LLC), those home owners closest to Lake Michigan and south of Northweste... 03/25/2012

In today's marketplace, when selling a home... the internet is the place to be.  We know that almost every buyer begins his/her search on the internet, so that's the place we need to be. In comparing our local Evanston marketplace, with the other real estate agencies... Who is getting the most eyeballs... the most unique views of your listings?? I used a site called "compete.com" to check the unique views of companies in our area.  Compete.com is an independent website that has no relationship with coldwell banker or any other real estate agency.  You can use it to check the traffic of any website.  Here is Jameson/Southeby's (formerly Prairie Shores)... they only get 3,004 unique visitors to view your properties in the same sampling sampling period (I think it's a month). Our newest co... 03/05/2012

Evanston's February Property sales were 36, down -5.3% from 38 in February of 2011 and -28.0% lower than the 50 sales last month. February 2012 sales were at a mid level compared to February of 2011 and 2010. February YTD sales of 86 are running 22.9% ahead of last year's year-to-date sales of 70. The Median Sales Price in February was $250,000, down -4.0% from $260,500 in February of 2011 and down -21.6% from $319,000 last month. The Average Sales Price in February was $409,111, up 27.0% from $322,046 in February of 2011 and down 0.0% from $409,123 last  month. February 2012 ASP was at highest level compared to February of 2011 and 2010. The Total Inventory of Properties available for sale as of February was 451, down -1.1% from 456 last month and down -29.9% from 643 in  February of l... 03/02/2012