Short Sales in Frankfort totaled 22 successful closings for the year of 2011. Of those 22 closed Frankfort Short Sales 20 of them were single family homes, 1 was a townhouse/condo and 1 was vacant land. It is also important to note that a total number of 44 Frankfort Real Estate properties were foreclosed in 2011. This is a total of 66 distressed sales (including short sales & foreclosures).   With a total of 256 Frankfort Real Estate properties closing in 2011, this represents just above 25% of all closed sales being distressed sales down from 2010 where it was roughly 27% of all the closed sales. There is no question regarding the fact that these distressed sales weigh on our home values, especially the foreclosures not to mention the damage it creates for those involved.   The num... 12/14/2011

I was in a check out line a Sam's club and a past client overheard my voice.  I hear in the distance, "is that my Realtor Dale Taylor's voice I hear?"  As she approached me she said, "I bet you don't remember my name?"  She was correct I didn't for the moment.  What I did remember was all three homes I sold her over the past 20 years.  I admitted to her I could not think of her name, but I told her I remembered the first home I sold her in Riverdale and the last home I sold her in Richton Park.  It is amazing to me how I will look in a face and remember the transaction, but not their name.  Sometimes, as I create conversation I will run through the letters A through Z hoping their name comes forward. It happen to me again recently in Walmart.  Again, I remembered their home before I rem... 12/06/2011

Owning an old home can be very satisfying, but it can also be a lot of work. Old materials and systems need attention and tender loving care. And many of the construction practices of years ago leave much to be desired. If you want to maintain your old home with relative ease, you may want to consider renovations. Here are the four best remodeling projects that may contribute to preserving your old home while also increasing the home's value. 1. Fixing Old Home Heating Systems Many old homes have outdated, inefficient furnaces or boilers. Some old homes even have coal-fired furnaces that have been converted to oil burners. The efficiency of these units may be less than 50 percent, resulting in high heating bills. Replacing an old furnace or boiler with a new, Energy Star rated unit can ... 11/20/2011

 My Dad who was rare to give compliments told me this right after I had grown up and left the nest.  He told me he appreciated how I cared for the things he gave me.  One of the items he referred to was a ten-speed bike he gave me as a young teenager.  He noticed years later how the bike was still in like new condition.  I shared this story because below you will see the potential life span of nearly everything concerning a home.  The suggested life will depend on how well these items are regularly serviced and maintained! Appliances Life Estimate in Years Dishwashers 5 to 12 Disposals 5 to 12 Washers and dryers