Champaign, IL

Ever heard of The I.D.E.A. Store? It's a local re-use shop that takes donations of gently used or partially used items and sells them for a deeply discounted price. Examples of items you might find at The I.D.E.A. Store would include: fabric, glass jars, pens, markers, ribbon, pieces of wood, frames, coloring books, notepads, egg cartons, sheet music, wrapping paper, buttons, boxes, and oh-so-much more!!!

Here's what I bought yesterday for a grand total of...... $2.51 (Yes, two dollars and fifty-one cents. This is not a typo.)

The purpose of my visit was to purchase a few things for an upcoming baby shower and I found LOTS to work with...5 rolls of ribbons, streamers galore, crayons, perfectly good wrapping paper...all of these things easily may have ended up in a trash can if it weren't for The I.D.E.A. Store. Instead, I purchased them for a bargain price and am happy to put them to use! Anything I don't end up using will be donated back to the store and used again by the next lucky customer :-)

And the best part is, the store benefits our local Champaign-Urbana Schools Foundation. If you haven't checked this place out, I really do encourage you to stop by! You will be amazed at all the useful little gems you'll find!!!

***P.S. Be sure to check their website for their hours. As of right now, they are closed on Sundays and Mondays, open 2-7pm on Tues. - Fri. and open Sat. 10am-3pm.

Homeplace Advisors is pleased to announce that this beautiful Ashland Park home is now SOLD! It was previously on the market with no bites. The seller then contacted Homeplace Advisors and we're grateful to her for putting her trust in us. After hard work and team effort, this home is now officially OFF the market and the seller is able to move on, without attachments! Congrats to both our wonderful seller and the new homeowner!

You're too late for this one, but don't worry! There are currently other homes on the market in Ashland Park!

Search Homes for Sale in Ashland Park

Be sure to check out our January 2012 Market Report for Champaign County IL. Here's the update specifically for and concerning only the City of Champaign:

In 2011, there were fewer overall listings and fewer sales than in 2010. However, the average sale price was up and we saw significantly more sales in the highest price range. Interestingly, for Champaign County as a whole (compared to just the city of Champaign) the results were the opposite meaning an increase in total sales but a lower average sale price.

The city of Champaign has also seen a great start to 2012 with a 28% increase in pending home sales in January compared to January 2011. Let's hope this trend continues throughout the year!

*Update from the original post: I've now added a chart showing the increase in pending sales has continued for another month into February, this time up 60% from last year. Nice!

Stay tuned for our individual Urbana and Savoy reports to follow here on our blog shortly...

*Information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed to be accurate. Statistics in this report were obtained through the Champaign County Association of Realtors®

Happy Anniversary to The I.D.E.A. Store in Champaign, IL!

On October 1st, The I.D.E.A. Store in Champaign reaches its very first anniversary of being in business! To help them celebrate, I decided to head over there and find out more about what they do as a creative re-use marketplace and how their profits support the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation.

Next time you have "junk" lying around the house that you're thinking about tossing out (shoe boxes, old keys, metal scraps, small squares of fabric, etc, etc.) consider donating them to The I.D.E.A. Store instead. And stop by to make purchases, too. They sell all kinds of useful odds and ends, such as individual markers, buttons, greeting cards, baskets, bottles, maps, frames...the list goes on. Their prices are unbeatable and the proceeds help support our local schools!

Watch the video below to learn more!

Champaign IL Neighborhoods: A Visit to Ashland Farm

Ashland Farm in North Champaign is a premier condo community offering a low-maintenance, one-story lifestyle in a convenient location... At Ashland Farm, you're just around the corner from multiple shopping centers, restaurants, and access to the major interstates that travel through and around Champaign.

Monthly condo fees cover lawn care, snow removal and exterior maintenance, leaving residents with plenty of time to simply live life minus the hassle of outdoor upkeep. All residents enjoy 24-hour access to the Ashland Farm club house featuring a fireplace, kitchen, pool table, and couches and chairs for lounging as well as entertaining. In addition, there's a heated in-ground pool just outside.

The villas were designed with modern function in mind. Special qualities you'll find include cathedral ceilings, open layouts, energy-efficient features, master suites, and gorgeous, spacious kitchens. Each of the different floor plans also include a patio or veranda, many with fantastic countryside views, and a 2-car attached garage.

Prices: Starting around $120,000 (subject to change)

Age of Neighborhood: Built around 2008

Schools: Champaign Unit 4

Ashland Farm Villas

View from the Villas

Community Clubhouse

For more information about the Villas at Ashland Farm, simply get in touch! 217-552-8059 or Shannon@HomeplaceAdvisors.com