Evanston, IL

I am often asked by buyers and agents “How Long will it take to get an answer from the Bank” on a short sale?

This is a difficult question because each bank is different.

Currently, I am going for a new record for the longest Short Sale. On July 7, 2009 it will be 1 year and I still do not have an approval from the bank.

During the past year a lot of things happened like:

August 2008: Olympic Games of the XXIX in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008.

Michael Phelps broke the records for most gold medals in one Olympics and for most career gold medals for an Olympian.

September 2008: Hurricane Hannah does $160 million damage in US.

Oct. 2008: The $700 billion bailout of nation’s battered financial industry is approved by Congress and signed by Bush.

Nov. 4: Obama wins presidency, says “Change has come to America”

December 2008: Appollo 8 celebrated 40 years since its historic flight around the moon.

January 2009: Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States

February 2009: Slum Dog Millionaires wins the Oscars as “Best Picture”

March 2009 Without more bailout money, GM says it will be broke by March 31

April 2009: Novel H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009.

May 2009: Justice Souter decides to retire from the Supreme Court and Judge Sonia Sotomayor is picked by Obama as the Justice to replace Souter on the Court.

June 2009: Michael Jackson Dies and shocks the world.

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All appliances require proper maintenance in order for them to work safely and efficiently. Unfortunately, too many people take their clothes dryers for granted; fill it with wet laundry, set the dial, turn it on and remove dry clothes 30 - 45 minutes later.

I recently got a call from a woman who purchased a new dryer because the one she had was taking several cycles to get her clothes dry. She assumed it was old and worn out. The delivery man installed the dryer and she began using it, but she noticed that it ran very hot. I just happened to be in her neighborhood on a service call and she took down the number printed on my work van. I went to her home after completing the job I was on.

The first thing I noticed was that the dryer duct was the old vinyl type and it was longer than necessary. The excess tubing was coiled and jammed behind the dryer while the rest of it extended about 10 feet to the dryer vent outside. When I disconnected it from the dryer, I noticed that it was full of lint. I found it unbelievable that an appliance deliver person would attach this dirty old thing to a new appliance. I explained to the customer how her dryer is unable to vent the hot air; therefore working too hard, wasting energy and it's a fire hazard.

I explained that this type of venting is not in compliance with today's safety codes. The vinyl material is really designed for bathroom exhaust fans and not for clothes dryers. We only install dryer ducts of rigid or semi-rigid metal that is smooth inside to minimize lint build-up.

I also broke her heart when I explained that she probably did not need a new dryer. She needed a better dryer exhaust system. The dryer ducts and dryer vent are responsible for removing lint, heat and moisture from the dryer drum to the outdoors. If you have a gas dryer the system also removes gas by-products from your home. A poorly vented gas dryer can cause carbon monoxide to leak into your home.

When the dryer ducts are clogged with lint then heat cannot escape the dryer drum; they system overheats and the lint catches on fire. Lint is very combustible; therefore, fuel for a rapidly spreading fire. Clogged dryer ducts also cause a dryer to cost an additional $18-24 per month to operate.

Mory Matias is the owner of Dryer Vent Wizard of Northshore Chicago, specializing in dryer vent cleaning, repair and installation. Mory specializes in all dryer exhaust issues as he educates his customers on the importance of annual dryer vent cleaning and proper dryer vent installation to prevent fires and save energy. Read more great articles written by Mory Matias at http://dryerventcleaningwilmette.blogspot.com/

Today, my son-in-law Chris joins ranks with 799 (or so) other students, and graduates from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University with an MBA from one of the most prestigious MBA programs in the country. (I'm sure Chris would correct me here, and say THE most prestigious MBA program in the country!)

He's worked hard to complete this degree, and has paid for it primarily on his own (with the added benefit of scholarships, loans and grants)... so he's also deeply in debt.

His parents are in town to share in this major accomplishment, and we'll sit through the ceremony of marching caps and gowns, to see it happen.

I live in Evanston (where Kellogg and Northwestern are located) and have experienced Kellogg's graduations many times, as an Evanston resident, with tied up traffic, busy restaurants... but this is the first time I've had anyone graduating.

This is no minor accomplishment, Chris has worked a day job, and taken his courses in the evenings... basically maintaining two full-time, demanding jobs at once. Not to mention pausing mid-stream to marry one of the most beautiful, elegant, graciou... er... my daughter.

Amy & I are incredibly proud of Chris and his achievement, and hope that he has years to come to make this degree pay off, and keep my daughter in the style to-which-she-would-like-to-become-accustomed.

Congratulations Crickie!

We'll see you at the ceremony! I'll be one of the 2,000 or so parents in the grandstands... I'll be the one beaming!

ALAN MAY, Realtor®
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate
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Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, 2929 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
847.425.3779 Cell: 847.924.3313 Email: Almay@aol.com

I was invited to be a guest speaker at a First Time Home Buyer Seminar and was given a list of topics to discuss.

As I prepared for this seminar, I thought about how I wanted to present material to a group of first time home buyers and what would be the most important thing to say to this group. So here is what I came up with. I wanted to first talk to this group and find out

Truths or Myths

• Owning your home is the American Dream

• Buying a home is one of the most important investments in ones lifetime.

• People who own a home feel better about themselves.

• Owning a home can bring long term security and wealth

• Owning a Home is better than Renting

Basic Questions to Ask Yourself:

• Why do I want to own a home?

• Why is it important to Me and My Family that I own a Home?

• What Does my Dream Home look like?

• What would happen if I do not find my Dream house?

As a Realtor I think buying a home is one of the most important decisions in ones life time. People look back on their life a remember great moments like getting married, having a child and buying their first home.

For those of you ready for the challenge, get ready for an exciting time. I challenge you to think, learn, embrace the experience with all of your senses.

Hey, folks!

Tough news is all over the Internet these days, it seems! But this story will bring a tear, and make you smile!

It happened last Tuesday, June 2nd.

Pizza Driver Stephen Walker of Papa John's Pizza was delivering pizza to to an apartment building on the South Side of the Chicago Suburb of Evanston IL. He was attacked from behind by two men, not yet apprehended, who knocked him down, beat him, and stole his delivery car.

As you can imagine, this was not the first time such a crime occurred in the Chicago Area, or in the Suburb of Evanston. But what happened afterward, well, was seemingly rare, as reported by Chicago Tribune Reporter Lisa Black.

Omar Gutierrezwitnessed the attack on Walker, and found that the robbers later crashed the car he was using for his deliveries, an older-model Kia. He went around to neighbors, and started collecting money to help Walker replace his totaled car, and replenish his lost delivery wages and tips. Walker's medical bills were covered by his employer, but his car was insured for only the legal IL minimum.

Gutierrez started a website, seeking more funds on behalf of Walker. He quickly raised more than $1,700 on the website, to cover the replacement of the old delivery car.

Later, when the story was published in the Chicago Tribune, another $7,000 came in. Papa John's corporate office is offering $1,000 toward the car, plus another $1,500 is coming from the Evanston Papa John's Pizza Franchise. A local insurance company is offering to foot the bill for Walker's Comprehensive Auto Insurance for his next car.

As of today, donations toward a fund set up for Walker are approaching $15,000, and money is coming in from as far away as South Korea!

And folks are still dropping off checks for Walker at the Evanston Police Station.

All started by Gutierrez - an unemployed architect, living nearby. And . . . a very Good Samaritan!

Here is an update on the story, from today's Trib.

Please read our post today via BlogChicagoHomes.com.

DEAN MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO