Evanston, IL

The National Trumpet Competition was held recently, and the son of a very good friend of mine was on the Northwestern Unversity team that won 1st Runner-up (or what we used to call Second Place).

It is a competition for Classical Trumpet (personally, I didn't even know there was such a thing as "Classical" trumpet).

His name is David Cohen (he's second from the right in the video) and his parents Rhonda and Dick, are very proud of their son. He was accepted by Julliard, and decided that he preferred the music program at Northwestern. If you like trumpet, and have seven minutes to kill, this is a very nice video of their part in the competition. Enjoy

With population of nearly 75,000 residents, Evanston is located in Cook County, north of city of Chicago, east of Skokie and south of Wilmette. Home to Northwestern University, Evanston has a variety of excellent higher educational opportunities, as well as a successful public school system. Evanston is only a half hour drive away from the bustling O’Hare International Airport and an hour away from Chicago Midway International Airport. The Chicago Transit Authority has extensive bus routes and trains running to and from Evanston to the city, the surrounding suburbs and the airports.

Evanston IL Real Estate
Evanston offers a good blend of residential as well as commercial real estate. There is a good selection of condominiums, townhomes and single family homes at various price points with homes available to fit your budget and needs. If you enjoy home ownership without the maintenance responsibilities, there are smartly styled condominium communities and townhomes available. Evanston Subdivisions/neighborhoods offer many different home styles, from estate homes, luxury townhomes, both established and newer subdivisions, and executive-style homes. Visit Evanston real estate site and view Evanston Homes, Townhomes/Condos in Evanston including Evanston foreclosures, short sales and bank owned real estate listings.

As I listen to Treasury Secretary Geitner and President Obama talk about the New Plan for the toxic assets I am reminded of Monte Hall of Let’s Make a Deal. It appears the New Plan involves a partnership with the government and the Private Sector. The Government would buy up $700 billion dollars worth of toxic assets while assumming the majority of the risk (93%) versus (7%) risk to the Private Sector. Sounds too good of a deal to pass up if I were an investor.

But wait I am reminded of another toon in the back of my head regarding this plan and it is..

Mick Jagger singing “Sympathy for the Devil” .Even the first lines in the song are kind of chilling, “Please allow me to introduce myself I’m a man of Wealth and Taste.

It seems the Government is about to enter into a relationship with the “Devil” himself to solve the toxic asset problem with the banks. As I see it we need to stabilize the housing market and find investors for these toxic loans but does it have to be with the Devils on Wallstreet ? It seems to me that it was Wallstreet that got us into this mess. Its time they started to be part of the solution but as I see it they are the only ones going to make a profit in this new plan.

For Rainers, of a certain age, we all remember Tinker Toys.

We don't wonder much, about where they came from. Unless you live in Evanston, Illinois... and then you know.

Tinkertoys were created in 1914... in part in response to the introduction, one year earlier of the Erector Set. Tinkertoy was a direct response to the metal erector set, with simpler materials. Designed after seeing children playing with pencils and empty thread spools, Charles H. Pajean and Robert Pettit of Evanston decided to market a toy that would challenge children's imaginations.

The cornerstone, if you will, of the Tinker Toy, was a wooden spool, about 2 inches across with holes drilled in the edges approximately every 45 degrees, and one hole all the way through the center of the flat part.

Believe it or not, the set was originally designed based on the Pythagorean theorem of the progressive right triangle. (and you thought math was silly).

Tinker toys were highly successful, and by 1915 had sold 900,000 set of the colored sticks and eight-holed spools in a cylinder. Tinker Toys success did not go unnoticed.

Two short years later, John Lloyd Wright (yes, Frank's son) invented Lincoln Logs, and began manufacturing those in Chicago... so in a very short period of time, we had the Erector Set, Tinker Toys, and Lincoln Logs... all toys to encourage the young "builder / architect" in us. Amazing that we all didn't become architects.... no?

There have been some significant confusion over the First-Time Homebuyer's Tax Credit, as modified in February...

Even seasoned real estate agents have been somewhat confuzzled on the particulars. So as a public service, I'm printing out this chart, which we've received from our Local PHH Mortgage Loan Officer, Greg Schneider.

It clearly spells out the OLD system (middle column), and compares it to the NEW program (far right column)

(I hope this chart is legible for everyone)

Key points:

• $8,000 tax credit (10% of the value of the house with a maximum of $8,000

• The borrowers have to be first time homebuyers... (ie: cannot have lived in or purchased a home in the lasts 3 years).

• Maximum income limits for the borrowers are $75,000 adjusted gross income for an individual... $150,000 adjusted gross.. on a joint return.... There is SOME benefit... up to $95,000 and $170,000... but it totally phases out after that.

• Does NOT need to be repaid... UNLESS home is sold within three years, and then entire amount is recaptured at close.

• Benefits are effective on homes purchase as of January 1, 2009.

• Program ends 12/1/2009