Swansea, IL

Looking for a new home in Swansea IL

There are currently 115 Active listings in Swansea IL from which to choose from:

Displaying matches 1 through 115 of 115

The median listing price of the homes for sale in Swansea is $181,600 and the average listing price is $204,847. These homes have been on the market for an average of 111 days and 130 days continous days on the market.

If you are searching for homes for sale near Scott AFB and considering a home in Swansea IL, please feel free to contact me or use my website to search for all listed homes for sale in the Metro East IL Area.

Swansea Illinois Homes for Sale

Market Report

On June 4, 2010 there was 117 active home for sale in Swansea, IL.

Displaying matches 1 through 117 of 117

With a median list price of $180,560 and an average list price of $200,777

There are 23 homes that are currently "sale pending" or with a "continue to show" status.

Displaying matches 1 through 23 of 23

The median list price of those homes is $177,111 and the average list price is $199,997

So far this year from 1/1/2010 thru 6/4/2010 there have been 66 total homes that have sold in Swansea, IL

Displaying matches 1 through 66 of 66. The new construction homs have sold for a median price of $201,312 and an average sales price of $224,494.

The grand total of all homes that have sold in Swansea is $12,111,445 with a median price of $174,930 and an average sales price of $183,507.

If you are in the market to buy a new home in Swansea, IL, please contact me at 618-409-0510 or e-mail at paul.walker@realtyexecutives.com. Website is www.southwestillinoishomes.com

On the evening news the other night, an item from Pittburg, KS caught my eye.  What looked like a psychedelic 1,000 legger approached people on the street, which caused some to run and some to gawk.  It was performance artist Jimmy Kuehnle wearing an inflatable suit to challenge people's perceptions and make them think.

As the artist puts it, "Our ways of thinking are very much in a routine and this is to break you out of your routine by walking the line between shocking and the absurd."  You recognize a tree as a tree or a truck as a truck but, the big orange creature defies categorization."Now," continues Kuehnle, "you're mind [is]vulnerable and new thoughts can happen.  You might remember that five minutes later, it might change what you're going to do tomorrow.  You never know, so that's the point of it."

The suit is one in a series of inflatable costumes that that artist has worn around the country. Powered by 12v blower motors, the suits allow Kuehnle to glide along the ground and fit in small space.  Brightly colored, the suits attract the attention of pedestrians and aim to foster creative thinking.  

Absurd times provoke absurd reactions and absurd solutions.   With economic challenges in our country that hit real estate agents head on, there is a need for fresh thinking in how to approach our clients. 

As real estate professionals, we aren't likely to put on funny suits but we still must work out creative solutions with our clients who are faced with foreclosure or with the desire to buy a home with limited ability to get a mortgage.

I guess I wrote yesterday's blog about needing help navigating through a myriad of new housing provisions a bit too soon. Today, FHA announced new rules that flesh out HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan's announcement in December that buyers would soon have to put more skin in the game.

Some of the rules will require lenders to maintain more reserves and make responsible loans, while being more accountable for bad decisions in the past. Lenders with sloppy underwriting practices could lose the ability to write FHA backed loans.

Other part of the announcement more directly affect borrowers, will need to have better credit scores (580 or above) when their down payment is only 3.5%; those with lower credit scores will may have to put 10% down. In addition, the Mortgage Interest Payment (MIP) will increase to 2.25% at the beginning of the loan. Seller contributions to closing cannot exceed 3%, half the current 6%.

These regulations are intended to strengthen an FHA weakened by an avalanche of delinquent loans and insure further access to the program.

The lender provisions take effect immediately but the remainder will be activfe until the late spring-early summer. People hoping to use the tax credit will still go by the old rules. Once the credit is done, buyers will be faced with higher credit requirements and less help - a double whammy, especially since the credit is unlikely to be renewed again.

As I have said here before, a responsible agent should not oversell the benefits of homeownership to a shaky buyer. For those potential buyers who are wavering, now is a great time to buy.

The past holiday season, at least five people I know got GPS units as gifts. Either roads are more confusing these days or people are more confused when they get behind the wheel. In any case, every recipient was delighted.

This winter, real estate agents and potentials buyers as well could use GPS to make it through the pile of new government programs and regulations aimed at helping homeowners and stabilizing the housing market the last few months. We have housing credits and new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) forms, plus a new policy that puts anti-flipping rules on hold and allows homeowners to quality for FHA financing when they buy homes from short term owners. Private buyers can see view foreclosed homes 10 days before investors can.

These new rules work together to make it easier for people, especially new first time home buyers, to get into entry level housing. It's up to real estate agents to know how to navigate the crowded field of new rules.

We have talked the last couple days about keeping our attitude positive and seeing an abundant field of customers. Our mindset is important, but to maximize our opportunities, we must keep ahead of the knowledge curve so we can navigate the system for our customers.