Naperville Real Estate - Ann deVane - GRI, CNC, ePRO

With winter just around the corner, and memories of the great 2011 Blizzard, and predictions of the snowiest winter on record set to hit Chicago, I thought it might be helpful to post some preparedness tips.

Before the storm arrives, prepare your home for winter - insulate your windows. insulate your attic to help prevent ice dams. Insulate any pipes on outside walls to prevent frozen pipes. If you do encounter frozen pipes, try to thaw slowly, by using a hair dryer. Make sure your gutters are cleared and your downspouts clear from debris.

Stock, your car, your pantry and home now, BEFORE the storms are imminent in order to beat the rush and guarantee your own and your family's safety.

Stock up on water, plenty of water for drinking, and when you hear a storm is coming fill all the tubs in your home for secondary water use. Stock up on dry goods and canned goods and be sure to have a good old fashioned manual can opener on hand as there will be a good chance there won't be any electricity.

When one day stranded turns into 3 or 4 you'll be glad you were prepared. Stock up on medications and contact lenses/solution...just in case. Better safe than sorry.

Taking a page from last year's storm we learned to make sure all your fluid levels are topped off in your vehicle. Have blankets, extra clothing, boots, shovel, salt, jumper cables, flashlight, batteries, caution flashers and a cell phone on hand in your car just in case you get stranded on Lakeshore drive. Haha. But seriously folks...this is no laughing matter. If you do get stranded with no where to go, run your engine for about 15 minutes per hour, simply enough to heat your interior, and conserve your gas. If you find yourself in a traffic jam, coordinate with other drivers moving from car to car.

At home, be prepared with firewood for the fireplace or a back up heat source. A back up generator may be a good investment this year (but exercise caution, read the directions for use carefully and make SURE it is ventilated correctly). Close off rooms that you aren't using. Battery operated candles are becoming wildly popular and those combined with flashlights are a great safe alternative to the real thing. Make sure you have smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors installed and operational.

Make sure you have a plan and tell everyone about it...it may just save a life. Stay safe out there.

Does it feel like we've been here forever? The never ending free fall of home prices? Well, in the words of the great Warren Buffet

"Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful".

This statement could not ring any truer than right now. Time to GET GREEDY! and let me tell you why...

With all the talk about the debt ceiling and the US's credit rating, mortgage rates have dropped further yet. Add these historically low rates to today's incredible home values - a decline of approx 30% from the peak of the market. It's hard to argue that there probably will be no better time to take advantage of affordable housing than right now. To drive that point home even further, take into consideration that the loan limits in IL on FHA mortgages drop on October 1. It's important that in order to take advantage of the alignment of all these conditions that you close no later than Sept 30th, 2011. After October 1st FHA loan maximum will be reduced from $410,000 to $365,700 a difference of $44,300 in buying power.

If you don't act now, it just may be too late.

Do agents tell the truth? Have you ever walked into a home and the cooking odor was overwhelming? or the wallpaper was very loud? or the housekeeping was simply poor? If someone is living in a home and you're visiting it is good manners to keep your opinions to yourself. However, if someone is hiring you to help them sell their home, all bets are off. They NEED to hear the truth even if it stings a bit. The kid gloves should come off.

Realtors need to be part of the solution not part of the problem. Preparing a home for sale is no easy feat. There is a lot to address. If there is an apparent issue and an agent finds it uncomfortable to discuss it with their seller, that itself becomes an obstacle to the sale of the home. Sellers need to hear what buyers think of their homes. If an agent protects their seller from the truth by thinking they're being polite, they're actually doing them a disservice as they're preventing them from being able to correct the problem and successfully get their home sold. In this market there is no room for hurt feelings. The market is tough enough out there, without agents contributing to the problem by being polite. To tell the truth...that is the answer. Ask your agent to be brutally honest with you. Get it SOLD.

While the first time HomeBuyer tax credit has seen it's day, there are STILL programs out there for the 1st time home buyer as well as the upgrade buyer. The HomeSteps program offers single family home buyers who will be occupying their home a closing cost credit which can add up to several thousand dollars plus a two year home warranty. Most HomeStep properties are properties that have been obtained through foreclosure and Freddie Mac is reintroducing them to the market. They are sold "AS IS" but are typically in good shape - but no guarantees. (Always wise to perform a home inspection). Thus the Home Warranty provides some protection.

Have your Realtor assist you in identifying HomeSteps properties, but hurry, the closing cost initiative is only valid May 16, 2011 - July 31, 2011 with escrow closed on or before September 30, 2011.

Now is a great time to buy! Happy House Hunting.