There are over 500 homes for sale in Palatine IL, in fact today as I write this post there are 525 single family homes, condos and town-homes. How many of those are short sale listings and should you buy them? As of today 142 of the listings are short sale listings. That's 27%.
Should You Look At Short Sales?
It isn't for me to tell you yes or no to this question, but you need to know the facts so you can make an educated decision. Of course if you decide yes, then without a doubt you need to work with a Palatine Realtor that has experience with short sales. Fighting your own battles on a short sale is not a very good idea, especially as most likely all you know is what you have read or heard in the media and that frankly is usually tainted or generalized. I have been working with short sale buyers and sellers now for five years, I would be more than happy to be your advocate.
Back to that search. By all means search all the listings but bear these things in mind:
Homes for sale in Palatine IL that are short sale listings are supposed to say so on the listing information. However there is a lot of information on that sheet and it can be hard to identify which ones are short sales. The easy way is to let me know you are looking at homes for sale in Palatine IL, and whether you want to consider short sales, regualer sales or only short sales and foreclosure listings and I can send you a more precise list.
If you are a seller and considering selling your Palatine home:
Palatine homes are showing a steady sales pace with just a small decline compared to January 2011. I don't think there is anything to be alarmed about it's stilll much better than in previous years. Lets take a quick look at how many Palatine homes sold in January for the last 4 years.
Palatine homes sold in January 2012 were 51, down only 3 from 2011 but up considerably from 2009 which was 29 and 2010 had 35. Of course the reality is that these Palatine homes were under contract at the end of last year and have nothing really to do with our mild winter this year. It will be interesting to watch the sales in February and March compared to previous years.
Spring is always an active time of year to list Palatine homes but given our mild winter I am sure many are wondering whether to list their Palatine homes now or wait for the more traditional sign of daffodils and tulips before signing paperwork. My answer never changes with this question. If you are in the market to sell, list when you are ready, not according to a calendar. If you need some help with preparing, just give us a call, we'll come over, walk through your home and let you know if anything should be done before listing.
There are always buyers looking for Palatine homes, all year long. Come January 2nd this year we saw a huge upswing in traffic to our website, it almost doubled overnight and has continued to climb. So yes buyers are looking for Palatine homes now. They may not be ready to buy yet but most buyers do a lot of online research first. Make sure they can see your home. An added benefit of listing your Palatine homes with us is being featured on our site with all our featured listings. We are hoping for 4000 visitors this month, that's a lot of buyers.
We understand your home might not be in tip top condition and that to upgrade everything just to sell your Palatine homes might well be counter productive to your wallet but there are some simple things you can do to prepare your Palatine homes for sale.
Outdated kitchens, worn carpets, broken tiles, all of these are going to affect your bottom line. There are also going to affect the marketing times for Palatine homes. Buyers want new, clean, tidy, updated and the best price. Location is something you cannot do anything about. If you live by a busy street, or near a railway line then be prepared for a lot of rejection. No I don't sugar coat anything! There's nothing either of us can do about location but I believe honesty is always the best policy, and I hope you prefer that too.
Call me for assistance when you are ready to sell your Palatine home, town home or condo. Corinne: 847-363-3686
Barrington homes with basements are more common than not, but let's first decide which kind of basement you want.
No basement at all. The house is built on top a slab of concrete. Of course if you've never had a basement then you cannot miss what you've never had. The question is, are there pros and cons to buying a Barrington without a basement? The answer is yes, especially if you are buying at the median price and above because future buyers looking at Barrington homes with basements are likely not going to want to look or buy your home. Slab homes are typically cheaper due to lower construction costs.
Start your search for Barrington homes with basements.
Not quite that slab of concrete but they are as described. You can crawl into them and often the base is mud, or gravel laid on top op mud. Mostly used as storage areas they can be lined with thick vinyl to keep dry. They also allow access to the underneath of a home where a lot of the heating ducts run as well as plumbing, electric etc.
OK so I am being unfair they are not really dungeons. This is an entry level basement, full height, some are partial basement and partial crawl. When finished these basements can add more living space to the home and there will always be egress windows (escape) to let some light in. The better your light fixtures they better they are. You'll often find full bathrooms in basements adding to their value. A full basement will add value to a property and even more if it has been finished. It is very common to see these types of basements in homes in Barrington.
Start your search for Barrington homes with basements.
English Basements - LookoutMoving up the value ladder will be Barrington homes with basements that have windows, the kind where you can actually see out. Referred to as English basements, one or two sides to the basement are partially higher than the grade of the land, allowing for windows instead of walls and lots of natural light to come through. To allow for this there is usually some sloping of the lot on one side and at the back of the lot.
These can be full or partial, full being the most common. More desire-able due to the natural light when finished it's not unusual to find great rooms or large game rooms with sofas, even mini bars added. Adding an additional bathroom can add even more value.
Start your search for Barrington homes with basements.
Barrington homes with basements probably count for more than 95% of the housing stock but if you want the best and highest usage as well as value look for Barrington homes with basements called walk-outs. But be careful. Walk-out means simple there is an exterior access and exit. This can be a door or sliding doors or mutliple sliding doors. If you just have a door and then meet steps to walk up that to me is not the best option. Older Barrington homes with basements may have this type of walk out but I have seen new construction done this way too.
If I wanted to find Barrington homes with basements that were walk-out I would be looking for the grade to be below the door and any windows, giving you the feeling of being on the main level. Hilldside ranches offer this type but builders have got more creative and you'll often find newer homes that offer full walk out basements. This type adds the most value to a home.
Start your search for Barrington homes with basements.
What do Barrington homes with basements get used for? If the basement is un-finished they are mostly used for storage. Full basements can be finished with drywall, flooring and dropped ceilings, adding great rooms, playrooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, bars, really anything you want, adding a lot of living space, great for families.
In case you have not already started searching, if you are in the market to buy, Barrington homes with basements will sell better down the road, so think about what you choose and let me know if I can help.
If you want to start your search for Barrington homes with basements, you now know what to look for.
If you are relocating to Illinois you may not be coming here to work, you may be coming home. Whether it's because you love the area, have family here or just feel you were more happy when living here, we often help families like you who are relocating to Illinois. Coming home is a beautiful experience. Even if Illinois was not your birth place, if you consider it home, then it's where your heart is.
When our family moved to Florida back in 2003 we thought it was a permanent move, how wrong we were, after 9 months we hit the road and were relocating to Illinois, the place we set out from not so long ago. There were things about Florida we liked and things we didn't. In the end we felt Illinois was our home even though we were born and raised in England. When we told people we were relocating to Illinois, we were met with some very confused looking faces!
We drove up from the south and crossed the border into Illinois, with snow on the ground and getting colder as the miles passed, I was one very happy person. My smile was palpable. When we made it back to Barrington, I was home. Florida can always be a vacation destination and we made some friends but the home pull was very strong.
If you are set to come home, you're not alone. Just because you have no employer to help with your relocation to Illinois doesn't mean it's going to be a tough road to travel. We are here to help. In fact when we moved to Florida and then back we had no assistance whatsoever from the company my husband worked for. He had the option of working in either state and it was our decision to move so we achieved it all by ourselves and paid for the entire process there and back. You can do it too, but having someone with the same experience as you will be a valuable tool.
Whether you are relocating to Illinois for family, friends, work or just because, we are here to help with your real estate needs. We are here to help and support you through the upheaval. We are here to share stories when you have arrived. Call us if you're relocating to Illinois, we serve the northwest suburbs of Chicago and Barrington and Inverness areas. You can start your home search using with our search tool.
The first thing we need to establish is are you relocating to Chicago Illinois or are you generalizing? You see Chicago is a big city and then there are the suburbs. All in all it's one pretty large place. Driving from the top to bottom of the suburbs is about 100 miles in a straight line.There’s a lot to do when moving, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area. The process of relocating to Chicago or the suburbs starts with home, your current home. Only when that is taken care of can you start thinking about the new home. We are here to ease the transition.
The internet makes looking for new homes so much simpler, so you can start from the comfort of your home on your time, but know we are here to answer all your questions. When you arrive in town we'll meet you at the airport, or come and chat with you in your hotel with a coffee, it's important you feel comfortable working with us, so let's get to know each other first. Then we can move forward with finding you a new home.
Once we have found your new home, we'll be there from start to finish and beyond. Remember relocating to Chicago is more than just buying a home, it's a process and there are more things to be done. So whatever we can do to help, we will. Taking the dog for a walk, entertaining the kids, unpacking to find some forks, or fetching lunch on move in day, we'll be there.
If you have the time our web site has every property available. You can save favorites and come back at any time. Or if time is a premium and relocating to Chicago needs to be placed firmly in our hands, let us search for you. We'll send you daily updates and can switch and change as you refine your needs.
Start searching. Call us: Corinne. 847-363-3686. Email Corinne Let us do your relocating to Chicago home search
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Barrington Illinois Real Estate – Palatine Illinois Real Estate - Northwest Suburbs Relocation Specialist - Real Estate Broker –Property Manager - Buyers Agent
Barrington Realtor Corinne Guest owns and manages her own Barrington located boutique brokerage - Royal Advocate Realty – her goal being very personalized service and care. Corinne is a full time Barrington Realtor and is passionate about helping her relocation and local buyer clients picking the perfect home, she has the patience her clients need even if the process takes years, you'll never get that push to buy! Relocation is her specialty and local home buyers come a very close second.
Corinne relocated to Barrington Illinois in 1996 with her husband, two sons and at that time three pets. The family came to Illinois from England on a two year assignment, and loved it so much they stayed and have made Barrington their permanent home. Corinne says “Barrington Illinois became our town of choice having explored many before deciding where to buy a home. We just thought of it as green and quiet!”
When Corinne is not with clients you'll find her at the computer. She has pretty much got the art of marketing online fine tuned, and sees populating her web site and social media outlets with community information and real estate data not as a chore but as a challenge and fun (She is a bit of a internet geek). Of course she is still a wife and Mom first and the kids know if they need her, she'll be there for them. Her new passion is spinning and as much as she can, it'll be on the bike riding up and down the challenging hills, yet not even venturing outside.
Corinne has also helped other Realtors around the country with their internet presence and has forged some strong friendships in the process.
Barrington is associated with horses and affluence. But don't let that fool you. There is much more here than luxury homes and equestrian property!
Barrington Illinois is a small village located in Cook and Lake Counties situated about 35 miles northwest of the city of Chicago. The commute to Chicago is about an hour by train on Metra Line, or drive down Barrington Road south to I-90 which takes you right into the city. Visitors coming from out of state or country, will fly into Chicago's O'Hare airport, arguably the busiest airport in the world!
Barrington is part of an area that includes several villages including South Barrington - North Barrington - Barrington Hills - Lake Barrington - Tower Lakes - Deer Park and part of Inverness. Each village has the same countryside type feel but also offers a variety of living styles and things to do. Covering about 90 square miles of land, much of which is open space and forest preserve, travelling from top to bottom can take 30 minutes and yet you will still be driving through what feels like the countryside and it is so different from the surrounding villages. There is an abundance of parks, you'll find walking and cycling paths, many subdivisions have baseball diamonds, basketball half courts, tennis courts and play sets for the youngsters.
Lake Barrington is home to the new sports center complex, the largest building is known as The Field House. Sports and fitness for all, tournaments and birthday parties, the Field House is already a very popular venue. It is registered as a not for profit organization provided for the community. South Barrington also has the South Barrington Tennis & Swimming Club.
Barrington Illinois is home to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital which has a Level II Trauma ER Center and one of Illinois' best Cardiac Centers, amongst 35 other specialty services.
The Arboretum is South Barrington's new shopping mall with specialty stores and calendar full of activities. Deer Park IL also has a shopping mall with specialty stores and has seen continued success since opening over 10 years ago. Both offer fun Christmas activities for the kids.
Barrington Illinois is home to six golf courses. Makray Golf Course is open to the public, previously known as Thunderbird it was completely redesigned in 1999 and a fabulous new club house built. If you don't play golf, you can enjoy lunch or dinner here instead! The Gated Community of Wynstone in North Barrington has a course that was designed by Jack Nicklaus, this is a members only club as is the Golf Course located in the Gated Community of Lake Barrington Shores. The fourth is Stonehenge Golf Course in Lake Barrington another members only club and one I understand with a long waiting list. The fifth is Barrington Hills Country Club and the last is located in Biltmore in North Barrington - a country club established in 1926 and another exclusive members only club.
Barrington is known for well scoring academics in the schools - Whether they are good or not is a very subjective conversation so always do your own due diligence. What is good for one family may not be so for another.
Nature abounds in Barrington - We have a lot of forest preserve and open spaces and so we see a lot of wildlife and birds. Sand Hill Cranes arrive every spring and spend 8 months here. Deer are here year round, as are Raccoons, Coyote and many different birds, our state bird is the cardinal. Of course Canadian Geese are here, Swans and many types of Ducks. I have photographed Cormorants, Hawks and have even had an owl on a tree in our yard.
What about the weather? We have 4 seasons, 2 long and 2 short. Summers can be long and hot up to the 90's with very little rain although recently they have been more temperate. Winters can be quite cold and we do get about 20 inches of snow every year. Spring is wonderful as our area returns to green and fall is pretty with maple colors and welcome breezes. Some say spring and fall are short because we seem to leap in and out of them very quickly.
Chicago is know as the Windy City, but in fact Milwaukee has more wind then we do! Talking of snow, if you want to learn to Ski, just over the state line north into Wisconsin is a place called Wilmot Mountain. Not really a mountain but a great place to start skiing or snow boarding.
Fox River Grove - Not Barrington but the next village over has a ski jump - It towers into the sky and when the snow arrives you can watch the insane guys and girls walk up the jump and then come literally flying through the air. They even do it in July as a dry slope. Next to that is a Balloon launch for hot air balloons, called Windy City Balloons. You can watch or ride.
Relocate to Barrington Illinois - Whether coming for a year or staying longer, you'll find peace and tranquility here, literally steps away from the hustle and bustle. Our real estate is diverse and covers price ranges form $100,000 up to $15 Million. You can find condos, townhomes, gated communities, property on acreage, vacant lots, luxury homes and even Victorian style village property.
There really are so many options when buying a home in Barrington. Buyers also consider some of the property in Barrington for investment purposes. There is a good selection of luxury homes, ready to move into or rent out, or even as second homes. If you are looking for a home away from home, want all the luxurious features you are used to, and want to be somewhat remote from the outside world, I've got just the right homes to show you!
Are you thinking of buying or selling a home in Barrington IL? - Whether you want to buy a home or sell a home in Barrington Illinois - Start by seeing what is for sale in Barrington.
You can search all Barrington Property Listings right here. You can search homes by village, zip, foreclosures, short sales, by price, bedroom, whatever your needs. You can set up searches, save favorites, or if you prefer I can email you all the properties that match your needs on a daily basis, just send me your criteria.
Then take a look at the sales for the last 2 years. You can also learn about the lifestyle in each area of Barrington from the same place, it's a pretty cool tool, try it.
Barrington Illinois Foreclosures - Yes, we do have Foreclosure Properties on the market in Barrington but not as many as some might think. Barrington has been somewhat immune to foreclosures. Many foreclosed homes in Barrington are under contract in less than 1 week and sell over asking price, competition is tough, especially for those in good condition and with great locations. There are more short sales available in Barrington IL than foreclosures, but again offers to buy need to be good to be considered and do not expect a quick answer.
Relocation Service Area - As a family that has relocated several times I understand you may have no idea where you want to live. Our relocation client service area extends far beyond Barrington. Simple covering the northwest suburbs of Chicago in Northern Illinois but if you are not sure where you want to be, just visit our relocation house hunters web site for more information.
Choosing financing is as important as choosing a home - you may have to live with it for a very long time. I work with skilled established loan officers and make sure that you have all the information that you need to decide on a home loan.
As your Barrington IL area Realtor my job is to make sure You get the Right Home - Each type of buyer has unique needs and I am here to provide you with top notch service. My service does not extend to pressure tactics to get you to write an offer. I want to know you are 100% sure the home is the right one before we put pen to paper.
Congratulations! If you've made it this far I thank you for taking the time to read and learn about me and the area I call home. If you would like to make it your home, just let me know your goals and together we'll reach them.
Visit my Website for info about Barrington Illinois Real Estate and MLS Search
Testimonial
Hi Corinne:
Holly and I know real estate brokers/agents and you, Mrs. Guest, are no real estate broker----at least in terms of the common perception. A guru? Possibly. An advisor? Definitely. Hopefully, even a friend.
If our experience with you is indicative of the manner in which you deal with your clients (and we are sure it is) you are going to give real estate brokers a good name
Holly and I hope to convey our heartfelt thanks for your assistance and guidance. As you know, our Lake Barrington search spanned three years and four buyer's agents and we both feel you were a major element in allowing us to reach a successful conclusion. Not only were you always available and patient, but alone among the buyer's agents we worked with, you actually listened to and acted upon what we wanted. Never did we feel (as we did with other agents) any push to action so that you might earn your commission, nor did you ever seek to push your own sensibilities regarding any prospect. Yet, when we did seek your opinion, you always provided reasoned and incisive advice.
We will definitely ensure that everyone we know is aware of your talent. If we can be of service to you by acting as a reference for future clients, please don't hesitate to use our contact information
Thank you also for the picture of the new addition to your crane family. Holly is so taken with the photo, she is considering enlarging and framing it!
Again, thanks for everything.
John Polacek
July 2nd 2010 - Club Circle, Lake Barrington Shores
© 2011 By Corinne Guest, Managing Broker, Royal Advocate Realty, Barrington, IL, 60010 - All Rights Reserved.
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