Jennifer Kinzle, Realtor, E-Pro

This is not your everyday Keller Williams activity, I admit. It has nothing to do with lead generation, home selling, home buying, investing or even mortgages. Some might even say this is not a very practical business move. But, sometimes doing the right thing means more than making a business run. We are making a difference in our community by taking a step in the right direction and helping those who need it most. You can now drop off your used cell phones to our office. The cell phones that we can collect will either go to anther company which will use the parts to make new cell phones and they will give Mutual Ground Inc. a donation. Mutual Ground Inc., is a local social service agency and shelter which helps men, women and children who are victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault. Or if the phones are reprogrammable, they will do so and then give them to a victim to use for emergencies. Please be sure to include your phone's charger w/the phone. You can make drop-offs to our office at 1450 W. Main Street, Ste. G in St. Charles, IL or contact me and I can pick it up in person.

This is a great way to help out others, recycle and do something good in the process! And don't forget to ask, what has your agent done lately?

Jennifer Kinzle, E-Pro Realtor
Keller Williams Fox Valley
www.ElginFoxValley.com
Twitter @jkinzle

Fox Valley Area Banks and Your Money

Is it too late to put the money back under my mattress? Your best bet is to still shop around when looking for good deals on money markets, checking accounts and mortgage rates. Your corner bank may have a better rate, but may not be around when you need them.

I found a useful tool on the internet recently when I was curious as to how local banks in the Fox Valley area shape up compared to the rest of the country.

http://www.bankrate.com/rates/safe-sound/bank-ratings-search.aspx

A few local banks I thought of included Harris, First American Bank, Elgin State Bank and West Suburban Bank. All the banks I found were ranked on BankRate's star system, Safe and Sound, with 5 stars being the Superior rank, 4-Sound, 3-Performing, 2-Below peer group and 1-Lowest rated.

Here's what I found in Illinois:

Elgin State Bank on Randall Rd and Hopps St, has 3 stars/Performing.

Harris got 5 stars/Superior for Central National and 3 stars/Performing for Harris National Association.

First American Bank ranked at 2 stars/Below Peer Group for its Illinois location at 60110.

And Western Suburban Bank rated at 3 stars/Performing but they are apparently doing better than the larger First American Bank franchise.

There are just over 40 banks in Illinois that ranked 5 stars according to BankRate, so there are plenty more local banks that are not top notch, according to this system. I'd do some extra homework on BankRate and find out who the best and leave the rest.

www.ElginFoxValley.com
Jennifer Kinzle, E-Pro Realtor
Keller Williams Fox Valley
Twitter @jkinzle

6 Weird Ways to Sell your House in Elgin, IL

It's really a shame that nobody splurges anymore. I, for one, don't go anywhere unless I've got a coupon or it's "kids eat free after 4pm on Tuesdays" at such and such place. I've got a limited purchase plan to get through an average week and I'm always looking for cheap ways to indulge. I think a lot of homeowners who are looking to sell could use this "new stinginess" to their advantage. Here are a few weird ways (or incentives) to help a tired homeseller get off the real estate market rollercoaster and get on with the rest of their lives.

1-Offer a free chauffeur service for one year. Forget the Mercedes or Lexus! Why drive when someone can do it for you? If you live in Chicago, the ride downtown would take 2 ½ hrs one way during rush hour from the suburbs, but think of all the work your buyers can do sitting on the Dan Ryan in the back of a sleek black limousine!

2-Do a live auction. This requires additional advertising to get the word out and you'll need to bring in the real deal to get the atmosphere. But the kicker on this one is you might actually have to sell the house for the final auction price, so be careful!

3-Have the home professionally staged and offer to include all new furnishings of their choice.

4-Need to get rid of the empty nest in the sprawling suburbs? Offer a free tutor or au pair for a year for the couple who has kids that are probably heading to a larger home.

5-Bandit signs. These are the annoying signs that are illegal yet pop up in every weed infested field or nailed into a light pole by a busy street until a city worker takes pity on it and removes it. They don't last long, perhaps 3-4 days, but calls might come in to see your home. Put something on it like "Fast Sale, 3bed Home, No Money Down"

6-Offer 10 free roundtrip airline tickets for the out of town guests to come and visit the new homeowners. This helps bring families together as well as help to sell your home!


Good Luck!
Jennifer Kinzle, E-Pro Realtor
Keller Williams Fox Valley Realty
Jennifer@ElginFoxValley.com
Twitter @jkinzle
www.ElginFoxValley.com

Elgin, IL Short Sales and REO's

Today, I've run a search on the city of Elgin and have found 156 single family homes listed as Active with either Short Sale or Bank owned REO indicated. They range in price from $44,900 at 216 Ann http://cli.gs/DEsar1 all the way to $899,900, 200 Wrenwood Circle- http://cli.gs/GqaQe7).

In recent weeks, the media has shouted long and loud about foreclosures, foreclosures, foreclosures! Well, the short sale is a foreclosure and I have to say, it can be disheartening to home buyers who are seeking a deep discount. The top 3 biggest deal breakers I have found are hidden liens on the property, second mortgages and HOA language that makes a mess of things for owners trying to get out from a mortgage. Hidden liens can include a mechanic's lien or a payment that is due to a contractor for work on the property. A second mortgage or line of credit, with another lender, can come into play because the first mortgage holder wants first right of refusal of any offers, and then the offer must be approved by the secondary lender, who may or may not approve, but get stuck holding a mortgage that won't be paid back. They can put pressure on the buyer to pay off the secondary debt, much to the dismay of the potential home buyer! Finally, I've found that HOA-Home Owners Association-, can severely limit the owner's options when it comes to selling. If the property is not FHA approved, the owners may miss out on a lot of potential buyers.

However, a bank owned REO does skip over a lot of the drama and a buyer will get an clear title. Unfortunately, we'll be seeing a lot more bank owned REO's because after a short sale fails to go through and a person loses their home, the home reverts back to the bank. A great deal right? Well, sometimes. If a property is abandoned or looks vacant, it can bring in squatters or vandals to a quiet neighborhood. Empty property makes a buyer question the area much more than an occupied home. Then you'll see a list price sometimes 20% or more below normal market value creating havoc on the neighborhood homes' values.

The flood of short sales/REO's is a going to confuse a lot of home buyers who are trying to get a good value in this real estate market. If you have questions on how to navigate short sales or REO's, let me get you the answers!

ElginFoxValley.com
Twitter @jkinzle
Jennifer@ElginFoxValley.com

Keeping Your Home Secure in Elgin, IL

According to the National Crime Prevention Council, burglars generally will not spend more than one minute trying to get into a home.

• Unlocked doors and windows are the number one way to get easy access to break in, so check the locks. A high quality door frame and lock can withstand a lot of abuse before giving away, so make sure you have a solid opening to start with. Burglars avoid taking too much time to get inside or creating a lot of noise that may be overheard. Front doors can use help from a rim lock or a surface mounted deadbolt. Chain locks can work, but cannot be unlocked with a key from outside.
  
• Sliding glass doors are an easier target than swing doors, as once the lock is broken, the burglar can either slide them open or lift them off the track. Placing a piece of wood like a broom stick in the track and the door won't slide! Remove the handle from crank out first floor windows and keep slider windows closed the same way as sliding glass door with a piece of wood in the track.
  
• Use a timer on interior lights to go off at random times in different rooms to create the illusion of being at home. Porch lights and garage lights that are on timers can also help. Motion detector lights are useful for deterring intruders, but only at night.
  
• Let your neighbors know your schedule, especially if you plan on being away on vacation or out of town. Be sure to have your mail held at the post office and newspaper delivery put on hold. If you are gone for more than a week, a lawn service can keep your yard in good shape and is worth the expense of making the house look occupied.
  
• Get a dog. A watchdog (or even a loud barker) can attract attention to an otherwise quiet home that a burglar would likely pass by in favor of a home without a pet.

RT @jkinzle Keep your Elgin home secure http://cli.gs/NPhrEU

www.ElginFoxValley.com
Twitter @jkinzle
Jennifer@ElginFoxValley.com