Ken Tracy Realtor Naperville Illinois Real Estate

The real estate market has changed...

This morning, as I was going through today's real estate activity in Naperville, one transaction caught my eye...

728 Chateaugay had just been sold.

This was one of the first homes that I ever showed...

It was three years ago. My first clients. They loved the neighborhood (Hobson Village), the trees, the lot, the layout...

The home needed a bit of updating. A remodeled kitchen would have been great...

They liked the home enough to make an offer, the first of my career...

My clients lost out to another bidder (again, this was three years ago). The seller was asking $434,900. We bid $419,900.

The winning bidder paid $430,000. He was probably pretty excited. It was a nice home.

Well yesterday, the home was sold again. This time it was a short sale...

Selling price? $332,000.

The real estate market certainly has changed...

Ken

A Realtor you can trust.

Can an offer be so low that it is offensive?

I received an offer on one of my listings last night. A real nice two bedroom condo near Naperville's train station and downtown.

The condo is beautiful. It shows great. We've only been on the market 19 days...

Anyway, we received the offer last night. They bid $200k. We are asking $325K...

I must say I was surprised. In my three years as an agent, I haven't had an offer near this low.

Does this seem odd?

It seems strange to me...

We will sell this home. But not for 62% of our asking price after only 19 days on the market.

I guess this may be a starting point. But even if we split the difference...

So, what do you think?

How low is too low?

Ken

A Realtor you can trust.

It was actually my wife that suggested it...

It was Valentines Day. And we are going to a fishing store for dinner???

We ate at Islamorada Fish Company, located inside the Bass Pro Shops in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

We had never eaten at Islamorada. I was somewhat hesitant at first.

I am a creature of habit, and my favorite local restaurant is Claras Pasta, in Lisle.

But what the heck... I had heard good things.

Have you ever been to a Bass Pro?

Awesome place. An outdoorsmans dream.

The wait was going to be about an hour, so Kenny had a little time to shop...

I found exactly what I wanted. A medium heavy spinning rod for my Shimano 4000 spinning reel.

Travis, the fishing guy, said "It is the best deal in the place."

Regularly $79.99. On sale for $49.99.

We checked out the natural fish aquarium. Filled with cool native species.

Erin smiles in front of the tank...

After shopping we still had a wait, so we stopped by the bar...

The aquarium alone was worth the trip. Huge. Filled with tropical fish.

Beautiful.

Nickie gets a hug from Erin before dinner...

I don't think she wanted Daddy to get jealous...

The food was great. The setting fairly casual and family friendly. Nice and reasonably priced...

I had the surf and turf. It was great. $21.95. The baked potato was loaded with bacon, sour cream, and cheese. Mmmm.

The Kids Fish Brownie sundae was huge. Enough for the whole family...

On the way out, I was nearly mauled by a grizzlie. I guess bears like the smell of lobster...

We had a great night.

A great Valentines Day.

Dinner. Family. A little shopping thrown in...

I can't wait for fishing season.

Ken

A Realtor you can trust.

My wife Nicole went back to work last July. She is a pediatric dietician at Central DuPage Hospital.

While Nicole works, I watch our little girl Erin. It is working out quite well...

Despite some challenges, I am running a fairly active and growing real estate business.

Nicole's steady paychecks are nice too...

Recently, however, "fatherhood" has gone a little too far...

I think I have become a Naperville "mom".

Let me explain. Today went like this...

After driving my wife to work, my daughter and I go to the health club, Lifetime Fitness...

I drop Erin off at day care. It's awesome. They have a great staff and facility. It's free, too!

I am just in time for my 10:45 yoga class. They have the temperature set way up. Great workout. I work up quite a sweat.

After yoga, Erin and I hurry home. Erin gets grumpy when she is hungry.

We turn on cartoons. Erin loves Super Why!.

I prepare lunch. Macaroni and cheese. Our favorite. I chop up hot dogs in mine.

I manage to squeeze in a little "real estate" while Erin plays. Fortunately, she is pretty easy little girl.

Cleaning time. Wash dishes. Pick up after Erin. I am always picking up after Erin...

Where does my day go?

Off to the supermarket. I actually make a shopping list...

There is a Starbucks in the store, so I pick up a coffee.

Hot coffees in hand, kids in carts, the ladies of Naperville and I cruise the aisles...

A ritual? Perhaps.

A reason to get out of the house? Definitely.

When Erin and I finish our shopping, we are just in time to pick up Nickie after work.

We miss her...

Ken

A Realtor you can trust.

What the heck...

I have a listing on Alan Road in Naperville. It is a short sale. Late stages. We need an offer...

The bank has "removed" our lock box.

Apparently this is a common practice for lenders in the Chicago area. If a home is vacant and not paying the mortgage, they do not wait to foreclose.

They take control immediately and put on a new doorknob.

Anyway, I now have to attend all showings. Makes it very difficult.

This week, we have lowered our price to $274,900.

The house has lots of potential and is on a big lot (2/3 of an acre) in south Naperville.

I have received 7 calls from Realtors in the last two days to see the home. I have made all the apointments between 10-12 AM Sunday (Super Bowl Sunday).

Since I need to be there, I have decided to pop up some signs and make it an open house.

So if you are in the neighborhood, stop on by...

The home is at 10 S 087 Alan Road in Naperville.

And bring some hot chocolate. I might be cold.

I will be shoveling the drive. :)

Ken

A Realtor you can trust.