Lyn Sims ~ Chicago Northwest Suburbs

Lyn Sims is featured in Chicago Agent Magazine!

I received a surprise phone call about a month ago that asked me if I would like to be interviewed to talk about first time home buyers in the Chicago Northwest Suburbs. You bet, I said, I love 'em. So I called the editor back and set up an interview with the writer. I have to say it was an enjoyable interview and I thought I did well answering the questions about 'today's home buyers.'

What are they thinking? What are they expecting? As usual, too many people offering advice. Has the $8000 tax credit helped with sales in my opinion?

Read the article here.

Then another week after the phone interview I was asked if we could schedule a photo shoot for 'the cover'. What? The cover! You bet! I'll pick out a great listing (like a dress) and let's all meet in the livingroom for pictures! I chose one of my best listings where the seller is immaculate (thanks Judy!) and we took great photos in her fabulous livingroom. It turned out that the subdivision exterior shot was the editor's favorite and there I am on the cover with the great background!

Special thanks to Karen Snyder and Zippora Porton.

Average Closing Costs per State 2009

The survey was done by Bankrate and Illinois ranked 43rd out of the states for costs. The average costs for the loan origination was $1279 for the mortgage portion and $1207 for title charges, etc. The total would be $2486. Quite respectable compared to other states!

Link to original article State by State Costs


Illinois Closing Costs broken down for a buyer - all costs involved on the average.

This should give you at least a good rough estimate that would be needed for closing or to double check your costs on your Truth and Lending Statement from your lender.

*Bankrate.com

Pumpkin Lunacy! It's that time of the year again when the trees begin to turn and people say: I've never bowled with a pumpkin? Let's give it a go and google it! Well here you are for more factoids that you can never use again except near Halloween!

Pumpkins are believed to have originated in Central America and appear to date back 7000 years ago.

The pumpkin capital of the world is Morton, Illinois (figures!) where Libby has it's pumpkin industry and plant.

Pumpkins are grown on six of the seven continents, with Antarctica being the only continent where they are not grown.

Pumpkin carving comes from ancient Celtic (Irish) traditions. But, at the time, they didn't carve pumpkins, they carved turnips and rutabagas.

The previous world record for the heaviest pumpkin is held by Geneva Emmons from Canby, Oregon. Her record pumpkin weighed 1,262 pounds. The new world record for the heaviest pumpkin is 1337.6 pounds grown by Charlie Houghton of New Hampshire. Now that's a lot of pumpkin!

I gotta find a pumpkin! Pumpkin Farm list by counties!

Anatomy of a Pumpkin

Pumpkin Carving Stencils

Pumpkin Party Suggestions

Pumpkin Bowling (will you need shoes?)

Preparation and Cleaning

When selecting pumpkins for carving, lighter colored ones carve easier, as they are softer. The downside is they do not last as long.

Pick a pumpkin with a nice stem and a carvable face.

Clean the pumpkins off outside by washing them off with plain water and a sponge. Allow to dry. Keep the pumpkin outside, or in a cool place, until you are ready to carve it.

Pumpkin Ideas and Tips

Use an ice-cream scoop to clean out your pumpkin instead of bending your kitchen spoons.

For a unique jack-o’lantern, add a little glow paint, or fake blood.

Insert a bowl into a carved pumpkin and add dry ice and warm water to create an extra spooky, smoke filled jack-o’-lantern.

Making your Pumpkin Last

Apply a light coating of petroleum jelly on the cuts. It will seal the wound and the pumpkin will last longer. After carving, place the pumpkin in a cool, dark place. It will spoil quickly if left at room temperature and will attract fruit flies.

Did you know? You can usually revive shriveled pumpkins by soaking them in a bucket of water.

Serious Pumpkin Designing and People with too much time on their hands!

Pumpkin Carving Gallery (you might have to click on gallery, then pumpkins)

This is serious sculpting here! Great stuff! Pumpkin Art

Extreme Carving

Resources:
http://www.stevespumpkinart.com/
http://www.pumpkinart.ca/gallery.htm
popsnchellor.blogspot.com
mylt.ltcdn.com
www.crainium.net

$8000 first time home buyer tax credit could be used for:

6 months of mortgage payments! Smooth sailing for 6 months!

16 months of association dues! That's a year and a half of no lawn mowing and laying by the pool!

22 months of your car payments! OR pay your car off totally!

80 months of your school loan! OR pay down that school loan so you can sleep like a baby at night!

64 months of cable and internet access to watch football both day and night! For the guys!

64 months of cable and internet access for the Style Network plus a yearly subscription to Style Magazine and the September Vogue Runway Fashion Issue! For all the chic ladies!

Do these give you any suggestions how great of an opportunity this could be for you?

Are you sure your thinking out of the box?

Let me help!

Illinois Home Start Program - Help with that down payment?

Home Start Loan Program