[This post in original format is at The Real Estate Lounge Chicago blog - htttp://therealestateloungechicago.com]
My wife and I implemented the sticker plan earlier this year. The sticker plan, you say? It's a basic reward system for our three-year-old Jackson. For each day of good behavior at the end of the day before his precious head meets the pillow to gain the rest he needs to proceed full-speed the following day Jackson is able to select a sticker to place in his book. With each bloc of five Jackson is able to choose a special treat. Last time it was Chuckie Cheese. Next time it's more local as we head to Pump It Up. The nice thing about the sticker plan is choices and behaviors have very direct consequences. For Jackson a negative report (very rare) from Mademoiselle Caroline when we pick him up from Lycee Francaise means no sticker. And this means we are that much farther from going someplace or doing something that is really important to him.
Contrast our experience with Jackson and that of the cast of characters at AIG. Even though their firm lost $99 Billion last year, a select cadre of the "best and the brightest" received performance bonuses that tipped the scales at roughly $165 Million. Given the catastrophic results of their work with respect to AIG and the US and global economy, that they would receive bonuses flies in the face of reason. One bit of good news I spotted on the BBC website today, the treasury department is withholding from AIG in the next multi-billion dollar portion of bailout funds an amount equal to the bonuses. But this doesn't mitigate that those rewarded still have bank accounts bolstered by ill-gained bonuses. Nor does it mitigate the confused message this whole debacle sends to kids older than Jackson and Lucas about what it means to be a productive member of society. What it means to earn something instead of being entitled to it. As for us, we will continue lavishing love and praise upon our kids and having the nightly sticker ritual. At the end of the day the hoped for result is that your boys will be honorable and trustworthy young men.
Yours truly recently was enlisted by four listing clients who entrusted the sale of their homes to Thomas McCarey and The Real Estate Lounge Chicago team. The recently listed properties include:
A downtown Chicago one bedroom condo with city views at 200 N Jefferson ($275k)
A Roscoe Village deluxe 2/2 condo with an attached garage space in an elevator building at 2801 N Oakley ($399,900)
An extra wide luxury 3/2 Lakeview condo at 3118 N Sheffield ($624,900)
A Lincoln Square single family home with optimal finishes at 2454 W Berteau ($1,299,900)
As always, arranging a private showing for any of these homes is as easy as making a phone call to 773.848.9241. The same number can commence the conversation about what it is that I have in my tool kit to best market your home in today's Chicago real estate market.
[View this post in its original format at http://therealestateloungechicago.com]
It's a good morning in America.
We woke as a family unit and moved in many different directions until the pancakes were griddle-cooked and ready. Then the boys and my lovely wife came together at the dining room table to eat a hot breakfast courtesy of dad.
As wonderful as the pancakes were, the truest part of the morning ritual is my coffee. And with perhaps the city's best beanery just down the street, Metropolis, it's easy to have coffee that constitutes a meal in and of itself.
Certainly a pleasure to have such a brew to augment the pancakes. As we expressed gratitude for the meal, for our home, for a heated home, for such a vibrant place to live, and for a country such as this my wife and I decided that today Jackson would skip school to watch the inauguration. A perfect bookend to our attendance of election-night activities in Grant Park. 
But first we had to drive down to the listing of The Real Estate Lounge Chicago and Thomas McCarey located at 550 Surf for its appraisal. Timing was a bit of a glitch, but with this hurdle cleared we dashed home to take in this wonderful moment.
Which is where we are now.
Nicole's friend Clifton, a resident of the greater Dallas community, just texted a picture of what it's like on the mall in DC. There with his wife and daughter and mother, he said it's "amazing" and the operative sentiment is "friendly." 
Amen!
That's what it looks like from our warm and comfy perch here in Edgewater as Barack Obama readies to take his oath. So let us gather and celebrate. And let us with faith and determination move forward. I think we are all ready.
[To view this post in original format please visit http://therealestateloungechicago.com]
"No rest for the wicked!" I'm not sure where the phrase comes from but it comes to mind when I am dashing about like a man with his hair on fire. Ever since the presidential election, the phrase has fit as perfectly as the pair of Ugg's my wife got me for Christmas. Showings increased as did contracts. And my buying clients were ready to move forward as well. Call it consumer confidence or call it an aberration, I can only report what has been the experience of Thomas McCarey. I attribute it to a mixture of ridiculously low interest rates combined with a faith, hope and confidence in incoming president Barack Obama. Take a look at today's New York Times which reports that 79% of respondents to a NYT-CBS poll -
were optimistic about the next four years under Mr. Obama, a level of good will for a new chief executive that exceeds that measured for any of the past five incoming presidents. And it cuts across party lines: 58 percent of the respondents who said they voted for Mr. Obama’s opponent in the general election, Senator John McCain of Arizona, said they were optimistic about the country in an Obama administration.
I share this hope, faith and confidence. And not simply because it bodes well for my profession. But moreso for what it bodes for my boys. The beauty of change, including radical change (for the election of an African American as president of the United States is a radical change) is that it becomes synthesized into the culture's psyche. In a real and important sense it becomes normal. And so for my boys and their generation an African American man being president is just the way it is. Like kids of color and white kids being in the same classroom. Or a woman being the head of a corporation. Or everybody having the right and opportunity to vote. Or an African American being president. In the meantime my phone keeps ringing with folks calling on my listings. As I write this brief blurb I am hosting an open house at the newest luxury listing of The Real Estate Lounge Chicago at 1055 N Hermitage. A bunch of snow-top walkers have ambled by to see this East Village two bedroom penthouse with a fully decked rooftop. Plus showings are on tap tomorrow. List price of $499,900 includes a garage parking space. Also showing tomorrow is my West Loop one bedroom timber loft at 1250 W Van Buren. With a south-facing view and parking included, first-time buyers and in-town seekers have flocked to this great condo which is listed at $229,900. As was the case with my gorgeous Lakeview listings at 550 W Surf and 726 Addison, I look forward to these viewings leading to, as we say in real estate, "something in writing." With consumer confidence inching forward (combined with those ridiculously low mortgage rates), I don't think my confidence in the market is misplaced.
If you see this guy lurking around your place, don't worry. He's a pleasant young man with dozens of funny stories, wonderful insights, a zest for life and a deep knowledge of the Chicago real estate market.
Plus he is the newest member of the team at The Real Estate Lounge Chicago.
Mitch Aronson, somebody who I have known personally for a dozen or so years and professionally for just a few years less, joined The Lounge team earlier this week after lengthy and successful stints at my old stomping grounds.
Mitch is among the finest of Chicago's real estate professionals, with a passion for his work and an unrivaled "tool box" with which to assist his buying and selling clients.
We are thrilled to have Mitch join the frenzy in our active team and excited to introduce him to the ins and outs and many pluses of working with Chicago's @ properties brokerage, the city's top residential real estate brokerage.
A lifelong Chicagoan and native of the North Side, Mitch and his family live in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood. His beautiful daughter Midori is Jackson's age and the two of them are great friends.
Looking at Mitch's "happy-happy" face in the picture above brought to mind an old beer commercial and a current day reprisal of the antics of the guys in the current environment just a few short days before Tuesday's oh-so-important presidential election.
Couch Sitting & Bud Sipping Asking "Whassup?"
Beaten Down But Not Defeated with Hope on the Horizon
My colleague emailed me this morning with what he termed was a "must read" url. Since just about everything that he forwards to me is entertaining and edifying, I did as he advised and clicked through to read his recommendation.Sure enough, the link went to an entertaining Chicago Tribune article detailing just how much Chicagoans love their city.
As a long-time resident of Chicago, I can attest to this love. Heck, even my three-year-old was able to say "Go Cubs!" before his third birthday and repeatedly intones Chicago with glee in his voice when we are in a holding pattern waiting to land at O'Hare International Airport.
The nature of the Tribune article triggered a "hmm" moment. So I started mulling over the idea of how Chicago is perceived outside of Chicago.
Since you are here soaking up the words that I utter in this electronic forum, you don't need a primer from me about the ins and outs of the web. But let me tell you, as soon as the idea tickled my cerebellum I set off on a a google exploration using search terms that included "most livable" and "best" along with Chicago and 2008.
In the brief slice of time I allowed myself to wander down this path I came up with some wonderful techno-snapshots of the real perception of Chicago by folks who don't dwell here.
Perhaps the most glowing praise came from FastCompany.com who named Chicago the US City of the Year for 2008. FastCompany's praise cited the city's architecture, its culture, its vibrancy, its greenness, its diversity, its economy, and its eye toward the future and capacity to continue growing in honoring us.
True, true, and true.
Unlike other aging cities in the midwest, Chicago never made the mistake of cordoning off its lakefront for private industrial purposes. Instead, through the genius of Daniel Burnham a century earlier, the city assiduously maintained public access to the shores of Lake Michigan for recreational purposes.
Thus there are beaches up and down the lakefront, from the city's north to south sides along with a wonderful bike path and a ridiculous number of public parks where you will witness Chicago's vibrant diversity on any given day.
More praise came Chicago's way from the City Mayors organization. While in polling terms this one might be referred to as an outlier, it is relevant to the present discussion as it declares Chicago tops among 14 cities around the world. In this tally Chicago received high marks in "convenience, a sense of freedom and an ease in meeting people, ...sports and cultural activities, public transportation and the diversity of people."
And while Travel and Leisure magazine doesn't rank Chicago as the top metropolis, I don't take it as a real slight. It is simply a measure that takes into consideration our winter weather that drops us to Number Three. Nudging ahead of us are Boston and San Francisco.
And face it, that's not bad company.
The nice thing about Travel and Leisure's ranking is that it is fueled by the input of visitors. I can and will market Chicago to locals and others at the drop of a hat, talking about Michigan Avenue, the Art Institute of Chicago, the University of Chicago, our architecture, our people, our diversity, our restraurants, our lakefront, and our parks.
Another poll that is sustained by the input of visitors is found at Conde Nast. Bandying about the globe to sumptuous places where delightful meals are served by nattily attired servers who appear to have memorized the Four Season's service manual these folks have determined that Chicago is the fifth-ranked city in the United States. Figuring into our status with these well-heeled folks are our restaurants, food and wine, culture, and family friendliness.
Ahead of us on this list are, from bottom to top, Sante Fe, New York, Charleston, and San Francisco.
At the end of the day I suppose I circle back to the beginning of the day when I received an email from a friend who urged me to check out something on the Chicago Tribune's website that was not only interesting, but also accurate.
Chicagoans love Chicago. And at the same time, so too do folks outside of Chicago. So much so that I am showing one of my condo listings tomorrow to a corporate relocation client from Boston. At the same time I am working with an international buying client and also a couple relocating to Chicago from within the United States.
I would like to tell you that both parties have chosen to work with me and the team at The Real Estate Lounge Chicago because of my charm. But the truth is more likely that they trust my expertise as it relates to the Chicago real estate market.
Chicago real estate professional Thomas McCarey and his team at The Real Estate Lounge Chicago provide outstanding services to buyers and sellers of real estate in Chicago.
Going online is a smart way to start your search for real estate in Chicago. But as useful as the online search is, it is limited.
For instance, information tends to be out-dated. And sometimes descriptions of properties are simply inaccurate.
Because for most of us the sale or purchase of real estate is among our most significant financial activities it is important that this activity is not left to chance. As you get ready to sell and/or buy your next home, it is critical that you be able to turn to a realtor who you can trust.
Tom McCarey is that Realtor. I am one of the 160+ elite Chicago Realtors that Century 21 Sussex & Reilly employs in four Chicago locations. Since January of 2002, Century 21 Sussex & Reilly has grown into the number one Century 21 real estate brokerage company in the Midwest.
Here's why.
Ask my past clients and they will tell you that I am among the top realtors in Chicago because I work harder, know the market better, and I listen to them - allowing me to more aggressively and intelligently advocate for their interests.
When you are ready to buy or sell a property in Chicago, I would love to hear from you.
I specialize in the new construction and resale single families and condos and multi-unit buildings with an emphasis in Chicago's north and northwest sides. My clients often select the following Chicago neighborhoods:
When you are ready to make a move, contact me directly at 773.848.9241. And feel free to refer me to your family and friends when they are looking in Chicago.
We had searched for a home for over two years and had worked off and on with several brokers. None of them were able to come close to meeting our needs.
And then we met Tom. He was the only one willing to go the extra mile to find us the perfect place.
His patience, dedication and service went above and beyond the call of duty. Not only did we gain a beautiful house in a wonderful neighborhood, we also gained a lifelong friend.
When my husband and I decided to buy our first home, we contacted Tom for help. We were interested in several neighborhoods in the city, we liked several different styles of home, and we had a lot of flexibility in budget. While we were excited by the possibilities, it was very hard for us to narrow our focus and we became overwhelmed. Tom stuck with us and went above and beyond the call of duty to help us narrow our search.
Thanks to Tom, we were the first on the scene when new properties hit the market. Once there, Tom used his excellent eye for detail and knowledge of construction and design to provide counsel, many times providing more insight into properties than the selling agent!
Through all of our searching and indecisiveness, Tom was patient and steadfast until he found the perfect home for us. Because the property was new construction, the contract process was complex. Tom was able to guide us through this process and was a fantastic advocate for us. He is a skilful negotiator and his detail orientation is invaluable during the closing process.
I can’t imagine how we would have survived the experience without Tom - he is quite simply the best realtor in the city.
When my husband and I were checking out Chicago neighborhoods we were not even sure we were going to buy and we certainly were not going to use a realtor as this was neither of our first purchases. Then we met Tom McCarey at an open house. We ended up speaking to him for some time and he listened to us. We were impressed with his knowledge of the market and the area. We told him we had found a house that we would like to see but were having problems getting in touch with the developer.
Tom aggressively pursued the situation, which was important since another couple was also interested in the house.Tom negotiated the contract like a pro and thought of items to include in the rider that we did not. Tom batted for us the entire way through the process and ensured the developer did what he promised.
When it came time to sell our home, I turned to Tom McCarey. My discussions with him prior to signing a listing agreement assured me that he knew the market-place and knew what it would take to sell our property quickly. We had another property under contract and had to sell our home at top dollar fast.
He priced it right, made himself available for all showing requests and sold it in days.
And, while I was working 24/7, he took care of all the details to ensure a smooth transaction and provide us with a stress-free experience. Tom took a personal interest in making sure we got the best possible deal - going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that we had a rewarding experience. I highly recommend using him as your realtor.
I met Tom at an open house nearly a year before I purchased my home. He made an impression, so when I was ready to come back into the city from the north suburbs, I called him.
We talked about what I wanted in a house, what I wanted in a neighborhood, and what I wanted to spend. Tom was the best at providing me with timely information and in arranging showings. He also made sure to not only answer my questions but to show me properties that helped me make my decision.
Ultimately I decided on a new construction single family. Even after the contract was in place Tom's involvement continued, ensuring my satisfaction and a smooth closing. I couldn't be happier. I love my new home.
Approximately two years ago, my husband and I began our search to purchase a condo in Lakeview. We were already renting in the area and wanted to remain in the neighborhood that we had grown to love. Luckily, we met Tom who took the time to understand what we were looking for in a home and was undaunted by the challenge of finding us the perfect place within the very tight radius that we had defined as our ideal location.
Immediately, we were impressed by Tom's professionalism and knowledge of the properties and their amenities; he had had extensive experience with both vintage and new construction and was able to provide information about the properties and neighborhood that we had not considered.After looking at numerous properties - including negotiating contracts on two properties that we terminated due to inspection issues - Tom located the condo that we had been searching for and it was only two blocks from where we were living. He recommended an inspector and attorney who were both personable and professional to help us close the deal.
Tom was with us for every step of the process - we could not have done it without him. We are glad that we had the opportunity to meet him and would highly recommend his services and experience to anyone interested in looking for a home.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
