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Bill Bein

Seven Selling Myths: Myth #1

10-17-11
Bill Bein

Myth #1: You should always price your home high and negotiate down.

Truth: Starting out too high rarely is the best way for a seller to go.

If you list too high, you'll miss out on buyers looking in the price range where your home should be. Offers may not even come, because they are scared off by the price. By the time you correct the price and list your home at its fair market value, you will have lost that new listing window of opportunity when your home draws the most attention from the public and real estate agents.

And this is just the start of what you’ll find at www.Chicagoland2to4Flats.info!!!

Humboldt Park: A Favorite Area for Armchair Investors

10-13-11
Bill Bein

"Arm-Chair" Investors are those who do NOT want to live in the property they buy (a more precise term for this would be "NON-owner occupied"). The question we ask here is: Where have ‘arm-chair' investors like that been concentrating their investments?

Our work with arm-chair investors has led us to believe that SEVEN Chicago neighborhoods are particularly popular for those buying non-owner occupied, cash-flow property. For instance, Bill Bein, Chicagoland2to4Flats.info's founder, owns property in Grand Crossing (a south side neighborhood)-and he has now helped many different buyers buy in all of these areas.

  • The west side neighborhoods are: Humboldt Park (census tract 23), East Garfield Park (census tracts 27), West Garfield Park (census tracts 26) and North Lawndale (census tract 29)
  • The south side neighborhoods are: Woodlawn (census tract 42), South Shore (census tract 43) and Greater Grand Crossing (census tract 69).

We will look at each of them. The first is:

The southern end of Humboldt Park (census tract 23) is written up on the city's official site at http://www.chicagoneighborhoods.cc/neighborhoods/garfield.html

The Encyclopedia of Chicago, compiled by the Chicago Historical Society, has an article on it:

"Chicago's Humboldt Park community, on the city's Northwest Side, centers on the 207-acre park named for the naturalist Alexander von Humboldt in 1869. ..."
See more at
http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/617.html

Learn more about homes in this neighborhood and others at the home page of http://www.chicagoland2to4flats.info/!!!

Humboldt Park Restored Prairie River:

Humboldt Park restored prairie river

Humbodlt Park map:Humbolt Park map

Ten Reasons It’s Time to Move On

10-10-11
Bill Bein

1. The kids have all graduated from college. You and your husband finally have time to yourselves…then they move back home!

2. You have three spare rooms in a four bedroom house.

3. You have to shuffle your cars each morning to leave for work.

4. You spend more time driving to work than you do with your family.

5. You spend more money each month for storage than you do for your mortgage.

6. Your neighbor found a loophole in the homeowner's association rules and is raising donkeys.

7. You keep hearing faint voices telling you to "get out" and they're getting louder.

8. Grandpa Jed just struck oil while hunting in your back yard.

9. The dog’s house doubles as a guest room.

10. You have to take a number to use the bathroom.

If this is you, and you desire a FREE, NO OBLIGATION consultation on buying OR selling property in Chicago and ‘burbs, contact me. By the way, if you know of anyone whose signs suggest it’s time to move on, I’d be happy to consult with them too. Just give me a call.

You’ll find me at www.Chicagoland2to4Flats.info!!!

What is the best property search on the Internet?

10-04-11
Bill Bein

The most advanced Internet search available is called connectMLS, a system that easily beats Realtor.com or other public searches. After you read this sheet, we think you’ll agree: public search engines may be useful for picking neighborhoods, but they can’t hold a candle to connectMLS when it comes to picking actual property. How do you get a connectMLS search? Just ask us! We’ll be happy to set one up for you.

Public Search example picture

The public search sheet (above) only has general remarks and basic room sizes.

The connectMLS sheet (below), on the other hand, has everything you’ll find on the public sheet and adds a map and a lot of important information. We think you will also love the “Galley”—where you can sort listings and mark your interest.connectMLS Search example picture

You may already be convinced, but we can add even more.

connectMLS Galley Report picture

About 20% of the listings in any public search engine are no longer being shown (they’re under pending or contingent, meaning under contract but not yet closed). With connectMLS we can set it up so you only see the truly active properties—with automatic email any day there is a new listing that fits your filters or a price cut.

And this is just the start of what you’ll find at www.Chicagoland2to4Flats.info!!!

Ten Commandments of Real Estate Loan Applications

09-29-11
Bill Bein

1. Thou shalt not change jobs, become self-employed or quit your job.

2. Thou shalt not buy a car, truck or van (or you may be living in it)!

3. Thou shalt not use charge cards excessively or let your accounts fall behind.

4. Thou shalt not spend money you have set aside for closing.

5. Thou shalt not omit debts or liabilities from your loan application.

6. Thou shalt not buy furniture.

7. Thou shalt not originate any inquiries into your credit.

8. Thou shalt not make large deposits without first checking with your loan officer.

9. Thou shalt not change bank accounts.

10. Thou shalt not co-sign a loan for anyone.

And this is just the start of what you’ll find at www.Chicagoland2to4Flats.info!!!