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Charming brick English style home in central Elmwood Park, close to Metra station 🚉 , high school 📓, and Grand Ave, just a few blocks west & south of the 🛤 tracks from the Circle ⭕️ (day care 👶, pool 🏊‍♀️ , library 📚, shops 🏬 , dining 🍳🍔🍻, and more) 🙌

Solid & well maintained with many improvements over the years including windows 🪟, roof, gutters, sump pump, and a large rear addition in 2004 ⚒️– which could be a formal dining room 🍽 or even used as the 1st floor family room 📺🛋

Don’t need all 4 bedrooms 🤔? Open up the rear 1st floor bedroom to create the kitchen / great room of your dreams 👩‍🍳🤩

The 2nd floor bedrooms have good ceiling height, and there’s space between them to dormer & create another full bathroom, too 🛁🚽🚰. 

But wait, there’s more! The finished basement has the perfect layout with a large family room / rec room area complete with a retro dry bar 🍻🍷🍸🍹🥂🍾, a large laundry room / summer kitchen with gas range and portable dishwasher 🧺🥘🧼, the ½ bath 🚽🚰, a workroom / mechanical room 🛠🪚- with space for your Peloton 🚴‍♂️, and the pièce de resistance: a 6x14 foot pantry / wine cellar 🍷🍶 - complete with wine-making equipment, if you'd like it! 

Parties will undoubtedly spill outside into the maintenance-free back “yard” that is entirely a patio with a covered grilling area – bring your tools, but the grill stays 🍽🏓👨‍🍳😉

The 2 car garage with alley access is begging to have a party door installed 🎉🥳

Welcome home to Elmwood Park 🏡

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Are you ready to get on the right path to becoming a homeowner⁉️

Sign up below👇 to receive your free copy of the 90 Days To Homeowner Challenge Guide. At the beginning of each month over the next 3 months, I will send you a 4-week breakdown of tools and information to help you better understand the home buying process, followed by weekly in-depth emails to help you along.

I look forward to assisting you on your journey to homeownership! 🌆

Download your FREE guide here

Give yourself the gift 🎁 of knowledge this holiday season by getting your mortgage questions answered one by one. Here are three to help get you started:⁣

Q: How far in advance should I apply for a mortgage?⁣

A: Ideally, you want to start the process when you are shopping around for a new home. Doing so will tell you exactly how much you can afford, what your monthly payments will be, and what your total monthly obligations are.⁣

Q: Do I need 20% down to purchase a house?⁣

A: While putting 20% down can improve your chances of getting approved and locking in a lower rate (and monthly payment), lenders and mortgage programs will accept less than 20% so long as you buy mortgage insurance.⁣ FHA allows for as little as 3.5%, conventional 3%, and VA & USDA -0- down payment.

Q: I just got a new job. Will this impact getting a mortgage?⁣

A: Most lenders like to see a two-year job history in the same field though changing jobs for a better position could be seen as favorable. If you’re a soon-to-be college grad, you may be able to get a home loan even without a two-year work history.⁣

Have more questions about buying a home? There’s nothing I love more than sitting down with buyers and walking them through the process step-by-step. Interested? Send me a message, and we’ll set up a time that’s convenient for you.⁣ Or I can always be reached at 630-248-1976.

Both buying and selling a home are equally stressful, but what about when you are trying to coordinate both at the same time? There are a lot of moving parts, and the agents involved work together to insure the smoothest possible transactions for our clients.

If you are selling your home and want to close on a new home purchase at the same time, here are some things to think about to make your move as smooth as possible.

Selling & buying at the same time

Truly simultaneous closings are rare these days, especially when financing is involved. Regulations put in place to protect consumers have made simultaneous, or double, closings very difficult to pull off.

Concurrent closings occur when a party is selling and buying properties at about the same time, usually within a couple of days of each other.

If you wish to close on the sale of your home and the purchase of a new home back-to-back, the best scenario is to work with the same title company and escrow company for both transactions. Usually the sale of your home is closed first, your mortgage is paid off, then the purchase of your new home is closed.

Selling & then buying (the double move)

Selling your home ahead of buying is the most risk-free alternative, as neither transaction is contingent on the other. However, this requires your family to make an extra move and have a place to live while you wait to close on a new home, so in terms of convenience and expense, it’s not always the best scenario.

If you have the ability to secure a short-term rental, or to put your belongings in storage and stay with family, then you can enjoy the luxury of taking your time to look for and close on your new home.

One option that sometimes works out is to rent your home back from your buyers while you wait to close on your purchase. This works well when the buyers are not in a hurry to move in themselves and you can agree on a timeframe for you to remain in the home.

Buy, then sell:

Buying ahead of selling is a dream in terms of convenience. You can take your time moving, and maybe do some renovations or decorating before you move in.

But will you qualify for a new mortgage without a contingency on selling your existing home? If you can swing the mortgage, or are paying cash, it may be a great option for you. Remember to realistically consider how long you can afford to maintain two properties– with maintenance costs– in case it should take you longer than expected to find a buyer for your present home.

In this scenario, you may want to rent your new purchase back to the sellers, or list it as a short-term rental, while you wait to close on the sale of your existing home.

In summary...

Consider your buyers and sellers carefully when trying to coordinate a sale and purchase within a short amount of time. The last thing you need is a seller or buyer who is displaying signs of being uncommitted to the deal.

While no deal is guaranteed until all the closing documents have been signed, when you need a purchase or sale to coincide with your schedule, you should carefully evaluate who you sign a contract with.

A contract with contingencies on other deals going through, a lender expressing doubt about final financing approval, a low good faith deposit, buyers asking for unreasonable repairs or allowances, or sellers whose moving plans are questionable are red flags that your deal could fall apart.

🥂🎉🐣 congrats to my long-time clients as they closed on their forever house within weeks of their due date 🤗

We were lucky enough to find this one on the private listing network before it went live on the MLS — and avoided a likely bidding war in the process!

From a cramped condo with a scenic pond view 👉 a spacious tri-level with a fenced yard for their furry crew 🐶🐈, this growing family took the leap of faith with me and we made their dreams come true. ✨

If you’ve been wishing for a patch of grass of your own, too, let’s make it happen!

Become a VIP Buyer: https://rem.ax/LCbuyer

“For $X, would you like this house to be yours?” I excitedly asked my buyers this weekend... (Equally as excitedly) “omg yes! It’s right in line with what we were hoping to get it for, and our monthly payments will be $50 less than we were budgeting for!!”

We had just beaten out FOURTEEN other offers 🦸 and secured my clients’ dream home 🏡 

Thru managing the multiple offer / bidding war process on the listing side over the years, I’ve learned lots of tips and tricks to help my buyers’ offers stand out and rise to the top of the pile — which is vital in today’s crazy market!

🙋‍♀️ who can I help next? ☎️ Call me 630.248.1976 for all your Chicagoland real estate needs!

Dear friends,

We are continuing to experience a strong sellers' market in many areas right now, with lower inventory than usual coupled with higher than normal buyer demand - fueled by crazy low interest rates and the pandemic exposing for many the ways in which their current homes were no longer functioning for them. It's a fantastic time to sell your house, so if you've been sitting on the sidelines, now is your chance to make your move a reality!

And buyers -- there's a glimmer of hope for you too -- I've successfully helped several clients close on great properties this year, many involving the dreaded bidding war. Don't miss out on your dream house because you're afraid to go after what you want. It's prime time to find your forever house and lock in that low interest rate for life!

Since heading into lockdown in March, I've personally closed on 17 homes with buyers & sellers, with an additional 10 under contract. I'm dedicated to my goal of helping at least 40 clients this year. Want service like this? Contact me!

The Oak Park Arts District (commonly called the Harrison Arts District) in Oak Park IL is a charming, vibrant neighborhood with a mix of single family homes, condos, townhomes, and multi-family properties. This area is popular because of its close proximity to public transportation (the CTA Blue Line can be accessed via Lombard Ave & Austin Blvd, and the Pace bus runs along Ridgeland Ave) as well as the unique blend of businesses found here.

Along Harrison Street from Ridgeland Ave to Austin Blvd you'll find numerous art galleries, shops, salons, cafes, and restaurants. Some notable hot spots include Happy Apple Pie Shop, Trattoria 225, The Buzz Cafe, Mora Asian Fusion, District Kitchen & Tap, and Eastgate Cafe. Click here to see all of the businesses in the Oak Park Arts District!

Thinking of buying a home in Oak Park IL? Check out all of the available single family homes for sale in the Harrison Arts District here!

Thinking of buying a condo in Oak Park IL? Check out all of the available condos and townhomes for sale in the Harrison Arts District here!

Thinking of buying an investment property in Oak Park IL? Check out all of the available multi-family properties for sale in the Harrison Arts District here!

Chicago’s Near West Suburbs: Market Quick Stats

As of 9am on 10/25/2018…

OAK PARK: Single family homes: 50 of 265 (19%) are under contract. Condos/townhomes: 58 of 168 (34.5%) are under contract.

RIVER FOREST: Single family homes: 7 of 69 (10%) are under contract. Condos/townhomes: 11 of 39 (28%) are under contract.

FOREST PARK: Single family homes: 9 of 40 (22.5%) are under contract. Condos/townhomes: 24 of 53 (45%) are under contract.

RIVERSIDE: Single family homes: 13 of 60 (22%) are under contract. Condos/townhomes: 1 of 6 (17%) are under contract.

BERWYN: Single family homes: 71 of 210 (34%) are under contract. Condos/townhomes: 6 of 14 (43%) are under contract.

ELMWOOD PARK: Single family homes: 24 of 93 (26%) are under contract. Condos/townhomes: 19 of 49 (39%) are under contract.

BROOKFIELD: Single family homes: 27 of 105 (26%) are under contract. Condos/townhomes: 1 of 11 (9%) are under contract.

The take-away here is that the lower % of under contract homes, the weaker the market. We are seeing a shift toward a buyer's market in at least a couple of these areas.

Now is the time for sellers to be pro-active about pricing their homes competitively to stand out, properly preparing their homes for sale, and presenting their homes in the best possible light. Let me guide you through the process of getting your home SOLD!

Contact me for more specific details or for info on the markets in other towns & areas!

Search the available inventory & see recent sales:

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Are you looking for a LOW-PRESSURE agent in Chicago or suburbs?
Laurie Christofano with RE/MAX In The Village will help you find the information you are looking for to help you make the best decision for the future. It's always a NO PRESSURE situation when you contact me. So, feel free to ask me any questions you can think of regarding the Chicagoland real estate market.

Laurie Christofano
Realtor with The Pych Team
RE/MAX In The Village
630-248-1976 call or text me!
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Guest Post by Claire Wentz, CaringFromAfar.com

Is your home as safe as it could be? Or are you awkwardly maneuvering mobility aids through doorways, stretching to reach your kitchen cabinets, and shuffling across slick flooring? While mobility changes are a part of getting older, your home shouldn’t be making life harder.

Remodeling for Aging in Place

Most seniors need to modify their homes in order to continue aging there safely. However, remodeling for aging in place requires more than grab bars and an entrance ramp. Here are some modifications to consider if you plan to live at home as you age:

• Installing additional lighting throughout the home, including task lighting, and replacing light switches with rocker switches or motion-activated lighting.
• Replacing long-pile carpeting and slick flooring with slip-resistant flooring.
• Building an entrance ramp.
• Installing an elevator for second floor access.
• Increasing the width of doorways and hallways.
• Installing lowered or adjustable-height kitchen counters.
• Replacing kitchen appliances with more accessible models.
• Installing a curbless shower, raised toilet seat, and bathroom grab bars.
• Adding a first-floor bathroom.
• Replacing door knobs with levers and cabinet handles with D-shaped pulls.
• Lowering cabinets and adding pull-down shelving and roll-out trays.

While this list includes the most important home modifications, it’s not all-inclusive. For more ways to make your home safer for aging in place, see the National Association of Home Builders’ aging-in-place remodeling checklist.

Remodel or Relocate?

Your first instinct may be to remodel your current home. Especially if it’s the house you raised your family in, you might be reluctant to leave it. However, remodeling is costly, and the final bill can easily total in the tens of thousands of dollars. Sometimes, it makes more sense to sell your house and purchase a home that’s more suited to your changing needs.

Seniors benefit from downsizing to a smaller home throughout their golden years. A more compact home is easier to navigate as your mobility changes and requires less upkeep than a large, multi-story home. You’ll also have fewer rooms to remodel for accessibility, so you’ll spend less time and money on home modifications.

If you decide to move, search for single-story homes that offer step-free entrances, open floor plans, and wide doorways and hallways. These are the bare bones necessities for accessible living, and purchasing a home that already has these features will save you money on remodeling. Search for ranch homes for sale here.

Before you start looking at homes, work with a real estate agent to figure a listing value for your current home. While the average sales price of Oak Park Illinois homes is around $450,000, yours may be worth more or less depending on its age, size, condition, location, and design. Get an instant estimate of your home's value by clicking here.

After you know what your home is worth, identify the changes you’ll need to make to a future home. Fully accessible homes are rare, so expect to make several modifications from the above list. Subtract the estimated cost of remodeling projects from your home’s listing price, and you’ll have an idea of what you can afford to spend on a new home. Now you’re ready to start reviewing listings to see what’s on the market in your target price range.

If you’re having trouble finding homes that meet your accessibility needs and your budget, consider whether it’s best to finance renovations now or budget them out over time. You can learn more about financing home renovations at This Old House’s website.

Remodeling your home is no small feat -- and it's not an inexpensive one, either. However, compared to the cost of living in nursing home or assisted living facility, aging in place is often the more economical choice. Whether you decide to modify your existing home or relocated to a downsized dwelling, you'll have the comfort of aging on your own terms.

Having trouble deciding whether to stay in your home or downsize? Let's talk about it! Call me anytime at 630-248-1976. I'm always here to help! ~Laurie Christofano, Realtor with The Pych Team at RE/MAX In The Village.