Chicago Condo Fair
Great condo workshops and home buying information for consumers will be available Saturday, March 1 at the annual Homeownership Fair in Wheaton.
Representatives from OwnACondo.com will participate by introducing Briarton Place Condominiums of Glen Ellyn. These condos offer homeownership for well under $100,000 in booming DuPage County, where affordability has become an issue of increasing concern.
Currently, one bedroom condos are available at Briarton Place for approximately $679 per month (principal and interest). Buyers must qualify. Specific information on these prices for Briarton Place and other condominium developments will be available at the OwnACondo.com table. Â
The workshops offered by organizers of the fair will include Understanding Credit at 10:30 a.m., Mortgages 101 at 11:15 a.m., Shopping for a Home at Noon and Foreclosure Prevention at 12:45 p.m.
Billed as "one stop shopping for consumers to get answers from experts", the fair will feature more than 40 mortgage lenders, Realtors, and home inspectors who will provide the latest information on mortgage rates, programs and special services. HUD will be on hand to talk about FHA loans, and local agencies will be available to discuss fair housing issues as well as reduced-interest financing options for families on a budget.
The event will be held at the DuPage County Administration Building, 421 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit the website of the DuPage Homeownership Center for more information. Prizes and giveaways will be offered. And be sure to stop by and say hello to the friendly professionals from OwnACondo.com!
Cheap Chicago Condos
"I'll have to call you back," Condo Specialist and REALTOR Julie Evensen told the blog editor. "I'm with a client, writing a contract already!"
We were contacting Julie to get some routine information about the grand re-opening at The Salem Condominiums for a posting on this blog, but got stopped short when she said she was in the process of selling one of the condos. No problem, Julie, take your time!
When we were able to talk with her a short time later, the enthusiasm in her voice about the new property was evident. With the official start of open houses still a day away, she was already showing people around and making a sale.
"These condos are such a good deal," she says about the limited number of 1-bedroom units available at only $99,900. "There's nothing close to this price in the area. The building is really well kept and the units have hardwood floors and all new windows. It's within a few blocks of the library, the Metra train and Pace bus, located in a neighborhood of single family homes near downtown Arlington Heights."
Also available at The Salem, at very reasonable additional cost, are nicely upgraded 1-bedroom condos and a deluxe 1-bedroom unit that Julie says "has all the bells and whistles, with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and more." There's also one final 2-bedroom condo still available.
"The quality of upgrades is fabulous," explains Julie. "This is a really high-quality builder who uses a lot of ceramic tile and porcelain fixtures, not the typical generic products from the home center stores."
The Salem Condominiums, at 202 N. Salem Avenue in Arlington Heights, are now open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday and at other times/days by appointment. Contact Julie directly for more information or to schedule an appointment at 847-361-1353.
Condos Still Selling in Chicago
There's plenty of evidence in various communities in and around Chicago that condominiums continue to sell and appreciate.
The Chicago Tribune today reports on condo growth in the town of Evanston.
And recently, NBC Channel 5Â aired this report titled Still Selling.
Buying a condo now
With mortgage interest rates near record lows, inflation well within reason and employment holding steady, there is no shortage of people who want to buy real estate. But in this current market, many are taking a wait-and-see stance.
At OwnACondo.com, we sometimes hear from people that they are "waiting for the market to reach bottom" before buying. A problem with that reasoning is that the so-called bottom probably won't be recognized until it is the rear-view mirror and real estate prices are increasing again.
Another reason to possibly rethink that waiting strategy is that all real estate markets are local, and what the analysts, pundits and commentators say about real estate as a whole may not reflect what is going on in your community, or the community where you want to live.
Check out this article from MSN.
Praise for selling affordable condominiums
From "Tina", who purchased a condominium at Briarton Place in Glen Ellyn:
Dear OwnACondo,
I would like to thank you for providing your affordable conversions. I was fortunate to find Briarton Place Condominiums close to my employment, shopping and the expressway. My daughter is thrilled to have a home with a pool and a playground. I am thankfull for her to be able to attend a school in a well-honored school district.
I would also like to thank your sales specialist, Kevin Zettl. He allowed me to choose colors and styles to make my home suit my needs, and really be home for me and my family. He made me feel comfortable and was always available to answer my questions.
I have witnessed the rehabilitation of Briarton Place from the start. It's been amazing! The grounds are beautiful. I have received numerous compliments about my condominium from friends, family, neighbors and even potential buyers.
Tina, thank you for that unsolicited and most appreciated letter. We've added some links to your letter that can help readers see exactly what you are refering to. We're glad you're pleased with your new condominium home. The value available at Briarton Place, with a Glen Ellyn address in DuPage County, is remarkable. We look forward to serving you again in the future!
