Condos in Chicago
With apologies to the Chicago Tribune, we're borrowing a portion of a timely and inspirational editorial written well over 100 years ago.
A terrible fire had swept through Chicago in 1871, leaving a sizeable portion of the great city in ashes. With a population of only 300,000 people, hundreds died and 90,000 were left homeless. After the fire, the Tribune, from borrowed offices because theirs had burned, published a tiny editorial in a tiny edition urging people to cheer up, that Chicago would rise again. And indeed, the pace that Chicago rebuilt was incredible, beginning almost the minute the flames had died away.
Our current economic and social times are in need of a call to "Cheer Up!" There's no denying the seriousness of the situation, but what are you going to do? Wring hands, commiserate and potentially melt down, or stay positive, energized and hopeful?
Here are a few quick tips:
- Limit your exposure to the media onslaught. Stay informed so you can make rational, timely decisions but don't be overwhelmed by constant news and screaming headlines. Pick your media like you should pick your food choices. Fast-food and junk are everywhere.
- Watch the language you speak. It can keep you energized and excited or it can bring you down without you consciously knowing it.Â
- Help others. There is so much need in virtually every condo community. Even when you might be worried about your own bills, job, etc., find the time and opportunity to reach out and help.
- Move your body. Exercise! Physical activity produces seratonin and endorphines, natural substances that make you happy.
- Remember that "This, too, shall pass." It's a famous phrase that has been uttered by everyone from King Solomon to President Abraham Lincoln to former Bears Coach Mike Ditka and countless others. Nothing lasts forever, especially hard times.
Cheer Up! We Shall Rise Again!
Condo Buying May Become Easier
Condo buying may become much easier soon. The traditional way of condo lending for a home purchase is being analyzed and good news may be coming soon. Most lenders in the past have used credit scores to determine the risk of a borrower defaulting but many lenders are beginning to look at non-traditional ways to calculate the risk of financing a home. Check out this recent article to find out more.
Condominium
The worst part of my job is the traffic I sit in on my way home from the office. And for the longest time, I keep thinking that this traffic stuff is the BIGGEST WASTE OF TIME and over this past summer when gas prices were high…the biggest waste of money. One day, I decided to search the condo office for some books on tape. I knew I would find some…bookshelves of them if I looked. I stumbled upon Winning Without Intimidation by Bob Burg. It was a 6 CD set and approximately 3 hours of listening. And let me tell you…I could not wait to get in the car and begin my commute home with something useful to do with my time. Now also keep in mind that I personally am not in sales…I am just someone who works in the office. But my goal was to make better use of the time I sit in traffic…and doing my nails is not an option.
That evening I got in my car, started it up and hurried to put the first CD in. As I began driving, Bob Burg began speaking. I was intrigued. I could not have imagined that this set of CDs would be as powerful as it is. Bob Burg talked about many common sense topics on how to deal with people and make them feel good about themselves and in turn, the person you are talking to would become your new friend and help you in whatever way they could therefore you would be Winning Without Intimidation.
These CDs were positive and powerful. Thanks Bob Burg for making my commute home a much better experience and better use of time. I can’t wait to see what else I can find on the shelf!
Power Thought
Read 25 pages a day.
I read that the average Business CEO reads four to five books a month and averages 500 x’s more income than the average person. The average person reads one book a year and doesn’t finish it all the way. Any correlation?
If you read 25 pages a day (30 minutes) you’ll have read approx 45 books in one year. Reading educates, but more importantly gives you tremendous ideas, that when implemented, will change your life.
Mortgage News
According to an article on Bloomberg.net, the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage last week tumbled for a ninth straight week, to 5.10 percent on Dec. 31, according to McLean, Virginia-based Freddie. That’s the lowest recorded in the company’s weekly surveys since 1971.
As we head into 2009, it has become an even stronger buyer’s market. Interest rates are low and supply is high and an OwnACondo.com Chicago Condo Specialist is ready to help jump start your process to owning a Chicago condo. The steps are simple:
1st Consult with an Chicago Condo Specialist at OwnACondo.com and get pre-qualified for a mortgage
2nd Identify the areas, the likes and dislikes of the Chicago condo that would be ideal
3rd With your OwnACondo.com Chicago Condo Specialist, begin looking for your Chicago condo and when you find it, have your OwnACondo.com Chicago Condo Specialist make an offer and start living the dream of your own condo to call home. It is a buyers market and we are ready to get started in helping you purchase your Chicago condo.
Call us today at 866-696-2266
Interested in reading the Bloomberg.net article in its entirety click here.
Condos
Thinking about upgrading your Chicago condo kitchen with granite countertops? You may want to know that some types of granite countertops emit dangerous levels of radiation, especially the gas radon, which is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Watch this video to learn more about it and how to detect if you and your family are exposed to radon.
Power Thought
Words Evoke Emotions
Watch the language you speak. It can keep you energized and excited or it can bring you down without you consciously knowing it.
As a test, say the following three lines. As you say each line, take a few seconds to notice what feeling you get after you say it before moving on to the next one.
1. I might be able to do that.
2. Yeah, I think I can do that.
3. I'm doing that and nothing is stopping me, period.
Your brain and body take on a physical confidence after the third line is said.
Be aware of your vocabulary. It can help you or hinder you. Once you get good at this, you'll notice other people using negative vocabulary. It will rub you like sandpaper.
Make it an outstanding day!
Power Thought
It’s extremely hard to stop excellence. If you strive for constant and never ending improvement every single day, no person, no company, no competition can hold you off.
There’s always room at the top for excellence. When I hear a song well written or view a piece of art that is at the highest degree of quality, you realize why it gets the attention and celebrity status it does. It’s simply excellent.
Excellence stands out. It breaks you from the pack.
Going to New York Real Estate Auctions
It's always been a dream of most Americans to own a piece of property; however, in the last few years as a result of the economic downturn, it has become increasingly difficult. This is especially true in New York, although it remains one of the fastest expanding portions of real estate within the market right now.
Therefore, New York Real Estate auctions have become a popular way for people in that area to complete real estate transactions. It makes the process quite easy, and it also helps both buyers and sellers get the best deal, which is important due to the economic climate.
New York Real Estate auctions offer both homes and condominiums, but for people looking to transition out of living in an apartment, condos are often an excellent choice. The benefits are that you don't have to take care of a large yard or do all your own maintenance on the property, but you still are making an excellent investment in something that you can later sell, potentially at a profit.
Buying a condo comes with both advantages and disadvantages, and it's important to weigh all of these before making the final decision to invest in one.
A benefit of buying one at an auction is that buyers can still go to the piece of real estate prior to the auction date to see the property for themselves; this might help them make a determination about whether or not a certain living situation might be right for them or their family.
Because the market is continually changing, it's important for buyers to have a clear idea of what they want to pay for a piece of property prior to going to the auction.
They can figure out what a fair offer might be by checking out other listings that are close to the piece of real estate that has piqued their interest. If they do a comparative analysis on similar pieces of real estate in close proximity to the one up for sale, they'll know exactly what a fair market price might be.
It's important for them to stick to what they've decided is their highest bid, even though this can sometimes be difficult due to the immense competition and excitement that are involved with the auction process.
Another advantage of buying property at New York real estate auctions is that the process is quick and simple. Moving itself can be quite a big headache, especially in a big city where parking and moving trucks can be real hassles.
The entire auction process takes less than three months, and deliberation about the price takes only seconds. There are no drawn out negotiations or excessive paperwork to read. Auctions also eliminate middle men such as agents, so there are no hidden fees in a purchase.
However, since it's up to the buyer to be knowledgeable about property and the price they think is fair, it's important that they do a thorough job of investigating the market and the piece of real estate they would like to own.
Chicago Condos
It may seem a bit aggresive on just the second day of 2009 to begin talking about not letting your new year's resolutions slip, but keep in mind that 80% are broken within the first week and 90% are down the drain within the first six weeks.
Those statistics greeted the OwnACondo.com staff when we opened our emails this morning, back at work after an enjoyable day off to ring in the new year.
The message came from our company founder, Brian Kuzdas, who shared with us one of the techniques he uses to keep on track: Daily visualization of a goal, and what life will look and feel like when that goal is achieved. It's powerful.
Psychology professionals have long explored the practice of setting resolutions and, more importantly, how to keep them. "If you don’t want to change and so only make a half-hearted resolution to do so, don’t be surprised by your amazing lack of success," says one expert in his article titled The Psychology of New Year's Resolutions.
Perhaps you're committed to quit smoking in 2009. Here are some handy resources from the Amercian Cancer Society.
Or, maybe it's another major resolution most of us make, to lose weight and improve our health and fitness. If so, then a visit to our friend Darin Steen's website, FatLossLifestyle.com, will show you tools, motivation and results that can dramitically alter your life.
And if it's a resolution you've made to take control of your housing, to get out of renting, to take advantage of the many price reductions and incentives available on Chicago condos and suburban Chicago condos, then you're in the right place at OwnACondo.com. Call us at 866-696-2266 or get started here today!
