Politics at the Oscars
The Oscars have always been center stage for politics so it was to no surprise that this year was no different. This year, two award recipients thanked their union crew clearly pointing shots at the Republican governor of Wisconsin, who has made headlines for trying to take away bargaining rights from unionized civil servants.
Another award winner mentioned "I think what's going on in Wisconsin is kind of madness right now," during a press briefing backstage. Earlier, he thanked his "fantastic union crew." It is evident that the words were not chosen on accident as the Oscars is a very publicized event.These are just some of the comments that were mentioned in terms of politics.
Well, just like politics being mentioned in the media, OwnACondo.com has been mentioned on the streets lately as well. The office is moving downtown and word has spread fast. Many agents are looking to start working for OwnACondo.com as soon as the doors to the new office open!
It appears that the office is scheduled to open in March 2011. The old office is packed up and the crew is just waiting for the office to be completed. The new office will be located at 540 N. Lakeshore Drive in Chicago, on the corner of Lake Shore Drive and Ohio Street.
OwnACondo.com is the best place to buy and sell condos in Chicago. The company has agents who specialize in all areas of the city and are educated in all territories. If you are looking to purchase or sell a condo, OwnACondo.com is the place to start.
The Sky is Falling – Ice Crashing from Chicago Condos!
By Dean R. DeLisle
Ok, growing up I must admit "Who did not want a piece of the rock?"--meaning, of course, the famous Prudential advertising slogan that was used on TV, radio and in print. However, today when walking between Water Tower and the Hancock building on my way to a meeting for OwnACondo.com, there was a sudden crash of ice slamming all around me like a meteor shower. When I realized what was happening, I quickly placed the portfolio I was carrying over my head just in time to have a piece hit the outer leather shell. All is fine, but you should have seen the spectators sitting under the shelter at Water Tower. I could see their eyes widen and and I wonder what this entire spectacle must have looked like.
Now I've been in Chicago my whole life and have seen news stories, heard tales, seen the yellow folded caution signs outside the skyscrapers and I've always wondered if ice really falls like they say? Well, yes it does.
So in the spirit of helping my fellow Chicagoans--natives and visitors alike--survive this seasonal danger from on high, here are my Top Five Tips to Stay Alive in Chicago When the Thaw Starts in Late February:
5): Don't look up
4): Cover your head
3): Wear a helmet
2): Taxi everywhere
And the Number One Tip to Stay Alive in Chicago When the Thaw Starts in Late February:
STAY IN THE WEST LOOP!! (note that tongue is planted firmly in cheek!)
I would love to hear other stories of people who have actually seen--and survived--the ice meteor showers of Chicago.
Traveling via the Internet
Parents worry that their teens are spending too much online, rather than going outside “like we used to when we were kids,” but the World Wide Web is well-named, because a lot of traveling via the Internet can be done—moreson than on a bike.
The Internet also expands your horizons when buying condos and conducting other real estate-related activities. All aspects of business have been greatly enhanced by the Internet, and it is economical too. Using the Internet to view properties, obtain documents and even buy properties at auction, saves lots of time and money.
Business meetings are now customarily held using programs like Skype and GoToMeeting, so you can sit in your office or at home instead of an airport or on a plane in order to fly halfway around the world for a short face-to-face.
I have been doing a lot of traveling via the Internet myself, not necessarily for work, but through Internet forums, I have ended up meeting people from Ann Arbor, Mich., to the Netherlands who I originally just knew by a nickname online. You can very easily search for condos from the comfort of a couch or coffee shop instead of driving around in your car.
So whether you looking for foreclosed condos or $4 million mansions, with the Internet, you can do all your business with people in far-flung corners of the world.
Of course, for safety reasons, parents have to be vigilant when monitoring younger children’s traveling via the Internet. But the Web can truly be a window to the world, whether for teens playing World of Warcraft to entrepreneurs negotiating deals on Wicker Park condos.
OwnACondo.com finds a Discovery
Discovery, the world's most traveled spaceship, went into orbit for the final time Thursday, heading toward the International Space Station on a journey that marks the beginning of the end of the shuttle era. This is quite a similar journey for OwnACondo.com, which is marking the end of its long-time residence in Oak Brook, Illinois as brand new offices are being prepared at 540 N. Lake Shore Drive in Chicago.
This "discovery" of a new home and appears to be a perfect fit at the perfect time. It is a buyers’ market, plain and simple, so we need to captialize on that and work to help these buyers find the perfect deal. There are deals everywhere but it may be challenging for consumers to find them, so it is a good idea to have a real estate agent assist you with your search, especially if you are interested in short sales and foreclosures. Real estate agents can assist you with auctions which contain foreclosures and bank owned properties.
RealEstateAuctions.com is a great place to purchase or sell bank owned properties for auction. The specialists there can assist you with any questions that you have about the auction process. Auctions are becoming very prominent in this market, because there are a lot of bank owned properties that need to be sold. If you are in a position to purchase property, now is the time. The agents at OwnACondo.com can assist you with traditional real estate buying and selling, and the agents at RealEstateAuctions.com can assist you with purchasing and/or selling at auctions. It looks as though this disovery is worth looking into!
John Feminis
John Feminis is the newest addition to the growing team of Realtors® at OwnACondo.com, bringing with him a wealth of customer service, sales and appraisal knowledge and experience.
“Real estate is a fascinating business, and I really enjoy meeting people and helping them find their dream home or investment property,” said John. Before recently earning his real estate sales license, the Park Forest resident had been an associate appraiser for Blue Edge Inc. in Joliet for about five years. Prior to that, he worked for many years in customer service and retail sales. For the past year, he was a field technician for Air Serv Inc., an aviation company. But he found his calling in real estate.
“I just really enjoy the real estate industry,” said John Feminis, whose specialties include:
• Buyers' agent
• South Cook County real estate
• Chicago South real estate
• Downtown Chicago real estate
• Condos
• Multi-family buildings
• Du Page County real estate
• First-time homebuyers
• Appraisals
• Investors
• Real estate auctions
• Foreclosures
• Short sales
“I particularly enjoy working with buyers because I can focus on helping my clients find their dream home or ideal investment property, and negotiate the best deal possible. My experience and knowledge gained as an appraiser is very helpful to my clients too. Real estate is a fascinating business, and the best part of the job is meeting and working with people,” he said.
When he is not helping his clients find a condo or other property, John Feminis, who describes himself as a major sports fan, follows his favorite teams, which include the Chicago Bears, Blackhawks and White Sox. He may be reached at jfeminis@ownacondo.com or at 708-359-9496.
Moving Day: What a Glorious Pain!
By Anthony Caciopo
Boxes? Check.
Tape? Check.
Bubble wrap? Oh yeah, we definitely have bubble wrap!
It's moving day at OwnACondo.com, the best place to buy condos. Furniture has been disassembled, old files discarded, current files packed, boxes labeled, refrigerator cleaned out...wait, who was supposed to clean the 'fridge again?
We're on our way to 540 North Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, leaving our Oak Brook, Illinois home of almost more than three years. We've served a lot of clients and made a lot of friends at our Oak Brook offices, but it's simply time to move on. Onward and upward, as the old saying goes.
At more than 6,000 square feet, our new corporate offices are fantastic. We're expecting to throw open the doors in early April. The location is outstanding, on the southwest corner of Lake Shore Drive and Ohio Street in a beautiful vintage building of higher-end condos and retail space. Our ground-level office faces Lake Shore Drive and our visibility is superb. Thousands of vehicles pass just outside our windows northbound and southbound every day. Signage for OwnACondo.com and RealEstateAuctions.com will be seen by countless commuters and pedestrians in this very well-trafficked and beautiful part of town.
The goal, of course, is to bring our brand of high customer satisfaction to many, many more people...condo buyers, fellow real estate agents and consumers in general. Our new office will be not only our headquarters, our base of operations, but a resource center for the real estate-buying public and Realtors®.
Watch this space for our grand opening announcement. Moving day is over, we'll be settled in and we'll be looking forward to meeting you!
Tracenda Stenhouse
Tracenda Stenhouse has joined the growing team of Realtors® at OwnACondo.com.
Traycee, as she is known, brings four years of real estate experience to her new position, in addition to 14 years of sales and customer service experience.
“I like the hustle and bustle of the real estate business, of taking people out to find just the right property, and then negotiating to get the best deal possible. As I tell my clients, "I listen to what you want, and then I find it. It is out there.”
The Frankfort resident, who enjoys spending time at home with her four-month-old daughter when she is not working, studied business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as Illinois State University and DePaul University.
“I have been a real estate agent for four years, and have a total of 14 years of experience in customer service and sales. Before finding real estate, I worked for several companies as a salesperson and as a customer service manager,” said Traycee. Prior to coming to OwnACondo.com, she worked for Richmond Partners GMAC, Zip Realty and Century 21 Pro-Team.
“I like how OwnACondo.com is dedicated to its clients and its employees. Being an exclusive buyers’ agency is something else that drew me here,” Traycee added.
Tracenda Stenhouse’s real estate specialties include:
- Condos
- First-time homebuyers
- Short sales
- REOs
- Foreclosures
- Chicago South
- Chicago North
- Downtown Chicago real estate
- South Cook County
- Frankfort real estate
- DuPage County real estate
- Will County real estate
- Downtown Chicago real estate
In addition to spending time with her newborn daughter, Traycee's many interests include traveling, shopping and helping with the homeless outreach program at her church.
If you would have questions or would like Tracenda Stenhouse to help you find your dream home or investment property, contact her at Tstenhouse@ownacondo.com or at (708) 601-2304.
Spring Time
As the snow melts and the sun shines through, we have something to look forward to… Spring time! The groundhog did not see his shadow, so spring shall be arriving early. All real estate agents know what this means. Spring is the best time of year for most real estate agents and companies. This is because a lot of properties get listed around this time of year and many people start searching this time of year as well.
Many people do not want to search for homes during the holidays as it is usually a very busy time of year. On the flip side, many people do not want to put their home on the market because they are too busy during this time. So when the holidays pass and the sun begins to shine again, the real estate market experiences a spike!
One of the reasons why spring time is such a great time of year for real estate is that many people start searching now, so that their kids can finish up the school year before the move takes place. Then once summer hits, they can move. The market usually experiences a decline around September, for the same reason. People would have already had to have moved if the kids are enrolling in a new school.
Spring time should be a great time for real estate agents to go out and get that business and this is also a great time for those home buyers to get in their dream homes!
